Magical Boy ~ English version

Chapter 126

Nakamara's voice rang out to announce the resumption of the matches. Nanaya would have to face Callie Ruiz. Nanaya sighed and stood up. Mineko looked worried.

"Nana-chan..." she murmured, "are you okay?"

"Hm? Yes," he replied. "Why?"

"It's just that you've looked a bit pale since this morning."

Nanaya gave her a reassuring smile. "No, I'm fine. Maybe just a little tired, but it'll pass. I'm used to it."

Mineko pouted at him. Nanaya allowed himself a nervous laugh. He knew why she was sulking. He had said he was fine, even though it clearly wasn't the case.

"My head hurts," he admitted, "but it happens often, you know, because of my prosthetic."

"But it's been a while since it last happened," Kenji worried. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, it's just a small, passing migraine. I'll be fine." He waved to his friends and walked toward the arena, with Hyokko fluttering by his side. He omitted to mention that his nose was stuffy, his throat burned, his fatigue was stronger than usual, and he felt pain all over. But he was so accustomed to pain that he didn't think to mention it. It didn't seem important.

He transformed into Frosty Kitty just before entering the arena to face Callie Ruiz. She was known for her ability to manipulate electricity, an impressive power already crackling around her fingers as she looked at him with a confident smile.

"You look a bit pale, Frosty Kitty. Hope you won't melt under the pressure," she teased with a wink, blue sparks dancing around her hands.

Nanaya forced a calm smile, though his blurred vision and the throbbing pain in his head made each moment harder. "Don't worry about me, Ruiz-chan. I don't plan on losing," he replied politely, masking his exhaustion as he always did. From the screens, his friends and family watched anxiously.

The signal for the beginning of the fight sounded, and Callie immediately went on the attack, shooting a bolt of lightning in his direction. Nanaya skillfully slid on a thin layer of ice he created under his feet, but his concentration was weakened, and he felt his balance waver for a moment. However, he managed to stay upright and countered by sending several ice spikes. But Callie dodged them easily, zigzagging with lightning speed. She used her momentum to close the distance, her fist surrounded by an electric aura, aiming directly for his head.

Nanaya covered his arm in ice and raised it as a shield, but the electricity partially pierced through, forcing him back under the impact. He wiped away a drop of blood trickling from his nose and a bit from his forehead, feeling pain spread through his arm, head, and his body trembling slightly.

Hyokko fluttered around him, looking worried. "Nana-chan, are you okay?" he murmured urgently.

Nanaya gritted his teeth and gave a small nod. Trying to regain control, he created an ice wall to block Callie's view, hoping to buy a few precious seconds to catch his breath. But Callie didn't waste time: she charged her fist with energy and struck the wall, cracking it in all directions before it shattered in a shower of ice crystals.

Taking advantage of the diversion, Nanaya created a layer of frost under Callie's feet to make her slip, then launched a dense snowstorm to blind her. However, he felt his movements slowing down more than usual.

Callie, half-disoriented, sent another bolt of lightning his way, and Nanaya narrowly dodged it by throwing himself to the ground, feeling the heat of the electricity graze his skin. Despite his condition, he knew he had to give it everything he had. With one final effort, he focused his magic to create a thick layer of ice around Callie, attempting to trap her in a frozen cocoon.

Callie was surprised by this sudden technique. She tried to break the ice with her power, but Nanaya intensified his magic, reinforcing the icy barrier around her with more and more layers. His opponent was beginning to shiver from the cold, trapped in the frozen prison, her energy drained by her repeated attempts to break the walls around her.

Amaretto raised his hand and announced Nanaya's victory. He straightened up, breathing heavily, but remained standing despite the waves of fatigue threatening to make him falter. Hyokko fluttered joyfully around him and nestled in his arms. "You did it, Nana-chan!"

Nanaya approached the frozen prison and placed his hands on it. He was able to easily manipulate the walls to open, revealing poor Callie shivering inside. But when she saw him, she offered a trembling smile and gave him a thumbs-up to congratulate him. Phen-X joined them with a blanket to cover her and congratulated Nanaya as he asked him to follow along. Applause echoed around them, and a few teachers with fire powers entered the arena to melt the ice.

Nanaya stretched and decided to return to the locker room, resuming his original form. He just wanted to sink into a couch and sleep... but the next match was Kenji versus Ichirō, and he wanted to cheer for his friend. He happened to run into Kenji, who congratulated him, though he was worried about his injury, and warmly hugged him. But he immediately pulled away, looking shocked.

"Kitty... you're burning up!" he exclaimed.

"I promise I'm fine," Nanaya assured him, though his head was spinning. "It's just her power that does that. The electricity kept heating around me."

"Are you sure? I really think you should go see Phen-X!"

"I just need a bit of rest. Hurry up, or I-chan will tease you for days if you miss the fight."

Kenji took a handkerchief to wipe the blood from Nanaya's forehead, leaving it to him for his nose. It wasn't serious. A piece of ice had exploded slightly due to the electricity, leaving only a tiny wound.

Finally, Kenji continued to the arena, still worried. Ichirō had taken another path to enter from the other door.

Nanaya barely made it to the locker room when Mineko and Rena hugged him. Kōtarō rolled his eyes and reminded him to keep it together, as he usually did. They settled on the available couch, watching the screen intently. In the arena, the teachers had just finished cleaning and left the space for Kenji and Ichirō.