The Academy's Terminally Ill Side Character-Chapter 76: Proper Humiliation [1]

The sun was dipping low on the horizon by the time my conversation with Professor Lena finally ended.

It had dragged on way longer than I expected, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. Some things just had to be dealt with, no matter how long they took.

Leona had told me earlier to go on ahead since she had her own business to handle, and knowing her, it might take a while. She’d probably already eaten by now too.

Which meant I was free to hunt down some dinner.

Stretching my arms over my head, I lazily scanned the street, wondering what sounded good tonight—ramen? Fried chicken? Maybe something heavier?

That’s when I saw it.

Something I definitely wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t looked up at that exact moment.

The Buttcheeks — yeah, that same troublesome girl — was walking with Leo, her expression anxious, almost scared.

My brows furrowed.

They were heading toward a more deserted part of campus, away from the main walkways where most of the students hung out.

That wasn’t good.

I stood there for a second, debating.

It wasn’t like it was a confession or anything romantic — you could tell just by looking at her face.

No, this was something else.

Something heavier.

I could pretty much guess what it was about.

Leo wasn’t a psycho; he wouldn’t pull anything crazy.

Still, secluded areas didn’t usually lead to anything good in situations like this.

I let out a long, frustrated sigh, raking a hand through my hair.

"Ah, shit."

If I hadn’t seen it, I could’ve just pretended it wasn’t my business.

I could’ve kept walking, choosing between fried chicken or ramen like a normal human being.

But now?

Now I was stuck.

I shoved my hands in my pockets and followed them at a distance, cursing myself under my breath.

Dinner would have to wait.

I kept my distance, trailing a few paces behind them—far enough that they wouldn’t notice me, but close enough that I wouldn’t lose sight of them.

Kiera—Buttcheeks—was practically hugging her bag to her chest, her steps small and hesitant. Meanwhile, Leo walked beside her like he owned the world, hands in his pockets, cool and unbothered as always.

Typical.

Eventually, they stopped behind one of the old storage buildings near the edge of the training fields.

It was the kind of place even the rats probably abandoned years ago.

I crouched low behind a crumbling fence, peeking through the cracks.

Yeah, this definitely didn’t look like a wholesome chat.

Why?

Because Leo wasn’t alone.

He had brought his team.

As soon as Leo approached, the group straightened and gave him a slight bow.

I blinked.

What the hell was this?

Was I watching some underground Yakuza meeting from a late-night drama?

Leo, unfazed, gave them a small nod back—casual, almost lazy.

But somehow, it made him look even more like a boss.

Which, honestly, he kind of was.

Once the greetings settled, Leo finally turned his cold gaze toward Kiera.

"I saw you earlier today," he said, his voice low and steady. "You’re Kiera, right?"

"Y-yes, Leo..." she stammered.

Leo tilted his head slightly, as if amused.

"Leo?" he repeated, tasting the word like it was unfamiliar.

Kiera froze.

"Huh...?"

Ah, that bastard.

He was doing it again.

Leo had a habit of using this weird trick—making people second-guess even the smallest things.

He’d act all polite one moment, then push just enough to put you off balance the next.

"Are we close enough for you to be calling me by my first name?" he asked smoothly, one brow raised.

Honestly, with the way he was acting, she might as well call him Young Master Leo, Heir of the Taylor Family.

"N-no, not yet, but..." Kiera trailed off helplessly.

"Not yet?"

Leo chuckled under his breath, the sound light but sharp enough to sting.

At that moment, a sharp-eyed girl standing beside Leo stepped forward, arms crossed.

Her voice was full of mockery.

"You said you wanted to prove you were better than him," she sneered, looking Kiera up and down. "But all you did was get humiliated."

Kiera flinched at the girl’s words, clutching her bag tighter like it could shield her.

Leo didn’t say anything for a moment, just kept looking at her like he was evaluating a bug under a microscope.

It was the kind of silence that felt louder than any insult.

"I don’t entertain people who make empty promises," he finally said, his voice calm but slicing deep.

"But..." Kiera tried to say something, her voice barely a whisper.

"But what?" The sharp-eyed girl cut in again, stepping closer, a smirk playing on her lips. "You thought you were special? That he’d overlook your incompetence because you like him?"

Kiera’s face turned red—not just from embarrassment, but from something closer to anger too.

I watched from behind the fence, feeling a little guilty.

This was like kicking a puppy after it already got run over.

Still, I didn’t move.

Things were starting to get real interesting here.

If only I had popcorn with me.

’What a shame.’

Buttcheeks—er, Kiera—stared at the girl who had just mocked her a moment ago.

No, not just mocked—she went straight for the throat.

"I didn’t lose. It was a draw," Kiera said, trying to keep her voice steady.

The sharp-eyed girl just scoffed.

"That’s even more pathetic. It means you’re on the same level as that guy who can barely lift a 30-kilogram dumbbell. I saw it myself during training."

She paused dramatically, as if realizing something.

"No, wait a second! Maybe you are good, after all. I mean, you somehow managed to draw against someone Leo considered a potential candidate for his team.

Sorry, my bad! Haha!"

Whoa.

Now that’s what I call a proper humiliation.

And what was with that jab about the 30-kilogram dumbbell?

’I’m standing right here, you know?’

Well, technically I was hiding behind a fence... but still! She didn’t have to say it out loud!

But it’s not like she was wrong either.

I sighed at the brutal truth.

Still, I wasn’t about to give up.

Someday, I’d conquer every single dumbbell in the gym!

Every. Single. One.

I gave myself a little self-motivational speech under my breath, pumped myself up, and looked back toward Kiera.

...And there she was, on the verge of tears.

At that moment, the boss—Leo Taylor—finally opened his mouth.

"Stop it," he said, his voice cold and sharp like a blade slicing through the tension.

And then—

Leo didn’t stop her because he felt bad for Kiera.

Oh no, if anything, what he said next would sting even more.

"You’ll only get dirtier by talking to her. She’s not someone that you should waste your breath for. She is just pathetic."

The words dropped like stones into a still pond, the ripples spreading through the air.

The sharp-eyed girl’s smile froze, Kiera’s face crumpled even more, and for a moment, nobody moved.

Yeah.

That definitely hurt more than any whip or dagger could.

---

Author Note.

Thank you for reading. Just keep supporting me like always and if you find any grammar mistakes in any Chapters, tell me and I will edit them out.