When Azusa and the others arrived at the prep room, Azusa thought her terminal's clock was malfunctioning, but Miyuki's quick support prevented any confusion.
"Morning, Kagurazaka-senpai. Helping with the entrance ceremony?" Riri asked.
"Morning, Riri-chan. That's about right," Yugen replied.
Calling a Ten Master Clans direct descendant "-chan" felt odd, but since Riri was fine with it, Yugen let it slide. During rehearsal, Minami appeared calm but was inwardly anxious as an outsider. Yugen didn't intervene, as Tatsuya had brought her for guardian training.
"Nakajou-senpai, I'll head to my post 30 minutes before the ceremony," Yugen said.
"Sure, thanks, Kagurazaka-kun," Azusa replied.
Yugen left the prep room for the auditorium's exterior. With an hour until the ceremony, he spotted freshmen, their groups naturally split by the presence or absence of the petal emblem—Course 1 versus Course 2 students. He sighed inwardly but decided not to meddle and kept walking, only to run into Shizuku and Mikihiko, wearing disciplinary committee armbands.
"Hey, Yugen. Morning," Shizuku said.
"Morning, Shizuku, Mikihiko. Patrolling?" Yugen asked.
"Morning, Yugen. That, and guiding freshmen. What's your role? The club alliance shouldn't have duties," Mikihiko said.
"Guiding VIPs with Miyuki. The lineup's a hassle," Yugen replied.
He'd received the guest list: politicians, as expected for a national institution; Ernst Rosen, new Japan branch president of Rosen Magicraft; the Prime Minister; and notable figures from politics and business were predictable. The issue was the magic community and Defense Forces attendees.
Yugen lowered his voice. "Uesugi Gozo as family proxy, the Shippou head, and General Soga from the Defense Forces."
"What…?" Shizuku gasped.
"Dad mentioned it, but that's a wild lineup. Surprising your mom's not here," Mikihiko said.
"Kagurazaka's feared differently from Yotsuba. Only a few know the details," Yugen said.
The Juumonji knew why, but Yugen was puzzled by the Nanakusa head's absence. He'd asked Kasumi via chat app (preferring her calm over Izumi) and learned Koichi planned to attend but was banned by Izumi's tantrum: "Don't come, or I'll never speak to you again!" To avoid embarrassment, Mayumi, present at dinner, attended as Koichi's proxy. Even a powerful Nanakusa head couldn't withstand his daughter's threat, showing his human side as a parent.
Back to the point.
"No direct meetings, but keep it in mind," Yugen said.
"Got it. See you," Shizuku replied.
"Don't overdo it," Mikihiko added.
As they left, Yugen scanned the courtyard, spotting unfamiliar freshmen. Then, a sharply dressed figure approached—Katsuto Juumonji, last year's graduate and former club alliance head. Recognizing Yugen early, Katsuto approached, and they stopped a meter apart. Yugen bowed first.
"Been a while, Katsuto-senpai. Since the spring break meeting?" Yugen said.
"Hey, Kagurazaka. Sorry for dumping Riri on you and for my club alliance transfer," Katsuto said.
"I get your intentions. Looking after a junior's no big deal. No need to worry," Yugen replied.
"I wanted to apologize in person. Hope you understand," Katsuto said.
Katsuto explained the Juumonji head was too busy, so he attended as proxy. Yugen appreciated Katsuto's sincerity and accepted the apology, then asked, "Why are you here, senpai?"
"To apologize, and Nanakusa asked me to escort," Katsuto said.
Yugen tilted his head. Mayumi attending as Nanakusa proxy made sense, but Katsuto escorting her didn't. It wasn't an engagement—Mayumi's betrothal to the Itsuwa heir hadn't been dissolved.
Seeing Yugen's confusion, Katsuto clarified, "Nanakusa's busy managing her sisters. She asked me to double as her proxy if needed."
"What a mess… Couldn't the head's wife or older brother step in? Never mind, I get it," Yugen said.
Normally, a Nanakusa or close associate would proxy, hence Mayumi's role. But fearing Kasumi and Izumi's antics, and with unreliable family—Koichi's bodyguard was out, his second wife absent, and his first wife's sons lacking prestige—Mayumi chose Katsuto, a credible ally, for backup. Yugen worried slightly for the Nanakusa's future.
"You were a proxy representative once, so it makes sense," Yugen said. "I'm helping as a volunteer, guiding VIPs, per Hattori."
"Alright, guide me to the waiting room," Katsuto said.
Feeling the story's odd divergence from the original, Yugen escorted Katsuto to the waiting room.
The "odd divergence" applied here too, though Tatsuya, the original protagonist, wouldn't notice. He was patrolling to guide freshmen not yet in the auditorium, feeling a kinship with Mayumi, who did this last year. Then, he spotted her in a ladylike suit.
