Mahouka: The Yotsuba Prince (OC x Mayumi)

Part 27

Chapter 27

KICHIJOU MASAKI-The Crimson Prince

Masaki was the scion of the Ichijou clan. He had been hailed as a prodigy ever since he was a child, believed to be peerless in his age group and yet all that praise had proven itself to be a lie.

He was not the prodigy he believed himself to be. He was strong, but he would admit openly that he was not as strong as Inei Yotsuba. He had expected himself to be distraught, to be angry at realising this, and yet he was not.

He was excited at the new challenge that was before him, and though he had lost to the Yotsuba heir in the Ice Pillars Break he planned to try and redeem himself in the Monolith Code, and yet the recent directive from the TMC had him boiling.

"What the hell are they thinking?" he snarled in rage, gritting his teeth, rushing the tablet in his hands as he stood in the waiting room before their first match.

"Do they think so little of me, of us, of the whole Council," he raged, frustrated at their behavior. As the heir in line Masaki was not oblivious to the politics and the plots of the council.

The Ten Master Clans may cut a united figure, but the truth could not be further from that. The Master clans were both unequal and divided, with many harboring their own agendas and intentions.

It was just that the Council, was a union created to stop the Government's unreasonable meddling into the magical community of Japan, and yet over the years he often felt that it had become the very thing it had wished to refute.

"They must want to showcase their unity and discredit the Yotsuba heir," George added from the side, both of them are now wearing their uniforms.

"But still, this is not the way to do things," Masaki added. He was no fan of Inie Yotsuba as well, or the Yotsuba in general, because of their secretive and inhumane practices. Yet, going so far just to put down one clan or one person was a bit too much.

"Maybe, but there is definitely a greater game afoot here," George added as he rubbed his chin.

"I have a suspicion that all this is a manifestation of an internal war within the Ten Master Clans, and they have made the Nine School's Competition into a battleground, though it seems they lost this battle and now are trying to save face," George's assessment was correct indeed, and given he was not a part of the TMC, it was surprising how accurate it was.

"They have issued the command. Now the question is, will Inei Yotsuba comply with it?" Masaki smirked as he shook his head.

"I doubt it. " From what he had managed to gleam, Inei Yotsuba was his clan's statement piece, one sent to remind the TMC and the world of the boogeymen of Japan's magical society.

It had been years since a Yotsuba had been in the public eye, the clan taking a backseat and doing their activities from the shadows. This had made some people doubt the tales and stories concerning the infamous Yotsuba, and now Inei Yotsuba had been sent to remind them just why one did not mess with the Boogeymen of Japan.

"The Yotsuba are many things, but they are not cowards. He will not back down," Masaki said as he looked at the TV, as the first match of the Monolith Code was set to begin.

It was set between First High, and Seventh High, and the two teams assembled as the announcer made the countdown.

"Start," and he watched as the Seventh High's Team began to move immediately. The terrain was an open field, and all three of its members began to rush forward.

"What the..." Masaki gasped as he saw that none of the students from the first high were moving.

He watched as Inei Yotsuba looked at his two teammates who stood there, their heads hung low and unmoving. He shook his head and stepped forward.