Chapter 57

Saturday, February 11, 2023.

The vacations have begun, finally allowing us to breathe after this trying week. And yet the whole Maken-ki team is back at school, finishing the last of our reports and preparing the next ones for the start of the new semester.

But thanks to this, we received our grades for the first three days in advance, and one of them was an exam on control and precision in using our energy, which I obviously failed completely, only being able to use my powers in a raw way.

"What?! You missed this exam, but it's so important!" Haruko reads the provisional report card.

"Well, I did what I could..." I raise a defensive hand.

And then I'm not the only one, Minerva completely failed the science test and the Filian sisters slept on the math test.

"Well, Monday is catch-up day! Did you know? If you fail, you'll be staying here for the whole summer vacations to attend refresher courses!" Haruko explains.

"Wha?" The Filian sisters say at the same time.

"Hmmm... This vacation isn't about us anyway!" Said Yan Min, stretching. "We won't be here after the first term!"

"That's bad..." Haruko reflected. "If the president were to find out..."

"What's going on?" Said person suddenly shows up.

"President!" Haruko is surprised.

"Well, it passes for Minerva given that she's only just been transferred but..." Furan watches us with some annoyance. "At this rate, the Maken-ki's reputation is going to take a hit! Not to mention, of course, some of the people who these days bring in manga and other entertainment items!"

But nobody listens to her, either because they're busy drawing, reading manga or sleeping.

"...Everybody listen up!" Seeing this, Furan raises her voice. "It's decided, regarding this make-up exam, if any of you falls below 60, I'll ban the bringing of any distracting items into this room and the Kenkei room!" She said, slamming her hand against the desk, smoke billowing from it.

"Um, excuse me president but..." I raise my hand. "There's no way I'm going to pass it, so it might be wise to remove me from this punishment..."

"...It's true that you're a very good student apart from when you're asked to manage your energy. And I heard Minori-sensei say that she's trying to find a solution for you, which leaves no doubt that you have a handicap. But don't you think this is a good time to find a solution?" Furan says, half-judging me.

"You're right, but to do it in one day..." I scratch my head, unable to say anything.

"Senji-chan..." Haruko looks at me, apologetic.

"Minerva please, if I can't read my manga I... I!" Kimi throws herself into Minerva's arms, crying.

"And you can't read them at home?!" Furan asks.

"But, the catch-up is on Monday afternoon, right?" Minerva reminded.

"Huh? Okay, I'll do my best!" Kimi remotivates herself.

"Impossible." Inaho pauses, as she reads a cat manga with the Filian sisters.

"Oh, how about we study all afternoon tomorrow?" Usui suggests.

"All together?" Haruko asks.

"Yes, so you can help us with our revisions. Besides, it's better than doing nothing, I think!" Usui explains.

"Pfft, and I'll have to join in too I guess, what a waste of time..." I'm talking to myself.

"Well Senji-kun, I must admit I'm a little disappointed, I thought you were much more combative than this, is this catching up really impossible for you?" But Furan heard me.

"Me combative...? You're wrong president, and yes, I simply can't use my powers without being able to control it." I let out a sigh.

"?" Furan raises an eyebrow at my words.

"That sounds like a great idea!" Minerva approaches, particularly pleased with this proposal.

"Ohhhh!" Usui exclaims. "As I expected from you, you're really understanding!" Usui murmurs.

"Thanks to you! You sure know how to handle, Kengo!" Minerva replies.

"What are those two up to?" I wonder, seeing them acting strangely.

"Do you think they are planning something?" Haruko asks.

"Sounds like it to me, knowing the characters."

"Hmmm, I'm really starting to worry here!" Haruko exclaims.

"Minerva! Good luck!" Demitra said with a smile, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you!"

Minerva's smile seems to surprise Haruko, a fact not lost on Yan Min and myself.

