Chapter 3

"That's impossible" In the large office of Director Minori, in the center are two sofas facing each other, separated by a coffee table, on one of the sofas is Professor Tagayashi Gen, the blacksmith of Maken. He is a tall man with messy orange hair, dark blue eyes, two scars on his left cheek and a goatee. He wears a white headband, a dark brown leather jacket over a light green shirt, black pants and white and red rubber shoes. On the other sofa is Inaho and me. On the coffee table, the small metal box and above all an awkward silence settles after Gen's statement.

"Gen, it's a shame but it's the truth!" Minori decides to intervene.

"Hey !? It doesn't matter that it's 10 years old! This "Keronbo" element detector is by far my best invention!"

"Even if Aki thinks it's just a piece of junk?"

"Come on ! A genius can't afford to be picky about material! In any case, only three people could not be identified, right!?"

"Well Inaho-chan already has his own maken... the other one on the other hand is one of the three! The problem is that..."

"Um, I have a question." sensing boredom coming, I decide to speed up the discussion. "Is it that bad not being identified by the detector?"

"Indeed yes!"

"No not really..."

Both teachers answer at the same time.

"My pride as a blacksmith pro... Mm-mm"

"Put aside his pride! Didn't I tell you that you are given maken according to your skills with the elements?" Minori cuts Gen off by putting her hand over his mouth.

"Yes during your speech... but it's only by choice, so it doesn't seem like such a big deal." I explain, not seeing the problem.

"Of course! And since you signed up, it's our duty to provide you with what you're looking for, right? Of course, you don't necessarily need it, you precisely. You are able to use your magic circuits, so that's fine, but what about those who are not able to manipulate their elements?" Minori explains, still blocking Gen with her hand. "What makes a school worthy of the name is the freedom offered to students. That's why ours offers a lot of freedom! Because of that no one leaves this school even if there are many fights! But it is true that they are mainly caused by monster summoners! Of course, duels are an integral part of these fights!" She explains, releasing her hold on Gen.

"I have a question..." Inaho interjects. "I know that to start a "duel", you need the agreement of both combatants... as long as one of the opponents does not agree, the duel will not take place right?"

"Hmmm, although I don't see the point of fighting without real conflict..."

"You say that knowingly, don't you Senji?" asks Minori as she approaches me and puts her index finger on my nose.

I nodded, not wanting to dig into the subject.

"Well, you should also know that we live in a dangerous and violent world and that it usually causes fear, frustration etc. in some people and especially in you, the young people. And often, at your age, the only way to let off steam is to confront yourself, that's how it is. So..." She turns to Gen.

"Yeah?"

"Do you know the structure of his maken?"

A big proud smile appears on his face.

"Who do you think I am? Thanks to Aki using this "keronbo", I've already gathered enough data for the maken. Just give me a month !"

"Even with your nice words, I'm not convinced you can do it," Minori said with a grimace.

"What!?" Gen surprised, red with shame. "Don't underestimate me, a month is nothing at all ! as a genius... mmf!"

Minori stops Gen from talking with her hand. "Well... like he just said, we have to wait a month, hoping he actually arrives. Okay?"

"Um...yes. On that note, we're going."I said while leaving the room with Inaho.

Inside, Gen looks at the door through which the two students came out, intrigued by one of them.

"Are you telling me that this guy is sensei's nephew?" he asks Minori.

"Uh-huh"

"Huh... that's why keronbo didn't work, with the monster in his gut. But damn, that's not the look of a normal teenager, he must have really had it rough..."

"Indeed, his eyes are almost empty, he tries to hide it, I think it's even become normal for him. That's why I'm going to take care of him."

"Not sure the principal appreciates that you have favorites among the students."

"I'm sure he will understand."

"Hmmm, and this girl has a standard maken doesn't she?"

"Uh-Huh."

Gen comes closer and looks through the window, admiring this strange mountain, taking an unnatural shape. a huge pillar.

"The sacred mountain "Ama no Hara" which once sealed the Yamata no Orochi and the eight maken... Mmm... you know even now I still want to outdo the original eight heh! From now on, I can't let you call my creations mere imitations! I would surpass them even if these maken were created by god himself..."

he says, full of conviction, taking a cigarette that he is about to smoke.

"Gen, I'll leave it to you!"

"Trust me!"

