Chapter 2

Saturday, March 15, 2098.

The First High School affiliated to the magic university finally had its graduation ceremony.

And not just First High, the graduation ceremonies of all the high schools except Third and Sixth High Schools will be held today.

The large contingent of Soviet troops that had been assembled in Vladivostok was gradually reducing in number since March 10, and on March 13 it was confirmed that the situation had returned to normal, but the high alert in the coastal city on the Sea of Japan will not be lifted until tomorrow, March 16. Kanazawa's Third and Sixth High are in no condition to hold graduation ceremonies. The decision to postpone the ceremonies seems to have been appropriated.

A large number of parents and guests are looking on as the graduation ceremony proceeds in a solemn manner. This is the kind of thing that hasn't changed much since the last century.

The number of graduates in the year of 2097 was one hundred and seventy. This means that 30 students have withdrawn from school since the time of enrolment. This number is neither more nor less than in previous years. It had been expected that the number of students dropping out of the school would decrease with the establishment of the Magic Engineering course, and it seems that the effect of this new course will still be felt for some time to come.

On the other hand, one hundred and twenty-eight of the graduates will go on to study at the Magic University, and fifteen students will go on to study at the National Defense Academy. The percentage of graduates who entered the University of Magic increased by about 10%, while the percentage of graduates who chose the National Defense Academy decreased slightly. This could be said to be the effect of the new Magic Engineering course.

The Magic Engineering course had not a single drop out of the department since it was established as a second-year college. The fact that all twenty-five students graduated was the most outstanding accomplishment of the entire class.

Until last year, the students who were deemed to be the best in terms of their grades as well as their extracurricular activities were the first to receive their diplomas, and from then on, regardless of their grades, the A class was the first to be awarded.

This year, however, there was a slight difference.

The first person to be called by name was Miyuki. This was a reasonable outcome that everyone could agree on.

The last, however, was not a graduate of Class H.

The last person to be called by name was Tatsuya.

In front of Tatsuya, who went up on the stage, the principal of the school, Momoyama read out the graduation certificate again.

"—I certify that you have completed the prescribed study course and have graduated from your High School studies."

The written text was uninteresting and safe, as per the template.

But it didn't end there.

"I would also like to express my gratitude to you for the many contributions you made to various fields during your time at this school, which greatly enhanced the honor of this school. Principal of National Magic University First High School, Azuma Momoyama."

The only letter given to him was a graduation certificate. But it's an unprecedented event for a graduate to receive a word of thanks from the principal at the graduation ceremony.

There was a brief silence, that was poked first by a sparse applause, that soon burst out.

Tatsuya, who had entered the school as an irregular student, arrived at graduation as a nonstandard student who was beyond comparison in terms of superiority.

Until last year, the graduation party held at the school after the graduation ceremony was divided into two separate parties for first and second course students. But this year's party was held at a single venue, with no distinction made between first course students, second course students and Magic Engineering course students.

Since the number of people have doubled, the party will be held in the courtyard instead of the small gym —of the two small gyms. it was planned to set up a huge tent on the roofs of the main school building, the practical skill building, and the experimental building. Fortunately, today's weather was mild and sunny, so it didn't turn into a garden party under a tent.

After the graduation ceremony, the graduates are moving in large numbers from the auditorium to the courtyard where the party will take place. On the way, the scenery is no different than any other high school, with female students stopping the graduates to say goodbye and shedding tears, and graduates crying over the tears of their juniors.

Tatsuya and the usual members were also in one group, heading to the venue at the same pace as the other graduates.

"That was not terrible, though. It's unheard of for a principal to show gratitude like that at a graduation ceremony, isn't it?"

Leo let out an exclamation of admiration with an excited expression lingering on his face.

"That must have been a desperate measure for the school."

"What do you mean?"

Erika wasn't the only one who had a strange look on her face at Tatsuya's response.

"My attendance exemption and exam exemption were on the premise that I participated in the Dione project. I guess they needed another excuse to get me to graduate with my lack of attendance and credits."

"..I'm sure there's more to it than that."

"That's right! In fact, It was because of Tatsuya-san's big achievements that you earned the school's appreciation."

Following Erika, Honoka eagerly tried to clear up Tatsuya's misunderstanding.

They all arrived at the courtyard hall in such a fuss, and separated at the entrance. Erika and Leo went to their classmates from Class F, Honoka and Shizuku were called by Eimi and Subaru, who fought together in the freshman division of Nine Schools Competition, Mitsuki went to her friends in the art club, and Mikihiko followed her.

