Tokyo Ravens - Volume 2 - Chapter 3.2

Part 2
"Why?"
Those were Harutora's heartfelt feelings.
"I'm a new student who just entered yesterday, and I'm a beginner with extraordinarily meager experience, right? Are the methods of the Onmyou Academy too arbitrary? What kind of devilish ideas is this Ohtomo person planning? Can Onmyouji be this random?"

"Harutora-kun~? I heard all of your heartfelt feelings~"
Harutora muttered complaints non-stop as he walked towards the magic practice field.
Kyouko and the other students had long since gone to the magic practice field as he was protesting to Ohtomo. Because Harutora was troublesome, he had literally forced Kon to go first and stayed behind alone to continue convincing Ohtomo - but unfortunately, he still failed in the end and could only walk together with Ohtomo and with heavy steps to the arena.
"Sensei, are you serious? You don't plan on saying something and smoothing things over like before?"
"I don't."
"As an educator, aren't your methods a little too irresponsible?"
Harutora's tone carried resentment, but that probably wasn't anything unexpected, and Ohtomo didn't have any intention at all of replying to that directly.
"Alright, alright, this isn't bad. Anyway, you just entered the academy but you're about to be isolated, right? Doesn't everyone think of you as a fool and exclude you?"
"Uwah, to think you wouldn't be concerned at all about the fragile heart of a transfer student, saying it that directly."
"Since you have a defensive shikigami, shouldn't you take this opportunity to show your hand and restore your reputation? Don't you think I'm planning this intentionally while really thinking of my students?"
"Not at all! Moreover, I'm definitely going to lose, and it's going to be a spectacular failure!"
"You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs, and anyway your position won't get any worse no matter how you shame yourself."
"That's too much! Is that something an instructor should say?"
"Don't get me wrong, the Onmyou Academy may be a school, but it's just a school for teaching specialized techniques."
Ohtomo spoke happily, his cane and fake leg making thumping sounds as they knocked on the ground. This person was really unredeemable. Harutora's face sank.
"Also--" Ohtomo didn't change his flippant tone. "Natsume-kun is an extremely excellent student, especially his servant shikigami. No wonder it's a Tsuchimikado guardian beast, it's one of very few spiritual beasts in the country, and it's very strong even if it can barely be used. A normal Onmyouji can't compare to him even among specialists."
"......Why do you suddenly mention Natsume?"
"Yeah, my meaning is that Natsume-kun is very strong, but he still can't contend with one of the Twelve Divine Generals. He wouldn't be able to manage if he were only by himself."
Harutora couldn't say anything for a while and stared at the back of Ohtomo who had stopped in front of him.
Ohtomo had once expressed that he knew insider information, but Harutora hadn't expected that he would bring up Dairenji in this kind of time.
He turned around, his mouth showing a mocking smile.
"Harutora-kun, you're truly an outsider, but you don't need to look down on yourself that much. You already have done an extremely incredible thing even in the eyes of a specialist Onmyouji."
"I, I didn't do anything at all."
"That's not for sure. So-called magic doesn't just have to look mighty and powerful, and actually, it is the second-class magic that is truly influential. Even outsiders who haven't encountered magic can cast spells unwittingly."
Ohtomo spoke similar words to what the principal had said, but it was still incomprehensible to the ears of Harutora who couldn't distinguish first and second-class magic at all.
But Ohtomo didn't seem concerned, continuing to say:
"In addition, didn't the principal say something? The Onmyou Academy will not gather unqualified students regardless of how many reasons there are. More importantly, the process of judging whether someone is qualified or not is quite profound and complex, not something shallow like relying on you to decide for yourself."
"............"
Harutora stared silently at Ohtomo.
Was this person planning on fooling him with smoke and mirrors again? But, Ohtomo's words moved his heart and he couldn't pay them no heed.
Ohtomo strode forward again.
"Your number one goal is to become an Onmyouji, right?"
"............"
"Actually, I was finally reassured when I heard that sentence. I know that you definitely won't give up on your goal of becoming an Onmyouji regardless of what kind of troubles you encounter in the future. Therefore, don't worry so much. The Onmyou Academy acknowledges your qualifications, and it won't be a problem reaching your goal as long as you just continue growing at your own pace."
Thump, thump, Ohtomo's steps sounded along the corridor. Harutora stood still for a while and then chased after Ohtomo who was walking ahead.
