On the first day of the Nine Schools Competition, Tatsuya and his group arrived at the arena early for Speed Shooting and Battle Board qualifiers. Mayumi and Mari, competing today, had insisted Tatsuya watch, leaving no room for excuses.
"Speed Shooting strategies often differ between qualifiers and finals," Tatsuya noted.
"But President Saegusa uses the same magic for both," a girl behind him added.
"Erika," Tatsuya acknowledged.
"Hey, Tatsuya-kun," Erika replied.
"Morning," Honoka greeted.
"Yo, Shiba-san, Mitsui-san, Kitayama-san," Leo called out, nodding to each. Surprisingly gentlemanly, though no one seemed to care.
"Wouldn't we see better from the front?" Honoka asked.
"Nah, this event's better from back here. Plus, the front's packed," Erika said, pointing to the crowded front rows.
"Ugh, so many idiot guys," Miyuki muttered.
"Not just teens, either," Tatsuya observed.
"'Big Sis' fans? Ridiculous," Erika scoffed.
"But some people make doujinshi of the president, so it's not that weird," Mizuki said casually.
The comment stunned the group.
"Mizuki… how do you know that?" Miyuki asked, eyes narrowing.
"If you're into that, I'll have to rethink how I deal with you," Erika teased.
"N-no! That's not what I meant!" Mizuki stammered.
"It's starting," Tatsuya cut in.
Mizuki, flustered, regained her composure as Mayumi began obliterating targets the moment they entered the scoring zone. The outcome was obvious.
'Nine Schools Competition, Qualifiers: First High, Third Year, Saegusa Mayumi – Result: Perfect'
"As expected of the Elfin Sniper," Honoka said.
"She hates that nickname, though," Tatsuya remarked.
"Onii-sama, that was subsonic dry ice bullets, right?" Miyuki asked.
"Good eye," Tatsuya praised.
"I could tell that much," Erika said, shooting him a half-glare.
Tatsuya smirked. "Yeah, after seeing it a hundred times in a row, anyone would."
A few averted their eyes, likely clueless.
"A hundred times? Without a single miss?" Leo asked, stunned.
"That's insane…" Honoka murmured.
"That precision deserves praise. Even with perception magic running, processing that data relies on her own mind. The Ten Master Clans aren't just for show," Tatsuya said.
Several looked shocked, more than before, clearly unaware.
"She used 'Multiscope' during the assembly for surveillance. Didn't you notice?" Tatsuya asked.
Everyone shook their heads. Sighing, Tatsuya stood to head to the Battle Board arena.
"Hey, Tatsuya, how did she sustain her magic? Even if Dry Blizzard is efficient, using perception magic alongside it shouldn't be possible, even outside conservation laws," Leo asked.
"It's not unrelated," Tatsuya replied.
"What's that mean?" Leo pressed.
As they walked, Tatsuya explained Mayumi's magic in detail, including her techniques. Not just Leo, but Erika, Mizuki, and even first-course students Honoka and Shizuku listened intently, interrupting with questions. Exasperated, Tatsuya summed it up: "Magic is the art of cleverly deceiving the world."
Everyone nodded as they reached the Battle Board arena. Securing seats, Honoka pouted at Tatsuya.
"What?" he asked.
"It's unfair. Miyuki and Shizuku get you for both their events, but I only get one," she complained.
"Battle Board overlaps with the others. I'm sorry, Honoka," Tatsuya said sincerely.
"N-no, I didn't mean you should apologize!" Honoka backtracked, flustered. She'd expected him to flinch, but his earnestness threw her off.
"Looks like our seniors have some weird fans," Tatsuya remarked, eyeing the crowd.
"What's so great about them?" Miyuki muttered.
No one addressed Honoka's fluster, their attention on Mari, who was preparing. Unlike Mayumi's event, the front rows here were mostly girls.
"I get it, though. Watanabe-senpai is cool," Mizuki said.
"Mizuki, are you…?" Erika teased.
"No, I swear!" Mizuki flushed, digging herself deeper with her innocent comment.
"What a haughty woman," Erika grumbled.
"You okay? You seem pissed," Leo noticed.
"It's nothing," Erika snapped, cutting him off.
Tatsuya, sensing her mood but staying silent, focused on Mari.
"Self-destruct tactic?!" Honoka gasped.
"But it doesn't faze Watanabe-senpai," Shizuku noted.
"Multicasting movement and hardening magic. Interesting approach," Tatsuya mused.
"Onii-sama?" Miyuki called, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"She's using vibration and acceleration magic too—three to four types simultaneously. Her talent rivals the Ten Master Clans," Tatsuya said, openly impressed.
The three first-course students exchanged complex glances. They knew Mari's skill was exceptional, but hearing Tatsuya, who was usually critical of magic, praise her sparked jealousy and rivalry.
"Quite the tactician," Tatsuya added.
"She's just mean," Erika shot back.
Many were surprised by Erika's jab, but Tatsuya, partly agreeing, didn't argue. Mari's tactic—leaping high to splash water at trailing competitors, disrupting their balance, then racing to the goal—was ruthless but effective.
Note: New story is out, if you want to check it out.
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