I'm attending Mitsugu Kuroba's party as Gozo's proxy. Motoharu, drained from Miya's interrogation, is out, so I'm solo. I hid a gun-shaped general-purpose CAD and left the room.
Luckily or not the party's at our hotel, likely a Yotsuba property. Gozo's finesse in arranging this impresses me, though he's probably nursing his back in Gunma.
Showing the invitation, I'm led to an oversized venue for a private event. A man in an expensive suit greets me.
"Yuto Nagano, here for Gozo Kamiizumi," I say.
"Remarkable poise for twelve. I'm Mitsugu Kuroba. Where's your companion?"
"My brother's exhausted from the flight. He sends regards."
No need for hostility. The Kuroba handle Yotsuba intelligence sloppy moves could be fatal. Better to avoid crossing the "Untouchables." Mitsugu smirks at my formalities, likely Gozo's influence. He seems to see someone else in me Tatsuya, perhaps. I'm just a kid, so I let it slide.
"Your parents must be proud," he says.
"Half thanks to Gozo."
Mitsugu leaves with a "Make yourself at home." It's a casual affair, and few know me as a Mitsuya. I grab food, but two teens approach.
"Sorry to interrupt," the boy says.
"Who're you?" I ask.
"I'm Fumiya Kuroba. Call me Fumiya."
"I'm Ayako Kuroba. Ayako's fine. You were with Father earlier?"
"Yuto Nagano. Just here for a friend. Call me Yuto."
Fumiya and Ayako, Mitsugu's kids, join me. They're my age, sent by their father to mingle. Their mother, Aya Kuroba, approaches, surprised to see someone their age.
"I'm Aya Kuroba. I didn't expect kids your age. Please befriend Fumiya and Ayako."
"Yuto Nagano, for Gozo Kamiizumi. Pleased to meet you."
Aya, startled by Gozo's name, whispers to her kids and bows before leaving. Fumiya and Ayako follow. The main guest arrived likely Miyuki, her clear voice unmistakable.
Staring's rude, so I activate [Kaleidoscope]. Handy for discreet observation. Fumiya and Ayako rush to Tatsuya, who smiles faintly. Miyuki looks frustrated, Mitsugu disapproves, and Aya seems sad. Guilt over Tatsuya's isolation feels misplaced binding him with their shame is evasion, not atonement.
They sought power to avoid tragedy, creating Tatsuya. But isolating him defeats the purpose.
If he's terrifying, they should fix their mindset, not him. I'm no saint either. Deactivating [Kaleidoscope], I resolve to be Tatsuya's equal a friend, my starting line in this world.
"Yuto-san?" Miyuki's voice snaps me back. She's in a dress, flustered.
"Airport reunion, huh, Shiba-san?"
She struggles to compose herself. I offer a soft smile. "So, this was the party you mentioned," she says.
"Didn't know the details myself. Didn't expect you here. Something troubling you?"
Miyuki glances at Tatsuya with Fumiya and Ayako. "My brother never smiles at me like he does with them. I can't understand it."
"You couldn't accept it?"
"…Yes."
Fumiya and Ayako, like Tatsuya and Miyuki, share Yotsuba blood. The difference? The former lack burdens, while Tatsuya's Miyuki's Guardian. It's not my place to meddle, but as someone with a sister, I choose my words.
"Brothers want to protect their siblings above all. Tatsuya's the same, even if he doesn't say it."
In my past life, I avoided deep connections. Now, comforting a distressed girl while hiding my knowledge feels like wearing a mask. But to be Tatsuya's friend, helping Miyuki is a step forward, however calculated.
We chat with Fumiya and Ayako, and I nod to Tatsuya outside. Back at the hotel, Motoharu's recovered.
"You okay, Bro?"
"Yeah. Party went fine?"
"No clan heads, so I managed."
