- よつば -
Shiba Miya settled into the couch, sighing.
Her close held concerns were finally coming to a head.
She recognized the look in his eyes when he had made that declaration.
A declaration of war, fueled by a rage she did not realize he was capable of.
And then he had strode off onto the battlefield, leaving a sniffling younger sister behind, whom he had sworn to protect.
She too, thought she had been irrevocably changed that day, but her own feelings proved that he was not too far gone.
It was strange, seeing something she had created with her own two hands, come undone.
She knew she shouldn't have, but relief flowed through her frail body.
And then that girl had barged into the hotel lobby, earnest, her eyes seeking.
Miya had seen a chance in that moment, that one day he could be happy.
And in that happiness, perhaps he could find peace, as well as his destiny.
She made up her mind then; she would do anything to atone for her what she had done to her son.
She could do this as the mother she should have been to him.
She motioned towards the Yotsuba Guardian.
"Send this message to Saegusa Mayumi."
- いちじょう -
June, 2095, Third National Magic University Affiliated High School, Ishikawa
A frown settled on the face of the auburn-haired teen as he stood alone in the middle of the large practice room. All around him lay the remnants of a set of wooden training dummies, all of which had almost entirely been reduced to dust and splinters. He sighed, his handsome face stiff and emerald-green eyes reflecting a tinge of annoyance as he activated the HAR to sweep the mess to the side and he strode over to the storage closet to retrieve another set of training dummies to try again. He grabbed two wooden dummies and pulled them out of the closet to place them throughout the room, taking the time to go over what had gone wrong again.
Still too much force; trying to compensate on power while not reducing casting speed is giving me more trouble that I thought it would.
After the HAR had returned to the edge of the room and the seven dummies were mounted in place, he moved back to the starting position. Pulling his CAD out of its holster, he dropped both arms to the side in a relaxed position. Closing his eyes, he cleared his mind and steadied his breathing. The key was concentration.
A sharp horn blared, indicating the start of the timer. Whipping his CAD out in front of him at eye level, he pulled the trigger seven times. Seven magic sequences spawned in the air, firing out seven streams of compressed air bullets. Each stream found its mark in the center of a training dummy, shattering each one. He glanced up at the timer which stopped running when the last dummy had been hit.
5.836 seconds. A little slower than I would have liked, but acceptable.
Stowing his CAD back in his holster, he walked over to the nearest dummy to check the condition. This time the dummy had only been split in half rather than obliterated. A large crack indicated where the compressed air bullets had struck home. A quick survey told him that the rest of the dummies were in a similar condition. A satisfactory result; still enough force to fracture a rib, but not lethal. It would still need more fine-tuning, but he was in a good position.
The sound of the door sliding open prompted him to stand up to see who the newcomer was. A smaller teen with garnet-hued eyes was leaning against the doorway entrance was watching with subdued interest. Kichijouji Shinkurou.
"George," he greeted his best friend succinctly.
"Those were compressed air bullets weren't they, Masaki?," the other student asked, uncrossing his arms. "Given that you didn't have Committee duties today, I would have figured that you would have been by the swimming pools where the boys are holding mock trials for Ice Pillar Break. And then when you weren't there I checked with the Kyudo club."
Ichijou Masaki made his way back over to the side of the room to reactivate the HAR to tidy up the room one more time before leaving for the day. He grabbed the larger pieces of wood as he made his way around the room. Shinkurou walked over and grabbed a couple pieces of well to help with the cleanup. He shot an appreciative look at his friend.
"Seems like you're done with Student Council duties early as well," he replied, glancing at Shinkurou after stacking the wooden pieces for shredding and composting. "There wasn't any point in going to the mock trials for Ice Pillar Break. The Ichijou specialty is long-distance bombardment, so I'm a shoo-in for making the team for that event. As for the Kyudo club, I'm not even an official member, I just pop by occasionally to make sure I'm not rusty…" he paused, making sure the equipment closet was in order.
"...But using it as an excuse to avoid the fangirls and elitists is an unexpected benefit," Masaki added with a wry smile.
He grabbed his school jacket from where it was draped over the towel rack mounted on the wall, and turned around for one final check to make sure he left the room clean. Shrugging the jacket on, he continued, dimming the lights and leading the two out of the practice hallway leading to the main building of the campus.
"The question is what other event will I be participating in. I'm guessing it'll likely be Monolith Code, which makes sense given I have live combat experience-"
He glanced down at the smaller boy. Shinkurou's raised eyebrow was all the confirmation he needed for his guess.
"-Seems that I was right about all of that. Has the Student Council already finalized the roster for all the events?"
George's garnet eyes reflected admiration.
"To answer your question, yes. The roster was just finalized this afternoon," Shinkurou affirmed. "Although I'm not sure whether to be more impressed with your correct deduction that you would be placed on the team for both events or with the confidence you had in making the team in the first place," he commented with humor. "Not that your confidence is in any way misplaced."
The auburn-haired teen shrugged nonchalantly.
"All I've known in my life is the importance of strength and duty. I've been blessed with strength beyond what many consider normal, so it is my duty to use it to serve others. And now it's our duty now to represent the school."
The two teens walked in silence for a bit, the breeze rustling the leaves on the trees that dotted the campus and bringing a slight relief in the warm sunlight. The air was beginning to feel warm and stifling, an indication that summer would soon be upon them. A flock of birds chirped brightly in the maple trees that lined the walkway, and as the two made their way across the campus the sounds of shouting grew louder in the balmy summer wind.
"Huh. Sure sounds enthusiastic over there," Shinkurou commented, looking in the direction of the swimming pool. Masaki followed his gaze.
From their vantage point, they could see several large pillars of ice standing in the swimming pool that had been drained and repurposed as a practice ground for the Nine Schools Competition. Several large chunks were melting in the late afternoon light, an indication that someone was in the process of attempting a run.
The two teens stopped by the fence to watch the last of the large ice pillars break under the spellfire; the sounds of cheers and whoops filled the air.
Masaki's lips curled up in a smile, emerald eyes shining in the dying sun and wind ruffling his hair.
"You know, George, the soldier in me has never really liked the thought of using magic for games, but the teenager in me is getting kind of excited for this. I have a feeling this will be a very interesting competition."
- さえぐさ -
July, 2095, First National Magic University Affiliated High School, Tokyo
A resounding 'thunk' echoed in the Student Council room as Mayumi's forehead made contact with the solid wood table and let out a low groan of frustration. Suzune completely ignored her in favor of continuing to sip away at the cup of green tea in her hands while Azusa pitied her with a sympathetic glance up from where she was concentrating on her mobile terminal from one of the workstations. Miyuki could only give a curious glance in her direction from where she was eating in the seat next to her.
Mari stopped her eating to wave her chopsticks at her from where she sat across from the first-year girl.
"You know you're really killing the lunch mood in here, Mayumi."
Mayumi shot a dirty look at her friend.
"You know, if you could at least maintain your own CAD, my job would be so much easier."
Mari had the decency to turn a shade red in embarrassment. She turned away and resumed eating, finding her bento box suddenly much more interesting. Miyuki cocked her head to the side in curiosity.
"Why do you bring that up, Mayumi-nee?"
When Miyuki had started calling her that several weeks ago, several of the Student Council officers were surprised at the use of such a familiar address, but by this point most of them had gotten used to their surprising closeness in such a short period of time.
Mayumi picked her head off the table and sighed.
"It's for the upcoming Nine Schools Competition. With the school's honor on the line, participants are always selected based on merit."
"So the Student Council is taking the lead in preparing for it?" the younger girl asked.
Mayumi nodded and poked at her lunch, using her chopsticks to move the food around while she talked.
"Yep. Together with the Club Management group, we're deciding the team and the strategy. We're trying to win the cup for a third year in a row, but Third High is also heavily favored to do well this year so we have to be careful. Juumonji-kun and the Club Management group have almost finalized the athlete roster for all the events; we're just waiting on the final results from the freshmen final exams to finalize the first-year participants, but the problem is the technical support team."
She made a face.
"Of course, since First High has no shortage of high performing magicians, I think Juumonji-kun got the easy part."
Miyuki covered her chuckle with a hand, amused to see her so put out.
"Among the second-years, A-chan's the most capable, and we do have Isori-kun, but the senior class is particularly skewed towards practical skills. A couple of them can at least fine-tune their own devices," she emphasized, glaring at Mari again, who pointedly ignored her, "but on the whole, there are only a handful who would be able to provide support."
She clasped her hands before her, cracking an eye open in the direction of Suzune.
"Hey, Rin-chan. Would you take on the role of an engineer after all?"
"Not possible," the stoic girl replied tersely, without batting an eye at the rejection she gave. "With my skills, I believe I'd only end up thwarting Azusa and the others."
She clutched a hand to her heart and dramatically collapsed onto the table again, eliciting another bright laugh out of Miyuki and causing Suzune to roll her eyes in exasperation. After working with her for two years or more, the rest of the Student Council had gotten used to her antics, but it was good to get a rise out of them every now and then.
A small beep from one of the workstation terminals interrupted her grumbling. Azusa, who was the closest to where the monitor was, got up to check the incoming message.
"The freshman results from the final exams are in!"
"Oh? Let's have a look, shall we?"
Mayumi got up out of her chair and joined Azusa at the workstation terminal, glad to have something else to take her mind off of her problem for the moment. She stood behind the smaller girl's chair and peered over her shoulder.
The first page displayed the results of the composite score between both the practical skills and written sections of the exam. As she had expected, Miyuki had taken the top spot. She shot a brilliant smile at the freshman.
"Congratulations Miyuki-chan! I wouldn't have expected anything less!"
The younger girl blushed at the praise and bobbed her head in thanks.
She scanned the list mentally ticking off names that had been submitted as potential competitors. Mitsui Honoka, Kitayama Shizuku...yep, as expected we have an excellent group of freshmen this year.
Azusa switched over to the section that broke down the composite score into the practical and written portions of the exam. Many of the names that she had seen on the first list were also present near the top of the second which did not surprise her, since the practical portion of the exam was worth nearly double that of the written portion, not that she agreed with the method of evaluation. Azusa changed screens again to display the last page of rankings, this time for the written portion. The smile on her face grew wider when she picked out the name at the top of the list. Shiba Tatsuya. She had also expected this result, remembering the first time she had looked at the entrance exam scores.
"I think we can all guess who got the top score in the theory potion of the exam," she said out loud to no one in particular but shot a wink towards Miyuki.
"It's Tatsuya isn't it?" Mari called out from the table. She had finished her bento and pivoted her body, resting an arm on the back of the chair.
"I've seen him work on his assignments in the Disciplinary Committee room. It's always funny to see him correct the second and third-years, or at least the ones that will listen to him. I wouldn't be surprised if he could sit and rank on the third-year written exam."
Mayumi sighed. It was good that some of the Course 1 upperclassmen were beginning to warm up to him, but it still seemed like the members that were faculty recommended still ended up ignoring him most of the time. Not that he minded, she knew. He would have been perfectly fine keeping to himself, but she was glad he was interacting with other students.
"I wonder…"
Mayumi looked down at Azusa who looked to be thinking out loud.
"Wonder what?" Mayumi asked her, curious.
"Well...if we're looking for technical staff, doesn't Shiba-kun fit the bill? After all, it seems that Shiba-kun is the one who adjusts Miyuki's CAD..." Azusa trailed off.
A light of realization dawned in Mayumi's eyes and Miyuki's face lit up.
"Whoa! Talk about a blind spot!" she exclaimed.
Mari, too, was nodding.
"Of course! He also takes care of the reserve CAD's we have for Disciplinary Committee use! How could we have missed that?"
Mayumi turned excitedly to the younger Shiba.
"Miyuki! Can you tell your brother to come to the Nine Schools preparation meeting today after school?"
Thinking back to the incident that elected him to the Disciplinary Committee, she knew he would not be too happy that they had once again thrown him in hot water, but if it was Miyuki that asked, he would definitely come.
Miyuki smiled brilliantly and nodded.
"Of course!"
-しば - さえぐさ -
Tatsuya paused several steps away from the door to the Club Management Group room. He wondered how he always ended up in these situations. Starting with his first appearance as a member of the Disciplinary Committee, then the Blanche incident, and now the posting of the first semester final exam results, he seemed to be gaining more and more attention through the school. At least he longer had the bear the looks of skepticism from Course 2 students or the gazes of contempt and open hostility from the greater portion of Course 1 students, but he could still do without the whispers in the hallway of the mysterious Course 2 freshman.
Miyuki and Honoka picked up on his hesitation at entering the room, both looking slightly concerned; Shizuku's expression didn't change from her normal deadpan but she refrained from opening the door as well. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a breath, loosening his tie a bit before nodding to the group. Shizuku took the cue to open the door and led the four of them into the room.
