Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei:Volume 13 Capítulo 1

Última semana de junho. Independentemente do fato de que as aulas já haviam terminadas, com os exames trimestrais se aproximando, o barulho de teclados sendo utilizados, o zumbido de eletricidade e até mesmo sussurros de alunos fazendo perguntas e respostas tremulavam pela Primeira Escola Secundária.

Aproximadamente apenas uma hora após o último período ter acabado, Tatsuya estava na frente de Azusa, que estava supervisionando as coisas.

— Presidente, as informaçoes assim como as propostas do Comitê Autogovernante e do Comitê de Moral Pública foram todas organizadas nos diretórios de aprovação. Por favor confirme isso até amanhã.

— Entendido. .....Hmm, Shiba-kun, você realmente nao se importa processar-los até o fim?

— De forma alguma, voce precisa que eu fique?

Talvez pelo fato de que ela confiava em suas habilidades, ou simplesmente porque era problemático, Tatsuya balançou sua cabeça dizendo que não, admitindo que Azusa havia passado a maior parte de seu trabalho para ele.

— Então estou de saída agora.

— Obrigado pelo seu trabalho.

A hora não estava nem um pouco próxima ao fechamento do portão, e todos os outros oficiais continuavam trabalhando sem sequer se levantarem para sair. Mesmo assim Azusa aceitou a "declaração de sua intenção de fugir" de Tatsuya como se fosse algo natural e o agradeceu.

A verdade é que Azusa pediu para que Tatsuya saísse mais cedo.

Havia um total de seis membros no Conselho Estudantil. O presidente, dois vicepresidentes, um contador e dois secretários. Um a mais se comparado ao mesmo período no ano passado. Sob condições normais, a carga de trabalho reduziria um pouco, mas com a adição de Tatsuya, as coisas acabaram um pouco demais para o melhor.

Em outras palavras, Tatsuya era competente de mais.

O Conselho Estudantil confiava o trabalho de controlar operações necessárias para a gestão da escola para alguns comitês. Não eram apenas escolas de magia que operavam desta maneira, esta era a maneira de gestão era comum a todas as escolas no final do século 21.

Entretanto, o controle de assuntos importantes da gestão da escola de forma alguma era deixada aos estudantes. Grandes incidentes como ‘incidente Blanche’ que ocorreu em Abril do ano passado eram relativamente raros. O trabalho do conselho estudantil era composto da tomada de decisões simples, pequenos ajustes que consome muito tempo e trabalhos de escritório.

E caso Tatsuya exibisse todas as suas habilidades no assunto, ele infelismente poderia terminar os ajustes e o trabalho de escritório sozinho. Isso significaria que os outros membros do conselho não teriam a chance de acumular experiências realizando o trabalho.

O período mais longo uma pessoa pode permanecer como um oficial do Conselho estudantil é de dois anos e seis mêses. Caso Tatsuya fizesse tudo, os calouros não aprenderiam como realizar seus trabalhos e seus colegas de ano esqueceriam de seus trabalhos, enquanto os veteranos não saberiam da posição de cada membro. E caso Tatsuya se ausentasse por muito tempo, a gestão da escola assim como o trabalho do conselho estudantil sofreria sérios problemas.

O risco de isso acontecer era quase infínima, mas apenas o potencial era extraordinariamente perigoso. Então logo no primeiro mês, Abril, a Presidente Azusa e o contador Isori chegaram a uma conclusão. Assim, o par tomou coragem e pediu para que Tatsuya 'freiasse um pouco', e após pensarem por muito tempo, decidiram usar uma 'dispensa' como solução.

Isto era conveniente para Tatsuya. Originalmente Tatsura pretendia ler documentos de pesquisas ainda não publicadas que a Universidade de Magia disponibilizava para alunos de magia durante seu tempo livre. Ele não havia desejado para sua posição no Comitê de Moral Pública ou no Conselho estudantil, assim como seus deveres. Terminando seu trabalho mais cedo o deixava com bastante tempo livre.

— Miyuki.

— Sim, eu irei esperar aqui.

