Vol 6 Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Incomprehensible SpiritPart 1

Summer break has ended and it became the 8th of September. There was an event happening in the afternoon, which had still not escaped from the summer heat.

There was a bizarre atmosphere around the gymnasium of the Raizen high school.

"One year ago ……………we learned many things."

Itsuka Shidou's classmate, Yamabuki Ai, stood on stage while clenching her fist, and squeezed her voice out to the mike.

Ai's best friends, Hazakura Mai and Fujibakama Mii were standing at both of her sides, holding the Raizen high school flag up on her left and right. They had, incidentally, took up an "At ease" posture of a bodyguard or an imperial guard from somewhere... Together, with the bizarre vigor Ai put into her state, it was like looking at a country's ruler about to declare war.

"The meaning of a bitter experience, the humiliation of a defeat…………the cold feeling of the ground when made to grovel on the floor."

Ai said that with detest, swinging her fist, and nimbly raised her face.

"Well then, gentlemen. This pitiful army of defeated gentlemen. I want to ask all of you. Are we still experiencing the feeling of bitterness? Are we still groveling on the ground? Are we still stuck sunk in defeat……….!?"

*Dan!* Ai slammed her fist on the podium. The microphone's audio feedback echoed around nearby.

"No! No way! Those guys have committed a grave mistake; they have given us time to sharpen out fangs of revenge! Our dearest time of fulfillment has come! Let there be glory to Raizen! Let there be honor to Raizen! With a strike with all our strength, we will bite their throats to a thousand pieces!!"

At the same time Ai swung her fist upwards, as if responding to that-----

""OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhh!""

The students crowded in the gymnasium raised their voices all at once.

The gymnasium's glass windows shook slightly and the tremendous voices echoing on top of each other shook his eardrums until they hurt.

"Haha………… They are so full of energy."

Itsuka Shidou cracked a wet smile while gazing at his classmate giving a speech up on stage.

Nonetheless, it was not like he didn't understand the reason why they were so wildly enthusiastic about it. That's becauseーーー

"Shidou, what on earth is Ai saying? Is she trying to start a war somewhere……….?"

A doubtful voice echoed from his right side.

When Shidou turned to look where the voice had come from, he found Yatogami Tohka standing beside him directing her attention at him.

She had night colored hair reaching her waist, and a pair of crystal eyes that stared back at Shidou. She was a beautiful girl, beautiful enough to think it was not something she was naturally born with.

Nonetheless, right now, her face was perplexed with a very bewildered expression.

Well, that's probably normal. If a person with no prior knowledge about the situation saw that speech just now, then without a doubt the person would be confused. No matter how much one looks at her, the current Ai looks like a war hero or a lecturer giving her own seminar.

"It's because this month is the Tenou festival."

"Tenou festival? What's that?"

"Hnnーーー Well, an easy way to say it is that it's a super big school festival."

When Shidou said that, Tohka's eyes sparkled.

"School festival………………. Ooh! I've seen that before in the television. It's a dream-like festival with food vendors lined up in the school!"

"Hnn. That's not wrong but……….."

"Ooh……… I see. We're going to do a school festival! That's, unn, I think it's good!"

She said that, and after making an ecstatic expression for a while, she once again twisted her head.

"Nu………………? So, why do we need this kind of meeting for the school festival?"

"Aah, the Tenou festival is a little different from other school festivals. ーーーIt's a combination school festival with the ten high schools inside Tenguu city."

"Ten schools…………. Combination?"

Tohka opened her eyes in surprised. Shidou [ahh] nodded.

Tenguu city, the place Shidou and the other are living in, was a reconstructed area of the northern part of Kantou region, from the Tokyo metropolitan area which suffered devastating damage by a south-east grand disaster 30 years ago.

Right now for sure, using it as a test city with state of the art technology, they planned to make it suitable for humans to live in, but during the time they started the reconstruction, probably thanks to the threat of a spacequake having not faded, there was an unbalanced time where the number of citizens was very small, compared to the completion of areas or institutions in the region.

It was at that time when the union festival, called the 'Tenou Festival', came in to practice.

"Well to put it simply, since the number of schools and students was small at that time, it would seem they planned to do it together to make it more exciting. That continued even after the number of citizens increased."

Shidou made a wry smile while shrugging his shoulders.

At first it was a festival planned together by the schools in the underpopulated area, but right now it's a great event held in the Tenguu square's giant exhibition hall, with it being reserved for three whole days.

For Tenguu city, which presently seemed to have approved the festival that had grown to such a big event; it couldn't just let the Tenou festival end.