Several heads turned as the group made their way into the room, with pockets of conversation buzzing in the air while students waited for the meeting to start. Several students caught sight of him and immediately he could feel the murmur of conversation grow slightly louder as he found himself garnering more and more furtive glances in his direction. Miyuki wavered for a moment, as if wanting to sit next to him through the meeting, but Azusa waved her over to the empty seat with the rest of the Student Council officers. She had to settle with flashing a quick, but tense smile at him and gave his arm a quick squeeze before joining the rest of the Student Council members in the first row of seats. Honoka and Shizuku made their way over to a group of Course 1 female freshman and joined them. The two turned back to look at him expectantly, with Shizuku gesturing to the three empty seats. He nodded and settled into the seat, giving the two girls a solemn, but grateful look.
It was a foreign experience for him, having friends that looked out for him. He had lived the better part of his life knowing that most of what he should have considered his family did not care for him and needing to depend on himself for almost everything. It wasn't an unpleasant experience, though.
Turning to the front of the room, he caught sight of Mayumi looking at him, the person who always seemed to be dragging him into these unwanted circumstances. It was her that roped Miyuki into getting him to come to this meeting where they were finalizing the Nine Schools Competition roster. From what his sister told him, no freshman had ever been assigned to the Technical Support team, not to mention Course 2 students. Once again, he was going to stick out like a sore thumb. The hushed whispers were clear evidence of that already.
Without changing the expression on his face, he crossed his arms and cocked an eyebrow at her, knowing that she would be able to read his expression. From across the room, he could see she had the grace to at least look a little sheepish for throwing him into yet more hot water, her cheeks flushing a slight shade redder. That however, only lasted a moment, and Mayumi followed up by flashing a brilliant smile in his direction. He had to fight the urge to roll his eyes.
Several more minutes passed, with a couple more students trickling into the room. The Vice-Chief of the Disciplinary Committee, Chiyoda Kanon, gave him a nod when she passed him on her way to the empty seat next to her fiance. The clusters of conversation trailed off and stopped when Katsuto Juumonji held up his hand to indicate that they were starting the meeting. Tatsuya couldn't help but be impressed with the way the imperious man exuded control over the room with his mere presence. He was the kind of man who spoke infrequently, but when he did, everyone in the room listened.
Most of the meeting was Katsuto and Mayumi announcing the finalized roster for each of the events and going over some event logistics. He absently noted that the competition was taking place on military grounds, the Southeast Fuji Training Area; he wondered if the JSDF 101st would be there for the event. His attention returned to the meeting at hand when the topic turned to the assignments of the Technical Support team.
"The last position on the Technical Support staff will be filled by Class 1-E, Shiba Tatsuya," Mayumi said, glancing in his direction.
The murmurs that had been quelled by the meeting sprung up once more. A chair scraping across the floor drew everyone's attention.
"You can't be serious, Chairwoman!" A Course 1 upperclassman he didn't recognize protested, "A Course 2 freshman?! It's unheard of!"
"Shiba has proven that he is just as capable as any of the Course 1 members of the Disciplinary Committee," Sawaki Midori countered, "His skill will be highly valued on our team."
"Is he up to fine-tuning CADs?"
"The staff will also be representing our school at the Nine Schools Competition you know?"
Another round of muttering and arguments broke out among the seated students. The fact that he also had some supporters among them came as surprise. Well, among the Disciplinary Committee members, Midori was one of the more amiable ones towards him.
"Apparently some among us aren't convinced."
The heavy baritone of Katsuto cut through the noise in the room, silencing all other voices.
"Then it would be best to have everyone actually see what Shiba is capable of. It would be easiest to just have him adjust an actual CAD. I'll be the guinea pig." Katsuto's slate-grey eyes locked with his.
Sounds of protest erupted again.
"That's dangerous! If the calibration turns out to be sub-par, injury will be the least of your problems!"
"No, since I nominated him, I'll take on that role," Mayumi declared, standing up, her tone and expression brooking no argument from anyone in the room. Her crimson-rose eyes landed on him, seeming to peer into his being. He had seen that look over determination on her face twice before, once at Onna and the second when they stormed the Blanche headquarters; he knew there would be no changing her mind about this. He sighed.
...
Several minutes later Mayumi found herself in the CAD calibration lab, which was quite crowded and noisy at the moment, with all 50-odd members on both the competition and Technical Support team crowding around a single workstation. Most of the front row was taken up by the more vocal dissidents as well as the Student Council officers.
Tatsuya sat in front of the large terminal, setting everything up to proceed with the calibration. Mayumi stood next to him, psion measurement headset in hand, watching his actions with interest; it was difficult not to fidget while waiting. The talented freshman flicked a glance at her.
"Still ordering people around and getting others to do your dirty work I see," he said, voice low enough that only she could hear his words over the din, while navigating around the menus on the terminal screen.
She flushed slightly at his jab at her bad habit, but she could tell from the humor in his eyes that he was making fun of her, despite the rest of his face remaining impassive. He gave her another look, and she could see the light shimmer in his pacific-blue eyes.
She huffed.
"You should be flattered. The Saegusa CAD engineers have to go through a rigorous vetting process, yet you get to calibrate mine."
She knew that for most people, allowing an unverified third party to fine-tune their own CAD was a risk that they would not normally undertake, but even though she had never seen him work in person, she had full faith in his abilities.
Tatsuya's expression didn't change visibly, but the edges of his lips quirked upwards and he raised an eyebrow in his typical amused expression.
"So it's a privilege, is it? Somehow I feel like people are not really missing out."
It took everything within her to resist rising to his baiting comment, not allowing herself to glare at him in front of such a crowd. She settled for narrowing her eyes.
"Hmph. I should smack you for that comment."
"Chairwoman, please refrain from acting so familiarly for the moment. What would the commoners think at the sight of Saegusa ojou-sama beating a poor Course 2 student."
She struggled to not visibly react while simultaneously trying to fish for a comeback for the cheeky comment. It was a refreshing and novel experience for her; she was usually the perpetrator of such teasing, never the target.
Tatsuya made the last few taps on the keyboard, finishing up his preparations. He made a move to turn towards Katsuto, but before he did, he turned his face slightly towards her.
"Still, I would prefer if you would show some restraint in such matters, Chairwoman."
The room quieted down gradually as Tatsuya turned to face the Juumonji scion.
"To clarify, the task is to copy the Chairwoman's CAD onto the competition approved device using the adjustment equipment available during the competition and quickly adjust it for immediate use without modifying any Activation Sequences," Tatsuya stated flatly.
The big man nodded.
"Yes, this is a common scenario for the competition, since most of the athletes would start training with their own CADs, and then switch over to the approved models once the date gets closer."
Tatsuya turned back to the screen after the confirmation of what was requested of him. Mayumi noticed that his brows furrowed slightly and he had the faintest of frowns on his face. Mayumi cocked her head to the side.
"Something wrong?"
The talented freshman sighed and loosened his tie.
"I wouldn't advise copying the settings of a CAD with different specs…"
He shrugged and his pacific-blue eyes flicked to meet Mayumi's for a moment.
"I have no choice. I'll do it with safety as priority. Chairwoman, if you could please put on the psion measurement headset for a moment."
She complied with his request, the soft glow of her psion light permeating the room for several seconds. A soft murmur of awe rippled through the room at the sight. She had been blessed with a relatively high psion count, even as a member of the Ten Master Clans. Out of the current third-years, only Katsuto could beat her in that regard.
"Thank you, Chairwoman. You can take off the headset now."
She removed the device, shaking loose her dark curls. Tatsuya had already started working, fingers flying across the keyboard, which was strange. She had never seen anyone calibrate a CAD like that before. She joined him on the other side of the device to see what was going on, and her eyes widened when she saw the screen filled with several windows, numbers and letters streaming across all of them in an incomprehensible jumble.
The furious whispers had started up again in the room.
"What's that guy doing?"
"Strictly keyboard in this day and age?"
"He's not using the standard CAD editing GUI?"
No, that's not a jumble. He's directly editing the CAD's settings in machine language?
Tatsuya gave the incredulous mutterings no mind. She was amazed at his ability to keep track of everything going on within the multiple windows while at the same time not sacrificing speed and precision.
He surprised everyone when his fingers slowed then stopped after only approximately three minutes of work. He backed away from the machine and handed Mayumi the freshly adjusted CAD.
Mayumi tapped on the bracelet-type CAD and activated Multi-Scope. Her eyes widened when the sequence responded faster than she could even have expected on her own device. If she had to explain it, she would have said that it felt cleaner somehow, which was still an inaccurate statement, since he hadn't touched her Activation Sequence. The whole room observed her expectantly.
"How does that feel?" Katsuto asked with crossed arms.
"I didn't notice any incompatibilities with it. Somehow it feels more efficient."
Several of the dissidents still didn't seem to be satisfied with the result. Her brow twitched in frustration. She would have liked to see any of them try! She knew the protests wouldn't be taken seriously; she could see that all of the final decision makers in the room, namely Katsuto, Mari, and the Student Council, all had satisfied looks on their faces. Azusa and, to her surprise, Hattori took care of squashing any more questions about Tatsuya's competency.
She flashed a brilliant smile at the teen; Tatsuya inclined his head at the acknowledgement, the ghost of a smile dancing around the corners of his lips.
-しば -
The August heat beat down on the First High School parking lot, the glaring rays and breezeless air making it all the more oppressive. Despite the weather, the stoic teen didn't seem to be bothered by the situation, merely scrolling through the schedule he had pulled up on the terminal in his hand. Absently he checked the time displayed at the corner of the screen before changing tabs to the First High roster. An hour late.
Without moving his head, Tatsuya flicked his eyes towards his companion. Unlike Tatsuya, Mari was visibly disgruntled underneath her black parasol, shifting on her feet. He couldn't blame her, given that they were waiting on the two students who would be leading the competition team. He supposed that the fact that said leaders also happened to be members of what was effectively Japan's governing body over magicians had something to do with their lateness.
A dark SUV pulled into the parking lot, pulling Tatsuya out of his thoughts and catching both his and Mari's attention. The backseat door opened and the imposing figure of Katsuto Juumonji stepped out, dressed in a suit that barely contained his huge frame.
"Apologies," he rumbled, "there was a Clans meeting and participants in the Nine Schools Competition were asked to be in attendance. Saegusa-san should also be here shortly."
"It is of no concern," Tatsuya replied easily, checking Katsuto's name off on the roster. Mari simply waved for him to get on the bus.
Tatsuya mulled over his words. As the Nine Schools Competition was a high profile event, asking the Clans members competing in the competition to be present at that meeting could only meant that they were using the Competition as another stage to display their dominance for all to see. Miyuki herself had gotten a single unsigned message last night, simply saying 'Good luck'.
Their aunt would be paying close attention.
Even though Katsuto had said Mayumi would follow shortly, it would be another half hour before the petite Student Council President arrived. A bright red sedan deposited an energetic Mayumi, clad in a simple summer dress with a matching sun hat, near where the transport buses were parked. It reminded him of another sitting in one of their unused storage closets. He could smell the delicate scent of her sakura-rose perfumed wafting through the air.
"Sorry! Sorry!"
"And that's everyone accounted for," Tatsuya commented succinctly.
"So slow! You're half an hour behind Katsuto," Mari huffed and collapsed her umbrella, boarding the bus.
"I'm sorry, ok!" she exclaimed to Mari's retreating figure.
She turned to Tatsuya.
"Sorry for making you wait out here for so long, Tatsuya…"
He lowered the terminal he had in his hand, the edges of his eyes softening slightly.
"Don't worry about it, I was informed of the situation by Juumonji-senpai. It must be stressful, serving as a member of the 10 Master Clans. You should be able to get some rest on the bus."
Tatsuya turned to return to his own bus assignment but Mayumi suddenly spun around in her dress, causing the skirt to flare, teasing surprisingly long, shapely legs for a woman of her stature.
"By the way Tatsuya, what do you think of my outfit?"
Tatsuya immediately realized that she was teasing him, from the way the sunlight danced mischievously in her crimson-rose eyes. He was also smart enough not to take the bait.
He inclined his head.
"It suits you," he replied simply.
"Really? Thank you!" Mayumi beamed.
"But…" she continued coyly, sliding closer to Tatsuya, "...I was hoping that you'd be blushing while praising me just now. Then it would have been perfect."
Tatsuya flicked his eyes towards the passenger bus that the two of them were holding up with their chatting.
"Chairwoman," a hint of exasperation in his voice, "I'm sure that many of the students are anxious to reach the lodgings and would much rather not have to watch me compliment you while blushing. We should get going. Besides," he said, voice becoming solemn while he turned away to walk back to the bus for the technical staff, "that would be hard for me to do."
...
Tatsuya settled into the stiff leather seat of one of the three construction lorries that First High had rented to transport the equipment and luggage that the team was bringing to the competition site, allowing his body to relax. While not unduly bothered by the summer heat, the air conditioning inside the vehicle was a welcome change.
The eight students that comprised the technical support team were split between the three equipment transport vehicles, and Tatsuya found himself paired up with Isori Kei, Chiyoda Kanon's fiance. The second-year student apparently had topped his class in the Magic Theory examination and was also ranked highly in practical skills. Tatsuya did not mind the arrangement, since the affable man had treated him respectfully and friendly in the technical support team meetings, as compared to some of the other members who didn't seem to know how to act around him.
