VergsX

  Seventh day of the Nine Schools petition.

  In the middle of a dirty, ruined hallway on the sed floor of the abandoned building, the arena of this Rookie Event Monolith atch, the First High School, strapped in their gears, CADs, a, huddled in front of a tall, jet-bck, regur monolith.

  Cut cables and broken ceiling mps hung from the ceilings. The walls were cracked, ruined, while shards of broken gss, dust, and pieces of crete and rocks covered the floor they stood on.

  “Remember the pn. Our strength lies in ambushing them with Shun’s quick draw magid Kiriya’s support. And this arena matches well with our strength. I will defend our monolith, while you two patrol a up for ambushes. But don’t go too far. We don’t o e to them. They o e to us. Got it?”

  “Mm. Got it.”

  “...Sure.”

  Yuuji g Shun, his eyes narrowing slightly when he saw a look of dissatisfa on his fabsp;

  He pced a hand on Shun’s shoulder, causing him to look up to Yuuji in slight surprise.

  “Let’s win this without any casualties, alright? We still have a lot of matches to gh. Don’t be reckless in your first match.”

  “...Got it.”

  Yuuji nodded and turned his gaze to both Shun and Kiriya once again.

  “Check every er. If you see someone, report first and check the surroundings before making any rash decisions. Let them make the first move. We’ll ter. We have no oh spying abilities to peek at the codes once we open up their monolith, so the best thing we could do is to defeat all three of their members. And in this abandoned building with a voluted yout, the best thing to do is to ambush and elimihem.”

  The two o his words.

  “Alright. Let’s do our best. On three.”

  Yuuji moved his hand forward to the ter and the two followed suit, pg their hands above his.

  “Three, two, one, let’s go!!!”

  ““Oh!””

  Yuuji looked at the two as they did one final che their CADs.

  In the anime, Shun and his team were immediately blitzed by the eeam and had the Battering Ram spell cast on the ceiling above them, causing them to be buried in rubble.

  And this time, he expected the same thing to happen.

  This is kinda nerve wrag…

  He let out a sigh.

  A few mier, the horn signaling the start of the match resounded.

  And as he expected, a magic activation sequence appeared on the ceiling above him.

  “Be careful!!!”

  Shun and Kiriya both looked at him in shock, and their gaze quickly went up to the crumbling crete ceiling above.

  And with a siing crack, the entire crete ceiling fell upon all three.

  “Wha- Uwaaaahhhkkkk-!”

  “Aaaaaaaaarghhkk-!!!”

  Yuuji quickly used his “Gravity” spell to protect all of them.

  In that moment, the entire venue gasped in shock, staring speechlessly at the massive dispy monitors where they could only see the dust kicked up from the ground, c the camera.

  --------------------------------X--------------------------------

  “YUUJI-KUN!!!”

  “YUUJI!!!”

  Mayumi and Erika suddenly burst into a hospital room in a panic, slightly panting after runnng all the way from the entrance of the hospital to his room.

  Following closely behind them, Miyuki, Tatsuya, Mari, Honoka, Shizuku, Mizuki, Leon, and Mikihiko also ehe hospital room.

  And upon their arrival, they could see Yuuji sitting on the bed, dressed in a hospital gown, and Aika sitting on a chair right beside him.

  “Everyone? Why are you here-”

  “Yuuji-kun! How are you feeling?!”

  “Yuuji! Are you okay?! How are your injuries?!”

  Both Mayumi and Erika quickly rushed to his side and looked up and down his body, trying to see how his injuries were.

  “I’m fine. I didn’t receive any injuries. I’m simply here because the medical team insisted I gh a few medical tests to make sure I’m okay.”

  Yuuji replied, his lips curled into a soft smile as he looked at the two ed girls.

  Erika’s worry was obvious since she’s his girlfriend, But Mayumi’s worry made her feelings for him clear, especially whehis frantibsp;

  He couldn’t help but feel a warm sensation growing in his chest. If there were no other people in the room aside from his girlfriends, he would’ve brought both Mayumi and Erika into his embrace to calm them down.

  After all, there’s no reason for them to worry in the first pce. He successfully protected himself and the two from the colpsing building. And even if he was injured, Aika had already used her Heal on him just to make sure he was pletely fine.

  The two let out a sigh of relief before Honoka, Shizuku, and the rest of his friends approached his bed with ed expressions.

  “Y-Yuuji-kun, are you sure you’re okay? After all, it was a terrible act!”

