Part 2
The second day of the practical skills training camp, where they would have class together with the third-years, finally arrived. Harutora's class moved to the interior of the Zokusho shrine with the third-year students, holding something close to a standard 'magic competition' in a corner of the area.
Ohtomo and a teacher of the third-year students were responsible for supervising them on the side. This teacher happened to be the examiner who had administered the practical skills exam for advancing to the second-year [28] - the instructor who had once been an exorcist.
His name was Fujiwara. After the exam last time, he had helped out training Touji on how to control the demon inside him. When he saw the second-year Touji, he lightly called out: "I'm looking forward to your performance, Ato." Touji shrugged his shoulders, slightly raising his hand in regard.
The contents of the curriculum were very simple. The second-years and the third-years would have a magic competition, where three second-years would face one third-year in a magic battle. Magical tools were not allowed other than the charms that had been prepared beforehand, and no restrictions were placed on contracted shikigami. If one side forfeited or one of the teachers responsible for supervising recognized a winner, the competition would be declared over. In other words, if that condition wasn't satisfied, the two had to keep fighting until a winner was decided. It was quite a ruthless rule.
In the morning, inside the clean shrine interior and within the barrier the two teachers had set up, the students held a showdown. Naturally, from the perspective of pure magical energy, the second-years had an overwhelming superiority in a three against one battle - but, the third-years were the victors in terms of win rates.
From the competition, it could be seen why Natsume had evaluated the third-years as 'semi-professional Onmyouji' at the start. Though every student's level of ability was different, the third-year students as a whole performed quite outstandingly. Harutora had seen professional Onmyouji cast magic several times first-hand, and as he saw it, the third-years had several students who were at the level where it wouldn't be strange to think they had already obtained their qualifications. Anyway, as the second-years hadn't formally studied first-class magic for long, it was a beating to face the third years' successive use of magic.
However, Harutora's classmates weren't bad. Among them, Natsume and Kyouko's performances were especially eye-catching.
Frankly speaking, the third-year who fought against Kyouko's group was completely doomed. Just dealing with Kyouko's defensive shikigami Hakuou and Kokfuu already exhausted him - it could be seen how strong this student's power was by the fact that he was able to deal with two shikigami simultaneously - however, there were also two other second-year students attacking at once. The victor was decided instantly, and Fujiwara-sensei's face sank.
Natsume's performance was even more outstanding. The battle was especially carried out in a one against one format, and she didn't even need to summon her shikigami Hokuto, winning effortlessly. She had originally been an excellent practitioner with a strong power, and recently her ability had become even more sophisticated. Kyouko and others cheered loudly for Natsume.
Also, Suzuka didn't participate in this competition, maybe because they believed that they couldn't let a National First-Class Onmyouji like Suzuka fight against students. Of course, she herself and the other students didn't have any problems with this decision.
Strangely, Suzuka was inexplicably well-behaved today. She had practically stormed off at the end of yesterday, but she seemed to even feel a bit awkward, naturally avoiding Harutora and the others, and was even more inexplicably distant from Kyouko. She didn't seem like she was avoiding Kyouko, but more like she was fleeing from her. Kyouko had wanted to find her to chat once, but she instantly paled and hastily fled. Harutora couldn't help but doubt whether he was seeing things.
"......That's weird, what happened with those girls?"
"I don't know...... They should have been sleeping in the same room yesterday. Kyouko probably did something."
Touji's tone was grateful. It seemed that Kyouko had secretly taken some action to rope Suzuka in...... Natsume showed a complex expression on the side as she listened to Harutora and Touji's discussion.
In the end, Touji didn't use his oni's strength. He won the fight, but he seemed not to fight seriously. Fujiwara-sensei raised an eyebrow in dissatisfaction, but Touji deliberately ignored it.
"What's wrong, Touji. Even if you have no reason to 'transform', do you think you can't use your oni's strength during class?"
"If I'm not a bit prudent, won't it be no surprise when I truly need to use it?" Touji shrugged his shoulders indifferently.
So that's what it was, Harutora thought. Touji had actually deliberately held back. It seemed that he had no intention of letting others see him become a demon other than the people he truly trusted.
