3 - Freshman Year, Summer 2

It’s been a month since the duel and the rainy season has now come to an end. There were no more traces of Serena being bullied. The incident in the courtyard was forgotten. My “return it tenfold” threat still stood, but there were still a few fools who harassed her.

This time, however, it’s not because Serena is a commoner woman trying to seduce several handsome men, but…

“Eli!” Serena cries as she dashes to me and hugs me, no interest in the guys here at all.

“Haha,” the Perverted M-Prince chuckles from nearby. “Well then, Eliza: won’t you kick me?”

I’m ready to spit poison at him. He’s royalty, can he act like this?

“Prince Arthur,” Serena said, “neither I nor Eli wants to even breath the same air as you, so please never show your face to us again.”

“Haa-haa, your words are good, Serena,” Arthur says, “but, I still desire Eliza’s kicks.”

“Ugh, no,” I groan. “Eli, let’s just leave him and go check out that new cake shop in the city that Yoshie was talking about.”

“Sounds good to me,” Serena said.

“Step all over me before you go, Eliza,” the Perverted M-Prince says, disturbing us both.

I blew the whistle I had ready for this exact situation. After a 30 second countdown: “What do you require, Asteron?” Lancelot said.

I point to Arthur. “Take him away,” I said.

“Understood,” Lancelot said.

“Just one stomp…!” Arthur complained as he was dragged away.

Lancelot had become our deterrent force aimed at the now out-of-control Perverted M-Prince, though he’s still not a slave as we’d originally agreed on. With how he comes in an instant and handles things for me, though, I can’t help but feel that I’m treating him like a dog instead.

As I walked to the cake shop with Serena, I saw another of the capture targets: Sergius Reise, an international student and one of my causes of death. His route is especially bad, a shitty plot where Serena would join the coup he was leading.

To prevent Serena from falling into his clutches, I needed to dismantle it early.

I told Serena “Go ahead without me, I’ll catch up later,” then approached him. “Mr. Reise, is it okay if I speak to you for a moment?”

“What do you want, Ms. Meathead?” he huffed.

If that insult means the same as “NOUKIN” in Japanese, then I will kill whoever gave me that as soon as I find them.

“Well, are you prepared to die?” I asked.

“Why are you asking me such a terrible thing?” Sergius asked.

“Because you’re planning a coup, yes?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. He’s not even flustered, he’s got quite the iron-will.

“Shall I tell that to the Florists and the Butchers you’ve betrayed, then?” I asked.

“… How did you…?” Sergius gasped.

And there’s the reaction. The Florists and the Butchers are codenames for rival organizations, and Sergio is fueling both their operations. I wondered if he was a traitor from the very beginning.

“Do you know of the Magic Cult?”

“Who are they?” Sergius asked.

I handed him papers with my research, made using the Magic School’s resources. “They’ll be a hindrance to your plans, so help me destroy them.”

“… I’ll consider it,” Sergius said.

“You don’t seem to understand I’m only giving you two choices,” I said. “One, you destroy the magic cult with me. Two, I have you outed and rewarded as a traitor deserves: with death . Two simple choices, please make your pick.”

“Alright, all join you,” Sergius grumbled.

“Now that that’s settled, I’m going to go eat some cake now,” I said. “From here on out, you only move according to my plan.”

Sergius’ face was priceless.

“Over here, Eli!” Serena said as I entered the cake shop, a cup of tea in her hand. She’s cute.

“Sorry to keep you both waiting, Serena, Yoshie,” I said as I walked up.

“You’re late,” Yoshie said.

“It’s alright, Eli,” Serena said. “Come on, let’s order.”

I got cheesecake, Serena a fruit tart, and Yoshie a shortcake. After we each take a bite, Serena puts a bit of her fruit tart on her fork and holds it out to me. “Eli, say ‘Aaah’…” she said.

“Aaah…” I say, taking it.

This happens all the time when I eat with Serena. We’re all girls so it’s not so strange, but why do I keep feeling that something’s off?

“Selena, let me give you a bite, too,” I said as I do the same with my cheesecake.

“Yay!”

“Here, say ‘Aaah…” I say as I feed her.

Yoshie chuckles. I freeze as I remember she was right there. “You look like a couple,” she says.

“Ehehe, do we?” Serena says, in stark contrast to me. She was so cute like this. “Anyway, what are you guys doing over summer vacation?”

“I’ve no choice to prepare for that …” I grumbled, Yoshie nodding in sympathy.

Serena looked lost. “Eli, what do you mean by ‘that’?”

“The School Magic Tournament,” I replied.

It was like the tournament arc of a battle-manga and an important venue for the aristocrats to show off their power. I was compelled to participate and give my all.

“Maybe we can go to train together?” Serena said.

“Uh-uh,” Yoshie went.

“The thing is…” I said before I explained that my training regiment and schedule had already been set.

“Aren’t you going to the beach?” Serena asked.

“I won’t have the time to,” I said.

“None,” Yoshie said.

“So I’m not going to be able to see Eli in her swimsuit?” Serena asks, looking desperate.

“Certainly not happening this year,” I said.

“Mhmm,” Yoshie said.

Serena looked crestfallen.

With these gloomy clouds hanging over us, the day of my first Magic Tournament was fast approaching.