"I suppose this is the first time you've seen Demitra smile." Said Yan Min. "She's capable of that facial expression, but only with people whose power she recognizes!"

"Senji, please take care of Minerva." Demitra asks me with a smile.

"Um, yeah no worries, but why me?" I ask in turn.

"Because we're going to your place, buddy! See you tomorrow afternoon, leave the door open!" Usui waves before storming off.

"Obviously it's going to happen at my place... Oh you tell me, Fuji-nee will be happy to help."

"Um... Demitra considers Senji strong too?" Haruko asks Yan Min.

"Hm? Oh, go figure, it's either that or it's something else, isn't it Demitra?" Yan Min calls to her with a smirk.

"I don't know what you're talking about..." Demitra tries to deny, her cheeks blushing slightly.

"Huh?" Haruko froze at the sight.

"Bah no need to be embarrassed, I'm just like you." Yan Min said as she stood up. "Look at him, straight, serious, intelligent, muscular, despite the fact that he's small in stature, that doesn't take away any of the charisma he exudes and look at that ass, I want to..."

"STOP! Don't talk like that about him behind his back!" Haruko stops her from speaking.

Hearing Haruko's scream, I turn around to see them blush at my gaze.

"Something tells me I was right not to hear anything." I sigh, leaving the room.

Sunday, February 12, 2023.

It's 2pm when the entrance bell rings.

"Oh! It's probably them!" Inaho stands up with Monji in her arms.

We follow her to welcome them. It's Minerva, the Filian sisters and Usui who enter, all shy, but when the sisters see Monji, the shyness has disappeared to be replaced by cuteness. Inaho gives Monji to Aililu, who melts with happiness, while Lilu plays with Monji's paws.

"That Monji, a real ball of energy!" exclaims Kodama, who wasn't too motivated for today.

"He gets on well with everyone apparently." Minerva observes.

"Yes! But his favorite people are still Inaho and Senji-chan." Haruko explains.

"so you weren't fucking kidding. You're really living under the same roof as all these beauties!" Usui snaps at me.

"The house is pretty big, so Minori-sensei didn't leave me much choice." I try to explain.

"Raaah! It's driving me crazy!" But he doesn't listen.

"Well, how about we start working?" Haruko announces, guiding everyone into the living room.

When we slide open the door, Asia welcomes us with tea and cakes.

"I've prepared a few things to help you, I hope you like them!" She said.

"Oh! Asia-chan, you're adorable! I love you!" Kodama exclaims, helping herself without a moment's hesitation.

"Hm? Fujimura-sensei's still not here? Wasn't she supposed to help us?" Inaho asks me.

"...She backed out, claiming she had important things to do." I say, starting to warm up.

"I see... too bad!" Inaho exclaims.

"Otherwise, if you're looking for me I'm in the garden." I warn.

"Okay, good luck Senji-sama, I hope you make it!" Inaho encourages me.

I nod and leave the house. I pick up a stool and some empty bottles, place it in the center of the garden and begin to concentrate.

"I thought you weren't even going to try." I open my eyes to see Usui approaching.

"Well... what Furan-senpai told me worked on me all night, so I'd like to at least try, again." I explain, clenching my fists.

"Ok, if you're motivated it's already not bad, so precision and energy control, eh? You want to use the bottle as a target?"

"Yes, I want to be able to at least lift it."

I let out a long sigh, before raising my hand to the bottle. My magic circuits activate all over my arm. I concentrate on the bottle, connecting my energy to it, desperate to lift it, and suddenly I do so from one side.

"Hey!" Usui is astonished, before dropping it again. "...You... Are you kidding right now? Levitating light objects using your energy is basic, buddy, especially since the bottle's empty."

"I know..." I sigh.

