When the light reflecting off the girls before me passed into my eye and was eventually registered in my brain as a group of 3 attractive young ladies ready to be bred, I restrained myself.

After all, I am no ape; I am a homo sapien, a modern human armed with knowledge. Ignoring the boner in my pants was nothing for me while my eyes darted around to inspect each and every allure of the bodies before me.

I opened my mouth to introduce myself.

“Hi, I’m Ryu, do you mind if I sit with you?”

My voice flowed smoothly like a vortex of water exiting a drink bottle as I pointed to the seat beside one of the girls.

The girl beside the seat I wanted to take looked to her left.

“Saya?” she said.

The girl in the middle who I now knew was Saya spoke up.

“We don’t own this auditorium so you can sit wherever you like,” said Saya, in a silvery voice.

I flashed them a smile but not an overly friendly one.

“Thank you.”

I took my seat and relaxed, thinking to myself.

My ability to remember something is directly proportional to how badly I want to it fuck it, so I already had a clear image of how the girls beside me looked. Every feature they made visible I recorded.

The girl directly beside me had shoulder length black hair in a hime cut and piercing blue eyes. On her she wore a sleeveless white dress shirt tucked into a vermillion skater skirt, and below this, leaving a small gap inbetween, were her gray knee high socks.

Having sat in silence for a few moments, I turned to my left.

“I guess it might be a little late now but could I get your names please?”

The girl directly beside me looked my way and I looked back; my gray into her blue. Surprisingly, she didn’t avert her gaze even when she replied.

“I’m Kana, and you don’t have to act so polite.”

My lips split apart a little and I raised an eyebrow while silently mumbling what?

Our eyes never separated as her face slid past mine and her lips whispered into my ear.

“I know what you really want.”

Kana moved back locking eyes with me again and flashed me a coy smile while biting her lip. I had to look away.

“Don’t worry about Kana,” said Saya, rolling her eyes. “She’s just joking around.”

“That’s an interesting sense of humor.”

“She normally doesn’t go that far.”

Kana seated between the two of us held her hands between her thighs and was looking down in silence.

“Sorry,” said Kana, not looking at me. “I got a little carried away…”

This is good. Now she feels bad so I can do this without coming off as being too aggressive…

But of course I’d still be pushing my boundaries.

I moved my left hand over the top of Kana’s, bridging the gap between her thighs.

“It’s fine,” I said, dragging my hand over her skirt, not allowing it to linger at any one spot for too long, and gave the thigh closest to me a reassuring squeeze. “I thought it was funny”

I wore another one of my friendly-but-not-overly-friendly smiles as I retracted my hand and waited for a response.

Kana turned towards me disclosing the smile which had never left, and giggled before moving into my ear.

“I knew I was right about you,” whispered Kana, moving back.

My actions and repeated close proximity to Kana drew the eyes of Saya and other girl I’d yet to speak to.

Sorry ladies for keeping you waiting.

I looked Saya in the eye.

“Your name’s Saya right?” I said.

“That’s right. And you’re Ryu?” Said Saya.

“Yeah that’s right.”

I shifted my gaze onto the girl seated furthest from me.

“How about you?”

“Akina.”

Unlike Kana the other two girls didn’t try to play any jokes on me, at least not that I knew of.

“Well it’s nice to meet you all!” I said, slightly raising my voice and adding a relaxed smile into it.

“You to.” “Thanks.” “Thank you.” Were the individual responses from Kana to Akina and all in unison. How I distinguished what each girl said was beyond me.

It’s like I’ve got some otherworldly power backing me up.

Whilst we’d been chatting the trickle of people entering had risen such that people were now flooding into the auditorium. The seats around us were almost full as well, being in a perfect position for viewing the stage, yet no one had taken a seat on the same row or the one behind us.

Could it be…?

My eyes flicked to the ladies beside me, and I quickly inhaled.

One of them said it. Hime-sama. Is one of them royalty?

“Good morning and thank you for arriving early,” said a woman with clarity over the rooms speakers, drawing my attention.

“Since all students are now accounted for we will be starting orientation early so that we can move onto stage two examinations as soon as possible. And congratulations on all arriving early. We are now ahead of schedule.”

