The S-Class Mage is a Gyaru!?-Chapter 55: Rising Star, Part Nine

{Lily}

The student council room feels different today. Maybe because I’m not here to kiss anyone’s ass. Maybe because for once, I’ve got something they actually want to hear.

[Amazing what finding someone’s weakness can do for your confidence.]

"Well?" Miyuki leans forward, perfectly manicured nails tapping against her desk. "How’s our little plan progressing?"

I let my smile grow, slow and sweet.

"Oh, it’s progressing quite nicely," I settle into my chair, crossing my legs just so. "Our precious S-Class might just have a thing for being dominated."

Mei nearly chokes on her tea. A few drops land on her pristine white blouse, and I have to bite back a laugh.

"What?"

"Turns out," I examine my own nails, savoring this moment like fine wine, "all that raw power comes with some interesting preferences. The more I push her around, the more worked up she gets. I basically have her wrapped around my pinky."

"And you’re certain?" Miyuki’s eyes narrow, but I can see the way her breath catches. She’s a little too excited to hear this, but whatever.

"Trust me." I think back to practice, arching a brow as I smirk. "Getting that pill into her won’t be a problem. She’ll be putty in my hands tomorrow~"

"Good." Miyuki sits back, satisfied. There’s a light flush on her cheeks that has nothing to do with the room temperature. "The exhibition’s tomorrow. Don’t mess this up."

"Would I ever disappoint you, Miyuki-sama? Trust me, I’ve got this."

"Just make sure she takes it before the dance portion," Mei adds, still dabbing at her tea-stained blouse. "We need her powers dampened for the whole event."

I nod, playing the perfect soldier while inside I’m laughing. All those failed seduction attempts, all that wasted effort trying to be sexy, and it turns out all I had to do was be myself.

Kind of refreshing, in a way.

"Don’t worry," I stand, straightening my skirt with deliberate slowness. "Tomorrow, everyone will see exactly who the real talent is."

---

"And how are your teammates?" Mom asks over dinner, poking at her reheated convenience store curry. The kitchen’s too small, making the three of us huddle around our table. "Are you getting along with them?"

[Here we go.]

"They’re fine," I push my rice around, watching Dad check his phone for the millionth time. The light from his screen catches the gray in his hair - when did that happen? "We’re working well together."

"But are you having fun?" Mom presses, like that matters. Like anything matters except getting to the top. "Making friends?"

"Fun?" I can’t keep the edge out of my voice. The memory of Professor Sato’s office flashes through my mind - that wasn’t fun, that was necessary. Just like tomorrow will be. "This isn’t about fun. This is about proving myself."

"Lily-"

"No." I set my chopsticks down hard enough to make Mom flinch. "You don’t get it. This exhibition could change everything. If I do well enough, maybe I won’t have to watch that gyaru flaunt her natural talent while I work my ass off."

Dad finally looks up from his phone.

"Is that really so important?"

"Is that-" I stare at him, at his worn suit, at the defeat in his shoulders. "Of course it’s important! Do you know what doors that could open? The connections I could make? The power-"

[The power I need so I get what I rightfully deserve.]

"Well that’s great. We just want you to be happy, sweetheart," Mom tries again, reaching for my hand. I pull away.

"Happy?" I laugh, and it comes out harder than I meant it to. "You know what would make me happy? Not having to watch people coast through life on raw talent while I work myself to the bone. Not having to smile and play nice just to get noticed."

The silence stretches. Mom’s hand retreats to her lap.

"I didn’t realize you felt that way," she says, sounding genuinely surprised.

"It’s fine," I stand up. "Anyway, I’m gonna... I just... I need to practice. Big day tomorrow." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

That’s what they don’t understand. What none of them understand. In this world of magic and money, magic, and power, you either climb to the top or get stepped on.

---

{Akari}

My platform boots click against the pavement as I scroll through the Honda Guild’s website, probably reading this shit for the fiftieth time today. The exhibition breakdown’s right there, lookin’ sus as fuck:

1. Formal Dance (mandatory partner work)

2. Combat Trial (3v3 team battle)

3. Final Challenge (details TBA)

"Details TBA" my thick ass. We’ve known about the first two events for a week, but this mystery challenge? That’s giving me bad vibes.

