Chapter 51 ~ Final Day of the Nine Schools Competition
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ve received word from the n meeting…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Meeting inside a conference room of the military-owned hotel near the venue of the Nine Schools Competition, Mayumi stood with her back facing Juumonji Katsuto, who had just finished his morning workout and was still dressed in his sleeveless, ck, workout clothing.
<span style="font-weight:400">He couldn’t see her expression. But simply from the tone of her voice, it was clear to him that she was… upset.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You know how Ichijou-kun was defeated, and utterly at that, by Yuuji-kun the day before yesterday, right?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“And?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“As magicians, the Ten Master ns reign at the top in this country. Even if it’s just high school students ying games, they can’t allow any result that undermines the power of the Ten Master ns… That’s what they’re saying.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mayumi turned towards him, her face deeply frowning at the message she had received.
<span style="font-weight:400">“In other words, they’re seeking a contest that would unt the Ten Master n’s power, is that right?”
<span style="font-weight:400">She nodded as a heavy sigh escaped her pink lips.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Seriously, how ridiculous… Even if it''s just a branch, if only Yuuji-kun had the blood of the Ten Master ns in his veins, he wouldn’t be subjected to this third-rate farce…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Leave it to me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Juumonji rose from his seat and walked to the door. But before exiting, he turned to look at Mayumi with a meaningful smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You know, there is one other way that he could be associated with the Ten Master ns.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm? What do you…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mayumi tilted her head confusedly, unsure of what he meant. But soon after, her face turned red in an instant, realizing the meaning behind his words.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Eh?! J-Juumonji-kun!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m just saying. Your actions were quite obvious. And you will make a nice couple with him.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-What are you saying!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, think about it. From my perspective, he seemed to be rather interested in you as well.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He turned away and exited the room, leaving Mayumi alone and embarrassed.
<span style="font-weight:400">She looked down and held her burning cheeks with her hands. Her heart was beating wildly just from thinking about what Juumonji implied.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Geez… Am I that obvious…?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">Last day of the Nine Schools Competition.
<span style="font-weight:400">Under the clear blue sky, the finals for the Main Event Monolith Code Match was held. Yuuji, Aika, Erika, and their friends all gathered to watch the event with great anticipation.
<span style="font-weight:400">With First High’s team consisting of Hattori Hanzou, Kirihara Takeaki, and Juumonji Katsuto, their victory was assured. But it was still exciting to see the moment their school achieved first ce in this prestigiouspetition first hand.
<span style="font-weight:400">But as soon as it started, Yuuji noticed something unusual…
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm? Is Juumonji-senpai going by himself?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Instead of handling the defense like he would in previous matches, Juumonji Katsuto marched forward with his Phnx.
<span style="font-weight:400">Spells flew towards him, but nothing managed to go through the multiyered barrier that continuously refreshes itself. Like an unstoppable fortress, Juumonji Katsuto continued to march forward, and reached the enemy team’s monolith.
<span style="font-weight:400">All three of his opponents stood defensively in front of their monolith, ready to intercept him by focusing their fire power.
<span style="font-weight:400">But Juumonji suddenly shifted the shape of his barrier, making it smaller. He moved his foot backward and lowered himself, like a sprinter getting ready for a race. And in the next moment, he burst forward and rammed each and every one of his opponents with his Phnx, mming them with incredulous speed and power and turning them into ragdolls.
<span style="font-weight:400">In an instant, all three of his opponents were defeated, and First High gained their victory, filling the entire venue with deafening cheers and apuse.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">That’s… anticlimactic…</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">“He certainly was incredible, right, onii-sama!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes. But thatst attack… I don’t think that’s how he’d normally use Phnx.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Tatsuya nced at Yuuji, who was still staring at Juumonji’s figure on the screen with scrutiny.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It must be because you defeated Ichijou Masaki, Yuuji.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji’s eyes widened in shock and realization, before he let out a sigh.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It seems so… Hah, they’re such a hassle, huh?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I agree.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Miyuki, who was listening to their conversation, tilted her head confusedly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Onii-sama…?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll tell youter.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I understand…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Miyuki nodded slowly.
<span style="font-weight:400">And with Juumonji team’s victory, the end of this year’s Nine Schools Competition was announced.
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">The award ceremony went quickly and the banquet to celebrate the “sessful” end of the Nine Schools Competition was held.
<span style="font-weight:400">Beautiful orchestral music filled the grand ballroom as students from all nine schools gathered and mingled amongst each other under the brilliant, glimmering light from the massive chandeliers made of multicolored gems hanging down from the ceiling.
<span style="font-weight:400">And as usual, Yuuji and Aika were immediately surrounded by a massive crowd.