In addition to the sensational nature of the event, and as a natural consequence of it being covered by television, there are some economical reasons for this much fanfare; It attracts tourists from outside the city and a considerable number of middle school students, from both locally and among the many visiting tourists, will be determining their High School of choice by the results of the Tenou Festival.

Even so, the event that was at first an idea beginning with famous schools joining together and making the school festival livelier, started to gain a different meaning because of the many schools joining in.

Which meant------

"This time! This year! This year for sure, our Raizen will obtain the Laurels of Kings!"

Ai shouted from the stage. And the other students responded.

Yes. The Tenou festival has voting categories such as the stage division, exhibition division, and refreshment booth division to pick the best school, and the school that is deemed to be the best, will be crowned king for the year after this.

When the school is decorated with such a beautiful ideology, other than the existing antagonism towards famous schools, it was obvious that the normally dormant fighting spirit and school love inside everyone would be stirred up. The people that normally show not even a speck of interest in soccer are now probably doing something similar to swinging the Japan flag with the dream of going to the world cup.

While Shidou was explaining the details to Tohka, he heard a voice coming from behind him.

"Kuku…………..I see. I now know the reason why Ai and the others were so excited!"

"Convinced. If that is the reason, then we can't lose."

When he looked over, there were two near identical girls standing there.

One of them had long braided hair and was a girl with unyielding spirit. She had a characteristically delicate body that looked like it would break if hugged too tightly and a proud expression befitting her.

The other was a girl with her hair braided into three strands. Having beautiful facial features, decorated powerless half-opened eyes and model-like proportions made her all the more alluring to Shidou's eyes.

"Kaguya, Yuzuru…………….why are you here?"

Yes, the ones over there were the Spirits that had their Reiryoku sealed by Shidou during the month before the last---------they were the sisters Yamai Kaguya and Yamai Yuzuru, who had transferred to 2nd Year class 3 located beside Shidou's class since the beginning of the semester.

At first they had planned to be transferred to Group 4, which was the same as Shidou's, but since unlike Tohka, who's mental state would become unstable if she were to be separated from Shidou, both of their mental states were stable as long as they were together. They therefore decided to be transferred to the neighboring class.

Naturally since it was assembly time now, they were supposed to be lining up following their own class separately. The Yamai sisters were also supposed to be forming a line with Group 3 separately.

However, the reason was immediately discovered. The excited students repeatedly chanting "Raizen" had made the line that formed to separate the classes completely pointless.

"Fuu, nonetheless, as long as the Yamai sisters are here, Raizen's victory will not be shaken."

"Agreed. Yuzuru and Kaguya's combination is the strongest. We are invincible to any opponent that comes."

"Kuku, so that's the case? That's because, anything can be perfectly accomplished if Yuzuru goes."

"Affirmative. And Kaguya who is more perfect than Yuzuru is there too. There is no reason to lose."

"Iyaafufu………..Why you~, what~, it's itchy Yuzuru. Tsun Tsun."

"Smile. Kaguya too. Tsun Tsun."

Saying such things, they cracked a happy smile while poking each other's second arm.

"…………haha."

Looking at both of them like that, Shidou cracked a powerless smile. After displaying the happy relationship of a sweet couple that has been dating for about one week, who on earth would believe that just around two months ago, these two sisters dragged an entire region into their big fight?

After appearing and quickly starting to make a world of their own, Shidou shifted his sights from the Yamai sisters back to Tohka.

When he did that, Tohka made a difficult moan before, *fumu* nodding.

"I see………..which means there will be a lot of food shops right?"

"………..aah, un, well, that's right."

When Shidou said that while smiling powerlessly, Tohka pat her chin while *fun**fun* the breath coming out her nose becomes rough.

"Is that so, fumu, is that so……….fufu, I'm looking forward to it Shidou. How many shops are there?"

"Uhn--, that's…………."

"Let me explain!"

Faster than Shidou replying back, this time a voice echoed from the front. Looking over, his classmate Tonomachi Hiroto was, standing there while taking a tokusatsu[6A 1]hero-like pose.

"Tonomachi, what's with the hurry?"

"I will appear before the voices of damsels in distress. You wanted to know what kind of food stands there will be in the Tenou festival, right?" When Tonomachi said that, Tohka's eyes opened wide in surprise.

"Ooh, do you know about it?"

"Of course! I investigated for Tohka-chan!"

After saying that, Tonomachi took out a memo book out from his pocket and flipped through it.

"Inside this, the information of all the 10 schools participating in the Tenou festival refreshment booth's is listed. All of the approximately 90 booths are in it!"

"Oooh!"

