To become a king and a magician

2. Who is that familiar transfer student?

Class C, Grade 2, of the former private Suiqun High School.

This is the class that Natsukawa Tora and Sajo Aika are in now. Both of them are in the second to last row of the classroom. Natsukawa Tora's seat is by the window, while Sajo Aika's seat is to his right.

Since Natsukawa Tora transferred to Sajo Ayaka's class ten years ago, the two have always been in the same position. Whether in elementary school or high school, their positions have never changed after each class or seating arrangement.

In addition, the two have been neighbors and childhood friends for ten years... In a sense, this can be considered a kind of destiny. Occasionally, Natsukawa Torato would wonder if he would be with Sajou Aika for the rest of his life.

(Well, that's impossible, isn't it? We don't even know if we'll get into the same university.)

In terms of academic performance, Xia Chuanhu is not very good, only above average. His ranking in the grade usually stays around 40th, as if he has taken root there and does not move.

In contrast, Ayaka Sajou is a top-notch student, always ranking first in her grade in every exam, and is simply not on the same level as Natsukawa Tora.

Such a difference in academic ability basically determined that the two would not be admitted to the same school.

(I'm a junior in high school now, and there's still more than a year until the college entrance exam. Should I start cramming and working my ass off?)

The moment Xia Chuanhu put down his schoolbag and sat down in the chair, he decisively abandoned this idea.

(No, forget it, I can't muster any motivation... I'll just give up.)

Xia Chuanhu had a clear plan for his life: after graduating from high school, he would go to a decent ordinary university to study archaeology, and after studying there for a few years, he would start a life of traveling all over the world, just like his parents—that's what his family wanted him to do.

Xia Chuanhu had no objection to his parents' arrangements. It was good that he didn't have to think about his future. Like most people in his class, he still hadn't found something he wanted to do. He had just casually filled out the career path survey form before submitting it.

It's not that Natsukawa Tora lacks his own will. He had tried joining some clubs before, such as the soccer club, basketball club, archery club... but none of them could motivate him. No matter what he did, he always had a feeling of "I shouldn't be doing this."

A sense of emptiness, and a feeling of being lost in the fog, not knowing where the road leads—this feeling accompanied Natsukawa Tora at all times.

Only when he's with Aika Sajou does this feeling somewhat lessen. In a way, Natsukawa Tora really enjoys spending time with Aika Sajou.

Thinking of this, Natsukawa Tora habitually propped his chin up and looked at Sajou Aika at the next table.

"Tiger?"

Realizing her childhood friend was staring at her, Ayaka Sajou blushed slightly: "Why are you looking at me like that again? You stare at me like that every day... Is there something on my face?"

"No, I just want to look at you like this. How should I put it... it makes me feel at ease."

"Ugh... Don't say that all of a sudden."

With her cheeks flushed, Aika Sajou quickly turned her head away and picked up a textbook to block Natsukawa Tora's view. Seeing this, Natsukawa Tora also looked away. Watching this scene that played out every morning, the other students in the class all smiled knowingly and then moved away from the two of them, tacitly making room for them.

Natsukawa Torato and Sajou Aika are quite famous at school, not because of their exam scores, but because of their appearance and how they get along.

A blond handsome guy and a blond beautiful girl, such a combination would be the most eye-catching wherever they go, not to mention that the two are childhood sweethearts. Not to mention at school, even off school, students often witness the two going out together.

Sometimes they're seen shopping together at the supermarket, sometimes watching a movie together at the cinema, and sometimes even moving into each other's homes and leaving together the next morning.

When rumors like these circulated, the school would be in an uproar for quite a while every day.

Of course, that's completely gone now. You can tell from the reactions of the students around you that they've all gotten used to it.

As the bell for the morning assembly rang in the school, an extremely urgent sound, like a 100-meter sprint, suddenly came from outside the classroom, followed by a figure leaping into the classroom!

Good morning, everyone!

"Fujimura-sensei, can you please not rush in? You're going to break the door frame sooner or later."

Taiga Fujimura, the homeroom teacher of Class C, is also a graduate of Homurahara Academy. Although his teaching abilities are undeniable, he is a comedic individual who is like a child... except when he is serious.

Faced with his classmates' teasing, Fujimura Taiga simply put his hands on his hips and said quite generously, "If you break it, just squeeze it back together and fix it!"

"Does the average person have that kind of strength?"

"Make up for what's lacking with courage and spirit!"

"You're as energetic as ever, Fujimura-sensei." Sajou Aika chuckled softly as she watched Fujimura Taiga start gesturing wildly again.

Xia Chuanhu shrugged: "Haven't she always been like this? She may be a bit noisy, but thankfully the atmosphere in our class has always been very good."

"That's true."

"Alright! Class meeting officially begins! Some of you probably already know! Starting today, our class will be joined by a super cute transfer student from England! Please get along well with her! Don't be too enthusiastic and scare her away!"

"Teacher, you're the one who shouldn't be so enthusiastic. You're the only one who might scare the new students away."

"That's right, that's right."

"These words have no credibility whatsoever coming from a tiger."

"Don't call me a tiger!!"

After a brief moment of agitation, Fujimura Taiga immediately put on a different face and said to the door, "Alright! Come in, come in, Pendragon!"

"Click—"

As Fujimura Taiga's voice faded, a somewhat slender figure walked into the classroom from outside.

