Chapter 9: Girl, Gets Frustrated

 

 

 

Chapter 9: Girl, Gets Frustrated

 

NICHIKA bolted from the living room, ran up the stairs, and threw open the door opposite her room. Planting her hands on the doorframe, she launched into a lecture.

“Hey, Oswald! How many times do I—”Have to tell you to stop playing around at night! She swallowed the rest of that insinuation, her eyes rounder than the sun. The reason could be summed up with one word: the man sleeping on the bed was naked.

She pulled the door shut behind her, then after a few minutes, slowly cracked open the door and stole a furtive peek. Relief washed over her once she confirmed there wasn’t another person in bed with him—a naked woman to be exact.

Thinking about it calmly, he’d never bring a woman into someone’s home. He’s more likely to stay at a hotel…

Dryly laughing off her wild thoughts, she swept inside and loudly drew up the curtains. Sunlight flooded the dark room, lighting up the dust particles floating in the air.

“Oswald! It’s morning! Breakfast is on the table. Wake up, sleepyhead!” she shouted to rouse her master from sleep. He was not a morning person.

Moaning, Oswald rolled over to escape the sunlight. He wasn’t even close to waking up yet. Nichika couldn’t resist observing this rare display of weakness on his part. Medium-length bangs covered his eyes and framed his straight nose and thin lips.

His face is the only part of him I give a ten out of ten. If only he had a halfway decent personality to match… Oh, his hair’s sticking up.

Though she internally mocked him, she couldn’t stop staring. Her eyes trailed a path from his manly Adam’s apple to the well-defined collarbone following his straight neckline, and then her gaze naturally traveled lower—

Gah! What the heck am I doing?! This makes me no different from a pervert! …Then again…I don’t get many chances to check him out…

Swallowing hard, she placed a hand on the bed and leaned over Oswald. Being this close caused her to notice one oddity she never picked up on before.

What’s this?

Was the morning sun causing the long eyelashes framing his closed eyes to look white? She reached over to sweep the bangs off his face.

“?!”

He suddenly captured her outstretched arm and pulled her into the bed.

“Hey! Oswa—”

Her pulse skyrocketed as he clutched her to him. She ended up with her face pressed against his rock-solid chest, his manly scent softly encompassing her.

Oh gosh. Oh gosh. Oh my gosh!

He was totally still half asleep. She knew she needed to smack him awake, but her body refused to move. He cupped a hand behind her stiff head and buried his face in her neck.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

“…Don’t go…never again…” His husky voice brushed her ears, sending delicious chills through her. Except— “…ka…”

“What?”

The sound of someone else’s name brought reality crashing down on her.

“Rikka.”

“—!”

Blood rushed to her head like water reaching a rapid boil. She vigorously lifted her unrestrained hand, and—

A wonderful sound resonated far and wide, reaching the road outside bustling with people excitedly preparing for the race.

***

“I can’t believe you! How could you mistake me for another woman?!”

“……”

Oswald tiredly shoveled his breakfast into his mouth next to his ranting apprentice. A bright-red hand mark decorated his white cheek.

Buckling over with laughter across from him was Lambert. “That’s bad even for you, buddy,” he said while wiping his tears. “Where’d ya go last night?’

“I only went to have several drinks at the bar…”

“Hmph. And then you went flirting around? How nice for you,” Nichika accused in a barbed voice.

Oswald faced her anger with confusion. “Huh? What are you mad about?”

“Nothing!”

Nichika stood with her plate and marched into the kitchen. She shoved the dishes into the sink and began aggressively scrubbing them.

It doesn’t matter one bit, not even a little, absolutely not at all, who that man sleeps with! Or who he mistakes me for! She tried to convince herself. Why am I telling myself this? This is so dumb!

She was perplexed by the unknown emotions taking her for a ride. It was almost as if she wasn’t thinking like her usual self. Slowly exhaling, she dried her hands and stomped back into the parlor.

“By the way, where’s Wolfie at?” she asked her master who was still in the middle of breakfast.

“He never came?”

“What?” Nichika had assumed Oswald had gone to get him. Unsettled, she looked out the window. “Did something happen to—”

“He’s fine. He’d say something through our contract if he wasn’t.” Unconcerned, Oswald yawned and tossed the last morsel of food into his mouth. “I can summon him if it comes to it. Don’t worry.”

“But…”

“Let him be. Anyways, shouldn’t you be more worried about today’s race?”

“Ack! I forgot. Lam!”

