Inside A Classroom

All the tables and chairs were still grouped as most students were either reading books or had a small ball of mana floating above their hands made out of different elements while chatting. Yuki was holding onto a pair of chopsticks as she snatched one of the fried shrimp on Shiro’s bento. Yuki said. “Reiki’s food still tastes the same.” She ate the shrimp tempura while Shiro took a piece of pale steamed chicken breast from her friends' bento and said. “Yuki, don’t you get tired of eating steamed food most of the time?” Mio placed part of her grilled salmon in her friends' lunchbox.

She took one of the egg rolls shaped into a heart and thought. Just this alone would make me think a girl made it. Shiro stared at the pale piece of chicken pinched between her chopsticks and ate it, she thought. Why does her chicken always taste bland? Yuki used her chopsticks to eat a few mouthfuls of rice as the door slid open as a teacher made her way inside to the podium placed in front of the entire class. The female teacher saw most of the students' chatter slowly dying down as she looked around and saw Shiro, Yuki, and Mio eating.

The teacher thought. One has powerful connections, the other has a large amount of wealth, and the last one is their only friend… She tapped on the podium in front of her a couple of times and said. “Due to the tournament and the amount of preparations needed, we have decided to send all students home.” The students were all smiles as they erupted into cheers while the teacher raised her right hand waiting for the room to go quiet again. Yuki glanced at her Shiro and noticed she was paying attention to the teacher.

Yuki snatched one of the pieces of egg rolls and quickly ate it, she thought. Maybe I should ask Shiro if Reiki would be fine with making another bento… Following my diet. Mio saw her friend stealing food from Shiro’s bento from the corner of her eye as she used her forearm as a shield in anticipation to defend her lunch, the teacher continued. “You can eat your lunch if you want or head straight home. If you’re planning on going somewhere with your friends make sure to change out of your uniform first. That is all, your dismissed.”

One by one the elements floating above the student's palm slowly dispersed and went back to the surrounding air. A student at the back stood up from his seat and pointed at a trash can in the back corner and said. “Earth users place your spheres in this trash can, we don’t want a repeat of a student tripping in front of the school again.” A female student let out a chuckle, she said. “Yes, class rep.” The male student who stood up sat back down while the teacher nodded in satisfaction, she saw a student raise her hand.

The teacher said. “Suzuki, what is it?” Suzuki placed his hand down and said. “Akiyama-sensei, how would those who failed the last test make up for it?” Akiyama glanced around the room, she saw the students who failed and didn’t want to make eye contact with her, she said. “For the students who failed, points will be deducted on participating in the tournament-.” Before she could even finish her sentence the boys who failed had dissatisfied expressions on their faces as they voiced out their complaints.

“Sensei, the test isn’t even related to combat!”

“Why can’t we retake the test like other schools?”

Yuki was in the middle of chewing as she placed her chopsticks on top of her bento and covered her ears. Mio did the same while Shiro hastily took a bite of the onigiri she was holding and placed it back in her bento. Shiro covered her ears while Akiyama inhaled through her nose as and shouted. “SILENCE!” A visible gush of wind reverted from her mouth as it spread through the entire room making all the students' hair into a complete mess, Akiyama thought. Thank god you need a high school diploma to become an adventurer or else most of the country's population would take a dive.

She let out one long breath and continued. “Just because most of you don’t plan on going to college and want to enroll in the guild the moment you graduate doesn’t mean you can neglect your studies.” Yuki picked up her chopsticks again as she went back to eating, she said. “Shiro, you won’t mind us dropping by your place? Right?” She picked up the piece of steamed chicken while Mio used her chopsticks to cut a small piece of her grilled salmon off. Mio said. “Why does it always have to be her house?”

Yuki pointed the chopsticks that had some steamed chicken at her friend and said. “Do you think your parents would let us in your house?” Shiro picked up the onigiri on her bento, while Mio’s gaze wandered to the chopsticks Yuki used to point at her. Mio said. “You do know it’s bad manners to point someone using chopsticks.” Yuki moved the tip of the chopsticks closer to her face and said. “That doesn’t answer my question.” She ate the chicken as Shiro stared was staring at them while holding onto an onigiri.