Next, the third-year won against Tenma's group. Though the members also had problems, Tenma himself didn't seem to be good at fighting against others. After the competition ended, he slumped his shoulders in dejection.
Then, it was finally Harutora's turn.
"......So nervous......" Harutora muttered. Kon had already materialized beneath his feet, looking raring to go and stretching her shoulders menacingly.
But, just as Harutora was about to step into the barrier - "Okay, the morning competitions will end here. We'll continue in the afternoon, so everyone eat first." Ohtomo announced leisurely.
The lunches on the second day were bentoes sent from outside. Harutora looked for Natsume, Touji, and Tenma, eating in the shrine interior together underneath the shade of the trees. He had originally wanted to invite Kyouko and Suzuka, but the two of them had slipped away without a trace in the blink of an eye.
The other three people who ate together were abnormally quiet. Natsume kept her head lowered for some reason, Touji silently immersed himself in eating, and Tenma seemed to still be down about his loss just now - he had received a big shock, chiefly because his own power wasn't sufficiently strong. He kept sighing heavily. It was a good lunch, but the atmosphere was very awkward.
Harutora keenly noticed that something was wrong.
"Some other day we should find Kyouko and Suzuka and continue the topic from yesterday."
"The third-years are really incredible. Can we grow to that level after a year?"
"It really is nice to eat outdoors. Not only is there a great feeling of freedom, it feels awesome!"
He tried hard to liven up the atmosphere, but unfortunately his work was for nothing. He was even the first person to finish eating his bento. "I'm leaving for a bit." Bored to tears, he excused himself to the bathroom and rose to leave.
"......I can't stand this. At the least I need to get Kyouko over here."
Harutora scratched his head, walking around the shrine.
Just like Harutora and his group, the other students were gathered together eating in twos and threes. Kyouko ought to be in another group of people, but it would be a lot of work to find someone in the vast interior of Zokusho shrine. He also considered having Kon help him search, but he couldn't decide, feeling that he shouldn't dispatch his shikigami so leisurely.
"What should I do?"
Harutora murmured, suddenly thinking of Suzuka's matter.
Kyouko could probably be found eating with several other students, but what about Suzuka? She was a first-year student in the first place, and she was still keeping up her young idol persona in front of the other students and didn't really get along with others. Other than Harutora's group, there probably wouldn't be anyone eating with her.
...Come to think of it, that girl had also eaten breakfast alone in the morning.
Maybe she and Kyouko were together. But considering Suzuka's personality, it was really hard to imagine that there would be a third person with them. Maybe Kyouko was concerned about Suzuka eating alone, and had gone to her to keep her company.
"......I'll go look around the auditorium."
The second and third years were currently all in the shrine interior, and the auditorium ought to be devoid of people. If Suzuka, who was concerned about the attention from others, was alone - or eating her bento with Kyouko - it was very possible that she had chosen to return to the auditorium.
In order to confirm whether his thoughts were correct, Harutora hastily returned to the auditorium from the shrine interior.
He first went around the courtyard, not noticing anyone at all. Then, he quickly looped around to the forest behind the auditorium, looking for a while around the warehouse. This area was vast, and it was difficult to look in every corner after all, but that was because he couldn't hear anyone. If there was someone here, they should have been able to notice him running over.
However, he didn't find Suzuka or Kyouko here either. Unlike the shrine interior, this forest was tranquil, seeming to be a place without people.
If this went on, lunchtime would be about over even if he successfully found them. Helpless, Harutora could only turn back to the shrine, but before he went back, he decided to give it a try and test his luck by entering the auditorium.
He looped around to the entrance of the auditorium, pulling open the large door.
A figure appeared before him.
The person sat by the entrance, currently tying her shoelaces. Pulling open the door, Harutora walked in. That person raised her head in surprise (but there was no expression on her face, and it was actually unclear whether she was truly surprised), stopping her hands.
It was a short-haired, small-bodied girl. She wore a pure white uniform that was too large, with overly-long sleeves. Because her body was small, she looked younger than Harutora, but she was actually Harutora's senpai.