"Been a while, Tatsuya-kun. Three weeks, though," Mayumi said.
"Morning, Nanakusa-senpai," Tatsuya replied.
They hadn't spoken much since the Kyuua incident, maybe since he was her sub-engineer at last year's Nine Schools. Thinking of her close male friends, Tatsuya pictured one—not Hattori, obviously.
"A-chan said you joined the student council. Yugen's club alliance deputy role was Katsuto's doing, right?" Mayumi said.
"Mostly correct," Tatsuya replied.
Tatsuya noted her university attire—clothing, accessories, and light makeup—gave her a harmonious beauty. Fashion as "magic" transformed people, but Mayumi's maturity stood out, even to Tatsuya, used to Miyuki's style.
"You've changed, Tatsuya-kun," Mayumi said.
"Have I? Well, my uniform's different…" Tatsuya replied.
Caught off guard, he thought she meant his shift from Course 2 to Magical Engineering. Mayumi chuckled.
"That too, but you're different from last year's entrance ceremony. You look freer. Yugen's been a good influence, hasn't he?"
Tatsuya couldn't argue—she'd hit a truth he hadn't realized. During last year's Monolith Code, Katsuto's "don't hide behind Course 2" stung, revealing Tatsuya's buried inferiority complex. Yugen, the exceptional genius who called him a friend, dismantled that wall. Wanting to match him erased Tatsuya's self-doubt.
"I surrender. I don't know myself well," Tatsuya admitted, not just verbally but with learned humility.
Mayumi puffed up proudly, sparking Tatsuya's mischievous side. "You've changed too, senpai. You've got a university student's poise. Impressive."
"Really?" Mayumi said, flustered. "I just had my ceremony on April 6."
Those who knew Tatsuya's sly side would notice him teasing her. Mayumi, caught up in the praise, missed it. Tatsuya pressed on.
"You're so mature, I was at a loss for words," he said.
"Really? Wait… what's that mean?" Mayumi asked, catching on.
"What?" Tatsuya feigned innocence.
"'Mature' like I was childish before?" she pressed.
"Your imagination," Tatsuya said.
If Yugen were here, he'd shower Mayumi with praise, then drop her like his "Surface Lotus" dessert prank. Tatsuya couldn't mimic that gigolo flair, as Miyuki called it.
"I've never thought of you as baby-faced or childishly built," Tatsuya said.
"Baby-faced… childishly built…" Mayumi muttered, deflating.
A short-haired, petite freshman from the database approached. "Big sis! What's going on?"
"Kasumi-chan, listen! Tatsuya called me baby-faced and childishly built…" Mayumi wailed.
"What? You're Shiba Tatsuya-senpai?" Kasumi said.
"Yes. You're Nanakusa-senpai's sister?" Tatsuya replied.
"I'm Kasumi Nanakusa. Nice to meet you, Shiba-senpai," she said, polite despite her lively appearance, earning Tatsuya's approval. To help Mayumi, he intervened.
"First names are fine to avoid confusion with your sister. Kasumi, actually—"
Tatsuya explained the situation to Kasumi and a sulking Mayumi. Kasumi gave her sister an exasperated look, reminding Tatsuya of Yugen.
"It's hard to tell who's the older sister," Tatsuya thought with a wry smile.
"Big sis, making up accusations isn't cool. Sorry, Shiba-senpai," Kasumi said.
"No worries. I'm used to her antics," Tatsuya replied.
"Yugen-nii was right," Kasumi muttered, unheard.
Kasumi remembered her purpose. "Big sis, have you seen Izumi?"
"Didn't you split up to tour the campus?" Mayumi asked.
"She sensed 'onii-sama' and bolted. She's probably on campus," Kasumi said.
Hearing their exchange, Tatsuya imagined Miyuki with an extreme brother complex but dismissed the thought and asked, "Does she have a terminal?"
"Oh, I forgot," Kasumi said, embarrassed.
"Right, I'll call her—" Mayumi began, pulling out her device.
Tatsuya's terminal rang. Recognizing the caller, he answered. "Yugen?"
"Tatsuya, busy? One of the Nanakusa freshmen got lost on campus," Yugen said.
"Oh, that's quick. Izumi-chan's clinging to me. If Kasumi's nearby, bring her to the VIP waiting room."
"Got it," Tatsuya replied, ending the call.
Noticing Mayumi and Kasumi's stares, Tatsuya realized they'd overheard. Kasumi looked exhausted. Mayumi, knowing the waiting room, said, "I'll take Kasumi," bowed, and left with her sister.
Both Kasumi and Izumi, despite their refined appearances, had fiery personalities, as Tatsuya expected from the Nanakusa.
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