13 Pre-9 P1.

[ Hachiōji, Tokyo. Japan, Mid-July 2095 ]

*splash* *splash*

"This is an attack of injustice! Hyaaaaa!!!"

*splashes*

"Shizuku!! Stop it!"

Shizuku splashed water at Honoka with a deadpan expression, to be more precise at her chest. Poor Honoka, she cant catch a break.

At this time, all the students of Class 1-A were doing Battle Board training at the outdoor swimming pool in the school.

Battle Board is one of the categories that will be competed in the Nine School Competition later, although currently it is more like a sport, initially its a game that originated as a method for training naval forces.

"Girls and Summer, there is nothing like this in Russia. Am i actually a Japanese?"

Meanwhile, by the poolside, a tall blonde man was sat down, chilling, wearing a special black dynamic swimsuit.

Lev welcomes his first summer in Japan in a joy. It had been a month since Blanche's attack, and his mission was still not progressing.

"You're not swimming with the others, Lev?"

It was Miyuki who had just finished changing into a swimsuit similar to Lev's, but in white. It was the standard type commonly used in Battle Board competitions.

"Miyuki, you're not usually late, is there a problem at the student council?" asked Lev glancing at Miyuki, he gave a different impression when his hair was tied into a ponytail like now

"Ah no, that... I have to accompany Onii-sama to do some business." Miyuki said.

"I see, Tatsuya is lucky to have you by his side everytime." said Lev which immediately made Miyuki blush.

"W-what are you talking about, Lev. Our relationship isn't like that..."

"Huh?" Lev looked at Miyuki who was blushing with a stupid look. What's wrong with this girl? he thought.

Miyuki who noticed Lev's gaze then calmed herself down.

" *cough* By the way, what do you think?"

Miyuki said, asking Lev about her in that particular swimsuit. She was a little shy but for Miyuki, Lev was one of his closest friends at this school.

Even closer than Honoka and Shizuku.

"Its fit perfectly on you. You look beautiful, I mean it becomes so cliché because you look beautiful no matter what." Lev said, but Miyuki who heard that just pouted.

"Cliche! Do you mean I'm boring?"

"Huh? What are you talking about. " Lev said with a ' Are you dumb? ' looks on his face before standing up and tapping Miyuki's forehead.

"Awww~, that hurts..." Miyuki stroked her forehead.

"Besides, you're going to be participating in the Nine School Competition, aren't you? Are you also going to be participating in the Battle Board?" asked Lev. Miyuki shook her head.

"Honoka is the one who will represent the first year in the Battle Board category. You yourself, are you really sure you won't be taking part in any competitions, Lev?"

Lev shook his head.

Nine Schools Competition is a nationwide annual magic tournament for the nine National Magic University Affiliated High Schools, and it is one of the biggest magic-related events in Japan. Its official name is "Nationwide Magic High School Athletics Competition".

Every year, a roster of select students from the nine 'National Magic University Affiliated High Schools' from across the country meet, putting theirs and their schools' pride on the line.

A huge audience is always expected, including not only general public, government officials and those interested in magic but also businesses, overseas companies, researchers and scouts. It is also one of the few stages that provides magic competition as entertainment.

The Nine Schools Competition is said to be the greatest stage for Magic High School students to shine and its results are linked to the students' career paths. It is also one of the few major events to allow the general public to better understand and become invested in magic competitions, as well as to further society's acknowledgement of magic. 

But Lev had absolutely no reason to come along. Though he would definitely go there to watch and just in case something happened.

Of course it will happened.

Moreover, if he were to take part in the Nine School Competition, the secret that the magic circuit in his body was so unbalanced and flawed would be exposed. One of the reasons why he always wore Jörm-69 wherever he go is to balance his magic circuit upon magic activation.

His body is unique, a nice way to call it defective.

Lev glanced at Miyuki beside him.

' If Zhou Gongjin finds out that Miyuki is the heir to the Yotsuba family who will succeed Yotsuba Maya, what will he do? '

Miyuki's identity as a Yotsuba was a big secret. Even Lev was sure that only he and Tatsuya knew about it in this school.

"Hm... Lev, is there something wrong?"

Miyuki tilted her head.

"No, nothing," said Lev.

