-- This is the Fischanatica School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

There was Saeki's figure there.
Next to him was David and Joanna.
The three of them were walking down the corridor together.
Their destination was the school cafeteria, and their purpose was lunch.

'You did it, Saeki-kun!　We're next in line to qualify for the block!

The preliminary round had already begun in Fischanatica.
The national championships are tournament-based, but there are also block qualifiers in case there are too many contestants.
And this year's contestants were more than last year.
This had nothing to do with the participation of a particularly brave person.
I don't know what caused it, but at any rate, there were a large number participating this year.

And Saeki was just one win away from qualifying for the national championship tournament.

It's all thanks to me.　Saeki-sama?

Then Joanna said this in a slightly high-handed manner.

''Yeah, I'm grateful. If it wasn't for Joanna, I probably wouldn't have been able to handle even elementary magic properly by now.''

Then Joanna, with blonde hair, blushes when she says it to herself, but when she is thanked.
She disguised her embarrassment by twisting her already twisted hair with her index finger.

'It's all right if you know ... if you know...'

Then Saeki gave a thin smile.
The three of them were getting quite deep inside.
Since then, Saeki had actively learned magic, and with the help of the two of them, he had grown beyond the ordinary.
However, he was still no match for Joanna.
Still, compared to when he came here, that was a dramatic growth.

''Saeki!''

Then, behind the three of them, they saw a familiar face.

'Hmm?　What's that, Kida?

Shufumi Kida (Masafumi).
One of the same brave men as Saeki. We are best friends.

Congratulations to Saeki!　If we win the next one, it's a tournament, right?

Yeah, I'm gonna win.

And I'm sorry about Kida, isn't it?

Then David said that.

'No, I already knew that. With my sword skills, that was the limit.'

Kida had been eliminated in the first round of the Block Qualifier.
This was because his swordsmanship was still inexperienced.
Of course, with the benefit of summoning a hero, he was able to cover up somewhat with magic.
But the opponent was bad.
The opponent who defeated Kida then went through the block qualifiers.
For each block, only one person could advance to the tournament.
Naturally, he would participate in the tournament as well.

"Well, I'll leave the rest to Saeki.

Yeah, I'll take care of your enemy.

That may be my role, though!

Then Joanna stuck out her ample breasts and said so.
The three of them laughed bitterly.

'Speaking of which, do you already know who's next?'

David asked.

Then Saeki notices a certain trio of people approaching us and turns his gaze to them.
The three of them also notice it and meet Saeki's eyes.
It's not too much of a coincidence.
No, it wasn't a coincidence.

'It's him.'

Saeki said.

'Oh, well?　Look who's next to beat me, isn't that Saeki-kun?

The same joking tone as always.
The one who appeared there was Koizumi.
There were the usual members on either side.

''Isn't that bad, Koizumi-kun?　I feel bad for you if you tell the truth out of the blue.

Tachibana Takeshi said hatefully.

''Well, maybe Koizumi-kun will win, so there's a part of me that can't be helped...''

Teppei Tadokoro speaks in whispers.

"Facts?　You just said it was true?!

Then Joanna said this with hostility.

'Hmm?　Yes, but?

Takeshi's face twitched for a moment and he said that.
It's not a good idea to say it yourself, but it's the kind of thing that makes you feel weak.

It's a good idea to study the meaning of the words again, if that's the case, don't you think?　The winner is Saeki-sama. You and the rest of you can't even come close!

What is it, Saeki-kun?　I'm a serious student of magic, and you're playing with women?　Can you give me a break?　Just because Aries is dead doesn't mean you can't get on board with the new Patsy.　No, you're replacing the hole?

Koizumi grinned and scowled, provoking Saeki.
Then Joanna's face turned bright red and she turned an angry look at Koizumi.

But Saeki blocked it with his hand.

''Wait, Joanna........''

Then Joanna stopped moving, and when her eyes met Saeki's, she suppressed her anger.

'Yes?'　Are you already trained?　You're a wise man, aren't you?　Isn't it the wrong profession?

Koizumi, there's a game.

What?

It all comes down to the outcome of the game. Or you're wrong and I'm right.

What are you talking about?　You can't be right, can you?　Because isn't that what we've been doing?　You're not the kind of person who's allowed to make friends in the first place. You know that, right?　Do you understand that you are just a murderer?

Then David and Joanna looked at Saeki with a grim expression on their faces and a question mark on their faces.

'Oh?'　Was Kida there too?

Then Koizumi noticed Kida.

'So do you, okay?　You killed him, too, didn't you, Saeki?　It's something I'd love to remember.

Kida didn't say anything back, his eyes dropping down.

'Is that all you want to say?'

What is it?　Do you still want me to tell you?

Come on, Saeki-sama, we have to go.

Then Joanna said that.
She decided that there was no point in talking to this man.
Koizumi then turned his attention to Joanna, looked at her with a coy lick and then looked at Saeki.

'I'm so jealous of you, Saeki. There's always a new girl next to you. There's always three of us. How is it that someone like you gets so much preferential treatment?

That's because you're still the same.

Then Saeki muttered.

'Huh?'