Eles ja haviam repetido suas ações tantas vezes, que ja estavam diante do ponto onde Tatsuya tinha de falar que ele viria buscar Miyuki.

A secretária Honoka assistia Tatsuya saindo, insatisfata.

O olhar frio da outra secretária, Izumi, dizia apenasː 'Pregiçoso maldito', não ciente do olhar penetrante de Miyuki em si.

A essa hora, as atividades dos clubes ainda não haviam terminadas. Consequêntimente o vestiário onde Tatsuya trocava de roupas estava vazio, e após colocar seu uniforme em uma mochila em seu armário, ele foi para a floresta de treino atrás da escola.

Esta floresta artificial não serve apenas para praticar magia. Para cumprir com as necessidades de treinamentos físicos dos alunos que aspiravam em se tornarem soldados, policiais ou equipes de regate, a densidade da floresta assim como os desníveis do terreno foram todas calculadas. Lagoas, o terreno arenoso, as trilhas e o restante foram todas minuciosamente posicionadas, e diversos dispositivos e instrumentos foram instalados. Resultando em uma base para não apenas para clubes que tomavam parte em competições, mas também para clubes que centravam suas atividades em exercícios físicos ao ar livre.

O clube que Tatsuya estava visitando era um desses que não participavam em competições.

Antes que ele pudesse cumprimentá-los, ele escutou a voz de seu amigoː

— Yo, Tatsuya.

Talvez a voz à alertou, e Miniami foi em direção de Tatsuya, com uma grande garrafa térmica em mãos. O som do metal raspando acompanhou sua saudaçãoː

— Tatsuya-niisama.

Tatsuya ergueu sua mão para responder Leo, e também chamou Minamiː

— É bom ver você, Leo. Minami, parece que você também está se esforçando. Falando nisso, onde está o Chefe Agata ?

— Aqui.

A respondeu a pessoa em questão. Ele não estava em uma das trilhas mantidas para corridas dentro da floresta; Agata Kenshiro, chefe do clube que Leo fazia parte, emergiu do matagal de baixo das árvores. Tatsuya passou entre os calouros e estudantes do segundo ano integrantes do clube que estavam gemendo de exaustão no chão, e cumprimentou Agata.

— Chefe, posso me juntar mais uma vez hoje?

— Claro, estou pegando leve. Se puder, poderia trabalhar esses calouros um pouco para mim.

Esta observação fez metade dos membros sofrerem calafrios, mas não havia ninguém capaz de se levantar e fugir.

— Entendo. Que tal o curso mais uma vez?

— Apenas uma vez, hmm. Isso é mole... Corram contra ele rapazes.

Após Agata soltar gargalhadas ao ouvir a resposta de Tatsuya, ele olhou em direção dos miseráveis membros do clube que não foram capazes de se levantarem até agora, e disseː

— É apenas uma corrida de dez kilômetros pela florestaǃ Vejam Saijou, ele não está energético?

— ...Não nos compare com Leo...

Um dos alunos do segundo ano mal conseguiu retrucar. De alguma forma, ele reviveu o suficiente para falar, mas se levantar ainda era impossível.

— Parem de chorarǃ O pessoal do terceiro ano ja deram uma volta extra. Vamos, por quanto tempo ainda pretendem ficarem deitados? Vocês ainda não morreramǃ

Choros sem entusiasmo surgiram ali e aqui, enquanto um à um, os alunos do segundo ano reuniram suas forças e se levantaram, Naturalmente, estavam relutantes em fingir de que estavam mortos.

No entanto, apenas alunos do segundo ano se levantaram. Os calouros não tinham força o suficiente para se levantarem

— Sakurai!

Minami, que estava pacientemente esperando, responteu Agata com um "Simǃ", pegou a garrafa que tinha deixado seus pés e trotou até o calouro mais próximo.

— Jogue.

— Sim.

Seguindo as ordems de Agata, Minami inclinou a garrafa térmica em suas mãos/

— Ahǃ Quenteǃ

O calouro que foi encharcado pelo líquido da garrafa rolou pelo chão, se levantou, e saiu de perto de Minami

— Agua fervente?

Leo, que se aproximou dando risadas, negou com sua cabeça à pergunta que Tatsuya havia murmurado involuntariamente.

