Mahou Sensou:Volume 2 Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3: Magic Festival and Love Fortune-telling

Part 1

It was already October, and the whole academy looked very lively, as the so-called "Magic Festival" was about to take place. This festival was very similar to the typical "Cultural Festivals" that took place in the normal academies, but unlike those, the magic festival -just as its name says- involved activities performed by students using magic. It was held over two days and all the students of the academy without exception were allowed to participate. All classes that had already entered their second semester were fully dedicated to the preparation of the festival and both students and teachers were eager to succeed in their activities. In Takeshi's class C, there were only the students who were bad at controlling their magic, so they had no choice but to set up a Café. Class B would make a haunted house and Class A would make a kind of 3D movie with the help of systematic magic. The special class, which Mui belonged to, would not participate in most of the events so they would not be seen appearing, which Takeshi thought was a pity. It so happened that most of the students of special classes were already working as part of the wizard staff of their respective communities and therefore had to be absent from the academy very often. It was well known to all that they used to be very busy.

At the café set up by the C class, Takeshi and Kurumi had been assigned to act as waiters while Mui and Ida, had been assigned to serve in the kitchen. Kurumi had been chosen as a waitress because like Takeshi, she didn't have a chance to help cook or make the uniforms since she had had to practice her systematic magic "Biological Magic" every day since the second semester began. Takeshi and Ida had also been doing the same. However, Kurumi was the one who was showing the best results. Up to that point, she could already transform at will just by holding her lipstick in her hand. Quite on the contrary, Ida was the one who had made the least progress. He had already been told that the type of "Destructive Magic" he had was of a very difficult type to control, but since that summer vacation when they arrived at the academy, until October, Ida continued to explode in different places leaving great damage. The second time he did it, (after the first time his magic manifested) was in the gym. He was unable to stop his flames and ended up exploding and completely destroying the ceiling. The fifth time it did it, it happened in the courtyard leaving a hole with a diameter of about a hundred meters in the ground. Obviously that damage was immediately repaired using magic. The good thing is that no one was injured because the teachers who were training the students protected them with powerful barriers. Ida wanted to throw in the towel several times, but for some reason he continued training.

Takeshi had a different situation than the other two, for what was affecting him, was that he had not yet been able to get used to his Aspect, the sword Twilight. Evasive Magic was the second most difficult magic to control only below the aforementioned destructive magic, and aside from that, Twilight was making the job more complicated. Takeshi had decided to use Twilight but he was still very used to bamboo swords and it could be the case that he was depositing his magic improperly. Even as late as October, Takeshi had barely managed to use 40% to 50% of his magic. Under such conditions, he learned that in November, he had a magical aptitude test coming up that would assess the students' affinity magic abilities. That had Takeshi and Ida more overwhelmed than the festival itself. By the way, also coming up in October were the semester exams for the regular classes. So, they had a lot to do.

It was said that this special examination of magical aptitudes, which would take place at the beginning of November, would be carried out in separate groups by magical affinity, regardless of the year they were studying, since the exam was about overcoming a test set by the teacher in charge of each affinity. The students of the most basic level would be the only ones who would not take the exam, but there were three sections in the intermediate course and five sections in the advanced course, so there would be many students taking the exam. Takeshi didn't want to dwell on a certain matter, but after seeing what destructive magic was capable of, if he were Ida, he would be afraid to be in that group. As much as Ida appeared to be motivated, every time he heard about the exam, a nervous smile escaped him.

In Takeshi's case, since the only one he had seen use evasive magic besides him was the Trailer, Oigami Takao, he was excited to meet more users of his affinity. Although come to think of it, he had already met one other person besides Oigami who was an evasive magic user. That person, was the teacher in charge of class C, Hitouji-sensei.Hitouji Makoto, had an evasive magic ability called: "Mindside" which allowed him to read the mind of a person near him, just by touching his Aspect, which was a gun similar to Mui. Its effect was instantaneous. That's why, while Hitouji-sensei was in the classroom, it was difficult for students to fall asleep or idly wander. That is, because often Hitouji-sensei used to touch his gun to use his ability on the students to check if they were paying attention.

"I don't like the idea of being grouped with guys who have this kind of ability," Takeshi thought.

The only two subjects Takeshi knew with his same affinity had somewhat peculiar personalities. Takeshi's evasive magic ability was called "Strike Vision". It was an intuitive ability that allowed him to detect future dangers that were seconds or minutes away from happening. It was very strange that at first, he had been told that there was no one in the school who had evasive magic skills, yet now there were two in one classroom. It so happened that, Biological Magic was the most recurring of all affinities, followed by Illusionary Magic, then Acceleration Magic and lastly, Black Magic. Kurumi was affinity to Biological Magic which was not very suitable for combat. Takeshi thought it would have been better if he could have chosen. Despite practicing Kendo fervently, he was never attracted to fighting outside the sporting arena. It was horrible to have to get involved in a meaningless war just because he had the affinity of Evasive Magic.

With regular classes, magic classes and the magic festival on top of it, Takeshi was up to his neck in work. However, he still had one more problem. That problem, was Kurumi who had been a bit strange since the second semester started. But, currently she seemed to be acting even stranger. Takeshi was aware that something was wrong with her and it was that day after one of the classes, that he finally checked it out. It was time for recess after third period was over. Kurumi approached Takeshi's seat as usual and placed an open book on the table.

-Hey Takeshi...

-What's wrong?

-Do you understand this problem?

Without getting up from his seat, Takeshi leaned a little towards Kurumi to look at the book she was showing him, causing their arms to touch a little. Kurumi placed her finger a part of the book, indicating something she wanted to know. But, unexpectedly when Takeshi saw what she was showing him, he laughed and said:

-I see you're still bad at math, Isoshima.

Kurumi pursed her lips and replied:

-Shut up! Just tell me if you understand how it goes... -Of course I understand. In fact, I solved that very problem today. Let me see...

Takeshi turned the book toward him. Kurumi, at that moment, sat down on the edge of the table. The edge of her skirt was lifted a little and her legs were considerably exposed.

-Isoshima, don't be indiscreet, get down.....

Takeshi frowned as he saw that Kurumi had her thighs quite uncovered. And, even though absolutely no one was looking their way, Takeshi was trying not to look at her.

-What does it matter, they all do the same thing. -Kurumi answered.

-Yes... but ....

Her recklessness, might cause her underwear to be exposed. So Takeshi pushed her from her waist to make her get off the table.

-Do you want to keep me standing? -Kurumi asked annoyed.

She might as well have dragged a chair from next to him to sit next to him, but she didn't seem to feel like it.

-Of course not. If you want, sit here, I'll stand up.

Takeshi tried to get up from his chair, but Kurumi prevented him by pushing his shoulder down with her hand and said:

-Forget that! Better tell me how to solve that problem and that's it....

Takeshi just let out a sigh. Kurumi could never be beaten in an argument.

-That's fine...

Takeshi set to work concentrating on the math problem she wanted to solve and in the meantime, for some reason Kurmi stared at him with some concern.

After finishing all the regular classes, Takeshi had arranged to meet Ida and Kurumi to go to the gym and train their magical affinities as they always did. But Ida was called to the teacher's room, and Kurumi was still in the locker room changing her clothes, so Takeshi was the first to arrive at the gym. There were already several students training. So Takeshi started to walk along the walls of the place looking for a place, when suddenly he heard a familiar voice over there.

-Look, it's Nanase-kun...

-Hey...

-What? There were three girls in P.E. uniforms chattering among the crowd of boys training. And one of them, it was Mui. Realizing that his name had been mentioned in a very energetic way, Takeshi stopped and turned to look. But it was quite difficult to make out what they were saying about him and he was trying to push his way through the crowd to get closer.

-Have the courage to speak to him.

-Yes, drop that barrier of yours and be more assertive.

-Barrier? -Mui asked.

