To celebrate First High's strong showing in the Nine Schools Competition—holding the lead for the first three days—Mayumi-senpai arranged a small after-party once Mori's Surfing Race concluded.
However—
"Mahiro-kun, your mother is here."
"Eh?!"
Erika's words hit like a shockwave as the crowd began to disperse. At first, it almost sounded like a joke or even an insult. But no—Yotsuba Maya, that woman, had actually come in person!
Not long ago, she had been seated among the audience in the competition stands, beneath the blazing sun, calmly watching his match.
It was unprecedented. A complete break from the Maya he knew.
According to everything Yotsuba Mahiro understood of his mother, Yotsuba Maya was the epitome of an untouchable lady—an elegant matriarch who rarely stepped foot outside her estate. For her to appear at such an event was almost unthinkable. Yet not only Erika, but also Miyuki and Mizuki confirmed the same unbelievable fact.
And that wasn't all.
"Your mom also took Saya-chan with her. She said she wanted to speak with her privately. If you want her back, you'll have to go see her." Erika's expression was unusually serious as she delivered the message.
"…"
No wonder Sayaka had been missing for so long.
Mahiro's brows twitched. What scheme was that old woman plotting this time?
"Aunt's intention is to meet with us privately," Miyuki explained softly.
By "us," she clearly meant herself and Mahiro—Tatsuya wasn't included.
"Tch… Alright then. Let's see what tricks that old woman is planning now." Mahiro sighed and turned toward Miyuki.
But before they could leave, a vivid head of crimson hair slid into his path. Erika crossed her arms, tilting her head up at him.
"Mahiro-kun, shouldn't you… explain something?"
"Explain what?"
"Well, it's just… it's just that Yotsuba-sama seemed really gentle. And… why does Miyuki-chan call her 'Aunt'?"
The hesitant voice that followed wasn't Erika's, but Mizuki's. Her tone grew softer and softer, trailing away as though she regretted speaking at all.
But Mizuki had noticed it long ago.
Because of her Spirit Vision—known among ancient magicians as "Crystal Eyes"—she could perceive the flow of psions and spirit particles invisible to ordinary people. Not only that, her sensitivity allowed her to even discern subtle differences in color among spiritual auras.
In her sight, Shiba Tatsuya and Shiba Miyuki's auras were alike—something expected of siblings.
But the problem was… Yotsuba Mahiro's aura and Miyuki's were even more alike. Their resonance and compatibility surpassed even that of Tatsuya's!
It was a truth Mizuki had never dared to voice. Until now.
Hearing her timid suspicion laid bare, Mahiro felt a vein throb on his forehead.
"You guys actually think that woman, Yotsuba Maya, is gentle?"
His sharp gaze swept across the group. Everyone except Tatsuya and Miyuki nodded with varying degrees of confidence.
"Elegant, mysterious, graceful." Shizuku's voice was cool but firm in her opinion.
"Exactly! She's not like the witch you always make her sound like, Mahiro-kun!" Erika huffed, planting her fists on her hips as though to defend Maya's honor.
Mahiro couldn't help but chuckle bitterly.
"Erika, you're the daughter of one of the Hundred Families, right? Then you should know better. That appearance is just her mask for outsiders. In reality, she's far more ruthless than you can imagine."
The truth was undeniable. Although the title of "Inviolable Taboo" was established by the former family head, Yotsuba Genzo, it was Yotsuba Maya who gave it true weight. Her ruthless methods and unshakable authority made even the Ten Master Clans tread carefully around her.
Hearing this brought Erika to silence. She couldn't deny it—after all, the Chiba Clan was no stranger to bloody pragmatism either.
"…Then, Mahiro-kun," Erika finally asked, narrowing her eyes, "what about your relationship with Miyuki?"
Mahiro tilted his head with the most casual air, as though he were answering something as trivial as the weather. "That's simple too. Since Miyuki calls my mother 'Aunt,' what do you think her relationship with me is? She's just my cousin, of course."
"EHHHHHHH?!!!"
"Uwaaah?! Seriously?!"
"M-Miyuki-san is actually Mahiro-kun's cousin?!"
Gasps and voices of disbelief burst out one after another. Even Kitayama Shizuku, who was normally composed and unreadable, now wore a rare expression of shock. Her lips parted slightly, as if her entire worldview had just cracked.
Mahiro had said it so lightly, yet the weight of his words thundered through the group like a bolt from the blue.
Upon closer thought, however, the pieces began to fit. Shiba Tatsuya's monstrous combat ability and unmatched engineering genius, coupled with Miyuki's overwhelming magical prowess—these could never belong to a mere "ordinary family."
Some, like Erika, had once suspected they might belong to a Lost Number family, like Ichihara Suzune. But this? To find out they were directly related to Yotsuba Mahiro himself—cousins, no less—was an entirely different level of revelation.
In other words… the Shiba family was one of the Yotsuba's branch families?!
——
"Mahiro-nii-san… is it really okay to reveal our relationship to the Yotsuba to everyone like that?" Miyuki asked quietly, her voice tinged with unease.
Mahiro gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Don't worry, it's fine."
While the others were still frozen in disbelief, he took Miyuki gently by the hand and slipped out with her. Once they were away, Miyuki raised the issue again, her beautiful brows furrowed.
"That woman chose to greet you and Tatsuya in public, didn't she? That alone means she doesn't care if people learn about the Shiba family's ties. And besides," Mahiro explained with a shrug, "all I said was 'cousins.' It doesn't expose you as a candidate for succession. That much is still safe."
He glanced at her sideways, his tone calm but sharp. "As for whether anyone will pry further? Erika may look carefree, but she's tight-lipped where it counts. And the others… I doubt they'll spread rumors."
"If someone does, then what? The Yotsuba Family itself stands behind us. Who in their right mind would dare make a move against that?"
Miyuki blinked and nodded slowly. "…Mahiro-nii-san really does make a lot of sense."
Relief washed over her features, but her gaze soon turned serious again. "However, Mahiro-kun… Miyuki still believes you're the most suitable person to become the next Yotsuba Family Head."
Mahiro waved a hand dismissively. "Oi oi, don't start with that. Whether or not I even want that position aside, that woman would never hand it to me. And even if she did, do you really think the other branch families would accept it?"
"Who cares about them?!" Miyuki burst out, her voice sharper than usual. "I… Ayako… Fumiya… even Yuuka-nee-san—we'll all support you, Mahiro-kun!"
Mahiro chuckled softly, reaching out instinctively to pat her long, silky hair. "Miyuki, you know as well as I do. The decision doesn't rest with us. And honestly, I've never cared for such things."
"But…" Miyuki's voice softened, trembling with both frustration and longing. Her cheeks flushed faintly as she lowered her gaze. "But… who else besides you, Mahiro-kun, is worthy of sitting in that seat as the Family Head?"
Her words weren't empty flattery—they carried her true feelings. In terms of strength, charisma, and brilliance, none of the other branch families could even compare. Whether it was the Mashiba, the Shiiba, or the Shibata—individually or combined—they were nothing before Yotsuba Mahiro's talent.
But in the end, wasn't the decision bound by the iron will of that woman—Yotsuba Maya?