Maidens of Cygnus - Volume 3 - Chapter 8

Chapter 8 – Clashing Maidens

They boarded the Cabinet at Hachiouji’s ‘Front of First High’ station, and the Cabinet got on the intercity long-distance train, the Trailer, afterwards. They decided to split into two separate Trailers, with a small-time gap between them, but at noon on the 5th of July, the members of the First High Martial Magic Arts Club reunited at Kanazawa station. Moreover, with them were four students who came to support them. Alisa was one of them.

“But I didn’t think even you would come, Izayoi-senpai.”

As Marika said, Souma was one of the people who came along to root for them.

“It’s because Yuuto couldn’t come due to Student Council work, so I came as his replacement to support Jonathan — sorry, I mean Takamura.”

“For Takamura-senpai?”

“Because we’re in the same class, you see.”

The full name of who he called Takamura is ‘Takamura Tsunemi’, and ‘Jonathan’ is his nickname. He is the only boy among the five representatives of the men’s division who isn’t a third year. As Souma said, Takamura is also in class 2-A.

Takamura seemed to hear the conversation between Marika and Souma and said “Hey, hey, Souma. By replacement, you mean you really didn’t want to come, huh? Not cool, man.”

However, seeing that Takamura was walking with some distance to him, it didn’t seem like they were particularly close. That’s how Marika felt, at least.

“Senpai, you’re surprisingly good at socializing, huh?”

Marika said, speaking like she didn’t believe what she said at all.

Souma gave only a small smile and didn’t say anything back.

Listening to the conversation between Marika and Souma, Alisa turned her face away from the two that were starting to create an unfriendly atmosphere.

The First High students and the advisor teacher leading them had an early lunch inside the Trailer. Right after they got off the station, they went into a large minibus-sized commuter. It was reserved in advance to move around Kanazawa.

They arrived at Third High in their reserved robot bus at half past noon. Right away the Third High Magic Arts Club President came with their advisor to welcome them. The competition is scheduled to start at 2pm. Instead of taking a short break, the First High students were led to the changing rooms immediately and began their thorough warm up.

◇ ◇ ◇

When the time to start the competition arrived, Alisa moved to the gallery of the martial arts hall.

“It’s so big...”

Third High’s martial arts hall has almost the same structure as First High’s second small gymnasium, but it is about twice as big. Speaking in First High terms, it is almost as big as its auditorium.

“Third High School’s motto is ‘warlike Third High’. They put as much effort into martial arts education as combat magic.”

It was Souma, who was standing next to Alisa, who replied to her murmur. Among the four students who came for support, counting Alisa, two of them are seniors she doesn’t know. One is a boy, the other a girl, but apparently they are kind of a couple, so she thought it would be wrong to get in their way. Besides, their sights are set on the men’s division bouts. By process of elimination, the result was that Alisa was going to watch the bouts with her upperclassman in the Committee, Souma, who is next to her.

There is plenty of space, so both boys and girls could proceed with their bouts at the same time.

The first competitor from the girls was not Marika.

“Tookami-san is the lieutenant general[4], right?”

“The fourth bout, huh...”

This will be a 5-on-5 team battle. Unlike a tournament, the lieutenant general always appears in the fourth bout.

The average bout time in Martial Magic Arts is around four minutes. However, Alisa heard from Marika that it can exceed ten minutes. Depending on how things go, it could be close to thirty minutes until Marika’s bout.

“Senpai, is it okay for you to not go support your friend?”

Alisa asked Souma while looking toward the boys’ mat.

From the seating order, Souma’s classmate, Takamura, is the second vanguard. That is, he’s in the second bout.

Though the average time is about four minutes, this is martial arts, so it is possible for the first bout to end quickly. She thought: wouldn’t it be better if you started moving to a position closer to the boy’s mat?

“It’s fine. I can support him even from here.”

“...Senpai, what made you take the trouble of coming all the way to Kanazawa?”

Alisa looked sideways at Souma, the temperature of her look having decreased.

“To support my classmate, of course.”

“...I suppose that’s true.”

In her heart, Alisa muttered ‘isn’t that lie too obvious?’. But, of course, she didn’t say it out loud.