' Why am I even thinking about that now... Zhou Gongjin, he will be killed by Tatsuya. No matter how well prepared his preparations were, or how cunning his plans were, Tatsuya's absolute power could destroy them all. Unless...'

Zhigang's words bothered Lev.

[ In the next world war... Soviet... White Russia... None of you will survive. ]

' He has something, an ace. '

And if he really did have an ace that could control that level of war. Is it possible that it can also anticipate a threat like Tatsuya?

' May be... '

***

"Ehhhhhhh, you didn't participated in the Competition, Lev-san!?"

"Haiba, aren't you a bit of a coward?"

"Erika, that's rude."

Honoka, Erika, and Mizuki gave different responses to the fact that the second-ranked first-year students decided not to take part in the such a Grand Competition.

Right now Tatsuya's group plus a man named Mikihiko, and Lev, Honoka and Shizuku were chatting in one of the cafes near the school.

Hearing Erika's words, Lev seemed unconcerned and focused on eating his favorite strawberry cheese cake ice cream.

"No, this guy is dumb, for real... He squandered this golden opportunity to show his talent off to the magic society." Erika said.

"But why?" Leo asked.

"Troublesome and Time-consuming."

"But you're still going to watch?"

Lev nodded.

"" It's the same!! "" Leo and Erika said in unison. Mikihiko tried to calm the two of them down as they caught the attention of the other customers, while Tatsuya glanced at Miyuki.

"Did Saegusa-senpai not try to persuade Lev?" Tatsuya whispered.

"She has tried it, but Lev is adamant. This man is really stubborn, Onii-sama." Miyuki whispered.

"Oi, I can hear you two." Lev pointed his fork at the siblings.

"No, Lev, still, it will be a big loss for First High if you don't participate in this Competition. Moreover, the Third High has that person..." Tatsuya said.

"That person?" Erika tilted her head.

"Ichijou Masaki and Kichijouji Shinkurou."

"Crimson Prince and Cardinal George, they are very famous." Shizuku said with a straight face, her ice cream falling apart on her cheeks, making Honoka have to wipe it like a careful mother.

"Yes, I think they are the best newcomers this year. Of course excluding you, Lev." Tatsuya said, looking at Lev steadfastly.

' The most dangerous person in the school. ' thought Tatsuya. Even though he didn't feel any malice from Lev towards Miyuki, but Tatsuya was always careful if Miyuki approached him.

From the first day, he had felt that Lev was not an ordinary student. However he thought it was just his feelings, but it was confirmed after he saw the dead body of the big man that Lev killed.

That's terrifying. 37 broken bones, a missing and crushed hands.

Tatsuya couldn't let a man like Lev approach his sister, but at the same time he also feel relieved because Miyuki had someone like him by her side when he wasn't with her.

It was a strange feeling. Several months of knowing Lev, Tatsuya knew that Lev was not a bad person. But who knows?

Men are fickle creatures.

Lev then took the drink they had ordered and said.

"Forget about this Crimson Bitch and Crocodile George, we are all here to celebrate Tatsuya's election as a magic technician for the Nine School Competition."

Hearing Lev's words, everyone was sweating.

"So, just enjoy... Cheers!"

"" Cheers! ""

***

Lev walked alone to his house. He had just come back from the cafe and decided to stop by for a bit and buy some snacks at the supermarket before heading home.

The streets are so deserted, maybe the fact that the human population has decreased significantly since the 3rd world war makes the cities look more deserted than they were in the days before the advent of modern magic.

Lev's own house was actually not far from the school, but he still had to walk a few kilometers. As Lev continued to walk down the deserted street, his footsteps suddenly stopped.

He was silent for a moment before turning around and seeing someone already standing in the distance, seemed to notice that Lev had been watching him so he didn't bother hiding.

It was a man, wearing a black combat uniform, and carrying a katana on his waist.

"Good evening, Haiba Lev-sama."

"And, you? What do you want from me?"

Lev didn't feel any killing intent, his body was still relaxed.

"I am Kojiro, National Defense Force Intelligence 3rd Division." said the man politely.

While Lev widened his eyes.

' JSDF? '

The man who called himself Kojiro then lowered his head and said.

"I am the messenger of Saegusa Kouichi."

"Saegusa... What does he want with me?"

Kojiro then smiled before saying.

"He invited you to have a morning tea with him."