Maidens of Cygnus - Volume 1 - Chapter 12

Chapter 12 – April 16th

Newcomer recruitment week reached its end yesterday and calm has been restored in First High’s after schools.

After the end of classes, Marika went to class A’s classroom to meet up with Alisa briefly before separating again at the entrance of the building.

Alisa’s destination is the preparations building.

And Marika is headed to the Second Small Gymnasium. Commonly known as ‘Arena’, the slot today was allocated for the Martial Magic Arts Club.

Marika took her club admission form in her hands and a change on clothes in her bag and went to the Second Small Gymnasium with determination overflowing in her eyes.

“Excuse me!”

Marika opened the door of the small gymnasium, stopped, loudly greeted and vigorously bowed her head.

“Tookami-san!” “You’re joining us!?” “I’m so glad you’re here!”

One after the other, the female club members shouted their welcomes that sounded like cheers.

The President of the women’s section, Kitahata Chika, whose suspension from club activities has ended, walked up to Marika as a representative of the club.

“Tookami, I trust you’re joining the club?”

As usual, her tone and speech could be mistaken for a boy, along with her gallant expression.

“Yes, I plan to. But before that!”

Marika increased the intensity of her look towards Chika.

“Oh, what is this?”

At this point, Chika already seemed to understand what Marika wanted to say, her lips happily curved up.

“President Kitahata, I request your guidance on a move!”

“Guidance? You mean a bout, right? Isn’t that what you wish, a serious, real bout?”

Her eyes filled with bloodlust, Chika glared at Marika.

Marika didn’t waver at all.

“It’s fine if you understand it that way.”

Marika didn’t give an energetic reply, but one with the toughest tone she could, fitting for a serious bout.

Chika let out a short laugh.

“— Tookami-san. You really are the best.”

She summoned a nearby second year female club member and ordered her to take Marika to the locker room.

 ◇ ◇ ◇

“Juumonji-san.”

Alisa was called out at the entrance of the preparations building by a male student who came from inside.

“Kagari-kun.”

The voice belonged to Joui, who had left the classroom ahead of her. She had heard from him that he joined the Mountaineering Club. Alisa also heard from Aki that Joui joined the Club Activities Group. Him being in the preparations room is likely because of one of those reasons.

“Are you here for the club admission form?”

“Yes. I’d like to go to the Crowd Ball Club’s clubroom.”

Alisa had nothing to hide, so she relied honestly and took the opportunity to ask where the clubroom was.

“You’re joining the Crowd Ball Club!?”

Joui was surprised, which must be because he knows the current situation surrounding the Crowd Ball Club.

When Alisa looked at it objectively, she understood the club is on the verge of being downgraded into an association, so she wasn’t surprised nor upset by Joui’s reaction.

“Ah, sorry. The Crowd Ball clubroom is upstairs on the right side of the second floor, second room from the back... It might be tough, but do your best.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Alisa gave Joui a light bow and went upstairs.

She turned right in the second floor’s corridor. Seen from the school building, this is the left side of the preparations building.

(Ah. This is the Magic Arts clubroom.)

The first room after turning right was the Martial Magic Arts clubroom.

Judging from what happened the other day, Alisa found it unlikely she would end things by just submitting the club admission form. The idea of her best friend carrying out a dojo storm[21] was slightly amusing to her.

Quickly walking, she went deeper down the corridor and stood in front of the clubroom she was told.

On the front door was a sign saying ‘Crowd Ball Club’. It seems the information was correct.

“Excuse me.”

“Coome iin... It’s ooopen.”

After the slugging reply, Alisa quietly opened the door.

“I would like to join this club.”

Then she calmly announced her wish to join the club.

“Eh, Juumonji-san!?”

Inside the clubroom were the Club President, Hattori Hatsune, and a bright-haired female student that Alisa hadn’t seen during her observation the other day.

“I was already thinking you wouldn’t come. Wait, you’re joining?”

“Yes. Please treat me well.”