— Não. Está a uns 45 a 46 graus no máximo. Não é o suficiente para queimar.

O grupo feminimo que estavam sentadas nas sobras das árvores apenas deram risadas em um pingo de preocupação. Então provavelmente é verdade de que não é grande coisa; mesmo assim, Tatsuya pensou ser um método relativamente violento.

— É dito que no final do século passado, se jogava agua quente em jogadores de rugby que desmaiavam no meio de partidas para despertar seus espíritos de luta.

Agata, que estava escutando a conversa de Leo e Tatsuya ofereceu um pedaço de curiosidade.

— Agata, foi sua idéia de usar agua quente ao invés de agua fria?

— Neste perído do ano, essas lesmas se sentiriam bem se jogássemos agua fria.

Agata explicou sua lógica à pergunta de Tatsuya. Diante de seus olhos, Minami batizava os rapazes que eram seus colegas de ano, um a um.

Haviam uma série de cordas amarradas sobre a lagoa. Estreitas toras de madeira balançavam enquanto Tatsuya as ultilizava para passar pelo ar suavemente, enquanto Leo falava ao seu lado.

— Ei, Tatsuya. Porquê Sakurai-san entrou no meu clube?

— Isso só começou a encomodar você agora?

— Nahh, estive pensando até agora.

Como Leo disse, Minami era um membro do Clube de Montanha, ao contrário de Tatsuya, que não era um membro e apenas estava usando suas instalações. É meio fora de assunto, mas como condição para que Tatsuya fosse permitido para fazer parte das atividades do clube, Tatsuya deveria confugurar os CADs dos membros, e seus colegas de ano do clube o chamava de "membro honorário" ou coisa do tipo.

De volta para o tópico.

— Com seus poderes, ela não recebeu convites de vários clubes?

Foi exatamente como Leo disse, então ceticismo era natural. O poder mágico de Minami foi revelado para toda a escola no mes de Abril durante o 'Esperimento de Fornalha Estelar', mas mesmo durante a semana de convite de recém chegados, os alunos com as maiores notas no examente de entrada eram notados pelos clubes. Normalmente ela se juntaria a um clube que participava em competições de magia.

— Ela disse que queria treinar seu corpo.

Tatsuya respondeu à pergunta com uma meia-verdade. Após pousar no outro lado da lagoa, enquanto usavam os estreitos apoios feitos de pedra, eles conversavam sem esforçoː

— Eu acredito que ela ja está com forma o suficiente para uma garota do primeiro ano.

O ponto de Leo era esperado. Porque Minami foi criada como um mago de combate pela casa principal da família Yotsuba, suas habilidades físicas não seriam capazes de serem melhoradas.

No entanto, em termos de ser bom o suficiente, sua habilidade magica era mais do que o suficiente para um aluno secundarista. Haviam muito menos razões para entar em um clube para melhorar isso.

— Minami provavelmente não acha isso.

Minami não era apenas um membro do Clube de Montanha, ela também havia entrado no clube de cozinha. A razão principal de entrar em clubes era para passar o tempo para que pudesse deixar Tatsuya e o resto do Conselho estudantil com sua senhora, Miyuki, para ser exato. Tatsuya estava escrupulosamente deixando esta outra parte da verdade escondida.

Para escolas secundaristas de magia que colocavam ênfase em habilidades práticas, a Competição das Nove Escolas, o grande torneio onde todas as escolas secundaristas de magia participavam, era extremamente importante. Isto não era verade apenas para a administração da escola mas também para os alunos, devido aos resultados da competição afetarem suas escolhas de carreira. Todavia, isto não era incomum. Assim, é apenas natural que ainda mais esforços seja colocado sobre os exames trimestrais.

A diligente em todas as coisas, Nakajou Azusa, presidente do Conselho Estudantil da Primeira Escola Secundarista, para não deixar o entusiasmo individual de cada aluno ser desperdiçado, começou a trabalhar nos preparos da Competição das nove Escolas um mês mais cedo do que nos outros anos. Assim, ela antecipou de que não haveria uma enxurrada de atividades logo antes das provas trimestrais e que os preparos seriam realizados calmamente.

