Chapter 34
<span style="font-weight:400">Walking through the silent hallway basked in the afternoon sun, Yuuji and Aika enjoyed the peaceful silence.
<span style="font-weight:400">Aika hugged Yuuji’s side tightly, acting super spoiled like she usually would in their home, while Yuuji wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her even closer as they walked.
<span style="font-weight:400">They spent a lot more time than expected in the toilet making love with each other and most students had already gone home by this time, so the hallways were empty.
<span style="font-weight:400">Aika had already told Erika that they’ll go home a bitte as well, and judging by the way Aika was giggling while texting her, Yuuji was sure she told her what they’re doing to make them go homete.
<span style="font-weight:400">So, since they’ve already told her they’ll bete home, they decided to enjoy the rare emptiness of the school and flirt in the open while they’re heading back to their ss to take their bags.
<span style="font-weight:400">Just then, in the empty hallway, they saw a familiar figure peeking through a slightly opened door into an empty ssroom.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm? Is that Mizuki? Wait, this is…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm…? Ah! It must be that event! Yuuji, I choose you! Go!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Aika raised her hand forward and pointed at Mizuki while holding the side of her waist with her other hand andmanded her p*kemon to go.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Wha- What am I, a p*kemon?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Just go!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji dashed towards Miyuki as she ducked down and screamed. With his elemental sight, he could see an ancient magic spell charging towards her. He immediately waved his hand towards it and used Gram Demolition to erase the spell and stood in front of her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Who are yo-! Wait… You are…”
<span style="font-weight:400">A look of shock shed across the face of the young man before him, recing the re that he had when unleashing his spell.
<span style="font-weight:400">“My name is Tsubakihara Yuuji. I have no intention of fighting with you. I’m simply protecting her from your spell.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He finally snapped out of his daze and quickly lowered his head.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah… I’m sorry… That was never my intention.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t mind it. It wasn’t your fault. Mizuki disturbed a spell-caster’sposure and you simply retaliated with a reaction that is ingrained into you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“E-Eh?! I-I’m to me?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mizuki-chan~ That was dangerous you know~? Don’t go peeking around like that again, okay~?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Aika appeared and hugged Mizuki from behind!
<span style="font-weight:400">“Kya-! A-Aika-san?! What are you…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“K-Kiryuu… Aika…?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes yes~ That’s me~ Who are you~?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Aika grinned and waved her hand at the clearly blushing young boy before her as he began to nervously introduce herself.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A-Ah, m-my name is Yoshida Mikihiko from ss 1E.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, so you’re in the same ss as Tatsuya?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mikihiko then turned towards Yuuji and lowered his head once again.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you, Tsubakihara-kun. Because of you, I avoided injuring Shibata-san…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s fine. Anyway, that was one of the Ancient Magic Spells, Spirit Magic, wasn’t it?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji and Aika noticed Mikihiko flinching at Yuuji’s words before a sigh escaped his lips.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, there’s no use in hiding it now… It is, as you say, Tsubakihara-kun. I was using water spirit to practice my summoning spell.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Water spirits, huh… Mizuki, I saw you peeking through the door earlier. What… were you seeing?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji nced towards Mizuki, who became even more flustered from being in such close proximity with Yuuji and Aika at the same time. Yuuji’s appearance alone was enough to make her heart go crazy, but even Aika made her heart go even crazier!
<span style="font-weight:400">“E-Eh?! I-I-I saw something floating around… T-They’re like orbs of light in shades of blue-”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What?! You could see the different shades of color of the spirits?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji immediately put his body in front of Mizuki and Aika hugged her even tighter when Mikihiko suddenly raised his voice and took a step forward.<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Calm down, Yoshida.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yoshida, if you act like that, you’ll scare this cute girl away!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“C-Cute?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-I’m sorry…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mikihiko snapped out of his shock and bowed apologetically towards Mizuki.
<span style="font-weight:400">“When I thought you might actually possess the Crystal Eyes, I just couldn’t help myself…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yoshida, I agree that Mizuki’s golden eyes are super beautiful, but you still can’t lunge forward like that!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“B-Beautiful?!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“T-That’s not what I meant! I-I meant that she has the eyes to see spirits!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh? So you’re saying her eyes are not beautiful? How dare you!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“T-That’s not what I meant either!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji sighed helplessly as he watched this. He knew Aika was gaslighting Mikihiko and using this chance to hug and make herself look good in front of Mizuki.