His companion picked up on his actions.
"Thanks for the hard work. It must have been difficult to wait in the heat," Kei sympathized.
"It was no problem, I just had to stand there."
Tatsuya had volunteered himself to take on the role, figuring that as the youngest member of the team, it was only appropriate to do so. And while the two might have found some Magic Theory topics to talk about, Tatsuya had always been naturally inclined to keep to himself, and more waiting time in the lorry in addition to the two hour car trip to the competition site was something he could have done without. When the allotted twenty minutes for boarding had stretched to an hour and a half, he was even more relieved that he had taken the job.
Eventually the convoy pulled out of the school parking lot, the three lorries tailing the charter bus for the athletes. Kei contented himself to reviewing the plans for the events taking place the next day, when most of the official division matches would be having preliminary placements before the latter days which would feature elimination rounds. Tatsuya pulled out his terminal and was putting the finishing touches on a sequence he had been working on for a few days.
The Major's words were on his mind, putting him on edge. First High was favored to win the competition for the third year in a row. If someone were to interfere with the competition to sway the results, no doubt First High was in their crosshairs. During the journey, he had deployed Elemental Sight to his usual sixty percent, keeping most of his vision on his sister while letting the rest survey the environment surrounding the convoy.
The two students rode in silence for the entirety of the trip on the Tomei Expressway approaching Gotemba. About an hour into the drive, Kei put away his terminal to catch a nap while he could, as he would be working late that night to prepare to recalibrate the devices of all the athletes competing on the first day. Shortly after, Tatsuya followed suit, stowing his terminal in his jacket, but instead of resting he looked out the window, watching the forested landscape pass in a blur.
Tatsuya allowed himself to appreciate the different hues of greenery in the summer breeze. Turning away from the window, he tuned Elemental Sight to the inside of the charter bus for a moment. Miyuki and Honoka were laughing at something that Shizuku had said; he smiled, glad that Miyuki had found a reliable group of friends. Group Leader Katsuto was reviewing some documents on a terminal. Suzune was doing the same while Mayumi dozed next to her. The edges of his lips quirked; it was good that she was resting while she could. As the leader of First High, the competition was going to be exhausting for her.
A sensation shook the edges of Elemental Sight. He shifted the focus of his vision from the inside the bus to the surroundings, trying to pick out the source of the disturbance. His senses landed on a passenger car on the opposite side of the expressway moving erratically and above the designated speed limit. He focused his Sight on the vehicle and the driver; he tensed when he saw the glitter of psion light and Sequences appear on the tire and body of the car.
Not good.
Before he could do anything, the car's tire blew out, spinning and flipping the vehicle over the guardrail and sending it careening towards the First High charter bus. There was not enough time to get ahold of the passengers on the bus to do anything; he could only pray that someone on the bus could stop it. If it came to it, he would Decompose the car for Miyuki's safety, but he hoped it wouldn't have to come to that. That would create a whole host of problems for the two of them.
He saw the charter bus skid to a stop in front of them and felt their own transport lorry follow suit moments later. Someone had deployed magic to prevent the bus from skidding too far and buying them more time. Three more Magic Sequences appeared, targeting the rogue car in an attempt to stop it, but they only cancelled each other out, and nothing happened..
Dam. The only option is Gram Dispersion.
He cast a sideways look at Kei; hopefully the other man would be too busy trying to figure out why they had stopped to notice what he was about to do. He closed his eyes and focused Elemental Sight onto the three Magic Sequences acting on the car. One sequence each of Acceleration, Movement, and Oscillation. Giving one last look to the two other occupants of the vehicle, he pulled out one of his Trident-Silver Horns. Aiming at the floor of the van, he pulled the trigger, before quickly and smoothly reholstering it. Elemental Sight confirmed the dissolution of the offending Sequences.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he recognized Miyuki's cooling magic extinguishing the flames and a barrier stopping the car in its tracks. Even with the distance he the solid crunch as the vehicle was suddenly and forcefully stopped was jarring. From the brief glimpse of the Sequence he observed, it could only be the Juumonji Phalanx; he couldn't help but feel a sense of wary admiration for the man.
"What just happened?"
Isori looked shaken from the sudden commotion.
"Seems like there was an accident in front of the bus," Tatsuya answered in a clipped tone, standing up and opening the passenger door. "We'll need to move everyone to the side of the road to allow traffic to pass us while we investigate."
He hoped out of the lorry with Isori following close behind. The diminutive figure of Nakajou Azusa was also getting out of her van, followed by two other students on the technical staff. They didn't seem to know what was going on, so Tatsuya took control of the situation.
"Nakajou-senpai, can we have some students set up road markers and wave the cars behind us through? We have to move the wreck out of the way or traffic will build up on the expressway. Also, can someone contact the prefectural police?"
The girl looked dazed, but nodded, immediately assigning some of the staff to the task. Tatsuya jogged back to the van and dug around for a camera to record the aftermath of the incident, before making his way to the scene of the wreck.
It was quite the sight. The driver of the car was almost certainly dead, with the way that the body of the car was folded in; a dark red liquid was seeping out from one of the cracks, but it was the wrong consistency for engine oil. Grimly he began recording and walked slowly around the ruined metal while at the same time probing for signs of other magic with Elemental Sight. He detected traces of three different Magic Sequences, so minute that if Miyuki hadn't extinguished the flames it would have been unidentifiable.
The heat emanating from the pavement was stifling.
He made his way to the guardrail, looking over the edge towards the direction the car had come from. Gouges were visible in the asphalt from in the wake of the skid path. A familiar sakura-rose perfume smell indicated that someone had joined him.
"Quite the bullet we dodged there, wouldn't you say?"
"Indeed. There was less than a meter between the bus and the car," Tatsuya replied, leading Mayumi back to the crash site. "How are the students?"
"Shaken, but unscathed," the petite president answered. Her summer dress rippled in the breeze.
The two watched from the side as Hanzo moved the ruined car to the leftmost lane to allow the convoy to repark to keep out the way of traffic while they waited for the local authorities to deal with the situation.
"You should wait in the bus, Mayumi. You should be taking care of the athletes," Tatsuya stated simply, eyes still watching the student workers wave traffic through.
"While you have to stand out here again? Think of it as me making it up to you for my earlier tardiness. Besides, Rin-chan can take care of things in my absence."
Tatsuya glanced down at the smaller girl beside him, humor in his eyes.
"I don't follow the logic; that would just mean both of us have to put up with the heat."
She shrugged.
"Think of it as a penance then."
Mayumi glanced at the video recorder in his hand.
"What's that for?"
Tatsuya's face turned serious once more.
"Just being thorough."
The petite woman looked more closely at the device.
"Doesn't this model have a Kirlian Filter? What do you need that for? You suspect magic was involved?"
"...Like I said, just being thorough. It seems to be too much of a coincidence for this to just be a freak accident."
"Have you seen anything in the footage yet?"
Tatsuya hesitated, before nodding slowly. Mayumi looked troubled.
"We need to go over that footage later. Can you join Katsuto, Mari, and I for a meeting later? We need to -"
"Shiba. Saegusa."
The firm baritone of Katsuto interrupted their discussion, his large frame making his way over, accompanied by a police officer. Tatsuya was surprised to see one, given that the incident had occurred not five minutes ago.
"This is Officer Karayoru, with the local law enforcement. He just arrived on the scene for an investigation."
The man looked to be in his 30s, with an easy going smile that didn't seem to reach his grey eyes. The officer nodded and turned to Tatsuya.
"Luckily I was stationed nearby. I've been told that you were one of the first people on the scene, Shiba-kun. Do you mind if I get a statement?"
For some reason the man made him feel uneasy.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to give much. I was in one of the vans following behind, so you might be able to get more information from Saegusa-sama or any of the other passengers on the bus."
The man's eyes glinted. He nodded his head.
"Very well. However I do see that you have been taking some recordings of the scene. Do you mind if I take those as evidence?"
Tatsuya's eyes narrowed; he didn't really want to give up the information, but in such a situation he couldn't do anything but acquiesce.
"Very well, if it helps clear this up, I'll leave this in your care."
He removed the memory chip from the camera and handed it to the officer. The other man flashed a smile at him.
"Thank you Shiba-kun. I appreciate the cooperation," he said warmly, before turning and asking Katsuto to lead him to the passenger bus. His piercing gaze followed the police officer's back until he disappeared onto the bus.
Mayumi seemed to pick up on Tatsuya's intensity.
"Is something wrong?"
"I just find it strange. An officer stationed this far from the city, and asking for evidence from civilians when he could just as well have collected his own."
Tatsuya shook his head.
"No matter. Since the local authorities are here, we should get settled and back on the road again."
He caught sight of Mayumi's frown.
"Don't worry about it for now; there will be plenty of other things to think about soon enough."
-しば - さえぐさ -
There were no more incidents or mishaps for the rest of the trip to the competition site. They had arrived slightly later than planned, but everyone was able to check in and all the equipment was accounted for. He and Miyuki were surprised to run into Erika, Mizuki, Leo, and Mikihiko in the lobby of the hotel; He felt a little sorry for Leo when he saw the size of the luggage he was hauling for Erika. He was even more surprised to see Erika and Mikihiko dressed as the staff for the event.
Tatsuya fought the urge to adjust the uniform jacket for the twentieth time that night after sending Miyuki away with Honoka and Shizuku. He would have rather not attended the function, but his sister and Mayumi insisted that he borrow one of the spare jackets with the First High emblem for the opening banquet. Despite Mari's joking, there was no way that he would ever be transferred into Course 1.
He sipped at the fizzy drink in his hand while gazing out over the crowd from the back of the banquet hall. He personality was not predisposed to such social events, so he found a small measure of comfort in hanging back and watching the other students mingle. Well, not so much mingling; most of the students from the different schools, with the exception of a few brave males, kept to their own groups, either not sure or not ready to approach anyone that might be the 'adversary'. From his position, he could see Miyuki conversing with Honoka and Shizuku and some other First High freshmen. He appreciated that the females seemed to be surrounding her protectively; while understanding, he was slightly annoyed as he counted the number of male gazes from different schools lingering too long on his sister.
He saw that the First High upperclassmen were also congregating not far from the freshmen. This group, too, seemed to draw much attention from the nearby students, the famed 'Triumvirate' of First High, two of which were members of the 10 Master Clans. He could see that Mayumi was laughing at something while Mari looked amused and Hanzo looked positively mortified, probably the target of one of her jokes again. On the topic of the 10 Master Clans, he had yet to catch sight of the scion of the Ichijou that Shizuku had warned about during one of their afternoon coffee breaks. Absently, his eyes drifted back to where his sister was near the center of the room.
Tatsuya noticed that the background chatter around him suddenly became more animated and he sensed the presence of another join him at the back of the hall. Turning his head, he saw that the newcomer was clad in the burgundy uniform of Third High School. He figured that he was slightly taller than himself, with swept auburn bangs and piercing emerald-green eyes. Tatsuya turned back away, not saying anything. He was conscious of the increased number of looks in his direction.
"She's quite the beauty, isn't she?"
Tatsuya frowned, not understanding where the question was coming from. He followed his new companions eyes to where it ended where Miyuki was chatting.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of the 'Crimson Prince'?" he asked frostily, avoiding Ichijou Masaki's question with his own.
The Ichijou heir laughed then pulled a face.
"Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to start with such a strange question. And please, don't call me that, I hate that nickname. Ichijou Masaki. My friends call me Masaki."
"Shiba Tatsuya," he responded warily. "I'm not sure I've done anything to extend my friendship."
Masaki chuckled.
"You just seemed like an interesting person to talk to. You could say that I've become a little jaded after coming to one too many events like this one. It's nice to have a genuine conversation every now and then."
He gestured out towards the crowd.
"All these people trying to put their best foot forward. And then," the continued, " there are people like her that stand out in the crowd, much like Saegusa-san, Juumonji-kun, and Isshiki-san." He nodded in the direction of Miyuki, the First High upperclassmen, and then another blonde girl a distance away, clad in a Third High uniform.
"But I find that if you look a little closer, there are always people that don't appear who they seem to be, much like yourself."
Masaki paused, picking up a drink from a passing tray.
"You see, if this were two or three years ago, I might have tried going over and talking with her," he said, clearly talking about Miyuki. "But if you look around, you're sure to find something that everyone else has missed."
Tatsuya cast a glance at Masaki, who was still looking at Miyuki.
"...I'm not sure I follow what you're saying."
At this the young scion turned to converse with Tatsuya properly, his voice turning serious.
"Sorry, I'm rambling again. You have a certain look about you, you see. Everyone in the room is looking and talking about the people that stand out, but you, the way you look at that girl," Masaki flicked his eyes towards Miyuki momentarily, "where we're standing right now, the way you hold your body, the look in your eye...I can tell, you're like me."
He frowned again. Masaki had a melancholy wistful look, looking at him but not quite focusing.
"You're not a regular student, are you?"
Tatsuya stared into his drink. He should have been unnerved by the man's astute deductions, but somehow found that he was much more down-to-earth than he had been previously led to believe.
