Chapter 72: Idol Rivalry and Teacher Trouble

Morning sunlight poured through the Academy gates, but peace didn’t last long.
News spread like wildfire across the campus:

“Asuna Shiraiyuki is back!”

The announcement hit every corridor, every classroom, every dorm.
Students screamed, teachers sighed, and one particular girl in Class S crossed her arms with an annoyed click of her tongue.

“Tch… her again.”

Her name was Rinko Tachibana Ichigo—the gray-haired, blue-eyed prodigy who’d dominated every ranking since Asuna’s disappearance.

Now the queen had returned, and the throne was trembling.

Meanwhile, Kanata Tendou—now an official instructor—had just stepped onto campus when the sound of shutters exploded around him.

Rows of reporters and camera drones hovered near the front gate.
A black luxury car rolled to a stop.

And from within stepped a woman wrapped in elegance and light—
silver hair glinting, uniform modified with a white-gold trim.
Asuna Shiraiyuki.

“Asuna-san…” Kanata muttered, almost breathless.

The crowd roared.

She smiled, waved, and without hesitation, strode straight toward him.
Before he could react, her hand slipped into his.

Flash. Flash. Flash.

“Asuna-san! Who is this man?!” a reporter shouted.
“Is he your bodyguard?”

Asuna turned to the crowd with a radiant smile.
“Him? He’s my fiancé.”

The world froze.

“EEEEH?!”

Kanata nearly choked.
“A-Asuna-san, please don’t joke like that!”

“Who’s joking?” she said, still holding his hand tightly.
Cameras exploded in a frenzy as reporters screamed questions.

Kanata could only sigh in resignation.
So much for a quiet first day.

Later, in the staff room, Asuna leaned against Kanata’s desk, eyes curious.
“So, Sensei… what have you been doing these past five years?”

He leaned back, calm as ever.
“Traveling. Learning. Teaching an elf girl named Elyana.”

Asuna blinked.
“An elf? A girl elf?”

Before he could respond, Elyana peeked from the doorway, happily munching on a biscuit.
“Sensei taught me everything—including magic!”

Asuna’s eyebrow twitched.
“I see… so you’ve been teaching, huh? Did you also teach her… adult lessons?”

“A-Asuna-san! Stop thinking weird things!”

Elyana tilted her head innocently.
“Adult lessons?”

Kanata covered his face.
“We’re not having this conversation.”

Suddenly, a voice cut through the laughter.

“Asuna… so it’s true. You really came back.”

Everyone turned.
At the door stood Rinko Tachibana Ichigo, her blue eyes sharp as crystal blades.

Asuna smiled sweetly.
“Rinko-chan! It’s been ages!”

“For you, maybe,” Rinko replied coldly. “Some of us didn’t disappear in the middle of our careers.”

Kanata blinked.
“Wait, you two know each other?”

Asuna crossed her arms proudly.
“Oh, yes. She’s my old rival from the Idol Division.”

“Old rival?” Rinko snapped. “You mean the one you outshone in every ranking?”

“Maybe because I worked harder?”

“Or maybe because you stole the spotlight!”

The air thickened.
Both women glared, mana crackling faintly in the air.

Rinko’s temper finally snapped—she raised her hand, a magic circle forming in her palm.
But before the first spark flew—

“Enough.”

A calm, commanding voice echoed through the room.
Every student straightened instantly.

Celestine Aelvianne, the Headmistress, stepped in, eyes cold and composed.
“Rinko Tachibana, this is your only warning. Duels without authorization are forbidden.”

“H-Headmistress Celestine!” Rinko gasped, quickly bowing.

The tension dissolved as fast as it had come.

Kanata exhaled in relief.
“That could’ve gone worse…”

Far from the campus, in the command center of the Magic Reaction Specialist Unit,
Itsuha Kisaragi removed her officer’s coat, stretching her arms.

“So, the idiot finally came back, huh…” she muttered with a grin.
“Guess it’s time to see him again.”

Moments later, she was on her way to the Academy.

Back at the school courtyard, Rinko still fumed.
Her pride as both idol and witch burned too hot to contain.

“Asuna Shiraiyuki! I challenge you to a duel!”

Asuna tilted her head.
“Again? Didn’t we already do this in the finals five years ago?”

“This time, I’ll win!”

Then she turned to Kanata.
“And you—Sensei or whatever—you’re joining too!”

Kanata blinked.
“Me? Why me?!”

Celestine, sipping tea nearby, smiled slyly.
“Consider it part of your teaching method, Kanata-kun.”

Kanata sighed deeply.
“…I knew this job would be trouble.”

Asuna smirked, Rinko clenched her fists, and the air between them shimmered with magical tension.

The Brave Dragon’s new “class” had officially begun.