It is a common phenomenon: those standing in the eye of the storm may dismiss a crisis as trivial, while those watching from a distance perceive its full, tempestuous weight. When one considers that a member of the Yotsuba clan—the very family that drove the Great Han Alliance government and the Kunlun Fang Institute to destruction thirty-five years ago—was living in such close proximity, it is hardly surprising that the situation would evoke a tangled web of emotions.
One such individual grappling with these complexities was Mari Watanabe, a First High alumna and currently a first-year student at the National Defense Academy. Taking advantage of the New Year's break, she was spending the holiday at her family's home alongside her lover, Shuji Chiba.
The reason they were not at the Chiba estate—Shuji's family home—was largely due to the looming presence of the family patriarch, Joichiro Chiba, and the turbulent situation surrounding Erika.
"I never imagined I'd be spending New Year's at your parents' house like this," Shuji remarked.
"I'm sorry, Shu. I know we can't offer much in the way of hospitality."
"Don't worry about that. Honestly, I'm the one at fault for not being considerate enough of Erika's circumstances."
The trouble had begun when Toshikazu was required to attend a Christmas party. Lacking a fiancée, he had roped Erika into attending. Erika, in turn, had taken her frustration out on Mari. Angered by this, Shuji had demanded she apologize to Mari, leading to a duel between the siblings.
The result was decisive. Shuji, a master of the Chiba Style holding a full license of transmission, defeated Erika, who had only attained the certificate of mastery. However, after the match, Erika had bowed and apologized in a tone so polite it was unrecognizable from her usual demeanor: "I took my frustrations out on Watanabe-senpai, who had nothing to do with this. I am truly sorry." With that, she had left the dojo.
The scene had left not only Shuji but also Mari standing in stunned silence, staring at her retreating figure.
"I heard the details from Toshikazu-nissan. Apparently, Erika is dating Saijou-kun. But Father still views Erika as a pawn for a political marriage. It seems he used her relationship with Saijou-kun as a bargaining chip to force her to accompany my brother."
"…Then it's no wonder Erika was angry. Besides, Erika isn't even in a position to inherit the Chiba family."
As Mari pointed out, Erika was born to Joichiro's mistress. Initially, she wasn't even permitted to bear the Chiba surname. However, when it came to light that her childhood friend, Yugen, was a direct descendant of the Ten Master Clans, Joichiro's ambitions shifted. Aiming to forge a connection as a maternal relative to the Mitsuya family, he designated Erika as Yugen's fiancée and allowed her to take the Chiba name.
Shuji understood that there was no romance between the two; they were simply close friends—partners in crime, essentially. However, with Yugen inheriting the leadership of the Kagurazaka family and announcing a call for fiancées, Joichiro had formally offered both Erika and Sanae as candidates. (It should be noted that Erika's consent had not been sought; Joichiro intended to force a fait accompli to dissolve her relationship with Leo.)
"What's worse, Father applied for both Erika and Sanae-neesan to be Yugen-kun's fiancées."
"Wait, is he sane!? Didn't Sanae-san get rejected once before?"
"Yeah, exactly as you say. Knowing Yugen-kun, who gets along well with Erika, he'd likely reject a marriage with Sanae-neesan outright. And an engagement with Erika has no basis in reality."
Unknown to Shuji and Mari, Yugen currently had ten fiancée candidates, including Miyuki. Yugen already had his hands full and harbored personal reservations about burdening a childhood friend with the stresses of engagement.
Erika felt much the same. Following the incident involving the Rosen family last summer, her relationship with Leo had deepened. Furthermore, after Leo's stellar performance in the Nine Schools Competition, he had begun attracting attention from other girls. It went without saying that a jealous Erika, under the guise of helping Sana, had taken to teasing Mikihiko and Mizuki as a way to vent.
"Besides, one of the fiancées announced for Yugen-kun is Tatsuya-kun's sister. To think Tatsuya-kun and Miyuki-kun are actually cousins, and members of that Yotsuba family… I suppose Yugen-kun likely knew."
"If he was a former member of the Ten Master Clans, it wouldn't be strange if he knew. There were rumors after the Defense of Okinawa that the Mitsuya and Yotsuba families were exploring a closer relationship. It's reasonable to assume they became acquainted around that time."
Although known only to a select few even within the Ten Master Clans, some in the Chiba family were aware that the mother of the current Mitsuya head was from the Kamiizumi family. Shuji deduced that this connection had facilitated the intimacy between the Mitsuya and Yotsuba clans.
