"Sorry, sorry, I really made you worry there, senpai."
Yotsuba Mahiro scratched his head awkwardly, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a sheepish grin.
The tension in the room melted as they realized what had happened. Mahiro hadn't collapsed from any hidden injury—just low blood sugar. He had skipped lunch without thinking, too focused on his earlier tasks.
Under the warm hospitality of the Saegusa Family, the problem was quickly solved. A lavish meal was prepared for him, and Mahiro, though embarrassed, couldn't deny the food was delicious.
By the time he had finished, the matter Mayumi had asked him to resolve was also settled. Thanks to Mahiro, the Itsuwa Family would no longer dare to trouble her. That request had been completed, and with nothing else keeping him there, it was soon time for him to leave.
After Mahiro's departure, Saegusa Kouichi summoned his three daughters into the study once more.
"Father, what did you need us for?" Mayumi asked politely, though there was a tinge of unease in her voice.
"Has Yotsuba Mahiro returned home already?" Kouichi asked without turning.
"Yes," Mayumi answered. "I asked Nagura-san to drive Mahiro-senpai back."
"…Is that so."
Kouichi paced across the room, his hands clasped behind his back. He stopped by the window, gazing into the faraway sky. The sunlight outlined his frame in stark silhouette, lending him a heavy, mysterious aura.
"What do you three think of Yotsuba Mahiro?" he asked suddenly.
Mayumi froze.
This again? It was the second time her father had asked this question.
The last time, the conversation had ended inconclusively, though she had sensed clearly that her father intended to bind her future to someone powerful—back then, even nudging her toward Itsuwa Hirofumi.
This time… she had a bad feeling.
"Mahiro-kun is super handsome! Even more handsome than Minoru-senpai!" burst out Kasumi, the most lively of the sisters. "Kasumi really likes him a lot!"
The "Minoru" she referred to was Kudou Minoru, one of the famed Adjusters. Handsome, talented in magic, and known for his kind personality—if not for his weak constitution, Kudou Minoru might have been the most admired young magician among their generation of the Ten Master Clans.
"Izumi thinks Mahiro-san is amazing," Izumi followed honestly, her bob-cut swaying as she leaned forward earnestly. "Actually… the most amazing magician Izumi has ever met."
Her admiration sparkled in her eyes.
And it wasn't just because of his looks, though those alone were captivating. His magic overwhelmed every expectation. She recalled clearly—Mahiro had shattered Mio-neesan's Strategic-Class magic, Abyss. And even more shocking, she learned from Mayumi that their family's advanced version of Magic Bullet Shooter was also designed by Mahiro.
On top of that, rumors spread everywhere after the Nine Schools Competition—Mahiro's performance had been overwhelming. Even with the competition officials twisting the rules unfairly against him, he still dominated, winning the championship as if it were nothing.
"I see…" Kouichi finally turned back, his sharp gaze shifting to his eldest daughter.
"What about you, Mayumi?"
"M-me?"
"Yes. But answer not as a clan head's daughter, but as a young woman. What do you truly think of him? You don't dislike him, right? Otherwise, why would you have asked him to act as your shield today?"
The words struck Mayumi like a surprise attack.
"Eh?!" Kasumi and Izumi gasped at the same time, staring wide-eyed.
"Nee-san… you asked Mahiro-nii to act as your shield?"
Their curious gazes burned holes into her, making Mayumi fidget nervously.
"Father, honestly…" she tried to speak, but her voice faltered.
Her lips pressed together. Her expression wasn't rejection, nor was it annoyance. It was hesitation… the kind born from embarrassment rather than dislike.
Kouichi saw this clearly and chuckled knowingly.
"I understand. Yotsuba Mahiro is two years younger than you, but such an age difference hardly matters. More importantly, he is the child of Yotsuba Maya. His abilities are extraordinary, and his pedigree flawless. If you truly have the intent, Mayumi, then I will fully support you. I shall formally propose to the Yotsuba family for your courtship."
He spoke the words with the air of someone declaring a decisive move in a strategy game.
But Mayumi didn't react much. Deep down, she had expected this.
She knew her father too well. If not Itsuwa Hirofumi, then Mahiro. He would not rest until she was tied to a figure who could elevate the family's prestige.
Just as she was about to answer—
"I object!"
Kasumi suddenly blurted out, her fists clenched tight.
"Kasumi! Control yourself," Kouichi rebuked instantly, his sharp tone echoing in the study.
"I… I'm sorry, Father," Kasumi lowered her head, realizing she had been too impulsive. But her voice trembled as she added—
"But Father, Izumi and I also like Mahiro-kun! Why does Nee-san get to be the only one with him? That's not fair!"
