March 17, 2096
Under normal circumstances, while third-year graduates were done, first- and second-year students would still have classes. However, the schedule was accelerated, thrusting them into an early spring break—though not without enduring a grueling, packed curriculum as a consequence.
The primary reason was the establishment of the new Magical Engineering Department (nicknamed "Magitech Department") for the coming year. Tatsuya's numerous contributions could no longer be ignored, even by faculty. Yet, altering the evaluation criteria for Course 1 and Course 2 students would undermine the pride of the school's educational philosophy. As a compromise, the Magitech Department was created to nurture mages excelling in magical technology alongside traditional magical practice.
"…Yugen, is that next year's curriculum?" Shizuku asked.
"Morning, Shizuku. You could've slept in," Yugen replied.
"I'm not one for sleeping twice," she said.
While studying abroad, Mirror Gate—a military secret—couldn't be used casually, limiting contact to calls. Upon returning, Shizuku's first request was to invite Yugen to the Kitayama estate, a plan Miyuki, Himeri, and Yuka understood and accepted.
To the estate's staff, Yugen was "Shizuku's husband," likely informed by her father, Ushio. When Yugen learned Ushio and Kureha were involved, Shizuku's cheeks flushed noticeably.
"While I was abroad, it was Miyuki, Himeri, and Yuka, right?" Shizuku said.
"Your phone call outfits left quite an impression," Yugen teased. "Nailed it."
"You're the reason I've grown this much," Shizuku shot back.
Yugen restrained himself, mindful of their health, but their increasingly bold affection was hard to ignore. Still, their public behavior remained within respectable bounds, which he appreciated. Shizuku's magical and feminine growth was striking, possibly a rebound from unsealing her magical calculation area—though she was slightly miffed about her stagnant height.
Since New Year, contact with Kazuko was minimal, but Yuka frequently visited the Shiba and Mitsuya households, leveraging her high school friendship with Shizuru. Her subtle temptations as a fiancée and skill in pacifying a potentially jealous Miyuki were commendable, though Yugen couldn't help but resent being so easily swayed.
"Three months abroad is a long time," Yugen said. "I get the enthusiasm, but don't overdo it."
"You're an inexhaustible wolf," Shizuku teased.
"You started it," Yugen countered.
He hadn't driven anyone to madness, but a moment's lapse could spell disaster, so he tempered his strength. The allure of their invitations was hard to resist, but he focused on his terminal's screen.
The Magitech Department would replace the current Class 2-E, with applications open to both Course 1 and 2 students. Tatsuya, Mizuki, Toya, and Sana would transfer, while Mikihiko, Leo, and Erika would join Course 1, filling the gaps.
"I'm not trying to charm everyone," Yugen said.
"You attract them unconsciously," Shizuku replied.
"Am I a black hole?" Yugen quipped.
At magic high school, Yugen maintained boundaries, keeping interactions diplomatic despite his role in the fiancée situation. Shizuku understood his burdens but didn't hold back her sharp words.
"That's worse than a gigolo," she said.
Being called more troublesome than an cosmic phenomenon left Yugen silently exasperated, sighing inwardly at how often he'd heard such remarks this year.
Life at the Kitayama estate didn't alter Yugen's routine. Since the second term, he'd trained with Shizuku, combining light martial arts from the sports club with magical practice.
Though not academically proven, physical prowess and combat magical ability were linked. Military mages required high physical fitness, but modern magic training lacked robust physical components.
"Good work today," Yugen said.
"Thanks," Shizuku replied. "It's annoying how cool you stay."
"I'm your senior in martial arts and magic," Yugen said. "Can't show weakness."
Tenjin magic training, kept secret, occurred at the Kagurazaka main house, annex, or occasionally Kuze Temple. Recently, Yugen learned Toya trained under Yakumo on weekends. Yakumo noted, "His physique and mastery of force are rare." Toya's martial talent was unexpected—appearances could deceive.
For now, training focused on psion control or basic single-system efficiency. A recent magic-based air hockey match (using only magic to move pucks) saw fierce competition. Yugen and Tatsuya tied after a drawn-out stalemate, despite holding back.
