Dodgeball Break
Time flew by relentlessly, no matter what.
Tormented by assignments, classes, and morning wake-up alarms...
What day is it today?
"Ughhh..."
-No way...
I slumped over my desk after finally finishing my homework.
Eodukshini flopped down on top of my head.
I weakly grabbed his jellyfish-like body, stretched out long, and asked,
"What the hell did you do to be sprawled out like this...?"
-It's already Friday... No way...
"What...?"
Already Friday?!
I checked the calendar in shock.
It was true. Holy shit, where did all my time go?
"My time..."
-My flailing...
Eodukshini and I despaired, dropping to our knees.
Weekend?
Great, sure.
But weekdays drag on for five whole days, while the weekend's just two.
Should I drop out?
Just rot away studying like this?
This is school?!
Ah, right, it is school.
If I stay cooped up like this, I'll grow mold. No festivals or anything?
God, please let there be something.
Otherwise, I might go feral like a mad dog again!
This weekend, maybe tag along with Jenella for some part-time work...
Rumble rumble!
"?"
I poked my head out the window at the sound of a group of students moving.
What? Heading out for lunch together?
But they looked way too determined.
"Hey, hey."
-?
"Doesn't that look fun over there?"
-Oh yeah. Let's follow!
"Sweet!"
Eodukshini and I leaped out the window.
Thud.
We landed lightly and carefully, pulled up our hoods, and stealthily trailed behind them.
Where the hell were they going?
No clue at all.
Whatever. As long as it's fun.
"...Huh? Something's behind us—"
Whoosh!
The sharp ones kept sensing me, but my reflexes were way faster.
I tailed them without getting spotted, super carefully.
They headed to the Class C dorms.
"?"
What? I figured they'd be protesting to the professors about the placements, not going to C Class.
Group brawl maybe?
My mind flashed to gang fight scenes from movies.
"Hey! Come out!"
Not a bad show.
One thing I'd learned since enrolling: the professors were insane with the studying!
They never touched weekends, but weekdays? They worked us to the bone.
Assignments poured like crazy, making you question if this was even right. Then weekends hit, and they turned into lambs—no calls, no nothing.
So if there's fun to be had, weekends are it. A fight to watch? Hell yeah!
Hey, got popcorn?
-Of course!
I snagged Eodukshini's mysteriously prepped popcorn and watched the mob(?) charge in.
...Huh?
Students were coming out of the dorm.
Determined faces.
The leader held a... weapon?
Isn't that a soccer ball?
That's a weapon?
"You brought a whole crowd."
"Yeah, you loser C Class rejects."
"Ha! You got lucky into B Class and now you talk big?"
"It's game on! Head to the plaza now!"
"We'll crush you! Let's go, guys!"
"Wooo!"
"??"
-???
Their chatter filled my head with confusion.
What? No fight?
Wasn't this a brawl??
Isn't this the cliché? Complain about results, pick a fight, then acknowledge each other!
That's standard!
"Hey, what's this about?"
"Huh?"
I couldn't get it, so I asked a Speedwagon-lookin' dude. He answered without really looking, thanks to the crowd.
"What else? Inter-class match. Fancy name for just messing around."
"Why do this?"
"No fun otherwise? And it's an academy. Not weird at all."
"?"
Like that...?
Academy = school.
So this was just a normal student event!
...Really??
What? Did my past life screw me out of this?
Th-this is what the cool kids do?
"Heard you guys were pissed about class assignments. No protesting?"
"Can't."
The guy grumbled.
"Most profs are nobles. Hell, they handle continent policing. Even with nobles among us, no pressuring them."
"So you vent like this?"
"Yeah. Lots of kids stiff from all the studying."
We just enrolled, right?
Fair, though. Kids used to running free, stuck in a study prison? Stiff is normal.
"Heard A Class is in too."
"Yeah? What about S Class?"
"Monsters. Especially that top placer Eugene... can't touch that mad dog. Even the princess and duke kids got wrecked..."
His eyes met mine mid-explain.
He finally saw my face and freaked, stumbling back.
"Wh-who the hell are you?!"
"What else? Just a student."
"M-mad dog!!"
"Wanna get wrecked?"
Mad dog to my face? Rude.
-It's facts.
Shut up.
"What?"
"Pushing from behind like— Eek!"
"Why you too... Eek!!"
"Wh-why are you here?!"
Their reactions were all the same once they spotted me.
Come on, overkill much?
"Hey, am I a criminal or something? Hurts my feelings."
"Y-you've got fans who hate you!"
Oh, that?
"Eh, survival rules. Had to."
"Bullshit!"
"Then... you guys ganging up on me was fine...?"
"Old man—no, why're you out? Anyway...!"
Hypocrites, these fuckers.
I cracked my neck side to side, baring teeth savagely. They backed off.
The rep stepped forward.
"...So why're you here? To beat us up?"
"Nah, not a real mad dog. Think I'd?"
I pointed at his soccer ball.
"Inter-class match, right? Soccer ball?"
"...And?"
He hid it nervously.
Too late.
"Mind if I join?"
Lemme play too!
"No."
"Huh? Why!"
"You'd break the balance. One kick from you, they'd all drop. If the ball survives."
"..."
Facts shut me up.