The girl gazed motionlessly at Harutora with her pretty face that essentially didn't have any change in expression at all. Harutora's instincts were correct. Her expression, with her eyes slightly widened, might be showing surprise.
Of course, the two of them hadn't expected to run into each other, and Harutora was equally surprised.
"Huh? Oh, senpai? Why are you here--"
"Tch."
"That kind of attitude as soon as we meet, when we haven't seen each other for so long?"
"Who are you?"
"What do you mean, who am I!? After you bothered me for so long before, could it be that you're pretending not to know me now? You just clicked your tongue just now, it's obvious that's a reaction you made after recognizing me!"
"I don't recognize any branch family son."
"You clearly know! Anyway, even now I still don't know senpai's name!"
"Don't get so familiar."
"Hey, what kind of attitude is that? I didn't care in the first place, but this kind of hurtful attitude really makes me mad!"
When Harutora had just advanced to his second year, he had met this third-year student several times. Before, it had always been her taking the initiative to accost him, but now she was cold and emotionless, feigning as if she had completely forgotten about that.
"Go away."
She expressionlessly spoke those words, continuing to tie her shoelaces. Harutora actually didn't have any intention of getting on good terms with her, but being treated so coldly still made him mad and displeased.
Harutora ground his teeth, lowering his head to gaze at the senpai, and calling out: "......Kon."
The senpai's fingers shook as she tied her shoelaces.
Kon, who had been summoned, immediately dropped her stealth and materialized. A pair of pointed ears sprouted from her head, and a leaf-shaped tail grew from behind her back. She floated in front of Harutora like a Japanese doll in the form of a young girl.
Harutora put his hands on Kon's shoulders, lightly pushing Kon forward to let the senpai see clearly. Kon was a bit timid, but she still listened and faced the senpai.
The senpai went motionless, her gaze stopped on her shoelaces. Not long after, she tied her shoelaces again, stubbornly refusing to raise her head. Harutora narrowed his eyes provocatively.
He gently touched the shikigami's head, saying: "Kon, let's do our best in the afternoon~"
"H-H-Harutora-sama?'
"............"
"I haven't touched your tail in a long time. Let me touch it for a bit. Oh my, your fur feels so comfortable~"
"H-Harutora-sama, w-why are you...... s-suddenly......!"
".................."
The senpai became less and less able to move her fingers calmly. She failed at tying her shoelaces several times, and then undid the knot.
In the end, she pulled tightly, finishing the tie.
"......I thought of who you were. It's been a while, Tsuchimikado Harutora."
She spoke coldly, keeping the same expression on her face. Harutora let go of Kon, smiling maliciously and speaking.
"Yeah, I hope you're doing well, Senpai...... Alright, as you wanted, I'll hurry up and leave--"
"Hold on."
"Huh, what's wrong, Senpai? Didn't you hate others getting too familiar?'
"That...... isn't it."
"Oh, then could it be that want to talk to me, Senpai?"
"......Yeah......"
"You- want to- talk to- me?"
"......I, I...... want to...... talk......"
The senpai's shoulders trembled as she managed to utter those words. Harutora nodded his head in satisfaction. Kon watched the two of them from the side, her face twitching slightly.
"......Despicable, to think you would use a little girl as bait......"
"The one baited should think about herself."
"In that case, at least let me bring her home......"
"Give it a break! Exactly how much do you like little girls!"
"Okay, I'll settle, just let me touch her tail--"
"Oh my, what are you saying, senpai, I didn't agree to let you touch--"
".........................................."
"...Ahh, I can't stand you. Alright, I'll let you touch, don't stare at me like that. It should be okay if she just touches a bit, right, Kon?"
"Yes......"
Harutora turned back to look at that expressionless yet strangely urgent face. When he replied, Kon could only helplessly offer her tail towards the senpai. "Ohh." Moved, the senpai's tone trembled, and she reached her hand towards Kon's tail.
She touched, constantly and gently rubbing the tail back and forth.
"......So great."
"......Thank you for the praise."
"......Give her to me."
"Don't even think about it."
If she went on touching like this, the senpai might start rubbing with her face. Harutora saw the opportunity, calling out - his tone a bit apologetic - "Kon."
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