Shiro gulped down a mouthful of food and said. “They won’t mind you two dropping by every day.” She took a bite of the onigiri while Mio glanced at the Akiyama who was still in the middle of her announcement. Mio said. “Shouldn’t we be listening?” She ate the grilled salmon pinched between her chopsticks followed by a couple of bites of rice in her bento. Yuki glanced at the teacher while Akiyama spoke, she said. “That is all, if you have any questions or complaints.” Her gaze wandered onto all those students who failed.

Akiyama continued. “Write them down and send them to the headmaster, class dismissed.” She did a half-turn and made her way to the door and slid it open. Yuki watched the teacher close the door behind her and said. “Fairly sure only those students who failed are the ones who need to listen.” Her eyes glanced at Shiro’s bento as her right arm blurred. Shiro looked around the classroom and saw most of the students letting out sighs or scratching their heads, she said. “Is being an adventure that good?” She finished off the last bit of onigiri she was holding and moved her gaze onto her bento.

Shiro thought. Hmm?... I’m missing an egg roll and a piece of fried shrimp… Mio was in the middle of chewing as she glanced at Yuki who had some grease on the corner of her mouth. A male student in one of the groups stood up and said. “I’m going home, meet you guys in the game center at around one?” His friends nodded at him as they followed suit and stood up, one of them said. “Sure, I was planning on buying some bread from the store beside the school.”

The only female in their group rolled her eyes at them and said. “I’ll pass, I need to train for the tournament.” The male students around her started to rearrange the desk and chairs they used. She stood up from her seat as she waved her hand the table and chairs she used started to rearrange themselves properly, the girl continued. “I’ll be at a cram school's training facility.” One of the boys lifted a chair using one hand and said. “Why not use the schools?” The girl shook her head sideways, she said. “With how close the tournament is, it’s filled with our seniors.”

She made her way to the door as the boy who asked the question turned his head at another student and said. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of that.” Other students in the room started rearranging the chairs while Yuki was in the middle as Shiro and Mio were tidying their messy hair due to the scream. Mio said. “No, being an adventure isn’t as good as it sounds. You need to be at least E rank to make decent money from it.” She combed her hair straight using her fingertips.

Yuki wiped her mouth using the back of her hand and said. “True, since most of the quest for F ranks are gathering herbs and killing snakes and oversized rats in the sewers which barely give any exp.” Shiro reached for her onigiri that had a bite taken out of it from her bento, she said. “That or they could try risking their lives to fight a monster a few levels higher than them.” Yuki picked up another piece of steamed chicken as her brows furrowed, she said. “What was the safest high-level monster here?”

Mio cut off a part of her grilled salmon using chopsticks, she said. “Slime.” Shiro had a pondering look on her face while chewing, she gulped down a mouthful of food and said. “No one is dumb enough to fight that a few levels under, let alone at the same level.” Yuki nodded in agreement as she placed the piece of chicken back on her bento, she said. “Speaking of your siblings, what does your Aneki do for work?” Mio placed the salmon pinched between her chopsticks on top of the bed of rice on her bento, she said. “I am curious to know what Ketsueki's nee-san job is.”

Shiro stopped herself from taking a bite of the onigiri she was holding and said. “I never asked Onee-chan what she does for work.” A small smile formed on Mio’s face, she said. “She obviously works as a negotiator for a company.” Yuki shooked her head sideways and said. “With her looks, she’s obviously a model.” Mio raised a brow at her friend, she said. “Then why haven’t there any magazines with her on them?” Yuki pointed at Mio using her index finger while holding a pair of chopsticks as she couldn’t find any words to say.

Shiro took a bite of her onigiri as more and more students walked out of the classroom, she thought. What does Onee-chan do?

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Somewhere In Tokyo

Ketsueki was sitting in an office chair as she had both her feet up on a large wooden desk while holding onto a bento with assorted sushi, she looked around the extravagant room and thought. The life of the rich sure is different. She stared at the random paintings on the wall to fill the large room along with dozens of decorations placed around.

