“While Seidoukan Academy does recognize our students’ right to hold their own duels, I’m afraid that I must nullify this one.” A girl with blinding platinum-blond hair emerged from the crowd.
She was beautiful in a calm, mellow way—quite different from Julis. If Julis had the lush, radiant beauty of a rose in full bloom, this girl’s beauty was deep and tranquil like a quiet lake. This, perhaps, was why she seemed much more mature than Julis even though they were likely about the same age.
“Claudia. Exactly what gives you the authority to interfere?” Julis demanded.
“Why, Julis—that would be my authority as the president of the Seidoukan Academy Student Council, of course.” The girl called Claudia smiled sweetly and placed her hand on her school crest. “By the power vested in me as the representative of the Red Lotus, I hereby declare this duel between Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld and Ayato Amagiri null and void.” The school crests of Julis and Ayato, glowing red until that moment, faded back to normal.
“Now you’re safe, Mr. Amagiri,” Claudia added with a friendly laugh.
“Whew…” So I’m really, finally out of harm’s way. Ayato brushed the sweat from his forehead and breathed a deep sigh. “Thank you…uh, Miss President…?”
“That’s right. Claudia Enfield, president of the Seidoukan Academy Student Council. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
She gently proffered her hand, and Ayato hurried to shake it.
Up close, he could see that Claudia was stunning in the way that made one want to stare. But her most eye-catching feature was the ample chest that strained the cut of her school uniform. Those curves were generous enough to inspire awe. It would not have been very tactful to point out, but Julis could not hold a candle to Claudia in that department.
Julis, meanwhile, appeared to be less than satisfied with the recent judgment call and had fixed Claudia with a withering glare. “I don’t believe even the student council president can intervene in a duel without a valid reason.”
“Oh, but there is a reason. You are aware that he’s a new transfer student, aren’t you? His data has already been entered into the system, so his crest judged him eligible to duel. However, there are a few more technicalities to take care of before his transferal is complete. Which means, strictly speaking, Ayato Amagiri is not yet a student at Seidoukan Academy,” Claudia explained smoothly without breaking her smile. “Duels are only permitted when both parties are enrolled students. And therefore this duel is invalid. That all makes perfect sense, I think?”
Julis made a small sound of frustration and bit her lip. Going by the fact that she made no retort, she appeared to understand who was in the right.
“Well, now that we have that cleared up… Everyone, please be on your way. You wouldn’t want to be late for class.” At Claudia’s urging, the crowd dispersed. Some were disappointed with the duel’s inconclusive conclusion, but apparently not enough to complain to the student council president.
“Oh!” Ayato cried, remembering the arrow. The assassin who targeted Julis could have been among the onlookers. He might not have a full grasp of the school rules yet, but a foul attack like that had to be breaking them.
✦ ✦ ✦
✦ ✦ ✦
What if we’re letting the culprit get away? he thought. “Um—wait, just a—”
As Ayato began to raise his voice, Julis grabbed his shoulder. “Let it go. Whoever it was is long gone.” She shook her head with a cynical smile. “Besides, it’s not that unusual for a Page One student to be targeted.”
“She’s right,” Claudia agreed. “Unfortunately, incidents like that are not uncommon. Still, that was going too far. It’s beyond the pale for a third party to ambush a student engaged in a duel. I’ll have the disciplinary committee launch an investigation. As soon as the responsible party is identified, they will be severely punished.”
Ayato was a bit taken aback by Claudia’s implication that she had seen the arrow as well. There had been more than a few students in the crowd, but he doubted that anyone else among them had noticed the shot. If Claudia could see that attack in the midst of a fiery explosion, then she, too, was no ordinary student.
“Anyway, um, th-thank you…for that,” Julis blurted suddenly, turning to Ayato with an embarrassed look. By “that,” she had to mean Ayato saving her from the arrow.
“Oh no—it was nothing…but…”
It had all happened so quickly that in the moment, he’d had no other choice. Still, it was true—he’d tackled her to the ground, and even if it was unintentional, there was no denying that he’d touched her in an inexcusable way.
That unexpected softness under his hand was on his mind as he asked her timidly, “…You’re not angry at me anymore?”
Julis, for her part, averted her eyes as a slight blush lit her cheeks. “Well, I—I can’t say I’m not angry, but…you did save me.”
She really is the fair and just type, Ayato thought.
Although she didn’t quite look ready to forgive him, she nodded firmly. “Even I can understand that it was a force majeure situation.”
This was really nothing like the handkerchief incident. Ayato had just enough time to act—not to think about it. Prana could heighten the body’s physical defenses, but it wasn’t enough to protect against a sniper attack.
“So, let’s just say that I owe you a debt,” Julis told him.
“A debt?”
“Yes. Simple enough, isn’t it?”
A debt certainly was simple enough to understand, but it felt a little impersonal to Ayato.
“You really never change, do you?” said Claudia with mild exasperation. “I think your life might be easier if you were a little more honest with your feelings.”
“Mind your own business,” Julis retorted. “I’m honest enough as I am, and my life is perfectly fine.”
“Oh, then your search for a tag team partner must be going smoothly?”
“Um… Well…” Julis awkwardly lowered her gaze. She didn’t want to say any more, but she was too easy to read.
“The Festa entry deadline is in two weeks. You don’t have all that much time.”
“I—I know that! I’ll find someone!” Julis whirled, her shoulders tight with anger, and headed back to the dormitory.
“Oh, dear.” Claudia followed Julis with her eyes like a mother watching a petulant child stalk away.