Vision of Ryuji Takeshi Iwahara
I tried to banish the doubts swirling in my mind by taking a shower. After I got ready for bed, my phone buzzed. The first message of the day was from Hana. I remembered, curiously, that she hadn't even said a word in the infirmary.
["Wanna grab something to eat?"]
That simple message drew a smile from me. I'd planned to eat at home, but sharing a meal with someone always felt better. I glanced at the clock—8:00 PM. There was still plenty of time.
["Sure, I'm on my way."]
["I'll be waiting at the dorm entrance."]
Quickly, I donned my uniform and left. The same boys from before were in the corridor, but this time, no one spoke.
When I reached the exit, I spotted Hana in the distance. As I approached, a warm flush spread over my face. Hana looked different—lighter somehow. For a moment, I stuttered, searching for the words that seemed to have escaped me. She was dressed casually in a black skirt that fell to her knees and a white tank top.
"Do I look weird?" Hana asked, twirling on her heels, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. Her skirt swirled gracefully around her—a striking contrast to the uniform I was used to seeing her in. I felt a lump in my throat and looked away, trying to process the image.
"No, not at all," I stammered, my face growing hot. "It's just... you're different. I mean, I didn't even know you could dress like that at school." My words came out more defensively than I intended, yet I couldn't help but think that seeing her like this was a pleasant surprise.
"I saw some upperclassmen dressed like this and decided to try it out myself. But I don't think it suited me. Wait a minute, let me change—"
Before she could finish, I blurted, "No need! I just... I'm not used to seeing you so…"
She arched her eyebrows, curious. "So… different, Ryu? Different how?"
I swallowed hard, searching for the right words. "Ah… so beautiful, you know. We're always training, getting all dirty… Seeing you like this is… refreshing."
And there I was, for the first time ever, blushing. I didn't even know why.
She looked away for a moment, a small playful smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you. But what about you? Don't you have something that goes with me?" she teased lightly.
"Not really, to be honest. My grandfather always bought plain clothes for home and training. I've always worn the school uniform." Her question helped me regain my composure.
"Hmm, that's a shame," she shrugged. "Anyway, let's go. I'm starving."
Taking the lead, she guided us toward the school's mall. I fell into step beside her, and, as usual, we walked in comfortable silence—a tradition when it was just the two of us. When others, especially Aiko, joined us, the silence was inevitably broken, but there was something reassuring about the quiet we shared.
As we reached the garden that connected the school to the shopping area, the darkness seemed to intensify the beauty of the surroundings. The tree leaves glistened silver under the moonlight, as if forged from metal. Some flowers curiously shifted from green to red, emitting a faint aura of elementals. Hana paused to admire one.
"This flower almost matches your hair, doesn't it? Is that why you like it?" I asked, trying to break the silence.
"Really?" she replied, genuinely surprised. "I've liked this plant since before my hair changed color. It's called Lumivernia. Apparently, it shifts color at night to absorb fire elementals and keep warm. Look." She pointed for me to touch one.
I hesitated for a moment, then reached out. The flower felt warm to the touch.
"Did you know it attracts tiny flies, which then die off without even realizing it? Strange that I like it, right?" she commented, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Strange? I think it's amazing. Far more interesting than the plants we studied in Magical Creatures class this week," I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Hana laughed and smiled softly at me. "You're right. Especially for us who use fire. I'd love to see if any other plant can do what Lumivernia does—haha!" With an agile movement, she stood up. "Come on, we've still got curfew."
I rose and followed her. "It'll be a while longer. They're pretty lenient here—you wouldn't believe it. Back home, I had to be in bed by ten. Here, we can stay up until midnight, though I never manage it. How about you? What was it like before coming here?"
"Same as you, I guess. Maybe it's just a mage thing. When I lived with my parents, that wasn't a rule. I'd sleep whenever I wanted," she replied casually, tapping her chin as she pondered.
As we left the garden and entered the area lit by the shops, a thought struck me. "This school is the perfect example of the balance magic brings, isn't it? Looking at that garden, I feel like magic is meant to both limit and empower us."
Hana fell silent for a few seconds before responding more seriously, "That was deep. I didn't know you had that side." She paused, then added, "But you're right. We've always heard that we were destroying the planet 500 years ago. Now, we have to be strong on our own, to protect what's left."
Her voice carried a note of sorrow, and I felt I could understand her a bit better. I took a chance. "That reminds me of our first meeting during the test. You said not everyone is willing to sacrifice for others, yet you still joined the military service. Why?"
Hana gazed at the sky, her expression distant. "I'm not willing to sacrifice for strangers, as you once said. But I want to protect those who matter to me. That was my grandfather's last wish."
Her words carried such weight that I wondered if I'd pushed the question too far. Before I could change the subject, she continued, "I don't think we should dwell on sad things now. We're here to celebrate your victory!" Her tone brightened.