"Oh?"
Kouichi slowly sat back down, resting his chin on his steepled hands. The backlight from the window made his expression unreadable as his piercing eyes shifted toward Izumi.
"And you, Izumi? Is that true?"
"Mm!" Izumi nodded firmly, her cheeks flushing red.
Her answer hadn't changed from before. No—it was stronger now. She was openly smitten with Mahiro.
"…Is that so." Kouichi's lips curled into a strange smile. "In that case, the solution is simple. You three sisters shall all marry Yotsuba Mahiro."
"EHHHHH?!"
Even Mayumi, who prided herself on her composure, broke etiquette completely. Her face went pale.
"Father, you can't be serious!"
The thought of marrying the same man as her younger sisters was beyond anything she had ever imagined.
"If it were just me, maybe it would be fine… but if you include Kasumi and Izumi, then wouldn't the Saegusa family become a laughingstock? People will call us dishonorable—seducing our junior like this!"
Her voice trembled. If it happened, she too would be branded as a terrible woman who snatched her sisters' love.
And yet—
"What does it matter? Do you dislike Mahiro-kun?" Kouichi asked, his smile sharp like a blade.
The rhetorical question struck her silent.
As the head of the Saegusa, he had already seen the truth.
Yotsuba Mahiro's value was immeasurable. His bloodline, his talent, his very existence—Kouichi coveted it all. If all three of his daughters agreed, then the outcome was obvious. Let them all marry Mahiro, and if possible, bind Mahiro himself into the Saegusa.
That way, not only would the clan produce even more extraordinary offspring, but their influence in Mahiro's heart would grow stronger and stronger.
Yes… he had already guessed the reason Yotsuba Maya had allowed Mahiro to step away from the Yotsuba family.
The official story of him being an "outcast" was nothing more than a convenient excuse.
In truth, Maya couldn't fully control him. That was why she had reluctantly released him. It was a move born not from dismissal, but from strategy.
And most likely, Maya was already plotting to arrange a suitable partner for him as well.
The prime candidate? Shiba Miyuki, the flawless beauty from the newly recognized Shiba branch family.
Therefore—
"If you've made your decision, then pursue it without hesitation. I'll support you completely."
With the unwavering encouragement of Saegusa Kouichi, Mayumi found herself with little choice but to move forward. Even though she still didn't know Mahiro's true feelings, even though countless thoughts swirled within her heart, she had to act.
And now, as summer vacation crossed its midpoint, Mayumi made her bold decision.
"Mahiro-kun, let's go to the beach together!"
Because when it comes to summer… even in a world overflowing with magic and advanced tech, the beach is absolute.
"Waaah, the ocean…!"
The salty breeze rushed across the endless stretch of azure blue. The white sand glittered under the sun, fine and smooth, scattered seashells glinting like tiny jewels.
Kasumi's delighted voice rang out as she dashed forward. Her long legs peeked beneath the hem of her swimsuit, splashing straight toward the waves without a shred of hesitation.
"Mahiro-kun! Izumi! Hurry up, come play!" she called, her fair feet already kissed by seawater as she turned back, waving.
"Big Sister, wait! You'll slip!" Izumi cried, hurrying after her, worry written across her face despite being the younger sibling. At moments like this, she really did seem more like the elder sister.
A little ways down the shore, Shiba Miyuki walked with a graceful calm, Minami faithfully at her side. Her pale feet pressed into the sand, each step neat and measured, but her expression held a trace of fatigue.
Of course, Mahiro understood why.
Just earlier, Izumi had practically ambushed her—
"Um! I'm Saegusa Izumi… may I call you Miyuki-senpai?" she'd asked, hands clasped like she was offering a prayer. Her eyes sparkled with admiration, words tumbling out in awe: "So beautiful… like a goddess…"
The way Izumi circled her, gazing as though she were staring at a sacred idol, had made Miyuki visibly flustered. She had maintained her gentle composure, but beneath it, that awkward stiffness couldn't be hidden.
And the reason Miyuki was even here? Simple.
Tatsuya had gone abroad on an extended mission, and for now, entrusted her to Mahiro's care. The whispers said he was dispatched to unearth "holy relics," something orchestrated by the military.
But Mahiro scoffed quietly to himself.
"Hmph… no doubt, another one of Yotsuba Maya's schemes."
Now, reclining on a beach chair outside the villa, a good few hundred meters from the coast, Mahiro let himself sink into leisure. He sipped a cold drink prepared by Minami, the sunlight warming his body while the sea breeze washed his mind clear.