  “Thank you very much for your , Honoka. But I’m truly fine. However…”

  He looked at Honoka and then Miyuki, and gave them both a look of fusion.

  “Why are you two here? Shouldn’t you be preparing for your Mirage Bat event this afternoon?”

  “E-Eh?! T-That’s- I-It’s fine! We return as soon as possible!!!”

  “Of course we would e here, Yuuji-san. We were all extremely worried about you. And just like Honoka said, we simply return right after our visit here. So there’s no need for you to worry.”

  Miyuki took over the expnation from Honoka, who was a blushing mess, with a smile.

  “Miyuki is right. I’m gd to see you’re fine, Yuuji.”

  “Yeah! I’m super impressed, Yuuji. ’t believe you get out of that colpsing building unscathe!”

  “Yeah… It’s unbelievable.”

  “I-I-I’m gd you’re fine, Y-Yuuji-kun…”

  “Nn… I was worried. But I’m relieved to see you uninjured.”

  “Mm. Thanks, guys.

  Yuuji smiled at Tatsuya, Leo, Mikihiko, Mizuki, and Shizuku.

  “Heh~ I guess you are just that tough, huh? I thought you at least suffered from a sprain or bruise after having a building colpsing on you.”

  Mari smirked, looking at Yuuji with an amused, yet relieved, expression as she crossed her arms.

  “Ahahaha… Thank you very much for your , Chairwoman…”

  “Fufu~! It’ll take more than a colpsing building to hurt Yuuji!!! He’s super tough! Just like a cockroach!”

  “OI!”

  Laughters and giggles filled the room. And before long, everyone made themselves at home. Tatsuya stood beside the bed, while Mayumi, Erika, Mari, and Miyuki took some chairs and sat beside Yuuji’s bed. The rest of them took a sit on the couches oher side of the room.

  “President, do you know how Shun and Kiriya are doing? I believe I mao protect them, but I heard they were alsht into the hospital.”

  An unfortunate smile appeared on Mayumi’s smile as she replied.

  “They’re still unscious. Thanks to your efforts, they’ve miraculously only suffered from some minor injuries. Morisaki-kun sprained his ankle when he panicked and tried to run away. While Mochizuki-kuo the ground from the trembling and suffered from a few bruises.”

  She let out a sigh and tinued.

  “They’re physically fine, but the doctors assumed the shock might’ve caused some problem with their mental states, given they’re both still unscious to this moment. Depending on their dition for the few days, they’ll have to spend at least the hree days in this hospital so their physical aal health be monitored.”

  “I see…”

  It was unfortunate, but uandable. After all, anyone would’ve received a tremendous shock if the building suddenly colpsed on them. He wasn’t as shocked because he expected it, but for those two, they might think they’re going to die at that moment.

  Just like Kobayakawa Keiko, the girl who fainted upon having her CAD malfun during her Mirage Bat petition, they must’ve suffered a tremendous blow to their mental state.

  He let out a sigh and turned his gaze towards Mayumi and Mari.

  “I see… That is unfortunate. Speaking of which, have we received as regarding the iigation of the board ittee members in charge of cheg the CADs used in petition?

  If used indoors with people inside, Battering Ram is elevated to a lethal Rank A status. This goes far beyond the reckless surfing in that Battle Board race. It was a clear viotion. Even they wouldn’t be able to simply brush this off easily.”

  Mari closed her eyes a out a sigh, one dispying her exasperation, while Mayumi shook her head in disappoi.

  “We have inquired with the Fourth High School team regarding this i, and they insisted that they didn’t include the Battering Ram spell into any of their CADs. But even with that fact preseo the board tour ittee, they simply inform us that they’re still running internal iigations to the best of their abilities.”

  “That means there’s s yet?”

  Mayumi nodded.

  “They’re currently questioning the person in charge of cheg the CADs used by the Fourth High School’s Monolith Code team, but they found no evidence as of yet.”

  “I see…”

  It was disappointing, but it ’t be helped. With moles ihe board ittee, this kind of results were to be as expected. Moreover, they must’ve also taken a lot of measures to make sure their sabotage attempts were pletely cealed.

  Point and case, the only reason Tatsuya found out about the sabotage done by the board ittee in charge of cheg the CADs that would be used in petitions was because he could literally read all the activation sequence of the spell they’re using to check her sister’s CAD. Only then did he could find a virus ied into the system he designed himself, which was ter revealed as Golderic Silkworms by the Patriarch himself.

  But still… I still hoped they would have found something, even something as little as a slip up, if he put enough pressure.

