Having finished breakfast, Alex waited for Lucina to change so they could head to school. In the meantime, he struck up a conversation with Miu, asking what she had been doing at home and what was new at the Ryōzanpaku dōjō.

But as soon as he asked that question, Miu's face instantly took on a weary expression, and it was as if a dam had burst.

From the very first words, she began complaining about all the residents of the dōjō—especially Kensei, who had once again been caught peeping, this time in the company of Hermes. Then came a flood of indignation about Sōgetsu and Sasaki, who disappeared into bars, went on drinking binges, and picked fights with local adventurers.

The only thing that brought Miu at least a little comfort was the fact that Akisame had finally opened a chiropractic clinic. But the last straw was her story about her grandfather Hayato, who spent almost all his time with Mikumo Kushinada, leaving the dōjō on the unreliable shoulders of the others. And, as always, Kenichi was the one who suffered most.

Alex listened with a stone face. Everything was clear: Sōgetsu and Sasaki were getting their drinking money from short Guild missions—punching out some villain in another world for quick pay. As for the Kensei and Hermes duo, Alex didn't even want to imagine it. But Miu didn't stop, also lamenting the fact that the Ma family dōjō was thriving while Ryōzanpaku stood empty even here in this new world.

Smiling, Alex pulled her into a tight hug. He knew all too well how kind and responsible Miu could be, and so he understood her frustration. She looked up at him with tearful eyes, as if pleading with him to do something.

Alex barely held back a laugh at that "catlike" gaze but understood perfectly: interfering with the masters' habits wasn't his place. He couldn't forbid Kensei from peeping at girls, much less cure Sasaki and Sōgetsu of drinking and fighting.

"You said Kenichi is tired of suffering… What happened to him this time?" Alex asked gently, holding her close.

"The masters decided they've already taught him everything they could," Miu sighed, burying her face in his chest. "Now, they say, he needs real combat experience. So they sent Kenichi to join Takashi, Kota, and Jonah. But you know what he's like…"

"Of course," Alex smirked. "At first he'll panic and won't know what to do. Then, once he's almost beaten to a pulp, something inside him, as always, will 'awaken.' I'm starting to suspect Kenichi's got a taste for masochism after all the hell he went through at Ryōzanpaku."

Miu looked up and smacked him on the chest for the joke. Alex just smiled and kissed her on the cheek. He was glad she had vented and relaxed at least a little. She really did have to carry too much on her shoulders—both the dōjō and missions with the other Guild girls.

At that moment, Lucina came downstairs, already dressed. Seeing Miu practically clinging to Alex, she raised an eyebrow. Catching her look, Miu quickly stepped back, gave Alex a light kiss on the cheek, and disappeared into a portal that opened right behind her.

Alex changed into his usual outfit, slipping a haori over his black T-shirt. Inside, excitement was already bubbling—today promised to be quite an interesting day.

When he and Lucina stepped outside, they noticed Bella and Charlie. Charlie looked grim, while Bella waved cheerfully.

"Something happen?" Alex asked as he approached. "You look like your day's gone wrong from the very start, Charlie."

"In Mason County," Charlie frowned, "a guard at the Grisham plant was mauled by some kind of animal. I volunteered to help with the investigation, so I might be home late."

"Be careful," Alex nodded seriously. "I remember a case once: some psycho kept fighting dogs in his basement and trained them to attack people. Before they caught him, about twenty people were injured."

"Who would even think of something like that?" Bella asked in surprise. "Why would he do it?"

"Who knows," Alex shrugged. "In any case, if Charlie's late, come by for dinner with us."

Bella wanted to refuse, but Charlie gave her an approving nod—he was glad his daughter had friends she could spend time with.

After a short conversation, Alex and Lucina said their goodbyes, hopped onto Fenrir, and rode off toward the school. Alex was in a hurry—he wanted to arrive before Bella so he could watch her meeting with Edward from the front row.

In the parking lot, as usual, he drew the attention of the students. This time it was because of the motorcycle he had arrived on. The moment he and Lucina got off, Alice darted over, hugged Lucina first, and then practically hung on Alex.

He smiled and waved at the rest of the Cullens but didn't approach. Instead, he stayed by the motorcycle with Alice and Lucina—everyone was waiting for Bella.

And then, a few minutes later, an old pickup truck pulled into the lot. Alex shifted his gaze to Edward and smirked in satisfaction: the vampire's expression darkened noticeably when he saw Bella behind the wheel.

