I do not in any way, shape, or form lay claim to either of these works.
This is just a work of admiration from one fan, to those others that share the same interest.
The only characters or places I lay claim to are those solely of my own creation.
Time and Time again, Book 2.
Time waits for no one.
Chapter 6:
Friday, September 30th 2095. 5:30 AM.
The Shiba residence.
Tatsuya finished his preparations for school and nodded as he stepped into the kitchen and into the smell of the breakfast that Miyuki had laid out for the pair of siblings. It seemed that Miyuki had settled her mind, and he relaxed a little inside. He would continue to move forward just like he had planned and evaluate the two new mages with as close to a clean slate as possible. He had decided that letting Miyuki pass along the invitation through Visha was the best course forward, since it would not only make Miyuki happy, but it was also the most natural course of action.
Tanya Von Degurecheff was a person who had already started to settle herself into the class, and integrated herself with the other students with an ease that he had not expected from someone her age. It made him question the story of the ladies even more. It was almost comical how badly she stood out.
It seemed that the rest of his plans had worked out so far otherwise. He had deterred Miyuki from pursuing the presidency, and Nakajou Azusa had stepped forward as he had wanted. The actual election was to be today, but he didn't see that any of his plans had been disrupted.
All that was left to do was account for any unexpected occurrences.
Miyuki smiled as she watched her beloved brother. She had no doubt that he had already planned for any potential problems that Tanya and Vishal might portend, and she trusted in him to make sure that there would be no disruptions of the peaceful life they lived together. Still, she trusted her gut and heart where it regarded the two foreign mages.
No one who cared for their partner as much as she suspected Visha cared for Tanya could be a bad person. That was what she truly believed, and as selfish as it might be, she counted on Tatsuya to help her if the time came to prove her feelings true.
For now, she would just do what she could, and make the best of the chance that her brother had won for them both.
Miyuki brushed her hair behind her ear as she smiled at her brother and settled herself to enjoy their breakfast before they hurried to school.
She hoped that Visha and Tanya would accept their invitation and that she would get to meet Tanya, and Tatsuya would meet Visha. After that, hopefully it would put him a bit more at ease.
But for now, she would enjoy the time they had before a rather big day at school.
Friday, September 30th 2095. 6:00 AM.
The Nishina residence.
Doctor Nishina smiled as she finished the meal that Visha had prepared for them that morning. For a former soldier from another world, she had the talents and drive to really make someone a good wife one day.
Even if that someone was a sociopathic warmonger with a serious caffeine addiction who just happened to wield magic that had the potential to upend the conventional understanding of magic and how it fundamentally functioned.
Still, they did make an adorable couple.
She dipped her tea and sat back as she opened the next news article and smiled. There was so much to do, and so many more tests and experiments to run with both of them, but she could wait for now. Finding out if their targets had any connections to the pair's former world took priority, after all.
And at least she could continue to discuss and research magical theory with the two of them. While Tanya had a true mastery of the nuances of the magic of her former world, and a good grasp on the very different magical theories of this one, you could not discount Visha's knack for understanding things on an almost instinctual level.
Still, there were limits she had to abide by. No matter how much she itched to plumb the depths of both of her wards' understanding of the magical theories from their old world and how they could be fully integrated into her own understanding, their mission did come first.
Just like she had been instructed not to do any sort of invasive examinations of the eldritch computing device that Tanya used. Such as understanding why, exactly, Visha could not make use of it. Or why it had remained inert in her own hands, as well.
Tanya's explanations had only left her more curious, not less. She would find the answers in time, she was sure of that.
For now, she would just enjoy the peaceful life and the live-in romcom that was her teenage housemates. Especially now that the pair not only had accepted how they felt for each other, but the fact that they didn't really have to hide it from her anymore. Some of those that made the decisions in their little organization still thought that threatening Visha was the right way to control and contain Tanya. Doctor Nishina had a very different outlook, though. Without Visha to consider, there was a very real possibility that Tanya would try to burn the world to ash.
So, for now she would play the role of the mother and guardian, the benign adult who was obsessed with magic above all else. She would watch and guide them during these peaceful days.
Even if she was sure that these peaceful days would not last.
And when it was needed once more, she would return to Tonya her ace in the hole.
Dr. Nishina stood up and swept out of the room as she deposited her dishes in the sink. She would take care of them when she returned from her little errand. She had to make contact with their local operative and exchange reports. It would be best to make sure that everything was in order and that they were left with as much autonomy as possible.
Friday, September 30th 2095. 6:30 AM.
First Magic High Auditorium.
Tanya and Visha stood to the side as they talked quietly to each other, the obvious intimacy served as a ward to ensure that the pair was left to their own devices. Neither of them had expected that the silent acceptance of their own relationship would have been possible in public, or that it could even prove useful in some way. They quietly discussed the events of the day, their hands clasped loosely together. Their fingers were having a quite different conversation, hidden from easy sight as they tapped out messages in the palm of the other.