Até que hoje, 2 de Julho de 2096, quando uma notificação totalmente inesperada a pegou de surpresa.

Neste dia, Tatsuya e Miyuki foram foram para a sala do Conselho Estudantil como sempre. Os exames trimestrais eram na próxima semana, no entanto, isso não tinha nada haver com as atividades do Conselho Estudantil On that day, Tatsuya and Miyuki went to the Student Council room after school as usual. The quarterly exams were next week; however, that had nothing to do with the activities of the student council. For the already mentioned reason, compared to most years, the duties of the Student Council officers had lessened. —Not that this had anything to do with the siblings; they were not the kind to do overnight cramming sessions, so the uneasiness, discontent and grumbling had nothing to do with them.

Anyway, immediately after Tatsuya opened the door to the School Council room as usual.

The gloomy atmosphere wafting out of the room made Tatsuya unconsciously stop.

“Onii-sama? What is…”

It wasn’t just Tatsuya. Miyuki, who was peeking out from behind his back, was too shocked to finish saying the simple sentence, “What is the matter?” Right before their eyes, Azusa was emitting ‘it’s the end of the world’ despair while covering her head.

“Oh. It’s you two, thank you for coming.”

From in front of the president’s desk, Isori spoke to them with a face dark with despair. That prompted Tatsuya to muster the determination to finally take a step into the moribund air.

“You're welcome, Isori-senpai. What the heck happened?”

Once he made a decision, he took the direct route. That was Tatsuya’s style. Ignoring Azusa, who was covering her head, Tatsuya asked Isori for information.

“Umm, well…”

“The details of this year’s competition have been delivered from the Nine Schools Competition’s management committee.”

Instead of the inarticulate Isori, Azusa, who still wasn’t showing her face, answered Tatsuya’s question.

“Oh, it’s already that time.”

“The particulars will be made available on the public website, tomorrow.”

“I see. So, what is the problem?”

Apparently, he realized that the details contained a problem worth covering one’s head over. However, what on earth could the problem be that caused this extravagant display of despair. Tatsuya was unable to take the option of not finding out.

“Everything!”

Perhaps, Azusa had been waiting for that question. She vigorously lifted her head and began pouring out complaints like they were curses.

“Changes to the event program are included in the information notices!”

“…What has changed?”

Certainly, that was bad news. First High’s Student Council had made preparations based on the assumption that the program had not been changed from last year. However, although the schedule had been fixed in recent years, there was no rule that it couldn’t be changed. Due to the fact that the finalized event listing was sent about a month before the competition, it wasn’t against the rules to notify them of a change in the roster of events today.

“Three events!”

However, Tatsuya was still surprised by the answer Azusa gave in a shrieking voice.

“Speed Shooting, Crowd Ball, and Battle Board are out; the newly added events are Row and Gunner, Shield Down and Steeplechase Cross-country.”

There were six events in all and half of them had been changed. Furthermore, due to the nature of the new events — the type of magic that needed to be used was pretty different. This meant it was probably necessary to change the selection of the athletes.

However, it was premature of him to make decisions. Azusa’s answer didn’t end there.

“What’s more, athletes can only take part in two events if one of them is Steeplechase Cross-country! Additionally, Ice Pillars Break, Row and Gunner, and Shield Down are divided into solo and pair events.”

Azusa pounded on the desk with both hands for emphasis. Tatsuya could vaguely understand how she was driven to such an extreme. This represented a major change; this had a dramatic influence on the way each school conducted the Nine Schools Competition. Not just athlete selection, strategy and tactics would have to be reworked as well.

In short, all the early preparation they had done was useless. Preparing beforehand had backfired on them. It was inevitable that Azusa became this distraught. Tatsuya thought she had good self control not to panic.

“Umm, Onii-sama.”

From behind him, Miyuki diffidently spoke to Tatsuya, who was considering what to say to the heavily breathing Student Council president.

“Row and Gunner? Shield Down? Steeplechase Cross-country… what kind of events are they?”

