Chapter 21 : Bullies

After the mission of Rubrum, Kaizo team spent their days training with Admiral Maskmana. The rumor about Axion still circulates around Astraeus station. And Spicy Gluten takes every opportunity to either put Axion down, or getting closer to Kaizo.

"What class is it after lunch?" ask Ramenman.

"After lunch? It's an Aviation Technology Course," Axion answered. "We get to try out the cannons in our ship."

"Finally!" said Rum with excitement. "Ooohhh… I can't wait to get my hands on those cannons."

"Put the cannon aside, you haven't finished your homework yet, haven't you, Rum?" said Axion.

"Ugh. Don't remind me about it," said Rum. "Chemistry is not my talent."

"Maybe if you ask the Admiral, he'll move you to geography class. You kind of have a knack in it since you like to travel," said Axion.

Suddenly, Olivia bumps on Axion and gets closer to Kaizo.

"Hey, Kaizo. Good to see you," said Olivia. "Do you think you can help me a bit? I need help finding a reference book for my assignment," she continues, ignoring Axion.

Axion looked at her. She was purposely bumping her.

"Before you ask someone's help, don't you think you should apologize?" said Rum with a serious tone.

Olivia looked at Rum in confusion. She then looked at Axion as if she just noticed something. "Oh, sorry. I didn't see you there," said Olivia in a sassy tone.

Rum glares at Olivia. But Olivia ignores her and keeps bugging Kaizo.

"You see? Me and some of my friends have trouble finding a good reference book for our assignment. Even Spicy Gluten has a hard time with it. Do you think you can come with us and help us a little bit?" said Olivia.

"Sorry. I'm busy. If you need help, you should ask one of the mentors," said Kaizo cold.

"Come on. It's just for a little while," Olivia pleaded.

Kaizo looked at her sharply. "If you can't do simple assignments by yourself, you should quit this station. Astraeus station doesn't accept incompetent cadet,"

Olivia startled.

"I don't have time for this. Let's go," said Kaizo as he walks away.

Lahap immediately follow Kaizo. Rum and Axion looked at Olivia for a moment before they followed Kaizo. Ramenman gives a smile as he turns away, leaving Olivia alone in the corridor.

"That's a bit harsh, isn't it?" said Ramenman.

"I'm not interested in weakling," said Kaizo coldly.

"Wow. That's hurt," said Ramenman.

"It can't be helped. They're kind of annoying lately. Coming to us just to ask for Kaizo's help. I know he's smart and reliable, but he got his own duty to do, with his team," said Lahap.

"That's right! Kaizo is in our team. He's already busy with our group project," Rum adds.

Axion didn't say anything. This isn't the first time Olivia purposely bumps on her and she's not the only one. Some girls are either picking on her or avoiding her because of Spicy Gluten's influence. Just now, what Olivia did was probably under Spicy Gluten's instruction. Axion knows Spicy Gluten. She's not the kind of person who would openly go to Kaizo by herself. She usually sends someone else to do her tricks. Making people do what she wants them to do without them realizing it. What Spicy Gluten do, is reap the result that the people do.

"The main purpose is probably to get rid of me. Getting into Kaizo's favor is a bonus," Axion thought to herself.

"Axion, you alright?" Ramenman asked.

"Oh, I'm fine. Just tired," said Axion with a smile.

"Did The Admiral give you extra works again?" Rum asks.

Kaizo steals a glance at Axion.

"Not in particular," said Axion, short.

Kaizo began to wonder. Either she can't say the details of her extra works or she just doesn't want to talk about it.

"It must be tiring isn't it? Assisting the Admiral and doing cadet's tasks," said Rum.

Axion laughed. "It's fine. You guys are strong and reliable. So I never have that much of a hard time."

Rum looked at Axion with puppy eyes. She wraps her arm around Axion's shoulder. "You can always count on us!"

Ramenman chuckled. "I'll book a table for us. Go ahead and get what you want to eat. But don't take too long cause I'm starving."

"Want me to get you your lunch instead?" Axion asks.