"So, who are you planning on voting for to take the role of Student Council President?" Tanya asked as her fingers tapped out 'As popular as she is, it only makes sense that Miyuki has not ran to preserve her cover.'
"I wish I knew them all better, it makes it harder to decide, doesn't it?" Visha said while her fingers responded 'It's possible, but maybe she didn't because she is still new here?'
"I think you might be right, maybe it would be best to ask our classmates their opinions on who would be the best for the job." Tanya said with a thoughtful look on her face while her fingers tapped out 'we will continue our observations for now.'
Visha smiled and nodded. "That sounds like a great idea! I should go sit with my classmates, huh?" She said with a sad little smile as she clasped Tanya's hand for a second before she let go after she tapped out 'Love you.'
Tanya stood with a slightly glazed look on her face for a moment before she started to reflexively reach for the cap she had not worn since they had come to this world and sighed. Visha was the one person who seemed to be able to throw her off balance, a feat that even the so-called God Being X struggled to do.
And honestly? Tanya would have it no other way.
Friday, September 30th 2095. 6:35 AM.
First Magic High Auditorium.
First course, First year seating.
Miyuki had just parted with Tatsuya, and had already checked in with the presumptive nominee for Student Council President before she made her way towards where the first course students were seated. She spotted the very person she had hoped to see sitting amongst their classmates and a warm smile lit up the younger Shiba's face as she made her way over. Conveniently, the seat next to Visha was open and she sat down and greeted her friends before she turned and greeted the foreign mage.
"Good morning, Visha. How are you doing today?" Miyuki asked as she graced the young German woman with a delicate smile.
Visha smiled back, her megawatt smile open and honest. "I'm doing quite well, Miyuki. I just wished I knew a bit more about the candidates. Tanya and I were just talking about who to vote for, but we were not quite sure." Visha said and relaxed a little as Miyuki's face lit up as she turned a little in her seat and proceeded to expound the many virtues of Nakajou Azusa, the former Student Council secretary, and the current presumptive nominee who had been hand-picked as the chosen successor.
Visha had to admit, it was hard to see someone who had experienced the hell that the war had become in Miyuki. That was not definitive proof, though. It would take time and observation to determine whether the Shiba siblings were who they presented, or if they had a secret to hide.
Visha hoped that they were exactly seemed to be, because she found Miyuki to be a very likable person. Someone she could see becoming a true friend to both of them. Not that she could replace the people that they had left behind, but she wasn't looking to replace anyone. She had more than enough love and affection in her heart for more friends. At least, that was what Tanya had often told her.
Friday, September 30th 2095. 6:35 AM.
First Magic High Auditorium.
Second course, First year seating.
Tanya watched her fellow students as they interacted and made mental notes on who interacted with whom. It was fairly obvious that Tatsuya Shiba had gathered his own little circle of the better Course Two students around himself. And, as an outsider, it was also obvious that even though he was fairly quiet, he also influenced the group to a fair extent.
It was a very eclectic group, that was for sure. Ranging from a practitioner of one of the styles of ancient magic, to a 'failed' member of one of the prominent families, they were an interesting and varied group. And Tatsuya had proven that he could take advantage of the varied talents of those that he had gathered to him, as had been proven in their performance in Monolith Code.
As a tactician herself, she had found his strategies rather educational on ways to leverage the strengths and weaknesses of the magic they used in this world. It made her consider once more the very real possibility that Tatsuya and Miyuki were not originally from this world. His methods made sense from someone who had an outsider's view on magical theory. Someone who did not naturally see things in the ways that they considered normal.
She hoped that she might learn more if she was given a chance to interact with Miyuki, because Tatsuya was far too guarded of a person to be able to easily gather information from. From what Visha had told her, it seemed that Miyuki was far more open and willing to engage in conversation.
That wasn't to say that Tatsuya was rude by any stretch of imagination. In fact, he showed a near perfect level of Japanese courtesy. He would have fit in rather well in the corporate culture of the world where she had fired and disciplined people as part of her job.
Or, on a bloody battlefield where pragmatism and an ability to maintain some level of distance was as much a survival mechanism as having a good mage shell to ward off artillery.
Tanya let her attention wander for a moment to look towards where the Course One students were seated, and smiled as she watched her partner as she talked happily to the other Shiba sibling and the small circle of acquaintances that she had already gained in her short time here.
Tanya was not surprised, not really. Visha had an open, accepting demeanor and personality that drew people in. Luckily, Tanya was above such useless emotions as petty jealousy. It would be the same as hating an aspect of Visha, and that was a bridge too far for her.
And, of course, it was only natural that they would be drawn to Visha like moths that flocked to a warm, welcoming flame. A sun in their midst, that offered respite from the darkness of the world. Just like she had been drawn to Visha, and had let her longtime companion breach the walls that she had always kept between herself and the world at large.