Miyuki was probably going to be entered into Ice Pillars Break; there was almost no chance that she would take part in Row and Gunner or Shield Down. However, she would probably have to enter Steeplechase Cross-country, the only other event she was allowed to enter, and she was interested in the other two events as a Nine Schools Competition athlete. Her curiosity was only natural.

“They don’t have to adopt the rules I know of, but…”

After making that preface, Tatsuya answered his sister’s question.

“Row and Gunner: Row is short for rower and Gunner means a shooter. In the pair category, one person acts as the 'rower' of an unmotorized boat along a water channel, and the other acts as the 'gunner', who will shoot down targets either on the banks of the channel or moving on the water channel itself. Both the time taken to reach the goal and the number of targets shot will determine the score. In solo, a single person probably acts as both the 'rower' and 'gunner'. The event was originally part of the USNA’s naval curriculum.”

After confirming that Miyuki had no questions, Tatsuya switched to explaining the next event.

“Shield Down: a close combat event that uses shields. It’s usually held in a ring that is a bit higher than the floor or surface. You win by destroying the opponent’s shield, stealing the opponent’s shield or expelling the opponent from the ring. Additionally, physical attacks on one’s opponent are forbidden but are allowed against the shield. In short, magic is used on your own shield, your own body and to attack your opponent’s shield, and using magic to expel your opponent from the ring is allowed.”

“Can you hit your opponent shield with your own shield to expel your opponent from the ring?”

“Of course.”

“There’s an additional rule: if you can get the opponent to release the shield for five seconds, you win even if you don’t take the shield.”

After Tatsuya answered Miyuki’s question, Isori provided the supplemental explanation. Tatsuya waited for a bit but no further supplements or amendments came, so he switched to the next one.

“Steeplechase Cross-country is as the name says. In short, a cross-country obstacle course race. You compete by clearing obstacles placed in a forest in a time race. It’s an infantry training exercise held in mountains and forests. Obstacles can be natural or man-made, automatic gun emplacements or magic obstacles can be used.”

“That’s an extremely difficult event…”

Tatsuya scowled as he agreed with Miyuki’s honest assessment.

“Row and Gunner and Shield Down aside, Steeplechase Cross-country is not an event high school students should participate in. What on earth is the management committee thinking?”

Tatsuya muttered like he wanted to scold them. Just then, Isori added some more bizarre information.

“Furthermore, all the second and third year athletes, male and female, can potentially enter. Actually, everyone but the first years can participate.”

“…If the athletes are not extremely well trained in countermeasures, there will be a huge quantity of dropouts.”

By dropouts, Tatsuya didn’t just mean out of the competition, he meant out of magic high school. They probably didn’t realize he meant that possibility.

“Oh my…!”

Azusa made that cry of despair and once more collapsed on the desk radiating hopelessness.

The Student Council’s work wasn’t just to prepare for the Nine Schools competition. A portion of the high school’s management duties were consigned to the Student Council to give them practical work experience. Not just in magic high schools, but in all high schools. Not performing those duties would hinder the smooth management of the school. Therefore, even at a time like this, they had to get at least the minimum of the work done; when Honoka, who was acting as an envoy, and Izumi, who had been delayed by practical skills training, showed their faces in the Student Council room, both Tatsuya and Miyuki were wrestling with the work of the Student Council.

—Azusa still had her head buried in the desk, however.

—Isori was making great efforts to pull her out of her depression, however.

“Since it’s become like this, all we can do is choose the athletes again.”

“…”

“Isn’t it good that there is still time to do it! Besides, not all of our preparations are useless!”

“…”

“Somehow we will surely be able to come up with countermeasures to Steeplechase Cross-country! So, hey, Nakajou-san. Now—”

He engulfed Azusa from behind; he was trying to at least release her from the world she had trapped herself in and Isori was gently caressing her shoulders, when,

“—Kei?”

he was frozen by a cold voice coming from behind him.

“…Kanon?”

With awkward movements, Isori turned around to face the staircase that led to Public Morals Headquarters. Just as he expected, his fiancée was standing right there. —While she was smiling, the veins on her forehead had surfaced.

“Keeeiiii-. What are you doingggg?”

“Uh, umm, by what?”

