The S-Class Mage is a Gyaru!?-Chapter 79: Arcane Jungle, Part Six

A few days later and, well, even Professor Chen is trying not to fall asleep as Haruka and I do our little presentation.

Can’t even be mad about it. If I wasn’t up here next to Haruka, trying real hard not to think about what she was doing twenty minutes ago, I’d probably be drooling on my textbook too.

"And that’s why the alternating pattern in runic arrays can enhance magical flow by up to..." I trail off as some guy in the back straight-up falls out of his chair.

No one even flinches.

Haruka snickers next to me, and I shoot her a glare. She’s been weirdly bouncy this whole presentation. I mean, yeah, she’s always like that, but she’s basically dancing as I speak.

[Probably still high off fucking the student council president or something,] my brain supplies helpfully, and I nearly drop our presentation notes.

"You okay there, tiger?" She whispers and catches the papers before they hit the ground, her hand brushing mine. "Getting nervous?"

"I’m fine!" I mutter through clenched teeth. "Just... just read your part! It’s your turn!"

She grins and turns back to the class. Most of them are either sleeping or messaging on ManaGram anyway, so whatever.

"So check this shit out!" She points at our diagram with way too much enthusiasm. "You take these basic-ass runes, right? But then you flip ’em sideways and BAM! Double the power, half the mana cost!"

Professor Chen blinks very, very slowly.

"You can’t just say ’flip ’em sideways,’" I hiss. "There’s a specific rotational degree and-"

"Nao-chan’s right!" She throws an arm around my shoulders and I freeze like a deer in headlights. "It’s way more complicated than that. But the point is-" She leans forward, making her tits bounce in a way that wakes up at least three more students, "- it works!"

I try to focus on our presentation notes, but all I can think about is how she smells like expensive perfume... and sex. That same mix of scents I’ve been getting tortured with for the last week.

"Therefore," I say loudly, trying to drown out my own thoughts, "the, uh, practical applications of modified runic arrays in modern spellcraft are..."

And no one’s listening again. Someone’s actually snoring loud enough to rattle the windows.

Haruka’s still got that hand wrapped around my lower back, by the way. I subtly flick my tail at her to get her to let me go, but it doesn’t seem like she got the message. Oh well.

[... Whatever,] I think as I stare straight ahead, inhaling slowly. [Everything’s fine.]

"In conclusion," Haruka chirps, "Runic arrays are sexy as fuck and practical!"

At this point, I’m actually convinced Professor Chen had been asleep with her eyes open. She blinks again and sort of shakes her head, like she was waking herself up.

"Thank you, ladies," she says, waving us back to our seats. "That was... educational."

I practically sprint back to my desk, but Haruka takes her sweet time, high-fiving sleeping students as she passes.

[At least it’s over,] I think, slumping in my chair. [At least-]

"We did it!" Haruka cheers in a whisper next to me as the next students set to be publically humiliated take our place. "That was dope!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I mutter quickly, wanting to just move past this quick speed bump in my college life.

But, apparently, Haruka doesn’t wanna end our partnership yet.

"Soooo," she says, leaning toward me. "Wanna go get somethin’ to eat after?"

"Yeah sure," I catch myself responding automatically. "W-Wait, I-"

"No takebacks!" She replies before pretending she can’t hear me.

[Fuck.]

---

"Wait, hold up!" I chase after Haruka in the hallway, my platforms clicking against the marble floor. "I didn’t mean to say yes, I was just-"

"Oh, ’Kari’s coming too!" Haruka interrupts me. She’s, yet again, practically skipping, her tits bouncing with each step. "She knows this great ramen place!"

I stop dead in my tracks.

[... Nakamura.]

An image of that blonde gyaru flashes through my mind. My eternal enemy, who was born with more magical power in one fingertip than I have even now, after all my training.

Suddenly, I’m interested.

"Even better," I say, my tone shifting. "I’ve been meaning to have a... chat with Nakamura."

I’ve been sitting in the background too long. Last time, she may not have made note of me, but today...

Maybe today I can finally get that gyaru to acknowledge my potential.

