The Nine School Competition involves over 360 athletes, plus strategists and tech staff, totaling over 400 participants. Meals are a logistical challenge. Breakfast is a first-come, first-served buffet. Lunch is typically bento, but buying from stalls to eat at tents is allowed. Dinner uses three cafeterias in hourly shifts to prevent strategy leaks, with schools dining separately.
Dinner is the one daily gathering for a school's members to share the day's triumphs and frustrations. Yugen's match was rescheduled by organizers, canceling the first-year meeting. First High's cafeteria reflected a stark divide: the girls' side was lively, while the boys' was dour. Tatsuya, ousted by the boys, joined the girls.
"Won the championship, yet I'm on a bed of needles," Toya sighed.
"Their fault," Yugen muttered.
The boys' corner, filled with over half the first-year males, contrasted with the vibrant girls' side. Yugen, shunned alongside Toya, ate with him. Toya's sigh met Yugen's quiet venom. Blaming others for their failures was misdirected, but Yugen kept his voice low to avoid conflict.
"Pride's hard to shed. First High carries 'constant victory,' and just being chosen sparks envy," Yugen said.
The day's results: two girls placed in Crowd Ball, Miyuki, Shizuku, and Eimi reached the Pillars Break semifinals. Toya won men's Crowd Ball, and Yugen advanced to the Pillars Break semifinals. The boys' results, though solid, paled beside the girls'. Many boys lost due to underperformance, risking a "losing habit." Yugen saw it as their personal issue.
"Reminds me of what Grandfather—Ueyama-dono—said at the mixer," Yugen noted.
"True. Monolith Code the day after tomorrow?" Toya asked.
"Worst case, Juumonji-senpai will whip them into shape," Yugen replied.
Lingering losses wouldn't beat Third High's Crimson Prince or Cardinal George. Yugen trusted Katsuto to intervene if needed. Takayoshi's Battle Board semifinal spot was a relief, but Yugen focused on winning Pillars Break first. Shizuku approached, catching their attention.
"What's up, Shizuku?" Yugen asked.
"Miyuki says Tatsuya's in trouble and needs backup," Shizuku replied.
"His fame tax, huh? Shall we help?" Toya asked.
"Yeah," Yugen agreed.
Tatsuya, swarmed by first-year girls with questions and praise, was overwhelmed, unused to attention. Miyuki, via Shizuku, requested aid. Yugen and Toya, chuckling wryly, joined the girls' clamor. To less familiar girls, two Ten Master Clans heirs were daunting, but the girls' excitement overshadowed this. Eimi led the charge.
"Yugen, Toya! Congrats on the win, Toya!" Eimi cheered.
"Thanks, Eimi. No staying up late—Third High's tough tomorrow," Toya teased.
"Ugh, thanks for the advice… Yugen, your match was heart-stopping," Eimi said.
"Ancient magic, not modern. Can't say more," Yugen smiled.
Eimi accepted Toya's advice with a sheepish look, then shared her shock at Yugen's magic. Shizuku asked about his first-round defense. "You used hardening magic with hydrogen bond fixation, like Tatsuya said?"
"Correct. Learned through many failures. The attack was ancient, pushing your Resonance Destruction to its limit," Yugen explained.
"Maybe I could do it?" Shizuku asked.
"With effort, sure. Imagination's key for mages," Yugen said.
Tenjin magic's power varied by theory. Yugen's molecular bond-breaking imagery boosted Resonance Rift's potency. He couldn't teach ancient magic but could guide modern techniques. Nanami's remark—"If Tatsuya handled me, I might've won"—prompted Miyuki's reprimand via Tatsuya's glance. Nanami apologized to her senior engineer. Eimi added, "Don't blame the CAD, Nana."
"Heh, my bad," Nanami grinned.
The praise for Tatsuya continued, though quieter. A girl's comment—"Thanks to the boys for lending us Tatsuya"—made Morisaki slam his glass down and leave silently.
"Should we follow?" Toya asked.
"He's not bad, but he's got to sort this out himself," Yugen said.
Morisaki's drive for Monolith Code was good, but overzealousness was risky, especially after losing to Shinkuro in Speed Shooting.
Magic competitions have less gender disparity than non-magic sports. This year, the rookie division split by gender. Previously mixed, physical sports like Crowd Ball and Battle Board favored boys, while Pillars Break and Speed Shooting suited girls, though exceptions existed.
Girls' events drew general spectators; boys' events attracted military, police, fire, and university affiliates. This year, both were packed.
