Chapter 67 - Rollerblade

The classroom buzzed with frantic energy as students scrambled to find their new seats, eyes darting across the room to locate their newly assigned partners. Desks screeched against the floor, mingling with the excited chatter and occasional groans of dissatisfaction. Amidst the shuffle, Myrrh found herself partnered with none other than Kian Cyprus—the campus heartthrob who effortlessly commanded the attention of half the student body.

Kian had the kind of striking presence that made people do a double take. Tall and lean, with smooth, ivory skin and a head of thick, curly black hair, he exuded an effortless coolness. If you squinted, he could easily pass for a Korean pop star—the type that made girls swoon and whisper feverishly in the hallways. It was no surprise that a collective sigh of disappointment rippled through the classroom as Myrrh took the seat beside him.

Meanwhile, Neil was paired with some girl sporting a painfully generic bowl cut. I barely registered her presence, too preoccupied with the sharp, deathly glare that Neil had locked onto me. His eyes burned with unspoken resentment, and I could practically hear the silent accusation screaming through them. A shiver ran down my spine. Friends weren’t supposed to look at each other like that.

And then there was Fei—her quiet, delicate presence beside me. The moment she settled into her seat, she turned to face me, her golden eyes warm yet hesitant. A slight blush dusted her cheeks as she bowed slightly, offering a soft, almost trembling smile.

“I-I’m glad to be your WAIFU, Zaft. Please take care of me from now on,” she said, her voice gentle yet carrying an earnest sincerity.

I inhaled deeply and let out a sigh. Out of all possible outcomes, the randomizer had somehow decided to roll the most complicated one for me.

Objectively speaking, Fei was an excellent WAIFU partner for the finals—strong, intelligent, and someone I already got along with. Her long black hair always looked freshly rebonded, sleek and silky, framing her face in a way that made her seem effortlessly graceful. Those golden eyes, wide with innocence, carried an almost ethereal glow. She was quiet, a little awkward, and prone to clumsy moments that made her unintentionally adorable.

But timing was a cruel thing. Right now, I was caught in an unwilling love triangle between Fei and Neil, and this pairing only made things worse.

“The honor is mine as well, Fei. Happy to be your support unit,” I replied, forcing a smile to hide my growing anxiety.

Extending my hand for a handshake, I expected a firm grip, but Fei simply placed her hand atop mine, light as a feather, as if she were a puppy offering her paw. My breath hitched. The innocent gesture was unbearably cute, and before I could stop myself, warmth rose to my cheeks.

Realizing the awkwardness of the moment, we both let out an embarrassed chuckle, the tension melting into something softer—something uncertain, yet undeniably sweet.

"Hahaha."

"Hahaha."

The laughter lingered awkwardly between Fei and me, but even through the chuckles, I could feel the heavy weight of Neil’s glare boring into the back of my skull. Yeah… I was definitely dead.

Before I could dwell on my impending doom, Professor Chen clapped his hands, drawing the class’s attention. He stood at the front with a composed demeanor, holding up two devices—one was a sleek, futuristic wristwatch, the other a vibrant, compact morpher.

“Listen up, WAIFUs and support units. Link up your WEEB devices and morphers by gently tapping both devices together,” he instructed, his voice carrying an air of practiced patience. To demonstrate, he lightly tapped the morpher against the watch, triggering a smooth, holographic interface that flickered to life above his wrist.

[WAIFU Link Initialized]

Fei hesitated for a second before revealing her morpher—white with striking orange accents, its design sleek and polished. The glow of the device reflected subtly in her golden eyes as she turned to me expectantly.

“Like this?” she asked, her voice soft as she carefully clinked her morpher against my smartwatch.

A soft beep followed, and in an instant, both devices flashed with a synchronized system message.

[WAIFU Link Initialized]

[Rebooting Weaponry Enhanced Engineering Bios]

[WAIFU: Fei Xian Registered]

“Oh!” Fei gasped, startled by the sudden activation. Her eyes widened in surprise, lips slightly parted as she took in the glowing display.

I couldn’t help but smile. The way her expression lit up in innocent curiosity—it was adorable. No wonder Neil was completely smitten with her.

Professor Chen clasped his hands behind his back, his sharp gaze sweeping across the classroom. His voice carried a sense of finality as he addressed us.

“For the next few months until the Finals, you WAIFUs and support units are stuck with each other. The grading system remains the same as in the Midterms, so make sure that no matter who your partner is, you find a way to work together.”

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His words hung in the air like an unspoken challenge. Some students exchanged eager glances, while others groaned under their breath. I, however, was too busy calculating the fallout of my new partnership to react properly.

Beside me, Fei beamed, her golden eyes brimming with sincerity. “I hope we get along as partners, Zaft! I fully trust you!” she said, her voice light and unwavering.

I forced a smile. “Yeah. Ditto.”

On paper, this should be a good match. Fei and I got along well enough—probably even better than I ever did with Myrrh. She was strong, reliable, and easy to talk to. But there was just one glaring problem.

Her boyfriend.

Or ex-boyfriend.

Or whatever the hell Neil was supposed to be now.

Because as of today, I was the guy partnered with Fei. And judging by the way Neil had been looking at me, I might as well have signed my own death warrant.

How the hell was I supposed to beat the allegations of cucking my own friend now?

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Our next subject was the practical weapons test, which meant we were heading back to the simulations room—a place of equal parts excitement and terror. The air buzzed with murmurs of anticipation as we filed in, the familiar metallic scent of the training facility filling my nose.

