"Forgive me for interrupting your conversation. However, I felt it would be more appropriate for us to provide the explanation ourselves..."
"Not at all! Please, don't give it a second thought! I am the one who should apologize for making you trouble yourselves!"
The one who bowed to Lamy while speaking was a girl whose dignified beauty perfectly matched the impression of her voice. Her long black hair was tied back, and she exuded the sharp, disciplined aura of a female warrior.
The two girls who appeared alongside her were equally stunning, and the sight of them drew a chorus of cheers and excitement from the boys in the crowd.
"Good grief, these guys are nothing if not predictable...!" Melt muttered, her expression souring at the boys' blatant reactions.
"Ryuga, are those three...?" Yugo asked.
"Yes. Like me, they are exchange students from Yamato—the Warrior Shrine Maidens who worship the Dragon."
Yugo turned his gaze back to the trio, his suspicions confirmed by Ryuga, who clearly possessed more information than anyone else present. Seeing the usually overbearing Lamy act so deferentially toward them made it clear these three were significant VIPs. It wasn't just because they were foreign exchange students; Yugo figured their family lineages must carry immense weight back home.
As Yugo mused over their status, the black-haired girl—who seemed to be the leader—addressed the gathered students.
"I apologize for the sudden intrusion. My name is Sakura Amamiya. I am a Warrior Shrine Maiden of Yamato, and I shall be in your care during my stay at Luminous Academy. This white-haired girl is my fellow student and Warrior Shrine Maiden, Setsuna Kogarashi. Our third member is Raiha Utsusemi. It is an honor to make your acquaintance."
"...Nice to meet you," Setsuna said.
"Um... hello. I look forward to working with everyone...!" Raiha added.
Following Sakura's introduction, the other two gave their respective greetings. This prompted everyone, including Yugo, to observe them more closely.
First was Sakura. With a resolute and dignified bearing reminiscent of a samurai, she was quite tall for a girl. Most students agreed that her combination of height and an excellent figure would likely make her popular with both boys and girls alike.
Then there was Setsuna. Her striking white hair stood in stark contrast to the others, and she possessed a unique, elusive atmosphere that made her difficult to read. However, her refined features were undeniably beautiful, and Yugo suspected she would be just as popular once she settled in.
Finally, there was Raiha, whose voice and expression were clearly strained by nerves. She was the smallest of the three—tiny, even compared to other girls her age. Between her small stature and her jittery aura, she gave off the impression of a frightened small animal. Her long, asymmetrical bangs hid her right eye, but despite her petite frame, one particular part of her boasted a significant size, drawing several rude stares from the boys.
"We have been blessed with the opportunity to learn many things in a foreign land," Sakura continued. "It is only natural that we wish to deepen our bond with the students of another country. Through Lady Lamy's arrangements, we have been granted this opportunity—though perhaps a bit flamboyant—to witness everyone's true strength. To put it simply, it is an... au... au...?"
"An audition, right?" Setsuna interjected.
"Yes, yes, that's it! It feels somewhat presumptuous for us to be in a position of judgment, but I intend to enjoy this as a perfect opportunity to witness the prowess of Luminous Academy's finest!"
Setsuna’s sharp correction cut through Sakura’s fumbling. Sakura laughed heartily before her expression shifted into one of intense focus.
"...Of course, we do not intend to simply sit back and watch. As the saying goes, one should introduce themselves before asking another's name. Therefore, before we witness your strength, we shall first demonstrate our own. Lady Lamy, if you please."
"Of course! Leave it to me! Now... Summoning Magic, activate!"
At Sakura's signal, Lamy triggered her spell, and over a dozen monsters materialized within the practice ground. The three girls moved into the designated combat area, checking in with one another as they prepared for battle.
"Setsuna, Raiha, are you ready?"
"Naturally. Let’s get this over with."
"Ahaha... I’m still a little nervous, but okay..."
As they spoke, all three reached for their school uniform jackets.
While Yugo watched with mounting curiosity, they whipped the garments off and threw them into the air. Suddenly, their bodies were engulfed in a blinding radiance.
"Eek?! W-What is this?!" Melt cried out in confusion.
"Oh? Ooh! No way, is this...!" Yugo’s voice was thick with anticipation.
The boys stared, transfixed, as the light clung to the Warrior Shrine Maidens' silhouettes, accentuating their forms before shifting and hardening. Each pulse of light transformed their appearance.
Their leather shoes became Combat Tabi; their knee-length miniskirts were replaced by flowing Red Hakama that covered their legs; their shirts transformed into White Vestments. It was a spectacle straight out of a magical girl's transformation sequence. Yugo’s eyes sparkled with pure excitement as the three Warrior Shrine Maidens finalized their change into Battle Attire and lunged toward the monsters Lamy had summoned.