Chapter 207: 207: SHU Evaluation Day (Part 4)
It was a girl—young, with big round glasses perched on her nose and short, slightly messy hair. Her attire was colorful and eclectic, a chaotic mix of patterns and shades that looked more like a statement than a fashion choice. The bright colors stood out against the more subdued tones of those around her, making her even more noticeable.
Starboy frowned in confusion, tilting his head slightly as he fixed his gaze on her. "Was it you?" he asked, his voice calm but carrying the weight of someone used to being answered immediately.
The girl adjusted her glasses and lowered her hand, shaking her head nonchalantly. "No," she replied, her voice clear and confident. "But I can point out who said it. My hearing's that good—I can distinguish all the voices present here so it's no problem at all for me," she added, clearly proud of herself.
Starboy's smile returned, though it was thin and less amused than before. He didn't look particularly impressed but he played along. "Well then, point them out," he said, waving a hand as if this whole thing was a minor inconvenience.
But to his and the crowd's surprise, the girl crossed her arms and smirked while shaking her head. "No. At least not for free."
The crowd reacted with surprise, and some of the girls near her scowled, immediately jumping on her defiance.
"Who do you think you are?" one of them yelled.
"Yeah, if Starboy asks you a question, you answer!" another delusional one chimed in.
"What a pick-me girl!" someone sneered.
"Ha, she must think he'll reward her for something so dumb," added another, eliciting a round of giggles from the onlookers.
Despite the barrage of insults, the girl maintained her composure, unfazed by the comments. She stood her ground with a small, amused smile, as if enjoying the moment.
Donald, sitting beside Don, glanced over with a nervous expression, the fatigue on his face momentarily forgotten. "Psst," he whispered, trying to get Don's attention. When Don looked over, Donald frantically gestured with his hands for them to make a quick escape. He really wasn't liking the direction things were going in.
Don chuckled softly, shaking his head and giving Donald a calming gesture. **Relax,** his expression seemed to say. Donald could only curse his big mouth inwardly.
Starboy, still hovering above, smiled down at the girl. "Fine," he said, clearly entertained by her boldness. "I'll play along. What do you want?"
The girl's grin widened, and without missing a beat, she answered, "Two liters of your bathwater."
"….."
The already hushed crowd fell into an even deeper silence. The absurdity of her request left everyone momentarily speechless until a voice from the crowd finally expressed their surprise. "Ayo, what the fuck?" the person muttered, capturing the bewildered vibe of the other onlookers.
Starboy's brows furrowed for a brief moment, clearly thrown off by the bizarre request. But his confusion didn't last long. His smile returned, more forced this time, as he nodded. "If that's your wish," he said, his tone full of condescension. "Now tell me quickly, I have more important things to do."
The girl didn't hesitate. She raised her hand once more and pointed directly in Don and Donald's direction. "There," she said, her finger specifically targeted on Donald. "The one with the glasses said it."
Donald's heart sank, and he visibly stiffened in his seat, his face going pale as Starboy's gaze snapped to their position. With incredible speed, Starboy shot toward them, the sudden movement causing the umbrellas over the nearby tables to rattle and whip in the gust of air he left in his wake.
Donald began to sweat like he had just run a marathon, his eyes wide as Starboy lowered himself slowly to the ground, his feet hovering just inches above the pavement. He loomed over them, his glowing eyes locked onto Donald.
"Repeat what you said about me," Starboy demanded, his voice cold and commanding despite the smile he still had plastered on his face.
Donald opened his mouth, but no words came out. He was frozen, caught like a deer in headlights, and for a moment, it seemed like he might pass out from sheer anxiety.
To Donald's utter shock, it was Don who spoke up, his voice calm and steady. "He said you're talented but nothing special. And I agree."
Donald's head snapped toward Don, his eyes wide with disbelief. **What the hell are you doing?** his expression seemed to scream, though his mouth only hung open and no words were said.
Starboy's attention shifted to Don, his star-shaped pupils narrowing as he scrutinized him. The tense silence hung in the air for a moment before Starboy suddenly laughed.
The sound was loud and grating, and as he looked around at the crowd, his voice boomed again. "Did you all hear that? These two think I'm nothing special!" He spread his arms wide, his cape billowing as he hovered just above the ground.
"Well, maybe they're right, hmm?" He turned back to Don, his smile twisting into something more sinister. "You must be really special yourself to think that, right?"
Don remained unfazed, casually taking another sip of his coffee before shaking his head and answering, "Not really. I mean, I might be in the Elite Hero Program, but I don't need to flaunt it. At the end of the day, I know I'm not the strongest in the world."
Starboy's eyes flashed as he sized Don up, his smile faltering for a moment. "You?" he said, almost incredulously. "In the Elite Hero Program?" He barked out a laugh, his voice full of mockery. "Do you hear that, everyone?" He waved a hand toward the crowd. "This guy thinks we're all stupid!"
A few people in the crowd joined in with forced laughter, someone even yelling, "Who the heck is he?"
Starboy's laughter abruptly stopped, his voice growing darker as he glared at Don. "Do you think this is a joke?"
Don didn't even blink. His eyes met Starboy's with a calm, steady gaze as he replied, "If it is, then you must be the punchline."