Irregular at Magic High School: The Black Dragons
Chapter 5: Enrollment V
4-15-2095
Kurisu and Jonasan were back in the café where Tatsuya and Mibu were meeting, although on the opposite side of the café and still pretending to do coursework. Kurisu was using Multi-Scope, a long-ranged Visual Perception Type Magic, to observe the two and relay what they were saying to Jonasan.
"You asked me a question the other day…" Mibu said. "At first… I thought that letting the school know that we weren't all about magic… I thought that would be enough. But I now know that it's not nearly enough. What we want… is to demand that the school improve our conditions!"
Tatsuya said nothing for a moment.
"Specifically, what is it you want them to improve?" Tatsuya said.
"Well… all aspects of the way we're treated!"
"The way we're treated? Like with our classes?" Tatsuya asked. "The main difference between Course 1 and Course 2 students is the availability, or lack thereof, of instructors… Do I take it to mean… that you want the school to add more faculty?"
"I don't intend to go that far, but…"
"Then are you talking about club activities? It's my understanding that the kendo team is allotted the same amount of space as the Kenjutsu team…"
Tatsuya took a sip of his coffee.
"He is shooting her argument full of holes." Kurisu said.
"Something's not right here. Her conviction is sound, but she can't come up with any counter-arguments. There's something else at play here." Jonasan said.
"Well… that may be true, but… Wait, are you saying that you're not disgruntled, Shiba?" Mibu asked in shock.
"Of course, I'm disgruntled." Tatsuya said.
"You sure don't act like it." Kurisu muttered.
"Then…" Mibu started to say with a smile.
"However… There's nothing in particular that I want the school to change." Tatsuya said.
"Huh?"
"My expectations of this school as an educational facility only go so far. So long as I can get clearance to read unpublished documents only made available at magic university-affiliated schools, and get my diploma from a magic high school, there's nothing more that I need."
Mibu looked shocked.
"Not to mention, I'm not about to blame the school for the puerility of some of our classmates, who toss slurs at us expressly forbidden by the school itself." Tatsuya remarked. "Unfortunately, it would appear that I don't share your principles, Ms. Mibu."
Tatsuya then got up, grabbed his cup of coffee and walked away.
"Well then, that was brutal but accurate." Kurisu said.
"Indeed, I have a feeling that Blanche will put their operation in motion tomorrow. This was, no doubt, a last-ditch attempt to get Tatsuya to join them, which he flat out refused." Jonasan said.
Tatsuya then looked at the Multi-Scope, which was still following him, and mouthed 'stalker'.
"Oh, fuck you, Tatsuya." Kurisu said and canceled the Multi-Scope.
"What happened?"
"Tatsuya was aware of the Multi-Scope the whole time, and just mouthed 'stalker' to me."
Jonasan just chuckled.
…
The next day, just as classes were ending, the intercom crackled to life.
"Attention, all students! We are a volunteer coalition seeking to abolish discrimination within the school!"
"Volunteer, my ass." Jonasan muttered.
"We demand an opportunity to negotiate on equal terms with the Student Council and the Extracurricular Activities Federation!"
"Cut it." Kurisu muttered to Jonasan.
Jonasan nodded and pulled out a trigger and hit it. In the breaker room of the school, a small device attached to one of the breakers sent a surge of electricity through the breaker, causing it to trip and shut off the power to the broadcasting room. A few moments later, Jonasan got a call on his phone, it was Mayumi.
"Hello?"
"Jonasan, come to the broadcasting room immediately, and bring Kurisu with you, we are going to need the help." Mayumi ordered.
"Yes, ma'am. Wait, how did you get my phone number? And when did you put your contact in here?"
Mayumi laughed in response and hung up. Jonasan looked at his phone and just shook his head. Kurisu looked at him.
"Broadcasting room, let's go." Jonasan said and Kurisu nodded.
…
Jonasan and Kurisu pushed through the crowd of students at the end of the hall that was being held back by other Course 1 students and approached the broadcasting room. Waiting there was Juumonji, Mari, Suzune as well as the rest of the Disciplinary Committee.
"There you two are." Mari said.
Jonasan looked around. "Where is Mayumi?"
"She is dealing with the School Board about this issue." Juumonji said.
"All we are waiting for is Tatsuya and Miyuki." Mari said.
Several minutes later, the two pushed their way through the crowds and approached the group.
"Your late." Mari said.
"Sorry." Tatsuya said. "What's the situation?"
"The power has been cut, so they won't be doing any more broadcasting. However, they've locked the door and barricaded themselves inside."