"Not quite."
A sad smile touched the edges of the auburn-haired man's lips. He nodded towards Miyuki.
"So who is she to you? Are you her bodyguard?"
Tatsuya should not have found the question amusing, yet did so. It reminded him of another time a certain someone asked almost the exact same question.
"She is my sister."
Masaki raised an eyebrow.
"I see."
The other man suddenly stuck his hand out for a handshake, a wide smile on his face. Tatsuya returned the greeting slowly.
"Thanks for the conversation, Tatsuya, I appreciate it. Will I have the opportunity to face you in Ice Pillars Break or Monolith Code?"
The edges of his lips raised slightly.
"I'm afraid I'm not competing in any of the events. I'm a technician you see."
The other man looked surprised, but nodded regardless.
"A shame...I would wish you luck in whatever events you're supporting, but that would be detrimental to us. Well then, I'll see you around, Tatsuya."
…
Mayumi delicately gripped the fluted drink in her hand, swirling the last of her drink absently. She was grateful that this party was much more casual and nothing at all like the functions she was required to attend as the eldest daughter of the Saegusa. Here she allowed herself a measure of more freedom in how she interacted with her peers. She ignored the lingering looks she received from the nearby clusters of students from other schools; she knew why they were interested. She amusedly noted that Miyuki too was in the same situation, capturing the attention of a good portion of the male population in attendance as well.
She allowed her eyes to sweep through the room. Like the other schools, First High's students chose to mingle among themselves, while leaving all the other groups at an arm's distance. The result was that the room was clearly broken into nine distinct sectors. It occurred to her that since arriving, she hadn't seen a certain blue-eyed freshman; she was both a little saddened, yet unsurprised. Her roaming gaze alighted on her target, standing at the back of the room. Her eyes widened when she recognized the handsome auburn-haired youth standing next to Tatsuya from the conference call earlier that day.
Excusing herself, she threaded the path towards the back of the hall, most of the crowd parting around her. The whispers of admiration swelled whenever she passed by. She reached his side just in time to see the broad back of Ichijou Masaki returning to the Third High herd. Tatsuya was watching him curiously. Sensing her presence, he turned and looked down at her. He bowed politely.
"Chairwoman."
She scoffed.
"Please."
His only response was the barest hint of a smile, his pacific-blue eyes shining.
"I didn't know you were acquainted with the Ichijou prince."
His eyes turned serious as he retrained his eyes on where Ichijou Masaki stood among his peers.
"I wasn't," he replied simply.
She frowned, mentally adding more pieces of information to the puzzle that was Shiba Tatsuya.
"In any case, Chairwoman. Is there a reason you were looking for me?"
She shook herself out of her thoughts.
"Is there a reason why you're hiding over here?"
He took a sip from the fluted drink in his hand, then shrugged.
"Social events aren't my forte. It's much easier to linger in the background."
He paused, gracing her with another look.
"Not that I've had much success with that tonight. First Ichijou-san, then Saegusa ojou-sama." His eyes glimmered humorously, drawing her in.
She huffed.
"Well, now that your plan has failed, would you mind joining the group? You're the only one hanging out here alone."
The talented first-year hesitated.
"Are you sure? Everyone seems to be getting along just fine."
She understood he was referring to the way many of the other students acted around him, back to the incident of the second class day. She hated that many still saw him as an outsider. If they had known him like she did, she was sure they wouldn't be too quick to judge.
She nodded firmly.
"We should present a united front. You're just as much a part of the team as I am."
Tatsuya didn't say anything for a few seconds, before inclining his head.
"If that is the Chairwoman's command, who am I to deny it?"
She sniffed in faux annoyance, spinning on her heels and gliding back to the group of First High students. A peek behind told her that Tatsuya was following, eyes amused. She turned back away from him, but smiled to herself as the two made their way through the ballroom.
- いちじょう -
Nine Schools Competition, Day 1, Morning
"All the seats are occupied already?" George cast a glance around the seating area for the Speed Shooting venue. It was clear that this particular section of the arena was more densely packed than the other corresponding sections on the neighboring field, and probably more than the fields to the back as well.
"Well, it's definitely not because of Fifth High if you didn't know that already," replied a blonde-haired girl from two seats over.
"Hey, hey, no need to get snippy, Airi. Anyways, we didn't ask you to come along, so if you were just going to complain, you should have stayed at the tent."
Masaki inwardly sighed at the death glare his cousin shot at him from the seat beside him. It was a wonder the two of them turned out so differently when they were practically raised together. She sniffed and turned away from him, her long, sunflower-blonde locks tied up in twin-tails flicking due to the motion and her amethyst-purple eyes reflecting annoyance. She was the idol of the Third High first-year girls, famous for her beauty and skill, but also infamous for being nigh unapproachable.
"Yep! I'm pretty sure everyone here is to see Saegusa-sama. Do you think she would sign an autograph if I asked?" asked the second girl from Airi's other side.
"Touko, you do realize First High is our rival?" replied the third.
Masaki inwardly smiled to himself. Well, at least Airi had Touko and Shiori to keep his cousin company. The five Third High students ended up in the middle of the seating area for this field. The lower stands were filled with a veritable sea of First High school uniforms; it would not have been an exaggeration to guess that the school's entire student body had turned out to support their esteemed Student Council President. His eyes roamed the seats below. He picked out a familiar face with dark, messy hair sporting a First High jacket making his way through the stands. He raised a single eyebrow when he realized that Tatsuya didn't have an emblem on his shoulder.
He's a General Studies student?
That was unexpected. He must have been using a borrowed jacket the night of the opening banquet. Shifting his eyes over, he spotted the beautiful woman sitting next to him, her jet black hair a mesmerizing contrast to her skin, pale as snow, befitting her name. Shiba Miyuki, his sister, Tatsuya had said. Would that make them twins?
Putting thoughts of the Shiba siblings out of his mind, his eyes returned to the shooting stand where the two competitors had stationed themselves. Like Airi had mentioned in her backhanded comment, all eyes would be on Saegusa Mayumi, the eldest daughter of the Saegusa clan. It wasn't as if he expected an upset in this contest; he recalled the reminder that he and Airi had been given during the meeting prior to departing for the Nine Schools Competition. If anything, it would be a good experience to see just what their rivals were capable of, and also for Shiori to get comfortable with what she would be participating in a couple days.
After the cheers of the crowd died down, the countdown was activated and a flurry of clay discs were shot onto the field. Unlike the fixed targets that the Biathlon Club, that Shiori and Touko were in, used, this competition was better compared to Skeet Shooting, albeit at a much faster rate of fire.
Even from the first several discs, it was evident that Saegusa-san had the upper hand. Every single red disc that entered the scoring volume was destroyed near instantaneously, while a number of white discs passed through without incident.
"Fifth High is sticking with the typical, Movement-type double elimination strategy." Shinkurou observed.
"So it's basically what Shiori-chan's using," Touko commented.
"Except Shiori's is about 10 times more efficient," Airi corrected.
The girl in question merely rolled her eyes.
"And what's Saegusa-sama doing? All of her discs explode so fast that I can't tell what she's doing!"
"The Elfin Sniper," Airi said cooly, "Her specialty is remote precision magic. She's using dry ice pellets to shoot down the discs."
Shiori glanced over.
"I'm sure there's more to that than dry ice pellets. All five of us here could do that."
"The dry ice pellets are the medium, but the magic that allows her to pull off that high level of speed and precision is the long-range Visual Perception-type magic, Multi-Scope," Masaki added, still observing the field. "You see, at first glance Speed Shooting just seems to be a contest of who can hit the most targets the fastest. But the thing you don't notice, is that the synchronization of the disc firing is programmed in a way to ramp up the difficulty in a way that most observers don't realize. Watch the launcher on the right."
The group sat in silence for a bit, allowing the murmur of the crowd to fill the air.
"Those two discs were fired at the same time!" Touko exclaimed.
"Not just at the same time," Shiori replied, realizing in her voice. "The exact same speed and angle. Her disc was completely blocked from view from where she is standing. Then she shot it-"
"-from below?!"
Masaki nodded.
"Multi-Scope allows the caster to monitor a scene from various angles, similar to relay cameras. Effectively, she has no blind spots, allowing her to shoot from any direction. The combination is called Der Freischütz, 'The Marksman'."
The Third High group watched the rest of the match in silence. Masaki crossed his arms, thoughts drifting back to his time in Sado. If this had been a battlefield, and a magician had access to Der Freischütz at full power, he could only imagine the carnage. No walls. No cover. He glanced backwards at the crowd who was still cheering. Not like any of them would consider the practical application of such a skill.
Well, not like it's foolproof, he thought to himself, thinking about the heir eminent of the Juumonji clan, while the match concluded. Towards the end of the match, the Fifth High representative had missed more than a few shots, which only served to bolster the score difference between her and the Saegusa ojou-sama. The group politely joined in the rousing applause for the spectacular magic display.
A performance truly befitting the title of the Ten Master Clans.
- さえぐさ -
Nine Schools Competition, Day 2, Morning
Mayumi's body was tense as she began her warmup routine for the last event she would be participating in for her high school career. The previous day, she had claimed an overwhelming victory in the Speed Shooting finals, beating out her own record. As a daughter of the Saegusa, it was nothing less than what was expected of her, but the pressure to perform was something that she had never gotten used to. Of course, masking that fact was another one of the things she had been trained to do from an early age; the Ten Master Clans could not show weakness after all. She could only imagine the crowds that would be coming to see her Crowd Ball matches today. Everyone would be expecting another wonderful display.
She slowly inhaled and exhaled, steadying her breathing. Here she could temporarily shed the mask of the Saegusa ojou-sama; she could be herself for a little while, despite, or maybe because of, his presence. In the corner of her eyes she caught sight of the other occupant in the preparation area for her match. The young man's face was set in concentration as he put the finishing touches on the calibration of the CAD she would be using for the match. To meet the shifting priorities of the athletes, she had the privilege of being supported by Tatsuya for her Crowd Ball competition. Despite this being the first official match he would be supporting, she knew that he put in many hours before even arriving at the competition site. She was sure that he worked just as hard as she did to secure First High's victory. A part of her was secretly excited that she would be the first one to see the fruits of his labor in the official setting.
Tatsuya unplugged her device from the laptop he had on his lap and deftly shut and stowed the device. He remained seated, but she was conscious of the way he watched over her from the side, silent. The man had always mystified her, drew her in. Many would have described him as stoic, but she had always wondered. Through all her interactions with him, he had shown a facsimile of emotion, but it was always muted, nothing more than the faintest of smiles or laughing eyes. Mayumi had never seen him get upset, in the truest sense. Maybe slightly annoyed, but never sad, or angry. She had never missed an opportunity to push his buttons, in an attempt to wring a candid emotion, yet she had nothing to show for her labor. She briefly imagined him smiling openly at her; the image caused the heat to rise in her cheeks and she had to shake her head to dispel the thought. She couldn't have distractions! She had a match to win!
If Tatsuya thought any of her actions were strange, he didn't give an indication that he had noticed.
The tension in her body had caused her muscles to stiffen up; she needed to be agile for this event.
"Would you mind helping me a little bit?"
Tatsuya strode over to help her. Her eyes lingered on his movements, appreciating his efficiency in the way he walked. Wordlessly, he kneeled behind her, assisting her in her stretches. His hands were warm on her back, soothing her. She relaxed into the pose, humming to herself. With the stoic man's help, she finished her pre-match routine. He seemed to intuitively know exactly what she needed, the silence stretching comfortably between the two students.
With the preparations complete, Tatsuya stepped away, watching her expectantly. It felt like an overindulgence to be the sole focus of his attentions; as the eldest daughter she rarely had such opportunities, but as the mischievous Student Council President, she wasn't one to pass up such an moment.
Intentionally she remained seated on the turf, giving the talented first-year an expectant look.
He tilted his head to the side, pacific-blue eyes questioning her crimson-rose ones.
Smiling, she extended her right hand towards him. His gaze zeroed in on her outstretched hand. It reminded her of the other times he had taken that hand.
"Magic, I know," the petite woman smiled, "You still haven't told me what kind of magic you used that day."
The man didn't respond, but his eyes softened with tenderness.
"Kitten."
His pacific-blue eyes re-focused on her hand. He stepped closer and reached for her. His strong fingers gently enclosed her smaller hand, sending warmth through her arms and sending her pulse racing. In one swift motion he pulled her to her feet.
She missed a step and she stumbled, falling forward. Tatsuya was quick steadying her using a combination of his hands on his shoulders and his solid body to impede her motion. She found herself held securely, her face resting comfortably against his broad chest. Unconsciously, she closed her eyes and relaxed against him, breathing in his familiar ocean-scent, allowing his presence to soothe away the last bits of her tension. Tatsuya didn't seem to be uncomfortable with their proximity.
"You'll be fine, Mayumi."
The vibrations of his voice through her cheek's contact with his chest was a strange, but not unwelcome sensation.
She stepped away, blinking. She was strangely comforted in the way he spoke into her concerns without realizing. Or maybe he did realize. Mayumi could see his confidence in her reflected in his eyes.
