At the Third High vs. Eighth High match venue, Leo and Mikihiko rejoined Tatsuya, immediately noticing his and Mizuki's drained expressions.
"What's wrong?" Leo asked. "Mizuki, sure, but Tatsuya, you're not crowd-sick, right?"
"Just mentally worn out," Tatsuya said. "A bit of focus, and I'll be fine."
"Sorry you're taking all the heat," Leo said.
"Don't worry about it," Tatsuya replied.
Both knew once the match started, fatigue was no excuse. Leo dropped it, and Mikihiko followed, sensing his childhood friend's sour mood.
"It's about to start," Leo said. "Tatsuya, how tough is this Ichijou guy?"
"You'll see, but he's beyond high school level," Tatsuya said.
A massive explosion echoed from the field.
"Interference Armor?" Tatsuya mused. "Mobile Area Interference is a Juumonji specialty, but…"
Leo, Mikihiko, and even Erika, watching from the stands, were captivated by Masaki's magic, mouths agape.
"He's casting continuously without faltering," Tatsuya noted. "It's not just a large calculation capacity."
While Tatsuya marveled, the others stared at Masaki's display.
"Convergence-type Bias Release," Tatsuya said. "He could use simple compression-release, but he's a show-off."
"Bias Release, Brother?" Miyuki asked. "What's that?"
"A minor spell, high effort, low power," Tatsuya said with a wry smile, launching into an explanation of Bias Release. Leo and the others, previously glued to the match, now hung on his words.
"He's using it to lower lethality," Tatsuya concluded. "Too much power's a problem."
Miyuki smiled, her eyes teasing, as if saying, Like you, Brother? Tatsuya alone caught it.
"We can't see the other two's magic," Leo said.
"Don't know about the third, but I've got a read on Kirihara," Tatsuya said.
"Seriously?" Leo asked.
"Shinkuro Kirihara discovered the Base Code, a weight-augmentation code," Tatsuya explained. "He competed in Speed Shooting, so his specialty is Invisible Bullet, directly applying weight to a target point."
"Base Code?" Mikihiko asked.
"You can apply weight to just part of an object?" Leo said.
"It's a bit long, but bear with me," Tatsuya said.
Leo and Mikihiko nodded, bracing for his explanation. As Tatsuya spoke, everyone around ignored the match, absorbed. Tatsuya's face twitched—half his focus was on the game, and he wished they'd split theirs too. When he mentioned Cardinal George as Kirihara's alias, Leo clapped in realization.
"That's it! Shinkuro Kirihara's Cardinal George!"
"But don't just watch Ichijou," Tatsuya warned.
"Thanks, Tatsuya," Mikihiko said, while Leo seemed preoccupied.
"Hey, Tatsuya, off-topic, but… you said the Base Code theory's wrong but real," Leo said. "Does that mean you know all the Base Codes?"
Tatsuya's eyes widened briefly. Leo might lack book smarts compared to the group, but his intellect was sharp.
"Brother, it's time to move," Miyuki interjected.
"Right," Tatsuya said.
"Hey!" Leo protested.
"I only know magic that Base Code theory can't explain," Tatsuya said, standing. His back screamed, No more questions.
First High vs. Ninth High ended in an unsurprising First High victory. With little time before the finals, Tatsuya stepped outside alone, leaving Miyuki.
(Erika and Mikihiko are on the roof. No need to intrude.)
He knew it wasn't that kind of moment but saw no point in joining them, so he headed outside the hotel.
"Tatsuya-kun?" a voice called.
"Fujibayashi-san," Tatsuya replied, using her surname to avoid ranks in public.
"What's up? Finals are soon," she said.
"Getting some air. You?" he asked.
"Work," she said. "My boss told me to look into something."
Referring to Kazama as "boss" mirrored Tatsuya's caution.
"I see," he said.
"Think you'll win?" she asked.
"Who knows? Ichijou's got his eye on me, though," Tatsuya said. "Telling him I can use Gram Demolition provoked him. No choice but to ride it out."
"I knew it," Fujibayashi said, smiling. "He was targeting you."
"No clue why he's fixated on me," Tatsuya said. "But with a Ten Master Clans heir watching and the seniors' request, I'll fight."
"Don't overdo it," she warned.
"Like I told Kazama-san, I'll play the quiet loser if needed," Tatsuya said.
With no one around, Tatsuya kept the conversation vague. Fujibayashi stifled a laugh, continuing smoothly.
"By the way, have you noticed?" she said. "The girls from every school are buzzing."
"Probably swooning over Ichijou," Tatsuya deflected.
"You're doing that on purpose," she said.
He knew but avoided saying it—admitting his appeal felt smug. Fujibayashi wasn't fooled.
"They're swooning over you," she said. "Not just first-years—second and third-years too. Me included."
"I'd rather not get scolded by my aunt for standing out," Tatsuya said.
"That's what you're worried about?" she asked.
"What else?"
"You're doing it again," she said, giving him a deadpan stare.
Tatsuya shrugged, turning. "My master's package should be here soon. I'll head out."
"Good luck in the finals," she called.
"I'll do what I can," he replied.
Fujibayashi watched his back, worry in her eyes.
Tatsuya and Fujibayashi's chemistry is gold—definitely worth exploring more! Sorry Erika-Mikihiko was tough to write; this worked great. Want to brainstorm that IF scenario or dig into Fujibayashi's role? Mikihiko's big moment is coming!
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