Yuto let out a tired sigh, running a hand through his hair.
"Lilith… You do realize this is a student tournament, right? No demons allowed?"
'Please take the hint and get out of here!!!'
'What will I do if Alice and Reika find you here trying to flirt with me? I swear this woman is going to be the very death of me'
Lilith feigned an innocent pout, pressing a hand to her chest.
"Oh, darling, you wound me. I'm simply here as a concerned spectator"
He shot her a deadpan look.
"You literally appeared out of nowhere"
Lilith chuckled, pushing off the wall and sauntering toward him.
"Details, details~"
She leaned in, her eyes gleaming mischievously.
"More importantly… you were magnificent out there"
Yuto blinked, caught off guard by the rare moment of sincerity.
"Wait—are you actually giving me a compliment?"
Lilith smirked.
"Don't get used to it"
Before he could retort, the arena speakers crackled to life.
"All remaining fighters, please report for the semi-final matchups!"
Yuto groaned.
"No break, huh?"
Lilith patted his shoulder.
"Oh, don't look so glum, darling. You live for the fight, don't you?"
Yuto was about to argue when he paused.
Because the truth was… she wasn't wrong.
That last match had felt natural.
Like something buried deep in him had awakened for just a moment.
But before he could think about it any further, another voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Yuto!"
He turned, just in time for Alice and Reika to rush over.
'Shit'
Alice placed her hands on her hips.
"You look alive. Barely"
Reika nodded.
"That was an impressive match"
Yuto waved them off.
"Yeah, yeah. So, what's next?"
Alice crossed her arms, glancing toward the arena brackets.
"Well… your next match is against someone really interesting"
Yuto followed her gaze, then froze.
Because his next opponent was—
"Takahashi Ren"
A name that carried weight.
Ren wasn't just another student.
He was the top-ranked duelist in the academy.
Just like Yuto, he was considered a prodigy, except his family name carried a lot of power.
Alice nudged him. "Sooo, feeling nervous?"
Yuto exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders.
"Nah"
Then, after a beat, he admitted, "Okay, maybe a little"
Lilith grinned.
"Oh, darling. This will be fun"
Yuto shook his head, a tired but eager smirk forming.
Yeah.
This was going to be interesting.
—
The arena buzzed with anticipation.
Yuto stood on one side of the ring, rolling his shoulders as he eyed his opponent.
Takahashi Ren.
He stood tall and composed, his sword resting easily at his side.
His expression was unreadable, but his golden eyes held a sharp glint of confidence.
The announcer's voice boomed across the stadium.
"Semi-Final Match! Yuto Akimitsu vs. Takahashi Ren!"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Alice and Reika were in the front row, both watching intently.
Ryo was off to the side, arms crossed, whispering bets with another student.
And in the far back, Lilith lounged like a queen on a throne, looking entirely too amused.
Yuto exhaled slowly.
'Alright. Time to focus'
Ren tilted his head.
"You don't look nervous"
Yuto smirked.
"Should I be?"
Ren chuckled.
"You're confident. I respect that. But confidence alone won't win this match"
Yuto tightened his grip on his sword.
"Guess we'll find out"
The announcer raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Swish!
Ren vanished.
Yuto barely had time to register the movement before a flash of silver shot toward him.
CLANG!
He raised his sword just in time to block, the impact sending a sharp tremor up his arm.
'Fast'
Before he could counter, Ren disappeared again, reappearing behind him.
Yuto twisted, deflecting the next strike but Ren was already gone.
Left.
Right.
Behind.
Above.
Ren was almost on par with Jin when it came to speed.
The crowd gasped as Yuto barely managed to parry each attack.
Sparks flew as their swords clashed in rapid succession.
Alice leaned forward.
"He's keeping up… but barely"
Reika nodded.
"Ren's style is built on speed and simple attacks. Yuto needs to do more than just defend"
Lilith, meanwhile, smirked to herself.
"Come on, darling. Show me something interesting"
Ren lunged again, this time aiming for Yuto's blind spot.
But instead of blocking…
Yuto stepped forward.
WHOOSH!
Ren's blade missed by mere inches.
For the first time, Ren's expression shifted—mild surprise.
Yuto smirked.
"You're fast"
Then, in the same breath—
"But I can read you"
Before Ren could react—
BAM!
Yuto delivered a precise kick to his ribs, sending him skidding back.
The crowd erupted.
Ren caught himself, eyes gleaming.