"Wish me luck Tatsuya!"
The young man gave the barest hints of a smile.
"You don't need luck, kitten."
Smiling to herself, she picked up the CAD that Tatsuya had prepared for her and stepped out to make her way onto the playing field. By the time she had gotten into position, she had redonned the mask of the Saegusa ojou-sama.
As the match began, she activated her magic, once again marvelling at his calibration skills. It was as if she was under an illusion that her own magic had improved. She wondered if his skill was a little bit of magic in and of itself. A different anxiety filled her chest as she became conscious of the way his intense gaze from just several meters away, where Tatsuya sat at the bench on her side of the court.
-しば - さえぐさ -
Nine Schools Competition, Day 3, Evening
Miyuki was still thinking about the recent revelations that the First High investigation team had uncovered and the ramifications that they had, not only for First High but for the entire Nine Schools Competition as a whole. She knew that she didn't have the knowledge or the resources to be able to solve this mystery, but if there was anyone who could get to the bottom of this, it would be her brother. Still, despite the fact that he would stop at nothing to ensure her safety, it had always weighed heavily on her that she could do no more to aid him.
She cast a glance at him, as the two were making their way through the hotel to the First High meeting room, where she and Tatsuya had been called to this evening. While not as obviously apparent to others, she could tell that he was unsettled by the way his eyes were set and the nearly unnoticeable furrows between his brows. He probably had been thinking about the situation all day. That was how he liked to solve problems; examination from every angle and possibility.
"Onii-sama…"
Her voice shook him out of his thoughts, and he graced her with a tender smile, a genuine expression in his usually stoic visage. While their mother and her brother himself believed him to be incapable of true emotion, she had the growing impression that it wasn't entirely true; he just needed the right catalyst perhaps.
"Don't worry, Miyuki. We'll figure out just how they are interfering."
The two arrived at the meeting room, Tatsuya leading the two of them through the sliding door. The room was barely filled, with only the core of the First High competition leadership in the room. Suzune and Hanzo were updating the current point standings that were displayed on the screen while Mayumi, Katsuto, and Mari discussed something out loud, the latter still with her arm in a sling and a bandage around her temple. They caught the tail end of some of the conversation.
"...we'll have to take first place in both," trailed Mayumi, a finger tapping on the conference room table.
"And with the added perk of having to watch out for interference by an unknown entity," Mari added, shifting around trying to find a comfortable position in her seat.
The group sunk into quiet contemplation for a moment, too caught up to recognize their arrival. It was Mayumi who first noticed them.
"Ah! Tatsuya and Miyuki-chan!" she exclaimed when she saw them standing in the doorway. "Thanks for coming. We're sorry to have to call you at such a time, and on such late notice, when the rookie matches are starting tomorrow."
"It's no problem, Chairwoman," Tatsuya replied for the both of them.
"Please, have a seat," Katsuto offered, an outstretched hand indicating two of the empty seats at the side of the table.
"Now," Mayumi began, voice serious, "regarding you two, there is an important discussion we needed you here for. Rin-chan? Can you explain."
The stoic Treasurer gestured towards the screen.
"I think you two know about the results from today. Despite the accident, our points are roughly in line with our predictions. The problem is Third High is performing better than expected, and the difference between us is less comfortable than what we initially projected. "If they manage to get a big lead in the rookie matches that start tomorrow, then depending on how we do in the official Mirage Bat, we might be overtaken."
Mari huffed, looking annoyed at the fact that she was causing extra work for the team.
"However, the rookie matches are worth half the points of the official ones, so we have decided that the best course of action would be to focus our attention on the official Mirage Bat."
Next to her she could see her brother shift slightly, raising an eyebrow. The petite President seemed to pick up on his subtle actions.
"Yes, it's what you are thinking Tatsuya. We didn't have any contingency for Mari dropping out of the official match, so we're going to sacrifice a portion of our strength in the rookie competition. And," she said, turning to face Miyuki, "the only one who has been practicing Mirage Bat and is arguably on par with Mari in terms of ability if Miyuki-chan. Of course," Mayumi flashed a wide smile at her brother, "Tatsuya will be the engineer in charge for the event."
Miyuki's head whirled with the sudden announcement. She shared a look with her brother, who was unflappable as always. She sometimes envied the way nothing surprised him.
"But...are you sure?"
Mari gestured with her good arm, looking at her brother.
"What do you think, Tatsuya? Can she win in the official match."
"It is possible," her brother answered immediately. She was filled with warmth at his unwavering confidence in her abilities.
"Since you think so highly of us, I will give my best too."
He gave her a gentle look.
"You can do it, can't you Miyuki?"
She thought back to the earlier discussion with the investigation team. If they were right, then the sabotage was strategically aimed to cause the most damage with the least amount of interference; by taking Mari out of the picture, First High would have been forced to withdraw from both the official Battleboard and Mirage Bat games, dealing a hefty blow to their chances. If she took the replacement slot for Mirage Bat, it might throw a wrench in their plans just enough that they could force their hand again and possibly obtain more answers to the riddles in the unknown.
She searched his expression. He wore a soft smile, but his jaw and edges of his eyes were set in steel. She could trust that expression, one that he had given her many times over, since that fateful day, an expression that said that she had nothing to worry about because he would be there for her, her reliable big brother.
She had decided. If he was going to fight, then so would she. She turned to the upperclassmen seated at the table.
"I'll do it."
…
Nine Schools Competition, Day 4, Morning
Mayumi blinked back the last vestiges of sleep as she settled into the seat between Suzune and Mari. The First High competition leadership had stayed up much later that night than usual in an attempt to optimize the greatest chances for overall victory. It was a small sacrifice to make, given that all of them were upperclassmen and none of them would be competing the next day in the rookie matches that were scheduled to begin. Some might have called it an exercise in futility, since they basically had to resort to blind guessing with regards to how their athletes would fare in these rookie matches. Despite their lessened scoring value, every school knew that leads could potentially be quick to change hands due to the lack of data on other schools' athletes.
They were most worried about the rookie Monolith Code match, since it was worth the most points and they would be severely handicapped against Third High's 'Crimson Prince'. They wouldn't have told them, but Mayumi was almost certain that the best Morisake and the rookie Monolith Code team could expect was second place. Well, at least they could hope for better with Miyuki accepting her move to fill the vacancy in the official Mirage Bat match.
"Come on, Mayumi. Aren't you excited to see your Tatsuya's engineering skills in an actual match?" Mari probed, an impish grin on her face.
"Mari! He's not mine!" she protested sharply, cheeks dusted pink.
"Could have fooled me the day you were late for the bus."
Mayumi huffed, crossing her arms and turning away from her friend, but Suzune was no better; the wry turn of her lips clearly indicated that she, too, recalled her teasing on the bus ride up.
"Anyway! You're right. In my case he really just helped me out a little, so I can't wait to see how a CAD he's fine tuned from scratch will perform."
"Are you sure you don't just want some more alone time with Mr. Engineer?"
"MARI!"
Mayumi was saved from further teasing by the intervention of Suzune, who apparently had grown tired of their antics.
"Starting with Kitayama-san, he seems to be getting high praise from the athletes. Apparently some of them even went to the trouble of bringing their own CADs with them today."
"Hey, hey," Mari interrupted, leaning over to look at the Treasurer, concerned. "That could affect the matches, couldn't it?"
"Regarding that, it seems like it's all under control. He'll be servicing them after the matches are over," Suzune replied nonchalantly.
"So he's steadily increasing his fan-base, huh?" Mayumi opened her mouth foolishly, speaking absentmindedly.
"Concerned about having competition, Mayumi?" Suzune said, a single eye cracked open at her and a wry smile on her face.
Apparently Suzune also couldn't help not missing out on the fun of picking on Mayumi. She scoffed again, choosing to ignore the two; blessedly, the match seemed to be beginning. The stony faced girl pulled the information blocking goggles down over her eyes and hefted the rifle-shaped CAD. Mayumi hadn't had the opportunity to get to know the girl, but she seemed to be good friends with both Miyuki and Tatsuya; her demeanor reminded her of both the talented Course 2 student and Rin-chan. She approved of the firing stance the first year girl took. Good posture with feet shoulder width apart, shoulders back, and head high.
Just as the clay discs began to fire, a dazzling display of geometric shapes created by psionic light shimmered directly in the middle of the scoring field, the tell-tale signs of an Activation Sequence being deployed. However, the size of the Sequence was significantly larger than most, taking up most of the airspace.
The white discs zipped through the air, most crumbling into dust immediately upon entering the scoring zone.
"Whoa…" Mari muttered, leaning forward in her seat.
"That's magnificent…" Mayumi conceded. "She's set the entire scoring area as the Magic Activation Zone?"
"That is correct," Suzune replied. As the team's strategic advisor, she was required to keep tabs on all the athletes competing and was privy to the different strategies set out.
"Without going into too much detail, the Sequence creates a ten meter by ten meter cube inside the scoring area, with the vertices and center designated as nodes. As the disc enters the zone, the user can activate any of the nodes, which inflicts vibratory waves onto any solid objects within a six meter radius. The partial expansion and contractions generated by the vibrations cause the ceramic discs to fatigue and eventually fall apart."
"Isn't this a little too large-scaled?" Mari asked incredulously. "I know Shiba is versed in Multi-Variables but I wasn't aware of any of the other freshmen having such a skillset?"
Suzune smiled, watching the show Shizuku was putting on, her admiration of the ingenuity evident in her voice.
"That's the trick. Each of the nodes are assigned a number, so after setting up the Activation Sequence, to activate the magic, she just needs to pick a number to as the variable, and the Magic Sequence is launched. By just setting one of the nine numbers and pulling the trigger, she can destroy any target she chooses."
"So opposed to Mayumi, who never misses, Kitayama's strategy is to set a trap then ambush, huh?"
"You are correct that the Activation Sequence is massive, but Kitayama-san's processing power makes it a viable spell."
"Does such magic exist?" Mari questioned, dubious.
"It's a Shiba original," Suzune answered, shaking her head. "It's proper name is 'Active Air Mine.'"
Mayumi could only sit and watch, amazed. The entire display was a testament to Tatsuya's abilities, namely consecutive activations via Loop-Casting and multi-casting several layers of magic. Compared to this, his assistance with her Crowd Ball matches the other day were nothing more than a pittance of his abilities. She smiled to herself; selecting Tatsuya to the technical support team had been one of the best choices they had made. If this was what he had come up with only on the first day of the rookie matches, she couldn't wait to see what else he had up his sleeve. Her heart warmed to see him thrive in such an environment, where no one had any room to deny his ability.
- いちじょう -
Nine Schools Competition, Day 8, Afternoon
Masaki fought the urge to smile as a portion of the Third High competition team stood around the conference room watching the update broadcast from the latest rookie Monolith Code match qualifiers. It would have been disrespectful to all of his teammates who were even now struggling to find a solution to overtake First High, a goal that seemed to get farther and farther out of reach the longer the competition went on. If he was honest with himself, the fact that they would probably lose to First High for the third year in a row hardly mattered to him, he only needed to fulfill his own duty. But faced with the prospect of what he was sure to be a real challenge in his and George's Monolith Code match, he could feel the blood pounding in his ears.
Shiba Tatsuya.
He wasn't quite sure what to expect when he saw the man standing in the corner of the ballroom the night of the opening banquet. It wasn't something anyone else at school could understand. None of them had been on the front lines of a battle, seen a body - a man - ripped apart with your own two hands. Maybe what he was really looking for was a kindred spirit.
The Nine Schools Competition had proved that he was a worthy adversary. Admittedly, when he caught sight of him on the first day of the official speed shooting matches, the realization that he was a General Studies student was unexpected, but First High's sweep of the podium for the girls' rookie Speed Shooting and Ice Pillars Break was unprecedented, not to mention them also claiming the top spots for Battle Board and Mirage Bat. Those were huge blows to the Third High morale, especially for Shiori, who took the Speed Shooting loss especially hard. He glanced over to where she was conversing with Airi and Touko. Well, he was glad she had recovered enough to take part in the Ice Pillars Break. A broken spirit was the fastest way for a magician to lose her power, barring physical injury. Touko seemed no worse for wear, despite her unexpected loss to the Mitsui girl. At least Airi had performed as expected during the rookie Crowd Ball match, but he could tell the upsets were making her anxious to make up for their losses on the last day of Mirage Bat.
He turned back to the screen. The real shocker for everyone was the appearance of Gram Demolition, which was practically unheard of in high school activities, requiring what many would call an excessive Psion Count. But other than his surprising use of that rare Counter magic, his other spells didn't seem to have very much power behind it. No, it was his combat skills that he should be wary of. And even if his practical skills might not be what he had expected, it was apparent he was a monster in his engineering skills, capable of raising CAD capability by two or three generations.
"So what do you think, Masaki?" the sharp voice of Airi cut through his thoughts. "First High defeated Eighth on the Forest Stage, which is arguably an upset, given Eighth's emphasis on outdoor application of magic."
The group of Airi, Touko, Shiori, and George gathered around the monitor where he was watching the replay of the First High match.