"You're right. I never realized that was the point. I thought the only complaint was about the cafeteria food," I teased, making her laugh.
"Shut up! I don't even eat that much!" she retorted, crossing her arms, though a smile lingered on her face.
We laughed together, and the silence returned, but this time it was comfortable. We walked together to the restaurant.
We settled at one of the dark wooden tables near the counter at our usual spot in "Full Moon Refuge." For the first time, as I scanned the room, I noticed how perfectly the restaurant balanced modernity with the charm of old Japan. The walls, in shades of light gray and white, contrasted with dark wood and bamboo accents, creating an elegant yet cozy atmosphere. Soft lighting from modern ceiling fixtures mixed with the warm glow of traditional paper lanterns—some adorned with delicate paintings of nightscapes and full moons—lent the place a special touch. The polished light wooden floor reflected every detail. The restaurant was quiet, with only a few adults, likely employees from nearby shops.
Hana sat across from me, and ever since we entered, she looked even hungrier than usual. Before I could complain, I decided to be pragmatic.
"If you're hungry, let's order. What do you want?" I asked, pointing at the menu.
She flashed a mischievous look. "Hmm, ordering directly isn't fun. Since we're celebrating, it has to be special. How about a game? If you guess my order, I'll give you a reward."
"That doesn't even make sense. Why not just say what you want…" I began, but she cut me off.
"Yakitori, right?" she said confidently, leaving me speechless.
My surprised expression must have been obvious because Hana burst into laughter. "I knew it! Someday, I bet you'll be drinking while eating it—just like those two over there," she teased, discreetly nodding toward a pair of men chatting, eating, and drinking beer.
She continued, gesturing to the menu, "Now it's your turn. If you get it wrong, I'll be mad. I always order the same thing here."
My heart pounded—I had been so distracted by thoughts of the duel that I barely remembered what Hana usually ordered. I closed my eyes, trying to recall her face, smiling as she placed her order… but nothing came to mind.
I pulled out the menu and scanned it, until I noticed something peculiar: a burn mark between the tempura and grilled fish options. Perhaps it was her doing—but which one? Hana's eyes grew impatient, and I ventured, "It must be the grilled fish."
I waited, heart racing. A furious Hana is not something to mess with. She held a serious expression for several seconds, then finally smiled. She called the waiter and ordered yakitori for me and grilled fish for herself.
I exhaled in relief, but Hana wasn't finished. "Now, your reward."
Before I could react, she stood up and came over, sitting down so quickly I barely noticed. "Here you go!" she said, her expression animated, as she placed her hand on the back of my neck.
"You look so tense, sir. How about a massage?" she whispered, her voice soft enough to send a shiver through my entire body, mixed with an immediate sense of relief. Hana, noticing my reaction, burst into laughter.
"Now seriously, your posture is terrible. Why didn't you say your neck hurt?" she said, clearly concerned, and without waiting for a reply, she began massaging my shoulders and neck with firm, soothing strokes.
As time passed, her touch warmed my muscles and eased the pain. "Where did you learn that?" I asked, intrigued.
"Aiko always asked me for a massage after training. I guess I picked up the knack," she replied nonchalantly.
Her casual answer allowed me to regain my composure. After a few moments of comfortable silence, Hana softly asked, "Changing the subject… why do you love yakitori so much, Ryu? You always order it whenever we come here."
Her voice was gentle, almost sweet. I couldn't see her face clearly, but her curiosity was unmistakable.
"You know, after my mom died, yakitori was the only food that connected me to my grandfather. Sometimes, after training, he would dismiss the maid and make yakitori just for the two of us. One day, he told me that when I became a great mage, we'd share meals like that again."
A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I recounted the memory. "But as the years went by, he grew stricter. He stopped making yakitori and began pushing me harder. Sometimes, I wonder if he'd be proud to see me win today…"
Hana released her hand from my neck and looked at me, her expression serious yet warm. "Of course he'd be proud. You fought incredibly well, Ryuji Takeshi. Everyone was talking about how promising you and Min-Jae are. And even if your grandfather doesn't acknowledge it, know that you have my support, our group's support, and certainly that of the entire school."
She smiled genuinely, and I couldn't help but return her smile. Shortly after, the waiter arrived with our food—five skewers of yakitori for me and grilled fish for Hana. As soon as the dish was set on the table, she returned to her seat, her hungry look reappearing.
I watched her begin to eat, and for the first time in a long while, I felt that I was exactly where I belonged.
We ate until we were satisfied. Hana even stole one of my skewers, but I didn't mind. At that moment, we simply enjoyed the meal.
Every now and then, I heard her murmur "delicious," but I was more engrossed in reminiscing about my grandfather, etching this moment as a new, special memory. When we finished, Hana spoke again.
"You know, I'm really happy you won. Even when you were having fun with us, you never seemed 100% present."
