After the Men's Ice Pillars Break match, Yuzen visited Chikime's room at her invitation. The conversation veered when he revealed his reincarnated nature, but he steered it back.
"So, about the next head of the family…" Yuzen began.
"Right, that," Chikime nodded.
Gozo had planned for Yuzen to assume the role after high school, but due to national and international tensions—especially the Great Asian Union's maneuvers in April—he decided to accelerate the timeline. A figure Gozo despised was likely involved.
"Come to the Kagurazaka house after the Nine Schools Competition," Chikime said. "There's good news too."
"Understood. We'll discuss details then. Never imagined I'd follow in Mototsugu's footsteps," Yuzen replied.
"Normal reaction," Mototsugu chuckled. "Did Grandpa foresee this when he let Yuzen take the master title?"
"Exactly. He could've taken it earlier," Gozo said.
Yuzen didn't pry into the "good news." Despite winning the Ice Pillars Break, tomorrow's Monolith Code was his focus. He left early, leaving the three behind.
Mototsugu spoke first. "He feels… like he's from another world. A reincarnator, huh?"
"Reincarnation exists, but he's unique," Chikime said.
"Indeed. We'll need him to shape the future," Gozo added.
Gozo had sensed Yuzen's change. He'd considered ancient yokai ties but, after training him, concluded Yuzen didn't fit that mold.
"Your judgment, Chikime?" Gozo asked.
"He's no yokai our ancestors vanquished. He's human. If he's harmless, I'd accept him. A needless worry," Chikime replied.
Yuzen's power surpassed the Ten Master Clans' current heads, Gozo believed. To protect the nation, he'd send Yuzen to the Kagurazaka family. Chikime's intuition confirmed his sincerity. She'd accept such a figure for the nation's sake, prompting wry smiles from Gozo and Mototsugu.
"And Yuzen's fiancée?" Gozo asked.
"I persuaded two who adore him. Surprisingly, one's Uncle Motohide's great-granddaughter, and the other's Azusa Kousa's granddaughter. Small world," Chikime said.
(Hang in there, Yuzen. I'm just the next Ueyama head; I can't help. I'll listen to your gripes, though), Mototsugu thought.
Yuzen's path was being set by Gozo and Chikime, just as Mototsugu's had been. Resistance was futile, he knew. Yuzen likely hoped for a decent life as a magician, a sentiment his old self shared. His mother, siblings—except Shina—accepted him for it.
(Modern magic medicine couldn't save him. It's a miracle), Mototsugu reflected.
Everyone in the Mitsuya family, except Shina, and the Yatsushiro, except Jiro, knew Yuzen's soul had changed. The original Yuzen was frail, given a decade at best. His new soul, retaining his memories, was a blessing. Motoharu and Shiho were happiest; their son remained theirs. Mototsugu, Motoharu, Shizuru, Kana, and Mika accepted him after discussion.
Shina was kept in the dark to curb her irrational marriage wishes. Jiro's softness toward her risked leaks.
It was unthinkable, but when Yuzen fell into a coma from a mysterious fever, they'd braced for his death. His soul might've vanished, but his memories endured. Mototsugu accepted him naturally, feeling no revulsion despite slight unease.
(You made us refuse to give up. You saved the Mitsuya family. We trust you), Mototsugu thought.
Yuzen's influence let Mototsugu weaponize his "Perception Inhibition." It benefited the entire Mitsuya family, though Shina's intensified brother-complex was a headache for all six.
To repay Yuzen, Mototsugu trained Jiro to be a worthy guard for Shina. Their shared mindset, despite a changed soul, reassured him.
Later, at the Tea Lounge
"So, Shizuku's magic was refined by you, Yuzen?" Miyuki asked, half-joking, half-glaring.
"Yes," Yuzen admitted, treating her to a cake set as an apology. Tatsuya, Shizuku, and Honoka joined them.
