The next day came, and it was cooking day
Even on weekends, we have lessons, though they are fewer and less demanding. A prime example is the class we had that day, which was basically baking a cake. And, surprise, surprise, it was our math teacher again
"Good morning, everyone! I know many of you might find this class unnecessary, but let me tell you, cooking is something many overlook when talking about the perfect human! But why cake, you ask? First of all, I like cake, and second, cake is easy to make. Even my middle school daughter can make a cake if I taught her to!" She told us jokingly
"Now, to start, you will need 500 grams of flour…"
"Psst!"
I looked around but didn't see anything
"Psst!"
I turned back and checked the people next to me but still didn't see anyone
"PSST!!!"
Oh, it was Maria! She was behind a rather plump guy, so I didn't see her at first. What could she possibly want?
"Anyway, it seems like Jack is excited to cook! He took the closest cooking table to mine, so let's start with you, Jack! Can you try doing what I said?"
She was warning me, I guess…
"Could I try a cake you made first? It seems a bit odd to tell us the exact recipe without an example of a successful product!"
"I guess you are right! Here is my cake! Who wants a bite?" Our teacher spoke as if she were our mother. Without hesitation, I asked for a bite and quickly received one.
[Activating ethereal card]
And just like that, I could make a copy of the perfect cake my mouth had the blessing to taste. When I proceeded to get everything ready, she stopped me
"By the way you move, I can easily tell that you know what you are doing, so take it easy! I will test someone else, so get ready, kids!"
Thank God I was relieved from being watched from every direction. But I didn't just slack off. I often used my observation card and learned from others. Since I knew how to make the cake, I didn't need any additional knowledge, but I wanted to learn how to manage a kitchen
After all, to become the star, you have to be good at almost everything
"Hey, dude! Mind helping me a bit?" A guy to my left asked
I agreed and proceeded to give him some steps, but not everything. Most people simply want information or help with something, but then they will never help you back
I shouldn't make myself seem like the guy who will help anyone just because…
Shortly after, the class was over, and we were given a break
"What is it you wanted to tell me?" I asked Maria as soon as we got out of class
"HOW COULD YOU REFUSE???" She asked aggressively
"Pardon?"
"Jonan asked you to join us! Why did you refuse?"
How does she know about that?
"That's just rumors!" I told her, looking away
"Jonan told me!"
"Why would he tell you that? You are not part of the fighting force!"
"Yeah, but I am your friend, and he could tell that by seeing me after Joya kicked your ass!" Maria told me with an embarrassed look on her face
"I guess I was not ready…"
That answer confused Maria
"Not ready? As soon as a group as pure as the Crimson Butterflies asked you to join them, you should have done so! Especially if it was picked by the maestro!"
"You are correct, Maria, but only if I wasn't aiming to become the star!"
Maria's expression gave me the impression that she didn't believe in me. That's okay, though. If a guy like me told me something like that, I would laugh in his face too
"I know I'm not good enough, but I will make sure I will be, okay? And when I do, I want you to become a part of my group! You will forever hold the second spot in the group Black Roses!"
Maria seemed a bit more serious after I declared that
She gasped before telling me "You can't do that!"
"Do what?" I asked, confused
"Naming your group something with 'black'!"
"What do you mean?"
"Black Eagles are one of the most extreme groups out there, and they don't look forward to sharing a color with anyone, especially a first-year like you!"
Even though I was terrified by the fact, I still presented myself as brave
"It's okay! I can manage!"
"No, you can't! The maestro is known for beating the living hell out of people opposing him, so I wouldn't ease up about him if I were you!"
"Okay, I get it! So you met Joya?" I asked her
She seemed confused by how I changed topics so quickly, but she still answered my question
"I met him while you did your thing, and I met him during my morning jog! He was lifting weights at the outdoor gym we have here! I figured I could talk to him, but he denied knowing you! I get that he is trying to help you, but he is a pretty bad liar, don't you think?"
"Joya? Yeah, that guy couldn't lie to save his life! That's why I treasure him so much! People like Joya are rare!"
