Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 4 Chapter 4

Status: Incomplete

2/7 parts completed

   

Chapter 4 – Cooperation Attack

Part 1

May 15, finally the curtain of the battle election was opened.

The first venue of the battle election was located on the Magic Division’s grounds and the second venue was on the Sword Division’s grounds. Four matches would be conducted in the first venue throughout the morning and then the four remaining matches would be conducted in the second venue in the afternoon.

All the students were obligated to watch the matches. It looked like there was a great number of students for whom this was their first time ever setting foot onto the other division’s grounds. The aim was to make the students of both divisions interact with each other even from that aspect.

The stands that surrounded the ground in a circle were packed full with students in the rows. Tents were constructed at both ends of the grounds, those became the waiting room for the teams that would come out for the match.

“I, I’m nervous…”

Inside the tent, Kazuha-senpai’s fingertips were trembling (gatagata) while sitting on the pipe chair.

For the purpose of diverting her from the nervousness, Kazuki made idle talk.

“Now that I think about it, did Kazuha-senpai not learn any kenjutsu from your father?”

Kazuha-senpai’s father was Tsukahara Hikitada. He was a teacher of the Sword Division.

It wouldn't be strange even if she had received a genius education since she was a child.

“My father was against me becoming a swordsman you know? Because he was a former knight, he understood that swordsmen are nothing more than an existence that is to be discarded after being used.”

Tsukahara-sensei was a teacher that worked together with Kohaku to change the system of the Knight Academy. It looked like his motive was based from his experience in the past from the period when he was a knight.

“But in the end I liked the sword! It doesn't have any relation to how the swordsman is treated. I didn't even attend the dojo; but I read the textbook alone. Even though father ignored me, I kept training with self-instruction for a long time. At that time when I met with Futsunushi no Kami, I even passed into the Sword Division.”

While sitting on the pipe chair, Kazuha-senpai gripped her trembling hands tightly.

“I have to make father recognize my sword. But…if I don’t become strong, I become scared when I think, "what if I don’t become strong"…somehow everything doesn't go well at all…”

“Even before thinking of having confidence in yourself, senpai is burdened with too many things. Even though in reality, it’s the contrary.”

“Eh?” Senpai raised her voice. “What are you saying?”

“This is vague, but…’If I don't win’ ‘I mustn’t lose’, I think if senpai burdened yourself too much with such things, then your sword and heart cannot become pure. Senpai cannot swing your sword skillfully while being afraid of failure. When your swing doesn't go well, it becomes a burden in senpai’s mind. Then senpai loses confidence and completely falls into a vicious cycle.”

“To swing your sword with a pure feeling…I want to be recognized by my father, I don't want my classmates to make fun of me, certainly maybe I kept thinking of only those kinds of things and became nervous…”

“Then, it’s fine for senpai to not get nervous this time.”

“W, why is that?”

“Because this time is a team battle after all. If something happens, Kohaku and I will help senpai for sure, so please be relieved and let out your own strength.”

“…”

“Putting me aside, senpai believes in Kohaku right?”

“N, no, for the moment I believe you too. But if I just weighed down all of you then it’s even more inexcusable, or how should I put it…sorry…”

“There is nothing to worry about. Senpai just needs to have fun with kenjutsu today!”

“To have fun, with kenjutsu…”

“I will also help with magic too after all, senpai!”

Mio who couldn’t hold herself back from the heavy atmosphere also cut into the conversation.

“Of course this one will also provide help! Please remember it, that enjoyment when you first wielded the sword!”

Kohaku also encouraged Kazuha-senpai. From Kazuha-senpai’s chest, a small heart mark flew to Kazuki.

“Thank you, everyone! Somehow I feel that my feelings have become light!”

Right at that time, the broadcast for the team’s entrance resounded. The excited cheering from the audience stands could be heard even from inside the tent.

“Well then Kazuha-senpai, let’s go!”

“…Right! Leader!”

For senpai to give an unusually honest reply was surely thanks to the benefit of the atmosphere there.

“…Come to think of it Kazuki, this is the first time you see this one wearing the swordsman’s costume isn't it!? How does this one look!?”

When Kohaku stood up from the pipe chair, Kohaku turned round and round as if to show off her appearance.

In exchange of the nonexistence of Magic Dress like the Magic Division, a battle uniform was specially prepared in the Sword Division. It was made with the uniform’s design as its base and easy to move for real battle.

Until now Kazuki had never seen anything else other than her figure when she was fighting while still in her uniform, but she was wearing this battle uniform when she was undertaking things like quests and the like.

Kazuha-senpai who was wearing the same uniform was also taking a glance at Kazuki.

“Both of you look gallant and cool. …I'm the only one that’s still wearing uniform, I'm envious.”

“Fufufu, look cool right? It spontaneously makes you want to take this one as wife, wouldn't you?” Kohaku puffed her chest while boasting.

“No, it’s a different story if it’s marriage.”

When Kazuki said so, Kohaku became dejected.