"Not bad"
Yuto rolled his shoulders.
"Thanks. Now, let's see how you handle being on the defensive"
Ren smirked as lightning crackled along his blade, his body glowing faintly with energy.
"Did you forget?" he asked. "I'm not just fast. I'm also a lightning user"
The moment he spoke, he vanished.
The crowd barely had time to register it before—
CRACK!
Ren reappeared behind Yuto in a lightning-infused flash, his sword already swinging.
CLANG!
Yuto blocked it without even turning around.
Ren's smirk faltered.
"What?"
Yuto finally turned his head, grinning.
"You're fast, I won't lie"
His eyes gleamed.
"But I'm faster"
Then, before Ren could process it—Yuto was gone.
He barely had time to lift his sword before—
CLASH!
A blur of black and crimson slammed into his guard, sending him sliding back.
Ren gritted his teeth.
"No way..."
The crowd gasped.
Alice leaned forward.
"He's… faster than Ren?"
Ryo chuckled.
"I thought lightning magic was the fastest thing here. Guess I was wrong"
Reika watched silently, her gaze locked on Yuto.
Meanwhile, Lilith?
She was laughing to herself.
"Now, this is interesting!"
Ren disappeared in another flash of lightning.
But this time—
Yuto disappeared right after him.
BOOM!
The air exploded as the two clashed mid-air, moving so fast that only the shockwaves of their battle could be seen.
Ren swung his lightning-charged sword, only to hit nothing but air.
Yuto was already behind him.
A single strike.
SWISH!
Ren's sword flew from his hand, spinning into the air before stabbing into the ground.
A deep silence fell over the arena.
Ren stood frozen, eyes wide as Yuto's sword rested just inches from his throat.
Yuto exhaled.
"You're strong"
He grinned.
"But this is my win"
The announcer hesitated for only a second before raising his hand.
"Winner—Yuto Akimitsu!"
The stadium erupted into cheers.
"Heh… I guess winning in front of a crowd isn't all bad"
—
As Yuto stepped off the field, the next match was already being announced.
"For the second match of the semifinals—Reika Tsukihara versus Hiroto Sakamaki!"
The crowd cheered as Reika walked toward the stage, her expression calm but focused.
Her opponent, Hiroto, was a well-known water magic user, and this fight was sure to be intense.
Yuto paused, glancing back at her.
"She'll be fine"
Satisfied, he turned and headed toward the waiting area.
But the moment Yuto stepped in, he barely had time to react before—
"Yuto, darling~!"
Lilith was standing there with her arms wide open, grinning.
Yuto immediately took a step back.
"No"
She pouted.
"No? After all your hard work, you won't even let me congratulate you properly?"
"Absolutely not"
Lilith huffed before placing a hand on her hip, her usual smirk returning.
"Fine, but you really were incredible out there. I must say, seeing you move like that… brought back memories"
Yuto ignored the implication in her voice and instead sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I just did what I had to do. Ren was tough, but I had a feeling I could outspeed him"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? That confidence is quite attractive, darling"
He shot her a look.
"Stop calling me that"
"But you like it, don't you?"
"Not even a little"
She only chuckled, clearly enjoying his reactions.
Before he could respond, the sound of an explosion from the arena caught his attention.
The match was already heating up.
Yuto crossed his arms, watching the battle play out.
"Let's see how strong you really are, Reika"
—
Reika stood firm in the arena, her hair swaying as her opponent, Hiroto gathered whirling torrents of water around him.
"Reika Tsukihara… I've heard the rumors," Hiroto said, his voice even but filled with confidence.
"Let's see if you're as good as they say"
She didn't respond.
Instead, she simply lifted her hand—magic swirling at her fingertips.
BOOM!
The air crackled, and in an instant, a chilling gust of wind swept across the arena.
A wall of ice erupted at Reika's command, clashing against Hiroto's water magic.
Yuto leaned forward, watching intently.
"She's powerful"
Alice, sitting beside him, huffed.
"She's showing off"
Ryo whistled.
"She's strong, though. She's holding her own easily"
Lilith, lounging comfortably, smirked.
"Oh, I like her"
Hiroto launched forward, the water around him twisting into sharp tendrils aimed directly at Reika.
But before they could even reach her—
CRACK!
A wave of subzero frost spread across the field, freezing his water solid mid-air.
Hiroto's eyes widened.
"What—"
SWOOSH!
In a blur, Reika closed the distance, a thin blade of ice forming in her hand.
