40TH GEAR - THIS IS WHAT WE CALL A TSUNDERE TREAT
In regards to Flu’s training, nothing has changed. I think the terrorizing technique I learned from Professor Azure and my father’s Speedmage Tactics book will just make that pink idiot overwork herself. She barely even had time to sleep, so I have to focus on what is necessary only.
“Flu, about your training, I suggest that we stick to speed spells that are wind and fire based, just like Air Trampoline and Phoenix Arrow. In fact, we should ignore all other spells and focus on the magic that can combo with Air Trampoline instead.” I said.
“Coach, yes, coach!” Flu energetically saluted with a smile.
“You do realize that I want you to become a one-trick pony, isn’t it?” I asked.
“Coach, yes, coach!” Flu saluted again with the same smile. Then she slightly tilted her head and raised her hand. “What’s a one-trick pony?”
I slapped my face. “One-trick-pony means that you only specialize in one thing. It is the opposite of jack-of-all-trades which are master of none but knows everything.”
“Oh okay! So since it’s my coach’s suggestion, then I will go with it!” Flu smiled and than pumped her fists with flaming determination. “Besides, a person who practiced 1,000 spells once is way less scary than a person who practiced one spell 1,000 times!”
That was a good analogy by an idiot like Flu, so I was surprised. But I’m pretty sure she got that quote from watching anime, so it lowers Flu’s intelligence credibility a little bit.
“Anyway, you can start by standing next to a Checkpoint Tower there and chain as many Air Trampolines as you can.”
“Roger that, coach!”
Flu saluted, then she immediately went to the position I pointed to and then started casting spells.
“Air Trampoline! Air Trampoline! Air Trampoline!”
The Checkpoint Tower became surrounded by pink magical circles. She jumped from one Air Trampoline to another, then touch the checkpoint, bounce again towards another Air Trampoline, and repeat the process over and over again. However, after the fifth Chain Trampoline, it became harder to control so she crashed on the floor!
“Kyah!”
Flu cried as she rubbed her aching forehead while she still sat on the ground.
“Tahahaha. What a failure.”
I approached Flu and checked on her. I immediately blushed when I saw some pink and white stripes, so I turned away and scratched my cheek, and pretend that I saw nothing.
“Flu, are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine. I will still go for another round and chain more Air Trampolines than before!” Flu stood up and pumped her fists excitedly.
I spread out my hand, gesturing to her to stop. “We should call it a day for now.”
“Huh? Why?” Flu tilted her head.
“If you’re going to practice with your school uniform, consider not jumping all around. I can see your panty.” I muttered.
“Eh!?” Flu immediately tucked her skirt between her legs. Her face became flustered strawberry-red, and she pouted.
“L-Look, I’m sorry, okay!?” I cried. “I didn’t mean to have you train like that!”
“G-Got it.” Flu is still pouting.
I guess it’s just natural for her to feel mad at me since I’ve been acting like a pervert at least from her perspective. I’m just thankful that Flu is always helping me to get off the hook easily, even though she was the unfortunate victim of all these accidents. There was this accidental boob touch and the hot springs incident during the training camp. I wouldn't be surprised if she started hitting my face for all those things, but she didn't. That is how angelic Fluonessia is.
The afternoon sun is already setting, and I think it’s time to end the practice.
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I have to make up for the sins I made to my fellow guildmates. I have tortured them well enough, so I have to redeem their trust and confidence in me. I can't have them hating on me forever.
I decided to blow the whistle and call the other two Speedmage for another conference. Prez and Cruzo immediately arrived at our position with their respective Accel-type spells.
“Let us call this a day and end the practice,” I said.
“Phew! Finally!” Cruzo and Ericka gave a relieved sigh.
“And also.” I cleared my throat. “You guys are still free for this afternoon?”
“Hmm? I’m free.” Ericka said as she held her hips.
“Gah… hah…” Cruzo is still panting when he gave his answer. “I have nothing else going on too.”
“Oh, I’m free too!” Flu energetically raised her hand.
“That’s great!” I clasped my hand. Then I tried to dig out the proper words to say next. “So… Uh... You guys want to grab a bite somewhere?”
“Why, is it your treat?” Ericka snickered.
“Y-Yeah.” I blushed as I turned away. It’s so embarrassing to show some kindness to them since I terrorized them the whole day.
“Ooooh! I will not back out for a treat!” Cruzo beamed a smile and made a thumbs-up! “I’m starving for doing all those laps!”
“I’m in for it too!” Flu excitedly cheered. “I want a Dragonfruit Ice Cream!”
Meanwhile, Prez still has this disgusting smug on her face.
