Disclaimer: I do not own Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei. This fiction is written because of my personal enjoyment. Constructive comments/feedbacks/critiques will be much appreciated.
A/N: I apologize for a late update. Truth be told, sometimes I just woke up and I just can't write anything while another day I seem to be able to write everything. I don't know, it's just weird. Anyway, hopefully you guys won't be too bored of this chapter.
CHAPTER 13: Competition, Competition everywhere!
(First day of the Nine School Competition)
"At last, the time has come to open the National Magic High School Goodwill Tournament of Magic Skills, better known as the Nine School Competition! This year's tournament will follow the usual format…" The announcer said as a screen appeared.
"Five days each of official and rookie competitions, for a total of ten days! This year, all eyes will be on First High School! Will they get their third straight title or will Third High School break that streak?"
The crowd erupts wildly as the logo of First High vs. Third High appeared on the screen.
"Honoka, how are you doing physically?"
"I'm fine. Your stamina training helps me a lot!" Honoka smiled.
Tatsuya nodded in acceptance.
Currently, they are on the spectators' area of the Battle Board stadium. The Official Division will begin to compete in the first three days before the Rookie Division competes until they finish their final rounds. Then the final attraction of the competition will be the Official Divisions' final rounds.
Miyuki giggled. "Honoka has been gaining a lot muscles lately."
"Come on, don't say it like that! Miyuki!" Honoka blushed embarrassingly. "I'm not planning on becoming a macho woman!"
Tatsuya just chuckled silently.
"See?! Now even Tatsuya-san is laughing at me…" Depressed emoticon appeared above Honoka's head.
"The only reason why he laughed was because you chose a weird way to put it." Shizuku sighed.
"W-What?!" Honoka cried comically.
Erika, Miyuki, Shu, and Tatsuya chuckled at the petite girl's antics. Mizuki, Mikihiko and Leo just sweatdropped.
"Mou… I'm the only weird one here… I don't even get Tatsuya-san to check up my CAD for the Battle Board match…" Honoka pouted cutely.
"Yes, but I will be doing the fine-tuning for you in Mirage Bat competition, isn't that sufficient?" Tatsuya raised his eyebrows.
"But I can't ask you to do it on my Battle Board match…" Honoka pouted. "Though Miyuki and Shizuku will have you for both their events…"
Tatsuya frowned a little. "But I did take part in your practice lessons, and we also came up with your battle plan together, so you're not being left out in an-"
Shu sighed. "Are you serious? Tatsuya?"
"What?" Tatsuya's eyebrows twitched.
"Tatsuya-san, that's not what Honoka-san is trying to tell you, you know?" Mizuki giggled.
Miyuki smiled. "Onii-sama, I think you're being a little too clueless."
"Ehehehe~ the flaw that you never knew Tatsuya has!" Erika declared.
"Totally stiff." Shizuku joined in with short words.
Tatsuya just muttered something incomprehensible for a tiny split second before looking at Mikihiko and Leo. Both men turn away obvious saying' I don't know, why are you looking at me?'
Tatsuya sighed before accepting the comment. "You're the one to speak." He deadpanned at Shu.
Shu shrugged. "At least the Blizzard Princess here agrees with me." He ruffled Miyuki's hair a little.
Miyuki giggled. "In all honesty, you are just a very 'little' bit better." She laughed.
Shu's jaw dropped. "How can you say that?" He did a fake hurt expression.
Miyuki stuck her tongue out playfully before returning to her usual demeanor. Leo and Mikihiko have to admit… they are jealous as fuck.
"…I'm still shocked, that a kind person like you would be able to do something like 'that', Shirakawa-san." Mizuki muttered nervously.
Shu snorted. Early this morning, he met up with everyone before the event started. They wanted to know the truth, seeing no harm in it, he decided to indulge them. He told them everything but keeps the 'Cosmic Horror' part to himself. They kind of understand… but did not expect that he'll be killing at such a young age.
"I'm not so different from someone that wanted to protect their own family. If anyone threatens my family, I will end them. Simple as that." Shu sighed tiredly.
Leo, Mikihiko, and Erika nodded in understanding. They will also do the same if need be. Mizuki, Honoka, and Shizuku are kind of reluctant in accepting that because they do not have that kind of mindset… but they kind of understand.
"Oh? Looks like it is starting!" Miyuki exclaimed as the hologram screen appeared.
"Welcome to the Women's Battle Board, Official Qualification Round. Athletes, please take your positions." The female announcer said.
The group focused intently on the competitors. Erika's eyes twitched before sighing irritatingly. "Arrogant as ever…" She muttered.
Everyone looked at Erika confusedly as the hot-headed girl is staring at the figure of Watanabe Mari.
"Fight High School, third year, Mari Watanabe."
"KYAAA~"
"Mari-sama!"
"I love you Mari-sama!"
"Please marry me, Mari-sama!"
Mari just waved at the students who are crazily chanting her name. Boys, even girls are shouting fanatically for the Disciplinary Committee's President.
"…She sure has a lot of devoted fans." Tatsuya commented.
"It is understandable, since Watanabe-sempai has a cool appearance." Miyuki said.
Erika just leaned on her chin before sighing tiredly.
"On your mark!"
The contestants immediately kneel down a little in position before-
Bang!
All of them immediately rush forward. One of the contestants immediately conjures her magic behind her, a sizable explosions occur before giant waves hit all of them with brute force. Watanabe Mari has the upper hand since she applies Fortification-Magic on herself and the board so she cannot fall off… she instantly dashes pass all the contestants with high speed as other competitors struggle to catch up.
"Impressive, simultaneously applying Fortification-Magic and Movement-Magic." Tatsuya observed the situation.
Miyuki nodded. "She anchors herself on the board so she won't fall off. The magic also made herself and her board a single object, so it works as a single entity." She gives her analysis.