“Engulfing Nakajou-san like that, what on earth did you intend to doooo?”

It wasn’t a sincere smile, it was more like a seal that had been pasted on. Kanon’s actual feelings were quite easy to read.

“A misunderstanding! It’s a misunderstanding!”

Isori earnestly shook his head. On the other hand, Azusa took refuge in a corner of the room. Rather than next month’s Nine Schools Competition, they should probably choose to deal with the carnage occurring before their eyes. But as for the response from the other members, Izumi, for example, was viewing Isori, who was desperately making excuses, with annoyance, but was this from tiredness or was this from shock; she was not looking at the work in progress screen — but rather at Miyuki, who was reading reports at her desk.

For Izumi, Miyuki was an oasis for her heart. When she was tired from work, when she was deadlocked in confusion and when she was uncomfortably nervous, she would actually feel her heart warm when Miyuki entered into her field of vision. A lover’s quarrel anyone would avoid was making Izumi’s will to do anything gradually sink to the ground. She was covertly trying to take a look at Miyuki which (in Izumi logic) was an indispensable step to recovering her motivation.

Just then, perhaps by some kind of coincidence, the gazes of Izumi who was turning and Miyuki who was looking up met directly. To Izumi, who was beginning to be flustered and was thinking of excuses, Miyuki gave a troubled smile and flicked her eyes toward Isori and Kanon. And this time, Miyuki gave Izumi a look.

Izumi had asked the ‘Onee-sama’ she loved and respected, ‘What should we do?’ with her eyes. Or so she felt. And Miyuki had responded with one slight shake of her head, ‘We should do nothing’ and gave a bewildered smile.

As per their usual after school routine, Tatsuya and his friends stopped by their favorite coffee shop, ‘Eine Breeze’, on their way home today. The group included the eight second years and one first year, Minami. On the way there, Izumi looked like she wanted to join them, but Kasumi, her elder twin, was completely uninterested, so it was inevitable that they went straight home. Minami was pretty uncomfortable being the only first year among upperclassmen; however, since she was diligent in her duties, she couldn’t choose another option.

Today, Mikihiko had suggested the after school coffee break. It was rare for him to be this proactive, so it felt like he wanted to say something or ask about something.

And as expected, immediately after they finished ordering, Mikihiko pelted a question at Tatsuya.

“Tatsuya, is it true that the roster of events in the Nine Schools Competition has been changed?”

“You sure got wind of that quick.”

It was hard to tell if the affirmative answer to the question Tatsuya gave was praise or scorn.

“Who did you hear about it from?”

“The committee chief and Isori-senpai discussed it.”

Mikihiko did not reveal his source; Shizuku volunteered it. They were both members of the Public Morals committee. In short, they had eavesdropped on them in the committee headquarters.

“But, we don’t know the full details.”

“Eh, the events have changed? What to what?”

Erika took the bait of Mikihiko’s unnecessary explanation.

“A notice addressed to the Student Council came today. Speed Shooting, Crowd Ball and Battle Board are out; Row and Gunner, Shield Down and Steeplechase Cross-country have been added.”

“What type of competitions are those?”

After Tatsuya gave the same explanation he gave to Miyuki to Erika, she grinned happily.

“Hey… those sound like fun. Especially Shield Down.”

Erika’s excitement showed in her voice.

“Oh, really… they seem kind of scary to me.”

Looking at her ecstatic friend, Mizuki made a diffident protest.

“Yes… up to last year, all the events they held avoided direct clashes between athletes.”

“Even Monolith Code was like that.”

Perhaps Miyuki was thinking the same thing; she promptly chimed in her agreement to Honoka’s remark.

“But I think Steeplechase Cross-country is more dangerous than Shield Down.”

“Yes. Onii-sama said that, as well.”

Miyuki nodded as she agreed with Shizuku‘s interjection.

“In a forest without paths, even moving around is dangerous if you’re not used to it. With not just physical obstacles, but magical ones as well, it would be strange if no one got hurt.”

“Right. A very experienced guide is needed for hiking in the mountains even with roads. It’s too reckless to do a speed competition in an unknown forest.”