"Can't we open it from the outside?"
"Well, the thing is, they stole the master key, so…"
"But that's clearly a crime…"
"That's correct."
"And for that reason, we should handle this with discretion, to prevent them from blowing up any further." Miyuki said.
"Although I wouldn't count on them suddenly becoming more docile just because we were discreet." Mari said. "Even if it means being somewhat forceful, we should try to resolve this quickly."
Jonasan stepped toward the door, drew Phantom, and pointed it at the lock. Just as he was about to cast a spell to destroy the lock, he was interrupted by Tatsuya.
"Chairman Juumonji… What are your thoughts on this?"
Jonasan looked at Juumonji and lowered Phantom. It was an unfortunate truth that, since he was the only member of the 10 Master Clans present, he had the final say in the situation, much to Jonasan's displeasure.
"I… I don't see any problem with negotiating with them. From the outset, this was just a pretext. If we refute that strongly enough, it should assuage their anxieties." Juumonji said.
"So, you're saying that we should just stand by?" Jonasan asked.
"As far as that goes, I can't come to a decision just yet. Their unlawful behavior can't go unpunished, but I don't find it criminal enough to warrant destroying school facilities for the sake of a speedy resolution."
Jonasan let out a disappointed sigh and stepped away from the door and holstered Phantom. Tatsuya pulled out his cellphone and dialed a number. Everyone watched with curiosity.
"Is that you, Ms. Mibu? This is Shiba." Tatsuya said, and Miyuki looked shocked, that shock soon turned to anger.
"So…where are you now? Oh, so you're inside the broadcasting room? How unfortunate. No, I wasn't mocking you when I said that. Ms. Mibu, I wish you'd be more calm about this situation…Yes." Tatsuya said.
Miyuki was boring holes into Tatsuya with her glare.
"Forgive me. If you don't mind, I'd like to cut to the chase now… Chairman Juumonji has agreed to negotiate with you. I have yet to confirm the student council's position…"
Suzune then nodded at Tatsuya.
"No, wait, the student council will also negotiate. I'd like to discuss the time and date of these negotiations with you… No, your freedom is guaranteed. Yes… All right, then…" Tatsuya then hung up and looked at Suzune, Mari and Juumonji.
"She says they'll be coming out right away."
"Was that… Sayaka Mibu just now?" Mari asked.
"Yes." Tatsuya replied, failing to see the ice slowly spreading behind him. "She'd given me her private cell phone number so that we could meet up. Who knew that it would come in handy like this?"
"Miyuki, calm down." Jonasan muttered to her causing her to look at him. "I'm sure that your brother didn't mean anything by it by taking her phone number." The ice slowly stopped spreading and disappeared.
"You sure don't waste time, do you?" Mari said.
"You've got the wrong idea." Tatsuya sighed out. "Anyway, I think we should get ourselves into position."
"About time." Kurisu muttered as he and Jonasan pressed themselves against the wall and Jonasan drew Phantom.
"Position?" Mari asked.
"Into position to take custody of those people inside." Tatsuya said.
"You know, it seems to me that you just told them that you'd guarantee their freedom…"
"The only person whose freedom I guaranteed was that of Ms. Mibu's. And besides, I never said a word about the fact that I was negotiating on behalf of the Disciplinary Committee."
"Brother, you certainly are evil." Miyuki said from behind Tatsuya.
"Now you realize that, Miyuki?"
"True." Miyuki said in a sickly-sweet voice causing Tatsuya's eyes to widen in shock and Jonasan to snigger.
"But, Brother…" Miyuki reached a hand out to pinch Tatsuya's back. "About the fact that you went to the trouble of saving Ms. Mibu's private number… I'll want to hear all about that later, all right?" she said with a fake smile.
Everyone the lined up behind Jonasan and Kurisu. Mari ended up behind Jonasan while Juumonji ended up behind Kurisu.
"Why do I get the feeling that you've done this before, Jonasan." She whispered to him.
"It's just your imagination." Jonasan lied.
The lock on the door then clicked. Jonasan then kicked in the door and grabbed the first student he saw. There were several grunts and everybody else rushed in and apprehended the students.
"What's the meaning of this?" Mibu asked.
She ran over to Tatsuya and attempted to grab him, but he grabbed her hand to stop her.
"You double-crossed us, didn't you?"
"Shiba didn't double-cross you." Juumonji said as he approached.
"Chairman Juumonji…" Mibu said.
"We'll listen to your demands. But complying with your requests… and approving of the measures you took are two different things."
"You're absolutely right about that, but…" A voice said.
