Chapter 36: Assembling a team…

Melody drove us to the food court, where we met back up with Silvia to begin our party recruitment, but first, we grabbed some random foods. The food court was the same as usual, but the buffet area had the gates all open, so people could walk in and out as they pleased. Together, we found an empty table, which were quickly disappearing as the flood of students entered the room.

As we finished up our meals, I asked, “How are we going to choose people?”

Melody looked over at Silvia. “I believe Silvia can see system tiers—”

What? I stared straight at Melody, widening my eyes. Does she know?

“—below her own,” Melody finished. Thank god. I mean, it’d probably be fine if she kept it a secret, but… yeah. “So Silvia can point people out and decide if they are cute enough.”

That… is a criterion that does exist. Does Melody not care about their skill level? I mean, it doesn’t matter much, but it does a little, right?

We cleaned up our area and began following Silvia around, who brought us to a group of two girls who definitely qualify as cute.

One of them had an emo look with short messy black hair with purple highlights and some uncannily bright green eyes. She was the first to look up when we approached, well before we were standing beside their table. She was also pretty short, although it’s hard to judge height when people are seated.

The second girl looked more normal, having plain blonde hair, also short, and brown eyes. They don’t seem similar at all. Except for short hair. Is that a bonding thing?

Melody initiated a conversation as we approached. “Hey, are you two looking for raid teams by any chance?”

“Are you all A rank?” The emo girl asked, putting her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket and turning to us.

“Nope,” Melody replied, smirking. Melody... that is not how you recruit people.

“We’re good then,” she replied, turning back around to her friend, who was wearing a light blue sweater.

Silvia sighed, saying, “These two are S tier.”

Emo girl spun right back around, eyes wide. “What did you say?”

“Two of us are S tier,” Melody snickered. See Melody? This is why you have no friends. “Interested?”

“Yes. Are you looking for a mage and a tank?” she asked, staring straight at Melody.

“Tell us more about your abilities,” Melody said, crossing her arms and staring down at the seated girl. Poor girl. I wish I could trade places… Melody’s glare is so hot.

“A tier electro mage, damage focus of course, do you want to see my abilities?” she offered up immediately. Not really what you’re supposed to do… revealing abilities leaves you vulnerable, even if we aren’t going to kill her, who knows where the info could leak?

“No,” Melody answered, turning to the tank. “What’s your specialty?”

“I’m a dodge tank. Aggro and agility,” she replied, fiddling with her fingers on the table, right behind her empty plate.

“A tier?” Melody asked even though we already knew, assuming Silvia didn’t lie. Which I don’t think she did. I can’t really read Silvia though. How did we even… bond with Silvia? She’s so… strange. I don’t know. She’s probably skilled though.

“Yeah.” And that was that. Two more members added to our team.

“What are your numbers?” Melody asked, trading details with them. I think we should be thinking a bit more about who we add to our team… cute girls are cute and all… but like… are they any good?

Actually… does it matter?

They are A tier, they all have the capacity to be good, and this is an academy… where we learn how to not suck. None of us have any experience in any actual situation. Maybe the academy is pushing us too hard, forcing us into permanent teams before anyone has actual combat experience.

Just because we’re a certain tier doesn’t mean we are capable of performing under high-stress situations like combat. Probably. I feel like Melody has experience. And something tells me Silvia does too, she just has this aura of awareness, maybe it’s her system though.

Finished trading numbers, Melody set up a group chat with all five of us, then asked, “Are you guys available Sunday? I want to go do something, see if we can work together.”

Ah, Melody does have a plan to make sure we can get along. Melody always has a plan, I shouldn’t be doubting her. Still, I think the academy doesn’t know what they’re doing, forcing everyone into teams so early. Seems like a way to get people killed…

“Yeah, I am,” emo girl, named Fara according to her contact, confirmed.

The other one, named Elle, checked her phone before also confirming, “I’m free in the afternoon.”

“Okay, I’ll send a message in the group chat.” Melody nodded, before continuing, “We’re going to find another member, talk to you later.”

They nodded back at Melody’s weird speech. Talk to you later? Who says that in person, like not over text or a phone. Feels odd. Oh, well. We left their table and followed Silvia around until she decided on a cute girl.

