[The day before the Entrance ceremony]
Student council president of First High, Mayumi was shocked to hear what she had heard from the council's secretary, Azusa. "Could you repeat what you said just now? Please A-chan."
"I said two new students have got a perfect score in Magic Theory and Magic Engineering entrance exams."
"Well that is completely unheard indeed.", said the accountant of the council, Suzune, who has now recovered from her shock.
"I guess surprises like this can happen sometimes." Mayumi said with a role of her eyes and began to look for something distracting after this jaw breaking news.
"Actually this is nowhere near of what I'm about to tell you.", Azusa said trying her best to keep her laughter at the reactions of 2 women in front of her.
"What could be more bizarre than what you have already told us?" Mayumi asked in disbelief.
"First of them, Shiba Tatsuya, is accepted as a course 2 student."
At this revelation, both Mayumi and Suzune jumped from their seats and asked in unison, "What?"
"He got such a low score on practical exam that I would say he is even lucky to be able to attend First High."
"That's quite a shame, he could've been something else if his practical ability was even average." Suzune said in her usual stoic expression after regaining her composure. At that Mayumi just nodded before asking, "What about the other one?"
"Eh oh… You may not like that President."
Mayumi made a troubled face and asked with pity, "Don't tell me he failed the practical exam?". Suzune just sweat dropped, waiting for Azusa to continue.
"Oh! No! Not at all." Azusa said hurriedly and then continued at a more normal pace, "He actually broke your previous best record on practical exam by 150% of your score." After saying what she had to say, was averting her gaze in fear of her president. Suzune was just looking at Mayumi for her to continue.
She in return just gave a nice smile and continued, "I am relieved that he didn't fail the exams. And why you are terrified of me A-chan? Records are meant to be broken one day. We should be proud to have a talented magician like him at our school. By the way what's his name?", she asked realizing that they don't know their Freshman Representative's name.
"Actually that's quite funny, literally." Suzune looked at Azusa with unusual interest in her eyes. Azusa continued, "Shiba Tetsuya." At the revelation, all three women began laughing. The two students they had been talking about were Tatsuya and Tetsuya, and both were Shibas which in itself was quite comical.
[On the day of the entrance ceremony]
"How could they? You scored so high in the exams, so how could they make you a course two student, Onii-sama?", Miyuki was upset and muttered bitterly.
"An emphasis is placed on the practical exams. Since I did so poorly on the exams, I was fortunate to be accepted at all, Miyuki." Tatsuya patted her head hoping to calm her down and now continued in soothing voice, "We both know what I can do and that's fine for me." He gave her a small smile before continuing, "And besides, this year's freshman representative seems to have made history well above mine. He scored more than double of your score in practical exam, who got second best this year, and got perfect scores just like me. I really want to meet him."
"Well that's true. But don't you find him suspicious? To have such a high score, its unreal even for the ten master clans which he doesn't seem to be from." Miyuki asked.
"Well that's another reason I want to meet him so keenly."
A few meters away from the pair of siblings, a boy was walking in the direction of the auditorium where the entrance ceremony was about to take place.
'Crap, I'm going to be late for the ceremony. But I would say it was a good idea to take a look around. It's a nice school except the discrimination that I witnessed a little while ago. Many really don't understand what magic is, huh? I guess I can give a speech about that.' Tetsuya thought to himself as he reached the auditorium and was greeted by the student council president.
"Nice to meet you, Shiba-kun. By the way you're late." Though it like she was scolding, her smile just told that she was teasing him.
"Sorry for that president and it's nice to meet you too. And please refer to me as Tetsuya. We're the same age after all." Tetsuya said as a matter of fact.
"In that case refer to me as Mayumi as… Oh wait…"Finally realizing what he meant, "You mean to say you're 17. How is that even possible?"
"Sorry, I'm not yet ready to talk about that." He said with sadness reflecting in his eyes which hinted Mayumi that it was personal and tragic. And she felt sorry for making him remember that tragic memory.
"Well then, we should get going Shiba-kun, ceremony's about to start." Mayumi says in president mode for once.
"As you say president."He says gesturing for her to lead.
