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Hagun Academy.
One of the seven elite schools in Japan operating under the International Magic Knights League, dedicated to training Blazers. Graduation meant securing an official Magic Knight License and the right to become a professional knight, active on the global stage.
The campus covered nearly fifty hectares, situated halfway up a mountain, it was dotted with numerous academic buildings and surrounded by dense forest. Beyond that lay more than ten massive dome-shaped arenas, each capable of seating tens of thousands of spectators.
The Sixth Arena was currently hosting the action.
"Finally, we've arrived at this afternoon's sixth match! Both sides today are undefeated contestants, each with a guaranteed seed position!"
The energetic voice of the bespectacled female announcer boomed through the loudspeakers, echoing across the feverish arena.
"Coming out from the red gate, third-year student Hagure Botan! One half of the famous twin sisters! She wields a pistol-type Device capable of freely altering the trajectory of her bullets, truly a formidable fighter!"
From the red gate stepped a graceful girl, her long black hair tied high in a ponytail with a blue ribbon. Her youthful face glowed with excitement as her eyes fixed expectantly on the still-closed blue gate opposite her.
"And now, from the blue gate… ah, well, I'm sure everyone's looking forward to seeing this contestant appear. Honestly, I'm excited too! He's just that popular! But unfortunately…"
The announcer's cheerful tone faltered.
"…he still hasn't shown up in the prep room! What a disappointment!"
The blue gate stood silent and unmoving. The contestant hadn't even appeared backstage.
"Hmph, he's not coming again, huh…"
"Guess we already know how this'll end."
"Lord Angel hasn't been seen for over a month!"
Boos and sighs rippled through the audience. Not only students, but even some of the teachers looked disheartened. Indeed, the much-anticipated contestant, one of the seeded favorites, had been missing for an entire month. Many had long given up hope of seeing him again.
…
At the very top of the spectator stands... "Where in the world did my Junior Brother go?"
A beautiful young woman stood with her long, lustrous brown hair braided down to her thighs. Even dressed in a student uniform, her elegance and figure were impossible to hide. She was known as the strongest girl in Hagun Academy and the current Student Council President, Toudou Touka.
Worry clouded her normally composed expression.
"He's still not answering the phone?"
A calm voice spoke beside her. It belonged to a girl whose soft, golden hair shimmered like dust in the sunlight. Dressed in a white, full-length dress and holding a parasol, she looked every bit the secluded noble lady, revealing not an inch of bare skin, Totokubara Kanata.
"No. No matter how many messages I send or how many times I call, it always disconnects right away."
Touka replied distractedly, her mind full of her Junior Brother. They had only just begun dating; those sweet, inseparable days were still fresh in her memory. But then he had vanished for over a month.
Even when she'd asked their First Senior Sister, she'd only gotten vague answers. Touka had been left waiting alone, night after night, lonely, anxious, and missing him terribly.
Kanata remained silent. Over the past month, she had reached out to Ryoji just as often, if not more, than Touka. But she couldn't show those feelings openly, especially not in front of her best friend. She had to act indifferent.
Still… it looks like Touka hasn't gotten ahead of me.
Kanata clenched a tiny fist in secret, feeling a flutter of relief. If Ryoji had returned and contacted Touka first, without telling her, she would have been furious, convinced she'd lost to her rival. Thankfully, for now, no one had the upper hand. That eased her mind.
Touka, of course, had no idea what her "good friend" was secretly thinking. If she did, their friendship would've been over then and there.
Today, only the two of them from the Student Council were present. The other two members hadn't come, and even Kurogane Ikki, who got along fairly well with Ryoji, was nowhere to be seen.
"…Wait. What's going on over there?"
Touka's sharp eyes turned toward the blue gate. A commotion seemed to be breaking out, startled exclamations, murmurs of surprise. Her brows furrowed slightly. This had already happened more than a dozen times: overzealous fans refusing to believe their beloved Angel-sama wasn't inside the prep room, trying to force their way in, only to be dragged out moments later.
Touka sighed and turned, intending to step in and put a stop to it before things got out of hand again.
…
On the arena stage, the doll-faced Hagure Botan sighed in disappointment, no longer holding out hope for anyone to emerge from the blue gate. She slowly raised her hand, intending to signal to the referee.
"Huh? Un un un?!"
But just then... From the loudspeakers came the suddenly excited shriek of the announcer.
"Breaking news! We've just received a report! The contestant from the blue side has just now entered the preparation room! He'll appear on the stage any moment! Everyone, let's give him a huge cheer!"
"Woooooahhh!!"
"No way, seriously?!"
In an instant, the entire audience erupted in excitement.
"He's back?" Toudou Touka froze mid-step, staring at the arena in disbelief.
"…" Totokubara Kanata said nothing. She simply lifted her parasol and focused her emerald-green eyes on the blue gate.
In the arena... With a soft hiss, the airlock opened and the blue gate slowly swung wide. A tall figure stepped out from the dim corridor. Though shrouded in shadow, it was as if starlight itself clustered around him, drawing every eye toward that silhouette in anticipation.
Then, the spotlight hit his body.
"Nice! Very acting-cool entrance!" Ryoji nodded in satisfaction. "Now that's the kind of grand entrance I like!"
With a modest smile of practiced confidence, he stepped out through the gate and onto the stage.
The response was deafening, a wave of screams roared to the heavens.
"Angel-sama!!"
"Ryoji! Mommy loves you!!"
A classic case of manufactured hype, and some very questionable "mom-fans" mixed in. Ryoji resisted the urge to comment, forcing a polite smile to stay on his face.
"Angel-sama, it's been a month! You look even more charming now!" Hagure Botan gazed at him with sparkling eyes, her face the very picture of a lovestruck fangirl. (No one knew she had bought ten full sets of his photo collection, five of which were later confiscated by her elder sister!)
"Both sides, prepare!" The iron-voiced referee issued the cold command.
Ryoji raised his hand, summoning a dazzling silver longsword that shimmered into existence before him.
Perfect entrance.
I've gotten way stronger by now, might as well put on a bit of a show! If I don't flaunt it, it's like wearing silk robes at night, no one sees the shine!
At the very least, he needed to shed that "Fallen Angel with Broken Wings" visual-kei nickname once and for all! He even began considering whether he should "accidentally" rip open his upper shirt mid-fight to reveal those finely toned muscles he'd been training.
Sorry, my dear opponent… but you're going to be the one I use to show off my gains!
"U-Um… I forfeit!"
Hagure Botan raised her hand, tears sparkling in her eyes, and announced her surrender to the referee.
"???"
Ryoji slowly blinked out a string of question marks.
(End of Chapter)
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New Novels- 1. One Piece- Maxed Out Conqueror's Haki!
2. One Piece- Master Of Devil Fruits
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