The sunlight streamed softly through the curtains, waking Yuto slowly.
He groggily opened his eyes, blinking as his surroundings slowly came into focus.
The warmth of the bed was comforting, but what truly caught his attention was the feeling of something—or rather, someone holding him.
He turned his head and found Lilith still asleep, her arms wrapped around his torso in an unexpectedly tender embrace.
Her face was buried in the crook of his neck, her long, dark hair spilling across his chest like a silken curtain.
For a moment, Yuto just laid there, the unusual sensation of having her so close washing over him.
It wasn't like he could do much about it anyway.
As strange as it was, he didn't mind the embrace.
He'd gotten used to her presence, though he'd never expected her to act this comfortably around him.
He sighed, resting his head back against the pillow.
"This is… weird," he muttered to himself, not quite sure how to feel about it.
He had his arms loosely around her, but he wasn't in any rush to get up.
It felt kind of nice.
Like a strange, unspoken truce.
Minutes passed in silence, and Yuto found himself half-lost in the odd comfort of the moment.
But, of course, it couldn't last forever.
He felt a slight shift in Lilith's grip.
Her breathing had changed—slower, more controlled, indicating she was waking up.
He turned his head slightly, and sure enough, her eyes fluttered open.
She blinked a few times before meeting his gaze.
"Morning," Lilith murmured lazily, her voice heavy with sleep but a playful glint already shining in her eyes.
"Enjoying the cuddles, are we?"
Yuto felt a flush of heat rush to his face at the playful comment, but he shrugged it off, trying to act nonchalant.
"I didn't exactly have much of a choice"
Lilith raised an eyebrow, her smile curling into something a bit more mischievous.
"Oh? Well, I could let go, but I figured you'd prefer the warmth"
Yuto gave a small, dry laugh, gently untangling himself from her arms.
"I'm good, thanks"
But as he did, he couldn't help but notice that there was a faint blush on her cheeks.
Lilith sat up, stretching languidly, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"Well, someone's not as embarrassed as I thought they'd be"
She gave a small chuckle, turning her attention to the clock.
"Anyway, don't we have class soon?"
Yuto blinked, quickly checking the time.
He groaned inwardly when he realized he was almost late.
"Great... class. I'll deal with you later"
Lilith grinned.
"You wouldn't be so quick to push me away if you really wanted to"
Her voice dropped to a teasing whisper, but Yuto just shook his head and grabbed his clothes, deciding not to rise to the bait.
"You're incorrigible, you know that?" he said, a small smirk tugging at his lips as he got ready.
Lilith stretched again, her eyes following him.
"Maybe. But you wouldn't have it any other way, would you?"
He didn't answer, just headed for the door with a small sigh.
"Let's just get to class before I'm really late"
Lilith's soft laughter followed him out, and he couldn't help but smile to himself.
Even though everything about their dynamic was complicated, strange, and sometimes infuriating, it was hard to deny that his life had taken a rather interesting turn since she'd shown up.
After Class
The professor wrapped up his lecture, the class began to stir, students packing up their things and getting ready to head out.
The hum of conversation filled the room as everyone chattered about the day's lessons.
Just as Yuto was about to stand up, an unexpected voice echoed through the speakers in the classroom.
"Attention, students!" the announcer's voice rang out, capturing everyone's attention.
"The academy's annual tournament is officially starting. All participants should begin heading to their designated spots now to prepare"
A wave of excited murmurs spread throughout the classroom as the announcement sank in.
Yuto exchanged a glance with Alice, who gave him a mischievous smile.
"Looks like it's finally time," Alice said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Yuto shrugged, trying to appear calm despite the nervous excitement building inside him.
"Yeah, I guess so. Just another tournament"
Lilith, who had been quietly sitting next to him, leaned in with a teasing smile.
"Don't worry, darling. You've got this. Just don't let your fans distract you too much"
Her voice was playful, though there was an unmistakable hint of seriousness behind it.
Yuto glanced at her, a small smirk forming.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Lilith"
He grabbed his things and stood up.