Tanya shifted her attention back to those around her, and paid a bit of attention to the conversations around her. Her mind was elsewhere, but at least she paid enough attention to make responses even as she watched the students as they interacted amongst themselves. It was interesting to see the similarities and differences that existed in the three worlds she had experienced in her lives. Yet, one fact had always remained the same.
She had always felt like an outsider, a spectator. Someone who observed, and didn't really fit in.
Always best to understand the dynamics of those around her. Unlike Visha, who was a naturally social person, Tanya had no illusions about her own ability to keep up the correct levels of social interaction. She knew that she could manipulate people, but she was not able to actually stir them to action, not like her partner could. Even Tatsuya seemed to have a better grasp of the little social norms than she did, but she had accepted that in her first life.
Hopefully they would continue to be able to enjoy the relative peace of this current assignment for a while longer.
Friday, September 30th 2095. 6:40 AM.
First Magic High Auditorium.
First course, First year seating.
Visha glanced away from the conversation she had been engaged in for the past several minutes, and smiled as she spotted her partner. It never ceased to amaze her as she watched as Tanya expertly danced through the social interactions of her class, just how easily she fit in. Visha couldn't help but admire Tanya for the effortless and mature way she handled the tangled web that was the student body, and once again wished she had some level of ability similar to Tanya's in these kinds of situations.
She might have an easier time fitting into society, but she had no illusions about her ability to steer things like her diminutive partner could. Tanya handled social situations much like she handled a battlefield, using a combination of brute force, quick movement and subtle misdirection to manipulate the situation to an advantageous position for herself.
Honestly, Visha wished once more that it was Tanya who had found herself dealing with the more outgoing sibling, instead of the Rus expatriate. Visha smiled and nodded as she engaged once more with Miyuki, and noticed again the slight nervousness of the younger of the two Shiba's.
Miyuki smiled as she took a calming breath and leaned towards Visha slightly. "I was wondering, if you and Tanya would like to join us for dinner tomorrow night? We know a fantastic French place, and I want to meet your friend very much. Plus, that would give you a chance to meet my brother! I understand if you can't answer right away, since you will need to see if she would want to go, of course…. But we would both like to get to know the two of you better!" Miyuki said as she deployed her own stunning smile to best effect.
For a moment, Visha felt pinned in place by the power of that smile. She could understand fully why so many boys, and more than a few girls, found themselves unable to speak when exposed to that radiance. Then, the image of a diminutive blonde flashed through her mind, and she felt herself relax. As stunning as Miyuki was, and as much as she was sure that many a person had been rendered unable to form a coherent sentence in her vicinity, Visha much preferred the awkward bluntness of her own girlfriend.
Visha smiled and nodded. "I will have to talk to Tanya first, but I don't think she will say no. I want to meet this brother of yours, of course." Visha said, then smiled as she felt a blush sweep over her pale features. "But I want you to meet Tanya."
Miyuki smiled a knowing little smile, then let herself be pulled into a conversation with her friends. Visha couldn't help but assess the people that Miyuki chose to surround herself with. Perhaps it was a bit of Tanya that had rubbed off on her, but she had learned to accept the aspects that Tanya had cultivated in her.
Where Tatsuya had found a surprisingly good combat troupe, Miyuki had found a much more normal circle of friends. Yes, they were all talented mages, but they were not combatants by nature, not really. It was an interesting comparison, and perhaps had been done to distract from the pair of overly talented siblings in the first place.
Of particular note, there were a couple of Miyuki's friends who really stood out and warranted a bit more attention.
Mitsui Honoka was a talented young mage who specialized in light magic, from what they had observed so far. For someone of her age, she had shown excellent potential, especially in how she had performed in her first year events.
Tanya had even speculated that she might be able to replicate some of the optical illusions that the Argent had employed herself. Incredibly Telling praise from Tanya, that was for sure.
Visha did her best to ignore the little corner of her mind that wanted to compare herself to Ms. Mitsui. Of the students, Honoka was probably the closest to how she had looked at that age, at least body type. It was not something that she was proud of, but she took comfort in the fact that the soft young mage was not a match for her Argent personality wise.
Even if Honoka was ridiculously cute.
Kitayama Shizuko was also an interesting person. A talented mage who seemed utterly unflappable and was basically unreadable. She had performed very well in both of her events, and had shown an ability to make decisions in a cool, calm manner. The fact that she was a friend of Honoka and Miyuki's spoke to what the young woman was capable of.
Another odd addition to Miyuki Shiba's little troupe was Amelia Eimi Akechi Goldie. The unusual young mage really stood out, and not just for her looks. As a seasoned mage in her own right, she trusted in her ability to evaluate a potential recruit, and she liked what she saw in the young mage.
Maybe in time they would have to establish a friendly little training camp.
Something to discuss with Tanya.