As soon as the first round began, the character controlled by Eriri launched a fierce attack. Judging by the action, it was an almost one-sided beatdown. (Continued)

Now, Chika had only one card left that wasn't the Joker.

"I lost...!"

Takanashi Rikka was devastated, her head drooping.

"You've still got a long way to go."

Fujiwara Chika put her hands on her hips, eyes shining with pride, and even repeated the line.

Turning around, she met a look of disdain.

"Chika, you're such a dirty player!"

Thunder Hammer User, here I come!

"Why? Izumi-chan, why are you suddenly saying that about me?!"

Fujiwara Chika still tried to sound righteous, but her gaze had already begun to wander.

"Sage, did you notice something?"

Takanashi Rikka had recovered from the blow, suspicion in her eyes.

"Take a close look at the upper-left corner of the Joker."

Hasegawa Izumi pointed to the spot.

"Hm?"

Following his instructions, Takanashi Rikka picked up the Joker. As her fingers touched its edge, she felt something off.

This spot had clearly been rubbed, unlike the other cards!

That way, she could avoid drawing the Joker.

"So... Fujiwara-san, you actually schemed against me! You mere mortal, how dare you grow so carried away!"

Her expression changed in an instant. She stood up and accused the girl with cherry-blossom-pink hair and a black bow.

Fujiwara Chika immediately lowered her head like a child who'd been caught misbehaving. Her lips were pursed, her cheeks flushed, and she said nothing.

Getting caught cheating was unbearably embarrassing!

"Chika, it seems like you'll never kick that bad habit."

Hasegawa Izumi's words weren't particularly harsh.

He was used to it.

Back then, Chika had used countless tricks to beat him at games. He'd simply seen through every one of them.

He'd thought she would turn over a new leaf, but she still couldn't resist taking a chance.

"Because... because I just wanted to beat you once, Izumi-chan!"

Fujiwara Chika covered her burning-red face and dashed out of the room.

Her exploit had been discovered, and she didn't have a membership. Her only choice was to temporarily leave the game.

"What happened? Did Hasegawa bully Fujiwara-san until she cried?"

"I doubt it. Maybe Fujiwara-san confessed to him and got rejected!"

"Don't be ridiculous. There's no way Fujiwara-san would date anyone, and Hasegawa wouldn't either!"

The other students in the classroom had also turned to look, exchanging their own theories.

It was just after the first class of the afternoon had ended.

"Hasegawa-kun."

A voice suddenly called from the door at the back of the classroom.

He turned to look. It was a girl with glasses—the head of the News Department, Asahi Shizuku, who seemed like a gentle sort.

She brought them some unexpected news.

"They turned us down?"

At the corner near the rooftop, Hasegawa Izumi looked surprised as he listened to her.

"That's right. I've confirmed it. The Soccer Club rejected your challenge."

Asahi Shizuku nodded.

"To avoid the fated battle is the act of a weakling! We may as well disband them. This world is cruel, after all. There's no place for the weak."

Takanashi Rikka delivered her verdict with scorn.

"Their reason was that they didn't have enough people."

The girl adjusted the bridge of her glasses and gave their reason.

"Not enough people?"

Hasegawa Izumi let out a surprised little sound.

"Right, of course. I almost forgot something so important. It would be a bit much to go play against them all by myself. It's only natural they wouldn't agree."

Were you actually planning to take on the entire team by yourself?

The corner of Asahi Shizuku's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. She fought back the urge to make that comment.

"Actually, that's not it. Quite a few members graduated last year, and for some reason, the team had to be re-formed this year. They still haven't managed to put a full team together."

She explained.

"So be it. Then we'll skip the Soccer Club and challenge the Basketball Club instead."

After a moment's thought, Hasegawa Izumi decided to change their target.

They'd already built up enough momentum, and it wouldn't matter much if they didn't have a soccer team of their own.

"What about the time we agreed on? Is it still tomorrow?"

