Chapter 22 – Ideal Type

Professor Chaldeas seemed unusually energetic today, practically buzzing with excitement as he dove into our lecture on Basic Terms. It was as if he'd downed a whole gallon of coffee, his enthusiasm cranked up to 200%. His voice carried across the room with fervor, animated hand gestures drawing lines in the air as he talked.

“Planet Xyraxis is located at the far edge of Lagrange 2, a point between the orbits of Earth and Mars," he said, pacing. "But unlike Earth, Xyraxis is always ahead by eight hours, orbiting faster. Its purpose is crucial—it shields Earth from the barrage of meteors and cosmic beasts that roam the galaxy. You could think of Xyraxis as Earth’s artificial bulletproof vest, guarding us from the dangers of the universe."

Just as his excitement reached its peak, the school bell rang through the building, abruptly signaling the end of class.

“Whoops! Time's up already! Gotta go!” Professor Chaldeas exclaimed, his eyes widening in mock surprise. He darted out of the classroom with the speed of a dog rushing to greet its owner at the door, leaving behind a few chuckles and amused glances from the students.

Despite the professor’s strange burst of energy, today’s lecture had been informative, although it was clear that his mind was already on something else—perhaps eagerly awaiting something at home.

With the final subject of the day now over, I would have had the whole afternoon to myself. But, of course, I had agreed to join Myrrh’s study group. As her partner, I had no choice but to help—my grades depended on it.

As I began to pack my things, Myrrh approached me, her voice low and secretive.

“Hey, Zaft. Did you manage to find any more info on the Machine God or the WMDs?” she whispered, her words tense.

“Nothing. How about you? Did your mom know anything?”

“I asked her about the Machine God and the WMDs,” Myrrh said, her gaze drifting. "But she claimed to know nothing. I... left out the part where I died though. No point in worrying her with that.” Her lips curved into a strained, hollow smile.

“Yeah, the whole thing was strange,” I muttered, tapping at my smartwatch. A faint hum filled the air as the hologram for the [Weaponry Enhancement Engineering Bios] flickered to life above my wrist. I scanned through the menu, my brows furrowing in confusion. “I can’t find it in the Bios right now, though. There's no mention of Weapons of Mass Destruction. It’s like they were never there, just a one-time glitch.”

“How about the blackout that knocked out the Archonlight Tower's power? And what about that mysterious WAIFU?” Myrrh’s voice had an edge of curiosity, her eyes narrowing as she leaned in slightly.

I huffed in irritation. “Do I look like a search engine AI to you?” I shot back, frustration creeping into my tone. “I don’t have any new info. All I've got are the same old conspiracy theories. Forget about that WAIFU—there’s no way we’ll figure it out unless she decides to target us directly.” My words came out sharper than I intended, but the tension of it all was wearing me down.

“Figures,” Myrrh sighed, rubbing her chin thoughtfully between two fingers. “We could report the WAIFU to the university and maybe get some answers. But doing that would expose us, too. Even if she’s seen your face, it’ll take her time to track down your full identity.”

Her words hit me like a cold gust of wind. For a moment, I stood frozen, a knot forming in my stomach. I’d lived a strictly controlled life—school, dorm, repeat—barely venturing beyond the safety of Orbital Tech’s campus. Here, I felt secure, shielded by the university’s walls. But out there? In the sprawling metropolis? I wasn’t so sure.

I wouldn’t dare wander the city alone. Not without someone to protect me. Maybe with a friendly WAIFU at my side, like Myrrh... that thought gave me a sliver of comfort.

“Hm?” Myrrh glanced at me with a curious tilt of her head. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” I muttered, shaking my head dismissively.

She raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “You know, staring at my cute face is free. Just make sure to praise me while you’re at it, and I might even permit it—hooligan or not.” Her smug expression gleamed with playful mischief.

“Fuck off,” I replied, rolling my eyes, though I couldn’t suppress a small smile creeping onto my lips.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Neil and Fei stifling laughter at the side. Their amused faces set off a flicker of annoyance in me, and I let my sharp tongue do the rest.

“You two lovebirds enjoy listening to us bicker, huh?” I shot in their direction.

Neil grinned, unfazed. “I think it’s more like playful fighting, like two best friends tossing banter back and forth.”

“Or more like a newly-wed couple!” Fei chimed in with a bright smile, her brown eyes sparkling as she pumped her fists. “My stepdad and mom are like that too! You even smell like my stepdad!”

“Stop teasing us. There’s no way we could ever fall for each other,” I said with a scoff, trying to brush off the thought before it lingered.

“Oh?” Neil leaned in closer, resting his arms and chin on my desk, his curiosity piqued. “So, what’s your ideal girlfriend then?”

I paused for a moment, crossing my arms and staring off into space as I thought it over. “Ideal girlfriend, huh... Well, she should be about as tall as me, with long hair, and sexy, like a model. Most importantly, she’d need to have captivating eyes—eyes that could pull you in.”