<span style="font-weight:400">Most of them were girls who were fangirling over Yuuji as well as, surprisingly, Aika. She had made quite a bit of girl fans as well after her brilliant performance in both Ice Pir Break and Mirage Bat.
<span style="font-weight:400">Many of the male students from all nine schools were also trying their best to get close to Aika. But with most of the girls vigorously fighting over them and each other to try and reach Yuuji, as if he was an extremely limited item on a massive sale, they had no choice but to stand back and wait for the girls to disperse.
<span style="font-weight:400">Though after waiting for a few minutes, it was starting to get unlikely… No girls ever walk away from him, which further infuriates them while making them extremely jealous at the same time.
<span style="font-weight:400">Why is he getting all the girls?! He already has the Goddess by his side, and he’s still stealing other girls too!!! Is it because he’s handsome?! Is it because he’s strong?! Or is it because he’s got a huge package!!!
<span style="font-weight:400">Kuh… How could this world be so unfair!!! How could one man have the looks, powerful magic, a huge package, and girls?!?!?!
<span style="font-weight:400">Even from a distance, with this many people, Yuuji could feel the anger and envy-filled res of the guys who were standing behind the crowd of girls stabbing him like a thousand des.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">I didn’t ask for this, okay?! I just wanted to hangout with Aika, Erika, and my friends!!!</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">He yelled inwardly in frustration. He was also tired of having to handle this many girls. He just wanted to rx and hangout with his friends.
<span style="font-weight:400">Noticing his inner turmoil, Aika nced at her darling and grinned yfully.
<span style="font-weight:400">She then suddenly wrapped her arms around his arm and hugged it, burying it in between her breasts, and winked at the girls.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m sorry girls~ It’s time for us to dance and meet with our senpais~ See you~ It’s nice meeting you~”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Eh? Ah- Please excuse us! Aika, stop pulling!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji quickly excused himself with a nod to the surprised girls and let Aika drag him away. Although it was sudden, he was thankful for her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fufufu~ Escape sessful~ Where’s my thanks, hubby~?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Aika whispered and winked at him, making him smile helplessly at her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you for that, Aika. I owe you one. I was just getting tired of it.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hehe~ You can repay me with your bodyter. For now, let’s just dance and enjoy the party, okay~?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Still arm in arm, Yuuji and Aika headed to the dance floor as many eyes followed their figure.
<span style="font-weight:400">But the two ignored them and began to dance with the music.
<span style="font-weight:400">Holding her slim waist with his right and her hand with his left, Yuuji began to lead the dance slowly.
<span style="font-weight:400">Before this, Yuuji never knew how to do ball dancing. But he had watched many around him do it. With his enhanced memory and elerated learning capabilities, he was able to recall the dance and do it himself.
<span style="font-weight:400">Meanwhile, Aika simply let her man lead the dance. She doesn’t know how to ball dance as well. The only dance she could do was ballet, which she has proficiency in thanks to the group chat. But because of that proficiency and her ability to control her body perfectly thanks to her SSR, she could perfectly follow his lead.
<span style="font-weight:400">After a few minutes, the two no longer had to pay attention to the dance and simply looked at each other with a smile in silence.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was said that the eyes were windows to the soul.
<span style="font-weight:400">Right now, even without words, they could feel the connection and bond between them grow. Simply by staring at each other’s eyes, they could convey their love for each other in a much more intimate manner than by words.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Soulmates… This must be how it feels to be with your soulmate…</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Without realizing it, their dance became the center of attention of the entire ball. And once the piece ended, they separated and gave each other a bow and a curtsy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fufu~ You were so good, Yuuji~ I didn’t know you could dance~”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ve been watching others do it. Thankfully, I didn’t mess up.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You did well~! Ah, Erika’s there! Hold on, I’ll bring her to you so you can dance with her!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Before Yuuji could answer, Aika had gone off and dragged Erika, who was in her maid outfit, to the dance floor and in front of Yuuji.
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-Wait, Aika!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hehe~ There you go~! I’ll be dancing with the girls now since I’ve learned how to lead from you~ Have fun~”
<span style="font-weight:400">Aika waved her hands and immediately left them as the next piece from the orchestra started.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hah… That girl…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, that’s Aika for you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji smiled before he bowed towards Erika and offered her his hand.
<span style="font-weight:400">“May I have this dance, mydy?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Her face blushed red, but she nodded and shyly took his hand.
<span style="font-weight:400">And as the two began to dance, Erika suddenly pouted.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What’s wrong?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Nothing?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm? It can’t be nothing if you’re pouting like that.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I just can’t believe my first dance is in a maid uniform.”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji blinked for a moment, before he began giggling at her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“H-Hey! You can’t giggle at me like that! Are you making fun of me?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ahahaha! I’m sorry. But you’re just too cute!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Y-You… Hmph!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika turned her face away and puffed her cheeks.
