Reborn as the Extra: The Villainess Won’t Leave Me Alone!

The teacher entered the classroom, her presence commanding immediate attention as the chatter died down. She adjusted her glasses and set her materials on the desk. "Good morning, class," she began, her voice steady and clear. "Today, we'll be covering advanced elemental magic theory. Please open your textbooks to chapter five."

The students followed her instructions, the room filling with the rustling of pages. Up front, most of the class was already engrossed in the lesson, but in the back, Riley and Felix leaned slightly toward each other, whispering.

"This is going to go right over my head," Felix muttered, glancing at his book with a look of mild dread.

"Same," Riley replied with a small chuckle. "But hey, at least we can suffer together."

As Felix grinned at the comment, Riley's gaze drifted to his side. For a few seconds, he found himself looking at Rhea Void. Her posture was perfect, her focus seemingly on the teacher, though her calm and composed demeanor made her stand out even more. Riley's thoughts began to spiral.

She's really sitting right next to me. I can't believe this. She looks so… unreal. How is someone this intimidating and beautiful at the same time? He sighed inwardly, shaking his head. Get a grip, Riley. Focus on the lesson.

But before he could look away, Rhea noticed his gaze. She turned her head slightly, her sharp golden-orange eyes locking onto his. Raising an elegant brow, she leaned in just enough to whisper, her tone cool and annoyed. "What?"

Riley's heart leapt into his throat. "Uh—uhm," he stammered, his face heating up. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to—uh…" His words jumbled together as he struggled to form a coherent sentence. Finally, he blurted out, "You're just… really beautiful, and I couldn't help but stare!"

Rhea's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, her composed expression faltered. A deep blush spread across her cheeks, making her look uncharacteristically flustered. "W-What?" she whispered back, her voice tinged with embarrassment as she quickly looked away.

Felix, who had been watching the interaction out of the corner of his eye, let out a quiet groan and placed a hand over his face. "Oh, for the love of—" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. Why am I friends with this guy? he thought, his internal monologue laced with exasperation.

Riley, now nervously fidgeting, whispered hurriedly, "I mean, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable or anything! I just—uh—I'm sorry!"

Rhea glanced at him again, her blush still evident but her tone regaining some of its usual sharpness. "Just… don't let it happen again," she whispered, though the redness in her face betrayed her composed words.

Felix peeked between his fingers, clearly trying to suppress a laugh. "This is pure gold," he muttered, shaking his head again as the teacher continued lecturing, oblivious to the drama unfolding in the back row.

The trio fell silent after that, though Riley's mind raced as he tried to focus on the lesson, stealing occasional glances at Rhea and mentally berating himself for his bold words.

As the class neared its end, the teacher stood at the front of the room and cleared her throat, immediately silencing the students. "Before we conclude for the day, I have an important announcement," she began, her voice steady but with a hint of excitement. "It's time for our annual school tournament!"

The room erupted into chatter, the buzz of excitement palpable as students turned to one another, discussing the news.

"No way, the tournament's already here?"

"I've been waiting for this all year!"

"I heard the prizes this time are even better than last year."

Up front, Kenny and Trista exchanged glances, their voices carrying slightly as they spoke.

"So, are you going to join?" Trista asked, her tone curious but light. She rested her chin on her hand, studying Kenny with interest.

Kenny grinned confidently, his eyes sparkling with determination. "Of course. This is the best way to see where I stand against everyone else. Plus, it's a chance to test my skills. What about you?"

Trista hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, I think I will. It's a good opportunity to grow. But you know everyone will have their eyes on you, right? The hero of the academy can't afford to lose."

Kenny chuckled. "No pressure, huh? Don't worry, I don't plan on losing. Though, if you're joining, I might have some serious competition."

Trista blushed faintly but waved him off. "Oh, please. You're in a league of your own, Kenny. But still, it'll be fun to see how far I can go."

Nearby, Nigel and his entourage were having their own animated discussion. Nigel leaned back in his seat, a smug grin plastered across his face. "The tournament's as good as mine. No one here can even come close to my level."

One of his minions nodded enthusiastically. "That's right! With your fire magic, it's not even going to be a challenge."

"Yeah," another added. "Kenny Blaine doesn't stand a chance against you, Nigel. This'll be a piece of cake."

Nigel laughed, his voice filled with derision. "Exactly. Let the hero bask in his little spotlight for now. It won't last long once I'm on the stage. And as for the others…" He smirked, his tone dripping with disdain. "They're just cannon fodder."

In the back, Felix turned to Riley, his face lit up with excitement. "Did you hear that? The tournament! We have to join!"

