Kazuki walked down the hall, the day's lessons are finally behind him.His mug was empty.
He turned it in his hand, staring at the faint stain of what was once coffee. His thoughts drifted, circling back to that strange feeling from earlier. His expression remained unreadable as always, yet something in his eyes seemed… softer. Subtle, but there.
A gentle breeze slipped through the open corridor windows, brushing against his hair as if calling to him.
He paused, turning his gaze outside. The sun had already passed its zenith, casting warm light across the academy grounds. Beyond, the hangar shimmered in gold hues, where students were gathering, their excitement almost tangible even from this distance.
He stopped for a moment, watching them.
The wards lining the walls hummed softly—a slightly different tone than usual. It tugged at something faint inside him.
Kazuki exhaled through his nose and resumed walking."I need more coffee," he muttered.
Down at the Hangar
Miniature blimps drifted lazily through the air. Bi-planes whirred past, their wings glinting under the afternoon sun. On the floor, prototype cars hummed to life, rolling smoothly along polished stone. The air buzzed with magic and machinery—and the students' barely contained excitement.
"Welcome!"
A bright, confident voice rang through the hangar.
At the center stood Ishikawa Ruka, striking a dramatic pose. Her off-white hair floated slightly from the magical breeze, bouncing gently as she straightened.
"To the future!" she declared with an almost childlike enthusiasm.
The students erupted in awe, eyes shining like stars.
Ruka giggled. "Aah! I've always wanted to say that!"
"Can you not?" another voice cut in, sharp and dry.
Naokino Hibiki, her twin-tails flicking with irritation, crossed her arms. The afternoon light caught her deep blue hair, turning it into streaks of sapphire.
"You're making yourself look bad," she added, her tone playful but edged with mockery.
"You shut up! You wanted to say it as much as I did!" Ruka shot back.
"Wh—! No I don't!" Hibiki barked, her composure cracking.
A hand shot up among the students."Uh—Professor? What are those?!" one of them asked, pointing toward the sky where the miniature aircrafts soared and looped.
The two instructors exchanged a glance, and in perfect sync, declared—
"Arcane Constructs!"
Ruka gestured grandly for the students to follow."Come! There's more to them than meets the eye!"
The students followed eagerly.
From the treeline, a shadowy figure watched as they entered the hangar. After a brief pause, it turned and disappeared into the woods.
Inside, the hangar came alive with awe.
"These are miniature Constructs!" Ruka announced, her voice bright with pride. "They're powered by Arcane Crystals and move through programmed Runes!"
"Miniature…? So there are bigger ones?!" a student blurted out.
Hibiki smirked, arms crossed, turning her head just enough to meet his eyes."Hmph. If you choose this course next term, we'll show you the big boys."
The students' eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Now!" Ruka clapped her hands, redirecting their attention."Group up! Pick any Construct you like!" She struck a pose, grinning wide."Tear it apart, see how it works—and make your own!"
"Just don't break them!" Hibiki's voice cut through sharply."If you do…" Her face began to twist into something monstrous.
A chill rippled through the students as Hibiki raised her fist."I will have your soul," she declared.
The students squealed.
"Oi." Ruka smacked Hibiki lightly on the head."You're scaring them," she said flatly.
"They took forever to make!" Hibiki barked back.
The students laughed nervously at the familiar bickering.
"Do you think she meant that…?" one whispered."Yeah… I think she did," his friend muttered, still haunted by Hibiki's glare.
"Hey!" Hibiki pointed at them."What are you two doing? Hurry up and get to work!"
The students snapped to attention."Yes, ma'am!"
Soon, the hangar filled with the sounds of activity—runes being drawn, parts clattering, and students shouting excitedly over schematics.
Kazuki lingered at the entrance, silently observing. He stepped inside, weaving through scattered tools and half-dismantled Constructs. His eyes moved from one student to another—until he noticed something odd.
