Jax's eyes cracked open, morning light filtering through the curtains.

He turned his head, expecting to see Katherine beside him.

Empty.

He rubbed his eyes, blinking away the haze of sleep.

Then he saw her.

Katherine sat at a desk near the window, laptop open, dressed in a sharp business suit. Her pregnant belly pressed against the edge of the table.

Her voice was crisp, professional. "So with that settled, I'll have the amended trade agreements on your desks by Friday. Let's reconvene next Monday to finalize the signatures. Thank you all for your time."

She clicked a button. The screen went dark.

Katherine closed the laptop, turned, and her entire demeanor shifted.

Her eyes softened. A warm smile spread across her face.

She walked over, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to his forehead. "Good morning, sweetheart."

"Good morning, Aunt Katherine," Jax murmured.

She sat on the edge of the bed, brushing his hair back with her fingers. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah. Better than I have in... a while."

Katherine's smile widened. "Good. You needed it."

They talked quietly for a few minutes. Small things. Comfortable things.

Then Jax remembered. "I need to get ready for the academy."

Katherine nodded. "I already thought of that. I had the maid iron your uniform. She'll bring it in any moment. And for breakfast and lunch box, I'll make it right away."

Jax blinked. "You don't have to do all that, Aunt Katherine. You've already done enough for me."

"Nonsense." She cupped his cheek. "Taking care of you is never too much. It's what I'm here for."

Jax closed his eyes for a moment, letting her warmth sink in.

'This woman is too caring.'

His mind flashed back to Paige. After sex, she wouldn't even wake up. She'd roll over and ignore him completely.

He remembered Kiera having to physically shake Paige awake once.

Paige only showed interest in him after he'd proven his worth. After he'd saved the family.

'That's the difference between a businesswoman and a mother.'

Katherine wasn't using him. She genuinely cared.

"Aunt Katherine," Jax said softly. "You really don't have to push yourself. You're pregnant. You should be resting."

She laughed, light and melodic. "I rest whenever I get time, Jax. Let me spoil you a little. Please?"

He couldn't argue with that.

An hour later, Jax stood at the front entrance, uniform crisp, bag packed with homemade lunch.

Katherine hugged him tightly, her belly pressing against him. "Be safe. Don't overdo it. And text me when you get there, okay?"

"I will."

She kissed his forehead again. "I love you, Jax. More than anything."

"I love you too, Aunt Katherine."

The car pulled away, and Jax watched her wave from the doorway until she disappeared from view.

[Professor Elara's Lecture]

Jax sat near the middle of the classroom, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Professor Elara.

'Who knows what this twisted woman will do to me if I even look at her.'

He kept his gaze fixed on his desk, doodling absently on a piece of paper.

Elara's voice echoed through the room, crisp and commanding. "Attention, students. In exactly two weeks, the Starlight Grand Tournament will commence."

Jax's head snapped up.

'Finally. Something happening according to the game.'

Excitement surged through him.

"This is not your typical academy event," Elara continued. "This tournament will test every skill you've developed so far. There will be multiple categories."

The screen behind her lit up, displaying the breakdown:

STARLIGHT GRAND TOURNAMENT

Solo Battles: VR Combat, Strategy Games, Racing, Puzzle Challenges

Team Events: 5v5 Capture the Flag, Tower Defense, Relay Racing

Duo Matches: 2v2 across multiple game genres

Murmurs rippled through the class.

Elara raised a hand for silence. "For team events, faculty will select top performers based on stats and assign balanced teams. This ensures fairness and prevents stacking."

She paused, her gaze sweeping the room. "However, for duo matches, we will not interfere. In the past, faculty pairings led to conflicts, with students blaming the academy for poor matchmaking or fighting with their assigned partners."

Her eyes narrowed. "So, as usual, you will choose your own pairs."

She clicked to the next slide. "Registration is already open. Once you pair up, register as soon as possible. Registration closes in one week. If you fail to find a partner, faculty will assign one for you."