He had trained hard for this, sparred with friends, and honed his skills.
But despite all that preparation, a small part of him still questioned whether he was truly ready.
As the class began to empty, Alice caught up with him.
"Don't mess this up, alright?" she teased, nudging him with her elbow.
"I want to see you win"
Yuto gave a small smile and rolled his eyes.
"Same here, I want to face you off!"
They both gave each other a high five as they continued walking.
The students started filing out, heading towards their designated areas for the tournament.
The academy grounds were buzzing with activity as students gathered in groups, preparing for the tournament.
The excitement was palpable in the air, with whispers of anticipation about who would come out on top.
Yuto walked alongside Alice, Reika, and Lilith, feeling a bit of tension creeping into his chest.
Alice, as usual, was unfazed.
"You're going to show them what you've got, right?" she asked with a smirk, nudging him lightly.
Yuto let out a breath.
"Yeah, I guess. It's just a tournament, right? Just some sparring and competition"
"Ha!" Alice laughed, shaking her head.
"I don't think you realize how much of a big deal this is. The winner gets a ton of prestige, and who knows? Maybe there will be a prize too"
"I'm more concerned about not making a fool of myself," Yuto muttered.
Lilith, walking beside him with her usual calm demeanor, gave him a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, darling. I have no doubt you'll do well"
Reika nodded in agreement.
"You've trained for this. Trust your instincts, Yuto. You'll be fine"
Yuto appreciated their confidence in him, but part of him was still unsure.
He had grown comfortable with the idea of competition, but this tournament felt different; there was more at stake, and there were more eyes on him now than ever before.
As they arrived at the tournament grounds, students were gathered in different areas, stretching, practicing, or socializing.
A large arena stood in the center, surrounded by spectators, and the air was filled with the energy of eager participants.
The announcer's voice echoed once again, directing everyone to take their places.
"All participants, please make your way to the designated areas. The first round will begin shortly!"
Yuto exchanged a glance with Alice, who gave him a playful thumbs-up.
"Go get 'em, Yuto!" she said, her voice full of energy.
Taking a deep breath, Yuto stepped forward, making his way to his assigned spot.
—
As he stood there, waiting for the first match to begin, Lilith's voice drifted over to him.
"Just remember, darling," she said, her tone light but carrying an edge of seriousness, "this is your moment. Don't let anything hold you back"
Yuto nodded.
The arena erupted with the sound of cheers as the first round of the tournament began.
He stood at his spot, mentally preparing himself.
The tension in the air was thick, and every student was eager to prove their strength.
His eyes scanned the arena, taking in the competitors as they warmed up.
Some of them looked intimidating, and others seemed overly confident, but Yuto wasn't going to let that faze him.
He turned his focus back to the announcer's voice, which boomed through the speakers once again.
"The first match is about to begin! Yuto Akimitsu versus Kaito Sakamura!"
A wave of whispers spread through the crowd.
Yuto's name was already circulating among the students, most likely because of the recent incidents that had brought him more attention.
Meanwhile, his opponent, Kaito, was tall with short, spiky brown hair and an overly confident grin on his face.
He cracked his knuckles as he stepped into the arena, his eyes locked on Yuto.
"So, you're the one everyone's been talking about," Kaito said with a smirk.
"Hope you're ready to lose, rookie"
Yuto gave him an unamused look.
"We'll see about that," he muttered, his voice steady.
The announcer gave a final shout, "Begin!"
Kaito wasted no time, charging toward Yuto with surprising speed.
Yuto had anticipated it, though, and quickly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding Kaito's swinging fist.
The crowd gasped as Kaito missed, but he quickly recovered, turning to face Yuto again.
"Not bad," Kaito grinned, now angrier.
"But you can't dodge forever"
Yuto's heart was pounding, but he kept his cool.
He wasn't going to make the same mistake he did in the past, rushing into things blindly.
His eyes flicked to the stands briefly, catching a glimpse of Alice and Lilith, both watching intently.
He took a deep breath, focusing entirely on the match.
