Chapter 42.1: Yufia Queensroad <2>

Ever since the day I first spoke with Shion, I spent almost every afternoon after school with him.

At first, I merely listened to his stories about magic and magicians, but wanting to give something back, I ended up helping him with his magic practice.

“Yufia, if you can come to like magic, I don’t need anything in return,” he said, but when I insisted on wanting to help him, he accepted my offer.

He had no intuitive grasp of controlling magical power at all, and he seems to have learned the proper way to channel it through repeated trial and error.

It was as if he were walking blindfolded along a complex, winding path—constantly readjusting his route in his mind every time he hit a wall on the way to his destination.

Since intuitive control of magical power depends entirely on innate talent, I verbally guided him—like a navigation system—on the proper way to channel his magic so that he could perform his spells more effectively.

Since I began teaching him, his progress improved dramatically, and he was very pleased.

I had even thought that if I were forced to do magic I didn’t want to practice, I would have preferred not to be born with any talent for it at all.

But nothing made me happier than seeing him delighted by my guidance; for the first time ever, I truly felt grateful to have a talent for magic.

◆

“How is it, Yufia? Do you like magic a little more than before?”

“Yeah…! Thanks to Shion, studying magic and practicing spells have become really fun lately…!”

“I see.”

When I answered, he smiled gently.

“Yufia, since you have talent, it’d be great if you could have a dream or something you want to achieve with magic.”

“Something I want to do… a dream… I’ve never really thought about it…”

“Well, there’s no need for talent to dictate your life; I think you’ll find it eventually, little by little.”

“…Shion, do you have a dream?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“…May I ask what kind of dream it is?”

When I asked, Shion looked straight at me with unwavering eyes.

“My dream is to become the strongest magician.”

“The strongest… magician…?”

“Yeah.”

Nodding in response, Shion continued:

“I want to become the strongest magician so that I can fight for those in need, for the sake of something precious to someone… to fight in place of those who cannot. To become the strongest magician who fights for others, like the hero in an epic tale───”

“───That is my dream.”

His expression as he spoke those words remains indelibly etched in my memory.

His eyes were so earnest, gentle, and full of strength.

After spending time with him, I knew he had a strong admiration for magic.

Yet even so, I wondered how he could continue to strive so diligently.

But when I heard him speak of his dream, I felt as though I understood the reason.

Surely, it was that infinitely noble conviction and ambition that had driven Shion Kurosaki all along.

And that is why, even in the face of hardships that would have caused anyone else to give up, he was able to continue on his own path—a fact I understood deeply.

“………It’s an amazing, wonderful dream.”

It was an enormous dream, a goal set far above the ordinary.

Yet there was no doubt that his words were completely sincere.

Hearing that he was seriously striving to become the “strongest magician” and understanding his reasons filled my heart with overwhelming emotion and admiration, and I naturally murmured those words.

“Do you really think so?”

“Yeah…! I think it’s incredibly cool and the perfect dream for you, Shion…!”

“!”

“You can do it, Shion…! You will absolutely become the strongest magician…!”

“……….”

When I said that, Shion was uncharacteristically speechless.

“W-what’s wrong…? Shion?”

When I asked, Shion replied with a start.

“Ah, no… I never expected to be spoken to like that… I was a bit surprised.”

“…? Why? Did I say something weird…?”

When I asked anxiously, Shion scratched his head in slight confusion.

“Weird… or rather, as you know, Yufia, I don’t have any talent for magic at all. I’ve already been surpassed by every first-year student who just enrolled this year. I never thought anyone would take me seriously if I said I’d become the ‘strongest magician.’”

I reacted strongly to Shion’s words.

“Of course I would take it seriously…! After all, among everyone I’ve ever seen, Shion, you’re the most amazing person!”

Indeed, as far as I know, Shion is more incredible than anyone else in this world.

Compared to someone like me, who was merely born into a prestigious family of magicians, Shion is far, far more extraordinary.

“I don’t think there is anyone as straightforward, unyieldingly determined, and hardworking—someone who gives their all for their goals—like you, Shion… That’s why, if it’s you, there’s no doubt you’ll become the strongest magician!”

“I see…?”

Shion seemed at a loss for words in response to my unusually emphatic outburst,

“……I’m really happy, truly. Thank you, Yufia.”

“I’ll be cheering you on… I’ll do my best to support you so that you can achieve your dream, Shion…!”

“Thank you. …Alright, then, to repay your support, I must start by mastering the magic of Ignition.”

Shion beamed a cheerful smile full of determination.

“Yeah, that’s right…!”

“May I ask for your advice again today?”

“Yeah, gladly…! Not that I’m asking as a favor or anything, but… during breaks, could you also tell me the rest of yesterday’s story…?”

When I asked, he nodded as if it were the most natural thing.

“Ah, gladly. …Well then, let’s begin───”

To me, both magic and school had always been utterly boring.