Turning around Tatsuya saw that Mayumi had entered the room.
"Saegusa?" Juumonji asked.
"Would you mind releasing them?"
"But…"
"I know what you're going to say, Mari. But… We can't set up negotiations with Ms. Mibu alone, can we?" Mayumi began to walk over to Tatsuya. "As long as they're students at this school…there's no reason to view them as flight risks."
"We would never run away!" Mibu said.
"I hope you don't plan on doing this alone Mayumi." Kurisu said. "They might not be flight risks but if released they can fight back."
She turned toward Kurisu and Jonasan who were near each other restraining students.
"Thank you for the concern Kurisu, but I will be fine."
She then faced Tatsuya and Mibu again. "The school had decided to leave this matter in the hands of the student council."
"What?" Mari asked in shock.
"Typical." Jonasan said.
"Ms. Mibu, I'd like to discuss our pending negotiations with your coalition… Would you mind coming with me?" Mayumi asked.
"Yes, that's fine with me." She said as Tatsuya released her.
She, Mayumi and Suzune walked over to a corner of the room and began to talk in low voices.
…
The next morning as Mayumi was walking to school, she heard someone call out to her.
"Chairwoman?"
Looking to her right, she saw that Tatsuya, Miyuki, Jonasan, and Kurisu were waiting for her.
"Good morning." Tatsuya said.
"Tatsuya?" she asked.
"You, too, Miyuki, Kurisu, Jonasan? What's the matter?"
"We were wondering about yesterday's incident." Tatsuya said.
"Ah! Come walk with me and I'll fill you in."
The four joined her and they proceeded to walk to the school.
"They're demanding equal treatment between Course 1 and 2 students. But they don't seem to have figured out how they want to change things. If anything, I got the sense that they wanted the student council to come up with concrete plans. Well, then it turned into a heated back-and-forth. In the end, we agreed to hold an open forum tomorrow after school."
"That happened pretty fast." Tatsuya said.
"While I understand the merits of not giving your opponent ample time to prepare… on the same token, neither do we. Who will be participating in the forum?" Jonasan asked.
Mayumi stopped walking and smiled and pointed to herself.
"Don't tell me you're going to be the only one?" Tatsuya asked.
"It makes sense. None of us could win an argument with her when we were younger." Kurisu muttered to Jonasan.
"What was that Kurisu?" Mayumi asked.
"Oh, nothing."
Mayumi gave the two of them a strange look. "Are you sure that I don't know you two from somewhere?"
"Positive, Mayumi." Jonasan lied.
She seemed to let the matter go and turned back to Tatsuya.
"Since we're out of time. If it's just me, they won't rip me to shreds over minor differences of opinion. And I'm more afraid of impression manipulation turning this into an emotional debate."
"Meaning that you'd never lose a logical argument?" Tatsuya asked.
She nodded. "And besides… If those kids have reasons strong enough to defeat me in a debate…"
Everyone looked at her.
"Then all we have to do is make that an integral part of running this school from now on."
She then turned to Kurisu.
"By the way Kurisu… can I get you to do something for me?"
"What?" he responded.
"Although Mari and I do our best, there is still a mountain of paperwork that needs doing each day. Can I ask you to help us work through it all?"
"Like a personal assistant?"
"Yes. Please?" She was giving him the puppy dog eyes.
Kurisu looked at her and sighed. "Sure, why not."
…
Students with red, white and blue wrist bands were talking to the Course 2 students about the upcoming forums.
"Course 2 students! We are members of a coalition that seeks to eradicate discrimination within this school! As the student council president announced this morning, tomorrow we will be holding an open forum regarding the treatment of Course 1 and 2 students. This will be our golden opportunity to improve conditions for ourselves, the Course 2 students! Please join in the open forum!"
Jonasan was patrolling around campus keeping an eye on the students that were talking and doing his best to restrain himself from beating the shit out of them. Everyone was giving him a wide berth as he walked around due to the dark aura he was emitting.
As he walked through a building, he saw the captain of the kendo team talking to several students who wore glasses like him. As he passed by them the captain turned to look at him and a look of fear crossed his face. Jonasan knew he was seeing his massive aura as he was not bothering to hide it. His pitch-black aura was terrifying for most to look at. The students he was talking to took one look at Jonasan and ran the other way. Jonasan saw the red, white and blue band on his wrist and growled at him, causing him to pale and walk swiftly away.
A few minutes later, Kurisu slid up next to him.
"You need to tone it down a bit Jonasan, your scaring people."
"I don't care, these assholes are using these students for their own selfish desires. It pisses me off." He growled
"Keep it together, Jonasan. You can beat the shit out of them once they make a move, not before."
