Magic Abyss So Far

Akira had survived many things in the last seventy-two hours. A Rift Beast attack. A magical binding ritual with a near-nude catgirl. A "spirit bath" that ended with Kurumi glowing like a human light bulb in his arms.

But none of that prepared him for the humiliation of walking into school with both girls flanking him like bodyguards.

Kurumi, dressed crisply in her school uniform, arms crossed and eyes narrow, walked stiffly at his right. Her lips were a thin line of repressed emotion, and her cheeks still bore the faintest tinge of pink. The events of the night had clearly left her rattled, but her death glare was in full effect for anyone who so much as glanced at Akira.

On his left was Sera Rymer—now miraculously enrolled in their school as a third-year transfer student. She'd traded her usual oversized hoodie for a modified uniform blouse that was unbuttoned just low enough to threaten school dress code violations. Her skirt was a full three centimeters shorter than regulation. The cat ears atop her head twitched with glee as she clung to Akira's arm like an overly affectionate girlfriend.

"Stop touching me," he hissed through gritted teeth.

"But you're so warm," she purred. "And clingy cuddling helps regulate mana channels. Don't you want me at peak magical performance?"

"You're not performing anything in public!" Akira snapped, pulling his arm away.

Kurumi shot Sera a venomous look. "Try clinging to him like that again and I'll rip those ears off."

"Oh? Jealous already, Third Star?" Sera smirked, tail swaying behind her.

Kurumi's eyes twitched. "You flashed me last night and called it a ceremony. I'm not in the mood."

"You enjoyed it." Sera winked.