Hatsune looked at her like she couldn’t believe it an Alisa presented the club admission form she prepared in advance.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Is getting new members usually not this simple? — Questioning the situation in her mind, Alisa nodded with a smile while maintaining her position of holding out the club admission form.

Hatsune must have finally understood it was real, as she quickly snatched the form.

“Woow, I’m so happy. I would have never expected to get two new members at once.”

And Hatsune must be overwhelmed with emotion, as she looks about ready to cry.

(Two new members?)

Which means the girl over there is also a first-year newcomer.

Alisa made eye contact with the female student to greet her.

“Nice to meet you. I am Sengoku Hiyori from class D.”

But she was quicker than Alisa.

“Ah, yes. It’s nice to meet you too. I’m class A’s Juumonji Alisa. Looking forward to working with you.”

Alisa hurriedly introduced herself.

“Yeah, likewise.”

Hiyori is a little flashy in her appearance, but her attitude is quite pleasant.

Alisa was a little surprised at the disparity between her gaudy looks and her behavior, but she knew that Hiyori must also have had a similar way of seeing her.

◇ ◇ ◇

When she faced Chika the other day, Marika was wearing a normal gym uniform, but today she was dressed in a formal Martial Magic Arts bout-style outfit.

Overalls with highly elastic long sleeves, and headgear with a visor for eye protection. Light protectors to guard the knees, shins and forearms. It’s the style that was introduced at the same time as the completely thought-operated CADs were authorized.

Only the headgear and CAD were borrowed from the club’s equipment (as newcomer week is over, the student’s personal CADs are kept in a room by using an automatic counter at the entrance, with the exception of some students). Everything else is Marika’s belongings. So only one of them wore a different style of overalls. Because of this, when she returned to the floor, she truly had the ‘dojo stormer’ feel.

“Chigusa, I’m going to need some space.”

“Sure, sure. You’re not going to listen no matter what I tell you anyway, right?”

Marika recognized the boy who walked up and spoke to her. It was the same one who stopped Chika last time by pinning her with her arms behind the back, though it was by surprise from behind, the men’s division President, Chigusa Tadashige.

“Men, stop your practice matches and make some room. This is an exhibition match between the women’s division President and a middle school champion. Everyone, line up and watch.”

Chigusa ordered the boys and girls to line up next the wall and sit in seiza position.

Seeing the club being rounded up like that, and setting aside their strength in Magic Arts, Marika thought that president Chigusa looked like not just the leader of the men’s division but also of the women’s division.

“I will be the referee. Is that okay with you two, Kitahata, Tookami-san?”

“Oi, Chigusa. Why am I ‘Kitahata’ and the first year ‘Tookami-SAN’?”

“President Chigusa, you may address me without honorifics.”

Chika and Marika shouted at Chigusa one after the other.

“You two are peas in a pod, uh... Two Kitahatas, give me a break, man.”

Chigusa let his lamentations come to the surface.

“Hey, what did you mean with that!?”

Chika shouted at Chigusa.

“It means exactly what it means!”

Chigusa shouted back at her.

“Tookami, it would be good if you don’t imitate Kitahata.”

And then he spoke to Marika, begging her.

“I don’t get what that means, but I’ll be careful.”

Despite being brought up suddenly, Marika responded without slipping up.

Chika looked dissatisfied, but not to the point of anger, while Chigusa’s face showed his relief.

“Both of you, take positions!”

But as Chigusa said that, all three stiffened their expressions.

The Magic Arts ring is similar to an amateur wrestling ring. There are no ropes, no fences, nothing that acts as a wall. The floor is not tatami, it is made of wooden boards with a soft cover. Though it is soft, it is not cushioned.

As for the main difference, it has unrestricted size. There is no shape either. The ring’s boundaries are what the venue allows. In this case, the boundary line is the observing club members.

Marika and Chika were facing each other, with Chigusa between them.

Chigusa took a step back.

There was nothing obstructing the two anymore.

Chigusa raised his right hand as much as he could above his head.

“Fight!”

He yelled out while swinging his hand down.

