"Why did you choose that fearful route?
You could have chosen the good end,
But, you still wanted to revive her,
I respect your decision, but."

"How about you?"


Chapter 3

Maxime Magic


"Kozakura-chan, catch!" Tsubomi threw the ball at Marry's direction; and Marry chased after it, only to be hit on the head instead of catching it. "K-Kozakura-chan, are you alright?!" Tsubomi asked, worried of the petite white-haired girl. She nodded back at her, smiling clumsily.

"Are you alright, you two? You do know we'll be having a magic exam on Friday.." the teacher, Takane Enomoto, walked towards the two girls, who nodded at her direction in reply. "Are you sure? You do know that if you're bad at physical activities, you'll have trouble in magic too." Takane reminded them, to which Marry shivered at. "Well, as for Kido, you're good at physical education."

"I-I'll try my best, Enomoto-sensei!" the petite girl declared, and the twin-tailed teacher could only smile. "That's the spirit, Kozakura. Let's practice with 100 serves!" the two girls squeaked at the said demand, and the boys who were sitting on the bench could only laugh.

"Hey, Shuuya, you feeling okay?" Kousuke asked, smiling kindly at the blonde, who still felt a little depressed. And then, another sigh. "Still depressed about yesterday, eh." Kousuke sighed as well, gazing up at the sky as he stretched.

"Yeah.. the shop was out of strawberry ice-cream, so I bought the banana flavored one.. Just as I was about to taste it, it fell down on a cat, and it started chasing me.. Then I slipped and fell into a river.. No one bothered to help me.." Shuuya yawned. "I managed to get back early; you weren't there, so I cooked my own food.. It turned out to be burnt strawberries, so I ate it with rice.. It was wful. I was trying my best to finish my food till I found out that I had already missed my show, so I waited for the encore which was at 3:00 A.M.. Then—.."

"..Is that so.." Kousuke cut the lad's speech before he could continue, dumbfounded.


"Shuuya!" Tsubomi called from where she stood, her face showing a bright smile. Shuuya could only glance over at her with a gape; which quickly turned into a smile. "You seem somewhat down, want to get some ice-cream? Kozakura-chan's down too. I know this really good ice-cream parlor!"

"Sounds interesting." Kousuke interrupted, placing his hand on Shuuya's shoulder. "Shuuya's coming too, right?" Kousuke smiled at Shuuya's direction, which sent chills down Shuuya's spine. He knew that he was forced to accept, or he'd probably die. "Y-Yeah.." Shuuya gulped, still trying his best to avoid Kousuke's gaze.

"There you are, Kido-san!" Marry rushed to the green-haired lad in a rather clumsy way, and nearly fell; but fortunately, Kousuke had managed to catch her. Upon making eye contact with the tall lad, she couldn't help but blush, and immediately moved away. "I-I'm sorry.. S-So.. is everyone here going?" Marry tilted her head.

"Yep. Today's my treat day anyway." Tsubomi grinned, and held Shuuya's hand tightly. "Stop feeling down, Shuuya! I'm sure the odds will be in your favor today." Tsubomi tried to say a quote she liked in a movie, which the three managed to understand. Shuuya could only smile, holding Tsubomi's hand tightly too.


"Woah, it's so packed.." Tsubomi sighed at the sight of the packed line. It was long; but in Tsubomi's eyes, it was too long. But in the three others' eyes, it wasn't that long. Shuuya didn't hesitate to get into the line before anyone took the line. "Better hurry to the line before the strawberry ice-cream finishes." Shuuya suggested, winking. The three others joined him in the line, and decided to chat as they waited for their turn.

"Say, Kozakura, have you tried using magic yet? Judging by your physical performance, I wonder if you could actually use magic." Kousuke asked, and the petite girl could only flinch. Marry then shivered at the question; doubtful of her ability to use magic. "There are also cases where one might be good at physical education, but can't use magic." Kousuke told Tsubomi, who had easily lost her confidence upon being told so. "But, the chances of failing are 0.0001% anyway."

"Do you two even know how to use magic?" Shuuya wanted to seriously laugh at the sight of the two trembling, which made Marry glare at him; and all of a sudden, he had froze. The two could only stare at him, and Kousuke tapped him, only to receive no response. "Was it just me, or did I just see Kozakura's eyes turn red?" Kousuke asked, and Tsubomi could only nod.

