Mahou Sensou:Volume 1 Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3: SUBARU Magic School in The Mirror

Part 1

There was a long corridor at least ten meters wide that had no windows. Its length was no more than two hundred meters, and on the wall on each side were huge one-piece mirrors that ran the entire length of the hallway.

"It's amazing, the mirrors run the entire length of the hallway." Takeshi exclaimed.

The mirrors along the hallway stretched behind him beyond the horizon to become a single point.

"This is where all the students and teachers of the Academy come and go." Mui commented, and then began to walk forward.

Takeshi stood admiring the mirrors in awe, but after a while he turned around and ran after Mui. They passed through a white door and then came to a crossroads where Mui crossed to the right and then went down some stairs.

The place certainly had a school-like feel to it; there were white walls and each hallway was very wide and spacious. However, everything was so quiet that anyone would doubt about the presence of any person in the place. Takeshi also went down the stairs. There were flowers planted along an outside path that led into the building.

From a distance, a classroom could be seen, but no one seemed to be there. Meanwhile, Mui remained completely silent as she guided Takeshi to a certain place in the building where they finally stopped.

"Excuse me, I'm Aiba from first year...."

The door opened, and when Mui looked inside, a woman's voice greeted her.

"Aah, well. Come in..."

Mui and Takeshi entered the room. That place was about half the size of a normal classroom, and there were several stainless steel desks placed in front of each other.

"Aiba-san, you ran away from the Academy, didn't you?" that woman said, appearing from behind

"I'm sorry..." Mui said, apologizing to the woman and then turned to look back with a bitter smile.

"You're very stubborn..."

The woman, who was dressed in a formal gray suit, had a very firm chest and legs. All of her seemed to be brimming with youth. She was about the same age as Takeshi's mother, her eyes were sharp and you could tell she had a good physique. At that moment, she shifted her point of view from Mui to Takeshi and said:

"Now, the real problem is you. Ajaa... I see..."

While examining Takeshi from head to toe, he approached him.

"E-ee..."

"Write down your name and address."

The woman went back to one of the desks after handing him a sheet of paper and a pencil.

"Excuse me?"

"Quickly!"

Confused, Takeshi received the items the woman handed him and after pressing the pencil against the sheet of paper to begin writing, he turned at Mui and she nodded. Takeshi then reluctantly set about writing what he had been instructed to write. When he finished, the woman snatched the paper from him and then opened a drawer and took out a tape measure.

"Good, now take off your clothes..."

"Huh?"

"Quick, get undressed!"

As Takeshi was too slow, the woman grabbed his shirt.

"Hey... Wait, please!" Takeshi exclaimed.

However, the woman didn't wait and took off his shirt. Takeshi's upper body had been quickly undressed. Mui's cheeks flushed and she suddenly didn't know where to look, so she focused her gaze on the corner of the wall.

The woman had forcibly removed Takeshi's shirt, so with mouth tightly closed Mui stood stiffer than a statue as she stared at the wall. Then, the woman made her hold Takeshi's shirt which was still warm.

With the tape measure in her hand, the woman took Takeshi's measurements so fast that it didn't even take her a minute.

"This is the order for your uniform, go with this paper to the store..."

With red cheeks, Mui handed the shirt back to Takeshi. And they set out to do as they were instructed.

"What is all this?"

Takeshi, despite having received the paper, wanted to inquire, but immediately the phone in front of the woman rang.

"Hello?, Subaru Magic Academy Office..."

When the woman started talking on the phone she made her voice higher pitched, and Takeshi let out a sigh and watched her. She started talking on the phone about subjects that were taught at the Academy: "Basic Principles of Magic", "History of Magic", "Study of Charms", "Study of Territories"... All of those were subjects he had never heard of before.

"Yes... Yes... Yes... Understood..."

Takeshi hadn't put on his shirt and had continued to watch the woman talking on the phone, until she finally hung up. Then she turned around and looked at Takeshi who was still there and frowned.

"Are you still here? Come on... go where I told you to go. Aiba-san, please take him with you."

Standing next to him, Mui, took the paper from his hands and quickly urged him to put on his shirt. Takeshi, who was half naked, deduced that staying there would not solve anything, so he proceeded to put on his shirt, and them, the woman began to complain.

"Geez, why do i have to be so busy? Now it turns out there's another transfer student. Let's see... Isoshima... Kurumi."

With his shirt half on, Takeshi exclaimed:

"Isoshima...!?"

He quickly finished putting on his shirt and asked:

"Excuse me .... Did you just say, Ishoshima Kurumi?"

"Yes, that's what I said. Looks like she's the other transfer student, do you know her?"

Takeshi was puzzled, for he no longer knew how many surprises he had been in for that very day.

Part 2

"Are you all right, miss?"

"Mmm..."

Letting out a seductive voice, accompanied by heavy breathing and her shiny brown hair spilling over the sheets, Kurumi used the back of her hand to rub her eyes and began to get up.

"This is... Takeshi's room?"

She recognized it at a glance. The room felt rustic and was smaller than it needed to be, so it was obvious that there were things piled up in one corner. From where she stood, she saw a man who was not Takeshi, who was standing up.

"Who are you?!" she exclamied.

She looked around a second time, and made sure that the place she was in was Takeshi's room, but he was nowhere to be seen. Kurumi thought that the man in front of her was too suspicious so she made a disgusting gesture.

"I'm really sorry, but i had to use the bed without permission," the bespectacled man commented. He appeared to be almost thirty years old. And when Kurumi finally noticed something, she said:

"It's Takeshi's bed..."

"I see... So it was it a bad idea to use it?"

"No... it's ok..."

When she understood that what the man meant, was that he had laid her down on that bed, her face turned a little red. She had sat there many times before, but she had never laid down before. Suddenly her chest began to throb, but then she asked a question to the man who had his face turned away from her.

"Who exactly are you?"

The appearance of the room seemed normal, the only unusual thing was that man standing there, so it was normal that she did not understand what was going on. That man standing in front of her had a okappa haircut and wore completely round glasses and, even though it was summer, he wore thick white tuxedo.

"I apologize... My name is Hitouji Makoto, and i am a Special Examiner of the <Wizard's Breath> Comunity, and also a teacher at Subaru Magic Academy.

"What did you say?" Kurumi interrupted coldly.

"I mean, that i'm a Wizard..."

"I've heard enough, do you think i'm stupid?"

"Oh, that's not what i think." replied the man, bowing exaggeratedly.

Kurumi, who was still sitting on the bed, looked at him coldly. Then she realized that she didn't remember how long she had been lying on Takeshi's bed, let alone how long the man had been standing there.

"By the way, if i remember correctly... i was attacked by some strange men." Kurumi said, associating the men from before with her loss of consciousness.

"So you remember? They are part of Ghost Trailer, and they seem to have affected you unexpectedly."

"..."

In addition to Kurumi's cold stare, pity began to show in her, as if she was pitying that foolish and pathetic man.

"I think you're misunderstanding something. Do you think i'm a preschooler or something? Do you really think a high school student would believe a story like that?" Kurumi replied, with graat heat and judging the man.

"But..."

"That's enough! What you have to do right now, is to get as far away from here as possible." Kurumi exclaimed, pointing to the door.

However, he doesn't pretend to have the intention of doing that.

"That kind of reasoning..."

The man tried to speak, but Kurumi, once again, interrupted him.

"Just at this moment you are a stranger who has broken into this house, and on top of that you are a person full of lies. That's more than enough reason for me to call the police. Do you know what that means?"

Kurumi quickly reached into her skirt pocket, and pulled out her cell phone to show it to the man. He just took a step back and shrugged his shoulders. It seemed that high school girl was very arrogant. The man regretted his asignament and wished to leave, but he couldn't because it was his job. So, in order not to show hostility, he raised both arms and began to speak:

"We are still investigating whether you are a wizard or not. But if it turns out positive, you would be the second person to become a wizard this day, besides Nanase Takeshi, so you must cooperate."

When Kurumi heard that name, her eyes widened.

"Takeshi?"

"Excuseme?"

"You said Takeshi, right? that's what you said? Nanase Takeshi?"

Kurumi didn't know how many surprises she had gotten that day, but it was more than clear to the man, that her attitude had softened considerably when she heard Takeshi's name, so she nodded a lot.

"That is correct. On the other hand, your arrival at Subaru Magic Academy was already appointed so it's inevitable. All the formalities for your transfer have already been settled and you has been accepted as a basic level wizard.

"And Takeshi...? Is he already in that academy?"

"Of course..."

"So you've come to take me there?"

"Well, we're still investigating if you've become a Wizard..." The man answered.

Then Kurumi stood up quickly and said:

"Well, then finish that investigation quickly. I want to meet with Takeshi, I want to hear what he has to tell me."

The girl's facial expression had changed completely. She was facing the man insistently and had a bright and well-marked smile all over her face. She had full confidence that, upon meeting with Takeshi, everything would be resolved as if it was the last move one makes during sword practice.

She was showing a smile at that moment, but nothing described better what she really felt, than the thorns underneath a beautiful rose, as, inside, she was hiding a fierce anger. Who was that girl running with him while they were holding hands? She wanted to hear an explanation directly from Takeshi. So, at that moment, that was the most important matter for her.

Part 3

Through the halls of the Academy, Mui was leading the confused Takeshi. The fact that the woman in the office mentioned Kurumi's name was disturbing to him. However, a few moments ago they had just received a satisfactory explanation, a textbook had been noted on the paper along with other things that were also part of the application for the store.

"Where are we going now?" asked Takeshi.

then Mui stopped walking and said:

"The next stop is The Principal's Office"

Then she quickly turned to forward again and continued walking. So far, Takeshi had been following her unconditionally, but his patience was reaching its limit.

"Hey, wait!"

Takeshi grabbed Mui's arm and pulled on it. Then Mui stopped again.

"It's the Transfer process." she said clearly.

"Aah!? What transfer?

"Don't worry, everything is arranged so that there won't be any discrepancy between the magical world and the other side."

Then Takeshi angrily replied:

"That's not right! You are involuntarily transferring me."

Takeshi's anger was in stark contrast to Mui's carefree attitude.

"Now you have the responsibility of being a wizard and you can't refuse. You can no longer attend an ordinary school."

"Responsibility to be a wizard? You say something like that because it suits you and..."

"Mui..." she replied, interrupting Takeshi as she grabbed his arm and looked him in the eyes.

"Huh? what do..."

Confused by what she said, Takeshi stopped talking and then she repeated:

"My name is Mui..."

"..."

"I think i didn't introduce myself properly at the infirmary."

"..."

Takeshi's anger subsided, and his shoulders slumped.

"I understand. So... You are Mui..."

"Yes?"

Being called her name, Mui flashed a smile. Takeshi slowly loosened his grip on her arm, felt dizzy, and quietly said what he truly felt:

"I think after all, I want to go back..."

The corridor was silent and his voice echoed loudly everywhere. Mui kept quiet and soon after that silence, the girl looked down and replied:

"I'm sorry..."

It was just for a while, eut her voice cracked within that silent atmosphere.

"I'm really sorry."

She apologized again, and for a moment her eyes became very serious, making the gloom increase.