<span style="font-weight:400">She can’t believe he’sughing at her! She’s embarrassed enough as it is! How could heugh at his own girlfriend!
<span style="font-weight:400">“You don’t need to be shy. It looks cute on you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji leaned his head forward and whispered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So cute… that I might want to take your first time while you’re in that outfit.”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">*Stomp*
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika identally stepped on Yuuji’s foot. But she didn’t even realize it yet. Her eyes were as wide as saucers and her face was blushing incredibly red.
<span style="font-weight:400">And in the next moment, she red at him with teary eyes, increased the strength of her stomp on his foot, and red at him with puffed cheeks.
<span style="font-weight:400">“How could you say that kind of thing, you pervert?! What if someone heard it!!! Are you Aika?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">She whisper-shouted. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m sorry. You’re just too cute. I couldn’t help but tease you a bit.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He giggled. Her stomping didn’t hurt him a bit. But even if it did, it would’ve been worth it since he got to see her super embarrassed face. It reminded him of the time he made her orgasm with his tongue. She was super embarrassed to even look at him at the time, and he had to spend several minutes coaxing her along with Aika.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You… Hmph!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Aika puffed her cheeks and averted her head away from him with her eyes closed.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m sorry, okay? What can I do to apologize?”
<span style="font-weight:400">She peeked at him from the corner of her eyes. And a few momentster, she looked down, unable to meet his face.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I’ll tell youter.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji smiled softly and nodded at her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright. Tell meter in my room, okay?”
<span style="font-weight:400">She nodded back.
<span style="font-weight:400">After his dance with Erika, Yuuji also danced with Mayumi, Mari, Miyuki, Honoka, Shizuku, and Mizuki.
<span style="font-weight:400">And when he finally got a chance to take a rest, a familiar, tall, and muscr figure of Juumonji Katsuto approached him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Juumonji-senpai?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tsubakihara. Come with me for a minute.”
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">Juumonji Katsuto led Yuuji outside the hotel and into the courtyard. The bright light from the hotel illuminated their surroundings, and the sound of the orchestral music from the grand ballroom was still audible, although faint.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji stopped in his tracks when Juumonji stopped walking, leaving a couple of meters of distance between them.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tsubakihara, you’re a member of the Ten Master ns, right?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji widened his eyes in surprise. But his shock onlysted for a moment. He recalled this event happening to Tatsuya in the anime. But since he was the one who defeated the Ichijou scion, he was the one in this ce instead.
<span style="font-weight:400">“No, I am from the Ten Master ns.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Is that so? Then, as per the n meeting, I’m going to advise you as the magician who’s serving as assistant head of the Juumonji Family. Tsubakihara, you should join the Ten Master ns.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Let’s see… For example, how about Saegusa?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mayumi-senpai?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah. She’s beautiful, intelligent, and kind. And from my observation, you also seemed to be close with her.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...By any chance, are you suggesting that she be my marriage partner?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s right.”
<i><span style="font-weight:400">As expected, it’s about this huh…?</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji sighed inwardly.
<span style="font-weight:400">He never really wanted to be involved in the politics of the Ten Masters n. He just wanted toe here for the mission and make this world a vacation spot that he could visit once in a while to meet his friends. Perhaps, he could also bring his family too and introduce them to this world.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I know that you are also close with Kiryuu and the daughter of Chiba. But having a mistress or two would be fine, as long as you take proper care of your rtionships with them. It’s not umon for a powerful magician to have two or more partners. As long as you make Saegusa your official wife.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">Relief filled his heart for a moment from knowing that polygamous rtionship were also not umon for people in high society in this world. But he digressed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Although he wished to be in a rtionship with Mayumi, he didn’t wish to be roped into the headache-inducing politics of the Ten Master ns. At least, not at the moment.
<span style="font-weight:400">Although he’s powerful, his influence and wealth were still insufficient to be able to protect himself and those he cared about from the Ten Master ns, if they wish to harm or exploit him for their own benefits.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Unlike you and Mayumi-senpai, I am a mere high school student. Although I can not deny my interest in her and my rtionship with Aika and Erika, talk of marriage and engagement are still far from my mind...”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Is that so? However, the fact that you utterly defeated Ichijou Masaki, the next leader of the Ten Master ns, carries far more weight than you think.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Juumonji approached him and ced a hand on his shoulders.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You can’tnguish for too long, you know?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Juumonji-senpai…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Just think about it. I’m not fond of meddling with others'' rtionships. But I am telling you this because I believe you will make the right decision.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I understand.”
<b><i>AN: This marks the end of the NSC arc~! Yokohama Disturbance Arc starting next chapter~!!! Hope you enjoyed it~!!!</i></b>