She moved so fast that Hiroto had no time to react before—
CRASH!
She sliced clean through his frozen attack, shattering it like glass.
Then, with a final sweep of her arm, she sent a wave of ice beneath his feet, freezing him completely in place.
The arena fell silent.
Hiroto struggled, but the ice held firm.
Reika, her breath visible in the cold air, tilted her head.
"Yield"
For a moment, Hiroto hesitated, then sighed.
"…I yield."
The announcer immediately raised a hand.
"Winner—Reika Tsukihara!"
The stadium erupted into cheers.
Yuto exhaled, shaking his head with a small smirk.
"That was fast"
Alice crossed her arms.
"She barely even tried"
Ryo laughed.
"This final match is going to be insane"
Lilith chuckled beside Yuto.
"Looks like you'll have your hands full, darling~"
Yuto sighed, rubbing his neck as Reika stepped off the battlefield, her gaze immediately locking onto him.
The finals were set.
Yuto Akimitsu vs. Reika Tsukihara.
And from the look in her eyes, she wasn't planning to hold back.
—
The arena grounds buzzed with energy as students and spectators alike discussed the fights so far.
The semi-finals had been nothing short of thrilling, and now, all that was left was the final match.
Yuto, however, was less concerned with the upcoming battle and more focused on his growling stomach.
He sat at the lunch table, digging into his usual mountain of food, while Alice poked at her own meal, glancing at him every so often.
Ryo sat across from them, already halfway through his rice bowl.
"So."
Alice finally spoke, twirling a lock of her hair.
"You against Reika, huh?"
Yuto swallowed a mouthful of food.
"Yeah"
Alice leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm.
"Think you can win?
He smirked.
"What, you doubt me?"
Ryo chuckled.
"I don't think she's doubting you, man. More like wondering how much of a beatdown you're about to receive"
Yuto shot him a glare.
"I'm not gonna lose"
Alice tilted her head.
"She's strong, Yuto"
"So am I."
Ryo laughed, clapping him on the back.
"Oh, this is gonna be good"
Just then, the atmosphere shifted.
Two figures approached the table—Reika and Lilith.
Reika, ever composed, gave a polite nod.
"Mind if we join you?"
Lilith, on the other hand, slid right into the seat next to Yuto, pressing against his side with a mischievous grin.
"Darling~" she purred.
"Let's eat together"
Immediately, the whispers started.
"Wait, what?!"
"He's eating with both of them?!"
"That's Yuto for you… A real womanizer"
Yuto groaned, rubbing his temples.
"These bloody rumors"
Alice, for her part, gave Lilith an unimpressed look before turning to Reika.
"So, Reika. Are you ready for the finals?"
Reika calmly took a sip of tea before answering.
"Of course"
Yuto leaned back.
"You make it sound so easy"
Reika's gaze flickered to him, a small smirk forming.
"Would you prefer I be nervous?"
"No, I'd prefer you be realistic"
He pointed at himself.
"I'm not an easy opponent"
Reika met his eyes.
"Neither am I"
Lilith chuckled.
"Oh, I love this tension~"
Alice rolled her eyes.
"You two are ridiculous"
—
After lunch, the group naturally began to split off, each person preparing in their own way for the finals.
Alice and Ryo went ahead toward the spectator stands, while Lilith, after making another teasing remark about Yuto's "adorable confidence," disappeared off somewhere, likely to enjoy the show.
That left Yuto and Reika walking together toward the arena, side by side in comfortable silence.
Yuto glanced at her, hands in his pockets.
"So, what do you think? Our fight's gonna be interesting, huh?"
Reika nodded, her expression calm as ever.
"Yes. Though, I do wonder… how serious are you going to be?"
Yuto smirked.
"Serious enough to win"
Reika gave him a small glance before focusing ahead.
"I see"
That wasn't enough for Yuto.
He wanted to get more of a reaction out of her.
"How about a bet, then?" he suggested.
That caught her attention.
"A bet?"
"Yeah. I'll fight using magic only, and you use a sword. No spells from you, no sword from me. Think you can handle it?"
He grinned.
She raised an eyebrow.
"That hardly seems fair"
Yuto laughed.
"Oh? What, you scared?"
For the first time, her smirk matched his.
"Not at all. I just hope you won't regret it"
Yuto chuckled, feeling a spark of excitement rush through him.
'This is gonna be fun'
They both arrived at the arena's waiting area, where participants prepared before stepping into the ring.
The noise from the stands rumbled through the walls, the anticipation electrifying.