Wolfie’s whereabouts bothered her, but she had her own mission to attend to. Except, Lambert, who’d been in a trance all morning, didn’t respond when she spoke to him. Assuming he didn’t hear her, she tried again and finally got him to turn toward her.

“Huh? Sorry. What was that?”

“Isn’t it almost time to go? I was hoping you could show me the way.”

“Aah, yeah. I should.”

He was still not acting like himself. Nichika found it puzzling, but grabbed her broom and headed to the race venue without questioning it.

***

THE Sylmia Cup was the largest broom race hosted by Windy Village. The number of tourists swarming to watch the huge event held only once a year seemed to double every year.

The main venue was the large square right next to the village’s front gate. Confetti danced in the wind, and excited children ran around with pinwheels. Food carts and other entertainment filled the area, and joy was in the air. Meanwhile, Nichika stood there looking whiter than a ghost.

“Wh-Wha-What am I doing?! Why do my nerves have to kick in now of all times?!”

She had good reason to lose her nerve. After all, the other contestants were loitering around the main event tent, and every single one of them was drop-dead gorgeous. Even their costumes and hairstyles were breathtaking. Nichika suddenly felt very out of place.

“With this many people around, no one will notice a rare animal has slipped into their ranks,” her master reassured.

“Yeah, yeah! I get it! I’m just a petacolon!”

Nichika stomped her feet at his spiteful reassurances. She shoved back her desire to snap back and tell him to enter the race instead. Knowing him, he’d blend right in with the good-looking group and no one would be the wiser. She puffed out her cheeks while arguing with him, when a hand reached out and yanked her to the side, knocking her off balance.

“Hey, you! You’re the last-minute entrant, yah?”

“Beg pardon?”

Nichika looked to see a stout woman with a red face puffing for air. Before she could ask for the lady’s name, her plump hand fastened around Nichika’s wrist and she proceeded to drag her away.

“Lord Sylmia told me about you. You’re still not dressed? You won’t make it to the start line if you don’t get changed, pronto.”

“Whoa! Um! Please wait!”

“Yes, yes. I’m removing your unnecessary accessories! How could you bring a magic orb with you? That’s an instant disqualification.” The middle-aged woman swiftly removed all of Nichika’s personal possessions and shoved them into Lambert’s arms. “Here, Master Lam. Hold on to these for her. Come along, little lady!”

“Waaaaah!”

Letting out a pitiful cry, Nichika was carted off to the changing area inside the tent. Lambert watched her go before handing all her stuff over to Oswald and turning on his heel to leave.

“Best if ya hold on to this for her.”

“Why?”

“I’ve been asked to handle some other work by the committee. See ya.”

With that, Lambert disappeared into the crowd.

 

***

TOSSED into the changing tent erected beside the headquarters, Nichika was dazzled by the plethora of costumes hanging inside. Crimson dresses, deep sea green tuxedos, ceremonial clothes with long flowing sleeves, and traditional garments lined the racks. There were even different styles of clown clothes that made her question who in the world would choose to wear them.

“W-Wow.”

“Don’t dawdle near the entrance, dearie. Hurry in. Let me see, for a young lady like you this dress with a revealed back is nice—no, you should go for this one that accentuates your overall cuteness…”

The woman in charge of costumes picked out pieces with a pro’s eye. She rolled up her sleeves and began throwing large piles of clothes to the side.

“Now we’re talking! All the contestants this year brought their own outfits. You’re about the only one making use of our collection.”

“I am?”

“Not that I blame them. They can prepare more lavish outfits with their own money…”

Ten minutes later, the older woman nodded with satisfaction at Nichika attired in a cutesy, frilly, and puffy peach-colored costume. Frankly, to Nichika, it looked like she was wearing a clichéd magical girl outfit.

“Looks like we have a winner.”

“Isn’t this a little too frilly? How do I put it…? Exposing this much skin is embarrassing.”

Embarrassed by the oddly translucent material making up the skirt, Nichika pulled down its hem in a bid to hide her thighs. The older woman heartily laughed off her concerns and gave her back a small push.

“It’s a festival out there. Showing a little skin never hurt anyone! Off you go!”

“Wah! Aah!” Nichika was pushed out of the tent and nearly fell over, but spun around with the momentum of catching her balance to thank the woman. “Thank you so much for your help!”

“Good luck! I’ll be cheering for you from the ground!”