Kaito lunged again, this time trying a series of fast punches aimed at Yuto's face.
But Yuto was faster.
He ducked under Kaito's first swing, spun around, and delivered a quick jab to Kaito's side.
The blow landed solidly, causing Kaito to stumble back.
The crowd let out a surprised cheer.
Kaito gritted his teeth and rushed in again, but Yuto caught Kaito's arm mid-swing, twisting it behind his back in a fluid motion.
With a swift kick, he knocked Kaito off his feet, sending him crashing to the ground.
The crowd went wild, clapping and cheering for the unexpected move.
Kaito, now on the ground, struggled to stand, clearly winded.
He glared up at Yuto, but there was a hint of respect in his eyes now.
The announcer's voice echoed through the arena.
"And there you have it! Yuto Akimitsu wins the first round!"
Yuto stood over his opponent, panting slightly but with a small, victorious grin.
The crowd's cheers continued to ring in his ears as he stepped out of the arena.
Alice and Lilith were waiting by the side, both looking proud of him.
Alice flashed him a teasing smile.
"Nice job," she said, elbowing him lightly.
"I didn't know you had it in you"
Yuto rolled his eyes but couldn't help the grin that spread across his face.
"I'm just getting started"
Lilith stepped up beside him, her expression unreadable but her eyes glinting with amusement.
"I must say, darling, that was quite the performance. I didn't expect you to be so... efficient"
"Efficient?" Yuto raised an eyebrow, his grin widening.
"Is that a compliment, or are you mocking me?"
She gave him a mischievous smile.
"Oh, it's a compliment. But don't let it get to your head"
"Right, right," Yuto chuckled.
"Next match, then?"
Alice nodded eagerly.
"Yeah, my match"
He chuckled as he patted her head, "Guess I'll go take my seat"
—
Yuto leaned forward in his seat as the arena shimmered with residual magic.
Alice and Reika stood on opposite ends, both radiating magical energy as the duel began.
The crowd hushed in anticipation, eager to see two powerful mages clash.
The announcer's voice rang out.
"Let the match begin!"
Alice wasted no time, raising her hands as a surge of ice-blue magic formed around her.
"Frost Lance!" she called out, sending several spear-like shards of ice hurtling toward Reika.
Reika's expression remained calm.
With a flick of her wrist, golden sigils formed in the air around her.
"Radiant Barrier!"
A shimmering golden shield materialized just in time, deflecting Alice's attack with a crackling burst of energy.
The shards of ice shattered upon impact, scattering frost across the ground.
Yuto watched intently.
"So Reika specializes in light magic…"
It was a strong counter to Alice's ice-based attacks.
Alice, however, wasn't deterred.
She stomped her foot, and the temperature in the arena dropped sharply.
A cold mist spread across the battlefield, obscuring her figure.
"Let's see you block what you can't see," she murmured.
Reika didn't move.
Instead, she closed her eyes for a brief second.
Then, with a confident smile, she raised her hand.
"Divine Flare"
An explosion of light erupted from her palm, cutting through the mist like a blade.
Alice barely managed to shield her eyes as the radiant energy pushed back the fog, revealing her position.
"Clever," Alice muttered.
Reika nodded.
"Same to you"
The duel intensified.
Alice conjured an ice storm, sending shards flying in all directions, while Reika countered with precision-based beams of light, shattering them mid-air.
Their magic clashed in bursts of ice and golden radiance, each refusing to back down.
Yuto couldn't help but be impressed.
"They're both incredible…"
Then, Alice smirked.
"Time to turn things up"
She extended her hand, and the ice beneath Reika's feet cracked.
Suddenly, jagged spikes of ice shot upward, aiming to trap her in place.
Reika's eyes widened slightly, but she reacted instantly.
"Flash Step!"
In a blink, her body became light itself, vanishing before reappearing just outside Alice's range.
Yuto whistled.
"That was close"
Reika raised a hand once more, her golden aura intensifying.
"Solar Strike!"
A spear of pure light shot forward at alarming speed.
