The Honor Student's Supplementary Lesson (2)

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And so, the two of them silently ran hand-in-hand all the way to the appointed place where the boat should be waiting.

There were no further obstacles along the way. As befitting the waterside square in a park, many couples were about. Many spared a glance at the two people that had a carried a different air about them before turning their eyes away as it was none of their business.

Lin stood on the small pier where the ferries docked and looked out towards the sea. The hands that connected the two of them naturally parted here.

"...Shun."

After a lengthy silence, Lin softly called out to Morisaki. "What is it, Lin?"

Lin kept her eyes on the sea and did not turn her head. "Do Magicians... have a thirst for battle?"

Lin did not look at Morisaki's face and made sure that he could see her face as she asked this question.

"Lin?"

"Do Magicians... have a thirst for battle? Do they like hurting others? Do they hunger for danger? Do they desire to display abilities that normal people do not possess?"

Lin's volume was slightly elevated, giving Morisaki the impression she was reprimanding him.

"...Are you upset?"

"I'm not upset! I'm furious!"

In short, she's upset, right? This thought ran across Morisaki's mind, but he wasn't calm enough to actually retort.

When Lin turned to face him, her eyes were brimming with tears.

"...It is not because Magicians thirst for battle. At the very least, I dislike hurting others."

Lin's expression and the tears threatening to burst from her eyes put enormous pressure on Morisaki.

"Then why did you aggravate him?"

"Because that wasn't someone you can talk down!"

Yet, Morisaki had his own reasons. He did not believe he made the wrong decision. Perhaps there was an even better solution, but Morisaki believed that he had also handled the situation fairly well.

"In that case, we can still flee! There was no need to defeat everyone, all we had to do was use magic to escape! We also had the option of calling for help. I don't think that fighting was the only option we had."

"That..."

Morisaki was unable to say anything because he knew Lin's words made sense. But –

"Maybe we could have ran away at the time. However, those guys might have called in more companions. Also, there is no way of knowing if the earlier crowd was going to show up either. There was no need to take on unnecessary risk, so if the opportunity presented itself to crush the enemy then it should be taken."

--Even so, he was not going to back down.

"Why is fighting the only thing you think about! Why is it that everyone who isn't with us is against us!?"

"Magicians are not superheroes! It's not like in the TV dramas, where there's a logical solution for everything!"

This principle, along with the fundamentals of the bodyguard business, was drilled into Morisaki by the uncle that was closest to him in age.

Magicians are not superheroes.

Magicians did not possess the power to do whatever they pleased. Thus, do not hesitate when pulling the trigger.

Calmly differentiate between enemy and ally.

The techniques of the Morisaki Family and Morisaki Shun the person, neither was strong enough that they were still able to safeguard their target of protection after an enemy had launched their attack.

"—I am unable to show mercy to my enemies. I'm not incredible." "Shun..."

When Lin saw Morisaki gritting his teeth with a pained expression his face, the tumultuous emotion in her eyes faded.

With a warm expression on her face, she reached out and took hold of Morisaki's hand.

"Lin..."

Morisaki allowed Lin to grasp his hand, but didn't match her gaze as he murmured to himself.

"Do you also think... that Magicians are monsters? Do you believe that

Magicians are monsters that wield powers beyond human limits? That Magicians are able to grant any wish like Deus ex machina?"

"Shun..."

"Magicians... are also human beings."

"Shun... are you afraid of fighting?"

"...I'm terrified. Regardless of whether its guns, blades, fists, magic... I'm scared of them all."

"Then why do you fight? You are obviously a high school student, why do you take on a dangerous job like being a bodyguard?"

"That's because... I possess a power that I was born to carry..."

"Shun, I don't think that you have to do dangerous things simply because you're a Magician or because you possess magic. Since you're terrified, then why don't you just stop...? Magicians are human beings too, right?"

Morisaki's face was clearly faltering.

Terror and hope were stirred together among the maze of confusion. With a protective smile, Lin continued to watch over Morisaki.

