No, they're not.

Koizumi then cut off Kawachi's suggestion.

'No... why?　Even Saeki already knows--

He's not that kind of guy.

Koizumi's words left Kawachi and the other students with a question mark.

'Koizumi?　What does that mean?

Iida asks.

'He hasn't changed at all since the beginning. He doesn't think anything of torturing Hidaka and then cursing him out with Aries.

All the students here were in the audience at that time.
-- that's why I called Koizumi.
Because they heard Koizumi's heart cry.

But I didn't hear Saeki's words.
Saeki is a cunning fellow.
That's why at that time he spoke in a way that only Koizumi could hear.
And I thought that no one would trust Koizumi's words anyway.

I still do. That's what he told me then...he told me that just now. I immediately feel guilty, that I hate weak people...

When Koizumi said that, the place fell silent.

''Well ... is that true?''

Kawachi didn't doubt, but he said to make sure.

　Like I'm the only one who can hear what you're saying but no one trusts my word anyway, right?　That's why he told me that, unapologetically.

Kawachi stammered.

''Well that's all right ... for now.　But let me tell you something, okay?　I don't think you should go with Saeki. If you ask him out, I'm out. I don't want him to get killed in the nick of time. For the record, that guy's probably not like us, okay?

No? ...What do you mean?

Kawachi had a question mark on his face.

'We haven't killed anyone yet, have we?　So maybe you can't kill him you'll hesitate right before you do. But that's not the case with Saeki. I think he's capable of killing people easily. He's probably waiting for the day he can do it. You call that growing up or something?

Did he say that to you?

'No, I mean, what do I think?　But I know it when I see it. That's how it feels.

Koizumi had a great deal of insight and analysis.
He was also highly sensitive.
That's why he had a weak mental side more than anyone else.

''Then...what about Kida?　I'm sure Kida will be fine.　I'm sure he's feeling sorry for Hidaka-kun as well--

I don't think Kida should do it either.

Then there was silence again.
Koizumi looked at everyone's expressions.

'If I'm denying it for my own protection, then I don't mind if you think so.

It's not that I don't want to... I want to hear why.

Kawachi replied, looking calm and collected.
Koizumi didn't say that because he didn't like it.
But he suspected that's what he thought.

'Saeki has bad intentions. But Kida has no malice from the beginning.''

'No ill will?　What does that mean...

'That guy didn't think he was doing anything wrong from the beginning. What's the point of that 'bitter smile' that he occasionally displayed?　I've been thinking about it occasionally. But the bottom line is that even he doesn't realize it.

Then they listened to Koizumi and tilted their heads with more question marks.

'He was definitely using Hidaka as a pussycat, along with Saeki, wasn't he?　But I'm not aware that I'm abusing you. Well, I say it, but other than using it as a pacifier, you haven't done anything with it, have you?

But Hidaka didn't like it, right?　That's why I'm going to kill myself.

'That's why you haven't noticed!　Look, you're in!　What kind of person doesn't understand other people's feelings?　Didn't you recognize that he was stalking you or that he was s*xually harassing you?　You know the guys who used to get caught for that were on the news a lot?

Koizumi looked a little annoyed.

'So you're saying that Kida didn't think anything of it?

From what I've seen, it looks that way. But I'm sure of it. I'm sure that's what Kida is. That's why if you're going to ask him out, it's better to go with someone else. There's nothing worse than not realizing it, right?

They listened to Koizumi's opinion in silence.
Why doesn't anyone say anything back?
That's because I had more than a few of them in mind.
There was a sense of discomfort among them as well.
But that was not the word.
And Koizumi put it into words.
And then he thought, "That's what this feeling of discomfort is. That was the true nature of this uncomfortable feeling.

''Okay ... for now, let's call Saeki and Kida on hold.

Well, it's all yours.

It's Koizumi who is left to the last minute.
After all, if you don't agree with him, you can pull out.

And the discussion continued for a while.
"For now, focus on each of us and enjoy the students,"

Kawachi said at the end.



â



Then the tournament began, and Saeki was well on his way to winning.

All the while, he practiced his magic and grew steadily under Joanna's guidance.
He won those that Kida hadn't been able to beat, and gradually worked his way up through the tournament, higher and higher.
Of course, Joanna also made it to the tournament and went on to win more.
In Joanna's case, it wasn't much of a surprise since she was in the running to win the tournament in the first place.
But Saeki was another.
Everyone was like, "Who was that?" And then he acknowledged his power.


And then the semifinals.
Saeki vs. Joanna.