Leo and Mikihiko voiced critical, or rather negative, opinions based on their individual experiences.

“Hey, Tatsuya. I get the feeling that the events they added this year are awfully military-ish, you agree?”

Everyone there was somewhat in agreement with Leo’s words.

“It’s true.”

Once again, he was right not to try and fool his friends. And so, all Tatsuya could do was nod. Without reluctance, Tatsuya explained what he had surmised and what he based it on.

“It’s probably an effect of the Yokohama Incident. After last year’s incident, people connected to our national defense affairs have acknowledged the usefulness of magicians to the military and this is an attempt to influence our education in that direction.”

“That’s exactly what the anti-magician activists in the media are protesting.”

Erika jeered with an evil grin. Tatsuya couldn’t just smile at her mockery.

“Yes but their timing is not the only thing that is bad. Why are they making such easily understood changes… And, I think adding provocation to the current international situation is unnecessary.”

Honoka’s and Mizuki’s faces clouded with unease in response to Tatsuya’s words.

“…Well that doesn’t matter, it’s going to get busy from now on.”

Perhaps to change the mood, Tatsuya continued to act as if he was already bored with the topic. This was not a complete pretense. In the current situation, Tatsuya would have to do without his pleasant after school routine at least until the Nine Schools Competition was over.

◊ ◊ ◊

The students of First High School were not the only ones to show annoyance at the change in the event program of the Nine Schools Competition. In the mansion of the Ichijou clan of the Ten Master Clans, students of Third High School were also pouring out complaints like their fellow second years.

“To suddenly… unbelievable.”

“Absolutely.”

“No matter how much they say it’s within the rules… it would have been better to inform us earlier with such a large scale change, right?”

“Definitely.”

“And we already started practicing the ousted events. We even got as far as refining the activation sequences… all the hard work we’ve done til now has been a waste of time.”

“True.”

“We have to redo everything from the athlete selection on… eh, Masaki, are you listening!?”

Perhaps feeling that he was being repeatedly given absent minded words of agreement, Kichijouji, who had been grumbling about the notice from the Nine Schools Competition management committee, flared up at Masaki.

“Naturally. I’m sorry if you felt I was ignoring you.”

However, it seemed that Masaki’s mental state was even less calm; his tone as he answered was quite pointed.

“…Sorry, I was venting.”

“No, I’m the one at fault. It’s natural for you to be upset, George.”

And with that, the pair were apparently able to release their anger and cool their heads. The thorny mood promptly disappeared; their need for fruitless agitation was satisfied.

“Anyway, no matter how much we grumble, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Masaki spoke as if he was telling himself that and,

“Right… First, we re-pick the athletes. Ahh…”

Kichijouji sighed as he accepted it.

“Right… we have to think about what this means, George.”

However, the next words that came out of Masaki’s mouth were packed with more than consolation.

“What do you mean?”

Naturally, the suspicions on Kichijouji’s face as he questioned Masaki only made him seem more earnest.

“The events that have been added to the program all have strong ties to actual combat. I think that is more to our advantage than First High’s.”

“I see… First High puts a lot of emphasis on achieving a high ranking international license, they don’t seem to stress combat techniques that have no bearing on improving practical magic skills.”

“Although, there are exceptions like Sawaki, the Magic Arts athlete, and ‘that guy’. But, if we look at the student bodies in general, ours is the one that excels in magic combat techniques and as a group of athletes in the Nine Schools Competition, the odds are in our favor.”

“I… see. But.”

Kichijouji agreed with Masaki’s opinion but not unconditionally.

“The outcome of the Nine Schools Competition is not determined by the average rankings of the participating athletes. Only the top ranks in the individual events determine it. Under the rules of the competition, other than Mirage Bat, the athletes have to enter into either the solo or pair competitions for the event. The key is deciding who is going solo and who is going to form a pair.”

“I see. Now, there are limitations on the duplication of entries this time. It’s as you say, George. How we divide the athletes into solo and pair competitions is going to have a big impact. For example, you and I would form the best pair. However—”

Masaki suddenly paused and looked toward the door. There was no knock. However, his intuition was not mistaken.

