8TH GEAR - THE CUP NOODLE DISASTER

"Achoo!"

It's finally the end of the second day of classes, and I'm still feeling sick after that incident this morning. I feel like I'll be getting a cold once I got home.

This cold is the fault of none other than the idiot sitting right in front of me. When Fluonessia launched me into the air, I flew upwards and crashed into the open swimming pool of the academy. Good thing the lifeguard there managed to immediately rescue me, and I never got sent to Miss Terror.

But in return, I had to attend the whole day of class with my clothes half-wet. The magical dryer here in the academy was sent for maintenance, so I had to wear my chillingly cold uniform for the rest of the day.

The bell rang a minute ago, and my classmates has already divided into small clusters of groups. Most are preparing to go home already. I'm just gathering my strength to pack up my things, but then the pink-haired girl shifted my attention.

"U-Um..."

Fluonessia finally turned to me with an apologetic smile. She clasped her hands and prayed for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry for this morning! I'm so so sorry!"

"Fine, apology accepted," I said in a bored tone while glaring at her. "Don't you ever do that again."

"I will! Thank you for accepting my apology!" Fluonessia bowed vigorously over and over.

This will serve as a lesson for me not to take a cute girl's hand when walking at the beachside. Especially when I'm going to school. I know inside myself that I don't want to be involved with this clumsy idiot from now on.

"Ah! I know!" Fluonessia seemed to have her lightbulb switched on. "I will buy you some cup noodles from the cafeteria to make up with you!"

"Sounds good. It will keep me warm." I said.

"Stay right there! I'll be back in a jiffy!" Fluonessia excitedly pumped her fists. Then, she touched her shoes and enchanted them with magic! "Wind Accel!"

Swoosh!

In a blink of an eye, the pink-haired idiot vanished! Only her green wind contrail was left.

"Haaah." I did a relieved sigh. She'll be scolded for running and using speed spells in the hallway for sure. Well, she's too energetic for her damn good.

Fwoom!

After five seconds of solitude, Fluonessia came back with a hot cup noodle in her hand. It was steamingly hot, and the aroma of artificial seafood flavors entered my nose.

"T-That was fast!" I cried.

"Here! My formal apology to you!" Fluonessia smiled innocently as she gently placed it on my table.

When I opened the lid, I was a little disappointed. The hot water only fills half of the cup, and the noodles are not even completely submerged. I also noticed hot droplets of water crawling from the other side of the cup. It was a real mess.

"Hey, I think you spilled the hot water-"

"Aaaaah! Hot! Hot! My arms are burning! Kyaaa! Call the firetruck!"

Fluonessia cried as she ran around the room, swinging her hand back and forth like a flightless bird. She just realized that she burnt her hands with hot water a few seconds late, and now she's causing chaos in the classroom.

After three laps around the room, she finally settled down on her seat and blew on her burnt wrists to cool them off.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Whiff... whiff... It hurts. Uwuuuu." Fluonessia cried.

I just watched her in amusement. Her clumsiness knows no bounds, but at least she makes every scene interesting. She's like a walking disaster in a comedy show. Might as well eat this cup of noodles while watching her suffer.

I was about to take my first bite of the noodles when somebody intruded.

"Good afternoon fellas!"

"Kyah!" Fluonessia shrieked.

"Ahck!" I choked on my noodles.

A hugely fat man appeared on my right side. He has green eyes, blonde hair and a goatee, and extremely snow-white skin. There are also thick eyebags on his eyes that makes him look like a panda. He's wearing a yellow ribbon on his academy uniform, which means he is a sophomore.

"H-How may I help you?" Fluonessia asked with a forced smile.

"You are Fluonessia Asahime, right? The newbie mage that defeated Captain Tezza Flaschk yesterday?" The fat guy asked.

"Y-Yes." Fluonessia slowly nodded. "W-Wait, the whole school already knows?"

"Of course! You are the Legendary Princess who defeated the Lightning Captain!"

