Inverse System

"You guys still have 3 weeks until we have the advancement exams. Do your best to boost your points until then. Alright, class is over. Class C, stay behind for battle strategies with your principal," Zophia announced as she motioned her way out of the establishment, all the students following her as they exited.

When she made sure that everyone had left the premises, she signaled her hand, then the building sunk back into the ground, replaced by a flat field of bluegrass. The teacher waved as she left the campus, followed by a myriad of other students, except for those in class C.

"That was quite a good show we put on, isn't that right lady Elaine?" Gilbert called out to her as she was leaving, the two having been teammates who fell to Clyde and Xenia in the semi-finals.

"Huh? I guess… But 'Lady Elaine'?" She turned around in confusion as their conversation caught Lance's attention, him and Elaine not having talked for 2 days now.

"I am simply giving you the respect you deserve. Would it interest you if we continued this partnership? It seemed as though we had good chemistry, and we placed in 4th. We could, oh I don't know, maybe grab a bite to eat later?" He asked as he approached her.

"Oh… I don't know if that's…" She stuttered as Gilbert touched her hand.

"We should acquaint ourselves more," he insisted.

Suddenly, he felt Elaine's hand slip away from his grip, looking up to see a tall, brown-haired man pulling the pink-haired girl away.

"Hands off kid. Touch her again and I'll curb stomp you," he threatened as Elaine blushed, then turned angry.

"L-Lance! Why are you being…" She stopped talking as Gilbert recoiled in fear.

"Why you..! You menace!" Gilbert slowly stepped backward as Lance dragged Elaine away.

As they furthered themselves, Lance wouldn't let go of her. Suddenly, she shrugged away from his hold and looked at him angrily.

"How about you leave ME alone!?" She desperately held back tears as she stormed off, Lance not reacting as she painfully spoke those words.

The rest of the class was watching the entire time, having turned around to witness the turn of events unfold. Lance stood there, blank-faced, then scratched the back of his head and sighed, joining the class again as they walked back to the dorm, acting as if nothing happened.

The rest of the class also walked away from it as if nothing happened, Rein looking at Lance from the corner of his eye in concern.

They all made it back to the dorm, different students simply putting their school things back in their rooms before heading out on a mission, some of them staying in their dorms to relax, and some staying in the dorms simply because they couldn't do anything else, which was the situation Rein and the rest in class D were facing. Rein made his way back to his room before Chloe and prepped the large kitchen along with Emria and Saprhilla, waiting for Chloe to get home so he could teach her cooking.

Meanwhile, at the bottom floor of the dorm building

"Would you like to go on an S class mission prince Sho? I found one that gives us a generous reward," Clyde proposed to the prince, who was passing by the dorm building on his way to his house.

"Huh? Oh, right. Guess I should do a mission so I can stay in S+. Sure, I'll come," Sho accepted.

"Would you like to come with us, Chloe? It is a 2 person minimum mission, but it wouldn't hurt having you there as well," Clyde asked as Chloe was on her way up to the three steps leading into the dorm building, stopping on the second step.

"Haha, sorry guys, but I'm gonna have to pass today. You two have fun though," she apologetically spoke, bowing down slightly.

"What!! If I were in your position, I would go on a quest every day! Ughhh, I have nothing to do… I envy you," Xenia appeared, slouching on Chloe's shoulders in boredom.

"You could accompany us if you'd like Xenia," Clyde extended the invitation.

"Oh, I'd love to, but class D only gets 1 commission per week. That's why I'm jealous of this girl here. What's so important that you're skipping out on a mission anyway?" She asked curiously as Chloe laughed nervously.

"Oh… Haha, Rein's gonna teach me to cook…" She stated as Xenia looked at her with a surprised expression, Clyde growing suspicious of Rein's relationship with the princess.

