Good morning, Kosuke. You hear that? Yesterday's incident.
Incident?
'What, haven't you been watching the news? The "weak-minded

　In the morning, Takigawa and Ishida teased me about the news.
　A temple in the city suddenly burst into flames and burned down. Fortunately, no one else was injured, except for one person who was sent to the hospital.

And you know what? I didn't notice it at all, even though the temple was close to my house. I didn't smell any smoke or anything.
Huh, it's just the air currents. It was just weather conditions that made it hard for the smoke to settle.
'I guess so. Well, okay.

　I didn't know there was such a thing. I don't know what caused it, but I'll make sure to turn off the gas main valve or something.

Excuse me, Yuki-kun, do you have a minute?
What, Mr. Mizukami?

　Suddenly my name was called and when I turned around, it was the class president, Mr. Mizukami. I was surprised. Also, she's even cuter when I see her up close.

'If you have time after school, I'd like you to come to the courtyard, okay?
'Oh, yeah. I'm totally fine!
Thanks. I'll see you soon.

　With that, he went back to his seat.
　The girls cawed at me and the boys stared at me with eyes that seemed to be crying blood.

''Kosuke........you, you traitor, aaaaah!

　Takigawa shouted and kicked me in the shins and ran off into the hallway. Ouch.

''That guy's an idiot.''
Yeah.

　Ishida is his usual self.

　He couldn't concentrate at all in class that day.





　After school.
　I headed to the courtyard and found Mr. Mizukami waiting for me on a bench.
　He had come first, or maybe he was running up to me a little short.

''I'm sorry Yuki-kun. I had to call you out suddenly.''
No, I'm totally fine. I'm fine, really.

　Oh no. I'm so nervous that my vocabulary has been erased. What am I going to say to her when she's like this?

Excuse me, Yuki-kun. Can I hold your hand?
Ha, ha!

　After hearing my reply, Ms. Mizukami gently squeezed my hand. Soooo smooth. And so soft!

Thank you. You know, I'm sorry. I guess I was wrong.
What?
'Oh, and I didn't expect everyone in the class to make such a big deal out of it. I'm sorry about that, too. I'll just tell everyone that it was a misunderstanding.
Oh, what?
Okay, I'll see you tomorrow.

　Saying that, Mizukami-san left the courtyard. Eh? Why?
　I stood there stunned for a while, and then someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind.

'Comrade,'

　The one there was Takigawa with a pitying look on his face. For starters, I kicked him in the shins.






◇





GAHA, this is...
Pneumonia. Come on.

　A general hospital in the city. In a room there, Kien Gouki wakes up.
　Beside him, Mitsurugi Yuen is peeling an apple with his expert hands.

''Don't worry, this is a hospital. Eat this and still rest.''

　The airflame looks dubiously at the apples presented to him. This was because all the apples that had been peeled off had been cut into rabbit shapes.
　However, it was true that he was hungry. Despite the disgusted look on his face, he eats that apple.

I heard about the situation from the surgeons who were on the scene. It seems that you engaged the bird-shaped shikigami that suddenly appeared and exhausted your spiritual power.
Haha. You came all the way from Tokyo just to laugh at me?
''No. As the same Fist Yin-Yang Master, I was just curious about the opponent who defeated you. If there really is such an opponent, then the Fire Mountain family will be in a lot of trouble.
'Oh? Why is it a big deal?
''I heard from the surgeons who were there that the Bird Type God was similar to the Water Family's technique.
Yeah, I can't remember the last time I heard you say that.
My master heard about it and went over to the Water House earlier. He's going to offer you a match.
"Pfft.

　The unexpected situation made Kifu blow out an apple unexpectedly.
　''The 'Divine Pregame'. It is one of the prestigious rituals used to solve problems between yin and yang masters. They would bet on each other for truth, goods, etc., and the winner would get them.
　To sum up the current debacle, the Hinoyama family simply attacked the cat gods worshipped by the Mizukami family without permission and the Hinoyama family got their revenge.
　Normally, in a situation of this magnitude, this would never be a ritual that could be undertaken casually. That was precisely the reason why the Qi Flame had blown out an apple.

''Hahaha! Our head of the family is really out of control!
....

　Normally, he would have been forced to correct his rude words to his master, but Mitsurujo was silent.
　This was because he himself was nothing more than one of the people who were growing dissatisfied with the current head of the family.

''........We are the second largest faction of the Five Elements, second only to the 'Golden'. I'm sure the head of the Mizukami family understands the disadvantages of refusing our offer.
Unlike some masters!

　The repeated rude remarks were quietly passed off by Sanzurjo.

''Perhaps the head of the Mizukami family will have to take this fight. It will be a battle in the near future.''
I see.

　But it's not the conduct of the match itself that concerns Sanzurujo the most.

'If the yin-yang who defeated you is from the Water House he will surely appear in this match.
!!!
''We don't know how well you're doing, but if one scouting shikigami can take you down with one scouting shikigami, then we're at an overwhelming disadvantage in the Pre-God game.

　Despite Mitsurugi Castle's anxiety, the smile of the Qi Flame deepened. From his expression, one could see the joy and anticipation that he might be able to fight that shikigami again.

''........For now, the match should take place in the near future. Make sure your body is healed up by then.
Hey!

　The vivacious reply of the air flames echoed through the ward.