Chapter 157: Post-Match Interaction
After leaving the medical room, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh, unsure whether it was out of sentiment or some other unclear reason.
“What’s wrong? Are you still puzzled?” Bai Yu looked at me and couldn’t help but ask.
“What is there to be puzzled about? I understand very well, Sister Bai. It’s best not to mention such things; let’s talk about something else.”
Seeing Sister Bai’s expression, I couldn’t help but find it amusing. I wouldn’t let such matters dampen my mood.
Besides, having signed that contract, it was better not to discuss such things.
With that in mind, I prepared to take out my phone to check the time, but I realized my leg ring was missing when I felt around my leg.
No wonder it felt off when I left.
“Eh? Where’s my leg ring?”
I was stunned for a moment, then remembered that after the serious injury in the medical room, they had stripped my clothes off to treat my bruises and changed my outfit.
After all, my original clothes had been torn to shreds in the explosion—wearing them would be even cooler than a beggar’s outfit.
I had borrowed this outfit from Sister Bai, though I didn’t know why she had so many sets of clothes stored in her storage equipment. According to her, it was for emergencies.
After all, in the extraordinary world, one might encounter various situations, making it common to carry a few sets of clothes.
This outfit felt a bit oversized on me, especially around the chest area, where I could clearly feel my lack of development.
“Here, sorry Xiao Han, I forgot to return it to you. It seems the outfit I gave you doesn’t have a matching leg ring.” At that moment, Sister Bai recalled this issue.
“Eh? Can storage equipment store other storage equipment?” I stared in disbelief at the leg ring in Sister Bai’s hand.
“Of course! Space is a very stable attribute, so don’t worry about it. Although this leg ring is a bit worn out,” she said, glancing at the leather leg ring with a hint of regret.
“It’s fine, as long as it can still be used, since I have many things still in there.” I casually found a spot and plopped down.
“Sister Bai, why don’t you help me put on the leg ring this time?”
I fixed my gaze on Sister Bai, as I had noticed her obsession with leg rings the first time she bought me clothes with one. However, it seemed she didn’t particularly like wearing them herself.
Yet, I hadn’t voiced this matter until now. When I caught a glimmer of surprise and a fleeting joy on her face, quickly covered by an awkward yet composed expression, I felt satisfied and didn’t retract my statement.
“I… am I supposed to put it on for you? Why do you suddenly want me to do that?”
“Aside from that one time when you helped me, you’ve never done it again.”
As I spoke, I lifted my left leg, causing my already short skirt to slide down my thigh, revealing my smooth and fair leg.
“Which leg do you prefer to tie it on, left or right?” I couldn’t help but chuckle at Sister Bai’s shocked expression, which looked as if her pupils were shaking. Was this considered teasing her?
In my understanding, it didn’t seem like that level of teasing should count.
“Uh, I prefer the left… oh, wait! Xiao Han, did you just try to tease me?” Bai Yu instinctively blurted out before realizing something was off—what did she mean by ‘herself’?
“How is that teasing? It’s just helping you tie a leg ring. If you can’t, then I’ll do it myself.” I said as I reached my hand out toward her.
“Hehe, I’ll definitely help you tie this leg ring today,” Sister Bai said as she firmly grabbed my ankle and lifted it up, as if to retaliate for the teasing she just received.
“Wow~”
I didn’t expect Sister Bai’s movements to be so vigorous; I almost lost my balance being lifted.
Before I could even struggle, I felt that leather sensation wrap around my ankle, and then her hand slid up my calf, smoothly reaching my thigh.
Her hand brushed against the inner side of my other leg, making it feel like a casual tickle.
Then, I felt the leg ring tighten around my thigh, the unique pressure of a leg ring fitting perfectly without being too constraining, while Sister Bai adjusted the buckle.
“All done! Still thinking of teasing Sister Bai? Xiao Han, you’re still a bit naive,” she said after finishing, giving my thigh a light slap that brought me back from my infinite daydreaming.
“Naive? Where am I naive?” I instinctively replied, almost as if I triggered a keyword.
“Eh? Xiao Han! Not learning properly.” Bai Yu was momentarily taken aback by my question, pulling me up as if she were about to spank me.
“Hey, hey, hey! I was wrong!” I quickly turned around to apologize, brushing the matter aside.
“Hehe, Sister Bai, can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Sister Bai, is your XP leg ring? If so, I can help you put it on every day!”
“XP… What’s wrong with having an XP with a leg ring?” When Bai Yu realized the matter had been exposed, she admitted it, displaying a somewhat tsundere attitude. “Don’t you have your own likes? Short skirts, stockings, and suspenders—you didn’t even notice the suspender straps, but you like these things…”
“Enough! Stop exposing my secrets! I admit my interests are broad, okay? Seriously… Let’s stop talking about this. Where are we going next?”
I quickly interrupted her, blushing and eager to change the subject. I approached the railing in front of the stands and looked down at the arena, which had returned to its original state—a surprisingly quick turnaround.
I glanced at the time; there was still a while until noon.
However, the class group chat had exploded.
There were many private messages, and just looking at the list showed that everyone was concerned about my well-being.