Asahi Shizuku asked because school was nearly over and the other side would need time to prepare.

"No. This time, let's make it after school this Friday."

He shook his head.

Hadn't he been in such a hurry all this time?

Asahi Shizuku was surprised, but didn't ask anything. She turned and left.

"Sage, are you going to make a new plan?"

Takanashi Rikka stepped closer and asked.

"What do you think, Rikka?"

He smiled slightly, answering with a question of his own.

Another test?

The girl closed her eyes and began searching for clues in their earlier conversation.

She believed Izumi never spoke without a purpose.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes. "Sage focused on the number of players just now, then deliberately chose a challenge that involved several people and left plenty of time. This means Sage doesn't plan to take them on alone. Instead... he intends to assemble a strong team to complete the mission."

"Exactly. That's what I had in mind."

As he spoke, Hasegawa Izumi headed downstairs. Rikka followed step by step, listening as they went.

"We didn't establish the Far East Magic Society just so I could make a name for myself. We founded it to seek out more like-minded companions. So I plan to use this opportunity to support potential candidates."

"That's what Sage is thinking?"

A glimmer of hope shone in the girl's eyes.

"That's right."

He said firmly.

The girl said no more. She had taken his words to heart.

My great Izumi needs no words of praise!

So, who should they choose?

That question became a problem for the two of them.

A regular basketball team needed five starting players and seven substitutes.

Clearly, even without substitutes, they needed five people to form a team that could take on the Basketball Club.

Aside from the two of them, they needed three more.

But where would they find them?

After school, the classroom gradually emptied.

Hasegawa Izumi and Takanashi Rikka faced each other, feeling a little awkward.

They could change their plans on the spot, but they'd forgotten the crucial problem of connections.

Ask Eriri? As if!

If his frail Childhood Friend got hurt, he'd never be able to face Aunt Sayuri, who'd always looked after him.

That was the first option to cross off.

"Chika, Nibuya, and... could Shirogane count as one?"

He nearly laughed at the thought.

What kind of candidates were those?!

Just then, Rikka, sitting at the next desk, broke the deadlock.

"The time is right. It's about time to bring her onstage!"

"Rikka, do you have someone in mind?"

He looked surprised.

From what he'd seen so far, Rikka seemed more like a loner.

"Of course! My loyal First Servant. It was thanks to her recommendation that I was able to meet Sage here."

She said with conviction.

"It's me. The Cardinal has begun to act. By order of the Vatican Magic Society, the situation is thus and such, and so on and so forth..."

Without another word, the girl picked up her phone and dialed a number she hadn't called in ages.

"You even used code? Your security measures are impressive."

He praised her.

A while later, the two of them arrived at a park outside the school and waited quietly.

Suddenly, a gust of wind stirred the grass and trees nearby.

Where their eyes fell, a figure leaped up from the flower bed and landed in front of them in a half-crouch.

She braced one hand on the ground and slowly raised her head. Her sky-blue eyes were clear.

"The Wicked Eye of the Tyrant King Wielder Takanashi Rikka's First Servant, Controller of the Thunder Hammer, Dekomori Sanae, has arrived!"

Burst forth, reality! Shatter, nerves!

Dekomori Sanae made a V sign with one hand and extended the other, striking a rather dignified pose with her delicate figure.

Only then did Hasegawa Izumi get a good look at her.

The girl before him was petite, with blonde hair tied into twin tails. She wore the uniform of Shuchiin's middle school division. In some ways, she resembled his Childhood Friend, but her twin tails were unusually long, reaching past her knees and nearly to the ground. Something like a pair of sandbags was tied to the ends.

It was an unusual style, but as Rikka's servant and a newcomer who'd only just made her debut, such a flashy look seemed fairly normal.

"So you're Dekomori? I'm Hasegawa Izumi, Rikka's ally and the current leader of the Far East Magic Society. It's a pleasure to meet you."