After our little talk, Maria left to go to her house to study and do chores while I relaxed on the rooftop of the library. With me, I had a book about boxing and my phone playing tutorials on movement. I have this ability to observe and learn, so I want to use it to its maximum since that's all I have now
Suddenly, as I was watching a video on movement, a girl entered the rooftop. It was her…
Joya's girlfriend
"You! You are Joya's friend, aren't you?" She asked me, looking at me with confusion
She was probably puzzled about why I had a book about boxing
"Y-Yeah… What's up?" I asked casually
Evelyn was beautiful, and on top of that, Joya's type, considering only her appearance
Green eyes, blonde hair, and a big chest
Joya never failed to mention how he liked girls with a big chest, so it was only natural
"What you did back there was foolish to a crazy degree! I know you tried to help Joya, but you're stupid to think that you'll come out of this unharmed! How many people have come to you asking questions or doing worse things?" Evelyn asked me, looking quite concerned about me
"Jonan asked me to join him, but I refused, and since then, nothing bad has happened to me!" I told her, trying to calm her down
"Why would you do that? Anyway, I don't want to have anything to do with you, but since you helped Joya, I have to thank you!" She said as she bowed her head slightly
"Is that all?" I asked
Simply finding me to thank me seemed kind of odd considering the people I've encountered in this school
"What else do you expect? A gift or something? A thank you to someone like you is already too much! And oh! Just because you're friends with Joya doesn't mean I have to be friends with you too, got it? Now continue with all this… boxing thing you've got going on!" She said awkwardly before leaving, I guess she tried to make fun of me or something
She is Joya's type even personality-wise
He always liked a sort of mean type of girl. Even I can admit that girls like that are neat! I would always go for a girl like that if given the chance. But I guess I have more important matters to focus on now
I have to increase my boxing mastery, or else I will be hopeless. I need to master jabs and then dodging. That's the core of boxing; movement and quick jabs throughout a fight are crucial to winning a battle. Or so I think… I'm still reading this book…
[Boxing Mastery increased! Your boxing mastery is now considered below average!]
Some days have passed, and school is going relatively poorly compared to anyone else in my class. But this game stuff is going alright. I haven't received a main quest for a while now and also submitted my group to the school. The way groups work is weird in this school. Even though they most often engage in nefarious activities, the school administrator allows them to exist and creates events around the groups, like sports events. You even have some benefits for joining a group, such as power in the school councils or even a slight increase in your grades due to bribery
I know this school isn't like the rest, but it works a bit too much like a political party. But without saying too much, after my group, and more specifically the group's name, was announced in the school news, people started looking at me differently
Some saw me as an idiot, and others as prey. But definitely, nobody considered me to be a sane guy
"Hey, Jack! Some students were looking for you! They are from the Golden Heart group!" A random classmate told me
I went to see what was wrong, and I saw a guy and a girl with yellow ribbons tied to their hands
They told me to go somewhere private and then started talking to me
"We saw your little stunt back on the bridge! You stood up to fight Joya and Jonan! An action nobody would dare to take, so what do you say about joining our group, the Golden Heart group?" The guy said with a smile
"I'm the leader of the Black Roses, so I have to decline. Can't be a leader and be led, right?"
Both of them seemed stunned by my answer
"So the rumors weren't a joke? You actually founded a group called Black Roses?" The girl asked, her voice was full of disbelief
Slightly frustrated by all the commotion surrounding my name, I replied rather aggressively
"Why would it be a joke? Just because I'm a first-year doesn't mean I can't be a maestro, right?"
They exchanged a glance, then agreed and walked away, stifling laughter
"What's so funny?" I told them, a bit louder than I intended. My voice echoed in the hallway, drawing the attention of others passing by
"We weren't laughing! What are you talking about?" The girl replied, her tone was suddenly timid
Assholes…
After this strange encounter, doubts began to creep into my mind. Maybe I had made the wrong choice. It would have been much safer to join Blade's group and do my own thing quietly, instead of announcing a group of my own, one that I was the sole member of, with zero experience in leading others. Plus, I could barely defend myself, let alone protect someone else
That choice started to seem even more foolish as people began avoiding me, even Maria, who was more of a student than a group member
[MAIN QUEST]
Prove yourself to your class
Rewards: Two card(s)
Time left: 23:59
A time limit?
"Indeed! You can't expect to have unlimited time for simple quests like this," Astro chimed in from the back of my mind
"And what happens if I fail?"
"You just don't get the reward! If there were a penalty, it would have been written in red" Astro explained before disappearing again
Prove myself, huh?
Strength: 3/10
Defense: 6/10
Speed: 4+/10
Intelligence: 4/10
Charisma: 2/10
Luck: 10/10
With stats like these, it's impossible! And the only cards I have left are the observation, in-sight, and boxing cards and my boxing mastery is still below average
I can't keep being this way... I can't use THAT excuse anymore. I'm Jack Troin, and I was chosen by God to become a star. I can't just depend on this gift, I have to use it
…
"Haha! Are you envious of your friend?" Maria asked, watching me struggle
"No, I just figured out that a gym like this is safer!" I replied, trying to sound nonchalant
"Are you stupid? This is the outdoor gym... Anybody can see you, even from the dorms!"
She had a point
"I'm saying, people can't gang up on me without me seeing them!"
"But right now, you're not looking around, are you?"
She was right! I was doing a plank, facing the ground, which I was about to kiss if I didn't stop soon. So, before embarrassing myself in front of Maria, I got up
My stats are still the same... I guess improving my strength isn't going to be as easy as boosting my speed or intelligence
[SIDE QUEST]
Somehow end up in a girl's room ;)
Reward: 1 Theoretical card
Astro... Why is he so obsessed with me interacting with girls?
"Anyway, are you free later?" Maria asked suddenly
I was caught off guard and quickly nodded
"Nice! I was thinking of going to this sushi place on the east side of the school! Want to come with me? I don't have anyone else I can ask to come" Maria said, her voice betraying the embarrassment she felt about having no friends other than me
I, of course, agreed, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching us...