Bella parked and started toward them, but it was as if an invisible thread tugged her gaze toward Edward. Their eyes met, and for the two of them, time seemed to slow.

Alex immediately "armed himself with popcorn" and settled in comfortably, enjoying the moment. Even the girls in Orario, sensing the tension in the air, put their tasks aside and tuned in to watch—snacks in hand.

Bella and Edward stared at each other as though neither people nor time existed around them. The noise of the school parking lot faded away for them. Meanwhile, Alex, in the company of Alice and Lucina, munched popcorn and savored the spectacle. After all, you didn't get to see such a "sugary" romance movie live every day.

But in the very next second, a devious plan formed in his mind—how to ruin the moment and at the same time sour Edward's mood. Handing the bag of popcorn to Lucina, Alex strode toward Bella with a wide grin. Laying a hand on her shoulder, he pulled her out of her romantic trance.

"Bella, stop staring like that. People will think you're some creepy stalker… you know, like the kind who 'visit relatives' in Alaska," Alex said with the utmost seriousness.

"I… I wasn't staring," Bella quickly protested, flustered.

Alex looked at her as if he completely believed her words… though his expression clearly said otherwise. At that moment, a stifled laugh escaped Emmett, who had heard Alex's comment perfectly. Lucina nearly choked on popcorn, and Alice outright burst into laughter.

Edward's eye twitched nervously. He understood very well that Alex had intentionally ruined the moment. Feeling the weight of Edward's piercing vampire glare, Alex turned and met it with a cocky grin. Edward scowled, turned away, and walked off under Emmett's mocking laughter.

"Well, so much for romance," Alex thought with satisfaction as he returned to his group.

After a little more laughter, he and Bella walked over to Lucina and Alice. When the bell rang, they split up for class. Lucina and Bella's first lesson was biology. Alex, however, stayed in the hallway—his face a picture of cosmic tragedy.

As she left, Lucina cast him a triumphant look: as if to say, she had won the prize while he was left behind. Alex only sighed heavily, but a new idea flashed in his mind a moment later.

"Alice, want to skip the first class?" he whispered conspiratorially, turning to the vampire.

"Let me guess… you want to spy on Bella and Edward?" Alice narrowed her eyes.

"Of course! Just think about it: an awkward girl next to a vampire barely restraining his instincts. It would be a crime to miss such a chance," Alex said with mock seriousness.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go ruin everything," Alice replied with a delighted smile.

They both burst out laughing like a pair of gremlins and hurried off toward the biology classroom. Sneaking up to the door, Alex carefully peeked inside. The first thing he saw was Lucina, leaning on her hand, clearly enjoying the spectacle and not even trying to hide it.

Noticing him, she met his gaze. Alex immediately pressed a finger to his lips, silently begging her not to give them away. Then he cast a simple "Don't Notice Me" spell over himself and Alice, and the two of them slipped into the classroom, sitting where they had a clear view of everything.

The teacher was handing out the biology assignment—they had to work in pairs.

"Ladies first," Edward said awkwardly, sliding the microscope toward Bella.

The microscope gave a grating squeak, and both their faces turned so serious and tense that Alex nearly burst out laughing. Luckily, Alice covered his mouth with her hand just in time, though she was barely holding back her own giggles.

Lucina, meanwhile, completely ignored the boy sitting beside her who was trying to flirt. A second later, the boy's head jerked forward as if someone had smacked him. Lucina cast a dry glance at Alex, who had indeed just knocked the poor guy on the back of the head.

At that moment, Bella and Edward began their strange, awkward exchange.

"You… were absent?" Bella asked carefully, peering into the microscope.

"Yes, I had to leave for a couple of days… personal reasons," Edward muttered.

"Alice said you were visiting relatives in Alaska. How was it?" Bella still avoided his eyes. "This is prophase."

"It was cold," Edward replied curtly. "Do you talk to my sister often?"

"She sometimes comes over to my neighbor Alex's place, and we sit together in the cafeteria. Actually, she was the one who told me you suddenly had to leave."

"That's right. Something happened with the relatives… I had to go. May I take a look?" Edward asked, reaching for the microscope.

"Of course," Bella nodded, moving aside.

"It's prophase," Edward confirmed.

"I already said that," Bella murmured a little softer than usual, meeting his gaze for a fleeting moment.

Alex, sitting nearby, was already ready to applaud for the "Best Play of the Year."

