Vol 1 Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – The Collapsing World and Ghost TrailerPart 1

The gate to the entrance was not locked.

Takes.h.i.+ felt dejected that his mother was home.

His brother would be at cram school and his father would be working.

The house had been built around 10 years ago, his father worked a lot to buy the place and hardly ever came home.

It was what a person would consider my home.

However, Takes.h.i.+ couldn’t say it was comfortable in there.

Although Takes.h.i.+ would be instantly be denied if he brought back any other girl besides Kurumi inside his house.

Takes.h.i.+ thought it would be better if he didn’t have anyone, but recently his thoughts have changed.

Perhaps if had brought her, his parent’s thoughts might have changed and they would have been able to talk.

Takes.h.i.+ thought that he might have wanted to see that a little.

He ran away from school with his Kendo Gi, when he got to the entrance of his house he motioned to the person behind to come inside.

Mui looked nervous, it was like she had gone to the house of some unrelated influential person.

Just as Mui was about to go up the stairs, the living room door down the hall opened up.

“Ah, he, h.e.l.lo,” Mui greeted in a loud voice behind Takes.h.i.+.

However, his mother’s expression didn’t change.

“Um, excuse me for intruding on you.”

Mui bowed, while his mother who entered the hall murmured “By all means.”

His mother walked by where Takes.h.i.+ and Mui stood, put on her shoes, grabbed the parasol that was hung next to the s...o...b..x, and quickly left the house.

She was going out to shop in the neighborhood because she had an Eco-bag [1] hung over her shoulder.

Takes.h.i.+ hid his dejected expression from Mui, went up the stairs to the hallway and took off his shoes.

“Don’t let it bother you. That person, she’s always been like that.”

“Eh? Really?”

Mui had been watching his mother leave, when she heard Takes.h.i.+ say that, she looked over her shoulder at him.

“Is she your mother?”

“Yeah. That’s my mom.”[2]

Takes.h.i.+ answered curtly to prevent any further inquiries, Mui slowly closed the door behind her.

“You can go to my room first, it’s on the left side of the second floor, I’m going to get us some drinks.”

“……Okay.”

Takes.h.i.+ left Mui at the door in the entrance and entered the kitchen.

―It probably appeared to his mother that her son had come home in his Kendo Gi with an unknown girl……

Takes.h.i.+ took a deep sight with Haa sound.

Takes.h.i.+ was used to his mother’s indifference and that kind of reaction was good for the people she had never met.

Takes.h.i.+ shook his head several times to pull himself together, then opened the refrigerator door.

Part 2

Mui went upstairs as told and entered Takes.h.i.+’s room.

His room had an orderly atmosphere and he did not have a lot of possessions.

His bed was by the wall and his desk was by the window. He had a single small bookshelf standing by itself and he didn’t have a single poster or decoration.

Mui had entered his room but just stood there as she did not know where she could sit.

There was only the chair for the desk and she would feel shy if she sat on his bed.

Mui recalled her earlier meeting with Takes.h.i.+’s mother at the entrance.

She had facial features similar to Takes.h.i.+ and perhaps she had felt that cold atmosphere from her because she wasn’t a very sociable person.

―That person, it feels like she had seen her somewhere before……

Mui went across the room to the only window and shut the curtains because it was less likely that they would be discovered by their pursuers.

Almost unconsciously, she sat down on the bed which was carefully arranged.

Then, once again she recalled the face of Takes.h.i.+’s mother and became puzzled.

―Was she a celebrity?

―She understood that she was a magician the moment she saw her.

Mui’s shoulders sagged. Her beautiful black hair that was similar to enamel like her brother’s, fell down in front and concealed her face.

“Mou, I really am completely useless,” she said, her voice unintentionally loud.

Just what could she do, she knew how serious the current situation was.

For example, the fact that she will receive punishment no matter what will not change.

She had to somehow save her benefactor, that’s right, there was no use crying, it might be cruel but she could not bear to not tell him anything.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. All we had was tea and cola in the fridge.”

Unaware of Mui’s distress, Takes.h.i.+ came into the room with a cup on a tray.

“Ah, er. Please don’t trouble yourself with me.”

Looking at the tray that was placed in front of her, Mui looked up at Takes.h.i.+ and laughed with fufu sound.

“What?”

”Because, you brought both tea and cola.”

Three cups had been placed on the tray.

