Chapter 52: Promotion

The exam week has passed, all the students gather at the auditorium as the school will held one final event, the closing ceremony. It is normal to think that all students must attend, especially if they are considered to be one of the top rankers for this year. And yet, when Glynne glance over to the side, there was a vacant seat in there.

'Hey, Mei" Glynne whispered to the dark-haired girl to his side. "Where's Kiana?"

"I don't know either." Mei replied, "She said that she need to do something so she can't come."

"...I-is that so" Glynne furrowed his eyebrows. In these pass few days, he felt like Kiana was avoiding him. He would often times catch her staring at him, and in some cases, would also follow him whenever he goes. He figured that she wanted something to talk to him so he tried approaching her, but for some reason, she would just ran away.

Just as he thinking deeply what would be the reason, he suddenly felt his phone vibrating in his pockets. He brought it out to see that the girl in question send him a message.

[Meet me at the training grounds] it says. Seems like Glynne was getting his answer soon.

But well, that is one problem down. The boy felt a sweat drop on his forehead as he senses multiple stares directed at his back.

"Glynne, it's time." The boy was surprised when Bronya suddenly tug her sleeves. He look at her and saw her pointing at the stage. That was when he realized what she was talking about. The four simultaneously stood up and line up on front.

"Hm, where's Kiana?" Himeko questioned when she noticed the team was missing one member. Mei and Glynne couldn't really give any excuses so they just laughed bitterly. Seeing this, the red haired teacher massaged her temple while saying, "...That girl,"

"You should not worry Himeko, I will deal with Kiana later." Theresa reassured to lessen her staff's headache at least a little bit. "We should focus at the task for now."

"You're right," Himeko agreed as she cleared her throat and shifted into her professional mode. "Mei Raiden, Bronya Zaychik, Fu Hua, for the outstanding display you did on the exams, you all have cleared the qualifications. Congratulations, starting today you are all B rank Valkyries!"

There was a huge cheer that came from the crowds as they watch the three girls receive their new identification card with the huge letter "B" at the back. It soon silent down as the teachers move on to the only male in front.

"For you Glynne, we respect your great deeds. For today, Saint Freya Academy will become the witness of the birth of a new B rank Knight!" Himeko declared.

Though it was much quieter than the last, some of the students are still clapping as a common courtesy.

Rita soon approaches the boy with a tray that contain his new ID. However there was a huge question mark above his head when he noticed a small device was also presented to him. Naturally he asked what it is.

"Oh this, consider it as a celebratory gift from me." Rita replied as she push the device to him. "That is a Interdimensional Storage Device. Normally, these are given to Valkyries when they reached A rank. However, I made an exception as your weapons are dangerous when touched by somebody else."

Glynne just nod, summing her words as the device was something important and valuable. As much as he wanted to try it out, he hold himself back as there are still something more important to do. He quickly strapped it on his belt and showed the the maid a wide smile. "Thank you Rita."

She didn't expect the boy's reaction, regardless she still never forget to smile in response.

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"Hey, can you come with me for a moment." Glynne was block by a certain strawberry blonde girl as soon as he got out of the auditorium.

"What?" the boy responded as he scratched the back of his head, "I'm kinda in a hurry at the moment, so can it wait?"

"Sorry, but could you at least spare a bit of you time." Elena pleaded as she got near him and stared at his eyes. Looking at her eyes, he could see that she is holding back her fear as it was a bit shaky and almost tearing up since she is standing near a boy.

Glynne just let out a sigh of resignation and glance at his back. Mei and Bronya was looking at him in worry, and as for Fu Hua, she was called right after the program ended so she isn't present.

He gave them a smile and signaled to them that they shouldn't worry. He then look at his phone to check the time. "Alright, I give you ten minutes. Is that enough?" Facing Elena once again, he noticed she flinch a bit.

"Y-yes! P-please follow me." Seems like Elena really can't maintain her calm when standing next to a male for a certain period of time. Glynne made sure there is a bit of distance between them as she lead him towards the back of the building.

