Takahata's class had been… unexpectedly normal. Despite his status as a high-ranking mage, the lesson was standard middle school English. It seemed that even for a sorcerer, work was work and school was school.
"That concludes today's lesson," Takahata said, gathering his materials. "I have to head out on a business trip now, so please consult with Shizuna-sensei if anything comes up. Oh—one more thing. Try to go easy on Axel-kun, alright?"
Go easy on me? I wondered. What's that supposed to mean?
I found out approximately two seconds after Takahata cleared the doorway. Almost every girl in the room surged toward my desk like a breaking wave.
"Whoa!"
I didn't wait for them to reach me. My reflexes, honed by years of surviving the Shadow Mirror's internal purges and front-line combat, took over. I vaulted toward the exit, aiming for a clean tactical withdrawal. I would have made it, too.
"Now, now," a mocking voice rang out. "Communication with your classmates is vital for a growing boy."
Evangeline was suddenly standing in the doorway, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips as she blocked my only exit.
"Fight me, aru!" a tan girl shouted, dropping into a low, aggressive stance.
"I, too, wish to test my steel against yours," added a tall girl who spoke with the distinct, archaic cadence of a ninja.
I stared at them for a beat. "Request denied."
"Why, aru?!" the tan girl demanded.
"Because I've had quite enough chaos for one morning."
"A pity," the ninja-girl murmured. "What must we do to earn a spar, then?"
As I struggled to find a way to let them down without inciting a riot, a familiar face pushed through the crowd. It was Madoka Kugimiya, one of the girls I'd helped the previous day.
"Give it a rest, Ku-chan, Kaede-chan," Madoka sighed, placing herself between me and the martial artists. "Picking a fight with a kid who just got here? From the outside, it looks like you're just bullying him."
"Ugh… is that how it looks, aru?" the girl named Ku-chan asked, her shoulders slumping.
"Regrettable," Kaede added, though she stepped back politely.
I breathed a sigh of relief and turned to my rescuer. "Thanks, Kugimii. You saved me a headache."
"DON'T CALL ME KUGIMII!" she shrieked, her face turning a vibrant shade of red.
She took a moment to huff and puff, eventually settling down enough to look me in the eye. "Anyway… I didn't get a chance to say it properly yesterday. Thanks for the help."
"Yeah, thanks a ton, Axel-kun!" Misa Kakizaki chirped, appearing at Madoka's side.
"What's the story, girls?" a bubbly-looking girl asked, leaning into our circle.
"Sakurako, remember when you had that errand yesterday and we went out on our own?" Misa explained. "We got cornered by some nasty guys. Axel-kun stepped in and handled them before things got ugly."
"Nyaha! That's awesome! You're like a little hero, Axel-kun. I'm Sakurako Shiina, by the way. Nice to meet ya!"
"My, my," Chizuru's voice floated over the crowd. "It seems Axel-kun is a regular knight in shining armor wherever he goes."
"Chizuru-san!" Ayaka hissed, shooting her a warning look.
"...Ah, right. My apologies," Chizuru said with a wink.
"What was that about, Chizu-nee?" Natsumi asked, looking confused. Chizuru just laughed it off with her usual air of mystery.
"So, you are strong, aru!" Ku-chan exclaimed, her eyes reigniting with competitive fire. "Axel, you gotta come to our club! The Chinese Martial Arts Research Society!"
"And ours!" Misa added. "The Cheerleading Club!"
"Misa," Madoka groaned, "what exactly is a ten-year-old boy going to do in the Cheerleading Club?"
"Hey, think about it! He can be our mascot. Plus, think of the fan service—all those beautiful big sisters in short skirts…"
"Nyaha! Sounds fun! I'm in!" Sakurako cheered.
"Sakurako, not you too…"
I weighed the offers. The Cheerleading Club was probably harmless enough—mostly just watching them perform—but the Chinese Martial Arts group was the real problem. The "fighting style" I practiced was a lethal amalgam of Federation Special Forces CQC and Shadow Mirror assassination techniques. It wasn't a sport; it was a way to end lives. Telling a girl like Ku-chan that would only make her more persistent, though.
"I'll… drop by if I have the chance," I said, opting for the safest non-answer.
"It's a promise, aru!" Ku-chan cheered, breaking into a bizarre, joyful little dance.
"Don't bother being subtle with her," Madoka muttered to me. "She's a Baka-Ranger. Nuance doesn't reach her brain."
"Baka-Ranger?" I asked.
"Class 2-A's bottom-five students," Madoka explained. "Though, honestly, Misa and I aren't exactly scholars. We're basically the Baka-Ranger reserves."
