In the tent between matches, Mikihiko fidgeted restlessly. Leo, exasperated, finally spoke up.
"Calm down already."
"Easy for you to say," Mikihiko shot back. "You're so chill, even though we barely know these guys…"
Miyuki, massaging Tatsuya's shoulders with a radiant smile, chimed in. "Gil Yoshida-kun's surprisingly shy, isn't he?"
Tatsuya, leaning back relaxed, added, "His reaction's normal. Boys are shy—cut him some slack."
Miyuki's smile brightened. "Oh? I've never seen you shy, Brother."
Tatsuya's half-lidded retort only made Mikihiko blush harder. Just then, Mayumi and Azusa entered. Azusa froze, beet-red at the sight of Miyuki's hands on Tatsuya. Mayumi shot Tatsuya a faintly displeased glance.
"What's up?" Tatsuya asked.
"Nothing…" Mayumi muttered, looking away. When she met his gaze again, Tatsuya was standing at ease.
(Like a soldier…) Mayumi thought.
"President?" Tatsuya prompted.
"The next stage is set," Mayumi said.
"Where?" Tatsuya asked.
"Urban stage," she replied.
Despite yesterday's "accident," using the urban stage showed the organizers' resolve. Tatsuya noticed Azusa staring at him.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"No… Just wondering about Saijo-kun's CAD…" Azusa said, echoing Suzune's earlier doubts without naming her.
Tatsuya smirked. "Sharp observation, as expected of Ichihara-senpai."
Azusa blinked, surprised he'd pinpointed the source.
"No need to worry," Tatsuya said. "If a ten-meter sword won't work, we'll use it as a one-meter sword."
"What's that mean?" Azusa asked.
Tatsuya glanced at Leo, who nodded confidently.
In the First High vs. Second High match, the Monolith was set inside a ruined building, a testament to the organizers' resilience post-accident. From the start, Tatsuya leapt between buildings without magic, a daring feat.
"Mikihiko, you hear me?" Tatsuya said through comms.
"Loud and clear," Mikihiko replied.
"No time to waste. Let's move."
"Got it."
Tatsuya activated a spell to awaken a spirit Mikihiko had attached to him, dormant until now. Unable to use spirit magic himself, Tatsuya relied on Mikihiko's prep, triggering the spirit with an evocation spell.
Sensing his contracted spirit's call, Mikihiko knew Tatsuya had succeeded.
(Why is he a Course 2 student?) Mikihiko wondered.
Evocation wasn't easy, especially for a Course 2 student. Yet Tatsuya pulled it off effortlessly, leaving Mikihiko stunned. No time for that now, though. Using Visual Synchronization, Mikihiko linked with Tatsuya's spirit, directing it to locate the Monolith.
"Found it, Tatsuya," Mikihiko reported.
He moved the spirit covertly while Tatsuya, hanging from ceiling pipes, planned his approach.
(They're tracking the comms signal… but they won't think to look up.)
Exploiting Second High's tunnel vision, Tatsuya neutralized a player from above, firing a spell at the floor. Seven meters to the Monolith—well within range.
"Wait!" a Second High defender shouted, spotting Tatsuya and chasing him, lured away from the Monolith.
Meanwhile, Mikihiko, through the spirit's eyes, read and input the Monolith's code.
First High's victory was sealed. In their tent, Mari looked bored.
"He was toying with them," she said.
"Really?" Mayumi asked.
"Kamaitachi? Tatsuya could neutralize it easily. Taking out players would be child's play."
"Mari, we forced this role on him last night," Mayumi said. "Even if he's exceptional, tuning two CADs and strategizing in half a day? It's no wonder he's not at full strength."
"Fair, but…" Mari trailed off.
"What?" Mayumi bristled, sensing retaliation.
"You're awfully defensive of Tatsuya-kun," Mari teased. "Could it be…?"
"No way!" Mayumi snapped, flustered.
Suzune and Katsuto, watching the high school girl banter, sighed in exasperation.
At the same moment, in the stands, Erika muttered thoughtfully, watching the match.
"He's already using magic properly…"
"Erika-chan?" Mizuki asked.
(Miki, do you realize? You're back. As good as when they called you a prodigy… no, better. Notice it already.)
"Erika-chan!" Mizuki called again.
"Huh? Sorry, Mizuki, what's up?"
"I've been calling you! You're zoning out."
"Sorry, just thinking," Erika said.
"About what?" Mizuki pressed.
Erika hesitated, then deflected. "Wondering if those two can handle the next match, you know?"
Mizuki, fooled, reassured her. "They'll be fine! They're working hard."
Erika's focus, though, wasn't on Mizuki.
Meanwhile, in the general stands, two military officers in civilian clothes observed.
"We told him to hide his cards, but isn't he holding back too much?" Major Yamanaka said.
"Can't be helped," Lieutenant Fujibayashi replied. "Tatsuya-kun has a lot to keep secret."
"Still…" Yamanaka sighed.
"I bet he'll use Flash Cast against Ichijou's prince," Fujibayashi said, eyes gleaming.
"You're enjoying this too much," Yamanaka said.
"Not true," she replied, but her excitement was clear.
For Fujibayashi, who harbored feelings for Tatsuya, watching him fight without military secrets was pure joy. She'd rather he never fought in actual combat. Yamanaka, understanding this, sighed alone.
---------------------------------------------------------
🚀 Want more?
📖 Unlock 10+ early chapters on my Patreon!
💖 Support me here: patreon.com/DaoistRoeoNQ
🔓 Get ahead of the story today!