When they got out onto the ground, they were wrapped by loud cheers that shook the earth. Kazuki and his team were surprised and looked around at the stands. Thereupon, he heard some familiar voices.

“OTTOUTO-KU―N! DO YOUR BEST―!” That was Kaguya-senpai’s voice.

“Kazuki, do your best.” A voice so small that he almost missed it, Koyuki’s voice.

“Onii-san, do your best desu!” “Kazuki, do your best!” Lotte and Hikaru-senpai’s voice.

“NII-SAMA―! PLEASE DO YOUR BEST―!” Of course Kanae’s voice was also there.

Kazuki was dumbfounded. The front row of the audience stand was colored gorgeously.

“Do your best, do your best, Ot-tou-to-kun!”

With Kaguya-senpai at the head leading the others with a strange tune, everyone was―transformed into cheerleaders.

The bottom of their necks were decorated with a necktie. A tank-top that exposed their navel and a miniskirt. Both of their hands had pompons attached. Everyone was dancing in the front row while scattering their lively charms.

“Kazuki, do your best, do your best.” Even that Koyuki was dancing energetically.

Their white thighs that looked bright were moving with lively motion, their rather short skirts were fluttering and the underskirts peeking through in a glance, those figures were something that he had to see with his eyes reinforced by Enchant Aura.

Kaguya-senpai’s chest who leaped up with noticeable liveliness was bouncing around staggeringly.

To prepare something like this for him…

When Kazuki’s eyes were stolen by the cheerleader figures of everyone, Mio was pouting.

“Kazuki, I'll do that too! Look here! Kazuki, do your best! Kazuki, do your best!”

“This one will do it too! Kazuki, do your best! Kazuki, do your best!”

Mio and Kohaku both placed their arms around each other’s shoulders and began to break into a dance while swinging around their feet, unexpectedly they had a good relation.

“No, it’s not just me, you guys have to do your best too you know!”

From the opposite side of Kazuki and his team, the enemy team also made their entrance.

The leader was the Magic Division second year, Miyamoto Reina. The same second year of the Magic Division, Nagasaka Yuka.

He had heard that both of them were second year rank-B, that was why it could be said that they were a fairly formidable opponent.

And then the Sword Division second year, Ishida Jussei and the Sword Division second year Sagawa Tsuyoshi. Both of them were male and their real strength was unclear.

“Shem ha MeforashI know thy name…Thy name is [Phoenix]…poet that is namely a magician! O poetic bird that played reason with sweet tongue, in accordance with my life show that strength!”

Mio transformed her body into her Magic Dress, her appearance was that of a gallant female magician.

“It’s a little embarrassing but…if there is this much distance then they couldn't look really well too.”

Mio felt bothered and kept glancing at the guest stand where the boys from the Sword Division were mixed. But putting aside someone like Kazuki who had been piling up training that put importance in looking, a normal swordsman wouldn't be able to see them other than something as small as bean’s grain from that distance.

“I know thy name. Thy name is [Focalor]. O fallen angel that applaud thief, steal the provision of the people opposing me, become the hand that carry out the glory of victory!”

Miyamoto-senpai was contracted with Focalor, while Nagasaka-senpai was with Valefor, each of them performed Access respectively, their body were wrapped in Magic Dress. ―Finally the election battle began!

…The matter they thought of before, so that they wouldn’t carry any damage to the next fight was, let’s [move defensively].

In this team there was Kohaku who was able to evade simple attack magic with wild instinct.

Because of that if Kazuki protected Kazuha-senpai with defensive magic, Mio didn’t need to protect Kohaku and could freely attack with offensive magic. This was a large advantage.

Even if in the case that the opponent attempted to use a large scale attack magic that even Kohaku couldn’t evade, Kazuki would sense it and he could immediately give instruction to Mio to obstruct the opponent’s chanting.

If it looked like it was impossible to stop with just Mio’s Barrett, he would give an instruction to Kohaku to follow up Mio’s obstruction.

If they did this then as long as the enemy didn’t elaborate any peculiar tactics, they should be able to seal enemy’s attack with stability.

In reality it also went like that.

“O gryphon that crossed over the ocean, those wings give rise to the wind of north pole, raise upsetting raging waves…Storm SurgeNorthern Wave!”

With fast chanting, Miyamoto-senpai invoked her level 1 magic. The gryphon Diva, Focalor, gave rise to cold wind and tsunami with those wings and attacked Kazuha-senpai.

“O rejection of absolute zero, protect that person and become the armor of isolation! Freeze Barrier!”

Kazuki Foresighted that action and protected Kazuha-senpai with matching element.

Kazuha-senpai’s body was wrapped inside the freezing protection and turned the incoming attack powerless.

The one other enemy Magica Stigma―Nagasaka-senpai was in the state of beginning to chant higher level magic. Most likely they had already investigated beforehand that Kohaku was able to evade simple attack magic.

“Mio, focus on Nagasaka-senpai!”

“Got it! …The wings danced scattering sparks. Trailed the spiraling wind, become life-gouging bullet! Flapped your wings, shoot out! Barrett!!”

