My spirit animal is a F–Rank gecko-Chapter 16: The first special bond exam (2)

"Stupid Jaster, I don’t know why I keep helping him. I should’ve just let Ruby be!"

Adrien splashed water on his face; he was disgusted by the fact that a gecko farted on his face.

Not to mention everyone watching and laughing at him.

"There goes my dignity!"

He saw himself in the bathroom mirror.

He touched his eyebags and let out a huge, tired sigh.

"I’m so tired... The training was so brutal.."

He took a deep breath and enjoyed the peaceful and relaxing surroundings.

Just when Adrien felt at peace for once—

THUD

Jaster entered the bathroom.

Adrien saw him holding his gecko, and he rolled his eyes. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"What are you doing here, Jaster?"

He continued washing his face.

Why is he talking to me so casually? Does Jaster have a history with Adrien?

Adam doesn’t know anything about Jaster’s past. For all he knew, he and Adrien could be rivals.

Though he thought Adrien wouldn’t even bother with someone like Jaster.

"I came here to say sorry, and also... thank you."

Jaster looked down at the bathroom floor; he’d never said something like this before to anyone.

Adrien’s eyes widened; it was as if he was shocked by the sudden apology.

"That’s not like you."

"Huh?"

Jaster pulled his head up; seeing Adrien glaring at him made him a little nervous.

"You’re not the type to say sorry..." Adrien started slowly walking towards Jaster.

So Jaster and him have history together! I wonder what it was.

Adrien was face to face against him, as Jaster looked up to meet his red piercing eyes.

Since Adrien was way taller than him, it was as if he was looking down on him.

"Uhh... Wait, I’ll ask Purple to apologize to you."

To break the thick atmosphere, Jaster raised Purple to meet Adrien’s eyes.

"Purple, say that you’re sorry!"

Instead of apologizing, Purple just turned its head away while pouting.

"Purple!"

"You call your spirit animal Purple? That’s weird."

Adrien raised his eyebrows.

"Actually, its full name is Purpleberry, but I just call it Purple for short."

Adrien was shocked, but he proceeded to cover his mouth while he chuckled.

"Purpleberry? HAHAHAHA!" Adrien couldn’t hold it in and started laughing.

The laughter echoed inside the bathroom.

"Rude..."

"Just kidding, haha." After rubbing laughing tears from his eyes, Adrien gripped Jaster’s shoulder.

"But seriously though, the special bond exam is coming in a couple more hours. Don’t you dare fail the exam!"

A bit of a second ago he was laughing his butt off; now he stared at Jaster with his red eyes.

It was intimidating.

"Why can’t I fail?"

Although Jaster isn’t really worried, since he already knew what the exam would be about.

Adrien furrowed his eyebrows; he started to look mad.

"This is serious, Jaster! If you can’t handle the exam, come and find me. I’ll help you out, since..."

Adrien side-eyed the purple gecko.

"There’s no way you would be able to beat it with that thing over there."

Purple heard what he said.

"CHAA!!"

"Hey." Jaster held back Purple from leaping at Adrien again.

"You don’t know what it’s capable of!"

Why is Adrien really nice to me? What kind of history do these two have?

"Whatever you say. Just stay out of Cherrie’s circle! I can’t help you all the time. The other students will become suspicious."

Adrien flicked Jaster’s head and went out of the bathroom.

Jaster stood still in the bathroom; he looked at the mirror, rubbing his forehead.

"That kinda hurts..."

Other than the forehead pain, there was something else he remembered.

"Cherrie..."

In the game, Cherrie is one of the side antagonists from Act 1 through Act 2.

Her friend group is what makes her dangerous.

Ruby is one of them. She’s a hot-tempered girl who’s been by Cherrie’s side ever since they were kids.

Jaster fiddled with his chin; he started to see an opening.

"But... I know what Ruby is really after..."

Other than being a hot-headed girl, she’s also a snake, just like Cherrie.

The only reason Ruby is friends with Cherrie is because she benefits from it.

Ruby’s parents were extremely poor, but after Ruby joined Cherrie’s friend group, Cherrie helped her tremendously.

By giving her parents a proper job. And because of that, Ruby’s dad is one of the executives in Cherrie’s dad’s company.

Jaster’s face formed a smirk, as more sinister ideas popped up inside his brain.

"There was a path in Soulbound where you could break up Cherrie’s friend group by pitting them against each other... Yeah."

Jaster brushed his forehead while looking at the mirror; he hadn’t realized he had been smirking this whole time.

