He's So Cool
"......Cool."
Kamel murmured as she gazed at the spot where cheers and bursts of light erupted.
A student lunged at her, exploiting her moment of distraction.
Crack!
Mogas, who had been guarding her right beside her, let out a sharp yell.
"Hey! Aren't you watching the perimeter?!"
"It's fine. He can just get eliminated."
"Argh! This is about the school's honor!"
"First place is already decided anyway."
......True, but still!
Mogas grimaced while glancing at the scoreboard displaying the neighboring arena.
The image of one boy on the screen. Bearing all the spotlights and expectations, he had turned the tables, leading Sky Academy—which should have been evenly matched or even trailing—to victory.
[Current Score]
[1st: Sky Academy (52p)]
[2nd: Kayone Academy (29p)]
The overwhelming gap between first and second.
Not only was it proof that Sky Academy was unscathed, but it felt like a deliberate grudge against Malzaha Academy— they kept getting crushed, one after another.
In truth, from Eugene's perspective, he couldn't tell Bongas Academy and Malzaha apart, so he just beat them both down!
"......Anyway, he's the enemy!"
"It's okay. He's a good guy."
"That guy?"
"Yeah."
"Where do you get that from?"
"He's handsome. Great vibe, kind and......"
He really, really didn't want to admit it, but yeah, the guy was handsome.
Damn, if only I had a face like that!
But kind?
"You didn't... run into him when you disappeared earlier, did you?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Bumped into him by accident."
Bumped into him?
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
This was different from her usual self. She gave curt, factual answers like always, but...... today, her attention was completely elsewhere.
Her eyes held only Eugene, nothing else.
Mogas felt unease at this side of her he'd never seen before.
'......No way.'
"You didn't... fall for him, did you?"
"......Maybe."
"......What?"
Fallen for him?
Over just bumping shoulders once?
To Mogas, who didn't know her circumstances, it was utterly incomprehensible.
Over that?
Why? I'm right here!
For a moment, his emotions surged out of control, but he took a deep breath to steady himself.
He was 19 now. An adult for quite some time. He couldn't let petty feelings sway him.
"You barely know him, and you're already falling? He probably doesn't even remember you properly."
"We're friends now. Got his contact info. And a gift."
"......Friends?"
"Yeah."
Contact info? A gift?
Only then did Mogas realize where her robe had come from.
......Why? Just because he's handsome? Was she the type to fall that easily over something like that?
I've poured months—no, years—into getting close to her? Why? Why not me?
"I'm transferring."
Kamel's final words hammered the final nail into his crumbling resolve.
With a blank expression, she pressed the forfeit button.
"I need to go to the same academy as that guy."
"......"
Mogas ground his teeth.
There was nothing uglier than impulsively spilling your feelings.
He had to hide it, control it properly. But that wasn't easy.
The hope tucked away in a corner of his heart—that if they just got closer like this, their relationship might evolve someday—shattered completely.
"......You're really throwing away the scholarship and honor over one feeling?"
"Scholarship's secondary. Meeting people and researching? I can do that elsewhere too. Won't get the scholarship, but I've got plenty of money anyway."
"......"
She was a genius.
Even as a student, she was already producing high-level artifacts for the industry and earning a substantial income from it.
And that wasn't all. Her family was a renowned merchant house—one that had even earned a noble title. No money worries there.
The only rumored flaw was that she wasn't official bloodline, but that was unproven.
"Plus, he's not here."
Mogas's expression wavered.
Nearby students catching their breath turned to glance at him.
Did he confess and get rejected?
"......That feeling's just temporary."
"No. This isn't temporary."
It might seem that way to outsiders.
But not to her.
The one person who gave her true peace and comfort.
Academy? Honor? Money? She didn't need that crap. She already had plenty of honor and money.
"......You serious?"
"Yeah."
She replied with a resolute tone rarely heard from her.
"I've made up my mind."
She was the type to follow through when she decided.
When she said she'd start a business, he'd tried to dissuade her, but she'd succeeded spectacularly.
Would it be the same now?
'......No.'
Artifact business or romance business—they were both businesses, but different kinds.
Romance was about emotions.
No matter how much she wanted it, it wasn't something easily achieved.
'......That playboy bastard.'
His resentment turned toward Eugene.
That guy must've charmed her with that face of his.
Kamel, who barely glanced at celebrities, didn't matter.
What mattered was that she was smitten now.
He had no means or way to convince her. To Kamel, he was just an annoying tag-along—nothing more, nothing less.
'Bet it's small down there anyway.'
Unfortunately, no.
* * *
"Ugh, I'm beat, so beat."
Beating down the protesting guys had drained twice the energy.
I staggered back to the dorm.
Ashy, Adria, and Jenella were nowhere in sight.
'Hungry......'
I'd stashed a snack for after, but Eodukshini scarfed it while I was gone.
That was my favorite!
Suppressing my deep rage, I pulled Eodukshini out of my pocket at the dorm door.
-Guhhh...... Huh?
"Don't come home tonight."
-W-Wait!
Slam!
I tossed Eodukshini in front of the door and shut it tight. Just in case, I locked it too. From outside, Eodukshini pounded on the door.
-Master! I'm sorry!! Don't leave me out here! In this cold street......!
"Oh my. What a cute slime."
-Eeek!