…
Tatsuya and Miyuki had gone to see Kokonoe Yakumo to gather intel on Kinoe Tsukasa, the captain of the kendo team.
"Kinoe Tsukasa… Formerly known as Kinoe Kamono… None of his parents and grandparents seemed to have any propensity for magic. So, he came from a so-called ordinary family… But it's actually a branch of a prominent family of onmyoji… The Kamo clan. Those eyes of Kinoe's must be a kind of throwback to his ancestors…" Yakumo said.
Tatsuya looked at him for a moment. "Did you know that I wanted you to look into Kinoe Tsukasa?"
"No, it had nothing to do with your request… I already knew about him. I may be a priest, but at the same time… no, more than that… I'm a shinobi. Anyone who has a past that might turn out to be problematic… I make a point of looking into them all."
"Have you looked into us, too?"
"Not that I didn't try to… But at the time, I had no idea. The information manipulation concerning you two is ironclad. I really have to give you props for that…"
"So, Master, what do you know about Mr. Tsukasa's connection to Blanche?" Miyuki asked.
"Kinoe's mother's second husband's child… In other words. Kinoe's older step-brother is the leader of Blanche's Japan Branch. And this fellow named Hajime Tsukasa isn't just a figurehead… He's a genuine leader who also runs their secret operations, not the least of which is illegal activities. Kinoe enrolling at First High School must have been Hajime Tsukasa's doing. That forum tomorrow… He might be plotting something…"
"There are two more people I want you to look into." Tatsuya said.
"Hoh?"
"Kurisu and Jonasan Cosmos."
"The Cosmos… there's not much to say about them. Both their parents were magicians and grandparents too. Their parents were killed in an unfortunate car accident when they were 15 and they have been living by themselves ever since."
Little did they know that the Cosmos had heard the entire conversation. Jonasan pushed a button on the panel in front of him destroying the bug he had placed on Tatsuya earlier in the day. Jonasan turned to Kurisu with a feral grin on his face.
"Got it?"
"Got it." Kurisu replied grinning in return.
"It looks like our fabricated history held, even under the investigation of Yakumo."
"That's good. It will lead to fewer problems later on."
Jonasan looked at the photo of Hajime on the screen.
"We've got our target, now we just have to wait for the trap to spring." Kurisu said.
Jonasan gave a maniacal grin. "I'm going to enjoy this far more than I should."
…
4-23-2095
Several unmarked, black trucks pulled up outside the school. The people driving the trucks quickly got out and carried several white boxes to various locations around the school.
Inside the auditorium, the debate between Mayumi and the coalition that was trying for equality within the school was becoming decidedly one-sided, with Mayumi shooting down every single argument that they could come up with. The auditorium was packed with Course 2 students but there were hardly any Course 1 students.
"Compared to the Course 1 students, the treatment received by Course 2 students is both inferior and discriminatory in all ways! Aren't you trying to cover up that fact, Chairwoman?"
"You just pointed out that it was 'in all ways'. What are you referring to specifically?" Mayumi countered.
Behind the stage, Mari, Miyuki, Suzune, Tatsuya, and Jonasan were standing, listening to the debate. Kurisu was out in the audience in case something happened among the Course 2 students.
"The magic-oriented clubs, with their high ratio of Course 1 students, clearly receive the lion's share of the budget compared to the non-magic-oriented clubs mainly populated by Course 2 students! Isn't that proof that preferential treatment for Course 1 students is overlooked even when it comes to extracurricular activities?"
The student left the podium as Mayumi walked up to it.
"Even non-magical clubs, such as the legball team, which has compiled an excellent record in the national competition, have been allotted sums that compare favorably to those given to the magic-oriented clubs."
While Mayumi was speaking, Mari spoke to the group behind the stage,
"This is no longer a forum… it's turning into Mayumi's personal bully pulpit. But still… I have no clue what they're up too…"
"I do but you don't need to know that." Jonasan thought.
"To say that the club budget allotments result from preferential treatment for the Course 1 students… that's a misconception." Mayumi continued.
"But we can't make any advances ourselves…" Mari said. "Defense-only policy does have a nice ring to it, but…"
"Chairwoman Watanabe, please don't make assumptions about resorting to violence…" Suzune said.
"I know. You don't have to worry."
"I'm counting on you."
"It's going to come to that. It's only a matter of time." Jonasan muttered.
Tatsuya looked at him before whispering to him, "How much do you know?"
"Enough to know that something is going to happen and happen soon but not what." He whispered back.