"I thought you'd do better, you're a brilliant student but when it comes to practice, you're no longer able to do anything, or at least you do things big. The element brings together the thoughts and feelings of all things, you could liken it to breathing. It's the combination of our internal energy that we use to manipulate the energy of the world. If you take notions like Ki and breath control, these are things that are normally innate, but for most of us asleep. But it's important to know that breathing and Ki can also be transformed into elements." Usui explains. "To put it simply, today even without having to use a magic object like maken, you can manipulate elements in their raw state, or even energy, strengthen your body etc... But if you use a magic object, then everything becomes simpler."

"Yes, magic objects are charged and become more powerful thanks to our energy, but this puts a strain on the body which, over time, can have serious consequences." I add.

"Yep. Now if you understood that you should pass tomorrow's test without a problem. If you set aside the powerful, invisible psychic powers possessed by Himegami, if you're a student of Kuoh, then this exam will be a formality. Even a girl with a broken heart can manage to concentrate and pass the test with flying colors."

"Heartbroken? Don't tell me..."

"Hey, I didn't do it!" He stops me. "I accidentally overheard this thing while I was watching the girls take their exams. It was a coincidence."

"Yeah... by the way, why were you there?"

"Um..."

"Excuse me!" Minerva raises her hand.

"Minerva, do you have a question?" Haruko asks.

"Yes, I have a question for all three of you. Do you love anyone?" She asks, blushing.

"What?!" Haruko is surprised.

"The boys aren't here, so it was obvious we had to bring up the subject! Himegami-san, please begin!" Minevra points at Kodama.

"Why me?" She said, slightly embarrassed. "...Oh, well, there was someone in my life once, though it was an impossible love..." she confesses wistfully.

"Who was...?" Haruko is about to ask, before being cut off by Kodama.

"More importantly, these two on the other hand, have crisper stories to tell!" Kodama announces, hinting at Haruko and Inaho.

"Huh!?" Both turn red, startled.

"That's it! I already knew it was him..." Minerva said.

"No! I don't see Senji-chan that way!" Haruko tries to defend herself.

"It seems to me we hadn't mentioned who it was." Kodama points out, embarrassing Haruko to the point where she can no longer function.

"...Yes. I love Senji-sama!" Inaho exclaims with a big smile.

Haruko wakes up, wide-eyed.

It's past 7pm, night has fallen and I'm still in the garden, trying my best to succeed.

"Haaa... fuck... haaa..." I can hardly breathe, my body and magical circuits are on fire.

"..." Usui sleeps peacefully.

(Damn... I'd never make it...)

"Why don't you try it with my Sacred Gear?"

(We're not allowed to use magic objects...)

"Just to try, see if you can make it and maybe find a solution."

(...Okay, maybe that's a lead.)

But before I could try, Usui began to fidget and mutter unintelligible words, before waking up, looking around.

"What the...? Is it dark yet?" He rubs his eyes before turning to me, surprised. "Wait, don't tell me you're still at it?!"

"Well, I still haven't succeeded."

"...It's crazy. Do you realize what you're telling me? You've been training for 6 hours straight. Nobody has that much energy." He scratches his head. "I can see why you're having such a hard time, with so much energy inside you, no wonder you're having such a hard time controlling it."

"It's a bit more complicated than that, but yes, that's the idea..."

"Hmmm... I hope for your sake you find a solution, because if you don't, you'll never make it to the test and it'll be even worse for the rest."

"I know... Speaking of tests, you seem to have passed them all. So what are you doing here? Are you here to give me a hand or are you here for something else?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"I wish I could say I'm sad you doubt me but, you know me. Indeed, if I've come, it's for this moment." He said proudly, flexing his chest with a mischievous grin.

"Hm?" I listen, hearing nothing at first. Suddenly the girls' laughter is heard, I look towards where it's coming from to see through the bathroom window the light on. "Don't tell me that..."

"That's it, the moment I've been waiting for has finally arrived, you've actually made me remember to thank Minerva for it, on that note, I wish you good luck, because I'm off to see paradise!" He took off running, grinning like an idiot.