Yuto rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck.
"Alright. Remember that magic is only for me, sword only for you. No backing out now"
Reika unsheathed her sword, inspecting its edge.
"I never back out of a challenge"
Yuto smirked.
'That's what I wanted to hear'
A tournament official approached them.
"You two are up next. Get ready"
Reika gave him a small nod before stepping toward the entrance of the arena.
Just as she reached the doorway, Yuto called out.
"Hey, Reika"
She turned slightly, looking back at him.
"Don't hold back"
She chuckled as she rolled her shoulders, the fire in her was lit.
"I was about to say the same to you"
With that, she disappeared into the blinding light of the arena entrance.
Yuto took a deep breath.
'Alright. No sword. Magic only. Let's see how this goes'
He stepped forward, the roar of the crowd washing over him.
It was time.
The crowd buzzed with anticipation, eager to witness the final battle of the tournament.
The announcer's voice rang out over the stadium:
"The final match! Yuto Akimitsu versus Reika Tsukihara! Let the fight begin!"
Without hesitation, Yuto raised his hand and summoned a wave of lightning.
"Raijin's Fury"
A crackling bolt of electricity shot toward Reika.
She swiftly dodged, her body moving with incredible agility, as she unsheathed her sword fully ready for a counterattack.
"Come on, I know you got more than just a simple spell" she teased, spinning her sword, and cutting the small fireball he created.
He smirked and flicked his wrist.
"Earth's Grasp"
A massive stone wall shot up between them, blocking Reika's path.
With a swift movement, he created a gust of wind with "Tempest's Might", sending a barrage of debris flying toward her.
Reika, unfazed, twirled her blade in a defensive motion, cutting through the wind and debris with a flourish.
She leaped over the stone wall effortlessly, her eyes fixed on Yuto.
"You're getting creative," she said with a grin, "but I'm not impressed yet"
Yuto laughed, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"Let's see how you handle this"
He raised both hands, summoning "Inferno Barrage"
A series of fireballs that rained down upon her.
Reika's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly dodged to the side, the flames narrowly missing her.
"You're not the only one with tricks," she muttered under her breath, then charged forward, her sword crackling with her own magic.
Her sword, "Moonlight Slash", gleamed as it cut through the air, glowing with magic.
Yuto was caught off guard for a moment, and just as the sword was about to strike, he summoned "Aegis Shield", a shimmering barrier of light that blocked the blow.
Reika stepped back, grinning.
"You've got defense, but can you handle my offense?" she taunted.
Before Yuto could respond, Reika suddenly slashed horizontally, sending a wave of energy from her sword, a move called "Celestial Crescent".
The blast of magic hurtled toward Yuto, but he dodged just in time, his heart racing.
'Hah! Does she want to use magic? Might as well not keep to my part either'
He summoned his sword to his side, raised it up, and whispered the incantation for "Vortex Strike", his blade glowing with swirling energy.
He slashed down, sending a wave of magic rushing toward Reika, causing the ground to crack beneath them.
Reika responded in kind.
She leaped into the air and summoned "Blazing Tempest".
A large whirlwind of fire and wind created a vortex that collided with Yuto's wave.
The explosion of energy sent both combatants flying backward, their magic clashing violently in mid-air.
For a moment, everything was still.
Yuto, on the ground, pushed himself up, shaking off the effects of the blast.
He glanced at Reika, who was already back on her feet, and the two locked eyes.
The fight wasn't over yet.
Reika dashed toward him, her sword glowing with intense light.
"This is it!" she shouted, launching herself toward him for the final strike.
But Yuto wasn't caught off guard.
He grinned.
"Zephyr's Leap", a burst of air propelling him high into the air just as Reika's sword came down.
He swung his own sword in a fluid motion, his blade glowing with the power of "Tempest Strike".
A move that combined the speed of the wind and the weight of a storm (a technique he learned in secret).
His sword met hers in the air, and with a loud crack, he disarmed her, sending her sword spinning out of her hand.
Before Reika could react, Yuto landed in front of her, his sword pressed lightly against her chest.
Reika sighed, smiling despite her defeat.
"You win," she said, breathless but satisfied.
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena:
"And the winner is Yuto Akimitsu!"
The crowd erupted into cheers as Yuto lowered his sword, offering Reika a hand to help her up.
She accepted it with a smile, her respect for him evident.
"That was one hell of a fight," Yuto said with a grin.