“Hello, Shinkurou-kun.”

The next instant, Akane, the eldest daughter of the Ichijou clan and Masaki‘s younger sister, entered the room as she called out in a lively voice.

“You… knock before entering my room, like I’m always telling you.”

As she listened to the lecture from her brother that had already become routine, Akane took iced tea and gum syrup from the tray in her hand and placed them in front of Kichijouji.

“Here, Shinkurou-kun. One gum syrup is fine, right?”

“Uh, thank you, Akane-chan.”

“You're welcome. You don’t want one, Nii-san? A drink from the sister who entered without knocking.”

And Akane demurely looked at her brother as she spoke, the one who was addressed answered with a sour look.

“…Put it down.”

It probably goes without saying that it was a joke. Akane smiled as she offered iced coffee to Masaki. It can be said without sarcasm that Akane was a properly raised young girl.

This kind of exchange was just the traditional practice between the siblings.

“Akane-chan, you just got back?”

Therefore, not even Kichijouji was bothered by it at this point. What was bothering him was Akane’s attire.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

She innocently nodded. Eventually Akane noticed and an ‘ah’ surfaced on her face.

“I see. This is the first time you’ve seen me in my summer uniform.”

Her tray now empty, Akane twirled around. The pleated skirt and sailor collar constructed from light cloth for summer use danced lightly.

“So? Does it suit me?”

Akane’s bashful smile was surprisingly ‘girlish’. Kichijouji knew that by becoming a middle school student his friend’s sister had made a radical transformation from ‘child’ to ‘girl’ as he watched. However, even though he knew that, unexpectedly confronting it shocked him.

“Ye-yes, it looks good on you.”

“Really, I’m glad, thank you.”

The graceless compliment wrung out from Kichijouji made Akane supremely happy and she gently smiled. Half a year ago, she would have clapped her hands in joy. Even her small habits were now infused with ‘girlishness’.

A white and light blue sailor uniform with fashionable half sleeves. The traditional colors and uniform of the prestigious middle school made the girl especially radiant and Kichijouji’s eyes unconsciously narrowed. …And directly beside him he felt an accusing disappointed stare.

“George, just like I…”

“You’re wrong!”

Kichijouji reflexively denied Masaki’s accusation. If the two of them were alone, there probably wouldn’t be any problem with his response. However, it was unwise in front of the third party present.

“Hmmm… jealous, Nii-san?”

Having the one she liked promptly deny ‘that he had any romantic interest in her’ would hurt anyone. That had no relation to age. It had everything to do with the passion Akane acknowledged she felt.

However, she childishly vented her wrath on Masaki rather than Kichijouji, himself or perhaps her passion for him kept her from seeking her beloved’s ire.

“Don’t say stupid things.”

Whichever one it was, all Masaki could do was refute it bluntly. He didn’t feel like making a serious attempt to communicate and the other side became even more sullen about being treated like a child.

“Hmm, a misunderstanding you say.”

Up to this point, their words were at their usual level of abusiveness. Afterwards, the normal pattern would be Akane saying ‘I’m not letting you have Shinkurou-kun all to yourself!’ or something equally cutting and Kichijouji would mediate between the siblings.

“I was listening.”

However, today things went differently.

“So what?”

Akane laughed smugly at Masaki’s objection.

“You invited Shinkurou-kun to be your dance partner, Nii-san!”

“What the!?”

“Eeh!?”

This shocked not just Masaki but Kichijouji as well. The pair had absolutely no memory of doing anything like that.

“Nii-san, didn’t you say that you and Shinkurou-kun would form the best couple.”

“You, eavesdropped—”

“Disgusting.”

Masaki’s words were chopped off as Akane directed a scornful look at her brother.

“It’s counterproductive to have two males together.”

“No. Wait a minute, Akane-chan! You misunderstood. It’s a misunderstanding!”

Being sneered at by a middle school girl made Kichijouji begin to make frantic desperate denials. Making him even more desperate, his social position was at stake.

And in the room of the heir to the Ichijou clan, while the master of the room, Masaki, continued to be frozen out of shock, Kichijouji franticly protested their innocence for a full two hours straight.

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