"Seriously?! Can I join?! I'm a terrible cook! Your kitchen has extra room, right? Oh, how about we bring Quint too? He can't cook for shit!" She pointed at Quint, who just happened to be walking behind her with Reggie, somehow knowing that he was there.

"The fuck'd you say?! I can cook better than you!" Quint caused a ruckus at the entrance, the dormitory receptionist laughing nervously at the intimidating scene that was unfolding.

"The hell's all this ruckus! Xenia? Quint? Princess Chloe?" Raxo yelled as she emerged from the elevator.

"Oh Raxo! You're shit at cooking too, aren't you? We're gonna have a cooking competition, you come too," Xenia grabbed her arm along with Chloe as she dragged them up the stairs, followed by Quint.

"What the?! I'm not shit at cookin'! I'll show ya! Those girls taught me a thing or two already," Raxo claimed proudly as she was being pulled.

"H-hey guys! I never accepted to this," Chloe internally wept as her date with Rein was ruined, her voice fading up the stairs, away from Clyde and Sho's hearing range, Reggie also standing there, bewildered as to what just happened.

"Let's go Clyde," Sho turned his head away and began walking to the commission room, Clyde's expression turning into pity towards the prince as he followed.

"You guys goin' somewhere? Mind if I join? Looks like Quint and Lance are gonna be unavailable today," Reggie asked the two, Clyde nodding to him as they followed Sho.

Sho walked with a turmoiled expression as the two followed closely, Clyde beginning to catch on to the situation in his mind.

*************************************************************************************************************

"We're here for the cooking competition!" The group burst through the luxury rooms door and walked to the kitchen, seeing Rein, Emria, and Saphrilla sitting at the dinner table in wait.

Rein perked up, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"I thought it was gonna be just Chloe… How'd the rest of you join in?" He asked.

"Ahaha… Sorry Rein. I couldn't do anything about it…" Chloe apologized as Rein laughed.

"No need to apologize. You guys said cooking contest? Man, that brings back memories," Rein laughed as Emria laughed along with him.

"Raxo, why are you here as well. Last time Emria and I cooked with you, you almost burned down the workshop," Saphrilla coldly exposed, Raxo's face turning Red as she shushed her.

"So, can any of you actually cook then?" Rein asked, Quint and Xenia raising their hands.

"I can cook an egg. That's pretty much it," Xenia exclaimed.

"I've been practicing lately, think I'm pretty competent. I'm only here to shut my sis up," he stated.

"Okay then. Since Chloe and Raxo can't cook, I'll give them a teammate. Emria, you go with Chloe and Saphrilla, with Raxo. Cook whatever you guys want, I'll crown the winner in the end," he proclaimed as they all nodded in affirmation.

What followed was a series of disasters as Rein tried his hardest to keep the room from burning down. As he had planned, Rein granted Chloe his 'Legendary Cook' passive skill. Time passed, and Chloe began adeptly handling the kitchen equipment, developing a keen eye for ingredients, and knowledge of how to use them.

In the end, all of them ending up helping each other as they jubilantly cooked together into the night. They cooked, then all ate together in bliss, talking about their recent endeavors.

"That battle-axe you made for me was awesome by the way Raxo! Can't thank you enough!" Quint expressed as he stuffed his face.

"N-no need to thank me! Just don't come askin' me for any more favors!" She easily became flustered, not used to receiving gratitude, this being her way of saying you're welcome.

"Speaking of… Did you send it in Raxo? The device we collaborated on?" Saphrilla asked, catching her attention.

"Oh yeah! That thing was awesome! I have no idea how you guys made it, I was just happy to be there," Emria laughed as she gushed over whatever it was the two were talking about.

"Right?! It was fuckin amazing! Couldn't have done it without ya Saph. I sent the prototype to the Echo company in Naji, they should be getting back to me any day now," Raxo claimed, as suddenly, her student tablet buzzed.

She took it out from her pocket, then looked at the screen in amazement, pure awe in her face, then smiled at Quint.

"I think I know what you can repay me with…"