"Do you want me to tell you, Tohka-chan?"

"Umu, please tell me!"

"Then try begging for it!"

"I beg of you, Shidou's friend!"

She said that with a face that showed no care. There was not a speck of bad intention coming from that expression.

Tonomachi probably anticipated that. After making a complicated face, *Kiii* he shot a glance in Shidou's direction.

Shidou sighed, then whispered the name "Tonomachi Hiroto" into Tohka's ear.

"Oooh……………I see. I beg you, Tonomachi!"

Upon hearing Tohka say his name with such energy, Tonomachi's facial expression lightened up.

"O, one more time!"

"I beg you, Tonomachi!"

"Using the last name!"

"I beg you, Hiroto!"

"Using a pet name filled with affection!"

"I beg you, Hiropon!"

It turned into a name that sounded like a dangerous medicine but Tonomachi seemed to be satisfied by it. He twisted his body, as if overcome with emotion, and lowered his sight towards the memo book.

"I can't refuse after being told like that! Let's see……..speaking of refreshment booths, Eibunishi leaves excellent results every year. That's because their home economics are strong. It's a whole different level compared to the cooking club. Last year, the doner kebab stall was something thought of not as a school festival level…………."

"Aah…………..I think something like that happened now that I think about it."

"It seems this year's main force is, [Meat War! The fastidiousness black minced cutlet]. Using luxurious ingredients such as Hokkaido's Japanese black cattle or Kago Island's black pig, and making it into a gem that doesn't need sauce."

"Wha,what………….."

Tohka said that while shaking both her hands. Her eyes were glittering, and drool was flowing out from her mouth.

"The next thing is……….well probably it's associated with Senjou university. Those guys can use the escalator directly to university level because they are affiliated with the school, and have only until 3rd year to stand out."

"Fuun…………so the favorites are probably around that area."

When he said that, Tonomachi *Tsk**Tsk wagged his finger.

"What are you saying. Did you forget? The king, The Rindouji Academy for Girls."

"Ah---…….."

Shidou scratched his cheeks. Now that he thought about it, he really had forgotten about it.--------Last year's winning school.

"This year too, they are getting everything done perfectly………………Their self-awareness as the city's most beautiful girls is nasty. The taste and ingredients are first-class, but more than that, they get votes by courteously serving the customers. The refreshment booth they had last year was seriously just handing them money in a contact level similar to a handshake event level. I can't remember how many times I lined up there."

"Don't just go lining up seriously."

When Shidou glared at Tonomachi, he then *cough* cleared his throat.

"We,well anyways, they are extremely scary Ojou-samas. Also, what's more-------- one more thing happened in Rindouji this year, a suspicious rumor."

"Rumor?"

When Shidou tilted his head, Tonomachi [aah] replied.

"Remember, didn't it make news at the beginning of April? That a student transferred to Rindouji."

"April……….huh~"

Shidou furrowed his eyebrows as if to search his memories once more but……….he couldn't remember anything. Rather, speaking of April, his head was filled with the matter with Tohka. He didn't have the pleasure to care about anything else.

"You're serious? Don't you remember? It's Miku-tan you know, Miku-tan?"

"……..…….Who's that?"

Shidou honestly said that, not remembering anything.

Still, it seems that reply was something completely unbelievable to Tonomachi. After making a shocked face, he then changed his expression and suddenly. *PAChiiin!* Tonomachi pulled Shidou's cheeks.

"Wha,what was that for, all of a sudden?!"

"That's my line! You bastard, I won't let you say you don't know the mysterious Izayoi Miku-tan!? Aah? Is it that? Is it that, "I have no interest in the idol everyone is *kya**kya* talking about?" Is it the typical cool character appeal?"

"It can't be helped even if you say that right! It's normal for someone to not know who---------------"

"Doesn't exist! Doesn't~~ Exist~~!! At the very least, the people inside our generation, there's no one other than stupid Itsuka-kun that doesn't know about the super national idol Miku-tan!"

"You said it!? Then what are you going to do if someone in our generation didn't know about Miku-tan?!"

"Hah, the day that happens, I'll kneel down on the ground and eat spaghetti with my ass!!"

"Are you serious!?"

"YEAH!"

"Hey Tohka, do you know who Izayoi Miku is?"

"That's cheating; Itsuka you bastard!?"

The moment Shidou tried asking Tohka, Tonomachi clung onto Shidou's shoulders.

But, it seemed like that was unnecessary. Not only was Tohka completely unaware of their quarreling--------

"Umuu…….."

While making a dazed out face, she was holding out both her hands as if she was holding onto something. Then after opening her mouth wide and *pakun* eating empty space, she then *chew**chew* start chewing before making an ecstatic expression.