"I didn't want to ruin your life like this."

It looked like Mui was being tormented by those words. Takeshi frowned, raised his face and stared straight ahead keeping quiet.

She continued:

"In spite of everything, I know that my life would not be enough to make amends for what I did to you. You are a wizard now and you must accept that responsibility."

He needed to be informed that he should be prepared for anything, including death.

"I'm not asking you for anything like that," Takeshi replied, shaking his head in puzzlement.

"I'm so sorry, Nanase-kun."

To keep saying that was useless, so Takeshi let out a sigh, pulled himself together and said:

"Call me Takeshi..."

Inevitably, a bitter smile appeared on Takeshi's face, and then Mui breathed a sigh of relief.

Part 4

The principal's office and the teachers' lounge were located on the second floor of the Academy building, side by side. Unlike the teachers' lounge, where adults could be heard chattering, the hallway was completely silent. Mui knocked on the principal's office and, after waiting for an answer, opened it.

"Excuse me..." said Mui as she entered, her voice instantly lowered.

"Aah, come in, I've been waiting for you two..."

However, the tone of voice she responded with was quite unusual, as it was a soft, high-pitched voice, similar to that of a small child. Tilting his head as he followed Mui, Takeshi remembered that this was the principal's office, but unexpectedly saw a middle school student girl.

There was a full set of couches the reception area, and at the back of the room, near the window, was a huge desk. However, the person sitting at the desk was not a bald old man in a Tanuki belly as expected, but a silver-haired girl. Her hair matched the tie she was wearing next to her sailor-style uniform.

Underneath the desk could be seen his small brown loafers slowly swinging back and forth like pendulums. Either because the chair was too high or the desk was too big, but her feet did not touch the floor while she was sitting. Cause of the laptop she kept open on the desk, her face could not be seen, however, judging by her body size, she did not look like a high school student, but a middle schooler.

"Mui, do you think it's right for that girl to be sitting there?"

When Takeshi asked that, for some reason Mui opened her eyes wide and laughed ~Fu ~Fu and with a smile replied:

"Don't worry about it, just take a seat over there."

Mui quickly walked with him to the couch and sat down. Although Takeshi thought it was strange, he sat down next to her. Meanwhile, the girl was moving the mouse on her computer and for some reason, it groaned as she manipulated it. Takeshi thought that the principal would be angry if when he came back he saw the little girl touching his computer and doing what she wanted.

But, because Mui feigned ignorance as she sat there, Takeshi was left calmly take a pick the interior of the office. On the wall, the usual pictures of all the principals who have gone in succession were nowhere to be found.

Takeshi looked at the nearby area with great interest. Then the little girl let out a sigh and leaned back in the seat. Then, casually, she jumped off the chair and approached the two of them who were sitting on the sofa. And then, facing them, he began to stroke the back of the sofa in front of them and said:

"Well, Aiba-kun. Looks like there will be double punishment for you."

Hearing that, Takeshi was surprised, and turned to look at Mui's face sitting next to him.

"I'm sorry"

Mui apologized, following out of the corner of her eye the movements of the little girl, who then nimbly jumped over the backrest and sat on the sofa.

"Maybe i should make you spend the whole day apologizing?"

"..."

Mui bowed her head and her hair spilled down in front hiding her face. And, even though the girl was smiling at Mui, her gaze was very piercing.

"Well, i always seem to be talking to myself, since my warnings are always falling on deaf ears. You're not a little girl anymore, you know."

"..."

Takeshi stared at the girl scolding Mui. Perhaps because of the way she spoke and acted, it was logical to come to a certain conclusion that at the same time seemed impossible. Then the little girl continued:

"I have told you on many occasions that it is dangerous to leave the academy and the community and, being a student, I thought you were aware of that. You must be aware of how serious the consequences of your actions are."

"Yes..."

As Mui bowed her head in agreement, silence hung in the air for a moment. While he had been listening to the two talking, Takeshi hadn't been able to say anything, but at that moment he had found the opportunity.

"Excuse me..."

It was at that moment that the girl's gaze fell on Takeshi for the first time.

"What do you want...?" she asked.

The girl, who looked like a middle school student, watched Takeshi with her large light brown eyes that seemed to pierce through him as if trying to peer into his innermost thoughts.

With a strange feeling in between, Takeshi said:

"I've been wondering about something for a while"

"really? And what could it be?"

"Are you... are you the headmistress of the academy?"

Takeshi showed a bitter smile as he said what he was thinking. Then the girl looked at him with a beaming smile.

"That's right, i know i haven't introduced myself yet. It's a pleasure to meet you, and welcome to Subaru Magic Academy. I'm the headmistress Shijou Momoka.

Puzzled, Takeshi unconsciously shook her outstretched hand which was small.

"I knew it..."

Normally anyone would be surprised to see something like that. That girl, who didn't even look like a High School student, was actually the headmistress of the academy. Either way, that was something surprising. Takeshi could only avert his gaze from the headmistress's bright smile, and with a bit of difficulty he spoke:

"Excuse me, but... I want to make it clear that I have no intention of transferring to this place."

Unconscious of his attitude, Takeshi was determined to go home and have nothing to do with strange things ever again. From his side, Mui interrupted the conversation, hoping to do something about Takeshi's absolute refusal.

"Excuse me, Takeshi-kun, but you don't know all the details yet. You can't make a decision so lightly."

Seeing the bitter expression Takeshi had towards the headmistress, Mui quickly got up from the sofa with a worried and guilty expression.

"Really? Well, until someone else i'm waiting for arrives, you and I will talk some more," the headmistress replied to Takeshi.

She then stood up from her place and quickly walked to a stop a short distance away. She then took out a capped pencil that he had tucked away in a breast pocket of her sailor uniform.

"First of all, I want to tell you that this world is not the same as the one you are used to living in. Although they look the same, in reality they are very different from each other. Let me show you..."

Despite her appearance, that little girl was the headmistress of the academy, and as she pirouetted with her pencil, twirling its cap and passing it between her fingers, she kept flashing a smile. Consequently, because Mui had gotten up from her seat, Takeshi also did the same.

"Do you see this pencil...?" added the principal, showing him the pencil she was holding in her hand. At first glance it may look like an ordinary pencil, like one you can find anywhere, however....

The headmistress removed the cap of her pencil, and as soon as she did so, a darkness pierced reality and assaulted Takeshi's eyes. That darkness devoured the light completely and his vision was submerged in it without being able to see absolutely nothing. That darkness was total, and it was so heavy that it had made him feel as if he had fallen into the depths of the ocean, where the sunlight is no longer able to reach.

"What the...!?!

Mui looked away quickly to avoid that effect, but Takeshi was slow and had to press his hands against his eyes.

"I'm sorry, it seems that the control i have over my own magic has weakened."

Although he wasn't able to see the headmistress, her voice sounded like a lament.

"It's over... you can open your eyes now..."

Takeshi had to blink several times, and fearful at first, he was reluctant to look until he finally confirmed that Mui could clearly see the headmistress and looked up. From the place where the darkness emanated from the pencil, a black light was now being emitted that had become smaller.

It was a black sphere about two or three centimeters in diameter that was emerging directly from the tip of the pencil. In fact, before Takeshi saw that, he already knew that it was the magic particles possessed by all wizards.

Mui's gun emitted vivid yellow particles, but the headmistress's pencil emitted black particles. At that moment, the headmistress swung her pencil from left to right as if drawing in the air.

"It's this way..." she said, approaching a wall where she subsequently drew a line.

"H-hey..."

Takeshi noticed that what she had scribbled on the wall disappeared in a few seconds. Beside him, Mui reached out her hand and shook her head in the hope that her gaze would convey the message to stop protesting.

Using her pencil, the headmistress drew a line on the wall from the height of her feet to as high as her arm could reach, and immediately began to draw a horizontal line to the right at least a meter long, then down again with another vertical line to the ground. Black magic particles could be seen at the ends of that line. Then the headmistress recited a few words:

"<BLACK DOOR...>"

turning around, she walked away from the wall and commented:

"This spell is part of the Systematic Magic in which i classify myself, which is called Black Magic. Every Wizard belongs to a different type of Systematic Magic. In my case, i am able to use a spatio-temporal change magic ability peculiar to Black Magic. Of these Systematic Magic , there are six categories in total, plus singular magic that cannot be categorized as the above."

As she spoke, Takeshi was surprised by what he was seeing, as the graphite particles inside the line began to spread inward, staining part of the wall's surface black.

"Please, Aiba-kun," Headmistress put the cap back on her pencil and put it in the breast pocket of her uniform while talking to Mui,

"Please be so kind as to explain to us the different types of Systematic magic categories that exist."

-Yes, Headmistress. The six categories of Systematic Magic are: Evasive Magic, Illusory Magic, Destructive Magic, Black Magic, Acceleration Magic and Biological Magic. Then there is Singular Magic."

"I see you remember them all. Very well... very well..."

The headmistress nodded her head, while Mui threw a little tantrum saying:

"Headmistress, i'm not a rookie. Of course I remember them all."

Mui was annoyed because she thought the headmistress was underestimating her.

"Really? However, even rookies know that leaving the academy is dangerous."

"..."

Mui could not argue anything in the face of that logic, and kept quiet. As expected, the headmistress was actually upset. So, once again, feelings of guilt returned to Mui's heart. As she stared at Mui, the headmistress spoke to Takeshi:

"Nanase Takeshi-kun, there is something you should know. This world is currently in a constant state of war. Although the board of directors of this academy is affiliated with <Wizard's Breath>, they are a trustworthy community, and the official position of this academy in the war, remains completely neutral."

For a moment, Takeshi's piercing gaze focused on the black particles as he tried to concentrate as much as he could on the rectangular shape the headmistress had drawn on the wall. The particles that were on the wall, became lumpy and formed a huge black mass. Then, without caring whether Takeshi heard her or not, the headmistress continued speaking:

"To avoid giving long explanations, this community, which is on the side of ordinary humans, is opposed to another community that defends, first and foremost, the supremacy of Wizards. For that reason, both communities are in constant confrontation for the control of Tokyo, a dispute that has lasted about sixteen years. And because both sides have defended and strengthened each other, the battle is becoming increasingly difficult and has now reached a stalemate.

That rectangular mass of black particles didn't look like it was going to move from its post, so Takeshi finally turned his attention to what the headmistress was saying.

"Although i say it has stalled, that doesn't mean there is a ceasefire. Leaving the academy facilities is extremely dangerous. <Ghost Trailer> is a community that has currently been engaging in capturing wizards, therefore, our community might as well attack any student who wanders around there alone thinking that she has become one of them, don't you think so, Aiba-kun?"

Mui, who was pressed to answer, nodded her head and said:

"That's right, Headmistress..."

At that moment, Takeshi wanted to express his surprise that she was Headmistress. Only part of what Mui had told him had become clear to him.

The outside of the academy was dangerous, and for her sake, headmistress was being reminded of it over and over again. Even if she was looking for her older brother, she couldn't just walk out of the academy.