"~Ma-yu-mi~" she says with her body leaned forward, chin upwards, her beautiful red eyes staring into his charming brown eyes with her hands behind her back in a playful manner.
"~Tet-su-ya~" he says with a smile while copying her motion and the tone. With this their faces were inches away and both were staring in each other's eyes with no sign of backing away. After a minute or two, they were broken out of their stance by a voice right next to them.
"Um…" not sure what to say at the sight, but quickly continues realizing people in front of her are now staring at her, "The ceremony is about to begin." The Public Morals Committee head, Mari sighs after completing her sentence to regain her composure.
"Ah! Yes! We should hurry Mayumi." Looks at her, gesturing her to continue.
"Right follow me Tetsu-kun.", said in less commanding but more teasing tone, turned around not looking at the guy, who was in front of her, and headed towards the backstage in rather childish manner. At this the said guy waved his head with a smile and followed her president to the backstage. And Mari was just trying not to laugh at the sight. 'To think he had such an effect on Mayumi. He must be an interesting one.', she thought to herself.
Meanwhile at the top in the audience, Miyuki and Tatsuya ask a red haired girl if the two seats next to her were free.
"Um… yes. You're a course 1 student right? Don't you want to sit in the front?" Erika asks suspiciously.
"Oh! No! I just want to sit with my Onii-sama." Miyuki replies with a blush.
"I see." Noticing the flower missing on his shoulder. "I am Chiba Erika and this is Shibata Miyuki." Erika greeted while introducing her blushing friend who just say, "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too. I'm Shiba Miyuki."
"And I'm Shiba Tatsuya." 'Chiba huh! I met a member of numbers already.' He thought making sure not to say it out aloud.
"Oh it's a coincidence." Erika said realizing something and looked in the direction of the others, who don't seem to have understood her. So she continued, "Our names Chiba, Shiba and Shibata almost rhyme."
"Ah! Yes!" Miyuki exclaimed and broke into a fit of laughter with Erika and Mizuki while Tatsuya just sighed.
The ceremony has already begun and Mayumi's speech has just ended and the freshman representative's speech is about to begin as he is currently walking towards the podium.
"Good morning everyone. My name is Shiba Tetsuya." At his four students in the back were taken aback slightly at the revelation of the name while the speech continued, "… cause only together we can take magic to its full potential and understand the true meaning of magic."
The whole auditorium erupted into applause by the ideal of course 1 and 2 working together to produce results far greater than ever before. As Tetsuya walked back, he saw Mayumi looking in his direction and smiling.
"They didn't understood anything I said, didn't they?" Tetsuya asks Mayumi with his body in her direction but head tilted towards the audience.
"Well not everything, but one thing that made sense was that the full potential of our school's results will come out only when we all will work together. To be honest, I wished you were like this." Mayumi said, remembering her first meeting with the person, with a genuine smile of appreciation, "Many course 1 students discriminate against course 2 students. So having a representative like you puts me at ease."
"I will take that as a compliment." Tetsuya said in a teasing tone with a wink and Mayumi blushed slightly at that.
"Tetsu-kun I would like to talk to you about student council." Mayumi asks in a more serious tone now.
"Um… could we talk about it some other day? I actually have some place to be at." Tetsuya asks apologetically meaning that he is genuinely sorry about that.
"It's fine Tetsu-kun." She replies in understanding.
"But what about student council's schedule, president?" Hanzo says from behind Mayumi, eyeing Tetsuya in obvious dislike.
'He was present from the start. And he totally not likes me. Maybe jealous. That's got to be it.' Tetsuya thought to himself.
"It's alright Hanzo; we didn't made an appointment with him beforehand. Let's have a nice, long chat someday.", says the last part looking at the said guy with a small smile on her face.
"That will be nice. Once again I apologize Mayumi." After bowing his head he leaves.
[The next morning]
Tetsuya was running towards his homeroom, class 1A. Upon entering, he was met by three girls.
"Good morning." He greeted them.
"Good morning." All three girls said in unison.
"I am Shiba Tetsuya. Nice to meet you." He introduced himself.
"I am Mitsui Honoka." "Kitayama Shizuku" "Shiba Miyuki" all three introduced themselves.