This girl had long blonde hair and was eating alone at a table along a wall, we introduced ourselves, with Melody asking the usual questions. Unfortunately, the girl replied, “I’m a healer.”

And we found ourselves wandering once more. Support is the one role we definitely don’t need, both Silvia and I are locked in. Silvia led us over to another table, with another cute girl. She had short blue hair and golden eyes, not unlike Silvia’s, but once again, was a damage dealer.

Melody took her number in case the other two fell through, but it was unlikely, as long as they weren’t terrible team members I’m sure we’d be able to work well enough to raid dungeons during our academy years.

Silvia wandered around some more, taking us to another girl, who finally was a tank, but… already had a team. And they didn’t want to ditch their team for two S tiers for some stupid reason. Surely we’re better than your friends, right? Right? Don’t you want the infinite power and wealth associated with our high status, the ability to trample all and… stuff.

Not needing to crawl under someone's feet… never feeling someone step all over you, whip you… tie you up and kidnap you… stuff you with vibrators… yeah that would, like, suck. You know?

Moving right along, Silvia took us to another damage dealer. Same boring stuff, Melody traded numbers. And next, we met another tank. She had a very small face, small body, small everything, tits and ass included. Long hair though.

She was wearing a thin white sweater and a short white skirt, looking quite like an angel and not really giving off the impression of a tank, but we spoke to her anyway, with Melody initiating like always, “Hey, are you looking for a dungeon team?”

“Yeah…” she replied, staring down at the floor.

“What’s your system?” Melody pressed the little girl… she kind of reminded me of myself. Tiny, or at least I feel tiny, especially when Melody’s talking to me… demeaning me…

“T-tank,” the girl replied. She really needs more confidence, she has less than me, and I’m a horny masochist sub. Regardless, tank, looking for a team… great signs. And as long as she’s capable of defending under pressure and listening to Melody’s orders, her personality doesn’t really matter.

“Anything specific?” Melody inquired, to which the girl replied, “No… sorry.”

“You don’t need to be sorry…” I mumbled out… for some reason… causing the girl to stare up, yes, up, at me. “Uh… hi…”

Okay, maybe I’m not more confident than her.

She replied, “Hi… um… so, can I join?”

“Yeah,” I replied, turning to Melody. “Right?”

Melody tilted her head a little, her eyes doing a dance between the two of us, before deciding, “Yeah, what’s your phone number?”

“Uh…” The girl pulled out her phone, tapping away until handing it to Melody. “Here.”

Melody took the phone, adding her number, and adding the girl to the group chat, before sending the contact information through, showing that she was named Amane.

“We’ll be meeting Sunday afternoon for some team bonding, that work for you?” Melody asked as she passed back the phone.

“I-I’ll… try my b-best!” Amane replied. I changed my mind, she is definitely more awkward than me.

“Can’t wait to see you…” I replied quietly. Trying to comfort her… or something… I don't know!

And with our conversation over, Melody, Silvia, and I walked out of the food court, where Melody spoke. “That went better than I expected.”

I nodded. It did happen. And was successful, maybe.

Silvia nodded.

“I think the first two we can work with, although I’m a little concerned about tank two.” Melody turned to me and continued. “But you seem to like her, so I’m sure it’ll work out.”

I blushed, but nodded. “Yeah.”

“Well, see you all Sunday,” Silvia excused herself, leaving Melody and I alone as we watched her back shrink as she turned left toward a parking lot.

“So,” Melody began, “I guess we should head back so I can fulfill my promise.”

“Please!” I nearly shouted, only quieting my voice at the last moment. I’m dying over here… and I completely forgot about the fact that I’m not even wearing panties right now… how frickin horny was I this morning?! I’m crazy, man… crazy needy… as all kitties are…

Melody and I walked back to the dorms and I stripped off my clothes the moment I entered our lounge… embarrassment be damned. I’m way too eager for Melody’s touch… her stare… her anything. It’s been like three days or something!

That’s not even that long…

Despite that, Melody could tell I was eager, and obliged for once, waving me straight up the staircase, and I followed her up to her room. Fun time time… heh.