Amid all the couples at this location, their actions were not particularly conspicuous.

Still, based on what was about to ensue, the two of them were overly focused on the conversation.

Lin was the one who noticed that something was awry. "Shun... Isn't this strange?"

"Lin?"

"I get the feeling that no one has been looking at us for a while..."

If this phrase had originated from one of Morisaki's peers, he would have explained it as being "overly self-aware". Yet, these words coming from someone as beautiful as Lin carried an entirely different context.

"Lin, you aren't using that necklace, are you?"

"Ah? Yeah... That's why it's so strange. I'm plainly not using that, but I feel just like as if I'm using it..."

"Lin, sorry." "Ah!"

Morisaki suddenly clasped Lin to his chest.

At the same time, he swiftly surveyed their surroundings.

Even after performing such an outrageous (in his eyes) motion, no one paid them the slightest heed.

No one even glanced at them.

Morisaki let go of Lin and began hunting for the hint of magic.

Although there was no way to be sure, there was definitely a vague aura enveloping them.

"What is it? What's going on?" "Quiet!"

Morisaki dropped his backpack and pulled out a thick bracelet from within before wearing it on his left wrist.

Then, he removed an empty holster and hung that from the pocket around the right side of his waist.

Completely abandoning the "low-key" approach, he was preparing for battle.

As if on cue, men dressed in pitch black and wearing dark sunglasses materialized all around them and half surrounded Morisaki and Lin. This was practically straight out of the urban legends surrounding the MIB.

Morisaki gritted his teeth.

He should have known ahead of time that the enemy would use mental interference magic.

(...The time for regret is later!)

Morisaki told himself in encouragement.

One of the men in black stepped in front of the two of them.

The gaze hidden behind those dark shades was not directed at Lin, but at Morisaki instead.

"...We are from the Intelligence Control Agency."

The man pulled out a black card holder with those words. He opened it to show Morisaki.

There was indeed the mark of the Department of the Interior's Intelligence Control Agency inside, as proven by the special print that changed color and shape depending on the light's refraction. Morisaki was aware that the changing shape carried a hypnotic effect so he immediately averted his gaze after verifying its authenticity.

The corners of the man's mouth twitched upwards as he stored the document in his breast pocket.

"We will take responsibility for protecting Miss Richardson. What happens beyond here is official business, so please leave immediately."

Morisaki was on the verge of nodding in reply when he realized Lin behind him had a white-knuckled grip on his vest.

"Lin, are you going with them?"

Lin furiously shook her head in response to Morisaki's inquiry.

Morisaki turned his eyes forward and gazed into the eyes of the man in black – or more like his sunglasses.

"Permit me to refuse."

His conveyance left little room for misinterpretation. "I've already said this was official business..."

"This is a mission of protection, isn't it? In that case, you have no right to override the decision of the person in question and enforce your own will on the matter. Or do you all have a warrant? Not that "Internal Affairs" has the right to make arrests, of course."

The man in black revealed a smile that said "you've forced my hand" and turned to look to his side.

That was the signal.

Gun muzzles appeared from the men's sleeves.

Throwing his left arm around Lin's waist, Morisaki used his right hand to operate the bracelet and jumped for the water's surface.

Lin gave out a shriek.

The sounds of compressed air being fired and short needles shredding through the air were covered by her cries.

The darts from the tranquilizer rifles passed above the two figures who had leaped to one side.

Morisaki activated Move-Type Magic while in mid-air.

They stopped falling as they approached sea level and bounded to the next pier.

At the same time that he moved Lin to a kneeling position, Morisaki also dropped his own stance and set his bracelet to standby mode.

In the next instant, he had pulled out the handgun-shaped CAD from his breast. He had confirmed 8 enemies when they had been surrounded.

Of which 2 were Magicians.

The enemies' identities were extinguished from his mind.

The sole idea that occupied his thoughts was to protect the young woman behind him.

The notion of "escape" never crossed his mind. His fear of battle had already faded.

