In truth, Yunyi was hardly any better off than they were!
Honoka Mitsui and Mizuki Shibata had merely been caught in the crossfire. He was the target everyone had nearly hunted down! Remembering all those piercing gazes still brought tears to his eyes!
Perhaps because something similar had already happened yesterday, the news that spread that morning caused less of a stir. Even so, the occasional glances Yunyi received from his classmates in Class 1-E kept him from getting a proper nap all morning.
Their lunch break followed its usual routine: Yunyi went to the Student Council room with Tatsuya Shiba and Miyuki Shiba. That afternoon, the first-year students would undergo selection trials for the Nine Schools Competition.
Miyuki Shiba, who had placed first in the entrance exam, had been granted automatic entry and could have skipped the trials, but she went to the simulation area anyway. That was because her brother, Tatsuya Shiba, had agreed to her request to spar with Yunyi.
While they waited for the ice machine to make the icicles, Yunyi leaned over to Tatsuya Shiba and asked quietly, "Why didn't you stop your sister?"
Tatsuya Shiba was silent for a moment before answering, "It's the first time Miyuki has been so determined to win. I don't want to disappoint her. Besides, I don't think my sister will lose."
Yunyi rolled his eyes. This damn siscon is beyond saving!
"Then let me make this clear beforehand. If I win, you can't come after me about it later," Yunyi cautioned.
"Of course I won't..." Tatsuya Shiba was somewhat speechless. He had a lingering feeling that something was off about the way Yunyi viewed him and his sister.
Before long, the ice machine finished making eighteen icicles. Once they had been set in place, Miyuki Shiba and Yunyi stood on raised platforms at opposite ends of the field.
"Shiba, let me say this before we start. Even if you're Tatsuya's sister, I won't go easy on you!" Yunyi called to Miyuki Shiba across from him.
Miyuki Shiba chuckled and replied, "I couldn't ask for more."
Seeing that both sides were ready, Suzune Ichihara, who stood outside the field as referee, raised her hand.
The sparring match between the two first-years had attracted far more attention than either of them could have imagined.
The area around the field was packed with people. If First High School's big three hadn't all been present, maintaining order would probably have been difficult.
"Mayumi, what do you think of this match?" Mari Watanabe asked, standing beside Mayumi Saegusa.
"Hmm, I can't really say," Mayumi Saegusa replied.
If Yunyi were willing to use his true strength, Mayumi Saegusa was certain he would win! But that was a scenario she could only imagine. Yunyi would never use his full strength on an occasion like this, so she couldn't judge who would win. Even so, a voice in her head was telling her that Yunyi would win for certain!
"Begin!"
Suzune Ichihara brought her arm down, and both sides immediately unfolded the Activation Sequences they had prepared!
Suddenly, Yunyi's eyes narrowed slightly. He could clearly sense that his Activation Sequence was unfolding sluggishly, and he knew exactly what was causing it.
As expected of you, Miyuki Yotsuba. That Zone Interference that comes with unfolding your Activation Sequence would put an ordinary magician at a serious disadvantage!
Miyuki Shiba knew her own field interference ability better than anyone, so the instant she unfolded her Activation Sequence, she was already certain she had seized the initiative!
Using an Activation Sequence written for her by Tatsuya Shiba, she cast Inferno, an A-rank spell that was not supposed to make its appearance until the Nine Schools Competition.
Miyuki Shiba's half of the field was shrouded in icy cold, while Yunyi's half was engulfed in scorching flames.
"Whoa!"
"That's Inferno!? She can actually use that kind of magic!?"
"She's a first-year!? That's terrifying!"
"How is that possible? Wasn't the Activation Sequence for that spell never made public!?"
"Miyuki really is amazing!"
Watching the situation on the field, Mayumi Saegusa couldn't help sighing.
However, the expression on Tatsuya Shiba's face as he stood beside her was a little off.
He knew better than anyone what effects Inferno could have. Yet the scene on the field was not unfolding as he had expected.
"How is that possible!?" Surprise flashed in Miyuki Shiba's eyes as well. She could clearly sense that the icicles on Yunyi's half of the field were unaffected by Inferno. They weren't even beginning to melt!
Yunyi had already guessed what kind of attack Miyuki Shiba would use. When Inferno appeared, he didn't panic at all, because he had already cast Frozen Shadow on the nine icicles on his side!
Moreover, unlike Miyuki Shiba, he hadn't chosen a wide-area spell. He had chosen a small-scale spell that could be compressed.
An ordinary person wouldn't have used this method. But for Yunyi, repeatedly using Copying to reproduce the same spell several times was much easier than casting a new one.
Seeing that the icicles protected by Frozen Shadow could withstand Inferno's assault, Yunyi was in no hurry to go on the offensive. He looked toward Mayumi Saegusa outside the field, and when he saw the concern in her eyes, he gave her a small wink.
Seeing him like that, Mayumi Saegusa couldn't help laughing. She chided him silently, That bad guy.
Miyuki Shiba saw it too, but there was little she could do. This was where the greatest weakness of Modern Magic practitioners showed itself: most magicians had to rely on Activation Sequences stored in their CADs. Miyuki Shiba could indeed cast magic without an Activation Sequence, but those spells would undoubtedly be of little use in the current situation!
Tatsuya Shiba saw this too and sighed inwardly. Then he looked toward Yunyi on the platform, and when their eyes met, Tatsuya Shiba gave a small nod.
Receiving Tatsuya Shiba's signal, Yunyi pursed his lips.
The concern he had seen on Mayumi Saegusa's face still lingered in his mind. His fake girlfriend was so worried, so shouldn't he, her fake boyfriend, give her some kind of response?
And for Mayumi Saegusa, the best response right now would be the value he demonstrated. Did the Nine Schools Competition even matter? Wasn't someone from the Jumonji Family here too?
With that in mind, Yunyi made a decision.
"Shiba, you really are impressive. But I'm not that weak either!"
Yunyi lowered the CAD in his hand and extended a finger into the air.
"Gramarye!"