After the autumn culture festival had passed and winter’s chill began to creep in, the Academy announced a brand-new event.

“Next month, we’ll be holding our very first Sports Festival!”

Teacher Lorl’s declaration set the classroom buzzing.

“A sports festival? At a magic academy?”

“Yup! It’s meant to test the balance of magic and physical strength!”

At those words, I couldn’t help but smile.

For a magical girl, stamina mattered just as much as spells. And with the muscles I’d built from milk deliveries, this was my moment to shine.

The day arrived.

The schoolyard had been transformed into a full-on stadium—magical fields, mana barriers, even proper spectator stands.

“Mai, don’t push yourself too hard and get hurt…”

“Seriously, you’re the one saying that? Let’s both go all out!”

After the opening ceremony, events proceeded grade by grade.

Then came the afternoon’s highlight—

“The next event: the Select Relay Mana Obstacle Course!”

Rei and I had ended up on different teams.

For the first time, we were standing across from each other… as rivals.

At the starting signal, I surged forward, light flaring around me.

Rei, meanwhile, calmly spread a magic array, controlling the shortest possible path.

“No holding back!”

“…I know!”

We dashed through floating rocks, twisted wind mazes, and rushing water zones.

And at the final obstacle, we were neck and neck.

“Ready—go!”

We leapt at the same time, diving through the last ring—

“The result is… a tie!!”

The crowd erupted in cheers as I extended my hand.

“You did great!”

“…Yeah. Mai, you’re amazing.”

We gripped each other’s hands firmly.

In our past lives, our only contest had been the final, fatal battle.

But now… it was different.

We could compete, acknowledge each other, and laugh together.

(This is our ‘now.’)

That night, Rei spoke quietly.

“…Mai. Honestly… I was scared. That maybe I’d slip back into who I used to be…”

“No, Rei. You’re fine. Because now, you can choose your battles.”

And that was the one thing he had never been able to do as the Demon Lord.

Which made it all the more miraculous—and all the more precious—that we now stood together as siblings in the same world.

Macikado Mai, age seven.

The winter I faced my brother as my very first “rival”… and sealed it with a handshake of victory.