In order to obstruct the opponent’s chanting, Mio invoked a level one magic. The flame bullet immediately scored a direct hit at Nagasaka-senpai. The damage disturbed her concentration power toward the spell chanting.

Kazuki was relieved, he turned his eyes toward the battle between fellow swordsmen.

At the front line was―Kohaku who was overwhelming her swordsman opponent, Ishida-senpai.

Looking at it, Ishida-senpai was by no means weak. However even without using Sacred Treasure Kohaku was strong enough to deal with him. She dodged her opponent’s attack smoothly and counterattacked precisely with unrefined movement from her wild instinct that made Kazuki who was in the theoretical faction to retort [how could you dodge like that?].

It looked like she would be able to overpower her opponent with mostly no damage even if he left her alone.

On the other hand, Kazuha-senpai was having a hard battle with Sagawa-senpai as her opponent.

“U, uuu…”

Kazuha-senpai was obviously making an expression that was losing to her nervousness. She was cornered into an one-sided defensive battle and was overpowered by the opponent’s strong single blow, slowly she was being pushed back.

“Quack Tsukahara! For someone like you to come out at the battle election, don't you feel guilty to your candidate!?”

Sagawa-senpai was hurling jeers at Kazuha-senpai. Both of them were the same second year at the Sword Division, so it looked like they were acquaintances. That voice made Kazuha-senpai increasingly shrink into herself.

Kazuha-senpai couldn't be allowed to be made even more faint hearted than this!

“Mio, I'm going to back up Kazuha-senpai!”

“Got it!”

Kazuki headed to Kazuha-senpai as reinforcements. Because of the rule, Kazuki didn’t bring his katana.

However if he fought barehanded then no one would be able to fault him.

He cut in as if covering for Kazuha-senpai, Kazuki repelled the opponent’s slash with his fist.

“What!? How could a Magic Division’s student strike my sword!?”

Sagawa-senpai yelled. If he really said those words seriously, then there was nothing he could say except that his preliminary investigation was insufficient. Even barehanded, the Instant Positioning could still be performed.

“Northern Wave!” Miyamoto-senpai turned to this direction and invoked an attack magic.

“Freeze Barrier!” Kazuki who kept his alert and grasped Miyamoto-senpai’s chanting dealt with the attack using defensive magic.

“Ku―!” Miyamoto-senpai leaked out a frustrated voice.

“Ha, Hayashizaki…” A heart mark flew from the dejected Kazuha-senpai.

Even like this, she was also happy huh?

“There is nothing scary here senpai, let’s just fight without care, okay!”

“…O, ok!”

The nervousness was finally gone from Kazuha-senpai’s swordsmanship. And then just like what she showed when they were training, that swordsmanship that was polished persistently from long repetition of training was for the first time displayed in a real battle…!

“Wh, what!? Even though you are just quack Tsukahara!?”

Sagawa-senpai who immediately sensed the change in Kazuha-senpai was falling into panic.

“If she lets out all of her real strength, Kazuha-senpai is that far above you, you know!”

With Kazuki’s yell pushing her, Kazuha-senpai increased her momentum even more. In contrast, her opponent, who was pushed back by someone that he looked down on as his inferior, became faint hearted in return.

―At the same time, Kazuki sensed a rise of magic power.

“Kazuki, sorry, I might be unable to pin her down!”

Mio called Kazuki to attention in panic. Nagasaka-senpai who was contracted with Valefor finally began to knead her magic power to a great height. There was no more time until she activated it.

There was no doubt that most likely she was aiming for one shot of high level magic that could flip the situation.

“Kohaku, position change! Go to Nagasaka-senpai’s position!”

What he meant by position change was a sign for Kohaku to go stop the Magica Stigma’s chanting after Kazuki took over the swordsman that she was currently facing.

Kohaku turned her back on Ishida-senpai and dashed at full speed toward Nagasaka-senpai.

Looking at that movement which lacked any hesitation, Ishida-senpai showed a surprised expression (gyo―).

Kohaku had no fear of exposing her back towards an enemy swordsman. …Because she had already memorized the timing of Kazuki coming in to assist.

Ishida-senpai’s sword that was heading at Kohaku and cut at her back was blocked by Kazuki who cut in from the side. Kohaku went and cut at Nagasaka-senpai fiercely.

It was a large-scale magic that was on the verge of being activated, but with Kohaku’s assistance it was dispersed barely in time.

Unrest ran in the enemy team. When the high level magic became a failure, the compensation for that was big.

Kazuki continued to become the opponent of Ishida-senpai with barehanded techniques.

“Self Burning!”

While defending against the opponent’s attack by repelling the sword with his fist, he also chanted the flame defensive magic. However his objective was not for defense. Immediately he concentrated the flame on his whole body into his fist with Psychokinesis.

“Y, you, what kind of Magica Stigma are you!?”

Kazuki socked Ishida-senpai who raised a scared voice with all his strength.

That hit was the finishing blow for him who had been accumulating damage from Kohaku.

“Ishida Jussei, that’s the end!”