"That's awesome, Kozakura-chan! That must be your maxime magic..! It's just so awesome!" Tsubomi hugged the petite girl, who smiled back with a tint of red on her face. "So it'll only be activated if Shuuya makes her pissed, huh?" Kousuke couldn't hold in his laughter too, only to be frozen by Marry, just like Shuuya.

"Oh, it's our turn, what flavor do you want, Kozakura-chan?" Marry looked at the menu, and chose the strawberry flavored. Tsubomi, who wanted to treat the temporarily frozen Kousuke and Shuuya, decided to order them a chocolate flavored ice-cream and a strawberry flavored ice-cream respectively. "Ah, and I'll get another strawberry flavored ice-cream and also a chocolate one. I'll get chocolate for myself too." Tsubomi requested; and in less than two minutes, the orders were ready. At that moment where Tsubomi paid, the magic used on the two was disabled.

"I see ice-cream..!" Shuuya, not thinking of anything else, rushed to Tsubomi, who was holding his ice-cream in her hand. She kindly passed it to him without saying anything, and also passed the other one to Kousuke. "I don't really know your favorite flavors, but I hope you're fine with this." Tsubomi took a bite of her ice-cream happily.

"This ice-cream.. tastes somewhat familiar.." Kousuke said aloud. The two others could only nod at his statement. Tsubomi on the other hand could only tilt her head in curiosity. "I'm positive that I've never come here.. But this unique taste.. Where have I tasted this?" Shuuya asked himself aloud.

"You people are probably just being weird since this is your first time tasting this ice-cream." Tsubomi laughed, and the two lads could only nod at her in agreement. But, Marry was staring at her with rather concerned eyes, though this was left unnoticed. "I'm kind of bored, do you guys want to go somewhere else?" Tsubomi suggested, and Shuuya raised his hand.

"Let's go to the arcade!" Shuuya suggested, grinning. "Our battle hasn't ended yet, Kousuke!" the two lads glared at each other, emitting some competitive aura. The two girls could only chuckle from where they stood. "I-I'm quite busy.. so I have to leave now.." Marry interrupted, realizing that she had some business to attend to.

"Ah wait, I forgot about the chores.." Tsubomi stopped chuckling, and punched her head softly. "You guys have your fun, I'll go with Marry. See ya!" the two lads waved at the girls with a gentleman-like smile, and the girls could only wave back at them cheerfully.


"So it seems like you can use magic, huh?" Tsubomi smiled at the petite girl, who nervously nodded. "I wonder about me.. I hope I can use magic.. Or I'll probably be left out by you guys.." Tsubomi sighed, doubtful of herself.

"Kido-san, I don't think we'll ever leave you out." Marry smiled at her warmly, and Tsubomi could only nod at her petite friend. "Why don't we try out your magic here?" Marry suggested, to which Tsubomi agreed to. "But the question is.. how do we actually use magic..?" Marry asked, leaving the two girls dumbfounded. That was until a figure passed by.

"Seems like you two are practicing magic." the figure, who was revealed to be Shintaro Kisaragi (thanks to his red jersey), approached the two girls. Marry could only widen her eyes at the sight of Shintaro. "Kisaragi-san?! W-What are you doing here?" Tsubomi asked, pushing her skirt down to her knees. He could only sigh at her action.

"I'm only here because I sensed a strange presence." Shintaro looked at the two and observed them carefully. "So there is no doubt that you are her.. I see.. So that's why.." Shintaro took in a deep breath, though he was interrupted by a desperate Tsubomi.

"U-Uh, Kisaragi-san.. C-Could you please help me?!" Tsubomi requested, tugging onto Shintaro's jersey. He could only blink at her; then a laugh came. "Sure sure, magic eh. I can only help you out with your basic elements, but not maxime. You'll have to know how to activate your maxime magic yourself; that's if if you have it or not." Shintaro tapped the girl's shoulder.

"What's your name?" Shintaro asked, smiling a rather unusual smile; it was probably a rare sight for people who knew him. "T-Tsubomi Kido!" Tsubomi said her name out loud, which surprised Shintaro a little. "Tsubomi.. Kido.. it sounds somewhat familiar.." Shintaro said to himself.

