Part-80

  Sensing James' disfort, Mili stepped forward, pg a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "He might not remember you, Dad," she expined gently, "but it's been a long time. He used to e here a lot with Lily when they were younger."

  A shadow of uanding flickered across Kashem's fabsp; "Ah, of course," he murmured, his voice filled with a hint of nostalgia. "Lily always spoke fondly of her younger brother. She was quite the protector back then, always looking out for you." He patted James' shoulder gently. "Why don't you take a look around, James? See what is you. Perhaps you'll find something that sparks a memory or two." With that, Kashem excused himself, leaving James, Mili, and Ryan in a fortable silence.

  As Kashem's figure disappeared into the crowd of students, Mili turo James, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "See," she whispered spiratorially, "that's why Ryan never dared to actually bully me, even if I didn't give him my number."

  Ryan, who had been unusually quiet throughout the versation, flushed a faint shade of red. "Hey," he mumbled defensively, "don't make me out to be a puny vilin. Every guy wants a good-looking girlfriend as his partner, right?"

  Mili she sound b on a pyful ugh. James couldn't help but grin. The dynamic between them was surprisingly amiable, a stark trast to the hostile enter they'd witnessed earlier. It seemed the world of Chowdhury Martial Arts was more nuahan James had initially anticipated. Ryan, the supposed bully, was revealed to be more of a clumsy flirt, his arrogaempered by a grudging respeili's strength and Kashem's authority.

  "Right," Mili tered sarcastically, drawing out the word. "But some guys, Ryan, learn the differeween flirtation and harassment." She wi James, a silent camaraderie f between them.

  James chuckled, relief washing over him. The System's manipution had painted Ryan in harsh strokes, twisting his behavior into something sinister. The enter in the cafeteria now seemed like a misuanding, a juveempt at attrag attention, albeit in a clumsy and inappropriate way.

  "So," James began, addressing Ryan directly, "does this mean ut the whole cafeteria i behind us?" He extended his hand in a gesture of peace.

  Ryaated for a moment, then grasped James' hand firmly. "Yeah," he replied, a hint of sheepishness in his voibsp; "Let's just say I wasly at my best that day. Maybe we start over?"

  James nodded, a genuine smile splitting his fabsp;

  A familiar chime echoed in James' mind, momentarily interrupting the newfound camaraderie. It was the System, its emotionless voice reminding him of his unfinished business: "Mission 13: Challenge unresolved. Challenge someoo a duel."

  James winced internally. He didn't want to disrupt the positive atmosphere, but the mission loomed. Aruck him. "Hey, Ryan," he began, his voice ced with a hint of amusement, "I was w if you could show me a few judo moves? You know, a friendly little… challenge?"