Born out of a crime
Disclaimer: I don't own Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
"Speaking"
"Screaming"
'thinking'
Author´s note
Just a quick info at the beginning, my school in Japan starts at a Thursday.(Welcome speech und lerning the school layout. On friday schol is only for half a day where all the bureaucratic shit happens.
Tatsuya walks through the red gate and over the two sill stones. Passing over the symbolic divide whose optic is enhanced by fences of living bambus. Enjoying the scene change to classic still quiet atmosphere he follows the trail of stepping stones through the raked pyrites symbolicing the waves in the water. As he reaches the end of the trail he steps on a white zigzag stonebridge weaving through a reed grass meadow and scattered cherry blossom trees. Arriving in front of the house door he is listening to rhytmic water play of the shishi odoshi. After a few minutes he raises his hand to tap on the wood paneled door and waits. When the door opens up Tatsuya is pulled in a one-armed embrace.
"Good to see you, Tats-kun. Come in." The old man opening the door invites Tatsuya in.
"You know, you´re just in time. They are waiting in the eastern room. Wataru couldn´t bear it anymore and almost started eating."
Tatsuya misses a step und almost stumbles. Making a grimace and he says:
"That shouldn´t be my fault, should it?"
And with an evil grin Ushio answers:
"You know how my wife would have hounded you if you were late to the family meal."
Tatsuya grimace deepens while he speeds up his steps along the hallway. Noticing that Ushio starts grinning and keeps up with past several doors on the right side und windows on the left side they reach the end of the hallway. Stepping through the tradionell door Tatsuya is greeted by the sight of a long dark wooden table in front of a broad window front through which the rising sun is seen. A dark-haired woman in a light dress sits with her back to him talking to the two children opposite of her. At the sight of Tatsuya the smaller hyperactive boy utters a whoop of joy and lunges at his food. The woman turns around and greets her guest with a smile.
"Ah, Tatsuya-kun it is good to see you. I almost thought you wouldn´t make it."
At that Tatsuya blanches and hastily responses with a obviously fake cheery tone.
"How would I? I was really looking forward to our meal. I enjoy it way too much."
"Oh, if that is the case you should come more often, shouldn´t he darling?"
She asks her husband with a happy and baleful shmile while toching her right cheek with her hand. It instantly most of the people around the table.
"Yeah, Tasu-nii should come more often"
Agrees a small boy cheerily while still gulping down his food.
"Wataru don´t speak while eating. It´s unrefined."
"Yes, Kaa-san."
He says without even getting slower.
"And you two sit finally down. We´ve waited long enough."
At that both Tatsuya and Ushio sit down. Ushio next to his wife and Tatsuya goes around the table to sit to Shizuku´s left.
Shizuku takes a Toast for herself and asks in her usual stoic voice.
"What do you want, Tats-ni-san? Milk or orange juice"
Tasuya points to the orange juice and takes himself a toast.
"Thanks."
He says and starts buttering it. Afterwards he reaches for the cheese and takes a bite.
Oppsoite of him a female voice asks und he looks to her.
"So Tatsuya, how was your first school day? Shizuku and Honoka already told us about theirs at yesterdays evening meal."
"Quite boring. I don´t think there is much to learn. Although I have a bit hope left for the library. Harumi always spoke good about them."
Tatsuya says in a bored tone and takes another bit of his cheese toast. With a light gleam in his eyes he continues.
"Well that and the partial acces to the university database should be interesting."
After another bite he looks to Ushio and aks.
"When will the announcement be?"
"Tomorrow evening. Because it´s Saturday after closing time it will give them time to calm down. It shouldn´t affect the market too much and we could avoid a volatile situation situation as we would have during business hours."
A chilly voice interrupts him.
"Dear, need I remind you "no business" at the table?"
Ushio leans slightly back and raises his hands in capituation.
"No, dear."
"Than be a good husband and give me the peach marmelade."
At that Tatsuya smiles melancholically and returns to his breakfast.
After a fulfilling breakfast Shizuku looks at the black wooden floor clock.
"We should go or we will be late to meet Honoka"
She says, stands up and take her and Tatsuya´s dishes with her.
"Alright."
He says, stands up and ruffles Wataru´s hairs before taking his plate helping Shizuku.
They come back togehter from the kitchen to say their good bye to the family.
As Tatsuya is leaving through the front door, he is tackled by a small boy hugging him.
"Tats-niiii don´t go, don´t go, don´t go- Let´s play."
The caught Tatsuya looks akwardly at Shizuku who shows a faint smile.
"Wata..."
Interrupting Tatsuya before he can finish Wataru is sized by his collar.
"Wataru, stop." says Ushi. " Tatsuya und Shizuka have school today."
