The S-Class Mage is a Gyaru!?-Chapter 28: Arcane Symposium, Part Eight

Chapter 28: Arcane Symposium, Part Eight
{Lily}
[Ten years ago]
"What do you mean you won’t get us a replacement? Are you asking to be sued!?" My father yells over the phone.
"I’m sorry sweetie," Mom’s voice cracks as she holds up my torn uniform. "We can’t afford a new one right now."
I stare at the patches she’s trying to sew, the cheap thread standing out against the once-prestigious fabric. The same uniform I have to wear tomorrow, the one Mizuki from class 2-B called "second-hand trash" yesterday before she tried to pull it off me.
"It’s fine," I lie, watching Mom’s fingers shake as she tries to make the stitches smaller. "Nobody will notice."
[They always notice.]
Later that night, I hear Mom crying in the kitchen, arguing with Dad about bills again. About how we might have to move to an even smaller house. About how they can barely afford my school fees.
I curl up in my bed, closing my eyes tight.
[Never again,] I promise myself, gripping my sheets until my knuckles turn white. [I will have financial freedom or die trying.]
---
[Present Day]
The camera lights are hot against my skin as I stand with the other Symposium contestants, my "innocent schoolgirl" smile perfectly practiced. Years of calculated gestures, of knowing exactly how to tilt my head to look vulnerable, of perfecting that "girl-next-door" energy that makes people want to protect me.
Internally, though, I’m thinking:
[What a fucking circus.]
To my left, there’s this absolute unit from Northern Magic Academy. Takeshi something, with biceps bigger than my head and a cock that did NOT disappoint when I "accidentally" ran into him in the library yesterday. To my right, the Shimizu twins from the Western Institute, both with matching silver hair and probably matching superiority complexes.
[Pretty sure I caught them making out in the bathroom earlier, too. Now, there’s some useful blackmail for the future~]
"And here we have the cream of the crop!" The er’s voice is way too chipper for 9 AM, her boobs practically spilling out of her "professional" blouse. "The brightest young mages from across the nation!"
[Except one,] I think, fighting back a smirk. [Shame about that "lost" invitation.]
Behind her, I spot Professor Chen looking absolutely constipated, probably thinking about Akari’s perfect test scores.
"Although..." Right on cue, the er’s perfectly painted lips purse. "I notice Crescent Moon’s famous S-Class student isn’t present?"
Professor Sato steps forward, his expression grave like he’s announcing someone died instead of just fucking over some gyaru.
"Unfortunately, despite reaching out multiple times, Miss Nakamura seems to have... failed to arrive."
[Failed to even know about it, actually.] I just hope Sato doesn’t look as obvious to them as he does to me.
I watch him lie through his teeth, remembering how he "accidentally" sent Akari’s invitation to the wrong address, per my suggestion.
"But!" The er brightens, her tits bouncing in a way that has Takeshi practically drooling. "We do have another rising star from Crescent Moon! Miss Amano, what are your thoughts on the upcoming competition?"
The camera swings to me, and I put on my best "who, little old me?" expression, the one that got me out of detention last week when I was caught with my hand down the student council treasurer’s pants.
[Time to put on a show.]
"Oh gosh," I duck my head, letting my perfectly curled hair fall just so. "I’m just honored to be here! Everyone’s so talented... I hope my senpais won’t think too poorly of my skills."
As I speak, I picture Akari watching this later. Picture that big butt of hers squirming in rage, those pink eyes flashing. Picture her realizing that all her natural talent means jack shit against someone who’s been planning this for years.
[You think you’re hot shit just because you can throw around some pink sparkles? Because you got lucky in the genetic lottery?]
"But you know," I continue, my smile sweet as arsenic, "I think what really matters is showing that traditional magical techniques are still relevant. That real power comes from discipline, not just... natural talent."
The er eats it up like I want to eat up Takeshi’s dick in the dressing room later.
[Just like everyone always does.]
"Such wisdom from one so young!" She turns back to the camera. "And there you have it, folks! The future of magic, right here at the Arcane Symposium!"
As the cameras finally turn away, I let my smile sharpen just a bit, thinking of Mom’s shaking hands, of torn uniforms and whispered arguments about money.
[Sorry Akari, but some of us had to work for what we wanted. And I’m not letting some gyaru slut take that away from me! After all,] I think, [I didn’t claw my way up just to stay in second place. Time to show these bitches what real ambition looks like.]
---
{Akari}
[Me]: HARUKA
[Me]: BABE
[Me]: LOOK AT THIS SHIT
I spam Haruka’s phone while watching this absolute circus of an interview on ManaGram, my blood pressure spiking with every perfectly rehearsed word coming out of Lily’s mouth.
[Ruka💕]: omg
[Ruka💕]: that BITCH
[Ruka💕]: "failed to arrive" my thicc ass!!!
[Me]: RIGHT???
[Me]: I didn’t get SHIT for an invitation
[Me]: But watch this basic hoe talk about "traditional techniques"
[Me]: Like bitch WHERE
[Ruka💕]: omg call her
[Ruka💕]: DO IT
[Ruka💕]: I wanna hear this go down!!
[You know what? Fuck it.]
I hit the call button on Lily’s ManaGram profile before I can think better of it. It rings twice before-
"Hello?" Her voice is sweet enough to give diabetes. "Who is this?"
"Hey bestie!" I match her sugar with pure arsenic. "Loved your interview! Really fascinating stuff about those invitations that totally got sent out!"
A pause.
"Oh, Akari!" Her tone shifts like she’s running calculations. "What a surprise! I thought you were just... too busy to attend."
"Crazy thing about being busy," I examine my perfect nails, "is you usually need to know about something first to avoid it."
"Are you suggesting-"
"I’m not suggesting shit, honey." My voice could freeze hell itself. "I’m straight-up telling you that if you’re gonna try to ice me out? At least have the tits to do it to my face."
Another pause.
"... You know what your problem is, Akari?" Her sweet mask cracks just a bit. "You think just because you’ve got natural talent, you deserve everything handed to you."
I actually laugh.
"That’s rich coming from someone who probably sucked dick to get on that stage."
"At least I work for what I want." Her voice drops lower, darker. "Unlike some pink-haired slut who thinks she can just waltz in and-"
"Honey," I cut her off, "my hair is clearly blonde. But I guess attention to detail isn’t your strong suit, is it?"
"We’ll see who’s laughing after the Symposium."
"Oh, we definitely will." I bare my teeth even though she can’t see them. "Because guess what? I’m coming anyway. And I’m gonna make you eat every single one of those pretty little words."
I hang up before she can respond, my heart racing.
Still...
It was nice to cut the bullshit and talk straight to the real Lily, in a way.