The Onmyou Academy was mysterious, whether the building, curriculum, students, or teachers alike. But the most unknown element among them was the 'Onmyouji'.
But, it was his goal to become an Onmyouji.
In order to respect his promise with Natsume.
In order to realize Hokuto's dream.
"......Ohtomo-sensei."
Harutora made his decision, calling out to Ohtomo. "Yeah?" Ohtomo turned around again.
"For the shikigami battle in a while......"
"What is it? Don't worry, I'll stop the competition quickly before you get injured."
Harutora shook his head, denying Ohtomo's joke.
"I have something to ask of you - can I talk with you?"
After Harutora made his request and the two of them spoke, the result was that Harutora put on a suit of kendo equipment and miasma-protection clothing before entering the arena.
Kyouko frowned, and even Kon looked at him dumbstruck. Harutora couldn't help but feel embarrassed, his face flushing red underneath his faceguard.
"I didn't say I wanted to wear this exaggerated equipment."
"Idiot, since I'm agreeing to your request, protection of this level is natural. I would be the one responsible if you got injured. Here."
Ohtomo spoke distressedly, giving Harutora a wooden sword. Actually, this wooden sword was the thing Harutora had requested from Ohtomo - more accurately, he just wanted this 'weapon'.
"I've cast a bit of magic on it and on your protector too, of course. So even if you get hit head-on, you might not split in half along with your wooden sword. Be thankful."
"Y, Yes, thanks sensei."
Harutora tried swinging the wooden sword after receiving it. He had only practiced a bit of kendo during middle school physical education class, but it was much more comfortable than fighting bare-handed.
"......Alright."
He nodded his head to urge himself on and left Ohtomo's side.
"H, H-H, Harutora-sama? That outfit is......?"
Kon was speechless for a long time at Harutora's equipment. Harutora clumsily shrugged his shoulders from under his protector.
"Listen, Kon, this is my battle plan."
"Y, Yes...... Huh? Battle plan?"
"Yes, the plan's very simple actually, you get the white one, and I'll deal with the black one."
"......Uh, um, Harutora-sama? You mean......"
Kon's face was full of confusion, her big tail swishing back and forth anxiously as she didn't know how to respond.
Just then--
"What are you playing at?"
Kyouko spoke angrily, her tone extremely scornful.
"This is a battle between shikigami, a very common thing in practical training. Shikigami are the fighters in this battle, the practitioners don't act...... but I won't stop you if you're still that scared about it."
"Silence, wench! If you dare open your mouth towards Harutora-sama again--"
"Hey! Calm down, Kon."
From behind, Harutora hurriedly restrained Kon who was about to charge forward, enduring the tickling brought about from her tail and lifting her up. Kon's feet kicked around in empty air.

"H-H-Harutora-sama, please release me~"
"First, don't interrupt me! ...Kurahashi, you meant 'however I like' just now, right? So you have no opinion even if I use a weapon?"
"......How unbearable. You're scared of my shikigami that much even when you're ordering your shikigami from afar?"
"After all, they have katanas and spears in their hands, and I don't have the courage to face them unarmed."
Harutora admitted it readily, and Kyouko raised her eyebrows in surprise, seeming like she didn't understand the meaning of his words. Then, her eyes widened as she finally understood their implication.
Harutora planned on also entering himself and fighting with the shikigami.
"Th-Th-Th-That cannot be allowed, Harutora-sama!"
"Who cares about that, aren't there two shikigami on the other side? Your size and weight can't compare to them at all, and there's no chance of winning at all when you make it two-against-one."
"W, What, what do you mean?! In the first place, don't you know that as the number of shikigami increases, controlling them also becomes more difficult? Number is a test of the practitioner's strength, don't think having more shikigami is unfair!"
"I didn't mean that, I was just saying that with me, it's two against two."
Harutora spoke calmly, but Kyouko shouted hoarsely:
"Don't joke around! What kind of practitioner does something stupid like fight a shikigami! This is a shikigami battle, only shikigami can fight!"
"And I'm also a shikigami."
Harutora replied calmly and objectively from under his faceguard. Kyouko shook her head, stunned.
The students in the spectator seats all gaped at Harutora's words. Of course, Tenma wasn't excluded, and Natsume's reaction was the same. The only one excluded from this was Touji who had been laughing since the beginning.
"Sensei agreed."
"Really, sensei?"
"Really."
"Could your brain be broken?"
"That's painful to hear, Kyouko-kun. But that spirit is pretty good."
"......To think you didn't deny it."