The referee teacher judged that Ishida-senpai’s magic power had been whittled away to a dangerous amount, he urged him to exit the ground. If this decision was late for even a little, an incident that affected his life might have happened.

With one opponent exiting the stage, the equilibrium of the fight was crumbling.

After Kohaku slashed at Nagasaka-senpai she slashed at Minamoto-senpai…she wreaked havoc as she pleases. In continuous motion she kept chipping at the opponents’ concentration power, a disagreeable way of fighting. Right at that time Kazuki was also participating into the fight.

“O undying bird soaring from the twilight to the dawn, grant those wings of hope on my back! For the sake of resurrection, right in this place the destruction…! Blazing Wings!”

Right now there was no opponent that could obstruct Kazuki’s spell chanting. With composure he chanted a high level magic, then he mowed down Nagasaka-senpai and Miyamoto-senpai all together with wings of flame.

“Miyamoto Reina, Nagasaka Yuka, that’s the end!”

With both of them leaving the stage together, the only one left was just Sagawa-senpai.

Mio and Kohaku turned to the last opponent and they were going to pour concentrated attacks on him.

―Kazuki stopped them with his hand.

At the end of Kazuki’s line of sight, Kazuha-senpai was fighting against Sagawa-senpai one-on-one.

Kazuha-senpai didn't notice that the other enemies had been annihilated. Concentrating only on swinging the sword, her swordsmanship was perfectly clear.

If they attacked four-on-one, the match would be decided in a blink of eye. By all rights they should go with all their strengths, it might be a courtesy for their opponent. However, this was discourteous for Sagawa-senpai, but Kazuki would have him as the stepping stone for Kazuha-senpai to take off her veneer.

…Mio and Kohaku too guessed that intention, they took a posture of observing the fight.

A large commotion was running throughout the stands. Surely it was from the students of the Sword Division. Kazuha-senpai, who was known as a quack swordsman, for the first time displayed her true strength in this grand stage.

“E, even though you are just quack Tsukahara!”

Kazuha-senpai’s single minded fierce attack made Sagawa-senpai raise a scream.

“Senpai! Please believe in yourself!” Kazuki was sending a yell of support even more.

“UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAA―!”

Kazuha-senpai shouted, she repelled Sagawa-senpai’s sword with all her strength!

Toward the opponent who staggered from his loss in the contest of strength, Kazuha-senpai inserted a beautiful single stroke of katana that fascinated everyone who was watching. The blown away opponent’s magic power was finally used up.

“The match is decided! The winner, Hayashizaki Kazuki’s team!!”

The referee teacher handed down the ruling, the ground was wrapped in a loud excited cheering.

“I, I won…I won!?”

When Kazuha-senpai first returned from the world of sword, her eyes were looking around restlessly as if she couldn't believe the situation that surrounded her. All of the loud cheering from the guest stand was mostly directed to Kazuha-senpai.

“Senpai, congratulations!”

“Ha, Hayashizaki, I…”

“Senpai, you were strong, don't you remember? You gained a complete victory in a one-on-one fight.”

When Kazuki approached her, Kazuha-senpai’s eyes were filled to the brim with tears from the overwhelming emotion and she flew into Kazuki’s chest.

“…wait, who do you think would do something like crying in your chesttttt!”

Kazuha-senpai returned to her senses in a moment, she jumped back in a fluster. And then “D, don’t misunderstand you!” she yelled again and this time she leaped into Kohaku “Hi―n!” and cried.

Continuing, the second match was started by Kaguya-senpai’s team. When Kazuki and the others went to take a seat in the guest stand, they passed each other and Kaguya-senpai and her team entered the tent that was also the waiting room.

“Kaguya-senpai, what kind of fight will she show I wonder.”

“Probably it would be the cooperation attacks just as I predicted, that’s what I think.”

Kazuki knew about Kaguya-senpai and Koyuki’s magic. He knew how terrifying this team was from long beforehand. Moreover Kaguya-senpai and Koyuki’s chanting speed was faster even compared to Mio and Kazuki.

“The second match, teams enter!”

In accordance with the voice of the referee teacher, Kaguya-senpai and her team entered the ground from the tent.

“We too have to root for Kaguya-senpai.”

“But we didn't prepare anything like cheerleader costumes.”

“Even if we had prepared it, how could I show myself as a cheer girl?“

Kaguya-senpai would explode in laughter and become happy for sure, but he had a hunch that Koyuki would look at him with total disappointment.

That was why Kazuki would at least yell with loud voice.

“Kaguya-senpai, Koyuki, Kanae, Torazou-san!! Please do your best!!”

Mio and Kohaku and Kazuha-senpai who were at his side immediately covered their ears.

“Ka, Kazuki, what’s with that loud voice…”

“I reinforced my throat with Enchant Aura.”

Kazuki’s extremely loud voice reached them and Kaguya-senpai’s team was looking back in this direction.

“Otouto-kuuun! Look closely okay!” “Nii-sama―! Please look at my performance Nii-sama―!”

