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For the past few days, Watanabe and his entourage hadn't been to school. The article had gotten blown up, much to Yuri's pleasure. Although, at first, the Photography and Journalism Clubs had gotten under serious fire for it, when it all boiled down to the end, the school realized that their website was hacked. But of course, there was no way they could track Yuri's IP address, given that his technology was far superior.
And as such, Yuri carried on with school like normal, although their class ended up becoming scant. The students in question would have received a suspension for their misdeeds, but they haven't returned to school to get it. At first, it had put a damper on Yuri's mood, but then the Prince realized that there was more to this world than sulking at the fact that he couldn't see people suffer before him.
With that said, Yuri decided to focus more on volleyball than anything else. Everyday after school, both he and Mochizuki would head to the club for training, and while the latter boy was already practicing with the regulars and bench-members, Yuri was being taught the basics by Haku. The older teen was happy for this, letting out his slave-driver side.
Of course, the Prince was not too happy about this, but with words of encouragement from Mochizuki, within no time, Yuri was up to par with the regulars. Naturally, it had shocked and frightened everyone in the club, as never before had they seen someone's learning ability so high. And most of the time, Yuri would blatantly tell the truth and say, "I'm a being from another world which is far superior to Earth."
Obviously, no one would believe him, but at least, they couldn't say he never told them.
And just like that, two weeks ran off in the blink of an eye.
[Meanwhile in Sekai...]
Tachibana had gotten busy with his new division. Apart from his tutoring with his instructor, Seiya, Akira and Yukina (she shares majority of classes with Prince Yuri), and his training with the King, Tachibana spent most of his time with the division. He oversaw the Mages and their Elemental Combinations, he got to work on the volleyball court and organized the rules of the sport for the Mages. And since he's now in a world where Magic is the norm, he had to be tweaking the rules in order to accommodate that. Even though he could've simply stated that Magic was forbidden in the game, he wanted to see just how crazily fun the game could get with Magic.
Currently, the young Japanese was sitting in his office, chatting away with Hiroki, who seemed to have become his best friend. Since Takahiro was a female in Saishi, he found it hard to interact with her as he would've done with Mochizuki back home. And then again, he planned to marry her anyway.
"Well, what's the matter?" Tachibana asked, seeing the uneasy look on Hiroki's face.
The Water Mage sighed. "It's Yuno."
Since he didn't want to be constantly left in the dark or something, Tachibana made sure to read up on all the Division and Vice-Division Leaders of the current military. He'd even ask his brothers and the King for assistance.
"What about him?"
"You know in the past you weren't here for us, right?"
Tachibana grumbled. "Don't remind me."
"So, there were a few who had always hung out in his division and were even guaranteed a space should something happen to this division or a Mage from his division died."
"And…?"
"Wait and let me finish." Hiroki sighed. "Apparently, these few had reached their breaking point and had left before you made your turn-around. And now I think that Yuno had brought the issue to the Council so I think you may lose us."
Tachibana's eyes widened with shock. "I…may lose you guys? As in, I'll be stripped of my responsibilities?"
Hiroki nodded. "And what made it worse, His Majesty is fair to all so chances are that he would take us from you and appoint someone else."
"But…"
"Don't tell me you've forgotten what happened the last time?"
Tachibana didn't answer, instead, he turned his face away. Of course, he didn't know what happened, but he pretended to. No matter what he did, there was always a dark cloud hovering over him because of the Prince's past actions. And frankly, it was unfair.
"I'll go talk with Dad then." Tachibana said as he rose up out of his chair. "Before things escalate."
"I'll come along too."
"Great."
…
…
"It's about time I take over the Fourteenth Division." A tall burly man grumbled as he looked through the window. "That brat isn't doing anything worthwhile."
"But Sir Yuno," another male started, "The Third Prince was given that division by His Majesty Himself. Won't you just aggravate ―?"
Yuno smirked, totally unperturbed by what his companion said. "What can I say? The Third Prince is having his division suffer, so, as a respectful Leader myself; I decided to save the Fourteenth Division from decay. I'm sure His Majesty would understand."
