图都是希莉爱/Riai Kotono 中文版我评论了 Enjoy! |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Hope Academy ~Chapter 8~ "You've made new friends already,huh...?" Dustle trailed off. "Yeah,I'm starting off fresh! I won't make the same mistake in middle school,big bro." I said. Dustle thought for a moment,then said,"Your friends ended up hating you after you told them,right? And I recall we had to learn how to use a memory-erasing spell on them. But luckily we both mastered it. It'll probably be of use to us in the future." "Hahh...I'm surprised you remember this much,big bro. Well,I hope I won't have to use the spell on Arina and Yasushi.They're...really good people." I closed my eyes and smiled,then opened them a second later,"Alright,enough about me. What about you,big bro? Did you become friends with your teammates?" Dustle's face didn't change one bit,but he replied,"Yes. They're my friends now. They're a bit annoying, though." I tilted my head curiously,"Oh? Do they not get along?" Dustle was silent for moment,but then smirked(oh wow,he actually SMIRKED),"No.They get along well. Even though it's not like that on the surface." I had plenty of questions,but before I could ask them,Dustle's eyes landed somewhere else. I followed his gaze and saw a brown-haired girl who had a really pretty and fashionable outfit. She was holding a lantern in her hand. Nice. She might be my classmate then. Dustle looked like he was only looking at her normally,but I've known my brother too long to know that he was looking at her with detest. The girl saw Dustle staring at her, and at first she was looking at him with detest too,but then a small blush made its way to her cheeks. "Ehh???" I thought,"Just what happened on big bro's side?" Dustle must've saw my curious look,because he then said,"I'll tell you later today." After sending the failing students away,Ms.Shiawase congratulated us who passed,then told us school will start three days later,on September first,and uniforms will be sent to our homes two days later,along with our classrooms and room arrangements. So,to summarize all of it,we each had two days to buy school supplies and be mentally prepared to officially attend Hope Academy. I'm already so excited! After finishing her speech,Ms.Shiawase dismissed us. I went to where Arina and Yasushi were,while Dustle went off to find his friends. "I sure hope we end up in the same room and class!" I stated hopefully. "Same here. I can't believe I've already made two amazing friends." Arina added. "M-me too!" Yasushi joined in. We each said our farewells,then went separate ways. Dustle came running back to me,excitement in his eyes. Ooh,that rarely happens. I wonder what's up. "Itsume and Shen want to hang out with me on August 30th." I beamed,"That's great,big bro!" I supposed Itsume and Shen were his teammates' names. On the way home, Dustle told me all about what happened in the exam on his side. He gave me a whole list of names, Antsuki,who was the brown-haired girl from before. Kira,Ame,and even an upperclassmen named Liora. He also told me how Itsume and Shen fought 24/7. Then I exchanged what happened with me too,which suddenly wasn't so exciting compared to his story. "I'm glad you're okay." Dustle said after I finished. "Same with you,big bro." I said back. We flew back home. It was in a small apartment that we recently rented to have better access to Kibo. It was about a seven minute flight. After using geo magic to unlock the door,I told Dustle,"I'm gonna go sleep. Yes,even though it's eight in the morning. Wanna go shopping for supplies in the afternoon?" Dustle shrugged,"Sure. I'm going to my room to rest for a while too." Well,turned out we spent the rest of the day resting in our home. Guess we were both drained out from spending...what,23 hours in the arena? August 29th. Dustle and I went shopping for school supplies together at a nearby mall. When we were looking in a shop for anime merch(I got a bit distracted,hehe),I saw someone in the same store and immediately ran out. Dustle looked confused for a bit,but then found out why. It was my old friend from middle school,Amiko.Though we all called her Akko. Her jet black violet hair was tied into a neat ponytail,with braids at the start. She looked up and saw Dustle,as well as the quivering me. "H-hi Akko." I said,waving. "Firekle." Akko's eyes were burning into mine,"Long time no see. I heard you'd joined the Kibo Academy entrance exam. Did you get in?" "Y-yeah. We both did." I replied. Akko smiled,but I couldn't tell if it was genuine or fake or even,threatening. "Congrats,then." She said coldly,still smiling,then turned around and left the shop. Standing in the middle of the hallway in front of the store,Akko stopped suddenly,turned around,called back in a sing-song voice,"I'll be watching you,Firekle~" and disappeared into the crowd. (+)