Takeshi thought something very similar, but she didn't know what they meant by barrier.

-Hey...

-It's because of Isoshima-san... Right?

-What about Kurumi? -Mui exclaimed.

When Takeshi heard Mui exclaim in surprise, he stopped his gait and froze completely. The girls continued talking to Mui:

-I heard over there, that it bothers him a lot when you talk to Nanase-kun?

-Yes, I heard it too

-Really?

The two girls were talking confidently but Mui and Takeshi were surprised.

-Mui, you're pretty slow to pick up on things... -Said one of the girls.

Mui nodded.

-Well, it seems like the two of them are dating or something, I don't quite know.

-But that's a little weird, don't you think?

-Yeah, sometimes I don't even know where to look.

-That's why the atmosphere in the living room is quite heavy.

The more Takeshi listened to that conversation, the paler he started to get.

-Really? So the two of you are dating? -Mui asked.

After hearing Mui's question, Takeshi finally decided to move and left.

"This is bad."

Takeshi finally came out of the gym, he started jogging.

-I figured something like this was going on.....

Takeshi had been pretending to be Kurumi's boyfriend since high school, but the feeling that it was time for that affair was getting stronger and stronger. The problem was that every time he tried to talk to her to come to an agreement to end the affair, he never could because somehow some so-called guy would come out and suddenly want to win her over. To Takeshi, Kurumi was just his neighbor and childhood friend who needed to be protected. But the matter had gotten to such a point that it was starting to become toxic.

Takeshi stopped and looked up at the sky.

The academy was located inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, so he had to walk outside to get to the gym.

The courtyard and the gymnasium were all inside the same building. The sky was blue and clear. Takeshi had stopped to admire a sky landscape that was fake.

Part 2

The next day...

Takeshi walked down the hallway feeling depressed. He was worried that Mui might think he was really dating Kurumi. As he sighed heavily, he suddenly heard a faint scream coming from some stairs at the bottom of the corridor. She didn't know who it was that shouted, but then the cold voice of another girl sounded and said:

-Get out of my way....

As Takeshi approached the spot he caught a glimpse of the bottom landing of the stairs at the bottom floor through the railing. It was a girl sitting on the steps near the second floor and three more standing around her. There were also some books and notebooks scattered among the bleachers that the girl who was sitting was trying to pick up.

-You don't come to school very often, do you? -said one of the girls standing around her.

-Huh?

When the girl who was trying to pick up her things looked up, she was startled.

-Huh?

That girl was Mui.

-Do you have any idea how many wizards died because of your brother's betrayal?

The three girls looked coldly at Mui who answered them reluctantly:

-My brother is not a traitor.

But they immediately responded:

-Aah? Are you stupid? Everyone knows that Aiba Tsuganashi is a traitor who joined the Trailers.

Mui shouted and replied again:

-My brother is not a Trailer!!!!!

One of the girls threw the notebooks Mui had just picked up back at him.

-Kyaa!!!

Another one of the girls, started pizzing at them.

-It's irritating. You're not worthy of belonging to Wizard Breath..." one of the girls declared.

-You're not a Trailer too? -asked another.

-Get out of Wizard Breath as soon as possible! -exclaimed the last one.

Mui raised her face, but her expression was pale and her lips were trembling.

-I-I...

Seeing that Mui was holding back with those girls, Takeshi couldn't take it anymore and shouted at them from the railing on the second floor:

-Hey you guys...! What do you think you're doing?

The three girls were surprised and ran away before Takeshi started down the stairs.

-Let's go!

-Yes!

Takeshi walked over to pick up the notebooks while looking angrily at the girls who quickly ran away.

-Are you okay, Mui?

-I'm fine...

Mui replied in a muffled voice that didn't show she was fine at all.

-Why are you doing this? -Takeshi asked as he handed her some textbooks and a box of pencils he had collected.

Mui replied looking away from him:

-Those girls belong to Wizard Breath?

-Then they are your classmates aren't they?

—…

Mui didn't answer that. He simply said:

-If you hang out with me, they will start talking bad about you too.

-I don't mind that in the least. -Takeshi replied with a smile.

-Well, it does matter to me. You're here because of me, remember?

Mui grabbed his books and notebooks and stood up.

-I don't want to cause you any more trouble!!!! -Mui exclaimed and then hurried down the stairs and left.

Part 3

The relationship with Kurumi occupied half of Takeshi's heart and the other half was taken up by Mui's problems. He had already noticed it from the first moment they set foot in the magic academy. All the classmates seemed to keep their distance from Mui. But that didn't mean she didn't have friends, as several of the classmates from the special class she belonged to before she was in class C, seemed to be very close to her, and since at the academy they basically grouped the students in teams of three, a boy from the basic course and a girl from the intermediate course were also her friends. Everyone else, however, had a very strange attitude towards her. It wasn't direct confrontations or anything like what those girls Takeshi encountered in the bleachers did the other time, but they were simply trying not to interact with her as much as possible.

"I guess it's easier for most to believe that guy betrayed Wizard Breath, than to believe that the Trailers, really brainwashed him," Takeshi mused.

He had confronted Tsuganashi before and had proven to see that it was true that he didn't remember his own younger sister, so he believed in the memory alteration, but to others it seemed to be just nonsense.

On top of everything else, there seemed to be some sort of caste system based on the community the students belonged to. After class right after finishing the affinity magic training with Ida and Kurumi, Takeshi was curious and asked them about it:

"-Communities? I've certainly heard a little bit about it but isn't "C7" the most representative group? -Commented Kurumi.

She mentioned that the C7 was a group formed by the seven largest communities among a group of more than 50 communities that existed and that those seven communities were also members of a consortium that was called "The International Association of Magicians" and that they had voting rights in that organization. Topping the list of the C7, was "Wizard breath" of course. Followed by the other six communities which were:

   "Eclipse"
   "Club Oz"
   "Ancient Pendragon"
   "Spriggan"
   "Bishop of The Camelot"
   "Fenix Foundation"

Most of these communities, were very exclusive and completely reserved the right of admission of their members. Each organization had its own rules and requirements to allow the entrance of a wizard. For example, "Ancient Pendragon" only allowed membership to wizards who belonged to the Magical Nobility. As for "Bishop of The Camelot", it was a community that only women could join. And there were also others with more radical characteristics, as was the case of the Trailers. Wizard Breath was the community to which Mui belonged, and it was a community characterized by having the highest level of combat and probably the most hostile community towards the Trailers. Naturally it was investing a lot of funds and a large part of its members for war purposes.

-How annoying... It's okay if we don't go into any of them, isn't it? -Ida asked.

Ida's priority was to learn to control her magic as quickly as possible, and besides that, she was worried about her little sister Futaba, who seemed to have entered a kind of rebellious stage, so she was not interested in the system of communities that the academy offered.

-But, it seems that most of the students are in a..." Takeshi answered.

Then Ida made a complicated expression. Kurumi thought about it for a while and then asked:

-Is there a community you want to join, Takeshi?

When Kurumi asked that, Takeshi thought of Mui. It was easy to say. It was just enough to check some communities and see if they required some kind of evaluation to join.

"I'm not so sure that one is a good choice...," He mused.

After seeing and hearing what her community mates did to Mui, she didn't know what to think of her anymore.

-I'm still thinking about it..." she replied letting out a sigh.

Kurumi made a worried face again. In a few days, Takeshi had started to worry again about the matter of the communities.

-You should have done that before....

-Don't fuck with me, my gun always flies away....

-Close your mouth...

After that matter, Takeshi and Kurumi were on their way to the science room so they had to move to another building through the corridor. Suddenly, they found five male students huddled on the second floor arguing.

When they stopped to look at them from the second floor, one of their classmates who was also heading to the same science classroom passed nearby and also stopped to look at those students and said:

-Wow, it looks like they are fighting again. It would be terrible to get involved with them. Better not look at them.

