01x13 - I Can't Lose

[bunniefuu]

Mirage Bat is supposed to be the crown jewel of the Nine Schools Competition...

but this feels anticlimactic.

If First High wins this event...

it'll seal their overall victory.

For the other schools...

it's already more or less a throwaway match.

My bad.

If only I'd won the Monolith Code Event!

No, I'm to blame for that, too.

My dream of Third High winning the tournament

and getting to dance with Shiba Miyuki-san at the party on the last day...

is hanging by a thread now!

Eh?

But it's not as if all hope is lost!

I'm begging you, Isshiki! Win this thing!

For the sake of my dream!

Masaki?

So, she's not here, after all?

I'm sorry. It doesn't look like I can make it to the arena.

That's all right. Even if Okaa-sama doesn't come to my match,

I promise to acquit myself well as a member of the Isshiki Clan.

Airi...

You don't have to take on such a load.

Battle for what's truly dear to you.

Okaa-sama...

The task that I must accomplish is to go all out and win this match!

That's all!

The Mirage Bat Official Event Final...

is now underway!

Are all of the contestants using Flying Magic?

Just as I thought.

I had a feeling this'd happen the moment Onii-sama submitted my CAD to the tournament officials.

How reckless is that?

It's not the kind of magic you can master on the fly.

I can't believe they're prioritizing victory over their contestants' safety!

There's nothing to worry about.

Huh?

Because they appear to be using the sequence unveiled by Taurus Silver as is.

If anything happens, the safety mechanism should kick in.

Right, we're totally flying!

Feels great!

Eh?

N-No way!

But we're using the same magic!

I knew it! I can't beat Shiba-san if all I can do is fly!

So, that's the safety mechanism?

Yes. It automatically activates when the remaining Psion level dips.

Thank goodness!

It seems like this is good publicity for the new magic, as well.

Couldn't ask for more. Thank you for giving Flying Magic such a gorgeous debut, Miyuki.

Three of us left!

This ensures a Top finish for First High!

First High is now also a lock to win the tournament!

So, I'm just going to end up chasing after her back?

So far away. Because she practiced more? Or because she's more talented?

No! That can't be it! It can't be!

But...

the overall victor has been determined.

There's no longer any reason to continue with this match.

Okaa-sama...

For what's truly dear to you...

Fight for it.

Do your best!

Airi!

Very well, Okaa-sama.

I will...

I will not give up!

A blend of Flying Magic and the Jump Spell that I'm accustomed to...

This is me playing for keeps!

This is me going all out!

This isn't going to end well, is it?

Right.

Using a Jump Spell on top of the Flying Magic that she isn't even used to wielding...

Isshiki's not going to last long.

Still, Airi opted to use that magic despite being fully aware of the risks.

Not giving up... All for the sake of victory!

Isshiki-san...

In such a short time...

To think that you've learned to wield Flying Magic at this level...

Miyuki!

Go!

Come on!

Miyuki!

Thank you, everyone!

Mirage Bat <Final>

Shiba Miyuki (First High School)

Isshiki Airi (Third High School)

Sasakawa Sakiko (Second High School)

Ishioka Yukiko (Sixth High School)

Nakamura Saki (Fifth High School)

Watarai Misaki (Ninth High School)

Good job!

You were awesome!

Thank you very much.

There will now be a break.

What are you so afraid of, Airi?

I'm the one who adjusted your CAD.

You can fly better than that.

Higher, faster.

So, believe in your own abilities!

And in me!

Thanks, Shiori.

Even if Miyuki did nothing the rest of the way,

First High's overall victory would be in the bag, but...

She's not going to do that. No way.

Yeah! Yeah!

She wouldn't be Miyuki if she did, right?

I'm going to battle until the end!

I know quite well that I'm putting my own needs first!

And I do understand the significance of this match!

But that's exactly why I want to battle until the end!

Please let me do so!

Miyuki, you can do as you please.

Go fly to your heart's content.

Right!

Considering that we've already won overall, I probably should've stopped her.

I'm such a pushover, aren't I?

No. I respect you...

Student Council President.

Watch me, Okaa-sama, Shiori, Touko, Senpai, as I go into battle with those I care about.

This is me at this moment!

Isshiki-san...

So, there's something that you can't lose, too?

This match isn't mine alone.

The only reason I can take my place on this stage...

is because everyone else fought so hard.

I want to live up to the expectations of everyone who got me here!

And...

I have feelings that I can't lose them, as well!

Because this is Onii-sama's magic!

Because these are the wings Onii-sama gave me!

I want a victory that's worthy of Onii-sama!

Not yet!

Miyuki!

Miyuki!

Go! That's it!

Airi...

You can't... anymore...

Miyuki...

-- / Night

Hello, No-Head Dragon...

East Japan Branch.

Same Day - Same Time

There's just no beating a post-match bath, huh?

Although Miyuki was the only one actually in the match.

Onii-sama...

Please be safe.

Ah! What a coincidence!

Congratulations on winning, Shiba-san.

Thank you, Isshiki-san.

H-Hold on, will you? We'll back off from this plot!

We'll withdraw from this country, as well!

So―

B-But why?

We didn't k*ll anyone, remember?

I don't care how many people you k*lled or how many you let live.

You people messed with something you never should've touched.

That's reason enough for you to meet your demise.

You demon!

Demon, huh?

That's right.

Because you drew out my one remaining emotion...

I was finally able to unleash this demonic power.

D-Demonic power?