Harutora let Kon down and glanced at Ohtomo. Kyouko seemed to find the situation's development hard to accept because of the instructor's complete confession, softly muttering "......How did this kind of thing happen?"
"It's about time to begin. Especially since it was you who proposed a fight in the first place."
"What? I won't oppose you if you want to stop the battle, since I was just going to play along with you for a fight anyway."
Saying this [11] , Harutora smiled for a bit, and Kyouko gritted her teeth when she saw that, so angry that her whole body shook.
Then, she fiercely raised her head, looking into the spectator seats.
"Natsume-kun, is this the Tsuchimikado way? You don't plan on stopping him?"
"......Ugh!"
Natsume who had suddenly been singled out went stiff, her look becoming tense as if she were condemned to death row and handed the pistol for the execution.
"Natsume-kun!"
"............"
Natsume didn't reply to Kyouko's yell. Her eyes rapidly turned to Harutora, as if fleeing.
However, Harutora didn't even glance at Natsume.
"Don't go too far. I'm the person fighting with you, not Natsume."
Kyouko turned her gaze because of Harutora's unconcerned attitude. She wordlessly stared at Harutora for a long time as if ridding herself of her hesitation and then finally called her guardians' names.
Two Yaksha showed themselves again.
The students in the spectator seats chattered, and Natsume who was observing the development from the side couldn't help but stand up.
"......I won't care if something happens to you."
Kyouko's face was slightly pale as she gave that warning, but Harutora didn't speak, swinging the wooden sword again to confirm its feeling.
"H-H-H, Harutora-sama. Forgive my transgression, but I cannot agree to this plan. It is my responsibility to battle with the enemy, so if Harutora-sama would please stay back......"
"Nope."
Harutora interrupted tersely, turning down Kon's begging--
--But, his look then relaxed.
"In the end, I don't understand methods of using shikigami at all either."
"D-D-Do not let that small matter bother you, Harutora-sama......"
"Sorry, but that's meaningless. Even if I don't understand ways to use shikigami, I still have to find some way of my own."
Saying this, Harutora put his hand on the shikigami's small head, lightly patting her twice.
"So, I want to start trying from the most direct methods. I definitely don't mean that I distrust you, and also there's a good chance that I'll be the person to retreat."
"B-B-But......"
"Don't make that face, I have a bit of fighting experience more or less. I'm counting on you, comrade."
"............"
Kon gazed at Harutora, worry emerging on her innocent face. A few moments later, she tightened her lips and silently turned towards Kyouko and her shikigami.
"......Hey, is he serious?"
"No way, that person......"
As the students watching the fight on the sidelines whispered to each other, the sound of their discussion became noisier and noisier. The voices that had originally been dissatisfied and belittling gradually turned to simple shock and excitement. Noise spilled forth from all directions, and Harutora purposefully dismissed them from his mind.
He let his consciousness focus on the fight in front of him.
He hoped to gain some useful experience through this battle.
"......Seems like both sides are prepared."
Once Ohtomo noticed, his voice rang through the entire magic battlefield, and the surroundings temporarily fell silent.
"Then - Start!"
The shikigami showdown began upon that order.

"This is terrible, I almost can't bear to watch."
"............"
He stared intently at the fight from a corner of the arena, in the shadow of the pillar behind the spectator seats.
The two Yaksha that Kyouko controlled were currently fighting fiercely against Harutora and Kon in the arena. But Kyouko's shikigami didn't seem to be moving very agilely, maybe due to the fact that their opponent was human, and Kon couldn't focus her mind on dealing with her own enemy because she was concerned about Harutora. Only Harutora himself was single-minded, but Harutora was rolling around on the ground after being sent flying by the black shikigami's - Kokfuu's - spear.
"That's the shikigami chosen by the king?"
"......The King of the North Star hasn't awakened yet and is only an immature child right now. It's a human emotion to want to keep close acquaintances by your side."
"But to think he would choose such a low youngster, how dissatisfying."
"Quite so."
He was indeed quite unhappy, even feeling angry. He felt that not only the King of the North Star's radiance but even his own ideals and loyalty that he dedicated to the king had been trampled upon and soiled.
Once the king awoke, he would definitely immediately rectify this ugliness.
But regardless of how soon that would be, he couldn't make the king do such a lowly action. He couldn't tolerate such an act.
There had to be someone by the king's side leading his actions until the king awoke.
Moreover, he believed that he was the only one for that heavy responsibility.