Nor was he afraid of being watched by terrifying eyes. He will strike down the enemy to protect others.

That was the only option in his mind.

First, Morisaki acted to disable the enemy Magicians and clicked the trigger twice.

Following that, one deep groan could be heard. Confirming results. One down and the other warded it off.

Morisaki saw the enemy Magician operating a CAD with his fingers. He also saw the muzzle of tranquilizer rifles pointed towards him.

With the speed of a stage magician employing his tricks, Morisaki returned the handgun-shaped CAD to the holster around his waist and disabled the standby mode on the bracelet-shaped CAD he wore.

He could feel that the enemy's Acceleration-Type Magic was beginning to have an effect on him.

However, Morisaki ignored that magic.

He was calling the Activation Sequence for Area of Effect Move-Type Magic.

Morisaki used "Stillness" Magic to catch the incoming needles fired by compressed air.

Horizontal Acceleration-Type Magic rushed towards Morisaki's body. His feet left the ground and fell towards the water.

Lin stretched out her upper torso and called for Morisaki. The men in black swarmed towards her.

The "gun" popped out of the water.

Holding the CAD that bore a resemblance to a handgun in his right hand, Morisaki began to float upwards thanks to the breath he inhaled earlier and aimed at the Magician to the enemy's rear.

Magic was activated.

The "opposing" Magician was caught off guard by Morisaki's surprise attack and struck unconscious.

Following that, Morisaki once again changed the Specialized CAD in his hand to standby mode and activated the powers set in the Generalized CAD. He sank into the water while operating the number pad and activated Acceleration-Type Magic.

Morisaki burst through the water in a manner that would turn a dolphin green with envy, no, that even a dolphin could not hope to match.

His wrists overlapped with the right hand over the left as he aimed the Specialized CAD in this manner at the enemy while turning off the power of the Generalized CAD. Pumping his psions into the Specialized CAD, Morisaki pulled the trigger six times in the air.

Morisaki was unable to completely neutralize his descending force and had to immediately fall into a roll upon coming into contact with the cement.

As his body descended to the earth, all of the men in black collapsed as well.

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"Shun, Shun! Are you alright?"

Lin knelt next to Morisaki as he lay prone on the ground and desperately called out to him.

"I'm fine."

Morisaki opened his eyes and nodded. Maintaining his current position, he temporarily regulated his breathing before sitting up.

"Ouch!"

However, he immediately fell to one knee when he attempted to stand. "Shun?"

"It's nothing... I just twisted my ankle."

By the time he said this, cold sweat beaded his temple.

Lin looked around them for help. The mental interference magic that blocked other people from noticing them had already been disabled. Many sightseers or couples out on a date were watching them from afar.

They were just watching them from a sizeable distance with an uncomfortable look in their eyes.

Their eyes were focused on Morisaki's left hand.

On the bracelet-shaped CAD that signified his status as a Magician.

Lin knew that the people around them were whispering among themselves. Not a single person approached them.

Morisaki gave up on trying to stand and sat down with legs splayed out. "Lin, has the appointed boat arrived yet?"

"Huh? Ah... I think it's that one."

"I see..."

A small vessel was drawing closer. It was a swift boat that didn't draw much water and could be used either on the river or at sea.

"I'm sorry, it's all because of me..."

Morisaki said "Don't worry about it" to the drooping Lin.

"Forget about it, so long as Lin is safe and sound. I can finally relax now that I've kept my promise."

This was not the sound of bravado, but of earnest satisfaction that welled forth from the heart.

"Why...?"

"Why indeed..."

Morisaki used a reply that was not a reply to answer Lin's question that was not a question.

"Maybe it's just as Lin said."

Still, even if her question was incomplete, Morisaki largely understood what Lin wanted to ask.

"Our magic is a tool developed for battle... We Magicians were assembled with this in our hearts, so it may be true that we have a thirst for battle and are only tools used for battle."

Morisaki's soliloquy seemed to have entirely abandoned his own sense of self and prompted tears to appear in Lin's eyes when she heard this.