It was an impossible air minced cutlet. Because she made such a realistic posture, even Shidou and the others could see the shadow of the delicious looking minced cutlet.

"……….Oii~, Tohka?"

When he poked her shoulders while saying that, Tohka immediately twitched her body and wiped off her drool.

"Nu, What's wrong Shidou?"

"Hnn, nothing……………"

When he was told that with those carefree eyes, he somehow didn't feel like finishing his sentence. At the edge of his view, he saw Tonomachi *Houu* patting on his chest.

"But…………….I see. That's very nice. Hey Shidou, let's go eating on that day!"

A smile floated on Tohka's whole face while she stuck her right hand's pinky finger up.

"Hnn?"

"Reine taught me this! It seems it's called pinky swear"

"Aaah…………I see."

After Shidou scratched his head, he stood his pinky up like her. For the first time, starting with Tonomachi, Shidou's whole body was getting pierced by stares coming from the few guys around them.

"Okay, then---------"

In that moment Tohka, moved her right hand closer to Shidou's.

When he thought a fast human shadow flew out from the crowd, she gently entangled her pinky finger with Shidou's, and at the same time, someone had grabbed Tohka's pinky finger and twisted her finger joints.

"GuGyaa!"

Tohka jumped up, and pulled her right hand back in panic.

"O………..Origami!?"

Shidou opened his eyes in surprise, and called the name of the intruder that appeared in between them.

Having silky hair that tickled the tip of her shoulders, and a shape like a doll------her face also held no expression like a doll. That was unmistakably Shidou's classmate and Tohka's natural enemy; Tobiichi Origami.

"Pinky swear, if you lie then you will have to drink sleeping medicine in my room."

Origami spoke with a rhythm-less voice, then swung the hand that was connected to her pinky finger.

"Why is it sleeping medicine instead of 1000 needles!? What on earth are you planning to do!?"

"If it's a boy then Takashi, if it's a girl then Chiyogami."

"What were you seriously planning to do!?"

While Shidou continued shouting, Tohka lifted her face and glared at Origami sharply.

"Yo, you bastard! What were you trying to do!"

"This has nothing to do with you. On the day of Tenou festival, Shidou and I promised that we would go around the booths together."

"Wha,what did you say!? Don't screw with me! That promise is mine!"

When Tohka shouted, Origami *Fusu* made a breath out of her nose like she won and jerked her chin to show her pinky finger wrapped around Shidou's. Incidentally, his finger was being held by Origami's pinky with monstrous strength, and it looked like it wouldn't be easy to unfasten.

"Guh, le,let go you bastard!"

Tohka frowned her face and grabbed Shidou and Origami's wrist to pull them apart. But,

"When these fingers separate, it would mean [A pinky swear]-------signifying the completion of the promise."

"Wha………..! Don't let go! You can't let go!"

After Origami said that while remaining emotionless, she made a small nod.

"U,umu. If you do that then the promise will not complete. So with this………….."

Tohka made a relief sigh and patted herself on her chest-------and immediately [Hnn?] wrinkles formed between her eyebrows.

"Wait a second! If that's the case, then it means you can't let go of Shidou!"

"That is inevitable. It's something that can't be helped."

"!? Yo, you bastard, you tricked me!?"

Shocked, Tohka said that with full detest.

"Oi, you two……………."

Shidou twitched his cheeks while slowly losing feeling in his pinky finger wrist.

And at that moment, there was a slight change in the gymnasium that was covered with wild enthusiasm.

""Silence, gentleman. I have properly received all of your feelings.--------so with that, I have one wish""

After saying that, Ai took the mike and continued.

""My beloved brethren, a small number of friends under Student Council President Kirisaki have fallen half-way in good-will. So, I want to invite comrades that are willing to succeed the President's and the gang's ideals. If there is such a person, name yourself!""

The students started getting noisy. Probably no one even understood the meaning of what they were just told.

Not long after, a student standing in front raised up her hand.

"Errr, what do you mean by that?"

After Ai scratched her head, she continued as if she forgotten the act she was going on until now.

""Unnnn………well put in simply, since Prez and the gang collapsed because of the stress and work load, we have no choice but to choose a substitute. Is there anyone willing to be in the executive committee for the Tenou festival?""

In that instant------

The students who were making voices loud enough to cause an earthquake were now completely quiet.

They were probably thinking this is bad, Ai made a gesture while a fellow entered and help.

""No well, even if we said this, most of the work has been done you know? It's true, it's true. All you have to do is sit down during the meeting! It's seriously a super cozy committee meeting! It's connected to the skill up so!""

