In Third High's meeting room, a debrief on the women's rookie Speed Shooting results unfolded. Shinkuro's comment prompted Shogo to analyze the loss.
"As George said, our players didn't lack skill. It must be factors beyond the athletes," Shogo said.
"Engineers," Shinkuro added. "The girls' engineer is exceptionally skilled."
Not just technical prowess but tactical brilliance—a high schooler with such talent felt like cheating, Shinkuro thought, ignoring his own prodigy status.
"And, George, the device Kitayama used…" Shogo began.
"Yeah, a general-purpose CAD," Shinkuro confirmed.
They'd noticed during Kanna's semifinal that Shizuku's device was general-purpose, shocking their peers.
"But it had aim-assist!" one protested.
"A rifle-shaped general-purpose CAD? Never heard of it!" another added.
"No catalog lists that!" a third exclaimed.
Shogo calmly addressed them. "It's not commercial, but the tech to combine aim-assist with general-purpose CADs exists."
"No way…" someone muttered.
Shinkuro piled on. "It was showcased last summer in Düsseldorf."
"Last summer? That's cutting-edge!" a teammate gasped.
"I only learned about it from George," Shogo admitted.
Presenting top-tier tech at the Nine Schools Competition—Shinkuro suspected Shizuku's quarterfinal CAD was a prototype for the semifinal version. Confirming it was impossible, but the engineer's skill was undeniable.
"You knew that, Kichijoji-kun? Our brain trust!" Watase praised.
Shinkuro frowned. "The Düsseldorf tech was just a basic integration."
Shogo stood, gazing out the window. "But Kitayama's device matched specialized CADs in speed and precision while handling diverse activation sequences. If an engineer pulled that off… they're beyond high school level. A monster."
"One engineer can't cover multiple events," Watase noted.
"They'll dominate any event they touch. We're at a two- or three-generation handicap," Shogo concluded, unaware this was just the beginning.
In the afternoon, men's Speed Shooting began. Originally handled by third-year tech staff, Yugen took on Toya's adjustments, adding to his workload. Shizuku's tweaks, thanks to Tatsuya's expertise, were minor, but Toya's required scrapping prior data and recalibrating to his magic traits.
At the tent, Yugen typed furiously, installing adjustment data into Toya's CAD. Tatsuya joined the girls to cheer for Honoka, a nervous competitor, per Yugen's suggestion that the strategist should observe. Leo and Mikihiko watched Toya, while Hattori, Sawaki, and Kirihara—key male players—also spectated. Azumi stayed behind to keep Mari in check.
"Rokutsuka's leading Block A," Sawaki noted, grinning boyishly.
"Excited, Sawaki?" Hattori asked, shrugging.
Both knew Toya's prowess. Not in the Martial Magic Arts club, Toya occasionally sparred with Sawaki via their mountaineering club connection. Despite his delicate features, his strikes were devastating. Nicknamed Range Zero, he'd defeated third-year Mitsuka Hagane without magic. Sawaki lost to him, too.
Toya disliked violence and declined Monolith Code, opting for Speed Shooting and Crowd Ball. Katsuto respected his choice, believing passion would yield results.
"I've never seen him go all-out with magic. I'm hyped," Sawaki said.
"Don't act like a kid," Kirihara teased, though he was curious about Toya, a fellow Ten Master Clans member.
"Three Vectors handling Rokutsuka? Isn't that unfair, both being Ten Master Clans?" Kirihara said.
"You benefited from that, too," Hattori retorted. "Three Vectors' skills are legit."
Hattori eyed the shooting range, where Toya stood, utterly composed. "He doesn't look like a rookie."
"Indeed," Kirihara agreed.
As a Ten Master Clans member, Toya stood among magic's elite. His calm demeanor on this grand stage impressed Hattori, who recalled their joint effort with Yugen and Miyuki to avert a recent near-accident. Hattori focused intently as the signal sounded.
Toya activated his magic, shattering the first clay with vibration magic, then using movement magic to destroy the fragments in a chain. Hattori recognized it: Arithmatic Chain, used by Third High's Kanna in the women's prelims. Toya scored a perfect, securing his prelim spot.
"Three Vectors is impressive, but Rokutsuka's a monster," Sawaki said.
"Skilled in combat and shooting. Shame he's in mountaineering," Kirihara added.
"Don't pressure him," Hattori warned, noticing Kirihara's introspection.
"What's up, Hattori? Still thinking about that incident?" Kirihara asked.
"No, I'm fine," Hattori said, shaking it off.
He was reflecting on last year. Top of his class, he'd still been nervous at the Nine Schools. Yet Toya, seemingly frail, performed with unshakable focus, his resolve rivaling third-years like Mayumi and Katsuto. Hattori felt the weight of the Ten Master Clans anew.
Men's prelims ended. First High's Toya and Morisaki advanced, but Morisaki, slightly off-form, took second. No CAD tampering—just a mismatch in his condition and adjustments. His frustration stemmed partly from the women's results. A staunch meritocrat, Morisaki resented Tatsuya, a course-two student, especially since Tatsuya's athletes excelled.
The tournament brackets set Toya and Shinkuro in separate blocks, meeting only in the third-place match or final. Morisaki faced Shinkuro in the quarterfinals.
"He's overthinking. Hope he doesn't choke," Toya said.
"His call now," Yugen replied. "What about you? Stick with Arithmatic Chain for the semifinals?"
"Let's do it. Other shooting magics are shelved, but we'll use that in the final, right?"
"Yep. Can't directly interfere with opponents, but setting field obstacles isn't a foul."
Yugen had confirmed with officials. Such tactics were rare—too complex for a high school event. The magic's high psion cost and need for perception magic made it risky.
"How'd you meet Cardinal George? You only mentioned it briefly before," Toya asked.
"It's fine to share with you. Won't take long," Yugen said.
Three years ago, during the New Soviet Union's Sado invasion (denied by them), Toya and Shinkuro met. Toya, with long hair tied back due to his sister, was mistaken for a boyish girl despite male clothing. On Sado for tourism, he single-handedly eliminated enemy soldiers near a middle school, meeting Shinkuro in a shelter. Shinkuro blushed, mistaking him for a girl. Toya explained, but Shinkuro didn't listen, so Toya fled home to the Rokutsuka family.
"Any legal issues?" Yugen asked.
"My sister smoothed it over. Shinkuro teased my trauma, though."
"Let's avoid direct attacks," Yugen said. "How'd you avoid the Ichijo family's notice?"
The room's soundproof field ensured privacy. Yugen hadn't known Toya's combat experience. During the invasion, a "mysterious girl mage" was credited alongside Crimson Prince. Toya, unnamed, avoided fame. Yugen didn't pry, respecting his trauma.
"I froze seawater to cross back and cut my hair short. No contact with Crimson Prince," Toya said.
Yugen figured Toya used heat manipulation to distort visibility, explaining his anonymity. Declining Monolith Code likely avoided exposing his combat style, unlike the less battle-oriented Crowd Ball.
"I owe you, Yugen. I'll crush them," Toya said.
"You'd end it before they can blink," Yugen replied. "Adjustments are done. Double-check."
Toya breezed through the quarterfinals and semifinals with Arithmatic Chain. Morisaki fought hard but lost to Shinkuro's Invisible Bullet in the quarterfinals, unable to score enough. Shinkuro reached the final, setting up a Toya-Shinkuro showdown.