Editing BlazBlue:Bloodedge Experience Part 1 Chapter 4 (section)

===Part 2===

Shinkawahama First High School had a rough “H” shape, with the main school building in the center surrounded by gymnasiums and special classrooms on either side. In front of the main school building, there was an open approach with flower beds and benches, and a large ground spread out in front of that. Since the entrances to both the gymnasium and the special classroom building faced the ground, students mainly used the front side of the main school building for their school life. Conversely, the back of the school building had little sunlight and was in the shade all day, making it not a very popular spot. However, it was a favorite place for students who preferred quiet and secluded places, although the number of users was limited.

It was the first place that came to Naoto's mind when Raquel asked for a place near the center of the school but out of sight. He went around from the special classroom building and entered the shadow of the protruding part of the stairs. It wasn't completely out of sight, but for now, there was no one around, so it was enough.

After looking around, he stepped back to make room for Raquel, who had followed him. Raquel crouched down and began to draw the same magic circle she had drawn in the unmanned apartment complex before. As her fingertips glided across the ground, red blood-like letters unfolded at her feet. Staring at it, Naoto realized that he was no longer as shocked as he would have been before by this sight.

(Humans really are adaptable creatures...) He mused to himself while keeping an eye out for anyone approaching. Just a few days ago, magic had been a word that existed only in fairy tales and games for Naoto. Yet now, he no longer questioned Raquel using magic.

Raquel quickly finished drawing the magic circle and stood in the center, spreading her arms and closing her eyes. It was slightly smaller than the one she used in the deserted housing complex, probably because she only needed to search within the school grounds.

The wind gathered around Raquel. At first, it was weak and thin, but gradually it grew larger and softer, enveloping Raquel and gently lifting her small body. Her long hair, still tied back, swayed gracefully in the wind along with the large ribbon. Her pleated skirt fluttered lightly, blown by the wind. Then, Naoto saw it…

It's her arms. It was only for a moment, but Naoto's eyes caught it.

A well-toned, small, white, round butt.

"W-wait a minute, Raquel!?"  Swallowing a strangled scream that was about to escape, Naoto rushed to Raquel, grabbed her shoulder, and pulled her floating body back to the ground. Instantly, the wind stopped as if a string had been cut. 

“What are you doing? I’m concentrating. Don’t interrupt me.” Raquel shot him a disgruntled glare, clearly annoyed. But for Naoto, there was no time for that.

“Why... why aren’t you wearing anything...?!” He almost yelled, but quickly suppressed his voice, speaking in an urgent whisper. His grip tightened on her shoulders.

Raquel tilted her head, looking puzzled. "Wearing? What?"

“I mean! I mean... Why are you not wearing anything under your skirt? Underwear, pants, why...?"

“Oh, well, they feel uncomfortable.”

"No, no, no! What are you saying? That's way worse than being completely naked!" Naoto's gaze involuntarily fell on Raquel's skirt. As he reached out to touch her skirt, Raquel spoke as if she were dealing with a fussy child.

"Isn't it fine if it can't be seen?" 

"No, it's not! Ugh, don't lift it up!" 

“How silly. Human society is so complicated.”

“You’re the complicated one!” Naoto swatted her hand away as she tried to lift the hem of her skirt, finally expressing his frustration.

Raquel glanced at him as if he were something strange, then turned back to the magic circle. "Anyway, don't interrupt me. I'm starting." Once again, Raquel lightly spread her arms and focused her mind. As if responding to her call, the wind that had once dispersed began to gather again.

Naoto quickly turned his back to Raquel. A moment ago, he had only caught a glimpse of the roundness of her buttocks, which was bad enough but not entirely terrible. If he had seen her completely exposed, he felt like he would have died. Not at the hands of anyone in particular, but rather at the hands of the concept of morality itself.

Behind him, he could hear Raquel muttering incomprehensibly. A sound like the wind blowing through a tunnel was faintly audible, followed by a deep light that was neither red nor pink, rushing past Naoto's feet. The light spread throughout the school in an instant and disappeared as quickly as the wind had passed. Waiting for the wind behind him to stop, Naoto turned around just in time to see the magic circle at Raquel's feet dissipating like flower petals scattered by the wind.

