Ruri nodded.
“Now we’re speaking the same language. You can’t keep a lady waiting for her meal, much less a princess.”
Natalia blew on Clyde’s neck, causing him to shudder.
“That really works,” she said, laughing.
He wanted to stare blankly at her, Toru-style, but pushed on. After they made sure everything was up and running, the trio set off for the food stands. The young man didn’t eat, knowing that he needed to be in top condition to destroy his competition.
Seth, Tyrone, and Kazumi joined them at a set of bleachers, snacking on various foods.
“I don’t know how Toru managed to do it, but the bikini contest is on the schedule,” Seth said, excited.
“It’s called waving the wand of money,” Clyde said with a chuckle. He quickly texted Tear and Yuki, challenging them both to win the bikini contest. He silently thanked Mother Nature for having the temperature in the seventies.
Kazumi glared.
“I knew something seemed fishy.”
“Someone has no confidence she could win,” Seth said. She rolled her eyes
“I don’t have to enter to prove myself. I have a boyfriend,” she said, leaning on Tyrone. He sighed. Kazumi’s assets weren’t lacking but neither Seth nor Clyde felt like seeing how her boyfriend would react to their words.
“Pervs,” Natalia said as she bit into her yaki dango—a shish kebab-like contraption made of delicious mochi balls, covered in a sweet sauce. She aimed it at Clyde. “Aaah.”
He stared at her blankly.
“How cute,” Kazumi said. “Well, don’t be an asshole. You—”
The scolding wasn’t needed as Natalia shoved it into Clyde’s mouth right as he opened it to protest. He chewed.
“Oh, that’s good,” he said. “But—”
Natalia stuffed another mochi ball into his mouth, causing him to take the time to chew.
“Look how cute he looks when eating,” Ruri said, giggling. “I want to feed him.”
Clyde didn’t dare open his mouth this time. He opened a program pamphlet and pointed at the first physical event. Natalia and Ruri just smirked. Stars seemed to gleam from their eyes.
The young man stood. So did they, ready to jump him, evil grins on their faces. Clyde waved at Seth and the others, then took off.
“Wait!” Natalia and Ruri called, chasing. Within seconds, a teary-eyed genie also joined the chase to tell Clyde some minor happy news, but he kept running. He managed to elude them by flash stepping. The hellhound’s nose wouldn’t matter if he was far off.
To his luck, no one was in the locker room, so he changed into a T-shirt and gym shorts, as well as some comfortable running shoes. He could not afford to lose. When he exited to the hallway, someone blew on his neck from behind. He turned slowly to see a starry-eyed Kiko, breathing sexually, grinning. Before he could protest, she pulled him back into the locker room with surprising strength.
**
Cultural festival…
Girls Locker room….
In Kitsune form, Harumi stared at the fifth love letter dangling from her locker, then shook her head. Either this was some kind of prank by a jealous girl or the senders were idiots. Love letters in college? Sato Academy of all places. She sighed, making her fifth locker room trash hoop in a row. How many times did she have to make it clear to these buffoons that she wasn’t interested? If a girl is taken, she is taken. She heard the door creak, but didn’t have to drop her form. Alice, Melody, and Matsume walked in.
“Hi soul sister,” Matsume said, pulling the pink-haired girl into a hug. Harumi hugged back, genuinely happy to see her.
“Where’s Ruri?” she asked.
“With Natalia and Kanako,” Matsume said. “I think they’re looking for lover boy.”
Alice sighed as she sat next to Harumi.
“We have a problem.”
“Is it about the mothers?” Harumi asked.
“No, they’re fine,” Alice said. “This one’s a bit silly, but…for Melody and I, kind of sensitive.”
Matsume chuckled.
“I can smell quite the jealousy on these two.”
Melody shot her a blank glare, which had no effect on the hellhound. Harumi giggled.
“What’s the problem?” she said.
“I overheard something between my Clyde and that…cow Noona,” Alice said. “There’s a bet between the guys. Whoever wins gets a private dinner with her.”