The three, Tatsuya, Miyuki, and Lina, were now alone. Actually, Izumi, the current Student Council President, walks up to Miyuki. She was accompanied by a male student dressed in a red uniform.

"Ichijou-san?"

Just as Miyuki couldn't help but raise her voice, the boy was a Third High student, Ichijou Masaki.

"..Shiba-san. It's been a while.".

With an embarrassed look on his face, Masaki greeted Miyuki. Tatsuya and Lina were naturally ignored.

"Yes. It's been a while. But.."

"I know it sounds presumptuous, but I've invited him here."

Izumi spoke to Miyuki, who swallowed the line "why", from the side.

"Although it was only for one month, Ichijou-senpai is also a graduate who attended this school. That's the reason why I asked him to come to Tokyo."

The graduation ceremony of the Third High has been postponed, so technically speaking, Masaki is not yet a graduate.

"Yeah. Izumi, you're very considerate."

However, Miyuki didn't point out such a trivial subject, but instead worked on Izumi's attentiveness.

"You waste your words on me!"

Nodding with a smile at Izumi, who expressed her excitement with her whole body, Miyuki returned her gaze to Masaki.

"When did you arrive in Tokyo, Ichijou-san?"

"It was the day before yesterday. As the NSU military deployment has normalized, I've decided to come to Tokyo a little earlier than the graduation ceremony."

For some reason, Masaki acted a bit flustered here.

"Well, I finished greeting the Saegusa and Jumonji families, who are based in Tokyo, the day before yesterday."

Miyuki looks up quizzical at Masaki. With a face that says, "I don't know why you would dare to say such an obvious thing at this time".

"I see. I'm sure that's why Izumi was the first to know about Ichijou's arrival in Tokyo."

"Yeah."

A relieved look appeared on Masaki's face at Tatsuya's helping hand.

That's when Masaki's attention finally turned to something other than Miyuki.

He looked suspiciously at Lina in particular.

"Ichijou-san, she's Angelina Kudou Shields. Given some circumstances she is staying at our home."

Noticing his gaze, Miyuki introduced Lina to Masaki.

"I'm Angelina Kudou Shields. Please call me Lina."

After receiving Miyuki's words, Lina greets him with one of her best smiles.

"Ah, yes. Uh, I'm Ichijou Masaki. It's nice to meet you, Lina-san."

Masaki returned with an introduction of himself, a little flustered. While he liked Miyuki, he still couldn't help but feel nothing about Lina's beauty.

But Masaki wasn't just uptight. He wasn't weak to women. Miyuki is just an exception.

"Excuse me.., but when you mean Kudou..?"

Lina wasn't surprised by Masaki's conjecture.

"Yes. As you can imagine, my grandfather is the brother of His Excellency Kudou, who passed away recently."

Lina considers to what extent the name "Kudou Shogun" is famous among Japanese magicians. Since, there is a precedent with Tatsuya. He also asked her at their first meeting, "Are you related to His Excellency Kudou?".

"I see.. It's better not to ask why you've in custody with the Yotsuba family instead of the Kudou family, despite being related to Patriarch's blood, right?"

There was a "?" mark on Lina's expression for a moment because of Masaki's question. The reason for Lina's puzzlement was because she didn't understand the term "Patriarch" when referring to Elder Kudou.

"Ichijou-san, Lina is not in the custody of the Yotsuba family."

While Lina is puzzled, Miyuki intercepts the gap to answer.

A certain someone asked me and Tatsuya-sama to take care of Lena.. and we've been taking care of her since then.

"A certain someone....? No, I'm sorry for prying.."

Masaki didn't step in any further. It wasn't because the other party was Miyuki. The way she blurred their identity as "A certain someone" smelled a secret, so he avoided touching the topic. It was a natural sense of risk as the heir of one of the Ten Master Clans.

At the same time, Masaki felt a strange sense of defeat for Tatsuya. In terms of combat power, even if his opponent was Tatsuya, who became the "world's" threat, Masaki thought he was not inferior to him with "Ocean Blast" in his hands. —no, he still thinks so. Since the first time when he used new strategic magic, Masaki has been studying and improving "Ocean Blast" in this short period of time to a level that can be described as "evolved".

But now, Miyuki hinted at a personal connection of Tatsuya, foreshadowing a deep and ridiculous abyss of power that could not be matched by strength alone. Masaki felt something similar to the inferiority complex that a child has for an adult in Tatsuya, who was the same age as him, yet had cut deep in the society.

