The S-Class Mage is a Gyaru!?-Chapter 58: Rising Star, Part Twelve

You ever been so tired your tits hurt?

Like, literally just existing makes your whole body scream?

That’s me right now, sprawled face-down on this fancy-ass cushioned bench they set up backstage, my platforms dangling off one end while Haruka strokes my hair.

"Fifteen minutes until the next round!" The announcer’s voice booms, making my bones shake. "Competitors, please take this time to recover!"

[Recover my ass. Pretty sure I just used up enough mana to power New Tokyo for a week.]

"You were amazing out there!" Haruka’s basically vibrating with excitement. She casually lifts me up from the ground and hugs me. Her divine titties start recharging my body the instant my head’s between ’em. She whispers, "the way you showed up that fake bitch? Iconic!"

Speaking of said fake bitch...

I crack one eye open to see Lily sitting across from us, looking about as happy as someone who just found out their sugar daddy went broke. She’s trying to act cool but I can see her hands shaking.

"Hold on, I got some antagonizing to do."

"Go for it!"

I sluggishly make my way over to her, like an anime protagonist limping after a big fight.

"What’s wrong, bestie?" I manage to lift my head just enough to smirk at her. "We won, didn’t we? Isn’t that what you wanted?"

Her eye actually twitches.

[Gotcha.]

"Of course that’s what I wanted." But her voice is tight as fuck. "I just think perhaps some of us could have been more... subtle."

"Subtle?" I snort. "Sorry hun, but if you wanted subtle, you shouldn’t have tried to turn this into a competition~"

"I didn’t-"

"Besides," I stretch, making sure my uniform rides up just enough, "whatever you used to get close to my level? Clearly didn’t take you all the way."

The color drains from her face so fast I’m worried she might pass out.

[Double gotcha.]

"I don’t know what you’re talking about." But she won’t meet my eyes.

"Sure you don’t, baby." I wink, then immediately regret moving as my head spins. "Good luck next round~"

I walk away.

"Fuck, I need water or something."

"Here!" Haruka produces a bottle from somewhere. "Drink up, champion!"

The water helps, but my mana still feels weird. Would have thought that getting it all out of me like I did would have helped but, nah.

Reina walks up, checking her phone.

"Good job with that first round," she says, holding out her phone. "We’re trending, by the way."

"Of course we are." I grab her phone, scrolling through ManaGram. "Holy shit, look at these comments!"

[MagicFanatic69]: DID YALL SEE THAT MAGIC THO???

[CrescentSimp]: akari nakamura could raw dog me and id say thank you

[ManaNews]: Unprecedented display of power at the Exhibition Match! #SClassGyaru

[XXXMagicGirl]: okay but that redhead from honda guild is SLAYING

"Okay, okay, focus up," Reina takes her phone back, but she’s fighting a smile. "We still have two more rounds."

Right. Two more rounds.

The Combat portion, and then whatever that mystery round is.

I glance at Lily, who’s texting someone furiously.

[Whatever you’re planning, bestie, bring it on.]

"Hey," that sexy redhead from Honda Guild pokes her head in. "You guys ready for round two? I mean... as ready as you can be, of course, going up against us~"

My dick perks up immediately, which is impressive considering how exhausted I am.

[... Maybe I DO have a thing for bitchy girls.]

---

{Lily}

The student council room feels like a funeral parlor right now.

Miyuki’s standing at her desk, perfectly manicured nails tap-tap-tapping against the wood like she’s counting down to my execution. Behind her, the window shows the crowd still buzzing about Akari’s performance.

[Like we needed a reminder of that shitshow.]

"So," she says, voice cold as ice. "Care to explain what happened out there?"

[Like you weren’t watching, princess.]

"The dampener... didn’t work as planned." I keep my voice steady, professional, even though my pride’s still stinging from having my magic look like a fucking nightlight next to Akari’s show. "She’s stronger than we anticipated."

"Stronger?" Miyuki actually laughs, but there’s an edge to it. "She made you look like an amateur out there. Both of us, actually. All that raw power, that confidence..."

She trails off, clearly lost in thought about something. Or someone.

"It won’t happen again," I say, meaning every word. My magic might still be recovering, but my pride’s ready for round two. "The next round-"

"I know it won’t."

