01x07 - Arithmetic Chain

[bunniefuu]

-- Speed sh**ting Rookie Event Qualifying Rounds

This is Day Four of the Nine Schools Competition.

Today marks the start of the Rookie Events...

and the qualifying rounds for Speed sh**ting are being held right now.

Wh-What's going on here?

Does she have air mines set up or something?

I've never seen magic like this before!

Shiori, do you know what kind of tactics she used?

Yes.

Contestant Kitayama must've divided the field into multiple sections

and activated Oscillation Magic at the areas where the clay scattered.

I wonder what would happen if she competed against you.

Let's see. The use of these tactics tells me

that Contestant Kitayama has a problem with range specification.

After the semi-finals,

the format will change to one where two types of clay will scatter.

That will call for magic of even higher precision.

Perfect.

Kitayama Shizuku (First High School)

That's my specialty.

If I make full use of my calculation prowess, I can nullify her magic.

You're Kitayama-san of First High, aren't you?

Hello. I'm Kanou Shiori of Third High.

Nice to meet you.

I can see that you're extremely skilled.

I can't wait to take you on in the semi-finals.

I see.

Meaning you don't intend for a second to lose before that.

Fine. I'll be looking forward to the semi-finals, too.

Watch me, Airi.

I won't let you down, no matter what.

Kanou Shiori (Third High School) Rookie Event <Qualifying Round First Attemt>

Secondary clear. Tertiary correct.

What's that?

If she's using Oscillation Magic to destroy the first clay target,

then how can those fragments hit the other targets one after the other?

A Movement Spell, maybe?

You mean she knows where all those fragments are,

and she's sending each one in different directions?

But just grasping the location of the object you're moving is hard enough.

How can she handle each fragment's movement in an instant?

Only a supercomputer could do that!

Don't tell me that's exactly what she's doing!

It looks like her precision is even sharper now.

( years ago)

I knew I wasn't wrong about her.

You can reach even greater heights.

Don't you want to see the same scenery as me?

Shiori honed her natural spatial recognition and calculation skills

at the Kanazawa Magical Physics Institute.

As a result...

she acquired special eyesight that allows her to instantly convert anything she sees

into numerical formulas applicable to magic.

Shiori is able to predict everything.

The trajectory of all particles,

which appears random to most eyes.

Magic that belongs to Shiori alone, which can't be mimicked.

The gorgeous melody of formulas produced by calculating ability superior to any supercomputer!

Arithmetic Chain!

Kanou Shiori (Third High School)

I've analyzed the magic Contestant Kitayama used in the quarterfinals.

To make her clay targets easier to hit,

she cast Convergence Magic to increase their density relative to space.

Like that.

This changed the trajectory of her opponent's clay, resulting in a low score.

As you know,

the specialized CAD that she's using can store up to nine activation sequences.

Since Contestant Kitayama was using them separately, it fooled her opponent, as well.

But you'd be able to handle all nine of those sequences, wouldn't you?

Kitayama Shizuku (First Hight School) ― Kanou Shiori (Third High School)

Her opponent's clay is being thrown off course!

That's Shizuku's win-at-all-costs strategy!

No, that's not what that is.

That's...

Even if they're off course, the chain's still unbroken?

Does that mean she's reversed Shizuku's magic?

Shizuku is amazing, but...

Contestant Kanou is racking up points at an even faster clip!

No way!

Kitayama Shizuku...

Your mother is a magician renowned around the world, and your father is a man of means.

Your magical talents are being nurtured thanks to such a support system.

It's the complete opposite of my own plight.

Flashback My family lost its number and fell into ruin.

Flashback My parents fought nonstop.

Flashback Back then, I just wanted to abandon everything I had.

Flashback It was that hand that guided me into the light.

The moment I took her hand, I made up my mind

that I'd never go back to that place again!

My only goal is to advance toward victory by Airi's side!

This isn't looking too good, right?

Right.

Shizuku...

Don't worry, Honoka.

Who's Shizuku's engineer, after all?

There's no way that Onii-sama doesn't have a countermeasure in place.

Something's wrong.

I'm more exhausted than I thought I'd be.

No matter how draining Arithmetic Chain can be as a spell,

simulating Contestant Kitayama's tactics should keep it optimally adjusted.

So, why...