“What?” I irritatingly asked.
“It’s just that our demonic coach has this tender heart after all. We just have to peek inside his spiky little shell.”
“I-I’m not doing this because I like you guys, idiot!” I crossed my arms and turned away with a “Hmph!” sound.
“Eeeeeh? You seem to like us a lot.” Prez teased.
“I’m just doing this as compensation for all your hard work during our training! Besides, you might take a grudge at me if all I did to you guys is hardship and trauma!” I cried.
“Okay, okay!” Ericka chuckled. “Let’s go eat then!”
This advice of treating your players to a meal is written on the Speedmage Tactics my father wrote. I remember as a child that he used to bring me to his dinners with his fellow Speedmages. According to him, it keeps the bond between the player and the coach tight and strong.
But maybe our useless President is right. I like them. I feel like I was playing as a Speedmage back during the matchups in the training camp. They made me look like a proud father by winning all their Speed Battles. So a treat even to the fanciest restaurant will not hurt.
<>
We ended up eating in a newly-opened bistro in the shopping district that serves burgers, fries, ice cream, and fruit juices. We filled our stomachs in no time, and the night has already dominated the skies when we finished.
The bistro has these pre-modern magical lamps for a good romantic ambiance. There are even a few people around the bistro, and the music from the magic box is playing slow rock music. Well, it would’ve been truly romantic if and only if my two clubmates are silent.
“Chomp! Chomp! Chomp!” Cruzo kept on eating thirds and fourths of his bucket fries. He’s eating a lot which makes the earlier ten thousand laps pointless.
“Aaaaah! This Dragonfruit Float is awesome!” Flu squealed with glittering blue eyes. She can’t help but comment on her quirky drink.
“Jonathan.”
Ericka’s soft caring voice entered my ears. When I looked at her, she is holding four application forms with the heading Regional Speedmage Tournament.
I grabbed one of the application forms and read the contents. I was surprised that my name was already written on it. I looked at the other forms and saw that all our names are filled up already. Wait, it’s not just our names! The whole form is filled out!
“I already took the liberty of completing the forms for you. Look, I even perfectly copied your signatures!” Ericka giggled like a kindergarten kid who was proud to present her crayon drawings to her parents.
“I-I’m pretty sure that’s a forgery,” I said.
“It’s not forgery if you agreed to join, right?” Ericka smiled.
“You have a point.” I nodded. “Applying for the Regionals is one of our goals anyway.”
“Whoaaaa! Awesome!” Flu looked at her application form and squealed once more. “Am I participating in this tournament?”
“Of course! Your first Speedmage Tournament will be one of your core memories, and you will never forget it even if you turned into a granny!” Ericka said.
“Prez is right, Flu!” Cruzo affirmed while munching his fries. “Prez will never forget her first Speedmage Tournament last year because she threw up right before her match started!”
“Shut up, Panda~” Ericka glared at Cruzo with the word death painted all around her face.
“Oh, okay. I’ll shut up.” Cruzo stuffed his mouth with more french fries.
“Wooooow! That’s awesome!” Flu pumped her fists.
“What’s awesome? Prez vomiting?” I cringed.
“No.” Flu shook her head. “It must be amazing to fight in a Speedmage Battle with all the people around cheering for you, and with all the awesome Speedmages fighting to become a champion!”
Flu’s eyes glittered, and I can see her being too excited. If she gets this worked up, I’m pretty sure she will ask me to train her again until dawn.
“Coach!” Flu grabbed my attention.
“Yes, yes, coach here! I’m right beside you!” I said.
“Please train me again tonight! I want to be way better!” Flu bowed.
See? I said it already.
“It’s still two months away, right? Don’t be too worked up.” I answered.
“But I need to catch up with our upperclassmen! I want to become the Speedmage Champion!” Flu pumped her fists.
“F-Fine.” I sighed and relaxed my shoulders. There is no way I could reject such a motivated and adorable smile. "But until midnight only, okay?"
"Yes!" Flu smiled.
Suddenly, Ericka spread out her hand to us, gesturing to a halt.
“I hate to burst your bubbles, but we have a more pressing matter to attend to first.”
“Huh? More important than the Speedmage Tournament?” Flu tilted her head.
“Yes. My sister told me that to apply for the tournament, we all have to pass our midterm exams first!”
“W-Wah! M-Midterm exams!?” Flu started to talk like a broken magitech robot as she had her eyes wide open in shock.
“So there will be no Speed Battle practice two weeks before the exam to focus on your studies!” Ericka added.
“N-No Speed Battles for two weeks!?” Flu cried.
I think her remaining brain cells died when she uttered those words.