"Because of what Ruby did, I’m gonna make sure I ruin her friendship with Cherrie. Let’s see if you can survive without her on your side."

Jaster chuckled a bit, and then the chuckle became a laugh.

And now Jaster was laughing like a corny Disney villain.

He glanced at Purple, who looked genuinely confused.

"Don’t worry, Purple, us underdogs will always get justice."

Jaster scoffed a bit at what he just said.

"If Annie was here, she would’ve said something like this."

"ATTENTION, ALL FIRST YEARS.... PLEASE GO OUTSIDE THE BUILDING FOR YOUR FIRST SPECIAL BOND EXAM!"

The loudspeaker echoed throughout the empty bathroom.

It startled Jaster and Purple.

"They should really lower the volume."

Jaster walked outside the bathroom, ready to face the exam.

On Earth, he’d always been bad at exams. But this is not the real world we’re talking about.

Jaster had played this exam countless times; heck, he could even close his eyes while playing it.

So he’s confident in his skills. But unbeknownst to him, the exam, yet again, isn’t the same as in Soulbound.

---

"I can’t believe that fucking Jaster is messing with you again!"

Ruby was currently rubbing Cherrie’s skirt with a wet towel.

Cherrie had an obvious displeased look on her face.

She let out a loud "Tsk."

"Whatever. He’ll learn eventually that Adrien can’t be with him 24/7. He’s lucky that there were many people watching. Also, Ruby...."

Cherrie side-eyed Ruby, who was bent down cleaning her skirt.

"Yes, Cherrie?"

Ruby’s eyes looked unnerving; she quietly gulped.

"Don’t do that again, ok..."

"Do what—"

[ Skill activated ]

Thousand Talon Rush — Lv. 1

A couple of rose-colored strings came out of Cherrie’s back.

All of the strings immediately struck Ruby and held her in place.

Ruby’s eyes widened, seeing the spiky strings.

"Ah—Cherrie... why?"

The strings started crushing all around Ruby.

She let out a huge grunt.

"Ruby... Don’t try to cause a scene." Cherrie’s chest glowed cyan,

and it traveled up to her back.

"I don’t like it when one of my minions tries so hard to get my approval." She tilted her head, seeing the pain in Ruby’s eyes.

The strings started popping out thousands of mini needles, and they started poking all over Ruby’s body.

She screamed in agony as the needles slowly pierced her skin.

"I’M SORRY—PLEASE, CHERRIE. I’m so sorry...." Ruby’s voice broke out into sobs.

Cherrie smirked; she loves seeing someone above her, begging to her.

"I’ll forgive you. Just don’t try to do anything that I dislike, ok?" Cherrie bent down to meet Ruby’s eyes.

Her pink eyes stared coldly at Ruby’s red eyes.

"But... I think I need a little pain relief for today!"

Cherrie squished her palm, as the thousands of needles in the strings became longer and longer, expanding into Ruby’s flesh.

Ruby’s scream echoed throughout the bathroom and the empty hallway, as she was left to endure it, with no one to help.

---

Jaster and all the other first years gathered at an open field.

Many of them were confused as to why they were brought there.

And Jaster... was one of them.

"Huh? I don’t remember the first special bond exam being at an open field."

There was a tiny doubt in Jaster’s mind. Just a small one, but if it was true, Jaster might be the most unlucky person in the whole universe.

"I swear if they changed the bond exam, I’m gonna lose it—"

Jaster got cut off by a flying green and purple hummingbird.

The bird hummed a delightful vocal that made everyone stop what they were doing and look at the bird.

After flying above all the students, the bird stopped at the center.

Then smoke broke out of its body, making the surroundings packed with smoke.

Jaster waved his hand while pinching his nose.

"A hummingbird.... I think I know who that is."

After the smoke cleared out, it slowly revealed a green-haired girl.

She was wearing a purple cardigan. Her hair was tied up into a ponytail, and the girl was also floating in the sky with transparent wings.

"What’s up, all of you first years!!!!!" The girl pulled on the scrunchie that was holding her hair together.

And her beautiful green hair swayed in the wind; as she repeatedly shook her head, many more hummingbirds started coming out of her hair.

The birds flew and each sang a chord of a song that matched every single one of them.

All of the students were amazed seeing the sight, and so was Jaster.

"Krrk!"

Purple tried to reach for the birds, but he was too short.

"I knew it! She’s Jade, one of the student council!"

Jade proceeded to extend her hands in the sky and screamed—

"WELCOME.. first years, to your... FIRST...EVER...SPECIAL... BOND EXAM!!!"