After the above said, the boy averted his gaze and covered his face with his hands. Takeshi also thought it would be troublesome and better move away from there.

-Does that happen very often? -Takeshi asked.

The boy removed his hands from his face and with a complicated expression, whispered in reply:

-Yes, that's right. Those are guys who are sympathetic to the Trailers.

-Are there guys like that around here? -Kurumi asked. Although she was not interested in jumping into the conversation.

The boy answered immediately:

-Some of them say they are just wannabes... But there are those who say there are Trailers infiltrating the Academy.

The boy spoke approaching Kurumi and Takeshi speaking to them between whispers as if it was a big secret and continued:

-What is for sure, is that they don't get along well with those from Wizard Breath so be careful who you hang out with so you don't get in trouble with them.

-Are you talking about Mui? -Takeshi muttered.

Kurumi's eyebrows suddenly twitched when she heard that name as if it was an involuntary reaction.

However, neither Takeshi nor the other boy noticed and continued with the conversation.

-Now that you mention it, I've seen that you guys are very good of Aiba-san, you should be careful because you don't know which of the two sides she's with. -The boy muttered.

-Which of the two sides?

-I mean the Trailers and Wizard Breath. It is true that she belongs to Wizard Breath, so by nature she is an enemy of the Trailers, however in Wizard Breath she is seen as a traitor because of her brother.

Those words became quite familiar to Takeshi.

-When you go out with her, keep an eye on her and be careful. -The boy insisted.

After saying that, the boy left towards the science room. Takeshi stood there silently until Kurumi grabbed him by the sleeve.

-Come on, Takeshi, we'll be late.....

She pulled him and they both kept walking.

While being carried by Kurumi pulling his sleeve, Takeshi was lost in his thoughts.

"The principal had told me that the school was peaceful and oblivious to the conflicts of that war, but I guess that's not the case."

"Has Mui really been fighting in that war?"

"What am I supposed to have actually been watching?"

Kurumi looked at Takeshi again with concern as she tugged on his sleeve, but at that moment he came to his senses and smiled at her. Kurumi was a little surprised and quickly returned her gaze to the front.

-Gosh, Takeshi, you do get depressed when I'm not around you, don't you? -Kurumi commented.

Takeshi didn't notice that Kurumi's face turned red as she kept walking ahead and tugging on his sleeve.

Part 4

The first day of the magic festival had arrived.

In the Subaru Magic Academy, both in the dormitories and in the classrooms, one could feel all the enthusiasm and the atmosphere of joy caused by such an event. When he arrived at the classroom of class C, Takeshi had already seen a great variety of magic used just to liven up the party. Until then, he learned once and for all that The Magic Festival was no ordinary event. Human beings, animals and unknown monsters that could only be found in someone's imagination walked the halls as normal. The entrance of the B classroom had been adorned with an old and broken wooden door that was the entrance to the attraction they had created, which they called "The Ghost Ship". The entrance of the classroom A had been transformed into the entrance of a huge cave where a small Goblin was sitting on a desk at the reception desk (maybe it was matching the attraction inside). It was obviously a live Goblin, dark-skinned about fifty centimeters tall and with a small head. Who knows if someone had transformed into that Goblin or if it had been created.

Hitouji.sensei was already in the classroom when Takeshi arrived and seemed to be complaining about the fact that the class was not doing an activity involving magic. For some reason, the teacher seemed to be very excited. The event was to start at 1:00 PM but it was barely 8:25AM. As usual, Ida was the last to show up. Class C was supposed to present a plain and simple cafe, but Takeshi was shocked by the kind of decoration they had put up.

The interior looked like an ancient castle where the colors black and gold were predominant. There was a huge chandelier on the ceiling and spider webs everywhere and torches with dim lights. It looked like the class had made a witches and haunted places themed cafe so as not to clash with the rest of the festival.

There were eight round tables in the center just below the chandelier covered with gray tablecloths that had perfectly spread gold edges. On each table was a candelabra with three candles. Silver cutlery and wine glasses all perfectly arranged. Takeshi stared at it all unable to tell what was real and what was made with illusory magic. Possibly the chandelier on the ceiling was the only thing made with illusory magic. In one of the corners of the huge hall that looked like an ancient castle, four or five students wearing normal uniforms were wandering around. Even in the dense darkness you could see how listless and bored they were.

"Could they be the ones using illusionary magic to transform this place...?", Takeshi wondered.

Illusionary magic was known to be the most powerful magic among the magical affinities as far as duration was concerned. It was capable of being activated for long periods of time while maintaining the illusion without diminishing magical power, the only downside was that at the moment the illusion was summoned, a large amount of magic was released all at once leaving the user fatigued from before the illusion even formed. Takeshi glanced around the room and noticed that there was a kitchen section that had no doors at the back of the room. To the left, there should have been just a window, but instead, there were stairs with greenish-brown wooden railings leading to a hallway that had a door to another room. The space inside the classroom, was altered in a strange way, but it was possible to do so with black magic.

Black magic was the only one among the magical affinities, which had the ability to interfere with and modify spacetime. Similar to the headmistress's "Black Door" black magic ability, which was able to create portals that bent spacetime to interconnect distant locations immediately and at will. In the opposite corner of the room, there was evidence, for there were four other students who appeared to be the ones employing their black magic to alter the space within the room. They were collapsing on the floor little by little looking all emaciated as if they were zombies.

-You finally came, Takeshi. You're late.

Kurumi approached Takeshi who was still looking around in surprise. However, when he turned to look at her he was even more surprised.

-I-Isoshima... that look...

Kurumi was wearing clothes made of black leather with belts and black fishnet tights giving her a bondage style. Other than that, she had transformed her body to look like an adult woman in her twenties. Her breasts had grown considerably and protruded quite a bit so it was difficult for Takeshi to look at her calmly.

-It's the teacher's fault," Kurumi exclaimed.

She may have had the face and body of an adult woman, but her expression of disgust was still that of Isoshima Kurumi, the high school student.

-But, that's pretty bold. -Takeshi said.

Still, Kurumi's charm and seductive power were overwhelming.

There was no doubt that if she served the tables with that appearance and dressed like that, the influx of male customers would be brutal.

-I've already refused! -Kurumi exclaimed.

She emphasized that those clothes were not her idea. So Takeshi simply ducked his shoulders. Kurumi continued:

-But, Hitouji-sensei said this would be the best training I could have and forced me to use my magic this way.

-But, it wasn't necessary for you to transform into an adult. -Takeshi replied.

-It's just that, it would be weird to wear these clothes with a youthful appearance don't you think?

Takeshi began to feel many eyes on him so he turned to look around. As expected, there were several boys who couldn't take their eyes off Kurumi.

-Listen, Isoshima....

Before Takeshi could finish telling her to change her clothes, Kurumi raised her face and said:

-Takeshi, don't tell me that this displeases you very much?

Her expression was one of complete shock.

-It doesn't matter what I think, just listen to me....

-Of course it matters! Tell me if you like it or not!

He didn't know why she suddenly started asking that question, since he didn't even think about it and didn't feel like answering either. Besides, the curious look of many students could be felt in the air. Instead of training, it seemed more like a punishment, or perhaps, to endure that was the training the teacher was talking about.

-I don't really like it... but I don't dislike it either..." Takeshi answered.

-Come on, make up your mind... if you like it, I'll use it without complaining.

-No, don't do that...

Takeshi quickly grabbed Kurumi by the arm, and rushed her towards the kitchen. Kurumi lost her balance but somehow kept up with him. The kitchen was also a space that completely surpassed the boundaries of the classroom. As the two rushed in all the students manning the kitchen turned to look at them. Takeshi turned his back to them and taking Kurumi by the shoulders, suggested:

-Isoshima, please I beg you. If you transform, you better become a little girl. Yes?

-Takeshi, are you a lolicon?! -Kurumi exclaimed.