The match is pretty much one-sided. It is so obvious that Mari's competitors are not up to par with her at all… they cannot even cast spells simultaneously in proper manner. Mari just dashes pass the finish line with tremendous speed before forcing her board to stop. The crowd erupts wildly, mainly from the First High School's crowd.
"Well… this is anti-climatic." Shu yawned boredly. There is absolutely no excitement in this match whatsoever… no tricks, illusions, advance strategies… nothing. Well, at least in Shu's opinion that is.
"I agree." Erika deadpanned.
"Don't say that, Watanabe-sempai exhibits her skills of casting spells simultaneously without faltering you know?" Mizuki smiled.
"If you say so…" Erika flopped down tiredly.
"She really despises Watanabe-sempai, isn't she?" Tatsuya thought to himself.
Since there are roughly less than 2 weeks for the competition, the winner such as Mari Watanabe, will be automatically competing in the semi-finals. There will be more Women's Battle Board qualification matches from other schools, but since the group is not interested, they decided to head out to get some rest. In Tatsuya's case, he has something to do so he excuses himself away.
The emotionless man walks toward the restricted section, where some military personnel are on full guard alert. One of them immediately recognized Tatsuya before letting him enter the restricted premises. After that, an officer immediately approaches him.
"Ah, you must be Major Kazama's guest." The Officer in his white uniform said.
"Hai. I come to see Major Kazama."
The Officer nodded before leading the way. Both of them stop in front of a VIP room before the officer knocks on the door.
"Major Kazama, your guest is here."
"Come in."
Tatsuya enters the room. "Pardon my intrusion." With his hand crossing behind his back, he perfectly exerts the aura of professionalism.
"Hey, have a seat." Kazama said.
"No, I'm fine right here." Tatsuya said emotionlessly.
"Tatsuya-kun, we didn't call you here today as a Special Officer Ryuuya Ooguro, strategic-class magician. We invited you as our friend, Tatsuya Shiba." One of Kazama's colleagues said. "If you insisted on ceremoniously standing there, we will not know what to do."
"Captain Sanada… very well, excuse me." Tatsuya bowed before sitting down at the empty seat.
After some tea alongside with light conversations with his superior, Tatsuya decided to ask why they called him here today. Kazama explained that the intruders that Mikihiko and Shu captured yesterday are working under the illegal organization, No-Head Dragon. Their motives are unknown, since the intels that they force out of them are still not solid enough. Also, there is still another matter to discuss…
"Tatsuya, how is your friend Shu Shirakawa doing?"
Tatsuya immediately narrowed his eyes. "What are you trying to imply? Major Kazama?"
The tension in the room increases dramatically, even the Electron Sorceress, Kyouko Fujibayashi felt it. Since Shu's past with the JSDF and the Government is… not very good, scratch that, it's at its worst point, bringing up the name of the person who killed the entire Sado Defensive Battalion is like opening an old wound.
"Kazama, why are you bringing that name up?" The rough-looking man, Major Doctor Yamanaka Kousuke asked.
Kazama sighed. "You still think that he is the one at fault?"
"How can I not? The results are loud and clear." Yamanaka answered with rough and icy tone.
Tatsuya decided to stay silent. I won't be good for him if he interfered with these 'personal matters'.
"To be fair… it is Sakai who threatened his family… it is definitely Sakai's foolishness that causes all this mess." Kazama shook his head.
"I must agree." Sanada joined in. "He could've taken a much more compatible approach."
Yamanaka just grumbled. He cannot say anything either, since Shu is not a military personnel. Even that boy is one, it is obvious that 'orders' will be the least of the boy's interests.
"C'mon, we all have our different opinions. Anyway, Tatsuya-kun, we just wanted to know, will you consider your friend… as a threat to the country?" The chill-looking guy, Captain Yanagi Muraji asked.
Silence fell upon the room as everyone got pulled into their own cognitive thoughts. Most of them do not want to have this man as their enemy, but if he is a threat… then he must be eliminated… for the greater good.
Tatsuya chuckled. "If he considers this country as his enemy, then we won't be having this meeting." He declared. "That's because all of you would've already been dead." The emotionless man thought grimly.
Despite the fact that everyone here is a very talented magician, they are still humans. No mere humans can survive if they got forcefully sent out in the space without any life-prolonging equipment. It is a very disturbing thought… to be sent through a Wormhole just to have an agonizing death in the space, alone.
"I see…"
Yanagi seems to accept the response while Kazama is kind of reluctant on it.
"If all of you don't have anything else, please excuse me. The next match is starting." Tatsuya bowed but doesn't wait for any response before heading out.
"I have no doubt that Tatsuya is on the same page as us… but for his friend, is a different story." Kazama got pulled into his own thoughts.
"Hey, Tatsuya! Over here, over here!"
Tatsuya approaches Erika and the group who is already sitting in the Speed Shooting Stadium. Unlike the previous event, the stadium is packed with people despite being Quarterfinals of the Women's Speed Shooting contest. Apparently when Tatsuya went to meet his superior, the Speed Shooting contests already advanced to the Quarterfinals of the Official Division.
"Hm? Where are Mikihiko and Shu?" Tatsuya noticed the disappearance of the two.
"Miki said that he's not feeling well, so he'll rest up in his room." Erika answered while Leo nodded in affirmative.
"Shu said that there are too many people here, and it will only bother him. So he decided to take a little 'stroll'." Miyuki sighed.
Tatsuya chuckled. "Well, that's what I expected from him." He patted Miyuki's head while his sister just pouted.
The crowd suddenly erupts in cheer as someone that all of them knows step onto the platform, Saegusa Mayumi. The cheers got so loud that the holographic screen pops up the 'Please be quiet' sign.
The crowd quiets down as the sound of counting down begins.
Beep!
One red light.
Beep!
Another red light.
Beep!
Mayumi and another competitor get into the shooting stance.