"This guy... Well, Chiyo-san must be on her guard, so I've got nothing to worry about. So back to this..." [BOOST] I appear the gauntlet, feeling my power rise.

I reach for the bottle and charge my magic circuits, focusing my attention on it. The energy flow is much simpler, as if carried by the aura of the gauntlet. I then turn my attention to the bottle, desperate to lift it. I manipulate the energy around the bottle as best I can, grabbing and lifting it, crushing it too.

(I did it! What the?!)

"Argh!" Suddenly, I release the pressure, feeling as if I'm gasping for breath.

(It's so hard... but at least now I see the problem.)

"And what is it?"

(The fox demon's influence prevents me from using my energy correctly, forcing me to activate all my magic circuits to let all the energy I have flow, even if it means using my nerves, which causes me to tire much faster and risks serious injury, even for life. But with the Sacred Gear, its influence is reduced, giving way to yours, allowing me to manipulate the elements a little better. Now I need to find a solution without the Sacred Gear...)

"Yes! Why didn't I think of that before!" I exclaim, making the gauntlet disappear.

"Partner?" Ddraig wonders.

"Despite the fact that the bathroom is small for five people, we all got in just right!" Minerva said, washing Haruko's back.

"Where has Himegami-san gone?" Haruko asks.

"She said she had something to retrieve!" Replies Inaho in the bathtub with the Filian sisters.

"You have some beautiful things here mademoiselle!" Suddenly, Minerva groped Haruko's breasts.

"Kyah! Stop Minerva! You sound like an old man!" Haruko shouts in surprise.

"Hehe, by the way Inaho, are you planning on confessing to him how you feel?" Minerva asks, stopping to touch Haruko.

"...No, not at the moment." She replies, sinking her whole body into the water.

"Huh... why?" Minerva is surprised.

Haruko breathes a sigh of relief, then widens her eyes, realizing what she's just done.

"Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and the day after that... I don't know what can happen, who knows what tomorrow will bring, that's why we have to make the most of the present moment! I like things as they are now, that's what I'd like to say, but every time I look at Senji-sama, I feel so sad... I don't know what happened in detail, but he's deeply marked, he has no self-esteem, I'm sure that if I confessed, he'd reject me, thinking he doesn't deserve to be loved. That's why before I want to help him, I don't want my emotions and feelings to confuse him even more." Explains Inaho, smiling bitterly.

"Yes, Senji-chan is still very mentally unstable, but it's our role as his friend to help him, to make him understand that he's loved and that we support him, even if he still finds it hard to understand that a little." Haruko adds.

Minerva nodded without saying a word, remembering Senji when they were together a few years ago, an empty-eyed child, distrustful of everyone, afraid of contact with others, with very few emotions.

Unaware of this, the girls are listened to by Chiyo, from the garden, listening attentively. She puts her hand on her chest, a growing sense of sadness and discomfort. But she doesn't have time to deal with it as she sees Senji's friend quickly arrive. Chiyo stands up and grabs him by the feet with two tentacles, lifting him up and holding him upside down in the air.

"Arrgh! Chiyo-sama!" Usui is startled.

"Kyah! Usui!? What are you doing here?!" Haruko can be heard from the bathroom, clearly annoyed.

"It's all right, Haruko-chan, I'll take care of it." Tell Chiyo.

"Ah, I see..."

"Thank you Chiyo-sama!" Said Inaho.

"Now I'm not even going to ask you why you're here, because the girls warned me about your outrageous behavior toward them. So I'm going to take you back to Senji-kun." Chiyo walks away from the bathroom.

"No! Please stop! Senji is still training, we mustn't distract him! And since you know me, I'll be honest! Let me through, it's my only chance, it's Minerva who prepared everything! Please!" Usui shakes in the air, unable to do anything.

"Like I'm going to believe that."

"It's the truth! Noooo! I was this close to seeing happiness!"