"Gram Demolition was really cool! It was my first time seeing that in person! I wish I could do that..." Touko chipped in, excited.
"I think it was a first for most of the other spectators as well. But his other magic didn't seem to be that impressive," Shiori added matter-of-factly.
"You're right," Masaki replied, not taking his eye off of the screen. "George?"
"His strength seems to be his combat ability," George summarized from the notes he had taken on his terminal. Ever the studious one. "His speed and agility during that last ambush clearly showed that he has some experience in live combat. That and the fact that he was dual-wielding pistol-type CADs alongside a third bracelet-type CAD."
"If we fight with our normal tactics, there should be no problem."
His cousin frowned, crossing her arms, the motion causing her blonde curls to sway.
"You make it sound like a foregone conclusion that First High will be in the final match. What makes you so confident? They still have 2 other matches to complete."
Masaki shrugged, eyes steely.
"Call it intuition."
- いちじょう - さえぐさ -
Nine Schools Competition, Day 8
Masaki stepped out of the dressing room to come face-to-face with their opponent for the final round. If Tatsuya was surprised, he didn't show it on his face.
"Tatsuya."
"Masaki."
He was the last one of the Third High competitors to leave for the field, and it appeared that Tatsuya was the last one of the First High athletes as well. The two stood in the empty hallway, sizing each other up. Seeing him in person for the first time since the opening ceremony solidified his impression of the man. In his armor, he could see he was well built, with the demeanor of a soldier. This was a man he could respect. He folded his arms.
"Well, in light of the banquet, I would have to say this is an ironic twist. However, I can't say it's unwelcome."
The other man's expression didn't change besides the faint impression of a smile. Tatsuya inclined his head.
"I would have to say that I was not expecting this either. I don't think I'm suited for this kind of thing."
Masaki scoffed.
"I don't believe that for one second. All of your matches were brilliantly played."
"As were yours. I know you don't like the nickname, but the title of 'Prince' is quite fitting."
A grim smile found its way onto his face. He stuck out his hand.
"Don't expect that flattery will get you an easier time."
Tatsuya took the offered hand, gripping it firmly.
"I wouldn't expect anything less."
Releasing their clasped hands, the two went their separate ways and made their way onto the wide open expanse of the Grasslands stage. Masaki breathed in the warm air, the breeze providing a brief respite from the heat.
...
If it was possible, Mayumi was even more tense sitting in the stands than she was for her own Speed Shooting and Crowd Ball matches that were long over. Anxious, she was busy playing and replaying all of the scenarios that could go wrong in her head. She still wondered if it was the right call to ask Tatsuya to take charge of the rookie Monolith Code matches. At first, she had been thrilled, happy that he had the chance to prove his mettle and join the fray.
But knowing him, who never performed a task half-heartedly, he would be aiming for the win, even if it was against the Crimson Prince, and even if their placement had already assured their victory in the rookie competition. Her eyes never wavered from the three figures on the screens, two cloaked and one not. It was too far to make out with just vision, and all outside magic was prohibited, so she couldn't use Multi-Scope to keep an eye on him. She had a sinking feeling in her gut; she prayed that they would get out of this unscathed; she couldn't bear to have another incident like Mari.
She felt a set of small hands gently pry apart her own that were clasped together in a prayer; the slender digits, pale as winter snow intertwined with her own and gave a reassuring squeeze. Miyuki flashed what she supposed was a reassuring smile, but her own anxiety was evident in her ice-blue eyes. Still, her presence besides her comforted Mayumi. The atmosphere in the vicinity was suffocating, with the August sun beating down on the front row of seats. She looked over at the other side of her, where the grim faces of the First High competition team were seated. Suzune, Mari, and Azusa were all reflecting varying degrees of worry and uncertainty on their faces, while Katsuto and Hanzo both wore grim expressions. Given the occasion, the entire leadership team had chosen to vacate the tent in favor or watching the momentous match in person.
Mayumi tried to ignore the buzzing of the other students behind her. She caught snatches of conversation in the air.
"...really is surprising, a Course 2 student…"
"...amazing more like it…"
"...I guess this is as far as we go…"
"...second is pretty good, right?"
Mayumi had to agree with many of the statements. The talented first-year had done so much more than he had been called to do, even as technical staff. His engineering skills and battle strategy had carried them through several tough matches, defeating Eighth High on their own terrain and overcoming the challenges of the Urban District stage. She had been on the edge of her seat for the entirety of that match as well, fearing that the next person ending up under a pile of rubble would be Tatsuya.
Her eyes flicked to the other screen, displaying the players on the Third High side. The Ichijou scion had his arms crossed, the wind tousling the auburn locks that were free of the helmet. His emerald-green eyes were resolute, and it was hard to say if he was smiling. If it was any other nameless player, she might have felt more at ease, but it was a member of the Ten Master Clans he was up against. She remembered the instructions they were all given; win and demonstrate the power of the Ten Master Clans.
As a Saegusa herself, she knew exactly the result she should be expecting. But a small part of her hoped against hope that the inevitable would not come to pass. As long as they made it out fine, she would tell herself to be satisfied with the result.
The alarms blared, indicating that the countdown for the match was beginning. She could feel her pulse racing and she tightened her grip on Miyuki.
Right as the counter expired, both Ichijou and Tatsuya lifted their devices, firing, neither wasting time, and any pretense of strategic maneuvering abandoned. It was a firefight, plain and simple, Ichijou spawning Activation Sequence after Activation Sequence, dotting the air, while Tatsuya shattering each and every one of them with Gram Demolition. She could hear the murmurs of exclamation at the sight. Indeed, in any other circumstance, the psionic light show of Activation Sequences being created and shattered could have been breathtaking.
While Tatsuya and the Ichijou scion were the clear centerpieces of this match, the other screens showed Leo and Mikihiko separating from the First High monolith to engage with Cardinal George. It was clear that Tatsuya's unorthodox strategy was working, and they were forcing the Third High teen onto the defensive. It looked like they would be able to take the Cardinal out of the match until the timely intervention of Ichijou. She could hear several grunts and intake of breaths from the crowd as they watched the painful and systematic takedown of the two First High students; the awkward positions on their landing suggested at least several broken ribs.
Flurried chatter returned her attention to the screen depicting Tatsuya; so caught up in the events happening to the side she missed a few seconds of how Tatsuya was faring. She watched as the talented first-year dropped into a dead sprint towards Ichijou. Apparently, the Crimson Prince was not expecting this either or was not paying attention, and her heart leapt into her throat when she saw sixteen Sequences appear in the air surrounding Tatsuya, an output that was well outside of the regulations for allowable force. She heard Miyuki's gasp as well as other sounds of exclamation from the other students in their row.
She could only watch in helpless fascination as Tatsuya attempted to shoot down all of the sequences; as if in slow motion, one by one the sequences fell, but she knew it wasn't enough. There was a collective gasp among the spectators at the sight of the compressed air bullets hammering into his body, sending Tatsuya flying across the field. She didn't know if the strangled sob that pierced the air belonged to her or Miyuki.
…
The Ichijou heir could only stare in shock at what he had done. He had fallen prey to a mistake he made once long ago, one that he had vowed to never repeat.
He got distracted.
He had gotten caught up in the energy and action of the match; right from the start, he and Tatsuya had been locked in a stalemate of gunfire. He had hoped, but never really expected, that the First High engineer would be able to keep up with him, but he surpassed those expectations when he found himself having to employ his Interference Armor for his own defense.
Slowly, steadily, the two of them crossed the six hundred meters separating the two Monoliths; he could feel the sweat dripping down his back, from the tension or the heat, he could not tell.
He had taken his eyes off of his quarry for five seconds. Five seconds was all it took.
When he turned back, Tatsuya had broken into a dead sprint and was less than fifty meters away. It wasn't the distance that caused him to act. If he had just deliberately slowed down and considered before pulling the trigger, he might have avoided the tragedy.
It was the overwhelming pressure he felt. He recognized the expression in Tatsuya's eyes.
It was the expression of a man looking to kill.
His body acted on a reflex, one that he had gained on that battlefield at Sado. Kill or be killed.
And then Tatsuya's body was hurtling through the air. He hit the ground with a sickening thud, but it wasn't enough to prevent his momentum from causing him to tumble several more meters before coming to rest.
What had he done? This was a high school competition, not a battlefield!
He rushed over to check his condition, but before he could cross the distance, to his great surprise, and possibly relief, the man stood up.
…
Mayumi was about to jump out of her seat to rush down onto the field, rules be damned, but before she could do so, the prone figure of Tatsuya pushed himself off of the group, causing her eyes to widen in shock. Something was gripping her right hand like a vice. She had momentarily forgotten Miyuki was there so caught up in the match.
She looked over at the younger girl. Small drops of moisture were forming at the edge of her eyes, as if she were in pain. She looked back down onto the field. A moment of pain, and then healing. She stared back down at the hand twined with Miyuki's. Magic. It must have been. The same as the one all those years ago.
She watched as the match unbelievably turned itself in First High's favor, only possible due to the tenacity of the Course 2 students, and one-by-one the Third High athletes were felled. The entire sea of First High students roared in enthusiasm at the official close of the match. Not caring about decorum or the political ramifications of the results, she hugged Miyuki tightly and allowed herself to cheer along with the crowd, moreso in the relief that Tatsuya had managed to avoid a fatal accident than the victory itself.
- さえぐさ -
Nine Schools Competition, Day 8, Evening
The petite Student Council president hesitated before mustering up her will to knock on the heavy wooden door. After the brutal Monolith Code match, all of the competing athletes had been rushed to the hospital to treat their injuries, and as such, she had been unable to check on Tatsuya until now. Thankfully, all of the students were discharged within the evening, with the worst being Leo's and Mikihiko's fractured ribs due to Cardinal George's Weight-type magic.
While the rest of the competition team had been celebrating at dinner, the three men of the hour were noticeably absent. She learned from the first year girls that all three had retired early to recuperate, which was how she now found herself standing in the hotel hallway.
Before her fist could touch the door, it swung open to reveal a pair of brilliant pacific-blue eyes. A large gauze pad was still secured to Tatsuya's right ear with a bandage that wrapped around his scalp.
"I wasn't expecting any late night visitors, Mayumi."
The dim hallway light danced in his eyes, teasing. She reddened at the jest, huffing and crossing her arms and tapping her foot expectantly. The first year opened the door all the way and she stalked past him. She raised a brow at the sight in the room.
"Well, in either case, it appears someone else has me beat."
She made her way to one of the beds where the younger Shiba was sleeping soundly. She could have guessed that this is where she had made off to after dinner. Slowly she seated herself on the edge of the bed near the headboard, scooting closer to the girl.
The elder Shiba closed the door gently and returned to the desk where he had set up his workstation. Wordlessly, he began typing on the terminal keyboard, picking up where he had left off when she interrupted him. For a few minutes, there was nothing but the muted tapping of Tatsuya's fingers on the keyboard and the soft breathing of Miyuki. Mayumi looked around his hotel room; Tatsuya had been sharing his room with some of the equipment, instead of bunking with a roommate. Some might have seen it as discrimination, but she knew that he preferred such an arrangement.
Mayumi tenderly brushed some of Miyuki's dark bangs carefully away from her closed lids; the motion caused her to turn in her hand, nuzzling into her fingers. She smiled at the childlike response.
"She reminds me of my sisters," Mayumi spoke, finally breaking the comfortable quiet. She turned to the talented teen.
"You don't have to pretend that you're injured. While I may not know the type of magic you're using, I'm quite sure you're healed now."
He turned from the task at hand, the ghost of a smile gracing his features.
"I did mean what I asked earlier, when I said I wasn't expecting visitors. While I'm grateful you came to check on me, you needn't have bothered. I'm sure there are other athletes that need your presence more."
She knew he was talking about the potential for more sabotage. The Nine Schools Competition was drawing to a close, which meant that the perpetrators would be getting desperate, increasing the risk of danger. Despite her connections, she couldn't gather enough intelligence to determine the culprits of such despicable acts.
She was also annoyed at the way he downplayed himself, reminding her once more of his self-deprecation on the day of the entrance ceremony. How could he still not see his value to the team? To the school?
To her?
She knew it would be pointless to argue the subject with him. She looked back down at the young girl beside her, stroking her cheeks gently.
"I'm concerned about Miyuki-chan. Using so much magic is very taxing, especially since she is such a powerful magician. I didn't want to put her in, but we don't have a choice."
She thought about the only known Strategic-class magician in Japan. They were acquaintances. Due to the demanding requirements of that magic, she had been wheelchair-bound since her late teens and her physical development had been stunted.
Tatsuya's attention returned to the terminal before him, but he continued to speak.
"Her mother had the same condition. You worry too much. I'll take care of her."
The man paused before sending her a glance.
"It is, however, you who ought to look after yourself more, kitten."
Despite his use of his nickname for her, his voice was serious, and laced with concern.
Mayumi froze. She had never recalled either one talking about their parents before.
"Miyuki is powerful, but your magic is not any less than hers. You should consider moderating the use of your magic."