Beep!
Four red lights… everyone is watching with bated breath.
Bing!
Hundreds of flying saucers are immediately launched left and right. Just like having an aimbot, Mayumi simultaneously pulling the trigger of her Rifle CAD. The red saucers are continuously getting mow down like flies while her opponent sweated by just trying to even destroy one white saucer.
"Amazing…" Shizuku muttered.
"Saegusa-sempai, the Markswoman…" Miyuki muttered. "She's even faster than the previous year."
Mayumi scores goes up like wildfire while her opponent, Keiko Matoba is struggling to even get past the 35 points mark. After a few seconds, Mayumi lightly toss her rifle up and hold it with her right hand before firing it, successfully destroyed the last flying saucer.
The deep beep noise signals the end of the competition as Mayumi gains a perfect score 100 saucers shot down out of 100 totals.
Mayumi took off her safety glasses before receiving the intense cheering of her hardcore fans. She caught a glimpse of Tatsuya's whereabouts, so she specifically waved towards that direction.
Surprisingly, her eyesight hit the mark as Tatsuya's nonexistence smile adorns his facial features. Only Miyuki noticed this as she is smiling to herself.
Later that evening…
"Cheers!"
The women of the student council shouted. All of them are holding a plastic cup, unfortunately they are not old enough to drink alcohol.
"Chairwoman, congratulations on the Speed Shooting event!" Azusa smiled.
"Thank you! Mari also made it to the Battle Board Semi-Finals as well." Mayumi smiled.
Mari nodded happily. "It is quite easy, but I predict that it will be much harder from now on."
"We have such a great start this season. Our Speed Shooting men's team also passed the qualification round too." Mayumi declared happily.
"That is true, but Battle Board for men was a tough one. But Hattori managed to survive though." Mari said.
Azusa tilted her head while frowning. "It looked like the adjustments of his CAD weren't working."
"He's been tweaking it with Kinoshita from the technical staff all day, hasn't he? Hopefully he will get better results." Suzune sighed.
"Fortunately, Hanzo-kun is off tomorrow, so he'll be able to tweak it all day tomorrow." Mayumi said before adopting a thinking posture. "But come to think of it, Kinoshita has to be the engineer for the Women's Crowd Ball event tomorrow, doesn't he?"
Suzune smirked. "He's a sub engineer, so I think without him we'll do fine."
"Isn't it risky to just leave it for Izumi to do the job?" Mari asked.
"Well then, how about asking Shiba to fill in? He's off both tomorrow and the day after." Suzune suggested.
"That sounds like a very good idea! Let's contact him now."
Mayumi walks up to the TV screen and press the contact buttons. She slides down to the room with the name 'Shiba Tatsuya' before pressing it.
"Connecting to the room, please hold…"
Beep… Beep… Click!
"Hello?"
"Ah, Tatsuya-kun! I kinda- UWAWAWAWA?!" Mayumi thrashed around while blushing furiously as the communication is connected. Azusa just fell face-first on the bed before passing out while Mari and Suzune also blushed before looking away. Miyuki is trying to hide her face behind her hands… but she can't help herself but peek out by using the space between her fingers.
"What? Is something wrong?" Tatsuya asked emotionlessly.
"What are you two doing?!" Mayumi shouted. Tatsuya just look at Mayumi with a confused expression.
On the screen right now, Tatsuya is sitting on the bed… while sitting beside him is Shu Shirakawa half-naked. The insane man is obviously holding a CAD device in his hand while there are some scars present on his body, mainly his arms. He is well-built, maybe not as firm as Tatsuya's but definitely considered as an eye candy. The thing is, both of them are in quite an intimate looking position.
"Checking my CAD of course? Why all of you are flustering?" Shu raised his eyebrows.
"CAD?! Then why are you like that?!" Mari pointed at Shu.
"I have to check that he is compatible with the device, or else he might experience physical pain in the process." Tatsuya replied.
Mayumi and Miyuki let out a relief sigh while Suzune just cleared her throat before regaining her composure.
"So, why are you contacting me at this time?" Tatsuya asked.
"Shiba-kun, we wanted you to fill in as the engineer tomorrow." Suzune requested.
Tatsuya frowned a little. "Aren't Kinoshita-sempai is in charge of that?"
"Well… he'll be busy tweaking Hanzo-kun's CAD so I think you are the more suitable choice!" Mayumi smiled.
Tatsuya nodded. "Understood. I will be there."
"Thank you! Well, let us leave you two alone so you can continue where both of you left off." Mayumi giggled.
Tatsuya's eyes twitched as Miyuki joined in on the giggling contest.
"Oh, you won't be laughing for long if you are alone with me in a room, Miyuki-san." Shu said with all seriousness before smirking. "I can promise you that your laugh will be change into… something more fitting."
Miyuki immediately stops before shaking uncontrollably. "I-Idiot! Baka baka baka!" She throws a pillow at the TV while flopping on the bed with steams blowing out of her ears.
Tatsuya facepalmed. "Anyway, since that is all, I'll see all of you tomorrow." He immediately cuts off the communication.
Suzune and Mari just sighed as Mayumi pokes Miyuki on her shoulder.
"Uhm… Miyuki-san, are you okay?" Mayumi smiled nervously as Miyuki's face is redder than a tomato.
Meanwhile…
"I hope you aren't serious about what you just said."
"Oh? I'm totally am, only if she wants to that is." Shu smirked foxily.
Tatsuya faceplanted hard on the wooden desk. "Like father like son…" He thought as he compares Kokonoe with Shu.
"All joking aside, do you think it is possible?" Shu asked with all seriousness.
Tatsuya turns grim. "Alchemy is a very new subject. It should be fine considering your current status… but if there are any drawbacks, it might be catastrophic." He sighed.