She moves faster than I expect, crossing the space between us in three quick steps.

Her hand catches my tie and she pulls me toward her.

Then she kisses me.

"...!"

I freeze.

Her lips are softer than Akari’s, more hesitant. Which makes sense. Pretty sure our favorite gyaru’s had way more practice kissing girls than our "perfect" student council president.

I feel something pass between our lips - smooth and sweet, just like what I gave Akari. Except this one’s different than what I imagine mine made Akari feel like. This makes me feel stronger.

She pulls back, face flushed and breathing heavy. A small purple pill sits on my tongue, and I can already feel my mana responding to its presence.

"... You could have just handed it to me," I say after swallowing.

The power surge is instant - my whole body feels like it’s humming with electricity.

"I-I got carried away." She straightens her uniform, not meeting my eyes. Her hands are shaking slightly as she adjusts her skirt. "Just... don’t fail this time. Show her- show THEM what real talent looks like."

I turn to leave.

[... Jesus,] I’m actually blushing. [I’ve kissed more girls today than I have my whole life. Getting kind of ridiculous.]

---

{Reina}

My fingers hover over Jun’s contact picture. I never noticed just how utterly boring it was until just now, here, as I stare at it. It’s this perfectly corporate selfie of him in a perfectly boring suit. Even his smile looks like it was designed by a committee.

Safe.

Professional.

Empty.

I shake my head.

[God, when did I get so mean? It’s just a contact picture.]

I’m about to just slip the phone back into my pocket, but I stop myself. I need... something.

Some encouragement. Some sign that my boyfriend actually gives a shit about what’s happening today. After getting basically ignored all the way leading up to this damn event, I just...

[Just call him, you coward.]

I hit dial and wait.

And wait.

And wait.

The practice room feels too small suddenly. Outside, I can hear people still buzzing about Akari’s performance. Even the Honda Guild members keep glancing our way, especially that redhead who can’t seem to keep her eyes off Akari’s dick print. Not that Akari’s noticed, I think.

[Focus.]

On the sixth ring, someone picks up.

But it’s not Jun’s perfectly modulated voice that greets me.

"Jun’s office, how may I help you?"

"Who is this?" I try to keep my voice steady, but my tail’s already starting to puff up. Last time that happened was when Akari bent over in front of me during practice and I got a full view of-

[NOT THE TIME.]

"This is Mika, Jun’s assistant." Her voice is sweet, professional. Young. Pretty, probably. "I’m afraid he’s in a meeting right now. May I take a message?"

[Assistant. Meeting. Right.]

I glance at my phone’s screen - 2:45 PM. Jun’s supposedly still in classes at his university right now. Not... whatever this is.

"Oh." My voice sounds small, even to me. Like when Dad asks about my "future plans" and I can’t tell him I spend most nights thinking about railing my boyfriend... and other people who’ve begun to pop up in my fantasies lately. Mostly those other people, in fact. "Could you... could you just tell him to call me later? It’s Reina."

"Of course, Miss Miyamoto! I’ll let him know as soon as he’s free."

She sounds so fucking *nice* about it. That somehow makes it worse.

The call ends and I’m left staring at my screen, at that boring selfie of my boring boyfriend who apparently has an assistant. And is in a meeting.

"Yo, goth queen!"

Thankfully, Akari’s voice cuts through my spiral. She’s sprawled on the practice room couch, head in Haruka’s lap while Lily sulks in the corner. "Ready for round two?"

"What even IS round two?" I stuff my phone away, trying to ignore how my heart skips when she grins at me.

"Forgot already? The combat trial," Lily says, looking weirdly... energized? Something’s different about her magic. "Three-on-three against the Honda team."

"Which means," Akari stretches, like she’s tired. Which, well, God, I hope she isn’t. She’s kind of our biggest weapon. "We actually gotta work together this time."

"Unlike someone’s little power trip earlier?" I can’t help but snark.

"Hey, I won, didn’t I?" Akari smirks and... I can’t deny that.

Naturally, she and Lily start their usual bickering.

But watching her and Lily snipe at each other, seeing how even exhausted she’s still glowing with confidence, I can’t help but think:

At least someone’s honest with me these days.