"You're a Shiba too. What a coincidence?" he stated the fact that Miyuki was well aware of.
"Indeed." Miyuki attempted to seem surprised. 'Just wait until you meet Onii-sama.' She thought thinking about yesterday.
-Flashback-
"This has got to be a conspiracy by the god of coincidences." Erika says with complete disbelief.
"Calm down Erika" Tatsuya said in vain.
"How can I? The difference between your and the freshman representative's names is just 'a' and 'e' and you two made into opposite classes. And both of you got a perfect score in entrance exams. This has got to be a conspiracy."
'Well that is only possible if Oba-sama is behind it.' Tatsuya thought.
"Well if it's a mere comical coincidence or some sort of fate, we will come to know eventually." Miyuki said to dismiss the topic and headed towards home.
-Flashback ended and now at lunch-
Tetsuya after taking his lunch was looking for a place to sit and eat lunch when he heard a commotion near a table.
"Yea, don't lower yourself by hanging around a bunch of weeds."
'They've got nerves to shout that term.' Tetsuya thought and looked in direction of the voice. 'Morisaki again.' He was completely irritated.
"Come eat with us Shiba-san."
'Oh they aren't leaving Miyuki alone.' Tetsuya thought while watching a male student gesturing Miyuki to go with Morisaki gang. Hesitantly, Miyuki went with them while cursing the situation. With that Tetsuya made his way towards the table where the commotion has taken place.
"Excuse me, can I have a seat." Tetsuya asks the group.
"Yes sure." Erika said with a welcoming smile to lighten up the atmosphere.
"Thanks." Tetsuya takes the chair and looks at Tatsuya, "Who was she?" he asks Tatsuya assuming he knew Miyuki.
"My sister and you're-" eyeing the man carefully, "you're wearing a mask." Tatsuya asks surprised. Others also look at him bewildered.
"Yes" 'and not only that. I have stickers on my sleeves to cover the fact I'm a course 1 student.' Tetsuya says the last part in his mind.
"Why?" Erika and Leo ask in unison. And then glare at each other.
"That was my line jerk."
"You're the one who stole my line woman."
'Oh my, that's cliché indeed.' Tetsuya thought to himself.
"Stop your lover's quarrel you two. Let him continue." Tatsuya said in mild irritation.
" Thanks. As for the mask, that's a long story." Tetsuya says while making a troubled face as images from before came back. He was surrounded Morisaki and gang, who were not leaving him in the slightest, so he had excused himself the restroom where he got into this get up.
"Seems to be a troubling matter." Mizuki asks with concern.
"You've no idea." He simply replies with a sigh.
"What's your name? I'm Leo by the way. This stupid woman in front is Erika..." "Hey!" Leo just ignores Erika's protest and continues, "Next to her in glasses is Mizuki. And next to me is Tatsuya."
"Nice to meet you." The rest of them greeted Tetsuya.
"I am Tetsuya. Nice to meet you too."
-In the evening at school grounds-
As Tetsuya, in the disguise as before during lunch, was leaving with his friends he made this afternoon and Miyuki. They were accosted by Morisaki and gang.
"Shiba-san, would you like to go home with us together?" Morisaki asked not bothering to show his dislike of course 2 students and Tetsuya present there.
'He just doesn't know when to quit huh.' Tetsuya thought to himself. Mizuki seemed to have had enough of him as well, "Why do you think you can split Tatsuya and Miyuki apart. They're brother and sister!"
"M-Mizuki what are you insinuating about them." The course 2 students, Miyuki and Tetsuya all stare at her causing her to blush harder than she already was.
With the commotion growing, Tetsuya decided to reveal himself. But before he could do so, from corner of his eyes he saw two girls approaching and at the sight of one, just smiled remembering the events of yesterday and thought to himself, 'With her it should be fine.' With that he just decided to watch the girl in action with a smirk on his face.
Mayumi shot a bullet at Honoka's hand to stop her from executing her spell. All of them just turned towards the newcomers. Tatsuya went on with his explanation with Mari.
