Clash Of Classes

"That's it for now. I will see you after lunch." Ophelia announced with a displeased look as she dismissed everyone on the training grounds.

Because it was just the first lesson, the black class only went through the basic drills. After all, everyone had to be fit enough to survive the lessons later on.

Now, most of the black class lied almost lifeless on the ground.

Mika, one of the few who were still able to stand, went to the locker rooms, took a quick shower, and then made his way to the cafeteria.

Thanks to the guidebook, which every student received in the dorms, he knew where which place was, including the cafeteria.

It was not because he was hungry that Mika was in such a rush. It was because he had the feeling that his target was there due to it being lunch break now.

[You are more eager than I thought.]

"Heh, of course I am. I would be a fool to say no to such a chance!" Mika replied haughtily.

Mika referred to the reward of the current side quest.

The lifting of his magic restrictions.

He yearned for it so much that he could not care less about teaming up with Cail Maystra.

With that thought, Mika walked on the academy grounds.

It did not take long until he finally arrived.

The cafeteria had its own building, which was located near the academy itself. The building was not high, but it was very spacious. There was even a spot to eat outside, however, only a few students currently sat outside.

When Mika went in, he saw some students already standing in line for the food.

He even spotted some teachers sitting at a table together.

Without trying to stand out, Mika began to scan the place in search of Cail.

Then, a smirk, resembling that of a villain, crept onto his face.

"Got him…" Mika said sinisterly.

Cail was sitting with some other red students at a table in the center of the cafeteria.

However, before he could make his move, someone grabbed his arm.

"Long time no see, Mika!"

He was familiar with that innocent and yet playful feminine voice.

"Lily?"

"Yes, that's me!" she replied energetically as ever with a toothy smile.

The instant he looked her in the face after turning around, his gaze wandered down.

"Hey, where are you looking, you pervert?" she pouted jokingly despite still covering mainly her chest area with her arms.

"No, it's not what you think…" he said absentmindedly.

He stared at her uniform.

"I see, so you're a student from the red class. Congratulations." Mika expressed his genuine astonishment with a soft smile.

"Thanks!" she beamed a smile.

However, Lily suddenly held her index finger up in the air in front of Mika's face.

"It won't be long until I will get into the white class! Mark my words, hehe!" she declared boldly.

Taken aback for a second due to her throwing her finger up, Mika regained his composure.

"Well, good luck with that." he said as if he was not really interested despite wearing a smile.

Mika turned around as he wanted to go to Cail.

"Hey, wait! Where are you going?" Lily shouted surprised.

"To Cail…"

He even felt disgusted saying his name.

"Cail? Why-"

"Lily, what are you doing?"

"The food will get cold otherwise!"

A few girls with the same red uniform as Lily called her out from a table they were sitting at.

Lily looked at them nervously.

"Don't you need to go to them?"

"I do but…"

Her gaze shifted between her friends and Mika.

"We can talk later if you want to." Mika suggested after heaving a sigh.

Hearing that, her eyes glittered in excitement.

"Sure!"

It may be only a few minutes, however, in that time more and more students flooded the cafeteria. Amongst them were even some of his classmates.

But it did not matter to him anymore.

It was now or never.

Thus, Mika approached Cail, who seemed to be in a good mood while talking with his people.

And said mood worsened instantly after he turned around.

"Can't you see that I'm eating? Now get lost, Miwa." Cail said annoyed.

Mika frowned.

"It's not Miwa but Mika, you piece of shit…" he remarked sternly and clearly whereas the last part was barely audible.

"Whatever."

Cail already turned his back on Mika.

"I'm here to talk with you."

Mika placed his hand on his shoulder and pulled him so that he would face him.

"Talk? What is there to talk about with someone like you? Try it again when you're on my level."

He slapped Mika's hand away and again, he turned around.

"L-let's make a team..." Mika stated.

He tried to force a smile while he tried his best to hide his disgust and anger.

At that moment, not Cail but his companions slammed their hands on the table.

Until then, their conversation was drowned in the chatter of the people in the cafeteria, but now all eyes and ears were on them.

"How absurd!"

"How can someone like you have the nerve to ask Sir Cail to team up with you!?"

"Team up with someone on your level, you bottom feeder!"

Mika remained indifferent, but even he was for a moment taken aback for a bit after he heard that one of Cail's companions addressed him with Sir.

"Guys, that's enough." Cail ordered in a calm tone.

He did not see his face, but Mika knew that Cail was grinning.

Then, Cail stood up and faced Mika – or rather, looked down on him.

"You sure like to play king, huh?"

"What are you talking about? I just treat you like everyone else."

"Everyone else?"

"Yes, everyone else from your class that is full of trash."

The two spoke in a calm manner, but the atmosphere did not stop to get tenser.

It was as if it sparked between them.

"Trash, you say? If they are trash, then what are you supposed to be?"

Then, Cail grabbed Mika by his collar.

"Care to say that again?"

However, behind Mika, dozens of people gathered.

"?"

Even more surprised than Cail, was Mika.

Behind him were the students of the black class.

Their gazes were tense and full of animosity.

"Oh~ Look at that. Trash attracts trash."

"Are you applying that to you?"

Mika pointed forward to where multiple red and even a few silver students assembled.

"Let him go already!"

"Yeah, what makes you think that you can treat him like that?"

Mika's classmates protested against Cail.

But the other side did not take that kindly.

"It's always those people that stir up trouble."

"If they would just know their place."

The red and silver students whispered among each other.

"Hey, what did you say?!"

"Wanna settle it here and now?!"

It heated up even more and more with the dining table being the line between the two factions.

"H-hey, everyone please calm d-"

"Damnit! Can you all shut up now!"

Mika sheepishly tried to calm his side down, but Cail cut him off aggressively.

Then, someone clapped their hands twice.

"Just what on earth are you doing in a cafeteria, you damn brats!?"

Ophelia appeared with an annoyed look on her face.

"If you don't get back to your tables or whatever, then we can talk outside, you hear me?" she, a teacher, threatened the students while pressing her fist against her palm.

Without hesitation, the students walked away in fear.

"Tch." Cail clicked his tongue.

"So do you want to team up with me?" Mika asked again with his collar still being grabbed by him.

"…"

Cail was stunned by what he asked despite what happened just now.

"Isn't it obvious? Of course, I won't!"

Shoving him away, he turned back to his table.

"…"

[You have failed the quest.]