Chapter 110: Giving Up

Starlight knew better than to rub that reality in her mother’s face. It was obvious her mother simply didn’t want her worrying about their circumstances.

"I insist, Mom. I’ll send some money anyway," Starlight said with a soft smile. "The Academy even opened an account for me..."

Just then, Elle walked into the sitting area.

"Hey, Star! You’re ba—?" Her voice trailed off when she noticed Starlight on the phone.

Starlight looked up and raised a finger to her lips, signaling that she was on a call.

Elle nodded and made a small okay sign with her thumb and index finger before crossing the living room and settling onto the sofa opposite her.

"Is that Elle?" Clara asked over the line.

Starlight smiled in surprise. "Mom, I can’t believe you already recognize her voice."

"Who wouldn’t recognize that bubbling bundle of energy?" Clara said with a light chuckle. "The first time I spoke to her, she was probably the most energetic and sweetest person I’d ever heard. Of course I’d remember her. She’s such a funny girl. Tell her I said hello, all right?"

"Sure thing, Mom," Starlight replied softly. "Talk to you later."

"All right, sweetheart. Take care of yourself."

"Bye, Mom. Give Angel a kiss for me." The call ended, and Starlight lowered the phone from her ear as Elle looked at her with open curiosity.

"Your mom?"

"Isn’t that obvious enough?" Starlight asked dryly. "Who else would I be calling Mom besides my mother?"

"You should’ve let me talk to her," Elle complained, pouting slightly as she leaned back against the cushions. "I actually missed talking to her!"

Starlight let out a breathy laugh and tossed her phone onto the glass table.

"You talked to her yesterday, Elle. Stop acting like she’s your mother."

"Geez, Starlight, stingy much?" Elle scoffed, rolling her eyes playfully. "You are the one that should stop acting like I’m going to steal your mother. I just miss talking to her because she’s nicer than most people I know." She leaned farther forward, her eyes scanning Starlight’s face. "Anyway, forget that. How did it go with the crown princes? Did you survive the session?"

Starlight groaned and slumped deeper into the plush sofa. "It was a complete disaster. They made me read some ridiculous, high-strung conduct regulations, then practically forced me to have breakfast and watch movies with them."

"Awwn, aren’t you living the dream life?" Elle teased, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "But Starlight, I actually went through the list of programs and activities Asterion offers, and there’s no such thing as a Corrective Conduct Program."

"I told you that thing was as fake as it sounds," Starlight said, letting out a sharp breath. "But don’t worry. I already have a plan for how to break free from it."

Elle blinked as the realization finally settled in.

"I can’t believe the twins would go that far just to spend time with you." She shook her head in disbelief. "They must really like you!"

Starlight looked visibly horrified.

"Please don’t say things like that."

"I’m serious! Which one of them would you choose if that were the case?" Elle insisted. "Personally, I’d pick Prince Mikhail."

Starlight could already imagine the death stare Nikolai would give if he were standing there listening to Elle casually choose his brother over him. "I’m picking neither," she said dismissively instead. "I don’t plan on entertaining either of them. We should be focusing all our energy on figuring out how to milk those Apex votes, not entertaining your ridiculous delusions."

Elle settled back against the sofa, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.

"Well, it’s your life. Though I wouldn’t be so quick to write them off if I were you. I’d at least give them a chance, considering they definitely seem to like you and want to spend time with you. You’re basically living every Lunar Lottery candidate’s dream."

"Enough about those two. It’s almost time for combat class," Starlight said, already pushing herself to her feet. "I’m not planning on missing out today."

Elle immediately groaned and threw her head back against the cushions.

"What is it with you and combat class?"

*****

Kage lay sprawled across his bed with the sheet pulled completely over his body, his face buried against the pillow, completely dead to the world and utterly unwilling to deal with reality. His mood had been thoroughly ruined, and the absolute last thing he wanted right now was to socialize. It was moments like this that made him glad he had paid an exorbitant amount to rent a private, single-occupancy dorm room without roommates. He fully intended to enjoy every benefit of that money today, but unfortunately, someone seemed determined to ruin that benefit for him by repeatedly ringing his doorbell.

Kage buried his face deeper into the pillow, letting out a muffled groan. He would simply ignore it. Whoever it was would eventually get tired of waiting when he didn’t respond and leave.

Ring.

Ring.

But the chime echoed through the silent room with irritating persistence. Whoever was on the other side wasn’t taking the hint, and from the relentless rhythm of the button-mashing, Kage already knew who it was. It had to be Okami.

That bastard just didn’t know when to quit, and Kage knew exactly why the guy would be standing outside his door at this hour, pressing the doorbell like he was the one paying the room rent. Seriously, Kage lacked both the energy and the desire to deal with him.

When the ringing suddenly stopped, Kage let out a breath, relaxing back into the mattress.

Finally, he could have his peace, but his phone on the nightstand vibrated with an incoming text. Groaning, Kage reluctantly reached an arm out from under the blanket, snatched the device, and squinted at the screen. The moment he unlocked his phone and saw Okami’s message, his earlier relief vanished, replaced by a frown.

I know you’re in there. I’m not leaving until you open this damn door.

"Unbelievable," Kage muttered as he threw the sheets off his face and sat up with a heavy sigh. Of course Okami wouldn’t let him have his way, not even for one day. Swinging his legs over the edge of the mattress, Kage shoved himself off the bed, dragged his feet across the floor, and unlocked the front door. The moment the latch clicked open, Okami pushed past him without an invitation, stepping straight into the sitting area and making a beeline for the sofa. He dropped onto the leather cushions, crossing his legs comfortably as if he owned the place.

Kage lazily closed the door, resting his forehead against the cool wood for a second before turning around. "Okami, I’m really not in the mood to deal with you today," he said, his voice flat. "Can you just leave me in peace? I really don’t want to socialize."

"Not happening." Okami’s answer came instantly as he leaned forward with an unbothered grin. "Not a chance man. You need to tell me what happened between you and Starlight Dawson. Word on campus is that something went down between you and her in the swimming complex. I need the full details right here, right now. You didn’t tell me you would be moving on her that fast."

Kage rubbed his temples. Of course this was why Okami had come. "Nothing actually happened between us."

"Liar." Okami scoffed, narrowing his eyes. "Don’t give me that shit. If nothing actually happened, then why did the administration scrub the CCTV footage from the swimming complex? I tried to pull the security feeds using my clan’s influence, and they wouldn’t let me have them. How suspicious can that be? Not even my family’s influence could get me those recordings. So tell me what really happened and why you don’t want anyone seeing it. We’re friends, aren’t we? Just give it to me straight. Is she already yours, or do I still have a shot?"

Kage stared at him with a deadpan expression. "She isn’t mine. In fact, I give up on her completely. I’m no longer interested."

Okami’s eyebrows shot up, a gleam of genuine intrigue lighting up his face. "Okay, now I’m definitely not leaving until I hear every single detail. I know you’re usually a coward, but for you to throw in the towel this fast? Something absurd must have happened in that pool."

Kage didn’t even take offense at being called a coward. He simply let out a long, defeated breath and walked over, slumping onto the sofa right beside him. He sank into the cushions and stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment before finally speaking. "The girl nearly killed me, Okami. She literally tried to strangle me underwater. She’s completely insane. A total nightmare."

Okami stared at him for three seconds before bursting into loud, uncontrolled laughter, throwing his head back against the sofa.

"You’re joking, right?!"

"I am completely serious," Kage gritted out, glaring at his friend. "She nearly choked the life out of me in that pool." Just saying it out loud was enough to make him relive the terrifying memory, and nothing in the world would ever make him go anywhere near that crazy bitch again.