Chains of Friendship

Erika's hand starts to glow again, the leaves and vines around her to create a small vortex around her hand. They seem to be forming something.

It finally stopped and to be revealed was a sword made out of her magic. Knowing it was made out of leaves and vines, it still radiated with magical energy. 

She grips the sword handle tightly and swings it downward, testing its speed and weight. She looks up at me with a crazed smile.

"Soooo Suikaaaa any last words?" She waves the sword around.

"Well I can definitely say you're a crazy, delusional, and psychopathic woman."

"Aww thanks for the compliments… now die!!"

She charges at me.

Is this really it? Am I really going die here? Someone please save me!

Erika was just an inch away from me but then suddenly a lightning bolt struck down between us. Erika quickly jumps back quickly, trying not to get hit. 

"What was that just now? A lightning bolt?" I questioned myself.

"Did you do that Suika?"

"Nope I did that." A voice echoes nearby 

I turn my head to my right and see a person walking up towards us and I smile.

"Takamei!"

She walks up to me and punches me on the head. I didn't react to it because I'm still paralyzed.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"It's only your second day and you're in another fight. You're already in more fights than Ryusei this year."

"Hey, it's not like I encourage this fight like I did with Ryusei. It's her fault."

Takamei looks in front of her and sees Erika standing a few inches away from us. She steps in front of me, seeming to be protecting me.

"How did you get yourself in a fight with Erika Hana?" She asked.

"It just happened ok, we were only supposed to be having a race and then it turned into a battle."

I started to feel my body again, and then I fell to the ground. Seems like the paralyzation finally worn off, I could feel my limbs again and slowly begin to stand.

"Takamei, when you were in my class early today and you were talking about interesting/unique people in my class. Is she one of those people?"

"Yep, Erika Hana is a unique person. Her plant magic is under the Earth magic trait, and I bet you already personally know how strong and skillful she can be with her magic."

"She cut me up pretty good." I look at my body seeing the tons of cuts I now have.

Erika's sword starts to fall apart, the leaves falling out of it and the vine's that held it together start to go back into the ground. Her aura started to disappear, and I could feel her lowering her magical output.

"It seems like you've already made friends, Suika. For now I bid you farewell, but again this was just a warning. If you truly want to take down Rory, I'll kill you before you can even get to him."

With that she begins to walk away. I let out a heavy sigh.

"Thanks for coming to save me Takamei, I would be a goner if you didn't come. How did you know I was fighting?"

"I was walking in the halls coming back from the bathroom and when I looked out of the window I saw you fighting, especially when she was making that sword she had." She answered.

"Oh thanks again though."

She nodded and smiled, we kinda just stood there for a moment. It started to become awkward.

"So um, I didn't know you can do Sky magic, more specifically Lightning Magic."

"Well I guess I didn't have a reason to show or tell you. What you thought I would have some healing magic, like a female side character in a novel or manga."

"....nahhhhhh."

We both laugh a little bit. 10 minutes later I was in the infirmary, I was sitting on the bed while the nurse was bandaging my body. Also Ryusei and Takamei were there.

"Oh that's why you seem like you disappeared for a long time, you were fighting Erika." Ryusei said.

"Yep. It was a difficult fight, if it wasn't for Takamei I would've been screwed."

"Yes, just give me all the praise, I'm just that girl you know." She smiles smugly, crossing her arms.

Ryusei and I just looked at her with a straight face, even the nurse stopped bandaging me for a second and looked at her. We all knew she was taking it too far.

"Anyways, if there's people like Erika out there who protect Rory, they're probably more." Ryusei said.

The nurse finishes bandaging me up and I stand up. I thanked the nurse and we all walked out of the infirmary. We just stood in the hallway.

"You may be right, Ryusei. But why would Erika warn me? Does she actually think I could overthrow Rory?"

"Well if she thinks of you as a threat, I guess yeah. You did stand up to Rory, so that already puts you on a target list."

"And Erika, is the least of your worries, Rory got more people on his side. People who are much stronger than Erika." Takamei chimes in.

Ryusei and Takamei step in front of me, both of them having a worried expression.

"Suika, i know you want to participate in the Fight Show, I don't know your reasons but if they are intended to really fight Rory. I think you should stop bothering him." Ryusei said

"Huh? Are you saying I should just let him step over me?! Let him think he's that much better than me?!" I rebuked.

"Suika… you could've been killed or seriously hurt. You just got lucky that I saw what was about to happen." Takamei said.

"And if you keep standing up to Rory, he'll send stronger people at you. You're on the same level as Erika, what can you do against people who are stronger than Erika?"

I was about to say something but I stopped. Why? Were they right? They were. 

Without Takamei's help i've have been hurt. That whole battle, Erika and I were pretty even in some areas, and if there are stronger people, what can I do? I'm not strong enough to do anything… am I?

"You two are right. It would be foolish of me, just trying to oppose his action on this school. I guess I'll just stay in my own lane around him." I give off a look that I'm already at defeat.

