Mahouka: The Yotsuba Prince (OC x Mayumi)

Part 31

Chapter 31

MAYUMI SAEGUSA

Mayumi found herself contemplating the words of the Yotsuba clan head as the Nine School Competition came to a close. The Committee had organized a farewell party grander than usual; because of the lack of a welcome banquet, and now all the students who had participated in the competition all gathered and mingled.

"What has you so down?" the familiar voice of Inei-kun interrupted her as he plopped down beside her, and she looked up and shook her head.

"Nothing," she lied, and his eyes narrowed for a second before he shrugged, as he set down a glass of juice for her, and she thanked him for it.

"So, you lost the bet?" he asked, and she perked up at that and realized that, in her stupor, she had forgotten about their little wager.

"I did, didn't I?" Despite their shifting of Miyuki to the senior's section, the juniors scored more points than them, hence giving him the win.

"So you ready to pay up," he asked her softly, and as her cheeks heated up, she nodded.

"Sure, it's not as if we have not done that before," and he nodded.

"Yeah, so what do you think of your reign as the presence coming to an end," he asked, and she sighed, for indeed that had been something bothering her as well.

"I don't know. It feels rather nostalgic, even though it still hasn't quite ended just yet," she replied as she sipped the juice, and he nodded.

"It should, but now you have something more to look forward to. You are going to be a university student soon," and that was interesting. She would be beginning another chapter of her life.

But she would also be leaving the school, leaving his side. Leaving him, she had gotten used to having him by her side, having his reassuring presence at her back, giving her the confidence to face the world.

But was he fine with that? Was this thing that she felt between them a one-sided fling? Or was it actually something substantial, something worth pursuing? Was it something that she even wanted to pursue?

Yes. She answered the question herself. She wanted to,

"Speaking of that..." and just as she was about to ask him about his intentions, they were interrupted by a pair of students who appeared before them.

She looked up and immediately recognized them. They were Third High's aces, the Crimson Prince and the Cardinal George.

"Yotsuba-kun," the red-haired boy began, and both she and Inei perked up at his words. She eyed the boy suspiciously, but despite her fears, the boy put forward his hand.

"It was an honor competing against you," the boy's words shocked her, and she could see many of the students watching their interaction nervously, especially from their own school, with them being acutely aware of Inei-kun's antics.

Yet the boy in question stood up and looked the Ichijou clan heir in the eye before he shook his hand and gave the boy a smile.

"Likewise, your strategy in Monolith Code was rather inspired," he complimented before turning towards the smaller one and offering his hand.

"I believe you are the one who came up with that, George-kun," he added and the younger prodigy nodded.

"I cannot take credit for it. After all, it was inspired by the boy from your school who beat me," he said, and he was referring to Tatsuya-kun, who had beaten him at Crowd Ball.