Tokyo Ravens - Volume 7 - Chapter 2.2

Part 2 
"......You've been a bit strange recently, Kyouko-san. Did something happen?" 
Kyouko, who had suddenly been questioned by her grandmother on the car to the Meguro branch, turned to the side with a surprised "Eh?". 
Kyouko's grandmother, Kurahashi Miyo, was the principal of the Onmyou Academy. She had a small frame but a gentle demeanor, an old lady who seemed a bit mischievous to others. Kyouko took the same car to the academy building every day with her grandmother. Since the location of the lessons had changed to the Meguro branch, the principal would first send her there before going to the academy building. 
The principal sighed lightly at her granddaughter, who sat in the backseat. 
"You've been staring into space for a long time. Also, you have a listless expression." 
"R, Really? It's nothing......" 
"Even if you can reel in boys like that, being like that to your grandmother is......" 
"I'm not trying to entice you, grandma! Also, I was just thinking about things, so why did things turn into this?" 
"Oh my. Though I want you to lighten up a bit, you're already quite energetic." 
"You didn't want me lighten up, you were just purely bored! Yes yes, I haven't been paying attention to you, Grandma. I'm so very sorry for not saying anything." 
Kyouko, who was more of the mature type in her class, would also show a childish side in front of this grandmother. Her grandmother looked with a gentle gaze at her granddaughter as she apologized irritably. 
"I'm very happy that you're willing to properly keep me company. There haven't been many people able to accompany me recently." 
"Father's work is very busy right now, right? He has a lot of work because it's a crucial time right now. ......Or perhaps Grandma is a bit too carefree?" 
"Oh my. I'm beginning to retire now. All I'm concerned about is my cute granddaughter." 
"Yes, yes, I'm extremely grateful." 
The granddaughter spoke hurriedly to her laughing grandmother, somewhat embarrassed. 
The Kurahashi family was a famous family in the magic community and had many troubles that only famous families had. One of these was the fact that there were very few times that the entire family could gather together. Because of this, since her father was so busy, even Kyouko could feel that her grandmother treasured the time she spent with her family. 
Of course, it wasn't that nothing worried her. 
"Come to think of it, I heard about the incident yesterday. You conducted mock battles with the exorcists on standby at the Meguro branch?" 
"......Your ears are as sharp as always. Yeah, we did. I did participate in a mock battle. But I listened properly during class and paid attention not to impede their duties. You don't need to worry." 
"Oh my, that wasn't what I was asking about. Fujiwara-sensei was there at the time, so there wouldn't be any problems in that regard. That's not it, I was asking about how the mock battle went. How was it? Kyouko-san, did you win?" 
She asked excitedly. The grandmother furrowed her brow in dissatisfaction, saying "Oh my, oh my" to Kyouko who sighed and reported "I lost". 
"How unfortunate. I was very much looking forward to the outcome when I heard you had a mock battle." 
"Well, Grandma? The opponent was a professional exorcist, you know? Whatever you think, I couldn't have won. We're not qualified as professionals yet, we're just students." 
"Well. Then, did everyone lose?" 
"......Touji won. As usual, he won two straight after transforming. Natsume-kun also got a tie. I think it's because the opponent was too strong. Also, he wasn't allowed to summon his dragon. Also, Suzuka-chan didn't participate...... I, Tenma, and Harutora lost." 
Kyouko dully recounted the outcome of the mock battles. If she could, she wanted to end this topic, but her grandmother still wanted to hear more details. Kyouko sighed again, unwillingly continuing her explanation. 
But after explaining to her grandmother from the beginning to the end, Kyouko also realized some of her feelings. 
That is to say, regarding Harutora. 
The spectating exorcists were probably most surprised by Touji's transformation or Natsume's power. 
But what surprised Kyouko and the others more was Harutora, as could be expected. 