A pink blush filled her cheeks as her heart was set fluttering with his concern for her wellbeing. A warmth filled her, soothing her.
"It's late, Mayumi. The team needs you well rested to keep an eye on things."
She slowly stood up from where she was seated.
"I need an extra eye on the CADs. I still can't see how they managed to cause the sabotage. I don't want anyone hurt."
The last sentence was spoken in a whisper, the images of the afternoon's match still vivid in her mind.
Tatsuya's eyes softened, the color of the ocean that she loved so much.
He inclined his head.
"You've my promise, kitten."
Her heart raced at his words.
"I'll see you tomorrow, then."
…
Nine Schools Competition, Day 9, Morning
Tatsuya kept his promise to her, while somehow managing to cause trouble. Abandoning all pretense of decorum, she ran out of the First High tent when Suzune received an alert that someone was making a ruckus at the tent that served as the competition headquarters. Students of all schools were standing around craning their necks to see what all the commotion was about.
She squeezed past the competition security just in time to see Tatsuya with a foot crushed against the throat of one of the competition staff. She could feel the killing intent rolling off of him in waves. She had never seen such raw emotion from him before; his rage filled the atmosphere in the tent and paralyzed all of the onlookers. She seized his arm and attempted to pull him back.
"Tatsuya!"
The man didn't budge an inch.
"He could have severely injured any one of the competitors. Miyuki's CAD was modified to malfunction." His voice was quiet, but the anger was still evident. She should have shivered at his tone, but she pressed forward anyway.
"Tatsuya," she whispered to him, tugging on his arm to get him to look into her eyes.
Her crimson-rose orbs met his own pacific-blue ones; the anger was still visible, but slowly and reluctantly, he removed his foot.
After successfully de-escalating the situation she stopped to consider his words. Someone could have died. Who could have bribed the officials in the competition committee. Was anyone safe?
The competition staffer scrambled backwards several centimeters, rubbing his throat where Tatsuya had been stepping and coughing.
She took a knee before him; she felt Tatsuya tensing at her side, as if ready to protect her.
"May we know who sent you?"
A practiced smile was plastered on her face, but her done was deadly serious.
"What's going on here?"
A voice interrupted her line of questioning. Mayumi stood to her feet; the sight of Tatsuya uncertain on whether to help her up on not would have been a funny sight in a different context.
Elder Kudou entered the tent, accompanied by a party of high-ranking competition officials. The older man radiated authority as he stepped onto the scene. She noticed his eyes widened every so slightly and dart between the two of them curiously, before turning to the perpetrator, still on the ground.
She was surprised when the Elder addressed Tatsuya familiarly, as if they had met before. Just who was this man? She realized that even though she had spent a large amount of time with him, she still had barely scratched the surface of who he was.
She allowed Tatsuya to explain the events leading up to the current situation to the Elder and the competition staff, while she continued to focus on the talented first-years face, mentally tracing the outline of his jawline up to his eyes.
The security staff came to take the ousted saboteur away.
She was cognizant of the way Elder Kudou had returned to studying both of the teens.
Immediately, she sank into a deep bow, acknowledging the man who stood at the top of the current magical Japan. Tatsuya followed suit.
"I have a humble request. On behalf of the First High team, may we have more time to check through all of our equipment? We need to ensure that all of our devices are functioning for the safety of our students."
The Elder nodded slowly.
"The other schools will be notified of the sabotage as well. Good work, Shiba-kun, that you detected the virus. It is difficult to identify unless you have encountered it."
The stoic teen dipped into a bow once more. The killing aura surrounding him had all but dissipated, much to her relief.
"I will speak to the committee," Elder Kudou continued. "It is good to see you again, Mayumi-chan. I hope your father is well."
She returned with a polite response.
Together, the two excused themselves from the tent. From her peripheral vision, it appeared that Tatsuya had returned to his typical stoic self.
Before exiting the tent, she thought she caught soft words from the Elder, as if he were speaking to himself.
"I didn't think I would have had a chance to witness a scene like that again. Fate has a very strange fascination with both of your families. It is an ill-fate, though."
- じゅうもんじ - しば -
Nine Schools Competition, Day 10, Morning
Katsuto sat alone in the First High meeting room. He was clad in a simple black singlet, the moisture from his shower still clinging to his solid frame and hair.
Hattori and Tatsumi were both resting at the First High tent after the semifinal match against Ninth High, but he had been called to the meeting room by Mayumi. He presumed it had something to do with the Clans.
He thought back on the events leading up to this last day of the competition. It had been a veritable roller coaster of circumstances, with the threat of sabotage constantly looming over their heads and Third High nipping at their heels the entire time. Unfortunately, he couldn't contribute much, as the Juumonji clan was not as suited to investigation work, unlike the Saegusa with their expansive network of informants.
At the center of the questions and intrigue was Shiba Tatsuya. The Nine Schools Competition had all but confirmed his suspicions about the man; there was no way he was just a no-name, Course 2 magician. His CAD engineering skills alone but him well above the level of a high schooler. Even though he did not see any of his calibrations in person other than that day he had worked on Mayumi's CAD, he knew that he had surpassed the ability of any of the Juumonji technicians. That was not even mentioning his use of Taurus Silver's recently publicized Flying Magic Sequence.
And then there was the Monolith Code match. He had the level-headedness and ability to match the heir of one of the Ten Master Clans, and even take him down. But the big question was how did he get out with just a ruptured eardrum? Like everyone who was watching that day, he knew that the blow he received should have been fatal. And yet the man not only managed to get up, but finish the fight.
The mystery of the man made him uneasy. Right now he was on their side, but what would happen when he was not?
His musings were broken by the sound of the sliding door opening, allowing Mayumi to step into the room. After being in the same class as her for the past three years, he could see that she wasn't happy, a grim look on her face.
"I've received word from the Clan meeting." So he was right.
"Oh?"
"You know how Ichijou was defeated by Tatsuya the day before yesterday?"
"And?"
He knew where the line of reasoning was going. As a member of the Clans himself, it was a result that was unacceptable, even if it did give First High the win. He knew Mayumi didn't agree with the sentiment, a point of contention between the two that they had discussed once, then never again.
"As magicians, the Ten Master Clans reign at the top in Japan. Even if it's just high school students playing a game, they can't allow any result undermining the power of the Clans. That's what they're saying."
"In other words, they're seeking a contest that would flaunt the power of the Ten Master clans."
Mayumi pulled a face, turning away. Her voice was bitter.
"Honestly, this is so absurd. Because of the Clan's sense of superiority, Tatsuya has to be subjected to this third-rate farce."
Unless…
Katsuto filed that thought away for later consideration.
"Leave it to me."
Mayumi inclined her head, before leaving the room and him to his thoughts.
He briefly turned the idea of in his head before rising and following the Student Council President out.
Could that man actually have the blood of a Clan?
...
Nine Schools Competition, Day 10, Afternoon
Miyuki settled into the seat for the last match of the Nine Schools Competition. Somehow everyone had made it through the tournament, narrowly avoiding another accident with Kobayakawa-senpai. She grimly noted that although an accident may have been avoided, the irreparable psychological damage had already been dealt.
She stole a glance at her brother.
He seemed to be more relaxed today compared to the previous days. She recalled the furious whispers surrounding him about the First High student who had taken down a competition official. Most of the facts surrounding the incident had been distorted and that coupled with her amazing win in the Mirage Bat finals, produced an end result that he had gained even more notoriety.
She knew that he had lied when he said he was retiring early for the night. She knew that he had disappeared at various intervals throughout the entire competition, no doubt gathering information on the incidents. A sinking feeling appeared in the pit of her stomach; he had probably removed the obstruction already. She loved her brother but hated that way that he was used as a tool, by the Yotsuba, by the military, even by her, for he only carried out such actions for her sake.
Tatsuya seemed to sense her sadness, for he turned to give her an inquisitive look. Seeing her expression, his eyes softened and he gently took her hand in his and wordlessly gave it a squeeze. It amazed her that he could understand her so well.
The two siblings turned to the screen when the alarm blared, signifying the start of the last match.
She was surprised to see Katsuto was the only member of the First High team to advance towards the enemy monolith; up till this match he had only played defense.
The contenders were First High versus Third High, the same matchup as the rookie final. Third High might have wanted it to be a revenge match for their loss in the rookie division, but if anything, it only solidified First High's capacity, shutting down the Third High athletes decisively. In a matter of seconds, all of the Third High athletes were coldly and ruthlessly batted away.
It was one thing to know the Group Leader was capable of such magic, it was another thing to see it in person. All of their friend's faces reflected the same degree of fearful awe in the presence of such raw power. She ruefully smiled at the idea of them seeing just what her brother was capable of.
"He certainly was incredible, Juumonji-senpai."
"Yes," Tatsuya replied, each word deliberate. "But somehow I felt like that wasn't the true way to use 'Phalanx'. It was like he was showing off his power."
"'I am stronger than you'," her brother finished. "That is the message he's trying to send."
He looked pensive.
It was Miyuki's turn to give his hand a reassuring squeeze. Tatsuya gave her a surprised look at the sudden action, but he gave her a warm smile that conveyed his appreciation for the return gesture.
She could only hope that such a contest of strength would not come to pass.
-しば - さえぐさ -
Tatsuya once again found himself in the corner of the ballroom, once again readjusting the borrowed First High jacket for the umpteenth time, the emblem emblazoned on his chest and shoulders. The only difference was this time he could not sink in the obscurity of the background; he had gained too much visibility as the engineer directly responsible for podium sweeps in multiple events as well as taking down the Crimson Prince himself.
He was aware of more than a few furious conversations and supposedly covert glances in his direction, but thankfully, no one had attempted to make conversation. Admittedly, he was in a more sombre mood than usual. The past few days had been taxing for him, both physically and mentally, as his various roles stretched him. As a preemptive measure, he had been the judge, jury, and executioner for a local cell of an international crime syndicate. It could be argued that he was just carrying out his duty as a Special Officer, but he knew better.
He was carrying out his duty as a Yotsuba Guardian.
He took no pleasure in eliminating these men, yet at the same time he hadn't felt an ounce of sympathy; they had intruded on his sister's life and that was reason enough. Despite his feelings, human interaction was the least of his desires at the moment.
From his vantage point, he silently watched over his sister. Compared to the opening banquet, the closing was much more relaxed, the artificial barriers raised by the mentality that everyone else was an enemy removed. She was mingling within a group of girls from all different schools, while another group of boys loitered nearby, gearing up their courage.
A now recognizable presence made itself known next to him.
"Tatsuya."
"Masaki."
The two teens stood in silence for a while, sipping at drinks in hand.
"I'd like to offer my congratulations for First High's victory, it was well earned."
Tatsuya inclined his head.
"Even though I don't think I'm in a position to do so, I will accept it anyway."
The other man turned to face him, serious.
"I'd also like to offer an apology for that match. I still don't know how you walked out of that one, and I won't ask, but I know my magic, and that would have been fatal."
Tatsuya stared into the fluted drink.
"I'll also accept that apology."
The other man turned back to watch the couples twirling at the center of the ballroom.
"You've made quite the impression, you know that? Have you heard what some of the students are calling you? I've heard several groups whispering about First High's 'Dragon'."
Tatsuya raised a brow. The name struck a little too close to recent events for his liking.
"The 'Dragon' who dethroned the 'Prince'. Quite the pair we are, huh? Now you have to deal with your own nickname."
Tatsuya made a noise that was halfway between a huff and a snort.
"So I'm the villain in this fairytale then."
Masaki laughed out loud. Tatsuya shrugged, joining in the people watching.
"In any case, I don't really pay attention to these things. How's your hearing?"
The Crimson Prince chuckled, waving his question away.
"I don't want to hear that coming from you. I'm fine, the ringing has pretty much gone away."
Tatsuya allowed himself a smile.
"However did you get your hand on all those CADs and Sequences anyway?"
"A magician never reveals his secrets."
Masaki scoffed at the phrase, ironic in more ways than one.
"Fair enough, although I'd be interested in acquiring one of those flying CADs for myself."
"I'll keep an eye out," Tatsuya replied simply.
"It was good playing against you, Tatsuya," Masaki said, finishing his drink. He held out his terminal. "Here's my contact information; I wouldn't mind staying in touch."
Tatsuya pulled out his own device, keying in the other man's information.
"Likewise, Masaki."
The two teens shook hands. Tatsuya noticed that some of the braver boys plucked up their courage and had made their way over to his sister's group. Masaki followed his eyes; he shot him a cheeky wink.
"You don't mind if I take your sister for a couple of twirls around the floor, do you?"
Tatsuya smiled.
"I would be grateful if you could look out for her for a bit. I need a little time to myself."
"I'll do my best Mr. Brother-Bodyguard."
He watched as the auburn-haired man made his way over the group and offer a hand, which Miyuki took. It was humorous to see the looks on the other males faces when they realized they had been outmaneuvered.
'The Dragon', huh?