In truth, Shu didn't come here just to check his 'dummy' CAD that he will be using in the competition. Sure he can just use the excuse of being an Ancient Magic user, but that might be more troublesome. The true reason that he came here is to ask Tatsuya on a certain advice, implantation of Relic-like objects in human bodies.
"Where would you find such host objects anyway? It must fit a lot of requirements and you must not fail the Alchemic Transformation…" Tatsuya narrowed his eyes.
"Let me worry about it. I already have an idea about where I can get those samples anyway." Shu said.
Tatsuya nodded before he closes the analysis program. Shu puts on his shirt and lab coat before muttering short thanks before heading towards the exit.
"Oi."
Shu turns around a little.
"You better not be reckless."
"Aw, I didn't know you care." Shu snorted.
"I don't. But if something happens, Miyuki will be very sad." Tatsuya said with all seriousness. "If you die, I will personally drag you back from the dead to kill you again myself."
"I have no intention to die just yet. I still have a lot of things I wanted to do." Shu waved dismissively before leaving.
The room instantly got filled with silence as the annoying friend left. Tatsuya sighed before opening a case which contains a metal-like sword object.
"Maybe… just a little…" Tatsuya muttered to himself before he shook his head and goes back to work on this new device.
(Second day of the Nine School Competition)
Location: Crowd Ball Venue
Tatsuya woke up very early in the morning, since it is his usual routine. He grabs a small size breakfast before heading towards the Crowd Ball competition stadium to check up Mayumi's CAD.
"It looks fine, but there are also some parts that can be improved." Tatsuya thought to himself as he added a few functions and custom programs to the CAD.
"Tatsuya-kun!"
"Sempai, good morning."
"Uhm!"
The playful vixen also wakes up early for her usual warm-ups. She is wearing shirts and skirts that exhibit sports-related themes.
"Mayumi-sempai, are you going to compete in that?" Tatsuya asked.
"Eh?" Mayumi looked down on her skirts. "Does it look strange? Is it not fitting?" She looked a little bit troubled.
Tatsuya snorted lightly before smiling faintly. "It's not like that. It suited you very well."
"Really? Thank you!" She smiled before starting her warm-ups.
Both dwells in the comfortable silence, the only sounds that they can hear are the sounds of Tatsuya typing and Mayumi's shoes grinding lightly on the grass.
"Ne, Tatsuya-kun, can you give me a hand?"
"Hm?"
Mayumi kind of needed someone to push her a little so she can finish her full-body stretch exercise.
Tatsuya nodded before approaching Mayumi who is sitting on the grass. With gentle force, Tatsuya pushes Mayumi until her hands are able to reach her toes.
"…Strawberry?" Tatsuya thought as he caught the scent of Mayumi's hair. It's not in the fruity strawberry category, but it's a pleasant, light, and sweet scent. The two stayed in the same position for a minute or so before Mayumi muttered a thank you.
Tatsuya helped Mayumi up before muttering 'you're welcome' while the jolly girl smiled at him.
"You know, I'm kind of upset." Mayumi muttered.
"Eh?"
"Usually people will act all tense, flustered, or distracted around me… but you, Tatsuya-kun." Mayumi turns around while smiling faintly. "I've never seen you do those things. It kinds of upset me a little."
"If I could express such emotions, then I already would've…" Tatsuya thought. "Sempai, please don't be upset. It's just my nature, I'm just not easily flustered or tense, that is all." Tatsuya reassured Mayumi.
"I see… thank you, Tatsuya-kun."
"Don't be, I did nothing." The corner of Tatsuya's mouth curved up a little. "Well then, I would like to check on other athletes. Please excuse me, Mayumi-sempai." Tatsuya bowed.
"Uhm! I'm counting on you!"
But before that-
"That's not necessary…"
Tatsuya and Mayumi turn around and see a girl in her ponytail and engineer staffs' uniform.
"Ah! Izumin!"
"Saegusa… I told you to not call me by that…" Izumi Rika pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Izumi-sempai, what did you mean by that?" Tatsuya asked emotionlessly.
"Oh… Shiba-kun, you go on and watch Saegusa's match. I'll take care of the rest." Izumi said in a tired tone.
"I see… understood."
"See you." Izumi replied tiredly before walking away.
Mayumi just sighed at the girl's antics, she really needs to lighten up sometimes. The Elven Sniper walks to her Crowd Ball CAD to take a look at it.
"The upload is still not finish, please wait for another 5 minutes or so." Tatsuya said as he typed furiously on the virtual keyboard.
"Eeehh~ Are you tampering with the activation sequences?" Mayumi said slyly but with hidden seriousness in her voice.
"No, just some debugs and stuff."
"Hmmm~? Will you promise me that you won't alter the activation sequence? That would be problematic for me." Mayumi asked.
"Rest assured, I promise that I will not be altering the activation sequence."
"Thank you!" Mayumi smiled.
After 30 minutes, both athletes are ready to compete. Both of them step inside a cubicle room which the wall is in greenish color but it is still transparent for people outside to observe the situation inside.
Ready.
Mayumi focuses on her senses.
Set.
Mayumi breathe in before breathing out calmly.
Go!
Mayumi's opponent, Misato Yamagami from the Seventh High School begins the first serve. The ball is sent towards Mayumi with high speed. The Elven Princess closes her eyes for a split second before opening it and fires her CAD.
She is able to instantly deflect the ball back to her opposition with even higher speed than before. Misato Yamagami stands no chance as she completely unable to respond against it.
"T-This is…" Mayumi can feel it… the efficiency of her CAD is improved dramatically. "But that also means that… Tatsuya-kun." Mayumi is a little bit mad... to be able to increase the efficiency of her CAD to this level, Tatsuya must obviously changed the activation sequence. It is good for her… but it makes her a little mad, that he decided to lie to her.
The match continues for about 10 minutes before it ended. Saegusa Mayumi has the complete victory against the poor girl from the Seventh High. She immediately exits the room and approach the emotionless man.