'So this day has finally come, hasn't it?　Master Saeki.

I'll show you my best. "Sir?"

Joanna smiled.
And with the announcement of the start of the match, Saeki drew his sword and chanted a magic.

''Fire speed (Fire Weero)!

Saeki accelerated with his fire magic, thrusting his sword at Joanna, and went on to close in on her.

--.



o



-- Saeki lost.

Even though he had grown up, Joanna was still better than him.
But no doubt everyone in the room knew of a mage named Saeki.
They must have recognized his power, saying, "He is a great talent.


Saeki then moved on to the third place match.
He won and earned his ticket to the third-place match.

Joanna, on the other hand, made it to the finals and went up against the most powerful student in Fischanatica, Tim Lloyd.
But Joanna's magic was not enough for Tim.
Tim Lloyd, as a person, was different from Joanna and Saeki in a different dimension.

Then the contestants for the match against the school were chosen and an award ceremony was held.

The one on the dais was--.

1st, Tim Lloyd.
Second place, Joanna Harris.

And third place is Saeki.
These three students are in the finals.
In other words, they will be competing against students from Heilkwaite.

As a matter of fact, there were others from among the brave souls who participated in the competition.
Take Kouchi, for example.
But Kouchi was defeated in the second round.
There were a few others who had participated in the tournament, but none of them had been able to even pass the preliminary round.
Even the short ones would prepare a year in advance.
Those who had only learned magic almost months ago would not be able to win just because of the benefits.
As evidenced by this, Saeki's appearance in the main competition was extremely rare.


　And the one who showed up there was Oswald Saberhagen.
The headmaster of Fischanatica.

'Students!　It was truly a magnificent battle. I hope that all of you, victors and vanquished, will be able to use what you learned from this battle to your advantage. And now, the three mages who will participate in the main tournament. The battle against Hail Kuwait awaits you. You have plenty of time until then. There is plenty of time until then, and I want you to take another look at yourselves in preparation for the match.

Oswald's words were short for a headmaster.
The brave men let out a sigh at the long story that was about to begin, but there was no need for that.

And here, the Fischanatica School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

--The championship match to decide the representatives came down.



â



Saeki left the hall alone.
He went down the stairs of the hall and then out into a dimly lit corridor in the shade.
Then he saw an unusual person there.

'Kyogoku?'

Hmm?　What.........that's Saeki.

--Kyogoku Shinya.
Can you say truant delinquent?
He was an unlucky man who was caught up in an otherworldly summons on a day when he was in the mood to go to school by accident.

'You, where have you been all this time?'

Kyogoku basically has no idea where he is.
He doesn't try to get involved with anyone.
And that's been the case since he was in Greberg.

Probably somewhere in the school building, he should always be there, but since he never showed up, Saeki couldn't see him either.

''Where... appropriately enough, around there?　Like on the roof?

The roof?

Yeah, you see the tallest tower?　I was taking a nap over there.

Saeki was having trouble with his reaction.

The tower is the tallest tower in the grounds of this school, with a bell at the top.
But the door leading to it is always magically locked.

--How did this guy get to the top of that thing?

Saeki was thinking about it.

'Oh well. By the way, you didn't join in this time, did you?

Hmm? ...Oh, you mean the school game?　I'm in, just in case, okay?

Well I didn't see it, but where was I?

''Hmmm, I'm kind of always too weak to have fun, so I just shrugged it off in the middle. To be honest, there's no one in this school who can cross me.......Saeki?　That includes you.

Huh... why don't you say so?

'Well, it's none of my business, and if Saeki is happy with that, then it's fine.　I'm not obsessed with all that crappy stuff like school games~

Kyogoku then said that and left.
Then Saeki, not particularly irritated, went on the opposite path from Kyogoku to join Joanna and the others.

Kyogoku was a strange man.
Saeki had never seen Kyogoku use his magic, not even once.
But Kyogoku had told him before that he was practicing properly.
But he hadn't seen him even once since then.

In conclusion, what does Saeki think?

In other words, he doesn't think it's weak.
Saeki felt rather creepy and obvious strength in that figure, which is almost seamless even though it shows its back to us.
That's why I dare not say anything to Kyogoku.

Was he watching the final if he was this close to it?
And you call it "weak"?
To be honest, what he said earlier didn't sound like a strong move.
That's why Saeki is incomprehensibly afraid of the man named Kyogoku somewhere in his heart.
And he admits it.
It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on it.

--You're going to be able to get a lot more than that.

That's how much you think.