Alice's eyes widened, realizing she had no time to dodge.
Gritting her teeth, she reinforced her defenses.
"Frozen Wall!"
A thick barrier of ice emerged just as the spear made contact.
The resulting explosion sent a wave of energy outward, forcing Alice to brace herself.
When the dust settled, Alice was kneeling, breathing heavily, while Reika stood firm, her expression unreadable.
The announcer waited for a moment before raising his voice.
"And the winner is—Reika Tsukihara!"
The crowd erupted into cheers. Alice sighed before breaking into a grin.
"Damn, you got me," she admitted as she stood up.
Reika smiled warmly, offering Alice a hand.
"You were amazing"
Alice accepted the handshake with a smirk.
"Yeah, yeah, don't get used to it. Next time, I'm winning"
As the announcer called for the next match, Yuto barely registered it.
His focus was entirely on Alice as he quickly made his way down from the stands and into the waiting area.
He found her sitting on a bench, a water bottle in one hand and a small ice pack pressed against her forehead.
Despite her loss, she didn't look too down about it; if anything, she seemed deep in thought.
"Yo," Yuto greeted as he approached.
"Still in one piece?"
Alice turned to him with a smirk.
"Barely. Got my ass handed to me, huh?"
Yuto sat next to her, resting his arms on his knees.
"I wouldn't say that. You put up a hell of a fight"
Alice sighed, taking a sip of water.
"Reika's crazy strong. I thought I had her a few times, but she was always one step ahead. It was like she could read my movements"
Yuto leaned back against the bench.
"She's got that light magic, it's all about speed and precision. Still, you kept up with her. That's impressive"
Alice chuckled.
"Are you trying to make me feel better?"
He shrugged.
"Is it working?"
She laughed softly.
"Maybe a little"
Yuto watched her for a moment, noticing how she kept flexing her fingers.
"You good? Nothing serious?"
Alice rolled her shoulders.
"Just a little sore. Ice magic kinda backfires on me if I overdo it"
She glanced at him.
"You're up next, right?"
Yuto blinked.
"Huh?"
He had been so focused on Alice that he completely forgot to check the tournament schedule.
She smirked.
"Your match is right after this one. You should be warming up, dumbass"
Yuto groaned.
"Great. And here I was thinking I could relax a little"
Alice nudged him with her elbow.
"Well, don't get your ass kicked, alright? I gotta redeem myself by watching you win"
Yuto grinned.
"No pressure or anything"
Alice leaned back against the bench, her expression softening for just a moment.
"Thanks for checking on me, Yuto"
He glanced at her, a little caught off guard by the sincerity in her voice.
"Anytime"
Before either of them could say anything else, the crowd erupted in cheers, signaling the end of the third match.
A voice rang out over the speakers.
"And now, for our next fight—Yuto Akimitsu, please make your way to the arena!"
Yuto stretched his arms and stood up.
"Welp, that's my cue"
Alice smirked.
"Go show 'em why everyone's so obsessed with you"
With a confident grin, Yuto gave her a small salute before making his way to the battlefield.
—
Yuto stepped onto the battlefield, rolling his shoulders as he eyed his opponent.
Jin Takasuke.
Jin was already waiting, his sword resting casually on his shoulder.
He had the reputation of being one of the academy's best sword fighters, known for his lightning-fast strikes and relentless offense.
His lean frame and confident smirk only made it clear that he had no doubts about his victory.
"So, I finally get to fight the 'genius' himself," Jin said, tapping his sword against his shoulder.
"Let's see if you live up to the hype, Akimitsu"
Yuto exhaled, cracking his neck.
"I dunno, man. I just got called down here; I was in the middle of a break"
Jin grinned.
"Don't worry. I'll make this quick"
The announcer's voice boomed over the arena.
"Match four—Yuto Akimitsu vs. Jin Takasuke! Begin!"
The second the signal was given, Jin vanished.
—No, not vanished.
His speed was just ridiculous.
Yuto barely had time to react before Jin was in front of him, blade swinging toward his side.
