"This is..."
"...so interesting!"
"Right?!"
Ayato and the girl's friend read the Gravity Magic thesis together. They were both strangely excited as they read the book. The girl sat opposite them with her fist on her cheek.
"Don't you think we should introduce ourselves? I mean, it's a bit awkward reading a thesis with a stranger, is it not?"
"Now that you mention it..."
The girl's friend was the first to poke her head out of the book. Ayato did too as soon as he finished the page.
"I'll start. I'm Miyako Arima, I'm a first year like you in Class 1-A."
The girl said.
"Oh, you're a century and a half old."
"Stop it, I'll kill you, you know."
They laughed.
Miyako had brown hair that extended down to the base of her neck. She wore silver earrings that contrasted against her hair. Her eyes were grey.
"I'm Saya Chikuchi, I'm in Class 1-A like Miyako."
Saya had long black hair that shone in the light. She wore glasses that hid her navy eyes. There was also a beautiful flower hairpin in her hair.
"Saya?"
Ayato repeated in awe. He smiled.
"That's a pretty name."
Saya blushed and turned away from him.
"Oi, no flirting. How come you didn't say that with me, huh?"
Miyako interrogated him.
"No, I'm saying that since my mother had the same name. I always liked the way it sounded."
He explained. The two girls looked at each other solemnly.
"Had? She's... not around anymore, is she?"
"No, she's not, unfortunately. Don't look so sad about it. I don't particularly mind."
Miyako thought to herself for a little bit.
"Saya sounds nice, huh? Then, call me Miya. All my friends will call me Miya."
"Miyako—"
"Remember, Saya, it's Miya from now on. You too, say it!"
The brown-haired girl leaned over the table and glared fiercely at Ayato. He felt extremely pressured.
"I just met you though, Arima..."
"I don't care. You're the one who helped me get this idea. Say it!"
No matter how much Ayato resisted, Miyako's persistence would eventually tire him out. With a sigh, he gave up.
"Okay, M-Miya..."
"Why did you stutter?"
"Because it's so sudden!"
Ayato couldn't handle Miyako. She slightly reminded him of Emika.
"So, what's your name?"
Saya asked him.
"Ayato Kyouya in Class 1-C."
"Kyouya..."
They both parroted at the same time. Miyako was the one to lose her cool.
"You mean the Kyouya Family in the Seven Great Families?!"
"Yes."
"The one that destroys whoever messes with them?!"
"Yes?"
"The one that gets free vacations whenever they want?!"
"Huh?"
The boy laughed upon hearing Miyako's opinion of the Kyouya Family. They were probably caused by the false rumours that people spread of such a prestigious family.
"I thought the only Kyouya first years were Viera and Reina in our class."
"There'd be no point in me lying, you know?"
Saya became flustered—she waved her hands around frantically.
"N-no! I wasn't trying to say that you were a liar, Ayato!"
"First names already, Saya?"
"It's your fault, Miya!"
They giggled as Saya puffed her cheek, fed up with Miyako's teasing attitude. A session of reading a thesis turned into a friendly chat.
It was like they had been friends forever but Ayato had only met them 20 minutes ago. It was like a field of attraction.
Those Ayato truly opened up to were people like them, easy to talk to and understanding. It was a brilliant change of pace for him.
·———·
Once again, outside of the school, the jesters kept watch. The same ones that did last time, Wrath and Greed.
"We're here again, Wrath? Why don't we just go to this Kyouya kid directly?!"
Greed threw a temper tantrum, banging the floor like a child. She wasn't the patient type. Greed was more for the action than the plan.
"Don't worry. We'll make our move after school. I will, at least."
"You will, how boring. I'm going then."
The woman stood up.
"No, you'll have your part too."
He told her with a reassuring smile. She still wasn't convinced.
"Will I fight?"
"Yes."
"Will they be strong?"
"They are saying that this generation's magicians are the strongest in decades."
An insidious smile crept up Greed's face, perfectly matching her mask.
"Thank you, God, for this wonderful opportunity."
Wrath stared at her before wincing.
'What a battle-crazed whore.'
Her greed for battle was something that not many possessed. Even among battle-mongers, the jester named Greed was above the rest. The fact that she had more than a few screws loose supported that.
·———·
At lunchtime, the trio ate together as usual, this time, joined by the pair of Miyako and Saya.
"You met these two this morning?"
Retsuya asked Ayato quietly as the girls chatted away.
"Yeah, we had a wonderful chat if you ask me."
"You womaniser."
"Huh?"
Ayato's chopsticks stopped before they reached his lips. He looked at Retsuya confused. His friend simply nodded his head in disappointment and carried on eating his food.
'I'm confused... I feel so uncomfortable too. I'm not a womaniser. No way, none of them like me so how does that make sense? But...'
"Ayato?"
Emika called out to him. He couldn't hear her. He was stuck in his own world as he tried to decipher what Retsuya meant.
"He's in his world, it seems."
They laughed as Retsuya spoke to them. The girls seemed to already be best friends. They were chatting away.
"Ayato Kyouya, is it?"
As Ayato returned to reality, a boy sat next to him. He was a first year student like the rest of them.
"Uhm... Yeah... Who may you be?"
"I'm Kai Kobayashi. I'm a fan of yours, embarrassingly. I'm in your class."
"Ah, you mean the Kobayashi that didn't finish the mock battles?"
The brown-haired boy's cheeks became red as he scratched his head.
"It's kind of embarrassing that's how you remember me."
"Oh, sorry. Nice to meet you, by the way."
Kai's eyes widened as Ayato extended his hand. With a smile, he rushed to shake his hand.
"You too!"
At that moment, Ayato sensed something amiss. As Kai took ahold of Ayato's hand, he pulled Kai off of his seat.
"Ayato?"
Miyako and the others turned to him. Ayato hugged Kai and screamed at the top of his lungs.
"GET DOWN!"
BOOM!
Following a flash, there was an explosion. Everyone around the explosion moved back. Students gawked. Retsuya was the first one to react.
"AYATO!"
Ayato and Kai were both caught in the explosion.