After breakfast, Tatsuya changed into a technical staff blouson, grabbed a foldable terminal, and headed to the girls' Cloud Ball venue. Observing his diligence, Yugen glanced at his own terminal. Miyuki, noticing this, tilted her head.
"Yugen-san, something wrong?"
"Nah, just thinking. If those three are from the same school, they'd likely be classmates, right? But they're neatly split across different schools. So, I'm betting they're connected through magical family ties."
Yugen had no recollection of meeting them during his nationwide travels, nor through the Jousen family or New Shadow Style swordsmanship events. Yet, their magic power was undeniably high, and all three wielded "Tenjin Magic." He suspected they were linked to an ancient magic clan secretly passing down Tenjin Magic.
"Anyway, I caught their first names and checked the roster. Sure enough, they're there."
Shuuji Miyamoto, a first-year from Ninth High; Yume Takatsuki, a first-year from Second High; and Hikari Ise, a first-year from Seventh High. All first-years, yet their magic power rivaled Miyuki's. None were "Numbered" mages, but given the Jousen precedent, Yugen sensed they were exceptional.
Shuuji was entered only in the main boys' Cloud Ball, Yume in the rookie girls' Cloud Ball, and Hikari in the main Mirage Bat. First-years in main events needed serious skill—comparable to the "Lightning Éclair" first-year from Third High in Mirage Bat, likely Ten Master Clans level.
"Subaru and Nanami are in for a rough time…"
"Rough time, not a tough fight?" Miyuki asked.
"You felt their magic power too, right?"
Miyuki nodded. Tatsuya, though absent, likely sensed it as well. The Ten Master Clans probably hadn't noticed them yet. As "original" characters outside the story's canon, Yugen wanted to investigate further, but he had a hunch he'd cross paths with them soon.
This stemmed from Gousan's order to use Tenjin Magic during the competition. If Yugen complied, those three would notice. What that meant was beyond his canon knowledge.
"Non-Numbered yet Ten Master Clans-level power… almost like you, Miyuki."
"Oh, Yugen-san, don't tease!" Miyuki's cheeks flushed as she protested.
Yugen knew Miyuki's true identity but kept it light. Just then, Shizuku and Honoka appeared. Shizuku, slightly annoyed at their banter, prompted Honoka's strained smile.
"Yugen, still a playboy?" Shizuku quipped.
"I keep hearing that lately… I'm not. I'm just sincere with women."
"That's what makes you a playboy," Honoka shot back.
Yugen wanted to ask what they expected, but sensing a futile debate, he shifted focus. "You two watching Cloud Ball?"
"I want to check out Ice Pillars Break," Shizuku said.
"Me too," Honoka added.
Shizuku, competing in Ice Pillars Break, likely wanted to gauge the event. Yugen and Miyuki, also in it, agreed watching wasn't a bad idea. But with Mayumi's girls' Cloud Ball match looming, Yugen couldn't skip it without consequences.
"Miyuki, go with Shizuku and Honoka to Ice Pillars Break. I'll watch Cloud Ball, or the president will have my head."
"…Fine. But behave, okay?"
Yugen bit back a retort about being a "flag magnet" as Miyuki and Shizuku's gazes silenced him. If flags were that easy, every guy would be drowning in them, he thought, downplaying himself as he headed to the Cloud Ball venue.
Then, he spotted a group of young men surrounding a middle school-aged boy and girl. Hidden by the crowd, their identities clicked when Yugen saw an object in one man's hand. Using self-acceleration magic, he snatched it—an earmuff-style CAD—and unleashed multiple Air Ride Bursts, striking their vitals. As they staggered, he scooped up the pair and fled with self-acceleration.
In a secluded corner, he set them down and placed the CAD on the girl. "Not bad, Saburou, staying out of trouble. But you should've protected Shiina first."
"Y-Yugen-san!? S-Sorry…" Saburou blinked in surprise.
"No worries."
Saburou apologized for the hassle, but Yugen brushed it off. He'd used full perception interference, so no one would trace it to him. Shiina—aka Shina Nagano—gaped at Yugen.
"B-Big brother?"
"Hey, I'm incognito here. No family treatment, okay?"
"Right… sorry. Yugen-sama, then?"
That felt overly formal, but Yugen let it slide. "Fine. You two alone?"
"No, with the Yaguruma family. But Saburou wandered off, so I was looking for him," Shina explained.
"Wandering, huh? Just like Mototsume-niisan. I'll call Shizuru-neesan for a half-day yoga session," Yugen teased.
"No, please! Anything but that!" Saburou pleaded.