"And also, there is no smoking in the facility!"

At lunch time, on a bench near a fountain, Inaho eats an ice cream, her bento on her thighs, and I look at a list of clubs that the school proposes.

"Even though we're free, they strongly encourage us to join clubs."

"Everyone ended up in a club that related to their elements," says Inaho, his mouth full of ice cream.

"What should I do...?"

"Don't you want to join some?"

"Hmmm, I would rather work to make money... Speaking of which, do you already have an idea of which club you'd like to join Inaho-chan?"

"Yes! I want to join the same club as Senji-sama!" she said to me, right in the eyes, with a little ice cream on the corner of her mouth.

(She...she's really cute, my heart went into a spin.)

"Ah by the way, why do you have to protect me? And the fact that we are engaged..."

"You... don't remember?"

"Hmmm? Inaho-chan?"

She lowers her eyes mumbling unintelligible words.

(I made a mistake, didn't I?)

Then, after a few seconds of mumbling, she smiles and raises her head.

"If you really don't know anything, let's pretend it's a secret then."

"Huh?"

"Try to remember it!"

At the same time, my stomach starts to rumble.

"Ah, that's right, we were late this morning, I forgot my wallet and my bento." I say, thinking about Fuji-nee who made us lose a lot of time...

"Sorry... I already ate mine this morning and spent all my money on sweets...!"

"What seriously?"

"But if you want I can give them to you!" She proposes me, crying of regret.

"Eh!? No, it's okay, the fact that you thought of me is enough for me!" I refuse politely, seeing how much it hurts her to offer me her cakes. "But that doesn't mean I don't like it...and besides, this isn't the first time I haven't eaten lunch."

"Yes... when I was with Bas-sama, there were times when I couldn't even eat bread!"

"Bas-sama ?"

Suddenly, I feel something tapping my right temple, I turn around.

"Haru-nee?" This is Haruko holding two bento in her hands.

"Here's your bento, which you left in the kitchen. Inaho-chan, I guess sweets are not worth a good bento, so I made you another one."

"Ah thank you!" Inaho's eyes are filled with stars, devouring the bento with her gaze.

"Thank you for picking it up Haru-nee. By the way how long have you been here?"

"... Since Inaho-chan said she would keep it a secret! It was from there it seems!" She replies, with a dark look in her eyes. "I didn't want to break the mood so I didn't show up!"

Before sitting down next to me, she notices the sheet listing the different clubs on my lap.

"This is..."

After explaining the situation, Inaho and I attack our respective bento, hungry.

"I see... the clubs huh... and you'd rather work than go into one..."

"Mmm." I nod, mouth full of rice.

For several minutes, Haruko raises the eyes to the sky, thoughtful, waiting that we finish devouring our bentos.

"How about joining the Kenkeibu?"

"Kankaibou?" repeats Inaho.

"Yes! The kenkeibu! It's a kind of brigade that patrols the school!" Explains Haruko. "As vice president of one of the student councils... I owe you a little explanation, don't I? The "Kenkeibu" is an office that helps and supports student councils by solving problems that councils cannot handle! First of all there is another office below the council, known as "Madou Shikkoubu" whose job is to assist the Kenkeibu. The members recruited are 1st and 2nd years! But this group also helps the student councils!"

I'm able to stay focused and take in the information, even though it's hard, especially right after I eat. As for Inaho... we lost her completely... But it's not over yet.

"Although Kenkeibu has been inactive for the past few years because of the decrease in conflict...with the school becoming co-ed, I think the number of problems should increase. As president of Kenkeibu I have made it active again recently! Also I wanted to tell you this... We merged the two groups to form the "Madou Kenki Kikou"... better known as "Maken-ki"!"

(Damn, you could have started with that...)

"Pwahhh !"

"Wahhh !"

Coming out of the bushes behind us, appears the voyeur from earlier.

"Hehe ! I overheard a very interesting discussion!"

We look at him, not sure how to respond.

"Who is he?" asks Haruko.

"I don't know." I reply, feigning ignorance.

"I don't know him either!" Inaho seems to be playing the game as well.

"hey but... we're in the same class, remember ! Inaho-chan too... You total...Hum hum" This time, he turns to Haruko, trying his best smile. "tss hum... Oh, I forgot! It's the first time we meet but you must be the vice-president of one of the student councils, Haruko-san! I'm Usui Kengo, a first year! Nice to meet you!"