Marika and Chika simultaneously headed to their opponent.

The opening of the bout was a lead punch by both of them.

But neither of them connected. The left-fist lead punches had similar reach and were both blocked by the protectors on their right arms.

Chika grabbed Marika’s right hand and pulled her. If she falls forward here, a knee strike will be waiting for her. Marika extended her right arm to counteract her opponent’s pulling force, and just before it was fully stretched she swinged the arm down to release herself from Chika’s left hand.

Chika’s left hand went up as a result. Marika went for a right middle kick. But Chika’s arm was quicker to return. Marika’s kick was knocked away by an elbow. Without the protector on her shin, Marika might have been the one to take damage.

Marika still had her leg in the air from the kick when Chika went for a tackle.

Marika dodged it by jumping on one foot. This jump was not achieved by the strength in her leg, but by her magic.

Marika went over Chika’s head and unleashed a kick as if she was trampling on her.

But in the next moment, Marika’s body was sent flying. This was the effect of a vector reversal barrier set up after accurately predicting the trajectory of her kick.

Marika landed on her feet without losing her stance.

A small commotion ensued, but silent soon returned. Offensive and defensive moves of this degree are normal in Magic Arts. More important than that was not missing the next clash, the club members staring at the two opponents while holding their breath.

Marika and Chika moved at such high speeds that eyes could not follow them. Until then it had been just a test, but now their speed has become so high that they’re leaving afterimages.

At times, a dull sound could be heard, it must be the sounds of bare-knuckled punches. They were both running at such high speeds that there was no time to kick, even if magic was used. Even if they tried to grapple the other, they simply couldn’t catch them. Which means this bout had become a simple fist fight.

The one to move the situation forward was, as expected, Chika.

Chika suddenly stopped moving.

Having no time to suspect a trap, Marika, as if she was lured in, went for a right straight punch.

It was definitely a trap.

Marika’s right straight punch aimed at the head was dodged with ease, as Chika reached with her left arm.

She didn’t go for a cross counter.

Chika used her left arm and neck to trap Marika’s arm.

Marika had been cautious to protect her face from a cross counter and couldn’t react quickly enough.

Chika continued her lock on Marika’s elbow.

Marika rolled forward to try to escape from the submission move.

But instead of rolling forward, her body floated upwards.

At the same time that Marika kicked the mat, Chika invoked a magic to reduce gravity.

The effect of the magic only lasted just under a second.

But Marika was already floating hopelessly in front of Chika.

Chika jumped up with the strength of her legs.

Her kick hit Marika directly in the hands, which were wrapped around her head to protect it during the roll.

Marika’s body fell into the mat.

Though the head was protected by the hands, the power of the kick would have normally shaken her skull.

But Chika immediately released a follow-up magic. She had judged from the resistance on her kick that Marika suffered no damage.

Weight-Type Magic ‘Repulsion Shot’. This magic could be called the expanded form of ‘Repulsion Knuckle’, it is a technique that forms a repulsion field around the fist and gets released by a punching motion. Chika unleashed the repulsion field and hit Marika, who was trying to stand up, directly.

But Marika stood up, not affected by it at all. Her body was cloaked in a physical magic shield. It was Marika’s single-body armor magic inherited from the ‘Toogami’, ‘Reactive Armor’.

Marika’s shield is for defending against things with a material form. However, a force field created with magic can’t continue to exist at the same coordinates as a more powerful magic force field. Chika’s ‘Repulsion Shot’ was erased by a shield with properties unrelated to it, Marika’s ‘Reactive Armor’.

Marika charged at Chika, still clad in her single-body armor magic.

◇ ◇ ◇

Not counting Alisa and Hiyori, the newcomers to the club, and Hatsune, there was nobody else in the Crowd Ball clubroom.

“Our club members don’t turn up much.”

That question was probably obvious from their expressions. As Hatsune carried a tray with three teacups filled with black tea, she explained as if she was making excuses.