The room exploded.

"No way, I'm asking Celestia!"

"Do you think Ava already has someone?"

"Kiera's family is rich , Do i stand a chance..."

"Zinnia's a better choice. She's gorgeous, and after everything happened to her these days, maybe she won't be that hard to get."

"SILENCE!" Elara's voice cracked like a whip.

The room fell quiet instantly.

"Choose wisely," she said coldly. "This tournament will define your standings for the rest of the year."

She swept out of the room without another word.

The moment Elara left, chaos erupted.

Students scrambled, forming groups, whispering frantically.

Jax leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, watching the madness unfold.

Then two figures approached.

Celestia appeared on his left, stride perfectly measured, hands folded gracefully. "Jax. We should talk."

Ava materialized on his right, her arm already looping through his. "Oh no, princess. I know exactly where this is going. And the answer is no."

Celestia's expression didn't change, but her voice dropped a degree. "Remove your hand, Ava."

"Why should I?" Ava's grip tightened. "I've been working with Jax since the Death Race. We already have chemistry."

"Chemistry?" Celestia's tone was ice. "You mean desperation. You've been throwing yourself at him since day one."

Ava's smile turned sharp. "At least I'm honest about what I want. You hide behind your 'strategic partnership' nonsense like it's not the same thing."

"It's not the same."

"Isn't it?"

Jax's jaw tightened.

'They're talking about me like I'm not even here.'

"ENOUGH!"

Both girls froze.

Jax's voice was low, cold, sharp enough to cut steel.

He yanked his arm free from Ava's grip and took a step back. "I'm not a fucking trophy you two can argue over. I'm not pairing with either of you."

Ava blinked, hurt flashing across her face. "Jax, I didn't mean..."

"Save it." He turned and walked away, hands shoved deep into his pockets.

Celestia watched him go, expression unreadable.

Then she turned to Ava, glaring. "This is your fault."

"Mine? You're the one who..."

But Celestia was already walking away.

Jax stormed through the hallway, fists clenched.

'Annoying. So fucking annoying.'

It reminded him of Earth. Girls wanting his number after tournaments. Pretending to care about gaming when all they wanted was clout.

'These annoying heroine and the villainous'

Then his thoughts shifted to the tournament.

'I'll finally get to play those games for real. In this world.'

Excitement bubbled up.

'No one in first year can compete with me. Maybe second or third years have someone worth my time.'

His mind went to Thalia. 'She's a contender. But Emma...'

His jaw tightened. 'This won't be revenge or humiliation or satisfaction. It'll be way more than you can imagine, Em.'

Then another thought struck him. 'Maybe there are more transmigrators. I can find them in the matches.'

He replayed his battle with Emma in his mind. 'My foolishness cost me that defeat. I wasn't serious. But this time, I need to be prepared.'

Solo events were easy. Team events required strategy.

'I just need to gain their trust. Then use them accordingly.'

That left duo matches.

'I have to pick someone. Can't let faculty decide. My luck would pair me with the worst possible partner.'

His gaze swept the classroom as he returned.

Zinnia sat near the front, arms crossed, scowling. 'Nah. She won't listen to me.'

Kiera sat by the window, cold and distant. 'Definitely not.'

Ava and Celestia were still glaring at each other across the room. 'Annoying.'

Then his eyes landed on Azara.

She sat alone in the back corner, reading a book.

'Perfect.'

Jax grinned. 'And let's have some fun.'

-- -- --

Next Class ended. Students flooded the hallways.

Jax followed Azara at a distance.

She walked to the cafeteria, book still in hand, completely ignoring everyone around her.

Jax caught up, sliding into the seat across from her.

"Hey."

She didn't look up. "No."

"I haven't even asked yet."

"I don't care. The answer is no."

Jax smirked. "You're assuming I'm here to ask something."

"You are."

"How do you know?"

"Because boys like you always want something." She turned a page. "And I'm not interested."