Ryusei walks up and puts a hand on my shoulder.

"Aw don't get sad over it Suika. Look I still hate the bastard with every fiber in my body. If i could get the right chance, i'll knock him senseless."

"But that would just ruin his pretty face." Takamei Blurted out.

"You always know how to ruin the mood." I said.

We all chuckled, I smiled at both of them.

"Thanks you guys, I still don't like him as much but I can tell you both are worried about me. So I'll take y'all word and won't mess with him until the Fight Show."

"Good. I don't want my best buddy to get killed so early on." He wraps his arm around my shoulder. "Not until we have our rematch."

"Best buddy now huh, am I really your only best friend? What about Takamei?"

"Oh you talking about that witch?"

"I'm literally standing right here, Ryusei."

Me and Ryusei laugh as we all begin to walk down the hall. The thought of Rory was far away from my mind now. He still was there but not as much. Being with these two, clears my mind of any bad thoughts. And makes new and happy ones, with them in it.

That whole situation with Erika and going to the infirmary, took up all our time in P.E. Now it was time for lunch. Me and Ryusei went to the locker room and changed back into our school uniforms.

We walked out of the locker room and Takamei was waiting for us, and so we headed to lunch. Well mainly Ryusei, he didn't bring lunch with him today.

After grabbing his lunch we went outside to the field steps, those same steps I met Ryusei at. We all sit on different levels of the steps. 

Takamei pulls out her lunch and it's a bento box, she slowly opens it up and it seems like a beam of light shines out of it. The aroma hits you right in the face, filling your nose with such a wonderful smell. 

Me and Ryusei stared at her like hungry dogs, we both licked our lips just from the smell of it.

"Yo Takamei, what do you got there?" I asked

"Ohhh you like what you see?" She smirks. "I have two onigiri (salmon and umeboshi!), sweet tamagoyaki, and crispy chicken karaage. There's also broccoli with sesame seeds and juicy apple slices for a healthy and sweet finish."

My eyes lit up, as she showed what she had. My mouth was getting watery. I looked down at my hand and just saw a regular old sandwich, nothing compared to her magnificent bento box. 

"And you made all of that Takamei?" 

"I sure did!" She smiles from ear to ear.

"Pfft yeah right." Ryuesei scoffs in disbelief.

"What, you don't think she made such a wonderful bento box?"

"Nope. Not at all, her mom probably made it."

"Don't worry about him Suika, there's always that one hater." She shrugs her shoulders.

Ryusei leans closer and speaks in my ear.

"Back in middle school, she almost killed us with her cooking."

"Ryusei, I think you forgot to whisper. I can hear you."

"Wait, you heard me? No way, I can't believe that." Ryusei replied sarcastically.

I just chuckled at their little interaction, I took a bite out of my lame sandwich and I swallowed it down and looked at Takamei.

"So was your cooking that bad in middle school?"

"Don't tell me you're actually believing him, Suika."

"Well is it true or not?"

"Suika, she sent a kid to the nurse's office. That kid was sick for days, all because of her." Ryusei said.

"Hey! It's not my fault the teacher gave me the wrong ingredients." 

"So your cooking was that bad?"

"H-hey… it wasn't my fault." She sadly puts her head down.

"Still send a kid to the nurse, that takes some skill you know." Ryusei jokes.

"Aw come on man, if it was an accident it's ok. Plus she could've learned some skills by now. Look at that bento box, I believe she made that."

"Sorry Suika… my mom made it."

"Welp there goes me trying to defend you."

"But I'm still learning ok!" She brings her head back up and pouts. "I'll show you and definitely you, Ryusei, my amazing cooking skills."

I remember Takamei saying that she and Ryusei didn't talk that much when they were in middle school. But right now they're talking like they've been best friends since childhood. They just have good chemistry with each other.

"Suika, how was your life before coming to Kyoto?" Ryusei asked

"Well it was really normal in a sense. I used to live in Okayama, I had a few friends but they weren't really a part of my life that much. I really had fun coming home, and helping my mom with her garden. In Okayama they don't have magic high schools over there, so my first year was just in a normal school. When my mom mentioned that it was a famous magic school in Kyoto, I can ponder. Did I really want to go? How would I feel leaving my previous life behind? But I knew coming here would make a change for me. And I can clearly see that it did, especially with you two."

Takamei and Ryusei were frozen for a bit until their faces lit up, looking happy.

"Aww i didn't think we made your school life better." Takamei.

"Man, you ready to make me cry." Ryusei sniffled.

"Wow there's no need to cry. It's just the truth, it might be strange because it's the second but I can definitely tell, you two are great friends to me." I smile at them.

We all just smiled at each other and began to finish our food. 

Thou hast now birth of a new trio, a trio that was chained together. They would never let go of each other. Holding hands to the end of time if so. A powerful bond that shall become the new wings of the world. Flying high and bright for everyone to see. 

But in two month's time that bond would be put to the test. The school that brought them together, will become a battle zone for them.