"Eh? Shizuku, did someone confess to you?"

  "It was a consultation.."

  So it wasn't with me, Shizuku implicitly denied.

  "Oh, okay then. So, who was it?"

  "Can't tell."

  "Don't say that, come on, tell me."

  "No can do. It's sensitive information."

  "Can you tell me what you mean by sensitive information…?"

  "Anyway, no."

  As she heard Honoka say "stingy," Shizuku hoped and prayed that the change would be good for her.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  171

  Honoka is an outstandingly beautiful woman, with a figure that is prominent where it should be and subdued where it should be. When she became a university student, she changed the school uniform for her casual clothes, which further accentuated her beauty.

  So much so, in fact, that there was no shortage of male students making passes at Honoka. But the reason why Torii Matomo is approaching Honoka is not because she is beautiful with a nice body.

  Then what is it?

  The motive was the emotional imprinting.

  There is a group of modern magicians in Japan called, "Elements." Their origins go back to the early days of the Magician Development Project, before even the Magician Development Institutes, which gave birth to the Ten Master Clans, were even operational.

  It was a time when the world had not yet established the classification of the Four Systems and Eight Types that make up the framework of Modern Magic. Since time immemorial, the traditional classification of attributes was in accordance with the general knowledge from that time, when "earth," "water," "fire," "wind," "light," and "thunder" were still considered to be effective. It was in accordance with this concept that the "Elements" bloodline was developed.

  Elements are magicians who have enhanced their interference force for specific events. In other words, they're magicians with bodies that can easily contain a soul that outputs a specific type of Event Interference Force, or Pushion Wave.

  In addition to the symmetrical physiology that magicians generally have, each Element has its own unique physical characteristics.

  For example, the "Fire" Element has well-developed inner muscles and impoverished outer muscles. The "Water" has a low body fat percentage regardless of gender. The "Earth" has a high bone density and therefore don't have thicker bones (since it has no need to).

  And the "Light" has higher levels of sex hormones. In men, they’ll have thicker beards and body hair, and more muscle mass. In women, breasts and hips are more prominent, and there is no unwanted hair.

  Matomo did not participate in the Nine Schools Competition in his first year of high school. He didn't even show up to cheer. So he didn't know Honoka when he was in high school. And due to the curriculum, he didn't actually meet Honoka during his first year at the university.

  172

  It was only in his second year that he saw Honoka up close. He knew immediately that she was an Element of "Light." Although the prominent feminine features did not necessarily mean that she was an element, Matomo could tell intuitively. After all, he too is an Element.

  Torii Matomo's attribute, or symbolic element, is "Wind." The external characteristics of the "Wind" Element are quite recognizable, having long necks and long ears. And that's exactly what Matomo looks like. He appears to have a small face because of his long neck, which gives a strong impression that he is taller than he really is. Paired with his large, that is to say long, ears, he gives off the impression as being from an "elven tribe" from some fantasy movie.

  At first, as a fellow Element, Matomo approached Honoka, curious to see if she would be able to identify his "Wind" too. But he soon fell captive to Honoka's charm. When he became seriously charmed by her, he soon found out that he already had a "love rival"

  named Tatsuya.

  Magic University students, as people who in some way or another are involved in magic, know the name Shiba Tatsuya. His track record sets him apart from the rest. He is barely as popular as Ichijou Masaki, the new nationally recognised Strategic-Class Magician. But when it comes to instilling fear ── of enemies and friends alike, Tatsuya is a cut above.

  When most students find out that Shiba Tatsuya is their rival, they give up. But Matomo didn't back down. Instead, he was hell-bent on rescuing the girl he had fallen in love with from her "unrequited love".

  No matter how curt Honoka was with him, Torii Matomo would not be discouraged.

  Although the "Wind" is associated with fickleness, his surname "Torii" means the west heading on the compass, that is, the "West." He was born with the "West Wind," the prevailing westerlies, which always blows from a specific direction.

