72ND GEAR - LOVE AND SPEED NEVER MIX

“I’ll be taking my leave then! Thank you for your time and the wonderful scoop!”

Heffy waved goodbye at us as she exited the Merry Knights Guild Building. Flu, Ericka, and I returned the goodbye gesture and then we were finally left in silence.

It was already afternoon. The construction workers has already gone home, so there were no longer drilling noises and carpenter hammers. I looked at my pocket watch, and it is already 4:21 PM. The afternoon sunlight gave an orange tint to everything.

All of a sudden, we heard a familiar shout.

“Uwooooooooogh!”

Boom!

The sonic blast exploded on our faces when the caster of the speed spell finally made his appearance. It was Cruzo, and his uniform is filled with some bamboo leaves here and there. Wait, did he hug that bamboo tree for hours until just now?

“I-Is Miss Heffy out?” Cruzo asked in a panic.

“Y-Yeah. She just went home already.” I said.

“Thank goodness!” Cruzo held his chest and gave a relieved sigh.

Prez held her hips and scrunched her face. Her crimson violet eyes glared at Cruzo.

“Jeez, where have you been!? You just appear when it’s time to go home!” Ericka scolded.

“I’m sorry, Prez. Something came up, so I had to do something.” Cruzo bowed down.

“Seriously, what’s wrong with you?” Ericka crossed her arms in disappointment. “You’ve been acting really weird today!”

“I promise I will make up with lost time in practice!” Cruzo pumped his fists. “I will train double time tomorrow with determination and guts!”

“Well, if it is okay with our coach, then I’ll be fine with it,” Ericka said. She just sounded like a strict teacher there.

I approached Cruzo and whispered right behind his ear. Useless Prez must be thinking that I was about to scold him too, but I am fully aware of Cruzo's predicament. I chose to focus on a more important topic at hand.

“Confess. Tomorrow.”

“W-What!?” Cruzo exclaimed. “T-That was all so sudden!”

“I think Hetty likes you back,” I whispered.

“Heffy! Her name is Heffy!” Cruzo angrily whispered back.

“Whatever.” I coldly commented. “She was eager to see you earlier. Too bad you chickened out.”

“Urp.” Cruzo swallowed his embarrassment.

“You can do it!” I smiled as I double-tapped his left shoulder. “Bring out your determination and guts!”

“Yeah!” Cruzo’s eyes glowed as he started to do a ritual to raise his self-confidence. “Guts! Guts! Guts!”

Well that was easy.

I finally put some distance away from Cruzo and then prepared my things to leave. But then…

“Jonathaaaaan~”

It was Flu’s sweet voice. She has this unerasable smile on her face that seemed like she is on cloud nine. Her eyes are also twinkling, and her arms are wiggling up in the air.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Let’s go home together~,” Flu said happily. “I want to use Stardust Accel on our way back home too!”

Flu managed to deliver me here this morning without any issues, so I trust she will be able to deliver me back home safe and sound. There is no reason to refuse.

“Okay,” I said with a smile.

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“Yay!” Flu excitedly pumped her fists.

<>

The next day was the repetition of what happened yesterday, at least until we arrived at the academy.

Flu and I met up at the beachfront, then she boosted with Stardust Accel while holding my hand. This was the third time she delivered me to my destination safe and sound, so now I think she has a future of being a human taxi. I’m going to call it the Fluonessia Express.

Oh, and just like what happened yesterday morning, we were greeted by the petite blonde-haired paparazzi.

“Good morning, Fluonessia!” Heffy greeted. “And good morning to you too, Jonathan!”

“Good morning, Heffy!” Flu waved her hand energetically.

“G’morning, Helter.” I lazily muttered as I continued to read my Speedmage notes.

“It’s Heffy! How many times should I tell you my name for you to remember it!” Heffy exploded.

“You’re not important enough to be remembered,” I said coldly.

“Speak for yourself, you magicless! Hmph!” Heffy crossed her arms and turned away.

We three continued to walk until we reached the corridors, and then finally to our room. There are still a few students in this classroom as we are still one hour early to go to class. Flu and I settled on our seats and then I daydreamed about Speed Battle tactics while looking at the skies.

I was playing Speed Battle inside my mind, imagining Fluonessia vs. Lilith Round 2. But then I overheard something that would change everything for this day.

“Fluonessia! Big trouble!” The school journalist immediately dashed to Flu’s table.

“What is it, Heffy?” Flu asked.

“I found this in the drawer of my desk!” Heffy said as she immediately showed to the pink-haired girl a letter with a heart seal.

