As Miyuki dominated her match, crushing her opponent with overwhelming force, the Battle Board arena hummed with anticipation. The women's rookie semifinal, first race, was about to begin.
"Ugh…"
"This is… something."
"Well, you know…"
"What's with you two?" Leo snapped, exasperated, as Erika and Mizuki groaned from the stands, eyeing the three racers at the starting line.
"It's just… weird, right? All three wearing black goggles?" Erika said, smirking.
"Erika-chan, they're called goggles," Mizuki corrected softly.
Indeed, not just Honoka but her two opponents sported dark-tinted goggles—a curious sight.
"Isn't that normal?" Mikihiko countered. "It's the easiest way to counter Honoka's dazzle magic."
Erika let out a deflated chuckle. "Boring."
"What's your problem now?" Leo pressed.
"It's too obvious! Tatsuya's playing them. They wore goggles to avoid water spray, but he's got something else up his sleeve. Too predictable."
"You think Honoka's going to blind them with spray instead?" Mizuki asked.
Erika nodded, unimpressed, but Mikihiko wasn't convinced. "I doubt it. Tatsuya wouldn't go for something that simple."
"…Maybe you're right," Erika conceded, her curiosity reignited.
The race began—no blinding flash this time. The crowd, braced for Honoka's signature dazzle, sighed in relief.
"She's falling behind!"
"No, she's keeping up!"
Honoka trailed in second as they cleared the gentle curves before the stands, diving into the first sharp corner. The lead racer made an odd move—slowing drastically to turn through the course's center. Honoka, decelerating just enough, hugged the inner edge and surged ahead, stealing the lead.
"What was that…?" Leo muttered.
"I saw a shadow on the course… Wait, there it is again!" Mizuki gasped.
Erika's sharp eyes narrowed. The course's edge darkened subtly, almost imperceptibly.
"Got it," Mikihiko said, a grin spreading. "Tatsuya's plan."
"What?" Erika leaned in.
"Your read was right—goggles with light-blocking effects. But not for water spray. He's making the course look darker, harder to see."
"Genius!" Mizuki exclaimed. "Using illusions like that…"
"Yeah," Mikihiko continued. "Brighten or darken the course, and you control their moves. Magic's all about how you wield it."
"Hey, don't leave me out!" Leo grumbled.
Mikihiko snapped back to reality. "Sorry, sorry. Tatsuya's strategy is…"
At First High's headquarters, a parallel explanation unfolded.
"Shiba's tactic is simple," Suzune said, addressing Hattori and Kirihara, who'd come in Katsuto's place. "He uses light-wave vibration magic to create patches of light and shadow on the water. The dark goggles already dim their vision, so the boundary between light and dark tricks them into thinking the course ends sooner. It forces opponents to stick to the darker, narrower path."
Hattori and Kirihara listened, rapt.
"They know the course is wider," Suzune continued, "but it's hard to trust your head over your eyes. A narrow course slows you down. It's basic—limit your opponent's potential."
"But doesn't that affect Honoka too?" Hattori asked.
"She trained for it," Suzune replied simply.
Kirihara let out a low whistle. "Most would assume the caster's immune and call it a day."
"Tatsuya didn't. He told her to memorize the course with her body, not her eyes."
Kirihara groaned. "Looks like a trick, but it's straight-up strategy. Guy's not just devious—he's thorough."
Suzune laughed, a rare sound.
Miyuki's match ended in another crushing victory. As Tatsuya headed back to rest, Honoka sprinted toward him, still in her Battle Board uniform.
"Tatsuya-san!"
"Honoka? Shouldn't you be at the finals?"
The finals followed the semifinals almost immediately. Tatsuya frowned—she shouldn't have time for this.
"I had to thank you!"
"Thank me? The tournament's not over. Save it for later."
"I never thought I'd get this far. That's worth thanking you for!"
With that, she dashed off. Her uniform clung to her, her chest—slightly above average—bouncing noticeably, drawing stares from passing boys. Oblivious, Honoka ran on.
"She's really convinced it's all thanks to me," Tatsuya muttered to no one, planning a brief rest.
But his terminal buzzed. With a sigh, he answered.
"Yes?"
"Tatsuya-kun? It's Mayumi. Can you come to the meeting room? Like, now?"
"Now?"
"Yes, now. Preferably at a sprint."
Something unexpected, no doubt. Tatsuya wanted to refuse, but he knew another call would follow if he did. Reluctantly, he agreed.
"I'm in my room, so it'll take a bit, but I'll head to the meeting room."
"Perfect. It's about you, so we can't start without you. Please!"
Even over the call, Tatsuya could sense Mayumi's mischievous grin. He cut the connection, checked the empty room, and let out a heavy sigh. He wasn't even competing, yet he was dragged into something—likely involving three familiar presences he sensed en route. A wry smile tugged at his lips as he trudged toward the meeting room.
Honoka's dead-set on crediting me, huh?
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