Feelings Like A Magic Barrier

The morning light glinted off Takao’s spear as he dashed through the Dusk forest, dodging trees as he tailed Sumire’s blurred form. She moved at incredible speed, her feet barely seemed to touch the ground, yet Takao found himself keeping pace with her. They entered a clearing, and he swiped at Sumire with his spear. She parried, and summoned stone spikes to block him. He leapt high, cresting the spikes and thrusting down at her. She parried again, and skidded to a halt. Takao landed expertly and launched a renewed assault. Sumire fought back with sword and magic, but Takao kept pressuring her. He was sure he had her this time when he fell for a feint, and was suddenly empty-handed and flat on the ground with a sword at his chest.

“I think— that’s enough— for today.” Sumire panted.

She magically stowed her sword, then gave Takao a hand up.

“I thought I had you that time.” He said as he dusted himself off and retrieved his spear.

“I was going easy on you— You’ll need a hundred years more training— before you beat me.” She boasted, but while still trying to catch her breath.

“Are you okay? Is it the woman in black?” Takao asked concerned. He scouted the treeline, but didn’t spot anything.

“I’m fine. More importantly! I was using magic, and you still kept up with me, so you must have been using magic too. What did you use? Enhancement? Wind?”

Takao thought for a moment, remembering the feeling of moving fast and nimble through the forest.

“Uh— Neither— I think. I didn’t actually do anything. I was just trying to copy your movements, and somehow I kept up.”

Sumire groaned and sat down beneath a shady tree.

“Not this again! You did something! Think! Remember!” She commanded.

“I have no idea. I thought you were going to use your special sixth sense to see my magic or something.”

Sumire looked disgruntled.

“It’s called magic sense, and I tried.” She said irritably. “Whatever your magic is, it’s so faint that I couldn’t sense it through the residuals of my own.”

“Well— I guess if you say I did something, I must have. We’ll just keep practicing till we figure out what that something is.”

Sumire nodded, but looked less enthusiastic than usual. She was normally much more eager to investigate Takao’s mysterious hidden magic, and had never been daunted by their failures before.

“You sure you're okay? Nothing’s wrong?” Takao ventured.

Sumire gave him a side eye glare then, like the flip of a switch, her demeanor reversed.

“Everything’s fine!” She smiled. “I don’t know why you keep asking. I’m more worried about you and your coming date with Nanako. Do you have a plan yet?”

The sudden change in attitude and conversation left Takao feeling off balance and uncomfortable.

“Uh— yeah, I have a plan. We’re going to visit some of the shops around town, then go to a restaurant I know she likes for lunch. Then I was going to take her to Furegaki Pottery to get her a new pot, since she likes to grow plants in her apartment. Then—”

“Then you can go to the farm together and pick out a plant to go with the pot, and maybe get eaten by a gibba while you're at it.” Sumire remarked sarcastically.

Takao felt a prickling of irritation. He’d been trying to avoid the topic of his date. Why had Sumire brought it up if she was going to be annoyed by it?

“What’s going on with you?” Takao asked while doing a poor job of concealing his aggravation.

“Nothing! I’m just— hungry. I’m going to get some food.” She said and quickly rose from her tree and made to leave.

“And I’m going alone!” She snapped when Takao tried to follow her.

Takao stood frozen, watching as Sumire’s figure disappeared in the direction of town. A mixture of anger, sadness, and worry boiled inside him. He didn’t know whether he wanted to curse, cry, or follow her anyway. In the end, his anger won out, and he cursed as he continued his training alone.

Eventually, as dusk settled in, he wearily walked back to town and returned to his apartment, expecting Sumire to be there, but being disappointed. Her bed sat opposite his, making the small apartment feel crowded. There was barely room for the small table and set of chairs where they ate together, but Takao didn’t mind. Sumire always said it felt cozy and snug, anyway.

Takao stared at the space where he and Sumire had spent so much time together, until his growling stomach reminded him he was hungry. He opened the pantry and got out some ingredients before remembering he needed Sumire’s help to work the kitchen appliances. He settled for dry bread and cheese, and ate them alone. He’d always eaten alone before he met Sumire, so he expected himself to be used to it, but he still felt lonely. He and Sumire had spent nearly all their time together over the past month, yet only now that she was absent did he realize how much he enjoyed having her near.

Takao was lying awake in bed staring at the ceiling and mulling over potential conversations with Sumire when he finally heard the door open and Sumire enter. As Takao sat up, Sumire rushed to her bed and laid down, facing away from him. He turned to her, determined to find out what was going on, and only felt more determined when he saw the red, puffiness around her eyes.

“Sumire—” He began, but was immediately cut off when an opaque orange barrier erected itself around Sumire and her bed.

Takao’s mouth hung open, caught mid-word. Anger ignited in his chest, burning hot and turning his face red with indignation. He wanted to yell and pound on her barrier, but knew it would do no good. She wouldn’t be able to hear him, and he wouldn’t be able to break it.

He laid back on his bed, and turned away from Sumire, still fuming. As he turned out his bedside lamp, he promised himself one thing, Sumire would have to treat him to an expensive meal if she wanted his forgiveness.

Sumire’s Exposé!
Magic sense is a rare ability to sense the underlying properties of magic. It can identify unknown magics, detect the faint traces that magic leaves behind, and even discern information from those traces. Skilled users can even match residual traces to the caster.