On the other hand, Tetsuya waved his hand towards Mayumi, who looked at him with an expression saying 'What?'. Tetsuya just winked and smiled at her and puts his left hand slowly at the middle of his chest to say, 'Leave it to me.' wordlessly.
Mayumi smiled realizing that the person is Tetsu-kun and nodded slightly before heading to stop Mari.
"Mari let it go." She said with her body leaned towards Mari with her hands at the back. "He said it was just for learning experience."
"If the President says so herself." Mari seemed to have given in.
Mayumi turned around and gathered the attention of everyone. "But this shouldn't happen ever again in the future.", she glared at Morisaki, who seems to look down in shame.
"Mayumi, if it's alright with you I'd like to invite Tatsuya to student council room tomorrow during lunch." Mari asks.
"Sure." With Mayumi's approval, Mari looks at Tatsuya who just nods. At this Mayumi seems to remember something and looks for Honoka.
"Oh Honoka-san, would you kindly pass on the same message to Tetsu-kun." Mayumi says the last part briefly looking at the said boy.
"Tetsu-kun?" Honoka asks not understanding who the person was while Mari just tried to suppress her giggles.
"Oh sorry my bad. I meant Shiba Tetsuya in your class." She said a little embarrassed and then leaves with Mari in some another direction.
"You better not think that I owe you, all right?" Morisaki seems to be talking to Tatsuya. But before Tatsuya could respond, was interrupted by Tetsuya.
"You're right about that because I was the one who told Mayumi to let you pass for today." Tetsuya said while removing his stickers which showed everyone that he was a course 1 student. Everyone was shocked and when the mask was taken off, they all took a step back at the revelation.
"You're…"
"Yes I am this year's freshmen representative, Shiba Tetsuya."
Far away while walking, Mayumi smiles and stops using her multi scope magic. 'That was a cool way to reveal yourself. Not bad Tetsu-kun.' She thought to herself.
"Would you stop with that smile? It's creeping me out." Mari says with a disgusted look. "Mind telling me what the reason is?"
"Just thinking how you didn't recognize Tetsu-kun back there."Mayumi says in a teasing tone.
"Was he there? How?" Quite surprised at herself to make that mistake.
"He was disguised as a course 2 student." Mayumi replies plainly.
"You seemed to crushing on him to recognize him so easily." It was Mari's turn to give Mayumi her own medicine.
"No he gestured to me once." Mayumi was clearly embarrassed at the moment.
"You seem to be in younger men after all." Mari used her answer to drive her further deep into a corner.
"Actually he's 17." Mayumi used it as a chance to come back which seemed to be successful given the colour of Mari's face.
"What?"
"Don't ask", Mayumi says while shrugging to brush it away.
Meanwhile the first years have slowly regained their shock.
"Shiba-san you have been hanging with the weeds while disguised as one?" Morisaki worded each word slowly in disbelief.
"Don't dare call them or anyone else that again. It's forbidden and above all they're my friends. And I won't want to badmouth my friends ever again." Tetsuya said in threatening tone with a scary face which worked very well. "And if you're thinking you're superior to them because of practical ability scores. Then in that case I'm far… no… quite far superior than you." Tetsuya said in total mockery to Morisaki. "So you would do exactly as I say. Bow and apologize to my friends right now."
Morisaki seems to be hesitant at first, but after one look from Tetsuya, he does as ordered.
"I'm sorry." He says and then leaves with his gang.
"T-Tatsuya Senpai, I'm sorry for the behavior of my class. I should have spoken up before during lunch." Honoka said nervously.
"You don't have to apologize. You almost got yourself in trouble for trying to prevent the situation from turning south." Tatsuya replies.
"Ah yes Thanks for that Tetsuya-san." Honoka bows her head.
"There's no need for that. And it's Tetsuya by the way. Now, should we all go to café then?"
Erika just smiles and says, "Of course. For our new friendship and possible romances." She said the last part eyeing at Honoka and Tatsuya.
"Finally admitting you're attracted to Leo." Tatsuya remarks with a smirk.
"No way!" Both Leo and Erika said loudly in unison. At which everyone just laughed.
'New friendship and possible romances' thought Tetsuya and image of Mayumi from before came in. 'Too early for that I suppose.'