Sakura Kiss (Wizard School Romance)

"And what about all the people that miss you, while you're off chasing that one thing?" you ask.

Tatsuko glares at you. "I'll bet someone told you were cute when you said things like that."

"Well I-"

"They lied," Tatsuko says, looking back down at her paper. "Besides...spend every waking moment with someone, they'll still miss you eventually."

Y1E13.1

At Hiyari, summer sings its final note over the spectacle of a magi's sports festival.

The weather has been slowly cooling since its peak just before the storm, and now teeters precariously on the edge of warm. Truth be told, it's hard to imagine weather better suited for the sports festival – warm enough to not need sweats or long sleeves while you're standing around, but cool enough that the heat doesn't become oppressive when you exercise. The sky is a clean, clear blue, a gentle breeze stirs intermittently, and one half of the school's student body wars violently against the other for the right to take the Hinako Cup.

Half of campus has been overrun by the various games and competitions which pits team blue against team pink. A crowd roars as students race around a track. Squads duke it out in the cavalry battle. A dozen second years face off against each other as the collectively wrestle over enough water to fill a swimming pool, telekinetically straining to get it over the heads of their opponents before strength runs out and the water comes pouring down. Near the school is a massive board where Yuhara diligently tracks each team's points, but you don't really see much reason to follow along. The sports festival is more of a third year thing, one last chance to lord a mostly meaningless victory over your classmates before graduation.

That isn't to say that all your classmates are uninterested. Ban throws himself into the forced growth event, which involves summoning up a tree that grows bigger than your opponent's – not much in the way of physical exercise, but magically speaking it's exhausting. And Natsume has been running around the track since the day began, each lap seemingly faster than the last. By the end of the day she'll have reached light speed and reversed the rotation of the earth, or something equally ridiculous. She has yet to speak to you again.

"Takami-san, hi." It's Koshimoto's voice that pulls you from your thoughts, the second year girl ascending the hill to meet you where you sit under the shade of a great tree. She has a blue headband wrapped around her forehead, and a brilliantly white smile on her face. "Enjoying the festival?"

You raise a hand in greeting. "More now that I'm done with all the running and jumping," you admit. "You want to sit? I think some of your classmates are about to get themselves soaked."

"Unfortunately, I'm here on business," Koshimoto says, and she does genuinely sound as though she'd love to sit down and share the view with you. She gestures over the other end of the hill, to the remedial fields where a few events were relegated after an earthworks spell went catastrophically wrong. "Could you go over the three-legged race and help Watanabe-sensei out?"

You're loathe to leave the comfort of your spot, but completely unable to tell Koshimoto no. "Did Watanabe-sensei ask for help with something?" You ask, pushing yourself to your feet.

"No," Koshimoto says, and then she gives you a wink. "I just had a hunch, is all."

"Oh." Then, a moment later, "oh! Of course." Let no man say that Takami Yuta shirks from his destiny. "Do I get a warning, or advice, or…"

"Just be yourself," Koshimoto says. "And promise you'll tell me all about it later."

"Yeah, for sure." You wave as Koshimoto descends the hill, jogging off to join a gaggle of her classmates in their cheers. And then you set off.

There are a few students on the other side of the hill, lounging and enjoying the sunlight. Arashi and Furuta are arguing so intently with Harada and Nezu that they don't even notice as you pass them. Tatsuko lugs a crate of bottled water past you – when you wave, she mimes shooting herself in the head.

The three-legged race is in full swing when you arrive, randomly selected duos half-limping, half-hopping around the makeshift track. This far from the main events the crowd is somewhat lackluster, but that doesn't seem to be impacting the enthusiasm of the participants, who are laughing and shouting as they round the final turn.

Some are shouting more than laughing. Pulling up the rear is a shock of blonde hair tethered to a first year boy you only vaguely recognize – Soma? Soda? Soga. You aren't close enough to catch exactly what Hinata Chidori is saying, but you can get the gist from the look on her face – and you're certainly close enough to see when she tumbles to the ground.