“Like Miss Myrrh?” Fei Xian’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she pumped her fists in the air.

“H-huuuh!?” Myrrh stammered, her eyes wide as her entire face flushed a deep red, as if someone had painted it with strawberries. “W-what are you talking about, Zaft!?” Her voice wavered, and she instinctively began to twirl a strand of her hair around her fingers, clearly flustered.

I couldn’t help but remember my high school days, back when I secretly rated Myrrh a solid ten out of ten. In terms of physical traits, she was pretty much my ideal girl—long hair, striking eyes, everything. But I quickly waved off the thought. “No, no, no,” I said, shaking my head and waving my hand in denial. “My ideal girl has to be caring, humble, and kind. You know, unlike Myrrh.”

At that moment, Myrrh’s cheerful blush shifted into a cold glare, her eyes narrowing at me like sharp daggers. “Hey, did you forget that I’m sitting right next to you?” she muttered with a frustrated growl.

“Oh, right,” I responded with a sarcastic smirk. “I forgot you’re my seatmate.”

Just as it seemed like we were about to dive into another heated back-and-forth, Neil intervened, stepping in like a peacemaker. “How about you, Myrrh? What’s your ideal boyfriend?” he asked, redirecting the conversation with a mischievous grin.

Myrrh shot me one last glare before shifting her focus to Neil, her voice suddenly firm and decisive. “My ideal boyfriend would be responsible, reliable, handsome, and elegant. In other words, someone who is nothing like you!” She jabbed a finger toward me, her expression brimming with irritation.

“Well, the feeling’s mutual,” I retorted, crossing my arms with a mocking smirk. “I’d rather turn gay and suck my own cock than be stuck with an arrogant bitch like you.”

“At least you know your place, you incel goon,” Myrrh spat, her arms crossing tightly over her chest, eyebrows furrowing so deeply they seemed to twitch with fury. “Because if I were ever forced to be your girlfriend, I’d serve you a nice, steaming cup of poison on our very first anniversary.”

“If I were your boyfriend, I’d drink it gladly—right down to the last drop,” I shot back, a smile creeping onto my face, though it was fueled by anger rather than humor.

Tension hung thick in the air as Myrrh and I both stood up, our eyes locked in a silent but fiery challenge. It seemed like we were about to go beyond words and throw hands at each other when suddenly, Neil and Fei rushed between us, frantically trying to cool the situation down.

“Chill, bro! Chill!” Neil pleaded, his arms stretched out like a human barricade between us.

“Um, Miss Myrrh,” Fei interjected, her voice soft but with a hint of urgency, “how about we go to the target practice range? Please teach me some beam rifle aiming techniques!”

Myrrh’s expression remained hard for a moment longer before she let out a deep, frustrated sigh. “Fine,” she muttered, her arms falling to her sides. “I’d rather teach Fei than waste another minute arguing with lowlife scum like you.”

“Speak for yourself, debt princess,” I snapped, my words cutting through the brief calm as she turned to leave.

<><><>

The four of us headed over to the firing range, requesting permission to use the area. The range was already bustling with others prepping for their upcoming shooting tests, but we were there for a more casual practice session.

Neil and I sat on a bench, passing time while the girls went to change into their skinsuits. The wait dragged on for what felt like thirty minutes until, at last, Myrrh and Fei stepped out, fully suited up.

The skinsuits left little to the imagination, clinging to every curve and emphasizing the WAIFU’s form. Despite my personal grievances with Myrrh, I couldn’t help but notice her hourglass figure—her suit hugged her waist tightly, accentuating her ample chest and hips. It was impossible to ignore how the fabric pressed so snugly against her body that it even created a noticeable camel toe.

Fei, on the other hand, wore her white skinsuit with a slimmer, more athletic build. She lacked the full "cake and bazoongas" that Myrrh flaunted, but, as wise men say, flat is justice. Fei had her own charms, the kind that had clearly captivated Neil.

“S-say, I know these skinsuits improve nerve connections with our Frame Units, but is it really necessary to wear them at the firing range?” Myrrh asked, her tone unsure.

“I feel like I can move my Frame Unit better when I’m wearing this,” Fei said, pumping her fists, excitement lighting up her face.

“Yeah, but it’s a bit tight,” Myrrh sighed, pressing a hand to her chest. “Sometimes it’s hard to breathe.”

Fei glanced down at her own chest, her expression falling slightly. “I’m a little jealous of how big yours are... Mine look like they belong to a middle schooler,” she said, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Feeling like I should add something to their conversation, I chimed in. “Don’t worry, Fei. Yours are fine. Myrrh’s just fat—”

“I’ve had enough of you!” Myrrh roared, her patience snapping like a frayed wire. Without warning, she hurled her morpher straight at my face.