While public sentiment against magicians grew harsher, First High School remained relatively calm. Schools, though not extraterritorial, function as semi-autonomous domains, and First High's campus was still peaceful—but how many realized this was the calm before the storm?
When Yugen returned to the Shiba household, he received a message from Chikage. She had heard about his meeting with Katsuto, Mayumi, and others. Yugen relayed the meeting's details, including keeping Saegusa's obsession with Yotsuba a secret.
"Understood. We can't let you do all the work, Yugen-kun—it'd dull my mind and body. As the current head, I'll handle the emergency Clan Conference. For me, it's like soothing children," Chikage said.
Given their age gap, it sounded like a parent-child exchange, but visually, it was a young girl overpowering adults. Even Koichi's cunning schemes would be child's play before Chikage's "Six Paths Eye," which predicts future trends by viewing events as a "game board." Only Kagurazaka heads know its details, and Chikage claimed Yugen's "Osiris Sight" was its superior counterpart, prompting an inward sigh from him. Only one in dozens of generations manifests it.
Returning to the topic, Ayako was present during the call. Given Yotsuba-Kagurazaka ties, it wasn't surprising if Kuroba acted on a sponsor's request.
"Thank you for the other day. It was a very enjoyable sleepover," Ayako said.
"You're welcome… What's up, Yugen?" Tatsuya asked.
"Nothing… Ayako-chan, is Tatsuya like this even at Yotsuba's main house?"
"Well… I hate to speak ill of Tatsuya-san, but I often wish he'd improve in this area," Ayako replied.
Her words revealed feelings for Tatsuya beyond respect, but to him, it was secondary. During the sleepover, Yugen joined Fumiya, Ayako, and Miyuki's conversations, which often centered on Tatsuya. Unfamiliar with his Yotsuba behavior, Yugen mostly listened. Tatsuya seemed mildly offended but stayed silent under Miyuki's wordless pressure from behind.
"Let's save that for another time. We have important matters today," Ayako said.
"Tell me," Tatsuya prompted.
(He's dodging…) Yugen thought.
Tatsuya likely knew he couldn't escape, given Lina and Honoka's situation, but Yugen appreciated him moving forward to save time.
"Regarding our last talk, on April 25th, next Wednesday, an MP will visit First High for an inspection," Ayako said.
"MP Kanda from the Civil Rights Party?" Tatsuya asked.
"Exactly. Well-informed," Ayako replied.
"Recent news makes it obvious… Yugen, part of your plan?" Tatsuya asked.
"Correct. Saegusa's fueling it, but Kanda's the perfect scapegoat," Yugen said.
Tatsuya nodded. Kanda, a young politician (relatively, by political experience), was known for criticizing the military as a human rights advocate. His media exposure had spiked recently. His rhetoric seemed pro-magician but aimed to exclude them from the military—a fact clear to observant people. Since Fumiya's information aligned with Saegusa's role, Tatsuya didn't press further.
"It's almost comical how he's been hooked," Ayako said.
"Not just Kanda, right?" Tatsuya asked.
"Correct. He's bringing his usual reporter entourage," Ayako confirmed.
Some reporters were tied to Kuroba or Kagurazaka, making Kanda's moves transparent. After Ayako's report, Tatsuya murmured, "No specific actions reported?"
"None," Ayako replied.
"Then nothing major's planned," Tatsuya concluded.
"How do you reach that conclusion?" Ayako asked, puzzled.
"If something big was in play, you'd have caught it," Tatsuya said.
Present were Tatsuya, Miyuki, Yugen, and, on the monitor, Ayako and Chikage. Yugen gave a wry look at Tatsuya's casual remark, Miyuki covered half her face as if exasperated, and Chikage hid her mouth with a fan, her eyes betraying a smile.
"I'll take it as a compliment," Ayako said.
"It is," Tatsuya replied.