◇ ◇ ◇

Once the vanguard’s bout began, Alisa had no more time to be exasperated with Souma.

“— Hng.“

Each time a punch or kick connected with the other’s body, Alisa’s body involuntarily stiffened, and she held her breath. She also reflexively turned her eyes away on clean hits.

“...Maybe you shouldn’t force yourself so much?”

Alisa’s tough situation was overheard by Souma who was next to her. This may be natural, as she doesn’t have the composure to hide it. Even if Souma was paying attention to the bouts, it wouldn’t have been difficult for him to notice the rejection from Alisa.

“No, not just from this much. I have to get used to it now while I still can.”

“True, but the bouts are going to get more intense, don’t you think?”

The reason they are expecting fierce battles is, needless to say, Marika’s bout.

Her opponent is Ichijou Akane.

Truthfully, in the initial member list, Marika was the vanguard. But when they saw the Third High member list, Club President Chika proposed to change it.

That proposal was smoothly accepted by Third High.

Marika wasn’t the only one who wanted to fight her. Akane also wanted to fight Marika. Their wishes were in agreement and as a result, Marika and Akane’s lieutenant general battle became a reality.

“I just want to watch Mina’s bout properly.”

Alisa was putting up a brave front, but those were her true intentions.

“...Then that’s even more reason you shouldn’t try too hard.”

Unlike his comment, Souma’s tone was not strong.

Luckily for Alisa, it didn’t take that long to reach Marika’s bout.

The three matches took a little less than ten minutes. Considering the time to change fighters, each bout took less than three minutes on average. That was the small amount of time Alisa had to endure the violence she doesn’t handle well.

Up to this point, First High has two wins and one loss. Marika’s bout will start with First High in the lead.

Marika and Akane stood up and advanced to the center of the mat.

“If Tookami-san wins, the victory in the team competition will be First High’s, and if she loses it will be even...”

“I hope she wins.”

Alisa said, gripping the handrail with both hands, as she stared at Marika, who was facing Akane.

Alisa saw Souma, next to her, with an expression that said ‘Oh?’.

“You didn’t say that she will win.”

Alisa looked at Souma for just a moment.

“I heard from Mina that she is a strong opponent.”

She immediately turned her gaze back to the mat and replied.

“Right.”

At the same time as Souma gave a desultory response, the bout started.

As they waited for the signal to start, Marika and Akane were opposite each other in the center of the mat, looking at one another with their eyes exposing their fighting spirit. They both had faces that said they were impatiently waiting for the fight.

However, the start of their bout was calm.

They both had upright-style right stances.

As they arced from right to left, they were examining their opponent’s approach.

Shouts of support were flying about on the boy’s mat. They could even hear the painful groans and the sounds of the two boys fighting hitting each other’s flesh.

But there were no cheers from the students watching Marika’s and Akane’s bout. No heckling either.

Neither of the generals was preparing for their bouts. Those who’ve finished theirs, the club members who weren’t selected, and the Third High students who came to watch.

They were all silent, just like Alisa, holding their breaths as they stared at the two on top of the mat.

“Their movements are similar, but the substance is pretty different.”

One person only, Souma was the only one to speak.

“Tookami-san increased the Psion pressure and spread it to the extremities of her body, and it looks like it could overflow from the tips of her limbs at any moment. In contrast, Ichijou Akane’s Psions are getting sharper and sharper in the center of her body.”

“...”

Souma’s voice, similar to whispers, reached Alisa’s ears.

But Alisa didn’t say a thing.

She didn’t make a sound as acknowledgement, she didn’t ask questions, she didn’t even tell him ‘Shut up’.

“They’re going to make a move soon.”

Right after Souma murmured, the bout that was at a standstill moved.

Akane sent a jab.

A light first blow with her left hand that felt it was to keep Marika in check.

Marika swung her body and dodged the jab while stepping in, unleashing a right straight focusing on speed.

Akane let out a front kick as she stepped back.

Marika, who was preserving her upright position as she was punching, guarded against Akane’s kick with her left arm.

Akane fell back even more from the recoil of the kick, widening the gap between the two.

The bout was once again back to glaring at each other.

This time, Marika made the first move.