"So, how are you going to explain this to Erika?"
"…Yugen-kun is already the head of the Kagurazaka family. Father must realize that he is now in a dominant position as a family head. I feel bad for Father, but I have no intention of trying to persuade Erika. In the first place, it was Father's responsibility for taking a mistress without consideration for Mother, and for siring Erika. It is unreasonable to push the consequences of that onto us."
Because Shuji accurately grasped the feelings of both Yugen and Erika, he declared he would not undertake the task of persuading her, even if asked by Joichiro. Sanae might have rejoiced at the opportunity, but it was obvious that doing so would only further sour her already poor relationship with Erika.
Toshikazu might accept the task, unable to defy a direct order from his father, but he would likely steer things in a direction to avoid worsening his relationship with Erika.
With his mind made up, Shuji bowed his head to Mari.
"So, Mari, I have a favor to ask. Until things cool down, let me commute from the Watanabe house."
"E-ehhh!? ...I don't think my parents would refuse you, Shu, but I'll ask just in case. I'm sorry if they say no."
"No, I'm the one imposing here."
Shuji was highly evaluated as a magician, and Mari's parents were grateful for the prospect of him engaging and eventually marrying their daughter. Thus, they readily accepted Shuji's proposal to commute from their home to the National Defense Academy for a while to avoid being ordered to persuade Erika. When her parents added, "Please give us grandchildren sooner rather than later," Mari turned bright red and frantically retorted, "Th-th-that sort of thing is still way too early!"
Incidentally, the fact of the Chiba family's proposal was conveyed to Erika via Senhime and Yugen. Upon hearing it, Erika's first words were:
"That rotten scumbag... I don't even want to think of him as a father. Maybe I should just turn him into chum for the fishes."
As she uttered words that seemed to condense years of bitterness into a curse, the apple she was holding was peeled—skin only—and then sliced clean through.
There is a saying, "He who touches pitch shall be defiled." Unaware that her association with her extraordinary childhood friends had made her extraordinary in her own right, Erika fell into a deep depression in the corner of her room following the outburst. Leo comforted her, saying, "Can't be helped, I guess," while the surrounding onlookers watched with warm, knowing glances. Though, in this case, it could also be said that their curiosity regarding the romance was at play.
Meanwhile, at the Mitsuya main residence in Atsugi, Gen was staring at a monitor with a serious expression. Suddenly, as if realizing the absurdity of his own seriousness, a smile spilled forth, and he found himself laughing.
"I suppose I should say 'finally.' Good grief, I never wanted him to resemble me in this regard... but given the other party's circumstances, it cannot be helped."
Looking back, it was eight years ago... Yugen had been struck by a mysterious, high fever and lost consciousness. Gen had prepared himself for his son's death. But the Goddess of Fate—assuming such a deity exists alongside the phenomenon of magic—housed a new soul within him.
The boy who woke up was completely different from the Yugen of before. He began to move with vigor, and before anyone realized it, the earmuffs he used to suppress his congenital hyper-sensitive hearing were gone. He began devouring books on magic technology, theory, and CAD engineering. At the time, Gen suspected something malevolent had possessed him.
But when Yugen revealed the truth—that he was a reincarnated existence—Gen felt cracks form in the foundation of all the knowledge he had accumulated. perhaps it was from that moment that Gen harbored a certainty... that Yugen would bring great change to the Mitsuya family.
Taken in by his maternal grandfather, Yugen mastered martial arts. In his first battle, the Defense of Okinawa (sometimes called the Okinawa Naval Battle), he killed over 3,000 soldiers and sank nearly 50 ships of the Great Asian Alliance, including submarines. At that point, he had already surpassed Masaki Ichijou, the "Crimson Prince" who had halted the Sado Invasion.
Later, during a meeting with Maya Yotsuba, the current head of the Yotsuba family, Gen learned that Yugen had fought alongside Tatsuya Shiba in that very battle. Genzo Yotsuba, the head two generations prior, and Gozo Kamiizumi, the previous head of the Kamiizumi family... ironically, the grandsons of two men involved in the Yotsuba's tragedy had both become Strategic-Class Magicians unrecognized by the state.
(Lord Gozo... Father-in-law brought back Lady Maya's frozen ovum from the Kunlun Fang Institute, and Tatsuya was born. And as a grandson inheriting my father-in-law's blood, Yugen was born to Shiho and me, and then he was "reborn".)
