YUKARI POV
I went home and cleansed myself immediately, changing into sleeping attire.
I remembered the events earlier like a video repeatedly flashing over my mind.
I can't believe that it's only the start of the year, and yet I've done some foolish things, an embarrassment beyond measure, wasting Tsukishiro's whole afternoon.
I sighed, over and over again, as I walked towards my desk and sat in my chair. I opened the lamp and the book, which was lying on my table.
My mind is still foggy, however, there's something I can shake off. To clear my head, I grabbed a quill and began writing in my book diary.
Ever since a child, I have had a special power, though I'm not sure if I can call it that.
I am a pure, healing-based magician. Any offensive magic drains my energy eightfold. However, when it comes to healing, it barely affects my magic energy.
A proof of this is my performance earlier, wherein a single offensive magic drained my whole energy, weakening me beyond relief.
B+ rank sits right with me, though I hope not too much wild fighting.
Along with that power... Or curse, comes an eye. I have an eye, or the so-called "Piercing Gaze." This eye allows the magician to see right through someone's magical capacity, strength, and capabilities.
This is usually manifested as an aura, but comes in different forms— A mist, a shadow, a something, which is only visible to my eyes.
But in this B-class, there's a unique student, the boy beside me, Tsukishiro. When I first saw him, I didn't believe he was a human.
All humans have an aura in my eyes, a reflection of their strength and raw magical power.
However, when I looked at him...
He had none... His magic was almost like a void, an abyss, so deep that I could feel it staring right through me.
It felt endless and vast, almost inhuman, even. I am not certain whether it is voided, because he is limitless, or simply it's voided, because he's weak.
It is nothing but a void.
I need to investigate him. I've never seen anything like him. Hence why I chose to be partnered up with him...
...
I closed my book as I finished writing the final words of my diary. With heaviness weighing over my shoulder, I slowly lay down in bed. Constant thoughts prevented my eyes from closing, keeping them open only to look at the wooden ceiling.
Talent isn't for everyone, thus, people believe in hard work. However, it's not all that simple. Hard work won't always open doors to opportunities. Seeing that boy's hand when I gave him the bread, rough, almost as if he always held a sword, reminded me of something. "Healer is my identity," yet I have a love-hate relationship with it.
Being so good at one thing. Some people think it is good, while in reality, it is not. That's all you can do. Apart from that, what else?
Ironically, Tsukishiro, the dark, shines.
That voided energy within him, the space, unfilled yet, is something to both be wary of, yet be amazed by. That void could either be a space for opportunities, or a space of nothing but dead ends. He could be someone unique.
I truly envy him, a boy with both doors, to opportunity and change, and void and pure nothingness. At least, there is a chance for change.
...
-The Next Day, Noon-
The cafeteria was filled with the usual midday chatter, clattering of trays, and the noises of students' conversations. Rays of sunlight poured into the huge chamber, its roof high, and its windows huge. From there, the view was directed to the school garden.
There, Yukari and Tsukishiro shared a table, sitting across from one another. Despite the noise around them, their table was wrapped in silence.
Tsukishiro munched on the handmade sandwiches that Yukari had prepared. She tried not to stare, but failed miserably.
"How is it?" She asked, trying to sound casual, hiding her nervousness.
"It's very delicious! Though, you don't really need to cook me meals to prove that you're sorry-"
Yukari's sigh cut him off. "I know. However, I am doing it for myself. I don't feel like I've apologized enough if I don't do something in return." She said stoically.
"O-Okay, got it." He continued munching on the sandwich, as silence enveloped them again. However, the quietness was soon broken by a sudden shift of energy in the room.
He continued to eat until, at one point, he remembered something.
"Yukari, can I ask you something?" He asked, as he placed the sandwich down momentarily, his voice serious.
"What is it?"
"Do you know someone by the name of 'Yoko Shimizu'?"
"Yoko... Shimizu...?" Yukari's eyes slightly narrowed, as if the name clicked something in her mind.
"Yeah."
Yukari thinks for a moment, racking her brain on who that person might be. However, it's all blurry, and she can't remember properly.
"I apologize, I can't remember such a name."
It's the answer that Tsukishiro expected. However, he was hoping for a different answer.
"No worries."
Just then, the doors opened. It was loud, nor did it produce any creaking sound. However, the change in atmosphere was palpable, almost as if something "inhuman" entered the room.
Even Yukari, who was mostly composed, felt a shiver down her spine. She placed her cup on the table as she slowly turned towards the area of immense power.
Not just her, not just Tsukishiro, but one by one, the students there turned their heads. Then, whispers filled the room.
Is that...?
He's the "Tenacious bearer of sound", right?
W-Why is he here? Don't S-rankers like him have a different building?
