Walking down the hallway of Elian Comprehensive high, hands in his pocket, head dropped and headphones cupped his ears as he enjoyed the beats of the music he was listening to. Leo was in his own world. He wouldn’t bother about anyone around him, and the only thing he would think about were his thoughts. And this was just the right moment for him to be lost in thought.

He got to where his locker was, am”ng the line of lockers, and opened it before grabbing a few notebooks and closing it back. However, before he closed it, he sighed.

“Do you really have to do this all the time?” He asked as he rolled his eyes and closed the locker door, which revealed the glum-looking Logan behind it. He had sensed that his friend was there.

“Why the long face?” He inquired again. Logan who leaned against the lockers with his arms folded stood normally and turned to walk the other way.

“We lost the game.” He said. Leo quickly used his padlock to lock his locker before catching up with his friend.

“Of course, we were bound to lose,” Leo commented. Logan shook his head at his idea.

“Against us, with me on the team, Brighton Acad can’t beat us… unless Oscar’s in the game.” He stated before looking at Leo, “And you were meant to handle him. Instead, you lost control.” He calmly stated the facts, but his statement was stern. Leo wasn’t expecting this from him but he apologized anyway.
“Sorry, captain. It won’t happen again.” He apologized with a sad look on his face.
“We can’t be sure it won’t. Also, we need to talk about Oscar.” He said. This piqued Leo’s interest and with the serious look on Logan’s face, he knew that Logan had noticed the same thing he did when he played with Oscar.

“You saw it too?” Leo asked.

“Mhmm. That guy can’t be human. Also, I saw Mr. Zack scolding him about using his powers. He mentioned something about some kind of technique.” He said. Leo thought about it and recalled the time when Oscar took a stance that almost resembled a fighting stance, but it wasn’t.


“A technique you say.” He pondered on it.


“Yeah. I only know martial artists gain powers inside movies and light novels. Didn’t know that was the case in real life too.” Logan commented.

“Nah. I doubt that’s the case.” Leo refuted, “There’s gotta be something else extraordinary about that technique that it can make humans go beyond or so human abilities.” He pondered.

“Have you asked Dr. Cartel about it?” Logan inquired. Leo shook his head.

“I did. But he didn’t know anything at all. I was not too direct with my question but I could sense that he was telling the truth.” Leo said and clenched his fist, “The GE-177 mustn’t get in the wrong hands again.” Logan nodded in agreement.

“Well, that takes him out of my list of suspects.” Logan implied, surprising Leo.

“List of suspects?” He asked. Logan nodded and began counting the people on his list with his fingers.

“Yeah. My first suspect is the doctor, the second is the new general of the BSO. Then one of his soldiers who were aware of the BSO possessing the gene enhancer, and a few others. Coach Zack is the last on my list.”

“Last?” Leo was surprised. He thought that he actually should’ve made like second on the list after what he heard this morning.

“Yeah. Although he made last on the list, he’s still on the list.” Logan replied and thought more about it.

“Why don’t you go ask Mr. Zack about it?” Logan suggested. Leo gave him a surprised expression. Although Logan’s suggestion was plausible, it wasn’t good. Suddenly challenging another school’s sports coach about something he wishes to keep a secret wouldn’t be too nice. He might even get exposed in the process. Leo wasn’t ready for that yet.

“Me?” Leo said before waving his hand, “I’m afraid I can’t do that. Bro, it’s too risky. You think if I ask him about his technique he won’t inquire about mine?” He argued. Logan shrugged.

“Then we have to play it smart, kiddo. Use your head.” Logan advised, making Leo halt. He began to think about how he was going to confront Mr. Zack. It didn’t take long for Logan who had gone past him to call him.

“Yo, Mrs. Hale wishes to see us.” He relayed. The moment I heard ‘Mrs. Hale’, my heart skipped a beat. After what had happened yesterday, he was sure to get her worried. He rubbed his face and sighed before walking with Leo to Mrs. Hale’s office.

“You remember what was going on between Mr. Zack and Mrs. Hale yesterday?” Logan asked. Leo thought about it and he couldn’t help but recall an ugly but nose-bleeding scene. Not like that was what he saw, but what he thought of at the time when both coaches were verbally teasing each other sexually.

“Yeah, what about it?” Leo asked while rubbing his nose.

“Well, turns out we ruined their good moment. They never did it.” He said. Leo raised his brow.

“Say what!?” He exclaimed and gave Logan a surprised stare. Logan laughed and put his arms around Leo’s shoulder.

“Our coach was in a bad mood so she didn’t get the drilling she wanted… or deserved.” He commented. Leo chuckled and punched Logan lightly.

“Could you stop putting it that way? It’s embarrassing.” He claimed. They both entered Mrs. Hale’s office and they found her working on some papers on her desk. Her attention was caught by the opening of the door and she saw two boys come in. She suddenly felt a fit of anger that had been suppressing well up again.

Leo closed the door behind him and greeted Mrs. Hale with a smile. “Good morning, Mrs. Hale.”

“Yeah. A morning indeed.” She said sternly. Logan raised his brows and brought them down just as fast before looking to the side, to avoid eye contact with Mrs. Hale. Leo on the other hand kept an expressionless face. Mrs. Hale studied the faces of the two boys and squinted her eyes. The atmosphere in the office was tense and there was so much silence. After a while, Mrs. Hale decided to break the silence.

“Now…” she leaned back on her seat and folded her arms, “…any one of you care to explain what happened on yesterday’s game?”