"I'm sorry, Shun, I'm so sorry..."

Lin burst into tears as she lowered her head and repeatedly choked out apologies.

"Lin? Why are you apologizing? Why are you crying...?"

Bewildered, Morisaki asked Lin the reason behind her tears and apologies, but his mind was calm and at peace to the point that even he was astounded.

"I'm sorry. I said something so terrible, I'm sorry..."

"Lin?"

Morisaki was flabbergasted. He had no idea what to say.

Nor did he have any clue what to do.

Unfortunately, up until this moment, no one had ever taught him what to do under these circumstances.

"Don't call yourself a tool. Shun always protected me regardless of the danger. Compared to those who only watch other people suffering without lifting a finger, Shun is much more humane."

Morisaki managed to connect Lin's broken words that came between her sobs – --and his heart swelled with pride.

"I'm... ashamed of myself. Just then, I was exactly like those people in that I also felt somewhere in my heart that Magicians were disgusting and were different creatures than myself. That's why... Shun... I'm sorry..."

"Don't worry about it too much."

Morisaki's words were spoken in a steady tone. More so than the literal words themselves, this served to help encourage Lin and caused her to raise her head.

"I am very satisfied that I was able to assist Lin. For me, today was a very meaningful day."

Just as Morisaki had no idea what Lin was hiding, neither did Lin knew the inner struggles Morisaki was facing.

Before a rather perplexed Lin, Morisaki revealed a pleasant smile. "Lin, the boat's here."

Morisaki's words prompted Lin to turn her body.

Just as he said, the small vessel had docked. Two men wearing suites bowed deeply to Lin.

"Lin, please go ahead. I'll be alright after I sit here a little longer." "Huh, but..."

"Go on. They might attack again later." "...I know. Shun, thank you very much."

There was no kiss of goodbye.

To say that there were no expectations involved would be a lie, but not progressing in that direction may actually be for the better. This fulfilling "reality" would not be tarnished. Rather than pushing himself, this was how Morisaki truly felt.

The only regret he had was that he could only sit there and watch her leave.

Lin waved from the boat, to which Morisaki raised a hand from his sitting posture in response.

This was rather improper, but Morisaki felt that this was probably more like his style.

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"Meilin-sama, thank goodness you're alright." "Yes, that's because that young man saved me."

On board the vessel that had left the shoreline, Lin wore a radically different and cold expression as she called out a name to one of the men who came to welcome her and nodded in agreement.

At this moment, an older gentleman with a head full of white hair appeared.

"Meilin-sama... To visit this country alone at a time like this. Do take heed of your position."

"Are you giving me orders?" "No, your subordinate dares not."

The old man bowed respectfully towards Lin.

The older gentleman's decorum was impeccable, but his attitude was hollow.

"Nevertheless, this country's government appears to fight with us until the end. This time they dared to insult Meilin-sama, I believe equivalent retribution is in order."

"I forbid it."

The old man raised his eyes and put forward this suggestion, but Lin resolutely vetoed it.

"It's true that the Japanese government was both barbaric and rude this time. However, from that young man, I obtained a bond of friendship that is more than enough to compensate. Since you all have chosen a person without any magic like myself as your leader, then I forbid you all from taking action against this country. If you are unwilling to accept that, then I will return to California."

"No, let everything be done in accordance with Meilin-sama's wishes." Morisaki was not arrested by Internal Affairs.

They were likely also acting beyond the bounds of law. The unconscious men in black were borne away in front of Morisaki's eyes by their comrades. The agents from Internal Affairs who came to collect their colleagues never spared Morisaki a single glance.

As to who Lin was and why she was being targeted a government organization, no one told Morisaki the truth.

Lin's real name was "Sun Meilin". She was the adopted daughter of "Sun Richardson", the head of the Hong Kong international crime ring known as "No Head Dragon" – the daughter of the leader's most beloved mistress – and the new leader chosen by the lucky survivors, but Morisaki never had the opportunity to know that.