The day after Tatsuya accepted the mission to capture Zhou Gongjin—Monday.
With only a month until this year's Thesis Competition, the National High School Magic Studies Thesis Competition, memories of last year's chaos caused by Great Asian Alliance terrorists lingered. That incident, however, fueled many students' determination to make this year a comeback.
Yet, at First High, one topic overshadowed the competition.
"No repeat of last year's mess, right?" a second-year boy said.
"No way it could happen. Voting's barely needed. Even with rivals, Shiba-san and Kagurazaka would crush them," another replied.
"Shiba-san's got it good… Damn, if Kagurazaka wasn't around…" a third grumbled.
"Give it up. He shut down Third High's Crimson Prince. We don't stand a chance," the first shot back.
Or, from a group of third-year girls:
"Who'll they pick as officers? Kagurazaka-kun's Club Activities Alliance president, and he held Shiba-san in check," one said.
"If something like last year happens…" another trailed off.
"Shiba-san's brother is kinda cool, but Kagurazaka-kun's hot. I want a little brother like him—or maybe to call him 'Onii-sama,'" a third giggled.
"You're an upperclassman!" her friend retorted.
These conversations drifted through the school, inevitable in the cafeteria where Tatsuya and his group ate lunch.
"…Good thing Miyuki's not here," Kirin said.
"Uncharitable, but I agree," Tatsuya muttered.
Yugen, Miyuki, Honoka, Shizuku, Himeri, and Celia were eating in the student council room to avoid attention, but Tatsuya's rising fame as Miyuki's brother and an engineer drew more eyes.
Tatsuya's murmur acknowledged Kirin's point without counterargument.
"Still, last year's top vote-getters for student council president are now running for president and Club Activities Alliance president. If trouble brews, Yugen'll shut it down silently," Erika said.
"Hey, come on… Well, it's not impossible," Leo replied, starting to chide her but conceding the likelihood. Sana nodded briefly in agreement.
First-years might not know, but second- and third-years remembered last year's election. A riot would see Yugen quelling it expressionlessly.
"Probably unavoidable that Tatsuya becomes an officer," Kirin said.
"Sorry, Tatsuya, but I think so too," Mikihiko added.
"Mizuki, Mikihiko… I know," Tatsuya sighed.
Until mid-year, Yugen, as vice-president of the Club Activities Alliance, doubled as a student council aide, acting as Miyuki's check. With President Azusa, Alliance President Hattori, and Disciplinary Committee Chair Kanon in agreement, Yugen's role as Miyuki's restraint would persist even as Alliance president. Thus, he aimed to delegate most tasks, handling only critical decisions like disciplinary meetings, inwardly sighing heavily.
Since Yugen couldn't always manage Miyuki, Tatsuya's recruitment as an officer was inevitable.
"You're giving up quick, Tatsuya-kun. Can't beat Miyuki?" Erika teased.
"Not like that, but dumping most of the burden on Yugen just grates on me," Tatsuya replied.
Previously, he wouldn't have phrased it that way, but after relying on Yugen during the Nine Schools Competition, especially with the Parasite Dolls, Tatsuya had changed. He smiled wryly, thinking Miyuki would be pleased.
A similar conversation unfolded in the student council room. Honoka's question drew a slightly exasperated response from Miyuki.
"I said I haven't decided! The election hasn't even happened, so I don't have the right to decide," Miyuki insisted.
"Miyuki's right. But, Honoka, you're just worried about Tatsuya's next move," Celia said, glancing at Pixie while serving tea.
Pixie's situation, relayed through Yugen, was sensitive, even for kin like Lina, and kept secret. Yugen glanced at Pixie too, while Honoka blushed and looked down.
"Honoka, I get your urgency, but Tatsuya'll likely be involved with the student council one way or another," Yugen said.
"R-Really!?" Honoka exclaimed.
"With how much he stands out, good or bad, he can't back out now. There's plenty of precedent," Yugen replied.
Yugen thought of his siblings, whose Ten Master Clans status and achievements made retreat impossible. Tatsuya, tied to the Magic Engineering Department's founding, couldn't withdraw either. While CAD-carrying rights could pull Tatsuya into the Alliance's leadership, that depended on election results.
"What about you, Yugen-kun? Have you picked your Alliance members?" Kanon asked.
"Like Miyuki, I'm not confirmed until the election, Chiyoda-senpai. I've made some calls, though," Yugen replied.
With third-years graduating, first-years would fill Alliance roles. Yugen planned to include Magic Engineering and Course 2 students for combat strength, anticipating objections from Course 1 students. However, his "deterrent" reputation kept dissent at bay. Hattori had already set a precedent by including Sayaka, a Course 2 student, for her skills, so complaints were baseless.
Honoka, still reeling from Pixie's thought-manifestation, was consoled by Shizuku and Himeri. Isori and Kanon watched warmly, while Kasumi and Izumi, unaware of last year's events, tilted their heads.
"Hey, Yugen-nii, why's Mitsui-senpai like that?" Kasumi asked.
"She had her hidden feelings exposed in front of her crush," Yugen replied.
"Oof, that's embarrassing," Izumi said.
Due to the Parasite issue, Yugen framed it as a romantic mishap for the uninformed pair, who nodded. It wasn't a lie—minus Pixie, Honoka's feelings were laid bare. Her face hit the table, ears red despite her attempt to hide.
Unaware of Honoka's plight, Tatsuya's group in the cafeteria shifted to the Thesis Competition. As a stand-in presenter last year and part of the spring stellar furnace experiment, Erika assumed Tatsuya would present again.
"Tatsuya-kun, not joining the Thesis Competition?" she asked.
"No deep reason. My current project isn't ready for presentation," Tatsuya said.