Some of the miniatures… hummed differently. Barely audible, but off-tune. He stopped, focusing on one. And—
"Kaz!"
Ruka's voice broke his concentration. Kazuki turned toward her.
"What's up?" she asked, cheerful as ever.
"Oh. Just curious." His tone was calm, unreadable.
"Just admit you're bored and have nothing to do," Hibiki said, rolling her eyes.
Kazuki's eyes softened ever so slightly. His gaze drifted—then stopped. A particular student caught his attention.Dark blue hair. That's her.
Ruka and Hibiki followed his gaze. They looked from the girl, then back at him.
"GASP—!"
Their eyes widened in exaggerated horror. The atmosphere shifted dramatically, tension swelling like a storm.
"Kaz—! It can't be—!" Ruka gasped, trembling with fake intensity.
"No way—! You can't be serious—!" Hibiki echoed, equally dramatic.
"No. Whatever it is you're thinkin—" Kazuki began, but—
"Hibiki! We need to act! Now!" Ruka said, gripping Hibiki's shoulders.
"Ruka—are we doing this?! Right here?! Right now?!" Hibiki shouted back.
"Ack—!" Kazuki grabbed Ruka's face mid-motion.
"No." He said it calmly, eyes cold.
"Aaah—! Uncle! Uncle!!" Ruka squealed, flailing as Hibiki burst out laughing.
"Then stop with the nonsense," he said flatly, letting her go.
Ruka stumbled back, rubbing her cheeks.
"Geez, you're so cold sometimes!"
"All the time," Hibiki muttered under her breath.
Kazuki gave her a sideways glance.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, sir~" Hibiki sang, waving a hand innocently.
Ruka leaned closer to Hibiki and whispered dramatically,
"You saw his face, didn't you? He looked at her—that way!"
Hibiki gasped theatrically.
"No way. The legendary Kazuki? Showing emotion?!"
"Hey." Kazuki's tone dropped, unamused.
The two professors froze, stiff as statues.
Then, Ruka slowly turned to the students and shouted,
"Alright, everyone! NEW RULE! Whoever finishes their construct first—gets ONE question answered by Professor Kazuki!"
The entire hangar went silent for a moment. Then—
"EHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"
The students erupted in excitement.
Kazuki blinked, confused.
"When did I agree to that?"
"Just now!" Ruka said, grinning wide.
"Don't worry, we'll keep it simple."
Hibiki crossed her arms, smirking.
"You heard her! Better start building fast. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Kazuki sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
The students, now burning with motivation, scrambled to their stations, parts clanking and runes sparking.
Kazuki just stood there for a moment, letting out a small breath. Despite himself, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.Perhaps a little chaos wasn't so bad.
His eyes wandered again—and once more stopped at the girl. She looked determined, focused, her hands moving with precision as if nothing else existed.Kazuki couldn't help the uneasy feeling in his chest.Something about her resolve told him things were about to get… complicated.
Then—he felt it.
That faint hum.The same strange resonance from before.It spread—one construct after another—until the entire hangar began to sing. The pitch climbed higher and higher, shrill and discordant.
Sparks burst from several constructs at once. The air shifted. The atmosphere tightened.
Kazuki's eyes widened.Time seemed to slow.
He exhaled sharply and expanded his aura—an invisible pulse, a silent alarm.Ruka and Hibiki froze for half a heartbeat, then their eyes snapped to him.Shock. Realization. Horror.No words were exchanged—they didn't need to.
Darkness rippled from Kazuki's feet, crawling across the floor like liquid shadow.Ruka dove into it without hesitation, her form vanishing as she dragged students into the safety of the void.Hibiki dashed for the exit, scooping up anyone in reach, moving faster than most could see.Kazuki shoved and carried the rest, shadows coiling around his arms to extend his reach.
0.3 seconds.That was all it took to clear the hangar.
And then—
BOOM!!!