This spell... Don't tell me...

it's that spell from three years ago in Okinawa!

Demon Right?

I'm never going to let anything like that happen again.

I find this moment a bit awkward.

I'm not sure if my words and attitude might seem arrogant or not,

so it makes me hesitant.

I just had to thank you for something.

Eh?

I learned something during today's match.

Your sheer talent as well as the overwhelming gap between your abilities and my own...

But...

I realized something after taking you on.

That is, my own potential.

Potential?

Using my Jump Spell simultaneously with Flying Magic...

Without you, it never would've occurred to me to try that.

I'll be able to fly faster if I practice more.

I may have lost the match, but I did gain an incredible experience.

That's why I wanted to thank you.

Thank you, Shiba-san.

To be able to think that way...

You're just as amazing as I thought!

You're the one who's amazing.

I was lucky to get the chance to battle someone my own age like you, Shiba-san.

Likewise. Isshiki-san, you were so powerful, you had me in quite a frenzy!

Really?

Then I'm really honored.

Next year, I'll be even better, and I'll put you into more of a frenzy.

Ara! I'm not going down in defeat!

Maybe I'll give that a try, too.

Onii-sama!

Welcome back!

I'm so glad that you're safe!

Thanks. I'm back...

Miyuki.

-- / Last Day of the Nine Schools Competition - After-Party

H-Huh? Y-You're siblings?

You never realized that until now, then?

Masaki!

So, Onii-sama and I didn't look like siblings to you, Ichijou-san.

I never dreamed you were Shiba's brother!

You don't look a thing like her, so how could I realize?

Masaki! Anyone would realize that!

Shiba-san! May I have... May I have this dance? Just this one dance?

We're leaving, Masaki!

What's wrong?

I really think that Shiba-kun was the driving force behind today's victory.

I agree.

He really came up big for us both as an engineer and as a contestant!

Someone like Shiba-kun, how can he be a Course student?

Hmm?

He's far superior to me both in terms of knowledge and technique.

Even so, Shiba-kun's a Course student.

What's the difference between Course and Course students?

Why do people throw around terms like "irregular student" and "honor student"?

He's the exception.

In terms of magic engineering know-how and technology,

no one can hold a candle to Tatsuya-kun.

The difference between Course and Course

is the difference in practical skills test scores.

That's all.

Is this uniform to blame maybe?

Originally, it was just a matter of... not getting the embroidery done in time when the student body expanded.

Huh?

What?

A-chan, you didn't know?

To increase the number of magicians,

the school recruited more students in the middle of the school year.

That's how Course students came to be.

But there was a shortage of instructors, so the additional students ended up studying only theory,

with practical skills having to wait until the new school year.

But then, someone messed up the order for new uniforms,

and the Course students' uniforms had no emblem.

M-Messed up the order?

On top of that, they never did remedy the instructor shortage.

So the misunderstanding was confirmed, or should I say "ignored"?

And that's why we have our current Course -Course system.

At this point, you'd think it'd be more of a hassle to make two types of uniforms, right?

S-So all that intense hostility, thanks to a stupid reason like that?

Well, it's also a fact that...

that stupid reason was spurred on by some Course students' sense of elitism.

That's why I wanted to do something about it while I was here.

Oh, by the way, under no circumstances can Miyuki-san ever know, okay?

R-Right! Of course!

If she ever found out, it would be disastrous!

What's going on?

Huh?!

Oh, it's nothing!

Um, by the way, have any of you seen Onii-sama?

Oh, if you're looking for Tatsuya-kun,

Juumonji just asked him to meet him down on the courtyard.

Eh?!

"May I have this dance, Shiba?"

"It would be my pleasure, Juumonji-senpai."

As if that would ever happen!

Surely not! Onii-sama!

Juumonji-senpai!

Meaning that...

Onii-sama!

What's wrong? You shouldn't run like that at night. It's dangerous.

Yes. But... Um, what were you meeting Juumonji-senpai for?

It wasn't a big deal.

We were discussing what would happen after they graduated.

Have Tatsuya-kun join the Ten Master Clans through a political marriage?

See, the fact that he soundly defeated the Ichijou heir apparent

created quite the stir at the Clan meeting.

Oh, I see. Well, what can you do?

You can try to pass a jewel off as a pebble, but only for so long.

Right.

The time will come for everyone to choose their own futures

according to their respective positions and abilities.

But the more competent a person is, the more that may end up shackling them.

But...

I'm sure that those kids...

They've started playing the last song.

Onii-sama...

Will you please dance the last dance with me?

With pleasure.

Did you enjoy the Nine Schools Competition?

Yes!

Once again...

it made me glad from the bottom of my heart that we enrolled at this Magic High School.

Wonderful friends, senpai whom I can look up to,

and worthy rivals to compete against.

Magic has connected me to everyone.

These encounters have taught me how wonderful it is to strive for the top together.

If there's still something I don't know about magic,

then encounters themselves might be magic, don't you agree?

I think you're right.

Was the meeting of Onii-sama and I magic, too, I wonder.

Or perhaps...

--

I wonder how Shizuku's doing in America.

I'm so lonely!

You're still going on like that?

It's just a foreign exchange program for three months, right?

It's high time you got used to the idea.

All right! Then let's give her a call!

It's evening over there now!

Good idea!

Hello!

Is this the classroom for First Year, Class A?

Oh, are you the foreign student who just arrived today?

Nice to meet you.

Welcome to First High School!