The headmistress knew about Mui's brother's situation, and all the wizards at the academy knew about Aiba Tsuganashi: a high-class wizard belonging to <Wizard's Breath> comunity and an outstanding user of Destructive Magic who was able to oppose any fire magic with his ice magic technique <Evil Ice>. And now, that same Aiba Tsuganashi, had betrayed <Wizard's Breath> and joined <Ghost Trailer>. By the time they found that out, it was too late. Many of the wizards who were captured by Aiba Tsuganashi never returned.

"Hey, what's a community?"

Takeshi, who had been listening distractedly, posed that question to both of them. He sensed that the headmistress was hiding complicated feelings behind her smile. Also, without knowing the circumstances, Takeshi sensed a strange atmosphere around Mui, who did not want to leave her brother.

"Communities are groups formed by people who share the same ideals," the headmistress answered quickly.

"<Wizard's Breath> is the predominant community, and although there are communities that prefer to remain neutral, most of them are on our side and share with us the same idea that wizards and ordinary humans should coexist. Most of the students of this academy are already affiliated with <Wizard's Breath>. And later on, you too will be able to become part of a community which will be very helpful in getting a job.

The headmistress winked at Takeshi coquettishly, causing him to be surprised.

"Contrary to the ideals of <Wizard's Breath> is the community known as <Ghost Trailer>. They adamantly claim that wizards have been discriminated against by ordinary humans and want to dominate human society. Because most of the members are wizards who come from the same family lineage, they are very powerful, but more than that, they are wizards who are willing to use any method to achieve their goals."

"Is this academy safe?" asked Takeshi, who had begun to feel uncomfortable in the place.

Then the headmistress nodded with a smile.

"It is safe. The community has deployed strong protection magic around the perimeter, but the <Trailers> still don't attack this place."

"Why?"

"Think a bit from the perspective of a Trailer. Don't you think it would be easier to recruit a fellow graduate? Since this is an academy where they teach magic lessons, by doing it that way they no longer have to go through the whole teaching process to get a well-trained partner."

Finishing the conversation, the headmistress turned her gaze to the wall where a moment ago she had drawn something.

"Follow me, I'm going to show you something interesting..."

Headmistress pressed her hand against the black part of the wall. Inmediatly, from a part of the black particles a strange figure emerged. It was like some kind of emblem with characters he had never seen before, which faded away after a moment.

Then, the director added a little force in her small hand and pushed the black wall, which began to turn clockwise as if it were a revolving door. Her hand stopped the door midway and she turned to look over her shoulder, inviting them to follow her.

"Is that Magic too...?" Takeshi wondered.

Mui shyly walked forward to where the headmistress stood, and Takeshi started to follow them, but his feet stopped abruptly. He had been surprised by what he saw behind the door, and slipping, he stopped just before walking through it.

From there he could see the sky, and beyond was a cluster of buildings that looked like they had been there for a long time. However, the door was located in a strange place. In front of it, the headmistress seemed to be standing on a glass floor, so Mui turned to look slightly, and motioned to Takeshi.

After swallowing a little, Takeshi advanced and walked in the same place as them with utmost care. The headmistress nodded when she saw that Takeshi had finally caught up with them and said:

"Good... now look behind you."

Takeshi timidly turned to look as the headmistress had instructed, and saw a huge building standing nearby. Takeshi immediately recognized the building.

"Is it the Tochou building?"

"Exactly. That's Tochou, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building."

Right in front of their eyes, the two towers of that building began to approach them, as they were floating in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. Normally, in order to see that part of the building, he had to look up and arch his neck as far as he could, hoping not to hurt himself. However, that view of the building was right in front of Takeshi's eyes.

"That means this is where..."

Takeshi had already realized that they were floating, but he hadn't realized the height, until he saw his feet and then he became dizzy. He was at a height of at least a couple of hundred meters. He then turned his gaze again the building and noticed a small rectangular section of the wall of the building, which had a black rectangular cutout. Takeshi realized that it was from there that they had exited.

"Huh? But... the inside is..."

"Is the Academy located inside the building?" Takeshi wondered. Remembering that from inside the principal's office and from the corridors Mui had led him through, the academy's facilities looked just like any other school's.

"The interior was converted into the Academy..." commented the headmistress indifferently.

"So, that means... it's really the Tochou building?" asked Takeshi with admiration.

Then the headmistress laughed a little and then, flashing him a smile, replied:

"In this world there are no ordinary humans, only wizards. Therefore, there are no public employees in the building."

"Not even one?" Takeshi insisted.

"No one... Now look."

The headmistress held out her arms and Takeshi looked.

"You don't see anything strange here?"

She stepped forward and began to turn around with her arms outstretched as if she was showing him the whole place. Mui just silently watched the interaction of the two of them. Takeshi glanced in all directions from the Tochou building and replied:

"It's so quiet... are there really no other people here?"

On the other side of the Tochou building, the greenery of Shinjuku's central park could be seen. Suddenly, Takeshi realized something and changed the direction of his gaze. He turned to face a group of buildings with a tense look. Using the Tokyo Tower as a reference, he tried to look for the sector where his house was located.

However, what should normally be seen from that point was missing. The whole area seemed to have been devastated and there was very little left of what used to be there. Collapsed buildings everywhere, overturned vehicles on the roads, the trees that should have lined the streets were in pieces and the surface of the ground was covered with a black soot.

Beyond could be seen the clock tower that belonged to Sakuraya Academy, which appeared to have been blown up in an explosion. Part of the tower had collapsed and exposed the steel inside the concrete. The entire school itself had been mercilessly destroyed and there was no sign of life. There was no sound of the characteristic bustle of people in the city, no car horns, no ventilation systems in the buildings.

All that could be heard was the cawing of crows standing on the few trees that were left standing in the central park. Takeshi's body shuddered when he saw such a scene. It was something he could never have imagined and he was completely stunned to see, in such a state, a place he knew.

"These are the consequences of the battles that have occurred in this place. They are irreparable scars left by a war that has been going on for 16 years," commented Headmistress, staring in the same direction as Takeshi and added:

"This is a space where time has been distorted. Everything you see is Tokyo, and at the same time it is not..."

Those words from the headmistress had been harsh, and Takeshi thought it was hard to believe that what he was seeing was actually Tokyo. The principal turned her gaze away from the devastated area, and looked in the direction of Yoyogi Park. All that was there was dense foliage.

"About a year before you were born, a war between wizards broke out on a large scale. I think they'll teach you more about it in History of Magic, but let me give you a brief summary: a wizard with incredible powers tried to eradicate all of humanity from the face of the earth.

The headmistress spoke with total indifference.

"With a Singular Magic spell, capable of annihilating more than six billion people."

Although Takeshi was listening to what she was telling him, he thought it was unrealistic and sounded just like those fantasy stories he had once read. However, thinking about the possibility of the existence of such a great power, capable of killing six billion people, made Takeshi curious and a desire to hear more entered him. The headmistress seemed to have noticed that, so a wicked smile emerged on her face and she continued:

"Yes, a power capable of killing six million people, which came from a single man. For that reason, the most powerful wizards, in order to save ordinary humans, used their magic to divide the world into two parts."

"Split the world in two?! Is that possible?" Takeshi asked, interrupting the headmistress involuntarily, provoking a wry smile from she.

"Well, I know it sounds like too fantastic a story. Maybe I should put it another way: it wasn't really the world, but something like time."

The headmistress looked down, and fixed her attention on one of the street trees just below her feet and said:

"Do you know the World Tree?"

"No, I don't" Takeshi replied, shaking his head.

"Explaining to you how the time axis behaves in the world is like talking about a tree. For example: it was the case that you met Aiba-kun today, however, there should be a different option. One that would create a parallel world where you did not meet her. Right now you find yourself here, as part of a future where it did happen. Always the time axis ends up branching that way."

The headmistress joined her hands and continued:

"The wizards split the time axis creating a second world. One where that wizard succeeded in eradicating humanity."

As she explained, the headmistress separated her hands in a motion similar to forcibly splitting an apple. She opened her palms and then quickly closed her right hand tightly. Takeshi quickly realized the matter at hand.

"That means that this world is...?"

The headmistress nodded her head at Takeshi's deduction and said:

"This is that parallel world?"

Until then, Takeshi understood why the whole place was completely desolate, but he still couldn't say that he knew everything. The headmistress did not question whether or not Takeshi understood the matter and continued:

"This world was created by force, and for that reason, space-time has been distorted. Somehow Tokyo has resisted, but some time ago it was discovered that the sky has begun to collapse. Eventually this world will disappear. However, wizards are only able to fight here."

"Huh? But..."

Takeshi recalled the moment when Mui was attacked, but the headmistress gave him a brief explanation.

"Strictly speaking, you can't attack using your Systematic Magic within the world of ordinary humans. You can use basic magic while there, but if you attack another mwizard, you will lose all your powers. This rule is valid for all communities including <the Trailers>. They all have that same restriction equally.

Takeshi didn't understand how such an agreement worked, but nodded his head anyway.

"So this place is necessary for the war?"

"That's right, because this world was forcibly extracted from the time axis, no one is restricted here. This will be the stage where our community and <the Trailers> will have their final battle....

As she spoke, suddenly an electronic sound rang around the hadmistress. Then she pulled out a cell phone and began to talk. Takeshi shifted his gaze and focused on Mui, who was a bit distanced.

She was still wearing her navy blue summer uniform and her hands and knees were covered in scratches. She appeared to be distracted, staring in one direction. Her countenance, seen in profile, was like that of someone about to cry, but far from that, she looked rather angry. Takeshi had already gotten used to being with her, but at that moment it felt as if he was looking at her for the first time.

She inhabited the world she was in and was used to it. From her gun holstered in the girth of her skirt, to the yellow particles that fell from it fluttering as if dancing, they made her fit in completely with that environment. When Mui realized she was being watched, she turned to look at Takeshi, but at that moment the headmistress called out both of them:

"Well, it's time to go back. It seems that the other student we were waiting for has arrived."

Takeshi averted his gaze as Mui began to approach. He had finally understood that she was a real wizard. And the impression she gave was that of a person with an unbreakable will and a firm heart to face her adversary in battle.

Part 5

When Takeshi returned back inside the office through the black door the director had created, he passed the couch and exclaimed:

"Isoshima!?"

"Takeshi!"

His childhood friend Isoshima Kurumi, had been waiting sitting on the sofa, but she quickly got up as soon as she realized he had arrived.

"I knew they meant you, Isoshima. But... what are you doing here?"

Kurumi, who was still wearing the Sakuraya Academy uniform, stared at Takeshi and as they both stared at each other, Mui asked:

"Do you know her?"

"Y-Yeah..." answered Takeshi without taking his eyes off Kurumi.

Until that moment, he had remained doubtful about Kurumi's name being the one he had heard in the previous office. But now that he had her standing in front of him, his surprise had been great, for there was no doubt at all. Kurumi looked at him for a while as if she had been examining him until she noticed the presence of Mui who was standing behind him. Then she made a slight grimace.

To Takeshi that was a clear sign that Kurumi had just gotten into a bad mood. Takeshi and Kurumi had known each other for about seven years. They were just fourth graders when the Nanase family moved into the neighborhood and started living with their neighbors from the mansion next door that belonged to the Isoshima family. Since they were both the same age, they used to send them to school together and did many other activities together.