A deafening blast tore through the structure.Flames erupted, smoke spiraling into the sky as shards of metal and crystal rained down.The shockwave rippled through the academy grounds, echoing like a thunderclap.
Back in the main academy building.
Sagiri strolled down the polished marble halls, humming a carefree tune. Her heels clicked rhythmically, her lab coat swaying behind her, the picture of playful innocence.
Then—she felt it.
A familiar pressure, heavy and almost tangible, rolled through the building. It was an aura that could shake the entire academy. Her smile faltered. The hum in her chest picked up, nerves tingling.
Boom.
The sound reverberates through the academy halls.
She turned sharply, instincts kicking in, and bolted toward the infirmary.
"Mikan!" she called out, voice sharp with urgency.
"Yeah! I felt that too!" Mikan replied, her voice calm but tense, urgency threading every syllable.
Her brown hair caught the light as she moved, warm caramel tones glinting faintly. The aura they both sensed told them something terrible had happened—enough to make even seasoned instructors uneasy.
Back at the hangar.
Ruka and Hibiki hit the ground, recovering from the shock.
The students are in shock. One moment they were competing, and suddenly they're outside, watching an explosion that could've taken their lives.
"Damn it!" Ruka exclaimed, standing up and rushing back in to prevent the fire from spreading.
"Wh- Did we-"
"What just-"
"How did-"
The students can't get the words out of their chest.
Hibiki watched in silence, her eyes wide. The hangar is scorched, pieces of constructs lay scattered on her feet. Slowly, she stood back up.
"Wh- How did this happen..?" She said, trembling.
Her hands trembled as she took a step forward.
"My- work..."
"Hibiki," Kazuki called calmly.
"I noticed several constructs malfunctioning."
Her eyes widened. She turned towards Kazuki.
"And you didn't tell me?!"
"I didn't think they would explode-"
"There wouldn't be an explosion if you said something! Do you know how long it took to make all of those? A year, Kaz!"
"Did you not check the Constructs?" Kazuki asked, calm as ever.
"I did! Last night they were fine! Do you think I'm that careless??"
"Last night? Not before letting students inside?"
"Who do you take me for?! Someone who couldn't sleep until every Rune is aligned??"
Kazuki squints.
"Hold your tongue."
"I did everything right, Kaz!"
"Clearly not everything was right."
Hibiki's hands trembled with rage. The firelight reflected in her eyes, sharp and dangerous.
"You think you can just stand there and lecture me?!" she spat, voice trembling with fury.Kazuki's calm gaze didn't waver.
"I'm not lecturing," he said evenly."You're blaming me for what could have been prevented."
Hibiki snapped.Her aura flared, cracking the ground beneath her boots."Then… humor me," she said.
She launched a fist at Kazuki's face. He caught it, hands trembling slightly as he gripped hers.
Strong… as ever, he thought.
The strike shifted his balance. Before he could recover, Hibiki's kick sent him flying across the field. He bounced, the impact cracking the earth beneath him, creating a crater.
The students froze, mouths agape. Their professors—their teachers—were fighting.
Hibiki heaved, building up something deep inside.
Kazuki rose from the crater, brushing dirt from his coat before slowly taking it off."If that's what you need," he said, voice steady,"then come and get it!" he taunted.
Hibiki inhaled, then disappeared, hurtling toward him.
When their fists collided, a shockwave blasted outward, whipping students' hair and uniforms, sending papers flying.
Ruka stepped out of the hangar, sweat dripping down her face."Okay… huff… everyone alright?" she asked between breaths.
"Professor!!" a student blurted, pointing at the fight.
Ruka turned casually."Aah… there they go again."
"Aren't you gonna stop them?!" another student shouted.
"Are you kidding? I'm not getting in the middle of that!" Ruka said, waving a hand dismissively."Besides, you might not think it, but that's healthy for them."
"How is breaking the ground with each other's faces healthy??" another student protested.
Ruka laughed lightly.
"Ehehe… that's just how they are. This is how they communicate. No words, just hands. Watch closely."
