10TH GEAR - ONE WEEK OF PESTERING RECRUITMENT
My life turned ridiculously outrageous after that declaration of war by Cruzo Laprazi. The fat panda sophomore became a staple of my next school days. If you thought that my first week in the Saint Crusade Academy was silly, then the next week became more of a comedic hell.
<>
Monday.
The bell rang from the tower of the campus, signaling the end of the long classes. I was busy packing my things until somebody showed up. It was Cruzo Laprazi, the recruiter of the Merry Knights Club!
“Good afternoon fellas!” He beamed with an enthusiastic smile. “So, Jonathan. You had weekends to think about for your application. Have you gotten a change of heart yet?”
“Nope. Not a little. I will not join your club.”
“Gah!” Cruzo fell holding his chest as if he just got a heart attack! “I’ve been rejected three times already! Just how can you be so cold?”
“You talk to me as if I’m a school sweetheart you had a crush on for years!” I cried.
“But still!” Cruzo ignored my remark and pumped his fists. “I will not give up! I know you’re testing me!”
“No, I am not,” I said.
<>
Tuesday.
It was the end of our Physical Education subject, in which we have swimming as a course. I went to the shower room and decided to have a little sprinkle, but then-
Bump! My face was blocked by a huge fat body with man boobs! That huge fat body was soft as a pillow that cushioned my head for a second! Ew!
“Ah! What the heck!?” I cried as I wiped my face to remove the scent of this gross thing!
“Hello there, Jonathan! So, are you joining the club yet?” Cruzo asked with a wide smile.
“No! Get the hell away from me!” I cried as I stepped back.
Unfortunately, because of my sudden movements, my towel was undone, and I got my manhood exposed to the panda senior!
“Ah! What a nice magic sword! I’m sure if you become the coach of Merry Knights, the girls will adore you!”
“Shut up!”
I tried to shake him off by shoving him to the side. However, I mistakenly unhooked his towel which is the only cover on his body! When it was removed, there are now two naked guys in the shower room!
“I-Is that… a bell pepper?” I muttered. Then I covered my mouth.
Cruzo became red and he started to cry. He gritted and pumped his fists trying to suppress the embarrassment of the situation and shifted the topic to a complete one.
“Join the club!” He hollered.
“I refuse!”
<>
Wednesday.
It was lunchtime, and I am eating alone at the cafeteria. I’m a loner, and I have never eaten beside someone ever before. Some avoid me for being magicless though, so I can’t blame them for avoiding me as if I have coronavirus.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Fluonessia is the only one I could consider a friend here at the academy, but she has her Magical Invocation class during the usual lunch break. We never get to have lunch together ever since we entered this school, which is kind of sad. I somehow wanted to have a cute girl eating beside me, but oh well.
I was leisurely eating my BLT sandwich but then somebody slammed a bottle of iced tea right in front of me. It was the panda man, Cruzo, and his beaming white smile!
“This drink is on me! You will need to dehydrate once you become our coach!”
“I will never become your coach!”
“Would you prefer cola instead? Or an energy drink? But those have high sugar content and may be bad for your health.” Cruzo thought loudly.
“I will not join your club! How many times!”
“So you prefer yogurt drink?”
“I don’t want that!” I cried. “I’m not even thirsty!”
“So what do you want? Power? Women? Riches? Immortality? World domination? I can give it to you! Just join the club!”
“Why do you sound like a villain? And as if you can give any of those to me!” I cried.
“Here’s the application form! Fill it up!” Cruzo revealed a single-page document and a pen. He seems to ignore everything that comes out of my mouth!
“No!” I yelled as I immediately went to the exit.
<>
Thursday.
The classes have ended, and it’s time to go home. But just before I left the academy gates, somebody decided to chase me!
“Uwoooooooogh!” A certain panda man overtook me with his speed boost and then groveled right in front. “Please join the club! We needed a good coach!”
“There are literally tens of thousands of mages you can recruit in this school! Why me, a magicless person!?”
“Because just like us, you have the dream of becoming the Speedmage! You have the spirit, the guts, and the intellect to be our coach!” Cruzo shouted.
“H-How did you know that I once dreamt of becoming a Speedmage?” I cringed.
“Your girlfriend Fluonessia told me your story! Seriously, I’m quite touched! The way you suffered your childhood from being magicless moved me! I never knew you struggled and suffered your entire life!” Cruzo wept and wiped his tears away.
I clenched my fists and whispered to myself. “I shouldn’t have told that pink idiot my story.”
“So, are you going to join now?” Cruzo shifted to a bright smile. “Come on, your girlfriend will appreciate it if you join too!”
“No!” I shouted. “And Fluonessia is not my girlfriend, dumbass!”
“Who knows, she might become your real girlfriend if you become our coach. You might develop your love story there in our club room.” Cruzo raised both of his eyebrows.
“Stop saying petty things just to recruit me! I will never become your coach!” I cried.
“If you don’t want to become a coach, then you want to become a president then? I can make arrangements for that. Or you can become the manager! I will relinquish my position effective immediately! I’m fine being a normal member of the guild!”
“Just how desperate are you people to recruit me?” I lost all my energy and hung my jaws.
“Really desperate! I will even lick your shoes if you want me to!” Cruzo gave a thumbs-up and a smile that 9 out of 10 dentists would recommend. Then he went on all fours, ready to kiss my feet!
“No! Stop! Get away from me! There are people around! Don’t you have a sense of shame?” I hollered.
I raced towards the exit of the academy to avoid making a scene.
<>
Friday.
The bell rang from the highest tower of the academy. According to our schedule, Friday afternoons are mostly vacant to cater to club activities. The student mages have already grouped themselves into their respective clubs.
Fluonessia was hurryingly packing up her things, excited for her first club meeting. She mentioned earlier in the morning that she was looking forward to it. When she finally put all her things in her bag, she waved her hand at me.
“I’ll be going to our club meeting now! Bye-bye Jonathan! Enjoy your weekends!”
“Y-Yeah, you too.” I waved my hand at Fluonessia.
I had some split-second thoughts too. If there is a club meeting for Merry Knights Guild, then it will be certain that the annoying fat panda will not pester me today! Damn, I love Fridays!
Well, it’s not like I will spend the rest of my day here in school. I’d rather play video games on my magical computer at home.
I packed up my things and then when I was about to stand up and make my exit, somebody was already waiting for me.
“I told you I’m not joining your-”
I paused myself from committing slander. I thought it was Cruzo, but I was wrong. Somebody else was blocking my path.
It was a sophomore girl with long blue hair and reddish-purple eyes. She has this well-endowed body and an adorable face that rivals Fluonessia. It will be easy to mistake her for a beauty queen or a celebrity just from the form of her elegance.
I was stunned by her alluring appearance but kept myself composed the moment she asked a question.
“Are you Jonathan? Jonathan Wardenorth?” Her voice was a little bit mature but still gentle.
“That’s me.”
Her face turned stern and her eyebrows furrowed. She looked like she was angry with me even though I don’t remember offending her at any point in my life.
“My name is Ericka Azure, the president of the Merry Knights Guild. Before you speak, may I remind you that I am not here to recruit you. I am humbly inviting you to watch a practice match performed by my club.”