Tokyo Ravens - Volume 4 - Chapter 1.2

Part 2 
The entrance ceremony was held in the magic practice field underneath the academy building. 
The magic practice field was normally used for practical training of first-class magic, and it was set up like a big sports field, with spectator seats encircling an arena. The Onmyou Academy students were arranged into orderly groups in the arena that was about as large as three or four basketball fields, and people who seemed like parents or relatives of the new students could be seen in the spectator seats. 
There were altars set up inside the arena that were used as podiums during the entrance ceremony. Right now, there was a teacher speaking to the new students. 
Harutora and Touji had transferred into the Onmyou Academy in the summer, hence this year was their first time attending the entrance ceremony, and this was also their first time seeing all of the Onmyou Academy students gathered together. 
The new student group was in the front of the arena, the third-year students were in the back right, with the second-year students on the left. Harutora stood in between Natsume and Touji and looked at the back of new students anxiously. 
"......Harutora, don't look around everywhere." 
"Uh...... But aren't you concerned?" 
The students who were able to overcome the obstacle of testing into the Onmyou Academy were the exceptionally talented individuals among those who aimed to become Onmyouji. Though Harutora had gradually grown his self-confidence, in the end he had only been in this world for half a year, and he still couldn't completely erase the thoughts that he was an outsider. On one hand, he was very curious about how powerful the strengths of his new kouhais would be, and he couldn't help but worry about whether he had grown enough to act as their senpai. 
...Of course I'm concerned...... 
He definitely couldn't win against them in terms of knowledge. Thinking of this, he became even more panicked. 
"But......" 
"Hm?" 
"The new students this year seem abnormally tense. I didn't feel it at the time, but maybe that's how it looks in the eyes of others." Natsume spoke casually. 
...Tense? 
Harutora sized up the new students again, noticing that there was indeed a portion of the new students - especially the new students who were standing near the front row - who were particularly uneasy. 
Were they tense because they were in front of the speaker? But rather than tense, those students seemed like they were preparing to run for their life at a moment's notice...... 
...Why? 
He couldn't see clearly in front of him because he was a bit distant, so Harutora wondered, but he couldn't make any progress understanding the situation. In addition, it wasn't just the new students who made him concerned. 
"......Hey, Natsume. You said the practical curriculum would increase when we started the second year and that we'd have classes together with the third years, right?" 
"Yeah, I said so." 
"The Onmyou Academy doesn't have club activities, and there weren't any opportunities in the first year to interact with the senpais, doesn't that concern you?" After saying this, Harutora turned his gaze towards the third-year group. "What kind of people are they...... The magic they use should be more powerful than us right now, right?" 
"......I'm sure they have that kind of power. Frankly, the second year is when most students choose to withdraw." 
"No way! Is that true?" 
"Hush, quiet down, don't yell that loudly." 
"S, Sorry...... But, why would so many people leave?" 
"Because the practical curriculum increases." Natsume lowered her voice, replying quietly to Harutora's cautious question. "To be honest, a job like an Onmyouji focuses a lot on natural talent. Even if you understand the lectures, the 'difference' in talent will immediately show up once the practical curriculum arrives. Of course, it's not impossible to make up the difference with hard work...... But it's not a simple thing to continue working hard after seeing first-hand that your ability isn't as good as others." 
Upon hearing Natsume bring up the cruel reality, Harutora's face went a bit pale. But he only noticed after Natsume said this that there were indeed much less third-year students compared to the number of second-year students. Since the number of students entering the academy every year shouldn't change much, the truth might be as Natsume said, that there were quite a few students who chose to give up before advancing to the third year. 
Harutora also felt pained when Onmyouji talent was mentioned. Harutora didn't actually have the natural spirit-seeing talent of 'seeing' aura, which was the most basic qualification separating Onmyouji from other people. Since he lacked this talent, Harutora had studied at a normal high school even though he had been a member of the branch family of the famous Tsuchimikado family, and he hadn't had any contact with magic before last summer. 
Now, Harutora could already sense aura. This had to be attributed to the magic Natsume had used for him. 
Under Harutora's left eye was a pentagram mark. That was the pattern Natsume had drawn when she had chosen him as her shikigami, and at the same time it was magic that let Harutora, who didn't have the spirit-seeing ability, 'see' aura. Hence, it could be said that Harutora wouldn't have possessed the Onmyouji qualifications if he hadn't become Natsume's shikigami. 
Regardless of how firm of a will one had, it was ability that decided the crucial factor of strength and weakness. 
Maybe that situation was the same for every field, but it was particularly evident for practitioners. This was the main reason why the world believed that the magic community was closed to outsiders. 
"......And also, the Onmyou Academy practical curriculum contents are extremely difficult. The current third-years are the ones who held on under the challenge of that kind of curriculum without giving up, and the students who just advanced to the second year can't compare to their strength. Though they still haven't obtained qualification, they can already be considered semi-professional Onmyouji." 