Raquel, who had performed the ritual, let out a soft breath, looking beautiful amidst the rising and disappearing petals of light. For a moment, Naoto was captivated, but then he shook his head, realizing that this was not the time for such things.

"How was it?" he asked Raquel, who was emerging from the spot where the magic circle had been, his voice slightly mocking. Raquel came up to Naoto, smoothing her slightly disheveled bangs with her fingers. "I've found a few people. But all the drives I could sense were immature and weak, so they shouldn't pose a threat anytime soon." 

"I see. That's good." Relieved by Raquel's casual tone, Naoto sighed. He didn't want a situation where Drive users were causing trouble in a school that Haruka and Shinnosuke also attended.

"However... there is one person who interests me," Raquel said, crossing her arms and her voice darkening ominously. Naoto frowned in response.

"Someone who interests you? Who is it?"

"I don't know. Their power is very weak, and they're certainly not a combat-ready Drive user. But there's something... that bothers me. I think I'll know more if I get closer."
The magic that had scanned the entire school at once to sense the Drive users within could not investigate detailed information about each individual. Naoto looked up at the school building where Raquel's magic had just passed through.

"Let's try to find that person. If possible, let's find them before they leave school..."

"O-oh, Naoto!" Shinnosuke's cheerful voice interrupted Naoto. Turning around, Naoto saw Shinnosuke running towards them from the middle of the corridor connecting the main school building to the special classroom building, waving his hand vigorously.

"Oh, it's Raquel, the transfer student. What's with you, first Hayami and now Raquel? What a ladies' man you are!"

"I told you to stop calling me that..." Naoto glared at Shinnosuke, who grinned mischievously and nudged him in the ribs. But of course, Shinnosuke, who was used to Naoto's expressions, didn't care and…

Shinnosuke sidled up to Naoto, grinning. "Don't get too lovey-dovey at school, okay? Oh, I know, I have a game where you can have lovey-dovey moments with a hundred and eight different sisters. Should I bring it over?" 

"What kind of Suikoden game is this? The main character's dad is awesome!" 

"Dating sim... lovey-dovey?" 

"Never mind, Raquel-san, don't worry about it!" Naoto let out a sigh of exhaustion, shouting at his mischievous friend while making a desperate plea to the bewildered Raquel. Whenever Shinnosuke was around, the atmosphere would always lighten up, no matter how serious things had been. That was both his greatest strength and his weakness.

A third person, with a more composed gait, approached the group that had been so disrupted.

With her long black hair flowing in the cool evening breeze, she was a tall, slender female student. Despite her casual posture, she exuded a regal aura, and even her slightest movements seemed to draw one in. Almost everyone at Shinkawahama High School knew who she was.

Kirishima Kana.

A year older than Naoto and Shinnosuke, she was the vice president of the student council. She was also the daughter of a major company president, and her perfect combination of wealth, beauty, academic excellence, and artistic talent had earned her the nickname "Queen".

"Excuse me for interrupting. Fukuda-kun, can I have a word?" She gave a considerate glance at Naoto and Raquel before turning her slit-eyed gaze to Shinnosuke. It was intimidating, to say the least.

Shinnosuke's broad shoulders jumped at the unexpected summons from the queen.

"Y-yes! What is it?"

Kana gave a small, amused smile at Shinnosuke's almost military-like response and handed him a stack of papers.

"It's about the committee..." As it happened, Shinnosuke was a member of the beautification committee. With the cultural festival approaching as autumn deepened, various committees were becoming increasingly busy before other students.

"Oh, I see. Sorry, I'll take care of it right away!" As if there had been some kind of trouble, Shinnosuke bowed his head while looking at the stack of papers he had been handed.
"Sorry, Naoto. I have to go!" 

"Alright, see you later!"

It seemed to be an urgent matter, and with a quick wave of the hand holding the papers, Shinnosuke hurried back to the school building. Watching him go, Naoto was secretly impressed that Shinnosuke could put on such a serious face.

As soon as Shinnosuke was out of sight, Kana, who had seemed about to leave, turned back to Naoto, running her fingers through her long hair.

"Hello. Are you Naoto Kurogane?" 