She suddenly slid, aiming for Akane’s legs. No, she was gliding just above the mat.

A move that isn’t usually seen in martial arts.

Akane dodged it by sidestepping.

Marika thrust one hand, using it as a support to rotate her body horizontally. Going from linear motion to circular motion, a move unthinkable due to the structure of the human body and the laws of physics. With a technique only possible with magic, Marika unleashed a low kick to sweep Akane’s legs.

Akane jumped up lightly.

After dodging Marika’s kick, Akane’s body fell diagonally at a speed surpassing a freefall. Her landing spot was Marika’s waist — or where it had been just before.

She rotated as she moved with her hand like in a pommel horse and she avoided being trampled on by Akane.

She threw up her body into a handstand.

Marika pushed her chin up and kicked, and Akane dodged by bending back.

From there, she somersaulted backwards. Akane jumped back once again, without touching the mat with her feet, and put a lot of distance between them.

They glared at each other for a third time.

“Looks like it’s going to be a long one...”

Souma muttered in the gallery.

Maybe that voice cancelled a feeling of paralysis in Alisa, as she let out the breath she had been holding.

As she restlessly breathed in and out, she gripped the handrail strongly with both hands.

Silently, Alisa stared at Marika and at the one in front of Marika’s eyes, Akane.

Both Marika and Akane seemed like they stopped, but they did not.

Differently from their light footwork that drew arcs just a little ago, they closed the gap, little by little, centimeters at a time. They are wearing soft shoes, so it’s hard to tell, but they were bend their soft soles with the toes to grip the mat to get closer to their opponent almost without using their knees. This is close to the technique called ‘hidden footwork[5]’.

Marika is 160 centimeters tall, while Akane is 155 centimeters. Proportional to their height difference, Marika also has a longer reach. If they close the distance like this, Marika will be the first to find an opportunity.

However, the first to make a move was Akane.

Right before getting in Marika’s reach, Akane made a big leap forward.

She lunged forward with that momentum. Rather than a thrusting lunge, it was closer to a Chinese-style rushing arrow[6]. In truth, this is a technique Akane learned from Reira.

Marika was slow to react to the surprise attack with the technique she didn’t know. Dashes using magic could be said to be a common strategy, but she was taken by surprise by the fact Akane didn’t use magic.

Marika wasn’t able to dodge Akane’s lunge by moving backwards or to her sides, so she received it while guarding with her arm.

Akane landed and got even closer.

In that close position, Akane sent a short hook to the body. She used that to hide that she was putting together a weak and quick magic.

“Ah!”

A small noise leaked from Alisa’s mouth.

Alisa’s ‘eyes’ recognized that Akane was trying to activate Release-Type Magic.

Perception of Psion information bodies is a power that everyone who is a magician has. Alisa’s magic perception abilities have grown considerably, especially the perception of magic other people create, due to the teachings she received by the Juumonji Family.

The scale is small, both current and voltage are low. But the interference power to modify the phenomenon is strong. Though it is electric shock magic, it is magic that emphasizes the creation of electricity rather than producing electric current.

There is no doubt, that is ‘Nerve Disturbance’.

A special technique that changes the distribution of phenomenon interference power from the usual electric shock magic so that it can act upon human bodies that have magic resistance. — Alisa thought as such.

Akane activated her magic.

Alisa unconsciously closed her eyes.

But with her eyelids down, with the ‘eyes’ that aren’t her physical eyes, she ‘saw’ the magic Akane released being blocked by Marika’s shield.

Alisa opened her eyes.

“That was really good.”

Next to her, Souma muttered.

With her right hand, Marika caught the left arm of Akane, who was throwing the short hook, and then tried to intertwine her own left arm between Akane’s elbow and armpit.

Marika caught Akane’s short hook, entangled their arms and tried to bring her into a lock.

Akane spun backwards using her own shoulder as a pivot.

She pulled herself circularly upward, using a nonexistent iron bar. Needless to say, it’s magic.

With that rotation, she pulled out her left arm and aimed at the back of Marika’s head with her knees in mid-air.

Marika dodged the roundhouse kick, commonly known as ‘Enzuigiri[7]’, by ducking.