He hadn't used any special magic. The magic Harutora used at the time - every one - was magic that she herself knew. What's more, she had known beforehand that 'Harutora could use that magic'. 
Even so, the 'magical battle' Harutora had shown was obviously different from his fighting style from before. 
It was enough to call him a different person. There had been continuous surprises and amazements. She had been engrossed in his next moves, unable to move her gaze away for a moment. Even that team captain that was his opponent had been the same. She didn't know how much Harutora had noticed, but from spectating the battle on the sidelines, she saw it clearly. That team captain had been watching Harutora's moves extremely seriously, responding to them prudently yet cautiously. 
...If...... 
If she had fought with Harutora at that time...... She might have lost. No, it wasn't a possibility, she definitely couldn't have won. 
Harutora's fighting power was very strong, that she had known long before. Moreover, she could see his growth every day. 
Even so - no, it was probably because of that. Kyouko finally felt 'Harutora's current strength' after having seen the mock battle yesterday. No matter how much progress he had made, Harutora was still half an outsider, a loser who was often a dunce - she had always seen him that way, holding on to her first impression, but she had finally awoken from that. 
...Yes...... That person's power had been very strong in the first place. That's why he had been able to constantly use charms like that and why he was able to use strong magic. Though his skill with magic was very low, that would keep improving in the future after constant training...... 
If you asked who was more skillful with magic, right now and in the near future it was undoubtedly herself who was ahead. Kyouko was the daughter of the famous Kurahashi family, and she had been receiving special instruction since she was small. 
But...... Maybe Harutora had even more of an incredible 'ability' than she did. That was what Kyouko thought after seeing yesterday's mock battle - the opposite of what she had always thought. The branch family member Harutora had also inherited the blood of Abe no Seimei's traditional Onmyoudou family, the Tsuchimikados. 
...Even that person...... Is suddenly changing his direction. 
The Harutora from before just had a strong spiritual power, and relied on brute force to attack. But in yesterday's mock battle, he had started to aim at the enemy's weak points for the first time. Though all of his attacks and counterattacks had been clumsy, he had already had a clear 'strategy'. 
Harutora suddenly changed his style of battle. He had definitely been affected by the attack last month. After all, he had witnessed the magical battle between Ohtomo and Ashiya Doman first-hand. Judging from their topic yesterday during lunchtime, he had more or less received a very strong impact. 
Seriously, as Kyouko saw it, Harutora and Touji should have found it hard to believe. 
It would definitely be like that. After seeing such a shocking magical battle, most practitioners would feel indifferent emotions like 'that was special'. They wouldn't turn it around and question themselves. It was presumptuous to compare and they had nothing to reference against it. Also, even if that weren't true, they would lose the will to work hard because of how huge the difference was between them. 

...Right, that guy has indeed grown, but he's inexperienced...... That's why he 'doesn't understand'...... 
If you just wanted to find a path and improve yourself, you would definitely hit some kind of 'wall'. Even for someone with outstanding talent, after a certain period of time, progress would stagnate. 
What kind of level could she reach? How far could she work hard for? Whether she had self-awareness or not, she had probably naturally realized it somewhere in her heart. 
Then, she wouldn't compare herself with people who were far ahead of her in that regard, thinking them as 'different'. If she did, then that would give rise to ugly jealousy. Emotions like anxiety and despair would swell up. 
Of course, it was another matter to be friends with and get along with someone like Suzuka. What's more, it was because she thought of Suzuka's ability and her own as 'different' that she was able to keep from holding other thoughts and get along naturally with her. 
So, Harutora had definitely just failed to understand. He only had a pure desire for those dazzlingly high standards of 'ability' because he didn't know how much he had grown. In that case, Harutora really was 'half outsider'. 
...But. 
Kyouko had been confident she wouldn't lose to him until not long ago. 
But yesterday's Harutora would definitely win against Kyouko. 
Harutora and Kyouko had experienced the same amount of time and witnessed the same intense battles, but a 'discrepancy' had still arisen. 