"Yes, I am, but..." Kana's deep black eyes gazed coolly at Naoto. Returning her gaze, Naoto tilted his head slightly. Kirishima Kana was a famous person in the school, and even Naoto knew her name. But Naoto was by no means a conspicuous student, and he had never interacted with Kana before. So why did she know his name?

(Am I getting recognized by strangers too often lately?)

Naoto's question was clearly evident on his face, and Kana chuckled softly, giving him a brief smile.

"Haruka often tells me about you." That made sense. Naoto mentally clapped his hands.

(Oh, I see. Haruka is also a student council member...)

Because of their completely different atmospheres, he hadn't been able to imagine the two of them working together on the student council.

Running her fingers through her straight hair like a Japanese doll, Kana tilted her head slightly and looked at Naoto with a probing gaze.

"Haruka is your girlfriend, isn't she?"

"Huh?" It was a sudden question. Not knowing why she was asking, Naoto shook his head. "No, I don't think so." 

"Hmm, I see." Kana replied indifferently, neither surprised nor suspicious, and then scanned Naoto with her gaze. It felt like he was being observed. Her eyes made him feel uneasy.
He had been scrutinized by Kiiro in a similar way, but he felt that Kana's gaze was different. 

To make an unintentional comparison, Kiiro's gaze was a masochistic one that incited his aggression, while Kana's gaze was a sadistic one that provoked a defensive reaction in him. It was a quiet, intimidating presence that seemed to crush his resistance and naturally arouse him.

"What do you think of Haruka?" Kana smiled thinly, raising one corner of her lip.

It felt like an interrogation. Perhaps it was because of the sharpness in the deep eyes of this beautiful vice president, whether it was intentional or not. It was a look that seemed to say, 'I don't suppose you intend to answer back?'

"What do I think... well, we're childhood friends."

"That's all?"

"Well, I guess you could say that's all. I think of her like family." Naoto replied bluntly. He felt a bit annoyed at himself for answering so readily as he was asked.

"I see. Family... huh." He wondered what she meant by that. Kana murmured softly, along with a shallow breath. She gathered her long hair and tucked it behind her ear. "I'm sorry for suddenly calling out to you. I just wanted to talk to you for a bit. Well, excuse me." Leaving a smile and a glance as a farewell, Kana flipped her long black hair and walked away from Naoto with a brisk gait. 

Even her back, as she walked the short distance to the school building, exuded a sense of elegance that only a teenage girl could possess. Given her daily demeanor, it was no wonder that her name was so well-known.

What he couldn't understand was why that queen would talk to someone like Naoto. He didn't doubt that she genuinely wanted to talk, but was that all there was to it?

(I don't know what she's thinking.)

If you wanted to put a positive spin on it, you could say she was a mysterious woman who lived up to her appearance, but if you were being negative, you could say she was untrustworthy, as if she had something up her sleeve.

"Huh? Raquel?" He realized that while Kana had spoken to him, she hadn't said a word to Raquel. Wondering what was going on, he looked around, and there she was, stuck right behind Naoto, hiding herself as small as possible. “Hey, social awkwardness. What are you doing?”

“I-I’m not doing anything! I’m definitely not hiding because I didn’t want that girl to talk to me!”

(So that’s what it was…)

Naoto couldn’t help but admire her spirit, even as she gripped his uniform with both hands, her face pale and eyes wide with tension.

"More importantly, Naoto. Just now... just now..."

"Just now? Senior Kirishima?" 

"Yes! That girl..." Raquel peered cautiously from behind Naoto, trying to catch a glimpse of Kana, who had already disappeared behind the school building. Once she realized this, Raquel quickly regained her composure and stepped out from behind Naoto. She turned around and looked up at Naoto defiantly, as if to deny that she had been hiding. But despite this playful demeanor, the words Raquel spoke shocked Naoto.

"I sensed the same Azure residue from her as Spinner Superior." 

"What?" Naoto looked up, startled. He hadn't expected that at all. A feeling of anxiety, like a slow burn, formed at his temples. That meant Kana had come into contact with Spinner in some way.

Kana had already left. He couldn't imagine how a senior who seemed so perfect and flawless could have come into contact with Spinner. But with this new revelation, it made him question whether her earlier interactions—first with Shinnosuke and then with him—were merely coincidental or something more suspicious.