Kurumi's response to hearing such a thing was so loud, that everyone in the kitchen and in the hall of tables heard it and burst out laughing.

-Of course not!

Takeshi immediately refuted, but his voice was completely overshadowed by the laughter of the place.

Part 5

-Takeshi-kun, are you still depressed? -asked Mui who was sitting in front of the dismayed Takeshi.

She was placing a large amount of lettuce in a bowl. Dressed in a white apron full of lace and a black maid's dress, Mui was about to prepare a sandwich at the time.

-Mui, Your clothes are more normal," Takeshi whispered.

Mui smiled as she took out some cucumbers from a box and whispered in response:

-It's just that I only get to help inside the kitchen.

Takeshi thought it would have been good if Kurumi had also been a kitchen helper, because that way, there wouldn't have been any strange misunderstandings among the class. All he was trying to do, was to keep the boys away from Kurumi, but somehow, things ended badly and that's why he was depressed.

At that precise moment, the cause of Takeshi's depression, entered the kitchen walking silently stood in front of Takeshi and said:

-Hey Takeshi, you need to change your clothes now.....

This time, Kurumi had taken the form of a little elementary school girl, she was wearing a little witch hat, a black one-piece dress and holding a black cat stuffed toy.

-Isoshima, this is all your fault. Now how are you going to fix it? -Takeshi replied.

-You mean the rumors that you're a Lolicon?

When Kurumi mentioned that matter-of-factly, Takeshi put on a somber expression.

-Well, it's not that big of a deal, calm down a bit or you'll start to be a nuisance. Ah, but don't you dare come near my Futaba or I'll kill you..." Ida commented from the side of the stove, because like Mui, he was also a kitchen helper.

-That's enough..." exclaimed Takeshi.

Takeshi tried to deny it, but he simply fell further into depression, as his attempts were useless. Two hours later, "The Sabbat Café" as they had called it, had become quite crowded. The menu had a lot of variety for just a cultural festival project. They had Hotcakes, Sandwiches, Strawberry and Chocolate Parfaits, ice cream and juices. All the customers were students from the Subaru Magic Academy and there were none from outside. Also, they were not allowed to invite their parents. All the boys and girls who waited on the tables were dressed in such a way that they looked like they had come from a witches' day convention.

Most of the students who used Biological Magic like Kurumi had transformed into something while serving the clientele. There were girls with wolf ears and tails, and another who had transformed into a big-nosed old witch (although she was actually a very pretty girl) there was a boy who had transformed into some sort of dark wizard, a bat flew over the tables carrying the menu (who was also a girl) and also a voluptuous and elegant witch in a long black dress. (That one was actually a boy). That way, everyone looked different. Obviously Takeshi had no such ability to transform, so he had simply waited tables, dressed like a butler. White shirt, black tie and a pair of ordinary black pants.

-Kya...!

Kurumi at that instant, was about to fall backwards while waiting tables, but Takeshi prevented it by holding her back.

-Are you okay, Isoshima?

-Yes, I'm sorry, Takeshi. It's just that walking in a child's form is inconvenient for me.

Because of her childish form, Kurumi had knocked over the tray several times since she started serving at the cafe and at that moment, she had gotten tangled in her own dress and was about to fall down because of that.

-Don't worry, I think that serves to attract more customers. -Takeshi commented.

Kurumi frowned and replied:

-Well, I'm not happy to hear that?

-Yeah, I thought so... -Murmured Takeshi nervously.

The reason why Kurumi kept serving despite her failures was because some customers liked that. Whenever they saw Kurumi fall and noticed her look, they would gladly come over to help her up.

"Even though they're all wizards, seeing a little witchy girl seems pretty cute to them? I don't understand that logic," Takeshi opined.

While showing a pleasant smile to the customers, Kurumi insulted Takeshi by staying holding his hand.

-Fuck you...

Part 6

-Hey! -Takeshi exclaimed from the kitchen. No, I can't take it anymore. I thought we were only going to do this in the morning.

At that moment The Magic Festival had just started and the morning's day was over. However, one of the members of the committee in charge of the class project for the festival was shaking his head saying:

-I'm sorry but we do not have enough manpower for the afternoon.

The appearance of the boy who was apologizing was that of a vampire, but he didn't look at all intimidating even though his fangs showed from time to time.

-I've had enough! -Takeshi replied coldly.

-Please, Nanase-kun!

The vampire boy clasped his hands together in supplication and next to him, another boy who was also a member of the organizing committee, begged in the same way:

-Please, Nanase-kun!

That other boy was dressed in the usual school uniform, but his face looked really pale. Apparently, that was one of the boys who had been using his magic since the morning and still hadn't recovered.

-Please!

Takeshi shook his head in response to the two boys' request and said:

-I refuse.

-One hour! Please help us for just one more hour!

-I beg you, Nanase-kun! -exclaimed a girl who joined in the plea. Looking impatient.

-Please, Nanase-kun! The tragedy-faced vampire boy exclaimed again.

Takeshi simply lowered his face and became thoughtful. To refuse them after begging him so much would be too cruel. Then he made up his mind and said:

-All right, but only for an hour.

The faces of the two boys at first instantly turned into smiles.

-Oh, thank God.

-You're an angel who came down from heaven!

The two boys looking at the ceiling, throwing praises with jubilation and joy, but Takeshi added:

-Yes, but once an hour passes, I'll stop it Understood?

Kurumi and Mui, watched the scene in silence and listened to Takeshi's determined words from a distance.

-Takeshi is too kind," commented Kurumi who had already put her usual school uniform back on and dissolved her magic.

Then Mui smiled and replied:

-Yes, that's a relief.

Kurumi reacted to the mysterious words of Mui, who had also taken off her maid outfit and put on her usual school uniform. Then she asked:

-What do you mean by that?

She wanted to probe further into that, but Mui suddenly changed the subject and said:

-Kurumi, would you like to come with me to a special place?

-Huh? A special place?

The conversation began to forcibly move forward in such a way that Kurumi didn't even have time to complain or refuse.

Ever since Mui and Kurumi became roommates, they had no longer had violent confrontations with each other. Maybe it was calculated or something natural, but either way Mui always acted calm, and Kurumi was the only one who always acted hostile. However, at that moment, the two of them were chatting very naturally. Unlike Takeshi, who no matter what he said always smiled, Mui was a girl who changed the subject drastically and so quickly that it was hard for Kurumi to keep up with him.

"Let's go see 'The Fortune-Telling Witch Gril'," Mui suddenly blinked and grabbed Kurumi's hand with great excitement.

Kurumi quickly shook off Mui's hand and replied:

-Divination? I'm not interested in such things.

-Oh no, no...

Mui shook her head and raised her index finger and said:

-This is not just any divination. The fortune-telling witch's predictions have a 97% accuracy rate.

—¿97%?

-Impressive, don't you think? -Mui replied, puffing out his chest proudly as if it were some feat of his own.

-And is that some kind of magic," Kurumi asked with mild interest.

Mui nodded happily and replied:

-That's right. It's divination magic.

-Of course, it had to be..." Kurumi murmured.

-Of course. She's a mysterious wizard who seems to secretly form couples every year, thanks to her divination magic.

-Couples?

Of course, her fortune-telling in love is why she's so popular.

-Fortune in love?

Mui didn't notice Kurumi, only reacting to certain words of everything she said.

-She's so popular that today's tickets were already sold out as soon as they started selling out, but look....

At that moment, Mui took out two folded pieces of paper from his pocket and showed them to Kurumi.

-Did you get two...?

-Yes, a while ago, Violet-sensei stopped by... She gave them to me because she said she wouldn't be able to attend.

Violet-sensei was a beautiful and elegant woman in charge of the English classes. After all the above talk, Kurumi looked at the tickets in Mui's hand. Apparently it was a ticket that was only valid for that same day in the afternoon.