Namida sat on the left side of the desk on a random chair she got around the apartment, she had a sour expression and spoke under her breath and said. “Why does it have to be my share of sushi? Sachi took more.” Sachi was on the other side of the desk as she picked up an inarizushi that had some tuna and shredded carrots and cucumber, she said. “Only reason why you’re saying that is because I found this chair first.” Namida glanced at the recliner her friend was sitting on along with the large pillow she had behind her back, she said. “What kind of office has a recliner?”

Ketsueki used her hand to pick up a cone-shaped sushi wrap that was overstuffed with rice, salmon, avocado, and thinly grated asparagus. Ketsueki said. “This office is what you build if you want to have an affair with your secretary while leaving your wife at home.” She took a bite of the sushi cone while Sachi nodded and said. “Pretty much.” She noticed Namida stealing glances at the recliner she was sitting on, Sachi continued. “If you’re too busy eating how about paying the client a little visit? Just to make sure he hasn’t fallen or anything.”

Namida stood up from her seat and said. “Fine, we needed to make sure he’s still sane anyway.” She used her chopsticks to pick up a couple of pieces of tuna sashimi along with some wasabi and ate it, Namida placed her chopsticks on top of the bento as she made her way toward the other side of the room. Sachi was in the middle of chewing as she swallowed, she said. “If you see a mini fridge with some wine, bring me the bottle along with a glass. I’ll trade you the recliner.” Namida lazily waved her hand at them without looking back.

Ketsueki used the cone-shaped sushi to point at her friend and said. “Is this how you prep them for torture?” Sachi nodded her head while she used the wooden chopsticks to pick up a nigiri with shrimp on top, she said. “Pretty much, no need for intimidation when you can just hang them upside down on a thread that could collapse at any sudden movement.” Ketsueki moved her feet off the desk as she placed her bento of sushi on the desk, she said. “What’s in the toolbox you always use?”

Sachi let out a chuckle and said. “It’s just a regular toolbox you can buy at any home center, other than a knife everything inside is the same.” Ketsueki’s brows furrowed as she spoke with a hint of confusion in her tone, she said. “Knife?” Sachi gave her a sweet smile and said. “Just a regular knife you can find at any adventure store.” Ketsueki watched her friend eat the shrimp nigiri, she thought. Now I’m curious to know what kind of enchantments it has… If only it weren’t “that” messy. She said. “What do you think he’s going to say to Namida?” The sweet smile on Sachi’s face slightly turned cold.

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Somewhere In The Apartment

Namida was looking around as she scratched the back of her head, she said. “Which side of the building did we hang him again?” From somewhere in the room she heard Sachi’s voice, she said. “Northside!” Namida took a left and saw one of the large glass panes was missing along with a rope going outside that was tied to a chair that looked like it could fall outside at any moment. Namida made her way closer to the missing window and looked out of it as her short hair was slightly swayed by the breeze.

She looked down and saw a man in his mid-twenties tied with rope as he dangled upside down, Namida thought. Guess I lost some money on him not pissing himself. The man started hyperventilating as he looked at the rope creak, Namida said. “Ready to talk yet?” The man quickly turned his head toward her and spoke in a panic, he said. “I-I don’t h-have the money! I-If you just give me more time-!” Namida smiled at him and said. “I asked you if you were ready to talk, not negotiate.”

She was about to turn around when the man suddenly said. “W-Wait! Hear me out!” Namida looked down at him again as she adjusted her black frame glasses, the man continued. “I-I’m good with num-.” Namida interrupted him by letting out a chuckle and said. “Are you as good as the ten accountants in one of the branches of my family's banks?” The man didn’t say anything as Namida extended her index finger, she continued. “Since it seems you won’t be telling us anything soon. I think this is an appropriate measure.” A black small needle appeared on the tip of her finger.