Serves you right for eating my stuff. Still, it'll freeze out there, so I'll let it in after three hours.
"Sigh."
I turned around with a heavy sigh.
Had I left food prepped at home?
Fridge might have leftover rice, but odds were Adria, Ashy, or Jenella ate it out of hunger.
"I'm ho—......"
Bang! Pop pop!
"?!"
Ashy and Adria burst out, popping fireworks.
Beside them, Jenella stood red-faced, having missed her timing and just clutching her fireworks.
......What the hell are you guys doing?
"Alright! Next up!"
"Okay!"
Ashy and Adria, who had only peeked out, fully emerged.
"?!"
What, what is that? Oh, why are your outfits like that?!
"Fighting! Fighting!"
It wasn't just the outfits. Poses, stances, props—all perfect.
Which made it even more embarrassing!
Blood rushed to my face and ears. I hurriedly covered my face with both hands.
"Hey! Don't cover up! Know how hard we practiced? Jenella! You too, move it properly!"
"H-How can I wear this and......"
"You practiced the hardest."
"No! Why wear cheerleader uniforms at home and suddenly dance?!"
Adria replied like it was obvious.
"Don't wanna show other guys."
"......Uh, yeah. Thanks for the answer."
Then don't show me either?
* * *
I stared blankly at the pot in front of me.
I'd just bought it last time—why was it scorched and dented?
Truly inexplicable.
"......J-Jenella burned it."
"I didn't."
"I didn't even say you were the culprit."
You do have a conscience after all?
I opened the pot.
"......"
And closed it again.
"Hey! Why close it!"
"You want me to eat that? That's not cooking, that's alchemy!"
"Even alchemy can't make that."
You didn't toss a live chicken in, right?
The ingredients inside were preserved fresh. So fresh they might start moving—wait, it's moving!
I get you wanted to nourish me with a hearty stew, but this ain't it!
"Why cook? Just buy something."
"D-Don't say it like that......"
"No, don't pout. I'm the aggrieved one here."
I picked up a live(?!)-looking chicken leg(??) with chopsticks.
"You want me to eat this?"
"......Y-You could?"
"Then you eat it first. I'll specially give you the drumstick."
"......That's not a drumstick, that's the head."
"Why put the head in! You trying to assassinate me?"
Adria's pupils shook wildly.
She slyly averted her gaze and pushed the pot toward me.
"Actually, my dream was to be an assassin......"
"Wanna die for real?"
Assassins gotta be taken out, right?
As I raised my club, Adria hurriedly hid behind Jenella.
"F-Friend shield!"
"......G-Getting hit by Eugene might actually be nice?"
"......I'm gonna lose my mind. Hey! Eodukshini! Get in here! Eodukshiiii!!"
How is the snack thief the sanest one?!
* * *
The next day, I woke up looking wrecked.
Aaah...... I feel like death.
Not eating properly was bad enough, but Jenella sneaking into my bed at night nearly drove me insane.
-U-Um, you into cheerleader outfits?
-No. No, so get out!
-But why's it bulging there......
-Censor! Censoorr!!
Aren't we minors?
Oh, adults here.
Still students!
-College students are students too......
"Get out."
-You told me to come in!
Eodukshini, who brought porridge for me, yelled back.
Am I the patient here?
Why porridge of all things?
-Just eat it.
"Why porridge? Nothing else? Makes me feel like an invalid."
-Some can't even eat porridge.
Blackmailing me with food? Sneaky.
I grumbled and brought a spoonful to my mouth.
Eh? Huh?
"Why's it good?"
-What kinda statement is that?
"Way better than I expected."
-How low were your expectations?
Zero, obviously. Just hoped no weird stuff inside...... Surprisingly decent.
A slime better at cooking than humans!
Is the slime superior, or humans inferior? A tricky dilemma.
"Good. You're head chef from today."
-Chapa-what?
Oh, no chapagetti here?
"Anyway, you cook now."
-Me? O......
"Divine stones as pay."
-Four!
"Four?"
-Four!
"Okay. Four it is."
-Okay! Thanks!
"Once a month, of course."
-......
Know how pricey divine stones are?
Well, Adria'd probably just give 'em if I asked.
That's the perk of being princess—money on tap.
"You're up?"
"Ashy."
"Yep?"
"Why didn't you stop Jenella yesterday?"
"Knew you wouldn't pounce anyway......? Besides, Jenella's sneakily aggressive. She's got potential."
"Aren't you supposed to restrain her?"
"Why me? Don't worry. I'm confident I won't lose."
Even if confident, block her! I'm dying here!
"Porridge? Who made this?"
"Eodukshini."
"?!"
Ashy tried a spoonful from my bowl and her eyes went wide.
"Eodukshini made this?"
-What's with those looks? Why assume I can't cook?
"Arms too short."
"Doesn't look the type."
-......
Don't sulk. Can't help you're a slime. Cooking requires your whole body like a workout.
-Fine! Not doing it!
"Don't sulk. Here, gift."
-Hehehe......
That's a slime, right?
Ashy smoothly soothed Eodukshini and slyly whisked away the porridge bowl.
Hey. Bring it back.
"Still, I'm a bit better. Want me to make more?"
"For real?"
"......Probably?"
"Probably all ruined...... Probably all fucked......"
"Porridge confiscated."
"Why!!"
My food!!