I let out a breath I’d held in without realising when the message ended.

“Are you nervous?” said Kana.

I didn’t look left though I could feel those piercing blue orbs of hers on me.

“No. Well, to a degree,” I said.

I could hear people murmuring in the background, or maybe it was me imagining things.

“I am. Saya thinks I’m being ridiculous, but I’m not like her.”

She sounds strangely normal now compared to how she acted before. Is it because of the people around us?

“I think everyone’s nervous today. Nobody likes being tested like a lab rat.”

I felt a hand brush against mine which rested on the armrest between us, so I looked left.

Bingo, looking straight at me.

“You know… I think I like you Ryu.”

I took another breath, and Kana smiled, a friendly smile with no ill intent.

“You’re very honest, but still considerate.”

Bitch you barely know me, dafaq are you on about?

Of course, some- no, many thoughts I keep to myself. This was one of them.

“See! I kno-”

“Kana.” Said Saya, halting Kana’s actions.

The two girls looked at each in silence, as they communicated something only they could hear.

“I hope everyone is comfortable as we’ll be starting,” said the woman over the speaker.

On the stage I could see a woman standing dressed cleanly in a suit, and behind her were a few men and women dressed in a similar style.

“So we’re going to get right into it. The moment you stepped through those doors you officially became members of this city. For that, I’d like to welcome you.”

There were a few claps here and there, but they quickly passed.

“And yes, to those who didn’t do any prior research I did mean to say members and city.”

On the walls which flanked the stage an overhead map of the city was projected.

“This city is the only one of its kind in our nation and thus is responsible for the development of all magicians in our nation. In order to manage this the city is comprised of several individual academies to cater to each student's requirements.”

Let’s just hope the rest of the city isn’t like the hallway from before...

The orientation continued for another half hour and can be summarized into a few points.

Everyone is a member of the city, but attends different academies based on their ability. Those who study hard will be given the opportunity to immediately transfer to another academy which better suits their ability. Initial rankings would be decided through todays exams.

Since the city is effectively comprised of nothing but students, in order to keep the city running students are required to assist in various jobs.

Like that guard from before.

And finally, any misconduct will be treated on a case by case basis, with the academy, district or city administering punishment based upon the scale of the offense.

Sitting still for any period of time never went well for me.

“Jeez I need to stretch my back,” I said.

Saya offered a solution.

“Then do it.”

Saya’s voice made me want to listen. Is this the power of beauty?

I stood up and stretched my back, turning my body left and right. I only got a glimpse of the people seated around us, but it was plenty. They were staring straight at me.

Ryu you madman, what are you doing sitting here?

A hand tugged on mine and I looked down. Kana was telling me to sit back down.

I didn’t get to find out whether it was out of concern or the fact the speaker had come to the stage again.

“Stage two is now ready so proceed through the doors to your left and right. Good luck!”

People around us started to get up to exit the room.

“Ughh,” I said. “Do they have to keep saying good luck? It’s so obvious they’re reading off a script that it’s not even encouraging.”

“So it’s true,” said the voice of a devil. “You are a baka.”

The source of the sound was none other than my sister Ruri who’d manifested before me.

“How’s it going Ruri?”

“Good. What about you?”

The words were just a facade. The true conversation only we could decipher.

“Why the fuck are you here?”

“Bitch what the fuck did you just say to me?”

Ruri‘s eyes flicked left to the girls beside me.

“We’ll continue this later,” is what we agreed upon.

“Hi, I’m Ruri.” Ruri did a little wave to the 3 ladies beside me. “I’m sorry about my nii-chan bothering you.”

I shuddered a little at the way Ruri said “my nii-chan”.

Ruri grabbed my right hand with her own and yanked me out of my seat.

“Hey-” I stopped speaking as I was pulled the other direction.

Saya had grabbed my left hand and prevented Ruri dragging me away.

“He wasn’t bothering us,” said Saya.

“Yeah, he was keeping us company,” said Kana, and Akina nodded her head.

Gray eyes look into mine, which are also gray, and then Ruri let go.

“Sorry, I just assumed nii-chan was causing you trouble like he usually is-”

“I do no such thing.”