"Ooooh, scary tiger voice!" Haruka spins around, grinning. "You’re so cute when you’re trying to be intimidating!"

"I am NOT-"

"Haru-CHAAAAN!"

And there she is. Akari Nakamura herself, strutting down the hall like she owns it. Her blonde hair’s perfect as always, her pink eyes sparkling as she waves.

"Heya tiger girl!" The blonde says as I stand there, trying to look as imposing as I can. "Your titties are poppin’ today! You using a new push-up or something?"

Several passing students turn to stare. My face burns.

"Nakamura," I growl, trying to maintain my dignity. I try to kick into the speech I’ve practiced for weeks. "You are my rival and I will-"

"No seriously, they’re like, POW!" She makes some very explicit gestures with her hands. "You gotta tell me where you got it!"

[... I’m going to kill her.]

"So!" Haruka claps her hands. "Ramen?"

I look between them - Haruka bouncing on her heels, Akari still making boob-related hand motions, both of them grinning like dumbasses.

[Actually... I shouldn’t deny these opportunities,] I think. [I can observe my rival up close, learn her weaknesses... Eventually,] I narrow my eyes, [I will be able to figure out how to take her down and take my rightful place at the top of the university!]

So, on that note, I go:

"... Fine."

"That’s a yes to ramen!" Haruka declares. "Let’s go!"

---

{Reina}

The worst part about breaking up with Jun is how fucking boring everything is now.

Like yeah, he had the personality of a stale breadstick, but at least I always had "hanging with the boyfriend" as an excuse when my parents started asking about my social life. Now I’m just... walking around the magical district, watching couples share enchanted ice cream that changes flavors with each bite.

[At least telling him off was fun,] I think, stepping around a group of tourists taking pictures of a floating statue.

The phone call had been short and sweet:

"So," I’d said, calm as could be. "Your secretary, huh?"

He’d started stammering some excuse about working late, about how these things just happen sometimes, and I’d just... laughed.

"You know what’s funny?" I’d interrupted. "I’m not even mad. I’m just disappointed that I wasted so much time on someone so... boring."

Then I’d hung up while he was still trying to defend his honor or whatever.

[Honestly,] I think, [the most surprising part was that he had it in him.]

And now here I am, single and bored on a Saturday afternoon, watching some kid try to eat levitating cotton candy while his mom takes pictures.

That’s when I spot them.

Akari’s the first one to catch my eye. She’s hard to miss. Her blonde hair’s basically glowing in the sunlight, and her laugh carries across the crowded street. She’s with Haruka, of course, but there’s someone else too... A tiger feynal?

[Since when does Akari hang out with other feynals?]

Before I can duck into a store or something, Akari spots me. Her face lights up like she just won the lottery.

"REINA-CHAAAN!" She waves both arms over her head like I could possibly miss her. "COME SHOPPING WITH US!"

Several people turn to stare.

My ears flatten against my head.

[Maybe if I pretend I didn’t hear-]

"YOUR TITS LOOK AMAZING IN THAT TOP BY THE WAY!"

The tiger feynal looks like she’s having an aneurysm. Haruka’s doubled over laughing. And, at this point, I’m... walking over to them, because what else can I do when Akari’s literally shouting about my breasts in the middle of the street?

"Must you be so loud?" I mutter when I reach them.

"Must you be so hot?" She counters with a wink. "Like damn girl, that skirt is working for you today!"

The tiger feynal makes a strangled sound.

"Oh!" Akari grabs my arm, pulling me closer to the group. "This is Nao-chan! She’s my rival... or something!"

"I will destroy her," Nao mutters automatically.

"Honestly, she’s so precious when she’s angry!" Akari stage-whispers to me. "Like a little tiger cub!"

"I am NOT-"

"We’re getting ramen!" Haruka cuts in, bouncing on her heels. "You should totally come!"

I look at this chaos in front of me

Akari beaming, Haruka vibrating with energy, and Nao looking like she’s contemplating murder.

[Well,] I think, [it’s better than walking around alone.]

"Fine," I say. "But you’re buying."

"Hell yeah!" Akari links her arm with mine. "It’s a double date!"

"It is NOT-" Nao starts.

... What have I gotten myself into?