Nichika returned her wink and thumbs-up with an appreciative smile. Resolved to face whatever came her way, she hopped on her broom and took off.

“Wow…!” A little girl who saw her pink skirt fluttering in the sky raved all about it to her mom. “Mama! That girl is so cute! She looks like a fairy princess!”

“She does. Want to cheer for her?”

“Yeah! Good luck, fairy princess!”

Nichika waved and ascended to the air stage doubling as the start line. She landed on the white block, and a staff member sprinted over to her. He wrapped a cream-colored leather wristband around her wrist and spoke at hyper speed.

“Please hurry. You’re the last to arrive. You don’t have any magic items on you, do you? Okay, okay. Let me examine your broom.”

He half snatched the broom from her and passed it through a silver box. A beep sounded and the lamp turned green.

“No extras have been added. You’re good to go. Head over there.”

Broom in hand, Nichika moved to the edge of the stage where the competitors stood in their starting positions. Eye-catching decorations adorned the start gate, and when she looked over the side of the stage, she saw the whole audience staring up at her. She scanned the multitude of faces for a man in all-black.

“What’s with that getup?” a beautiful woman in a short blue dress snorted at her. “This isn’t a dress-up party.”

Her rude attitude irked Nichika, but she was too overwhelmed by the woman’s perfect body and how she rocked her tight outfit to come up with a smart comeback.

“U-Um, I hope we can have a good race…”

Responding with humility shut her up. The woman huffed and looked away. Just past her a blonde bombshell was viciously arguing about something with the handsome young man in front of her.

These people are s-scary…

A flourish of trumpets blared through the village, signaling the start of the race and cutting through the strangely toxic mood.

“Thanks for waiting, everyyybodyyy! Everyone in the world wishes to see a Windy Village broom race once before they die. And our largest pride and joy, the Sylmia Cup, is about to BEGINNNN!”

An enthusiastic voice boomed from beyond the village walls, and then something large flew in. On top of a winged pedestal was a little man with glasses decked out in a golden suit holding a microphone. Sylmia stood next to him in a flamboyant costume. Cheers erupted from the crowd when they saw him.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I, Clogg, the boring rank and file employee at town hall, shall be serving as announcer again this year! It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I’m slaving away at town hall just for this day—Oops, forgive the slip of tongue. I’m just kidding. Really, section chief!”

The crowd exploded with laughter at the angry “hey!” that rose up from somewhere below. Lifting up the same leather wristband as the competitors, the announcer explained the rules.

“Alrighty, you probably don’t need the reminder, but here are the rules! This wristband acts as a marker. All of the contestants are wearing one. They have to run it through the various checkpoints set up around the village, and the first person to touch the wind orb on top of the clock tower wins! Man, is it simple! It’s because of its simplicity that you can see the difference in flight skill!”

Nichika took a good look at the band on her right wrist. Ten bead-sized black orbs were arranged in a line. They’d likely light up at every checkpoint.

“Incidentally, the markers have the ability to draw in wind mana to drive away other mana! In other words, attacking your rivals with fire and water isn’t allowed!”

The announcer’s explanation helped Nichika get her head in the game. This race was purely about competing with wind mana. She’d be vulnerable without her fire magic, but she didn’t have room to complain.

“Okey-dokey, that’s enough with the boring rules! How about a word from our sponsor, Lord Sylmia!”

The Great Wind Spirit accepted the microphone and stepped forward. The crowd stopped their raucous cheering and silently waited for him. He slowly opened his mouth, letting his words ride on the gentle winds.

“I am…beautiful.”

Both master and apprentice, on the surface and in the air, fell forward a little at that ridiculous line. More than used to the Wind Spirit’s catchphrase, the residents grew even more excited. Enthusiasm erupted from every end of the village.

Sylmia continued his speech with a dignified expression. “And the world is beautiful. You who try your hardest to live through each day are also a beautiful sight to behold. Even I, who have lived for hundreds of years, have yet to grow tired of gazing upon the brilliance of your lives.”

If trying your hardest to live through each day makes you beautiful, then does that mean some small part of me has that brilliance too? Nichika squeezed the broom in front of her chest.

“Now show me everything you’ve got in you!”

As soon as those closing words were said, the contestants around her mounted their brooms.

“Please go to the start line,” a staff member instructed when she was too surprised to do anything.

“What? Already?!”

A second after she hastily hopped on her broom, the start gate flung open.

“Fly Awaaaaaay!!”

A great chorus that shook the ground roared through Windy Village.