There was cola in two of them and tea in one.

There were two people, so there was one too many.

“My bad. I didn’t know which one would be good,” said Takes.h.i.+ with a sullen expression.

Taking the chair from the desk, Takes.h.i.+ sat down in front of Mui who was on the bed.

“Thank you. Then, I’ll take the tea.”

Takes.h.i.+ watched Mui take the cup and put it to her mouth. He then said:

“That uniform……”

“Eh?”

“Nah, it’s just that, I don’t think I have ever seen that uniform before.”

“…………”

Mui looked down at her uniform.

It was a navy blue short sleeved blouse with three lines on the sleeve and a green plaid ribbon on the chest. Her legs extended from a dark blue pleated skirt and the socks were self-designated.

“I don’t think I am familiar……which school is that from?”

Mui s.h.i.+fted her gaze away [3] and Takes.h.i.+ shook his head.

“No, it’s fine.”

Mui felt that Takes.h.i.+ wanted an explanation but he wouldn’t pursue it any further.

She felt sorry, but she had considered the fact that she didn’t want to get him involved any further.

Mui wanted to leave things as they were, part from Takes.h.i.+ here and return to her own world.

But, even if she wanted to, that was no longer possible.

Mui quietly returned the cup with its contents half drank to the tray.

“Have you seen it yet?” she asked.

“What?” Takes.h.i.+ asked back.

“Have you seen…………like this?”

Mui stood up and pulled out her gun, and immediately shot it.

“Knock it off!”

Takes.h.i.+ fell backwards out of the chair he was sitting in.

One centimeter away a wind traveled by his ear which made his body shudder.

Light vigorously hit the wall, and with a bachibachi sound it scattered.

But when Takes.h.i.+ looked back at the wall, there was not a single scratch on it.

No bullet had entered.

The bright yellow flash that had been fired instead, seemed to have been charged with electricity.

When it scattered in all four directions, the small flash of lightning branched and then disappeared.

“As I thought, you can see it.”

Mui’s voice clearly sounded disappointed.

“I saw it. It had an aura similar to light.”

“It’s a special type of particle.”

Mui tucked the gun in her skirt, and sat down again.

Takes.h.i.+ who sat opposite of her diverted his look.

“I guess I should give you an explanation.”

Takes.h.i.+ was annoyed that she abruptly discharged her gun, but aside from that it looked she had resolved herself about something, when she suddenly looked at him straight in the eyes for the first time, Takes.h.i.+ started to feel uneasy.

He didn’t want to hear anything.

Not about their pursuers, not about her uniform, not about her gun, and not about all the supernatural phenomenon, it was one thing after another.

But, that did not stop Mui from talking.

“It’s a particle that can only be seen by a magician.”

“That’s what you say!” Takes.h.i.+ stood up from his chair and yelled out in order to reject her words.

Still, she never once turned her gaze away and stared straight at Takes.h.i.+.

“Even I found it unreasonable to give you an explanation. But, it’s impossible otherwise.”

Takes.h.i.+ folded his arms and looked away from her.

“I am a magician.”

Mui said that much too readily, almost as if she was saying something simple like “I am a high school girl.”

“The guys who were chasing me are also magicians.”

Takes.h.i.+ did not feel like listening.

Just now she acted foolishly, if that was the case then maybe he should consider that she wanted to return somewhere.

“You know, I really did not want to hear anything at all, you were being chased and I thought you just wanted to bring someone along with you, it’s okay, however, you just wanted to return home right?” Takes.h.i.+ who was turned away, asked her in a tight tone.

“Did I not just say that a little while ago? Weren’t you listening?”

“…………”

“I told you that the aura or smoke you saw before was a special particle that only magicians can see. In other words, you also bear the burden of being a magician.”

Before, Takes.h.i.+ would have been able to reject everything including her words.

“My bad, I really am troubled by this. I want to be able to stay home.”

“Then listen properly!”

“I, am not religious so therefore I don’t know what kind of solicitation to give.”

“I’m not religious?”

“For generations my family has been Buddhists. Well, they are only Buddhist when it comes to funerals. Besides, no matter how you look at it, there doesn’t seem like there is any money here. Well, the house is two stories, but we’re just barely getting by.”

Takes.h.i.+ started unilaterally speaking about unrelated things, Mui standing up, forcefully grabbed Takes.h.i.+’s shoulder and tried turn him around to face her.