  Just then, a knock came to the door and the voice of a middle-aged man resounded from beyond.

  “Please e in.”

  The door opened, and came a doctor with slightly graying hair and friendly smile and a beautiful, blushing nurse.

  “Tsubakihara-san. How are you feeling?”

  “I’m feeling just fine, doctor. How are the tests?”

  “You are healthy as a bull. We’ve run it a few times just to make sure, but you have proven to be extremely tough, Tsubakihara-san. I’ve never seen a out this unscathed after having a building colpsing on them.”

  The dhed and gave him a piece of paper.

  “Here are your discharge papers. Don’t worry, all the expenses have been covered by your school. You are free to leave as you wish.”

  “Is that so? Thank you very much, doctor. I’m gd I could be discharged this soon. After all, I wouldn’t want to miss my friends’ Mirage Bat match.”

  He turo look at Miyuki and Honoka.

  “Eh?! You’re still going to go and watch? You ’t! You must rest!”

  “T-That’s right, Yuuji-kun! Y-Your health is more important!”

  Mayumi and Honoka raised their voices in obje.

  “It’ll be fine. I’m pletely fine, as the doctor said. And I’ll only be watg. After all, I don’t want to miss you two winning your match!”

  Mayumi sighed while Honoka blushed as she felt a mix of feelings. On one hand, she’s super happy that Yuuji would be watg her. But oher hand, she’s also worried for his health and wished he would rest.

  “Hah… Alright. But promise me you’ll rest right after, okay?”

  “I promise I will rest right after the matds.”

  After all, I’ll still o get ready for the Monolith atorrow with my eam.

  “...Okay.”

  Yuuji smiled and looked at the doctor once more.

  “Is there anything else I o know, doctor?”

  “No. You are free to go. Take care, Tsubakihara-kun.”

  “Yes. Thank you very much.”

  --------------------------------X--------------------------------

  As expected, both Miyuki and Honoka won their Rookie Event Mirage Bat Finals. And Miyuki eveatsuya’s flying spell and showed them off to everyo wasn’t even a challenge for her.

  But, right after the match, he couldn’t even go and gratute the two for their win and were immediately forced to return to his bed to rest by Mayumi.

  Thus, he was now ying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling dazedly with Aika and Erika by his side aing, just as promised.

  “Hey, are you really okay? Are you sure you don’t have any bruises or anything?”

  Erika asked with a frown, propping up her body with her arm to look over him.

  She was still reeling from the shock of seeing the building he was in crumble in the middle of the match. If not for Aika stopping her, she might’ve run into the ruins to find him herself

  Even after having the test results from the hospital, she was extremely worried for him even though he had gohrough the lengths of showing her his uninjured body.

  Yuuji smiled and ed his arms around her, pulling her on top of him into his embrace.

  “I’m fine, Erika. I mao protect myself just in time. There’s o worry.”

  He stroked her back gently and kissed her head to calm her down.

  “Uhn~! You don’t o worry too much, Erika~! This guy’s tough! Even if he failed to cast his spell in time, a few falling pebbles won’t hurt him!”

  “...I wish you’d worry more.”

  “Fufufu~ I am. But I know you’re tough too~”

  Aika grinned and hugged him tightly, pressing her breasts against his arm and kissing his cheek.

  “...You little.”

  Yuuji sighed and pinched her butt a little, causio squirm.

  “Hyaa~ Yuuji, you pervy~”

  “Hah…”

  Erika shook her head and sighed tiredly, but a smile still found its way to her face. If she didn’t know Aika, she might’ve thought Aika didn’t really care for Yuuji. But, she knew better.

  Being “head over heels” would be a gross uatement when it es to describing Aika’s feelings for Yuuji. She was… truly in love. She trusted him so fully and genuinely, proven by the fact that she allowed Erika to be Yuuji’s lover as well, because she knew Yuuji would still love her the same.

  She was ag this way because she knew Yuuji was fine and that there was no way he’d be harmed by a “measly” colpsing building.

  “Oh, by the way~ Juumonji-senpai called you for a meeting in a few hours, right?Are you going to talk about the repts for your Monolith Code team?”

  Aika asked, raising her head slightly to see his face better.

  “Mm, I think so.”

  “Oh? Then who would you be pig?”

  Erika asked in curiosity.Besides Tatsuya, Mikihiko, and… Leo, though she didn’t want to admit it, there’s no other first year male students here right now that caught Erika’s eyes in terms of abilities.