Edward seemed thrown off by Bella's words, fumbling into even more awkward replies. The atmosphere in the classroom grew so absurdly tense that suddenly there were two loud smacks—Alex and Alice hitting their own foreheads in perfect sync. The other students turned their heads, but the "Don't Notice Me" spell did its job: no one saw the two conspirators sitting practically right next to Bella and Edward.

"And why is he even answering questions about the weather in Forks—where it rains 360 days a year?" Alex whispered, rolling his eyes.

Alice covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. For her, this was also pure entertainment—something she would later gleefully share with the rest of the Cullens.

When Bella began explaining to Edward why she had moved to Forks, her voice gained dramatic notes, as if it were a scene from a melodrama. Edward listened, awkwardly searching for words, while Alex nodded solemnly as though he were part of the conversation himself. Inwardly, though, he thought that watching the "shy schoolgirl" and the "brooding vampire" trying to talk was the best show in the world. Especially whenever they caught each other's eyes and froze, as if slipping into a trance.

When the lesson finally ended, Alex had no intention of missing the follow-up. Grabbing Alice by the hand, he hurried after Bella and Edward. Lucina slung her backpack over one shoulder and quickly caught up—now the trio of spies was following the pair at every step.

They stopped at Bella's locker.

"Do you wear contacts?" she asked suddenly, peering into Edward's golden eyes.

"N-no," he stammered.

"But last time they were black… and now they're golden-brown," Bella noted in surprise.

"That's… fluorescence. The light… just reflected differently," Edward muttered and quickly fled.

Bella stared after him, bewildered, clearly wondering if she had said something wrong. Right then, a muffled laugh sounded beside her. She spun around and saw Alex, Alice, and Lucina doing their best not to burst into hysterics.

"Sorry, Bella," Alex gasped, "but that was freaking hilarious. 'Edward, why are your eyes a different color, do you wear contacts?'" He mimicked her voice.

"'No… Bella… It's the light…'" Alice chimed in, pulling a face to parody Edward's brooding expression.

Lucina turned away, covering her mouth with her hand to keep from bursting out laughing. Bella, on the other hand, blushed deeply and fell silent, unable to say a word.

When the little performance was over, Alex smiled slightly and said,"Alright, listen: you just imagined it. Sometimes eyes really do look different because of the light."

Bella nodded, but inside she still couldn't understand why Edward had run off as if from a fire.

The bell rang, signaling the next lesson. This time, Alex ended up in the same classroom as Lucina, Bella, and Edward himself. He was thrilled: finally, he could watch the show without skipping class. Alice, however, was visibly disappointed—she had been sent to another classroom.

During the lesson, Bella awkwardly tried to apologize to Edward for possibly misjudging the color of his eyes. Edward was just as awkward, insisting that he understood. At one point, Alex nearly banged his head on the desk from an excess of "romance," but Lucina always had her hand ready to stop him just in time.

After class, Bella and Edward left together again, ignoring everyone else.

Next up for Alex was gym class, and of course, he couldn't resist retelling everything to Emmett. Running around the gym, he shared the details of their "romantic suffering." Emmett laughed until he cried and kept repeating,"Oh, this is going to be perfect… I'll save this to tease Edward at home."

When lunch break came, Alex met up with Lucina and Alice in the hallway, and the three of them headed off after Bella. She looked like a lost puppy, watching Edward's back as he walked toward the Cullens.

Alex barely restrained himself from making another snide comment and silently followed the girls to the cafeteria. There, they took their usual corner spot. Alex ate the lunch Miou had carefully prepared, while Bella tried in vain to keep a conversation going with Lucina and Alice, constantly glancing at Edward anyway.

Emmett's smile at their table was clear: he was still remembering Alex's jokes.

"Bella, do you want me to talk to him?" Alex offered, looking at the frozen girl.

"N-no! I mean… that's not necessary!" she blurted out, turning bright red.

"For the love of the Great Creator, Bella… just invite him for a walk," Alex rolled his eyes.

"We just met… it's wrong," she whispered, lowering her head.

Alex, Lucina, and Alice all looked at Bella with the same expressive gaze—clearly thinking: "What on earth are you talking about?"

Alex glanced at Bella once more, then shifted his eyes to the Cullens' table. His gaze met Emmett's, and they exchanged a brief nod—no words needed; it was clear it was time to act.