"Hey! I'll have you know I'm a woman who lives for love!" Misa declared.
"Spoken like the only girl in class with a boyfriend," Madoka countered. "Even if it was just a 'trial run' to see what it was like."
"I can't exactly deny that…"
The conversation was drifting into territories I didn't care to explore. Fortunately, the Class Rep took charge.
"Alright, everyone! The next period is about to begin. Return to your seats!"
"Yes, ma'am~," the girls sang out, dispersing to their desks.
"Thanks, Ayaka. You saved me again," I said.
"Think nothing of it! As your guardian, I, Ayaka Yukihiro, shall provide my full and unwavering support!"
Her intensity was… daunting. It was the raw, unbridled energy of youth—something I'd long since traded for the cold pragmatism of a pilot's cockpit.
"Tch. How boring," Evangeline muttered as she returned to her desk next to mine. "I was hoping to see you actually break a sweat under all that attention."
"What exactly were you trying to achieve?" I asked.
"I told you—I wanted to see you flustered. Anyway, the 'excavation' of my resort is complete. Come to my place after school. As we agreed, we'll fight at full strength."
She flashed a predatory grin. I nodded, matching her smile with a wry one of my own.
"For a vampire, you've got a hell of a lot of intellectual curiosity… Wait, is it okay to talk about this in the middle of class?" I lowered my voice. Takahata had warned me that magic was a closely guarded secret.
"The administrators can find out if they want; there's nothing they can do to stop me. Besides… look around."
I scanned the room. No one was paying us the slightest bit of attention.
"Brats this age have the attention span of gnats," Eva said coolly. "Especially in this class. Unless you're doing something loud and flashy, they won't notice a thing."
"If you say so, Evangeline."
"Just call me Eva."
"Hm?"
"It's a mouthful to say the whole thing every time. 'Eva' is fine."
"What brought this on?" I asked.
"Hmph. In a way, you're like me—an outsider. I feel a certain… kinship. Besides, it's rare to find someone who doesn't change their tune the moment they realize I'm a vampire."
"Change my tune?" I let out a short laugh. "Compared to aliens, genetically engineered 'Newtypes,' and monsters made of bones and vines that hunt me across dimensions… a vampire is pretty low on my list of things to worry about. Honestly, it's more like 'A vampire? That's it?'"
Eva stared at me for a long moment, her eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and amusement. "You… have lived an absurdly eventful life, haven't you?"
The rest of the school day passed in a blur of mundane lessons and adolescent chatter. Lunch was another chaotic event, but I managed to survive it.
As the final bell rang, I prepared to head back to the dorms to drop off my things before heading to Eva's place. However, a hand landed on my shoulder.
"Axel-kun, do you have a moment?"
It was Chizuru, with Natsumi trailing behind her.
"I actually have plans right now," I said.
"Plans?"
"Yeah. I promised Eva I'd stop by her place."
"Heh~," Natsumi smirked. "So Axel-kun's type is girls like Eva-chan?"
"Absolutely not," I said, shutting down the 'shotacon' suspicion before it could take root.
"Hehe. Regardless, I'm afraid we need you to come with us for a bit," Chizuru said. Her smile was gentle, but her eyes held a terrifying, immovable pressure.
"I told you, I have an appointment—"
"Now, now, Axel-kun. This is this, and that is that," Natsumi added, looking at me with pity. "Besides, it's suicide to try and say no to Chizu-nee when she's like this."
"...Point taken."
I sighed. Chizuru had a strange, almost supernatural ability to bend the flow of events to her will without ever raising her voice. I allowed myself to be "apprehended" by the two of them.
They led me down the hall to a darkened classroom. I could sense several presences waiting inside, holding their breath.
"Go ahead," Chizuru said, gesturing to the door.
I reached out and turned the handle. As the door swung open—
BANG!
A sound like a gunshot tore through the air.
[Status Window]
Name: Axel Almar
Level: 38
PP: 625
Melee: 262 | Ranged: 282 | Skill: 272 | Defense: 272 | Evasion: 302 | Accuracy: 322
SP: 462
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Consumes SP to enhance Slime performance)
Growth Type: All-Rounder / Special
Terrain: Air: S | Ground: S | Water: S | Space: S
Spirit Commands: Accel, Effort, Focus, Direct Hit, Awaken, Love
Skills: EXP Up, SP Boost, Telekinesis Lv.10, Attacker, Gunfight Lv.9, Infight Lv.9, Morale Limit Break,
Geass (Greyed), Magic (Fire/Shadow/Summoning)
Total Kills: 376
-------------------------------
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