"As do you." States a female voice behind them which instantly deflats Wataru´s enthusiasm.
"Yes, Kaa-san."
"So let him come tomorrow. Then he will have enough time to play with you."
Instantly Wataru brightens up again and grips Tatsuya´s hand. For excitement he jumps up and down.
"Will you come? Will you come? Will you come?..."
He ratters on without a pause. In response Tatsuya throws a helpless look at the couple.
"But I wanted to work tomorrow. I had this new idea I wanted to try."
"Nonsense. Young boys should play outside and not tinker with technic all the time."
As reaction to that Tatsuya looks for help to his side and Shizuku says in her usual deadpanned voice.
"I also wanted to see the announcement together with Tatsu-nii. It isn´t everyday that you have your big day."
He gazes betrayed at her.
"Et Tu Shizuku?"
Scene change – after the end of the last period
Just as the clock on the wall slips on 5 minutes after 12, at the end of their second schoolday Tatsuya stands inside of first year building´s front gates gangway. Barely inside the shadows he is leaning with his back against the wall. His half-lidded eyes seem to indicate he´s sleeping even if his rigid posture with his legs stabilizing him tells a different story.
He doesn´t even react when different scores of people walk enthusiastically past him to leave the school and finally enjoy their weekend.
"Well, well, look who we have here. Sneaking around inside instead of going out in the sun. That at least explains why you´re white as sheet, doesn´t it?"
The serious phrasing/tone in the beginning of the gives way to almost laughing words at the end. In response Tatsuya ruefully opens his eyes and is greeted by a redhead standing inside the door frame with crossed legs, lightly leaned forward and her hands behind her back. A curious expression is on her face matching her question. Raising his right eyebrow Tatsuya sarcastically comments.
"Oh, you´re still here. I thought you would have fled as soon as you can."
Grinning cheekily Erica answers.
"And from what should I be fleeing?"
Tatsuya´s reply is cut off before he can even utter one word when someone bumps into the grinning redhead from behind her. As she pushed back to stabilize herself on reflex straightens her posture the other one land on his ass with a loud smack.
"Sorry, I didn´t see you."
Erica turns around and says it like half-joke.
"Stupid weed. Back off!"
One of the guys next to the fallen girl snaps at her as they form a half circle around her with the fallen girl.
"Are you allright Isshiki-san?"
She looks disdainfully at Erica as if watching a lowly insect before taking the offered hand by the guy next her.
"Yes. Thank you, Morisaki-san."
Accusing Erica she starts speaking again.
"You don´t even belong here and still dare to hinder a true magician."
Morisaki nodding in acceptance to that adds.
"Just a stupid monkey."
At that Erica opens her mouth with her eyes blazing in anger and presses her fingers into shaking fists.
"We are all the same freshmen. You guys might be blooms, but how are you any better than us?"
Angry howls resound as Isshiki steps up to her.
"If you want to know just how outclassed you are I can gladly show you."
But before he can follow up his words with deeds Tatsuya leans himself forward and stop with his arms around Isshiki and Morisaki´s shoulders.
"Should you really talk like that Isshiki-san? With your incompetence you shouldn´t even be allowed to touch your CADs, right?" With a haughty yet still deadpan voice he arrogantly continues.
"As far as I remember there was even a course 2 student who was a more than a dozen points higher than you, right Erica?"
The red head looks quite clueless at Tatsuya until suddenly an enlighted look dawns on herface.
"Ohhhh, you mean Miki. Wanna meet him?"
And her face couldn´t hide her excitement anymore.
"We can meet him at the cafe. They have great cake there."
"As long as our friends here don´t think we don´t belong in a nice cafe?"
Tatsuya asks with an arrogant tone and smile as he steps back. After Isshiki is free she throws a last look at Erica before snorting and brushing past her. Following her are Morisaki and the other guys are leaving through the now vacant door.
After the door shuts close Erica and Tatsuya grin at each other before Ercia starts openly laughing. When she finally starts calming down, she stretches her arms upwards.
"Well that was fun. So wanna really met Miki? He might be a grouch but he might be interested in meeting you."
"Not today. I already have plans. I´m just waiting for the other two. "
He utters lazily as he leans back against the wall in the shadows.
"So how about next time?"
"Great. I already know a nice cake shop around here. You´re gonna like Miki."
As they talk they are approached by a suspicious looking Shizuku and Honoka.
"What is a Miki?"
Is asked innocently behind Erica as she jumps in fright forward crashing into Tatsuya and Shizuku comments with a slight twitch of her lips in her deadpanned voice and a red faced Honoka next to her.
"I know kaa-san wanted you to find more friends. But I didn´t think she meant finding a girlfriend so fast."
