Note: so ya I re did this chapter, seems the last one nobody wanted even though Blue Rose won the vote and a lot of people wanted something different from Black Bulls so I am just rolling with my original plan for the story. Have learned my lesson and from here out will just write the story I originally planned to so cope lol. Anyways enjoy the revised chapter.
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"Examinee number 125!"
A nervous-looking boy stepped forward into the center of the pit, standing beneath the elevated platforms where the Magic Knight captains sat in judgment. Kenji watched from his position among the remaining examinees, noting how much emptier the venue had become.
I'm up next then, he thought, glancing around at the drastically reduced crowd. The examinees were now divided into distinct groups—those still waiting for their turn, those who had been selected and were waiting with members of their new squads, and the unfortunate ones who had already left through the lower exit with tear-stained faces and crushed dreams.
Up above, the captains remained silent as the examiner called out, "Do we have any hands?"
Not a single hand rose.
The boy's face crumpled, and he began the long walk toward the main gate, back to the lower exit where rejected candidates departed. Tears streamed down his face as the reality of his failure sank in.
"Examinee number 126!"
Kenji stepped forward, his white suit gleaming in the afternoon light as he moved into full view of everyone present—primarily the captains seated above. He looked up, deliberately making eye contact with each of them in turn.
The main examiner's voice rang out. "Do we have any hands?"
Six hands shot up simultaneously.
The colosseum erupted into shocked murmurs and excited chatter.
"Woah, he got that many hands!"
"They must want that four-leaf grimoire in their squad!"
"I guess it's true the Golden Dawn only recruits nobles and royalty if their captain didn't raise his hand for him."
"Yeah, the Silver Eagles too!"
Kenji noted with unsurprised satisfaction that William and Nozel were the only captains who hadn't raised their hands. He began thinking through his options rapidly, tuning out the commotion around him.
Well, I'm not too worried about those two since joining a squad so uptight and full of nobles would get tiring real fast. Same goes with the Crimson Lions—although they're better, it's still run by a royal family, so I can imagine they have a lot of uptight rules like the other two, probably to a lesser degree though.
I could join the Purple Orcas... He mentally grimaced. Yeah, screw that. They're shady as hell. No way I gain trust points there, and even if I did, all those points would be lost once they're exposed later on. No thank you.
The Green Mantis squad has an absolute psycho as a captain, and I'm pretty sure they're in charge of interrogation and torture of prisoners or something like that. Hell no.
That leaves three options: Black Bulls, Coral Peacocks, and Blue Rose.
His internal deliberation continued. Let's think about what I'm looking for here. I want somewhere that will be nice to live—preferably relaxing, with good food. I don't want to work overtime... screw that noise. I want somewhere I can gain trust points fairly easily, so a squad with a good reputation. Although I could build the Black Bulls' reputation up early, that sounds tiresome as hell and like a lot of overtime.
He sighed internally. Although I wanted to join the Black Bulls—it's a chill and fun place—it'll be harder to gain points there than the other two. That's a shame. I wanted to learn ki from Yami.
I don't know much about the Coral Peacocks from the anime, only that their captain is extremely cute and they have that weirdo as a vice-captain. I have some things in common with the captain regarding our magic—could be fun to play around with her, discussing possibilities.
On the other hand... a squad full of women with a villa out in the forest, with a pretty laid-back environment from what I saw in the anime, and most definitely luxury.
He mentally groaned. Yeah no, that just sounds tiresome as hell. I'm not dealing with that.
He continued thinking. Well, I feel like I could always just ask Yami for help with ki, or maybe make a bet with him for it. But I think it would be most beneficial to work with the Coral Peacocks to use my magic better, because I'll admit I haven't been using it to its fullest potential. Well, here goes nothing.
Coming out of his musings, he remained silent for a couple more moments before announcing clearly, "I choose the Coral Peacocks."
Up in the captain's booth, Dorothy, while still sleeping, smiled slightly and tilted her head, as if she was having a particularly pleasant dream. The other captains who weren't chosen let out various sighs.
