33 Chapter 31 Again?

"... be more responsible when using Magic! You could've...."

"Yes. I'm sorry...".

"... and think about the damages you caused! This isn't a playground....".

"Yes. I'm very sorry...".

"... you have to be more careful. Do you understand Takemi-kun?".

"Yes. I'm super duper-".

A swift karate chop to the head made Takemi, who was kneeling on the ground, look up at the beautiful girl in front of him who had crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him.

"You aren't being very serious.... so I think you deserve a punishment...".

Mayumi, who had finished berating Takemi for his accidental destruction of the FLT wall, walked over to Ushiyama and said,

"I apologize for the mess and extra work my kouhai has done to your facility. I promise that I'll get him to repay the damages and make up for extra work. Isn't that right, Takemi-kun?".

She gave another malicious smile which caused even Kasumi and Izumi, who were sitting in the corner to shiver slightly.

Ushiyama, who was standing beside the hole in between the meeting room and the Magic Experimentation room waved it off and examined the hole.

"This is quite impressive Takemi. The wall is about three feet thick and an extra foot of wires, pipes and gas. This was all done by my spell?".

Takemi nodded with a smile but faltered a little under Mayumi's glare.

"So it was your spell that nearly killed my sisters, Mr Ushiyama?".

The goatee man scratched his sideburns and looked away, "Well, yes, but it was deemed to strong as no-one possessed the interference strength to wield it with enough proficiency as Takemi. I was surprised when he managed to do this. It actually made me think about the Rank of the spell and-".

Mayumi gave an interrupting cough before looking at Takemi and smiling.

"I think I have just the punishment for you Takemi. Think of it as karma for nearly putting a hole through my sisters heads".

Takemi felt the hairs on his neck raise under the evil smile Mayumi had on her face.

'I've got a bad feeling about this...'. Thought Takemi.

He had absolutely no idea what he was in for. And what he was going to have to do....

"I knew that I wouldn't like this when you told me...", said Takemi with a sigh. He was wearing a formal suit and was sitting directly beside Mayumi, who was wearing a beautiful black dress, complete with heels and a ruby red necklace.

The red eyed Saegusa merely pouted and said, "It's your fault. You deserve it for nearly killing my sisters. If that Magic Sequence was any stronger than-".

"Alright. I'm sorry Mayumi-chan, can you forgive me?". Takemi spoke in the smoothest tone her could muster. It was something that Musashi liked and told him to speak like that more often but refrained.

It seemed to have an effect on Mayumi as she turned her head away, although was unable to hide he red ears.

"Just do this for me and we're square, alright?".

Takemi nodded and then realized that the car had stopped. He peered through the bullet proof tinted windows and saw that he was back in the same place he was before, 3 years ago.

"How often does your Family hold these events?".

"Every so often. A couple times a year maybe? My Father believes that despite the rivalry the Ten Master Clans have with each other, its important to stay close. For the good of society and the good of the country".

Mayumi appeared a little bored and Takemi got out first before going to the other side and opening her's before her. He extended his hand to her and she took it with no sense of embarrassment.

"Just so we're clear. There isn't going to be armed body guards jumping out and attacking me again right?".

Mayumi nearly tripped and responded, "No. Not this time".

She wrapped her arm around Takemi's who took it and followed her directions to the main house. Although Takemi wasn't used to situations like these he just put an his aloof persona and appeared a lot more distant in the eyes of Mayumi.

The moment the duo entered the room, despite chatter and murmuring not stopping, everyone gave a glance at the Saegusa Family princess and the young man she entered with. Some only gave a single glance, but most stopped their current conversations and Takemi could hear them talking about them.

"That's the oldest Saegusa daughter right? Didn't you say that you would marry her Tooyama? Looks like someone is cutting your grass".

"Yeah he's right Tooyama. I haven't seen him before either? Does anybody here know who he is?".

"Nope. But you'd think that he'd have some sort of standing if Saegusa-san brought him her personally".

The sound of a glass shattering interrupted their groups conversation and they all moved elsewhere.

More and more gazes were being put on Takemi, who just leaned in closer to Mayumi and said, "This goes way beyond what I agreed to. This isn't just a small gathering, I think that every member of the younger generation in the Numbered Clans is here!".

She just placed a finger on her lip and tilted her head cutely, "Ara? I must of forgotten to mention it?".

Takemi's eyebrow twitched before two familiar faces walked up to them.

"Mayumi, you're finally- Mikazuchi-kun? What are you doing here?".

Watanabe Mari and Juumonji Katsuto came before the two and started a conversation between them.

"Really?! You put a hole through a three feet wall of concrete?".

Takemi nodded to Mari's question. It didn't help that she chuckled while listening to his side of the story and Mayumi's.

"It's rather impressive Mikazuchi-kun. What was the name of the spell again?".

"My friend never named it so I called it [Enki]. It's a Systematic Convergence and Acceleration Type Magic. It was actually developed by FLT".

He had left Varuna Astra back at Four Leaves so that Tatsuya could work on it a little more. He wanted to observe him and learn more about CAD maintenance and development but came with Mayumi to this gathering in order to make up for nearly killing Izumi and Kasumi. The only thing he had on him was the generalized military grade CAD that Sanada had given him today.

It had a wide variety of Magic Sequences on it, including several that had seen before and a few that he had hadn't.