“I-Is that-!?” Flu’s eyes became round and wide. “A l-l-l-love letter!?”

“A love letter?” Heffy asked. “There is one way to find out!”

The paparazzi ripped the envelope like a hungry cat and then she immediately revealed a cute white paper with black spots. I suspect it came from Cruzo because white and black are signatures of a panda.

“Heffy, please meet me at the Legendary Cherry Blossom Tree.” Heffy read the words of the letter out loud.

“Whoaaaaa!” Flu screamed out loud. “You’re so popular, Heffy! I am so happy for you!”

“I-I’m quite surprised too. This is the first time I had a secret admirer. My fiance would be mad about this, hahaha.” Heffy nervously scratched her head.

Wait, did I hear that right? Heffy has a fiance? Now Cruzo is screwed up!

“Coff! Coff! Coff!” I nervously coughed to swallow up my reaction. I was just secretly eavesdropping on them and not a part of their conversation anyway, so I need to keep a low profile.

“You have two lovers, so you are loved by everyone! I am kind of jealous of you, Heffy!” Flu clasped her hands and laughed.

“Oh, don’t be so jealous!” Heffy sassily said. “You’ve had your fair moments with your crush too!”

“Tahahaha…” Flu nervously chuckled with a blushing face.

Wait, did they just talk about Flu’s crush? Who is it? I am dying to know! I am god darn curious! But I cannot ask that question because of reasons!

Wait, I can ask! As Flu’s friend and her coach, I should at least know some things about Flu’s personal life!

“Heffy,” I called out coldly.

“Y-Yes?” Heffy was startled then she grumbled. “So you do know my name.”

“Can I ask a question?”

“Since you finally called me by my proper name, I will answer!” Heffy puffed her chest. “What is it?”

“Who is Fluonessia’s crush?”

I projected a teasing smile so that I can pretend that I was just playing around. But in reality, I was bracing myself for impact. Heffy gave a teasing smirk at me before opening her mouth once more.

“Oh, that! Of course it’s-mmmmmmmph!”

Just before Heffy was able to drop a name, Flu was able to grab her from behind and cover the poor journalist’ mouth in time!

“H-Heffy! Why are you selling me out? Friends are meant to keep each other’s promises!” Flu cried.

“Mmmmmph! Mmmmmmmph!” Heffy is getting hurt in the chokehold. She repeatedly tapped Flu’s slender arm as a sign of submission, but Flu would not give way for her to breathe!

“Tahahaha! I’m sorry, Coach! My friend here is too noisy! I will deliver her back to her seat, okay?” Flu slowly dragged the dying paparazzi back to her respective seat in the classroom.

“O-Okay,” I said with a wry smile.

Now I am dead curious about Flu’s crush. Forget Cruzo’s love life, he is screwed now.

<>

End of classes.

And also the start of Armageddon.

There’s still plenty of time to fool around before going to our club, so Flu and I decided to tail Heffy to meet at the Legendary Cherry Blossom Tree and discover the identity of the secret admirer. Of course, it is no longer that much of a secret since I knew who the sender was all along.

Pink cherry blossoms flew with the summer breeze. Heffy’s bunny ribbon headband swayed with her short blonde hair that synchronized with the direction of the wind. She slowly set foot up the hill where the Legendary Cherry Blossom Tree was situated.

The Legendary Cherry Blossom Tree is said to be miraculous and magical. I have heard that any student who confessed their love under this tree has a pretty good chance of getting accepted. This pretty good chance of success was approximately 54% as dubbed by some of my classmates. And I am pretty sure that they are just overhyping the poor old tree since 54% odds are more likely to be a general average success rate of confession.

Below the Legendary Cherry Blossom Tree was a big fat figure. It was Cruzo, with a bouquet in his hand. When Heffy and Cruzo’s eyes met, Cruzo blushed and then offered the flowers.

“F-For you.”

Heffy blushed with a smile too. But when she was about to reach the flowers…

Zoom!

A grayish contrail streak blasted right in the middle of them, destroying the flowers!

“H-Huh!?” Cruzo uttered in disbelief as the petals of his love mixed with the wind and soared up in the skies.

A tall thin man has made his appearance. He has black hair, brown eyes, white complexion, and he is wearing a white coat that has the logo of Cool Escape on it!

“W-Who are you?” Cruzo muttered.

“My name is Paul Handsomeson, the most handsome man alive, and the fiance of Heffy!” The tall thin man proclaimed. Then he looked down at the fat panda and angrily muttered. “As the President of Cool Escape, I will not let a paramour like you get away! I will challenge you to a Speed Battle!”

Well, that escalated quickly.