"Tatsuya-kun… what's the meaning of this?" Mayumi narrowed her eyes.
"Hai?" Tatsuya is confused. Mayumi just lightly hand over her CAD.
"You changed the activation sequence…" Mayumi muttered.
"I did not do such thing, Mayumi-sempai." Tatsuya answered with a straightface.
"But if you didn't, then how can-"
"Some part of the activation sequence is not a requirement. I just took out the part that doesn't need to be there out, so the processing time is faster." Tatsuya answered in all honesty.
"I see…" Mayumi is kind of in a disbelief state. It is her who wrote the activation sequence, but with the help of the aid-program. Looks like manual entering of the codes are a lot more efficient, but without enough knowledge, it is impossible for her. "I'm sorry for accusing you for such thing… Tatsuya-kun."
"It can't be helped. There is no need for you to apologize." Tatsuya shook his head lightly.
Mayumi stroke her chin intently before snapping her finger. "I know! As a token of appreciation, let me sing another song for you!" She said excitedly.
Surprisingly, Tatsuya doesn't instantly deny her. He just smiled and nodded with hidden anticipation. Knowing that it is the sign of acceptance, Mayumi smiled brightly before both of them headed to the First High's technical staff section.
(Third Day of the Nine School Competition)
Next morning comes faster than everyone thought. Yesterday, after all the competitions were over, Tatsuya's friends visited him in his room. He uses that time to give Leo the new 'toy' that he's been tinkering around, the Weaponized-Integrated CAD. Other than that, there is nothing worth mentioning.
Today, the first competition is the Semifinal Second Race, consist of Makahiko Hidaka from Ninth High School, Risa Kuroki from Seventh High School, and Mari Watanabe from First High School.
On your marks.
…
Bang!
Mari Watanabe immediately distances herself ahead of the competitors, but this time, she ain't going too far as one of the competitors catch up to her like a shark on feeding frenzy.
"As I though, she is tough." Tatsuya commented as almost everyone expresses their disbelief. Two days ago, they saw Mari single handedly won the race by 'miles', but today… is a different story.
"The Seventh High is well-known for their experts regarding the water… they are even called the 'Seventh High of the seas'." Erika muttered.
"This is the same matchup as the last year's final round too…" Honoka said in awe.
Both rivals accelerated a little before slowing down as they are about to reach the curve section of the water track.
Almost instantly-
"Hm?" Tatsuya jerked up. He can clearly sense the foreign magic on the competitor's board. Risa Kuroki seems to increase her speed more than she originally planned… at this rate, she will not make the turn in time. She will crash into the wall.
"Over-acceleration?!" Erika shouted.
Almost everyone's eyes widened as Risa Kuroki is losing her balance.
"That's…" Tatsuya's eyes widened as he turns towards Shu. His friend shook his head, saying that he cannot do anything at this point. Tatsuya thinks for a second before nodded reluctantly, but in understanding manner.
On the water track, Mari's eyes widened as she looks back and see her rival launches off from her board with high velocity. Mari immediately uses her CAD to slow down the speed of her rival and successfully catches her… but-
"Huh?!"
Mari instantly feels the sudden shift of the water wave beneath her board. It instantly took her off-guard as she also got launched towards the concrete wall.
The spectators screamed as Mari and Kuroki crashed into the concrete wall and slide for a few feet before coming to a stop.
"I'll go down there, you guys stay put!" Tatsuya half-shouted as he immediately rushes down.
"T-Tatsuya-san, wait-"
"Don't worry, he knows what he is doing. Watanabe-sempai is also fine." Shu reassured Honoka.
"How did you know?" Erika asked regarding Mari's current well-being.
"Despite that she collided violently against the thin concrete wall, she decelerated herself low enough to avoid the critical injuries. I also secretly decrease her momentum a few seconds before she crashed into it, so she'll be fine." Shu answered with all honesty.
Honoka growled. "If you can decrease her momentum, then why aren't you stopping her from colliding?!" She asked furiously.
Shu just turned and look at the petite girl boredly. "If she abruptly stops in mid-air due to outside interference, they will investigate more into this matter. We will be the potential target for 'disqualification for intentional outside interference'. It might also lead to some serious matters such as, discredited of the school, or players banning, etc." He explained.
"T-That's…"
"Before you act, you must think of the following consequences. The exception is when the consequences aren't really matter, then feel free to do anything you wish." Shu said in a scolding tone.
"Uuuu~" Honoka fell depressed.
Miyuki lightly poke her boyfriend on the shoulder. "C'mon… don't be too hard on her." She muttered.
Shu sighed. "That's not my intention…"
"Thank goodness! The medic team is here!" Mizuki said as all turn their attention to the newly arrived Medic Team. Tatsuya is talking to the paramedics while they gently lifted up the two injured women onto the stretcher after temporary-mending both of their fractured ribs together with magic.
During this time, the racer from the Ninth High passes the finish line and will be competing in the final round. Both Mari and Kuroki are taken away from the scene while Tatsuya is following them. Since the hospital is not far away from this location, all of them can rest assured that Mari will be fine… more or less.
Location: Susono Base Hospital
It's been hours since the accident, both Mari and Kuroki are moved to the Susono Base Hospital where they will have full medical attention. Mayumi is currently staying in Mari's room. The injured woman has a lot of bandages around her chest and her head.
"Ugh…
"Mari?"
The injured woman is waking up…
"Are you back with us? Do you remember who I am?" Mayumi asked with a lot of concern.
"…Mayumi? W…What are you talking about? There's no need to ask me something like- Ugh! Gggh!" The pain sears through Mari's body as Mayumi flinched while having a concern expression on her face.
"Is this… the hospital…?" Mari muttered.