Damn.
Dirty fact attack!
Back to the dorm empty-handed. Damn, I wanna play!
Luckily(?), my friends were in my room.
Adria, Jenella, Ash...
Fine. Take them out. I rolled on the bed.
"Jenella."
"?"
"Wanna hang?"
"Gotta study..."
"..."
Why so studious? Ash then?
"..."
Too buried in her book. And why study in my room?
No choice.
Only Adria looked free, elegantly sipping tea.
"Yo, Adria. Play."
"Can't you see I'm having refined time? Princess duty."
"Ughhh, bored."
"..."
"Ughhh, wanna play soccer or something."
"..."
"Ughhh, tired of the room. Wanna go out, play with you. Sounds fun."
"..."
"Ditch that unfitting tea, save Adria who plays outside with—"
"Shut up, you maniac!!"
Adria finally snapped, yelling as she tried sipping.
I rolled, dodging the flying pillow.
No way I'd get hit by that. She hurled all nearby pillows, but I dodged easy.
"...Look at that annoying bastard."
"Can't hit me with that."
I said, handstanding.
"So let's go play. Yeah?"
"You a kid?"
"Am I an adult then?"
"You drink."
"Kids drink sometimes."
"..."
"Back then, kids smoked 50 a day."
"What?!"
True story. Wonder how he's doing? Online friend only, one-sided.
"...What do you wanna do outside so bad?"
Adria sighed, hands up. Good, behave and play.
"Soccer?"
"Soccer? Why?"
"Looked fun?"
"It's not. You just haven't tried."
Adria wagged her finger no-way.
"Know how annoying? Prep, go out, sweat, wash, dirt... Better not. Bumping, tackling, hurt... Ew, hate."
"That's why no friends, stuck in my room?"
"..."
"Even with friends inviting, you skipped, played alone?"
"..."
"No friends now."
"........."
"Sorry! Don't go!"
"Whatever!"
Huh, sulking over that? I'd too!
"Sorry! Don't leave?"
"Stop fact assault!!"
"Stopped."
"Sniff..."
Got Adria back seated. Ash closed her book.
"Soccer needs too few people?"
"Gather kids... uh, it'll work?"
"Seems unfun."
Oh...
I deflated visibly. Ash pondered alternatives.
"Ah! How 'bout this?"
"?"
"Dodgeball."
Dodgeball? Body twitched.
No good memories. Ball aimed at head smashed glasses, nearly blinded one eye. Hit privates too.
Treatment? Nope. No money, teacher hushed it.
But now.
Should be fine?
"Needs few people, our level makes it fun. But rules: magic allowed!"
"?"
That's dodgeball?
Anyway, hours later, dodgeball time.
Excited, wriggling to the spot.
"I brought 'em all."
"?"
S Class kids too.
"...Thought it was serious, but just this?"
Bulria Arishion, lured somehow, glared annoyed at the court.
Sensitive! Joke, chill~
"I'm out. No reason for this waste..."
"Chicken?"
Twitch.
Bulria froze turning to leave.
"Can't win dodgeball? Waste time, bail? Nah~ No way~ Ego not that fragile~"
"Right, 'precious' duke heir~ Fine if you suck~"
Ash backed me perfectly. Bulria bit the bait, spun back.
"...Fine! No regrets."
Ugh, hates losing.
"Regret's on you, not me."
"Shut up."
Left him burning, eyed others.
"Why'd you come?"
"To beat you!"
Yahan.
"Bored."
Banasi, heavy makeup.
"Everyone going, so."
Andeman.
"Just... followed..."
Even the glasses girl I didn't expect.
Name was...?
Mud? The Student? Basic? Layone? Nah. What?
Can't recall.
Eh, Glasses works! Only one here.
Anyway, uneven numbers for teams.
One side short one.
I went Team A boldly.
"Cool! I'll take the short team. Who teams with me!"
"Me!"
"Me!"
"...Me!"
Jenella, Ash, Adria raised hands together.
"..."
"..."
"..."
They eyed each other, weird standoff.
Ash eyes fierce.
"I'm teaming with Eugene."
"Me too?"
"M-me too..."
These girls crazy?
"All team together, why fuss?"
"Ahem."
"Hm, hm."
"Rest to B Team."
Team A: Eugene, Jenella, Adria, Ash.
Team B: Andeman, Banasi, Glasses, Yahan, Bulria.
Teams set. We took positions. Felt empty, but fine.
We're no normal humans.
"Cool. I throw first."
"Throw at me, Eugene!!"
Yahan, rival eyes gleaming, front and center.
"This time, I'll prove I'm stronger!!"
"Bring it!"
Gripped ball hard.
Boom!
Ball exploded.
"...?"
"...?"
"...?"
Eh? Wrong?
Opened hand, nothing. Shattered ball gone.
> Equipment damage prohibited. Be careful next time.
> New ball provided. Return the broken one.
Silence hit. Golem scooped shards.
"..."
"..."
Shit? Eyes darted. Savior appeared.
"Catch, Eugene! Use this!"
"Oh! Thanks!"
You planned it!
Caught Ash's toss.
Hm, blackish, squishy... weird ball.
-?
"?"
Not a ball?
Slime—no, Eodukshini?!
Why you?!