The Parasite incident was settled diplomatically between Japan and the USNA. The USNA's reckless actions were an internal embarrassment, and they sought to avoid further losses or debts. Japan, aiming to recover from the Yokohama Incident, engaged in relatively civil verbal sparring.
Strategic-class magic discussions were heated. Gozo Ueyama and Chikihime attending bureaucratic talks was unprecedented, reportedly startling Colonel Balance, per Ceria's account. The USNA couldn't ignore new strategic-class magic, but Japan, a "small nation" by military and land scale, faced threats from the Great Asian Alliance, New Soviet Union (active in Sado and Yokohama), and Australia—backed by the UK, as Chikihime noted.
Europe's complex ethnic, religious, and linguistic tapestry sparked two of three world wars. The EU formed post-World War II to rival the US and Russia but split east-west. Strategic-class magic offered some protection, but the desire for global dominance persisted.
"You study, exercise, and excel at everything," Shizuku said. "Anything you can't do?"
"Stuff I'm not interested in," Yugen replied.
He'd demanded "reparations" but hadn't specified terms, wary of overstepping. Lately, politics overshadowed magic, an inevitable consequence of its military ties. As Kagurazaka heir, Yugen accessed vast information through "Kuzuryu" and "Star-Seeing," including Gu Jie and Zhou Gongjin's dealings. He withheld this from Gozo, knowing Zhou would be obliterated otherwise.
After tidying with magic and breakfast with Shizuku, Yugen reviewed spring break plans, including a trip to Izu's villa.
"Beach season's close," Yugen said. "So that's why you're poring over swimsuit catalogs."
"My summer ones don't fit anymore," Shizuku said. "Pervert."
"I'm not doing anything," Yugen protested.
Women were more sensitive about swimsuits, Yugen noted, avoiding garish styles himself. Shopping involved stores or AR displays for real-time fitting. When Miyuki browsed swimsuits via AR, Yugen, seeing her bold choices, advised modesty, avoiding vivid imaginings.
"Ceria's coming too, right?" Shizuku asked.
"Yeah," Yugen said. "Toya's dragged into a seniors' graduation trip."
Toya joined Ami's trip, initially just Mayumi and Mari, due to Mayumi's invitation. Katsuto stayed for family duties. Ceria, having vacated her mission housing, moved to the Kagurazaka annex under the Kuze name, officially "Excelsia Shields" pending future registry changes, per Chikihime.
"Something wrong?" Shizuku asked.
"Just hoping for a peaceful spring break," Yugen said.
"A flag?" Shizuku teased.
Unlike Tatsuya, Yugen lacked flag-raising prowess. Rivals watched him, but he'd ignore them unless provoked. Their fear or meddling warranted no sympathy, only understanding. He quietly wished for someone to grasp this.
Yugen's subtle wish was shattered. On a plane, a blonde girl—Angie Sirius, aka Angelina Kudou Shields—scowled, recalling events before boarding.
At the airport, Captain Sylvia Mercury (promoted to cover recent failures, outranking Major Lina) greeted her with scant details and luggage, assigning her a military mission in Honolulu.
"Stupid Sylvia…" Lina muttered.
Her Japan mission profoundly impacted her. She'd followed orders unquestioningly, fighting to protect her rogue twin sister. Parasite extermination and strategic-class mage neutralization saw no mercy. Yet, Tatsuya, Miyuki, and Yugen—the unofficial strategic-class mage who defeated her and Ceria—surpassed her effortlessly. Tatsuya called her unfit for military life, offering aid if she left.
No one had spoken to her like that. When Lina asked Yugen why, he said, "I can't say much, but Tatsuya sees you as a 'kindred spirit.' So do I." Yugen revealed he'd joined the Defense Force as a special officer to save the Mitsuya. Brushing off his strategic-class status as trivial, he left Lina unable to expose him, given the risk to her own "Sirius" identity.
Ceria's new guardian, potentially Lina's brother-in-law, made betraying him unthinkable—Excelsia's wrath would be fierce.
(Honolulu means Far East or Pacific… Please, not the New Soviets.)
With Parasites and strategic-class issues settled, Lina hoped to avoid a rushed return. Her civilian plane soared toward Honolulu.
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