The S-Class Mage is a Gyaru!?-Chapter 53: Rising Star, Part Seven

Day one after our little courtyard moment goes exactly how you’d expect.

Lily’s still got that stick up her ass, I’m still a bitch when I need to be, and Reina looks like she’s considering transferring schools. We manage about twenty minutes of practice before I say something stupid and Lily says something snippy and we’re right back where we started.

[At least nothing exploded.]

Day two is... different.

"Your mana’s too wild," Lily says, and for once she doesn’t sound like she’s explaining things to a particularly stupid child. "Try to tone it down more."

"The fuck does that mean?"

"It means," she demonstrates with her own magic, creating this smooth flow in the air, "less waterfall, more river."

I have no fucking clue what that means.

By the end of that session, we manage to hold the triangle for almost a minute.

Day three hits and something weird happens.

We’re all in position. Me, Lily, and Reina forming our little triangle. My mana’s flowing smoother now, less "fuck you" and more "fuck you but make it elegant." At least, that’s the best I can do, really. Reina’s doing her thing, all precise and controlled.

And Lily...

[Wait. When did she get this good?]

I watch her movements, the way she guides her magic like she’s conducting an orchestra.

"Nakamura," she calls out, not unkindly. "You’re pushing again."

"Right, sorry."

And I actually mean it. Kind of a shame I interrupted that.

The triangle holds for five minutes this time. When it finally breaks, none of us are even mad.

"That was..." Reina starts.

"Actually not horrible?" I finish.

Lily just nods, already setting up for another attempt. She’s... kinda smiling.

[Maybe this won’t completely suck after all.]

"Ready?" she asks, raising her hands.

"Born ready," I grin, then catch myself. "I mean... yeah. Let’s do this."

Three more hours of practice, and we only try to kill each other twice. Progress, I guess.

Haruka watches from the bleachers the whole time, occasionally shooting me thumbs up or making obscene gestures when no one’s looking. But even she notices something’s different.

"You guys actually looked good out there," she says as we’re packing up.

"Don’t sound so surprised," I reply with a smirk. "She’s annoying as shit, but I guess she’s not that bad."

Three days in and nobody’s dead. Nobody’s crying in the courtyard. Nobody’s thrown a spell in anger.

Maybe, just maybe, we can pull this off.

"Same time tomorrow?" Reina asks, gathering her things.

"Actually," Lily speaks up. "We should try morning practice. The mana flow’s stronger at dawn."

I open my mouth to complain, but...

[Fuck. She’s probably right.]

"Fine," I sigh. "But someone’s bringing coffee."

"I’ll handle it," Lily says, already heading for the door. "Just try not to be late, Nakamura."

There’s no bite in it though. Almost sounds like a joke.

Almost.

---

The floating gazebos are off-limits after sunset, which is exactly why me and Haruka are sprawled out in one right now.

The beer in our hands is cheap - some corner store stuff we grabbed earlier - but the view’s expensive as fuck. All of New Tokyo spread out beneath us, with big signs and neon painting the night in pink and blue.

"And then," Haruka’s laughing so hard she can barely get the words out, "Professor Chen’s face when you turned her binding spell into fucking bubbles-"

"Worth every minute of detention," I take another sip. The gazebo sways slightly in the wind, making the city blur below us. "Though I still say those bubbles were elegant as shit."

"You made them spell out ’eat my ass’ across the classroom."

"Exactly. Elegant."

We lay there for a while, just watching the magical billboards change colors. Haruka’s got her head in my lap, and I’m playing with her hair, and everything feels... right.

"So," she says after a bit. "Practice is going better."

[Here we go.]

"I guess."

"You guess?" She pokes my thigh. "Babe, you guys held that triangle thing for like, ten whole minutes today."

I take another drink.

"Whatever."

"Uh huh." She sits up, grinning. "Is that why you and Lily were actually having a civil conversation about mana flow?"

"Fuck off," I push her shoulder. "We were not."

"You so were! You even nodded when she explained something!"

"Maybe I was just thinking about her tits."

"What tits?"

[Fuck.]

"What?" I lay back, looking up at the stars. "She... has nice ones."

Haruka flops down beside me, stealing my beer.

"Sure. Sure."

We lay there for a while longer, passing the beer back and forth. A patrol of flying familiars passes overhead, but they’re too busy chasing each other to notice us.

