Once Upon the Restless School

"Hullo! Nii-chan, is there something above you?"

I looked above after feeling the extraneous weight: Fukurokuju stood over my head and like a gale he disappeared back off to the treasure ship.

I suppose Amaterasu didn't intend a pun in her question. "Nothing," I said and proceeded to walk.

Miss Ayanami was left astounded by what I said, whence the fake little sister covered for technical support.

All of the students stopped and walked themselves not to the classroom. We followed our respective classes once the whistle signal was heard, direction moved elsewhere. It has been a tradition each and every start of the semester. I stopped caring about the event. Fair to conclude it has been ousted from importance.

Regarding the oblique pattern, the surprise from Nayami Ayanami was forgivable.

Might as well point out that the opening ceremony was after she was introduced to the class, not before. I know human school patterns enough that I've been surprised by their routine. It would've been unfair if she breezed through her first day without being anxious of the different flow of events.

"This means we have the Sequence coming up!"

Amaterasu sprang for Miss Ayanami's dose of magic school and its shenanigans. One jumped out of complete ignorance to the other's silence, while the other jumped out from her faulty communication skills. I could bother calling them a twain of explosive cuteness; or I would if it didn't amount to an active experience to their cutthroat personalities.

"...What does that mean, Miss Origami?"

Like how it was natural for Amaterasu to respond to her fake brother's impulses, a link formed between them.

"Today, on the first day of second semester, we're going to know how strong of a Level 5 you are!" She regarded: then suddenly, unapologetically proposed, "I'm personally curious how you can hold out against Shirayuki Otogibanashi here, our Strongest Mage!"

Everyone smiled.

Smirked, rather, or what did the curve on their lips meant?

Striking her index finger in the air, it came down roaring at the transfer student's innocent face. I glanced sidelong at her, whence she did the same, persisting for annoyance growing like a malignant tumor. Successfully, in the motion neither of us orchestrated, we embroiled her disguise nearly to a compromise.

All those hateful eyes.

All those hateful minds.

All those butterflies above our circle.

Here's one exclusive show of displeasure, since Nayami Ayanami showed herself outside.

Nothing and no one has been able to calm down. Naturally, she didn't understand how the Sequence worked. Admitted by the tiny spectacle of an information that she wasn't a Mage.

Nayami Ayanami burned from the energy purported by the sun's daughter.

When she's been fervently churned from the soul since the beginning, she can only be entranced. From soul to torso, her heartbeat played the notes for Vivaldi's Winter. Gods overhead threatened the clueless fake little sister, quite possibly waiting to return the favor in her sleep.

"I've been wondering about it the whole time. Nayami, how unlikely would you win against the Strongest Mage?"

That, and everyone stopped on their toes, all confused by the smothering jovialness of an existential threat posing herself as Snow White's little sister.

I felt bad for Nayami Ayanami, suddenly being questioned by the Detective Club's foreplayer. Flamboyant and firebrand, desperation seeping through her soul. I know the feeling well, as if you'd want to drown yourself under the deep blue sea. Fake it until you make it─but she's not a good liar.

She looked at both of us, not answering the reckless inspection.

Until.

"If you won't stop, I'll punch you in the head."

Naru sprang into our group and hit Amaterasu, like how you wouldn't believe it at first, with a paper fan.

"Ouchies!" You have my condolences, my dear fake little sister. "Ah…! Naru-cchi! I'm sorry, I was only explai─!"

No one should call our teacher by nicknames…Yeah, I'd not bother on taboos and whatnot. Only I felt the alien, secondary fear but as long as damned Amaterasu is punished, I won't sympathize. Oops, I buried one foot to its grave: "I'm sorry, sis."

"There's never anything to explain to begin with."

"Wait, there wasn't?!" Amaterasu sighed in disbelief.

How playful: but act like a child, and you'll be ignored.

"Sequence is an evaluation which measures our current talent level. If you want the complexities, bring out the math."

Naru began: with how eloquent her assurance was, I don't know why I'm left baffled by how she furrowed her eyebrows. Closer, she moved towards the babbling sleuth─deathly to shoot her a vow to disfigurement, she whispered unto Amaterasu's ears. I didn't hear anything albeit being audible.

"Alright, alright...I'll have that etched in my heart." Amaterasu nodded.

Leaving their pizzazz aside, I averted my attention to our mysterious companion.

She flinched, I didn't wonder why she'd flinch: I didn't help her when Amaterasu pressured her into turmoil. Of course, she'd be scared. Makes one think I wasted the youkan I gave her when I could have eaten it myself.

She hasn't been brainwashed into thinking I'm worth her trust.

Sigh.

Following how it rolled thus far, I consulted the pretentious teacher, "Nayami can't participate. She's incapable of conjuring magic in the meantime, after all."

It was a lie.

I know what I saw─albeit a cheating grace from the Gods.

Miss Ayanami looked down at her shoes.

No single word came out her mouth, all the pressure to her existence being talked upon. Sure, she introduced herself as a Level 5, but it didn't mean she can emit mana. If there was a plan to pass her as a Mage, the thinker was definitely out of their mind.

Narumi Narukami was out of her mind.

