Returning to the Shiba residence from the Kitayama estate, Yugen was greeted by Miyuki in an apron. Her outfit, though slightly revealing for indoors, was tame compared to her once-attempted "naked apron," which he'd frantically stopped.
"Welcome back, Yugen-san," Miyuki said.
"I'm home, Miyuki. Tatsuya's at FLT again?" Yugen asked.
"Yes, he'll be back for dinner. Oh, Ceria sent an email asking you to contact her later."
Tatsuya, spurred by his clash with Lina, was immersed in magic development. He'd shared device blueprints, insisting on minimal help from Yugen. Still, Ushiyama's covert design advice meant Yugen was indirectly involved. The FAE (Free After Execution) theory underpinned Tatsuya's work, building on US-Japan research that birthed "Brionac." For Yugen, who independently derived Starlight Breaker from FAE, it was merely a milestone.
"Ceria, huh?" Yugen said. "I gave her my contact info."
"I asked, and she said, 'I don't want to ruin the mood by contacting Yugen directly,'" Miyuki replied.
Her knack for reading the room hinted at her past-life genius. Yugen told Miyuki he'd change, then entered his room, booted his high-performance laptop, and called Ceria. Her face appeared on-screen.
"Hey, big bro," Ceria said. "You're at the Shiba place, right?"
"Just got back," Yugen replied. "You could've called me directly."
"Nah, didn't want to upset Shizuku. I'm kinda an outsider," Ceria said.
Despite not clashing directly with Tatsuya or Miyuki during the Parasite or strategic-class incidents, "Ceria Polaris" was known to them. Her actions doubled as appeasing Miyuki, earning a wry smile from Yugen.
"Fair enough," he said. "What's up?"
"So, Lina sent this super long email, half whining," Ceria said. "She hit Albuquerque, then got ordered to Honolulu immediately."
"That's definitely military," Yugen said.
Lina's indirect contact made sense—her email likely skirted military censorship, or Ceria tampered with her device. No major foreign movements were evident: the New Soviets were deflated post-Halloween, with Vladivostok's magic hub crippled, and the Great Asian Alliance showed no military stirrings. A grim possibility dawned.
While talking, Yugen activated another monitor, searching data.
"A Pacific turnaround," he muttered. "No major moves in Southeast Asia or Australia… Ceria."
"What's up, big bro?" she asked.
"That email," Yugen said. "It's likely Navy-related."
"What!? Like the movie!?" Ceria blurted, then winced. "Sorry."
Yugen's screen displayed a global submarine map via Yata no Kagami. His ability to track militaries worldwide had saved lives in Okinawa, Sado, and Yokohama, earning Kazama's vow never to oppose him. Ceria's slip about "the movie" referenced shared knowledge. Japan had launched the Zuikaku carrier as a precaution, but a Great Asian Alliance submarine and the USNA's New Mexico were nearing the Ogasawara Islands, with increased Navy activity and traces of large-scale magic.
"No one's around, so it's fine," Yugen said. "We went through hell to commission the Zuikaku, and their greed knows no bounds."
"You were involved, huh?" Ceria said.
"I'm heading there for Shizuku, but Stars is the issue," Yugen said.
Despite being a modern magic leader, the USNA's actions echoed the old US "world police" doctrine. Had they informed Japan's government, military, or Ten Master Clans, it might've been excusable, but post-Halloween losses made them stubborn. Colonel Balance, still in Japan as an envoy, could relay messages, but the military brass's obstinacy complicated matters.
"We might face Stars," Yugen said. "No choice. I'll rush Ceria's custom CAD."
"You made one?" Ceria asked.
"A prototype, too specialized for the Shibas to tune," Yugen said. "I'll contact the chief later."
Tatsuya's group could handle themselves, but Yugen took precautions, requesting Yotsuba and Kazama to authorize Tatsuya's Material Burst and Chikihime and Gozo for his Starlight Breaker. Ceria's CAD, replacing her lost Levatein, repurposed an FAE-based, durability-focused prototype originally for Shizuru, shaped like a bow and named Artemis.
"Big bro aiming to rule the world?" Ceria teased.
"Who'd want that hassle?" Yugen shot back.
"True," Ceria laughed.
Regarding Stars, Ceria said, "Except a few, they're weirdos with no mercy to spare." Yugen urged leniency for Lina, but Ceria retorted, "That coward won't wake up to love without a punch, even if she quits to chase Tatsuya-sama." Strategic-class mages seemed romantically inept, a trait Yugen reluctantly saw in himself.
March 18, 2096
Summer's stable weather allowed a cruiser, but this trip used a VTOL for island-hopping. Yugen invited the Kami Association, but most, except Mototsume, returned to persuade clan heirs. Mototsume stayed at the Mitsuya household for Jiro and Shina.
"Working on devices even now, Yugen?" Erika teased.
"Don't mock," Yugen said. "Better safe after that mess."
