I walked down the aisle.
The girls I passed didn't even try to hide that they were staring. One of them leaned back in her chair to get a better view. Another one smiled when I made eye contact.
I reached the back row and stopped.
The girl sitting at the desk by the window had red skin.
Not a tan. Not makeup.
Actual red skin like someone had dipped her in paint and it stuck.
She had long black hair that fell past her shoulders. Yellow eyes with slit pupils like a cat. Small black horns curving back from her forehead. A tail wrapped around the leg of her chair with a spade shaped tip.
She wore the uniform but it fit her differently than everyone else. The shirt was unbuttoned enough to show the valley between her tits and the skirt rode higher on her thighs because of the tail.
She looked up at me and smiled.
Fangs.
Well that's new.
I sat down in the empty desk next to her.
She leaned over immediately.
"Marilyn Cross."
Her voice was low. A little husky. She smelled like vanilla and something warmer I couldn't place.
"Rome."
"I know. You just said."
She grinned wider.
"Is the school stuff hard?"
I shrugged.
"No idea. First day."
"You said you hate homework."
"I do."
"Me too."
She leaned closer. Her shoulder brushed against mine.
"I have terrible grades. Teachers hate me."
"Sounds like we'll get along."
"I think so."
Delacroix started talking at the front of the room but I wasn't listening.
Marilyn was still looking at me. Her tail unwrapped from the chair leg and flicked back and forth like a cat deciding if it wanted to pounce.
Is this Virgin Killer or is she just like this?
I glanced around the room again.
Most of the girls had gone back to facing forward but a few were still sneaking looks. Aurora was one of them. She'd catch herself staring and then snap her attention back to the board like she'd been caught doing something wrong.
Panda panties was still glaring.
So was the other girl with the purple hair.
What the fuck did Rome do to piss them off?
I pulled out my phone under the desk and opened the notes app.
People to figure out:
Purple hair girl who wants me dead
Panda panties (also wants me dead but I know why)
Marilyn Cross (demon? succubus? into me already?)
I saved the note and put the phone away.
Delacroix was writing something on the board. Her handwriting was neat. Too neat for someone who looked like they'd rather be throwing punches than teaching.
Marilyn poked my arm.
I looked over.
She mouthed two words.
You're cute.
Oh this is definitely Virgin Killer.
I mouthed back.
Thanks.
She bit her lip and turned back to the front.
Her tail kept moving.
The class dragged on for another thirty minutes. Delacroix talked about hero rankings and the upcoming evaluations and something about practical training that I'd need to catch up on.
I didn't retain any of it.
I was too busy trying to figure out how seventy two hours was going to be enough time to complete a quest that required getting someone into bed when I had no idea who was even an option.
Marilyn was obvious. She'd made that clear in the first five minutes.
But the system hadn't given me any hints about who counted. Did it have to be a student? Could it be a teacher? Did it matter if they were already in a relationship?
I should've read the fine print on that quest.
The bell rang.
Everyone stood up at once. Chairs scraped against the floor. Bags zipped. Voices overlapped as people started talking again.
Delacroix called out over the noise.
"Rome. Stay behind for a minute."
Great.
I grabbed my bag and walked to the front as everyone filed out.
Nolan stopped next to me on his way past.
"Hey. Welcome to Coastline."
He stuck out his hand.
I shook it.
"Thanks."
"If you need help catching up just let me know. I've got notes from everything we've covered."
Of course you do.
"Appreciate it."
He smiled and walked out.
Aurora followed a few steps behind him. She looked at me one more time before disappearing into the hallway.
Marilyn was the last one to leave. She winked as she passed.
Then it was just me and Delacroix.
She leaned against her desk and crossed her arms under her chest. It pushed her tits up and the shirt strained even more.
Is she doing that on purpose?
"How was your first class?"
"Good. Everyone seems nice."
"Liar."
I blinked.
She laughed.
"You looked bored out of your mind."
"I was paying attention."
"No you weren't. You were staring at Marilyn's tail for ten minutes."
Fuck.
"It's distracting."
"I bet."
She pushed off the desk and walked closer. Stopped right in front of me. Close enough that I could smell her perfume. Something floral with a hint of smoke.
"Let me give you some advice Rome. This class is competitive. Everyone here is trying to prove something. You're already behind and you're going to have to work twice as hard to catch up."
"I know."
"Do you?"
"Yeah."
She tilted her head.
"Your grades from your last school weren't great."
"I'm aware."
"So what's your plan? Coast by on your name and hope nobody notices?"
I met her eyes.
"I'll figure it out."
She stared at me for a long moment.
Then she smiled again.
"Good. I like students who aren't afraid to fail."
She stepped back and waved toward the door.
"Get to your next class. Don't be late."
I walked out into the hallway.
It was packed. Students everywhere heading in different directions. Voices bounced off the walls.
I checked my schedule.
Next class was Combat 101. Building D. Second floor.
I started walking.
Someone grabbed my arm.
I turned.
Panda panties stood there looking even more pissed than before.
"We need to talk."