The nickname "Fairy Sniper" had long been attached to Saegusa Mayumi-senpai. It wasn't an official title, but an affectionate one her fans had given her. Her skill with long-range precision magic was unmatched, her beauty nearly ethereal—so to the crowd, she was a fairy holding a rifle.
Yet to Mayumi herself, that nickname was… a little embarrassing. Rumor had it that some daring upperclassmen had even created doujinshi featuring her as the "Fairy Sniper." Just the thought of it was enough to make her cheeks turn bright pink in anger.
"Haa… yare yare… absolutely not. I don't want to be called that…" she muttered under her breath.
But no matter how she resisted, that title had already taken root.
The preliminaries for the Precision Shooting event were about to begin. The moment Mayumi walked into the venue, the atmosphere completely changed. It was as if a spark had been dropped into dry oil—cheers roared like thunder, sweeping through the stands in waves.
"Mayumi-senpai!" "Fairy Sniper-samaaa!!"
The excitement of the crowd reached its absolute peak. Her opponent, who had been psyching himself up, instantly lost all confidence under that pressure. To face Saegusa Mayumi in person was already intimidating—but to face her when an entire stadium worshipped her like a goddess? That was terrifying.
And truly, Mayumi's presence was stunning.
She wore protective earmuffs over her long, wavy hair, along with sleek, clear goggles that highlighted her sharp gaze. Her competition uniform was a fitted top with a high collar and a belt at the waist, paired with skin-tight pants. It had the silhouette of a stylish one-piece dress, but with the practicality of combat gear.
In her hands was the rifle-type CAD used for Precision Shooting, perfectly completing her image—an elegant heroine from a near-future anime.
When she raised her weapon, her aura shifted—refined, sharp, and unwavering. The way she handled the Magic Bullet Shooter spell sequence was flawless, elegant yet devastating.
For the young men in the audience, she was nothing less than an untouchable goddess. And it was from this devotion that the title "Fairy Sniper" had been born.
The match began, and naturally, Mayumi claimed victory.
Her performance was overwhelming. While her opponent managed to shoot down barely twenty clay targets, Mayumi had already cleared one hundred. One after another, the floating discs shattered before her eyes, as if the bullets themselves obeyed her will.
"Unbelievable…" murmured even the announcer, his voice almost trembling.
Her activation speed had improved dramatically—by at least ten percent compared to last year. The burden on her body was noticeably lighter too. Even Mayumi herself seemed surprised at the efficiency of her spells.
"Eh… did I really get faster…?" she whispered under her breath, blinking in disbelief.
Meanwhile, in another part of the Nine Schools Competition, the Surfing Race venue was just as lively.
The watercourse glittered under the sun, lined with spectators cheering as brightly colored banners fluttered in the breeze. On the artificial waterway, several competitors in shark-themed swimsuits straddled their boards, awaiting the signal.
The Surfing Race was a contest of speed and magical control. Racers used a spindle-shaped board, about 165 centimeters long, gliding across the twisting, rollercoaster-like water channel at speeds that could exceed thirty knots—over fifty kilometers per hour.
While direct interference magic against opponents was prohibited, racers were allowed to manipulate the water surface itself—making the event a thrilling clash of skill and creativity.
At the starting line, most competitors crouched low on their boards, kneeling to steady themselves. But one stood tall, perfectly balanced, her figure radiating confidence.
Watanabe Mari—though most of the audience had already given her another name:
"The Queen of the Surfing Race!"
"Mari-sama!!" "Queen! Queen!"
In the stands, the voices of countless fangirls rose in unison, shouting excitedly:
"Queen of the Surfing Race!"
Their cheers rang out like waves themselves, echoing across the venue. Watanabe Mari and Saegusa Mayumi divided the adoration of the younger students, each a shining figure in their own right. But at this moment, the "Queen" seemed a little distracted as she waved gracefully to the crowd.
Her eyes lowered to the CAD on her wrist, and her thoughts drifted.
"...Is this really necessary?" she murmured.