This clubroom has a simple kitchen. Not just this room, apparently all the rooms in the preparations building are furnished with one. It appears it was planned so people would be able to hold informal meetings and parties. The tea was brewed in that kitchen.

“So far you two are the only new members. It’s a bit desolate, but do get along.”

When Hatsune said that, Alisa and Hiyori looked at each other and bowed lightly, without any particular reason.

“...I am completely new, but do you have any experience with Crowd Ball, Sengoku-san?”

It felt like they were about to stare at each other awkwardly in silence, so Alisa avoided that by starting a conversation.

“I have... some experience.”

Hiyori showed some hesitation in her answer.

“It’s fine to call me Hiyori. Also, we’re in the same year, so if possible I want you to speak frankly with me.”

Alisa had no problems with the proposal to be frank with another student of the same year.

“You can call me Alisa too.”

Alisa replied with a smile, and Hiyori made a gesture similar to a sigh in relief. Contrary to what is expected from her flashy appearance, her personality seems far from brazen. — But the idea that people who are flashy on the outside are brazen is probably prejudice, right?

“Well, I said I have experience, but I only dabbled in it in a little. I’ve mainly played tennis, so I don’t think there is much difference between you and me.”

“Is that so? But if there’s something I don’t know, please tell me.”

“Of course, if you’re fine with me.”

I feel I can get along with Hiyori. From that short conversation, that was the impression Alisa got.

◇ ◇ ◇

The bout between Marika and Chika would soon reach the ten-minute mark.

Martial Magic Arts bouts have essentially no time limit, but bouts rarely last longer than ten minutes. The fatigue on both participants was starting to show.

Chika’s exhaustion was particularly noticeable, maybe because she is used to bouts that finish within ten minutes.

Marika was pushed away by Chika’s front kick, but she regained her stance right away and jumped forward.

Instead of getting closer with her footwork, she took a leap to get within range and just as she landed she used a landing jab as a surprise attack. Marika’s vertical fist caught the middle of Chika’s chest.

There were small shouts of ‘Ooh!’ from the audience. That was Marika’s first clean hit, a serious blow just above Chika’s heart.

Chika staggered back.

Marika gave chase, closing the distance once more.

Chika threw herself onto the mat and arrested Marika’s legs with her own. She tried to stop Marika’s attack by taking her down with a flying scissors[22] maneuver.

But Marika promptly activated her single-body armor magic and instead of falling, just stumbled forward half a step.

Marika raised her foot.

To avoid being trampled on, Chika stood up and distanced herself using movement magic.

She stomped on the mat and took a small leap. Marika used movement magic as well and got closer.

Chika threw herself backwards and caught Marika, who was approaching from behind, in the abdomen.

Chika’s feet were also protected with a material magic shield. It doesn’t last very long, unlike Marika’s, but it was enough to protect herself during this contact.

When Chika’s back hit the mat, she thrust her legs up.

She went for an overhead throw[23] without using her hands.

The two repelling forces from the magic shields were added together, sending Marika fluttering way high in the air.

She tried to regain her position midair, but she didn’t have enough time and landed on her hands. If she hadn’t used magic to decelerate, she would have slammed against the mat. — Though even if that happened, the magic shield enveloping her body would have prevented any damage.

Marika jumped up from her crawling position and began an aerial forward somersault kick. She literally did a forward somersault in the air and tried to strike her opponent with the heel of her foot. This was a bold move, but Chika dodged the surprise attack with her defensive body movements.

But Marika’s attack didn’t stop there. She didn’t land after her first revolution, doing another one midair.

That time, instead of rolling straight forward, she twisted her body in the middle and span backward to look at her opponent and deliver an overhead kick. But this attack was blocked by a cross block.

Marika was still floating upside down when Chika tried to hit her with a front kick. Chika’s right foot slipped through Marika’s block protecting her face and struck directly in her chest, sending Marika flying.

Marika fell with her stomach to the mat. She absorbed the impact of the fall with both hands and then kicked the mat and hit Chika with a handstand half-twisted forward somersault.

“Stop!”

But right after that, the referee Chigusa stopped the bout.