His work—combat magic using FAE theory—tied to his unique abilities, so he couldn't discuss it. The spell's incompletion made his excuse technically true.
"You too, but… no, Yugen's out of the question," Erika said.
"Yeah, even we, who've benefited, can't push him to join," Leo agreed.
Erika meant to bring up Yugen's absence but realized his view of modern magic as "flawed" would make any paper too controversial. Leo, influenced by Yugen, concurred.
"Hasn't Kei-senpai asked for support?" Sana asked.
"Not yet. I likely won't have a role this time," Tatsuya replied.
Yugen had grasped all Cardinal Codes last summer, and his provided spells were built on them. His ability to create magic surpassing modern and ancient forms made the competition a liability for unwanted attention. As Alliance president post-election, he'd be assigned to security, making his participation as a presenter unfair.
"The Thesis Competition alternates between Yokohama and Kyoto, with different evaluation biases. Yokohama favors technical themes, Kyoto pure theory—like Cardinal George or Kana-senpai's code theory," Yugen said.
"So, Tatsuya's strengths don't fit," Leo noted.
"Tatsuya's beyond high school level in pure theory too," Sana added.
The conversation continued until the afternoon bell.
◇ ◇ ◇
In the original story, Tatsuya's use of Kyoko's private number upset Miyuki for two days. Though not directly involved, Tatsuya planned to brief Miyuki and Minami later. From Yugen's room, he connected to Kyoko via ultra-compressed videophone.
"Kagurazaka here. Sorry for the late call," Yugen said.
"Yugen-kun, Tatsuya-kun… Your prior notice already smells like trouble," Kyoko replied.
"Don't say that…" Yugen muttered.
The matter's importance demanded Pentagon, a highly secure communication method, over Tatsuya's voice-only encryption. Kyoko's cautious tone confirmed she was equally careful. Their earlier email only stated, "I'll call tonight, please be available," to avoid censorship.
"Your encryption tech is drool-worthy, Yugen-kun. Intelligence agencies worldwide would kill for it. Makes my Electron Sorceress title look weak," Kyoko said.
"Another time. I'm calling about Tatsuya's case," Yugen replied.
"Tatsuya-kun's?" Kyoko asked.
"Yes. We need your help with Kudou-dono," Tatsuya interjected.
The request targeted Kyoko as Retsu Kudou's granddaughter, not as Lieutenant Kyoko Fujibayashi of the 101st Brigade's Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion. Sensing the context, Kyoko paused before responding.
"I'd like you to arrange a private meeting with Kudou-dono," Tatsuya said.
"That's fine, but why not negotiate directly, Yugen-kun? You'd likely have Grandfather's private number," Kyoko said.
"Frankly, if a Kagurazaka openly engages in Tatsuya's case, it could spark an 'internal war' even the Master Clans Conference couldn't stop. As a Fujibayashi, an ancient magic family, you'd understand," Yugen replied.
"!? …Right, I forgot you're no longer Ten Master Clans," Kyoko said.
Assisting Tatsuya was reasonable given Yotsuba-Kagurazaka ties, but public negotiation with the Kudou could be seen as the Kagurazaka favoring them, risking conflict with Traditionalists and their orthodox allies—an outright "civil war."
Unbeknownst to Tatsuya and Kyoko, General Saeki, aware of the Nine Schools Competition's Parasite Doll tests, had secretly negotiated with the current Kudou head to restart production at the former Ninth Research Institute, per the Ises' report. Publicizing this now could aid Zhou's escape, so Yugen shared it only with Chihime, Yakumo, and Mototsume. If Saeki overreached to control Yugen or Tatsuya, General Soga would intervene. Her proven skill would see her deployed to Hokkaido against the New Soviet Union.
"Is Tatsuya-kun's job tied to your family?" Kyoko asked.
"Yes. Tracking and capturing a continental sorcerer who fled Yokohama," Tatsuya replied.
"I see. The Defense Forces struggle with him. If you're taking it on, Lieutenant Fujibayashi welcomes it… Still immune to sarcasm, huh?" Kyoko teased.
"Expecting that from Tatsuya's too harsh… By the way, as deputy of the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion, I have a request," Yugen said.
"You too, Yugen-kun? I can't match your enemy overview maps," Kyoko replied.
Yugen's tactical and strategic foresight outshone even Defense Forces standards, and Tatsuya knew this, catching Kyoko's jab.
"Not that far, but if that sorcerer barricades in a Defense Forces facility, as Shinkai Society's representative, I'll authorize Tatsuya to infiltrate for enemy elimination. Keep that in mind," Yugen said.
"You think he'd turn to the Defense Forces?" Kyoko asked.
"He's connected to them. Last fall's clash with the Great Asian Alliance's special forces, partly over the Relic, suggests he'd have no reason not to," Yugen replied.
Kyoko likely knew of Tatsuya's fight and the Relic replication request, so Yugen spoke openly, as it wasn't sensitive.
"The Defense Forces aren't monolithic. Some dislike modern magic or the Ten Master Clans, and others are lenient toward continental mages, so he'd likely seek their aid," Yugen added.
"Understood. I'll check Grandfather's availability. Email for contact?" Kyoko asked.
"Yes, using the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion's encryption," Tatsuya replied.
After a pause, Kyoko agreed and abruptly ended the call. Yugen shot Tatsuya a sidelong glance.
"Tatsuya, are you trying to charm Kyoko too?" Yugen asked.
"No, that wasn't my intent… Though I might've stirred more suspicion," Tatsuya admitted.
"After that blank-sender email before the Nine Schools Competition, her jab makes sense," Yugen said.
"…" Tatsuya fell silent.
Light novel protagonists effortlessly draw others in, and Tatsuya, sitting before Yugen, unknowingly attracted women. Yugen, all too aware he was no different, pressed a finger to his temple and sighed deeply.
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