That is when approximately all hell breaks loose. Soga is shouting himself now, bending down to yank away the rope binding his leg to Hinata's. Now free she leaps to her feet, getting up in his face, gesturing wildly. The air between them begins to crackle, but with the race ending simultaneously you seem to be the only one who has noticed the brewing fight.

You draw closer, now finally in range to make out what is actually being said. "Back off!" Soga shouts, physically shoving Hinata, forcing her back.

Her face goes murderous, telekinetic force exploding from her body in every direction. Soga's head snaps back, blood flying high through the air, one hand going to his nose and the other lashing wildly out with his own response.

It's a powerful blow – strong enough for you to see as a shimmer in the air, independent of the way it tosses dirt and grass and leaves every which way in its flight. It's probably the most powerful force spell Soga has ever thrown, all hopped up on surprise and pain and adrenaline, and when it hits Hinata it picks her up off her feet and sends her tumbling head over heels.

There's a hush, broken by only by a crunch. Hinata lands awkwardly, her ankle twisting beneath her as she collapses to the ground. Soga is howling with pain, barely seeming to notice the havoc wrought by his counterpunch – Hinata is utterly silent, her face drawn tight with anger and focus.

Then the teacher is there to survey the damage – and a dozen students are there, to enjoy the show – and you're there, because you don't have enough sense to walk away while you're still uninvolved. "My nobe!" Soga is shouting, both hands over his face, blood dripping from between his fingers. It seems obvious to you that Hinata is the more injured of the two, but there is value in being the loudest, and the teacher sees to his hurts first.

"Its broken," the teacher says, "but nothing that can't be fixed. Shut up for a minute and sit down." Soga is slow to obey, and so with a snap of her fingers the teacher brings the earth up to him, forming a makeshift seat where he can await medical attention. Only then does she turn her attention to Hinata, who is struggling valiantly to her feet for one moment, two – then as soon as she places weight on her ankle she cries out and collapses again.

The teacher bends over her, shaking her head. "Shouldn't have let my eyes off you," she murmurs, and her mouth twists into a frown. "This is outside my comfort zone. You need to see a nurse, and you need a soak." She makes a gesture as if she's about to pick Hinata up, then glances at her watch. "Shit, and I…" and then her attention turns to the assembled students, "I need someone to carry her up to the spring."

A dozen onlookers, and no volunteers. Not only, you think, because the spring is a long, uphill hike. You are all too aware of the dangers of being put in Hinata Chidori's line of fire.

But the teacher is losing patience. "I don't have to wait for a volunteer," she says, scanning the crowd. "I can draft-"

"I'll do it." Of course you will. You step forward, feeling dozens of eyes fall upon you. This, you realize only then, must be why Koshimoto had sent you. She had seen that you would be the volunteer. That you wouldn't be able to help yourself. Hinata has been at the back of your mind ever since your first week at Hiyari, and despite every rational instinct telling you to stay far away, you're coming closer.

The relief is evident on the teacher's face. "Thank you, Takami-kun," she says. "Your help is very much appreciated."

"Tell that to her," you murmur, not quite loud enough for the teacher to hear. Hinata is glaring daggers at you, and as you draw close enough to pick her up, she goes so rigid that you think she might actually swipe at you.

Instead, she cooperates, silently, as you help her climb up onto your back. The only sound she makes is a hiss of pain when you adjust her leg – but then it's right back to silence, even as you begin the trek up to Hiyari's spring. It's the right call, even if a somewhat inconvenient one – if an injury can heal, then the school's hot spring can do it.

"Are you doing okay?" you ask Hinata as you reach the weathered stone steps which mark the real beginning of the climb. "Do you need to adjust, or-"

"What do you want?" Hinata asks instead, cutting you off.

Your help is very much appreciated. Right.