Instinct kicked in; he twisted his body, dodging by a hair's breadth.
The gust of wind from the swing brushed against his uniform.
'Fast'
Yuto jumped back, hand tightening around his sword.
Jin didn't waste a second, launching forward with another strike.
A flurry of slashes came at him from every angle, each one precise, each one just a little faster than the last.
Yuto parried the first few blows, his sword clashing against Jin's with sharp sparks.
But he knew this wasn't sustainable.
Jin was pushing the tempo, trying to overwhelm him with sheer speed.
"C'mon, genius! You're on defense already?"
He taunted, his blade striking like lightning.
Yuto smirked.
"Nah, just getting warmed up"
Then, the moment Jin overextended, Yuto struck.
A quick pivot.
A counter-swing.
A perfectly timed parry that threw Jin's momentum off.
Jin had to step back.
The crowd gasped.
Jin clicked his tongue.
"Not bad. You're sharper than I thought"
Yuto spun his sword once, cracking his neck.
"Yeah? I figured I should at least try"
Jin grinned.
"Alright then. Time to stop holding back"
Suddenly, crackling energy surged around his blade.
The air around him hummed as electricity arced from his sword, flickering like wild lightning.
Yuto's grin faded slightly.
"…Shit"
He barely had a moment to process before Jin vanished again, this time leaving behind a crackle of electricity.
'He's even faster now?!'
A bolt of lightning shot toward him- no, that was Jin, moving at insane speed!
A powerful arc slash came down from above.
He raised his sword in time, steel clashing against steel as a shockwave of force blasted across the arena.
The moment their blades met, a sharp jolt ran up Yuto's arm.
His grip tightened as he held his ground, but he could already feel the numbness setting in.
Jin chuckled.
"Hurts, doesn't it? Lightning magic doesn't just make me faster, it weakens your muscles every time I land a hit"
Yuto gritted his teeth.
'So that's his game'
Jin didn't give him time to recover.
In a flash of light, he launched another assault, strikes coming from impossible angles, each one laced with crackling energy.
Yuto dodged.
Parried.
Countered where he could.
But every time their blades met, the electricity sapped more of his strength.
"Tch…"
He flexed his fingers, trying to shake off the numbing sensation.
Jin smirked.
"Slowing down already? Not so special now, are you?"
Yuto exhaled, rolling his shoulders.
"…Yeah, okay. I think I got the rhythm now"
Jin blinked.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Yuto stepped in instead of retreating.
His blade came up in a sharp arc—not aiming to strike but to meet Jin's sword at just the right angle.
CLANG!
The impact sent Jin's sword rebounding slightly, just enough for Yuto to slip inside his guard.
Then, a palm strike.
A clean hit straight to Jin's gut.
Jin's breath hitched as he staggered back, eyes wide.
The electricity around his sword flickered as he fought to regain balance.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Yuto spun his sword lazily in his hand.
"Figure out your timing. You're fast, yeah—but you're predictable once you get comfortable"
Jin coughed, straightening.
"…Damn. Guess that's why you're the top dog"
Then, his smirk returned.
"But you're still not faster than lightning"
With a sudden burst of energy, Jin's entire body crackled with intense golden light.
His sword hummed with pure voltage, the ground beneath him scorching from the sheer power radiating off him.
The crowd gasped as the air grew heavy.
Yuto's eyes narrowed.
'Here comes the real fight'
Yuto instinctively braced himself as Jin's aura surged, golden lightning crackling wildly around his body.
The heat in the air spiked, and the arena floor sizzled beneath his feet.
"Hope you're ready, Akimitsu!" Jin called out, gripping his sword with both hands.
"This is my fastest technique—Raijin's Descent!"
Before Yuto could react, Jin vanished.
—No, not just vanished.
He had become pure lightning.
Yuto barely had time to move before a blinding streak of gold flashed toward him—faster than any attack before.
"Damn, that's fast—!"
CLASH!
Yuto managed to block—barely.
His sword caught Jin's attack at the last second, but the force behind the blow sent him skidding back.
