Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Magian Company - Volume 3 - Chapter SS2

Case 2: Mitsui Honoka

[Lost Love]

Three years ago, Shippou Takuma, who is now a Magic University second-year student ── in February 2097 made a deal with the popular actress, Sawamura Maki. In the aftermath of the terrorist bombing of the Master Clans Conference, which killed countless civilians, and the growing Anti-Magic Movement, Takuma borrowed the help of the media to counter it ── as Sawamura Maki's father is the president of an emergent media group ── and in return, promised to abide by any wishes Maki might have in the near future. ("Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei" Vol. 18)

One year ago, Takuma was asked by Maki to honor his promise. Takuma tried to resist the far more unexpected request, but in the end he was unable to refuse and signed the contract Maki presented to him.

And then, at the end of last month, that is, on Tuesday, June 29th, 2100, Takuma finally had fulfilled Maki's request, and today, on July 1st, he attended the Magic University with his shoulders unburdened for the first time in a long time.

(I feel like it's been quite a while…)

Standing before the main gate of the Magic University, Takuma found himself feeling a surprisingly deep sense of emotion. Though he had been attending the university while he was working on Sawamura Maki's request, the work there had been hardly progressing as scheduled, and he had been unable to attend more than the first through third periods, taking courses on an irregular basis.

As a result, his grades have been poor all year. Takuma is very excited to finally be able to concentrate on his studies and is looking forward to a fresh start.

"Shippou."

Stopping in his steps, Takuma looked quizzically at the midst of the crowd of students passing by, a man had called out to him from behind.

"Good morning, Senkawa."

The person who called out to him was a fellow second-year student and alumnus of First

High like Takuma. He and Takuma were teammates in the Monolithic Code at the Nine Schools Competition, in particular during their first and third years of high school, and he is also Takuma’s closest friend at the Magic University.

"Hey, good morning. That's unusual."

Takuma didn't ask, "What is?" back.

As for Takuma, he is unwilling to do so, but in the past year it had certainly been unusual for him to make it to the first period with time to spare.

"…It'll be not so rare from today on."

"So, have you finished filming?"

Was it a declaration of his unwillingness to give up, or was it his determination? Takuma’s response, which could be interpreted as either, was the best he could do.

Senkawa seemed to have pinned that down with this reply. As his closest friend at the university, he was one of the few people who knew that Takuma had been taking part in the filming of a movie.

That’s how it is. As mentioned, the "request" of the actress Sawamura Maki was an offer to appear in a movie. Not only that, he had to play the part of Maki's young lover ── in other words, to play the leading male character.

Suddenly playing a leading role in his debut work as a newcomer with no track record, in a movie no less, was far from common practice, and even more so unusual in the entertainment industry. The hesitation on Takuma's part was understandable. Or, rather, natural. The director and the rest of the movie staff were against Takuma's casting, but Maki was adamant.

Of course, there was a reason for this. This new production is based on a story written by a female novelist close to Maki, who had the intention of having Takuma play the counterpart role to her character from its inception. And Takuma was to play the leading role of a young magic user who is persecuted in a dystopia much like the modern world.

With the fact that this movie was to use real magic during its filming, this is one of the selling points of the movie and in addition, there are a number of magicians that were cast in supporting roles and as extras, besides Takuma ── whom weren't able to get jobs where they could use their low grade magic skills ── was planned.

The main reason why Takuma was pushed by Maki was to fulfill his side of the deal he made three years ago, but there was also a part of him that wanted to help disadvantaged magicians. And, well, Maki skillfully exploited that.

In the end, the fact that Maki's father's company was the biggest sponsor was a decisive factor in the final decisions, and production followed catering to her every whim. After two months of an intensive crash course to hammer down some acting skills in Takuma, and ten months of filming, the shooting ended as soon as the day before yesterday.

"When will it be out?"

"December, I heard."

Even though the shooting is over, there is still the post-production (post-production : post-shooting editing) work to be done. It would take about half a year before the film would actually be shown in theaters.

"The end of the year, huh. There is quite a lot of competition with big productions in this period."

"I'm not going to make a living as an actor, so I don't care either way."