“But…you know how it is with Clyde, that could mean a lot more than we think,” Melody said. “Alice said she said something about licking her pie and trying her melons. As Clyde’s Soothess, I can’t stand by and let that happen.”
Matsume burst into laughter. Harumi managed to hold hers, but only because she felt a wave of concern too. She planned to knab her time with him that night—there was no way she’d let Noona steal that from her.
“So cute,” Matsume said, “but you’re misunderstanding things.”
They all blinked.
“What do you mean?” Melody said.
“Noona is as dense as mercury,” Matsume said. “And more virgin than Matsuko.”
“I still don’t like it,” Alice said, folding her arms.
Harumi gave her a sad smile.
“We could get in on that bet,” the pink-haired girl said. “She didn’t restrict it to just boys, right?”
“No,” Melody said.
“Let’s do it,” Alice said. “We’re going to take down my Clyde, for his own good.”
Harumi sighed.
**
Cultural festival…
Main fair grounds…
Dark downed his third helping of incredible anime food. A suitable meal for the lord of the dark, really. And now all he had to do was find the normie and his mission would be complete. He wanted the world star fragment out of his group’s hands as soon as possible. He figured like the dragon balls or chaos emeralds, the fragments would attract serious trouble.
He glanced at a group entering the festival, led by a beautiful blue-haired girl. He forced himself not to look at her breasts as she passed by, her eyes locked on the food stands. If only he didn’t suck at picking up girls. Oh well, the lord of the dark didn’t have to do such things anyway. That didn’t stop him from staring. The people that followed were intimidating as hell—they were well-toned and fit, like fucking gymnasts or…fighters?
Dark sighed, not caring. Myriad ruined his quiet eating moment.
“Ooh, so that’s your taste in human woman,” she said.
“Could you give the great lord of the shadows some peace,” he said. “Where’d Selkie go?”
“I think she left to go find this Clyde and the others,” Myriad said. “I think she also said something about not wanting to be spotted near the pillar of embarrassment.” She poked Dark in the cheek.
“And so I get stuck with you,” Dark said.
“You should be thankful to have a beautiful thunderbird like me by your side,” she said. “By the way, what’s a chuuni?”
“I am not a chuuni!” Dark said. “Now, go out and have fun or something. I’m looking for people.”
“Yeah right, I’m not getting stuck in a crowd of humans,” Myriad said then took another bite out of her Takoyaki. “Mmm, so yummy.”
“Right?” Dark agreed.
After this task was done, they could focus on killing as many crusaders as possible while helping Selkie. He may even strike them down indiscriminately, but the entity only stressed the researchers and their factions.
Dark personally believed them all to be evil, backstabbing traitors to humanity.
He shook away the thoughts. This was a festival, a place to have fun, not to think of twenty thousand ways to murder a false defender of humanity.
Episode 42 (Part 5)
Boys locker room…
“Kiko wait, now’s not a good time,” Clyde tried to explain, but the dark-haired girl continued to stroke him, eyes full of lost cont
rol. She wore a short black skirt, contrasting with a long-sleeved designer white shirt. Why did the two vampire teeth make the anime-girl look so…The part of him that rose to the occasion, finished that thought.
Kiko smiled as she pulled off her flowery panties and mounted the young man. Tightness. In fact, she winced at first, but smiled when he finally made it all the way inside. “You’re a virgin?”
“Don’t pretend like you didn’t know whom I wanted for so long,” Kiko said as she engulfed Clyde’s manhood deeper inside her. “And finally, you’ve let your guard down. Or…do you not want me?”
“Way past the bargaining point here,” Clyde said with a laugh, “and I’m not complaining.”
Kiko the vampire held the natural anime girl beauty with the added poise and dignity of the vampire tropes. “No biting though. My blood would probably burn you up.”
“That’s what makes my crush so exciting,” Kiko said. “A holy being, rescued me from the bad guys, and now he ravishes me with the temptation test.” She licked his neck while riding harder, although a little awkwardly.
