chapter 14:Magicians

"Wait, you managed to survive her attack!?" Issei exclaimed in surprise.

"With pure luck and time on my side." Takeshi admitted.

"H-How!?" Issei asked in shock.

"Oh, didn't Gremory-senpai tell you? I'm a Magician." Takeshi told Issei, making the perverted teenager look confused.

"W-Wait, you mean like one of those people who pull bunnies out of those hats?" Issei asked with a confused tone.

"I wish..." Takeshi slightly pouted. Pulling a bunny out of a hat is one of the most simplest tricks to all the Magicians. He has trouble pulling it off with even a doll bunny. He then shook his head.

"No no, think of me more like a...sorcerer of sorts. Like I can cast fireballs and all that other types, even though I can't really do that." Takeshi explained to Issei, making the brunette go "ah" and nod at him.

"O-Oh. I guess that's what a Magician is..." Issei said while he looked like he was trying to take in the information that was given to him.

"Pretty much."

It was then two voices were made.

"Yo, Issei!"

"Issei!"

Takeshi and Issei turned their heads towards the source of the voices, and found both Matsuda and Motohama walking towards them while waving their arms towards them. As soon as they approached the two, the two members of the Perverted Trio looked sharply at him.

"Oh, and this is...?" Motohama said while adjusting his glasses.

"A new member for our group?" Matsuda said with an interested tone.

Takeshi offered an apologetic grin towards them. "Sorry, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to turn down your offer. I'd rather not have the female population beat me up like what they do to you guys." Takeshi said while politely declining their offer.

"Pah! Mere words from a cowardly man who doesn't embrace his side!" Matsuda exclaimed.

"Yeah!" Motohama said while nodding, before he squinted his eyes when he noticed something. "Wait a moment, I recognize you." Motohama said with realization entering his tone.

"You do?" Takeshi asked curiously.

"Yeah. Aren't you that guy that always comes to school late?" Motohama asked.

"Almost late." Takeshi corrected him.

"Yeah, whatever. But there is one crucial detail about you..." Motohama quietly said while gaining this somewhat serious look to him.

"Yeah, and I recently remembered as well..." Matsuda said.

Takeshi simply blinked at their strange actions as he patiently watched them do something. It was then the two pointed at him in some dramatic fashion.

[You're the guy who is close to the captain of the tennis team!] both shouted with an accusing tone. However, Takeshi didn't really take in their strange and dramatic fashion as he simply went along with it. Instead, he just noticed what they said.

"Oh, you mean Kiyome-chan?" Takeshi gave a small smile of recognition while wanting to confirm with the two.

"Daaaaaaaamn iiiiiiit! Someone like you has such a close relationship with the hottest chicks asides from the Two Ladies of Kuoh Academy! Hooooow!?" Matsuda shouted with envy.

"Yeah! How is someone like you be so close to her while calling her that affectionate honorfic!" Motohama exclaimed in jealousy.

"It's simple really. We're childhood friends, of course I would call her that!" Takeshi responded with an upbeat manner, not really noticing the offensive statements.

This only served to agitate the two even further, while Issei looked at his two friends with a twitching eyebrow.

"Y-You guys..." Issei said with a strained tone. Even he of all people knew that the two were freaking out over something that isn't that big of an issue, even though he is envious of Takeshi that he has a close relationship with Kiyome.

"Damn it! You're that childhood friend that automatically gets close to the female! But still...!" Matsuda exclaimed.

"Yeah! What does she see in you anyways!? All you do is just get good grades!" Motohama followed up.

Before Takeshi could ask what they meant by that, the one-sided argument was soon ended when a voice spoke up.

"Takeshi-kun!" spoke out a voice. Takeshi blinked when he felt his arm being cushioned between two soft mounds. He turned around, only to see Kiyome looking at him with a stern look.

"Why on earth are you interacting with people like them!? For goodness sake, I don't want you to become their level! You're as troublesome enough as it is!" Kiyome scolded him as she begun dragging him away from the Perverted Trio.

"Hey, I have you know that I'm the good kind of troublesome, and I know you like it!" Takeshi retorted, making Kiyome's cheeks go slightly pink in embarrassment.

"D-Don't put words in my mouth! Who said I like that troublesome side of you!" Kiyome asked heatedly. Takeshi noticed her pink blush and merely chuckled.

"Ha ha ha! Aw, you're blushing! It's been a while since I've seen you blush like that. Reminds me of the time when-" Takeshi said while reminiscing about a certain incident in the past, but was soon cut off as he felt a stronger pull on his arm, making him wince upon it.

"Don't you date mention that incident! I'm still try to wash away the shame!" Kiyome exclaimed while red is starting to come onto her face.

"Oh come on! It was rather endearing!"

"It is not!"

It was then the two childhood friends went onto their usual banter, with the two walking away from the Perverted Trio. Their arguments tuned out two members screaming out "lucky bastard" to him.

(Tennis Court)

After their banter that went on for a short while, it resulted in Kiyome huffing while stomping away from him while Takeshi tried to calm her done. However, it ended with no avail. Eventually, she just told him to wait here in the tennis court while she had to take care of something important. So the young Magician in training found himself standing alone in the tennis court while whistling.

"I wonder what Kiyome-chan wanted me to be here for..." Takeshi quietly said to himself in wonder.