The Dream of Every Boy in the Universe

The day after my "recovery," the final morning class wrapped up a bit early.

"The Student Council Election candidates and the current Student Council President are about to give their speeches, so everyone stay in your seats," the teacher warned the students already trying to make a break for it.

"Whatever, but where did all the third-years go anyway?" Hyoro asked, leaning over from the next desk.

"Who knows," I replied with a yawn.

"The third-years are on an off-campus trip this week..." Jaga started to explain from the seat in front of me, turning around to join the conversation. Just then, the classroom door swung open and two girls walked in. The teacher swapped places with them and headed out.

One of them was a face I recognized—Rose Oriana, the Student Council President I’d "fought" the other day.

I’ve always wondered about this, but why is it that when someone stylish wears a completely ordinary uniform, they give off this mysterious, fashionable Aura?

"Um, thank you to the faculty for giving us this valuable time... regarding the Student Council Election..."

A first-year girl who clearly wasn't used to public speaking began to drone on in a stiff, nervous voice.

Is it just me, or do these kinds of speeches just sail right through everyone’s head without leaving a trace?

Hyoro and I sat there like total zombies, letting the words wash over us as we yawned in sync. Jaga, on the other hand, actually seemed to be taking notes.

Suddenly, I felt like my eyes met the President’s. If she actually remembered a mob who got pathetically thrashed in the first round of a tournament, she had a hell of a memory.

"Whoa, the Prez was totally checking me out," Hyoro whispered, fussing with his bangs.

"Sure was."

"Man, what if she tries to scout me for the Student Council?"

"Sure thing."

"I mean, I really hate bothersome stuff, you know? But for her..."

"You don’t say."

We kept that up for a while as time ticked by.

Then, I felt a sudden twitch of Magic Power. Something was wrong.

"Huh?"

"What's up?"

I'm constantly training by manipulating minute amounts of Magic Power within my body, but all of a sudden, I couldn't channel it. It felt like the flow was being obstructed by something. Maybe if I forced it through, or thinned the stream out even more, I could get it moving again...

While I was mulling over the technicalities, I sensed something approaching the classroom.

"It’s coming..." I muttered, mostly just because I felt like saying it.

The very next second.

A massive explosion roared through the hall.

The classroom door was blown off its hinges, sending the class into a total panic. Immediately after, men dressed in black with swords drawn stormed inside.

"Nobody move! We are Shadow Garden, and we are taking control of this academy!" they bellowed, securing the exits.

"No way..."

My whisper was swallowed by the screaming and commotion around me. Not a single student could move. They couldn't tell if this was a drill, a prank, or—impossibly—the real thing. Most of the class was too stunned to process the reality of the Academy for Spellswords being under siege.

I was the only one who grasped exactly what was happening.

I knew they were serious. I knew our Magic Power was being jammed. And I knew the exact same thing was likely happening in every other classroom right now.

"Incredible..."

The word slipped out of my mouth, a genuine sigh of admiration.

These guys... they actually did it.

They really, truly went and did it!

The "Scenario" that every boy in the universe has dreamed of at least once. The "Event" that occupies a prime page in every youth’s book of delusions. They actually pulled off a "Terrorists Occupy the School" plot!

I was literally trembling with emotion.

How many times had I fantasized about this? Hundreds? Thousands? No—millions. I had imagined countless variations of this exact moment, and it was finally, finally here.

"Stay in your seats! Hands in the air!"

The men in black began intimidating the students with their blades as the reality of the situation finally started to sink in. Personally, I thought their choice to play the terrorists was a bit niche—a choice for the true connoisseurs. But of course, the classic, top-tier role was on the student side.

What should I do? How should I play this? Infinite possibilities were unfolding before my eyes.

"It seems you don’t realize where you are."

A dignified voice cut through the air. A girl stood up, her hand resting on the rapier at her waist as she faced down the intruders.

"Occupying the Academy for Spellswords? You can't possibly be in your right minds."

Rose Oriana was standing her ground—completely alone.

"I believe I told you to drop your weapon, little girl," the man in black growled.

"I refuse."