While Kurumi's eyes were fixed on the tickets, Mui turned to look at Takeshi who was talking with Ida at the back of the kitchen and said:

-It seems that Takeshi-kun and Ida-kun are still busy, why don't the two of us go?

When Mui returned her gaze back to Kurumi, she looked away from the tickets quickly, but reluctantly accepted it as if she wasn't really interested.

-It's okay...

Part 7

The art room was a place where normally hardly anyone came, but when Kurumi and Mui arrived, they encountered a long line. Apparently, the afternoon session had already started and the line went out from that room and even stretched down the corridor. Because the session was taking place in the cellar at the back of the room, Kurumi wanted to take a peek inside the art room, but she could only see the rest of the line of excited girls ending in front of a closed door. After standing in line for about half an hour, it was finally their turn. Mui allowed Kurumi to enter before her, so she was the first of the two to enter the gloomy cellar.

As soon as she opened the door, she was met with a heavy black curtain similar to that of a theater. Beyond that curtain, there was a rather narrow and dimly lit room where there were only two chairs placed on either side facing each other. In one of the chairs sat a woman who covered herself with a black cloak and concealed her face with a thin cloth and wore white gloves on her hands. She certainly looked like any fortune teller is supposed to look.

-What is it you wish to know? -asked the fortune teller in a soft voice.

Even without having heard her voice before, it was more than clear that it was a woman. For despite being covered with that black cloak, her slender body could easily be noticed and besides, the fingers of her hands placed on a deck of cards on the desk, were visibly slender. Kurumi then, sat stiffly on the chair in front of her. This was the first time she had ever seen a fortune teller and of course, she didn't believe in that sort of thing.

-Come on, miss, tell me what you are interested in knowing. -Asked the fortune teller once again.

-Eh... I.... eh.... of... e...a-love....

For Kurumi, it was quite a challenge to say something as embarrassing as "I want to know my luck in love" to a stranger. Her face became very red. However, it was not possible to see the fortune teller's expression through the cloth on her face and that was a relief. The fortune teller noticed the tension Kurumi was going through and whispered softly:

-It's okay. In that case, who do you want to know about?

-NA...Nanase Takeshi..." Kurumi stammered.

Kurumi was holding in her embarrassment as much as possible, but inwardly she started to think that if Takeshi saw her walking into a place like that, he would die of embarrassment.

"No one seems to be ashamed of this, so I can do it," Kurumi thought.

"This strange woman who calls herself The Fortune Teller Witch, she's not going to think I'm obsessed or something. That would be terrible."

Her embarrassment was such that her tears were about to flow. As Kurumi shook her shoulders, the fortune teller spread the cards in an arc on the desk and asked:

-Nanase Takeshi... So that person is an unrequited love?

-Of course not! He's my boyfriend! -Kurumi exclaimed involuntarily.

Kurumi was shocked that she lied since she was fully aware that Takeshi was not really her boyfriend. However, the fortune teller started to do her job before she could correct that mistake. The little fortune-telling witch placed her hand on the pile of cards spread out and muttered something in a very low voice.

"Are you speaking English?"

I couldn't hear it very well, but it seemed to be some kind of incantation, because magic particles, blue in color, began to gush out of the fortune teller's hands and settle on the cards. After that, only three cards began to glow with a light blue light, and they fell out of the maso until they were positioned in front of Kurumi as if they had been dragged by threads.

-Put them back on the table, please. -The fortune teller indicated.

Kurumi did as the fortune teller asked, touched the cards that were still glowing, and returned them one by one to the table.

"The five of clubs, the two of hearts, and the king of diamonds."

Kurumi obviously didn't know what that meant. But when she looked up, she could see the fortune teller's red lips begin to move across the thin cloth illuminated by the dim light saying:

-Hardships are coming soon for you and for him.....

The fortune-teller spoke in a soft and calm voice,

-Difficulties? -whispered kurumi back.

The fortune teller continued undeterred:

-Beware of an infidelity that is seen on his part?

As soon as she heard that, Kurumi pushed back the chair and stood up quickly.

-An i-infidelity? From Takeshi? No way...

However, the fortune teller sounded completely convinced of what she was saying.

-The cards don't lie. -The fortune teller declared coldly.

Kurumi looked at the fortune teller and then at the cards. She remembered the 97% hit rate Mui mentioned and was completely stunned.

--It's a lie... -Murmured Kurumi taking a step back.

Then she took a breath and shouted loudly:

-You're lying!!! She turned around and turned her back to The Fortune Teller Witch, opened the black curtain tightly and ran out of the art room in a hurry.

Mui, who was next in line to pass, heard Kurumi screaming inside. And, thankfully she was a bit far away, she was not hit with the door when Kurumi slammed it open and only saw her rushing past with a terrified expression. The truth is that if you don't think well about what you want to ask, that 97% success rate could turn out to be negative. For the little fortune-telling witch never told lies.

Mui didn't think about whatever Kurumi had asked. At that moment she was not interested. Now was her time and she had other things to worry about.

When she entered the place through the door Kurumi left open, she found herself face to face with the fortune teller. She was an unknown fortune teller. All Mui knew about her was that she had been performing for a couple of years during the magic festivals. Even with her face covered, it could be seen that she had more or less the appearance of a fourth or fifth year student. Or at least, someone older than her.

The magical festival was for students only and no one from outside the academy was allowed to participate. In short, that fortune teller was either a student or a teacher. Moreover, magical affinities based on divination were very rare.

"She can only be a user of Evasive Magic or Biological Magic, there is no more...", Mui mused.

"If it's Biological Magic, it would be harder to tell who it is."

Mui sat on the chair and looked straight at her. He couldn't see her face well because of the cloth she covered her face with. Mui continued to ponder:

"If she is a student, she can only be of some special class, but if she is a teacher..."

However, the woman's faint voice interrupted Mui's thoughts.

-What is it that you wish to know?

Muy blinked a couple of times as if she had come to her senses.

"Right, it doesn't matter who this person is."

The reason for that, was because when he first joined Wizard Breath, they were instructed that when meeting a mage one should always analyze and check the type of magical affinity their opponent belonged to.

"It's strange to do that on instinct, even if it's something that was instilled in me."

Mui sighed sadly, raised his face and replied:

-I want to find a familiar?

The little fortune-telling witch held out the bow-shaped cards and replied:

-Are you sure? I'm good at making love predictions, you know?

Mui smiled when she heard that and said:

-There will be time for love when the war is over. What I am interested in knowing now, is where my brother is and how I can find him. Just that...

Mui's sincere look full of hope, made the fortune teller's expression quiver slightly through the cloth giving the impression that she had laughed.

-All right, I'll tell you where your brother is. -The fortune teller replied.

The blue magic particles once again overflowed onto the cards. Mui watched attentively, but not before placing her hand on her pistol that she always carried holstered on her hip and stretched one leg out in front of her.

Part 8

After the magical festival began joyfully as if it had been the bursting of fireworks, the excitement of it kept up the whole time. On the second day of the festival, Takeshi spent most of the day serving at the Sabbat Café. He was barely able to visit the B-class ghost ship with Kurumi and had no opportunity left to visit the other events. He was unable to enjoy the festival as it was meant to be. Kurumi mentioned that the result of her prediction was simply not a good thing. She was still depressed a week after the festival was over. Mui seemed not to have listened and her mind seemed to wander into another dimensional plane. Only Ida was satisfied with her work done as the chef of the Sabbat Café, but now that the semester exams were upon them, she had also become depressed. On top of that, he still couldn't control his magical affinity well and was angry at himself for burning his own desk in the previous day's class. Takeshi was preparing for the semester exams, and he would have liked to focus only on studying, but he wasn't good enough with magic to suggest that to Ida either, so he said nothing and continued training together with Ida and Kurumi.

