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

As Riley walked back to his dorm, his thoughts were consumed by the upcoming tournament. The path was quiet, lit only by the soft glow of the evening lanterns, but his mind raced with possibilities and concerns.

"Two weeks..." he muttered to himself. "That's all the time I have to prepare. What am I even going to do? Everyone else is probably leagues ahead of me already."

He stuffed his hands into his pockets, his brow furrowed. What if I have to fight Rhea? Or Kenny? Or even Trista? he thought, the scenarios playing out in his mind. Rhea's swordsmanship is sharp, and her magic's even sharper. Kenny's the hero; he's bound to be insanely strong. And Trista... well, she's got her own tricks.

"Great," Riley said aloud, shaking his head. "How do I even stand a chance?"

He walked a few more paces before stopping and staring up at the sky, frustration written all over his face. "Okay, think, Riley. What did I read in the light novel about training arcs? The protagonist always did something unique to get ahead. What can I do?"

A few ideas began forming in his mind, and he started listing them out loud. "First, I need to figure out how to combine my magic and swordsmanship. If I can find a way to integrate them seamlessly, that'll give me an edge."

He nodded to himself, his confidence growing slightly. "Second, I need to practice controlling my magic better. The Static Barrier and Thunder Step were great in class, but they're nowhere near perfect. If I can refine those... maybe even develop a new skill, that could work."

Riley started pacing, his mind buzzing with possibilities. "And third... sparring. I need to spar with different people. If I stick to practicing alone, I won't be ready for all the different fighting styles in the tournament. Maybe I can find someone to train with... or challenge."

He stopped and took a deep breath, a small smile creeping onto his face. "Yeah, that's a start. It's not much, but it's something. If I can focus on these three things, I'll at least have a chance to hold my own."

As he continued walking, his determination grew. "I might not be the strongest, but I'll find a way to stand out. This tournament... it's not just about winning. It's about proving to myself that I belong here."

Riley's steps quickened as he reached his dorm, his resolve solidifying. Two weeks. Let's do this.

Riley finally made it to his bedroom, the events of the day still swirling in his mind. As he opened the door, he saw Felix lounging on his bed, a book in hand, looking completely relaxed. Felix glanced up, raising an eyebrow at Riley's disheveled appearance.

"Rough day?" Felix asked, setting the book down.

Riley let out a groan and collapsed onto his own bed. "You have no idea. The tournament's all anyone can talk about, and somehow I'm smack in the middle of every bit of drama."

Felix smirked, leaning back against his pillow. "Yeah, I heard about you and Nigel going at it in class. Care to explain why you're always getting into trouble?"

"Hey, he started it," Riley said defensively, sitting up. "And if I hadn't stepped in this morning, he and Kenny would've trashed the front gates."

Felix chuckled. "Still, it's impressive. You've already made a name for yourself, and it's only been, what, a day? People are going to be keeping an eye on you during the tournament."

"Great," Riley muttered, flopping back onto his bed. "More pressure. Just what I needed."

They sat in silence for a moment before Felix spoke again. "So, what's the plan? You can't just wing it. Not if you want to survive, let alone win."

Riley sighed, his thoughts already churning. Who can help me train? he wondered. I need someone who knows their stuff—someone who can push me to my limits.

Suddenly, an idea struck him, and a wide grin spread across his face.

Felix, noticing the change, looked at him with a mix of curiosity and unease. "Why are you smiling like that? It's creepy."

Riley sat up, pointing dramatically at Felix. "I've got it! I know who can help me train."

Felix raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And who's the unlucky soul you're dragging into this mess?"

"You!" Riley declared, his grin growing even wider.

Felix's expression shifted to one of pure disbelief. "Me? Absolutely not."

"Come on, Felix," Riley pleaded. "You're strong, you know your stuff, and you're not afraid to call me out when I'm slacking. You're the perfect sparring partner!"

Felix shook his head, laughing. "Perfect sparring partner? More like perfect punching bag. And let's not forget I actually enjoy having my bones intact."

Riley crossed his arms, his grin fading slightly. "I'm serious, Felix. I need someone I can trust to help me get better. If I'm going to survive this tournament, I can't do it alone."

Felix studied him for a moment, his usual playful demeanor softening. "You really mean it, huh?"

"Yeah," Riley said, his tone sincere. "I can't do this without help. And I trust you."

Felix sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But if I end up with broken ribs, you're paying for the medical bills."

Riley's grin returned. "Deal. Thanks, Felix."

"Don't thank me yet," Felix muttered. "You're going to regret asking me once I'm through with you."