When they came home from school, they would join Gekkou (Takeshi's younger brother), and the three of them would go together to play. When they reached junior high school, they were both assigned to different classes. Then Takeshi started hanging out more with other male friends, and so they began to drift apart. But it wasn't until a certain incident happened to her that they had to pick up that old habit of going back and forth to school together.

It turns out that, since she was a little girl, Kurumi had always been very beautyful and constantly attracted the attention of all the children in the elementary school she attended. When she grew up and reached middle school, her beauty only increased in the same way that a flower bud explodes and spreads its petals until it becomes the most splendid flower. For this reason, the boys in the middle school she attended were constantly confessing their love for her.

The problem was when she began to receive confessions from students from other schools, because she also began to receive confessions from high school students, college students and even mature, salaried men who saw her in the neighborhood. In her second year of middle school, Kurumi stopped going to school because of a stalker attack. For that reason, she began to distrust all men including Takeshi, even questioning whether she should go to meet him.

But in the end she ended up coming out of her room and in tears told him all the problems that afflicted her. It was then that Takeshi made her a certain promise. Holding up her little finger, she also swore that she would only trust him, and then they made a deal that was still in effect to this day: "let's pretend we're lovers," was Kurumi's suggestion, to which Takeshi frowned.

However, since he had already made her a promise before, which was that no matter how many men she rejected and no matter how many stalkers came her way, he would protect her, he couldn't refuse. In fact, Takeshi had become an expert in kendo and, therefore, no boy would try to get close to Kurumi. He was aware that she would never ask such a thing to a stranger and so he agreed.

From then on, they made everyone in the school believe, during junior high and high school, that they were a loving couple. Kurumi told him that they would only keep up the charade until they both fell in love with someone. However, at present, due to the hustle and bustle of kendo and the academy, that wasn't even remotely close to happening to Takeshi. Besides, there were no girls in his class who caught his eye, and he often avoided talking about that topic.

"By the way, what's all this about? Explain yourself..." Kurumi exclaimed.

Seeing her standing there in front of him made Takeshi feel fear and relief at the same time. It was an absurd situation, because he was relieved to know that Kurumi was safe, but he was afraid to see how angry she was. He knew that when Kurumi got angry, she was someone to watch out for. That was why everyone was afraid of her.

"L-listen Isoshima... even I don't understand everything that's going on."

"Don't give me that!"

"I'm not fooling you...! By the way, Isoshima... what are you doing here? Did you... did you become a Wizard?"

Takeshi replied to the angry Kurumi, making her anger intensify even more.

"Wizard you say?! W-I-Z-A-R-D? Takeshi... how dumb can you get to fall for such a joke?"

After Kurumi spelled the word letter by letter and deliberately insulted him, Takeshi only bowed his head sadly.

During the summer of fourth grade...

Someone had taken Kurumi's locker shoes and filled them with mud. When school was over and Kurumi found her shoes in that state, she noticed four classmates leaving for home while chuckling.

The next day, Kurumi took revenge by placing a pile of huge worms, which she had gotten from the fishing tackle store, in the shoes of each of them. Needless to say, the screams of those four classmates echoed throughout the school after school. From then until now, Kurumi had always been true to her motto: "Whatever you do to me, I'll do to you, in triplicate". Obviously no one found it pleasant to be around a girl who had that kind of philosophy.

There was one occasion when Takeshi managed to bring three of his friends to the Isoshima Residence so that she could socialize with others, but it did not go well at all. Quite the opposite of what was expected, such an event only caused the mutual dislike between Kurumi and the others to increase. That day, Takeshi and his friends were playing hide and seek with her in the gardens of the luxurious Isoshima mansion, and it was her turn to be the one to search. She had been searching for ten minutes and finding no one, she began to call out to them with concern.

"Kurumi-chan is calling us," commented Takeshi.

At that time, he used to call her "Kurumi-chan" and she called him "Tak-kun". Those three companions, who were glued in front of a TV screen showing a video game in a large game room, answered:

"Don't worry about her..."

"Yeah, let's leave her there for a while..."

The area designated for playing hide-and-seek was supposed to be only the garden part, but they had returned to the inside of the mansion without warning. That playroom was located on the second floor and, from the window there, they could observe Kurumi wandering alone all over the garden. Takeshi looked confused at his three friends who were simply laughing at her.

"That girl only acts lively because she lives in a luxurious house. The truth is that she's very selfish. I only came because you asked me to. But look how she is: she wanted to stop playing just because she didn't want to stay and seek."

"You're right. Let's see how long it takes him to realize that we're not..."

"It can't be..." Takeshi muttered.

Having ignored Kurumi, the three companions set out to play video games without permission. Meanwhile, Takeshi stood watching her for a moment through the window.

"Tak-kun...! Where are you guys...! Where are you?"

As she hovered around the garden, Kurumi called out to them louder and louder. But after a moment, she began to rub her eyes. She had realized that they had actually left and so she shouted:

"Taaak-kuuun!!!!"

As he continued to watch her through the window, Takeshi said:

"I think I better go get her..."

"Ah? Hey no...!"

"Don't go Nanase-kun!"

Takeshi quickly left the room heading for the hallway, leaving behind the voices of his classmates who tried to stop him. He hurriedly put on his shoes that were at the entrance and went out into the garden to look for her.

Kurumi had not moved from the place where she had just been seen, and as soon as she noticed Takeshi's presence, she quickly wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

"Tak-kun... where were you? Kurumi asked, looking at him piercingly.

"Well..."

Takeshi avoided eye contact.

"And where are the others?" She asked again, with a serious expression that showed no signs of having cried, but with her eyes still red from having done so.

Takeshi turned his face away from her and looking away answered:

"It was already late, so they had to leave for home..."

"..."

"I live next door so it's no problem if I'm still here..."

Kurumi stared at Takeshi who was trying to trick her, and then lowered her gaze to her feet and stopped at her shoes that were misplaced. She stood thoughtfully for a moment and suddenly held Takeshi firmly by the sleeve of his shirt saying to him:

"Come here..."

At that moment she led Takeshi towards a door, but it was not the main entrance of the mansion, but a service door leading to the kitchen. Once there, he asked him:

"What do you think about staying for lunch here today?"

"May I?"

"Sure, as long as it's just you. The other guys definitely won't..."

As Kurumi whispered that in his ear while faking a cough, Takeshi couldn't help but smile with a complicated expression.

"I really appreciate it, Kurumi-chan..."

She turned to look at him with a wide smile, and he just looked away like someone who has just been bullied.

"By the way, how about playing video games later? They bought me a game console the other day. Or if you prefer you can go right now, it's not a problem for me...

Even though she was acting arrogant and hostile, Kurumi's cheeks were flushed up to her ears.

"Wow... I wish I was from the Isoshima family..." commented Takeshi in a joking tone.

"That's fine with me..." muttered Kurumi.

"Huh? What did you say?"

Kurumi quickly looked in another direction, and then started walking answering:

"I didn't say anything, only that I'll let you play with my console, but in return... you'll help me tomorrow with my homework."

"Of course. You're bad at math anyway, Isoshima."

"I'm not bad! I just don't like it..."

In that way, Takeshi's attempt to make Kurumi like his friends failed, and from that moment on, he never tried to integrate her into his circle of friends again. He had realized that forcing things was pointless because, even if she lacked friends, she didn't want to have them. Besides, it had become impossible for Takeshi to find someone who wanted to befriend her. That same situation continued when they moved up to junior high school and even when they entered the same high school....

Currently.

Kurumi was standing with her arms crossed in a posture of disgust in front of the sofa in the principal's office:

"Are you telling me that you just got yourself into this, and now you intend to help this girl?"

"Well... you could put it that way..." replied Takeshi sheepishly.

"Nothing like that...! It's just that they've already filled your head with nonsense...!"

Takeshi tried to excuse himself by saying:

"It was an accident...!"

But hearing that, Kurumi twisted her mouth even more angrily and replied:

"What an unfortunate accident, isn't? though I've never heard of an accident involving becoming a wizard before!

"That's the first time I've heard of it, too..." Takeshi replied.

"You idiot!" Kurumi shouted, causing Takeshi to jump in fright.

Then he lowered his arms and let out a heavy sigh.

"Haaa~ It doesn't matter anymore... I see you're okay at least. Let's go back home, Takeshi."

Saying that, she started walking towards the exit of the office. He also started walking behind her, but as he did so he muttered:

"Even if you tell me to go back home..."

Meditating on leaving and leaving things halfway, Takeshi turned his gaze to the headmistress.

"You may go..."

The headmistress had already returned to her seat and Takeshi was surprised that she had given them permission so easily.

"However, I would like to ask you not to use your magic when you are there. I explained that a moment ago, so I'm sure you understand my warning. If magic is used to attack other wizards, the magic power disappears."

"Excuse me..." Mui tried to speak, but the headmistress continued:

"As I said, our institution maintains a neutral position, therefore, if <the Trailers> captures you, we will not be able to help you. You must be very careful. Although... I'm sure they will be back sooner than you think....

While the headmistress spoke in total tranquility and with a smile, Takeshi kept silent, but Mui couldn't do it and spoke to Kurumi who had just come out to the corridor:

"It's dangerous out there. I think it would be best if they stayed."

Takeshi who was still inside the office, also warned Kurumi:

"That's right, listen to what Mui just told you."

But of all the above said, Kurumi only noticed a single word Takeshi said and frowned asking:

"Mui?"

"Aaah, that's me. Aiba Mui, nice to meet you."

Mui had just introduced herself to her with a smile, but Kurumi completely ignored her and didn't even turn to look at her. Instead, she spoke to Takeshi.

"Takeshi, do you really believe in all this big farce they've put up, or are you an accomplice of these weird people?"

"You're wrong..."

When she heard that, Kurumi entered the office again with a single step and then took Takeshi by the hand.

"Then I'll repeat it one more time: let's go back home Takeshi, okay? Please..."

Kurumi looked up and looked him in the eyes seriously. Then Takeshi started walking with her.

"Aaah, it's okay..."

"Wait, Takeshi-kun...!"

While he was being led by Kurumi's hand, Mui stepped in by quickly grabbing the other hand that Takeshi had free. At that moment Kurumi turned to look with a clear murderous intent.

"You're Aiba-san, right?"

"Yes..."

"You look very calm bothering people you don't know..."

"Ah? That was rude..."

"Whatever! We'll leave this strange place as soon as possible and go straight back to where we belong. Whatever problems you guys have, it's none of our business."

At that moment, Takeshi's feeling of being between Kurumi and Mui was similar to being in a tundra with a terrible icy wind blowing from Kurumi's side.

"I wonder if Isoshima's bad mood will be fixed if I go with her..." thought Takeshi.

The two had engaged in an argument that ended up overwhelming Kurumi's patience. But as Mui ended up being overwhelmed by Kurumi's intensity, her hands loosened a bit and Kurumi ended up snatching Takeshi away from her.

"Now let's get out of here, Takeshi!"

Treating him as if he was her pet, she pulled him out into the hallway, but at that moment he turned to look at Mui who had stayed behind depressed, so she stopped.

"Wait, Isoshima..."