Alex jumped up abruptly, not giving Edward a chance to react, and strode quickly toward the Cullens' table. Bella panicked, trying to stop him, but Alice gently grabbed her arm.

"Calm down. He knows what he's doing," Alice said.

Alex, acting as if nothing was happening, sat down next to Edward and smirked.

"Well, hello again, Edward. Shall we chat?" he said, leaning his cheek on his fist, smiling like he planned to push Edward's buttons.

"We have nothing to talk about," Edward cut him off coldly, already preparing to stand.

But Alex's hand landed on his shoulder and pressed him down.

"On the contrary, we do. Listen carefully: watching you and Bella painfully try to communicate is, of course, amusing. But you're acting like a complete idiot with her. Yes, I know about all your destinies, soul connections, and all that 'blah-blah-blah.' Enough with playing the martyr. You and Bella are going to end up together—whether you like it or not. So stop running from the obvious and just be with her."

Edward shot him an angry glare.

"You don't know anything. Mind your own business," he said firmly.

Alex laughed.

"Oh, little Edward is angry! How unexpected. But anger won't help you. And you know what? I see far more than you can imagine. Unlike you, the mind-peeping enthusiast, I see the world without illusions. Even gods can't escape fate—so why do you think you can? Who do you think you are?" He paused abruptly, coughed. "Hmm. My apologies. Anyway, the point is simple: you're drawn to Bella, she's drawn to you. Stop resisting. And as for your thirst for blood—you'll manage. You have a family, and I'll help if needed."

Edward frowned, but his voice was firm.

"I won't condemn her to a life with a monster. She doesn't deserve that."

Alex grinned and patted him on the shoulder.

"Come on. You're as much of a monster as I am a ballerina. I've done far more than you. So stop acting like a demon. Just ask Bella out. Go to the movies, a café—hell, even a walk. Give her a chance to decide if she wants to be with you."

He stood up, patting Edward on the shoulder again.

"Alex is right," Rosalie suddenly added, crossing her arms. "Bella is a good girl. We already know her better than you do. So stop playing the tragic hero and ask her on a damn date. Your eternally gloomy 'emo-face' is driving everyone crazy."

Edward lowered his head, lost in thought. Alex's words had clearly struck a nerve—especially since the Cullens silently supported him.

Alex smirked, patted him on the shoulder once more, and headed back to Lucina, Alice, and Bella. Reaching their table, he gave a thumbs-up: everything had gone perfectly.

Bella, meanwhile, looked at him as if he were the last scoundrel in the universe. Alex rolled his eyes and waved his hand. Now let Edward figure out how to stop being an idiot. Alex had experience dealing with "emo-guys"—he'd straightened Takashi's head more than once, though usually Yuki handled that.

The remaining classes felt boring: no "Bella + Edward" show. Eventually, the day came to an end. Alex and Alice left the art room and headed to the parking lot, where Lucina and Bella were already waiting.

Near the Cullens, Alex noticed Edward staring at Bella again, completely unabashed. He barely restrained himself from giving him a kick for such behavior.

Hugging Alice goodbye, he walked toward his motorcycle, where Lucina and Bella were already waiting.

"Bella, stop staring like that," Alex said, leaning back and putting his hands behind his head. "You look creepy."

"I'm not staring," Bella snapped.

"So you're not denying that you look creepy," Lucina smirked, sitting on his motorcycle.

Bella began to justify herself, hurriedly coming up with the most ridiculous explanations. Alex just shook his head, watching her panic. His gaze unconsciously drifted to Edward: he stood motionless, like a statue, his eyes fixed on Bella.

Of course… Alex thought, barely holding back a sigh. Now it was clear why fate had destined them for each other. A pair of favorite "watchers from afar."

He was about to stop Bella and her endless excuses when suddenly the screech of tires sounded behind them. Alex whipped around and saw a car careening straight toward them, out of control.

Without thinking, he grabbed Lucina and slammed his foot into the side of the car, stopping it right in front of them. At the same moment, Edward appeared next to Bella, shielding her with his body and holding out his hand to stop the vehicle.

Inside the car was Tyler Crowley—he had hit his head on the steering wheel and was unconscious.

Bella stared in shock, switching her gaze between Edward and Alex. Two dents remained on the car—one from Edward's hand and one from Alex's foot.

Alice rushed over, concerned. Though her worry was mostly for show—she knew perfectly well that Alex and Lucina were safe.