"L-Legendary Princess?" Fluonessia's face became red.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. Where are my manners!" The fat sophomore put his hand on his chest. "I am Cruzo Laprazi, the manager of the Merry Knights Speedmage Guild. I am tasked to scout potential Speedmages to join our club! Nice to meet you!"

"N-Nice to meet you too. Tehehe." Fluonessia scratched her reddish cheek in embarrassment.

"I am here to recruit you to be part of our Speedmage club! Here is the brochure! If you want to learn more, feel free to visit our club room!"

"R-Right! I will consider it!" Fluonessia pumped her fists with a determined smile.

The fat upperclassman shot a glance at me, who was busy sipping my seafood cup noodles. I'm just watching them both on the sidelines, so I'm quite surprised that his attention shifted to me. He just nodded with a smile and then gave me the same brochure she gave at Fluonessia.

"Here's yours! Please think about it!"

"M-Mkay," I said as munched on the noodles.

"Well then, see you again! Ciao!"

The fat upperclassman waved his hand and exited the classroom. The only ones who are left are me, Fluonessia, and some other students who are bewildered by that quick recruitment.

"Whoaaaaah!" Fluonessia stared at the brochure with full amazement. It's like she was a pirate who just saw a treasure map for the very first time. "This seems awesome!"

I briefly glanced at the brochure and saw an overview of the Speedmage clubs. There are three active Speedmage Clubs in this school, namely; Eaglecrest, Cool Escape, and Merry Knights. The Speed Battle is the most popular sport regarding mages of this era, so the Saint Crusade Academy allowed the existence of three guilds to cater to the demand of Speedmages.

Eaglecrest Guild is a Speedmage Club for all the elites of the elite. There are only a chosen few that are recruited. Only the Speedmages with proper talents and connections are allowed to join.

Cool Escape Guild is the most popular Speedmage Club of the Saint Crusade Academy. They have over two hundred members and serve as the guild for everyone who wanted to join. They have lower standards than Eaglecrest Guild.

Finally, the Merry Knights Guild. It was an old guild that is the husk of its former glory as it was once the Speedmage Club led by the legendary terror professor, Miss Comette Azure. As of this moment, the club seems to be abandoned as there are only two members. It was the worst club in the academy, but it was the first one to recruit Fluonessia as a potential Speedmage.

"Hey, hey, Jonathan!" Fluonessia pressed her face towards mine. We were so close that I can smell her rose perfume. "This is it! We got our first recruitment from a Speedmage Club! Isn't this awesome?"

"Yeah, whatever," I said as I gulped the cup noodle soup in one go. Then I packed up my things and stood up, leaving the brochure at my table. "Thanks for the cup noodles. I'm going home now."

"W-Wait!" Fluonessia tried to reach out her hand. "What about the Speedmage Club? Aren't you planning to join?"

"No way. I'm not a mage, remember?"

"Y-Yes, but even so... they still invited you. Maybe you can participate in Speed Battles too, as navigator, or our coach, or trainer, or... or even a water boy!"

"That makes it even worse, you idiot!"

I shouted at the pink-haired girl, who was in turn, looked like an apologetic kitten. There were about two seconds of silence before Fluonessia started talking again, but this time solemnly and without energy.

"Do you really not want to join?"

"Nah. I'll pass. Nothing can change my mind-whoa!"

Suddenly, Fluonessia grabbed my face and pressed hers forward. I initially thought that she was about to kiss me, but she paused when our nose is about one centimeter away from each other. Her sapphire-like blue eyes glared at my very soul.

"Do you really reaaaaaaally mean it?"

I was stunned for a moment there. Maybe she sees right through me, maybe she doesn't. There is this small ember on my chest that makes me want to join and pursue my failed dream. But I know that I will be disappointed in the end.

I looked away and muttered my honest(?) answer.

"I mean it. I will not join any Speedmage Club."

"Got it."

Fluonessia finally let go of my face. She pouted, and her reddish cheeks puffed. For the first time, I saw her finally give up on me. I know she feels disappointed in me for the rejection I just made, but that's what it is. I have no place in Speedmage Clubs.

I turned around and made my exit.

Now I can go home and not involve myself with mages of this academy.

Or so I thought.