Reika chuckled, rubbing her shoulder where she had been hit.
"I'll get you next time, Yuto. You're not the only one who can get stronger"
He nodded, his gaze meeting hers, "I look forward to the day we both fight again, no strings attached, and no holding back"
She chuckled as she patted his back, "I do too"
—
After the tournament wrapped up, Yuto, Alice, Reika, and Ryo found themselves walking through the academy grounds, laughing and talking as they made their way toward the nearby restaurant.
"I can't believe you actually used magic against Reika," Ryo said, nudging Yuto.
"You're a sword guy. What happened to that?"
Yuto shrugged with a grin.
"Thought I'd switch things up. Besides, it was fun to beat her in something she excels at"
Reika rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips.
"You'll regret it when we spar again. Magic or not, I'm still better with a sword and in magic"
"Yeah, we'll see about that." Yuto laughed, feeling the familiar comfort of the banter between them.
As they reached the restaurant, they found a large table in the corner and piled into seats.
The food came quickly, large platters of grilled meats, rice, and vegetables and soon, the group was digging in.
"I swear," Alice said between bites, "this place always knows how to feed us. You didn't order too much, did you, Yuto?"
"I didn't order anything!" Yuto defended.
"This was all you guys. I'm just along for the ride"
"You sure? Because it looks like you ate half the chicken," Ryo teased, pointing to the empty platter.
Yuto glanced at the pile of empty plates, shrugging.
"Guess I was hungry"
They spent the next hour eating and talking, enjoying the food and the rare chance to relax.
Yuto had almost forgotten what it felt like to just be with his friends, enjoying a meal without worrying about what came next.
After they finished, Reika stretched and sighed.
"Alright, I'm paying for this one. You guys have been treating me the whole time"
"Wait, what?" Yuto laughed.
"No way! We all chipped in. You're not taking the bill"
Alice raised an eyebrow.
"Let's just split it this time, okay? That way, no one gets to be the 'big spender.'"
The group agreed, and after paying for the meal, they left the restaurant, stepping out into the cool evening air, feeling lighter than they had all day.
Yuto, looking around at his friends, felt an odd sense of contentment.
Despite the chaos of the tournament, the battles, and everything else, moments like these reminded him of why he enjoyed being surrounded by these people.
'What a good feeling'
—
As Yuto lay in bed, trying to will himself to sleep, he felt Lilith's presence beside him, radiating a strange warmth that only seemed to make his exhaustion more pronounced.
He couldn't quite relax, though, with the constant hum of energy swirling in the room.
He rolled over onto his side and sighed.
Lilith, sensing his discomfort, let out a soft laugh.
"You look like you're about to fall apart, darling," she teased, her voice smooth as silk.
"I think you need a little extra comfort"
He turned to face her, his tired eyes narrowing.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked, not quite sure what she was getting at.
With a playful smile, Lilith slid closer to him, her gaze never leaving his.
"How about a lap pillow?" she suggested, her tone light but laced with mischief.
"It might help you relax and finally get some sleep"
Yuto raised an eyebrow, hesitating for only a moment.
Despite the strange energy she exuded, he was too tired to argue.
A lap pillow was far better than tossing and turning all night, right?
And at this point, he wasn't sure what to expect from her anyway.
"Fine," he muttered, giving in.
"But this better help"
Lilith grinned, clearly pleased by his agreement.
"Oh, it will, darling. Just relax"
She carefully positioned herself, lifting his head and resting it gently on her lap.
Her hair fell gracefully around his face, and the soft scent of her lingered in the air.
Yuto let out a long breath, surprised by how quickly the tension began to leave his body.
The softness of her hair against his forehead and the warmth of her presence somehow helped soothe him.
Maybe it was because of her strange, almost hypnotic aura, or maybe it was just the relief of finally letting go of the day's stress.
"Is this better?" Lilith asked, her voice playful as she looked up at him with a knowing smile.
Yuto sighed, moving his head slightly, his body finally starting to relax.
"Yeah, it's better than I thought it would be," he admitted with a quiet sigh.
Lilith chuckled softly, closing her eyes as he nestled more comfortably in her lap.
"Of course, darling. I always know what people need. Now, just close your eyes and sleep. I'll take care of the rest"
And for the first time in a while, Yuto felt the weight of the day lift off him.
He closed his eyes, allowing himself to drift off, his mind slowly quieting under Lilith's strange but comforting presence.
Because he knew tomorrow, he would have to deal with everyone's bullshit.