For a rare moment, he emptied his thoughts and let himself drift in tranquility.
Until a shadow fell across him.
"Hmm?"
Opening his eyes, he found Mayumi bending over, peering down at him.
Normally, that would've been nothing unusual… but with her swimsuit and the way she leaned forward, the view bordered dangerously on fanservice.
"…Didn't expect that. She looks petite most of the time, but she's surprisingly well-endowed," Mahiro muttered under his breath, his mind slipping into boyish honesty.
"Eh? Mahiro-kun, what was that?"
Mayumi tilted her head, adjusting her wide sun hat, one hand resting on her knee as she bent closer. She thought she'd heard him mumble something, but his voice had been too low.
Her blinking, slightly puzzled expression was so unexpectedly cute that it left Mahiro off guard.
"Ah—! I just meant… Mayumi-senpai, your swimsuit looks really beautiful."
"Really? Fufu~ thank you," Mayumi replied, clearly pleased.
He wasn't lying either. With a straw hat perched lightly on her head, her white two-piece bikini paired with a floral sarong fluttering at her waist, Mayumi radiated a refined grace. It was revealing, yes, but her aura carried the elegance of a noble lady, perfectly balancing charm and sophistication.
"Mind if I sit here for a bit?"
"Go ahead, senpai. The seat's all yours."
She gracefully lowered herself onto the lounge chair beside him.
It struck Mahiro as a little surreal.
It felt strange. After all, they were on a private beach in the Ogasawara Islands—land that belonged to the Saegusa Family. This was Mayumi's home turf. She could sit wherever she wanted without needing anyone's permission. Yet, here she was, asking politely as though it mattered what he thought.
Still, he knew her well enough to realize she wanted to say something, so he sat up straighter.
"Um… about what happened at my house last time… thank you very much, Mahiro-kun."
"You mean Itsuwa Mio and Itsuwa Hirofumi?" Mahiro waved his hand casually. "It wasn't a big deal. You don't need to thank me over and over again."
His dismissive tone made Mayumi giggle softly.
"That's so like you, Mahiro-kun. Even though Itsuwa Mio is a Strategic-Class Magician, you treat her like she's nothing."
Her gratitude, however, was genuine. He hadn't just helped her with a small favor—he had kept his promise, fought Mio, and in doing so, removed the single greatest weight pressing down on her life. For her, it was more than a debt; it was liberation.
"How could I not respect her?" Mahiro said with a shrug. "She is strong, no doubt about it. But if that fight had been on the sea instead of land…"
His voice trailed off as a thought struck him.
Although the Abyss was more powerful in seawater, if it really were changed to a sea area… Then he should win even more easily, right? After all, if he directly froze the seawater into glacial land, Itsuwa Mio's magic would be completely useless.
"Ah, never mind that." He shook his head, dismissing the idle speculation. "By the way, where's Watanabe-senpai? I thought she'd be here with you."
It was natural to ask. Watanabe Mari and Saegusa Mayumi were inseparable, much like Kitayama Shizuku and Shiba Honoka—always side by side, always together. But the moment the question left his lips, Mayumi's mood shifted.
"Mmm… honestly, Mahiro-kun." She puffed her cheeks, her voice edged with jealousy. "There's already a beautiful girl in a swimsuit sitting right next to you. Miyuki-chan is over there, and then there are my sisters, and even Sakurai-san who takes care of you. And yet… you're still thinking about Mari?"
"Mahiro-kun, you really are a playboy."
By the end, her cheeks were puffed out like a pufferfish.
"Hah?" Mahiro rubbed the back of his head with a helpless smile. "What are you even talking about? I was just curious about her. And hey, Miyuki and Minami are one thing, but Kasumi and Izumi are still in middle school. I'm not that much of a baka, am I?"
"So you're not denying Miyuki-chan and Sakurai-san, then?" Mayumi's eyes gleamed slyly, the same way they did back during their playful debates at school.
Mahiro fell silent, because… well, she wasn't wrong. Minami was an open secret. Even if nothing had officially happened yet, it was only a matter of time. And Miyuki—his precious imouto—there was no way he would ever let her slip away.
"See? I knew it," Mayumi muttered with a sigh. "As expected, Mahiro-kun really is a hopeless playboy…"
She tried to make it sound teasing, but there was a faint sadness beneath her tone. She hadn't gotten the reassurance she wanted, but she also couldn't bring herself to be angry.