"......S, Semi-pro......" Harutora swallowed hard. The third-year group now seemed like a powerful gathering of elites, and the advice Natsume had mentioned when they were going to school sank deeply into him. 
...I really can't be carefree...... 
However, "......I don't know how strong those people are." When Harutora and Natsume heard Touji murmur leisurely, they immediately looked at him. "I can't imagine there are many of them who have purified a Nue. Never mind the new students, even the third-years are definitely the same." He glanced askance at the two, showing a self-confident smile. 
Harutora and Natsume looked at each other, 'that's true' written all over their face, and broke out into smiles. 
"Yeah...... that's right." 
It had only been half a year since he decided to become an Onmyouji, and he definitely couldn't stop here. 
...I don't need to fear. 
Since he had fought with all his power all the way here, he had accumulated quite a bit of actual battle experience even if the results hadn't been satisfactory. One of the things he was the most proud of was that he would stand tall and face whatever kind of situation he encountered. It didn't matter if he failed eventually, as all he needed to do was accept that outcome and continue working hard. 
Just then, the sound of applause suddenly rang out. The teacher's speech had probably ended. The three of them hastily joined the applause. They completely hadn't heard the speech of the teacher on the podium because they had been too engrossed in chatting. How unfortunate. Harutora smiled wryly. 
After the teacher stepped down, the principal Kurahashi Miyo stood on the podium next. 
She stood in front of the microphone, introducing herself with a calm tone: "Hello, students. I am the Onmyou Academy principal, Kurahashi Miyo--" 
A small old woman who matched her kimono completely and who gave off an elegant air from her entire body stood on the podium. From her external appearance and her actions, it was really hard to associate her with the person in charge of the premier Onmyouji cultivation institution in the nation. And actually, her personality was quite whimsical, as Harutora knew extremely well. He also knew that she was extremely inscrutable, different from the feeling her behavior gave off. 
...There isn't anything special in her greetings, but it feels like there are words between the lines. 
Harutora distractedly thought this as he listened to the principal greet the new students. He had once met the principal in her office before, and maybe it was because he was familiar with her personality that those thoughts emerged. Right now, Harutora also understood well that she was a trustworthy and reliable principal. 
"My greeting ends here. Now, I want to encourage all of the new students, as well as all of the students who have advanced to a new level, to believe in yourselves, develop every day, and improve your strength." The principal finished her greeting and applause rang out again. 
The ceremony ended amidst the sound of applause. Next up was to properly enter the first class of the second year. 
But, "Oh my, that's bad, I forgot that I had a matter to announce." Just as the principal was about to step down, she seemed to think of something, returning to the front of the microphone. The applause suddenly stopped and some clamor arose in the area. Harutora and the others stared at the stage in incomprehension. 
"This year's new students - the forty-eighth class, has enrolled a student with 'special experience'. This student has already obtained Onmyouji qualifications, and due to certain reasons along with the strong urging from the person herself, the Onmyou Academy has decided to permit her to enter as a special student." The principal said. 
After hearing the principal's words, the area which silence had reigned over went into an uproar, especially the students near the front row - those students whose peculiar 'tension' that Natsume had pointed out earlier - and they all seemed panicked, whispering to each other. 
No way - It really is - It's her - Unbelievable-- 
Excited words continued rising up in bursts. "......What's going on?" Touji couldn't help but wonder, looking over at those people. 
The principal on the podium smiled. 
"It's rare to have this opportunity, so I will ask her to take the stage and say hello to all of you. Everyone here has probably heard about her, so I'll introduce her simply. This new student is the current youngest National First-Class Onmyouji, known as the 'Child Prodigy'--" 
With those words, Harutora, Natsume, and Touji's thinking momentarily lost their directions and idled. 

The incident began that summer. 
... 'I heard rumors about you, and I've wanted to meet you for a long time' 
The girl was dressed up in goth loli-styled finery, and her provocative and haughty cold smile merged extremely naturally with her immature appearance that radiated a dangerous air, strangely fascinating yet uncoordinated, like a blooming southern flower hiding a deadly poison. 
... 'Stop joking around! I don't need your sympathy!' 
Confident, strong, ferocious, unrestricted. 
Stubborn, overexerting, simple, lonely. 
... '......Bunch of fools.' 
That chaotic encounter had completely changed Harutora's life. 

"......What?" The three of them cried out in unison. 
The area momentarily erupted in a clamor. As if called out by the noise, a girl walked out of the group of new students in the front row. 
Her dyed blonde hair was tied into ponytails, hanging down onto the back he had seen before. She wasn't wearing the goth loli-style finery from back then, but instead wore the Onmyou Academy's imperial-style pure white girl's uniform. 
The girl walked onto the podium, turning to face the arena. Her small face was disproportionate to her round eyes. He definitely wasn't mistaken, she was the mastermind behind the incident last summer that had made Harutora decide to become an Onmyouji, Dairenji Suzuka. 