"—Shiba. Can you give me some time after the opening ceremony is over?"

It was the impatience created by this youthful rebellion against the sense of defeat that caused him to say such a thing so impatiently.

After a brief opening address, not too long and not too short, and acknowledgements from Miyuki, representing the graduates, there was free time where the entertainment organized by volunteers within the current students began. Most of the eyes of the audience turned to the stage set up in the center of the courtyard, which looked like a Bon Festival Dance's tower1. It was the perfect time to slip out.

Tatsuya looked over at Masaki and moved alone to the vacant lot behind the small gymnasium on the opposite side of the auditorium.

"So, what do you want?"

When Tatsuya asked him, Masaki pulled his lips into a tight knot, his hands clenched at the sides of his body, and he poured strength on his back, his stomach, and his eyes.

"Shiba, I like Shiba Miyuki-san."

Masaki's voice sounded like it was about to start trembling at any moment.

"I know. So?"

There was no agitation or tension in Tatsuya's voice as he responded.

"."

Masaki did not immediately continue.

"So?"

"."

Masaki remains silent, and Tatsuya turns his back.

"Wait!"

Masaki stopped Tatsuya in a hurry.

Tatsuya, who was in the middle of turning away, turned back with an annoyed expression on his face and faced Masaki head on.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Shiba, do you like her at....?"

"Of course I like Miyuki."

Tatsuya answered Masaki's question with a dumbfounded tone.

To Tatsuya, it was a question that was too obvious for him to not remember ever having the need to answer.

"In what sense do you like it!"

But from the standpoint of Masaki, the answer was not obvious, but unclear.

Tatsuya frowned his eyebrows and wondered for about three seconds what Masaki was asking.

"—I love Miyuki."

Masaki was frightened by the straight-faced answer Tatsuya gave.

But Masaki didn't back down here.

"Do you seriously love her as a woman?"

"..Miyuki as a woman."

Masaki didn't overlook the fact that Tatsuya fumbled for a moment.

"Don't misunderstand it! You only love her as a sister, not as a woman, don't you!?"

"—Huh"

Tatsuya's breath stops for a moment.

Tatsuya does love Miyuki from the bottom of his heart. There is no falsehood there.

—But does he love Miyuki as a woman?

—Don't he just love her as a sister?

It's a question Tatsuya has asked himself, and he had doubts if he could answer it.

It was a thorn that had been stabbing at Tatsuya's heart ever since the day he became Miyuki's fiancée.

Masaki's words unintentionally hit Tatsuya's Achilles' heel.

"You have no right to say such things to me!"

Tatsuya raised his voice for the first time as he was hit in a sore spot.

"Ichijou, you're the one who's just attracted to Miyuki's appearance!"

"Kuh—..... What's wrong with falling in love with her appearance!"

Masaki, too, was greatly damaged by Tatsuya's point.

The two of them had their composure greatly scraped off by each other's words.

"Can I believe you if you say that you like her just because of her looks!"

"It's not just about looks! I'm sure I can love everything about her!"

"You don't even know Miyuki well enough to have something to love about! It's just a frivolous love at first sight, isn't it?"

Tatsuya's voice was also followed by Masaki and they became more and more heated up.

"What is wrong with love at first sight? When I saw her for the first time, I knew it was fate!"

''Fate!? Like that's ground for anything!''

''You were chosen as her fiancée just because you were related to her by blood! That's just luck!''

''There's more than a decade of accumulated time together between me and Miyuki!''

''That's why I'm saying it was just a stroke of luck!''

''What happened in the past is a fact. Fate is just an assumption! The fact that I'm Miyuki's fiancée is already a fact!''

"I don't accept facts that were decided by adults for their convenience!"

Masaki shouted.

As if that was a signal, neither the excited Tatsuya nor Masaki noticed that the music that was coming from the courtyard was no longer heard. —At this time, the Tatsuya's emotions limiter was not functioning. Emotions related to Miyuki were not subject to mental modification. There was nothing to bind Tatsuya's emotions in this situation where the two men were fighting over Miyuki.

"I am more fitting for Miyuki-san!"

Masaki swings his right hand at Tatsuya and strikes at him.

It's a big swinging punch that lacks composure. It was easy to duck it.

But Tatsuya didn't dodge . He deliberately took Masaki's punch with his face.

"Don't call Miyuki's name so intimately!"

Tatsuya punched back at Masaki.