Marika instantly realized what happened and turned to Chigusa with a surprised expression.

“Technical knockout. The winner is Kitahata!”

Chigusa gave them his cruel judgement, to which Marika involuntarily fell to her knees, dejected.

There are four ways to conclude a Martial Magic Arts bout. The first is a ten-count knockout. If someone is unable to stand up within ten seconds after the referee declares them down, they are defeated. The ten-count is not counted by the referee, it is measured by a clock.

The second is being unable to fight due to a stranglehold. This isn’t just when they faint, but also when the referee judges that it would be difficult to continue the bout.

The third is defeat by declaring that they give up. This also includes abandoning the bout midway.

And the fourth is a technical knockout by point difference. In Martial Magic Arts bouts where magic is used, it becomes difficult to reach a conclusion by knockout if one athlete stays inside a magic shield. Therefore, a point system based on valid blows was introduced and a rule that says a difference of ten points is a technical knockout was established.

Just a clean hit isn’t enough to be recognized as a valid blow, only those that would result in a fighter being knocked out if they were not protected by magic, and one to three points are awarded for each of those attacks, depending on the estimated damage dealt. It isn’t just strikes, throws can also be considered valid blows, but strangleholds and locking techniques cannot.

These judgements are entirely the referee’s opinion. The most difficult part for a Magic Arts referee is judging valid blows, but it is also the most important duty.

Marika sat down, completely exhausted, and before she knew it, Chika had walked up to her and held out her hand.

Marika took that hand and stood up.

“You’re relying too much on your magic shield.”

Chika spoke with her usual manly tone.

“Tookami’s shield is certainly very strong. In a real battle, it might be the greatest weapon. But in a Magic Arts bout, since you don’t realize when you’ve been hit, it can make you lose by TKO because you notice. That’s what happened in this bout.”

That was her guidance as the Club President. It appears she wasn’t just a battle junkie.

“I’ll be more careful.”

“Going forward, I’ll be having you learn how to fight without over-relying on that magic shield.”

“Yes!”

Marika straightened herself and bowed.

“...Still, that was a great bout.”

Marika raised her head vigorously.

On Chika’s face was a smile of satisfaction, that could not possibly be just flattery.

“Tookami. Let’s do that again. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“Thank you very much. I’ll be in your care.”

Chika gave her an unexpectedly seductive wink, and Marika bowed once more.

◇ ◇ ◇

It would soon be 5pm.

“Let’s wrap it up for the day.”

Hatsune stood up after speaking. After her, Alisa and Hiyori also stood up from their chairs.

The Crowd Ball Club does not use the rented courts every day, only three times per week. For today, Hatsune gave them a lecture as their senior, which included things about the club and First High. The first half was certainly a lecture, but the second was mere chatter, ‘high school girl talk’. Even so, it wasn’t a complete waste of time. To deepen a friendship, directionless conversation is needed. This may be especially true for girls.

Owing to that, Alisa got pretty close to Hiyori in this short time. She immediately felt the effects of Katsuto’s ‘make friends’.

The three began tidying up the clubroom.

Alisa collected the trash, like the snack bags, from the stop of the table, and took them to the trash chute in the kitchen.

There, Hatsune was washing a mug she claimed was part of the club’s equipment.

“Juumonji-san.”

Hatsune might have been waiting for an opportunity, as right after Alisa disposed of the trash, Hatsune suddenly whispered to her.

“I already said this earlier, but I really didn’t think you would come.”

“Why did you think so?”

Alisa felt curious and asked.

But she didn’t get a response right away.

“President, I’ve finished cleaning. Is there anything else?”

But not because Hatsune was being secretive. Hiyori, who was sweeping the floor some distance away, asked from where she stood.

“No, there’s nothing else. This is fine.”

“I see. In that case, I’ll be leaving, President. Alisa, see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you tomorrow, Hiyori.”

It appears that Hiyori was going to meet her friends from her class after this. Alisa was also meeting up with Marika, so though they became friends and got as close as calling each other by their given names, they decided to go home together some other time.

