He Didn’t Kidnap Me. Not Exactly novel Chapter 104

Chapter 104

Then at my teammates,

Then back at my shirt.

“We look like low-budget Power Rangers,” I muttered.

No one responded.

Probably because they were also trying to process it.

“How are people supposed to take us seriously,” I continued under my breath, “when we look like we’re about to fight crime justered of solve equations?”

I sighed.

This was already not going well.

Josh walked beside us like he had been assigned as our main gharacter.

Which was annoying.

Because he believed it.

I ignored him.

Focused instead on something else.

Hope.

The posters.

Aria.

All the effort.

Maybe people would show up.

Maybe it wouldn’t be… empty.

We approached the hall.

Other teams were already outside

And immediately, I felt attacked.

They looked… smart.

Not just regular smart.

But visually intimidating smart.

Glasses.

Neat outfits.

Composed expressions. Like they solved equations recreationally. Like they dreamed in numbers.

Like Einstein would look at them and say, “Yes. My people.”

I swallowed.

“Great,” I whispered. “We’re competing against walking calculators.”

We were called in shortly after.

We entered and I looked.

Immediately.

Straight to the audience and my heart lifted for half a second, then dropped.

The hall was empty.

Not completely empty. But close enough.

Scattered people.

A few at the corners.

Some who clearly did not want to be here.

And then I noticed a small group clustered together.

Relief flickered.

Until they moved.

Security

Of course.

Of course they were security.

Why wouldn’t they be?

My hope didn’t just drop.

It dissolved.

Like it had never existed.

We were led to the stage.

Took our positions.

I kept looking at the seats.

Still empty.

Still disappointing.

The host announced we would wait a bit for more people.

Our lecturer passed behind us.

“I don’t think anyone else is coming,” he said casually.

I closed my eyes for a second.

Because of course he would say that.

Josh leaned slightly toward me.

“You all are really miserable.”

I didn’t look at him.

“How do you organize a competition without an audience?”

“Can you shut up?” I muttered.

“You don’t want that,” he replied smoothly. “I’ll be answering most of the questions.”

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