"So crowded…" Mayumi remarked.
"Men's side too," Mari noted.
From the competitors' viewing area, Mayumi and Mari eyed the packed stands with pity. Day 6, rookie day 3, flipped match orders for fairness, aligning Yugen and Miyuki's semifinal first matches, forcing spectators to choose.
"You wanted to watch Yugen, didn't you?" Mari asked.
"Yeah, but his last two matches were insane," Mayumi said.
Mayumi, a top precision shooter, saw Yugen's control as world-class. In round two, he used 12 distinct spells plus hardening magic simultaneously, surpassing the Saegusa's eight-spell limit. It shattered norms, making Mayumi opt for Miyuki's "safer" match.
"Father's watching his. My head's spinning," Mayumi said.
"I get it, but don't say that to him," Mari warned.
Mari agreed Miyuki's match was less overwhelming. Katsuto watched Yugen's, and they could only hope he'd cope.
Men's Ice Pillars Break Semifinal, Match 1
The match stunned onlookers. Yugen, having shown two spells, unveiled a third attack spell, winning unscathed and advancing to the final league. Mikihiko, watching, was speechless.
"You okay, Yoshida-kun?" Mizuki asked.
"Yeah… fine. (He summoned Ryujin… yesterday's was even higher-tier. This must be easier for him…)" Mikihiko muttered.
Yugen's email—"I'll show you something special in the semifinals"—drew Mikihiko to the men's match. Mizuki joined to adjust to psion forces, with Leo and Erika tagging along. Mikihiko, who failed to control Ryujin in the Star-Descending Ritual, was awed by Yugen's mastery, honed through intense training.
"Feeling competitive, Miki?" Erika teased.
"It's Mikihiko! …Maybe. I'm still immature," Mikihiko admitted.
He'd underestimated Yugen initially, only to be surpassed. His genius pride had limited him, and Yugen's lesson sank in, drawing a wry smile.
"Yugen's terrifying with that magic," Erika said.
"He pulled off crazier stuff in April," Leo added.
"Tell me if you saw his magic!" Erika snapped.
"Don't be unreasonable!" Leo retorted.
"Calm down, both of you," Mizuki intervened.
Leo recalled Yugen subduing terrorists with Renge, shocking Erika, who hadn't known. Mizuki's mediation made Mikihiko smile for different reasons.
Before Yugen and Miyuki's matches, Tatsuya and Miyuki, heading to the Pillars Break waiting room, met two Third High students. Tatsuya knew their faces vaguely. The taller one spoke first, followed by the shorter.
"Third High, first year, Shogo Ichijo," the tall one said.
"Same, Shinkuro Kichijoji," the shorter added.
Shogo's greeting wasn't friendly, but Tatsuya felt no offense, sensing his natural leadership. Shinkuro's words carried a challenging edge.
"First High, first year, Tatsuya Shiba. What do the Crimson Prince and Cardinal George want?" Tatsuya replied, using his usual tone, wary that their focus was on him, not Toya or Yugen, fellow Ten Master Clans members.
"You know me and George? That's convenient," Shogo said.
"Tatsuya Shiba… unfamiliar name, but unforgettable now. Likely the greatest engineer since the competition began," Shinkuro said.
"Flattered to be called a genius by a 13-year-old who discovered a Cardinal Code, but 'unconventional' fits," Tatsuya replied.
Shinkuro, unshaken by his Speed Shooting loss to Toya, showed strong mentality. Both sides stood firm, not hostile but resolute.
"Miyuki, go prepare," Tatsuya said.
"Understood," Miyuki nodded, passing the duo.
Shogo's gaze followed her, interrupted by Tatsuya. "Prince, no match prep needed?"
"We're in tomorrow's Monolith Code. You?" Shinkuro asked.
Shinkuro, men's Speed Shooting runner-up, and Shogo, a Pillars Break favorite, were overshadowed by Yugen's media-hyped first- and second-round wins. Top aces filled Monolith Code, so Shinkuro assumed Tatsuya was an engineer.
"Not handling that," Tatsuya said.
"Pity. I'd love to face your athletes. We'll win, though," Shinkuro taunted.
Tatsuya wanted to ask if they accounted for Yugen but prioritized prep time, staying silent. "Sorry for the delay. Looking forward to next time," Shogo said, and they passed Tatsuya, who entered the waiting room without looking back.
Note: New story is out, if you want to check it out.
Search --> Transferred to Kivotos, I Solve Everything with My Fists
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