Kaguya-senpai and Kanae were hopping around (pyonpyon) while waving their hands at them.

The match’s curtain was first opened with a textbook clash between the swordsmen.

Kanae and Torazou-san who were in the strongest level at the Sword Division immediately stood in domination against their opponents.

“Everyone, Freeze Formation!”

At the same time Kaguya-senpai gave out such direction.

The flow of the match moved drastically after Koyuki who received that direction invoked her magic.

“O mermaid’s divine protection, stop the step of the hated enemy, hasten the step of the chosen people…. O ice blade, run! Moves in the Field!”

As expected, they used that!

“It really developed just like what Kazuki said.” Mio raised a surprised voice.

With the rule of this match, there was no doubt that [Moves in the Field] was an effective magic for this battle. The cold that was produced from Koyuki as the center froze the ground’s surface in the blink of eye. The swordsmen from the opposing team were slipping on the frozen ground.

In contrast ice boots were created for the feet of all the members in Kaguya-senpai’s team. They began a high-speed movement by sliding on top of the frozen ground.

Kanae and Torazou-senpai glided with their feet and ignored the enemy swordsmen, they assaulted the Magica Stima at the rear in a straight line.

Moreover Koyuki also ran with her ice boots and joined into the fight. Koyuki who equipped the ice boots also became able to fight directly. The boots that were attached with ice blade released a fierce kick.

The panicked expression in the opposing team’s Magica Stigma were plain to see. Because their opponent was that Kaguya-senpai, it seemed those girls were aiming for a sink-or-swim and both started to chant high-level magic at the same time when the match began. However even faster than them, Koyuki had already invoked the [Moves in the Field] completely and decided the victory and defeat already. Kanae and Torazou-san and Koyuki, the three tore the opposing Magica Stigma into shreds with katana and ice blade. The magic that they were preparing was dispersed.

The two swordsmen couldn’t move directly on the frozen ground, they couldn’t go to help their teammate from the disastrous scene. They really were becoming useless in their function as the vanguard.

If it turned like this, then this was a mere bullying.

“S, shit!” Groaning, the opposing team’s leader showed her spirit and forcefully melted the ground using Pyrokinesis. Part of the ground started to melt, finally the vanguard swordsmen obtained their freedom of movement somewhat.

However in the field where some ices were still left, aiming for Kanae and the others who were moving around in high-speed was not a simple matter.

Kaguya-senpai on the other hand was standing imposingly still on the rear.

The two swordsmen slashed at Kaguya-senpai just barely in the critical moment.

File:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.04 077.png

“Suicide Black.”

The moment both of them brought their katana down, Kaguya-senpai chanted that with calm and composed face.

‘Just as he thought huh’, those who thought that was not just Kazuki. Everyone on this venue knew about that nastiness of Kaguya-senpai as the Nightmare Bringer.

The two swordsmen who completely brought their katana down on Kaguya-senpai whose whole body was covered with black mist were writhing about from the phantom pain of having their flesh split into two.

“Desire Tentacles.”

Kaguya-senpai summoned countless tentacles and restrained the writhing swordsmen.

While Kaguya-senpai was doing that, Kanae and Torazou-senpai and Koyuki were beating their opponents senseless in close-quarter combat and finished dealing with them. It was the pitiful end of Magica Stigmas who didn’t receive the protection from the swordsmen.

And then the two swordsmen who were restrained by the tentacles were surrounded by four people.

It was evidently a complete victory without anything being a hindrance to them.

The third match turned into a strange progressing.

That team of the Takasugi brothers and Ryuutaki sisters were fighting, so Kazuki was being attentive, but―

The Takasugi brothers were desperately protecting the Ryuutaki sisters, and then Ryuutaki Miyabi-senpai invoked her magic.

“O eternally pale full moon, forget the waxing and waning of yourself, become the mirror that illuminate the world! Rise right here oh moonlight, disturb the human’s heart…Lost Moonlight Night PalaceLunatic Labyrinth!!”

The moment that magic was invoked, a strong light (ka―) covered the ground completely.

When the light disappeared, a strange scene where the eight people in the ground remained unmoving could be seen.

“Mind Encroachment MagicMinds Hack is it? It seems like the heart of all the people in that place were dragged into the mental world of Ryuutaki Miyabi. Right now, those eight people are fighting in the mental world. To affect a large number of people with this magic at the same time is supposed to be extremely difficult though…as expected of her huh.”

With a tone that was mixed with a shocked feeling, Kaguya-senpai was commenting from the side.

The magic power of the eight people who were stiffening like an image that was paused temporarily were beginning to decrease. Just as Kaguya-senpai said, those eight were fighting in the mental world. They were fighting in the mental world, that was why they wouldn’t bear any wound in their flesh, but it seemed like if they bore any wound in their mind it would shave off their magic power.

The opposing team’s magic powers were decreasing very fast before their eyes. He completely didn't know what kind of fight was unfolding in there but—it was obvious that Miyabi-senpai and her team was dominating overwhelmingly.