"You know what’s weird though?" I say finally.

"Hmm?"

"She actually knows her shit. Like, when she talks about mana control and all that... she’s not bullshitting."

Haruka props herself up on an elbow, looking at me.

"That surprising?"

"Kind of?" I finish the beer. "I mean, I always figured she was all talk, you know? Like some prep school princess playing at being a mage."

"And now?"

"Now..." I watch another patrol go by. "I dunno. I guess she’s working hard. Even if she’s like, a top 10 bitch of all time."

"Sounds like someone else I know."

"Hey!" I pout. "I’m nowhere near that bitchy."

"I did not mean that as a bad thing, babe."

Haruka just grins, leaning in to kiss me.

"Four more days," she mumbles against my lips.

"Don’t remind me."

"You guys are gonna kill it."

---

{Lily}

"Have a good day, dear," Mother says as I step out.

I straighten my uniform, checking my reflection in a nearby window. Everything has to be perfect. Has to be.

The walk to class gives me time to think about these past few days of practice. About mana flow and control and...

[And that insufferable gyaru actually listening for once.]

It’s strange. I expected working with Nakamura to be absolute torture. Like having my teeth pulled while someone explains basic magic theory to a brick wall.

Instead, it’s been... well, not completely horrible.

"Your mana’s too sharp again," I’d told her yesterday, and instead of some crude joke, she actually tried to adjust. Even managed to hold the triangle for several minutes.

[Not that I’m impressed or anything.]

But there’s something about the way she approaches magic. No technique, no refinement, just raw power and...

[And it actually works for her, huh. Damn these talented people.]

I push open the classroom door, early as always. And immediately regret it.

Because there’s Nakamura, sprawled across her desk with that girlfriend of hers basically eating her face. They’re making sounds that absolutely should not be made in public, let alone a classroom.

[Why am I not surprised?]

I roll my eyes and head to my seat, pointedly ignoring the way Haruka’s hand is definitely under Nakamura’s skirt.

"Get a room," I mutter, not quite under my breath.

Nakamura breaks away from Haruka’s mouth just long enough to wink at me.

"Jealous?"

[As if.]

I pull out my notes from yesterday’s practice, pretending I can’t hear them giggling.

Three more days until the exhibition. Three more days of dealing with... this.

[At least she’s good at magic.]

Though I’ll die before admitting that out loud.

---

The student council room always feels like a tomb this late in the day. All dark wood and heavy curtains, perfect for plotting.

[How dramatic.]

"So," Miyuki’s voice is careful, measured. "How are things progressing with Nakamura?"

I keep my expression neutral, hands folded in my lap like the good little soldier they think I am.

"The practice sessions are going well," I report. "She’s... actually trying."

"And?" Miyuki leans forward. "Will she steal the spotlight again?"

[Like you even need to ask.]

"Most likely. Her raw power alone is..." I trail off, watching Miyuki’s jaw clench.

"We can’t let that happen." Mei’s voice is sharp from her corner. "Not after what she did to you, Miyuki-sama."

"Have you thought of any ways to... ensure your success?" Miyuki asks.

"I’ve been rather occupied with practice-"

"Well," Miyuki cuts me off, reaching into her jacket. "I might have a solution."

She places something on the desk between us. Small, round, innocent-looking.

Immediately, I know exactly what I’m looking at.

[A limiter pill. Interesting.]

"All you need to do," Miyuki’s smile is all teeth, "is get her to swallow it."

"And how exactly am I supposed to manage that?"

"Simple." Her smile grows wider. "Kiss her."

I roll my eyes.

[Really? That’s the best you can come up with?]

"You want me to seduce the gyaru."

"Unless you have a better idea?"

[I’ve done worse for less.]

The memory of Professor Sato’s office flashes through my mind. His desk. His couch. The taste of him as I earned my way into Class 1.

I mean, comparatively, let’s keep it real, this is nothing.

"Fine," I say, taking the pill. "I’ll handle it."

Miyuki and Mei share satisfied looks, already discussing how perfect this will be.

But something sits heavy in my stomach and I don’t know why.

These past few days of practice... I’ve been genuinely trying to do my best.

[Stop it. Focus on what matters.]

Still, I slip the pill into my pocket.

Just another step up the ladder.

Just another thing I have to do.