  Unfortunately, she didn’t think he’d be able to pick from the three sine was an engineer while the others weren’t even supposed to be here, just like her.

  “I’m thinking of pig Tatsuya and Mikihiko. Tatsuya is… well, I guess I don’t o expin much about him. And Mikihiko, with his a magic, would be a great asset fueril warfare.”

  “Eh? Really?”

  Erika looked at him in wonder.

  “Of course. I leave the vanguard to Tatsuya a him wreak havo the eeam. Have Mikihiko annoy the ones infiltrating, and if they mao bypass him, I take care of it.”

  “No, I know they’re good, but you have them in your team?! Tatsuya’s an engineer, and Miki is only here because his family sent him here.”

  Yuuji looked at her with a smile and pulled Erika back down into his embrace. It was a bit of a surprise, but Erika stayed on his chest, shyly rubbing her cheeks against him.

  “They will. I’m sure Juumonji-senpai is willing to “persuade” the board ittee to let me do it since I am the victim of that freak “act” here.”

  “Hm… I guess…”

  Erika muttered, her voice still filled with doubt. But then, Yuuji stroke her head softly and said,

  “Don’t worry. If all else fails, I’ll show them what a one-man-army looks like.”

  Erika’s eyes widened slightly at his words, and when she looked up, she could feel her cheeks heating up and her heart skipping a beat at his fident smile.

  --------------------------------X--------------------------------

  As expected, ten minutes before the time of the meeting, a knock came to Yuuji’s door. Aika and Erika quickly hide themselves while Yuuji es to the door to greet the person.

  When he opehe door, he saw Takeaki Kirihara, the sed year student and captain of the kenjutsu club that he was acquainted with during the bnche i.

  “Ah, Kirihara-senpai. Good evening.”

  “Yo, Tsubakihara. How are you doing? I saw it when a building just colpsed on you.”

  “Thank you very much for your . But I am fihe doctors have rus oo make sure of it, and the results are as you see.”

  “I see.”

  “Though, unfortunately, the other two seemed to still be in the hospital from shock.”

  “They’ll be fine. I heard they’re miraculously uninjured because of you.”

  “Yes, well. It is fortuhat I mao notice the spell quickly and protected them just in time.”

  “Mm. Then, e with me. The Chairman had told you about the meeting, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. I’ll lead you there.”

  “Please take care of me.”

  With Kirihara leading the way, Yuuji head to the meeting room reserved by the First High team.

  Upoering, he saw several figures there. There was Isori Kei, Hattyoubushoujo Hanzou, Ichihara Suzune, Nakajou Azusa, Watanabe Mari, Juumonji Katsuto, and stly, Saegusa Mayumi.

  Immediately, everyone’s eyes turo him as he ehere was a teillness in the room. Everyone seemed focused and solemn. Well, everyone except for one.

  Through her expression alone, Yuuji could sense Mayumi’s dissatisfa with the situation. And it’s easy to uand why.

  “Tsubakihara. Good work today. How are you feeling? I’m sorry I e visit you in the hospital this afternoon.”

  “I am fihe doctors have rus to make sure of my dition, and I am discharged after the results tell them I am pletely fihank you very much for your , chairman.”

  Yuuji lowered his head in a bow towards Katsuto.

  “That’s good. The me get down to business.”

  “Yes.”

  Yuuji raised his head and the expression of everyone in the room came to sight once again. Most of them still held their solemn expressions, but Mayumi was being more and more dissatisfied with the situation. She’s even pouting her lips now as she g Yuuji and Katsuto bad forth.

  “Acc to the current standings, First High is still at the top in points scored. Third High is in sed pce, and in terms of just the Rookie events, they’re fifty points behind us. Even if we withdraw from the Monolith Code now, we’d be assured of a sed-pce finish in the Rookie division. Before the Rookie events started, I would’ve been satisfied with that but… Now that we’ve e this far, I’d like to shoot for first p the Rookie events, as well.”

  “Yes. I uand the se.”

  Juumonji Katsuto, the heir and ag head of the Juumonji of the Ten Master , let out a rare smile and Yuuji.

  “Iasaki. Kichijouji Shinkurou. Are you aware of these two?”

  “Yes. We actually crossed paths just this m. Well, they seemed to be waiting for me. They’ve decred their desire to fight and win against me in the Monolith Code event.”

  Hushed gasps of shock resounded from the others as Katsuto tio fix his gaze at Yuuji silently.

