Preparing for the Impossible

Rei walked into the room, balancing a tray of food.

The aroma filled the air, softening the tension that had been lingering since last night.

Enshin’s eyes widened.

“I spoke with your… yok, your robot. He said you built him yourself?”

Rei shrugged, a small smile on his face.

“Yeah. We don’t have much money, so I create most of the gadgets I need.”

“That’s… impressive.”

Then Enshin’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Kaitsuki.

“But there’s one thing I still don’t get. How… how did the rabbit disappear into the hat? And the smoke?”

Rei tilted his head, a sly smile playing on his lips.

“Watch closely,” he said casually.

He crouched slightly and spoke softly to Kaitsuki.

“Return to the hat… but no smoke this time, okay?”

“Yes, sir,” the rabbit replied, obedient.

In an instant, Kaitsuki leapt above the hat, curling into a perfect ball. It dropped into the brim, vanishing before Enshin’s eyes.

Enshin blinked.

Where did it go?

Rei gestured toward the hat.

“Try putting your hand inside.”

Tentatively, Enshin reached in.

His fingers brushed against something… unexpected. The interior wasn’t as it seemed. The hat’s outside appeared larger than its inside, hiding a compartment.

Enshin’s eyes widened.

“Clever,” he muttered, a grin breaking across his face.

The exorcist paused, studying him. Then he leaned closer.

“Listen… I know you’re just a regular—”

“A what?” Rei interrupted, raising an eyebrow.

“A human without magic,” Enshin said, exhaling slowly.

“But I want you to participate in the tournament.”

Rei froze. He gripped the tray tighter, his knuckles whitening.

“The magic tournament? Full of powerful people… like the demons that attacked us?”

Enshin nodded.

“Yes. But they won’t try to kill you like them.”

“How could I win?” Rei blurted out.

“I’m just an illusionist… I know a few tricks, that’s all.”

“I’m sure you’ll manage,” Enshin said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“And you can count on Kaitsuki, right?”

Rei lowered his head and bowed slightly.

“Thanks… for everything you did. But I can’t.”

Enshin stepped forward, desperation in his voice.

“I understand it’s scary. But I promise to protect you. Please.”

Rei hesitated, his eyes searching Enshin’s.

“Why? Why do you want me so much?”

“The demons… they could cancel magic,” Enshin lowered his voice.

“You, your skills with gadgets, might be the only way to stop a disaster if that happens.”

Rei’s stomach twisted.

He sank slightly to his knees, the weight of fear and guilt pressing down.

“I can give you some gadgets… but … sorry , I still can’t participate.”

Enshin shook his head, stubborn.

“It would really be better if you came with me. If something happens… maybe you could create something on the spot.”

Rei’s head sank even lower. His fingers clutched the edge of the tray, trembling.

“I’m sorry… it’s too dangerous. If I… if I died… my mother…” Rei’s voice cracked.

Enshin froze.

His mother…

Then his eyes widened.

“Wait. I forgot to tell you, one of the rewards is a rare healing potion. It can cure any disease.”

Rei’s eyes widened.

He stepped closer, voice trembling with hope , almost knocking the tray.

“Really? It can save my mother?”

“Yes,” Enshin said, nodding.

“But first… you need to win.”

Rei straightened, fists clenching. Determination lit his face, fire in his eyes replacing the fear.

“Don’t worry,” Rei said suddenly.

“I will.”

Enshin blinked. Then a small, teasing smile curved his lips.

“Oh?”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

Rei froze.

“…Hm.”

He scratched his cheek, eyes drifting to the side.

“I don’t know yet.”

Enshin raised an eyebrow.

“But,” Rei added quickly, words tumbling out, “if I knew the trials… and the powers of the other candidates… maybe I could prepare something”

Enshin hummed.

“The trials, I can’t help with,” he said slowly.

“But the candidates… maybe.”

He pulled out his phone.

Rei watched, curious, as Enshin dialed a number.

The call connected almost instantly.

“Oh? Enshin?”

The voice on the other end sounded surprised. Pleased.

“Did you finally find your tenth candidate?”

“Yes,” Enshin replied.

“A young boy. Very talented.”

Rei flinched at that.

“But that’s not why I’m calling,” Enshin continued.

“Do you have the list of all the candidates for the tournament?”

A short pause.

“Only Tokyo’s,” the director said. “Why?”

“I have a bad feeling,” Enshin answered.

“Can you trust me on this and try to get the full list? All sixty candidates.”

This time, the pause was longer.

“I’m sorry,” the director said at last.

“Only the organizer has access to that. The King of Mahōjima himself. That list contains information on our best exorcists. If it fell into the wrong hands ...”

“I understand,” Enshin said calmly.

“Thank you anyway.”

He was about to hang up when—

“Oh!” the director added.

“Don’t forget to send the photo of your candidate. Tonight.”

“Yes, yes,” Enshin replied.

“I will.”

The call ended.

Enshin turned to Rei.

“Sorry, kid. Looks like I can’t help you.”

Rei shook his head.

“It’s okay,” he said.