Namida slowly moved the black needle closer to the rip as the man panicked and said. “W-WAIT! W-WE CAN TALK THIS OU-!” Namida lightly scratched the rope with the tip of the black needle as the sound of creaking could be heard from the rope itself. A strong gust of wind came from the side as it gently nudged the man on the rope, the two of them watched the slight cut Namida made on the rope grew bigger as fibers started breaking. The man watched in horror while Namida smiled at him and said. “Enjoy the way down.”

The rope snapped as the started falling to the ground. Sachi and Ketsueki made their way toward her while carrying their bentos of sushi with them. Ketsueki looked down as she heard the faint screaming from the man falling, she said. “How high was this building again?” Sachi picked up a piece of sashimi and said. “Almost five hundred feet tall.” Namida noticed her friend was holding onto two boxes of sushi, she said. “Did you just take some of my sashimi?” Namida’s hands blurred as she took her box of sushi from her friend and glared at her and continued. “That better be the only piece you stole.”

Sachi picked up a piece of sushi using her chopsticks, she said. “So, which one of us is going to make she he doesn’t turn into a meat patty on the sidewalk?” Ketsueki finished off the cone-shaped sushi she was holding while Namida glanced at her from the corner of her eye as she picked up a piece of sushi in her bento. Sachi noticed the two pairs of eyes on her and said. “You two can’t be serious.” Ketsueki wiped the corner of her lips using her thumb, she said. “This is what you get for taking a piece of sashimi from Namida.”

Sachi let out a sigh while Namida smirked at her and said. “I can hold onto your lunch box if you want.” Sachi glared at her and spoke with a hint of coldness in her tone, she said. “You wish.” She snapped her finger and made her way to the missing window pane. Ketsueki picked up a piece of nigiri with some fatty tuna on top and said. “Make sure to scare him.” Sachi was standing on the edge as she looked down seeing a figure getting smaller, her pupils faintly glowed.

Sachi thought. I got five seconds before he loses value. She took one step forward as the sole of her show glowed a thin layer of mana as it stuck to the glass window while a couple of workers inside saw her casually standing on the wall. Sachi’s hair was affected by gravity as it fell in front of her as she spoke in a whisper and said. “Well… Back to work.” She vanished from the spot while Ketsueki and Sachi watched. Ketsueki said. “He’s not going to spill, isn’t he?” Namida threw a piece of sushi as she shook her head sideways.

Ketsueki turned around, she continued. “Let’s go make ourselves comfortable.” Namida swallowed and said. “Might as well raid the fridge while we’re at it.”

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Near The Bottom Of The Building

Sachi appeared standing on the side of the building as a couple of people noticed her standing on the wall, she turned around and covered her eyes from the sunlight and heard a man screaming getting closer. She thought. And there he is. The man flew past her as she grabbed him by the collar of his suit as he grabbed her wrist using both his hands, Sachi gave him a sweet smile that sent shivers down his spine.

The man felt his heart beat out of his chest, he said. “I-I don’t have any money-.” Sachi’s pupils started visibly glowing, as she spoke in a chilling tone and said. “Wrong answer.”

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At A Large Private Room

Reiki, Chishiki, and Akemi were sitting around the table that was filled with a variety of fresh seafood that was either steamed, grilled, or battered and then fried. Chishiki and Akemi glanced at Reiki who was using the grill in the middle of the table as they watched him cook piles of meat on it.

Reiki thought. I never expected a grill embedded inside the table, I need to make a note of that. Beside him were five large plates of perfectly marbled monster beef wagyu on top of the part of the table that came off to reveal the grill. Reiki noticed the odd stares at him and said. “What? If you two want some I’ll share.” He used a pair of wooden chopsticks to flip a thin slice of wagyu to its other side as the sounds of sizzling filled the room.

Akemi was holding onto a pair of metal chopsticks as she reached out for a few pieces of fugu and dipped it into some soy sauce, she said. “I think I’ll pass, chances are that’s not enough for you.” Chishiki glanced at Cherry who was standing behind Reiki with a bowl of cherries with the stem removed, she thought. Those cherries have too much mana to be grown here… She said. “Reiki, can you tell me where you got those cherries?” She moved her gaze onto him and saw that Reiki was stuffing himself with a slice of thin monster wagyu.