Mayumi smiled nervously. "Yes… it's the hospital on the Susono Base, just few minutes from the Hotel. She sighed in relief. "Thank goodness that there seem to be no mental damage…"
Mari instantly tries to sit up. "Oh no no! You can't get up just yet! Your ribs are fractured!" Mayumi half-shouted.
Mari sighed before going back into her original position. The doctors used magic to hold Mari's fractured ribs together, but it will take some time to heal. Estimated time of full recovery is one week, but the fractured ribs should be healed in five days. Mari is a little bit perked up that she will be able to compete because her recovery will be done in 5 days… but Mayumi suggested that it is not worth it to trade her health just to compete in Mirage Bat Competition. Despite that her ribs will be healed, but the pain will not go away just yet… if Mari decided to compete in Mirage Bat, the pain will definitely get in her way and blocked her from her full potential.
"…Can't I just take the anti-inflammatory pills before competing?" Mari asked depressingly.
"Mari, you don't need to worry… we'll be able to gain the overall victory even you can't make it… please take this time to rest up." Mayumi smiled with hidden concern.
Mari nodded reluctantly.
After that, Mayumi asked Mari about being hindered by third-party interference. Mari confirms that she actually got sabotaged by a third party, because the waves beneath her board shifts unnaturally which caused her to lose balance. Mayumi said that Tatsuya and others also agree with her speculations and are holding the analysis as they speak…
Location: Fuji Royal Garden Hotel, Tatsuya's Room
"You sure work fast… Tatsuya-kun." Kei said as he observed Tatsuya's analysis.
Tatsuya sighed. "The waves beneath Mari's sempai shifted inward unnaturally… It is definitely from the outside interference. The question is, how and why."
Kei, Kanon, Tatsuya, Miyuki, and Shu are analyzing Watanabe Mari's 'accident'… though the evidences say otherwise.
Knock Knock!
Kei and Kanon looked at the door with surprise expression. Miyuki walked towards the door to let Mikihiko and Mizuki enter the room.
"Let me introduce my classmates. This is Mikihiko Yoshida, and Mizuki Shibata. I've requested them to come here to help solve the riddle of this whole situation." Tatsuya said.
Mizuki and Mikihiko bowed politely before introducing themselves while Kanon and Kei do the same.
"Let's return to the subject at hand." Tatsuya said.
Kei nodded. "It is impossible to cast spell from outside the waterway from being detected, since the security details are incredibly high… and for the operatives to hide under the water is also impossible since you cannot erase your presence completely when you are surrounded by water. It is possible that the operatives used delay magic." Kei gives his speculations.
Tatsuya nodded. "But it also is unlikely, because it is impossible to perfectly execute such small interference to cause this much impact. They cannot predict where Watanabe-sempai's will be either." He said.
"Tatsuya… do you think that it might've been Spirit Magic?" Mikihiko asked.
Kanon and Kei is a little surprised before Tatsuya explained that Mikihiko is a magician that is highly-skilled in Spirit Magic category while Mizuki is very gifted with exceptional sensitivity to Pushions and Psion.
"Is it possible to do such thing?" Tatsuya asked.
"Yes."
"Even for you?"
Mikihiko nodded. "As long as I'm familiar with the ley lines of that particular location, it is possible…"
"So, you are saying that if you are familiar with the alignments of the places that contain spiritual presence, you will be able to send your spirit through that line to sabotage the competition?" Tatsuya asked.
Mikihiko nodded. "But with that said, casting such spell through ley lines are not enough to generate power to do anything… even if you are able to disrupt the water surface, it won't be enough to knock Watanabe-sempai off balance. If the Seventh High player didn't accidently over-accelerated, it wouldn't have been more serious than a kid's prank." The Spirit Magic user sighed.
"Heh, if only that is an accident."
Almost everyone's eyes widened at Shu's claim.
"Do you really think the Magician that exhibit such skills and can keep up with Watanabe-sempai would possibly make such a beginner mistake such as an over-acceleration?" Shu raised his eyebrows.
Kei and Kanon agreed… there is no way that the 'Seventh High of the Seas' will make such a mistake.
"To conclude this… it means that the Seventh High Player's CAD has been tampered." Tatsuya gives his speculation.
"But that's?!" Kanon stuttered.
"It is possible, but how? All the schools keep their CAD under strict lock and key… the people that could've tampered with it can only be the engineer of that school…" Miyuki muttered.
"But why would the engineer in that specific school, sabotage their own player?" Mizuki muttered confusedly.
Tatsuya stroke his chin. "Just once, all CADs are taken out of each school's keeping and handed over to the tournament committee members… it is highly possible that they are the one who tampered with the CAD."
Kanon and Kei silently gritted their teeth. If this is true, then this will be a lot more problematic than they originally thought.
"If you really want, then I can be the guinea pig."
"Eh?!"
Everyone muttered as Shu volunteered himself.
"That is… a very solid idea. Since he will never use his CAD in anyway, it won't even matter if his 'dummy' CAD got tampered with." Tatsuya thought.
"Truth be told, I am an Ancient Magic user so to speak. Originally, my CAD is just to enable me to use other magic than Gravity-Magic." Shu half-lied. In truth, he doesn't need any CAD to cast any different magic. But it would take him more time to cast other magic type.
"That might work."
"Tatsuya?!" Mikihiko shouted in disbelief.
"Don't worry, I'll also be observing when the tournament committee took Shu's CAD away. I'll also observe the situation when anyone got their CAD taken away by the committee." Tatsuya said.
Kanon sighed. "…Be careful, you two understand?"
Shu and Tatsuya nodded.
(Fourth day of the Nine School Competition)
Next Day...
Yesterday, the hospital had to discharge Mari because the woman refused to stay in the hospital, but wanted to return to the competition ground. The Student Council decided to elect Miyuki to compete in the official Mirage Bat tournament. Despite Miyuki's younger age, it is possible to let her enter the official division as a backup player. Tatsuya also supports the decision, so Miyuki is now officially the player of Mirage Bat Official Division.