Don't tell me...

This is bad, George.

Right.

Contestant Kitayama's CAD...

Most likely, it's...

a generalized device!

Just as I thought, they were sure it was specialized and strategized accordingly.

Unfortunately for you,

that's a generalized CAD fitted with auxiliary sights, which was just unveiled in Germany.

The number of activation sequences it can store is .

Unless you have a countermeasure for all ...

I win!

I missed?

I didn't see that coming!

A specialized device could never store that amount of activation sequences!

But there were limits on the output levels for the spells cast in the quarter-finals.

So, she was deliberately competing with fewer activation sequences?

Yes.

It was probably a tactic to throw us off.

To make us believe it was a specialized device, so we'd only counter nine activation sequences!

But the actual number of activation sequences is . It's a complete overwork.

So, someone came up with this strategy and crafted a cutting-edge generalized CAD?

And the contestant would have to have mad magical skills to achieve the needed activation speed

to make us mistake her device for a specialized CAD.

A unique strategy maximizing the player's characteristics.

Has First High been hiding an engineer as talented as that?

Kanou may not know it,

but it's like she's being forced to run back and forth across a tennis court.

She can't last much longer now.

I can't allow myself to stop in my tracks here!

I...

Flashback No...

Flashback I'm never going back there again!

I don't want to go back!

I'm joining Airi!

Winner...

First High's Contestant Kitayama Shizuku!

She's through to the final!

These are the final results

of the Women's Speed sh**ting Rookie Event.

In Use ― Third High

First High's piling on their scores more than we expected.

None of us saw them sweeping the Women's Speed sh**ting Events.

The real blow was having Kanou finish fourth when she was a lock to win!

Shiori, your opponent in the battle for third place

was someone you'd normally beat in your sleep.

So how could you make one improbable mistake after another like that?

Talent-wise, Kanou and Contestant Kitayama were on the same level.

Watching that match, Masaki and I came to a certain conclusion.

Yeah.

First High's win was no fluke.

They've got a beast of an engineer... who can raise the level of a CAD's functions by two or three generations.

First High School

How amazing is this?

Kitayama Shizuku (First High School)

Akechi Eimi (First High School)

Takigawa Kazumi (First High School)

Kanou Shiori (Third High School)

I mean, what a feat...

for First High to sweep the podium like that!

It was because of everyone's great efforts.

That may be part of it, but everyone knows that your talents played a big role.

Right! I never dreamed I'd come this far!

We really appreciate you, Shiba-kun!

My spell, Active Air Mine,

would've never seen the light of day if it hadn't been for you, Tatsuya-san.

Thank you.

I only did what I was supposed to do as your engineer.

Oh, you're so modest!

Now that you mention it, they're entering Active Air Mine into that Magic Index, right?

As magic that developed by Tatsuya-san!

Eh? Seriously?

Yeah.

Oh, your renown is only going to explode!

What are we going to do? He's our secret weapon!

No. I've registered Active Air Mine under Kitayama-san's name.

What?

Being overmodest can sound like sarcasm, you know.

No, I'm not being modest.

I just want to be spared the humiliation of not being able to use the magic I developed myself. That's all.

Shiori!

I know you're in there. Open up.

That was my mental weakness.

It was my weakness that delivered that defeat

even though I had to win for Airi's sake!

I'm finished.

Don't be so pathetic!

I acknowledged the radiance that belongs to you!

How can you not believe in that yourself?

Oh, dear. I doubt that my purification ritual would work on her in that state.

I've never seen Shiori like that.

If she doesn't snap out of it, we might have to have someone take her place.

No, it won't come to that.

Eh?

Based on my own gut feeling!

Right. If that's your gut feeling, it'll probably turn out that way.

Yeah!

And now, the Women's Battle Board Rookie Event is about to begin!

It's going to start soon!

I was focused on Shizuku's match this morning, so it wasn't on my mind at all,

but now I'm getting nervous all of a sudden!

人 (person)

You.

Wh-Who are you?

What are you so nervous about?

This girl... I think she's from Third High!

Is she a spy? Don't tell me this is obstruction!

Come to think of it, we still don't know what caused Watanabe-senpai's accident!

You have nothing to worry about. There won't be any accidents.

Did I say that out loud?

No need to be nervous.