“He was quite pleasant to chat with actually,” said Kana.

For the first time in my life I saw Ruri freeze.

It’s weird that she’d make a scene in public like this…

“Ruri?” I said. “Hello?”

Ruri looked at me absentmindedly for a moment before her focus returned.

“Why is she still holding his hand?” muttered Ruri, low enough that I doubt anyone but me could hear.

Her face suddenly became cheerful.

“I think I’ll go now. It was nice meeting you all!”

Once Ruri was gone Saya released my hand and spoke up.

“Is she your sister?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

The girls and I stood up and headed for the exit to begin stage 2. We walked in two rows: Saya and I in the front, and Kana and Akina following behind us.

“I can sympathize. Kana can be cheeky sometimes, but she at least listens to me,” said Saya.

“Heh, yeah I’m missing that last part with Ruri,” I then picked up on something else Saya had hinted at. “Are you and Kana sisters?”

Saya’s head turned left enough that she could see my face before she answered.

“I’m surprised that you didn’t know.”

“You didn’t know?”

“Should I?”

“Yes! You should know!” said Akina, startling me in the process.

“Akina it’s fine. It’s actually nice that someone doesn’t know who we are for once,” said Saya, halting anymore potential outbursts from occurring.

“I’m sorry hime-sama. I won’t do it again.”

“Akina…”

“Sorry! I won’t do that again hime- Saya.”

Good recovery, but a tad too slow. 3.5/4. You’re gonna have to pay for that one.

I cleared my throat with an “ahem” which grabbed their attention.

“I’m sorry about Akina. Sometimes her loyalty is her biggest weakness. We’ve already given you our names which was somewhat odd, but that clearly wasn’t enough to indicate to you who we are,” said Saya. “So-”

“Do we have to tell him?” said Kana.

“He’ll find out whether or not we tell him,” said Saya.

She’s definitely the leader of this group.

I cleared my throat in an “excuse me” kinda way.

“I’m not one of those people who are oblivious to the things around them you know.” I said, taking a pause for dramatic effect. “Like, there was literally a gap between you and the rest of the attendees, and not once did anyone approach-”.

“Uh your sister-” said Kana.

“She doesn’t count. Anyway, Akina calls Saya Hime so using my magical intellect I’d say Saya is a princess and Akina is her maid, but then that leaves you...”

Kana smiled a mischievous smile.

“So what am I?” said Kana.

Saya butted in giving me time to think.

“I’m not all that impressed by your deduction, but nonetheless, it is correct. I’m curious how you’re going to complete this puzzle though,” said Saya.

The way Kana and Saya spoke to one another was a clear sign to me that they were close, but the way they held silent exchanges with one another like I could with Ruri made me confident in my hypothesis.

“She’s either your younger sister or a very close friend. If I picked one though I’d wager she’s your younger sister, so a princess just like you.”

At that moment we walked through the exit into a hallway with people queued up one behind another. I wouldn’t want to make a bad impression on my first day so I headed towards the spot behind the last person in the queue.

“You’re quite sharp,” said Saya, sharply.

I took that as a sign I was correct.

“It was pretty obvious.”

“To you.”

“So, how much shit am I in?”

Kana jumped in front of me with a smug grin on her face.

“Is that how you talk to a princess?” said Kana.

Saya spoke before I could reply.

“Kana we need to go,” said Saya, stopping behind her sister and looking back. “And good luck with your examination Ryu.”

“You’re not coming?” I said, raising an eyebrow.

“We don’t need to be tested,” replied Kana, answering for Saya.

“I see, we should hang out later,” I said.

“Akina, please give Ryu our contact information prior to returning,” said Saya.

Akina stood to my side now, and nodded her head.

“So you need to be tested?” I said to Akina.

“Yes,” said Akina, looking forward.

“Good luck Ryu,” said Kana, as she and Saya turned their backs to me and walked away.

Doesn’t anyone have anything other than “good luck” to say as encouragement?

“Cya,” I said, waving and then looking down at Akina. She’s about a head shorter than me.

“So, it’s just you and me,” I said.

Akina didn’t have any visible reaction.