He approaches his trembling hand to Haruko... to her chest.

"Haru-nee, look out!"

I approach her to me, by the shoulders, dodging the pervert's hand. I can see her reddened face, embarrassed by the situation, but forgiving.

"Haruko-senpai!" A voice approaches us. We stop looking into each other's eyes and turn our heads to see... Uruchi glares at me.

We separate but too late, the fury jumps on me and tries to hit me, I stop all her moves and block her. Seeing well that she has no chance, she moves back, still as angry against me, but decides to turn to Haruko.

"Haruko-senpai, there's a duel in front of the school entrance!"

"Really?"

"Yes! It is imperative to go there!"

"Did you hear that Himegami-san!?" Haruko looks up at the trees, I follow her gaze to see the said person reading. "Can you perform your job as a maken-ki member?"

"Pfu I was just wondering if anything fun would happen!"

"So Himegami-senpai is also a member of maken-ki? I want to join too!" Usui got excited, his face reddened by the presence of Kodama.

"..." (He never stops this one.)

In front of the school entrance surrounded by a small crowd, two students face each other, ready to fight.

"Oh really?" Ask a tall, muscular freshman with brown hair and a distinctive peaked cap.

And in front of him is Azuki, the redhead who made a nice demonstration at the beginning of the school year.

"If I win, you'll have to agree to be my girlfriend!" announces the big guy.

"Uh-huh! If I win, you'll have to stay away from me, understand? Besides it's the senpai's duty to "take care" of their kouhai!"

We arrive on the stage, with Kodama and Haruko in the lead.

"Excuse us for the delay," Haruko interjects.

"Get out of the way!" Kodama elbows a student standing too close to her.

"Ah, vice president, finally here!"

"Azuki-chan, you again... Well I'll let you do it Himegami-san!"

"I guess I have no choice!" Kodama steps forward, coming between the two fighters. "Have you decided on the stakes for this duel?" They nod in agreement. "Well, let the ceremony begin! At this precise moment, at my side two roads although different cut themselves! In order to discover your own path, in order to prove to yourself your presence here in Kuoh, you must stake your souls!"

"This is the way of the children of the sun !" The three shout in unison.

"We swear on the sky !" Both fighters finish with their fists raised towards each other.

The fight begins, the strong man backs up to guard, but notices that Azuki did not move.

"Huh!? What are you doing? Aren't you putting yourself on guard?"

"For a newbie, you're really arrogant... but I won't need maken to take you down! Bring it on ! " Azuki encourages him to attack with a finger gesture.

"Hmpf, your aura is really powerful... That's what makes your charm but... You're going to regret it !"

He charges, taking advantage of his size, he tries to catch her, but Azuki is too fast, she jumps to dodge, lands on his forearms and sends a right kick to his face. But the impact seems to have hurt Azuki more than the big guy.

"That hurts ! are you made of steel or what?"

"Huhuhu this is my Alter, it hardens my body! My Suchiru "Full metal" !"

He attacks her, but Azuki dodges at the second, tearing her uniform, open in two revealing her bra.

The audience, mostly boys and Usui, shout with joy at the action.

"Hmmm, this guy has a reinforcing alter..." I think out loud.

"And to think that you can do it with simple magic circuits" comments Ddraig.

(My reinforcement magic is not as good as his unfortunately).

The fight goes on as best as it can, while Azuki only parries the incessant attacks of the man.

" Yes, although Suchiru is able to harden a body like steel..." Haruko starts to explain.

"You... How dare you rip my clothes!?"

"S-sorry!"

"It goes without saying that the more solidified the body is, the slower the movements. The fact of hardening a part of the body is called a partial solidification. That's what the new one is doing." Finishes Haruko.

"How do you know all this?" I ask her.

"It is my duty as vice president of the student council to know everything about the students!" she says proudly.

"Referee ! I demand a change!" Azuki approaches Kodama with an embarrassed look. "I want to change my bet ! If I win, I want him to refund my uniform ! and my bra too!"

Kodama looks at her for a few seconds, stunned, then turns to the guy for confirmation.

"I don't mind!"

"Change accepted!"

"Ah-ah, that's all Azuki-san!" laughs Haruko.

But I don't, and she notices it.