This time the gym had much fewer people than it always used to hold. Takeshi brandished Twilight while Kurumi held her butterfly-patterned lipstick. Ida for her part, was focusing on her closed right hand where her look was which was a silver skull ring. In that hand, she held an empty bullet casing. Which was Twilight. Oyassan the shopkeeper, had told Takeshi that Twilight's true ability, was the ability to harbor and cast magic from other mages as long as the mage was of intermediate or advanced level. To do that, the user of Twilight, had to deposit his magical power into it to make the cartridge appear and deposit the bullet filled with another mage's power there. Once inside, a trigger would appear which, when pressed, would fire the bullet releasing the magical power. Twilight would mix both magics to become stronger. Twilight's cartridge only held three rounds and Takeshi had received three of those special bullets from Oyassan. To use those bullets he had to hold the bullet in his hand and activate the affinity magic and then control as many magic particles to deposit them in the metal casing. Something extremely difficult to accomplish for even a basic level mage. However, it was quite useful to learn how to control the magic power so Takeshi handed one bullet to Kurumi and one to Ida. At that moment, Ida was in the process of activating her affinity magic while holding the bullet in her hand. However, as Ida's orange-colored magic particles began to gather in her right hand, they gradually expanded and contracted again and again.

Ida finally reached her limit and gave up. Then the orange particles dispersed completely and flew around the place blowing a hot air over Takeshi and Kurumi. However Kurumi protected herself from it by activating the "Protection" spell quite naturally.

-Aah! I can't take it anymore. -Said Ida throwing herself on the gym floor and lying down.

Takeshi and Kurumi looked at each other.

Ida's lack of concentration was a big problem. And that's why she was getting in that state every five minutes.

-Ida, try a little harder. -Takeshi suggested.

-A little longer? But I have to go home to buy dinner.

-But, you said you've already found a way to concentrate your magic power in your arms only. If you train more you will be able to master it.

At Takehsi's suggestion Ida threw a tantrum on the floor and said:

-Aaaahhh but I'm too tired.

Kurumi saw Ida do that, and stood in front of him and saying:

-Listen, if you don't train properly, you'll go around burning desks every day. Think more seriously about the problems you cause others and....

Takeshi stopped her at that moment

Kurumi looked up and looked at Takeshi and remained silent. He didn't say anything to her, he just showed her a smile. Kurumi kept quiet as a sign that she didn't want to argue, but it was too late. Ida stood up and said:

-Ahh, okay, as you say. From now on, I'll do it on my own. Sorry to be a bother to you, Princess.

Ida raised a hand and prepared to leave for home.

-No, Ida! It's not what you think," Takeshi exclaimed.

She ran up to him and grabbed him by the back of his shirt to stop him from leaving. And said:

-Isoshima, I think that will be all for today.

-But, Takeshi....

Kurumi stared at Takeshi but he, just turned to look at her silently and nodded. Then she answered:

-Okay. In that case, I'll see you tomorrow.

-Okay.

Kurumi put her lipstick in her pocket with the finest care as if it were a treasure and left the gym. Takeshi looked around noticing that the other teams were also training and were very focused on their own business. There were fewer students than usual, but they were all preoccupied as it seemed that had more priority over the semester exam. Everyone practiced in two-square-meter spaces and were spaced far apart, but the voices of everyone performing incantations and activating their magic echoed throughout the place. Between them all, their voices were drowned out. Also, since Ida's explosive magic was already quite well known, no one was close to them.

-I'm doing the best I can. -Ida mentioned. Who continued to be held by Takeshi's back.

-I know...

Takeshi was really aware of it. Ida was really putting her all into it.

He hadn't missed a single day since he was transferred. Something that used to happen at the previous school aside from late arrivals. On top of that, he practiced with the team without a break. His only drawback was that he didn't concentrate properly, but that was no big deal. At that moment, Takeshi released Ida and then sheathed Twilight.

-Then why am I not getting better? -Ida asked.

Then she turned to look with a face full of fury in a way that Takeshi had never seen before. It was truly disappointing to see.

-Don't worry. There's still time... the teacher said so, remember? Look at me, I can't control Twilight well either, but if we both train together....

-You're wrong!

ida exclaimed shaking her head.

-Ida...

-I don't have as much time to train as you do! -Ida said desperately.

Takeshi's expression turned grim and he replied:

-I'm sorry, I don't mean to have that much time to spare.

-Your magic doesn't hurt others. You can train without any problems. But I... I could burn someone with these hands at any time.

—…

-Or but still... I could burn Futaba just by touching her... -...

Even understanding Ida's frustration, Takeshi didn't know what else to say.

-Then... Train!

-Haven't I been training? Don't tell me anything else, it's no use.

-Ida, you're wrong...

-Now I'll do it on my own, so leave me alone!

-IDA!!!

Taking advantage of the fact that Takeshi had released him, Ida fled from the gym. Takeshi did nothing as Ida looked impatient.

"I think I'm an idiot..."

Learning to control her magic with training was something Ida was already aware of. Takeshi had nothing but the seemingly obvious. However, what Ida didn't know was how long it would take him to control it and as things stood, Ida was becoming more and more scared of her own power. Every time she burned something in the classroom, she received angry stares from the other classmates. The teacher always told her to train hard and that if she did it together with the two who transferred with him, it would be much better.

"Aah, lightning!"

Takeshi bent down and Twilight's hilt protruding from his hip, embedded in his ribs.

"I don't know what to do anymore..."

He stood up again and unsheathed Twilght again. Instantly, purple particles began to emerge from his body and gathered on the sword. The silver Twilight blade became covered with the particles and turned a very dark purple color.

The first time she activated her magic with the sword in the store, she had managed to make a cartridge appear in the hilt, but since that time, she had not been able to do it again. It wasn't enough that level he was using. But it was not possible to give more than that for fear of what happened last time. He would end up losing his magic power and they would have to take away his sword.

-Sorry... could you move aside...

Suddenly he heard someone's voice speaking behind his back, but before he turned to look, Takeshi lifted Twilight up and held her behind her head.

Immediately after that, she was hit by an air mass in the shape of a sphere about a meter in diameter that bounced off her head. Looking back, the sphere exploded releasing a blast of air that lifted Takeshi's hair. The purple circles of evasive magic inside Takeshi's pupils did not disperse in that wind, but instead cleared his vision. The girl who had launched that ball of air from a distance was stunned. But when the wind disappeared in front of Takeshi, she felt relieved and exclaimed:

-Sorry... Are you all right?

Takeshi whispered lightly that she was fine and sheathed Twilight again. Then the magic circles disappeared from her eyes leaving only a feeling of fatigue.

Part 9

After that, Ida did not show up for group training for three days in a row. But it didn't matter, since the semester exams started anyway, and with that, training at the gym was suspended. But even so, Takeshi could feel Ida's estrangement very clearly. The whole academy after having been in high spirits because of The Magic Festival, now lay permeated with tension because of the said exams. Takeshi, for example, was in melancholy mode. But that day, he knew there was a stimulus waiting for him. One, which even locked in his room with an illness he could not have avoided.

Unexpectedly, Kurumi was on her way to class in the morning together with Mui.

-By the way, there's something I wanted to ask you but, it's a bit difficult for me..." Mui said.

-What is it? -asked Kurumi standing next to her without the slightest interest.

Mui had been wanting to ask about it for a long time. She was always hesitant to do so but that day she plucked up the courage and finally did it. Even her hands were sweating as she held her bag.

-Kurumi, you're dating Takeshi-kun right? I had no idea. But I heard some girls talking about it during the magic festival.

She was going to answer more naturally, but at that moment her voice might have sounded shaky. So, when Mui turned to look at her, Kurumi gave her a cold look back and said:

-You're too slow to understand things....

-Y-yes... some friends also told me that. -Mui replied.