The students squinted, trying to follow the battle. They noticed: Hibiki wasn't blindly swinging; every strike had purpose. Kazuki wasn't just defending—he was returning each blow, guiding her energy rather than clashing recklessly.
"Hibiki's frustrated. She loves her work," Ruka explained."And Kazuki's helping her channel that frustration. She's got anger issues, if you can't tell.""Plus," she added with a mischievous grin, "Kazuki needs a workout."
The students still couldn't fully grasp it.
"Ruka!" a sharp voice called. Sagiri raced toward the scene, Mikan close behind.
"Oh, it's Sagiri and Mikan," Ruka noted casually, tossing a bag aside.
"Is everyone okay?" Sagiri asked, scanning the field with sharp, concerned eyes.
Ruka nodded. "Yeah. We got out just in time."
Mikan stepped forward, calm and steady, her brown hair catching the sunlight."Still, everyone come—let me check you," she said softly, immediately easing the tension.
She knelt beside the boys, hands moving efficiently to check scrapes and bruises."Kazuki shoved you outside like luggage, huh?" she asked gently.
One boy nodded sheepishly, still wide-eyed.
"That's okay," Mikan continued, warm and reassuring."It means he knows you can handle it."
Her gentle smile made the students pause, awe replacing their fear for a fleeting moment.
"It's an angel!" one boy whispered, nudging his friend.
Sagiri's sharp voice cut through the murmur immediately."Quit gawking! This is a rare spectacle! Get your notes, now!"
Her tone carried authority and excitement, like someone thrilled by chaos but unwilling to let the lesson slip.
The students scrambled, pens and papers in hand, glancing furtively at Mikan's calm presence—and the continuing clash between Hibiki and Kazuki.
"Well, this certainly is something you don't get to see every semester," a smooth voice interjected.
All heads turned toward the entrance of the hangar. Saki stood there, perfectly composed, one eyebrow raised, her expression balancing irritation and amusement. The corners of her lips twitched with barely restrained laughter.
"Saki? I thought you had paperwork?" Ruka called out, tilting her head with playful curiosity, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Can everyone please stop with the 'paperwork'?" Saki replied, her tone comically irritated, though a faint sparkle of delight lingered in her gaze.
"Besides, I wouldn't want to miss THIS."
She gestured broadly toward the chaotic yet mesmerizing duel between Hibiki and Kazuki, sparks of energy flying, scorch marks and craters marring the ground.
Ruka, ever the mischief-maker, produced a bag. "Popcorn?"
Saki blinked, then smiled.
"Don't mind if I do.""They're a bit burnt, though," Ruka added with a wink.
Hours had passed since the explosion.
The sun now hung low over the academy grounds, casting the training field in a warm, golden hue. The once-roaring chaos had faded into a strange kind of peace. The air still carried faint hints of soot and ozone, the lingering scent of spent spells and scorched wood.
"How long… did they fight?" a student asked, voice trembling, eyes fixed on the cratered field.
"Three? Four hours?" another murmured, shivering."I—I wouldn't have lasted past the first strike…"
The sheer intensity of the battle left everyone in awe. Dust shimmered in the sunlight, and the scent of burnt Mana and charred wood lingered. Every detail—the cracked stone, scorched grass, and deep craters—spoke volumes about the sheer force of the exchange.
Kazuki moved deliberately, though beneath the calm exterior, he was exhilarated. This had been a much-needed workout.
Blood dripping down his forehead, arms bruised and scratched. He picked up his coat.
Then he approached the largest crater, carefully lifting the exhausted Hibiki onto his shoulders. Her limbs hung loose, sweat glistening on her skin, hair disheveled, eyes half-closed in fatigue. The students couldn't tear their eyes away, a mixture of awe and fear rooting them in place.
"Professor… is it true that Professor Kazuki is a bottomless pit of Mana?" a small voice dared to ask.
