"Is the seat next to you free?"
"Oh, Miyuki! It's open, go ahead."
Miyuki exchanged pleasantries with Erika, but in truth, she was merely securing spots for herself and Honoka. Despite Leo and Mikihiko sitting at either end, oblivious guys with obvious ulterior motives kept approaching. Erika, with a mix of sharp glares and brazen lies, had been fending them off to hold the seats.
"Honoka, are you okay for your match?" Mizuki asked.
"I-I'm fine! My race is in the afternoon!" Honoka replied, her voice high-pitched and her nerves glaringly obvious.
Miyuki glanced at her, gently chiding, "Honoka, if you're this tense now, you won't last until your match."
"I know, but…" Honoka faltered.
"You'll be fine," Miyuki reassured. "Onii-sama said not to overthink it. We're here to cheer for Shizuku, so let's focus on that."
Miyuki's concern mirrored Tatsuya's—both agreed that Honoka, earnest but lacking confidence, needed a distraction. From Tatsuya's perspective as a technical staff member and Miyuki's as a classmate, this was the best approach. Honoka nodded, settling into her seat.
"Where's Toya?" Mizuki asked.
"Dragged off by the seniors," Leo said with a shrug. "Something about not meddling in others' love lives."
Toya hadn't seemed to mind being whisked away by Azumi—though Leo thought it looked more like a kidnapping. Still, with Toya's match in the afternoon, he likely wanted to avoid extra strain.
"You're surprisingly considerate," Erika teased.
"Let's just watch the match quietly, Erika," Mizuki shot back, her smile sharp.
"Haha…" Erika laughed nervously, thinking, Mizuki's getting bolder…
Leo turned away, stifling a grin. Then Mizuki noticed Miyuki's demeanor.
"Miyuki, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Mizuki. Why?" Miyuki replied, smiling.
"It's just… I sensed a flicker of something," Mizuki said, her unique perception picking up on the turmoil beneath Miyuki's calm facade.
Mikihiko, flipping through the competition pamphlet, frowned. "Where's Yugen? He shouldn't have a match yet. Busy with something else?"
"Actually, Yugen's been roped into being Shizuku's engineer," Honoka explained.
"Related to that news about Miyuki?" Erika asked, referring to Miyuki's participation in the main Mirage Bat event.
Miyuki's smile tightened. "Yes. The seniors' thoughtfulness in easing Onii-sama's burden is appreciated, but… that president…"
She was grateful for the recognition of Tatsuya's efforts, but her time with Yugen had been stolen by Mayumi's decision. A spark of jealousy flared, though she couldn't protest—not when her own participation in the main event was part of the reason. Shizuku, Yugen's new charge, only fueled her irritation. Tatsuya had chosen Shizuku for her readiness and Yugen's familiarity with her, a logical decision Miyuki understood but couldn't fully accept. Shizuku's obvious affection for Yugen, evident during Ice Pillars Break practice, stung. Miyuki, despite her magical prowess, felt outmaneuvered in love. If only I'd kissed him at the mixer, she thought, regret gnawing at her.
As a direct descendant of the untouchable Yotsuba clan, Miyuki was a prime candidate to lead the family. Her mother's political marriage and lack of romantic experience, combined with Tatsuya's emotional detachment as her guardian, left Miyuki with only books to guide her in love. Yugen was her first real connection, her first love, and her inexperience made every interaction feel like a high-stakes gamble.
Honoka, sitting beside her, silently pleaded, Miyuki's terrifying! Yugen, Shizuku, help!
"It's getting chilly," Leo muttered.
"Funny, we agree for once," Erika whispered.
Miyuki's restraint kept her magic from leaking, but her icy aura was palpable. When she turned her piercing gaze on them, asking, "Did you say something?" both Leo and Erika stammered, "No, nothing." Mikihiko and Mizuki exchanged strained smiles, while Honoka's nerves about her match vanished, replaced by fear of Miyuki.
Miyuki suddenly checked her communicator, her expression softening as she read a message. The chill dissipated.
"Everything okay?" Honoka asked.
"It's nothing, Honoka. Look, Shizuku's event is starting," Miyuki said warmly.
Honoka, guessing the message was from Yugen, joined Erika and the others in silent gratitude. Thank you, Yugen, they thought, imagining the chaos if someone had dared approach Miyuki then.
Meanwhile, the third-year group—Mayumi, Mari, Rin, Azumi, and Toya—sat apart. Azumi clung to Toya, who had a match later, prompting Mayumi to sigh.
"Really, Toya, with your match this afternoon…"
"It's mental support, so I'm grateful," Toya replied lightly.
Mayumi and Rin, usually stationed at the team tent, were here—Mayumi with a comms receiver, Rin on enforced rest, partly to watch a former family member compete.
"It's jealousy, Mayumi," Mari teased.
"Agreed," Rin added.
"What?! Who am I jealous of?" Mayumi protested, flustered.
Azumi, now beside Mayumi, placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're the student council president and team leader, but it looks like you're using your authority to keep Yugen and Tatsuya apart."
"What?! I'd never!" Mayumi's face flushed, her protests growing shrill. To Toya, it looked like a little sister throwing a tantrum.
Toya and Mayumi, both petite with black hair and red eyes, could pass for siblings despite no blood relation. Once, Azumi had jokingly put a wavy-haired wig on Toya, making him Mayumi's near-double. Mari and Rin had called them "long-lost sisters," and Mayumi, upon learning it was Toya, was stunned.
"Enough about Mayumi's love woes," Mari said. "This is my first time seeing Yugen's engineering skills in action. He's working with Shizuku, right?"
"Yes, he's been helping with her practice," Rin confirmed, per Tatsuya.
"Don't call it love woes!" Mayumi huffed, while Azumi stifled a laugh.
Toya, sweating, thought, This is no way to treat the team leader. Mari turned to him.
"You've seen Yugen's skills, right?"
"He's my engineer, too," Toya said. "He claims he's a step behind Tatsuya, but his manual adjustments are impressive. My shooting magic formulas are tailored perfectly—so effective I almost thought I'd improved overnight."
Rin nodded. "Igarashi's 'Aqua Dolphin' and Kirihara's 'Quadruple Bound' are just 'minor tweaks' to Yugen. He's got bigger activation sequences planned."
"Those are minor?" Toya asked, recalling the complex magic Yugen had crafted for him.
"Apparently," Rin said. "We'll see when the competition starts."
Toya agreed, sensing Yugen's creativity was a force to be reckoned with. "Better not make an enemy of him."
"Tatsuya's popular with the first-year girls," Rin added. "Some even brought their own CADs."
"That won't mess with the competition, right?" Mari asked.
"They're managing," Rin said, then turned to Mayumi. "But no more burdens on Yugen or Tatsuya, understood?"
"I'm not doing anything!" Mayumi insisted.
"Really? Tatsuya and Mari said you had Yugen tweak your CAD," Rin pressed.
"They promised not to tell! I mean, oops!" Mayumi squeaked.
"Oops? Yugen's competing tomorrow!" Azumi scolded, her words hitting harder than her earlier teasing.
As Mayumi clutched her head, Toya realized Azumi's earlier accusation about Mayumi's motives might hold some truth.