As Hiyori left the clubroom, Hatsune smiled awkwardly because of the interruption and continued with “I had my reasons”.

“During that last match, you seemed to have a lot of trouble with using magic. ‘Aah, Juumonji-san doesn’t seem suited for Crowd Ball’, I remember thinking.”

“Right... I can’t deny it was difficult to use magic.”

Alisa agreed honestly with Hatsune’s opinion.

“But I didn’t think that Crowd Ball is something I’m unsuited for.”

But she only agreed with the first half.

“Really? I thought the Too Big Shield rule would be too much of a hindrance for you, Juumonji-san. Athletes of magic competitions usually choose events that suit their magic’s traits. To win a competition you’re not suited for, you have to work twice, no, many times as hard compared to something you are. Competing in something you’re unfit for is like a short distance runner competing in a marathon. There aren’t many masochists like that.”

“Masochists...?”

Naturally, Alisa felt she had to dispel these false accusations.

“And I can’t see any such masochist in you, Juumonji-san.”

Thankfully, Hatsune didn’t misunderstand her from the start. Alisa was relieved to know that.

“That’s why I didn’t think likely that you’d choose our club.”

Hatsune’s analysis was logical, but there was one big misunderstanding that Alisa thought would be best if she cleared it up.

“President. I don’t play sports to win. Honestly, I’m no good at competitions that involve winning and losing.”

“...Is that so?”

Hatsune revealed her surprise. That’s the kind of reaction expected when you’re told someone who’s joining the club for a ball game is indifferent about winning, right? If it were a club more obsessed with results, or in other words, ‘serious’, they might resent her for messing about.

“I want to start playing Crowd Ball because I found that last match deeply frustrating.”

“...Umm, you don’t care if you win, but you get frustrated when you lose?”

“No. One thing was being unable to make you take me seriously.”

Hatsune grew a bit anxious after hearing that.

“But, that was...”

“Yes. I know there’s nothing you could do. That was not an official match, just an event, and as a beginner I had no ability for even that.

The anxiousness about being blamed for not trying hard enough disappeared from Hatsune’s mind. But this made her all the more doubtful. ‘I was frustrated for not being taken serious’, is what Alisa said, but she didn’t look that frustrated. Hatsune was understanding Alisa’s true feelings less and less.

“But what was even more frustrating was being unable to control my magic properly.”

“Too Big Shield?”

“Yes.”

Hatsune was surprised at how worried Alisa looked as she nodded.

“Truth is, I can’t use offensive magic at all. As a magician of the Juumonji Family, I am clearly defective.”

She called it a defect, but she didn’t seem too concerned about that. Hatsune got a sense of discomfort from that too.

“But that being the way I am, I practiced my defensive magic with all I’ve got. So I thought I would be able to use it as I wish. That’s why that match annoyed me so much.”

“...Because you couldn’t control your defensive magic shield to be within the rules?”

Hatsune felt the conversation was finally making sense. Her previous discomfort was completely off her mind now.

“That’s right. My magic is mine, not anyone else’s, and I thought I had worked hard, but the fact is it wasn’t enough. Realizing that is what was so frustrating. So I felt I couldn’t leave things as they are.”

“That’s why you’re joining?”

“Yes. Using magic in Crowd Ball without breaking the rules requires careful control. I thought it was perfect as a way to polish my lackluster magic skills.”

Alisa suddenly looked uneasy.

“...Are my reasons impure?”

Until then Alisa had been overwhelming Hatsune with her levelheaded way of thinking that gave her the illusion that Alisa was actually older than her. When Alisa showed her the unreliable look of a junior, Hatsune’s lips loosened by themselves.

“I don’t think so at all. I think indulging in your training is a goal closer to the essence of sports than chasing after wins. And it doesn’t matter if it’s impure.”

Hatsune gave her a playful wink after saying that.

“And it’s a great help for our club, which has very few members.”

Caught up in Hatsune’s smile, a smile also appeared on Alisa’s face.