In truth, Mayumi was painfully aware of her situation. Right now, she was the intruder—a third party stepping into the bond Mahiro already shared with others. It made her feel guilty, especially when she thought of Miyuki. And yet, she couldn't walk away either.
The world of magicians didn't allow for such luxuries. The stronger the magician, the more sought-after their bloodline became. Families craved powerful descendants, and monogamy was the exception, not the rule.
And Yotsuba Mahiro… he was no ordinary magician. He had talent and power surpassing Strategic-Class Magicians, the kind of strength that changed the balance of nations. There was no way the Yotsuba Family—or the Ten Master Clans—would ever allow him to bind himself to a single partner.
Even if he wanted to, the system itself would crush such a choice.
Her father's words echoed in her mind: If you don't act soon, Mayumi, someone else will claim him before you even realize it.
And hadn't Sakurai-san's sudden appearance been proof of that very thing?
"Haah…" Mayumi let out a quiet sigh. She was both irritated and resigned. No matter how she twisted it, she was already in too deep. She had fallen for this idiotic but kind junior, and there was no turning back.
She glanced at Mahiro again, her gaze tinged with something between affection and frustration.
"...Eh?"
Mahiro blinked, tilting his head with several question marks practically floating above it. "Mayumi-senpai, why are you looking at me like that? Did you, uh… pick something weird off the ground and eat it? Your face looks super strange right now."
"Hmph! Baka! Of course not!" Mayumi puffed out her cheeks, glaring at him before turning her head away with an exaggerated huff. "Mahiro-kun, you big idiot, I don't feel like talking to you anymore."
Yare yare… this was just like her.
In front of others, Mayumi-senpai was always elegant, refined, the perfect image of a Saegusa daughter—calm, composed, and graceful. She could handle political matters, family disputes, or school responsibilities with ease, always keeping up that flawless public face.
But when you got closer… you discovered that behind all that elegance, she could actually be mischievous.
And once you really knew her well—her spoiled, playful side came out in full.
"She dresses so maturely and sensually, like a completely different person… but inside, she's still just a little childish," Mahiro muttered softly under his breath.
Unfortunately, Mayumi's ears were sharper than he thought.
"Wait."
At first, she had been secretly pleased at his "mature and sensual" comment—her lips twitching with pride—but then her expression stiffened as though she had caught the hidden thorn in his words.
"Mahiro-kun…" she turned slowly, her eyes narrowing. "What exactly did you mean by that?"
"Eh? Which part?"
"You said I looked like a completely different person when dressed maturely." She jabbed a finger at him. "Are you implying that normally I look… childish?"
Mahiro gave her his most serious, innocent face. "Senpai, you're overthinking it."
Of course, she was exactly right. That was what he meant. But as if he'd ever admit it with her glaring at him like that!
Still, Mayumi's pouting face was… undeniably cute.
"I've never once thought Mayumi-senpai has a baby face… or a childish figure," Mahiro said, his voice overflowing with fake sincerity.
"B-baby face…?"
"C-childish figure…?"
The two phrases stabbed straight into her heart like twin blades.
Those were her greatest insecurities—her small, delicate build compared to someone like tall, statuesque Mari-san, and her round, cute features that weren't exactly what she wanted to project as the heir of the Saegusa family.
Unconsciously, she lowered her gaze to her chest. And in that instant, Mayumi suddenly remembered something Mahiro had teased earlier: "small, yet surprisingly well-endowed."
Her face flared crimson.
"You're angry, Senpai?" Mahiro tilted his head innocently. "I was just kidding, really."
"Nnngh…" Mayumi whimpered faintly like a small animal.
"Don't pout," Mahiro chuckled. "Honestly, Senpai, you're amazing. You have a perfectly balanced figure and a gentle, graceful aura. Sure, you're a bit smaller than others, but that makes you even more charming. Personally… I really like it."
"U-ugh…"
"And if possible," Mahiro leaned in a little, smirking, "I'd love to hold Senpai in my arms."
"Baka!! Stop talking already!"
Mayumi's face was scarlet now. His words were growing bolder, toeing the line between teasing and scandalous. Unable to bear it anymore, she whirled around, practically on the verge of tears but refusing to give him the satisfaction.
"Mahiro-kun, you've left me no choice… I'll punish you!"
"…Eh?"
She crossed her arms dramatically. "Yes! As punishment, you're going to apply sunscreen on me!"
Mahiro blinked. "That's… punishment?"
The sudden topic shift felt like a storm blowing across a sunny beach—unpredictable, overwhelming, and impossible to argue against.
Wasn't this more of a reward than a punishment?