The two friends laughed, the tension easing as they began discussing training ideas and strategies for the weeks ahead.

"You know," Felix said after a pause, "what if we end up fighting each other in the tournament?"

Riley's eyes widened at the thought. "That's a good point. What would we even do?"

Felix grinned mischievously. "Well, I'd obviously win. You wouldn't stand a chance against me."

"Oh, is that so?" Riley shot back, standing up and pretending to square off with Felix. "I'd wipe the floor with you, Felix. You'd be begging for mercy."

They both laughed, exchanging playful jabs and imaginary battle scenarios. Felix mimed a dramatic finishing move, while Riley exaggerated an over-the-top defense.

After their mock battle, they clasped hands in an elaborate handshake they made up on the spot, laughing even harder at its absurdity.

"Alright, alright," Felix said, catching his breath. "When do you want to start training?"

Riley thought for a moment. "Tomorrow morning. Early. Let's get a head start before anyone else starts preparing."

Felix groaned. "Morning? Really? Fine, but if I'm half-asleep, it's on you."

"Deal," Riley said with a grin. "Thanks again, Felix. I mean it."

"Yeah, yeah," Felix replied, waving him off. "Just don't make me regret this."

The two settled in for the night, their spirits high as they prepared for the challenges ahead. Though the tournament loomed large, they faced it with determination and camaraderie.

Hours before sunrise, Riley woke up, groggily rubbing his eyes as he sat up in bed. The room was dim, illuminated only by the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains. He yawned loudly, stretching his arms above his head.

"Ugh, getting up this early for training..." he muttered to himself dramatically, dragging his legs over the side of the bed. "What kind of insane person decides to start training before the sun even wakes up? Oh, right. Me."

He glanced over at Felix, who was still snoring peacefully, sprawled out on his bed without a care in the world. Riley tilted his head, smirking mischievously.

"Hey, Felix," he called out softly. No response.

"Felix," he tried again, louder this time. Still nothing.

Riley sighed and raised his hand, sparks of electricity crackling at his fingertips. "Fine. You asked for it," he muttered, a grin spreading across his face. "Lightning Manipulation."

A small ball of concentrated lightning formed in his palm, buzzing faintly as he carefully aimed it at Felix. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it flying across the room. The ball hit Felix squarely on his side, sending a jolt of electricity through him.

"AAAAAH!" Felix yelled, dramatically flailing as he shot upright, his hair sticking out in all directions. "WHAT WAS THAT?! I'M BEING ATTACKED!"

Riley burst out laughing, nearly doubling over as Felix continued his over-the-top reaction. "You should see your face right now!" Riley managed to say between fits of laughter. "It's priceless!"

"RILEY!" Felix shouted, glaring at him with wide, shocked eyes. "Did you just—did you just electrocute me?! What is wrong with you?!"

"Hey, it was just a little zap," Riley said, grinning. "You're fine. Probably even more awake now. You're welcome."

Felix dramatically clutched his chest. "More awake?! I thought my soul was leaving my body! I saw my life flash before my eyes!"

"Oh, come on," Riley said, crossing his arms and smirking. "Don't be so dramatic. It was a wake-up call—literally."

Felix pointed an accusatory finger at him. "You're insane. Who wakes someone up with lightning? Do you have any idea how much that hurt?"

Riley chuckled, leaning against his bedpost. This is better than I thought, he mused. "Well, you weren't waking up when I called your name. So I had to improvise."

Felix groaned, flopping back onto his bed but quickly yelped again, sitting up as if worried Riley would strike him twice. "Don't even think about doing it again!" he warned, glaring at Riley.

Riley couldn't stop laughing. "Relax, Felix. You're fine. Honestly, I think you're just overreacting."

"Overreacting?" Felix said, his voice going even higher. "You electrocuted me! How is there even a correct reaction to that?!"

Riley shrugged, his grin still plastered across his face. "I mean, you're awake now, aren't you? Mission accomplished."

Felix groaned loudly, running a hand through his already frazzled hair. "You're impossible. And you're lucky I'm too tired to fight you right now."

"Oh, don't worry," Riley said, smirking as he walked over to grab his things. "You'll get your revenge during training. That is... if you can keep up with me."

Felix muttered something under his breath before finally swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Fine. But if I end up shocking you later, don't say I didn't warn you."

Riley laughed again, the sound echoing through the room. "Fair enough. But seriously, thanks for doing this. Let's make it count."

The two friends continued to bicker playfully as they got ready for their early morning training, their camaraderie setting the tone for the challenges ahead.