"Well, a shame he did not choose us, but congratulations are in order, Miss Dorothy. You have found quite the strong member," Randall said with genuine warmth.
He received no response.
"Oi oi oi, you're still sleeping even right now?!" Yami called out, looking at her weirdly.
Again, no response. Just the gentle sound of her breathing and that mysterious smile.
The main examiner's voice rang out. "Examinee 126, please proceed through the gates straight forward to the left to meet with your new squad."
Kenji nodded, casting one last look at the captains before walking toward the gate. I hope I've made the right choice here.
Following the directions given by the knights helping run the exam, he proceeded to the waiting area for new Coral Peacock recruits. A group of three people stood waiting, and as he approached, he immediately recognized a familiar face.
"Yo, Ash! Seems your gamble paid off," Kenji said with a wave and a smile.
All heads turned at his voice. Ash looked a little surprised but nodded. "Yeah, it seems it did. I'm surprised you joined this squad though. I thought you would have gone to one of the more established squads, to be honest."
Kenji stopped in front of them and shrugged. "Nah, where's the fun in that? Besides, I think mine and our new captain's magic are pretty similar, so it made the most sense."
Turning, he noticed a tall blonde young man with gold eyes and vermillion hair striking an elaborate pose. Pink sparkles seemed to shimmer around him in the afternoon light.
"Hi, nice to meet you. Name's Kenji. I'm guessing this is where I should be if I joined the Coral Peacocks, correct?"
The flamboyant man made eye contact and spoke with theatrical flair. "Why yes, you are correct! Although you should have greeted the beautiful me when you first arrived, I will forgive this impudence on account of you being new. This beautiful existence that graces your presence is named Kirsch Vermillion, your new vice-captain. It is a pleasure for you to meet me."
He struck an even more elaborate pose, and the pink sparkles intensified around him.
Kenji looked over at Ash with a baffled expression. Ash just shrugged as if to say, Don't ask me, man.
Kenji decided to just roll with it. "Well, sure, I guess. But why are you sparkling, man?"
Kirsch raised an eyebrow, looking almost pleased by the question. "Oh, it seems you have noticed! It is just the world acknowledging my beauty. I know it is awe-inspiring, but please do try to focus more on my beauty than the effect of it."
Kenji sweat-dropped at this response.
Kirsch then looked him up and down with an appraising eye. "Well, it seems the captain has some great taste. Although you're not as beautiful as me, you do have some flair of your own. Yes, this white suit matched with the graceful white hair and those stylish glasses—yes, you have some potential."
Kenji looked at him weirdly for a second. "Well, thanks man, but I should warn you—I don't swing that way before we continue here."
"Oh my, such vulgarity!" Kirsch placed a hand over his heart dramatically. "We will have to work on that. How inelegant." He shook his head in disappointment. "Well, meet your new squadmates and mingle until the captain arrives. Although it will be hard, try not to mind me too much."
Kenji laughed, starting to find this guy genuinely funny. "Yeah, you got it, haha."
He turned to Ash and the third recruit—a boy with orange hair and orange eyes. "Well, I already know you, Ash, so no need for introductions, I assume?"
Ash nodded in return.
Kenji continued, turning to the other recruit. "My name is Kenji, if you didn't hear it before. Nice to meet you." He stuck out his hand to shake.
The boy took his hand and nodded. "Name's Dmitri Brint. Nice to meet you as well. You made quite the impression back at the exam, I must say."
Kenji chuckled. "Well, I try."
They both laughed lightly, clearing the air a bit.
After talking for a while about the exam with the other two, discussing various fights they'd witnessed and their own experiences, Kirsch suddenly interrupted. "Prepare your unbeautiful selves. Our gorgeous captain is now arriving."
The other two straightened up nervously, their casual postures vanishing instantly. Kenji simply looked over curiously to see an extremely cute woman with pink hair walking slowly toward them, swaying slightly side to side with her eyes peacefully closed. She wore the distinctive Coral Peacock captain's robes and that iconic pink witch's hat.
Dorothy Unsworth had arrived, and Kenji couldn't help but think she looked even more adorable in person than she had from a distance.
This was going to be interesting.