With her upper body still tilted forward, Marika kicked the mat.

She somersaulted forward in mid-air and used that momentum to strike Akane, who was still in the air, with her heel.

Akane’s body floated away like a feather. She suppressed the damage by neutralizing inertia.

The previously somersaulting Marika stood on the mat, and Akane landed on its edge.

The aerial battle, with hectic changing between offense and defense, brought forth cheers.

“That’s surprising. That they’re so evenly matched while fighting with magic techniques...”

Souma let a muffled surprised mutter of “it was unexpected” escape.

Alisa directed a sidelong questioning glance at him.

“Ah, wait, I meant that Tookami-san’s magic technique exceeded my expectations.”

Souma replied to the questioning glance with a tone that sounded like an excuse.

“I was just really surprised that her magic technique in a fight is on equal footing with Ichijou Akane, who no doubt received special magic education for talented people since she was very young, as a direct descendent of the Ten Master Clans.”

“It’s because she worked really hard.”

Alisa said so and turned her eyes back to the mat.

The bout between Marika and Akane became more intense in an instant.

It became a fierce scramble for hits, that made the prudent progression of the bout where they examined each other’s approach seem like a lie.

Akane seemed to be the faster one.

Marika’s specialty is a combination of speedy punches and kicks, but Akane seemed to do more of those than her.

On the other hand, Marika was winning in terms of power in each blow.

This is not only a difference in their physiques, it also reflects the difference in their fighting style.

Marika steps in firmly and sends punches and kicks.

Unlike her, Akane prioritizes connecting her blows. Even if she sacrifices in the power of each strike, she completes smooth combinations.

Akane’s movements were unnaturally fast.

“That’s weird.”

Swallowing all the cheers, shrieks, and shouts of encouragement, Alisa, who was watching the bout in silence as if scared of putting her thoughts into words, suddenly said that.

Souma turned towards Alisa.

However, Alisa didn’t notice his glance.

“That timing, it’s just like Hiiro-san...?”

Completely talking to herself, Alisa continued.

Souma didn’t need an explanation for what she wanted to say.

He had also noticed, a while before, how abnormal Akane’s reaction time to Marika’s attacks was.

Akane begins defending at the same time as Marika launches an attack.

Supposing that the time lag from human’s perception system is inevitable, that is naturally impossible.

Even if you read the preliminary movements and react to them, there is always a delay in perceiving, recognizing, and acting. As the preliminary movements occur at the point the attacker begins their action, it shouldn’t be possible for the defense to happen at the same time.

You can get exceedingly close to simultaneous, but you can’t reach simultaneous.

Souma also knows the trick. As an associate of the Four Great Elders of the Senate, he knows everything about the secret magic abilities of the magicians of ‘One’ through ‘Three’ and ‘Five’ through ‘Ten’.

The secret of Ichijou Akane’s reaction speed is the Isshiki Family’s secret magic ‘Lighting’. It directly recognizes the changes in potential produced by sensory organs due to external stimuli without using the nerve network from the extremities to the central nervous system. The orders given by the brain are delivered directly to the muscles as electric signals without using the nerve network.

This magic, no, superpower that makes shortcuts in the sensory nerves and motor nerves makes impossible simultaneous reactions possible.

— As I thought, it looks like Ichijou Akane, unlike her brother Ichijou Masaki, has strongly inherited the blood of the Isshiki Family.

Souma thought that.

If the fight between the two was seen as a boxing or muay thai bout, many people would judge that Akane is overpowering by number of blows. If a boxing-style scoring system was used, Akane would surely be in the lead.

But no damage was dealt to Marika. The magic armor that is instantly activated and cancelled is making Akane’s strikes useless. Rather, damage was being accumulated in Akane.

Marika’s blows were dealing damage from above Akane’s guard.

The one who understood this situation best out of anyone was one of the fighters, Akane.

Her blows are being prevented by a magic armor, so she can’t deliver them to her opponent’s body. Her ‘Nerve Disturbance’ is also being obstructed by a magic shield and has been unable to show any effect.

My winning pattern isn’t working at all. — Impatience of that sort was starting to eat at Akane’s heart.