Riley nodded, his own energy building as the news sank in. "Yeah, no way we're sitting this out. It's the perfect chance to see what we can do."

Felix laughed, already imagining the possibilities. "Can you picture it? Us, out there, showing everyone what we've got? We'll knock their socks off! Well, hopefully. I might trip over my own feet before that happens."

Riley smirked. "Hey, at least you're self-aware."

"Rude," Felix shot back, though his grin didn't waver. "But seriously, this is going to be amazing. Just think—if we do well, we might actually catch some attention around here."

Riley chuckled. "Yeah, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. First, we have to survive the preliminaries."

Felix leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Oh, come on. With your magic and my charm, we've got this in the bag."

As they continued their whispered exchange, Riley's attention drifted to Rhea, who was sitting gracefully beside him. Her calm, composed demeanor didn't waver as she seemed to consider the announcement. Her lips moved slightly as she murmured to herself, her voice just loud enough for Riley to catch.

"Hmph. I suppose I'll have to join," Rhea said, her tone deliberate and low. "It would be a disgrace to my name if I didn't."

Riley tilted his head toward her, curious. "You're thinking of joining the tournament?" he asked softly.

Rhea turned to him, her sharp golden-orange eyes meeting his. Her expression was poised, her voice cool and even. "Of course. It would be expected of someone like me."

Riley smiled, his tone light and genuine. "I bet you'll do really well. I mean, with your skills, it'd be hard not to."

For a moment, Rhea's elegant mask faltered. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks, and her composed demeanor gave way to a hint of vulnerability. "W-well, that's obvious," she stammered, quickly regaining her composure. "Someone of my caliber has no reason to doubt their abilities." She paused, then added in a quieter voice, "Not that I need anyone's reassurance."

Riley chuckled softly. "Still, I'm sure you'll be great, Rhea."

Her blush deepened, and she turned away, trying to act unaffected. "Flattery will get you nowhere," she said, though her voice lacked its usual bite.

Felix, who had been watching the exchange, couldn't hold back a quiet laugh. He leaned closer to Riley, whispering, "You're actually making her blush. Who even are you right now?"

Riley smirked but didn't respond, his focus still partly on Rhea. The room continued to buzz with excitement about the tournament, the air filled with anticipation for what was to come.

As the buzz of excitement filled the classroom, Kenny raised his hand, his confident voice cutting through the chatter. "Teacher, when is the tournament?"

The teacher paused for a moment, her eyes scanning the room as if to ensure everyone was paying attention. "The tournament will begin in two weeks," she announced. "Preliminary rounds will take place on the first day, narrowing down the participants to the top eight. From there, the main matches will be held in the arena over the course of three days."

The students murmured amongst themselves, the anticipation growing even stronger. The teacher raised a hand to quiet them before continuing. "Now, let me explain the rules in detail. The tournament is divided into single-elimination matches. Each participant will face their opponent in a one-on-one duel until a winner is determined. Magic, weapons, and combat skills are all allowed, but killing or causing severe injuries is strictly prohibited. Protective enchantments will be in place to prevent serious harm."

Riley leaned back slightly in his seat, his mind racing as he listened. Two weeks… That's when it starts.

The teacher continued, her tone firm. "Participants must adhere to the rules at all times. Breaking them will result in immediate disqualification. Additionally, strategies involving underhanded tricks, such as sabotage or outside interference, will not be tolerated. Do I make myself clear?"

The room fell silent as the students nodded, their excitement tempered by the teacher's serious demeanor. Felix leaned over to Riley, whispering, "Guess that means no crazy tricks, huh?"

Riley chuckled softly. "Yeah, wouldn't want to get disqualified before we even start."

But as the teacher continued explaining logistical details, Riley's thoughts drifted. His heart pounded with excitement. The tournament… I remember reading about this in the book. It was one of the most thrilling parts of the story. He clenched his fists under the desk, his mind filled with images from the light novel he'd loved so much in his previous life. I never thought I'd actually get to see it, let alone participate in it. This is incredible.

He glanced around the room, watching the reactions of his classmates. Kenny was listening intently, his focus unwavering. Nigel smirked confidently, already certain of his victory. Trista seemed thoughtful, as if already planning her approach. And then there was Rhea, sitting elegantly, her expression unreadable but her golden-orange eyes gleaming with a quiet determination.

This is going to be amazing, Riley thought, his excitement barely contained as the teacher wrapped up her explanation. "This is my chance to see everything I've read come to life—and maybe even make my own mark on it."