…
Mayumi observed the mingling students around the banquet hall with masked indifference. The competition had concluded with a resounding victory for the school, but had to overcome more than they had expected to get to this position. Mari was still recovering from the accident, while the first year boys and Kobayakawa weren't in attendance due to their various injuries, physical and psychological.
The third-year students looked content at the results, adding yet another championship to First High's record, three years in the making. A large part of their success had ridden on the abilities of one talented first-year in particular. She was still disturbed that she had not uncovered any more of the plot to sabotage their school, but she had caught wind of rumors from the Saegusa intelligence network that the army had taken some sort of action. A part of her suspected that Tatsuya had done more than just watch over their equipment or even participate as an athlete.
The involvement of the military did not bode well. Despite being the single largest employer of magicians in the nation, it was understood that the Clans of the Hundred Families had prerogative to act in matters concerning magical society. It did not help the case that many civilians viewed magicians just as simply living weapons.
It unsettled her.
She once again looked around the room, smiles and laughter filling the air, celebrating the end of the Nine Schools Competition, ignorant of the going-ons in the shadows. Was she as myopic as her peers, unable to see the brewing storms surrounding magical society?
The polite smile felt like a mask on her features, burying her uncertainties under the facade of the gracious Saegusa ojou-sama. She accepted the congratulations from the other students, and thanked her team for their hard work.
Her eyes settled on a lone figure at the back of the hall. She should have expected that. Mayumi followed his steady gaze to the couple twirling in the center of the floor; either consciously or not, the other pairs had backed off slightly, giving the two the lion's share of the space. Most of the crowd, too, paused their conversations to watch them. Miyuki's jet-black locks swayed to the rhythm of the Ichijou prince's practiced motions. The two seemed to be conversing; the Ichijou scion must have said something funny, causing Miyuki to laugh brightly.
She turned her eyes back to Tatsuya. Like the first night, he was outfitted in a spare jacket, one that was slightly too big for him. For some reason, the sight bothered her, which was strange considering her words on the day of the entrance ceremony. She realized that he had done what she said he would; he didn't let the mark, or lack thereof define him. He had disregarded what other people said he could and could not do and forged his own path.
Like a moth attracted to a flame, she glided across the hall.
She knew that he sensed her presence when he stiffened ever so slightly, but he didn't look at her.
"Why aren't you on the dance floor?" she teased, hands clasped behind her.
It was only at her question that he graced her with a look. His eyes appeared darker in the low light, making him appear more grave. He turned back to the dance floor.
"Everyone seemed busy. You have had a few dances yourself, Mayumi."
She had done it out of obligation for her roles as President of First High and eldest daughter of the Saegusa.
The petite woman sidled up to him, a radiant smile on her face, until she stood right in front of him. If possible, his back had straightened even more, giving him the appearance of a board, amusing her with his reaction.
He closed his eyes, voice weary with resignation.
"May I have this next dance, Chairwoman?"
He didn't offer a hand until she glared at him. The edges of his lips quirked slightly. She preferred this look on him. He ought not to look so sombre.
"I never thought that you would ask," she replied, giggling, placing her hand in his larger one.
For a few seconds, she wondered why he didn't move, until she saw that his eyes were fixated on her right hand in his.
She huffed.
"I'm not going to ask you that question now."
His pacific-blue eyes had regained some of its color in the light.
The smile on her face never wavered as she let him guide her to the middle of the dance floor; the background music had changed to a slow number and several couples were swaying together to the romantic tune. Mayumi was barely aware of the muted conversation as they passed groups of students, allowing his presence to comfort her. Her face didn't betray any of her surprise at Tatsuya's collected ease as he settled a warm palm on the small of her back. Had it been any other man, she would not have allowed herself to relax into the hold. She was tempted to wrap her arms around his neck to witness his reaction to her closeness, but she discarded that thought. Despite the more casual setting, she still had an image to maintain.
Unsurprisingly, Tatsuya was able to read the mischief in her eyes. He kept his voice low.
"Not up to something, kitten?"
She gave him a mock glare.
"I wanted to embarrass you, but I have a reputation to preserve before the public."
A wry smile tugged at his lips.
"So what would you do? Perhaps attempt to make me blush like the Vice-President?"
She frowned.
"Be nice, Tatsuya."
The talented man kept his silence, watching her with his intense pacific-blue eyes.
She allowed herself to meet his gaze, allowing herself a measure of freedom to forget her concern and her fear for the moment. She realized that this man had become one of the most important people in her life, her dependable junior, a mystery that couldn't really unravel.
Maybe she didn't want to solve this mystery.
"Thank you."
"For?"
"I know you did something to deal with the saboteurs."
She had to admire the way nothing seemed to faze the man. The only response she received from the brazen accusation was a pair of raised eyebrows.
"Are you not going to ask for details?"
His lack of denial proved her suspicion. The admission meant that he had connections to the military. She was torn for a moment, before deciding to drop the matter, knowing that she wouldn't glean much. It was an unspoken rule in their subtle, long-running game of cat-and-mouse. She reasoned that he had to be involved since Miyuki's safety was in the balance.
She shook her head, her dark waves stirring.
"Consider it your reward for keeping your promise to me."
"Ah."
She closed her eyes, enjoying the moment. She trusted him to guide her through the gentle swaying motions. She felt at rest in his arms.
"You look happier."
The sudden comment took her unawares. It wasn't often that he took the initiative in conversation.
She looked up into his face, stoic, but with a touch of tenderness. She sighed.
"Do I? I'm glad that everyone is safe and we're still the defending champions. I'll miss the hours of planning-"
"Worrying about your fellow teammates? Ordering everyone around?"
She smacked him with her left hand, that had been resting on his shoulder, momentarily not caring about decorum. She smiled at the recollection of another time she had done so.
Wordlessly, she closed the distance between them, and placed her head on his broad chest. If he was surprised, he didn't show it, but smoothly drew her in closer to accommodate their new positions. She could feel his heartbeat through the contact, pulsing steadily, an assurance that he was an impassive man. A part of her was happy that having such a beautiful woman in his arms did not draw a reaction, yet another part was annoyed at the lack thereof.
"But you are worried."
Her eyes gently slid shut, basking in his detached observation.
"I am. I'm troubled about the storms that I do not see."
"As expected of a Saegusa," his low voice murmured easily in her ear, the vibrations in his chest tickling her hair, as he guided her to a gentle sway. "You do see them, just that you aren't involved in them-"
"Though I should."
"Because you are a Saegusa, a member of the Ten Master Clans?"
She remained silent for several seconds, pondering on his question. Before she had met him, she would have answered in the affirmative immediately, but since their fateful meeting three years ago, she had felt a paradigm shift in her soul. She realized that the reason was no longer tied to her duty as a member of the Ten Master Clans. Okinawa and Blanche had proven so.
She lifted her head off of where it was resting comfortably on his chest, and created some distance between them.
"No, because I can."
"Oh?"
She laughed mirthlessly inwardly at the pretension. As if she could make a difference in the grand scheme of things; she was simply like a single grain of sand that littered the shore of the ocean.
"What about you? For Miyuki-chan."
Tatsuya nodded, gaze becoming distant.
"Only for Miyuki."
"Sometimes I think you have been re-programmed not to feel anything but love for Miyuki-chan. She's the only one I've ever seen to be able to get an emotion out of you," she teased.
Tatsuya stiffened, and his feet stilled. The two came to a stop in the middle of the dance floor.
The laughter in her faded. To be programmed to be unemotional meant being subjected to power Mental Interference magic.
Her hands dropped away from where they were resting on his shoulder and hand. Her mind flashed back to the Blanche incident, where she had first discovered the holes in her own memory.
"...Tatsuya?"
The song had just come to a close, which meant a bustle of movement around them as students entered and left the area in preparation for the next song.
Tatsuya released her immediately, before dipping into a quick and mechanical bow, and disappearing into the crowd. She tried to make after him, but her shorter legs failed to keep up with his brisk strides.
She could only stand there, upset, staring after where she had seen him leave.
A sweet voice broke through her trance-like state.
"Mayumi-nee? Is everything alright?" Miyuki's ice-blue eyes reflected concern. "Where is onii-sama? I thought you were with him."
Mayumi could only grip the younger girl's hand. Her despondent voice sounded like it belonged to another.
"I-I lost him."
It couldn't be more true.
The younger Shiba gently took her arm, leading her out of the ballroom. The air had become suffocating and unbearable, a marked contrast to the easy going atmosphere she had been reveling in just moments ago. Miyuki picked up two flutes along the way, firmly rebuffing offers of dances for the both of them. The warm summer air felt like a world away from the liveliness of the room they had just left, the door muting the noises of merrymaking.
Mayumi could only stare distantly out over the grounds of the hotel, the drink in her hand forgotten.
She wracked her brains furiously. They were linked by their experience of being mentally altered by the same person. She could only think of the crashing of waves of the stormy sea, of which she had been lost upon. She felt like she was drowning.
Fate has a very strange fascination with both of your families. It is an ill-fate, though.
"If you don't mind me prying, what were both of you talking about?"
Mayumi absently turned to look at the younger girl. Miyuki's eyes were better classified as ice-blue, but a couple shades darker, and she might have been staring into the pacific-blue orbs she was so fascinated with.
"Mental Interference magic and you."
Miyuki's eyes widened, and she took several steps back before steadying herself on the railing.
A petite figure on a couch swam back to the surface of her mind, but this time she was able to make out several other details. She was an older lady, with midnight-black and pacific-blue eyes piercing the very being. It was like looking at the elder twin of the girl before her.
"Why were you talking about it?"
Mayumi pressed a hand against her forehead.
"I think that person cast the same magic on me, altering my memories."
Miyuki spoke softly, so much so that she wasn't sure if she had spoken.
"No, I don't think she would. I doubt she would."
She spoke as she was intimately familiar with that person.
"Miyuki-chan? You know who it was?"
The other girl nodded hesitantly.
"It was our mother."
Mayumi almost asked why she had done that to her brother, before recalling the way he had spoken about his family, the few times he did mention it. Her heart ached for him.
Their mother?
The Elder's words once again echoed in her mind.
Fate and families.
He was once the private tutor to two well-established families, her own, the Saegusa, and…
"Who are you?" she whispered. It was a struggle to breathe.
The last Yotsuba head had two daughters, no son.
"I think there are some questions that are best left unasked and unanswered, Mayumi-nee-sama."
The younger girl looked miserable. She took her own hands in hers. They were so warm. For a moment she reveled in the connection they had. However, it was not enough to bridge the senseless rivalry between their families. She recognized the beginnings of a deep-seated ache that her budding feelings for him were not sufficient.
Ill-fated.
She spent the night alone in her room crying on her bed.
-しば -
The young man padded through the hallways; it was late and the closing banquet for the competition had ended long ago, and all party goers had long since retired for the night. However, even if someone were to come across the man, his posture and purpose in his stride would have dissuaded any from stopping and inquiring about his destination.
The man came to a stop in front of a heavy wooden door. Curiously, the man didn't pull out a room key, yet he turned the handle of the door nonetheless, which responded by swinging open silently. He entered the room.
The room was completely dark, except for the soft pools of moonlight that slipped past the edges of the curtained windows. A portion of the gentle beams angled itself such that it fell upon the bed centered against the back wall. The light illuminated the face of a beautiful woman, her dark curls framing her elfin features, causing her porcelain skin to glow ethereally, as if she were a fairy.
The young man came to a stop just beside the bed. He raised a hand and reached for the young woman's face, fingers outstretched, as if to brush the hair out of her eyes, but just before contact he stopped and pulled his hand back. The young man let out a silent sigh and backed off slightly.
Tatsuya watched silently from the bedside for a few moments. It was evident from the dried streaks on her face that Mayumi had been crying, but her rhythmic inhales and exhales told him that she had long since fallen asleep.
He wasn't sure why he had come here tonight. He had the clear directive from when he first took on his role that under any circumstance, no one should discover his or Miyuki's identity until his Aunt was ready, and any loose ends should be tied up. On one hand, it made little sense to remove such a public persona such as Saegusa Mayumi, and on the other, the means by which he was to 'tie up' loose ends was never made explicit.
But if he was completely honest with himself, he hadn't come here to carry out his duties. He didn't understand, but a part of him had caused him to leave the confines of his own room and his wandering feet had led him here.
There was only one option to protect her from the wrath of the Yotsuba that was sure to follow if she continued down this path. He continued to watch her for several more minutes before standing back up to leave the way he came. Before he was able to turn completely away, an item highlighted in the moonlight caught his attention.
Cautiously he stepped closer to the head of the bed, and next to it, the dresser. Lying on the top surface was a familiar accessory.
A large striped bow. He had never seen Mayumi without it.
Silently and gently, he picked it up and cradled it within his right hand. He closed his fist around the bow, his magic crushing it to dust.
Opening it, the striped bow sat once more in the center of his palm, unspoiled.
Gingerly, he placed it back on the dresser where he had retrieved it from.
Turning once more, he made his way out of the room, casting Regrowth on the door lock and again, making his way through the silent hallways, footsteps heavy, but still noiseless.
He didn't understand the aching tightness accompanied by the piercing sense of loss in his chest.