“Can’t say it’s me doing the ravishing,” Clyde said but enjoyed himself, anyway.
[Kiko’s Ki attributes obtained! Acceleration, trust, and Vigor !]
[Delayed prompt. Ki increased, Yuki’s attributes +1. Heart, Power, and Mystery.]
After they finished, Kiko was all over him. He knew anime logic dictated a lot of things, but not a single sister—between Sazuki and Kiko—taken? Rule number something, don’t question a gift horse.
The moment they reached the doors, Clyde heard an argument. Chika and a man.
“Dad, you should go sit,” Chika said. “Enjoy yourself. See what the academy you’ve sponsored for so long has to offer.”
“I already know it offers the best, girl,” he snapped. “I’m just going to take a look around. Besides, I could’ve sworn I saw that Team Stone man run in here. Since you won’t answer my questions, I’ll just ask him.”
Clyde flashed stepped down the hall, not ready to deal with the most powerful rich man in the city. Shoot, to think he banged his daughter the entire time and even prepared to prop….He sighed. The dizziness faded from Kiko’s eyes.
“N—next time warn me before you…do whatever it was you just did.”
“Flash step—oh that was meant for my get away,” Clyde said. “You’re persistent as hell, hanging on like that.” He gave the girl a head pat.
Kiko sighed.
“As if I’m planning to just let you screw and run.”
They looked at each other for a second before laughing. Clyde wasn’t sure if his compliance was a factor there, but let it go.
“Alright, I’ve got some events to win,” he said. Kiko sighed.
“I’ve heard about that stupid bet,” she said. “Along with the classes betting Team Stone like poker chips.”
“I told Sazuki to just let them have their fun,” Clyde said. “Class C’s got this. But knowing the damn cliché, I can bet your ass that Class A’s going to try to cheat somehow. Maybe with an unfair advantage.” He nodded, the calculations and probabilities running through his head like an endless swirl of equations.
Kiko looked as if she was moving in for a goodbye kiss, but the young man had already started off. The voice of Chika’s dad echoed through the halls.
“Coming?” Clyde called out to her.
“Oh—sorry,” she said then hurried to catch up, cheeriness in her mood.
**
Cultural festival…
Auditorium…
Kitome allowed herself to relax. She liked Noona—but of all the personalities she chose to role and cosplay, why, just why a magical girl? She would strangle Clyde later for giving away her location. The blush on her face was faint now. One hour or so until the physical events started. Plenty of time to make sure Team Stone’s leader does NOT win that bet. To think Noona blabbed it—dense—and not understanding the innuendo of her words. Knowing Clyde, he’d get the dessert anyway and she could not let that happen.
She tuned into Class B’s musical, which had a Rock-and-roll rhythm to it. Her little brother was in it as well as Melody. The young woman was thankful that Seth got put on outdoor duties. That stupid pervert would find some way to doom the entire experience.
The lights went out, and a spotlight beamed on stage. There stood Melody, dressed beautifully in a pink skirt and cute sandals—her costume for the lead character. A Y-Pop tune picked up—which reminded Kitome of her favorite idol. Melody was a great singer, moving around with the grace of a…well, goddess.
“A-bright ‘n sunny day,” she sang, “I’m just making my way-ay. Then I see, him, go .”
A spotlight popped on the right side of the stage and there stood Yusuke, dressed in what Kitome could only describe as punk rock clothing. Fortunately, he was a decent singer, probably beat by the onslaught of rehearsals.
“A-fog ‘n gloomy day,” Yusuke sang, “and I’m just making my way. Then, hey, I saw her move .”
And so, the musical romance went on, both of the main characters’ families disapproving of the couple. Fight scenes and impressive coordination that only money could buy, drew claps. Further into the story, the female lead character was accidentally shot by one of her own family members, a major opposer of the romance, who loved her. It was then that the families opened their eyes and realized that the fighting would only lead to more tragic deaths. They came to a truce. But the male lead couldn’t bear to live in the city any longer, disgusted by the sight of the families.