Born into a prestigious family of magicians, I had spent my days learning magic from a young age as if it were expected, with no goals or sense of achievement—just monotonous, dreary days.

But after meeting him, I gradually began to enjoy magic, found learning it fun, and even school life became enjoyable.

Meeting him changed my world dramatically.

It was Shion who transformed a world that had been nothing but dull and lonely.

Afternoons spent with Shion—those irreplaceable moments—became the highlight of my days.

───It was on one such day.

◆

It was an afternoon, about a month after I had started talking with Shion.

That day, too, I had made plans to spend the afternoon with him.

However, before that, I had to submit an individual assignment, so I had Shion, who had already turned his in, wait for me in the classroom while I headed to the staff room after homeroom.

After submitting my assignment and returning to the classroom, I heard voices—a rare occurrence in an after-school classroom that was usually empty except for Shion and me.

“Kurosaki-kun, you’ve been getting close with Queensroad-san lately, haven’t you?”

“(！！)”

When I heard that, I involuntarily stopped in the hallway.

“Hmm? Ah, yeah, that’s right.”

“Could it be that you’re meeting Queensroad-san again today?”

“Yeah.”

Though not loud, their voices resonated clearly through the silent school building, and even I, standing in the hallway, could clearly make out their conversation.

Apparently, Shion and two female classmates were having a conversation in the classroom.

“Uh, huh… I see… What do you two usually do together?”

It was just an ordinary question.

It wasn’t unnatural for classmates who had kept to themselves for so long to be curious about someone suddenly becoming close with a particular person.

Still, at that moment, I sensed an unsettling undertone in the girl’s tone.

“What? Well, it’s like I get magic lessons from Yufia and she listens to my stories.”

Shion answered casually, but immediately afterward, the girls’ tone changed so dramatically that it was unmistakable.

“I see… Uh, Kurosaki-kun, I really don’t want to say this, but…”

“Hey, are you really going to say it?”

“Because if I don’t, it would be such a shame for you, Kurosaki-kun…”

“Yeah… you’re right about that…”

“……….”

I couldn’t tell how Shion was reacting to their exchange.

But I had an overwhelmingly bad feeling.

“I’m sorry, Kurosaki-kun… It must be so painful for you, though…”

“(………!!)”

A shiver ran through my entire body.

I recognized that awful feeling all too well.

It was the same sensation I had in second grade when baseless rumors were spread about me and everyone looked at me coldly.

It was like the feeling I got in third grade when I was blamed for making a classmate cry with harsh words, and the others hurled accusations at me.

My mind went blank, and I felt so weak at my core that I was about to collapse.

“(Please, stop…)”

Even though I wanted to stop the words that were coming, I couldn’t move from where I stood.

And then, mercilessly, the girl’s words continued.

The words I dreaded hearing the most were directed at Shion.

“That girl is secretly making fun of you, Kurosaki-kun.”

“Eh…?”

“(………!!)”

“What does that… mean…?” I heard Shion’s clearly agitated voice.

“That girl pretends to be close with you, Shion-kun, but in secret she says a lot of mean things…”

“She said things like, ‘I can laugh at you forever for never improving’ and ‘It’s laughable that you don’t even notice you’re being mocked’—so many cruel things. I was shocked…”

───I didn’t say any of that!!

Even though I wanted to protest, I couldn’t bring myself to speak or move from that spot.

I’m just not good at talking with people.

No matter how hard I tried to clear up misunderstandings, no one believed me.

No one understood the truth.

Shion is incredibly, incredibly kind.

Maybe he would believe what I had to say.

But the thought that he might not trust me terrified me.

Moreover, the idea of Shion giving me the same cold, disapproving looks I once received from others—and hating me because of it—frightened me more than anything, and I became paralyzed.

But what hurt even more than the fear of Shion hating me was hearing that he was being subjected to cruel words from those girls.

I didn’t want anyone to wound him with callous words.

Yet I couldn’t even muster the courage to stop it.

Overwhelmed by my own weakness and heartache, I silently collapsed into tears right there.

“(I’m sorry, Shion… I’m so sorry…)”

“…I never expected Yufia to…”

“It must be such a shock… I’m sorry; maybe it would have been better if you hadn’t known, but I feel so sorry for you, Kurosaki-kun, being deceived…”

“It’s awful, Queensroad-san…”

“Yufia… I trusted you… ugh…”

“Kurosaki-kun, I feel so sorry for you…”

“You’d be better off not associating with that girl anymore…”

“This is just too much, isn’t it…?”

“(………!!)”

I heard Shion’s pained voice trembling slightly, followed by a dull sound as if a desk had been slammed.

Hearing his voice, my heart felt like it was being torn apart.

I was overwhelmed with sorrow and pain, and tears flowed endlessly from my eyes.

“(I’m sorry, Shion…)”