Other than that, today is the beginning of the Rookie Qualifying Matches. Shizuku and Honoka, both got an incredible result thanks to Tatsuya's engineering skills. Eimi and Kazumi who also compete in the Speed Shooting competition also yield a very satisfying result as they passed the Qualifying Round with flying colors. The University of Magic also approaches them, because they wanted to register the magic that Shizuku used in her Speed Shooting Competition. Tatsuya as always, refused to have his name registered as the founder of the magic, which infuriates Mari to no end.
But the main attraction of the event… is here… the Ice Pillar Break Contest Qualifying Round for Men. The stadium is packed, especially with the Third High students… to see the person who is rumored to have killed the Crimson Prince's comrades back in the Invasion of Sado. Prior to this, Shu sent his CAD to the tournament committee for scanning while Tatsuya just standby and observe, both of them sense nothing foreign after the scan. They will be keeping an eye out during the Official Division Competition scanning procedures.
"Welcome to the Ice Pillar Break Competition for men! First Qualifying Match, Third High vs First High!"
"Introducing the player from Third High, Jin Kanto!"
The Third High crowd erupts as a man with golden hair slowly ascended to the platform. He is wearing a Third High School uniform with a black outer blazer jacket.
"Introducing the player from First High, Shu Shirakawa!"
The Third High crowd is silent as their so called 'enemy' makes his appearance. Shu is wearing his usual lab coats while dressing casually.
On the First High section, everyone is watching with intriguing expression.
"Let's see what he is made of." Mari commented.
"C'mon Mari, don't be rude." Mayumi smiled nervously.
Suzune just sipped her tea from the heat-proof bottle while Juumonji is watching intently. Miyuki is confident that her boyfriend got this in the bag, but she didn't think that the Sempais will decide to watch this match.
"Mayumi-sempai, I thought all of you would be relaxing or doing something else considering that today is all of your day-off." Tatsuya commented.
Suzune sighed. "We are kind of curious about your friend, Tatsuya-kun. After this, we'll be going back to calculate the points and work on the strategy." The treasurer replied.
Mikihiko and Leo are also curious about their friend's abilities. Usually Shu would just use normal gravity manipulation to solve problems.
"Hey, it's starting!" Erika exclaimed excitedly as the silence adorned the stadium.
Beep!
Beep!
Bang!
The Third High player immediately presses his CAD. Multiple magic sigils appeared under all of the Shu's front row ice pillars. The pillars shook violently as the cracks began to form.
"That's not good!" Leo muttered.
The four front ice pillars are thoroughly cracked… but the pillars… are still standing.
"W-Why?!" The Third High player, Jin presses his CAD again, but nothing seems to happen. "You! What did you do?!" He shouted to Shu.
Shu stays silent as he just stared at Jin with emotionless eyes.
"Answer me, dammit!" Multiple magic sigils appeared beneath Shu's ice pillars on the middle row. The same cracks happened on them, but they are still standing.
"You are… specialized in the Oscillation Magic-Type aren't you?" Shu raised his eyebrows. "If that is true, then unfortunately, you will not be able to win."
"What?!" Jin shouted.
"He's a cocky one, isn't he?" Mari narrowed her eyes.
"That might be partially true, but he is right, Watanabe-sempai." Tatsuya interfered.
Mayumi is curious. "Eh? What do you mean?"
"Oscillation Magic involves the vibration of waves and molecules. But what if the object or target cannot be vibrated, then it serves nothing." Tatsuya explained.
Juumonji nodded. "He is holding the pillars together by manipulating the gravity around them. The cracks may be formed, but it will not move since the gravitational pull is holding all of them together."
Jin is furious. He tries to use everything in his arsenal, even the Air Bullet, but he is not specialized in the category, so he can only use the weak version of it, which only chips away a little piece of ice.
"Well then, is that all of your abilities?" Shu asked. The insane man usually has an uncommon level of curiosity, he is willing to stay still to observe his opponent thoroughly. "Don't be stingy, show me everything."
"Damn you!" Jin shouted as all of Shu's pillars shook violently. But nothing still happens.
Shu sighed. "It seems, that this is all that you can do." He tries to sense where Masaki is. "Found you, Ichijou." Shu thought as he looked at the middle section of Third High seating area.
"I shall let you witness the appetizer…" Shu smirked maliciously towards Masaki's position.
The Crimson Prince automatically gritted his teeth as his nemesis stared at him with those evil-filled eyes.
Shu slowly thrust his hand forward before his body is engulfed with Psion. Multiple gravitational waves form around Shu's right hand before they are continuously being compressed into a small sized globe. It is in a darkish purplish color before Shu brings both of his hands around it as some sort of purple electric waves surrounded it.
"What is that…?" Mari questioned.
"Gravitational Waves compressed into a form of ball, he is forcefully making it unstable…" Mayumi muttered.
Juumonji grimaced. "What are you planning to do?"
After a few seconds, Shu thrusts his hand upwards as the large globe of chaotic gravity energy flew high in the air before it instantly dissipated and divided into hundreds of smaller basketball-sized gravity globes.
"What the…" Mari stuttered. Everyone jawsdropped… especially Jin who is experiencing this first hand.
"By just a little help and understanding of gravity manipulations… I hope you like the result, Kanto-san." Shu smirked.
"S-Shit Shit Shit!" Jin immediately reinforced his own ice pillars with Weight Magic in the desperate hope of surviving the counterattack.
"Graviton Cannon! Fire!" Shu brought down his right hand swiftly as hundreds of gravitational compressed globes rained down on Jin's ice pillars. The Oscillation-expert shielded his eyes and gritted his teeth as numerous explosions occur on the field.
The audiences have to close their ears from the deafening roars of the explosions and destruction. Smokes filled the arena as the explosions have ceased.