"......" 
She felt very mad. That Harutora, to think he was this presumptuous. 
But right afterwards, she unconsciously let a wry smile show for some reason. 
Harutora's figure as he fought desperately in the mock battle reappeared in her mind. A tight mouth and a perfectly straight gaze. How should she describe it...... He truly was a 'guy'. Then, she smiled wryly again. It seemed like she was able to understand the reason Suzuka was attracted to Harutora. 
That was why. Harutora was extremely 'manly'. 
Also...... When she thought about a different Tsuchimikado, sorrow passed over Kyouko's face again. 
...Natsume-kun...... 
The boy Kyouko liked. She had started liking him since she was small, and many things had happened since they reunited, but as expected, she still liked him...... yearned for him...... 
But now, there was something Kyouko was very concerned about. 
It had started from the incident last month. At the time - everyone had been surrounded by Doman's shikigami and Natsume had fought seriously. He had seriously protected Kyouko and his companions with all of his strength. Thinking back, that was the first time Kyouko had seen the 'serious Natsume' with her own eyes. She had seen the undisguised Natsume first-hand. 
But the Natsume from that time was different from normal. That didn't mean his desperation or how powerful he was...... It was something else that was different. Some feeling of wrongness. 
Of course, Kyouko hadn't been in a normal condition at the time. Natsume wasn't the one to talk about if you were talking about desperation. So she had thought it was her own mistake. 
But in the mock battle yesterday, Kyouko had felt the same feeling of wrongness from Natsume again for a moment. She thought of it. Various scenes from before, several flakes that she hadn't been concerned about and missed. 
"......Hah." 
Kyouko unconsciously closed her eyes. She cleared her mind, resetting her thoughts. 
She didn't understand the true identity of the feeling of wrongness. She unconsciously avoided thinking about it. She didn't want to know the answer and she was unwilling to think. She was scared. 
Because of this, she been a bit stiff with Natsume recently. Though it was fortunate that Natsume hadn't felt anything at all...... It still wasn't a good inclination. 
...What should I do? 
Since Harutora had entered the academy, Kyouko had begun feeling frustrated about her personal relationships. 
"......Kyouko-san?" 
The principal called out to her upon seeing Kyouko go silent at some point. Kyouko came back to her senses. She turned her head, looking at the eyes that had protected her since she had been small gazing at her as if they could see through the depths of her heart. 
Kyouko was distraught. But her grandmother didn't say any unnecessary words to her granddaughter who was like that. 
"We've arrived already. Do your best today as well." 
She hastily looked outside. The car was already stopped next to the Meguro branch. Kyouko didn't dare to meet her grandmother's gaze. Expressing thanks to her grandmother for asking nothing at all, she said: 
"I-I'm off." 
She lightly left those words and opened the door to leave the car. 
...Really. Get a grip! 
Kyouko urged herself as she watched the car speed away. She straightened her back and walked into the branch. 
She checked the location of her first class from the bulletin board by the entrance. It was in the second meeting room. Right now, she had already memorized the locations of the various meeting rooms, so she didn't need to go look carefully at the room map. She greeted the bureau members who passed by her, walking into the second meeting room with steady steps. 
When she entered the room, most of the students were present, including Harutora, Natsume, Touji, and most of the dorm residents. 
The three of them also noticed Kyouko. Harutora said "Yo. Good morning.". As Kyouko also greeted him, she unconsciously peeked at Natsume's expression. 
But before Kyouko and Natsume spoke to each other: 
"Kyouko. Are you free after school today?" 
After they greeted each other, Harutora asked this of Kyouko. "Eh?" Kyouko's attention returned to Harutora. 
"I am free...... what is it? Could it be that you're going to try getting into another mock battle?" 
"No, no. It's something else this time." 
Harutora shook his head, smiling. 
"I wanted to go on a hospital visit. For our homeroom teacher."