As long as you give it your all, you can breeze right through the qualifying rounds!

Why...?

Because I felt like encouraging another person. That's why.

See ya!

Eh?

What was that all about?

But I think I feel a little more relaxed now.

Honoka...

Tatsuya-san?

Do you know that girl?

No, I just spoke with her a bit. That's all.

She's from Third High, right?

Right.

She's the favorite to win the Battle Board Rookie Event,

Tsukushiin Touko of Third High School.

What the...

I rule the water's surface! You'd better yield to me!

I-It's that girl's magic?

The Tsukushiin Clan hails from a long line of Shintou-type Ancient Magic users,

and they say that their roots go all the way back to the great Shintou Clan, the Shirakawa Clan.

Shirakawa...

white river

That's right. Just as the name implies, they're adept at water-related magic.

So much fun!

Goal!

Contestant Tsukushiin just blasted her way through the qualifying rounds well in first place!

A-Amazing! I've never seen magic like that!

Don't worry. You have nothing to fear.

She's a formidable contestant, but you can totally hold your own against her, Honoka.

Just remember all the training you've undergone until today.

Tatsuya-san...

Everyone's really into it.

Miyuki seems busy with the Student Council. Is she finding time to practice?

So, she's training with Tatsuya-san.

I'm leaving it all to you, Onii-sama!

Well, since I do know every inch of your body...

Ah, that feels wonderful!

No! None of that!

You're really pouring your heart into practice, huh?

Huh? T-Tatsuya-san?

Sorry.

N-N-No! I-I-I'm fine!

Is there something you'd like me to do for you to make up for scaring you like that?

Something I'd like you to do for me?

I'm leaving it all to you, Tatsuya-san.

Honoka...

Flashback Not like that! Get away from me, daydream!

I have all these misgivings.

I can't believe I'm taking part in the Nine Schools Competition.

I'm not as magically skilled as Shizuku,

and I just know that the players from the other schools are all incredible.

I see. In that case...

we're going to use this spell at the start of your first Battle Board match.

What? We're starting with Light Magic?

No contestant has succeeded in using Light Magic to interfere with others until now.

But I know that you can pull it off, Honoka.

This spell was created from the characteristics of your magic.

It's your spell and no one else's. You can be proud of it.

My spell and no one else's?

All right! I'm going to be fine!

On your marks!

What's this?

I'm not going to lose.

Because Tatsuya-san created it for me,

this is my spell and no one else's!

All right! I did it, Tatsuya-san!

That girl sure is using some interesting moves.

I can't wait to take her on in the final!

We will now announce the names of those taking part in tomorrow's events.

Shiori...

Tomorrow's Ice Pillars Break...

Kanou Shiori

I can't let you compete the way you are now...

because that would be insulting to your teammates who've worked so hard until now.

So, I've decided to replace you.

I see.

This is your last chance.

If you feel up to competing yourself...

then come to the strategy tent by AM tomorrow morning.

No need for that.

After all, I'm done.

I'm disappointed in you.

Just do what you want!

This is how it should be.

What Airi was seeking was a talented partner worthy of the Isshiki Clan.

She has no use for me and my lack of talent.

Shiori, do you have a minute?

Mizuo-senpai, I'm sorry...

for causing you trouble.

It's okay. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about Airi.

I no longer...

You've known her since junior high, right?

At that fencing match.

I'm so sorry.

After she discovered me and lifted me up...

Airi was lifted up just as much as you were.

See, I've known Airi since we were little because of our families.

And thanks to her pride as an Isshiki,

as well as her talent, which set her apart from others, she's always been a loner.

But when she met you... she was thrilled to have found someone

she could have a friendly rivalry with for the first time.

That was the first time I'd ever seen Airi looking so happy.

Competing with a friend... with you, Shiori, is what made Airi who she is now.

It's just that Airi can't bring herself to say just how worried she is about you.

She could've replaced you sooner, too, but the reason why she didn't do so...

You've realized it yourself by now, right?

If you give up after just one loss...

you'll never get far as a magician.

The important thing is not to let your heart lose.

Heart...

As a member of a "One" family, Airi doesn't give up even if she can't be Number One, right?

That's why I know she can become even greater.

Senpai...

--

That's about all that I can say to you.

You're late.

I'm sorry to make you worry.

I'm all right now.

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