"Instead of using the element, I'll just use the earth energy with the blood pointer." I explain.

"Do you think it can work? You have to inhale it and hold it to use it."

"Indeed, I also have to pass it through my magic circuits to use it, but the fox demon's influence is much weaker, since it's not my energy."

I get back into position, take a deep breath and activate it. I suck in the energy around me, feeling it flow into my magic circuits. I reach for the bottle, and with enough concentration, manage to lift it, holding it for several seconds, before having to release it, my head spinning and my nose bleeding.

"Wow... Okay, I did it... But it was horrible..." I catch my breath.

"It's a lot of effort for a very mediocre result, so you can forget about this technique right now, you'll be using it tomorrow and then it'll be over."

"Yeah, it's not worth it..."

"Wow man, you did it, bravo..." I turn toward Usui's voice, to see him dangling by his feet from Chiyo's tentacles, advancing toward me.

"Look what I found near the bathroom window." She says to me, abruptly releasing Usui, falling to the floor.

"Ouch, yeah it's deserved... Ahhh, I've got blood to my head now." He stands up, tapping his body to remove the dust. "Can I go and pour myself a glass of orange juice?"

"If it's a feint to go check out the girls..." Chiyo glares at him.

"No, I promise I'm really thirsty!"

"Go ahead, I'll catch up with you anyway." I tell him, finishing my bottle.

"Thanks man, I'll pour you a drink too then!" He enters the house.

"This guy I swear... and to think he rose in my esteem during the practical exam..." I sigh, wiping away my sweat.

"Senji-kun..." I turn to Chiyo, whom I see clearly hesitating. "Is... Do you see me as your girlfriend?"

My body freezes, my eyes widen, I'm taken by surprise by this question. It's true that everything happened so fast between us that I didn't even have time to think about it.

"...You know, everything is still very confused in my heart and in my head. I'm still in constant conflict with my emotions, this life I have right now, these relationships I have with you and my comrades, these are things I never thought I'd be entitled to. I'm afraid of this happiness, afraid of destroying everything, of ruining everything we've built up, I don't deserve any of it, and I feel that if I lose myself in it, then nothing would make sense in my life. And yet..." I take her hand, which surprises her. "When I'm by your side, Chiyo-san, I feel like being selfish, wanting more and more, because it's the first time I've ever received so much. So yes, even if I'm still unsure, you're my girlfriend in my eyes, even if I don't yet understand all that this relationship implies, I also want to do my best, just like you do... even if..." My hands begin to tremble, Raynare's face haunting my mind.

Seeing this, Chiyo takes me in her arms, affectionately patting my head.

"Everything's fine Senji-kun, the process will be long, that's for sure, but little by little, I know you'll be able to heal yourself, I'm sure of it."

"..." I say nothing, closing my eyes, enjoying the warmth while it's still there.

Monday, February 13, 2023.

It's the end of the day and we've just received our marks for this afternoon's exam, which was a success for everyone. Minori-sensei even drew a picture on my exam paper, writing a big 100 next to it.

"Ha... well the Maken-ki's reputation is saved but... That's just mean! Why didn't you invite me?!" Shiria asks, hitting my head in frustration.

"Ah, but that's because you weren't there. Can you stop now?" I put my arm forward, forcing her to stop.

"It doesn't matter, let's go study sex education instead!" She takes my cheeks in her hands, bringing our flushed faces very close.

"Heeey!" Haruko jumped at this.

"It's gotten even worse..." Furan sighs, seeing everyone enjoying themselves.

Suddenly, kunais fly across the room, planting themselves in each of our tables.

"Attention everyone! Please be quiet during the meeting! Understood?" Yuuka asks, kunais in hand, with a warm smile.

"Yessss!" We all answer together.

"Tss... always true to yourself, Yuuka-san. I'm no match for you!" Furan said. "Then we'll finish the meeting regarding the end-of-term ceremony!"

Vol. 10 End.