[Probably gonna make us juggle while doing calculus or some stupid shit.]

I’m getting way more looks than usual today. Half cause I went extra hard changing up my uniform, skirt short as fuck, top basically painted on, and half cause of the sex tape.

Whatever. If I gotta dance today, I’m gonna look hot doing it.

The crowd around Crescent Moon is nuts. Students, normies, even these corporate types in suits that probably cost more than my rent. Everyone wants to see the show.

"’Kari!" Haruka’s voice cuts through the crowd. She’s lounging against the gate with half her titties spilling outta the top of her shirt, and just between her boobs, well, that’s where the "shirt" stops. Shit has me almost drooling.

"Looking good, champion~" She says as she reaches me and I grin, pulling her in. Naturally, she throws her arms around my shoulder.

"You ready to fuck shit up, baby?" I ask.

"Hell yeah."

Boom, suddenly, we’re having our first make out of the day. I hear some hootin’ and hollerin’ but I don’t give a shit. Her tongue tastes too good.

As I’m squeezing my bestie’s ass, I spot Lily walking up with an innocent smile plastered on her face. The way she bows to some passing teachers makes me wanna gag.

[Two-faced little hoe.]

"Morning, teammates!" Her voice is sugary sweet enough to give me diabetes. "Ready for our big day?"

"Drop the act," I roll my eyes, still groping Haruka’s ass cause like, why would I stop? "No one’s buying it."

Her smile doesn’t falter but something dark flashes in those eyes.

"Now, now, Akari-chan. We should all try to get along today, shouldn’t we?"

[The way she says my name makes me wanna punch something.]

Reina shows up last looking like a whole gothic snack. She takes one look at Lily’s fake smile and immediately pulls out her phone, probably to avoid dealing with this mess.

"Any word on what this ’Final Challenge’ is?" She asks without looking up.

"Nope," I pop the ’p’, watching more people file into the school grounds. I’m still holding onto Haru’s ass, my head resting between her tits cause they make the perfect pillow. "But with our luck? Probably some wild nonsense designed to make us look stupid."

"Oh, don’t be so negative!" Lily’s still doing that innocent act. "I’m sure it’ll be perfectly fair~"

[... Something is so fucking suspicious about her today,] I can’t help but notice. [I mean, she cheated to beat Reina in the Arcane Symposium. Sure as shit wouldn’t shock me if she has something in mind for today.]

"Whatever," I crack my knuckles, finally letting go of Haruka’s perfect ass. "Let’s go show these Honda Guild basics what we can do."

Even if something feels off about all this, even if Lily’s definitely up to something, I’m still gonna give them a show they’ll never forget.

---

Professor Zhang’s office is way cooler than the other stuffy professors’ spaces. Her dragon tattoos are literally swimming across her skin today as she leans back in her chair, combat boots up on her desk.

"You’re worried about the mystery event?"

"Hell yeah we are," I say while Haruka’s basically in my lap, her ass grinding against my dick in tiny circles that are driving me insane. "Like, how’re we supposed to prepare for something we don’t know shit about?"

"Language, Nakamura," but Zhang’s grinning. Her eyes flick to where Lily’s standing all prim and proper by the door. "Though I get the concern."

"We should at least know what to expect," Reina adds from where she’s sprawled in the other chair, legs spread in a way that has me wanting to dive between them. "It feels... unfair."

Zhang nods along.

"You’ve got a secret weapon though." She points right at me. "Whatever they throw at us," Zhang continues, standing up, "Akari, you’ve got the raw talent to handle it. Just... try not to post any more sex tapes before the event, yeah?"

I feel my face heat up while Haruka straight-up cackles.

"That was an accident!"

"Sure it was." Zhang heads for the door. "Come on, girls. Let’s get you to the prep room."

We follow her through the halls, but then Lily taps my shoulder.

"Akari-chan?" Her voice is sweet as poison. "Could we talk for a second?"

[The fuck does she want?]

For a moment, I consider not going along with her. But, sighing, I think to myself:

[At least for today, some team chemistry would be good to have.] I tap my foot against the ground. [Fine, fine.]

"Sure."