"Sorry about that—but when I'm focused on something like this, it's hard to be otherwise."
"Well, at least you didn't keep the same attitude as before. If you hadn't adjusted, I'd have had to defeat you just to get you to calm down," she said, not entirely seriously.
"Well, if I ever act like that again, you can do the same," I said, quickly tugging at my collar to reveal the burn scar on my chest.
"Seeing that every day reminds me not to be reckless."
"Just to be clear, I regret that I attacked you like that—it was meant to be just a tap on your chest, but I lost control a bit." I could only laugh at Hana's unfortunate lack of control.
We rested for a few minutes before heading to pay the bill. She offered to pay, but I intervened.
"Don't worry—I'll cover it all," I said calmly.
"Today's celebration is for you. You don't have to pay a thing, Ryu," she replied, already grabbing her phone to make the payment. But I cut her off.
"Relax. Thanks to you, recruit, I'm already an Aspirant. That means I earn more than you do. Let me pay. You've done so much for me today."
When she tried to protest, I added, "Besides, you already bought that outfit. It's the beginning of the month, and you need to eat plenty—better save a little." I chuckled softly.
"Alright… thanks," she said, a bit sheepishly.
When I turned to pay, the restaurant owner looked at me with a knowing smile. After I settled the bill, he leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "It's good to see young ones like you. I'm rooting for you." I wasn't entirely sure what he meant, but I thanked him, and we left.
As we walked, we passed by some students; apparently, it was common for them to be here at that hour too. It wasn't long before they saw me and began congratulating me.
"Maybe duels really are something huge, huh?" Hana mused, eyeing the upperclassmen.
"Probably. But we won't learn much, since we can't watch duels from the upper years," I replied, pondering the reason behind that rule.
"Now that I think about it, that rule doesn't even make sense," Hana said with a note of anger. "I learned so much watching you fight—even that new technique."
"You were in the stands. Did you hear anything?" I asked. After all, we rarely have contact with the upperclassmen, and I doubt the professors ever explain these things. They do love a little mystery.
Hana fell silent for a moment, then said, "I only remember them saying that you were advanced, that you focused heavily on pure mana and used few magical techniques, and that your final attack was a surprise." She paused as if lost in thought.
"If that's all, there isn't much to take from it. But what about after the fight? Did you hear anything else?" I pressed, as we left the shopping center, aware that time was short before reaching the dorms.
She resumed a thoughtful pose and said, "Now that I think about it, they mentioned something odd... something like, 'I can't wait to see what weapon they'll choose.' But I never heard anything about a weapon." She relaxed and continued walking normally.
"Really? Your grandmother never mentioned anything about a signature weapon in your family?" I asked, intrigued by her reaction.
"Are you serious? I always thought we fought solely with magic," she replied, excitedly.
"Then… my grandfather and uncle always said our family fought with swords. Part of my training involved fencing, which is why I enjoy crafting blades." As she pondered, we passed through a garden. The Lumivernia was redder than ever, with a few flies buzzing about. When I looked back at Hana, it seemed she still hadn't reached a conclusion.
"I've racked my brain. I'm sure my grandmother never mentioned anything like that. Maybe it's because not everyone in my family is a mage, so it isn't really a cultural thing. But, anyway—how cool! What will my weapon be? A spear? A bow? So many options!" She was genuinely excited and spent the rest of the walk speculating about her ideal weapon.
When we finally reached the dormitories, Hana suddenly seemed to realize something. "We're here already? Sorry, Ryu. We could have talked about so much, but I got caught up in this silly debate." At the end of her sentence, she quickly turned her head, and her skirt swirled in the air. Sometimes Hana gets embarrassed by the simplest things—I couldn't help but think she was cute. Those words escaped me.
Hana turned back, surprised and slightly flushed, and said, "Um… thank you. The meeting was great too. See you later." And before I could reply, she hurried into her room.
I wondered, "Was that a date?"
After that, I slowly made my way back to my own room. The main hall was now empty, and the clock read 10:00 PM. Apparently, this was the time when mages went to bed. When I got there, I tried not to think too much and lay down. I was exhausted, and the massage Hana had given me on my shoulders had truly relaxed me.
Soon, my phone vibrated. I got up to check it—it was from someone unexpected.
["Just save my number. It's Lee Min-Jae."]
That was a surprise. How did he get my number? Before I could ask, I received another message, this time from someone I really wanted to talk to: Hana.
["Hey, Ryu. Just wanted to say, sorry for calling it a 'date.' You must have felt awkward. It was a nice celebration. Good night."]
Without overthinking, I replied, "No worries. Good night, too."
I had been waiting for that message, and when it arrived, I couldn't quite pinpoint what I felt upon reading it.
I don't know why the word "date" bothered me so much. Without further answers, I fell asleep with a warm heart.