At the start of the first round, the character controlled by Eriri launched a fierce assault, and the fight looked almost completely one-sided. (Continued)

Nibuya Morika looked puzzled, not yet noticing anything amiss.

But as Dekomori began flipping through the pages and reading aloud, her expression gradually changed.

"Although I've lost my memory."

"But I truly am a real magician who has lived for 500 years and still walks among the living."

"This is the story I recorded, guided by the spirits."

"My name is Mori Summer."

"Ah! I don't want to hear this! Aaaah...!"

Clutching her head, Nibuya was now in as much agony as Sun Wukong hearing the Tightening Spell, crying out in pain.

"As everyone knows, there are two worlds: a white world and a black world..."

Dekomori Sanae looked up at Nibuya, shook her head, then continued reading.

"Thud... Thud..."

Trying to distract herself, Nibuya Morika began banging her head against the wall.

Embarrassing, embarrassing, so embarrassing!

Which idiot wrote this stuff?!

And she'd even dared to dream of becoming a magician... Ah, it was me!

Never mind, then.

"Just hearing about Mori Summer's writings has made you lose yourself. You really aren't the one in my heart, Dekomori..."

Just as Dekomori Sanae was about to deliver her verdict,

Nibuya Morika abruptly spun around and charged at her, reaching out with her right hand.

"This stuff was buried by me in a distant age! It must never see the light of day again!"

But Takanashi Rikka and Fujiwara Chika stepped in front of her.

"Beyond this point, no entry!"

Takanashi Rikka held out her hand to stop her.

"Get out of my way!"

Nibuya Morika had lost her reason. Despite being outnumbered, she still tried to break through their blockade.

However, the two in front of her weren't about to give her the chance. They grabbed her and held her in place.

"Sorry, Nibuya-san, but I'm on Izumi-chan's side now."

Fujiwara Chika spoke with a hint of apology, though she looked absolutely thrilled.

"You want to take the Dark Grimoire from me? A mere mortal like you could never do that, death."

Dekomori Sanae closed the Dark Grimoire, then sneered and pointed her thumb down.

"Lord Sage, perhaps you've mistaken her for someone else. This Mori Summer is just an impostor, death."

Then she said this to Hasegawa as he walked over.

"Think about it. Nibuya Morika—doesn't Morika happen to read as 'Mori Summer'?"

Hasegawa Izumi shook his head and raised a finger.

"Maybe someone else stole her identity? Could this be another plot by the Management Bureau?"

Takanashi Rikka ventured a guess.

"Wait..."

Nibuya Morika, who had stopped struggling and run out of strength, suddenly had an idea.

There was still a chance to save her reputation: take back the Dark Grimoire and destroy it, wiping out the only evidence, then deny any connection to them. That way...

Don't blame me for being ruthless! You brought this on yourselves!

A cold glint flashed in her eyes.

Then Nibuya Morika began putting the first step into action.

"I am Mori Summer, and the Dark Grimoire really is my work."

Her expression returned to normal, and a warm smile spread across her face.

"Really? I don't believe you! Hmph, what can you do to prove it, death?"

Dekomori Sanae pointed at her.

"I know what's inside the Dark Grimoire."

She thought for a moment before answering.

"The great Mori Summer shared the Dark Grimoire on the Sea of Electrons, death. What's strange about you knowing its contents?"

Dekomori retorted.

What a troublesome brat!

Nibuya Morika grumbled inwardly, nearly losing her temper.

But if she didn't bear this humiliation, she'd have little chance of getting the Dark Grimoire back by normal means.

"Hasegawa can vouch for me. The Sage's judgment is never wrong, right?"

She could only turn to that man.

The man who had changed her life.

32: Testing the Waters

Though Hasegawa Izumi couldn't hear other people's thoughts, that didn't stop him from understanding why Nibuya had changed her tune.

It had to be because of the autobiography Dekomori had taken out, the one called the Dark Grimoire.

She couldn't hide how badly she wanted to get it back.

So he deliberately kept her waiting, saying, "I used to be certain of it too, but after everything that's happened recently, I've started to have my doubts... If she really were Mori Summer, she wouldn't turn down my invitation."

"An invitation?"

Nibuya Morika's expression shifted slightly.

She recalled what he'd said earlier in the gym, and there were exactly five people around them.

"Do you mean you want me to join you in the basketball game?"

She asked.

He smiled without answering.

At that moment, Nibuya Morika was deeply conflicted.

She really didn't want to agree, because she felt that doing so would only draw her further into this mess.

"See? You've given yourself away already! You're worried that if you spend too much time with us, your disguise will fall apart, death!"

Dekomori Sanae shouted from the side.

Nibuya clenched her teeth.

"I see. I... accept!"

Since Fujiwara-san had joined them too, Nibuya wasn't afraid of drawing too much attention to herself.

Once she got the Dark Grimoire back and distanced herself from them, everything would surely be fine!

"Then, welcome aboard, Nibuya."

The corners of Hasegawa Izumi's mouth lifted slightly.

"Um... Dekomori, right? Could you give my Dark Grimoire back to me?"

Nibuya Morika turned to test the waters.

Agreeing to join was only a temporary measure. Her goal hadn't changed.

"Impossible! Dekomori hasn't confirmed your true identity yet, death!"

Of course, Dekomori Sanae was still guarding the book like a hawk.

"Maybe after we finish this battle."

Takanashi Rikka chimed in.

"Very well."

Nibuya Morika sighed inwardly and could only accept her cruel fate.

Of course, if the chance came during training, she'd seize the opportunity to snatch it!

Playing in the game was a last resort.

No time to waste. They would start right away.

In a park with a basketball court near Shuchiin.

"There are three days left until Friday. Are you ready for hellish training? My motto is... If training won't kill you, train until it does!"

Hasegawa Izumi stood off to one side, addressing the four girls.

Don't you think we're a tiny bit short on time?

Nibuya Morika really wanted to complain about that.

But the others weren't saying anything, so she decided not to be the one to speak up.

The outcome didn't matter to her anyway.

"By the way, does anyone here know how to play basketball?"

His gaze swept across their faces.

"No."

They all shook their heads.

Not many girls liked playing basketball, especially when most of them weren't very tall.

"In that case, let's start with the basics."

He didn't seem rushed at all. Instead, he was very patient.

"I'll do my best to learn! I'll try not to hold everyone back!"

Fujiwara Chika, her hair tied in a high ponytail, was the first to set an example. She seemed to be the most enthusiastic of them all.

"Let the Wicked Eye of the Tyrant King behold it once, and I shall master it!"

"Dekomori will never bring shame upon the organization, death!"

Takanashi Rikka and Dekomori Sanae also cheered themselves on.

Is he really planning to teach us? In just two or three days?

Nibuya Morika still didn't believe it.

Hasegawa was good at basketball, sure, but could he really turn the impossible into reality?

Then,

Hasegawa Izumi taught them everything: how to dribble, pass, shoot, defend, and even get past an opponent.

"You're putting too much force into this... Right, your left hand should just support the ball."

"Keep your arms a little closer together, and relax your whole body a bit more."

"And your breathing—you need to keep a steady rhythm. Follow along with me. Once you learn to breathe properly, you won't get so tired."

He didn't just explain things verbally. He also personally adjusted their form, since that was the quickest way.

Of course, this meant their skin touched now and then.

Aside from their family members, no one had ever gotten this close to them before, and their cheeks couldn't help but flush.