“Listen to me seriously. I am trying to make you aware of the fact that you can use magic!”

Takes.h.i.+ looked over his shoulder which was forcefully grabbed closer.

“…………Is something the matter?”

“When you threw that sword towards the window at school the color of your pupil became purple.”

Mui’s face was earnestly coming closer.

“Ba……bakabakas.h.i.+. If you are seriously saying that, then you are quite messed up in the head.”

In an attempt to escape from Mui, Takes.h.i.+ shook off her hand and separated from her like there was a disease.

Mui bit her lips tightly and glared at Takes.h.i.+.

“Wh, what?”

Takes.h.i.+ tried not to be overpowered by her gaze and glared back at her, once again she approached him with her hand on her chest.

“If I do this, then whether or not you like it, you might start to understand what you can do.”

In that moment, Takes.h.i.+’s body was gently lifted off the floor a few centimeters.

“Uwa!!”

A few seconds later his feet which had been separated from the floor were returned.

“No…… No……No way…………!”

“You can also do this.”

Mui let go of him, there was not a hint of an expression that said she was lying.

Instead, she awkwardly hung her head in shame and then suddenly kneeled down in front of Takes.h.i.+.

“I’m sorry.”

Her head had touched the floor.

Surprised by her sudden action, all Takes.h.i.+ could do was look down.

Once again, Mui bowed down into a position like a cat.

“I really am sorry!”

After Mui said that, she slowly looked up and saw that Takes.h.i.+ was bewildered.

With tears in her eyes, she said, “I changed you into a magician.”

There was too much remorse in her voice for her to have been joking.

Mui’s voice and facial expression, along with the fact that both her fists were trembling told him everything.

Somehow, Takes.h.i.+ couldn’t bring himself to throw her out of his house, his original intention was shaken by her earnestness.

“I didn’t think something like this would happen. Truly. It was not my intention to cause trouble for everyone. But……I just wanted to bring back Nii-san.”

Tears had acc.u.mulated around her eyes and large drops began to fall onto the carpet.

It became painful for Takes.h.i.+ to watch her, with a big sigh, he sat down in front of her.

There wasn’t a single guy who could throw her out after listening to her, watching her bow her head in apology, and then crying.

With a reluctant tone Takes.h.i.+ said, “Maa, I don’t quite understand what’s going on, yet I will still listen to you.”

From Mui’s eyes tear drops continued to fall.

She squeezed her eyes shut with all her strength in order to resist crying aloud. It was so pitiable that Takes.h.i.+ faced away and said, “If you are crying when you ask I can’t hear you properly.”

“I’m not.”

There was a reply, but it had become nasally.

No, she was still crying.

Her retort was as expected and Takes.h.i.+ could only nod his head.

Part 3

“Magicians aren’t born naturally.”

When she had finally settled down, she sat on the bed and said that.

“From the start, all humans possess a very miniscule amount of magic power. But as they grow into adults it becomes weakened. It’s approximately around the age of 25 when the pores which release magic power are closed and they can no longer become a magician. When a child comes into contact with magic power, the cells are stimulated and the pores open up in the body and they can create magic. In other words they become a magician.”

“You don’t possibly mean…………”

Takes.h.i.+ suddenly understood something that had occurred to him.

It was at the school infirmary when Mui fired her gun.

“Right. When I shot at you with my gun your body was stimulated. In other words, I believe you became a magician at that time.”

Astonished, Takes.h.i.+ just stared at her.

“As you saw shortly afterwards, among the people who had come was my brother.”

“That person was Tsuganas.h.i.+?”

The tall, scary man with black hair, Takes.h.i.+ was murmuring.

“Un. That was my nii-san. But, he’s different now.”

Mui said in a sorrowful tone.

