Val entered Charles' office and shouted, "Heyy! How are you, Egghead?"

Charles, wearing a dark-colored cardigan with thick spectacles, was sitting on his desk, working on something, when he heard Val's voice and looked up in shock.

"V-Val?! I— H-Huh?!" Charles was clearly surprised and confused at his sudden appearance in the school out of nowhere.

"Huh?" Seeing his stunned face, Val asked, "What? Is my arrival that shocking to you, hard-boiled Professor?"

He walked over to his desk and sat in one of the chairs.

Charles, still in shock, said, "Y-You... I can't believe you're back!"

"In the flesh!" Val opened his arms wide with a grin on his lips.

"A-Are you alright? What about the energy attacking your body?" Charles asked in confusion as he looked Val over from head to toe.

"That?" He asked and answered without a second thought, "All of it's gone. As I expected, it left my body. And that, too, it was barely for three to four months."

"Oh?" Charles raised his brow and continued, "Three to four months is still quite some time. How can you say that everything has left?"

"Easily," He smiled and waved his hand dismissively, "There isn't a single hint of the energy in my body anymore, I'm clear. But..."

His face turned serious, and he said, "What about Erik and the rest? Where are they?"

Charles heaved a long and heavy sigh and began explaining, "Erik's waiting for you. He's..."

* * *

Meanwhile, in the garden outside the school,

Emma was texting somebody on her Chrono when her phone buzzed with a new notification, "Ooh! Here's one from Elixir. Reads: 'There will be a party at the bar in a couple of days. Wanna come along?'

She smiled and typed, 'Of course!'

Satisfied, she leaned against the tree and closed her eyes, letting the chilling breeze hit her face.

The sun was beating down hot. Its warmth seeped through her light white tank top, relaxing her tired body as she slowly dazed off when...

"Ahem!"

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang in her ears, making her snap open her eyes and glance lazily at the intruder. She instantly recognized the boy who interrupted her little moment of bliss.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"What do you want, Scotty?" Emma yawned in slight annoyance and asked, "I'm busy here. Come some other time, okay?"

Scott crossed his arms in front of him and looked at the ground with a serious face. His heart began beating quicker and faster by the minute. But, finally, mustering up all his courage, he blurted out, "Emma Frost!"

"Ugh! I told you, I'm busy right now! Come some other time." She replied nonchalantly with her eyes closed and continued resting against the tree.

"If not now, will you accept my apology when it suits you, Emma?!" His voice suddenly increased in volume, shocking Emma.

She opened her eyes, glanced at Scott, and realized how tense he was.

"I know that you broke up with that blonde boy that day. And I also know that you only kissed him before me because you wanted me to act like a real man."

"Stop it! Just calm down a bit!" She held up her hand and told him to stop talking.

She stood up, walked closer to him, and asked, "Let me understand. What are you doing right now?"

"Apologizing!" He shouted and knelt on the ground while placing his hand on his chest, adding, "To you, Emma!"

Seeing this, Emma pinched the bridge of her nose and turned silent.

After a few minutes, she put her hand down and spoke, "Rise, Scott."

Scott didn't budge and stared at the grassy floor for some time without saying a single word.

"Did you get possessed by the spirit of a fool or something? You've been kneeling like that for quite a while. It's no use, so stand up already, would you." Emma told him.

"I need to do this as I failed last time!"

"What did you fail in?" She asked in annoyance.

He answered seriously with gritted teeth while glancing away from her, "I failed to make you fall for me."

Hearing his words, Emma was speechless. She stayed quiet for a few seconds until a chuckle burst out of her lips a moment later, "Hehehe!"

"Umm... Emma? Why are you laughing?"

"Nothing!" Emma chuckled and placed a hand on Scott's shoulder.

"I've fallen for your act now. Bravo, Bravo! Good performance, real good." She smirked and added, "Trying so hard to win my heart, isn't it a bit overkill, Mr. Summers?"

"E-E-Excuse me? W-Why are you saying it as if..." A pink shade spread across his face, and he lowered his head before continuing, "...it isn't true. Tch! To think that I..."

Emma looked at him and continued with a teasing smirk, "Didn't expect to be tricked and played with a joke like that."

"Shut up!"

"Wow! Getting flustered, are you?!" She smirked, "What are you so mad about? Do you want my help in wooing me, sweetie pie?"

"Eh?! NO! Never! Who said that?! Just you wait!"

She saw him frantically shake his head and scratch his ears furiously.

'How cute!'

She slowly circled him, walking gracefully and elegantly as a mischievous smile danced upon her lips while she giggled internally.

"Can you get any more innocent and naïve?" Emma sighed.

Scott kept looking everywhere, not daring to meet Emma in the eye, and scratched his head while silently listening to her.

She continued to tease him, "It was indeed adorable, though, as you just showed that little embarrassed reaction of yours."

Scott quickly got up, took a step away from her, and hurriedly mumbled, "A-Anyway, I hope I'll have a chance to make you fall for me in the future, Emma."

However, Emma grabbed his hand before he could run away and made him stop. She pulled him close, placed her hand on his chest, and absentmindedly whispered, "Too bad, but no thank you. By the looks of it, the man in my life isn't you."

Scott's eyes went wide from her remark. He grabbed the hand resting on his chest, slowly removed it, and quietly stated, "You have someone else in your heart now?"

Emma's brows rose when she heard him and realized she spoke her thoughts out loud. So, she instantly corrected his mistake, "Oh! That? Oh no! No! It was merely a joke."

"Really?"

"Obviously!" She smiled fakely and said, "I'm not being wooed, nor have I lost my interest in you."

However, she thought, 'But I need to make someone else fall for me. Someone more capable, charming, intelligent, and... more handsome. To be specific...'

She looked at the sky and thought, 'I want Starlance!'