The collective thoughts of sisters contemplating revenge against the world gave birth to the existence known as Tatsuya. And a life that had almost given up on living became the vessel for a new soul crossing worlds, granting Yugen a new life.
Strangely, the birth of "Destruction" (Tatsuya) and "Regeneration" (Yugen) occurred in the same generation. And Gen surmised that the one who brought these two existences together was largely Tatsuya's sister—or rather, cousin—Miyuki, who was now engaged to Yugen.
A knock on the study door pulled Gen from his contemplation. When he invited them in, Kana and Mika appeared in furisode kimonos, Jiro in haori and hakama, and the youngest, Shina, also in a furisode like her sisters.
His eldest son, Motoharu, was out on New Year's greetings, and Gen usually handled visitors to the main house, but now that there was a lull, he had summoned the four of them. He had included Jiro and Shina because what he was about to convey concerned them as well.
"Today, letters arrived from the Yotsuba and Kagurazaka families."
"The Yotsuba? That doesn't sound like a simple New Year's greeting."
"Correct, Mika. Regarding the next head of the Yotsuba family, Lady Yotsuba has designated Tatsuya Shiba, a second-year at First High. Furthermore, the fact that Tatsuya-kun is Lady Yotsuba's biological son was included."
"Tatsuya-kun is... well, I could see that he possessed an abnormal calculation area, so that makes sense."
Kana's "Elemental Sight" was not originally capable of seeing into the mental realm. However, due to Yugen's training methods and the study of Heavenly God Magic, her ability had evolved, allowing her to read the nature of the Magic Calculation Area residing in the unconscious realm. This ability bore a resemblance to that of Eisaku Yotsuba, the previous head of the Yotsuba family, who possessed mental analysis magic.
Smiling wryly at his daughters, who had acquired abilities far beyond the norm due to Yugen's influence, Gen continued his explanation.
"To continue, on the Kagurazaka side, Yugen has succeeded to the name of Kagurazaka family head and announced his engagement to his classmate, Miyuki Shiba. Additionally, a statement was added that they are recruiting fiancées for both Yugen and Tatsuya-kun."
"…Master. Did you call Shina and me here to inform us of this fact?"
"Yes, Jiro-kun. Although it is not certain since you haven't taken the exams yet, if you enroll in First High, they will be third-year students. Having five children from the direct lines of the Ten Master Clans in the same grade would easily surpass even the generation of Lord Jyumonji's eldest son or Lord Saegusa's eldest daughter."
Currently, the first year had four students from three families: Saegusa, Shippou, and Jyumonji. However, the current second year would include five: Mitsuya (now Kagurazaka), Yotsuba, Mutsuzuka, and though not a main family, Kudo (Shields). moreover, the fact that the current Student Council President was a direct descendant of the Yotsuba would be impossible to hide.
Fortunately, Gen calculated that since Jiro and Shina both knew Tatsuya and Miyuki, they could avoid the mistake of reacting with hostility upon meeting a Yotsuba member for the first time.
"Let's step back a bit... Kana. I know you have a subtle interest in Tatsuya-kun. I did ask you beforehand, but if you wish, I will formally propose you as a fiancée for Tatsuya-kun."
"…Well, I don't want Mayumi calling me an old maid, and Tatsuya-kun is quite interesting, so that's fine."
"Kana-nee, you should just be hon—ow, ow, ow!?"
"Must be nice for you, Mika. You're already favored by the Jyumonji family."
"Both of you, settle down..."
Mika's engagement to Katsuto was already in the countdown phase. They had received permission from Gozo, the biggest hurdle, stating: "At the earliest, after the Master Clans Conference. If an overlookable situation arises, it will be announced after the matter is resolved."
Close in age, the two were often compared. Kana, who could blow away her surroundings with a quiet demeanor, and Mika, who would beat opponents down with invisible speed. Precisely because they were the polar opposites of stillness and motion, despite their bickering, they were truly close. Gen admonished them gently.
"Ugh, even though you're using that chest of yours, which is still growing, to seduce Tatsuya-kun—ABYU!?"
"Mika-oneesama, the conversation isn't progressing, so please be quiet."
"Y-Yes... Shina is becoming more and more tough, just like Mother."
"…I agree with Mika on that one."