(+) We'd raced home after that. "Big bro." I said,panting."I never told you this before,but I don't think Akko's memory was erased. She probably still...knows our secret. And she can tell I know SHE knows,so she's using it as a weapon against me. Her special talent is...any offensive spells can't be cast on her." Despite the humongous thing I just told him,Dustle stayed calm but serious,"Okay. And you're afraid of her because of that." I smiled sadly,"Partly. We used to be so close in middle school,but after I told her our secret,she completely left me. I'm scared of the fact that we might never be real friends again. Before she left,she told me she'll be watching me,right? Most likely,she's afraid we'll cause the destruction of Kibo,and wants to keep an eye on us in case we do. Akko's sense of justice and responsibility is huge,after all." After pausing for a bit,Dustle said,"Well,she's got nothing to worry about. We're not going to do anything. Plus,how does she plan to spy on us anyway?" "Most likely a magical item. A spy-mirror,perhaps? It can't be sure,but when Akko says she's going to do something,she DOES it." "I see. Firekle,let's not worry about her for now. Focus on getting ready first." "I knew you were gonna say that,big bro.And you've gotta prepare for tomorrow,right? With Itsume and Shen. I need all the details after you come home!" Dustle nodded,"Alright." Well. On August 30th,big bro DID go to hangout with his friends,but he told me they're gonna be staying at a hotel instead, and that left me going by myself on the first day of school. September 1st. Without my brother to wake me up,I, of course,woke up late. I glanced at the clock sheepishly. 7:54.School started at 8:00. "Dang it."I muttered,then dressed and ate breakfast in only three minutes and headed out the door like a prey running from its predator. Even though I was really fast flying,I still needed work on energy and maintaining a steady pace. My wings gave out five minutes later and I collapsed on the ground,panting heavily. "Going full speed was a really bad idea,huh...?" I got up and decided to just walk the rest of the way. I was already late,so why bother hurrying? I didn't even take three steps before some random force bumped into me,and with a yelp I was knocked to the ground. "Wahh...?"I thought and looked up. There,in front of me,was a girl who looked my age. She had long black hair and was wearing a Kibo Academy uniform,but it looked like she just dumped it onto her since it didn't even look like proper clothes anymore. Wait wait wait,WHAT uniform? The girl then said guiltily,"Um... I'm really sorry...I was in a bit of a rush just now... and before I knew it,I bumped right into you...How about I pay you some money to make up for it?" She then bowed again and again as if in a trance.I couldn't help but snicker at her attitude. I shook my head and said,laughing,"No no no,of course you don't. It's totes fine,don't worry.By the way,are you by any chance going to Kibo Academy?" She froze,"Ehh? How'd you know?"Then glanced down at her uniform, "Oh." She looked up and saw my uniform. "OH." At that time,we locked eyes and had one of those twin telepathy moments that happened in novels. 0.000001 seconds later,we were happily chatting away,the incident long forgotten. "So,you're going to Kibo too?I don't recall seeing you at the exam though...."I said. "Oh,that! I got in from the special permission,since I was late to the exam."She replied,pressing her fingers together in embarrassment. "Hah?Special permission?!What special permission?" "Y'know,the one where you fight one of the teachers and do a bunch of other junk.If you pass,you won't have to complete the official exam to get in." Now I was REALLY pissed at myself. "Ahh...Is that so..."I said,almost fainting.I could've just went to the special permission instead?! What did I even do the official exam for?!Why,WHY didn't I study Kibo's details better?! The girl looked at me worriedly,"You good?" I took a deep breath and calmed down.What's done is done. "I'm fine. By the way,what's your name? We haven't told each other yet." "Ahh,right. I'm Lynn. Lynn Qiu. Nice to meet you,cat-bat-human species!" Lynn grinned,reaching out her hand. I took it and answered,"I'm Firekle. Nice to meet you too,Lynn-chan~" "...chan?" "Yup!!" Lynn beamed,"Firekle-chan~wanna skip class and go shopping with me~?" I was a bit surprised.I'd never expected her to say that. "That sounds fun,but...today is the first ay of school,so maybe we should go to class first?We can definitely skip school some other day though!" Lynn agreed with me reluctantly. We'd finally reached Kibo,and the gatekeeper DID NOT look happy to see us. Shaking her head,she sighed,"Late on the first day of school?Rough start.Which class are you two in?" "Uhh..."Lynn and I froze. "Lynn."I whispered. "Me too."She whispered back. Then,raising our heads,we told the gatekeeper simultaneously,"Ma'am,we don't know which class we're in..." TBC...