Before long…when time was moving once more, the four people from the opposing team were falling down with their magic power just barely on the amount of almost into magic intoxication. The Takasugi brothers were breathing roughly (zeezee), but the Ryuutaki sisters' expressions were looking calm and composed.

“The match is decided! The winner, Takasugi Shūsui’s team!” The referee teacher gave his verdict.

That [Lunatic Labyrinth] was a magic that dragged both ally and enemy into a particular battlefield. If the person had a high skill in Telepathy then it was most likely possible to resist being dragged inside, but putting aside those like Lotte or Kaguya-senpai, it was likely impossible for Kazuki and his team.

What kind of fight Miyabi-senpai and her team were having—that would become clear if it turned out that Kazuki had to fight them in the future.

Part 2

All the matches that were scheduled in the morning had come to an end. Now it was time for afternoon break.

Today was such a rare fine weather too, Kazuki and the others spread a large leisure sheet at one of the corners of the ground. In preparation for this afternoon break, Kazuki had prepared a three layer set of multi-tiered box lunch.

“If it’s fine for everyone of the Sword Division, then please enjoy.”

While giving that invitation, Kazuki opened the box lunch.

In the first layer was rolled omelet and vegetable cuisines and fruits with rich color scheme, the strawberry and mini tomato were beautifully placed inside the jet black box. The second layer was filled with the standard goods like karaage, asparagus and mini hamburger, from there things like congratulation bream and fried shrimp for the side dish were prepared plentifully. In the third layer, it was filled with onigiri that was shaped like an anime character’s face that Lotte liked, the face shape was reproduced with the free use of seaweed and fried tofu.

“T, the long missed Nii-sama’s handmade food―!”

When Kazuki called to the bunch of the Sword Division, Kanae unhesitatingly dived onto the sheet, Kazuha-senpai too opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“W, what’s with this family oriented lunch box? Are you really the one that made this?”

“I love housework and maids after all. I am a maid.”

“I don't really understand what are you saying but, it’s unexpected…”

Contrary to his expectations, Kazuha-senpai didn’t even insult him with abusive language; but she obediently lowered her knees beside Kazuki.

However she sat a seiza very formally, even though it was fine for her to relax more.

“Is it okay to eat even for me who is a man?” Torazou-san too finally came.

“Isn’t it obvious that it’s okay. I didn’t particularly make this because I have a secret motive toward the girls. I am a maid-san. Torazou-san’s happiness is my happiness too, that is the heart of devotion…”

“I don't understand well what you are saying, but thank you, friend. As thanks for this time, I will wear a maid uniform too.”

That was unneeded. Don't you dare sully the maid uniform.

Kamiizumi-senpai and Kimura-senpai too, they sat in a place a little separated from Kazuki and surrounded Hikaru-senpai.

Leme was already eating without saying anything. Before he even realized it, she had already materialized herself.

‘Jiii―’, Kazuha-senpai was looking at Kazuki’s expression as if to peek at his heart.

“I thought you were a carnivorous man, more like those wild and delinquent types. Fuhaha―, all the women in this academy are my women―, making good use of that well-featured face which suits the occasion to forcefully do this and that to the girls in the Magic Division who are not used to men, like that.”

“I dislike a man like what Kazuha-senpai described the most you know?”

Kazuki made a bitter face. Just doing things as one pleases forcefully for one’s own self-interest without even thinking of other people and made a mess of everything…for example someone like Naiarlatoteph.

Why did he have to remember about that kind of guy in this time of fun? When that tentacle bastard floated in his mind the meal’s taste became bad.

“Otouto-kun is not a carnivorous type of young man, he is a totally harmless pet of the Witch’s Mansion. Loo―k here, cutie, cutie!”

Kaguya-senpai sat at Kazuki’s side, hugged Kazuki’s head and pet his head repeatedly. That big and bouncy chest hit Kazuki’s face decisively and it got pressed like a soft marshmallow.

“He is a pet? This Hayashizaki?” Kazuha-senpai looked at him with amazed eyes.

“No, I don't have any intention of being a pet though…”

‘However’, Kazuki thought inside his heart, Kaguya-senpai treats me like this as if she is not considering me as a man at all, but actually she is conscious of me as someone of a different sex.

It was Hikaru-senpai’s fault for telling him that fact, even an innocent skinship like this might not be completely innocent in actuality. He became unable to calm his own feelings because of that.

“Senpai, please release me already.” Saying that, Kazuki slipped out from Kaguya-senpai’s hug.

“Kazuki got sulky when I’m this affectionate.” Without knowing what was inside Kazuki’s heart, Kaguya-senpai became disappointed.

“Things like Kazuki doing this and that to many girls is just an outrageous misunderstanding. Kazuki is a real gentleman. After all, he has never done anything that I dislike at all.”

“On the contrary, Kazuki-oniisan is a hero that risked his life to save my life desu.”

Both Mio and Lotte were sitting at Kazuki’s side and snuggled up to him.

“…Though he is a pervert that has a maid fetish.”