Did that lead to an opportunity?

Right after, Akane strengthened her ‘Nerve Disturbance’ and sent a punch along with it.

She scored a solid hit on Marika.

Akane is a typical striker type. She is not good at pinning techniques and apart from the standing throws out of the throwing techniques, she’s weak at submissions.

This is the result of her tactical choice. Instead of overcoming the handicap of her small stature, she chose a fighting style where the height difference shouldn’t be a handicap.

If it was an ordinary opponent, even if she was grappled, she could use ‘Nerve Disturbance’ on her opponent’s body to paralyze them for an instant and take the opportunity to break free. But the one currently fighting her, Tookami Marika, is no ordinary opponent.

Even if she uses ‘Nerve Disturbance’, she will protect using a magic shield.

She can’t use her escape method of paralyzing her with magic.

‘This is bad!’, panic attacked Akane’s consciousness.

The results of her training were showing — Marika was feeling the effects.

So far, she has been able to turn Reactive Armor on and off way better than she expected. She is feeling that she is actualizing the anti-electromagnetic wave shield at a speed that shuts down her opponent’s attacks as well.

Perhaps it is a favorable match-up. Ichijou Akane’s fighting style is fundamentally hit-and-run.

Marika is unfortunately losing in speed.

The opponent must be confident in her own speed. She isn’t taking risks by going too far in, instead she deals reliable damage with her large number of hits. That is how she fights.

Though maybe she’s not good at grappling. The mannerisms of avoiding being caught can also be seen on her.

Of course, Marika can’t relax for even a moment. Ichijou Akane punches fast and her kicks are sharp. She attacks with incredible timing. If she wasn’t using the single-body armor magic, she would’ve gone down long ago.

Though she is protecting against it at almost the same time, the electric shock magic is numbing her skin through the thin fabric of the uniform. Perhaps she can’t shut it out completely.

The thick uniform is almost useless against electric shocks, but it seems the protectors have some protective effect. She is not just relying on her magic shield, but also making sure to receive as many of her opponent’s strikes as she can with her forearm and knee protectors.

But despite all that, the opponent is taking more damage than she is.

Marika felt that way.

She also felt that she wasn’t the only one who understood this.

Impatience is being communicated to her.

From the strong opponent in front of her eyes.

What that impatience the reason? The combination her opponent was carefully putting together was disrupted.

In the middle of the harmonic melody, a sudden incoherent forte was played. — She stepped in with power and delivered a body hook with so much weight, completely different for a technique of Ichijou Akane.

To deliver that weight, she stood still for a moment.

Even if you give a blow with strength, an opportunity is created if you don’t use magic. Instead of consciously using magic, she must have unconsciously used her body only.

(Right here!)

Marika stopped the body hook with the single-body armor and at the same time actualized the anti-electromagnetic wave shield to keep the effects of the electric shock to a minimum.

She tightly held her opponent from above once she finished dealing her hook.

She used both hands to put a lock on her neck and arms.

She used a throwing technique to break her opponent’s stance and transitioned into a stranglehold while still standing.

(I’ll settle it like this!)

In this position, neither can make effective punches or kicks.

Preparing for Akane’s offensive magic, Marika activated her anti-magnetic wave shield, anti-impact shield and anti-oscillation shield at the same time.

She constricted Akane like that.

Akane’s arm was lodged under Marika’s armpit.

But a properly applied stranglehold won’t be broken no matter how much physical strength she tries to escape with.

It seemed to be her last struggle.

The members of both schools who were watching, the cheering students, and Marika thought so.

However,

In the next instant,

(Wh-at...?)

Akane’s right hand approached Marika’s left arm.

From there, a ‘wave’ spread out, shaking Marika’s entire body.

(Even though... I was blocking... Oscillation Magic...)

The ‘wave’ was created directly on Marika’s body without being obstructed by the anti-oscillation shield magic.

That made Marika incapable of moving.

Marika fell down to the mat.

“Mina!?”

Alisa screamed and jumped over the railing of the gallery.

“Juumonji-san!?”

For a moment, Souma thought whether he should jump down as well. In the next moment, though, he turned around and headed down the stairs to the floor.

