Friendship and Competition
友情と競争
That afternoon after taking their lunch, after I had asked them to go and change for their beach outfits, both the boys and the girls changed to their respective swimming gears. All boys wore their trunks while the girls had their choice of swimwear.
Now that they were in front of me, my head smacked some senses onto my brain, there really was no need for them to wear these kinky get up. I can’t believe I had my primal instinct won me over and decided to let these girls wear such outfit. However, when I saw the boys bewildered and the girls’ lovely expressions, I decided to keep it that way. Alls well that ends well, I guess.
“Okay? Who among you here do not know how to play beach volleyball?” When I was still on the other side and imagined going to another world, I’ve always wanted to be able to teach another world something new from my world.
However…
“It’s a game that went viral last year, right?” Damn it, someone beat me to it. “I even brought a ball just to play on our next off.”
“Thank you, Emi Savil. You have saved me.” Damn it, I was too full of myself that I forgot that I did not have a ball prepared for the event. Thank you person-whom-I-do-not-know for introducing beach volleyball earlier than I did.
“Okay, the rules are quite simple.” I started to hammer the rules to the group, especially to those who did not know about the sport.
To maximize my main point in cooperation and teamplay, even though we are on a beach, I decided to have a normal volleyball game. Meaning instead of a two-on-two, we will have five-on-five players on both sides. I had asked the students proficient in earth magic to create a concrete field of 162sq meters for the court and added a 3 meters freezone.
Together with the knowledge of Emi Savil and my ambiguous memory, I was able to reconstruct a set of rules for our volleyball game. Now, it is also easy to get heated when Magic is allowed, so someone uses it, it immediately invalidates the game, this would ensure the full enjoyment of the gameplay and maximize my point for team play.
“Shall we start with the game?” Thankfully, we have got an even number and easily split the group into two opposing teams. “The battle is between boys and girls.”
“W-what!?”
I knew all of them will react this way, the overall purpose to this game is to change their environment it will be meaningless if I just go with ‘nobles vs commoners’. This activity’s main objective is to give them a brand-new environment, if they can’t go past this obstacle, they will get further boxed-in and will never grow as individuals. Therefore, I needed another push to make them accept this new environment.
“I see, guess it won’t be fair…”
“Of course, it won’t be...” I left my sentence hanging on purpose I knew someone will always dig a grave. A grave definitely not intended for me. “Girls are weaker than boys.”
“Ha!?” The lone girl on the Nobles Stallion Faction and the two girls in the Fighting Eagles Faction steadily paced themselves to where Hisui and Sera were standing. “IT IS ON!”
…and the game started… or it should have.
“Why won’t you move like chess pieces, Magnus!”
“That’s right!”
“That is because we are human beings, Alfred!”
“That’s right!”
“Let’s crush their balls!”
“Ouh!”
“Ahahahah…”
“Hmm… hmm…”
Contrary to the one who said that, girls are weaker than boys. The game had one obvious loser: between the boys who could only hate each other and the girls who found a common enemy –the boys.
“Game set! The winner goes to…” while it was obvious who the winner is, I needed to spark some inspiration in boys’ spirit, so I needed to say it. “…stronger than the boys, the Girls’ Team!”
“Yay!” the girls in full bloom and somewhat refreshed from their victory made a group high five, indicating that they have to some extent gone past the obstacles that was set up from their positions.
Thankfully, the two who called themselves leaders of their respective factions had finally noticed where they lacked. This is something I had noticed during the battle against me. Both Magnus and Alfred were of the same temperament this must be the reason why they constantly repel each other:
•Alfred a noble almost influenced by his Fire Element was hotheaded teen full of ambition and pride.
•Magnus a commoner, contrary to his Water Attribute boils in anger whenever his pride or ambition are stepped on.
What will reconcile them is the common factor in the equation. Although the same, the pride they hold are of two different things. One is the Pride handed to him from his birth. While the other, is the Pride grasped through hard work.
I have already set 2 days for this experiment, for the students to grow past their Social Statuses, but it seems it only took half a day. This goes to show that humans can and will adapt to the environment when push comes to shove.
“We would like another game!” and there it is, the Pride that will not allow defeat, the same yet different pride that will reconcile both of them. I know this time they will break that obstacle. This time the challenge directed not to the girls or to me… rather to themselves. “We will fight you with all we’ve got!”
Nothing makes an educator more satisfied than to see their students grow, not just physically or mentally, but holistically.
“Okay, let’s go for round 4!”
*****
The real battle started when both teams reconciled their animosity with each other. Although you can still hear runts from the boys from time to time, it only stoops to the level akin to childish bickering or how they suck at playing the game.
As the battle heated, a gallery of crowds and stalls gathered to witness the game. Some of the onlookers even started to take open and friendly bets summing up a large amount of money. While I am not into gambling, I decided to leave the betters to their own devices as long as they do not go and disrupt populace.
“The girl with the pony-tail and her huge knockers sure are inviting.” They must be talking about Emi Savil, she is a noble and should be out of your reach boys.
