The homeroom teacher ultimately agreed to Lyon's request, letting Juvia become his deskmate.
This was not only because the request was proactively made by Lyon, the Class Monitor, but also because his magic and Juvia's magic shared a great deal of commonality to some extent—
Ice-Make magic and Water magic both belong to the water system, and whether it was Lyon's animal-type ice molding or Juvia's water magic, both possessed the characteristic of high fluidity. The degree of magic compatibility between the two was extremely high, not at all inferior to the compatibility between Natsu and Gray; if they could be partners for a long time, it would be very beneficial for the strength improvement of both.
However, there was one point that required special attention!
"Recently, the Principal has specifically emphasized a strict crackdown on the phenomenon of puppy love in the school!"
"Actually, I absolutely believe my students wouldn't do something as scandalous as puppy love, but after all, this matter was personally handed down by the Principal herself, saying it must be emphasized to the students, so I can only relay the order as commanded."
"You are all still children right now; your thoughts are not mature enough, and your bodies are not fully developed. You don't understand what real love is. Puppy love has only disadvantages and no benefits for you, so it is absolutely forbidden!"
"If I find out any of you dare to engage in puppy love..."
"Hmph hmph, I have plenty of methods!"
The speaker was indifferent, but the listener was attentive.
Lyon already had a "ghost in his heart"; hearing the homeroom teacher's words and seeing him glance over from time to time while speaking, he immediately realized he was being signaled!
But... his grades were so good, and his magic training was going smoothly, so what was wrong with a little puppy love? If one doesn't date at this age, are they supposed to wait until they've left the campus and entered society to look for someone they like? That would be far too late!
Thus, Lyon treated the command issued by the Principal and relayed by the teacher as wind passing by his ears.
As for the other students, they didn't care much about the teacher's words either.
Natsu: "Puppy love? What's that?"
Gray: "It seems to be holding hands with the opposite sex, kissing, and stuff like that?"
Natsu: "Am I incapable of crossing the street by myself? Why would I hold someone else's hand? Also, what's so good about eating someone else's saliva? Don't you think it's dirty?"
Elfman: "But when crossing the street, holding hands ensures safety, right? Before, when I crossed the street with Mira-nee and Lisanna, we always held hands. Does that mean we can't do that anymore?"
Gajeel: "I have a vague feeling the two are slightly different."
Gray: "I feel like Principal Grandma completely fails to understand what young people like nowadays!"
Natsu: "As expected, she's old and seriously out of touch with the times! Otherwise, why would she spend all day issuing prohibitions that no one can understand?"
Gajeel: "Forget it, as long as the prohibitions she issues aren't related to fighting and brawling, it's fine..."
While the four boys in the front were discussing heatedly, the two girls in the back listened with faces full of wordless exasperation.
Cana buried her head under the desk, secretly using a straw to drink wine while mocking: "The boys in our guild, except for Lyon, seem to be a bunch of idiots with brains full of muscle!"
Erzi had a face full of black lines: "Heh... heh heh..."
The minds of girls at this age were always more mature than those of boys. Therefore, while Natsu and the others didn't understand the campus prohibition relayed by the teacher, they understood it perfectly.
"I think Principal Grandma is indeed overthinking it a bit. Except for extreme individuals like Lyon, in the eyes of most boys this age, a girl isn't as fragrant as a meal of roasted meat. Where is the need to crack down on puppy love right now?"
"Even if they were to crack down, it should be for the third year of middle school and above..."
The third year of middle school was the grade Ultear was in; the average age was two years older than theirs, making puppy love relatively more likely to occur and requiring stricter control.
"Speaking of which, I heard that among the exchange students who came this time, there are several handsome guys in the third year of middle school!"
"Really? How handsome..."
In class.
The boys were arranging a meal, preparing for a hearty big-eater competition at noon. The girls were gossiping, discussing which of the handsome guys and beautiful girls in the exchange team would be a better match for which seniors in Fairy Academy, and if it was possible to spark the flames of love.
The "original deskmate of Lyon" who had been squeezed away was currently writing bad things about the homeroom teacher in their little notebook, complaining that he had separated them from Lyon.
As for Lyon, he was blushing, using every trick in the book to launch an offensive toward Juvia.
"Um... my name is Lyon, I'm the Class Monitor of the first year of middle school. If Juvia-chan runs into any difficulties later, feel free to come to me!"
Juvia's expression was bashful, mixed with a hint of shyness: "Oh? Really any difficulty is fine??"
Lyon was overjoyed, knowing his time to shine had come: "Of course!!"
"Then... can you tell me the information of that student?"
"Which student?"
Juvia extended an index finger, pointing vaguely into the air: "The one over there with black hair and a necklace, sitting with the boy with cherry-colored hair and a white scarf!"
"You mean Gray?"
Lyon's face stiffened, and an ominous premonition faintly sprouted in his heart: "Why are you asking... for his information??"
"Ah... nothing, just a bit curious!"
Realizing she seemed too impatient, Juvia immediately lowered her head, hiding her gradually reddening cheeks: "If you find it troublesome, I'll just ask him myself after class!"
Pa-cha!!
In the noisy classroom, the sound of something breaking faintly echoed. The students didn't care, and the teacher didn't care; only Lyon's world felt as if the sky had collapsed.
Was his first love going to end before it even began?!
Lyon's inner world (roaring wildly): Damnable Gray, we are irreconcilable!!!
The duration of one class quietly slipped away amidst the chaotic thoughts. In the blink of an eye, the bell rang.
"Ahem..."
"Before class ends, there's one thing to tell you."
"The competition projects for next month's school sports meet are out. I will post the projects on the notice board in a moment. Students interested in competing should go to the Class Monitor to sign up within a week. The monitor will record them and hand them to me. That is all!"
After the homeroom teacher left, the students flocked to the notice board to check the sports projects to be held next month.
"Long-distance running, swimming, rock climbing, maze, shooting, volleyball, Quidditch, Happy Forward Charge..."
"Wow, there are actually so many sports projects?!!"
Natsu and Gajeel, who hadn't participated in the last sports meet, were amazed; the newcomers Elfman and Juvia were equally surprised.
"How many students are there in our entire academy? Can there really be enough contestants to compete?"
"Heh heh... that's something you guys wouldn't know, right?"
Gray explained: "These sports projects don't distinguish between school years or genders, so your opponents and teammates could be seniors or juniors from any grade."
"Also, not every project will successfully be held in the end."
"If the number of contestants for a certain project is insufficient, it will unfortunately be cancelled."
"Additionally, the sports meet doesn't limit the number of entries, so if you're willing and have enough stamina and magic power, theoretically you can participate in all of them!"
So that's how it is!
A sports event where everyone can participate regardless of age or gender?
That sounds very interesting!!