In terms of strength, Kurumi was no match for Takeshi, and no matter how hard she pulled on his arm, she couldn't get him to keep moving, so she gave up and let go.

"What now, Takeshi, so much has already happened because of you?"

Takeshi felt that was true, so he didn't deny it. However, he was worried about Mui. But as he stood looking at her silently, Kurumi enraged greatly, pressed Takeshi's cheeks with the palms of her hands, and forced him to look in her direction.

"Did you hear what I told you? You absented yourself from the club activities without saying anything and since I was worried I went to look for you all the way to the house. When I got there, someone attacked me. Everything went from bad to worse."

Hearing Kurumi say that she had been hit, Takeshi was shocked.

"You're hurt? What did they do to you?"

Holding Kurumi by the shoulders, Takeshi pulled her away from him to get a fuller view of her, and frantically checked her over as he looked her over from head to toe. Kurumi had been shocked at such a reaction, and simply put her hand to the back of her neck saying:

"A strange man hit me in the neck?"

"And are you all right? You look a little red..."

Kurumi was still surprised, because Takeshi was now checking her neck. Then she pressed her hand against his chest and answered:

"Yes, I'm fine."

The truth was that the only thing red was her cheeks, but Takeshi didn't notice that.

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault," Mui burst out.

At that instant Kurumi's face distorted in disgust at hearing Mui's words, as if she had just been insulted.

Part 6

To return home, Kurumi and Takeshi walked back to the hall of mirrors. And using the same mirror through which they arrived at the academy, they both returned to their world. Takeshi was the first to exit the mirror in the bathroom of his house, followed by Kurumi who was being guided by him. Once outside, Takeshi set out to escort Kurumi towards her home, the Isohima residence, located next to his.

"I noticed you were calling that girl by her name," Kurumi mentioned in a clear voice as she opened the small waist-high gate of the Nanase house.

"You mean Mui?"

"Yes..."

"Well, I really don't know how it happened."

"..."

Takeshi replied with a chuckle, not noticing Kurumi's sadness.

"A long time ago, you used to call me by my name too. 'Kurumi-chan' you used to call me."

As they walked side by side, Takeshi found it hard to look at the profile of Kurumi's face below. And without noticing Kurumi's feelings, he kept laughing while remembering the past.

"Really? And so, since when did I start calling you 'Isoshima'?"

"Since we entered Junior High..."

"Huh? What did you say?"

Arriving at the Mansion, the noise of huge cicadas didn't let Takeshi hear well, so he asked. But Kurumi slowly shook her head and said:

"Nothing."

However, Takeshi was intrigued by the fact that her behavior was colder than usual so he looked at her and insisted:

"What's wrong with you?"

"I told you it's nothing!"

After shouting in annoyance, Kurumi turned around and looked at Takeshi.

"Do you believe what those people told you?"

Seeing the serious expression she was looking at him with, Takeshi stopped and answered:

"I wouldn't have believed anything if I hadn't seen what I saw with my own eyes."

"Ok, but I'm not going to be fooled."

In Kurumi's voice at the moment of making that decision, one could feel that there was more hatred and hostility than simple anger. Then she continued:

"And neither should you. We don't know if it's a cult or a simple fraud. But whatever the case it's better that you stay away from those dangerous things before you get hurt and it's too late."

Takeshi sighed as he saw that Kurumi was scolding him severely. But then he remembered that when Kurumi was in high school she had been attacked by a stalker.

"Isoshima..."

Instead of going to school, she had barricaded herself in her house in fear, because one day on her way home from school, she almost got kidnapped. A fact that Takeshi found out about as soon as he returned home after being with the Kendo club, and since then he kept it in his memory as a bad memory.

She also remembered that people used to say that she was the one asking for that kind of trouble, but Takeshi had only seen her wearing makeup during the New Year's parties and the ornament she wore in her hair was a simple black ribbon designated by the school that didn't even have any ornaments. Whether it was with boys or girls, she didn't usually get involved with anyone.

She was just an ordinary high school student who didn't stand out from the crowd. For that reason, he accepted Kurumi's request to pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend. Even though it would result in the hatred of those admirers Kurumi had. But still, he wanted to protect her. He didn't want anyone to hurt her again. So, when Kurumi got angry, Takeshi was aware that it was because something was bothering her. So, at that moment he nodded obediently at her gaze.

"It's okay... And I'm sorry for worrying you, Isoshima."

"Well, if you understand, it's okay..."

Kurumi looked away, showing her ears which had turned red. And Takeshi, noticing that, smiled slightly. Kurumi was the type of person who said things directly. That frankness was the number one reason why she was hated by girls her own age. Still, she didn't tell lies and was always honest. Suddenly, the image of Mui came to Takeshi's mind. To tell the truth, she gave the same impression.

"Mui and Isoshima... huh?"

"Isohima is hostile to others, just to protect herself and Mui who won't give up on her brother."

"Isoshima might well hit it off with her."

While wishing for something like that to become possible, Takeshi thought with some expectation, as he walked next to Kurumi who still had her ears red.

Part 7

In one of the female dormitory rooms of the Subaru Magic Academy, which was located inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in a parallel world where only wizards existed, Aiba Mui was repeatedly sighing.

"Haa~ What should I do?"

Lying on a huge desk, she contemplated the dark screen of a cell phone she held in her hand. Normally the dorms at the academy were doubles, but Mui was part of a special class, and had been granted a room just for herself. The side outside the window looked dark and the clock read around ten o'clock.

"Do I call or don't I call?"

With her fingers, she opened and closed the lid of the cell phone, which showed a phone number on the screen.

"I call or I don't call..."

He opened it again and closed it again.

"..."

With her head on the desk and pressed against her cheek, Mui looked at her dandelion-colored phone and said to herself:

"I'll call..."

As she mumbled strangely to herself, she held her cell phone tightly and said:

"No problem, I had previously rehearsed what I was going to say, so I just have to do it all as is."

When she finally decided to do it and selected the phone book, where the name, Nanase Takeshi, was displayed. But upon seeing it, Mui frowned.

"Aaah, I wonder if I'll go and bother him... Yes, I'm sure it will be a disturb.

To tell the truth, when Takeshi visited Subaru Academy and they spent some time in the store, they both exchanged their phone numbers. Mui had said it was just in case something happened, as it sounded like a natural thing to do because of the matter of protecting Takeshi. However, she was very nervous.

"I think I'd better not call him..."

With the directory option displayed on the screen, Mui closed the lid once more. They had barely parted in the afternoon so it might as well be overkill to be calling that very night.

"But anyway..."

She was aware that Takeshi had returned safely to her world, because she herself was the one who had opened the mirror portal so that he and also Isoshima Kurumi could return. However, she wasn't sure what had happened next.

The Trailer had recently been taking to chasing mages and capturing them with no questions asked. Mui wasn't sure what had become of Takeshi since she last saw him, and the thought that something like that could happen to him made her chest tighten. However, that could be a simple unfounded fear.

"The best thing to do would be to tell him not to come this way. Yes, I'll do that..."

Throwing his cell phone on the bed, he lay back down on the desk.

"But, if he's doing something important and can't answer me..."

Raising his face and looking sideways in the direction of the cell phone on the bed, he shook his head vigorously.

"No, I told him to stay at the academy, and the one who convinced him to leave was that girl, so it's not my fault," Mui mumbled, clenching his fists tightly and nodding.

"Yes, that's right. If something happens to him, it won't be my fault."

Her voice gradually dropped.

"But, I'm the one who turned him into a wizard...."

Slowly approaching the bed, she picked up the cell phone again.

"We girls are brave. I've been looking for my brother, which is not an easy task, so calling a guy is nothing to me."

Talking to herself, she impulsively opened the directory again, with Nanase Takeshi's name selected.

"But..."

Once she pressed the button, the call would be made, but she still hesitated. Therefore, Mui still kept her trembling finger barely five millimeters away from touching the screen, and suddenly, the door of the room rang.

"Kyaaa!"

Mui gasped in surprise, and at the same time her finger ended up gently touching the screen.

"AAAaaaaaah"

Mui screamed again, and then came to her ears, a sudden call:

"W-What's wrong? Aiba-san, are you ok?"

A middle-aged woman, who was in charge of the dormitory, opened the door at that very moment.

"It's nothing..." replied Mui, hiding her cell phone behind her back.

It turns out that, inside the dormitories, cell phones were forbidden, and because of the emergency of the moment, Mui had just been caught.

"Yes, hello?"

From the cell phone earpiece, a barely audible voice came out.

"Is there really nothing wrong with you...? Are you...?"

While the dormitory manager frowned with suspicion, Mui laughed wryly.

"Hehehe... I just realized that I gained a little weight and was surprised."

Seeing Mui's figure in her pajamas, the dorm keeper turned her face towards the entrance of the room.

"Really?"

"Yes," Mui replied, smiling brightly.

Then the dormitory keeper stared at her for a few seconds, and then turned around.

"Don't worry. The truth is that you are very thin so it wouldn't hurt you to put on a little weight."

"Ha ha..."

"Well, don't yell anymore and go to bed soon."

After saying that, the bedroom attendant closed the door and left.

"Phew..."

Mui breathed a sigh of relief, and somehow, the voice of the ongoing call coming from the cell phone she was holding in her hand reached her ears.

"Hello?"

Frantically and in a panic, Mui put the phone to her ear and answered:

"Aah, sorry, Takeshi-kun, I..."

"Mui? Is everything all right?"

"Yes..."

As she had made the call from her own phone, and had kept him on hold, Mui felt guilty, but Takeshi through the phone tried to cheer her up by saying:

"I too think it wouldn't be bad if you put on some weight."

"No way, did you even hear that?"

"Yes, I heard it."

"Well, about that..."

As the above had been a lie, Mui tried to explain, but when she heard Takeshi say 'huh?' on the other end of the phone in a gentle voice, her skin crawled and she couldn't say anything anymore. She just ducked her head in embarrassment. It was a relief that Takeshi wasn't watching her and so she put a hand to her cheek.

"By the way, I'm sorry about what happened today. I shouldn't have left so suddenly."

"It's okay, don't worry about it. I was the one who got too heavy."

"I don't think you were heavy. It's just that Isoshima was afraid and I didn't want her to go home alone."

Hearing that, Mui's smile disappeared from her face.

"You seem to know that girl very well..."

Mui had just spoken without realizing it and hearing the echo of her own words, she froze.

"Huh?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. I meant to say that... I-It's really a very beautiful girl indeed."

Mui answered trying to cover up the above said by smiling in a wry way. Then Takeshi replied:

"Yeah, Isoshima is really popular. That's why I'm even a little envious of her."

"I see..."

While talking on the phone, Miu remembered Kurumi, and her expression darkened even more. Thinking about Takeshi always being with that beautiful girl, and then thinking about her own appearance, made her feel depressed. Mui knew that Takeshi had heard what she said before and without being able to notice Mui's thoughts, Takeshi said:

"It's a little strange, don't you think? We're having a phone conversation across two worlds."

When Takeshi's voice came out of the speaker, Mui who was wandering in a sea of thoughts, came back to reality, and continued talking to him.

"Yes, that's right. To make the call, I connected the space through the same magic I used with the mirror."