"I'm not talking about His Majesty. I'm talking about Prince Yuri. Everyone knows that his temper can give Takemikazuchi a run for his money."
Yuno whistled. Takemikazuchi was a deity of Thunder and Swords in Nihon folklore, not just in Saishi. And everyone on the continent knew just how tempestuous the god can be.
"Well, I don't care. It's not like we'll see him at the Division Headquarters anyway."
Soon, their car drove up into the parking lot and saw Jin's car present. Their eyebrows rose as neither of the men knew the car belonged to. Exiting the car and entering the Fourteenth Division Building, Yuno and his companion were confused.
"What's happening here?" Yuno asked as he entered the building. He saw the Mages scurrying about with papers in their hands but what stood out the most was the pleasant look on their faces. Of all the times in the past, Yuno had never seen the Mages of this Division with a contented look.
"Oi! What's going on?!" He asked again, as no one had seemed to hear him.
"Sir Yuno? What are you doing here?" One finally stopped, noticing his presence.
"That's not the point. What's all the fuss?"
"Well, Yuri is busy trying to sort out some stuff so we ―"
"Wait. Yuri is here?"
"Yes." The Mage nodded. "Is something the matter? Do you wish to see him?"
"What is he doing?" Yuno ended up asking aloud. In his shocked state, he hadn't meant for it to come out.
"He's doing what a Division Leader is supposed to, Sir." The Mage rolled his eyes at Yuno before dashing off to do what Tachibana instructed.
"Well, I'll be." Yuno's companion whistled out. "It seems as though you won't be getting the division then."
"Please, Yuri never cared for his Division in the past, I have the records and witnesses to show for it. Whatever he's doing now is too late." Yuno hissed as he spun on his heels and left the Division.
Just then, a flash of silver caught his eyes. Looking in the direction, he saw Tachibana, thinking it was Prince Yuri. Hiroki followed him, and the two fell into step with each other as they approached the car. They seemed to be locked in a serious conversation, which Yuno deemed weird.
⎾Looks like he really was here. ⏌Yuno thought as he narrowed his eyes at the Prince. He watched as he jumped into the passenger side of the car with Hiroki hopping into the driver's seat. Yuno rose his eyebrows at their interaction, as he remembered Hiroki stating that he hated the Prince with all his being.
⎾So, what changed? ⏌Yuno threw that thought aside, thinking that it had nothing to do with him. All that was on his mind was to get the brat's division.
…
…
"Dad!" Tachibana screamed as he banged the door open. King Ayumu made a manly yelp, frightened at the sudden entry. Normally, Tachibana would knock and enter graciously, even addressing him as 'Your Majesty'. How frightened ―yet pleased―he was when he heard Tachibana call him 'Dad'.
"What's the matter?" The King asked. "You look worried."
Hiroki was behind Tachibana, but he didn't say anything. He then took a seat in the nearest chair, leaving Tachibana to discuss with his father. The King didn't mind, as the man saw Hiroki as his new son's best friend. With how close the two had become these days, King Ayumu didn't feel the need to force the Mage to behave overly respectful all the time.
"Yuno might take my division from me!"
"What are…?" The King trailed off as everything came to him. "Shit. I forgot."
"Huh?" Tachibana and Hiroki said.
"There's a Council meeting to decide the fate of your Division and I totally forgot." The King sounded stressed. "In the best-case scenario, your division will still be there, but someone else will be given authority."
"Someone else? Hiroki then." Tachibana said. He really couldn't see anyone else having control over his Mages. And then, should Hiroki be given that responsibility, then Yuri can still do whatever he wanted.
"But the worse case scenario could be that the Division be dissolved, and we're all split up into different divisions." Hiroki sighed. "I wouldn't want that. We're having so much fun and now…"
The King looked at Hiroki and Tachibana. He knew that the boy was spending lots of time at the Division, but he never once asked what his plans were. He decided to let Tachibana have free reign since the young boy was already under immense pressure of impersonating a Prince.
"I'll try to see what I can do." King Ayumu relented. Although, he knew that once the Council decides, there wasn't much he could do. He didn't want to disappoint Tachibana, but he couldn't outright say it.
⎾I just hope everything will turn out alright. ⏌