Koyuki said some twisted things while sitting down a little farther away. Because they were in a place where there were other people’s eyes, Koyuki didn’t come to him to be pampered.

“Koyuki too, don't be alone over there, come a little closer okay?”

“…Can't be helped. If you say so.”

When Kazuki called to her, Koyuki’s expression broke out just a little and approached closer to him with little steps (tokotoko). She chose a place right behind Kazuki and sat down while gluing her back closely to him.

Kazuki’s surrounding had naturally became a formation where he was surrounded by girls.

“It became a harem posture just like it’s the natural thing…”

Kazuha-senpai was shocked once more from the situation. After that she picked a karaage from the box lunch and ate, “Ah, delicious…” her mouth broke out into a smile.

“You are really surprising…”

For the first time, Kazuha-senpai directed a relaxed smiling face without any tension to Kazuki.

“Senpai’s prejudice against me was really preposterous remember? Suddenly saying things like 'enemy of women.'”

“Right. Certainly it was like that, huh. Recently we were in the same team, you are strong but it is not a conceited strength, more like a strength that protected everyone and brought courage…looking at you from this close, it’s impossible to not understand the feelings of all the children that are all over you or perhaps I should say…certainly it’s not like you are unkind or not cool…wait, what am I saying!?”

Had she opened herself and talked like a broken dam? Or so he thought, but Kazuha-senpai covered her mouth with her hands in panic.

“Ee―err, what I want to say is…I misunderstood you about various things, but you are really not that bad of a guy, just that! Sorry for flaring up at you for various things!”

Kazuha-senpai joined her hands together and apologized. Because of that misunderstanding, it even became the cause of them crossing swords.

“Don’t mind it, thank you very much for recognizing me, senpai.”

“B, but don't misunderstand okay-! There is no way that I will be so lovestruck like all these girls towards you! I mean, what’s your deal with these maniac onigiri!!”

“Eh, I have confidence in that work though…”

When Kazuki became despondent, Kazuha-senpai became panicked “Ah, no, it’s well made and delicious but…! But I want to say at least one complaint whatsoever!” and looked the other way.

A small heart mark flew at Kazuki. Her positivity level increased to 42.

“Nii-sama, Nii-sama, please feed me-! Aa―nn♡”

As if having waited long for the conversation to stop, Kanae approached her face near and opened her mouth.

“Here, the usual karaage.”

Saying that, Kazuki fed Kanae. When he did that, Kanae was “Eh?” and her eyes became round.

While Kanae was chewing (mogumogu) inside her mouth, her face completely turned bright red.

“F, for Nii-sama who usually acted embarrassed and wouldn’t do this kind of thing, to be doing ‘aa―nn’ this naturally…what kind of miracle is this!?”

Now that she said it, if it was in the past then he would be reluctant, for him to feed Kanae easily while thinking [it’s only ‘aa―nn’ anyway], even Kazuki was surprised. However, just when he was thinking about that, from Kazuki’s both sides,

“Otouto-kun, here I’ll give you aa―nn! Aa―nn!”

“Wa, Kaguya-senpai, please don’t shove the whole fillet of the fish here, it’s huge!”

“I’ll show you my guess about what Kazuki-oniisan want to eat! It’s onigiri right desu?”

“Thank you Lotte.”

Kazuki moved his neck alternately, he was being fed by both Kaguya-senpai and Lotte.

“Kazuki, a rice is sticking on your cheek.”

From behind, Koyuki snapped at and ate the rice grain that was sticking at Kazuki’s cheek directly.

“Kazu-nii…how about mouth-to-mouth feeding?”

Mio stuck out her lips near him looking for a kiss.

“Are you an idiot?” Saying that, Kazuki chopped Mio’s head.

Seeing that situation, Kanae who was bright red and squirming around from some time ago erupted violently like a volcano.

“Nii-sama―! What in the world is this!? What’s going on with this smooth chain of events!? Is this what’s going on everyday in the Witch’s Mansion―!”

When she was asking whether this is going on everyday or not…he really couldn't deny it.

“Th, then! Then please do even more vividly ecchi things to me!”

“What’s with you? What ecchi things!? Choose your words a little more carefully!!”

“I can’t go on without Nii-sama doing lewd things—! I hate it if Nii-sama won’t do lewd things—!”

Kanae toppled over on top of the sheets while kicking around her arms and legs and threw a tantrum.

“Ecchi―! Ecchi―! Quickly do ecchi things—!!”

Under the refreshing clear sky, Kanae yelled out outrageous words.

“…Kanae-oneesan, please don't do anything unbecoming when in front of other people that are looking.”

Kazuki looked at her with extremely cold eyes and spoke with an extremely cold voice.

“Wa, please don't treat me like an older sister all of a sudden! If I am changed completely from a spoilt little sister, I will look like a fool unbecoming of my age, won't I!?”

No, you were not just looking like an idiot, you were a real idiot right from the depth of your mind.

“What ecchi things? We are not doing anything ecchi here! Something ecchi is…must not be done you know!”

Mio came and cut in between Kazuki and Kanae.