It was at the moment when the two exchanged phone numbers that she had taken the opportunity to place that magic connecting the two worlds on Takeshi's cell phone.

"I see. Though, no matter how much you explain it to me, I don't think I get it, ha ha..."

Takeshi replied between chuckles, and Mui also laughed with him.

"..."

"..."

However, for some reason the conversation stopped, and both Takeshi and Mui fell silent.

"Eeh... So... see you soon?" Takeshi said.

"Yes... I called you because I thought it was a good idea."

Mui responded with a certain sense of disappointment as she felt the call had come to an end.

"Relax, I'm fine. You don't need to keep worrying."

"I understand," Mui replied.

But, even if he told her that, she knew the Trailer wouldn't give up so easily. Still, Mui didn't understand how Takeshi knew about her discomfort if he hadn't even said anything about it to her yet.

"Hey..."

While Mui remained silent, Takeshi spoke:

"If something were to happen, can I call you?"

Mui's eyes opened wide upon hearing that and she quickly nodded.

"Yes, of course. And-and I can call you too?"

"Sure, I'll be waiting for you."

"Bye..."

Mui was intrigued that Takeshi cut off the call before she did. On the other hand, while they had been talking, she had been standing in front of the bed with cell phone pressed against her ear. Perhaps too hard. Thanks to that, now her ear ached.

"What a relief. So far so good," she muttered to herself.

However, it was inevitable that in the future she would have the same concern again. Still, as long as Takeshi stayed within the real world, she couldn't do more than to be calling him periodically to be alert in case something might happen. With a sigh, Mui picked up her pistol from the desk and stood alert as if expecting to use it at any moment.

Part 8

Five days had passed after Takeshi traveled with Mui to the magical academy and during that time no mishap had occurred. The Ghost Trailers that were expected to appear immediately upon his return had not been seen again. From that point on, Takeshi had resumed his dreary summer vacation.

In the morning, he had traveled to school together with Kurumi as he did daily. In the afternoon after training, he had agreed with her to do the summer chores together at the Isohima Residence. The bell rang at the end of the day and when Takeshi heard it, he left the Dojo and headed towards the club room to change his clothes. However, as he was on his way, he ran into a classmate of his who was already on his way out and exclaimed:

"Howdy Ida! Did you have supplementary classes today too?"

Hearing the voice calling out to her, Ida, who was already on her way out, stopped and turned to look.

"What? Nanase!"

As usual, her striking blonde hair shone brightly in the sun and seeing Takeshi approaching wearing the Kendo uniform, she flashed a bitter smile.

"This hot day is awesome for working out," said Takeshi quickly.

"It would be better to say that it's tedious to come to school on such a hot day, don't you think?" Ida replied.

"You may be right."

Ida laughed as Takeshi expressed a smile. Ida had a tendency to be misunderstood in everything, but when he laughed he looked like just an elementary school brat. So unlike Takeshi who often pretended to smile at others, he was sincere with his feelings. He didn't care what others thought of him and in that respect Takeshi envied Ida.

At the same time he was surprised to see Ida's willpower as he could be himself wherever he wanted. Suddenly he remembered Mui. She also seemed to be as strong-willed as Ida. For a few days, Takeshi had been having mixed feelings as he thought about how hard it had been for Mui to search for her older brother and try to get him back. As he found himself thinking about her, Ida asked:

"What's the matter with you? You seem to have changed your mood..."

Takeshi, who had been carried away by his thoughts, looked at Ida and blinked repeatedly.

"Huh? What's wrong? What mood?"

"I don't know what you were thinking about, but you had a serious expression."

Takeshi touched his face instinctively.

"Really?"

"Yes, is something wrong?"

"No, not at all."

Takeshi looked away suspiciously.

"Well, it's all right. At least it's more decent than your usual tragic face."

Ida raised a hand and waved goodbye and then hurried off to the exit gate. Takeshi on the other hand stood there in the scorching heat with his hands over his face. He wondered if maybe he had changed after becoming a wizard.

He didn't feel that way. However, he had been told the same thing at the dojo. One of the members mentioned that his attacks were now firmer and that his expression was sharper than a few days ago. Ida's words had confirmed that, so Takeshi slapped his cheeks to cheer himself up and continued on his way to the club room.

Part 9

After he finished changing in the Kendo club room after his meeting with Ida, Takeshi met up with Kurumi to go home together. But because they had arranged to do homework together, he didn't stop at his own house, but went straight to Kurumi's house. True, they were in different classes, but the homework assignments were the same so Kurumi had suggested that studying together would be more effective.

Because the two had studied together several times since they were in high school, they knew each other's strengths and weaknesses perfectly well. For example: Takeshi was lousy at English, but he was good at math. Kurumi, on the other hand, was very good at English, but bad at math. Before starting their homework, the housekeeper, named Kayo, had prepared a lunch for them, which they both ate in a large dining room.

After that, Takeshi went to Kurumi's room which was spacious and luxurious like a hotel room. There, there was a finely decorated table set up on a soft and fluffy carpet where the two sat facing each other.

"What do you plan to do this summer?" Kurumi asked.

She had been thirty minutes since they started their homework, trying to solve problems from her math book. Takeshi on the other hand who was struggling with a long English dialogue, frowned and replied while writing with his mechanical pencil:

"You know, nothing in particular." What about you?

"Well, when my parents come back during the obon festival, maybe we'll have dinner together. After that, I'll devote myself to club activities."

"Well, the club will organize a camp very soon." Takeshi commented.

At that moment, he saw Kurumi's hand stopped. She had focused on Takeshi's hand and not on her book. Takeshi refocused on his English homework and gave:

"It would have been better if you hadn't entered the Kendo club."

Hearing that, Kurumi frowned and asked:

"You mean you don't like the idea that I got in?"

Takeshi frantically replied in a high-pitched voice in a hurry:

"No, no, I was just thinking that being the team manager must be a boring job for you!"

Kurumi put the tip of her mechanical pencil over her lips and while looking closely at Takeshi's hands replied:

"That's not true. Being the team manager is not bad."

"Well, if you say so."

At that moment Takeshi became a bit thoughtful and asked:

"Do you want to make nice with someone?"

"Only with you..."

However, Kurumi's answer had been a mumble that didn't reach Takeshi's ears.

"Huh?"

Takeshi looked up having understood very little, and at that moment Kurumi shrugged her shoulders and extended her white hand to point towards Takeshi's hands saying:

"I didn't say anything. By the way, you made a mistake there."

"Where?"

"There?"

"Uh... Here?"

He wasn't sure, but it seemed that she was pointing out a part of the dialogues she had been translating.

"No, I told you here..."

A little annoyed, Kurumi got up from her chair and walked to Takeshi's side to place her finger on one of the words. At that moment Kurumi's bangs touched Takeshi's head. Kurumi's cheeks that had risen up, suddenly had dyed red. With awkward movements in front of Kurumi who had returned to sit in her chair, Takeshi nodded honestly.

"Aah... you say this part, Thank you saved me."

When he raised his face with a smile, Kurumi's face turned progressively red from the neck upwards like a thermometer reaching its limit and then she ducked her head.

"What's wrong?" Takeshi asked.

"Nothing's wrong with me...!" Kurumi suddenly shouted.

Takeshi shrugged his shoulders completely confused.

"Hey... you're not going anymore, are you?" Kurumi said with her head down.

-Huh? Where to? -Takeshi asked.

"I mean..."

With a little difficulty, she finally spoke and said:

"To where that girl..."

Takeshi immediately knew who she was talking about. In the five days that had passed since her return, Kurumi hadn't spoken anything about Mui or that world, let alone mages. It seemed she was afraid to talk about it. Takeshi hadn't said anything either, but finally decided to break the silence:

"You mean Mui?"

Indeed, Takeshi cut to the chase with Kurumi who was sighing silently and then said:

"I'm not going..."

"Really?"

The expression Kurumi had as she lifted her face staring was uncomfortable.

"I have no reason to go." Takeshi replied, returning to his English dialogues. Then she muttered as if relieved:

"Yes... you're right..."

Obviously Takeshi had hidden from Kurumi that he had talked on the phone with Mui. Knowing Kurumi, that would have made her very angry. Although her anger would only indicate concern on her part, Takeshi didn't want to have to be watching out for that too so he decided to keep it a secret. Takeshi himself was also feeling a bit worried.

Part 10

"Well... see you tomorrow."

Takeshi had been doing chores for two hours starting at noon, had been escorted by Kurumi to the main gate of Isoshima Residence and was already getting ready to return home.

"Yes"

As he turned around and turned his gaze towards his own house. Takeshi noticed something: Two men and a woman were leaning against the brick wall of a house located in front of Takeshi's house, which in turn was located next to the Isoshima Residence. He immediately recognized them.

"Hello, how are you?"

"Welcome..."

"I was tired of waiting..."

He clearly remembered those voices and then Takeshi quickly exclaimed:

"they are the <Ghost Trailers>!"

"Wow, it's only been a few days since you became a wizard and you already know our name!" Ushikawa said with a chuckle, the thin guy with bad fashion sense wearing a shirt with a horrible pattern.

Next to him, the small girl with a very short haircut, frowned and said:

"And to think that that girl Aiba Mui, would use seduction techniques just for the sake of taking Tsuganashi away. How disgusting."

Reacting to Hotaru's words, Kurumi rushed out from the other side of the gate and asked:

"Takeshi... were you seduced?"

She grabbed the sleeve of Takeshi's shirt and while tugging on it insisted:

"Hey... tell me Takeshi..."

"How do you get to say such things at a time like this?" Takeshi replied in surprise.

However, Kurumi looked up and looked him straight in the eyes asking once again:

"she seduced you?"

"Of course not."

When he answered reluctantly, Kurumi was finally satisfied. Meanwhile the three people who were engaged in looking them closely in the face.

"Hey, that girl..." Hotaru tried to say something, but before she finished, Ushikawa nodded and answered:

"Yes, she also became a wizard. Maybe it's because of us."

"No 'maybe.' Rest assured that it was." Oigami clarified. Who looked at Kurumi with narrowed eyes.

When Kurumi passed out in Takeshi's room, he couldn't realize that she had become a wizard since her power had taken a while to activate. If she had stayed there for use minutes, she would have been able to realize that. If that was the case, Kurumi shouldn't be on Takeshi's side so he had to make sure to get her into the ranks of the Trailers.

"Well, no problem. I will gladly welcome such a beautiful woman." Said Ushikawa while contemplating Kurumi's figure from head to toe. However, Hotaru refuted:

"Are you an idiot? The important thing is to know her systemati magic."

"For me, the shell is also of utmost importance."

"Don't say shell! Say face or body! Apologize, you vermin."

Paying no attention to Ushikawa and Hotaru's discussion which were habitual, Oigami moved his line of sight from Kurumi to Takeshi. Silently, he drew the sword from his leather belt while focusing only on Takeshi. Kurumi who was hidden behind his back, took a step back. Takeshi didn't know whether to tell Kurumi to run inside the mansion or to tell her to run far away to another place.