"I see. I must admit, I am looking forward to your upcoming duel with Hattori-san. If your anything like the rumors I've heard, it'll be an interesting fight, that's for sure".

The four of them continued their conversation until a loud whisper broke through the murmur.

"It's the Ichijou's "Crimson Prince"! Masaki Ichijou!".

Everyone, including Takemi turned to face the newcomer in the room. The young man, with dark-red hair and deep green eyes walked in wearing a middle school uniform. Every step he took and every time he nodded his head or smiled as he walked pass people he started murmuring and indiscriminate chatter.

"The same one that fought off the New Soviet Union!?".

"The one and the same!".

"Do you think he's single?".

Several young girls, all in groups giggled and laughed as they watched the Crimson Prince walk over to his acquaintances. In fact, the first group he came to was Takemi's.

"Good afternoon Juumonji-san, Watanabe-san. And thank you for throwing this gathering Saegusa-san.... and who might you be? Sorry if I seem vain, I normally remember everyone I meet".

Masaki extended his hand to Takemi who took it and smiled, "It's understandable Ichijou-san. I've never been to any events like this. And the name's Takemi. Takemi Mikazuchi".

He furrowed his brows in confusion before raising them, as if realizing something and asking, "Are you perhaps the same Mikazuchi Takemi that will be fighting Gyoubu Hanzou in a few days?".

Takemi's smile faltered and said, "You saw the video too huh?".

Masaki chuckled but waved it off and replied, "It's fine Mikazuchi-san. And on a side note, I hope that nothing bad happens to you during the duel. While I'm not trying to degrade your abilities it's just, I know nothing about them so I'd like to refrain from further judgement".

"It's not Takemi you'll have to worry about...", muttered Mayumi under her breath. If Takemi decided to use [Enki], then she was afraid that Hanzou would lose instantly under the pressure and lack of air because of the Systematic Convergence and Acceleration-Type Magic. Let hole using it to drill a hole through his body.

"I think you'll be surprised Ichijou-san. The winner of the duel may be not as many believe it may be".

The Crimson Prince's smile grew before he gave another small bow and said, "It was a pleasure meeting you Mikazuchi-san. Saegusa-san, Watanabe-san, Juumonji-san, I thank you for your time".

He walked away to another group of people, but not before giving Takemi a knowing wink as he looked at Mayumi was was standing beside him.

Takemi raised an eyebrow but ignored it and looked at Mayumi and said, "I'm just going to get a bit of a breather. It's my first time after all".

He knew the affect his choice of words would have on Mayumi and she spluttered a little and chocked on her drink. Mari raised an eyebrow while Katsuto merely stood firm and strong as if nothing could ever phase the man.

Takemi walked outside with a glass of red liquid in his hands. It probably wasn't wine, but a extremely diluted grape juice. Little did anyone want a Magician of his or her standing getting drunk and making a fool of themselves.

He spent quite a while outside looking up at the stars, wondering if Lina's [Orbital Elevator] an effective range or could take him as far as she programmed the spell. Just as Takemi was about to head inside he heard a voice call out to him.

"Are you the guy who Mayumi brought to the party today?!".

Takemi turned and saw that an unfamiliar looking guy wearing a Sixth High Uniform was standing in front of him with his CAD in his hand. His facial expression was one that had contorted into rage and anger.

"Do I know you or something?". Asked Takemi.

The young man's eye twitched and he shouted, "Don't play dumb with me! I saw you with Mayumi! What's your relationship with her!".

Takemi narrowed his eyes and said, "I don't have to explain myself to you. Now if you excuse me-".

Mentally Takemi thought, 'Is this a flag or something?'.

Before Takemi had a chance to walk back into the main hall the Sixth High Student raised his CAD and pointed it at Takemi.

"Don't f*cking move! I swear to god if you do I'll-".

The young man didn't finish and Takemi just raised his hands lazily and said, "Listen, I don't want to start anything. Just back away and I promise you won't get hurt".

It seemed to have an adverse reaction as the young man pressed the trigger on his CAD and launched a Magic Sequence directed at Takemi. The latter dodged the Magic Sequence in time, however, the spot in which Takemi was originally was standing now had a scorch mark on it.

"C'mon guys! Get him before he can call for help!".

More people came out of the surrounding shrubbery and from near the man-made lake inside the Saegusa complex all equipped with their CADs.

Takemi sighed before asking, "What is it? Have I done something wrong or-".

"Shut it! You're just a nobody! A complete random! Probably just some garbage from off the street!".

"You're not worthy to be at Mayumi's side!".

Takemi shoot his head in disappointment. 'Ah. So that's where the crux of the issue lies. I really didn't think that this would happen again... what happened to the last guys who jumped a Mikazuchi here again?'. He definitely knew that Mayumi had followers and admirers, but didn't think they were so aggressive that they'd corner him and try to ambush him.

He saw the the main assailant had started to charge up a Magic Sequence and Takemi smiled and pulled out his own CAD.

He pressed the trigger and with a speed quicker than the Sixth High Student activated his Non-Systematic Magic Sequence and shot it at him. The student was a little scared by the sudden burst of psions headed his way but didn't let up.

Takemi smiled and thought, 'Checkmate'.

The other guys Magic Sequence exploded with a sound that definitely could be heard from the main hall.

One of the more knowledgeable members of their group went wide eyed and shouted, "Magic Dismantling... that's [Gram Demolition]!".