Mui looked down and laughed awkwardly, then Kurumi frowned. It looked like Kurumi was offended. Mui was fully aware of it, but she didn't care much about Kurumi's reaction. Anyway, she already knew that Kurumi was very changeable emotionally. And, when the talk was about Takeshi, her sudden mood swings were always more noticeable. Regardless, she still wanted to ask that.

"I was a little surprised to find that out. Although, I actually thought they were just childhood friends. Who knew they were actually a couple. But... anyway that shouldn't even interest me."

At that moment Mui began to sink into the sea of her thoughts. There was no need to worry about that since she had no special relationship with him.

"I wonder if Takeshi-kun and I, can we still be friends. Although, I think that maybe it's not going to be possible..."

While Mui was making a thousand questionings and deductions, Kurumi seemed to be very clear about what she wanted to say and spoke:

-If you know, then could you please do me a favor and not be so clingy with him?

After saying that coldly, Kurumi stopped, crossed her arms and continued:

-I didn't want to say this, but... It seems to me like you're using your brother's problem to get close to Takeshi.

-No... I'm not getting closer to him....

Mui at that moment remembered that something quite serious did happen between her and Takeshi and immediately blushed.

-What's wrong? -Kurumi asked.

-What about what? -Mui answered.

-You remembered something, didn't you? Something you did to Takeshi.

-C-of course not...

Then Kurumi started to speak with more frustration and declared:

-I'd like to hear it from you rather than from Takeshi himself. We are women and we are supposed to be friends aren't we?

When Mui heard Kurumi highlight the word "Friends", she raised her face.

"Did she say we are friends?"

"But, I also want Takeshi-kun to be my friend."

Mui was happy with what she had just heard and she didn't know why, but she felt relieved.

In that case, it would be nice to tell Kurumi the truth.

"We are friends after all," Mui thought.

Still a little afraid, Mui remembered what happened and spoke:

-Listen, don't be angry Yes?

Kurumi stared at her. Then Mui came clean, speaking in a cheerful tone that didn't match the conversation at all.

-It was just an accident...

—…

-The day he helped me, I accidentally fell in the infirmary and we ended up colliding our mouths.

Mui looked up and saw Kurumi's face realizing that she had made a mistake. Kurumi's look that always looked stern, this time it looked like the look of a scared and confused girl. No matter how you looked at it, she seemed to be in complete shock.

-Kurumi? -Mui whispered in confusion.

-You mean they put their mouths together...? -Kurumi answered in a flat voice without any emotion in her.

Mui was afraid to keep looking at Kurumi's face so she lowered her gaze. However, when Mui decided to raise her face again, Kurumi was already gone.

-Huh? Kurumi!!!!

All Mui saw was Kurumi's silhouette hurrying away.

Part 10

Kurumi ran into the school building. She was exhausted and came tumbling down the hallway, bumping between several boys until she finally jumped into the classroom where the gazes of her classmates immediately turned to her at the same time. Takeshi was already there.

-Isoshima?

Takeshi was surprised to see Kurumi exhausted and with tousled hair at the back door of the classroom. She was panting heavily from running so hard. But still, when she approached Takeshi she leaned towards him and raised her face.

-O-hey, what do you think you're doing?

Takeshi involuntarily stopped her by holding her shoulders. For if he didn't, Kurumi's mouth would have touched his.

-Don't you want to? -Kurumi asked sadly.

-It's not about that.

-Then what? -Kurumi exclaimed more uneasy than usual. Then Takeshi whispered:

-What's wrong with you today?

Kurumi raised her gaze indignantly, caught her breath and said:

-Why Takeshi...? Tell me why you didn't tell me you made out with Mui...?

-Aah?

- "AAaaahh...!!!!!"?

The sudden statement immediately caused a commotion in the whole classroom.

Takeshi was shocked so he replied:

-BE.... be...what, Mui and I...?

-Mui herself told me...

-You didn't misunderstand?

-No. She told me clearly that their mouths had touched.

-That our mouths touched?

Hearing that kind of interpretation, Takeshi understood and remembered.

-Ah was that...

Kurumi didn't lose sight of Takeshi's reactions for a second.

-So it did happen..." Kurumi muttered.

-No, it's not how you imagine it....

It was the accident that happened in the infirmary when Takeshi and Mui first met. But for both of them, it had been just an accident. However Kurumi's words pointed to her giving it a different meaning.

-So you kiss a girl and then forget about it just like that as if it was nothing? Is that the kind of man you are?

At Kurumi's terrible confrontation, Takeshi replied quietly:

-It's not what you think....

-That's the worst thing you could say.....

-And why are you so angry? -Takeshi asked confused. Kurumi answered violently:

-It's obvious that she did it. We are a couple. Remember?

-Of course I remember, but you're forgetting that that's foul....

Takeshi tried to speak, but she quickly covered Takeshi's mouth with her hands and said:

-Y.o.u. a.r.e. m.y. b.o.y.f.r.i.e.n.d. Get it through your head.

Normally Takeshi would accede to any tantrum from her, but this time was different. What he had heard in the gym was still going around in his head. And, on top of that, there was Ida and her problems.

-Listen, since you bring it up....

Takeshi grabbed Kurumi and walked out into the hallway with her to avoid the prying eyes of all his classmates.

-Look... I've agreed to go out with you and everything, but these days you've been a little heavy....

Kurumi who didn't expect a refusal from Takeshi, stared at him and said:

-You don't want to do it anymore?

-It's not that. It's just that... I want you to stop being so clingy with me.

Kurumi was completely shocked to hear that and Takeshi took the opportunity to take out everything he had in store:

-Besides, aren't you going to detach yourself from me even for a second? To be honest, sometimes I feel like you're just playing with me. We've known each other since we were kids and back then, we didn't know what it was like to have your own space.

For a while, Kurumi didn't react as if she was already expecting those words from Takeshi, until she suddenly looked down to the ground and muttered:

-You mean... I'm... playing with you?

-Something like that...

Takeshi was aware that she wouldn't do that to his childhood friend and thought:

"Maybe I went a little too far..."

However, now that she had said it, there was no turning back now.

-I-isoshima... e-listen....

But, while thinking about how to continue, Kurumi said:

-It's okay...

She just said that sentence and went back to the living room, entering as if nothing had happened. But Takeshi could not do the same. While it was true that what he said might have been very harsh, it was what he really felt. His intention was not to hurt Kurumi. Or rather, he shouldn't have. Although, she wouldn't have to get hurt either since they were only pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend. Still, for some reason Takeshi felt as if he had done something very wrong and felt so angry that he wanted to hit himself.

Part 11

A week after what happened with Kurumi. The semester exam period had ended with disastrous results. Luckily his parents weren't around to scold him, so there wasn't as much of a problem in that regard, and he was relieved to know that he could still recover, even so, it wasn't to laugh about getting bad grades. Besides, Takeshi was facing another situation.

After the above happened, Kurumi no longer showed up for the magic affinity group training that had already resumed after the end of the exam period. And, she also did not approach Takeshi in the classroom again as she used to. Ida also continued with her insecurities so Takeshi was left to train alone.

Since morning Takeshi had been watching Kurumi closely, with the intention of breaking the ice. When it was time for recess, he tried to talk to her who was sitting next to him.

-Hey... Isohima....

This was the first time Takeshi did that, since she was always the one looking for him, so he was breaking the rules in that aspect. However, Kurumi didn't respond at all and simply got up from her seat and left the classroom. Takeshi followed her into the corridor because he was fully determined to talk to her.

-Isoshima I want to talk to you.....

However, no matter how much he called out to her by walking behind her, she didn't turn around.

"I guess she's avoiding me... It's too obvious. He's been doing the same thing for a whole week."

Takeshi had certainly said he wanted his space, but he also hadn't said not to talk to her again at all. All he wanted was for them to get along more like what they were: childhood friends.

Kurumi continued to ignore Takeshi and went into the girls' bathroom. Takeshi stood in front of the entrance and let out a sigh.