"That magic, [Phonon Tears], optimizes [Phonon Maser]'s quantum process into a bombardment spell. I thought Miyuki would win, even without [Transcendent Ice-Flame Hell Overd-Inferno]," Yuzen said.
"Thanks to you, I won," Miyuki said, feigning a pout but blushing.
Honoka laughed, and Shizuku smiled faintly, signaling recovery from her loss.
"Shizuku's grateful too, though it stings," Shizuku said.
Yuzen nodded. Tatsuya spoke up. "That magic startled me. Wasn't it meant for the Nine Schools?"
"If people knew I turned [Phonon Maser]—a spell only elite military mages use—into a bombardment spell, they'd demand the activation sequence," Yuzen said.
"True," Tatsuya agreed.
The military couldn't strong-arm Yuzen after the Ueyama family, backed by Gozo's "request," barred coercive tactics against the Mitsuya family. Yuzen whispered, "I planned to finish [Phonon Tears] after the competition. It's incomplete, limited to avoid destroying all twelve ice pillars in one shot."
"Incomplete!?" Honoka gasped.
"I don't intend to let anyone but Shizuku use it. No 'Magic Compendium' submission. Fame's not worth the spy risk," Yuzen said.
"Miyuki's [Transcendent Ice-Flame Hell Overd-Inferno] shocked me too," Tatsuya said.
"It's optimized for Miyuki's traits, using refined vibration-system codes. I can't share it lightly," Yuzen explained.
Modern magic, rooted in supernatural powers defying physics, was adapted into physical laws. Despite wartime advancements, full analysis remained elusive.
"New tech?" Honoka asked.
"Just refined existing tech. But Tatsuya, your team swept the top spots. Impressive," Yuzen said.
"You're one to talk," Tatsuya retorted.
Yuzen had registered [Active Air Mine] anonymously, tweaking its sequence to limit power for "military prevention." Today, Yuzen won Men's Ice Pillars Break, Takasuke placed fourth in Men's Battle Board, and the girls dominated their events. Yet, some first-year boys eyed Yuzen and Tatsuya with hostility, jealous of their success and camaraderie.
Yuzen dined with Mayumi, Katsuto, and Mari to deflect tensions. "As rookie leader, I shouldn't say this, but they lost and can't praise the victors. Tatsuya, you undervalue yourself too," Yuzen said.
Miyuki smiled. "Both of you underestimate yourselves and lack self-awareness."
"What do I do here, Yuzen?" Tatsuya asked.
"Laugh?" Yuzen suggested.
"Haha…" Tatsuya managed.
"Ruthless, Miyuki," Yuzen said.
They understood Tatsuya wasn't being insulted. His engineering ensured the team's success, but his lack of self-awareness was an issue. To him, high school rivalries were trivial.
Meanwhile, Yokohama Chinatown
In a hotel penthouse, men seethed. The Third High School, stacked with middle school stars, was expected to dominate, but First High led.
"If First High wins, we're done. No stopping the competition now. Force their withdrawal in Monolith Code," one said.
"That includes a Mitsuya! We'd be slaughtered before headquarters purges us!" another protested.
Advancing or retreating spelled doom. Their plan, driven by profit, backfired. Targeting a Ten Master Clan member risked not just Mitsuya but Ueyama's "Lightning Dragon" wrath.
"No choice. Contact our ally. Second match," the leader decided.
They planned to flee post-competition, unaware their actions invited broader retaliation. They also overlooked Yuzen's growing fame among other clans, some of whom viewed him favorably.
---------------------------------------------
🚀 Want more?
📖 On Patreon you can read 20+ chapters ahead, plus there will be exclusive stories available only there.
💖 If you'd like to support me, check it out: patreon.com/Greyhounds
🔓 Patreon will always stay ahead of the public release — and some stories won't be published anywhere else.
✨ All support is completely optional — even if you don't join, I'm still grateful to have you here reading!