Before the final of the Monolith Code, between the First High and the Third High, each person or group started to speculate who would win the final.
"Airi, who do you think is going to win?" Tsukushiin Touko asked.
Airi folded her arms, staring at the huge screen intently, tapping her finger gently, watching Haru's face that was shown on the screen. "...Isn't it obvious?"
Kanou Shiori nodded and said, "The Prince is going to win. Even though I have to admit that Rokkaku Haruka is strong, unlike the Prince, Rokkaku Haruka doesn't have experience on the battlefield."
The nickname of the Crimson Prince was obtained by Ichijou Masaki three years ago. When the Great Asian Union invaded Okinawa, the New Soviet Union also took military action on Sado. He was only 13 years old at that time, and he volunteered for the front lines alongside the current head of the Ichijou Family, Ichijou Gouki, and used Rupture to annihilate many enemy soldiers.
While the scale of the battle was quite small (to this day, the New Soviet Union denies their connection with the militants that invaded Sado), he was awarded the title "the Crimson Prince of the Ichijou Family" for his exploits.
It was the reason why Masaki obtained that nickname, and with that exploit and his experience on the battlefield, it could be said that Masaki was the strongest freshman in the Nine Schools Competition, if there wasn't any Tatsuya and Haru, of course.
However, Tatsuya might not be able to fight Masaki again since he had lost his Elemental Sight. Without an Elemental Sight, he was simply crippled now.
Airi, who heard her best friend's explanation, frowned. Even though she wanted her school to win, she didn't want Haru to lose too easily.
"Don't worry, your boyfriend won't lose so easily," Touko said with a smile.
"Who - Who is my boyfriend?!" Airi's face was so red, and she lost her composure when Touko teased her.
Shiori sighed and said, "I have asked about him from the First High, and it seems that he's very popular at his school. His relationship with Shiba Miyuki is also close."
"Shiba Miyuki?" Airi raised her eyebrow when the name "Shiba Miyuki" was mentioned.
"But you don't need to worry. It's not like both of them are dating or anything. It's just that their relationship is pretty close, and I don't really want to say this, but Rokkaku Haruka already has a girlfriend," Shiori said.
"Gi - Girlfriend?!" Airi was dumbfounded then somehow, the power on her body slowly disappeared, but then her back was slapped.
"What are you getting depressed about?!" Touku snorted and said, "It's all fair on both war and love. Even if he has a girlfriend, it doesn't mean that you can't snatch him from his girlfriend. As long as he isn't married yet, you're free to attack him!"
"......" Shiori.
"At - Attack him?!" Airi's face was blushing, and the blush started to spread to her neck after hearing her friend saying something so outrageous!
Shiori also blushed, but then she asked the most important question to Touku. "So, how are you going to attack him?"
"......" Airi and Touko then looked at Shiori with a suspicious gaze, wondering whether this girl also had an interesting Haru.
"......" Shiori was confused by their gaze for a bit, but then she quickly reacted and denied without hesitation. "No! I have never thought of something like that! I won't do anything to a man that Airi likes!"
"Wh - What are you saying?!" Airi quickly closed Shiori's mouth since this girl blabbered too much!
Touko only laughed and thought that it was really fun to be together with the two of them. 'Maybe with the three of us together?' She felt that it would be interesting, but then she felt confused by Haru's team appearance.
"Still, why do they wear cloaks?" Touko asked.
Not only Touko, but everyone was also wondering why Haru's team was wearing a cloak since it was too weird, right?
"I'm not sure, but we can anticipate this match will be interesting, right?" Airi said with a smile.
Shiori and Touko looked at Airi then nodded since they also knew that this match would be interesting to watch.
As a member of Third High, Airi wanted Masaki to win, but as a member of the 18 Assistant Houses and as someone she... cough!, she wanted Haru to win. Anyway, she hoped no one would be hurt in this match.
---
Suzune, Mari, Mayumi, Juumonji, and the rest of the members of the First High also watched the match between Haru and Masaki with anticipation. Looking at Morisaki, Mikihiko, and Haru, who were black cloaks, they couldn't help but remember their conversation a moment ago.
---
"What are these clocks?" Mari asked.
"It's something to handle Shinkurou's Invisible Bullet. I might be alright, but both Morisaki and Mikihiko..." Haru didn't need to finish his words since it was obvious, right?
Mikihiko and Morisaki didn't think too much since they also knew how troublesome Shinkurou's Invisible Bullet was, and since Haru had given them a solution to handle it, then they would use it without hesitation.
"How about Ichijou? Can you handle him?" Juumonji asked.
"It's alright, we're fighting on the grassland after all, and it is several times better than fighting on the canyon, and there isn't any water there, so it shouldn't be difficult to win," Haru said simply.
Juumonji nodded, especially when he heard about the water.
The Ichijou family was famous for their "Rupture" spell. With this magic, as long as there was water, they were invincible since they could ignite an explosion with water around them, and it would be difficult for the First High to win.
"It's good that we can get the grassland "Stage," Mayumi also said in relief.
"Still, don't underestimate him," Juumonji said.
"Ok." Haru nodded and didn't think too much since he had several ways to defeat Ichijou.
---
"He's going to win. You don't need to worry," Suzune said.
Looking at Suzune, they nodded and believed in him since they knew how powerful Haru was.
---
Tatsuya was sitting with everyone, watching the match that was about to happen soon. He was also quite anticipating who would win between Haru and Ichijou.
"Tatsuya, who do you think is going to win?" Leo asked.
"I'm not sure." Tatsuya shook his head and said, "If there's water nearby, then Ichijou will have a huge advantage, but Haru also isn't weak, and Haru also has a variety of magic. Depending on how this match goes, this match will be interesting to watch."
Hearing Tatsuya's words, they nodded, but as for Erika, Mizuki, Honoka, Shizuku, and Miyuki, they thought that Haru was going to win without hesitation.
Then as the match started, everyone was dumbfounded when they saw Haru make the first move!
But...
"Wh - What the hell is that?!"
Everyone was dumbfounded when they saw the scene that unfolded in front of them!
---
Masaki, who saw Haru use his magic, didn't realize when the sweat started to drip from his forehead. "Interesting." He then raised his gun-shaped CAD and said, "Let's see who is better between the two of us!"