<span style="font-weight:400">As he expected, his girlfriend is really crafty and perverted after all.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright alright… Aika, stop teasing the poor man.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hehe~ Okay~”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji smiled helplessly and turned towards Mikihiko, who could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Anyway, can you exin to us what you mean by Crystal Eyes?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sure… It’s not a great secret anyways… We, who could manipte Spirits, identify these spirits by color. But not in the literal sense since we can’t really see them in a true sense.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm… So you’re identifying them by interpreting their vibrations through magic.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Exactly. It varies by school, but my school sees water as blue, fire as red, and so on.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I see… And Mizuki is capable of literally seeing them.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes. And she could also perceive the different levels of power and nature of the water spirits as different shades of color. Such eyes are known as “eyes that could see God”, the Crystal Eyes, in my school.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I see… So Mizuki is the kind of person you’d sell your soul to possess, right?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Right… A year ago, I would’ve been mesmerized and imed her for myself by force.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Eh?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You can’t, Yoshida! Mizuki is mine! I won’t give her to you! I love her!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“A-A-A-Aika-san! W-What are you talking about?! Geez!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“T-that’s not what I mea-! I-I don’t have those kinds of desires or tendencies anymore, okay?! But still, that doesn’t mean that other practitioners would feel the same way as me…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Humu… Mizuki-chan is a super cute and nice girl with huge boobs, after all. Ouch~!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Stop harassing Mizuki. Can’t you see she’s overheating right now?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji bonked Aika on the head softly with a chop before she turned towards Mizuki. She’s already super red to her ears and was fidgeting in her embrace.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ara~ I’m sorry, Mizuki-chan.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-It’s okay…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“But all my words are true, you know~”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“H-Hauuu…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji sighed softly and turned towards Mikihiko.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Let’s keep this matter between ourselves.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm, I agree. It’ll be dangerous if word got out that Shibata-san has Crystal eyes.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mikihiko turned his gaze towards Mizuki, but immediately averted them again with a blushing face since Mizuki was still being embraced and teased by Aika.
<span style="font-weight:400">Seeing such a spicy action between two extremely beautiful and cute girls had definitely made his teenage hormones act up, and he couldn''t possibly show it right now.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then, we’ll return first. You can continue your training. I’m sorry for disturbing you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“A-Ah, u-uhn… See you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mikihiko watched in a daze as Yuuji held both girls’ shoulders and left together before returning to his training.
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">August 1st, 2095.
<span style="font-weight:400">On a clear, sunny day, Yuuji and Tatsuya stood outside of the bus that will be carrying them to the hotel near the site of the Nine Schools Competition to wait for Mayumi.
<span style="font-weight:400">They had a list which Tatsuya would check for every student/member of the team who had already arrived and entered the bus. So they had to stand outside in the zing heat to wait for thest person to arrive.
<span style="font-weight:400">As the head of the Disciplinary Committee and because thest person they’re waiting for was her close friend, Mari originally wanted to be the one to stand outside along with Tatsuya. However, Yuuji insisted on taking on the role since he didn’t want her to stand in such a zing heat. With his [Divine Physique], such heat wouldn’t affect him regardless, so it’s better for him to be the one to stand outside.
<span style="font-weight:400">The chairman of the Disciplinary Committee blushed, and finally acquiesced to his suggestion before thanking him meekly.
<span style="font-weight:400">It has been almost one and a half hours since, and Yuuji had just been chatting with Tatsuya.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I heard from Aika that you are practicing using two CADs at once. How is it going?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, she told you? Yeah, it’s been going pretty well. I managed to use both my Gun and bracelet to cast different spells at once. It was… simpler than I expected.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You are just that talented, Yuuji.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I think it’s more of my SSR’s effect than talent, but thank you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you nning on using it during the event?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Perhaps. If the situation calls for it. I mean… I might be forced to use it if my team was really hit by that Battering Ram spell during Monolith Code…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm… Be careful. Although you’ve preparedyers uponyers of n, there might be something you miss.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you, Tatsuya. I’ll be careful. And in the worst case… I can have Aika heal me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“If you’re really hurt, then she and Erika might give you an even worse injury from being hurt before she healed you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I can see that happening actually.”
<span style="font-weight:400">They shared a smallugh together.
<span style="font-weight:400">And soon, a beautiful, bell-like voice resounded apanied by hurried cking of heels that became louder and louder as she approached them.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m so sorry~!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“President. Good morning.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji greeted her with a slight nod and a brilliant smile that naturally appeared on his face when he saw Mayumi’s outfit.