The one who dropped a fist onto Mika, who still looked ready to complain, was the youngest, Shina, who had stood up behind her unnoticed. Perhaps because she was doted on by Shiho and strongly influenced by her immediate older brother Yugen, she had recently begun to drop fists mercilessly even on her sisters.
Since it was never for irrational reasons but always based on sound logic, Mika couldn't complain. Kana muttered in agreement with Mika, Jiro watched with cold sweat running down his back, and Gen looked up at the ceiling, covering his eyes with his hand.
Then, feeling Shina's gaze, Gen straightened his posture and sat back down properly.
"Ahem. In any case, as the Mitsuya family, we will make an offer for Kana's engagement to the Yotsuba. This time, I will go personally, not Motoharu. I must also mediate for another fiancée."
"? Father, are you talking about Alisa-chan, who was adopted by us recently?"
The question came from Mika. When Alisa met the Mitsuya family, she had fit in best with Mika.
Perhaps due to a congenital peculiarity, Mika was the only one of Gen's children with a different hair color—a brownish pearl gray. Alisa had asked her, "Are you from a foreign country?" Even Mika had opened her eyes wide at that. After all, given the title of the Ten Master Clans and Mika's personality, no one had ever had the courage to touch upon the subject of her hair color before.
But that is a digression.
"No, Alisa is Yugen's fiancée, so the proposal itself is already done. Honestly, when this topic was brought to me, I was nothing but surprised."
It all started with a letter sent by the retired former head of the Mitsuya family, Maito Mitsuya.
Due to differences in their research institutes, Maito did not participate in the Yotsuba's revenge tragedy directly. However, at the request of Gozo and Hayama, he had single-handedly undertaken the procurement of necessary supplies, including arranging fighter jets. Long before the revenge tragedy, he had honed his "sense for war" by flying around the world as a soldier in nuclear deterrence units during the global wars. That experience and his connections were now being put to use in the Mitsuya family business of small arms brokering.
Furthermore, Maito was the person who had aided in the "exile" of Ken Kudou when he was usurped from the position of the next Kudou head by Retsu Kudou.
"Do you four know of General Kudou—His Excellency Kudou's younger brother?"
"Of course. Oh? Wasn't his granddaughter one of the twins who came to study abroad last year? One of them is still Yugen's classmate, right? Don't tell me..."
"That 'don't tell me' is correct. I received a proposal from General Kudou and my father to offer Angelina Shields-san, who came to First High as an exchange student last year, as a fiancée for Tatsuya Shiba-kun."
Gen honestly wanted to hold his head in his hands the moment he received the offer. After all, Gen knew that Lina—Angelina Kudou Shields—was Angie Sirius, the General Commander of the USNA's "Stars" unit, a magician self-proclaimed as the "World's Strongest."
Because he couldn't discard the possibility that Stars was using Lina to probe the Yotsuba or even plotting to assassinate Tatsuya, Gen had consulted secretly with Mototsugu, Gozo, Senhime, and Yugen.
The result was this:
'It is certain that Lina holds romantic feelings for Tatsuya. Since Selia asserted that it is an "impossible task" for Lina, whose espionage skills are catastrophically nonexistent, to assassinate Tatsuya, we will accept her after checking for and removing all bugs and listening devices.'
They would accept the offer, but even if she was marrying from the USNA, her discharge from "Stars" was an absolute condition. Furthermore, since they were secretly accepting a Strategic-Class Magician, the USNA government would have to bear full responsibility for the loss of military power without forcing it onto other nations. Additionally, it was clearly stated that when accepting Lina, her family registry would be processed as a member of the "Kamiizumi family."
If even one promise was broken, or if any baseless crimes were pinned on Lina, they would not hesitate to impose a retaliation that was an impossible game no matter how one struggled: "The USNA will mediate all conflicts on the African continent."
Author's Note:
This chapter ended up involving the youngest children (Erika and Shina).
I honestly wasn't sure if the Chiba family head would use forceful methods, but since I couldn't rule out him utilizing the fact that Erika's childhood friend is related to the Ten Master Clans, it turned out this way.
Regarding the Mitsuya family, considering their family business originated as small arms brokers, I decided the plotline that they cooperated in the Yotsuba's revenge tragedy was undeniable. Please forgive Shina's erratic direction; let's chalk it up to puberty.
Also, I created a reason for Lina to come to Japan through the Mitsuya family line. I will touch upon the parts involving Angie Sirius in the main story eventually.
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