A voice cut through the air at the perfect moment, providing a much-needed distraction for the group who could no longer bear the weight of Tatsuya's blatantly exasperated gaze.
"Got a moment?"
Still seated, Tatsuya turned toward the voice coming from directly behind him. A male student who had just entered the classroom stood there, wearing an affable, easygoing smile.
"I think this is the first time we've formally introduced ourselves, isn't it? I'm Hagane Tomitsuka. Good to meet you, Shiba-kun."
"True. I know the name, but for all intents and purposes, this is 'nice to meet you.' I'm Tatsuya Shiba. Good to meet you too, Tomitsuka."
Mizuki stared intently at Tomitsuka as he took the seat directly behind Tatsuya. Perhaps realizing her own bluntness was a bit rude, she offered a bashful smile and introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you, Tomitsuka-kun. I'm Mizuki Shibata. I look forward to working with you."
"Likewise," he replied.
Tomitsuka's friendly grin helped the tension melt away from Mizuki's shy expression. The rest of the group, who had been paralyzed by the surprise of seeing him in this specific classroom, finally snapped out of their stupor.
"I'm surprised..." Erika remarked. "I never imagined someone like Tomitsuka-kun—who ranked fifth overall in our year—would come to the Engineering Course."
"You're Chiba-san, right? As a member of the Chiba family—one of the Hundred Families—I'm sure you know: my family's true expertise lies here, rather than in combat or rescue. Besides... I have some issues with the practical side of things."
Though Erika hadn't directed her comment specifically at him, Tomitsuka turned to her with a slightly bitter smile as he answered. Her words (and Leo's, by extension) triggered a memory of Tomitsuka's nickname and the rumors surrounding it.
Range Zero.
The moniker was a double-edged sword. It was a title of respect, acknowledging his peerless strength at point-blank range, but it was also a pejorative, mocking his inability to use long-distance magic. In truth, it wasn't that he couldn't use it at all; rather, he was undeniably poor at long-range targeting—a flaw Tomitsuka himself was acutely aware of.
As Erika's eyes darted around, searching for a graceful response, Tatsuya threw her a lifeline from the side.
"Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses."
"Coming from you, Tatsuya, that actually sounds convincing," Leo added with a heartfelt nod.
Hearing that, Tomitsuka's "bitter smile" softened into a genuine, wry chuckle.
"Shiba-kun! Tomitsuka-kun! Found you!"
"Akechi-san!?"
A bright, energetic voice bounced into the Class 2-E room. Tomitsuka whipped around in a panic, while Tatsuya turned slowly. Running toward them from the rear entrance was Akechi Eimi—better known as "Amy."
"Oh, Amy! Long time no see," Erika greeted.
"You too, Erika!"
Last year, during the final exams before the Nine School Competition, Amy had been part of the group Tatsuya tutored. They had remained close ever since. As they exchanged cheerful greetings, Tomitsuka began to look visibly flustered.
"Now that I think about it, you and Amy were in the same class last year, weren't you, Tomitsuka?" Tatsuya noted.
"That's right!" Amy chirped. "But I never dreamed Tomitsuka-kun would run off to the Magic Engineering Course!"
"You already knew I wasn't great at the practicals, Akechi-san," Tomitsuka sighed.
"Sure, but your results were still good enough to stay in Course 1."
"It's Tomitsuka's choice to make, not yours, Amy," Tatsuya interjected, giving the flagging Tomitsuka a proper assist this time. "It's not for others to meddle."
"I know, I know. It's just, I thought we'd be in the same class again this year, so I'm a little bummed."
"But Amy, you're in the same class as Miki, right?" Erika teased. "I'd say he's even more fun to mess with than Tomitsuka-kun."
"Yoshida-kun? Yeah, he does seem like he'd be interesting."
"You women are terrifying..." Leo muttered under his breath.
Erika snapped toward him instantly. "I wasn't talking to you!"
"I told you, my head isn't a drum! Quit hitting it!"
"Again...? Erika-chan, Leo-kun, both of you calm down!"
"Shibata-san certainly has her hands full," Chiaki whispered, having watched the exchange in silence until now. Tomitsuka nodded in sympathetic agreement.
"So, Amy," Tatsuya asked, "what brings you here?"
"I just wanted to say hello for the new term! Last year, thanks to you, I was able to do well in the Nine School Competition. And I was always leaning on you for adjustments after that, too..."
"Don't worry about it. I only did it because I had the time and you happened to ask."
"No... it wasn't a coincidence. I was totally targeting you for help," Amy admitted sheepishly.
"I figured as much."
Tatsuya managed the dexterous feat of looking slightly exasperated while wearing a mischievous, knowing grin.
"I'm counting on you again this year!"
"I don't mind, provided your schedule doesn't clash with Honoka's or Shizuku's."
"Wait, what about Miyuki's?"
"I can adjust Miyuki's CAD at home."
Tatsuya often used the school's equipment to fine-tune Honoka and Shizuku's CADs. While Shizuku had a professional tuner employed by the Kitayama family, ever since she used a CAD tuned by Tatsuya during the Nine School Competition, she found herself unable to be satisfied with anyone else's work. She had endured her family's tuner while studying abroad, but the moment she returned to Japan, she had gone straight to Tatsuya.
Honoka, on the other hand, used to tune her own, but she too had sought Tatsuya's expertise after the competition. Though he had initially refused, he eventually gave in after being overwhelmed by Honoka's tearful eyes and Shizuku's dejected expression.
"Eh? In that case, I want you to tune mine too!" Erika chimed in.
"I told you last year: I don't have the confidence to mess with a CAD that specialized. Just ask Isori-senpai."
"But Tatsuya-kun, you're the only one who can properly tune the Mizuchi-maru, right?"
"The Isori family were the ones who built that."
To be precise, they had built it to order. The Mizuchi-maru—Erika's new favorite blade—had been crafted by Isori, but Tatsuya had performed the final adjustments. The internal sequences were so highly advanced that no one but Tatsuya could actually tinker with them.
"Anyway! I can't show my true potential unless you tune it for me, Tatsuya-kun. So, you have to take responsibility, okay?"
"...Shiba-kun, you really are something else," Tomitsuka remarked, stunned.
"You think so? This is just how things usually go."
"No, I mean your technical skill... would you mind if I watched you work sometime?"
"If it's just watching, I don't see why not."
Tatsuya didn't quite understand why Tomitsuka was so impressed, but since he had no reason to refuse, he accepted the request.
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