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 tugging at his lips.

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

“That’s… impressive.”

Enshin paused, frowning slightly, eyes locked on the boy. 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. His fingers clenched around the tray, knuckles white. Heart pounding.

“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. A tiny tremor ran through his hands. “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 your rabbit, right?”

Rei lowered his head and bowed slightly, shoulders tense.

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

Enshin stepped forward, his jaw tight, voice cracking slightly with desperation.

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

Rei hesitated, eyes darting around, searching Enshin’s for a clue.

“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 can’t participate.”

Enshin shook his head, thumb brushing his temple.

“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 lower, eyes glistening, fingers trembling on the tray.

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

Enshin froze , his eyebrows rose.

His mother…

Then a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

“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, almost knocking the tray.

“Really? It can save my mother?”

“Yes,” Enshin said, nodding slowly. “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 let out a long sigh.

“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 and Rei watched, curious, as Enshin dialed a number.

Beep-beep.

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,” he 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, I will” Enshin replied.

The call ended and the exorcist turned to Rei.

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

Rei shook his head.

“It’s okay,I have an idea.”

“…Oh? And what would that be?” Enshin asked, a small teasing smile tugging at his lips.

Rei’s eyes sparkled. Mischievous. Sharp.

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

“Yes…?” Enshin asked, brow slightly furrowed, already confused.

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

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

Silence hung between them.

“…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.

Click.

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. Fingers tapping, thumping, drumming impatiently.

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

“That depends… how quickly they open the—”

“…Got it,” Rei muttered, his fingers flying over the keys, as the screen flickered and the data appeared.

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

“Finally”

Rei’s fingers flew across the keyboard.

Clack-clack-clack!

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, I got the list” Rei said, grinning.

Enshin’s eyes widened.

“Seriously? You succeeded?”

“Of course,” Rei replied. “I build robots. Hacking a server is easy.”

He paused, glancing at the screen.

“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. Everything he needed was there.

“Perfect, now that I know what they can do, I can make something to beat 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, eyebrows raised

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

Enshin shook his head

“…Sorry, kid. It’s not like in manga. It’s a little more complicated than that.”

Rei frowned. “Oh?”

The exorcist leaned back against the chair, rubbing his temples, letting out a soft sigh.

“Back then, exorcists were monsters. They could summon storms. Create fire from nothing. Bend reality like in old legends.”

He paused.

He paused. “But that was before. Technology grew. Magic shrank. And now…”

He pulled a small lighter from his pocket.

CLICK.

A weak flame flickered, dancing and trembling in the air. He lifted it into his palm.

“We don’t create elements anymore. We borrow them.”

He snapped his fingers and the flame vanished.

“Without my lighter … I’m powerless.”

Rei stayed silent. Then slowly, eyes lighting up, fingers curling slightly on the desk, he murmured,

“So… exorcists are kind of like me. You rely on tools. I rely on gadgets. Same logic.”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“Maybe I really can win this.”

Enshin watched, eyebrows raised, then smiled softly.

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

The boy nodded, eyes focused, fingers twitching with excitement.

The night passed in quiet intensity.

They sketched ideas, whispered plans, and tested small gadgets. Sparks flickered. Papers rustled. Tiny clicks echoed as mechanisms moved.

Enshin, exhausted and still sore from his injuries, finally slumped back in his chair, letting out a soft groan.

Sleep claimed him.

Rei didn’t stop.

He worked until everything was ready, carefully stuffing gadgets into his backpack, double-checking each one.

Only then did he lean back, letting his head drop onto the desk, eyes closing in light sleep.

Sunlight poured through the window.

Enshin bolted upright, eyes wide, heart racing.

“Crap! We overslept!”

Rei groaned, rubbing his eyes. “Ugh… morning already?”

“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, backpack slung over his shoulder, gadgets rattling.

Thump! Thump!

His feet pounded across the floor.

The race against time had begun.