My fist clenched and trembling, my face distorted by the trauma of my past.

"Senji-chan?" Worried, Haruko tries to call me but I can't listen to her. 'Does he remember anything about his aunt?'

This particular moment... it was like my aunt before... exactly the same. A fragment of memory from the past, superimposed on the present action.

"Don't... Don't worry Senji-chan! Azuki-san has a hard head!" Haruko tries to reassure me "And then everything is under control, the fight will stop before a casualty, so everything is fine!"

"I... I know that but..."

I try to listen to reason, but my body refuses, I must act, instinctively, I must save them...

"Hmm !" Caught off guard by his assault, Azuki reluctantly decided to back off, looking for another strategy. 'Damn, this partial solidification...! If I use a normal attack, it will still harden! but... when I attack, only the affected parts of the body harden! If it is indeed the case... I should concentrate my attacks only on his arm!'

"What's up?" asks the guy with a big smile.

My body acts on its own, I move forward, seeking to resolve the conflict. But the 3 girls block me, preventing my action.

"Stay there" Kodama orders, her hand in front of my face.

"Don't move from here Senji-chan !" Haruko adds, threatening me with a shinai at my throat.

"Interrupting someone in a duel is not something another student should do." Explains Kodama.

"And it's very dangerous! As Haruko-senpai said, the duel is mastered, so there is nothing to fear! So..." begs Inaho, clinging to my back, her arms around my body..

"I know but..." (That's right. My aunt must have done the same thing... that's why she died. But I...)

"Partner, we have a problem." Ddraig intervenes, bringing me to my senses. "The scene is observed by mischievous eyes."

(Huh? Where?) I look in the crowd, looking for the said people, but impossible in this visual and auditory din.

"I can't say, but they're not there just to observe, so get ready to attack."

I activate the magic circuits of my left arm, ready to act. Seeing me agitated, but for something else, the girls are worried, looking around, not understanding.

In the center, Azuki is out of breath, not sure how to win.

"huhu, you've already reached your limit?" the guy remarks.

"Eh?"

"If that's the case then it's over for you ! I was thrilled with this fight!"

He goes for the final blow but both of them stop and turn around, sensing an external aura.

Suddenly, a ball of energy, coming from the crowd on the other side of our position, falls in an arc, right on the fight in progress.

Seeing this, Kodama acts immediately and alerts the spectators and the two fighters.

"Attention! Outside attack approaching, evacu... !"

I don't let her finish, I rush to place myself between the two, where the impact will take place. I activate my magic circuits, remembering infinite swords in a desert lost in my dreams. I create one, a simple sword, black handle and guard, steel blade. Knowing full well that it will break on contact, I reinforce the blade with my magic, making lines of blue light appear on it. With the flat of the blade, I deflect the trajectory of the attack, sending it back into the air and exploding right after, creating debris and dust thrown around.. The contact still destroys the blade and pushes me back violently.

"Uwaaahhh !"

"Senji-chan !" "Senji-sama !" I can hear Haruko and Inhao shouting my name.

While falling, I pass all near Azuki, who dodges me in time.

"Tss !"

On the other hand, the big guy is completely confused.

"Shit! what happened?"

Coming out of the smoke, Azuki jumps on him and grabs his head, preventing him from backing up.

'She's fast!' "Solidification !"

"It's useless ! I don't care who you are... Because you're talking shit!"

She strikes a knee directly in the jaw, which knocks him out on impact.

"OH!" Despite the chaos, the crowd applauds Azuki's performance.

Once again focused on his role as referee, Kodama turns to the fighters.

"Um... I confirm... winner Shinatsu Azuki!"

"Just because he talks too much, he forgot to harden his mouth!" said Azuki, exhausted on the floor. "And on top of that I had an idiot helping me!"

I stand up slowly, feeling my left arm extremely hot.

"Hey !"

I look up and see Azuki looking at me with contempt.

"Why did you step in? Is it fashionable or what among the newbies to crash other people's duels?"

"You tell that to the anonymous people who attacked you, I saved you, that's all."

Her eyes darken. But she doesn't answer and walks away, leaving me on the ground.

(So Ddraig, do you still feel their presence?)

"No, they're completely gone."

I look at what is left of the crowd, but nothing out of the ordinary... then I turn my gaze to the crater left by the explosion.

(Their objective was really to kill huh...)