Part 2
The atmosphere inside the club was charged with a strange energy. Not tension, not calm. A volatile mix of nervousness and anticipation.
—Are you sure about this, Shizuki? —asked Touma for the fifth time, while she read her book in her personal armchair.
—Shouldn't you be asking if Eva is sure about facing me? —she replied without lifting her gaze.
Akari paced around the room like a caged puppy.
—I wanna fight too! Even if it's just a symbolic round, an exhibition, a sparring session! —shouted Akari, raising her fists as if she were already in the arena.
—It's not that I doubt your strength… —Shizuki answered, eyes still on her book—. But you'd lose instantly.
—Eva uses light magic and long-range projectiles, plus a custom EXO suit that lets her fly. You wouldn't even have time to get close.
Akari pouted, clearly annoyed, but with no arguments to counter her.
—And how do you know so much about her? —asked Hina, raising a curious eyebrow.
—Because we've met before…
—I think it's best to let Shizuki handle this —Hina stepped in, crossing her arms though her brows were furrowed—. If anyone can put that stuck-up president in her place… it's her.
—That sounds like unnecessary pressure —murmured Jake, eating popcorn like he was about to watch a championship match.
Touma sighed and sat down across from Shizuki.
—I'm just saying… you don't have to do this alone.
She calmly closed her book and placed it on the table.
—I'm not doing it for myself.
Everyone turned to look at her.
—Then…? —asked Touma.
—I'm doing it for this place. For that ridiculous coffee maker, for the couch I picked out, for the peace of reading a book without anyone bothering me… and because you were dumb enough to create something worth protecting.
Touma was speechless.
—…Thanks, I guess.
—Don't thank me. Just promise me we'll go on another "non"-date after I win. —she said with a sly smile.
Touma gulped.
At that moment, Ellie's voice whispered in Touma's ear.
—I've analyzed over 120 of Evangeline Strassburg's previous battles. Surgical precision, pinpoint accuracy, total control of the battlefield. Miss Shizuki has a 42% chance of winning… though I must admit, that's already an improvement.
—Could you not tell me that right before the duel?
—I'm sorry, Touma-sama. I was trying to be helpful. Would you like a visual simulation with epic background music? I can make it look like a movie montage if you wish.
—No thanks, Ellie.
Meanwhile, Shizuki had stood up and was walking calmly toward the door.
—I'm going for a walk. I need some air to clear my mind.
—Want me to come with you? —asked Touma.
—No. If you come… it won't clear my mind at all.
And with that, she left, leaving everyone in silence.
Jake was the first to break the silence, as he usually did.
—Was that a compliment… or a threat?
—Yes —answered Hina, Akari, and Mirai at the same time.
Jake snapped his fingers.
—Now that I think about it… how does Shizuki plan to beat the president?
—Good point. We don't know much about our "Ice Princess" —added Jake, glancing around with disbelief.
—I always thought Akari was the strongest among us… and yet, even she says she wouldn't stand a chance —said Hina, scratching her head.
At that moment, Mirai timidly raised her hand, like a student in class.
—Yes, you, the invisible girl from a horror movie —joked Jake.
—What I'm about to say is just something I heard… but they say Shizuki has the potential to be in the combat division—and be the best. But she refused and asked to join the research division.
Silence took hold of the group for a few seconds.
—What? So what's she gonna do, bore her to death reading a book? —blurted out Hina, surprised.
—You're wrong… just like Miss Eva, it seems Shizuki has an evolved Astra Core —added Mirai, her voice soft but firm.
At that moment, Ellie whispered in Touma's ear in her usual tone.
—That is correct. According to Seisen's database, Miss Tokisaki possesses an evolving Astra Core. Just like Akari and Mirai. They are part of the 10% of students with advanced resonance.
—M-Mirai… is part of the 10% with an evolved Astra Core? —Touma asked aloud, stunned.
Mirai flinched and hid behind the couch like a startled bunny. Everyone looked at her at once.
—W-Who told you that? —she asked, blushing.
—I'm sorry… it just caught me off guard —Touma apologized, a bit awkward—. My glasses showed me the Seisen system data…
—Is that true? You have an evolved Astra Core? —asked Akari, her eyes sparkling with genuine curiosity.
Mirai nodded slowly as she gently returned to her seat, like prey that finally felt safe.
—That's right… As you may know, my family's Irish.
The others listened intently as she spoke—nervous, but determined.
—My mom says I received my Astra Core at a very young age. They don't remember exactly when or where… but they believe it was in a NovaTech garden. And my powers awakened many years ago too.
—Wow… that's really impressive —said Hina, eyes wide.
—Why didn't you ever tell us?
—I'm sorry… —murmured Mirai—. My dad told me not to talk about it too freely… but since we're friends, I want to share it.
Everyone leaned in, forming a small circle around her.
—My Frag… I mean, Astra Core, lets me create illusions. I call it "Wonderland." I can do things like this —she said, pulling a small magic wand from her pocket.
With a graceful motion, as if drawing in the air, she traced a shape with the wand's tip.
In that instant, as if by magic, a small blue bird emerged from the trail, fluttering softly above the group and leaving a sparkling trail behind.
—That's so adorable! I'd love to have a power like that —exclaimed Akari, trying to reach out to it with her fingers.
—That's not all… if I get creative, I can build an entire world. Forests, skies, floating lights… everything. But there's a catch —she said, lowering her gaze a bit—. I can't maintain them for long. The illusions fade on their own.
Jake scratched his head.
—Isn't that dangerous? I mean, if someone gets stuck in that "world"...
—It doesn't cause harm… but it can confuse people if they don't know they're inside an illusion.
Hina looked at her in awe.
—So when you said you could make tea… did you mean real tea or illusion tea?
—Both… I guess.
Everyone chuckled softly, even Touma. For the first time, Mirai didn't feel invisible.
—Well, since we're in magical confession mode! —said Akari, crossing her arms with a big smile—. I guess it's my turn.
—You've got a name for your ability too? —asked Jake.
—Of course I do! —she said with a spark in her eyes, clenching her fist—. I call it Brave Heart.
—Is that the official name or a warning? —commented Hina, with a sweat drop on her forehead.
Akari laughed with a confident grin.
—It's what happens when I get fired up in a fight. At first I'm just strong… but if things get exciting, I start to feel more alive. Faster, stronger. Like my body's telling me, "Keep going, keep fighting!"
—So your power scales with your emotions… —Touma murmured, surprised.
—Exactly! I don't have fancy tricks like illusions or light blasts, but if you let me warm up… you better start running.
—Or have a good health insurance —added Jake, dramatically.
Everyone laughed. Even Mirai.
And at that moment, as the little blue bird vanished into the air like stardust, Touma thought that no matter what the Council said… that club already had everything it needed.