First Day of the Competition

The next day was the third of August. As if last night's incident didn't happen, the raising of the curtain of the Nine Schools Competition ceremony had taken place. Then starting from this day and ten days onward, a total of twenty magic contests, including rookie and official matches, would take place.

After the ceremony ended, as usual, Haru, Miyuki, Honoka, Shizuku, Erika, Tatsuya, Leo, and Miki also walked together while looking at the schedule of the Nine Schools Competition.

As for Mizuki? She had an important task to check out whether the staff might sabotage the CADs of the First High School team before the start of the event, so she didn't join them.

The first event that would be held on the first day was the official Speed Shooting Boys and Girls Preliminaries-Final Tournament and Battle Board Boys and Girls Preliminaries. Both events would give 50 points to the school that won the tournament.

On the girls' side, the official Speed Shooting would be represented by Mayumi, and the official Battle Board would be represented by Mari. Without a doubt, both of them would be able to win those two events. As for the guys? The First High School might have given up on the official Speed Shooting, but they didn't give up on the Battle Board since it was represented by Hattori.

Even though Hattori might have lost against Erika in the past, he was still the top five most powerful Magicians in the First High School, so without a doubt, the result for the Board Game for the guys' side would be quite good.

"Well, Mikihiko, I'll call you that. Is that alright?" Haru asked.

"Yes." Mikihiko nodded.

"Do you know the Monolith Code, right?"

"Un." Mikihiko nodded.

"Then you should know that this event will be represented by three people. One is me, the other one is Morisaki Shun, but I'm not satisfied with the last one, so if possible, I want you to replace him," Haru said.

"Huh?" Mikihiko was surprised by how Haru was so direct!

"Do you want to do it?" Haru asked.

"I...." Mikihiko was, of course, happy that he had a chance to show his worth, but he was also hesitant whether he could do it or not.

"Whether you'll mess up or not, I don't care much. What I want to know is whether you want to do it or not. Since Erika has recommended you, then I know that you have a skill, and I also have heard about the Yoshida family, but if you don't want to do it, then it is better of us to forget what I have talked about before," Haru said while looking at Mikihiko.

Mikihiko gulped, but then he nodded. "I want to do it."

"Good." Haru smiled and said, "I'll report this matter to Juumonji-senpai later."

"But is this okay? What about the feeling of the contestant that I will replace?" Mikihiko asked.

"Don't be naive." Haru looked at Mikihiko and said, "We're looking for a third consecutive victory for our school. As long as we can win, I'm sure that he'll understand, so I need you to be on our team, so are you ready?"

"..." Mikihiko could feel that he started to sweat, and he could feel that there was a lot of burden on his back, but at the same time, he wanted to take this task, so he nodded without hesitation and said, "Yes!"

"Good." Haru smiled and said, "When the first-day event ends, let's talk again since I have somewhere to go."

"Huh? Haru, where are you going? We're not together?" Honoka asked sadly.

"Sorry, I met my acquaintance here. I'll talk with all of you later," Haru said and left everyone.

"Acquaintance?"

"Who might that be?" Erika frowned.

"Family?" Shizuku titled her head.

"Probably his girlfriend," Tatsuya said.

"....."

Out of everyone, the one who was the most complicated was Miyuki. She thought for a bit, then said, "Onii-sama, everyone, I have something to ask him about my CAD first. Please save a seat for me." She then strode forward, ignoring everyone's gaze on her, but her reason was perfect since the one who was tasked to take care of her CAD was Haru.

Tatsuya looked at his little sister's back and sighed, somehow feeling complicated when his little sister had started to grow up.

---

Miyuki followed Haru quietly, slowly without him noticing it, but...

"What are you doing?" Haru looked at Miyuki helplessly.

"Ah, I..." Miyuki was startled and stunned, unable to say anything since there was no way that she could say that she was following him, right?

"Well, if you're curious, how about you follow me?" Haru said, then turned without waiting for Miyuki.

"Ah, wait!" Miyuki quickly chased after him since she was curious about what had happened to her aunt. Even though her relationship with her aunt wasn't good, in the end, her aunt was the one who took care of her and her brother, after all.

Haru looked at Miyuki and said, "Well, you'll see your aunt soon."

"..." Miyuki was stunned, but she nodded.

Both of them walked for a while until they arrived at the VIP room.

In truth, the venue and the one who got the right to broadcast the Nine Schools Competition was a company under the Rokkaku clan, so it was easy for him to get some privilege in this competition.

Miyuki entered the room nervously, then she was stunned when she saw the one inside. "O - Oba-sama!"

Maya looked at Miyuki with a smile and said, "It has been a while, Miyuki. Well, not exactly for a while since you have to eavesdrop on our conversation before, right?"

Haru closed the door, then he heard Sumire's question. "Haru, is it alright for you to come here?"

"It's alright, the rookie competition will start on the fourth day, so there is still a lot of time, but well, I can't be with you all the time," Haru said.

"It's alright, we're here because we want to support you so win, alright?" Maya said.

"You don't need to worry, but before that, it seems that Miyuki has something to ask, right?' Haru said while looking at Miyuki.

Maya then looked at Miyuki and asked, "Do you want to ask something, Miyuki?"

"Um..." Miyuki wanted to ask something, but that question stuck in her mouth and she couldn't ask this question.

Maya chuckled and looked at Miyuki with a smile. This smile was so sincere, showing how happy she was. "Well, I won't hide it from you, I am pregnant."

"..........." Miyuki felt a thunder strike on her and she couldn't say any words for a while.

It was the first day of the Nine Schools Competition, but before the competition started, a lot of things were happening.