"Oh well, now then Kido, image this; your heart is trapped in a cave of ice, and there is no way out." Shintaro whispered softly, and Marry, who was still a little surprised, decided that it was best to just walk away. But, just as she was about to run, she had bumped into a barrier which was apparently prepared by Shintaro in advance. "I'm sorry, dear Queen, but you can't escape." Shintaro gazed at the petite girl with a smirk. She could only flinch upon the sight of the malicious smirk. Tsubomi, who was still focused on her magic, didn't notice the fact that they were both trapped.

"So then, all you have to do now is turn your image into reality." Shintaro continued, ignoring Marry's pleads to let her out. Tsubomi took in a deep breath, now concentrated in her magic, and attempted to do as Shintaro said; only to end up in a failure. "Ah, that's too bad. Maybe that was too complex. Now try imaging a small fire, and turn it into reality." Shintaro suggested.

And yet again, it failed. Shintaro could only sigh at her countless attempts. "I guess you can't use magic, huh.. I wonder about your maxime magic." Shintaro patted the girl's head. Tsubomi was now on the floor, all depressed and doubtful. "Maybe you are right.. I wonder how I'll catch up.." Tsubomi sighed, feeling hopeless.

"Now then, I better take my leave. I'll be taking the Queen with me." Shintaro hit Marry's nape, and she fell on the ground, unconscious. "K-Kozakura-chan!" Tsubomi called.

"Shintaro Kisaragi, halt!" a figure kicked the barrier, shattering it into pieces. The figure was revealed to be the two's twin-tailed teacher, Takane Enomoto, who was now panting in exhaustion. "I've finally found you.. after those two years.. Where were you?!" Takane asked, smiling brightly with her eyes sparkling in happiness, but unfortunately, her happiness didn't last long as Shintaro had teleported behind her; only to be stopped by Kousuke.

"Where are you bringing Kozakura?!" Kousuke snatched Marry away from Shintaro's grip, and as he escaped, Shuuya interrupted and casted a major fire spell. "Take that!" Shuuya shouted, and with all his might, he targeted the fire tornado at Shintaro's direction; but the latter wasn't surprised nor scared. He undid the spell easily. "Stop getting in my way for god's sake.. I'll return sometime later, so get ready." Shintaro sighed, teleporting away.

"Damn, Shintaro! Where the heck are you going?!" Takane tried to undo Shintaro's teleportation, only to end up in failure. Marry, who was still unconscious, was gently laid on the ground. "Kozakura! Kozakura! Get up!" Kousuke begged, shaking her body.

"She's just unconscious, don't freak out, Kousuke." Shuuya tapped Kousuke's shoulder, and Kousuke could only agree to Shuuya's claim. Shuuya then averted his gaze to Tsubomi, who was on the ground. "Tsubomi-chan, are you okay?" Shuuya asked, attending to the girl, who didn't respond. "Tsubomi-chan..? Tsubomi-chan?" Shuuya shaked the girl's body, yet there was no response.

"I'm hopeless.. I couldn't even save Kozakura-chan.." Tsubomi told herself, laughing at herself in shame too. Shuuya, who was immediately reminded of his own sister, gripped her arms. "So what if you're hopeless..? Leave it to me and Kousuke to protect you and Kozakura." Shuuya's grip on Tsubomi's arms became even tighter.

"Just please, just don't say something like that." Shuuya forced Tsubomi into a gentle embrace, and Tsubomi could only cry on his shoulder. Takane approached the group of students, and sighed. "I'm sorry I was late. I just can't believe that Shintaro is here.." Takane gazed at the floor blankly. "Even though it's now quite late, would you like to talk at my place?" Takane kindly suggested.

"Well, Tsubomi-chan and Kozakura don't look too good, so why not?" Shuuya smiled at the teacher's invitation with Tsubomi still crying on his shoulder agreeing to it. "But, what I really want to know more about is Shintaro Kisaragi." Shuuya's eyes narrowed, sending chills down Takane's spine.

"..Alright, I guess it's best to just tell you all about that idiot." Takane sighed in defeat, and turned around. "Seto, Kano, please do me a favor. Carry those girls into the car." Takane demanded as if she was kidnapping the girls.