Wasting no time, Alex opened the car door and pulled Tyler out, who had a gash on his head.

"How did you end up here?" Bella asked, looking at Edward.

"I wanted to say goodbye," he answered calmly. "And I happened to be nearby the moment the car came at you."

Alex, with a stone-cold expression, added,

"Don't believe him, Bella. Actually, Edward is the Flash. He's just hiding his superhero identity. The whole school's known for a while—only you didn't get the memo."

Alice quietly giggled, tugging on Alex's arm. Bella looked at Edward questioningly, as if seriously wondering if it was true. Alex just rolled his eyes.

A few minutes later, an ambulance arrived. Alex wanted to refuse, but they practically shoved him inside along with Lucina and Bella. Tyler, the culprit of the accident, lay on the stretcher with a mild concussion.

Alex sat in the ambulance with his usual stone-faced expression, thinking only about how his plan to buy something tasty was now postponed.

At the hospital, Edward and Alice immediately met them. Alex, Lucina, and Bella were taken in for a check-up.

The first one to burst into the room was Charlie. He threw an angry glare at Tyler and promised that he would never have a driver's license again, then began pacing around Bella like a worried parent.

A few minutes later, Carlisle arrived.

"I heard there was an unpleasant incident at school today," he said as he entered.

"Dr. Cullen," Charlie nodded.

"Charlie. Alex, Lucina," Carlisle noticed them and looked slightly surprised. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"They dragged me into the ambulance by force," Alex replied, resting his cheek on his fist and tucking his leg under him. "Even though I said I was fine, no one wanted to listen."

"I'll take care of them, Jess," Carlisle said, taking the chart from the nurse.

He scanned the records and smiled.

"Alex, Lucina, you're free to go. Everything's fine."

"Great. Say hi to Esme for me. I need to go back for the motorcycle that's still in the school parking lot," Alex said, standing and taking Lucina by the hand.

"I'll be sure to pass it on. And be careful on the way," Carlisle replied with a warm smile.

Alex waved goodbye to Carlisle, Charlie, and Bella. She clearly wanted to leave without any more questions, but she couldn't stop thinking about how Edward had managed to stop the car and get there so quickly. Even more confusing was the fact that Alex had also put his hand—or rather, his foot—into the rescue, literally.

Bella didn't even pay attention to Carlisle's words, lost in her own thoughts and doubts.

Alex and Lucina left the room and almost immediately ran into Edward and Alice. Edward, as always, was gloomier than a storm cloud, stubbornly ignoring his sister, who was trying to get him to talk.

Holding Lucina's hand, Alex approached with a carefree smile:

"Edward, if you don't want to reveal who you really are, start spouting complete nonsense with a serious face. Works like a charm. Say, for example, that you're a kung fu master or a secret crime-fighter. The important thing is to talk nonsense, and when you're ready, just tell Bella the truth."

"That idiot is wrong," Alice smirked, poking her brother with a finger. "He's thinking about something completely different."

"Oh? And what's that?" Alex drawled, raising an eyebrow. "That you didn't hug Bella enough when saving her like a princess from a fairy tale?"

"Volturi," Edward replied darkly.

Alex rolled his eyes.

"Ah, those idiots. Don't worry about them. If they try anything, I'll handle it. No one's going to ruin my fun of watching your awkward romance with Bella. Not even a bunch of ancient vampires."

"So… you're just amused?" Edward asked, looking at him with a blank expression.

"Exactly!" Alex nodded. "Alice, can you give us a ride to school? My motorcycle's still there."

Edward silently continued to glare at him, as if he didn't know what to say. Alex just shrugged, took Alice's hand, and together with her and Lucina headed toward the exit.

Alice drove them to the school. As soon as Alex stepped out of her yellow Porsche, the girls drove off, leaving him alone.

He lit a cigarette, watching the car disappear, and once he finished, he got on his motorcycle. His plans for "naughty food" hadn't changed: on the way home, he stopped at a diner and bought dinner for an evening movie.

At home, Lucina and Alice were already waiting in their casual clothes. Alex, lazily snapping his fingers and changing his clothes with magic, settled between them on the couch. The day had been eventful, and the days ahead promised to be even more interesting: there were days ahead of observing how Bella and Edward would act awkwardly around each other.

Alex even smirked, thinking it over: a few weeks would be enough for Bella to push Edward until he finally told her the truth. And after that, meeting the rest of the Cullens wouldn't be far off.

To be continued…

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