“His memory has been changed by <ghost>”</ghost>

<ghost>“Ghost……?”</ghost>

<ghost>“ <ghost>. ‘They are a spirit vanguard’[4] and are referred to as a community.”</ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost>When Takes.h.i.+ heard Mui’s quiet voice, feelings of curiosity helped him calm down.</ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost>Sitting in front her shoulders were small and slender, with her head hanging down, Takes.h.i.+ outstretched one hand a little bit.</ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost>Takes.h.i.+ was still hesitant to believe Mui.</ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost>It didn’t matter what kind of person Mui was, after coming this far, he had to listen to the end, that much had not changed.</ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost>“They are trying to undermine the ideal of a magician.”</ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost>Mui had regained her composure.</ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost>That did not mean that her feelings of guilt towards Takes.h.i.+ had vanished, after this Mui would have to face the reality of this issue.</ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost>“When you first saw magic, were you afraid? Or were you not afraid?”</ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost>Mui asked, Takes.h.i.+ did not interrupt.</ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost>Then, Mui gave a small nod, as if it was natural.</ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost>“It’s generally the same reaction when a person sees magic. Scared, startled, because they don’t understand it, they reject it. Then, it would immediately change to anger and disdain. Since ancient times humans have always been afraid of Magicians, so it was decided that we would hide our presence. However, there are people who do not think this way. They are in <ghost>.”</ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost>If one were to speak of the existence of Magicians, then Takes.h.i.+ would not have believed it.</ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost>However, he had decided to not interrupt her story anymore.</ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost>For now, he would let Mui tell him everything and afterwards he would think about it.</ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost>“The Magicians desire a peaceful coexistence with humans. I am the same. In order to facilitate this kind of relations.h.i.+p, Subaru Magic Academy, where I study, forbids the use of magic in front of the human public.</ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost>“……Magic, Academy?”</ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost>“Yeah. It’s a school for Magicians. This is their school uniform.”</ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost>Takes.h.i.+ remembered the magic school in a certain fantasy movie he had seen.[5]</ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost>No matter what, it was impossible for him to just accept it as reality.</ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost>“The academy is managed by an organization called <wizard>the largest community. There are several communities, a Magician can select one of them in accordance with their own ideology and way of life. Among them <wizard>is a prime example of those who express peaceful coexistence with humans. They held negotiations with government over in this world and were allowed to set up a school.”</wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard>“This world?”</wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard>“Right. This world. Subaru Magic Academy is located in the Collapsing World where there is another Tokyo.”</wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard>“…………”</wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard>Honestly, there was a limit.</wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard>Several times he saw Mui use magic, but to declare that there was a Magic Academy and another world, it’s not like he was agreeing with a child.</wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard>“Somehow……your story is beyond absurd……”</wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard>Noticing that Takes.h.i.+ was dumbfounded, Mui had a wry smile.</wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard>“Yeah. It’s probably difficult to suddenly accept everything at once. But, I wanted to share it with you because you are a Magician. I couldn’t just go and leave you behind without saying anything.”</wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard>“You must be joking. I have nothing to do with this.”</wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard>“That was before. But it’s different for you now.”</wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard>Mui stood up slowly.</wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard>“ <ghost>came after me because I was trying to bring back my brother, but now I think they will also be targeting you.”</ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost>“What do you mean?”</ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost>“They should have realized that you became a Magician as well.”</ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost>Takes.h.i.+ looked up at Mui who was standing in front of him, the two of them stared at each other.</ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost>Takes.h.i.+ saw himself reflected in Mui’s pupil, he couldn’t say that his face didn’t look exhausted.</ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost>With a small sigh Mui said,</ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost>“When <ghost>captures a Magician they alter their memory to make them their comrade. Nii-san was probably the same way, after all it would be impossible for Nii-san to agree with their ideology.”</ghost></ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost><ghost>“Wa, wait a minute. Then why would those guys chase me?”</ghost></ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost><ghost>Mui stopped Takes.h.i.+ and continued her story.</ghost></ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost><ghost>She told him about the present situation between her and her brother.</ghost></ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost><ghost>He couldn’t believe what she said.</ghost></ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost><ghost>She couldn’t understand what their reasons were, or why they would aim for her……</ghost></ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost><ghost>Nevertheless, Mui readily bowed her head.</ghost></ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost><ghost>“Yeah. Once you are caught they erase key memories and then replace them with others.”</ghost></ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost><ghost>It’s like gasping for breath after an impact.</ghost></ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost><ghost>Why did she grab his shoulder and cry, Takes.h.i.+ wanted to give Mui a final warning, but he couldn’t do it.</ghost></ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost><ghost>"No matter how unpleasant it is for you, I want you to come with me. I have no choice but to protect you.”</ghost></ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost><ghost>“Protect me huh. [6]</ghost></ghost></wizard></wizard></ghost></ghost></ghost>

<ghost><ghost><ghost><wizard><wizard><ghost><ghost>“When you get captured by