"Really?! You'd do it? You can do it?" ask Ramenman in excitement as he gets close to Axion's face. He acts like a child who's about to get a new toy. It makes Kaizo pissed.

Axion chuckles. "Sure, what do you want me to get?"

"Ice ocha, gyoza, tempura and obviously, a bowl of ramen. Cause I'm not Ramenman without a ramen," said Ramenman as he laughs.

"Alright. We got it. We'll join you soon," said Rum.

Ramenman soon finds an empty table and occupies it. He glances around the cafeteria as he waits for the rest of his team getting their lunch from the buffet counter. He notices people whispering as they look at Axion. Some people who accidentally meet eyes with him immediately stop talking and look down on their plate. Ramenman simply gives a smile.

"Let's see. What should I do about this?" Ramenman mumbled.

After a while, Rum and the rest of the Kaizo team join Ramenman. Stopping Ramenman from his thoughts.

"Sorry you wait long. Thanks for finding us a table," said Rum.

"No problem. You can always count on yours truly, knight of the ladies," said Ramenman narcissistically.

"Oh please. Don't remind me about knights," said Axion, reminiscing her unpleasant encounter with Captain Albi and Lieutenant Forctis.

Ramenman laughed. He looked at his lunch. "Whoaa. Today's ramen looks awesome," said Ramenman in excitement.

"Any ramen looks good to you," said Kaizo, unimpressed.

"Thanks for getting me lunch," said Ramenman.

"No problem," Axion replied.

"Now that I think about it, do any of you girls know how to cook?" ask Ramenman.

"Hm? What's with the sudden question?" ask Rum.

"I can cook a little. Just enough to satisfy myself," said Axion.

"It's something that has been going around the boy cadets. They say a man who ever eats a woman's cooking is either a lucky man or an admirable man," said Ramenman.

Rum chuckles. "What? What kind of logic is that?"

"So I was wondering, if you girls can cook something for me. If I get to eat a woman's cooking, I'll be the popular guy among the boy cadets," said Ramenman.

"Wouldn't it be meaningless? You're in the same team with Rum and Axion. Even if they cook for you it would only look like you're a teammate sharing meals. Like during a mission. If the girl who gives you a meal is your girlfriend, THAT would be special," said Lahap.

Ramenman folded his arm. "Hm hm, you may be right," he said as he nods. "But, what if the girl who cooks is the second ranking cadet of Astraeus. THAT would make the rest of the boys jealous," said Ramenman.

Kaizo flinched. He slightly glares at Ramenman. Ramenman who notice Kaizo glare slightly chuckle.

Axion laughed. "What's so special about me anyway?" said Axion.

"Maybe you don't know, but you're quite popular around the boys. Especially since you beat Spicy Gluten on last semester cadet ranking," said Ramenman. "She used to be popular, you know? That Spicy Gluten. Since she's the highest ranking female cadet in Astraeus station," said Ramenman as he slurps his ramen between each sentence. He swallows his food and then continues. "But now that your rank is above her, the boys should look at you more. Especially someone like Red wine or Captain Albi. Noblemen like them are probably looking for a suitable partner after they graduate."

Ramenman's words somehow make Kaizo slightly anxious.

"Hmmm… makes sense," Axion mumbled.

Suddenly, Milt tripped and spilled some food on the table. Axion who sit near the edge of the table got her hair soaked with juice.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I tripped. It was an accident," said Milt.

Axion glanced at Milt. Milt's hand covers her mouth. But Axion can see her smirk. She did this on purpose. Some girls in the cafeteria begin to chuckle. They know what's going on.

"How childish," Axion thought to herself.

"Axion! Are you alright?" Rum asks as she hurriedly takes a few tissue paper and begins wiping Axion.

"I'm fine. It's just juice," said Axion.

Ramenman looked at Axion. Usually Axion smiles when she says she's fine. But now, she's making a serious face.

"I guess even Axion would get tired acting out nice," Ramenman thought to himself. He looked at Milt.

Before Ramenman could react, Axion stands up.

"Tell the Admiral I'll be late for today's class," said Axion.

She walks away from the cafeteria without looking at Milt.