Koizumi's expression changed drastically.
A vein rose in his forehead.

'How long do you think it's been since then?　We're all coming to terms with each other and starting to take steps. Just as I am, too.

What?　One step?　You're the one who stole someone else's future and now you're going to tell me that?　It's a woman, isn't it?　You're just being clever because you have a girl!

No, I'm sorry. And you know what?　For the record, you don't have the right to point that out to me. You're just as guilty as me, aren't you?

Saeki was expressionless.

'I'm with you?　Huh ... you've been licked, haven't you?

You used to bully him.　I know, okay?

What are you talking about?

Are you kidding me?　I'm telling you, everyone knows. That's the kind of thing he doesn't know about, but someone else sees it.

Hmmm... maybe so.

Koizumi then smiled at Saeki's words.

'What, you know what?　Yes, everyone understands. You are a complete and utterly cowardly piece of shit, right?　Well, good luck with that!　Who's going to support you?　You know that, right?

Then David tugged on Saeki's arm.
Following him, Joanna and Kida followed suit and moved away from it.

'Yes?'　We're not done talking yet, okay?

It's over!

Joanna raised her voice.

'This is why I hate it!　A man with her!

But Koizumi was not intimidated.
He held out his hands in mockery, as if he was deliberately dumbfounded.

And the three of us left there.

''Koizumi-kun?　You're going to qualify for the next round, right?

Fatty Takeshi asked.

'Hmm?　Yeah, of course I'll get it. This isn't going to make me feel any better.

But it's Saeki.　He's a wise man, for one thing.

So you want me to abstain?　Are you kidding me?　It's okay, I wasn't playing around either.

Koizumi then grinned.

"I'll win for sure. That's me.

The two of them looked at Koizumi with concern.



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Joanna was angry.
And it wasn't just Joanna.
Unusually, even that usually joking David, who was just joking around, could see the bad mood in his expression.
When they arrived at the cafeteria table, the two didn't try to talk about anything.
Kida smiled bitterly and looked at each of them awkwardly.

''Both of you ... sorry about that.''

Then Saeki muttered to himself.

Then they looked at Saeki.

'Why are you apologizing, Saeki-kun?

David dared to answer with a question.

'Yes, sir!　Saeki-sama has nothing to apologize for. I don't understand, but everyone has their own past. There's no end to what we can do if we keep picking on them one by one.

Yeah I guess so.

Saeki only affirms Joanna's story, but won't talk about it.
Kida would not speak either.
There was a moment of silence.

　Kida was the main culprit, so to speak, in tormenting Masamune along with Saeki.
But there's one thing that's different from Saeki.
That is the lack of malice.
Saeki enjoyed holding Masamune down from above.
He had made it a daily routine to relieve his daily stress.
But Kida didn't have that.
But somehow, he had taken Masamune under his wing as an attendant to Saeki, and was not involved in anything else.
There was yet another person who was mainly with Saeki to cause him physical harm.
But that other one was not included in Greiberg's summoning of the heroes.

''Saeki-sama?''

Hmm?

Joanna opened her mouth.

─ There are things that I don't want to tell people. ─ There are things that I don't want to tell people, but I think that's okay. I believe that people regret and correct themselves and grow in this way... I believe that.

....

Saeki listened to Joanna in silence.

'You must win!　Saeki-sama!

...Yeah. I intend to.

'Let's win and make it all right!　It's easy for me to do. But Saeki-sama has to win. Victory and deny her!　So much so that I can't say anything!

Yeah well, okay. Thanks, Joanna.

What is it?　You're being awfully obedient today, aren't you, Saeki?

Then David, who had regained his smile, said.

'I'm sorry about David too. I'm going to win, so bear with me for now.

Yeah, no problem. I'm not the type of person who cares.

The four of them laughed a little more.
Then they checked each other's expressions and then laughed again.
As usual.
With that in mind, Saeki changed his mind in preparation for the block qualifying final that was coming up soon.
And then he made up his mind.

--He would definitely beat Koizumi.



o



　And then the day came.

--this is a training ground.
The auditorium was filled with people.
Among them, the brave men and women, except for Saeki, could be seen.
Some of them were not interested and disappeared again.
And, of course, there was David and Joanna.
Sitting beside them was Kida.
They suppressed their racing heartbeats and prepared for the fierce battle that was about to begin in front of them.

And Saeki and Koizumi, the stars of the show, were facing each other in the middle of the field.

''I've been waiting for this moment. Saeki-kun?

Saeki doesn't say anything back.

Then an announcement is made.

-- 'I'll explain. Either one of you is incapable of fighting, and the one who remains is the winner. And the same is true if one of you admits to surrendering. There is no time limit. The match is not stopped until one of the two sides has decided. However, please understand that under certain circumstances, we reserve the right to stop a match. Then, let the game begin!

In a surprisingly simple explanation, the bell for the match rang.
At that moment, the crowd cheered.
And when the cheers gradually subsided, the "battle" began.

-- Koizumi, without hesitation, pointed his hand at Saeki.

''【Dark Ball (Dark Ball)!

A purple ball was released from Koizumi's palm.