The S-Class Mage is a Gyaru!?-Chapter 81: Arcane Jungle, Part Eight

"So like, you ever gonna stop pretending you don’t wanna climb tiger girl like a tree?"

My phone’s balanced on my stomach as I paint my toes this absolutely fire shade of pink. The AC’s making death rattles again, and some energy drink ad keeps flashing through my window, painting my walls in neon every few seconds.

"Rich coming from someone who spent all of Advanced Magic writing ’Mrs. Reina Nakamura’ in her notebook."

"Bitch, I did not!" I nearly mess up my pinky toe. "I was writing spell formulas!"

"With little hearts over the i’s?"

"That’s called artistic expression."

I can hear Haruka crunching on those spicy chips she keeps stealing from her mom’s secret stash.

"For real though," she says between bites, "you seen how she looks at you lately? Since dropping that human cardboard cutout she was dating?"

"You mean when she’s telling me to fuck off?"

"Yeah, but like, she says it with her eyes all sparkly and shit now."

Through my window, I watch some kid at the laundromat trying to levitate his clothes into a dryer. He keeps dropping socks everywhere.

"You’re one to talk," I switch feet, careful not to smudge my work. "Giving Nao your special pen? With the little tiger charm? That’s basically a marriage proposal."

"It’s called being NICE-"

"Being nice with the hopes of your tongue being down her throat soon?"

The laundromat kid finally gets a sock in the dryer. Progress.

"Whatever," Haruka mumbles. "Anywayyy, you think these international schools are ready for us?"

I think about all these fancy foreign students about to roll up to Crescent Moon. Probably expecting some proper, traditional Japanese magic school bullshit.

"Baby, they ain’t ever seen anything like us." I admire my finished toes, wiggling them in the flashing billboard light. "Time to show these bitches how we do it in New Tokyooo~"

"Hell yeah!" Something crunches. "You think they got gyaru shit in America?"

"If they don’t, they’re about to learn. Oh!" Akari wriggled her brows, as if Haruka could see it. "You think we’ll meet any... hot ’merican babes?"

"God, I hope so. I need that Star-Spangled dick in me! Ya feel me baby?"

We cackle.

After we hang up, I spend way too long looking through my closet. Not that there’s much to look through - this studio apartment barely has room for my bed, let alone a proper wardrobe. But still.

[Gotta coordinate the perfect fit for this exhibition.]

My phone lights up with a ManaGram notification. Someone posted pics from the last time foreign schools visited Crescent Moon. All these students in their perfect uniforms, looking like they stepped out of some fancy magical academy catalog.

I find myself grinning at my reflection in the window. The billboard outside flashes another ad, lighting up my apartment in electric blue.

In the laundromat below, that kid’s finally gotten all his socks in the dryer.

---

{Nao}

I turn my music up louder as Dad’s laugh echoes through our apartment walls. They’re having another "home date" in the living room, which means I’m trapped in my bedroom while they act like teenagers discovering romance for the first time.

"Honey, remember when we first met?"

"Like it was yesterday, my tiger lily!"

[Oh my god, just kill me.]

My J-Rap playlist isn’t loud enough to drown out their giggling. How are they this embarrassing? Like, I get it, you’re in love, but do you have to be so... much?

Speaking of embarrassing, my mind keeps drifting back to that international exhibition announcement.

Class 1 only. Which means although I’m not eligible, Haruka is, because technically, she’s both Class 1 and Class 2 (she takes two Class 1 courses and one Class 2 course).

[I mean... Not that I care.]

But still. It’s interesting to consider having representatives from schools worldwide at Crescent Moon? That’s basically a direct line to future opportunities. Connections. The kind of stuff that could take a mediocre mage and turn them into...

Mom squeals about something in the other room. Dad makes kissy noises.

[That’s it.]

I grab my jacket, the one with the tiger stripes Haruka said made me look "absolutely badass," and head for the door.

"Going out!" I call over the sound of their cooing.

"Have fun, kitten!" Mom calls back. "Don’t stay out too late!"

"And remember," Dad adds, "no boys!"

[Yeah, that’s... not gonna be a problem.]

Last guy I had a crush on literally sprinted in the opposite direction when I walked up. Dude probably thought I was going to ask for his lunch money or something.

The night air hits different in this part of New Tokyo. Less neon, more actual stars. But I can see the floating spires of Crescent Moon in the distance, lit up against the sky like some magical fairy tale castle.

My claws dig into my palms.

[No... Fuck being mediocre.]

As I walk forward, keeping my head down, I make a decision.

Tomorrow, I’m gonna march into Chancellor Storm’s office and beg for a spot at that exhibition. And if that doesn’t work...

Well, there’s always Nakamura. Much as I hate to admit it, that blonde menace does have some pull these days.