At the front of the room, Professor Bao stood with her usual authoritative presence, her sharp eyes scanning the class as she swiped across her smart tablet. The glow of the screen reflected against her glasses as she addressed us.

“How are you doing with your new partners, WAIFUs and support units?” she asked, though the slight smirk on her lips suggested she already knew some of us were struggling. “I hope you’re getting along, especially since today marks your first practical test of the Finals. For this session, I’m enhancing your clearance level to Level 8.”

With a simple press on her tablet, a synchronized chime echoed through the room. Our WEEB Systems blinked to life, projecting holographic displays above our wrists.

[Weaponry Enhancement Engineering Bios]

[Clearance Level Up]

[New Weapon Unlocked]

[Level 8 – Rollerblade]

I frowned at the notification. “Rollerblade?” I muttered under my breath, tilting my wrist to get a better look.

“Wow.”

Fei’s quiet voice came from dangerously close to my ear. I barely had time to process her reaction before realizing just how close she had leaned in—her soft breath brushed against my skin as she peered at my hologram display, her golden eyes reflecting the neon blue text.

Her face was just beside mine, above my right shoulder.

I turned my head slightly—just a small glance—and almost grazed her cheek. My breath hitched. Too close.

Reacting on instinct, I took a quick step back, barely avoiding an accidental kiss. The moment passed in a blur, but something lingered in the air between us. A soft, subtle scent.

Baby powder.

It was soothing in a way I hadn’t expected—gentle, warm, almost comforting. A stark contrast to the sharp tension that had just surged through me.

I cleared my throat and forced my eyes back onto my hologram display, pretending I wasn’t just on the verge of having a full-on heart attack.

“These rollerblades are motorized skates for Frame Units,” Professor Bao explained, her voice crisp and authoritative. She tapped her tablet, and a holographic diagram of the new equipment spun in midair. Sleek wheels lined with stabilizers, compact thrusters near the heels.

“These wheels are primarily designed for urban warfare, allowing Frame Units to traverse cities with enhanced agility. While they function best under Earth’s gravity, they can still be used here in Xyraxis—or any other planetary surface—with a few tweaks and necessary handicaps.”

Beside me, Fei let out a quiet groan. “I don’t know how to use roller skates even in my human form.” Her expression was nothing short of distressed as she turned to me with wide, pleading eyes. “Can you help me, Zaft?”

I hesitated before nodding. “I’ll try. I’ve never used roller skates either, but I’ll guide you the best I can.”

Fei’s face instantly brightened. “You’re the best, Zaft!” she chirped, pumping her fists in excitement.

I forced a small smile in response, though I couldn’t shake the burning sensation at the back of my head—the unmistakable feeling of someone glaring daggers into me. Neil, most likely. But I refused to turn around.

Professor Bao clapped her hands, regaining control of the room. “Now, all WAIFUs, proceed to the red line. Support units, to the blue line. You know the drill.”

The room shifted into movement as the WAIFUs strode toward the red-marked section of the simulation floor, while the support units, including myself, took position by the blue line. A familiar tension thickened the air as everyone prepared themselves.

Then, in perfect synchronization, the WAIFUs raised their morphers high.

“Frame Unit, Awaken!”

A surge of brilliant energy erupted across the training floor. Columns of light shot up, engulfing each WAIFU as their bodies expanded, mechanical limbs forming, armor plating locking into place with heavy metallic clanks. The very air trembled under the sheer force of the transformation.

Fei’s Frame Unit emerged—a towering, twenty-meter titan of orange and white, its sleek design accented with glowing golden circuits pulsing along the armor. Her mech’s golden eyes flickered to life, a radiant gleam cutting through the fading light of the transformation sequence.

Even among the other Frame Units, hers stood out.

I swallowed. No matter how many times I witnessed it, watching a WAIFU transform was still breathtaking.

Now, it was our turn to shine.

The support units tapped into our WEEB Systems, scrolling to the newly unlocked Level 8 weapon. A sharp hum resonated through my left hand as the cybernetic circuits pulsed with energy—except now, instead of their usual blue, they glowed gold. My brows furrowed slightly. That was new.

I flicked a glance at Fei’s Frame Unit. Its golden circuits pulsed with the same warm glow, synchronizing with my own. A small detail, but it drove home the reality of our new partnership.

Taking a deep breath, we all called out in unison:

“Rollerblade, Equip!”

A bright cybernetic circle formed beneath the feet of every Frame Unit. Then, with a flash, motorized rollerblades materialized onto their heels. The engines inside the wheels roared to life, glowing faintly as they activated.

One by one, the massive mechs pushed off, gliding smoothly across the flat metallic terrain of the simulation room. Some handled the motion with practiced ease. Others wobbled, adjusting to the unexpected momentum.

And then there was Fei.

“Wah—WAAAAH!”

Her Frame Unit shot forward before she could even process what was happening. Her arms flailed wildly, her balance slipping almost instantly.

CRASH.

The ground shook as she fell flat on her metallic butt, the thunderous clang reverberating across the room like an explosion.

“Owie!” Fei’s voice crackled through the mech’s external speakers, a mixture of pain and embarrassment.

I rushed over, genuinely concerned. “Fei, are you okay?”

Her Frame Unit’s golden eyes blinked as she looked up at me, her massive robotic form somehow managing to convey sheepishness. “I-I’m fine.”

I sighed in relief… but the moment was short-lived.

Because there it was again.

That burning glare pressing into the back of my skull.

I tensed. This time, I didn’t need to turn around to know exactly who it was.

Neil.

And he was not happy.