  “I see. Then, without you in the picture and with those two teamed up, there’s little ce that they’d suffer an upset in this tour.”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I ask you this. Are you still willing to pete in the Monolith Code touromorrow?”

  “Yes-”

  “Wait a minute! Juumonji-kun, even though Yuuji might be our best ce to defeat the crimson prind cardinal gee in this event, he’s still rec from this m’s i!”

  “Saegusa, the doctors had already firmed he is fit to tihe petition.”

  “But-”

  “President.”

  Mayumi turo look at Yuuji, her eyes filled with worry and fear. Fear of… perhaps losing him or seeing him suffering from a terrible injury. Even now, she could still remember the dread and the chill running down her spihe moment she saw the building he’s currently in crumbling into ruins.

  And sihe mastermind behind these sabotages was still unfound, there’s a ce such a tragedy might befall upon him once again. And she didn’t want to see it again… She never wao feel the fear of losing him ever again.

  But seeing his soft, warm smile, the determination she had steeled to prevent Yuuji from fighting in the monolith code event suddenly melted away.

  “I will be okay, president. I promise you that I will return uninjured and bring you and our school victory.”

  “Yuuji-kun…”

  Her cheeks flushed as she ched her teeth in frustration and look at him with watery eyes.

  “Geez! I don’t care anymore!”

  She harrumphed and averted her face away, crossing her arms.

  Kei, Kirihara, Hanzou, and Azusa wideheir eyes in shock when they saw her rea. Oher hand, Mari and Suzune simply smiled aheir silenbsp;

  Yuuji smiled helplessly. He knew how hard it was for Mayumi to let him go and pete once again after witnessing such tragedy befalling him. After all, he would do the same if the situation was reversed.

  But, he still o do it. He o make sure First High would win this Nine Schools’ petition to plete the mission from the Multiverse Chat Group.

  Yuuji turowards Katsuto, who fixed his gaze at him once again.

  “Chairman. I am willing to participate in the Monolith Code tour once again. But… I don’t think I say the same for my other two teammates.”

  “I know. That is why, I will have you pick two other students from our school and form a eam.”

  “...I was uhe impression that pyers couldn't be repced even in the case of a debilitating injury.”

  “I’ve talked to them, and they’ve made an exception for that.”

  “I see…”

  “So? Do you have anyone in mind for it? If you ime, then e back here in an hour.”

  “No, there is no need. I already have two people in mind. But I’d still o inform them and receive their agreement.”

  “We will be present if you o persuade them.”

  Yuuji’s lips curled into a smile, the sight mesmerizing the firls within the room. Even Mayumi, who was still upset at him, couldn't help but fall into a daze and stare at him from the er of her eyes.

  “ it be anybody? Even if I choose one from outside the team?”

  “Eh?! That’s a bit-”

  “It’s fine. We’ve already made enough exceptions for this. And after everything they’ve doo us… one or two more won’t matter.”

  Katsuto decred as such with venom directed towards the board ittee present in his words. And for those who were informed by Yuuji regarding the forces behind the ret “is” happening to their school, they could uand his se.

  “Thank you very much. Then, my picks will be Shiba Tatsuya of 1-E and Yoshida Mikihiko of 1-E as well.”

  “O-Oi, Tsubakihara-!”

  Hanzou smmed the table in shock of his words, but before he could say anything more, Suzune raised her hand and stopped him.

  “Yuuji, would you mind telling us the reason why you chose those two?”

  Mari asked, simirly w the reason behind his picks. She could uand Tatsuya, but she wao know the reason behind his piikihiko.

  “Of course. The biggest reason is that I have hardly watched any of the men’s matches or practice sessions as I am busy with my own and my former teammates, as well as my role as Aika’s engineer and assistant engineers for a few other athletes. I know nothing about their specialties or characteristics. In light of the match being tomorrow, if I were to research their abilities from scratch, there wouldn’t be enough time for strategizing and fiuning. ”

  “You mean that you're familiar with those particur two?”

  Yuuji then shrugged a out a helpless smile.

  “As shameful as it is, these two are two of the three male friends I am familiar with. Although we are in different csses, Tatsuya and I are close friends even before ing to First High. And my retionship with Yoshida also be sidered close friends.”

  “I see. I guess you are only popur with girls. It makes sense why you only have three male friends from a different css.”

  Yuuji’s lips twitched at Mari’s ent and the sniffled giggles from the other three girls.

  “And so? What’s the non-biggest reason?”

  Yuuji smiled and answered with the utmost fidence.”

  “Their ability.”

  VergsX