Budum

Maddie had never had a longer shift in her life.

"Any minute now." She murmured as she watched the clock. Five hours couldn't go by quick enough. And during that time, she did everything she could to make her station spotless. She even wiped the glass countertops. Anything she could do.

"Just leave please!"

Anything to get the headmaster out of the arcade.

"The suspense is killing me." She sighed as she rested her head against the table. The dull ringing of her phone, now with a cracked screen, brought her gaze towards her pocket. She checked the contact, glanced at the game area to make sure the headmaster was still in it, then answered.

"Hey Miri." She said, glancing at the clock. "Can I call you back? Now's not the best time."

"What's going on?" Her friend asked. "I thought you were working today? Something happen?"

"Yeah, you could say that." Maddie huffed, "I had to deal with a dumb rookie and then the headmaster of all people showed up. And I broke my phone."

"...The headmaster went to an arcade?"

"Yeah, and my phone still works by the way. Thanks for asking."

"Of course it does. You're calling me on it, dumbie." Miri said, and Maddie flushed. Clicking her tongue as she looked away for a second, a second, and had her hopes shattered once she heard a tapping on the glass display case in front of her.

"Hello, I'd like to transfer my points." The headmaster's voice washed over her and Maddie jumped. Dropping her phone, again, as she kicked it away and stood up straight. Sweat trickling down her throat as she saw the headmaster and the boy from before standing at her counter, waiting.

"And I want to buy my skill." The boy said, pointing towards the unranked skill behind her. Maddie saw his eager grin, and despite the various questions running through her head: why did he want that stupid skill so bad? How'd he get the headmaster of all people to help him? Why was he busted up so badly? None compared to the most pressing question reigning over her mind.

"...I'll get it right away for you..."

Why her!

....

New unranked skill on his hands, Jay grinned as he walked out of the arcade. The old man following behind him as he took out a scroll and grinned at its contents. He was gonna have fun with this skill.

As soon as he figured out how to use it.

"Hey old man," Jay asked, glancing back to see the headmaster glancing his way. Eyes sharp but with a sense of disconnect between them.

"Yes." The headmaster said. "What is it?"

"How do I use this?"

"Hm... first time getting a skill manual I take it." The man asked, and Jay nodded. Watching as the old man sighed, "Simply find a place to meditate and flood the parchment with your mana. If your body is capable of handling the skill, it'll show up in your status tab after long enough, and the parchment will disappear. After which it'll be up to you to figure out how it works and learn its intricacies. That's all."

"And if my body isn't ready for it?"

"It'll shock you, and you'll be in pain, although I suppose that isn't important to you at the moment." The old man shrugged, before walking away, "Now, this has been an… eventful experience, but I have to leave. Goodbye Jay Haze. I doubt we'll meet again."

"See ya. Thanks for the help." Jay waved goodbye as the man left without another word. The dimming sky and growing darkness of campus signaling that he might've stayed too long.

Worst part was his day wasn't over. He still had to buy wall plaster. And visited the guy at the alley. But it was late. He wouldn't make it to the man's house till night.

"I'll have to do that tomorrow." Jay sighed, glancing at the rest of campus as he pocketed his skill and started walking. It was a long day, and part of him wanted to rest, but he already knew he'd be too busy once he got back to his apartment to sleep.

"This is gonna be fun."

He still had to break in his first skill.

...

An hour later, walking the halls or Voxx Academy's main building, a woman in her early thirties, with long red hair, black glasses and black eyes walked through the empty school. She was dressed in a professional attire: black blazer, white dress shirt, black pants and heels. Her eyes were narrowed and her lips were thinned.

Her name was Irene Belreve, retired A- rank hero, and she was pissed.

So very pissed.

"Where did he go this time." She muttered as she walked the empty halls. One of the many teachers of Voxx Academy, she was used to dealing with the vanishing act their headmaster was known for. It was a part of the job description at this point.

"We still need to sign off on the new dorms." She sighed, making her way towards his office. She had checked a few hours ago but he was out. And as a rule of thumb, he almost always returned there eventually. So she would test her luck.

Otherwise she'd have to try and find him again tomorrow and that would be its own kind of hell.

"I need a raise." She grumbled as she opened door to the headmaster's office, and found him sitting at his desk. Overlooking the campus through the windows longing his office. She huffed, "I've been looking for you, sir. We need to check off the new dorm rooms for the coming semester. I need your signature."

"Hand it over, then. I'll sign it." Her boss sighed, holding out a hand as Irene plopped the papers in his fingers. She then sighed and sat down on the chair for guests, shaking her head, "Seriously. I could've been done with this hours ago if you were here. Where'd you go this time?"

"I was playing an arcade game." The headmaster said, finishing up his signatures as Irene stared, stunned and shocked. "You… went to the arcade?"

"Yes. For about five hours."

"Why?"

"I was curious." Her boss said, handing back the papers as Irene took them and stood. Watching curiously as the headmaster turned back towards the window with an almost morose sigh, "It's a shame really, I found such an interesting toy and turns out it was already broken. What a pity."

"I'll call the mechanics to fix it." Irene said, noting to call someone to check the arcade before shaking her head and turning to leave.

She made it to the door before her headmaster said, "And Irene. Do you recall a Jay Haze in your class. He was a first year. Mary Haze's brother. Remember?"

"Possibly." Irene tilted her head, glancing at her phone as she murmured. "Although I'd have to double check, but I believe he was in my basics of mana class. I checked early on since his sister was so prodigious, but stopped paying attention once it was clear his peers far outpaced his abilities. Why? Did something happen?"

"Nothing of concern. I just had a… disappointing conversation with him today." Her boss said, tilting his head as he looked towards the campus below and sighed. Irene watched, curious and confused, as her boss tilted his head and looked towards the horizon. A few seconds before he spoke in a low, bland tone.

"Feel free to strike Jay's enrollment from the record when you have time. No reason to make him wait in line." He said, almost bored, and Irene blinked. Nodding, slowly but surely, she made a note to cross Jay Haze's name off of attendance records for the coming semester.

She felt bad, she always did, but not bad enough to stop and think about it.

People fell out of Voxx all the time. Hell, he wasn't even the first of his year to flunk out. The midterms had already gotten rid of plenty of weaker, unprepared freshman. The finals would undoubtedly cleanse more.

"I understand headmaster…"

There was a long list of people that made it to Voxx and failed to last.

"I'll make sure Jay Haze removed from the student roster come spring."

And today, it seemed freshman student Jay Haze was added to the list.