Mari Watanabe

Biodata

Power Progression

Mari’s documented improvements come through CAD optimization and new spell applications rather than named cultivation realms.

Personality

Mari is normally calm and steady, but becomes openly exuberant when she wins decisively. After her Battle Board preliminary, she repeatedly celebrates having overwhelmed her opponents rather than barely defeating them 77.

As committee chair, she rejects discrimination against Course 2 students and challenges the assumption that precedent should determine their opportunities. Her reformist outlook is tempered by caution: she wants gradual improvement and refuses Chiba Yeyou’s proposal to deliberately escalate the Course 1–Course 2 conflict 14 17 25.

She frequently teases her friends, particularly Mayumi about her interest in Chiba Yeyou and Hattori about his name. In contrast, affectionate remarks from Shuji Chiba leave her blushing and struggling to respond 22 98 149.

Abilities & Skills

Acceleration, Movement, and Hardening Magic

Mari identifies acceleration and movement as her strongest magical fields, while also regularly using weight and hardening magic 62.

• Secures herself to her Battle Board with hardening magic, then applies Self-Acceleration to herself and the board together 75.
• Maintains control when opponents disturb the water around her 75 92.
• Uses Self-Acceleration before engaging Lü Ganghu in close combat 151.

Light Energy Pulse

Light Energy Pulse lets Mari cross a long, straight section of the Battle Board course in half a second. Its safe operation depends on the protective measures Chiba Yeyou provides 75 100.

• Setup: She must align herself for straight travel before activation 75.
• Duration: Automatically limited to half a second, including deceleration 75.
• Cost: Consumes enormous quantities of Psions; approximately five uses would leave her unable to cast further magic 75.
• Restriction: Cannot be used repeatedly in immediate succession 75.
• Safety: Chiba’s safeguards prevent bodily harm from its extreme acceleration and backlash 75 100.

Magical Swordsmanship

Mari’s magical swordsmanship impresses Sayaka Mibu enough that Mibu asks her for instruction. Mari nevertheless considers Mibu the better swordswoman and declines to serve as her practice opponent 52.

• Combines acceleration magic with a segmented weapon that can switch from rigid slashes to flexible, whip-like attacks 151.
• Prepares detached weapon sections to exploit an opponent’s opening 151.
• Incapacitates Lü Ganghu by slashing both shoulders while he is occupied with Chiba Yeyou’s attack 151.

Magical Analysis and Investigation

Mari notices important details in magical encounters and questions explanations that do not fit the evidence 10 12.

• Recognizes that Chiba Yeyou fought without a CAD and estimates that his gravity spell exerted at least thirty times normal gravity 10.
• Identifies Tatsuya Shiba’s ability to read unfolding Activation Sequences as valuable for disciplinary work 12 14.
• Notices that Chiba can vary Flame Hell’s range and power far beyond ordinary repeated practice 107.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Competition CAD — Optimized by Chiba Yeyou for faster operation and stronger interference with phenomena. It carries Light Energy Pulse, safety measures, and a monitoring program used to collect spell data 74 75 76.
• Spare competition CAD — Lent to Chiba Yeyou when he investigates the sabotage of Kobayakawa’s equipment 128.
• Wrist-mounted CAD — Used before confronting Lü Ganghu at the Hachioji Special Juvenile Detention Center 151.
• Segmented black weapon — A specially made, ruler-shaped weapon carried at her waist. It separates into sections, attacks like a whip, and can deploy detached blocks for follow-up strikes 151.