"Th...-There´s no way that could happen, right Tatsuya?"
Is the half desperate and half downtrodden outcry by Honoka as she clings to Tatsuya.
"There´s no way that could happen. Aren´t you a bit rude?"
Tatsuya answers scandalized.
At the same time outside of the is talking to his friends.
"How dare he compare me to a weed?"
Nex to him a blond girl sniff in disdain.
"Well what do you expect from a no-name? He is practical a weed himself. I don´t even know how he got in our class."
Scene change
A girl with short black hair and light brown eyes enters through the door of at the end of a winding stair. After she crossed the threshold she sees a petite woman with her red-eyes the scene out of the window.
"What are you doing here, Mayumi?"
She sighs and responds without facing the questioner.
"What do you want, Mari?"
"You know as the chief of the public morals committee I should probably arrest you for using magic outside of the lesson."
The petite woman releases her magic and turns to glare at her friend. Whose only response is a cheeky grin.
"Or perhaps inform the police that we have a stalker."
"Mariiiiii!"
But Mari grins only cheekier and finally Mayumi can only give up. Stepping away from the window and she sits down at the table.
"So who is the one wo dared to ditch you?"
Looking down at the leaving underclassmen she adds.
"Perhaps I should take him. I bet I get him housebroken within a week."
Scene change
An old gentleman well into his fifties steps out of the driving seat of black car with mirrored backwindows. His spine is straight as a pin as he opens the door behind his seat and helps the occupant out.
"Thank you, Nakura-san."
Mayumi says as she takes his hand and looks at the him. Afterwards walking into the open elevator, Mayumi leans her back at the wall and both leave the underground garage together.
"Please collect all you can find about Miyuki Hyōshō. I expect it until Monday morning,"
"Yes, Madam."
"Oh and also take a look at Tatsuya Jūryoku."
As the elevator door glides open she is greeted by twins glomping her happily.
"Nee-chan!""Nee-chan!"
They both choruses at the same time.
"How was your day?"
Scene and time change
Standing next to her bed and in front of a mirror Honoka is unconfidently tossing several pieces of pieces of clothes around before she finally takes a white blouse and holds its in front of her to see how it would look like. And after one uncertain look she frustratedly throws it away.
At someone clearing one´s throat behind her, she jumps in fright and looks back to see her smiling mother.
"Dear, it´s almost late. Shouldn´t you go?"
Tearingly Honoka answers to the woman standing in the door.
"B-But Kaasan. I´m not ready..."
"Come on let me help you."
She says as she enters the room and takes Honoka in her arms.
Honoka stands at the dark wooden door step and presses the bell before she again starts smoothing out non existing creases in her white long-sleeved blouse. In her nervous fidgeting she didn´t even realize that the wooden door in front of her was opened by a grinning Shizuku.
"Everything alright, Honoka?"
"Y...Ye...Yes."
"Tats-nii is already here, so don´t be so nervous."
Shizuku states in her usual voice slightly tinted with a teasing tone.
As they both enter the living room they are greeted by the sight of Tatsuya laying on the coach with his feets over the backrest.
Scene and time change
The screen switches and shows a TV-reporter in front of a large dome.
"And now it is finally finally time for the opening presentation of the JMTC. Each of the present companies will give a short opening statement. The first presentation is from Silverware which in itself is a novelty. It is their first media appearance since their foundation. And I´m sure we are all expectantly awaiting what they will present us."
The screen switches inside the hall now showing a large T-shaped stage with a lectern and a big screen in the background. As it switches to from black to showing an encased silver dragon.
"And now there comes Miss Kitayama Benio. We are what she will have to say."
"As the representative of Silverware it is my honor to open the Japanese Mage-Tec convention. More so to present to the dear guests and colleagues our first product line open to the public."
While the screen behind her switches from the Silverware logo to a long silver gun and Benio takes a half turn to indicate at it.
"What you see here is the first mass produced specialised CAD developed by Taurus Silver. It is developed for only one purpose which is to made optimal usage of the loop cast system."
The crowd starts murmuring and cries can be heard.
"What?" "That isn´t impossible"
" The Loop Cast System is the Activation Sequence that skips the step of restarting each Activation Sequence. If the Magic Sequence is the same, then the CAD no longer has to restart the Activation Sequence each time. It accelerates the casting speed up to 20-25% according to the programming and tuning."
Author´s Note
Sorry that it took so long. I had over 2.000 words for over a year but i wanted at least 3.000. So i got a bit stuck. And then life happenend and i nearly forgot about it.
So here is now the chapter, it´s still not 3k words but i hope its good. I have the plot planned for the first arc and mostly for the second, i just need to write it. If i take too long someone should probably give me a kick in the ass to get me going.