I Became the Academy’s Pink Airhead Chapter 75 Discussion

I was initially put off because of Rizatus's review, but I'm not sure why or how they came to the conclusion this was a BA fanfic. I'm by no means a BA fan at most I know of it through certain thin books but I was able to follow the story well enough. Admittedly, I fail to understand some parts of the setting that do seem to be copy pasted from BA though.

Spoiler

I'm not sure why Academy City exists as it does at all. Is it that everyone that grows past high school age suddenly loses all their ether? Do they simply retire from protecting the World Tree? I just don't understand why it has to be high school aged girls that protect the tree and why it has to be a school-like setting.

Based on the MC and the main cast that are enrolled at Central Prism Academy, it doesn't seem they have a proper curriculum at all? Let alone teachers or any relevant adult staff members. It seems the student council presidents (?) run the schools??? Honestly, there's a lot that I'm willfully ignoring and chalking up to the author wanting to use a similar setting as BA.

[collapse]

In that sense, I do somewhat understand their frustration I guess. I wouldn't call it a fanfiction though seeing as no characters are exactly the same (though clearly some heavy inspiration was taken at least from the aesthetics of certain characters of BA) and there seem to enough differences to distinguish it from BA's universe. It's fine as a standalone work. Probably more enjoyable as a BA fan, but entirely readable as a non-fan.

Setting aside, I did quite enjoy the novel up until where I've read (chapter 75). I like the MC, Clara, a lot. She can be quite a chaotic menace when she acts like an airhead Spoiler

like the "original" Clara

[collapse] and her interactions with her juniors at Central Prism Academy are great. However, she's a really reliable fighter who can step up when it matters most. One of the strongest parts of this novel is its portrayal of a good senior/junior relationship. When I read these parts, all I can think of is "Ahh, youth. How I dearly miss you."

Spoiler

While I do think the relationship of Clara with Alvit, Rota, and Kara is great, I especially adore the relationship between Clara and her 3 seniors. You can really tell how much she treasures her relationship with these 3 seniors and how much influence they have on her even down to things like her moniker [Pink Spiral].

[collapse]

Aside from that, I thought the romance between Clara and Spoiler

Hilde

[collapse] was also pretty nicely written in.

Massive spoilers ahead:

Spoiler

They initially were fierce rivals in their first year culminating in Clara winning at the tournament at the end of the year. While Clara was able to mostly let go of the rivalry and lay low for her second year and pretending to be a clueless senior in her third year, Hilde became the USC president and a very important figure with many responsibilities. All the while, it's clear she dearly misses Clara and even develops some Yandere tendencies soon after she sees Clara for the first time in senior year lol.

Unfortunately their proper reunion ends in Clara being so severely injured she was in a coma for 2 weeks. And in all that time, Hilde, despite her position and responsibilities, stuck by Clara's bedside the whole time.

Later on, we get to see how they initially became acquainted and that Hilde and Clara (or Lara as Hilde calls her) spent their time together regularly raiding dungeons in their first year and became close as a result. It's obvious Hilde cherishes Clara a lot as she even remembers the company of the brand of food Clara mentioned offhandedly as being her favourite (even though that was a lie lol)

In chapter 75, it seems they finally get together after Clara comes clean to Hilde about every secret she kept. I really look forward to the developments in their relationship >.<

[collapse]

Lastly, a slight critique from my end towards the author: they really like to kill the momentum sometimes. More than a couple of times I've noticed they wrote a flashback at the start of the chapter in the middle of a battle arc or something similar that just feels unnecessary. Don't get me wrong, most of these flashbacks are welcome Spoiler

especially when it involves Clara with her seniors/Hilde

[collapse] but the author really needs to stop inserting them in the middle of battle scenes or other high tension moments and ruining the atmosphere...

Overall, a solid 4.5/5. My final criticism is that it's another unneccessary GB to justify GL. It would've worked just as fine with a female protagonist from the beginning. I believe there are enough girls/women out there who are also fanatics about the romance of the three kingdoms that it wouldn't feel out of place for one to be as in love with it as Clara is.

Tl;dr - Not BA fanfic but has setting or character aesthetic that take heavy inspiration from it. GL lovers should check it out, but GB lovers should keep expectations low.