He's so cool...
He, or the so-called "Tenacious Bearer Of Sound," walked in slowly. Each step he takes echoes, like a loud shockwave reverberating all throughout the area, each sending shivers among the students.
His presence didn't demand attention, he drew it. It was none other than Rei Shinomiya.
He was tall, with a fair complexion. He has messy, disheveled black hair, accompanied by his bright, red, piercing crimson eyes. He wore a black, short, hooded cape with a white tunic underneath, carrying several weapons on his side, and he wore black pants and black laced-up boots. His clothes wore several golden sigils.
He carries an otherworldly presence, elegant, yet dangerous. A smile, unreadable and unpredictable.
He walked with stillness, and though many looked at him in both awe and terror, he didn't seem to care, only heading directly to the serving area.
Then, in a beautiful, awe-strucking voice, he spoke. "Our food counter has already closed. Can I buy here instead? " He asked,
The food server nodded, also in awe of his inhuman presence.
"Then, I'll get this and that."
He was immediately given his order. "Thank you very much."
He quickly grabbed it and was about to leave when suddenly, he turned in the direction where Tsukishiro and Yukari were. Their eyes locked. Both of them felt a piercing sensation, as if his crimson eyes could look through their soul.
Then, he walked in their direction. His eyes never left them. Then, he sat across from the open seat beside Tsukishiro.
"Do you have a sibling studying in our building?" He asked Tsukishiro softly.
"N-No, why?"
He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing-not with suspicion, but curiosity. "Everyone has a resonance, a vibration, or even a hum mirror of who they are, and what kind of magician they are."
Yukari's eyes narrowed slightly, as if what He is saying is all familiar to her.
"Yet you... You're the second person to have a "dark" frequency of sound around you. How is that?" His smile remains, yet his aura darkens.
"What does that even mean?" Tsukishiro asked in confusion.
He closed his eyes, "It means," Rei said, eyes flickering open again, "you're either nothing, or an abyss enough to swallow everything. Either way, it makes the frequencies... tremble in fear."
Tsukishiro slightly frowned upon the statements he heard.
"What are you talking about?"
However, the man only let out a wry chuckle before turning his gaze towards Yukari.
"Don't you think so too, young girl?" He asked, his eyes slightly narrowed. His smile grew unsettling to the point where Yukari became unsettled.
"Your eyes, they're special... I could say we're similar... don't you think?"
She blinked, caught off guard. Both of them had never met this man before, and yet, he blurts things that almost make it like he already knows them on a terrifying level.
Then, as if he'd never spoken at all, he stood up. No further explanation. No questions.
Just one final glance at Tsukishiro, and a smile, so eerie that it sent shivers down his spine.
He was about to turn around when something clicked within Tsukishiro.
I want to see Youko. However, I haven't been able to find her yet. This guy, weird as he may seem, is an S-ranker, based on the whispers around me. Maybe, he knows about Youko.
His body moving on its own, he stood up and called up to Rei.
"Uhm, I have a question." He said firmly, as he stood up, his voice echoing all throughout the room. Now, all the gazes are directed towards him. Yukari was surprised by the sudden decision.
At that, Rei turned around, still maintaining his confident smile, and looked him in the eyes.
"Do you know someone named... Youko Shi-" However, before he could finish, Rei placed his finger over his lips, telling him to stop talking.
"Let's talk outside, sounds cool?" He replied, before turning away. Tsukishiro was surprised, however quickly followed behind him while Yukari stayed behind. They arrived at the front yard of the school.
"So, are you a new student here?" Rei asked, continuing their conversation earlier.
"Yeah. I just enrolled here."
Rei's smirk suddenly vanished, replaced by a somewhat stoic expression. His eyes displayed sympathy and melancholy.
"Do you know her?"
A pause.
"I am able to pique your curiosity. However, information's not free; in fact, nothing is free at all." Rei replied, his taunting smile emerging on his lips.
Tsukishiro narrowed his eyes. "How much?" He asked, willing to go to different lengths just to find her. His voice was determined, and his expression was dead serious.
Realizing how serious this boy his, Rei can't help but let out a chuckle.
"W-What's funny?"
"Nothing. It's so amusing why you're so desperate to know about God."
"G-God?"
"A duel. Nothing lethal. Just you, me... and a battlefield where words fall silent."
A gust of wind flew past them, tightening the tension between them.
"If you win, I'll tell you everything I know about her—the God."
Tsukishiro met his gaze evenly, and without falter, he answered simply and directly. " Sure."
Fighting a duel against one of the strongest within the academy, while you're still walking your way through learning proper magic, isn't something that's good to do. However, Tsukishiro was determined.
Rei smiled,