  Undaunted by the name of Shiba Tatsuya, Torii Matomo proved to be a formidable rival for Shippou Takuma.

  Lunchtime on Friday. Takuma was ready to take action.

  "Shiba-senpai, Mitsui-senpai. Do you mind if I join you?"

  Takuma asked, as Tatsuya, Miyuki and Honoka sat around a table. Judging by how much still lay on their plates, they seem to have just started eating. The only reason why he was 173

  able to approach them in this situation was because they all knew each other, because of their senpai-kouhai relationship, that is to say.

  "Shippou, it's been a while, hasn't it?"

  Firstly, Tatsuya responded to Takuma.

  "Yes, it has. It's been a while."

  "Are you done with that job of yours?"

  Tatsuya knew that Takuma had been participating in the filming of a movie. Tatsuya knew that Takuma was involved in the filming of a movie because he is a part of Sawamura Maki’s plan to create jobs for Magians in the entertainment industry.

  "Yes, as of the end of last month."

  Aware of this, Takuma nodded in response to Tatsuya's question without becoming flustered.

  "Shippou-kun, I know it's been so long, but, there is…"

  Next, it was Honoka who spoke up to Takuma, looking apologetic.

  "Oh, you mean that you're waiting for Kitayama-senpai?"

  This table has seating for four. There was only one empty seat left.

  "Yeah, I'm sorry."

  "Okay, I understand. Well, maybe next time."

  Takuma backed down without a fight. To tell the truth, he knew what he was doing when he approached and asked them to share a table with a stranger. As a testament to this, he kept the tray with his food in his hands, never placing it on the table.

  "I'm really sorry."

  By refusing the feelings of guilt, he made Honoka conscious of a "debt" to him. That's what this trick is all about.

  "No, I don't mind at all."

  Takuma brought the crisp smile that he acquired through the shooting of the movie, and headed off to another table.

  174

  Takuma repeatedly approached Honoka throughout the day, it was not only during lunchtime, but also in between and after the end of the afternoon lectures.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  On Saturday, July 3rd, at the Magic University, just after the morning lecture. The campus was bustling with students on their way to have lunch. It was not so densely packed that it could be called crowded, but since the flow of people didn't follow any single direction, it gave a very chaotic feeling.

  Takuma's second period was a practical lab ── Takuma's major falls under the Liberal Arts category of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in which magical labs are required by both ──

  it was from there that he went to the cafeteria, which is almost in the middle of campus from the laboratory building near the north gate. And then, near the entrance to the cafeteria, is where he spotted Honoka looking around restlessly.

  There was no sign of Shizuku next to her. She must have left her in the classroom again.

  "Mitsui-san."

  Just before Takuma was about to call out to Honoka, a male student approached her from the other direction and called out to her. It was Torii Matomo.

  "You're having lunch now, right? How about we have lunch together?"

  "Eh, but…"

  Takuma understood why Honoka is hesitant.

  "Mitsui-senpai. If you are looking for Shiba-senpai, he went out the north gate."

  Takuma didn’t hesitate to intervene in Honoka and Matomo's exchange.

  "Shippou-kun."

  Honoka turned around. Across from him, Matomo was scowling, but Takuma paid him no mind. If anything, that's what he wanted.

  "Are you not eating with Kitayama-senpai?"

  "With Shizuku? She should be here soon."

  175

  "Then let's go ahead and find seats first."

  Takuma said this to Honoka, and then turned to Matomo.

  "Do you want to sit with us, Torii-kun?"

  Matomo couldn't hide his surprise when Takuma suddenly addressed him.

  "…You are Shippou-kun from First High, right?"

  Matomo, for his part, also remembered Takuma, with whom he had fought a fierce battle two years ago.

  And with a glance, he understood.

  "If it's okay with Mitsui-san, I'll be happy to join."

  That Takuma is his rival.

  "H-Hey, guys…?"