"Boys like me?" Jax leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "What kind of boy am I, Azara?"

She finally looked up, her glowing eyes meeting his. "The kind who thinks charm works on everyone."

"Does it not work on you?"

"Not even a little."

"Then why are you blushing?"

Her eyes widened. "I'm not..."

"Your ears twitch when you lie."

Azara's hand shot up to her tuft ears. She glared at him. "Leave. Now."

"Can't. We need to talk about the tournament."

"I'm not pairing with you."

"Why not?"

"Because you're insufferable."

"True. But I'm also the best player in our year. Probably the best in the entire academy."

Azara's expression didn't change. "Arrogance doesn't win matches its proven not a week ago."

"Neither does sitting alone reading books."

She slammed the book shut. "What do you want, Jax?"

"I want you as my duo partner."

"Absolutely not."

"Why?"

"Because..." She hesitated. "Because no one pairs with me. And I prefer it that way."

Jax's smirk faded. His voice softened. "That's bullshit."

Azara blinked.

"You don't prefer it," Jax continued. "You've just convinced yourself it's easier to be alone than risk rejection."

Her jaw tightened. "You don't know anything about me."

She trailed off. "Just leave me alone, Jax."

She stood abruptly, grabbing her book and bag.

Jax called after her. "Think about it!"

She didn't respond.

Jax followed Azara out of the cafeteria.

Before he could catch up, a familiar voice cut through the air.

"Well, well. The academy's resident pervert chasing after the freak. How poetic."

Jax turned.

Kiera stood there, arms crossed, smirking.

"Fuck off, Kiera."

"Oh, touchy." She stepped closer. "What's wrong, brother? Ava and Celestia turn you down? Now you're scraping the bottom of the barrel?"

Azara stopped walking. Her shoulders tensed.

Kiera's smirk widened. "Seriously, Jax. Pairing with her? The half animal? You're that desperate?"

Jax's expression darkened. "Say that again."

"What? I'm just stating facts." Kiera gestured at Azara. "Look at her. No one wants to pair with her because she's a liability, egoist, arrogant, racist and doesn't fit in."

"Kiera..."

"And you?" Kiera turned her venom on Jax. "You're a horny disgrace. Asking for women's bodies like they're prizes. Pairing up with this pathetic creature is fitting. Two rejects together. Haha."

Azara's hands clenched into fists.

Before she could respond, Jax stepped forward.

His voice was cold. Deadly calm.

"You know what's funny, Kiera?"

She smirked. "What?"

Jax didn't smile back.

"You call other people rejects like you're above them. But we both know you're just a status whore who only grows a spine when our family name is worth something."

"When our family was on the brink of ruin," Jax continued, "I remember your face. You wouldn't even raise your head. You walked around like a kicked mutt—silent, obedient, pretending you didn't exist."

"But the second the money came back? the second I handed everything back"His eyes didn't blink."Suddenly you remember how to bark."

Kiera's throat tightened.

"You don't stand on your own. You don't choose anything. You just cling to whatever looks powerful and call it confidence."

"Just like you trail behind Mother like a dog's tail."

The hallway went dead silent.

"And here's the real joke—"

Jax tilted his head, as if explaining something simple to a child.

"Even whores get chosen."He let the words hang. Heavy. Fatal.

"No one picks you."

Kiera's mouth opened.

Nothing came out.

"And now you're here trying to break us, so what?"

He didn't look back.

"So you can have me in your duo—"

"—or have my dick?"

Kiera didn't glare. Didn't shout. Didn't breathe.

She left.

Jax watched her go, jaw tight. 'This isn't over, bitch. I'll come back to you and make you pay a thousand times.'

Behind him, he heard a sound.

A stifled laugh.

He turned.

Azara was smiling. Her hand covered her mouth, but her shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.

Jax grinned. "You find that funny?"

She bit her lip, trying to compose herself. "I... I don't know when was the last time I laughed like this."

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