Shizuru's yoga had knocked Saburou out enough times to rank him among her top "victims." Her mantra—"Yoga forges men"—only deepened his dread. It was clear how Saburou felt about Shina.
"Don't worry, Saburou-kun. I'll go with you," Shina chimed.
Yugen inwardly sighed—her "support" was more like a finishing blow. Smiling at their exchange, he contacted the Yaguruma family. Ten minutes later, they arrived, and the pair left with them. Shina waved brightly, and Yugen returned it, clarifying he had no intention of marrying his actual sister, Shina.
As cheers erupted from the arena, Yugen realized a match had ended. Then it hit him: "Wasn't that the president's match?"
Panic set in. Missing Mayumi's match was asking for trouble. If she demanded a "date," he'd bolt. Her charm was undeniable, but her fan club, father, and twin sisters spelled complications. He half-wished her fans (and her dad) would choke on her "beyond-medicinal" Valentine's chocolate.
Determined to catch the next rounds, Yugen entered the arena.
Sure enough, Mayumi grilled Yugen about missing her first round. He countered that distractions during a match were unwise and explained he'd helped friends in trouble. She reluctantly accepted but pressed on.
"Yuu-kun, what was that activation sequence!? Tatsuya said it was like a 'Quadruple Bound'!"
"Just tweaked the rotation axis while speeding it up. The crowd was hooked, right?"
'Quadruple Bound'—an advanced reverse-acceleration spell doubling speed while adding three rotational axes to baffle opponents. Yugen drew inspiration from a manga he'd read pre-reincarnation. The version he gave Mayumi was toned down; the real one was in another player's CAD. He kept that quiet, but Mayumi groaned, knowing her father, Kouichi, watching the competition, would probe her later.
"Ugh, another thing for that sly fox to pester me about… Yuu-kun, you're secretly sadistic, aren't you?"
"No clue, but I've been called mean before."
"That's what sadistic means!"
Mayumi's team dominated, winning every match in one set with over 200 points and no losses. The final scored a record 228-0. Though Mayumi felt unsatisfied, her performance as a Ten Master Clans heir was impeccable.
"Bet your sisters are thrilled with their big sis shining," Yugen offered.
"Ugh, true, but… Yuu-kun, you're eating lunch with me! Leader's orders!"
"…Fine. But not alone—let's avoid misunderstandings."
Mayumi's leader authority wasn't for personal whims, but refusing was messier. Yugen set one condition.
"Yugen-oniisama, long time no see!" Izumi chirped.
"Hey, Izumi. Kasumi, been a while," Yugen greeted.
"Yugen-nii, same! Why's Onee-chan grumpy after that shutout?" Kasumi asked.
"Just a little tantrum," Yugen dodged.
The condition was including Mayumi's sisters, Kasumi and Izumi. It'd been four months since their Valentine's visit. Izumi hugged Yugen gleefully, while Kasumi, used to her antics, asked about Mayumi's mood. Mayumi's grumpiness stemmed partly from the match but mostly from muttering, "I wanted it to be just us…"
Inviting the twins shielded Yugen from their father's schemes. Mayumi agreed reluctantly, but seeing Izumi still clinging to Yugen, she smiled tightly.
"Izumi-chan, you're too close to Yuu-kun. People are watching, so let go."
"It's fine! Onee-sama's always clingy with Onii-sama, so don't lecture me."
"…Yuu-kun, help."
Izumi's sharp retort, tied to her broken engagement, left Mayumi pleading. Yugen chuckled. "Giving up already? Izumi, I get it, but can you let go? I can't move."
"S-Sorry! I just needed my Onii-sama fix," Izumi said, stepping back with a bow.
Yugen puzzled over "Onii-sama fix" but let it pass. Kasumi chimed in, "It's just Izumi's romantic streak running wild."
"Really? Okay then…"
"Kasumi-chan, that's mean! And that felt like a weird pun," Izumi huffed.
Kasumi and Izumi Saegusa, Mayumi's identical twins, were distinct: Kasumi's boyish short hair and attitude versus Izumi's feminine bob and demeanor. Yugen met them four years ago at a Saegusa party before the Okinawa Defense Battle, where Izumi dubbed him her "ideal prince." He still didn't get why.
"Anyway, your sister won. Congratulate her," Yugen prompted.
"Right! Onee-chan, congrats!" Kasumi cheered.
"Onee-sama, congratulations!" Izumi added.
"Thanks… wait, aren't I your big sister?" Mayumi teared up, realizing Yugen had wrangled her sisters' attention. Knowing he had a real sister, Shina, she assumed he was just that perceptive and forced herself to accept it.
Kasumi and Izumi tilted their heads at Mayumi's turmoil, oblivious.
Note: New story is out, if you want to check it out.
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