Chapter 13 Your Pro Wizard Names

Arata picked up a stack of papers from his desk.

"Your Pro Wizard names! Every one of you will now think of the name you will go by as a Pro Wizard. Fill out the paper and get it to me. After that, we head straight to the training grounds. Let’s make this quick — and please, for the love of all things sane, no names that’ll get us sued by the media department. Begin!”

Tetsuo, went first. He dropped his paper on the desk.

“Kinetic, huh? Straightforward, simple, to the point. I like it. You might actually get brand deals with that one.”

Yami went next.

"And your pro wizard's name is Voidstrike. Of course it is. Very edgy. Very middle school. Approved."

Himura, the nature user, approached next. Arata glanced at his paper.

“‘Nature Call.’ Wait—what?”

“It’s about answering the call of nature!” he said proudly.

Arata pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Right. Maybe… maybe rethink that one before the pro license goes public. Moving on.”

Next was Enji Kagari, bursting with confidence. He slapped his paper down.

“Pro wizard name: Heatobursto-samada!”

Arata looked at him over his coffee cup, unimpressed.

 “…Alright, Heatburst it is. NEXT!”

Enji smirked, pointing both thumbs at himself. 

“Damn right it is.”

Then came Shota. Quiet, hands in pockets, he walked up with his usual depressed face.

 “'Ultra Extra?’ That’s your pro wizard's name?”

"Yeah. Sounds kinda cool, right?”

“Honestly… it fits. Ultra Extra it is.”

Finally, Mirai Osanai walked up, blonde curls bouncing, eyes glittering with pride. She placed her paper.

“Red Ruby. Also known as Miss R.R.?”

Mirai winked, posing slightly. 

“Is it not a good name, sensei~?”

Arata sighed but smiled. 

“No, Osanai. I think it fit's you well. Alright, Miss Red Ruby — approved.”

With the last one to name themself Arata looked up at the class.

“Well, congratulations. You all officially have pro wizard names. Whether the public takes you seriously… that’s another matter. Now! Everyone to the training room!”

-----------------

Training room echoed with the sound of distant, frustrated explosions. As Shota and Mirai entered, a couple of other students hurried past, whispering.

"...been like this all week..."
"...blasting everything to slag... dangerous to even be near him..."

It didn't take long. A shout echoed off the walls.

"HEY! TRASH ULTRA EXTRA! OSANAI!"

Enji stormed towards them, his face twisted in fury and frustration, his clenched fists on fire. He planted himself in front of them.

"What the hell happened that day?! When that damn shadow attacked, who the hell defeated it?! Only you two were standing the last thing I saw!"

 He jabbed a finger at Shota. 

"This ultra trash extra was pissing himself in his barrier, I doubt he did anything about it! It must have been you, Osanai! How the hell did you do it?! Even my Blue Flame was a joke to it! It was a damn B-tier evil force! Not only that, but they also say you unlocked a Battle Dress?! Before me?! Me, who can use Blue Flame?! And I don't have my battle armor yet?! This can't be happening! Explain, Osanai! How did you get so strong?!"

Mirai tilted her head, a slow, playful smile spreading across her lips.

"Hey, hey, Enji-kun~? Are you maybe... jealous? Feeling a little left behind?"

 She tapped a finger on her chin. 

"Mmm, maybe you just need to train a little more."

"Damn it! Answer the question! Did you kill the shadow?!"

"Hmmm, well, I don't remember. Maybe your Blue Flame did it. What was it you screamed... the name of your flimsy little attack? Oh yes, yes. It was something like this."

Before Enji could process the insult, Mirai's took a dramatic, exaggerated step back, thrust her palm forward, and twisted her face in a perfect, screeching imitation of his rage.

"SUPAAAA ATOMIC FIREBALL DYNAMITO EXPLOSION BURSTOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" her voice cracked with the same desperate intensity he had used, her body trembling with the effort of her mockery.

She then immediately dropped the act, returning to her sweet, smiling self as if nothing had happened. 

"It was something silly like that, right? So loud. So... extra. Haha!"

 She gestured around the training room, which still showed the scars of his previous rampage.