He left and was never heard from again…That implied one thing, which doubled the sadness of the tragedy—the leads were funny, adorable, and at first, had no real idea of how to be a couple. In fact, they comically bickered during the first contact.
Kitome wiped tears from her eyes as full lighting returned to the auditorium. The audience applauded the performance of Class D and probably the money they spent, but that didn’t take away from the fantastic show. She decided not to embarrass her brother by hooting and cheering his name. Her parents were late, so they couldn’t carry on the tradition anyway.
“Less than thirty minutes left,” she whispered as she glanced at the time on her phone. She figured Melody, Alice, and some of the others would be finding a way to influence the results of the competitions. Maybe even win themselves.
Taking a deep breath and putting on her game face, Kitome hurried off.
**
Alice sighed, a little annoyed that Melody got pulled into doing her play. She did enjoy the performance, which ticked her off even more. That redhead would end up known as her Clyde’s talented wife, while she’d…she’d be doomed to be the one that sinks to the background. The talentless wife.
Ugh. Alice thought back to that early morning—at three—when she had to confront Melody about feeling a tiny bit of her, through the bond normally reserved for she and Clyde. Apparently, it was the same for Melody—feeling both Alice and her love mate.
Then the redhead finally confessed to Alice about getting him to take a soul-oath without even explaining a thing about it. At first, the blonde wanted to smack the blood out of her—entrapment was dishonor. But she took a full minute to think about it, realizing that she just wasn’t mad. They already shared his love.
Alice told Melody about the proposal, but kept the ring to herself. She figured Clyde still wanted to give something to the redhead, so there was no need to set that moment up for failure. This ring…made from his essence was special to her. A beautiful object symbolizing the emotions of the man who loved her. To think he did something so elaborate…. She couldn’t fathom how he managed to do it. Something like this should be impossible.
[Moon Goddess Ring of the Heavens and Valhalla. Item class: **Symbolic ** Unknown benefits and abilities.]
Alice felt real power thrumming on her ring finger. She giggled. Talk about one hell of a wedding ring, right? None of the women on TV could match it. Of course, if it hadn’t come from Cl
yde, the object would be meaningless to her, a hollow casket of power. It’d probably remain in the drawer for the rest of its days, if that was the case.
The young woman peeked into a classroom to see Class D students working a maid café. Kazumi served customers with smiles and then forced her lover, who was actually in class A, to assist with preparing certain orders.
“Alice!” she said, before the half demoness could step away. “You’ve got to try the peach cheesecake.”
Alice’s face lit up.
“Well if you insist,” she said. “I’ll let you serve me.”
Kazumi scooped the half-demoness into a hug.
“So cute. You’ve been even cuter lately.” The blue-haired girl with glasses pulled Alice in and served her.
The sweet and delicious cheesecake was heaven on Alice’s tongue—it’s coldness, creaminess, and the peach highlights, made her create a mental note to take caution if she joined the cooking program. The training had to be brutal for the culinary students to make something so amazing. This put the demoness in her other happy place—the land of sweets, sweets, and amazing sweets. And Tear and Natalia weren’t around to nag her about health and fitness.
**
Cultural festival
Outside of the academy…
Clyde felt like a heavy burden was pulled from his back when he stepped outside, eyes on the track. An angry dad avoided…
Young men from various classes stretched and prepared, some of them with looks of real determination. The only thing that bugged him was some of the rich snobs from Class A. They were passing what looked like gadgets between each other. Some of them, not just men of course, were gathered around a large map, pointing out various locations. For some reason, they erected a billboard with Misaka, dressed in queen cosplay, to represent Class A like some kind of mascot. He noticed her sitting in a fluffy chair that probably costed more than the average Joe’s rent, looking uneasy, faint blush on her face.
The Anime Trope System: Stone vs. Viper, #8 a LitRPG (ATS) Page 8