Either way, Kurumi would have to run away alone from those three who were magicians and although they didn't know what kind of magic Takeshi was capable of using, it was dangerous to just run away like that. Especially since Takeshi didn't know anything about those Ghost Trailers either. The only thing he knew was that they were capable of altering memory like they did with Mui's brother, so they might as well make him their companion. Holding the sword in his right hand, Oigami left Ushikawa and Hotaru behind with their useless discussion, and stood in front of Takeshi.

"I was told that battles between Wizard are forbidden in this world." Said Takeshi.

"Only battles with magic. A direct attack without magic is different." Oigami answered.

"Takeshi..." Kurumi muttered uneasily from behind.

Takeshi looked at the three firmly trying to analyze his options. Then he realized something and asked:

"Where is Mui's brother?"

Nowhere to be seen was the figure of Tsuganashi, Mui's older brother, who had been with them last time. Then Hotaru laughed and answered:

"Tsuganashi? He's not here. What's wrong? Are you thinking of taking Tsuganashi with you? That's annoying because Tsuganashi is our friend you know? You should forget about that.

"That's not what Mui said!" Takeshi exclaimed.

Hotaru pursed her lips at Takeshi's prompt reply and said:

"That girl is out of her mind."

"I believe in what Mui told me!" Takeshi said again.

At the firm answer, Hotaru distorted her expression as if she had been offended and said:

"What's wrong with you? You are disgusting..."

At that moment Oigami interrupted with a heavy sigh and said:

"It's useless for you to ask us about him. Anyway, he's not from our team."

"Team?"

"I don't suppose you know anything about him." Ushiwaka Said, raising an eyebrow as soon as he spoke, "He is someone of high rank within the Trailers. We are the elite of the first battle team and normally move in groups of three. Being together with Tsuganashis like last time is something we don't usually do. Since he is one of the five candidates.

"Five candidates?" asked Takeshi looking for an explanation. But Hotaru who had had enough of that, ducked her head and said:

"Ahh~ hey, how much longer do you plan to keep asking annoying questions? I've had enough."

"That's right. There's no point in giving you explanations," Ushikawa said.

"Yeah, that's because we're going to erase your memory anyway." Oigami replied.

Then the gazes of the three of them focused and became sharp.

"It's time for our second round." Oigami said as he firmly gripped his sword.

"Last time took you by surprise didn't it?" Hotaru said with sarcasm. To which the man turned to look at her silently with a face of few friends.

"A fight with another Evasive Magic user. This is something I haven't done before." Oigami commented.

"Evasive Magic user?" asked Takeshi

"What's the matter, you still don't know about systematic magic?"

"He doesn't seem to have an Aspect either." Ushikawa mentioned from behind.

Oigami who had a fierce expression, was surprised to hear that and said:

"That's true. Hey, the last time you activated your magic, what did you have?"

"Wasn't it a broom?" Hotaru mentioned tilting her head to the side trying to remember it. "It was a broom, wasn't it?"

Although she was also a wizard, Hotaru often acted childish. Ushikawa then said in a mocking manner:

"Do you think she's going to use that in a real battle?"

Hotaru replied irritated:

"At least it's better than your disgusting bugs!

Oigami again ignored them, and proceeded to pull a spare sword from his belt.

"Anyway, I'm going to lend this to you for a while."

"Hey, aren't you being too hard-headed?"

At Hotaru's displeased voice, Oigami threw the spare sword in front of Takeshi and exclaimed.

"Come on, show me your evasive magic!"

However, Takeshi did not move at the sword that had landed about 50 centimeters away from his feet. He had already understood the situation. His opponent was holding a real sword in his hand while he protected Kurumi behind his back with his bare hands.

But he still couldn't pick up the sword. He didn't know if picking it up would be stupid. Besides, they were in a residential area. It was a place with little traffic, but still it was not a suitable place where two men could seriously clash. Meanwhile, Oigami swung the sword he held from left to right as if he was showing off.

"Takeshi..."

When he thought of Kurumi who was clinging to his back, he realized that he would not be able to escape. Kurumi was not very fast at running. Even in the class from long ago, she was in third place. So it was practically impossible to grab her and run away to throw those three off.

"Come on, pick it up!" Oigami exclaimed throwing a sharp pointed look full of menace.

Takeshi overlooked her by keeping his eyes down, but at one point Takeshi caught a glimpse flash of silvery light. As the blade's edge came over his right shoulder, Takeshi quickly pushed Kurumi aside.

"Hee-you dodged it..." Oigami exclaimed in a silly voice as he went down.

Takeshi had pushed Kurumi and he had launched himself to the other side of the ground. His fingers were trembling and his teeth were chattering. However, his gaze was fixed on Oigami. The power of Oigami's sword was expelling white particles that floated around him.

"What do you think you're doing all of a sudden?"

Takeshi glared at Oigami, but Oigami simply showed a less-pricey expression and said:

"I'm sorry, but I got tired of waiting."

A little longer and his shoulder would have been cut off. But on the contrary it was at a distance that could have reached the back of Kurumi's head. Takeshi remembered for a moment, the sensation of the wind blowing over his shoulder caused by the sword slashing through the air and shuddered. Kurumi who had been pushed, was still lying on the ground.

He had pushed her too hard so there was a possibility that she was hurt. Still, he couldn't let her run. Takeshi kept his hands low, and picked up the sword by swinging his arms while keeping his gaze fixed on Oigami.

"You finally made up your mind? Oigami said with a happy face that caused him to be repulsed.

The sword was heavy. And even though he was used to using bamboo swords, he had to be careful swinging a thing of that weight. Rising slowly, Takeshi corrected his posture and gripped the hilt firmly with both hands, adopting a fighting stance. Oigami bowed his face and rushed forward with a shout.

Takeshi swung the sword from left to right and repelled the blade of his opponent who had suddenly lunged forward. Oigami raised his arms again and launched a second side attack, but Takeshi quickly dodged it by approaching his opponent's chest and struck his cheek by raising the handle of his sword.

"Gu...!!!"

Although he groaned for a moment, Oigami didn't give up, but tried to forcibly capture Takeshi at an opportune moment. But Takeshi before that, took three steps back separating himself from Oigami. But having had that opportunity to attack Oigami, he realized something:

"That guy, he's vulnerable to attacks from the left."

As we all have weaknesses, Takeshi also had his weaknesses. However, Takeshi had memorized them for a long time in his kendo training and had learned not to make them noticeable. Blood began to flow from the left cheek of Oigami, who was standing in front of him. Possibly it was a wound caused by the blow from the hilt. However, he showed no traces of pain or anger on his face. Instead, Oigami was smiling in a very disturbing way.

"This way, without using magic I feel more motivated..." Oigami said while twirling the sword inside his hand as if he was playing.

After having dealt a single blow to the opponent, it was expected that the opponent would counterattack by striking with the back of the sword. However, what appeared on Oigami's face was a brutal laugh with full killing intent:

"From now on I will use all my power, so try not to die."

As soon as he spoke, a large amount of white particles began to emerge from the blade of his sword. And a noise was heard as if the asphalt under his feet was cracking.

At that moment, with incredible spontaneous agility, he ran towards Takeshi and grabbed him, raising a scream, and struck him with his sword. His actions were so fast that he could not even be followed with his eyes. As if Takeshi's body flew away, he received an impact. It was a dull, heavy thud as if he had just been hit by a truck.

"Ga haaa........!!!!"

His vision became blurry, his breathing labored, drawing all the air from his throat.

"I'm not finished!"

Falling to his hands and knees, Takeshi expelled blood and saliva from his mouth Oigami's sword had mercilessly pierced. The force of the steel falling on his back caused Takeshi to fall to the ground.

"Uuh... aah"

A high-pitched buzzing echoed in his head and did not allow him to hear anything else. As if he was paralyzed, he didn't even have an accurate sense of where it hurt. His body did not respond.

"Hey, you're going too far. Oigami, at this rate you're going to kill him."

"I didn't use magic in a direct attack so there's no problem. I only used it to strengthen myself, but it's not attack magic."

"He has no problem with that. As you would expect from an assassin."

Hotaru was frowning while Ushikawa played the role of a mere spectator. Kurumi sat there watching the situation in complete shock, Takeshi still unable to see or hear anything.

Having lost his sword, the tip of a shoe reached his side and Takeshi instinctively turned his body to try to avoid the blow. But he received many merciless kicks and was hit with the sword from above.

"Am I... going to die?"

His survival instinct alone told him that he was being hurt, but his body was still unresponsive.

"Come on, get up you bastard! Don't tell me that blow was enough to finish you off."

Oigami continued to kick Takeshi in the back hard.

Takeshi's wide eyes reflected the soft clouds that were rolling across the blue sky. The sky could very well be so hot it could burn, but at that moment he wasn't feeling anything. A liquid was dripping from his chin, but he had no idea if it was blood or something else.

"That's it, I've lost interest."

Oigami stepped back a little and turned his shoulder and the arm with which he was holding the sword. After he calmed down, he looked once more at Takeshi who was lying on the ground.

"If you surrender to <the Trailers>, I will heal you right away. Otherwise you will continue to suffer.

Oigami raised his sword, to strike the final blow. But at that moment, Takeshi noticed that the sky he was staring at began to silently distort. His limbs began to tremble, his heart began to beat so hard that it felt as if it would burst out of his chest.

Every place in his body where he had not been able to feel anything until that moment, he noticed that he was still breathing. His eyes were burning and Takeshi thought he was crying, but he wasn't. He was shocked to realize that he was using magic. It was very real and it was emanating from him.

Just like using you raise a bamboo sword in front of you, like a singing voice, it was all happening spontaneously. Takeshi saw Oigami's sword swinging towards him. However, he was aware that the scene he saw was a previous moment that had not yet occurred.

"Tch..."

Getting up, Oigami held his calf without complaining. Takeshi stood up holding the sword in his right hand and looked at his own body. He barely had a few bumps and bruises. However, his back and side were damaged as if he had been overstretched. Even if his ribs were broken the pain was not that much.

"You fucking coward, you tricked me by playing dead."

Oigami stood up after Takeshi and after looking him in the face, his eyes opened wide and he showed a wide smile.

"You're too slow to wake up, you badass. I'm impressed that you're doing it so far."

The color of Takeshi's eyes had changed and instead of their black color, they now showed a purple color.

"Clearly it can be seen that your systematic magic is evasive magic."

"..."

"Whatever. I'm not going to tell you anything else. But if you come with us I'll tell you everything. Besides, you'll get stronger."

Takeshi obviously didn't have the slightest intention of trusting what he was telling him. Doing what they do, there would be no one who would want to go with them. As Takeshi looked Oigami in the eyes with his glowing sight, he took a fighting stance. But Oigami attacked before even taking a stance.

First from the upper left side and then from the upper right. And then to his right side. Each and every attack, Takeshi blocked with his sword. He was impressed by the agility of his body as it didn't look like his body but someone else's body. His body moved before the attacks were made. As if his body understood on its own the movements of his opponent.

"Hee... that means..." Hotaru expressed impressed, however, Ushiwaka nodded replied:

"That's right... it's unusual, but... those are his evasion skills."

"Great! I want it! We have to get it to <The Trailers> at any cost..." Hotaru exclaimed excitedly.