 "Just look around you! You're still doing it! It's so... you, Enji-kun."

A low growl rumbled in Enji's chest. The air around him shimmered with intense heat.

"Osanai..." he seethed through gritted teeth, "You will regret mocking me. You will see. I will surpass you. I will surpass all of you. Just you wait!"

His burning gaze, full of wounded pride and fury, then snapped to Shota, who had been standing as still and silent as a ghost throughout the entire exchange.

"Hey! Ultra Extra! You! You're coming with me! I need something to burn! These damn training dummies are trash! They burn too easy! Your useless barrier is the perfect target for my growth! Let's see how long it can last when I'm not holding back!"

Mirai’s playful smile vanished, wiped away as if it had never been there. Her hand landed down on Enji’s shoulder. Her pretty fingers dug into his muscle with painful strength that made him flinch.

"Hey, hey, Enji-kun~? Who said you can order around my Sho-kun? Hmmmmm~?"

She leaned in closer that only he could hear.

 "It would seem that you fail to understand, that Sho-kun is mine to play with. He belongs to me, and only me. Not yours. Not anyone else's. And I don't share. Go and find yourself a different toy to play with. Sho-kun is mine."

"Now, now, Mirai-chan. It's alright."

Both of them turned to look at Shota. He had raised his hands in a gesture of calm surrender, his expression as blank and earnest as ever.

"Mirai-chan, I know I promised you we would train together, but it's fine. I can help Enji-kun train. Actually, this is good. Both of you can attack me at the same time. I need to grow stronger, and I couldn't ask for better partners than this. I need to get my magic power up, and using my barrier against strong attacks is the best way."

He offered them a small, sincere nod, completely missing the layers of rivalry, obsession, and hatred swirling around him.

"Thank you both for helping me out so much. And if attacking my barrier will help anyone get stronger, I am more than happy to help. So don't fight, you two."

Mirai released Enji with a slight shove, her sweet smile snapping back into place as if a switch had been flipped. She threw her arms around Shota's neck, squeezing him tightly.

"You're so kind! So lovely, my Sho-kun! Always thinking of others~! But only this time, okay? He can only play with you for a little while!"

Enji let out a sharp grunt.

"Yeah. Fine. Whatever. As long as I get to burn you. Now get over here! I won't stop until I'm dead on the floor or I burned you to death!"

--------------

Several hours later, the training room looked like a warzone. The walls were melted and scarred with deep holes from shattered steel drills. The ceiling was peppered with broken-off steel drills, just stuck there. The floor was a patchwork of molten slag and craters. The only pristine spot was a perfect circle in the center, where Shota had stood.

The three of them were slumped in chairs, spent. Enji was pale, his hands resting on his knees—pink, burnt, and trembling. He couldn't even curl his fingers. He had poured every ounce of his being into his Blue Flame attacks, and the barrier hadn't so much as flickered.

Shota was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily. While his barrier had remained unbroken, the sheer mental and magical strain of maintaining it for so long had drained his already small mana reserves. He was on his last legs.

Mirai was steaming—but not from exhaustion. A light, happy steam seemed to rise from her, a physical manifestation of her euphoria. She was soaked in sweat, her hair clinging to her face, but her eyes were bright with a adoration. She deliberately sat close to Shota, fanning her collar and venting her cleavage towards him.

"Oh my, my," she said as she subtly angled her body to give him a clearer view down her soaked, clinging top. 

"I am soaked... and all sticky. You sure did work me hard, Sho-kun. I can barely stand after our little fun."

"Yeah. This was a great workout. I can feel my magic power growing. Thank you both, for sticking with me until you were completely worn out."

 "You're welcome, Sho-kun. Any time."

 She forced her trembling legs to stand, swaying slightly.

 "I think I will hit the shower now; I need to cool off a bit. You were just too lovely today, Sho-kun. See you in a while~!"

As she shuffled out, Enji finally lifted his head, his eyes burning with a fresh, simmering frustration. He looked from his own burnt, useless hands to Shota and then to the apocalyptic devastation surrounding that one, untouched circle.