The students of both schools were surprised that Alisa suddenly went down to the floor.

“Mina!”

Down was declared and the count is ongoing. The bout is not over yet.

“Stop right there!”

As Alisa tried to rush over to Marika’s side, a nearby female Third High club member put herself in the way to stop her.

“Let me go! She needs treatment, quickly! Doctor!”

Perhaps feeling that Alisa’s tense shouts were not a trivial matter, the Third High doctor who was prepared nearby went up to the mat at the same time as the ten-count ended.

Shaking off the arm that was restraining her, Alisa rushed to Marika’s side as well.

“Doctor, is she okay!?”

Alisa questioned the strict-looking doctor examining Marika with a tearful look on her face.

“She’ll be fine.”

The doctor said with restless voice and activated healing magic that adjusted the body functions of Marika, who was breathing with painful, shallow breaths.

Team members of both schools gathered around, looking displeased, to see what was going on.

“Juumonji? Why are you pa...”

Kitahata Chika tried to ask Alisa ‘Why are you panicking?’.

“Why did you use such dangerous magic!?”

But her question was drowned out partway by Alisa shouting.

Alisa’s shout was one of condemnation.

And her spearhead was aimed at Akane.

Alisa stood up, put both her hands on the side of her body and scowled at Akane.

Akane stood completely still with a pale face, her lips quivering.

“That magic was ‘Organ Quake’, wasn’t it!?”

A commotion followed Alisa’s words. Voices saying “Organ Quake?” could be heard.

“Ichijou Family’s direct interference magic that acts on the human body, it creates waves directly into the liquids that make up with human body and shakes all the organs to disrupt their functions. It’s lethality rank is C to B!”

The commotion spread wider.

The lethality rank is a standard adopted by the Japanese judicial authorities as a reference to manage magic crimes, in which rank A magic are those capable of killing several people at once, rank B magic are those that are lethal, and rank C can inflict injuries, but isn’t lethal or isn’t likely to be lethal.

However, lethality goes up or down depending on the power put into the magic in each case. It is not something that can generally be determined by the type of magic alone.

Accordingly, as a tentative classification, the rank is decided by the lethality in the case the magic is released at average output. However, calculating the average for magic that has an extremely limited number of users, such as the characteristic techniques of each Numbered family, is effectively impossible. For that reason, there are also techniques that are certified with a range now, like Alisa just said.

“Even if we judge Organ Quake to be rank C, it can leave after-effects, so the Ichijou Family should have had restricted its use! This isn’t even a real fight, so why did you use that magic!?”

“Please wait a moment.”

Reira stepped forward to the front of Alisa, with Akane at her back, and stood up for her as she was unable to talk back at Alisa’s denunciation.

“It is not the case that Akane used forbidden magic. Also, the magic was controlled to a power level where it won’t leave any significant disabilities.”

“Don’t mess around with me! You know that there is no way that the rules cover rare magic like the characteristic techniques of the Ten Master Clans and Eighteen Assistant Houses! Or are you saying it’s fine to do anything that isn’t explicitly restricted by the rules!?”

“If she didn’t violate the rules, you have no right to attack her like she’s a criminal.”

A new defender appeared in support of Akane.

It was a boy dressed in a Third High uniform. He is about ten centimeters taller than Alisa, but he looks a bit younger than her.

“Tatsuki-san...”

That boy was Alisa’s younger stepbrother, who is only half a year younger, Juumonji Tatsuki.

“Moreover, this was an accident during a bout. It is not something you should criticize her for, morally speaking.”

“...Hng.”

Alisa was at a loss for words, not because she was accepting the logic in Tatsuki’s remarks, but because of her sense of inferiority towards him. It was clear she wasn’t convinced from her stern looking aimed at Akane.

“Tatsuki-kun. That is a sound argument, but it is nothing more than simply sound.”

Alisa’s shoulders quivered from the voice of a boy who walked up to them from behind her to stand by her side.

“I believe you are my older brother’s friend, Izayoi-san?”

“I’m honored that you remember me.”

Before Tatsuki enrolled at Third High, he had exchanged words with Souma a few times when he visited Yuuto at the Juumonji Family house. Worth noting that in those situations, Alisa was never present.

