Tom had a rushed conversation with Felix about forming their team for the upcoming tournament. Both realized they didn't have many friends to recruit and discussed their strategy.
"We probably need some kind of ranged fighter," Felix suggested.
"Yeah, and maybe a healer too," Tom added.
Felix nodded. "The problem is, most high-level players probably already have teams. We might be left with lower levels."
"First, we just need to find people," Tom said.
"I might know someone," Felix said suddenly.
"Really? Who?"
"There's a guy in Class D, a fire mage, but…" Felix hesitated, "his personality is, well…"
"Kind of what?" Tom asked.
"You'll see. I'll invite him to talk after class. Be free later, okay?"
"Sure," Tom agreed. "In the meantime, I'll think about a healer."
During the next class, Tom mulled over possible healers. He remembered a girl in his class who had played a healer weeks ago during a fight with their class teacher. However, he was almost certain she already had a team, likely with her Berserker friend. Tom didn't interact with his classmates much, so he had no idea who else might be a healer.
As he pondered, he overheard a conversation nearby.
"I'm sorry, Jenny, but Jamal from Class F asked me to join his team for the tournament. I know I promised we'd team up, but… you know I've had a crush on him forever. Would it be okay if I joined his team?"
The speaker was a tall blonde girl from his math class. She was talking to her shy friend, Jenny, who nodded reluctantly in response.
"You're the best!" the blonde girl said, clasping Jenny's hands.
Tom recognized Jenny. She was quiet and often kept to herself, letting her friend do most of the talking. He had a hunch she might be a good candidate for a support role.
After the class ended, Tom asked someone who knew Jenny about her class. To his luck, they confirmed she played a support class, though they weren't sure which one.
"That's good enough," Tom thought and approached the girls.
As he neared their table, the blonde girl noticed him first, looking surprised.
"Hey," Tom said.
"What do you want?" the blonde girl asked sharply, assuming he was there to talk to her.
"I wanted to talk to Jenny," Tom replied simply.
Jenny looked startled, locking eyes with Tom briefly before glancing down at her desk.
"Oh… and what could Jenny possibly do for you?" the blonde girl asked, still acting as her friend's spokesperson.
The bell rang, signaling the next class. Tom realized he didn't have much time. He quickly turned to Jenny and said, "Can we talk by the gym after school? I have something to ask you."
Without waiting for a reply, he hurried to his next class.
When school ended, Tom called Felix and told him to bring the fire mage over to the gym. Tom didn't mention Jenny, unsure if she would even agree to join them.
As Tom approached the gym, he noticed Jenny standing nervously by the entrance, rubbing her hands together. To his surprise, he also spotted the tall blonde girl poorly hiding behind a nearby tree, occasionally peeking out.
"What is this all about?" Tom wondered, confused by the situation.
When he greeted Jenny, her nervousness intensified. "Hey, I'm Tom. Thanks for meeting me here."
Jenny stammered, "H-Hello…" while fiddling with her hair.
Just as Tom was about to explain the tournament team, Jenny suddenly blurted out, "I'm sorry… but I'm not interested in dating anyone right now!"
Tom blinked, taken aback. "What?!"
Jenny, clearly embarrassed, turned to run away. "Wait!" Tom shouted. He still needed to clarify the misunderstanding.
At that moment, the blonde girl stepped out from behind the tree and placed herself between Jenny and Tom.
"Linda… what are you doing here?" Jenny asked.
"I came to make sure nothing happened to you," Linda said firmly, then turned to Tom with a glare. "Didn't you hear her? She's not interested. Leave her alone."
Jenny tugged on Linda's sleeve, whispering, "You don't have to be so harsh…"
"You have to be firm with guys like this. Otherwise, they won't get the message," Linda declared.
"Wait a minute!" Tom shouted. "I wasn't asking her out. I just wanted to invite her to join our team for the tournament!"
Both girls froze, stunned by the revelation.