Ayako seemed flustered by Tatsuya's near-flirtatious words. If he was oblivious to her feelings, that was a problem. Yugen interjected to help.
"These opposition MPs are just loudmouths. Thanks for the info, Ayako-chan. As for Tatsuya… leave him to the person behind him," Yugen said.
"Oh… Yes, that's best," Ayako agreed.
Such MPs exaggerate minor issues, and journalists inflate them tenfold—a tactic Yugen had seen in his past life. Preaching peace but justifying any means, including violence, wasn't uncommon.
"'The pen is mightier than the sword,' they say, but 'freedom of press' isn't in this country's constitution—only 'freedom of speech.' Can journalists expose everything and be forgiven? No. Some secrets, like national ones, maintain trust. Strategic-class magic is the prime example," Yugen thought.
Take Angie Sirius—Lina—of Stars. She joined the USNA military at 12, against regulations, but her identity is restricted to preserve Stars' reputation. Similarly, Tatsuya's Yotsuba ties and strategic-class status are sensitive. Publicizing them risks military conflict, as seen in the original story's foreign interventions. The USNA's wariness of Tatsuya is obvious.
"It's likely their usual performance," Ayako said.
"Thanks for the heads-up," Tatsuya replied.
"I'm looking forward to both your moves, Tatsuya-san and Yugen-san," Ayako said.
"Don't expect too much. Just a pebble in the pond," Yugen said.
Yugen downplayed it, but Tatsuya recalled Hayama's report on Yugen's No-Head Dragon takedown—using massive schemes to crush their bases. Hayama had given a rare wry smile. While still a Mitsuya, Yugen, knowing Mitsuya and Ueyama's moves, siphoned millions in Nine Schools Competition gambling funds through Gouzo's account, untraceable to himself. When bookmakers couldn't recover, Yugen offered a deal: full refunds for attacking No-Head Dragon's bases, wiping them out.
Normally, such deals prioritize profit, but Yugen's wealth enabled audacious terms. Tatsuya shivered at the scale, wondering if Yugen's "pebble" was more like the asteroid he once destroyed. Ayako's call ended, halting his thoughts—mainly due to Miyuki's beaming smile behind him.
"Miyuki-san, maybe calm down a bit?" Yugen suggested.
"Onii-sama, I'm calmer than ever. Now, please sit, Onii-sama. Shall we… talk?" Miyuki replied.
"Yugen… wait, where'd he—" Tatsuya began.
Miyuki's intensity was unstoppable. Yugen had vanished from the living room, and under her commanding smile, Tatsuya sat on the sofa. Watching from the shadows, Minami asked Yugen, "Yugen-nii-sama, shouldn't we stop them?"
"It's just Miyuki lecturing Tatsuya for being dense about Ayako's feelings. It's a sibling matter—meddling would burn us worse. I'm off to bathe, so prepare my change of clothes," Yugen said.
"Yes," Minami replied.
Tatsuya endured 30 minutes of Miyuki's lecture-like scolding. Afterward, he shot Yugen a resentful look, but when Yugen pointed out Tatsuya's failure to notice Ayako's feelings, Tatsuya's expression conceded the point.
◇ ◇ ◇
On Tuesday, April 17th, before classes, Tatsuya summoned Azusa and Isori. The topic was clear: an MP critical of the military would visit First High the following Wednesday. Also present were Kanon (tagging along with Isori) and Yugen.
"That's a big deal!" Azusa exclaimed.
"Is it worth panicking over?" Kanon questioned.
As a national institution, a magic high school being inspected by an elected MP wasn't an issue. The problem was the lack of formal procedures or appointments. Azusa stood, visibly shaken, while Kanon doubted the fuss. Isori, her fiancé, intervened.
"It's serious. Kanda's rhetoric seems pro-magician but condemns military involvement as evil. From another angle, it's meant to block magicians from military ties," Isori explained.