<span style="font-weight:400">She looked… sexy yet innocent at the same time in a white, flowery, sundress. Her exposed shoulders that reddened slightly from the heat made her unblemished, porcin skin appear healthy and mouthwatering. And not to mention the sun hat which furtherpleted her look of innocence as a flower girl.
<span style="font-weight:400">She was absolutely beautiful.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good morning, Yuuji-kun~ Tatsuya-kun as well, I’m very sorry for making you wait.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It is fine, president. Then, if you’d please excuse me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Tatsuya bowed and left to head to the truck where the engineers would be on.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, thank you~”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mayumi waved at Tatsuya and turned her gaze meekly towards Yuuji with her hands on her back.
<span style="font-weight:400">Seeing her obvious nervousness and red cheeks, Yuuji’s smile further widened from her adorableness.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You look very beautiful, president. I almost mistook you for a fairy who stumbled into this world after losing her way in the Fey realm.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“E-E-Eh?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mayumi shrieked in surprise and her face turned a shade of red deeper as she looked at Yuuji in disbelief. She was super happy, evident in how fast her heart was beating right now, but she still couldn’t believe he’dpliment her without even batting an eye.
<span style="font-weight:400">And at that observation, a thought that made her pout came to mind.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Yuuji-kun, are you used toplimenting girls?”
<span style="font-weight:400">His eyes widened slightly, surprised by her sudden question and pout. But he quickly realized the reason.
<span style="font-weight:400">With most, if not, all of his time spent with Aika and Erika, he had been subconsciously getting used toplimenting girls on their looks. So when he saw how beautiful she looked, he said the truth like he always did.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I simply told you how I really feel, president. You look… absolutely stunning.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He quickly averted his gaze after he slowly looked at Mayumi’s figure from top to bottom… He couldn’t simply lower his gaze down because even her legs and feet are beautiful and made him feel things! And this was not the ce for it!
<span style="font-weight:400">“E-Eh? T-Thank you…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mayumi averted her gaze shyly and lowered her sunhat slightly to hide her redly blushing face from Yuuji as she fidgeted nervously. This was the first time she had ever felt this way from apliment on her looks.
<span style="font-weight:400">It felt like there were butterflies in her stomach and her heart felt as if they’re about to burst!
<span style="font-weight:400">Finally, unable to stand the awkward atmosphere anymore, Mayumi raised her voice, causing it to slightly crack.
<span style="font-weight:400">“L-Let us enter the bus and depart!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Y-Yes! Please, after you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“T-Thank you…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji offered his hand to help her climb up the stairs to the bus before entering after her. And the moment they entered, all the students who have been watching them from the windows weed them with stares.
<span style="font-weight:400">Mayumi lowered her head in embarrassment once again before quickly making her way to her seat beside Suzune and averted her face away from everyone. While Yuuji simply smiled wryly before heading back to his seat beside Aika.
<span style="font-weight:400">And when he sat down, he could see Aika smirking at him and giving him a thumbs up. Just from her eyes, he could see her saying “Good job on making the pres fall in love with you! Now, I can sleep with her too~!”
<span style="font-weight:400">He let out a sigh and leaned back to his seat as their bus began to move and make their way to the hotel.
<span style="font-weight:400">The trip was peaceful and pleasant. Aika was having fun chatting with Miyuki, Honoka, and Shizuku and sharing snacks while Yuuji asionally joined in on their conversation.
<span style="font-weight:400">But as they were going through the highway, the “event” happened as promised.
<span style="font-weight:400">A tire from a jet-ck car on the other road on the highway parallel to them suddenly popped. It spun out of control and hit the concrete barrier andunched up into the air and dropped onto theirne before bursting into mes.
<span style="font-weight:400">The bus driver quickly hit the brakes and spun it until it was horizontal, and with the help of a spell, managed to stop the bus. But the ming car was still approaching fast, skitting across the concrete road and sending sparks flying everywhere.