"I won't deny that there is discrimination among the students that is being pointed out. Blooms and Weeds…" Mayumi said catching everyone's attention.
"These are terms that have been banned by the school, the student council, and the Disciplinary Committee, but unfortunately, I must admit that they are still in wide use."
There were mummers among the students.
"It's not just the Course 1 students. Among the Course 2 students, there are those who despise themselves as Weeds, and are resigned as well as accepting of it. Yes, such a lamentable culture does exist here. The issue is this barrier to awareness! As this school's student council president, this barrier to awareness… is what I've wanted to somehow break down. But that's not something that should be resolved by creating new discriminatory practices."
The Coalition had lost at this point and they knew it. It was evident by the expressions on the representative's faces.
"Every one of us, from Course 1 and Course 2, are students of this school… And the time we spend here as students of this school… for each of us, these three years are irreplaceable…"
A few claps started here and there until eventually, the entire auditorium was clapping.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you all what I hope for. In the student council, there is still a system that discriminates against Course 1 and Course 2 students. Under the current system, all officers except for the president must be nominated from among the Course 1 students. This regulation can only be overhauled during the general assembly convened during the reelection of the student council president. When I step down, my final task as student council president will be to do away with this regulation at the general assembly. People's hearts cannot be changed by forced. And since that's not the way to go… I plan to make as many improvements as I can in all other areas."
The room broke out into a standing ovation. While that was going on, Jonasan nudged Miyuki, causing her to look at him.
"You hear that? She wants to change the system of the student council, that was you're doing Miyuki."
Miyuki smiled; too bad everything was about to go to hell.
Several explosions occurred outside of one of the school buildings, causing the auditorium to shake. The students that had the red, white and blue armbands got up and attempted to leave but Mari was having no part of that.
"Chairwoman!" Tatsuya said.
"Apprehend them!" Mari shouted.
Jonasan, Tatsuya as well as several Disciplinary Committee students that were spread out amongst the crowd caught the fleeing students. Things got worse, however as a gas bomb broke through a window. It landed and bounced a few times before coming to a halt. It then began to release the gas within.
"Don't breathe in the smoke!" Hanzo shouted.
He cast a spell that captured and encapsulated the encroaching smoke around the gas bomb.
"All right."
He then jerked his hand up and the gas bomb then few out an open window and landed somewhere outside.
"Convergence of the gas and a Movement Spell, huh? Not bad." Jonasan thought.
The front doors of the auditorium were then kicked in and several men wearing gas masks and carrying rifles entered. Before they could so much as threaten anybody, they were hit with a wave of blue magic and they suddenly clutched their throats, before collapsing. Mari turned out to be the culprit.
"A MID field. She must have replaced the air within the masks with nitrogen." Jonasan thought.
Just as Mari was dealing with reports coming in from campus security, Jonasan and Kurisu were beginning their plan. Jonasan put two fingers to his ear, where he had a hidden earpiece.
"Kurisu, secure the perimeter. Ascertain where the point of entry was and what their target is." Jonasan said.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kurisu bolt out the door.
"On it. I'm going to need my CAD."
"Going to retrieve it now." Jonasan responded and ran toward the CAD housing area oddly enough, he saw Erika doing the same thing.
Outside was chaos. There were Blanche operatives everywhere firing bullets at students or getting into one on one, non-magic brawls. Some students were winning, some were losing.
"Jonasan! Their target is the Practical Skills Wing, The Special Reading Room!"
"Son of a bitch, they're after the tech. If they get their hands on that before we do, they will be able to overthrow us."
"What's the stats of my CAD?"
"Just got to the CAD Housing unit, standby."
"Hurry up. I'm a sitting duck out here."
Just as he reached the door, Erika did as well.
"Erika? What are you doing here?" Jonasan asked.
"Same as you. I'm grabbing my and Leo's CADs, so we can fight these guys." She replied.
The two entered the unit and Jonasan quickly went over to where Kurisu's CAD was held when he was on campus.
"What kind of CAD is that?" Erika asked, looking at the strange CAD.
The CAD was a pure black gun with a small sword on the end of it. The lettering was done in blue and it read, Dragon Knight.
"This? This is a gunblade, one of the few in existence. It's part of the Dragon series by Shadow Technologies."
"Jonasan, status? I've found Leo, and Tatsuya and Miyuki are on approach. Leo said that Erika went to retrieve their CADs, is she with you?"
"Yes. I've retrieved your CAD and we are en route."
Jonasan looked at Erika. "Let's go. Leo and Kurisu are waiting for us."
"Right."