“What are you doing pretending to be innocent, this bad horny thieving cat!”

“Wha!? The cat in mating season is you right!?”

Both of them were saying “Nya―!” or “Funya―!” while starting to wrestling with each other.

Kazuki didn’t want to be associated with them so he looked away, then he noticed how, when he thought about it, Kohaku was nowhere to be found. What was she doing…?

“Kazuki, actually this one also made lunch box when coming here, but…”

Looks like Kohaku just got back from taking something from the classroom. She came bringing a large multi-tiered lunch box.

“…When everyone already ate that much, as expected you are full already, aren't you?”

It seemed Kohaku hadn't even imagined that this kind of banquet had already begun. Her shoulders fell dejectedly. Seeing that, Kazuki panicked and tried to encourage her.

“No, I can eat! I'll eat it all!”

“It'll be short work if everyone eats! Kohaku-chan too, sit, sit!! Oka―y, everyone, additional lunch box is coming—!!”

Kaguya-senpai was being tactful from the side and made the smart move. She received the lunch box with a bright smiling face and called out Kohaku to an empty space. Kohaku settled herself there with a little relieved face.

“For you to be able to cook too is quite unexpected.”

Mio stopped her unproductive quarrel with Kanae and pointed at Kohaku’s unexpected side.

“Handling edged tools is this one’s forte.”

“What a comment that made the chest rumble with anxiety just now. Ah, but it’s great!”

When the lid was opened, the content was grilled and stewed marine products, beans and vegetables that were finished with delicate seasoning in Kyoto’s style, chirashi sushi and the likes. All of it was the workmanship of an amateur but that was as good as a professional.

In contrast with Kazuki’s lunch box that was family-oriented, this was a lunch box that followed through the pure traditional Japanese-style completely.

“Kazuki, here, eat this.”

Kohaku held out a food with her chopstick to Kazuki. However a feeling of opposition was burning inside Kazuki’s chest.

“As a maid…there is no way I'll lose in cooking!”

“Why are you making such a scary face!?”

Kohaku’s hand that was holding the chopstick that presented the food was trembling from shock.

“Ah, no sorry, I’ll eat. …Delicious. This, what’s the seasoning?”

“So it matched your taste! This one did a trick to this cooking so it will still be tasty even when it’s cold…”

When Kazuki asked about the food preparation, Kohaku started her explanation cheerfully. Finding a human that shared their same hobby, both of their eyes glittered together as if in resonance.

“How is that Kazuki, this one can become a good wife right? This is surely what people call a Yamato Nadeshiko, don’t you agree?”

Kohaku puffed her chest cutely with her face faintly dyed red.

“So Kohaku can become a good maid. Let’s put you in a maid uniform.”

“What the hell is that!?” Kohaku’s body was shaking as if she was receiving the shock of falling thunder.

“Kazuki…marry this one…please marry this one…”

Kohaku was entreating to Kazuki with her already in a state that invited pity.

Right there Mio was “What are you saying, even though we are still in high school!” and cut in. Kaguya-senpai said “Otouto-kun is everyone’s property you know.” and hugged Kazuki closely. Koyuki pulled Kazuki’s clothes in light tugs from behind and nonchalantly made her self-assertion. Lotte was smiling with a friendly grin.

“Somehow…what a cheery bunch just like usual…”

While picking the karaage that had completely became her favorite, Kazuha-senpai whispered while directing a look to Kazuki and the others that was mixed with amazement.

“That’s true, they are interesting people aren’t they?”

Hearing the husky voice that they weren't used to hearing, all members turned to the direction of the voice.

“Ryuutaki Miyabi!?”

When they turned to look, Miyabi-senpai was sitting in seiza on the leisure sheet of her own accord and ate Kazuki’s character onigiri as she pleased.

“Hayashizaki Kazuki, for you to be able to even cook this skillfully, you are becoming more and more of a delicious boy. The way of fighting that was brimming with leadership from before was great. There is no way it won’t make my chest go ‘kyun kyun’.”

“You are our enemy right!? Why are you just eating the onigiri with an unruffled face like that!?”

Mio immediately snarled at Miyabi-senpai, but she took it in stride and warded it off with a smiling face.

“When I was just eating silently everyone was looking at nothing other than Hayashizaki Kazuki and no one noticed, so finally I let out my voice. Being an invisible man is harsh, isn’t it? Even though I longed for such a cheerful atmosphere like this.”

“…Nee-sama! What are you doing in this kind of place…?”

Shinobu-senpai dashed here looking like she was in a panic with wrinkles on her eyebrows. She grabbed Miyabi-senpai by the scruff of the neck and stood her up while dragging her away.

“Hayashizaki Kazuki. I’m looking forward for the semifinal. So don't do things like losing to someone like Otonashi Kaguya, okay?”

Miyabi-senpai who was being dragged away (zuruzuru) waved her hand at Kazuki with an elegant expression that didn't break at all while leaving.

Translator's Notes and References

Back to Chapter 3

Return to Main Page

Forward to Chapter 5