"I get that, but isn't he targeting the military and school, not us?" Kanon countered, slightly irked that Isori sided with Azusa and Tatsuya.
Yugen spoke up. "Chiyoda-senpai, we're students here. If MPs like Kanda—or worse—gain power, they could block paths from magic high school to the National Defense Academy, or from Magic University to military roles. Worse, they might suppress defense-related ideologies."
"Thought control?" Kanon asked.
"That's mild. These principled pacifists don't need sound logic," Yugen said.
They preach peace but embrace violence, ignoring regional tensions and advocating powerless peace. Their actions, stripped down, resemble terrorists undermining national interests.
"They'd silence threats or defense discussions, even resorting to violence or murder. Claiming human rights while stripping career freedoms—can you dismiss that as 'no big deal'?" Yugen asked coldly.
Kanon was taken aback, Isori grew serious, and Azusa looked startled. Tatsuya remained expressionless. Noticing the mood, Yugen clapped his hands to lighten it.
"Enough heavy talk. The key is handling the opposition MP. Tatsuya, you called Nakajou-kaichou and Isori-senpai for that, right?"
"Yes. For Kanda's visit, I propose a flashy demonstration," Tatsuya said, signaling Miyuki, who handed electronic boards to Azusa and Isori.
The visitors aim to portray the school as a military training ground forcing students into service. A demonstration showcasing magic's non-military value would counter this. Tatsuya glanced at Yugen, who elaborated.
"To supplement, FLT approached the school. With the Magic Engineering Department's establishment, they'll provide equipment for an experiment to foster future magic engineering talent," Yugen said.
"What!?" Azusa gasped.
"FLT providing equipment… but this is—" Isori began.
Their shock was understandable. The boards detailed a demonstration of a resident gravity-control magic nuclear fusion reactor—one of the three great challenges of weight-system magic, including flight magic.
"Is it feasible?" Isori asked.
"Calculations say yes, but the device runs for 10 minutes max, needing a 30-minute interval," Tatsuya replied.
"Ten minutes is already incredible," Azusa said.
The prototype device measures event interference strength for fusion reactions. Yugen framed it as hearsay, but only he, Tatsuya, and Miyuki knew he designed the reactor.
"Resident Gravity-Control Magic Sustained Nuclear Fusion Reactor… 'Stellar Furnace'? It contrasts Takanotsume-senpai's intermittent fusion reactor," Isori noted.
Compared to last fall's thesis competition reactor, the Stellar Furnace yields vastly more energy per unit time. If realized, it could supply energy day or night, unaffected by weather, easing factory power concerns and preparing for re-cooling. Azusa turned to Tatsuya.
"Is this your plan, Shiba-kun?"
"Not my idea alone, but it's what we're aiming for. The required magic skills are too high for practical use, but our students can run the reactor briefly," Tatsuya said.
"We… You mean Kagurazaka-kun too?" Isori asked.
"Exactly," Yugen confirmed.
The device can only operate briefly, and Tatsuya knew this, making his excuse flexible. His ability to downplay the true purpose earned silent praise from Yugen.
"By the way, my sisters at Magic University, part of a fusion reactor research seminar, will assist, at my request," Yugen added.
"Kana-senpai and Mika-senpai?" Azusa asked.
"Yes. Kana-neesan's a cardinal code weight-system expert, and Mika-neesan excels in optical vibration systems—perfect for support," Yugen said.
Tatsuya had been briefed, and Kana and Mika's participation, influenced by Yugen and close to Professor Jennifer, was a boon. This freed Isori to assist Azusa.
"I'll cooperate with Shiba-kun's plan," Azusa said.
"I'm in too. The Stellar Furnace experiment isn't just for Kanda—it's a magic engineer's dream," Isori added.
Notes: Regarding Tatsuya's issues, especially romantic ones, the protagonist avoids involvement unless Tatsuya seeks help. Yugen's cold gaze in the latter part stems from past experiences, but that's all I'll say.
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