"Shut up, Hotaru." Oigami who had been attacking for a while now, took a moment to scold her friend. Hotaru smiled and said:

"Isn't it costing you too much? Use your <Banish Cloud> your evasive magic ability to repel and nullify his magic. You can clearly see that he doesn't know how to use attack magic. Also, your attacks are unaffected by his evasive magic.

"Shut up, Hotaru! I'll hit you."

Before they were yelling at each other, Takeshi couldn't understand the situation and was confused. At the sight of him, when Oigami raised his arms, Takeshi already knew that he would attack from the right.

"Is it a premonition? No, it has to be something else."

For Takeshi it was a completely unfamiliar feeling even though he had always practiced Kendo. It was not like a prediction, not a dream but rather just a feeling. with a speed similar to an electric current, he could have a momentary sensation as if he could read his opponent's mind.

"So.... is this magic?"

It was good to say that was completely to Takeshi's idea of magic. As he was in a daze, a shout rang out from a distant place beyond Oigami.

"You don't understand anything, do you, Oigami?"

"Kyaaa!!!"

Turning to look at the place of the scream, Takeshi realized that Hotaru was pulling Kurumi's hair.

"Isoshima!"

"In that case I'd better take care of this weakling."

Hotaru had forcibly subdued Kurumi.

"Kyaa!"

Even though Kurumi was taller, Hotaru had pinned her down by holding her arms from behind. Hotaru joined Kurumi's wrists together holding them with one hand and leaving the other hand free which she tucked under her skirt.

"Kyaa!"

Kurumi was aware that they were both girls, but she couldn't help but raise a scream.

"Wow, how sexy!" Ushiwaka exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Hey Hotaru, stop doing that." Oigami shouted.

However, Hotaru continued to move her hand tucked inside Kurumi's skirt.

"This girl isn't bad. She looks slim over her clothes but she does have some meat to grab. Still, I get it in legs and butt."

After saying that with satisfaction, Hotaru took her hand off Kurumi's crotch.

"But you're too skinny..." Ushiwaka said with exasperation.

"Shut up, you vermin."

"You call a simple insect lover a vermin? What a vocabulary you have!"

"Shut up, shut up!"

With sword in hand, Takeshi kept his eyes on Kurumi and Oigami.

Hotaru then, reached into Kurumi's skirt pocket, where she felt a cylindrical object inside.

"What is it?"

Seeing that, Ushiwaka smiled and said:

"It's something of prime necessity for a young lady, but what would you know about that."

"Shut your mouth. Let's see, let me give you a hand, sweetheart."

Hotaru removed the lipstick cap, and tried to apply it on Kurumi's lips by force.

"No, stop..."

Kurumi squirmed trying to escape, but strangely Hotaru's strength seemed to be superior.

"Don't touch me..."

Kurumi didn't like it at all, however Hotaru was applying lipstick while showing an unscrupulous smile.

"I told you to stop..."

At that moment, Takeshi was perplexed as he saw something that shocked him more than what had just happened to him.

Magic particles, pink colored like cherry blossoms, began to come out of the lipstick swirling vigorously until concentrated under her feet.

A magic circle glowed very clearly under her feet.

"Is it Isoshima's magic?" wondered Takeshi inside himself.

As that happened, Kurumi's body began to change.

"Isoshima?!"

"Huh?"

Kurumi also felt that something was happening to her, but she had no idea what was going on.

"Impossible."

Due to the surprise of Kurumi's change, Hotaru unintentionally let go of her. a fact that Kurumi took advantage of.

She quickly grabbed Hotaru by the arms and subdued her in the same way she had done to her.

"Crap..."

"I got you, fufufu!"

This time it was Kurumi who was grinning mischievously.

However Takeshi was still looking at Kurumi with an expression that worried her.

"Isoshima, Your..."

"What's the matter Takeshi!?"

At Takeshi's reaction, Kurumi was finally convinced that something serious had happened to her.

"is growing..."

"what is growing on me...?

While looking at Takeshi without understanding what he was referring to, Kurumi lowered her gaze to look at herself.

"My breasts...?"

Until then, she could see looming in her field of vision, the figure of her breasts which had grown in a big way.

"That's great! We have to take her to <the Trailers> at any cost. Ushiwaka said with great excitement, but Oigami frowned with disinterest and replied:

"That's a stupid skill. What good would that do?"

"Of course it's very useful, the body transformation ability can be useful in an infiltration." Ushiwaka refuted.

Hotaru gritted her teeth in annoyance as she saw Ushikawa's excitement.

Takeshi felt it was his chance

With the sword he held in his hands, he struck Oigami in his side.

"Kuu! Damn you!"

And before Oigami regained his stance, he kicked Hotaru while still being held by Kurumi.

Then he grabbed Kurumi by the hand and ran away with her.

"Let's get out of here Isoshima!"

Until recently, he had thought it was impossible to run away, but for some reason he knew that would be fine now.

Maybe it was because of the magic they mentioned, but if he thought about it carefully, Oigami wouldn't follow him after discarding the sword, and Hotaru had received a kick from him so he wouldn't be getting up any time soon. As for the remaining guy, it was unlikely that he would chase them on his own since they were a team.

However, he thought about that until after they had fled.

When Takeshi and Kurumi escaped, Oigami picked up the sword Takeshi left lying around and slowly tucked it back into his belt.

"They ran away..." said Oigami with so much rage that he seemed to be roaring.

Ushiwaka held out his hand to Hotaru to help her up.

"I hate that bitch, damn it." Hotaru said and kicked the ground throwing a tantrum.

However, unlike the previous two, Ushiwaka was calm.

"No problem, one of my insects attached themselves to them."

Hotaru's face, upon hearing that, became involuntarily disturbed.

"Seriously... your magic is disgusting. Even for <the Trailers>."

"At least I'm more useful than you. Who caught you and kicked you."

Hotaru turned around angrily.

"What did you say?"

Oigami watched silently in the direction from where those two had fled. Obviously although Ushikawa and Hotaru were arguing, Oigami was not upset.

Part 11

Takeshi who was pulling Kurumi's hand and fled from the front of the Isoshima recidence, was running towards the station. As there were many people even if they were chased, they wouldn't be able to use magic. However, as he was running someone suddenly called out to him from behind.

"Hey, Nanase... what are you running away from in such dread?"

"Ida!"

It was his classmate, Ida who spoke to him. In his mouth was an unlit cigarette and carried four huge rings on his right hand alone. On his arm also wore a bracelet of leather and metal parts. His attire was by far more extravagant than the one I had seen him in earlier that morning at school. He wore his shirt sleeves rolled up and had his shoulders bare, but that didn't look cool at all. Combing his waxed blonde hair, Ida stared interestedly at Takeshi and Kurumi who were holding hands.

"What are you doing here, Ida?" Takeshi asked.

Ida frowned.

"Well, I'm heading that way."

Looking in the direction he pointed, saw the entrance to the shopping area in front of the station.

"I'm going to buy my dinner."

It didn't look like he was going to buy his dinner, but Takeshi simply nodded.

"By the way, is this beatyful lady your girlfriend?"

"Huh? No, you know..."

Although Ida had suddenly appeared, Takeshi was only involuntarily surprised when he was asked about Kurumi. He was in a circumstance in which he would not have wanted to meet any acquaintance. However, there was Ida looking at Kurumi as if he didn't know who she was.

"What about Isoshima?"

Asked about infidelity, Takeshi shook his head frantically.

"It's not what you think, you see?"

"It's okay. I'll shut up, but you know, if Isoshima finds you, she'll kill you for sure. Girlfriends can be as evil as a demon."

Takeshi felt Kurumi's hand tightening and loosening as Ida's words were being spoken, so he hurried to end the conversation as quickly as possible.

"Aah hey, sorry but, I'm in a hurry."

Looking at the traffic light it turned green, and after saying goodbye he took Kurumi and walked away from the place.

"Wow, how unsociable they are..." Ida muttered.

Takeshi crossed the street while praying he wouldn't run into anyone else.

The three wizards behind them had already reached a place where they could see the street they had just passed.

"Hey, are you sure they went this way?" Oigami asked, glancing around at Ushikawa who was approaching at a run.

"Yes, my insects don't lie."

When Ushiwaka who was running with sweat on his forehead answered, Hotaru laughed wickedly with a cool face.

"Of course not, though I'd like to see one of your bugs tease you."

The three of them gathered together as they watched some red particles already familiar to them, which flew to the side of the front of the station, some 200 meters ahead. No matter how crowded it was, it was easy for the insects to chase the fugitives because they could fly.

The three wizards ran towards the intersection on the way to the station. However, there was one person who was watching them. That person was Ida Kazumi. Seeing Takeshi desperately running next to that girl and then seeing two strange guys and a girl running in the same direction, caught Ida's attention.

"How rowdy..."

The three of them crossed the same street as Takeshi, running in the same direction and disappeared in the crowd. Ida looked at the traffic light that began to flicker, and slowly turned toward the shopping district and began to walk.

Part 12

On the second floor of the building in front of the station, there were the ticket machines where you pay the entrance fee to the station belonging to a private line. The commercial areas were in the basement and on the upper floors, so there were not many people on the second floor. Takeshi ran together with Kurumi, towards the building and they went inside, but when they were halfway there:

"Hey, why don't we run towards the store area?" Kurumi asked running behind him.

Takeshi then decided to go into the store area whose entrance was off to the side but he had to turn back a little from the path he had traveled. When Takeshi turned his eyes to look towards the entrance of the shopping district, he noticed that there was a guy coming from the other side of the ticket machines pushing people. That guy was Oigami. Seeing Takeshi suddenly stop and turn pale, Kurumi also looked back and shouted. But at that moment someone pulled Takeshi's arm from the side.

"Nanase, over here..."

"Ida? You... why...?"

Completely dumbfounded, Takeshi kept his eyes wide open as Ida forcibly grabbed his arm to pull them away.

"They are chasing you, aren't they? Come this way..."

Ida took them both into a narrow corridor hidden behind a pillar. And when she let go of Takeshi's arm, he began to run into the back of the corridor. A faint stench reached their nostrils. There was a toilet in the hallway and on a door, a sign that read 'authorized personnel only' but there was no time to dither about it. Takeshi turned to look at Kurumi as if to say that Ida was a trustworthy person, but while doing so he realized something and frowned.

"Hey, Isoshima, there seems to be something on your shoulder."

Kurumi was looking at Takeshi uneasily, but when he told her that, her face turned into a disgusted expression.

"Huh? An insect? Oh no... Take it off!!!!"

"Wait."

The insect was of a type they had never seen before. It appeared to be a small butterfly that exuded fluorescent vermilion-colored powder. But for some reason it lacked the characteristic vitality of living things. It looked fake, but it clung to Kurumi's shoulder. Takeshi flinched, threw the insect off Kurumi's shoulder and stomped it right where it landed.

"What was it, an insect? Or was it something else?"

"I don't know, maybe was an insect."

So that Kurumi wouldn't see what she had stepped on, Takeshi took her by the hand again and they kept walking.

"Hey, stop flirting and hurry up..." Ida shouted from beyond in frustration.

"I'm sorry."

Takeshi started running again. But he still didn't know where to go.

Translator's Notes and References

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