“I have an idea.”

Enshin’s eyes widened, curiosity sparking as he leaned forward slightly.

“…Oh?”

“And what would that be?”

Rei’s eyes sparkled. Just a little.  Mischievous. Sharp.

“He said you need to send a picture, right?”

“Yes…?” Enshin replied, already confused.

“I’ll put a malware in the email,” Rei continued casually.

“When they click the picture, I get access to the server. After that, I just hack the password.”

Silence.

“…I didn’t understand everything,” Enshin admitted slowly.

“But you’re saying… if I send a picture… you can get the list?”

“That’s right.”

Enshin stared at him, eyes wide. A small, impressed smile tugged at his lips.

I knew it… I made the right choice.

They took the picture. Filled the form. Sent the email.

Then they waited.

One minute. Five. Ten.

They both leaned forward, eyes glued on the screen.

Enshin’s fingers drummed impatiently on the table.

“How long does it usually take?” he asked, a hint of frustration in his voice.

Rei started, “That depends… how quickly they open the—”

“…Got it,” he muttered, as the screen flickered and the data appeared.

Enshin’s eyes widened. A grin spread across his face.

“Finally”

The young magician’s fingers flew across the keyboard.

White lines of code spilled over the black screen like a waterfall. Folders popped open. Windows stacked, vanished, reappeared.

Enshin watched, completely lost.

“Wow, everything happens so fast” he whispered.

Ten minutes later .

“Finally,” Rei said, grinning.

“I got the list.”

Enshin’s eyes widened.

“Seriously?”

“You succeeded?”

“Of course,” Rei replied.

“I build robots. Hacking a server is easy.”

Then he glanced at the screen again.

“By the way,” he added, deadpan.

“Your security really sucks.”

Enshin laughed under his breath.

Strong enough to fight yokai. But apparently… weak to protect their data.

Rei stared at the file on the screen.

Names. Photos. Abilities.

“So…” he muttered, scrolling. “If I know what they can do, I can build something to counter them.”

Enshin nodded.

“Good. That’s exactly how you should think.”

He paused.

Then he straightened.

“But before we work on a plan,” Enshin added, “there’s something you need to understand about magic.”

Rei blinked.

“Magic ? Isn’t it simple?” he said. “You think of a spell and BOOM you launch it”

Enshin winced.

“…Sorry, kid.”

He shook his head.

“It’s not like in manga.”

Rei frowned.

“Oh.”

“It’s a little more complicated than that.” Enshin leaned back against the chair, rubbing his temples.

“Back then,” he continued, “exorcists were monsters.”

Rei blinked.

“Monsters… in a good way right?”

Enshin smirked.

“Right. They could summon storms. Create fire from nothing. Bend reality like in old legends.”

He paused.

“But that was before the world changed.”

He pulled a small lighter from his pocket.

CLICK

A weak flame appeared.

“Modern humans lost something,” Enshin continued. 

“Technology grew. Magic shrank.”

Rei watched closely.

“Nowadays, we don’t create elements anymore,” Enshin said.

“We borrow them.”

He reached toward the flame.

The fire trembled… then lifted.

It slid from the lighter into his palm, floating there like a living thing.

Rei’s eyes widened.

The flame grew taller. Sharper. It twisted, changing shape at Enshin’s will.

“This is control,” the exorcist said. “Not creation.”

He snapped his fingers.

The flame vanished.

Enshin held up the lighter again.

“No lighter. No fire.”

He sighed.

“Mana is human energy. The more you have, the stronger your spells.”

“But without an object to start with…”

He closed his hand.

“I’m powerless.”

Rei stayed silent.

Then, slowly, his eyes lit up with realization.

“So… exorcists are kind of like me.”

Enshin looked at him.

“I mean,” Rei continued, thinking out loud, “you rely on tools. I rely on gadgets. Different worlds. Same logic.”

A small smile appeared on his face.

For the first time since the tournament was mentioned…

Rei didn’t feel small. He felt… compatible.

“Maybe,” he said quietly, “I really can win this.”

Enshin watched him, surprised.

Then he smiled .

“Alright,” Enshin said, stretching. “Let’s work on a strategy so you can win.”

The boy nodded.

The night passed in quiet intensity.

They sketched ideas, whispered plans, and tested small gadgets. Sparks flickered, papers shuffled, mechanisms clicked.

Enshin, exhausted and still sore from his injuries, finally slumped in his chair.

Sleep finally claimed him.

Rei didn’t stop.

He worked until everything was ready, carefully packing his backpack with the gadgets he would need.

Only then did he lean back and drift into a light sleep at his desk.

Afternoon sunlight poured through the window.

Enshin stirred, blinking against the light, and slowly sat up.

His eyes fell on his watch.

Panic flashed across his face.

“Crap! We overslept!”

Rei groaned, rubbing his eyes.

“Rei, wake up! If you aren’t ready in 30 minutes, we’ll miss the boat and won’t be able to participate in the tournament!”

The young magician scrambled, grabbing his backpack.

The race against time had begun.