Rose drew her blade in one smooth motion.

"Hmph. I suppose you'll make a fine example, then."

The man in black raised his sword.

Oh, crap.

She hadn't realized yet that Magic Power was useless in this room.

"...! What in the...?"

Confusion flickered across Rose’s face as she leveled her rapier.

"Finally noticed, have you?" the man laughed from behind his mask.

Bad, bad, bad. At this rate...

"Too late!"

The man’s sword swung down toward Rose. His blade was glowing with Magic Power; she was completely cut off from hers. She had no way to block it.

I kicked my chair back and sprinted.

Wait! No!

My brain’s processing speed redlined, and the world slowed to a crawl. In that moment, my heart was filled with nothing but pure, unadulterated fury and desperation.

"Aaaaaaaaah!"

If this kept up, she was going to be the first victim killed by the terrorists.

That was unacceptable. I couldn't allow it. It was a complete violation of the rules!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!"

Because the person who gets killed first in the classroom is always...

The mob's... job!

"STOP IT RIGHT NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!!"

With a roar from the depths of my soul, I threw myself between them.

---

Staring at the approaching blade, Rose felt the cold touch of her own death. With her Magic Power gone, her body felt weak and heavy; she couldn't block, and she couldn't dodge. She tried to twist her torso to at least make the wound shallower, but her movements were agonizingly slow.

She wasn't going to make it. Death was a physical reality, inches away.

Then, a scream pierced her eardrums.

"STOP IT RIGHT NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!!"

Suddenly, something slammed into Rose from the side, shoving her out of the way.

"Kya...!"

She instinctively tucked into a roll across the floor. When she scrambled back to her feet, she saw a sight that froze her blood.

"No..."

There, lying motionless on the floor, was a boy soaked in red.

Blood was pooling beneath him, staining the floor at a terrifying speed. It was a fatal wound.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Someone's scream echoed through the classroom. Rose lunged forward, cradling the boy’s body, oblivious to the blood staining her own clothes.

He was a boy who had recently left a burning impression on her heart.

"Cid Kagenou-kun..."

At the sound of her voice, the boy’s eyes fluttered open.

"You idiot... Why? Why did you protect me...?"

They had only just met. They hadn't even had a real conversation yet. There was no reason—none at all—for him to give his life for her.

The boy’s lips parted as if he wanted to say something.

" Cough! Hack! "

A massive amount of blood erupted from his throat.

"Cid-kun!"

The spray splashed across Rose’s pale cheek. The boy gave her one final, bloody smile... and his breathing stopped.

Even in death, his face looked like that of a man who had fulfilled his purpose.

"Why...?"

A single tear tracked through the blood on Rose’s face. She pulled him close, stifling her sobs. Looking at his face, she felt as if every mystery had been solved.

His abnormal tenacity during their match. The intense, burning gaze he always directed toward her. And the reason he had just thrown his body in the way of a blade to shield her.

It all connected.

Rose was not a dense woman. As a princess of legendary beauty, she had been the target of countless professions of love since she was a child. But never before had someone felt for her with such heat. Never before had she been loved at the cost of a life.

"Thank you..."

She could never answer his feelings now. Not in this lifetime. But she swore, right then and there, that she would not let his sacrifice be in vain.

"He made for a decent example," the man in black said, standing over her.

"You...!" Rose bit her lip, glaring up at him with pure hatred.

"Do you still intend to resist?"

"...No. I will comply."

Rose lowered her head. She had sworn not to waste Cid's gift. Now was not the time.

"Hmph. Everyone, move! We're going to the Grand Lecture Hall!"

The men in black began to herd the class. They forced the students up, bound their hands behind their backs with zip ties, and marched them out one by one. No one resisted anymore.

Two boys stopped at the door to look back one last time.

"Cid..."

"Cid-kun..."

Hyoro and Jaga stared at their friend’s body, their faces twisted with unspoken words.

"Keep moving!"

The man in black shoved them out of the classroom. Then, there was no one left. The sound of footsteps faded down the hall until a heavy silence settled over the room.

And then...

The arm of the boy who was supposed to be dead gave a little twitch.