Sagiri, holding her temple and exhaling softly, muttered,
"He told that story, didn't he…"
"He is… special," Saki added, her tone calm and almost playful, though her gaze remained piercing."He does hold more Mana than a typical sorcerer. But that isn't the real reason we call him that."
Her voice lowered slightly, drawing the students in."The true reason… is that he processes Arcana as fast as he expends Mana. In a battle of attrition, Kazuki would outlast every professor in this academy. Every single one."
A hush fell over the students. Their eyes were glued to him, trying to reconcile the calm figure before them with the force that had just rocked the hangar.
Saki's gaze softened ever so slightly, just enough to betray a rare flicker of admiration."And that's why he's one of a kind."
"But… all that control can take a toll," Mikan said softly, watching Kazuki carry Hibiki."Maybe that's why he seems… tired all the time."
A student piped up, curiosity burning in their eyes."Headmistress… if Professor Kazuki fought you… who would win?"
Saki's smile was calm, teasing, her gaze sharp."Well… if we fought at midnight, that might… cause a problem," she said with a faint chuckle."But would you lose?" the student pressed.
Saki gave a smirk, however the emotion behind it is unreadable."Who knows?" Her tone left the students both exhilarated and unnerved.
Kazuki approached, dropping Hibiki onto the ground. She groaned, sprawled in exhaustion."Good workout there," Ruka teased, crouching to check Hibiki."Don't you start," Hibiki muttered weakly.
Mikan stepped forward, her movements calm and precise, exuding a quiet authority that contrasted the chaos around them."Kazuki, have a seat," she said, voice soft but firm.
He glanced at her and shook his head."It's just a scratch," he said, breathing heavily."You're bleeding!" she insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Catching his breath, he lowered himself onto a bench. Mikan knelt in front of him, her hands moving with practiced care as she brushed back his bangs and cleaned the cuts with antiseptic. The faint glow of her touch seemed to soothe more than just the physical wounds. For a moment, Kazuki allowed himself a small measure of vulnerability, exhaling and closing his eyes.
"Ow—" he flinched at the sting."Jeez," Mikan said, her soft chuckle cutting through the tension, her eyes flicking up briefly to meet his.
"You can take punches from Hibiki but can't handle a little disinfectant?""It stings…" he muttered, half-pouting, the corners of his mouth twitching in reluctant amusement.
Her laughter was soft, fleeting, like sunlight breaking through smoke, carrying warmth without effort.
The students, meanwhile, were losing their collective minds.
"Is this… the nurse and the veteran moment?!" one girl whispered, voice trembling with excitement."The angle—the lighting! This is straight out of a novel!" another exclaimed, clutching her sketchbook like a lifeline."Shh! Write that down! WRITE THAT DOWN!" someone else hissed, already scribbling frantically, the tips of their pencils leaving hurried trails across paper as they tried to capture every fleeting detail.
Even from a distance, the gentle tension between the healer and the battle-worn veteran radiated, leaving the students caught between awe, fascination, and a tiny, unspoken sense of envy.
Saki, standing nearby with her arms folded, looked on with a half-smile that betrayed her amusement.
"So," she began, tone casual but eyes sharp,
"What exactly caused the explosion?"
Sagiri emerged from the smoke-stained hangar, her once pristine lab coat now smudged with ash.
"I found some rune fragments," she said, holding up a charred piece of crystal etched with intricate symbols.
"I think—"
"Sagiri."
Kazuki's voice cut through her words, calm but firm. His gaze met hers — a silent warning.
She hesitated, then nodded in understanding. He didn't want the students hearing that the explosion wasn't an accident. Not yet.
"Of course," she said softly, tucking the fragments into her pocket.
Mikan finished, leaning back."There, all set.""Try not to fight Hibiki again," she said."Not if she threw the first punch," Kazuki replied with a tired smirk.
The students laughed quietly, relief washing over them. The golden dusk settled across the field, leaving the academy alive, battered, but breathing.