“The one in the glasses is blooming cute, maybe a girl in love. That is so moe.” Some of the boys here had a weird choice of words, really ‘moe…?’ they might right about her being in love though, she -Claire Falmot if I am not mistaken is the girl who is always with Magnus.
“The tall shy girl has good proportion, why don’t we make her a model.” some of the onlookers are probably looking to scout the shy Stella Stuart.
“What is that child doing there?” I guess with her height and body proportion she could not get in their radar. But who’s to say, I’m sure there are a lot of people with different quirks out there… so good luck Sara.
“You know, I think I’ve seen that girl before… right when I went to the palace 2 years ago… but…” better stop with your innuendo and all or you’re going to lose your life for Lèse-majesté boys.
While there is bound to be trouble for this kind of things, I left it be since they are healthy observation from healthy boys, as long as is it is only to the level of ogling and making fancy remarks there was no need to stop them. It would be different if they try to assault them though.
While there were fan boys ogling at our beautiful Girls Team, there were also fan girls looking for their favorite, ‘ikemen’.
“Those eyes, they are like the sun piercing me with its heat.” Poetic, the girls all fall one-by-one as they look at Alfred.
“I will go for those earnest eyes. Those are the eyes of love… Mi Amore.” Magnus also got his own fan girls falling him.
On the side… I could see it, invincible tears masking itself as sweat, three boys who could not make girls fall to the ground for not being good looking enough. Good luck you guys, I am rooting for you. Wait there are actually four…. ‘死ね雷獣め～’
“Okay, that will be the end for this session.” The fourth round ended with the boys’ win. Althoug they won, they insisted on another game when the girls are full strength but I told them to conserve their energy because tomorrow they will enter the dungeon. “You will have free time until then.”
That night, the changes were visible:
The three boys who could not get any girls during the game found camaraderie and solace from each other. They cried on the sides while consoling each other. It did not take too long though as they decided to fight their fate, and together went chasing after girls. Just make it healthy boys.
The girls also found their own camaraderie by going to the bath to flush the sweat and had finally refreshed themselves. They talked about a lot of stuff involving beauty and lifestyle, after deciding to change to a bigger room, they went and converse together all night, there topic –boys.
The only ones who had a different itinerary are the two leaders of the warring factions: Magnus and Alfred. At the last minute before the eighth bell stroke, the two asked me if I could watch their duel. While they needed to rest for the dungeon the next day, I also wanted them to settle their scores. So agreed to their duel, I guess true men will have their fists do the talking, well in their case their magic.
Their battle will be a short one, like those Fast Draws in the Wild West. Only no guns are involved but one single spell. Now who will get the first strike? The Cool-Headed Flames of Alfred or the Hot-Blooded Waters of Magnus, either way, for me the two have already won.
Both Alfred and Magnus were readying their greatest of spells; both had earnest and straightforward eyes. They have move past their position, I felt that they were fighting to reclaim their old animosity, not the one handed down by their different social status… but that is the only feeling I get.
Alfred chose the Fire Lance while Magnus went for the Icicle Spear, without waiting for any signal both launched their attack at each other. Both with the same conviction and pride cancelled each other’s attack, eventually both rendered unconscious from the after-blast.
“Draw” was the only thing I could say, there was no need for any other. The two seemed at peace, both have definitely won. I then carried the two with help from the hotel staffs and allowed them to rest in their rooms.
“Good work today.” Late in the night, while making sure that nothing out of the ordinary is happening in both the student’s rooms and the cabin at mountain. Two girls found their way to the balcony where I am standing. “Hmm… hmm…”
“Princess Hisui, Lady Sara. Not yet sleepy?” while the two were moving, Sara was really pushing herself as she was wobbling on her feet. I guess she wanted to be by the princess side.
“Mmm... I just wanted to thank you for what you have done today.” Well, it could have wait for tomorrow, but since I don’t really mind the company there was no need to push them away.
“Ace, why did you not apply as a teacher?” while tending to the sleepy Sara, Princess Hisui then finally asked the question she wanted to ask for a while now. “With your abilities you could have become a good combat instructor.”
I guess so. I could also have been a student who excelled on the arts of combat. While the fault first lied with the Co-Head of the Registrar, I think not becoming either a student or an instructor worked well for my circumstances. I was still able to learn a few important things regarding this world without being one so it should be fine.
“The moon sure is beautiful.” Urged by my words, Princess Hisui then looks at the blue full moon, confused by the words I am using. “I am sure there is a reason why it is there.”
“I-I see.” By becoming an instructor or student in the first department, I would have not been able to meet her or have taught her class the lesson they needed. Therefore, I not becoming an instructor or a student had worked out fine not just for me, but also to her and the rest of the class. “That is true.”
“Better take Lady Sara to her room, or she will never grow.”
“That is a bit sad, Sara will cry if she hears that.
If she does hear me, she’d probably seriously summon Shilva again. I will definitely die if that happens. Therefore, I urged the princess to escort her to their rooms.
“Goodnight Ace…” her sweet voice lingered on my head.
“Goodnight Princess.” Out from earshot I gave my response.