Before Mahiro could even protest, Mayumi had already produced a bottle of sunscreen from seemingly nowhere and plopped it onto the table with a decisive thud. Without missing a beat, she turned, flopped down on the beach chair, and stretched out on her stomach, her long hair cascading over the side.
"Hurry up, Mahiro-kun!" she said, though her voice quivered with embarrassment.
Her porcelain neck and delicate ears were already dusted pink, betraying her real feelings.
Mahiro sighed. "Alright, alright. I'm coming."
Dragging the chair closer, he sat beside her and picked up the bottle. His eyes traced the smooth, pale line of her back—slender, perfectly shaped.
"Shall I start, Senpai?"
She didn't answer, but her silence was a clear signal of consent.
With deliberate care, Mahiro untied the strap of her swimsuit top. It was almost like unwrapping a Christmas present—delicate, exciting, and slightly dangerous.
The moment the strap slipped loose, he felt her tense up, trembling faintly.
If you're that nervous, why ask me in the first place…? Mahiro thought with a small grin.
He tipped the bottle, and a stream of cool lotion splashed onto her warm skin.
"Ah…!"
The sudden chill made her body jolt, a tiny shiver running down her spine.
Mahiro spread the sunscreen gently across her back, his palms gliding over soft, delicate skin. Unlike Miyuki's icy, porcelain complexion—like that of an untouchable snow princess—Mayumi's skin was warm, supple, and full of life, smooth as fine mutton-fat jade.
Yet her muscles were taut, betraying how nervous she truly was.
From his angle, Mahiro couldn't see her face—her flushed cheeks, her lips biting down to stifle any sound, her eyes squeezed shut.
"What a shame…" he murmured under his breath, disappointed he couldn't see her adorable, bashful expression.
But Mayumi's ears caught every word. Her whole body gave another faint tremble, and her earlobes burned a fiery crimson.
… …
Evening arrived, and the fiery-red sun slowly dipped toward the horizon. The snow-white clouds were dyed in a warm burnt-sugar glow, painting the beach in a dreamlike color.
"Kanpai!!!" Everyone raised their glass cups and clinked them together with a cheerful ring.
Since they were at the seaside, a beachfront BBQ was practically a must. The sizzling aroma of grilled meat mixed with the salty ocean breeze, the sound of waves gently rolling in—it was the very definition of bliss. Maybe, just maybe, this was the meaning of life.
"Wow, Minami-san, your knife skills are amazing!" Kasumi let out a squeal of admiration as Sakurai Minami stood calmly in front of the cutting board, slicing vegetables with graceful precision.
Meanwhile, Izumi—her younger twin sister—was clinging to Miyuki's arm again, like always. It wasn't until Mayumi lightly tapped her on the head with a fan that she reluctantly settled down, cheeks puffed like a sulking child.
Still, Mayumi's sharp eyes soon wandered toward Minami's neat plates of skewered meat and vegetables. With a confident little smile, she rolled up her sleeves. "Alright then, leave the grilling to me. I'll handle this!"
Mahiro blinked in disbelief. "Eh? Mayumi-senpai… are you really sure about this?"
Honestly, in his memory, Saegusa Mayumi was the perfect image of an elegant ojou-sama—one who had probably never touched a frying pan in her life. Miyuki and Minami wore the same doubtful expression.
"Hmph! Don't underestimate me. I practiced, you know. I'm not that hopeless." Mayumi puffed out her chest proudly.
But the twins instantly froze. Their faces drained of color as they clutched each other in sheer horror. "S-sis is cooking again…" "This is bad… this is really bad…"
The memory alone sent shivers down their spines. Every time Mayumi had attempted to cook in the past, the result had been… indescribable. Not explosive, but terrifying enough to haunt them. A cream stew transformed into something resembling a witch's bubbling cauldron… mysterious colors, strange textures, and smells that no human tongue should ever experience.
Back then, their salvation had always been the automatic meal dispenser.
And yet, before the twins could stop her, Mayumi confidently picked up skewers of top-quality meat and set them onto the glowing grill.
Her movements were actually quite graceful, like she really knew what she was doing. But…
The flames beneath crackled ominously, flaring higher than they should. She was grilling directly over open fire!
Just watching this scene, Mahiro's stomach gave a little twist. He could already imagine the tragic future that awaited their meal.
Miyuki and Minami clearly shared the same thought. They quickly exchanged glances and, without a word, subtly shifted to hide behind Mahiro—using him as a human shield.
"Oi oi… don't just leave me as the front line," Mahiro muttered, sighing in exasperation. "Yare yare…"