The S-Class Mage is a Gyaru!?-Chapter 32: Arcane Symposium, Part Twelve

Chapter 32: Arcane Symposium, Part Twelve
[Time to show these hoes what an S-Class can REALLY do.]
I twirl my pen, letting my magic build up like that feeling right before Haruka kisses me. Mana subtly dances between my fingers, and I can feel it responding to my thoughts. Like Professor Zhang had told me before, everyone’s mana is, in a way, unique to them. Almost like a sentient being, in that sense. And, right now, I can feel my mana eager to show off.
[Let’s give them something to talk about, baby.]
There’s this spell I perfected back in middle school, when I was still insecure about checking out hot girls in class (you know, before I started flirting with them instead~).
It’s a variation on the usual scrying spells seers always like to brag about. Instead of creating obvious magical sensors (like a massive crystal ball for example), it turns any reflective surface into a window that shows you exactly what you want to see.
I channel my magic through my pen, using it like a conductor’s baton as I move it back and forth. To anyone watching, it probably just looks like I’m thinking hard about the test.
But with each twirl, I’m actually weaving magic into the air around me, creating these tiny sparkles that float like glitter before disappearing. Sparkles you’d have to be very talented to notice.
Looking around, I make sure no one’s catching on. The students are all busy trying to cheat in their own ways, and Professor Chen-
"YOU! Out!"
My heart sinks into my fucking stomach for a moment, before I see that it was someone up front that Chen was talking to.
[... Bitch, I almost got a heart attack!]
Thankfully, she seems to have not noticed what I’m doing yet. The spell clicks into place, and suddenly my compact’s not just showing reflections, it’s giving me a perfect view of Miyuki’s paper three rows ahead.
In case you’re wondering, yes. Her handwriting is as stick-up-the-ass perfect as she is.
"..." Professor Chen walks past my seat, and I swear she smirks.
[... She probably sees what I’m doing, but she’s deciding it’s good enough to not fail me. Honestly, I’m surprised she hasn’t tossed me out on principle alone.]
In any case, I keep the magic flowing. Although my compact’s showing me Miyuki’s test, I can see her face out of the corner of her eye.
She’s making this overly focused expression, eyes narrowed with her tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth. It’s cu-
[No it isn’t. Focus on the test.]
Anyway, my pen moves across the paper, transcribing Miyuki’s answers. I know, I know, I can’t copy word-for-word. That’s amateur hour. Instead, I’m rewriting everything in my voice, throwing in some attitude and making it my own.
All the while, the magic thrums under my skin like a bass beat, making my whole body feel alive.
[Okay, this is... And that... And...]
One by one, I fill out each answer, matching Miyuki’s pace.
So, by the time she, little Miss Perfect Student Pres, stands up with a haughty look...
[Done.]
I smirk and I rise up too.
She’s shocked. I catch the faces of some of the others. Lily looks somehow even more surprised, while Reina doesn’t even acknowledge that I finished the test. A few murmurs spread before Chen goes:
"Silence! Keep working on your tests. You two," she points to me and Miyuki. "Hand in your exams."
We do just that.
A moment later, I’m in the hallway. Haruka walks over and takes my hands.
"How’d it go?"
"You don’t even need to ask," I grin. "Obviously, ya girl’s got this shit locked."
Hearing that, Haruka beams and launches herself at me. As we embrace each other, Miyuki clears her throat.
"I hope you enjoyed stealing all my answers," Miyuki says, glaring. "You won’t be able to use me to get ahead in any of the other parts of the Symposium, after all."
I’m honestly a bit shocked.
[She noticed?]
... She might be more talented than I gave her credit for, if she actually perceived my magic.
With a flip of her hair, Miyuki twirls and walks away.
She’s right. For the next two parts of the Symposium, it’s gonna be all me. But, honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
---
{Reina}
My tail’s still twitching from how close that was.
Using my crystal pendant to peek at the Shimizu twins’ answers was risky as fuck, but what choice did I have? I had three days to study for this damn test. Obviously, I wasn’t going to know any of the answers.
At least I managed to scrape through without getting caught.
[Unlike that idiot who got kicked out. Amateur.]
I lean against the wall, fishing my phone out of my blazer pocket. My reflection in the screen shows smudged eyeliner, probably from all that focusing.
[Jun💜]: hey babe, how’s your day?
[Me]: Just finished the first part of the Symposium. Pretty intense.
[Jun💜]: Oh? You’re in the Symposium?
[Jun💜]: That’s cool I guess
My claws dig into my phone case before I can stop them.
[Are you fucking kidding me?]
I’ve been talking about nothing else for the last three days. Posted about it on ManaGram. Even sent him the official announcement when I was added in.
And he’s acting like this is brand new information?
[Deep breaths,] I stop myself from getting too heated. [He’s probably just busy with his own shit.]
My knees give out from all the stress and I slide down the wall, not even caring if my skirt rides up. The marble’s cold against my back, but I barely notice.
[What am I even doing here?]
I glance down at my phone again, at Jun’s casual dismissal of something this important to me. I mean, sure, I didn’t even want to be here, but it is important now that I am.
Seriously, Jun used to hang on my every word, back when we first started dating. Now I’m lucky if he remembers what we talked about yesterday.
A flash of movement catches my eye. Akari and Haruka are making out again, like their own weird version of a victory lap.
My cat-like ears flatten against my head as I try not to stare.
[At least someone’s having fun...]
My phone buzzes again.
[Jun💜]: want to grab dinner later?
[Jun💜]: nvm, forgot I have plans with the guys
I don’t even bother responding. Instead, I glance back in Akari’s direction. There’s something about her confidence that makes my stomach do weird flips.
[Stop it. You have a boyfriend.]
A boyfriend who can’t even remember I’m in the biggest magical competition of the year. A boyfriend who-
"You okay down there, princess?"
I look up to find Akari standing over me.
"I’m fine," I respond quickly. "Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the next part of the Symposium?"
"Shouldn’t you?"
I smirk back at her.
"I was born ready."
She smirks back.
"Same here."
Before I can say anything else, she’s already sashaying away.
[... Right,] I stand up. [I probably should be getting ready for the next stage, all things considered. At least, it’d be better than moping around here, I guess.]