The S-Class Mage is a Gyaru!?-Chapter 24: Arcane Symposium, Part Four

Chapter 24: Arcane Symposium, Part Four
It takes everything I have not to fall into a coma.
I’m staring down at a textbook I didn’t even know I still had in my drawers. My pink platforms are kicked off somewhere near the door, and I’m sprawled across my tiny couch in nothing but an oversized t-shirt and some lacy underwear, with the fan on right next to me, like it was looking over my shoulder at the textbook. Unfortunately, I can’t exactly appreciate how good I look with all this info breaking my brain.
[Who knew being the baddest bitch in magical history would involve so. Much. Fucking. READING? Fuck!]
With my stamina at 0, I melt, briefly turning into a puddle on the couch.
But, this puddle has to pick herself back up, unfortunately. The Arcane Symposium isn’t just about throwing hands in magical duels (as much as I wish it was). There’s this whole theory portion first, and if I bomb that? The rest won’t even matter.
After all, I’m not looking to just do good. I want to do amazing.
My phone buzzes.
[Ruka💕]: hhey babyyyy
I smile, setting the textbook aside for a moment.
[Me]: hey
[Me]: Save me. I’m gonna jump off a fucking bridge
[Ruka💕]: wow
[Ruka💕]: looks like it’s going well
Giggling, I let myself relax for a bit.
[Me]: so what are you up to?
I expect an immediate reply, knowing Haruka. So, I’m surprised that she takes a little while before...
[Oh.]
Haruka sends me a selfie. She’s in her workout gear, sports bra showing off those gorgeous, massive titties, light, brown skin glistening with sweat.
The caption reads:
[Ruka💕]: 😘
[Ruka💕]: stop studying and come run wit me
[Baby, if I’m anywhere near you when you’re looking like that, running’s gonna be the last thing on my mind.]
"Later babe," I text back, muttering it aloud, adding a string of heart emojis. "Gotta master this arcane resonance shit first."
[Ruka💕]: fiiiine
[Ruka💕]: later!
And so, I go back to my necessary torture session.
It’s mostly stuff I already know, but it’s good to freshen up on it. The textbook talks about how mana flows through everything. Not just mages, but like, the whole world. It’s this massive network, invisible but everywhere, kind of like how thirst connects everyone on ManaGram.
Before I can get too deep in it, though, another notification.
This time it’s...
[GothQueen🖤]: I’m a little shocked.
I raise a brow.
[Me]: huh?
[GothQueen🖤]: You’re usually trying to come up with ways to get in my pants at this hour.
[GothQueen🖤]: Are you actually studying?
I roll my eyes.
[Me]: u are very lucky your hot
[GothQueen🖤]: You’re*
[GothQueen🖤]: And yeah, I know.
[Me]: Anyway, yes, I am studying.
[Me]: Is that grammar perfect enough for you???
She ignores that.
[GothQueen🖤]: Oh wow, you, studying???
[GothQueen🖤]: I guess hell is freezing over.
[Me]: Bitch, I study my ass off on the DAILY
[GothQueen🖤]: Is that before or after you’ve gotten Haruka’s tongue down your throat?
Grinning, I type back:
[Me]: Before *and* after
[GothQueen🖤]: Oh. My mistake.
I can’t help but laugh a little. In a way, it’s kinda sweet that she’s checking up on me like this.
[GothQueen🖤]: Just make sure you don’t embarrass yourself at the Symposium.
[Me]: Aw, you care about me?
[GothQueen🖤]: No, but if I got my Dad angry at me just for you to fail at the Symposium...
[GothQueen🖤]: I will be very angry myself.
[GothQueen🖤]: Bye.
Just like that, it’s back to the books.
Apparently, there’s this whole thing about how different types of magic resonate with different emotions. I mean, one is obvious, right. Attack magic is actually stronger when you’re angry. But, it works like that with other forms of magic too. Defensive magic being stronger when you’re calm, for example.
[Eh. Interesting, I guess.]
I’m halfway through the same paragraph I’ve been on all hour, about mana circulation or whatever, when my phone starts buzzing again.
But this time it’s not Haruka’s thirst trap or Reina’s tsundere charm.
Dad’s calling.
[Ah,] I sigh. [Fuck.]
"Hey." My voice comes out neutral. Professional. The way he likes it.
[Like I’m one of his fucking employees.]