It was an incredible rough blow instead of what would be expected from someone notable for his fighting skills.

But even Masaki took that fist in the face.

"Let me at least call her by the name!"

Masaki punches back.

"Like you would deserve it more than me!"

Tatsuya punches back.

Masaki stumbled.

"—Don't joke with me!"

Tatsuya doesn't chase after him. He glares at Masaki with furious eyes and shouts at him.

"There's no way I'm joking around!"

Masaki gets back on his feet and hits Tatsuya again.

—You are not going to be able to duck, prevent, or cheat, there is no excuse at all, you must defeat the man in front of you with your own bare self.

—You have to show my opponent that your feelings are stronger than his!

They strongly recited this conviction in their minds

They were strongly reminded and convinced.

They shouted a word at each other, and dutifully took turns in fisting each other, one shot at a time.

Both men's lips were cut and their cheeks were swollen. However, neither of them are seriously injured beyond that, such as a broken tooth, for example. It's probably because they are both clenching their teeth tightly and not using their martial skills. The two of them dare not use any techniques, they just beat each other with their bare strength.

"I'm the one who loves Miyuki the most!"

Tatsuya's fist strikes Masaki.

"I can love her better than you!"

Masaki's fist strikes Tatsuya.

"I love her the most!"

Strike.

"That's me!"

Strike.

"Me!"

Hitting

"Me!"

Hitting.

Just that exchange is repeated over and over again.

Both Tatsuya's and Masaki's fists have lost their initial momentum and have lost their pace.

Both Tatsuya and Masaki exchange punches in silence, as if they don't have the energy to spare to say a brief word now.

Still, the two do not stop.

They don't stop raising their arms.

Both of them are hitting each other only because of stubbornness.

But there is a limit to their energy. No, there may be no limit to the strength of their feelings, but their body can't keep up.

In the trial of strength and endurance.., Tatsuya has the upper hand.

Tatsuya's weak punch catches Masaki's side of the face, and Masaki slowly collapses to the ground.

Tatsuya stepped on his feet, supported his body, which was about to fall, with his willpower, and while exhaling a rough breath, mustered his strength in a shout.

"I won't let anyone else have Miyuki!"

He let out a rough victorious war cry.

Shortly thereafter.

Tatsuya was showered by a thunderous applause.

With his astonishment laid bare he surveyed the vicinity

The vacant lot where Tatsuya and Masaki had been beating each other up was surrounded by graduates and current students who must have been attending the graduation party at some point.

Miyuki, who was standing in the front row, stumbles a step or two forward after her back is pushed.

It was a Honoka smiling through tears that pushed Miyuki's back.

Miyuki's cheeks dyed bright red while she was walking up to Tatsuya

It wasn't just shyness that was making her blush.

'Tatsuya-sama....'

Tatsuya could not utter a word back right away. He was more shaken than ever before.

"Me too."

".."

"I also won't let anyone else have Tatsuya-sama."

A wow, and a cheer rises.

A roar of applause reverberated.

After looking around to the left and right, Tatsuya's blood-soaked lips parted in a contemplative smile.

"Miyuki."

He gently called his beloved's name and wrapped his hands around hers vigorously.

"Let's run away."

Tatsuya then announced the shameful line proudly.

"Yes!"

Tatsuya pulled Miyuki's hand away and ran off.

Miyuki followed Tatsuya's back with a smile full of happiness.

There was a crowd of people lined up in the road in front of them.

They were greeted with applause and ran down the single path that had been created between the crowd of people.

They could see Lina's figure in the crowd. When their gazes met, Lina smiled and gave a thumbs up.

I can see Honoka and Shizuku in the crowd. Honoka has her face down on Shizuku's shoulder and is actually gently stroking her head.

Erika and Leo can also be seen in the crowd. They give a teasing, but never scornful, smile.

Mizuki and Mikihiko can be seen in the human fence. Mizuki just clapped her hands incessantly, while Mikihiko went along with it with a wry smile.

Izumi and Kasumi can be seen in the crowd. Izumi glares at Tatsuya in a hushed way, while Kasumi waves at him with a happy, relieved smile, trying not to look at Izumi.

The crowd breaks up.

Ahead of them is a row of cherry blossom trees leading up to the school gate.

They are in early bloom this year, and the cherry blossoms have already begun to fall.

Tatsuya and Miyuki run under the dancing cherry blossoms.

Holding hands tightly, the two run through the flurry of failing cherry blossoms.