Shu sweatdropped. "Okay… that was kind of an overkill. Looks like I need to stop being too enthusiastic." He ruffled his hair tiredly.
The smoke slowly dissipates as the end result is clear to everyone. All of Jin's ice pillars are completely annihilated. Numerous craters are formed on the ground, the repair teams will not enjoy fixing this… at all.
Winner! Shu Shirakawa!
The arena stays in absolute silence as the screen displays that Shu Shirakawa is victorious. Jin fell onto his knees before staring at Shu with the look of disbelief. The insane man just bowed a little in respect before his platform lowered down.
"He is talented and skilled. It's just unfortunate that my Magic-Type completely counters his." Shu shook his head disappointingly before entering the athletes' locker room.
"Uhm… what's wrong everyone?" Miyuki asked as everyone except her brother is sitting as still as a rock.
Juumonji cleared his throat. "Nothing Shiba-san, I think they are just a little bit shocked by your boyfriend's power display."
"Eh? Didn't all of you already know the extent of his power?" Miyuki asked Mayumi and other sempais.
Mayumi slowly shook her head in negative. "We… We knew about his unique abilities to manipulate gravity… but not to this extent."
"We thought that he is a perfect candidate for Ice Pillar Break, since gravity manipulation is very useful for this type of competition… who would've thought that he could do such a thing…" Suzune muttered.
Mari just stays silent as Leo and Mikihiko return to their senses.
Tatsuya sighed. "And they don't even know the one fourth of his secrets yet… they are clearly not ready for the truth."
Unknown to most people in the arena, there is a suspicious person watching the entire match. He immediately calls someone on his phone before walking away.
"Masaki! What should we do?"
Ichijou Masaki is furious. The First High has a huge lead on them, and apparently his archenemy is competing against them…
"Leave Shu Shirakawa to me, I will be facing him in the Ice Pillar Break Competition anyways… we must discuss about another matter." Masaki said with all seriousness.
Everyone flinched back a little as Masaki seems to be angry but they decided to say nothing.
"You mean the First High Speed Shooting players?" One of the Third High engineers asked.
Masaki crossed his arms while nodding. "Kitayama is the only one that I see as an obstacle regarding her magic skills. The other two, they are not quite exceptional in my perspective. If it were only regarding the magic power, there's no way that First High would've swept the second and third place along with the first place from the Speed Shooting Competition."
"We also have the edge in the Battle Board Competition so far. I don't see that First High have many of those talented players that we cannot beat." George said.
Masaki nodded. "That's right, it means that there is another factor at play here."
"Engineer, is it? I'll bet that the engineer in charge of those girls' speed shooting must have mind-blowing skills." George commented.
"Exactly… just like Kitayama's CAD, it is clearly a generalization-model." Masaki narrowed his eyes.
"T-That's impossible… but it had auxiliary sights!"
"Yeah, I've never heard of a generalized device in rifle form!"
Two girls argued.
"I also never saw anything like that in any manufacturing catalog!" A male engineer added.
"True that it is not on the market yet, but there actually is such a thing as a generalized device with integrated auxiliary sights... a cutting-edge technology unveiled last summer in Düsseldorf, Germany." Masaki explained.
"However, the prototype that they unveiled last summer is a failed experiment because the sluggish operation and low accuracy… the engineer who somehow made it work today, is not any normal engineer." George snorted tiredly.
"Yes… that engineer is not a normal high school student." Masaki stands up while grimacing.
Everyone is taken back by George's and Masaki's claim. "Is that engineer… that good?"
George drums his fingers on the table. "It should be impossible for one engineer to be in charge of every single event…"
"Whatever matches that engineer is working on, we'll be facing an uphill battle…" Masaki muttered as everyone turns their attention to him. "Along with that demon, Shu Shirakawa…" Masaki silently gritted his teeth.
Location: Chinatown, Yokohama
Five men are sitting in front of a round table which is on the highest floor of the Yokohama Grand Hotel.
"Oi! Wasn't the Third High supposed to be the front-runner for the Rookie competitions?"
"After going through all the troubles of removing Watanabe from the competition… at this rate, First High will end up winning…" A fat looking man said in disgust.
"If the favorite wins, as bookmakers… we'd be the only losers!" A well-built man grimaced.
"We also got a lot of crowd this year… if we lost, then it will surely put a huge dent in our business this term… and if that happens, all of us here will be purged…" Another guy in businessman suit gritted his teeth.
Smack!
The fat man smacked the table. "Depending on the size of our losses, the boss might just do the deed himself…"
"If it were only a matter of dying… then it will not be this…" The one who is wearing a tuxedo sighed.
Crank!
The door suddenly opens.
"S-Sir!"
"Didn't I tell you to not disrupt the meeting?!" The executive who is wearing a tuxedo shouted angrily.
"My apologies sir! B-But you have to take a look at this now!"
A screen appeared before the five men flinched back as their eyes widened in fear.
"T-That's!"
"W-We need to, to tell the boss!"
The two executives panicked as the screen shows the video of Shu battling against Jin in the Ice Pillar Break Competition.
"Calm down all of you!"
The two executives flinched as one of their colleagues shouted. Their leader… Richard Sun, gives them a very valuable information… the real identity of the Cosmic Horror. Their boss also warned that if they are approached or obstructed by this particular person, immediately fall back and stay low. But it seems like one of them has a different plan.
"It is true… that the boss told us to stay away… but think about it! If we could get rid or capture the Cosmic Horror and get him to our side, what would the boss reward us?!" The tuxedo-wearing man shouted.
"T-That's…"
"True… but…"
"It will not be easy! But this is our chance to be promoted to even far better position! All of the losses won't matter if we succeeded!"
The two executives sighed tiredly.
"Let's not act harshly… how about we waited it out for a little… then we will decide on what we will do…" The fat man offered.
"…Fine."
The No Head Dragon is planning something… something big…
End of Chapter 13