<span style="font-weight:400">In a panic, Kanon, Shizuku, and Shun stood up from their seats and began casting spells.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Vanish!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Stop!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Disperse!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Idiot! Stop it!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Stop your spells!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Everyone, calm down!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mari, Yuuji, and Mayumi all raised their voices in a panic, knowing that spellsunched in a disorderly manner would cancel each other out, rendering them useless.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji quickly raised his left sleeves, revealing his bracelet CAD, and took out his golden Gun-shaped CAD from his holsters he wore inside his zer that shocked everyone.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">I’m counting on you to erase that, Tatsuya! I don’t wanna reveal that I can use Gram Demolition since there might be unwanted eyes watching us!</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yuuji-kun, what are yo-”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mari stopped mid-sentence when she saw the magic circles from the spells Kanon, Shizuku, and Shun cast suddenly shattered.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then in quick session, Yuuji activated his bracelet and erased the raging mes with a powerful ice spell before firing his gun to lift up the car into the air.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">The bus went silent as they stared shockingly at Yuuji, who was slowly cing the car back down.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yuuji… kun…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji slowly turned towards Mari and Mayumi, who was staring at him with widened eyes along with the others, and said the line he had been preparing since he and Tatsuya came up with a n to tackle this event with an awkward smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“T-That was close, wasn’t it?”
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">The bus carrying the First High School’s athletes and the other cars carrying their engineers and equipment stopped at the side of the road after the ident.
<span style="font-weight:400">They’ve taped off the site of the crash and Tatsuya along with other members of the staff were recording every detail of the scene, may they be physical and magical.
<span style="font-weight:400">Both Yuuji and Tatsuya hope they could capture the driver alive since they knew that the driver caused the ident deliberately using magic. If they could capture and question him, they might be able to direct Mayumi, Mari, and Juumonji attention to the looming danger that would await them during thepetition.
<span style="font-weight:400">That is the whole reason why Yuuji had to be the one to handle it. If Miyuki and Juumonji were to be the one to stop it, the driver would’ve died from crashing into Juumonji’s Phnx spell.
<span style="font-weight:400">But unfortunately, it didn’t go as well as they nned. When they checked the car, the driver had been found dead from poisoning. It seemed like he had taken his own life using a lethal pill, or L-pill, when he realized that he had failed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji clenched his fist as he focused his gaze on the crashed car.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">I didn’t expect they would kill themselves… Seems like they’re crazier than I expected</i><span style="font-weight:400">.
<span style="font-weight:400">He knew that anyone who would kill themselves for an organization like No Head Dragons were already insane. But he didn’t expect them to be crazy enough to actually use an L-pill.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Hah… I need to be careful… Even more so than I already have…</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">He turned his gaze to Aika and recalled Erika’s figure in his mind as he renewed his decision. This was no longer all about clearing the mission anymore. This was now to protect her loved ones and friends from such dangerous individuals and organizations.
<span style="font-weight:400">Just then, Mayumi’s bell-like voice brought Yuuji out of his daze and made him turn his gaze towards her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you very much, Yuuji-kun~ Thanks to you, the bus came out unscathed~ And I didn’t expect you to be able to use two CADs at once~!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm. You’ve done well. I am impressed at your spells as well as your decision making abilities.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Juumonji said with a rare smile, albeit slight, and a solemn nod.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I was surprised too. Since when could you dual wield CADs?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mari asked with an impressed look that was shared with almost everyone in the bus.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you very much. I have been practicing this technique in hopes of using this as a secret weapon during the events. I did not think I would use it in such a manner. But, the fact that I can prepare my spells properly was all thanks to Ichihara-senpai for using a Deceleration spell to stop the bus.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji smiled towards Suzune, who simply replied with a node and a smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ichihara-senpai did that…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Whereas you, on the other hand… Morisaki and Kitayama are first years, so it’s still tolerable. But how could you, as a second year, lead the charge in creating that mess? You know that spellsunched disorderly will cancel each other out and render them useless, don’t you?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Mari reprimanded after lightly knocking Kanon on the forehead.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m very sorry…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“In times of crisis, the first thing to do is stay calm. And do not forget the importance ofmunicating.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mari said to the whole ss before turning her gaze towards Yuuji.
<span style="font-weight:400">A beautiful smile and rosy cheeks bloomed on her face before she lowered her head slightly in a show of gratitude for him. If they was no one here, she would’ve ran straight up to him and jump into his embrace to give him the biggest hug as a reward! But maybe… since they would be spending the next few weeks together, there might be a chance for them to rendezvous…?
<i><span style="font-weight:400">No, what are you thinking, Mayumi! Such a thing… I-I need to focus on thepetition!!!</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">She tried her best to shake those thoughts away. But as soon as she saw Yuuji sweetly smiling towards her, everything but Yuuji immediately flew away from her mind.
<em><strong>AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Pleasement your thoughts~! I would love to hear what you think about it~!!!!</strong></em>
<em><strong>Also, if you''d like to read additional chapters ahead and get a pdf version (Light & Dark), please feel free to check out my at /versx ~!!</strong></em>