"Akari." Dad’s voice is stiff, like he’s reading from a script. "I heard about your... performance at orientation."
Of course he did. Everyone and their mom’s heard about it by now.
"Yeah?" I keep my tone light, even as my fingers dig into the textbook’s pages. "I killed it, right?"
A heavy sigh crackles through the speaker. I can picture him pinching the bridge of his nose, probably sitting in that massive leather chair in his office.
"This isn’t a joke, Akari. Your appearance, your behavior... Do you have any idea how this reflects on our family?"
[Our family? Since when do you give a fuck about that?]
"I got the highest score ever recorded on the Arcane Assessment Test," I remind him, my voice getting sharp. "Pretty sure that reflects pretty damn well on us."
"And you had to do it while dressed like..." He trails off, disgusted.
"Like what?" The temperature in my tiny apartment drops about ten degrees. "Like myself?"
"Like a..." Another pause. "This isn’t who you are, Akari."
I laugh, but there’s no joy in it.
"You wouldn’t know who I am, Dad. You’re never around long enough to find out."
"I’m trying to help you-"
"No." My voice cuts through his bullshit like a knife. "You’re trying to control me. Same as always."
The silence that follows is heavy with years of shit we’ve never dealt with. Mom’s death. His absence. Everything.
"Just... try to be more appropriate," he finally says, like he’s doing me some huge favor. "For the Symposium, at least."
"Sure, Dad." I’m already reaching for the end call button. "Whatever you say."
The call ends. Just like that.
[Fuck him.]
I turn back to the textbook, but the words are swimming again. This time it’s not from boredom though. This time it’s pure fucking rage making the letters dance.
[You think I can’t be S-Class AND look this good? Watch me.]
The theory of mana resonance doesn’t seem so boring anymore. Each page is another weapon in my arsenal, another way to prove them all wrong.
This isn’t just about showing those crusty professors what’s what anymore. This isn’t even about maintaining my crown as the baddest bitch at Crescent Moon.
This is about showing him - showing everyone - that power doesn’t have to look the way they think it should.
[Just you fucking wait.]
---
The dude across from me is shaking. Like, literally trembling in his designer shoes.
[Can’t blame him. Getting his ass handed to him by me probably wasn’t on his to-do list today.]
"Ready?" Professor Zhang’s dragon tattoos swirl across her arms as she raises them. Her sleeves are rolled up, showing off the way the ink moves like it’s alive. "Begin!"
My opponent - Terry? Jerry? Something with a -ry - throws up a basic shield spell. The magic shimmers between us like heat waves off concrete, forming a barrier that’s actually not half bad. Most students would struggle to break through it, especially this early in the term.
But then again, I’m not most students.
I don’t even need to move. My magic rises up inside me like a tide, pink and powerful and absolutely ready to fuck shit up. With just a thought, I send it crashing against his shield.
The barrier shatters like sugar glass.
"Holy shit," he breathes, shocked that I managed to take him down so quickly.
"Not bad though!" I call out, giving him a wink. "That shield would’ve stopped most people. You’ve got potential, bro!"
His face lights up like I just offered him head instead of a compliment.
[Sometimes all these boys need is a little encouragement.]
"Excellent control, Miss Nakamura." Professor Zhang’s voice carries across the practice room. "Although perhaps a touch... theatrical?"
"You know me, Prof! Go big or go home!"
The rest of the class passes in a blur of spells and showing off. Before I know it, it’s time for my least favorite part of the day - saying goodbye to Haruka before Advanced Runic Theory.
"I’ll never forget you!" Haruka throws herself into my arms, her tits pressing against mine in a way that makes my dick twitch. "Sixty minutes? More like sixty fuckin’ years!"
"Stay strong, my love!" I dip her dramatically, making everyone around us either roll their eyes or giggle. "Think of me in your darkest moments!"
"Miss Nakamura." Professor Zhang’s voice cuts through our performance. "A moment?"
[Shit. What’d I do?]
Haruka gives me one last squeeze before sashaying away and my eyes follow her ass all the way.
The way she moves should be classified as a deadly weapon, I swear to god.
Professor Zhang waits until everyone’s gone before speaking.
"Your control is impressive," she says, leaning against her desk. "But the Symposium judges... they’re not as appreciative of style as I am."
[Here we fucking go.]
But her next words surprise me:
"So I’m going to teach you how to beat them at their own game."