When Mari had first received this CAD and realized that a defensive spell had been installed, she had immediately gone to question her junior, Yotsuba Mahiro.
Everyone knew that adding additional spell sequences to a CAD designed for racing could interfere with speed and performance. Normally, only the essential activation sequences required for the Surfing Race were stored inside.
But Mahiro had explained himself with a calm smile:
"Don't worry, Watanabe-senpai, I know what I'm doing. The defensive system I added won't slow down the activation of any other spells. It's passive, and only there as a safeguard. I'm certain Senpai's skill is enough to dominate the Surfing Race… but still, it never hurts to have extra protection."
He spoke lightly, but his expression carried quiet seriousness. Especially since he was well aware of the terrorists who had been targeting First High lately. Of course, Mahiro hadn't told Mari or the other Third Years about that detail, so to her, his action felt excessive.
Staring at the CAD again, Mari sighed softly.
"Mahiro… baka. Isn't this just making a mountain out of a molehill?"
This was already her third year entering the Surfing Race. Never once had there been a real accident. But since it was her earnest junior's effort, she chose not to press the issue further. She simply accepted it in silence.
And just as Mari had predicted, her preliminary match went smoothly.
No matter how high or violent the waves other schools summoned, none of them could touch her grace or speed. Like a ruler who commanded the ocean itself, she glided across the water, leaving her rivals far behind.
In fact, her advantage was so overwhelming that, on the live broadcast, the camera could barely keep her opponents on the same screen. She took first place in the preliminaries with absolute dominance.
"Congratulations, Watanabe-senpai, on taking first place!"
Mahiro clapped warmly, though Mari just shook her head modestly.
"This is nothing. It's only the preliminaries. The real test comes in the finals the day after tomorrow."
Her words carried quiet determination, reminding herself as much as her juniors. Victory in preliminaries was only expected. The real glory was still ahead.
"By the way, Mahiro-kun," Mari suddenly remembered, "I heard you've prepared some big surprise for Saegusa-senpai. Is that true?"
Mahiro's lips curved into a mischievous grin as he adjusted another CAD, his fingers moving with practiced ease.
"Of course it's true, Senpai. But I can't tell you the details just yet. You'll have to wait and see. All I can say is… it's going to be a match that will shock everyone."
"Oh~ so secretive!" Mari teased, folding her arms with a smirk. "Well, if you're being that mysterious, I'll just have to look forward to it."
She wasn't the only one. Both she and Mayumi were in their final year, and this Nine Schools Competition was their last chance to leave behind unforgettable memories. If Mahiro's "surprise" could create that, then it would be worth it.
Mahiro only smiled knowingly. After all, this was the Fairy Sniper's last performance on the Nine Schools stage. How could he let it pass without arranging a farewell worthy of her name?
The afternoon sun blazed above as the day's last match approached. The heat shimmered over the arena, warping the air itself, but that didn't deter the crowds. If anything, the number of spectators was greater than ever.
Everyone had gathered to witness the brilliance of Saegusa Mayumi—nicknamed the "Fairy Sniper"—as she danced for the last time in the competition.
And soon, she appeared.
Mayumi stepped into the arena, dressed in the same uniform as in the morning, her long hair swaying as she moved with her usual grace. The applause thundered like rolling waves.
But something was different. Her smile was absent.
Instead of her usual lighthearted playfulness, her face bore a solemn expression.
"What's wrong with Mayumi?" Mari whispered from the stands, brows furrowed.
With Mayumi's ability, there was no reason for nerves, even in the finals. And yet, her aura was heavy, as if she carried the weight of something unseen.
The seniors nearby noticed it too. Whispers spread as they watched her raise her CAD, the grave look on her face only deepening. The tense atmosphere rippled outward, spreading even to her opponent.
"The match is about to begin…" someone muttered.
Instantly, the entire stadium fell silent.
The signal lights lit up—green, yellow, red—then with a sharp burst of sound, countless glowing targets shot into the sky like swarms of fireflies.
And then, in the very next heartbeat, Mayumi raised her CAD and pulled the trigger.
The crowd gasped.
"That's—!!!"