Welcome to the Magic Side: where prejudice prevails against those without magic.

Everyone's been anxious, and I can't deny it for myself.

Nothing has been proven: and we're all eager to act on the situation as soon as possible.

Our class stagnated somewhere in the open field, waiting for what was to happen next. Our entire school lagged with the schedule, the squabbles being kept in close observation─by butterflies and people alike. Nayami Ayanami, our mysterious transfer student, kept her eyes looking down at her shoes.

I…

Pretty much, I'm also thrilled by the events only that I don't see the tension breaking the calmness I'd rather sustain.

I only waited for them to bore themselves.

"Our class' Sequence will be held at the second test pool."

Commanding her students out of necessity, Narumi Narukami finally took notice of the stagnation.

All the others followed suit.

Whence, the first magic showcase for the novel will begin shortly.

I suppose I'd be sentimental.

I remember the fleeting time during our first year in high school where our class competed for prestige.

The short and brief story, school days didn't end without heated arguments about one's qualities.

All of us juvenile Mages compared scores and magical proficiencies, of each and every pattern possible, starting from who can channel all five basic elements to synergizing lead into gold. We often engaged in unsponsored combats, leading to being dubbed as troublemakers. Otherwise, we made pledges in tournaments of whoever emerged victorious, they would earn something in return. Most often we've decided on respect, but some instances called for materialism.

Rambunctious we were as children who knew little of the proper adult world.

Friendship and hatred occurred as we engaged in a fervent school life─and the rest is history.

The evaluation─formally Magic Value Sequence, or "Sequence" for the collective call─has always been the spark of unbridled rivalry between us.

Naturally, the flamboyant atmosphere is let loose as we aim for the top each and every semester.

Reading the bulletin wasn't only "reading the bulletin" and granted, youth brought out the best in everyone. Classes are attended because we wanted to learn and also granted, we indulged in the fun of it as we sought ourselves in society. It's not as if I'm old enough to claim it, but I have rather fond memories of high school and supernatural battles.

Although.

It's a shame that I outgrew my classmates, but I suppose excitement still gets through me knowing it's Sequence running in the foreground.

Admittedly, it's not the same as everyone else.

It's the observation of my classmates to slowly grow from their positions.

How they've taken their steps ahead while I waited at the topmost category in the pyramid, they're not to be denied.

Kuroko Yamamoto assumed the bout, freshly guided by the proctors on what to do─and perhaps, internalized his position. Not that it was an actor's cue, but for most of us, the necessity of the evaluation somehow judges our status among our peers. He was the last name on the list, thus the last person who drops the last light show.

We were third years here so the pack of magical endeavors became trivial as the reality of life stole our focus.

However, it didn't mean all was lost as we matured.

"Kuroko Yamamoto, please proceed in showing us your raw magic power by following the directions."

Spell circles shackled both his wrists.

Breathing conditioned for its finest tune, Kuroko started his ritual.

"Spirit of the light and lion, steel thy body and mind."

Praying for the Spirits, he has gone to lengths to project a magic circle in front of him. Blinding in its glow, the head of a lion aroused in its center─a sacred beast out of its sanctum, ready to feast on the offering cast from his desire for protection. Only then the confidence seeped through Naru and her assistants. Pull the lever and observe the reading machine: a dominating spectacle took the

A collision course treading for Kuroko─a frontal attack impacted around two tons of force.

Sheerly diabolical for the testers to set it up, but they have placed a weighted steel ball to be thrown at him in a straight line. From a certain velocity incurring the doubled tons, which would reach an almost unstoppable force.

Now, this wasn't just to receive the attack.

It's also to absorb the shock and negate the most damage possible, and measure his magical capabilities from it.

Admittedly, the itch hasn't skipped away from my back as to when the countdown started…I braced myself.

Swoosh! Then, bam─! He actively left a smile in the flash of the moment, and so did I who only watched on the sidelines.

During that split second, the weighted ball flew at a sound defying speed from the other edge of the pool. It bounced off from the vibrating magic circle. Falling deep down the waterbed, the unprecedented splash had everyone move themselves.

"Student Number 30, Class 3, Section A, Military Magic Division: Kuroko Yamamoto. Mastery of Light Magic under the Guidance of Higher Lion Spirits, Level 4."

A smile managed to let out for this Mage.

Watching all the others show off their talents and exert all effort to grow, it has always been a blissful sight.

It's a different talk when it relates to me, though.

I clenched my fist: I don't want to talk about a potential threat with the presence of a different God candidate.

I looked at Nayami Ayanami, mesmerizing myself in her fresh presence.

She stood beside Naru, being calmed down for what critical air she grasped at the campus. I kept chatting with Amaterasu whilst observing all her actions. Level 5: she hasn't yet shown how powerful she is, and our two-person club was betting on a decidedly desperate thought process.

Simply, "Who goes first?"

Snow White seriously and honestly wished Nayami Ayanami would show her numbers before him.

Kuroko Yamamoto had already left, and the space was vacant.

"Shirayuki Otogibanashi, please be on standby, your evaluation will begin shortly," Narumi Narukami formally called over the intercom.