"Oh, " and it seems like his hunch was right. As soon as Elena stopped on her tracks, a certain girl pop up from the bushes. Looking closely, it was the same girl that insulted Bronya a week ago. That said, she isn't alone. One by one, the entire class come out and line in front of him. "...Can't say I'm impressed. "

"Ekk!!!" His glare was enough to make some of the girl yelp in fear. He glance at the strawberry blonde girl, who guided him, and see her being flustered.

"N-no, you got it all wrong!" She said as she waves her hands. "P-please just at least hear what they want to say."

Should he trust her or not? There is only one way to find it out as Glynne closed his eyes while crossing his arms. He then signaled for the girls in front to start talking.

"Uhm..... " The first girl that came came out seems to be struggling to talk. She look back at the others and they quickly sent their encouragement.

"W-w-we're extremely sorry!!!" she yelled as she bowed in a 90 degree angle. The others soon followed and did the same thing. "We're sorry for getting ahead of ourselves and for looking down on you!!"

Glynne raised an eyebrow but soon then let out a sigh when he noticed they are truly being sincere. ".... Geez, so that's how it is." he said while scratching the back of his head. "Raise up your heads, will you? It isn't like you're the only one who need to apologize for overdoing something."

The girls was confused by his words. However some of them quickly got what he is getting at and stared at the girl in front. It was not long until everyone realized it as one girl blushed in embarrassment when she recalled what happened to her. "... T-then you have forgiven us?"

"Yeah, pretty much... But well, I think this is more like calling it quits." Glynne said while looking directly at the girl in front. "Though, I do think I shouldn't be the only one who you should apologize to."

"Ah.... Mhn" the girl meekly nodded. "...I-I'll go talk to Bronya later."

"No need" the group was surprised by the sudden voice and look over to see Bronya appearing from the corner. "If Glynne accepted your apology then there is no need to apologize to Bronya."

"So, that seems to be it. Are you okay with that?" Glynne asked one last time to make sure that there's no other loose ends. All of them nods their heads in affirmation, except the girl in front.

"....No, even if Bronya says it's already okay, I still owe her an apology." the girl said as she stares at silver haired girl who is currently clinging with the boy's arm. "That's why, please forgive me!"

"Oh" Glynne let out an impressed voice and look at the bowing girl. 'What was her name again? I think it's Claire.'

He then shifted his eyes to the side to see Bronya nodding as she accepts the apology. He was about to end the talk when he remembered something. "... Oh right, before I forget. There's also something I wanted to say.... There is nothing going on between me and Bronya."

"Eh?" the girls was confused by his declaration. No matter how they view it from any perspective, there is now way that the two of them is a couple.

Bronya was difficult to befriend with. She seems to be avoiding people and not to mention, it is also hard to get a read on her, especially with her emotionless face. Even her current friends, Kiana and Mei, spent a long time just for her to open up to them and to notice some slight changes on her face to know her mood.

That's why it came as a surprise when the new kid was able to befriended her just a few weeks after transferring in. And not only that, it seems like Bronya took quite a liking to him since she is constantly clinging to him even on public.

Normally, if a person doesn't really like what she is doing, they would just scold the person off. However, Glynne was also at fault since he is just letting her do what she wants and would also often times spoil her. This clearly just inviting some misunderstanding.

"Anyways, I have somewhere I need to be. So bye-bye" before the girls could processed his words, the boy quickly excused himself and left the area.

"... Uhm, Bronya is it true?" the girl in front, Claire, asked the silver-haired girl.

"...Mn," Bronya only nod in response as she also begun to hover and leave.

However they noticed it. It was just a tiny detail but maybe because they are all girls here, they are quite sensitive to each other about their feelings, especially when it comes to love. Everyone look at each other as they all nodded at the same time.

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Ey, it is quite a short chapter this week. Games are releasing summer events left and right and I kept being distracted because of it, tehee~ >_<...

Anyways, about three chapters left before the end of act two. Phew, I'm finally near it.

That said, Thanks for reading!!!