Relationships

• Shuji Chiba — Boyfriend, whom she calls “Shu.” Mari declares that she would never betray him and later asks him to help protect First High’s affairs. His injury at Lü Ganghu’s hands gives her a personal reason to confront Lü 25 149 151.
• Mayumi Saegusa — Close friend and Student Council president. They cooperate on discipline and competition matters, while Mari regularly teases Mayumi about her growing attachment to Chiba Yeyou 12 17 77 98.
• Chiba Yeyou — Friend, technical supporter, and occasional disciplinary assistant. His CAD work changes Mari’s appreciation of engineers; she offers him employment with her family, which he declines 28 77 99 149.
• Tatsuya Shiba — Committee recruit whose analytical ability she values. She supports his appointment despite his Course 2 status and later recommends him for competition technical staff 14 24 56.
• Erika Chiba — Committee subordinate and Shuji’s younger sister. Erika resents Mari for “stealing” her brother and openly challenges her suitability as his partner 24 25.
• Hattori Gyoubu — Student Council vice president. Mari opposes his objections to Course 2 appointments, reprimands his use of “Weeds,” and deliberately teases him with forms of his name 14 22.
• Sayaka Mibu — Student who mistakes Mari’s refusal to spar for discrimination. Mari clarifies that she was acknowledging Mibu’s superior swordsmanship 52.
• Risa Kuroki — Longstanding Battle Board rival from Seventh High. Mari respects her aquatic skill and admits that Risa repeatedly pressures her at the course’s turns 92.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Committee Recruitment and Course Divisions

Mari first appears seeking personnel for the understaffed Public Morals Committee. During a confrontation between Course 1 and Course 2 students, she questions Tatsuya’s claim that the incident was merely a magical demonstration. She accepts Mayumi’s request for leniency but makes a point of remembering his name 10 12.

After Chiba Yeyou recommends Tatsuya and Erika, Mari supports evaluating them despite Hattori’s objections. She argues that a committee composed entirely of Course 1 students risks reinforcing discrimination. Once both candidates defeat Hattori, she formally appoints them and defends their competence before the other members 14 17 24 28.

During club recruitment, she oversees patrols, questions Tatsuya about the kendo–swordsmanship club clash, and warns Chiba Yeyou against excessive force in enforcement 28 30 31.

Blanche Incident

Mari helps assess the broadcasting-room occupation, expressing concern that prolonged unrest may require force. She later leaves the handling of Sayaka Mibu to Tatsuya within the limits of his abilities 39 44.

At the infirmary, Mibu reveals that she interpreted Mari’s refusal to spar as contempt for Course 2 students. Mari corrects the misunderstanding: she had meant that her own swordsmanship was insufficient to provide Mibu with a suitable opponent. The revelation causes Mibu to break down 52.

Nine Schools Competition

An established competitor with previous event wins, Mari enters Battle Board as her main event. With Chiba Yeyou’s optimized CAD, she wins her preliminary by an entire straightaway and enthusiastically credits his technical support 62 75 76 77.

In a later race against Risa Kuroki and Makiko Hidaka, her early use of Light Energy Pulse disrupts a planned attack against her. The saboteur redirects Spirit Magic toward Risa, and both rival competitors are injured. Mari joins the rescue effort after reaching the finish, then helps assess the possibility of outside organizations targeting First High 92 93 94.

When Kobayakawa’s CAD subsequently fails during Mirage Bat, Mari rushes to assist her and lends Chiba her spare CAD for the investigation. Mari later dominates her own Mirage Bat match through sustained aerial movement 128 130.

Campus Espionage and Lü Ganghu

When First High comes under surveillance, Mari participates in discussions about protecting Suzune Ichihara’s experimental data. She also relays information about a student seeking revenge on Tatsuya and the unidentified people supporting her 143 146.

Mari recruits Shuji to assist with protection duties, and the pair respond when Lü Ganghu attacks their protected target at a hospital. The incident makes her more cautious about security, prompting her to arrange additional help at the detention center 149 151.

When Lü attacks again, Mari confronts him alongside Mayumi and Chiba Yeyou. As Lü blocks Chiba’s white beam with a prepared shield, Mari strikes from behind and incapacitates him, enabling his capture alive 151.

Notable Quotes

“I don't like the committee I lead promoting such discriminatory ideas!” 14

“What nonsense are you spouting? I would never betray Shu!” 25

Trivia

• Her popularity at the Nine Schools Competition comes from her previous victories, fluid movements, stylish magic, and battle plans. She encourages her fans by greeting them around the venue 76.
• She strongly dislikes being called “Boss.” When Koutarou Tatsumi uses it, she repeatedly hits him with rolled-up papers 25.
• After learning that Chiba’s assistance made Light Energy Pulse safe, she briefly fears that she has broken competition rules. He explains that his contribution consisted of protective measures 100.
• Her intimidating reputation extends beyond ordinary disciplinary work: Isao Sekimoto panics and instinctively reaches for his CAD when she enters his room 150.