A bow-shaped CAD, Artemis, connected to his terminal. After contacting Ceria, Yugen rushed to FLT, installed Ceria's magic, and was fine-tuning it onboard. His diligence tipped off the group, a mixed blessing.
Using Kaleidoscope, Yugen finished adjustments quickly. At Izu, they changed into swimsuits and swam. Erika smuggled a watermelon, sparking a watermelon-splitting game with Course 2 students, Sana, and Ceria. A Chiba family tradition, it was a training highlight. Tatsuya and Yugen, less keen on swimming, lounged on the villa's terrace, sipping Kitayama's tropical juice.
"Yugen-san, how's my swimsuit?" Miyuki asked.
"Suits you perfectly," Yugen said. "You'd rock anything."
Miyuki's frilled two-piece flattered her, her figure rivaling Lina and Ceria's. Her charm and womanly curves made her blush at Yugen's praise, her joy almost palpable. Honoka and Shizuku, watching the game, joined their table. Honoka's frilled two-piece emphasized her chest, bolder than last time. Shizuku, now curvaceous, chose a purple two-piece over a one-piece. Mizuki, egged on by Erika and Sana, picked a simple bikini, while Erika and Sana wore minimalist two-pieces.
Mizuki, Honoka, Himeri, Miyuki, Ceria, Lina, Sana, Yume, Shizuku, Erika—the order spoke for itself.
"Shizuku, you've grown so much," Honoka said.
"Yeah, more womanly, thanks to Yugen-san," Miyuki added.
"Had to re-buy clothes," Shizuku said. "Mom grilled me."
"Yare yare," Yugen sighed.
Tatsuya knew the backstory of Miyuki and Shizuku's growth. Since summer, Miyuki often slept in Yugen's room at the Kagurazaka house, occasionally begging to cuddle but retreating when overwhelmed. Yugen's restraint was apt, but Miyuki initiated much of it. With Shizuku, Himeri, and Yuka involved, Tatsuya marveled at Yugen's sanity.
"This juice is great," Tatsuya said.
"Kurosawa-san's special," Shizuku replied. "Yugen could replicate it with magic, but not cooking."
"Cooking's not that easy," Yugen said. "What about the watermelon game?"
"Ceria 'sliced' it perfectly," Honoka said.
Instead of splitting, Ceria likely mimicked Erika's anime stunt, using Auditory Enhancement—a refined yet wasteful technique. Leo and Erika's impressed reactions confirmed it, and Tatsuya and Miyuki caught on.
"Thanks for coming, Yugen, Tatsuya, Miyuki," Shizuku said.
"What's that about?" Tatsuya asked.
"Yeah, Shizuku," Miyuki echoed.
"You're right," Yugen said. "Spending spring break like this is fun. I'm grateful, not bothered."
Shizuku, aware of Tatsuya and Miyuki's circumstances, spoke sincerely. They brushed off any concern, and her soft smile showed relief.
A sound shattered the vacation mood—the roar of a flying boat's engine. Yugen's gaze snapped west.
"Yugen-san?" Miyuki said.
"As predicted," Tatsuya said.
"Wish I was wrong," Yugen muttered.
A Defense Army amphibious flying boat approached. Yugen, a high-ranking officer, leaped to the dock where it landed. A soldier from the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion saluted Yugen, who returned it.
"Major General, apologies for disturbing your leave," the soldier said.
"No worries, I'm dressed casually," Yugen replied. "What's the matter?"
"A letter from Major Kazama for Lieutenant Ohguro," the soldier said. "An order to report."
"Understood. I'll handle it promptly. Wait here."
Yugen returned, handing Tatsuya the unopened letter. Tatsuya had changed into practical clothing. Yugen skimmed his own letter.
(…A request to lift Third Eye Eclipse's restrictions. Not an order to report—Kazama's consideration.)
Only Yugen and Kazama knew the override procedure, restricted for security. Without Yugen's code, Third Eye Eclipse was locked, even if superiors demanded it. Tatsuya, reading his letter, asked Miyuki to lift his seal, as it permitted Material Burst for reporting. Maya and Shinya approved, and Miyuki understood the crisis's gravity.
Miyuki's lips touched Tatsuya's forehead, unleashing a torrent of psions through the room.
Hyakuri Base, Ibaraki
Tatsuya, in rarely worn military uniform, entered Kazama and Sanada's office. After saluting, Kazama urged him to relax and began.
"An asteroid, 2095GE9—codename 'Sieg'—shows unnatural orbit shifts in the Earth-Mars midway zone," Kazama said.
"Unnatural?" Tatsuya asked.
Not caused by physical collisions, Tatsuya inferred, listening to Kazama and Sanada.
"Sieg's collision probability with Earth is nearly 100%, per special staff calculations," Sanada said. "Over 80% chance of an aerial explosion over Kyushu."
Only Yugen could be the "special staff," his predictions eerily convincing. Material Burst was the best counter, its fragments burning up in the atmosphere.
Kazama issued the order: "Lieutenant Ohguro, destroy Sieg with Material Burst."
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