Chapter Eight: Interschool Competition Arc IV
(The Day)
Nao's young days flashback
In a village in a farther part of the forest stood a town for the Okabe family.
Nao, five years old at that time found it hard to do sorcery since she had no cursed energy, taunted by other kids, she went deep into dark magic whereby she learnt the sand manipulation technique, she could see curses and demons but she didn't have a cursed energy.
In the same village, she had a four year old sister, Yumi Okabe, from another mother since her father was a polygamous man of seven wives.
They were best of friends, playing all the time, having fun, training and living together like they were from the same mother.
"Nao?,"said Yumi, voice as timid as ever.
"Yes?,"replied Nao.
"Make me a promise that you will never leave me alone, we will stay sisters forever, no matter what comes our way, we'll face it together,"she said holding out her pinky.
"Pinky promise?,"
"Pinky promise, we'll stay together forever sister,"Nao replied connecting her pinky to Yumi's.
They skipped down to the river near their village and sat there feet dipped in the water, holding hands like they would never part.
The tournament
Present Day
The sky was clear in Shibuya, the students of Majutsu High, Tokyo Japan were on their way to the hall of Majutsu sorcerors.
They alighted from the bus and entered only to be met by the students of Majutsu High, Kyoto Japan.
They gave them a real cold welcome.
"Hah, Ms. Sae, you are here, welcome,"said Kaede Mizuno, the sorceroress of Kyoto Japan's Majutsu High sorcerors.
"Nice to meet you Kaede, and how is Master Renjiro (Master of Kyoto Japan's Majutsu High school)?,"She asked
"He's doing great, he's inside waiting for you,"Kaede replied.
"Oh, that's nice,".
"I'll leave you with the kids, take care of them, okay?,"she added.
"Okay,"Kaede replied.
"Am I some kind of babysitter to take care of your students? How lazy of you Ms. Sae,"thought Kaede.
The students stared at her for a while, before she noticed them and changed her Outlook.
"Welcome to Shibuya, Your presence is highly appreciated,"Kaede greeted.
"Thanks ma'am,"Jūzō replied
"Oh, no, don't call me Ma'am, call me Ms. Kaede.
"Yes Ms. Kaede,"replied Jūzō while his other classmates watched without saying anything, their faces seemed to be stern at each other except Sayuri who was confused on why the two classes were angry at each other.
Nao's eyes were locked on only one person, and that was Yumi, her sister, for some reason, Yumi didn't like Nao.
Jūzō tried greeting the students of Kyoto Japan's Majutsu High sorcerors but they didn't answer him.
Instead, they turned one by one going further inside the hall.
"How rude,"muttered Jūzō.
"I wish I can break their bones right now,"said Sayuri.
"Don't worry, you'll have enough time to do that inside the competition," said Haruki, with eyes locked on Riku Tanaka who's body was massive in size and muscles.
"You mean there'll be battles in the game?,"asked Sayuri
"Of course,"Ms. Kaede answered
"It's a game of capture the flag and kill the curses, you run to the opponent's base to capture their flags, there are three flags, of you carry one of their flags and get to your base, you have won one round, come with me,"she explained as they went in further into the building.
"There are also curses, third grade curses in the forest, you will have to kill them to continue. Also, an opponent may challenge you, but in this case, I know you will be challenged and you must fight to escape. No killing, no extreme techniques, only takedown moves and attacks, winning school will gain recognition around the world and after match, each student's will pick one person from opposite school to nominate for higher classes,"she added.
"You mean we can be promoted in class just by being nominated by a person from the opposing students?,"asked Jūzō.
TAP!
"Of course, that's what she said, said Toma after tapping his head.
They made it to the inside of the big building, the Master of Kyoto Japan's Majutsu High sorcerors, Renjiro Arisaka, steel manipulation sorceror and Ms. Sae (Himuro Sensei) were already there, sitting down together watching them from the top of an outside building set for meeting as spectators.
"Am I the only one or am I sensing a wierd massive amount of cursed energy coming from that guy whom they call Jūzō?,"said Masaki Fujimoto a stone manipulation sorceror from the opposing team.
"It's not only you Masaki, I can sense it too,"said Riku Tanaka, an ink serpent sorceror.
"That means—,"Yumi said
"We will take him out first then the rest,"Riku interrupted.
"Hey guys!,"Himuro Sensei yelled
"Ugh, what does she want now?,"asks Haruki.
"Come on, she's our sensei, show some respect,"Sayuri says.
"Whatever,"he replies
"Akira will be joining the team,"Himuro Sensei yells
"But we can only be three since we are third grades,"replies Toma.
"Don't worry, she'll be replacing you, and don't worry about then promotion, I'll promote you myself!,"
"What!, Come on,"he yells.
"Don't worry, you don't need to fight to be promoted, I'm your sensei, I know what you can do,"she replies
He reluctantly accepts and goes to seat with her and Akira joins the team.
Jūzō didn't worry because he saw what she could do.
"I feel like those guys are up to something,"muttered Haruki.
"What makes you think so?,"said Jūzō.
"I don't know, I just feel that they are planning something, better watch your back,"he responded.
Jūzō was left confused.
The team took their positions and got ready to fight, they held their positions with planned strategies.
"Okay everyone, listen attentively,"Nao yelled.
"We have to plan this out well or we'll fail, Ren, Sora, you two will retrieve the flags.
Haruki, you two will guard the flags.
Jūzō, Sayuri, you two will excorcize curses. Aiko and I will assist those retrieving the flag, and Akira, stay in the trees and inform us about what they are up too, is everything clear?,"she added.
ALL: "YES!,"
"Start!,"Himuro yelled and it started.
The two teams bursted into actions, taking their places.
IN THE SHADOWS OF THE FOREST
"These humans, they think those is their world, we will show them what he'll on Earth is. Just image a world wreaked of havoc with no human beings, only demons and curses!,"a man in Black cloak that completely covered his face said.
His voice was so sinister and evil, face totally hidden, glowing red, claws tearing into the stem of a tree.