  Honoka is at a loss as the two suddenly started to exchange sparks.

  "…What are you doing? The seats are getting taken."

  Shizuku, who had just arrived, said in an exasperated voice.

  Looking particularly embarrassed, Takuma and Matomo set about searching for empty seats.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  "You are in pretty high demand, huh, Honoka?"

  "Please… stop teasing me, Shizuku."

  They are currently in Shizuku's room at the Kitayama's mansion. As Honoka's live-in bodyguard, she is currently living at the Kitayama's mansion. With a table in between them, they're working on their seminar report together at the moment. Or, to be more precise, they were having a tea break in between writing the report.

  "Sorry. But I don't think those two are trying to make fun of you, Honoka, you know."

  "I…"

  176

  "Know that," Honoka was cut off as she started speaking.

  "And you don't seem all that unhappy about it either, do you, Honoka?"

  Shizuku didn’t hold back on the stammering Honoka.

  "…It's not that I don't like people fawning over me, okay. It makes me feel more confident as a woman."

  Honoka replied without shame in her tone and added, "And you think so too, don't you Shizuku?"

  "We're not talking about me right now, and it’s not even about that."

  "Shizuku, what are you trying to say?"

  Honoka frowned, finding Shizuku's attitude a bit too insistent.

  "Are you afraid that Tatsuya-san will misunderstand something?"

  "Tatsuya-san is not a person who misunderstands things like that…"

  The weak tone of her voice was proof that Honoka herself didn't believe in what she was saying.

  "If you think about it, Honoka, you've been acting strange since the beginning of the year."

  Shizuku was not concerned about those fine details. Her suspicions and feeling that something is out of place, didn’t just happen overnight. It was based on something she had been feeling for a long time.

  "You are taking a forced approach. Bringing a frivolous appeal. Acting like the stereotypical 'annoying' woman that boys are attracted to and girls hate. You know, it's almost as if you wanted to be rejected by Tatsuya-san, Honoka."

  "That's awful! Why didn't you just tell me then!"

  After Shizuku's observations, even this protest sounded hollow.

  "I said it countless times. This is not like you."

  "…I wonder if that's true."

  "It wasn't just once or twice, when we were alone I would warn you that 'that doesn't suit you, you should stop it'."

  177

  "……"

  Finally, Honoka couldn't even feign ignorance anymore.

  "Listen, Honoka. I can't bear to watch this continue anymore."

  A sigh resembling a groan escaped from Honoka as she clenched her back teeth tightly.

  Tears welled up in her eyes.

  "I'm so──"

  "I'm sorry!"

  The flustered Shizuku's attempt at an apology was overlapped by Honoka's apology.

  "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for worrying you. I'm sor-"

  Honoka covered her face with her hands and broke into tears.

  Shizuku stood up, walked around the table and cradled Honoka's head in her chest.

  "It's just like you said, Shizuku."

  Having stopped crying, Honoka confessed to Shizuku, who was sitting across from her again, muttering a few words.

  "I wanted Tatsuya-san to reject me."

  "Why?"

  There was no condemnation in Shizuku's tone. It was merely a question.

  "At the end of the year, it just occurred to me."

  In a voice that is more faint than calm, Honoka began to speak about her hidden feelings.

  "I was wondering how long I was going to keep doing this."

  "…Was it becoming too much for you?"

  Shizuku's voice as she asked, sounded like she was the one in pain.

  "No."

  178

  Honoka shook her head.

  "How do I put it… I felt like it was different from what I thought it was going to be."

  "Different?"

  "I thought my love would be much more painful. I thought my love would be more painful than it was, because no matter how far I went, Miyuki was always the number one for Tatsuya-san, and he never saw me as a woman. He doesn't even lust after me. But then I realized that it wasn't that painful at all."

  "Is that so…"

  "Yes, it is. I love Tatsuya-san, but I realized that maybe my "love" for him is a different kind of "love" than romantic love."

  "……"

  "But still, that's frustrating, don't you think?"

