Despite everything she had heard from Miyuki and Mayumi regarding his character, Izumi found herself stealing glances at Tatsuya again today. She believed she was being subtle, but her fixated gaze was obvious to everyone in the Student Council room—Tatsuya included.
Rather than calling her out, however, the other members simply watched her with a sort of lukewarm, knowing amusement. Everyone, that is, except Tatsuya.
"President, I've finished my portion for today. I'll be taking my leave."
"Wait, Shiba-kun, I actually have a favor to ask," Azusa interjected.
"What is it?"
Tatsuya turned to face her, maintaining a respectful distance and meeting her eyes directly. He was always careful to adjust his posture when speaking to Azusa so as not to intimidate her. Even this small act of consideration struck Izumi as unexpected, given his usual stoicism.
"Actually... it seems there was an ordering error, and some essential supplies didn't arrive. They aren't in stock at the school store either. I'd like to go buy them now, but with this pile of paperwork..."
"I understand," Tatsuya replied. "If I'll suffice, I can go in your stead."
"I'm so sorry, thank you... and, one more thing..."
"Yes?" Tatsuya prompted, sensing her hesitation. Izumi noted how he seemed to be trying to ease Azusa's psychological burden by encouraging her to speak.
"Just in case something like this happens again, would you mind taking Nanakusa-san with you?"
"Me?" Izumi blinked.
"Yes. Miyuki-san and Mizuki-san already know the shop's location, but Nanakusa-san hasn't been there yet. The area is a bit of a labyrinth; it's easy to get lost if it's your first time."
"In other words," Izumi summarized, "you want me to accompany Shiba-senpai and memorize the route."
"I wouldn't put it so bluntly... but yes, precisely."
"In that case, President, I shall act as Izumi-chan's guide—" Miyuki started to volunteer.
"Miyuki-san, you still have work remaining," Azusa interrupted, her voice uncharacteristically firm. "I think it's better if we divide Izumi-san's remaining tasks among ourselves instead."
Tatsuya felt a flicker of surprise. It was rare for the usually timid Azusa to cut Miyuki off so decisively. The dissonance was strong enough to make him wonder if there was an ulterior motive at play.
"I don't mind either way," Tatsuya said, turning his gaze. "Izumi, you decide."
"Then I shall ask Shiba-senpai to lead the way. I apologize for the trouble, but I'll leave the rest of my work to all of you."
Normally, Izumi would have chosen Miyuki without a second thought. But today, her curiosity was piqued; she wanted to see the man behind the mystery for herself.
"Then it's settled. Oh, and President?"
"Yes? What is it?" Azusa asked.
"What exactly did Mayumi-senpai ask of you?" Tatsuya whispered.
"I-I wasn't asked anything...!" Azusa squeaked, quickly looking away and avoiding his eyes as she muttered her reply.
The supplies weren't particularly heavy, but due to the sheer volume, Tatsuya carried seventy percent of the load while Izumi took the remaining thirty. Izumi had insisted on an even split, but Tatsuya had flatly rejected the idea.
(I truly don't understand him...) Izumi mused as they walked. (He didn't seem like the type to be this kind to a mere junior... even Yoshida-senpai from the Disciplinary Committee is easier to read.)
To Izumi, Mikihiko Yoshida was the picture of a gentle, approachable young man. Tatsuya, by contrast, had always seemed aloof or entirely indifferent—yet the events of the last few days were systematically dismantling that perception.
(I'm beginning to see why Miyuki-senpai, my sister, and even Mitsui-senpai and Kitayama-senpai are so drawn to him... It seems there are plenty of other girls who hold feelings for him as well.)
Even within the span of a few days, Izumi had noticed a significant number of female students casting suggestive glances Tatsuya's way. Yet, she also sensed a certain hesitation or restraint in their behavior, which left her puzzled.
"Izumi. What is it now?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"I noticed it back in the council room as well. What are you thinking about while you look at me?"
Izumi froze. She hadn't expected him to have caught on so completely. Tatsuya didn't look away; he kept his eyes fixed on her, waiting for an answer.
"Ever since I heard you speaking so considerately to Kasumi-chan the other day, I've been... curious about your character. I asked Miyuki-senpai and my sister about it, but they both ended the conversation with 'I can't say any more.' What are you hiding, Shiba-senpai? Which version of you is the 'real' one?"
The question she had been burning to ask finally spilled out. She couldn't fathom a secret so deep that it would make both her sister and Miyuki hesitate, yet she was certain Tatsuya was harboring something massive.
"What am I hiding...? I'm afraid I'm not hiding anything."
"That's a lie. You are undoubtedly concealing something. Something significant."
"...What makes you think that?"
Tatsuya's response was essentially a confirmation of her "delusion," but his tone and gaze shifted, becoming heavy with a pressure that seemed designed to make her reconsider. Though he was only one year her senior, Izumi felt as if she were being stared down by a veteran adult—someone with far more life experience than a student should have.
"M-Miyuki-senpai's magical power is one thing, but that magic you used... the way you neutralized ours... your Psion count is simply not that of a normal magician. Honestly, I would find it easier to believe if I were told you were a high-ranking member of the Ten Master Clans."
Tatsuya's gaze softened slightly. "...As expected of Mayumi-senpai's sister. You follow the same line of logic."
"What does that mean?" Izumi asked, the suffocating tension finally beginning to ebb.
"I don't mind telling you," Tatsuya said, his voice dropping an octave, "but I can't guarantee your safety if I do."
"In that case," Izumi replied brightly, "I'll just have to stay by your side at all times to remain safe. If I start dating you, I'll get to spend even more time with Miyuki-senpai as well."
Tatsuya stared at her, genuinely caught off guard. "...How on earth did you reach that conclusion?"
"I've realized I want to know more about you. And, as I've said many times, I want to be with Miyuki-senpai. If I were to marry you, she would become my sister-in-law, and then we could do this, and that, and..."
"Izumi-san?"
Tatsuya watched her with a look of pure exasperation as she spiraled into her own fantasies. Ultimately, he decided to indulge her request.
In that moment, Izumi didn't realize that she would eventually come to regret hearing the truth. She had entered into a relationship for the sake of getting closer to Miyuki... but before long, she would find herself truly ensnared by the enigmatic charm of the "Irregular" himself.
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