"Uwah." The students couldn't help but cry out. 
On the other hand-- 
"......No way......" 
"......Ah......" 
"......!" 
Touji and Harutora gaped as if not yet over the shock. Natsume's face went ashen, her eyes widening. 
...That person...... 
Suzuka proudly straightened her shoulders, passing through the stage and walking towards the position that the principal had given to her, standing in front of the microphone. She looked down disdainfully in front of all of the students of the Onmyou Academy, not seeming frightened at all. 
That distinct midsummer night emerged in Harutora's mind. On the fireworks festival, in the typhoon's rain, on the altar of the Taizan Fukun Ritual. He recalled each and every one of Suzuka's words and deeds as if they were from yesterday. 
The irritable, hot-tempered, and emotional girl who held absolute confidence in her own strength-- 
"Hi everyone, thanks to Principal Kurahashi for introducing me, I'm Dairenji Suzuka!" 
A bell-like, delicate, sweet, and lively voice brought an impact that on a certain level was even heavier than when she had appeared before him. 
"..............................What?" 
Harutora didn't get what had happened for a while, and Touji and Natsume couldn't warp their head around it either, blankly standing in place. 
Suzuka grinned lightly, showing an angelic smile. Everyone present - regardless of gender - cheered. 
"I'm really nervous today...... But, I'm very happy! It was always my dream to study Onmyoudou with students my own age, and today my dream is finally realized!" 
Oh, right, it was a dream. Harutora unconsciously laughed a few times. No wonder such a strange scene had emerged and he even couldn't help but feel dizzy. Everything was all just a dream...... 
"Classmates and senpais, there are still a lot of things I don't understand about Onmyoudou, so please feel free to teach me." Suzuka spoke unabashedly, and then showed another sweet smile. 
Applause rang out like thunder, more enthusiastic compared to the applause after the teacher's or the principal's greetings, and there were even people who whistled excitedly. 
Suzuka bashfully smiled on the podium, lightly waving her right hand to respond to the students' cheers. At the same time, she tilted chin slightly, the angle of the tilt obviously calculated carefully, as if she were making herself out to be a young idol. 
"......This is...... What the hell......" Harutora was at a loss. Suddenly, Suzuka's gaze, directed towards the gathering place, stopped in Harutora's direction. Harutora's body froze and Suzuka also stopped waving. 
The pair's gazes crossed, and Harutora instinctively felt like something was bad, but he had nowhere to run. Suzuka stared at him, her face clearly showing that she 'recognized' Harutora, just like how Harutora also knew Suzuka. 
...Uh. 
It was just a brief moment, but Harutora felt it to be unbearably long. Suzuka stared at the stunned, frozen Harutora - and a blush spread across her face. 
......Huh? 
Harutora's tension vanished, but it was still too early for him to relax. After a flash of what seemed to be an embarrassed appearance, an obvious change appeared on Suzuka's expression, as if making Harutora doubt whether he had just seen wrong. 
A smile. 
It was vastly different from the cute smile just now, the surreptitious sneer of a snake noticing a frog instead. Frankly, compared to the fake smile that had roused the audience before, this smile conformed more with Suzuka's style - at least with the Suzuka of Harutora's impressions. 
Strangely, Harutora relaxed instead when he saw this smile of hers. 
She was really the Suzuka from that time. 
But, maybe that kind of thought was a sign that Harutora was unconsciously beginning to avoid reality. 
Suzuka slowly inhaled. 
"Senpai! Isn't that Harutora-senpai?!" 
Harutora felt like gazes in the area shot towards him from all directions. 
Suzuka deliberately widened her eyes. 
"I'm so happy, I knew I could see senpai if I came to the Onmyou Academy, I've been waiting for this day! I didn't think I would run into you so quickly--" 
Hey, hurry up and stop talking, don't say any more. 
Harutora prayed silently in vain, as unfortunately it still didn't change reality. Blood drained out of his entire body and his consciousness seemed to drift into limbo. Touji murmured: "...Harutora" to encourage him, but the voice reached his ears yet didn't enter his mind, as if he was a frog being stared at by a vicious snake. 
But compared to this...... What about Natsume? Was Natsume okay right now? In front of Suzuka...... Ahh, no good, he couldn't turn around. The current Harutora didn't have the courage to turn around and check his childhood friend's reactions. 
The clamor in the gathering place became more and more animated. 
Harutora - Who - Tsuchimikado - The branch family's-- 
Bits of conversation came one after another, exchanging and sharing information in moments. Then, the students' interest evolved into a huge question. 
What kind of relationship did the two of them have? 
Principal Kurahashi on the stage walked by Suzuka's side, asking the question in all of the students' hearts. 
"Oh my, Suzuka-san, do you know each other?" 
Suzuka replied: "Yes." Like she had been waiting for someone to ask that question. She turned back around in a rush, her hands still holding the microphone. 
"He's the first person I kissed!" 

The chaotic new term kicked off like that.