I first reported my safety in the group, then went on to reply to each private message. After addressing their questions, I decided not to continue the chats, as I didn’t have the time or energy to keep chatting with them.
A few messages to keep them updated was enough, and then I quietly left the group.
They mostly seemed more interested in the outcome of the match, with many feeling that the battle should have ended in a draw at the very least.
Some even complained that the academy’s matching mechanism was garbage; why pair the two strongest newcomers right off the bat? They claimed they could do a better job with their feet than the academy could at matchmaking.
It was clear that my classmates cared about me.
They also showed a lot of concern for my injuries.
After all, I had fallen from such a high place at the last moment. Just watching it would be painful; we didn’t even mention the explosion beforehand.
Of course, many were curious about what spell I had used, but I didn’t answer this question to avoid any misunderstandings.
Otherwise, if they thought every Fireball Spell could be so powerful, the disappointment afterward would be significant.
“Yang… Yang Yuelan?”
“Hm?” Suddenly called, I instinctively looked up from my phone and found myself face-to-face with a familiar figure.
“Oh, our vice class leader! I didn’t expect you to come see me? But, I’m sorry, I lost in the first match.”
“I wasn’t here to see you; I was just passing by the medical room,” Tu Xingyue turned her head away but then noticed Sister Bai beside me, prompting her to tone it down, “And… I didn’t blame you. Encountering Tan Han in the first match… your performance was already excellent, considering…”
“Is that so? Hearing you say that makes me feel relieved. I’ve been worried about it since I promised you something, yet I messed it up. Since you’ve forgiven me, I’ll accept it with ease.”
“Fine, if that’s the case! I… I won’t disturb you anymore…” Tu Xingyue glanced at Bai Yu and ultimately chose to flee.
“Sister Bai, you scared away my vice class leader!” I said, watching Tu Xingyue’s somewhat awkward retreat and turned toward Bai Yu with a smile.
“Your vice class leader?” It was obvious that Bai Yu zeroed in on some key phrases, and her tone became strange, “So, when you’re not around, she manages the class for you?”
“Yeah, she’s a really nice girl.”
“A nice girl? That’s quite high praise coming from you, isn’t it? Who was the last person you praised like that?”
“Um… let’s not talk about her.” Feeling a bit helpless, I looked at Bai Yu, wondering how we ended up on this topic again.
I was almost about to forget about it.
The last person I praised like that was undoubtedly my ex-girlfriend. Unfortunately, we broke up during the holiday—well, it should count as a breakup, right?
Back then, she was my desk mate and one of my few friends. I hastily confirmed our relationship, wanting to give it a try.
I hope she’s doing well at Aphhemia Academy. I wonder how her ability has progressed; after all, her final exam scores skyrocketed, so she must be doing well in the academy.
“Alright, let’s not talk about her.”
Bai Yu walked up to me and leaned against the railing, looking down. The railing pressed against her ample chest, and at this moment, it felt like the most gravitational object in the world, drawing my gaze irresistibly.
“What? Just because Xiao Han is a girl now, you can’t openly stare here!” Bai Yu, of course, couldn’t ignore my fiery gaze and reached out to ruffle my hair.
“I… cough, what’s wrong with looking?” I replied, red-faced; after all, how could I resist such matters? This time, I was caught red-handed.
“It’s fine; Xiao Han will grow larger in the future. Do you want Sister Bai to help you now?”
“Eh? Help me?”
While I was still pondering Bai Yu’s comment about me growing larger, I realized she had already moved behind me. Her hands slipped under my armpits and supported herself on the railing in front of me.
“Wait… Sister Bai, what are you doing?”
“Oh? Xiao Han, so you also get flustered?” Bai Yu leaned in closer, her body pressing against my back like the treatment of the railing squeezing me.
I was… being surrounded!
“Alright, alright~ I won’t tease you anymore. You really can’t handle teasing, Xiao Han,” Bai Yu noticed my reaction and shook her head slightly, releasing her grip without continuing her actions.
“It’s you, Sister Bai, who’s overstepping! I never noticed you were like this! Even if I’m a girl, we can’t be that intimate, right?”
“It’s actually quite normal for girl best friends to be this close,” Bai Yu explained.
“Really? Don’t lie to me, Sister Bai. You’re my only channel for understanding how to be a girl now.” I looked at her earnestly.
“Of course! Why would Sister Bai lie to you? Come on, now that we still have time, I’ll take you to explore the lively market outside. This is a special version just for each year’s new student competition, and it’s the busiest time during this period!”
“Plus, this is also a way for new students to get to know the Witch Academy and experience the extraordinary world. Just think of it as accompanying me to see if there’s anything you can use this afternoon.”
“How could that be? The elimination match this afternoon will be a total brawl!” I said confidently. Although I said that, I valued it a lot, after all, the afternoon elimination match would indeed be a grand brawl.
“It’s good that Xiao Han is confident, but your methods are still too few. You need to learn to make good use of alchemical items. Adapting to a spellbook takes time, but alchemical items can be grasped quickly. This time, it’s also my fault for not giving you enough preparation; in the arena, you…”
“Stop right there! This isn’t your fault, Sister Bai! The wrist guards helped a lot too, so don’t feel guilty about it!”