  "Eh?"

  Honoka had now abruptly taken on a more relaxed tone as she said that line, leaving Shizuku with a big question mark at the top of her head.

  "Even though I was definitely in love, at one point, somewhere, I was not in love anymore.

  Even though I should have been in love, I think I might have been a misunderstanding all along."

  "…It wasn't a misunderstanding, Honoka. You were in love with Tatsuya-san."

  "Thank you, Shizuku, but you know what, I'm not so sure anymore."

  "……"

  "Once you reach a stage where you lose confidence in your love, you've lost the game as a woman in love."

  "…That's not true."

  "No, it is."

  Honoka gave a broad shake of her head.

  179

  "To lose without even being rejected, isn't that losing by forfeit? Or is it a forfeited game? I didn't think that was acceptable."

  Honoka's hands are clenched into fists, an unconscious gesture perhaps?

  She had a weird belligerent air about her.

  "If this is going to be a lost love, then I want to be properly rejected. That's what I thought."

  Honoka said resolutely.

  "And I wanted to make it clear to Tatsuya-san too, not only to me, and bring it to a conclusion."

  She immediately continued.

  It was a self-indulgent grievance.

  "…It must have been annoying for Tatsuya-san."

  At least that's the impression Shizuku got.

  "I wondered if it was okay to be that selfish."

  Shizuku was somewhat relieved to know that Honoka herself felt the same about the

  "selfish" part.

  "…Honoka. Are you going to continue doing it?"

  Shizuku asked Honoka, breaking the silence that created an air of 'this is it.'

  "I don't know what I should do… To be honest, I get the feeling that I've had enough of this."

  The tone was light, but there was genuine uncertainty in Honoka's eyes.

  "It'd be better if you stopped this already."

  There was no uncertainty in Shizuku's answer.

  "It's just ridiculous to play the boring girl just to get a rejection."

  "Hmm… But if I stop here, it's like it's all for nothing."

  180

  "It was all for nothing anyway."

  "Huh?"

  "I'm sure it's impossible even for Miyuki to get Tatsuya-san to be the way she wants."

  Honoka let out a big sigh at Shizuku's assertion.

  Even so, Honoka was unable to bring herself to stop, so it seemed to Shizuku.

  "──Honoka, I have a proposal."

  "What is it, tell me?"

  Honoka gave a look full of expectations to Shizuku.

  181

  182

  "Why don't you just ask Tatsuya-san? Go up to him and ask him straight 'please reject me'."

  Although it seemed like an outlandish suggestion at first glance, Honoka didn't reject it out of hand.

  Rather, the look on her face showed "that it’s something she hadn’t thought of."

  "Don't people say that honesty is the best policy? Well, you can't really play games with Tatsuya-san anyway, so it's best to just be honest with him."

  "You're saying that I should ask him to reject me because I want to put an end to this love?"

  Shizuku nodded.

  "But wouldn't I look stupid if I did that?"

  "Acting like a no-good woman to get him to reject you looks far more stupid, believe me."

  "That's cruel of you. But, yeah, maybe you're right…"

  Honoka didn't spend much time pondering.

  "──Okay, got it. I'll ask Tatsuya-san on Monday. I'm sure he'll be stunned."

  "There is no doubt about that, he would get stunned at that, right?"

  "Shizuku…"

  "But I'm sure things will turn out well. Both with your relationship with Tatsuya-san and your relationship with Miyuki."

  "Yeah, I suppose so."

  In a complete 180, Honoka laughed as if her doubts were blown away.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Monday, July 5th, 2100.

  The figure beside Miyuki as she arrived at the Magic University was that of Lina.

  After exchanging greetings with Miyuki and Lina, Honoka and Shizuku, who had been waiting for Tatsuya in front of the main gate, made up some fitting business to attend to and walked onto the campus, parting ways with them.

  183

  "Tatsuya-san is…"

  "…I guess it was a day off."