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"SO, WHAT HAPPENED? WHY did you suddenly run off earlier?" Ervin asked as he and Max were walking down the stairs. The meeting with the Jacks finally ended, and the two were heading to the Great Hall to have their lunch with the others.
After the meeting, Brave arrived with Joon's lunch. He stated that Master Joker demanded that Joon stay on the rooftop until lunch ends and avoid the Great Hall at all costs. Max didn't have a choice and left him there with the rest of the Jesters.
"I met up with Meirion March," Max reveals to his friend without a second thought. "He told me everything that happened, about how they got acquainted with Payton Wolfe and what came after. And then I found out that there's actually two bullets inside that aluminum case."
"Oh yeah, I heard about that from Master Joker too."
"I can't believe someone remade the bullet," Max says next. "Things are even more complicated now. Hedeon said that three main suspects are involved in what happened, excluding the Revels and Payton Wolfe. The first one is Magnus McKay, who implanted the bullets in J.S High during the Elite School Convention. The second one was said to be in the House of Pawns..."
"Master Joker said it was a black uniform who helped Payton get a hold of Revels," Ervin explains, which somehow made sense.
"And now we have one more person. The kings suspect that it's someone from the House of Bishops, but I've stayed there for an entire month and I'm not even sure myself. Checkmates and the other brotherhoods already promised that they'll help look for the suspect, but there's no luck yet," Max explains further.
"But have you thought of how that third suspect was involved?"
"Wait, now that you said it..." Max pauses and thinks about it for a couple of seconds. "Could this person be the one who recreated the bullet? That's the only possible answer, right?"
"That's actually what the brotherhoods suspect too."
"Then the answer is in that bullet. Do you know where the other bullet is now? Has anyone examined it yet to see what its content is?"
"I think Master Joker and Brave mentioned that Viktor has it," Ervin reveals, instantly making Max curse. Looks like there's no chance for him to know what that bullet is now. Unless...
"Should I ask Gavriil to get the bullet for me?" Max wonders, instantly making Ervin grin.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot that you two are like a thing. Asking that kind of favor won't be much of a problem," Ervin teases, instantly making Max laugh. He didn't even deny it, nor did he act shy or embarrassed.
"Imagine being a student council vice president and an underling of the kings. My friend's boyfriend is definitely terrifying," Ervin continues as he drapes his arm around Max's shoulder. "No wonder Keigo gave up so easily."
"Come on now, give Keigo some respect," Max answers, making Ervin chuckle this time.
"But now that I think about it, are you going to ask Gavriil to the Spring Dance? You know, this dance is some sort of tradition for us. A few would usually attend it alone, but most of the time students would bring someone with them. And in J.S High's customs, both here and our sister house, your partner is someone you deeply admire and respect," Ervin explains to Max, making Max unconsciously touch his bracelet.
When Ervin sees the worry on Max's face, he pats Max's head and adds, "But don't think about it too much. I'm sure you're going to be asked by a lot of the students here, or maybe even from the House of Queens. Better yet, maybe the vice president would have the courage to flaunt you. Who knows."
"You're making it worse," Max complains. "Maybe I should just go with you, Ervin."
"Am I being proposed by the Max Sinclaire right now?"
"Oh shut up."
Ervin laughs, his arms still on Max's shoulder. "I'd love to bring you, but my girlfriend might get mad."
"Wait, what?!" Max shouted, his voice echoing down the empty hallway. "You already have a girlfriend? Why didn't you tell me?"
"You're acting like it's a big deal," Ervin defends. "We've only dated for two weeks. I met her when I had a competition in the US. Things have been good, but she's the daughter of some state Governor or something. She doesn't want to talk about it but I always notice the bodyguards following us."
"Oh my god, no wonder you've changed so much!" Max says, and Ervin pinches his cheek this time.
The two laugh with each other, but after a while, Max looks at Ervin and smiles at him sincerely. "Congratulations, Ervin. She's very lucky to have you."
"Thanks, Max. Yours is very lucky to have you too," Ervin replies. "But just a heads up, don't tell Ari and Felix about it, okay? I haven't told them yet because I know they will never shut up about it. Ari especially. Don't tell Keigo about it either. I don't want him to start looking through Diane's entire background."
"So her name's Diane," Max says instead, and the two started smiling like idiots until they finally arrived at J.S High's infamous Great Hall.
Max hasn't been to the Great Hall since he got back, so hearing the loud noise from outside already made him feel excited. After all, a lot of things happened in this very hall. It's literally the heart of J.S High. And aside from the stadium, this is the only place where everyone can be gathered together.
"I can't believe I missed a cafeteria," Max admits as the two finally make their way inside.
The Great Hall was as rowdy as ever. Most of the students were eating at their designated tables. Some were running around while higher-ranking white uniforms were picking on a third-year serf who was too afraid to fight back, but no one seemed to care. Or rather, they know better than to fight other people's battles for them.
Everyone was doing their own thing, but as soon as Max and Ervin made their entrance, a bunch of white uniforms immediately stood up to touch their chest and acknowledge the white uniforms. These white uniforms were none other than the underlings of Max's protectors. The Jacks, the Lighters, and even a handful of Roses–who don't usually do such a thing but since Max came back after so long, they thought it was only fitting.
The rest of the white uniforms were also murmuring to each other, unsure of what to feel now that Max was back.
"Imagine if they find out you're a member of the Elites now," Ervin whispers in Max's ear, making Max nudge his friends' side.
The two walked in the middle, and as soon as they arrived at their usual table, everyone went back to doing their own thing.
"Look whose back," Ari says while eating dessert like a grumpy kid.
Max smiles, and then he looks at the two long tables that are mostly filled with students in black uniforms. A sight that you can only see in the House of Kings.
"What took you so fuckin' long?" CJ asks, drinking from his juice box.
"How's your injuries?" Hans asks next.