“What do you mean by ‘simply’ sound?”

Tatsuki asked with a voice that did nothing to hide his discomfort.

“It means it’s a heartless, flimsy argument.”

On the other hand, the nuances of derision appeared and disappeared from Souma’s voice.

“Flimsy?”

“Indeed, there may be no problem with using Organ Quake according to the rules. But was this a bout to be won even if it required using magic that could leave after-effects on the opponent? And is that the kind of logic that you should use towards a girl who is worried about her injured friend?”

“Kch...”

This time, it was Tatsuki who was lost for words.

“You...”

“Wait, Juumonji-kun.”

Tatsuki was trying to, some way or another, offer Souma a rebuttal when Akane grabbed his arm.

“It’s just as he said. It’s inevitable that I would be blamed for what I did.”

“Akane!?”

“It’s fine, Rei-chan.”

Shaking her head at Reira, who had extended her hand to her, Akane stood in front of Alisa.

“I’m very sorry.”

Then, she gave a very deep bow.

“It is as you said. You can say anything you want to me. I’ll accept any punishment as well.”

Perhaps because they heard the clamor, even the boy’s bout stopped and the martial arts hall became completely silent.

“Tell me just one thing.”

Akane raised her head after Alisa spoke.

“Why did you use such a dangerous magic?”

Alisa wasn’t yelling anymore. Both in her tone and in her expression, there were no strong emotions.

Alisa’s voice had completely chilled.

“I’m not sure. I thought I was going to lose and before I was aware of it, I had used it.”

“Was that how much you didn’t want to lose? Is not losing that important?”

“I wonder. I don’t really get it myself.”

Alisa stared intently at Akane’s eyes.

“...You said you’d take any punishment, no matter what, right?”

Akane nodded to Alisa’s words without hesitation.

“Then, quit Magic Arts, starting today.”

Commotion spread through the once quiet martial arts hall.

“Understood. Shall I break my own arm?”

There was no unease on Akane’s face.

“Stop that. Just a promise will do.”

Alisa grimaced like she was honestly disgusted.

“I see. Okay then. I promi—”

“Hang on a second.”

Right before Akane finished saying ‘promise’, a dissatisfied voice interrupted her.

“I’ll be troubled if you quit. I won’t allow you to quit while you’re ahead.”

“Mina!?”

Alisa’s voice was a mix of surprise and joy in roughly equal proportions.

The owner of those remarks was Marika. She stood up with a face that showed she wasn’t feeling pain or any physical discomfort. 

“Are you okay!?”

Alisa rushed to Marika’s side.

“Asha, are YOU okay?”

Alisa embraced Marika, who questioned her with a tone that exposed her panic.

“Why do you look like you’re about to cry!? Has someone been bullying you?”

“I’m fine.”

Alisa unwrapped her arms that were holding Marika tight, and looked straight at her, not ‘looking about to cry’, but already shedding tears — with a glad-looking smile.

“It was you who made me cry, Mina.”

Alisa mischievously said, with a face everyone could understand she was crying with joy.

“It was me who made you cry?...”

“Yeah, it’s your fault.”

They let go of each other’s hands and turned their bodies to Akane.

Marika walked up to Akane.

Alisa followed right behind her.

“Congratulations. You completely beat me.”

Marika held her hand out for Akane.

“...Thank you. It was a good fight.”

Akane stared at her hand without blinking and timidly shook her hand.

“I won’t lose next time. I will get my revenge at the national tournament.”

Marika declared while meeting Akane’s eyes.

Once Marika released her hand, Akane looked at Alisa, her face saying ‘I don’t know what I should do’.

“Ah, it’s alright now.”

Like her harsh look until then had been a lie, Alisa said that to Akane, looking indifferent.

Then, averting her eyes from Akane, appearing to have lost all interest in her, she turned her face to Marika.

“Mina, good fight. I’ll go wait at a bench outside.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Marika followed Alisa with her eyes as she headed for the exit until she could no longer be seen.

Akane, Reira and Tatsuki.

They, and even the rest of the Third High students, watched Alisa’s back, ‘What’s with that girl?’ written on their faces.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Juumonji-san.”

