Watching Fiona pay with Lizard Boy was no fun.
So I spent the match seeing if there was anything I could salvage from my backpack, which had gotten crushed against me during my fight against. I am very disappointed, but it definitely wasn't my best work.
I should ask for my knives back... I had all sorts of little places I could hide them. Well, in my normal clothes. But no, I'd need a max-strength burst to even cut Fiona, and I don't want to cut Fiona.
Looks like it's down to Plan 3.
"Why not call it plan 'C'?" you might be asking. Because I'm insulted that anyone would assume I have only 26 plans. Pretty sure that's a quote.
Night woman gives her biggest yawn yet as Fiona and I take to the field. She doesn't bother to reintroduce us and says, "Start whenever you're ready."
Fiona nods to me, and I give her the signal.
"This match will be over in ten seconds," I say as we start to circle each other.
"I agree. But do you think you're fast enough to get it this time?"
Only we know what 'It' is. We've practiced this together, in the event of this exact scenario.
"Only one way to win," I say.
"Only one way to lose," she confirms.
Our circle is a spiraling one.
Bringing us closer and closer. Letting us watch the tension filling our fellow students.
My hand sparkles as I overcharge my nerves.
She says, "I knew this day would come."
I say, "Our fated duel."
The air itself is tense as we close to within two paces of each other.
"What the crap am I looking at?" Night Woman grouses, but we ignore her.
This is our match.
One pace.
My hand moves as I wink.
Both of our hands move so fast it's a blur.
"I give up!" "I give up!"
We both shout at almost the same time.
But we both also know who won.
"Hah! I beat you!" Fiona says.
"Stars! Dammit! Shit! How?!"
"Hee hee, trade secret," she teases. "You owe me lunch now! And a dress-up party."
"Joy..." I weep on the inside, imagining some frilly fashion crime she'll put on my body.
Around us, the other students are incredulous, crying out their despair at my victory.
"Oh come on!" "That was it?!" "Boo! Rematch!" "We all know Fiona would've won." "Do over!"
Some of them are actually hissing and throwing little paper cups that must've been provided by the medics.
"M-match to Aislin... I guess." Night Woman announces.
The students continue to cry foul all the way back to the auditorium. And even more join in once they see how "popular" I am.
My saving graces are Tala, Naomi, Jhaydun, and, surprisingly, Basil, who don't mind sitting next to the girls sitting next to me.
Fiona, of course, sits with her PR team to the right of Basil. PR Girl One, whose name I have already forgotten, glares daggers at me. I return my most winning smile, which causes a shudder to creep down her back before she, wisely, sits.
"Did you really mean we aren't friends?" Naomi leans over my shoulder - not a big feat considering she's just a head shorter than Tala, who is two meters tall at age thirteen.
"W-well, I mean we hardly know each other. It's hard to form a friendship in just one day..."
"An understandable position," Basil notes, butting in.
"Why are you here?" I ask.
"I have sworn to help Ms. Nagase reach her full potential, just as you have shown me there is still growth for me to be had. Obviously, I should stick close to her to carry out my word, no? And I should stick close to you to achieve new heights."
When did that happen?! My inner voice shrieks. My outer voice says, "Thanks, but I don't need a tutor."
"How about a friend then?" He winks.
"It's been one day! Not even one day!" My voice gets a bit shrilly.
Tala is still a bit moody, but seeing us bicker makes her laugh. "You're such a tsundere!" she declares once our eyes focus on her.
"I am not a tsundere!" I practically shout.
At that moment, the lights audibly click off except for the ones on the stage. We all realize we're about to get The Big Speech as a set of twinned holographic projectors commence with a dazzling lightshow that has to be against the law or something if anyone here is seizure-prone.
Crusader is out first, with his stupid white teeth and stupid golden hair and a slight hint of hostility I expect to be cast my way but am surprised to see it land on Fiona. The hostility fades in a flash, but for that moment I feel very, very concerned for Fiona with her rose-tinted dad glasses.
As soon as he puts both of his arms down, a hulking, three-meter-tall mass of human meat follows behind, smiling gently and wearing what looks like a professorial robe. He takes the podium as Night Woman is wheeled out on a dolly and scraped into a seat, followed by the rest of the teachers who fill all the seats to the left of their sleeping comrade.
Sleep, fair lady, you've earned it dealing with all these punks.
The muscle man needs no mic to be heard as he begins, "Welcome, Students! I am Dr. August Armitage, but most of you will probably know me as Goliath. Don't worry," Goliath chuckled, "I'm not all brawn." He cleared his throat. Now, you may notice your numbers have thinned somewhat, but rest assured, your friends have been offered the opportunity to test over summer break, and who knows, perhaps you'll see them next semester!"
I knew who this man was. I'd even used his ass as a wrecking ball when we fought over the Hoover Dam. Not my best work, but being able to make a few decently sized holes freed the river without damaging anything worthwhile.
Well, maybe a couple thousand mansions. He certainly hadn't been particularly smart back then, but that was, what, twenty years ago now? Good to see he got his doctorate. I respect a good education. Unless he bought it...
I zone out of the middle part of the speech, which is the usual stuff about school rules and setting examples and doing our best both mentally and physically. Also something about it being mandatory to join a school club.
Where does he think this is, Japan? This country is way behind Eiyuu High and its pesky brats who ruined my vacation time. I mean, sure, I did steal a prototype mecha dragon, but it was nothing to write home about!
"And lastly, we wish to acknowledge the winner of our sponsored post-test tournament, Aislin Carver! Come down and say a few words!"
"Wh-what?!"