I hang my jacket and sit. For nearly six years, I've worn the "Yuto Nagano" mask to dodge opportunists. At parties, I'm "Gen's relative." It's my name until high school. Surprisingly, no one's caught on. My Mitsuya ties are known vaguely as a "clan associate." Motoharu says my poise fits, though my age raises eyebrows. Acting my mental age college-level beats slipping up.
"Tomorrow?" I ask.
"A friend with cruisers needs help."
Motoharu's boating license, earned to match his siblings, suits our coastal intel-gathering clan. We've cruised Tokyo and Sagami Bays. Last time, I caught a huge fish, sparking Shina's awe and family laughs. Not my fault!
August 5, 2092
I jog at dawn, adjusting the air with magic to mimic Gunma's climate. Yesterday's mental strain meeting Tatsuya and Miyuki was unexpected. Gozo's Yotsuba ties were known, but running into the protagonists? Unpredictable. Miyuki's interest complicates things. I advised her, but their path is theirs. I want friendly ties with them, not more, to ensure they're not isolated.
Motoharu's recovered, though facing Miya was brutal. Keeping our Mitsuya identity hidden was commendable. Resisting Miyuki's charm? I'm not one to talk.
We visit Toguchi, a retired navy man turned cruiser operator. His rugged look screams "sea monk," but he's friendly. After learning cruiser basics, we handle a group tour under his watch. Later, he asks us to manage a 4 PM sailing yacht.
Cruising in Okinawa isn't bad or so I thought. Forgetting the Reminiscence Arc's details was my mistake.
"Well, Motoharu-san, Yuto-san. You're running the cruiser?" Miya asks.
"Yes, ma'am," Motoharu replies.
How'd this happen? "I'm assisting as deputy. Pleased to help."
I forgot the arc's setup. Its shocking end overshadowed earlier details. I bow to Miya's group. Motoharu's ogling Honami Sakurai, so I elbow him. No time for that.
"Bro, focus. Let's prep for departure."
"Right…"
Miya smiles, Honami tilts her head, Miyuki blinks, and Tatsuya stays poker-faced. I don't expect more from him.
Operating the cruiser is light work compared to Gozo's punches. I'm tainted by his training. West winds guide us toward Iejima. Miyuki approaches while I manage Motoharu's distraction with Honami.
"Yuto-san, isn't summer wind southeast here?"
"There's a low-pressure system east. Not typhoon-level, so we're fine."
She leaves, Tatsuya's gaze following. I feign ignorance, checking the sonar. Fish schools appear, tempting me to dive, but a large object not fish shows up.
"Bro, look."
"Not wreckage. Yuto, can you radio?"
"On it."
I use [Language Comprehension], a cheat translating any language. "To the submerged vessel: identify yourself and surface immediately. Repeat: identify and surface."
Warning sent across all frequencies. If needed, I'll alert the Defense Forces. The vessel, likely dismissing us as a mere cruiser, jams our signal. Sighing, I approach Miya's group as the cruiser speeds up.
"Sorry for the disturbance. A submarine's nearby, not responding. Likely not Defense Forces. No warning either."
My honed senses detect the sub tailing us, unconcerned about detection. Spotting two torpedoes, Miya's group braces, but I draw my gun-shaped CAD, firing magic at the sea and the sub's shadow. Confirming its "erasure" with my ability, I signal Motoharu to slow down. Approaching the floating torpedoes, I "freeze" their fuses, whispering to him.
"This is… that, right?"
"Yup. We'll check with our 'friend' later."
Dad's work confirms they're Great Asian Alliance torpedoes, but as "civilians," we stay silent. Miya's group, holding CADs, knows I'm a mage. "I can only sink these torpedoes. Could you assist? I'll keep your magic confidential."
"Yes… Tatsuya," Miya says.
"Understood, ma'am," Tatsuya replies, decomposing the torpedoes without a CAD.
We don't discuss our magic further. Motoharu steers back to port. The Coast Guard questions us, but we plead shock and arrange direct talks, with Miya's group's consent, avoiding issues.