Jenny's face turned beet red. Without saying another word, she ran off in embarrassment, Linda following behind, calling out, "Jenny, wait!"
Tom stood there, bewildered by the turn of events.
After a few minutes, Felix arrived at the gym with another boy walking beside him.
At least one of us seems to have succeeded, Tom thought to himself as he walked toward them.
"This is Julius," Felix said.
"Julius, this is Tom," Felix continued, introducing the two.
Tom extended his hand in greeting, but Julius made a disgusted face as he looked at Tom's outstretched hand.
"Julius Rex is my name," he declared haughtily. "Just so you know, I, as an uncommon class holder, do not like to meddle with the likes of you. The only reason I am here is because Felix promised me that, with his family's help, I'll reach at least level 40 by the end of the week."
Tom exchanged a look with Felix. Felix's apologetic expression and Julius's arrogant words spoke volumes.
"Um… I'm an uncommon class holder as well," Tom replied cautiously.
"Hmph," Julius scoffed. "Felix already told me about your so-called brawler class. People who dirty their hands by fighting like animals are no better than normal class holders. Only someone as distinguished as me, a mighty pyro mage, has the right to call themselves my equal."
"Is he in or not?" Tom asked, his tone already tinged with irritation.
Felix nodded reluctantly. "Yes, but I had to promise him I'd ask my parents to help him reach level 40."
"What level is he now?" Tom asked.
Felix hesitated before Julius answered for himself. "I'm level 22 right now."
"Why is your level so low?" Felix asked, visibly confused.
"What would someone like you know?" Julius snapped. "Of course, I'm not going to dirty my hands by fighting monsters myself."
Tom glanced at Felix, unsure how to respond to such arrogance.
"What he means," Felix clarified, "is that no one wants to team up with him because he's acting like an ass."
"Hey…!" Julius tried to interject, but Felix ignored him.
"Don't take his barking seriously," Felix continued. "No one else will team up with him besides us, so we're his only option at the moment. And he won't back out of it since he's desperate. It's already taken him two months to reach level 22."
Julius didn't argue further, simply looking away.
"Any good news on your side about a healer?" Felix asked Tom.
"Well… that might have to wait until tomorrow," Tom said, deliberately avoiding explaining what had happened earlier.
"I suggest we wait until tomorrow to finalize everything and meet in the city then," Tom continued. "You don't need to ask your parents for help either. I think we can manage to level him up to 40 without their assistance."
Julius looked like he wanted to say something but held back in the end.
Tom parted ways with them shortly after. He needed to head home as he had promised his mother he would be there for dinner.
As Tom reached home, he heard his mother speaking in the kitchen. At first, he thought nothing of it, but the closer he got, the more he could hear the intensity in her voice.
"I already told you we're not interested, and you should lose this number for good," she said sharply.
Tom paused, listening from just outside the doorway.
"Yes, yes, I know this won't change anything," she continued, her tone laced with frustration.
"No, I already told you, we won't consider anything. We want nothing to do with you lot," she said, her voice growing colder.
Then, her voice wavered. "What future are you talking about? You stole it from us when you…"
At that moment, she caught sight of Tom standing in the doorway. She abruptly stopped mid-sentence.
"Don't call again," she said firmly and ended the call with a sharp tap on the phone screen.
Her expression shifted in an instant. The irritation and tension vanished, replaced by a warm smile.
"How was school, Tom?" she asked, her tone now cheerful.
"Who was on the phone?" Tom asked, his curiosity piqued.
"No one important, just someone who doesn't know when it's time to give up," she replied casually.
Tom frowned. Something about her response didn't sit right with him. He had the nagging feeling that she was hiding something from him.
They both sat at the table and ate dinner together. Tom tried a few more times to pry into who had called her, but she skillfully deflected every question.
Eventually, he gave up. Feeling slightly frustrated, he retreated to his room, unsure what to make of the conversation he had overheard.