His arms screamed in protest from the sheer impact.
But Jin wasn't done.
Another flash!
This time from the left.
Yuto twisted his body, parrying just in time but the next strike was already coming from the right.
Then another.
And another.
Jin was moving too fast.
A storm of golden streaks bombarded Yuto from every angle, his sword just barely keeping up.
Each strike came faster than the last, the arena lighting up with flashes of electricity.
The crowd could barely follow; all they saw was a golden storm clashing with a single figure in black.
CLASH!
CLASH!
CLASH!
With every impact, Yuto's muscles burned.
The electricity coursing through Jin's blade was making his limbs sluggish, heavier with every second.
He wouldn't last like this.
Jin's voice rang out between the attacks.
"What's wrong, Akimitsu?! Not keeping up?!"
Yuto exhaled sharply.
'Fine. If speed's the issue…'
He closed his eyes.
Jin's next attack came instantly.
But this time, Yuto moved before it even landed.
SWISH
The golden blur shot past him, barely grazing his shoulder.
Jin's eyes widened.
"He dodged?!"
Before he could react, Yuto's sword was already swinging.
A clean counterstrike.
Jin barely twisted his body mid-motion, avoiding a direct hit.
Instead, Yuto's blade grazed his ribs, slicing through the fabric and drawing a thin line of red.
The first real hit.
The crowd exploded in cheers.
Jin skidded to a halt, clutching his side.
His breathing was ragged, sweat dripping from his brow.
Yuto opened his eyes, his crimson gaze glowing faintly.
"I was watching your movements," Yuto muttered, rolling his shoulders.
"You're fast but not unreadable"
Jin stared.
Then…he grinned.
"Man…this is fun"
With a sharp exhale, he raised his sword again, one last attack.
Yuto smirked.
"Alright then"
The air still crackled with residual electricity from Jin's previous attacks, and Yuto could feel the heat rising off his own body, muscles tight, instincts razor-sharp.
Jin adjusted his stance.
"Alright, Akimitsu… Let's end this with one final move"
Yuto chuckled.
"I was thinking the same thing"
The audience held their breath.
In an instant, they vanished.
No, it only seemed that way.
Jin became lightning.
Yuto became a shadow.
The two flashed toward each other, one golden streak and the other a crimson blur.
The moment stretched infinitely.
Then—
CLANG!
A single impact.
Then silence.
The entire stadium was frozen.
Two figures stood back-to-back, neither moving.
One second.
Two seconds.
Then—
Jin stumbled.
His sword slipped from his fingers, clattering to the ground.
A thin red line ran across his chest, just deep enough to sting but not to wound.
The announcer finally found his voice.
"JIN TAKASUKE IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE! YUTO AKIMITSU WINS THE MATCH!"
The crowd erupted.
Yuto sighed, rolling his shoulders.
"That was a pain…"
Jin let out a breathless chuckle.
"Damn, you got me good… I thought I had you"
Yuto smirked, offering a hand.
"You almost did"
Jin stared for a moment, then grinned and took the hand.
"Alright, alright… Next time, though, I'm winning"
"Yeah, yeah," Yuto muttered, stretching as he walked off the stage.
"I'll be waiting"
From the stands, Alice and Reika watched, both impressed.
Reika nodded.
"That was… an incredible display"
Alice, however, just sighed dramatically.
"Yeah, yeah, he's great, whatever"
Reika smirked.
"You're pouting"
"I am not pouting."
Reika didn't respond, just took a slow sip of her drink.
Alice grumbled.
"Shut up"
Back in the waiting room, Yuto collapsed onto a bench, exhausted.
But before he could rest—
A familiar voice purred.
"My, my, darling… That was quite the performance"
He froze.
He turned his head slowly.
There, leaning against the wall, was Lilith, arms crossed, an amused smirk on her lips.
He groaned.
"What are you doing here?"
Lilith's grin widened.
"Just came to check out how my darling was doing after his big match~"
Yuto pinched the bridge of his nose.
This woman was going to be the death of him.