-Takeshi-kun... did you have a fight with Kurumi? -Asked Mui who appeared walking down the hallway. Takeshi smiled bitterly and answered:

-Sort of...

He didn't really feel that they had fought, but everything gave the impression that they had. Mui looked up and said to the worried Takeshi:

-Do you want me to talk to her?

However, Takeshi politely declined. After all, he had already been wandering around after Kurumi for quite a while. Besides, he wasn't the only one to blame and solving that matter also depended on Kurumi.

-No, I'll wait a little longer.

-Really? -Mui asked with concern, but seeing that Takeshi was determined, she went back to the classroom.

Takeshi knew he had to do it on his own and he was sure that if he didn't succeed, Kurumi would move further away from him. That was not what he wanted. He even wondered if it would be better to go back to his usual relationship with her.

Finally when all the classes were over, Takeshi took Kurumi by force. She was about to leave the classroom as soon as the bell rang.

-Hey Isoshima, wait....

The classmates looked at them with some suspicion, but then they didn't take so much attention anymore. Kurumi tried to break free from Takeshi's grip, but when she saw that it was impossible, she ducked her head.

-Why are you doing this? I told you several times that I wanted to talk to you and you didn't listen to me..." Takeshi declared in a stern tone.

At that moment, drops of water started to fall at Kurumi's feet from her crouched face. She was crying. Takeshi noticed that and froze completely.

Most of the students just stared at them, but of all people, Ida let out a heavy sigh, approached them and grabbed them both by the arm to pull them out of the classroom.

-If you're going to fight, do it somewhere else. -Ida told them.

Then she pointed with her chin to the emergency stairs at the end of the hall.

-I'm sorry. -Takeshi replied.

Then Ida let out another sigh and said:

-If you don't get along you will create a bad atmosphere in the team and remember that I am also part of that team.

-You are right...

Ida pulled the repentant Takeshi, and whispering in his ear so Kurumi wouldn't hear said:

-Bringing out the soft side of a woman, that's a gift only we men have.....

-What are you saying? -Takeshi asked.

-I don't know, Dad used to say that..." replied Ida.

Takeshi involuntarily let out a small laugh and then Ida patted him on the back. She was still holding Kurumi's arm, but she had already stopped crying. When they climbed the emergency stairs, Takeshi finally let go of her. But Kurumi still kept silent.

-Listen, Isoshima... Let's stop this already, okay?

—…

-Isoshima?

Takeshi was waiting for Kurumi to answer him something. She leaned on the stair railing and even with her face bent down, she finally answered:

-You said not to be so clingy with you remember?

-Yes, but that's not what I meant, you're overreacting too much.....

He didn't want to get so far away that he would never talk to her again.

-I just told you to give us some space, but it wasn't for you to go that far.

Kurumi was still depressed.

-I just..." Kurumi spoke in a voice so low that it seemed like the wind could blow it away. I didn't want you to hate me...".

Kurumi wiped the tears from her eyes with her fingertips.

That gesture made Takeshi feel miserable. He never intended to make her cry. He didn't even expect Kurumi to have cried like that. So he let out a heavy sigh suddenly. Something that caused Kurumi to suddenly shudder. That caused Takeshi more misery as it was inconceivable that she could ever be afraid of him.

-I could never hate you. I just, I couldn't help but be shocked. -He mentioned in a sweetened voice.

Kurumi raised her face slightly and asked:

-Shocked? Hadn't talking to me shocked you?

-Of course...

It was bad enough for him to be ignored by Gekkou, and he was shocked to see Kurumi so intent on doing it the same way.

-So... Shall we continue as we were?

She looked up and stared at him, then Takeshi smiled.

-It's okay...

Immediately after that, Kurumi broke away from the railing and approached Takeshi.

-Huh?!?!!? mirror ....

She held Takeshi's hand very tightly.

-Don't you want to?

-Well...

Takeshi was a bit confused about what she meant, then Kurumi clarified:

-I mean holding hands. Not when we're alone, but when we're at school, right?

Kurumi looked up with wet eyes and Takeshi frowned and whispered slowly:

-Okay...

With that, the charade of pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend was prologue. But it was much better than being ignored by Kurumi. Although he felt like he was at a dead end, he had no choice and simply walked back to the hallway holding hands with Kurumi. If it helped Kurumi feel better, then that was fine.

In response to the half-surrendered Takeshi, Kurumi stopped making that tragic face she had. However, she thought Mui had urged him to follow her to try to talk to her.

As she went into the girls' bathroom to run away from him, she heard them talking in the hallway. At the time, he barely caught a glimpse of them mentioning his name.

"Would he have made peace with me because she asked him to?", Kurumi wondered.

"If she hadn't asked him would he have left me alone any longer? »

All that boiled down to one very sad question she wanted to ask him:

-Takeshi, is there someone you like?

But, Takeshi who was walking behind her didn't seem to have listened.

Part 12

While Takeshi had his troubles during the magic festival and during exams, his family lived a soft and quiet life at home.

-What are you doing? -Gekkou suddenly asked.

He was returning from school at that moment, already when he opened the door of the house, he found his mother standing on the other side.

-Gekkou...

His mother, who looked up at the sight of him, was holding a medium-sized cardboard box in her hands.

-That's for the mail, isn't it? Are you planning to send it to Takeshi?

Gekkou's face asking that question while taking off his shoes was one of complete displeasure. Aware of that, the mother turned around. Gekkou looked inside the box and took out a sweater for Takeshi that was carefully laid out.

-What academy is Takeshi going to now? -Gekkou asked.

-It's Kousei Academy..." His mother answered.

That was the name that had been given to Subaru Magic Academy, in the documents. The administrative staff that came from the academy had placed their magic on all of them so that there would be no inconsistencies. Takeshi's family had been completely convinced.

-Ah yes. Kousei Academy in Tochigi prefecture. I think, I should go deliver this myself....

-Huh?

His mother couldn't hide her surprise at the sudden statement. Then Gekkou smiled and added:

-I think it's about time to make peace with Takeshi.

When his mother heard Gekkou say that he would go to school and on top of that say that he would make up with Takeshi, she was completely dumbfounded and replied:

-He'll be here in January anyway So why are you going to bother going all the way there?

-I want to go and see that academy. Even our neighbor Kurumi transferred there, so it must be a good place.

—…

His mother's eyes indicated she didn't want to let that happen, but Gekkou smiled, returned the sweater to the box, closed the lid and said:

-Don't worry, I'll deliver it.....

His mother then, put her hand on the box in opposition and said:

-Gekkou, it would be better if you gave up that idea. The time must come for that to happen. You can't force it just like that. You'd better wait until he comes back. I'll take that to the post office.

-Mmm... that's a strange thing to say, mom. -Are you hiding something?

-I'm not hiding anything. I'm just worried about you. Instead of worrying about Takeshi, you should pay more attention to your exams.

When his mother mentioned the exams, Gekkou lowered his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders.

-Heh, heh... I know...

Gekkou climbed the stairs to the second floor with a look of resignation. However, with his back turned, his attitude looked different. He was dragging his feet as he walked. His leg bothered him especially when climbing steps. His mother could never get used to seeing her son in that state. So he looked away and opened the box again. With a tired expression, she took out the sweater that had been all stabbed up and folded and tidied it back into the box. She was actually relieved that Takeshi was gone.

Gekkou had a rather explosive temper that totally contracted with Takeshi's serenity as if they were two opposite sides of a coin. She was trying to convince herself that this was for the best. However, when she thought of Takeshi, Nanase Youko's heart ached, because there was nothing else in her mind, a fuzzy memory. Suddenly, a round blob of moisture fell on the new sweater for Takeshi inside the box, but she sealed the box with tape as if she didn't want anyone to see it.

Translator's Notes and References

Back to Chapter 2

Return to Main Page

Forward to Chapter 4