As Fujimura Taiga said, she was an "extremely cute" girl with blonde hair, green eyes, and a very pretty face, even possessing a delicate and handsome quality reminiscent of a beautiful young boy.

Not only the boys, but even the girls in the class blushed slightly and covered their mouths.

"Hello everyone, I'm a transfer student from the UK named Artoria Pendragon. I moved to Fuyuki City because of family work and will be attending school here from now on. Please take good care of me."

Artoria Pendragon.

Upon hearing the name, Natsukawa Tora frowned.

(This name... I feel like I've heard it somewhere before?)

3. Who wants to go there?

Natsukawa Tiger was certain that he had never met Artoria Pendragon before today. Let alone a formal meeting, he had never even had a chance encounter with her on the street.

However, the moment I saw her and heard her say my name, a strange sense of familiarity suddenly welled up from the depths of my heart.

It was as if he and she were very familiar with each other.

"Tiger?"

Noticing that Natsukawa Tora was staring intently at Artoria on the podium, Sajou Aika poked him with her finger: "Why are you staring at Pendragon-kun like that?"

"Um...it's nothing, I was just thinking about some things."

"Thinking about something? What is it?"

"It's just some small thing. I guess I'm overthinking it. Maybe it's because I had that dream again last night, which made me start to overthink things. I'm sorry."

Upon hearing Natsukawa Tora's words, Sajou Aika withdrew her hand: "That's good. If you really feel unwell, remember to tell me, and I'll accompany you to the infirmary to rest, or I can leave early."

"It's not that serious, you can rest assured."

As if to comfort Ayaka Sajou, Natsukawa Tora gently winked at her, and this small gesture instantly dispelled all of Ayaka Sajou's worries.

"Well, then I'm relieved."

"Well then, after the self-introductions, it's time to assign seats to Pendragon. Let me see... there's only one empty seat left in the class, behind the tiger!"

Fujimura Taiga's impassioned voice immediately drew Natsukawa Tora and Sajo Aika's attention away from their little antics.

With a somewhat helpless sigh, Natsukawa Tora looked at the podium: "Fujimura-sensei, I don't like people calling me Tiger either."

"Who told you to have this name? Just accept it, Tiger! Pendragon can sit down now—oh, and by the way, Tiger, you can show Pendragon around the school later!"

"Yes, I understand."

As he agreed, Natsukawa Torama looked at Artoria, who had already walked to the empty seat behind him and sat down: "Nice to meet you, Pendragon-kun. I'm Natsukawa Torama. If you're familiar with the school... would it be alright during lunch break later?"

"Yes, thank you for your help, Mi... Natsukawa-kun."

Was she trying to use a different name just now?

Xia Chuanhu frowned slightly, but only for a moment before he stopped paying attention to it.

Meanwhile, Sajou Aika tugged at Natsukawa Torato's finger: "If you're familiar with the campus, do you want me to come with you, Torato?"

"No need, I can manage on my own. A lunch break is more than enough."

For new transfer students, there are only a few places to familiarize themselves with—the infirmary, storage room, cafeteria, club activity room, and teachers' offices. The rest can be learned little by little during the journey to class.

"Alright! This morning meeting is over! Let's get ready for the first class!"

——————————————————————————————————————

The courses at Homurahara Academy—or rather, Japanese courses—were not very demanding. The three morning classes quickly ended as Natsukawa Tora was lost in thought and dazed.

Taking a lunchbox out of her bag, Aika Sajou said to Torama Natsukawa, "Then I'll go to the rooftop and wait for you, Torama."

Sajou Aika prepares lunchboxes for two, and they eat together on the school rooftop every day at noon, then stay there until the lunch break ends. This has always been how the two of them spend their lunch breaks at school.

Nodding to her and watching her leave the classroom, Natsukawa Torama turned to Artoria, who was still sitting in her seat, and said, "Then let's go too, Pendragon. I'll show you around the school."

"Okay, thank you for your help."

"It's nothing. I was a transfer student before, just like you. Since we're both transfer students, it's only natural for a senior to help a junior," Natsukawa Tora said with a smile. "Let me think about it. In terms of distance... how about we go to the cafeteria first? You must be hungry, right?"

"canteen!"

The single ahoge (cowlick) on Artoria's head instantly stood straight up!

To be honest, she was indeed a little hungry.

"No, let's go to the cafeteria later, Natsukawa-kun. Can I take up some of your time?"

"Huh?" Natsukawa Tora tilted his head. "It's possible... what's wrong?"

"Actually, I have something I want to tell you, and it would be best to find a place where there aren't many people... behind the teaching building, would you like to come with me? It should only take five or six minutes."

We need to go behind the teaching building to talk about something.

Involuntarily, scenes from light novels he had read before surfaced in Natsukawa Torato's mind—a beautiful transfer student who suddenly appears, the protagonist's inexplicable sense of familiarity, things he wanted to discuss discreetly...

(No way...)

.......

Inside the corridor leading from the teaching building to the rooftop.

"Huh? Are you alone today, Sajou-kun?"

The other students in the corridor were surprised to see Aika Sajou appear alone—at this time of day, Aika Sajou would usually be accompanied by Torato Natsukawa.

It's no exaggeration to say that very few people in the school have ever seen the two of them acting alone.