Tadano’s Trials: Alp

Tadano’s Trials: Alp

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Commissioned by Gopher54

Word Count: 1000

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Vacations for Sorcerer’s in training were typically boring, uneventful affairs. While they were certainly powerful weapons-of-mass-destruction-to-be, rest and relaxation was more or less boring and normal for everyone.

Naturally, due to his circumstances, Tadano was having a perfectly normal break from his studies.

And, he was also having a perfectly normal cramming session of homework, because like a normal person he enjoyed his vacation and put off the work he needed to do until the last day.

Because, that was what normal, ordinary people did.

Naturally, on that last day, his friend would come over to ask for help and do homework with him.

That was normal too.

But, Tadano was fairly sure that his friend hadn’t been a girl last time.

“Neh, Tadano-kun, what’s the answer to this?” Najimi Osana had always been a likeable individual. A person with thousands of friends. While Tadano could call her his childhood friend, the fact of the matter was that Najimi was a childhood friend to dozens of other people too. “Tadano-kuuunn heeeelllppp, please.”

But, still, Tadano was able to understand what was going on. The room was sweltering due to the AC being broken, he was alone with a girl in a tank-top and shorts doing homework, and it was the end of the summer.

“I refuse.”

Najimi was trying to crib answers from him as usual.

“Eh, why!? Why would you ever say no to your childhood friend who is totally and completely in love with you!?” Najimi’s words which would break the hearts those who overheard and normally invigorate the heart of its recipient had little effect on Tadano. Much like the average individual, after interacting with another for a prolonged period of his life, he knew them better. Those words met his hardened heart and fell away ineffectively. He knew better. “Are you trying to be many, Tadano-kun? It’s making wet down there, but I really need help, you know?”

There was batting of eyelashes, overt posing of breasts and licking of lips, but Tadano looked upon Najimi with only the slightest of blushes and a will that did not waver. 

“D-do your own work! We’re not even taking the same classes! I don’t know any of the stuff you’re learning!” Tadano was naturally flustered and flushed by the seduction attempt, but only to a certain point. He looked upon Najimi and saw a man that was now a woman. A man that used to be his childhood friend and irritant. Unlike a certain lazy individual he’d yet to meet, the situation was weird rather than arousing for him, because he was an average, normal person. And, his words made sense anyway. How could he help if he didn’t attend the same classes? “Stop it already, Najimi!”

A frown that would belt a million hearts crossed Najimi’s face. 

It was a last ditch attempt to bypass Tadano’s defenses… and he intended to defeat it the best way he could. He looked away and at his worksheet, enduring the pouting stare for as long as he could, and did his best to not crack.  Reason, logic, and the fear of somehow losing his dick was at the forefront of his mind. 

Tadano managed to focus on coughing into his hand long enough to annoy Najimi.

“Pooh, you’re no fun, Tadano-kun. I thought being a Sorcerer would have you loosen up.” Tadano wasn’t sure how that logic worked out. He went on missions where he could die, fought against things that wanted to capture him and use him, and worked himself to the bone on every assignment just to get the average grade. Why would he be more fun when he came back home to his friends—oh. That makes sense, actually. “Muu, I thought we were finally gonna have that fancy, usual scene where two friends reunite and suddenly get super lovely-dovey for no reason.”

Unfortunately, cases where Alps are readily accepted are rare and Tadano was of a supremely average disposition, so he could only agree with his old friend’s words. At the very least, he wasn’t one of those mean guys and girls who bullied Alps for no reason… 

“Y-yeah, that’d would be strange, especially since you probably changed for someone you just met, right?” Tadano cleared his throat after a moment, then did his best to read the situation and engage in small talk. “That sort of thing happens only in rom-coms, right?” 

“Right, right! That’s true! Pahahah!” Najimi laughed, but Tadano couldn’t help but feel he didn’t read the situation correctly. However, Najimi was able to hide things from him simply because they knew each other so well. “I mean, it’d be super cliché if a changed into a girl right after you left, right? That’d be super contrived!”

That was most certainly the case, but Tadano couldn’t find himself agreeing without hesitation and engaging in small talk. Najimi seemed spirited, bouncing in place, scratching the back of her head, and idly moving her legs beneath the table. However, the situation didn’t feel right and it wasn’t because his former best friend was now an Alp.

Mustering up his courage, Tadano forced himself to speak about the situation, but he was caught off guard be the wide, true smile that formed on Najimi’s face.

“Neh, you’re too easy to tease, Tadano-kun! You really can’t help but try to help whoever you’re with, huh?” Najimi giggled and shook her head, then in a movement he could barely followed, she moved so that she was leaning against him clad only in shorts and a t-shirt. Tadano found himself only able to stare as he momentarily forgot that Najimi had been a boy.  “You know, if you keep this up, you’re going to break a lot of hearts! Or, maybe not, if you manage to get yourself a harem!”

Being only a completely average Sorcerer, Tadano was unable to regain his focus when the very exceptional and charismatic Alp who used to be his friend drew his attention elsewhere and befuddled him.

But, Najimi couldn’t make him worry about her while he was working so hard, right?

You don’t make friends by making them worry about you, after all.