Alisa turned around to the voice who called out to her.

Chasing after her was Souma alone.

“Are you okay with that?”

“Yeah. Mina didn’t want it, after all.”

“And that makes it fine, I guess...”

Souma had a hollow smile, which had the feeling of ‘I don’t know which expression I should choose’ imprinted on it.

But he immediately erased that smile.

“And with Tatsuki-kun?”

With just that sentence, Alisa’s face became stiff.

“His attitude wasn’t fair. He made a face like he conforming to logic, but beneath the surface there was clear malice towards you. He was oozing prideful evil as he tried to talk you down.”

“It’s fine.”

Alisa didn’t deny Tatsuki’s malice.

“The fact that Tatsuki-san hates me is something I can do nothing about.”

The presence of mind to calmly ascertain whether the hideous designs Souma talked about existed in Tatsuki. In front of Tatsuki, Alisa didn’t have that.

“To tell you the truth, Yuuto asked me to see how Tatsuki-kun is doing, but...”

“Please don’t tell Yuuto-san about what just happened.”

Alisa warned him, anticipating what he was going to say.

“If you say so. In return, would you tell me one thing?”

“...What is it?”

Alisa asked with her voice unable to hide her wariness.

“You don’t have to be so guarded.”

Souma showed her a slightly hurt look and a smile.

Alisa’s expression did not become less tense.

Souma appeared to want to say ‘can’t do anything about that’ and let out a short breath.

“...Organ Quake is a magic that is not widely known. Even among magicians of the Ten Master Clans and the Eighteen Assistant Houses, I’m sure that most people don’t know it. Why did you know that Ichijou-san used that magic?”

“Even if you ask me why...”

Alisa’s expression changed from caution to confusion.

“It’s just because I saw it.”

“I also knew about Organ Quake, but I didn’t realize it was that until you said it.”

“Is that so?”

Alisa tilted her head, looking like he felt nothing in particular.

Souma’s eyes, starting at her, were filled with enthusiasm.

“...Come to think of it.”

Maybe to cool down that enthusiasm, or maybe to hide it, Souma looked away from Alisa and changed the topic.

“Juumonji-san, do you know a person called Karube Ayana?”

“You know Ayana-san?”

As Souma hoped, Alisa’s awareness drifted from the previous topic.

“I had the opportunity of meeting her due to a connection with the company her family manages. When I told her that I am a student at First High, she asked me whether I knew you.”

“I see.”

Alisa didn’t suspect Souma’s story.

At the same time, she didn’t seem to show much interest in it. Alisa didn’t even think to ask the probably obvious question of what the connection between Ayane’s family’s company and high schooler Souma is.

“She was saying that she wanted to see you again, Juumonji-san.”

“Then I’ll try getting in touch with her.”

“Shall I give you her contact address?”

“Thank you. I only knew her family’s, so this helps.”

Alisa received the data from Souma with short distance communication.

She was completely unaware of Souma’s hidden intentions.

She wasn’t interested at all.

“By the way, senpai.”

But she did come up with a small question.

“The other day, I feel like I saw your and Ayana-san’s backs near my house...”

Alisa didn’t remember the date. She only had a vague memory of seeing two backs in the rain that resembled them as she was returning home after leaving the station.

That too was something she forgot until just then. She just suddenly remembered it.

“Close to your house? Hmm... I think it must have been someone else. I’ve never met with her around that area.”

“Is that so? Sorry for asking you something weird.”

While Alisa apologized, she thought Souma was spitting lies.

There was nothing unnatural in Souma’s expression or tone. She didn’t see any signs of a lie at all.

But, contrary to what Souma’s reply indicated, Alisa was convinced that it was Souma and Ayana from behind that she saw at that time. She has no basis for it, it’s completely intuition. If he says she’s under a wrong impression, she can’t argue back.

Alisa didn’t care, she was fine with it. She didn’t need a basis. She has no plans of telling this truth to third parties, so she has no need to find proof either.

— Surely he was meeting her for some business he doesn’t want other people to know about.

Alisa thought just that, with no intention of investigating further.

It is as mentioned before.

Alisa had no interest at all in what Souma was thinking or trying to do.