But...

[Should I really just throw my dignity away for something like this?]

I don’t know.

My phone buzzes just as I’m passing the old shrine with the broken wards. The caller ID makes my stomach do this weird flip.

"I’m walking. What do you want?"

"Aww, is that any way to greet your favorite person?"

It’s Haruka.

I dodge a group of kids racing their enchanted skateboards.

"You’re nowhere near my favorite person."

"Sure I am! Who else gives you their special pen with the tiger charm?"

"I literally never asked for that pen."

"And yet you’re using it these days, huh?"

I glance down at the pen I’m fidgeting with. I actually brought it with me, little does Haruka know. The little charm catches the streetlight.

[... Fuck.]

"Anyway," Haruka continues, way too pleased with herself, "just checking in on my favorite grumpy tiger. Making sure you’re not punching any walls or whatever."

"You think I just go around punching shit?"

"Wouldn’t shock me. You’re always so grumpy!"

"Fuck you."

"See? Ha!" She giggles.

A magical billboard overhead flashes an ad for some new mana drink. The light makes my hair look blue for a bit.

"So," she says after a moment. "You heard about this international thing?"

[Oh.]

My claws dig deeper into my palm.

"Yeah."

"I’m totally gonna be there! I actually feel a bit of pressure, not gonna lie. Kinda crazy. You know..."

She keeps going, but the moment she brought the trip up, I go on a war against my dignity. Specifically...

[Here’s my chance,] I think to myself. [Just ask her to talk to Nakamura...]

But...

"That’s cool," I mutter instead. "Have fun with that. Anyway, uh, I gotta go."

"Oh," she cuts off her speech. "Aight. Text me when you get back from all that anime girl walking?"

"Fuck off."

I hang up before she can finish. Before I can change my mind about asking for help.

[Tomorrow,] I think, staring up at Crescent Moon’s floating spires. [I’ll talk to Storm myself.]

My phone buzzes again. A text from Haruka:

"btw that jacket makes your arms look amazing js"

[... Whatever.]

---

Chancellor Storm’s secretary keeps giving me these looks. Like she can’t decide if I’m gonna rob the place or if I’m just really, really lost.

"Miss," she tries again, "the Chancellor is very busy-"

"Cool." I don’t move from my spot by his door. "I’ll wait."

That was three hours ago.

Now she’s just ignoring me, probably hoping I’ll give up and leave. Fat chance. My ass is numb from sitting on this fancy marble floor, my tail’s cramping from being curled around my legs, and I’m pretty sure my right foot fell asleep an hour ago.

But I’m not moving.

When Storm finally opens his door, looking ready to head home, he actually stops mid-step.

"You’re still here."

"Yes sir." I stand up, trying not to wobble as my foot screams with pins and needles. "About the international exhibition-"

"Miss..." He pauses, probably trying to remember if he’s supposed to know my name.

"Nao, sir. Class 2."

"Ah." His face does that thing teachers do when they’re trying to let you down easy. "I’m afraid the exhibition is for Class 1 students only-"

"Actually," I cut in before I lose my nerve, "that’s part of why I think you should allow me to participate."

He blinks.

"What?"

"Think about it. All these foreign schools coming to see Crescent Moon? What better way to show our ’commitment to advancement opportunities’ than having a Class 2 student who can hang with the Class 1s?"

His eyebrow rises slightly.

"Plus," I continue, the words tumbling out now, "it shows we’re not just some stuffy traditional academy. We’re forward-thinking. Right?"

[Please buy this bullshit please buy this bullshit please-]

"You’ve been standing here for three hours just to pitch this idea?"

"Four, actually." I straighten up. "And I’ll stay here all night if I have to."

He stares at me for a long moment. Then, surprisingly, he laughs.

"You know what? Fine. You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that." He waves a hand. "You can participate."

[Holy shit.] I blink, processing what he just said. [Holy SHIT.]

I manage to thank him without screaming, somehow make it all the way outside before my hands start shaking. Then, before I can stop myself, I’m pulling out my phone.

"Yo, tiger!" Haruka’s voice hits my ears like a sugar rush. "Miss me already?"

"I got in."

"Got in what? My pants? Cause like, you just gotta ask-"

"The exhibition, you pervert!" But I’m grinning so hard my face hurts. "Four hours of standing outside Storm’s office and he actually said yes!"

"NO FUCKING WAY!" She actually screams it. RIP my ears. "Baby, that’s amazing! Did you threaten him? Please tell me you didn’t punch anything-"

"I used WORDS, thank you very much."

I take a moment to explain how I went about it.

"Aww, look at you using that big sexy brain!"

"Don’t make me regret calling you first."

There’s a pause.

"... First? As in, before anyone else? As in, I’m your favorite-"

I hang up.