For some reason, the phrases in the second half turned into an invitation for a part-time recruitment for a black organization.

The spirits of the students that were going wild just now, suddenly turned cold. In order not to make eye contact with Ai, everyone started averting their sights.

But Shidou didn't have the pleasure to notice the change of atmosphere in the gymnasium.

"I get it!"

After Tohka opened her mouth after she thought of something, the opposite side of Origami------she intertwined her pinky finger with Shidou's left hand's pinky finger.

"How about this!? With this, it's a tie!"

"A pinky swear done with the left hand signifies the end of a relationship; it shows that you don't want to be associated with that person anymore."

"Wh, wha………….!?"

Tohka let out a horrified voice, and after alternately looking at Shidou's face and their connected fingers, she made a face as if she was going to cry any moment.

"Shi,Shidou! I-it's wrong, I didn't mean to………..!"

"…………..No, I've never heard that before."

When Shidou said that, Tohka immediately opened her eyes in wonder and-----------

"Da, damn you, you bastard! Not once but twice!"

She shouted like that and pulled Shidou's pinky finger. Origami not wanting to lose, pulled Shidou towards herself by only using the fulcrum of her pinky finger.

"Oucoucoucoucoucoucoucouch! St,stop!"

If this was the child fight of Ouka Echizen, then it should be about time when one of them let go of their hands but in reality, it wasn't that kind of fight. Both of them put more energy into it.---

"Kuku……………. You people, what are you doing on your own accord after leaving us out? In such a pleasant festival like this, wasn't it already decided Shidou was going to indulge in such a pleasure with us?"

"Warning. Shidou is Yuzuru and Kaguya's shared property. It is not exempted even to Master Origami. In case one wants to borrow him, please apply and compile the documents at the very least one week before the date."

The Yamai sisters who were flirting around joined in the commotion and barged into the conversation. Since Shidou couldn't move, both of them snuggled in from the front and back.

"Un, unu! Kaguya and Yuzuru, even you two as well!"

"…………., If you two don't want to die, you should go away."

Putting more strength into it, both his hands were pulled.

"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?"

"Why you………..! Isn't Shidou getting hurt?! Let go already!"

"That is my line. You should release him as fast as possible."

"Kuku, you two can continue your unproductive fighting."

"Consent. In that time, Yuzuru and Kaguya will have him."

What's more, the worst thing happened, since their surroundings turned unusually quiet just now, there was a lot of attention accumulating. Starting with Tonomachi, the male students were *grind**grind* grinding their teeth while shooting sharp stares, while the female students started *chatter**chatter* talking.

And, when Shidou thought Tonomachi turned his body around after glaring at him enviously, he raised his hands high up while shouting out in an unexpectedly loud voice.

"Chairman!"

""Yes, Tonomachi-kun?""

"I nominate Itsuka Shidou-kun as the Tenou festival executive member!"

"Wha…….?!"

Shidou opened his eyes wide at his friend's sudden betrayal.

"Ton, Tonomachi you bastard! What are you sayi……….oucoucoucouch!?"

He voiced his objection but he was interrupted because of the strong winch coming from his left and right hands.

At the same time, the guys who were approved by Tonomachi started raising their voices one after another.

"Agreed! I'm counting on you, Itsuka-kun!"

"Agreed! Itsuka is the only one we can entrust our will with!"

"Agreed! Get worked to death and sent to the hospital, damn it!"

"Oi the last guy, your real motive came out!?"

Even when he shouted, the male student who showed no sympathy to Shidou didn't take back the last part. Incidentally, as if riding on, the girls send an Itsuka call together.

""Silence!""

And as if to stop all of that, Ai's voice echoed from the stage.

In an instant, he thought Ai was just calming everyone down, but………..as expected, that kind of thoughts was too naïve.

""I have properly obtained everyone's voices! 2nd Year Group 4 Itsuka Shidou-kun, due to the large number of people who have agreed with the nomination, you will be appointed as the Tenou festival executive committee!""

"Wai………!"

""OOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohh!""

Shidou's voice was swallowed by the large cheer that shook the gymnasium.

Part 2

In the suite room of the top floor in the Imperial hotel located at the west side of Tenguu city, Isaac Westcott sat down while sighing. He raised his chin while slightly flicking the tip of his dark ash blonde hair, and further narrowed his eyes which looked like sharpened blades.

Right now, the thing that Westcott was looking at was a bundle of documents bound together with a clip. He distorted the side of his lips while shifting his sights to his left.

"-------I see. Not only the AAA rank Spirit