"Oh well. I'm definitely going to see it."

Takuma really didn't want someone he knew to see his bad acting. But he couldn't say "don't see it" even jokingly. Many of the magicians he performed with plan to continue their careers in film and drama. For their sake, it would be a shame if the film were not a hit.

"I hope you enjoy it."

Takuma suppressed his emotions and responded with encouragement, using the "sincere facade" he had acquired during the course of the shooting of the film.

Takuma and Senkawa didn't stop to talk. By the time they had settled on the topic of the movie, they had arrived at the lecture hall for the first period.

The first lecture of the day was on magic criminal law. A lecture on the special legal clauses of the Penal Code regarding the exercise of magic. The Shippou Family's official occupation is that of an investment advisory business that specializes in weather derivatives. The necessary magical skills to predict the weather have been taught directly to him by his father. Takuma had decided to study the legal knowledge necessary in running a company and in the exercise of magic at the university. That was a secret ambition of his, to open a law firm dedicated to magicians, alongside his investment advisory business. And, despite his ambitions, this year he has ended up neglecting his studies which has been a disappointment for him.

"Senkawa. Have you heard anything unusual lately?"

There was still some time before the start of the lecture. Takuma asked Senkawa sitting beside him.

As a matter of fact, this man, Senkawa, is a detective in his own right. He usually knows every rumor going around on campus. He even knows whatever rumors are whispered only among the girls. For someone who hadn't been able to attend regularly for almost a year, he was a valuable source of information for Takuma.

"Let me see. There is one that was about Shields-senpai who was absent all week long and that the 'president' was coming to the university."

"Shiba-senpai did?"

"President" is a popular way to refer to Tatsuya that has become widespread in the university over the past two months. Before that, to distinguish him from Miyuki, students who are not close enough to them call them by their first names, referring to him as "the guy Shiba (senpai)" and her as "the Shiba (senpai) who is not the princess." ──Though it wasn't a term that was used in front of him.

Similarly, in order to distinguish Miyuki from Tatsuya, students who are not close enough to her to call her by her first name also call her "princess," "hime-sama," or "snow princess." Again, the number of students who use these names when referring to the person in question is not negligible.

"Yeah. They are still as lovey-dovey as ever. I envy him, darnit."

──Senkawa Mitsuru, is nearly 20 years old. Currently looking for a girlfriend.

"…Anything else?"

Takuma, who also doesn’t have a girlfriend, felt somewhat uncomfortable and asked for a new topic.

"O-Oh, right, there is…"

Senkawa had no taste for self-deprecation either, so he seriously searched his memory for another topic.

"…I think it started the week before last. There’s a guy who has been following Mitsui-senpai around."

"What?"

"Well, it didn't seem like she was against it, though."

Senkawa laughed like a third-rate villain. This is the topic he brought up after all his thinking. This man seemed to have quite a bad personality.

"…Who is that poor man?"

"Well, I really wonder who he is… I only saw him from a bit of a distance myself. I guess I could have sworn I knew his face… oh, yeah. I think his name was Torii Matomo, from the Nine Schools Competition team that we played against in Monolithic Code when we were third-years."

"…That guy, huh."

Takuma remembered that name.

It was at the Monolithic Code of the 2098 Nine Schools Competition. The First High team that Takuma led, lost to the Fourth High team that Fumiya led, but they managed to win all other seven matches, finishing second in the event standings and first place overall in the summer of their third-year.

In that Monolithic Code league match, the second hardest game after the one against Fourth High that ended in defeat, was the game against the Ninth High School team. The final match against the Ninth High School, was a match that Takuma took part in where he defended First High’s monolith, and where the opposing team's offensive came down to a one-on-one battle, which ended with a hard-fought victory for Takuma. Torii Matomo was the opponent from Ninth High from that time.

"That guy is aiming for Mitsui-senpai…"

Even though he won that time, Takuma had a history with Torii Matomo. When he heard that the man was hitting on Honoka, Takuma felt his heart skip a beat.

"Huh, what is that? Is perhaps Shippou aiming for Mitsui-senpai?"

Perceptively reading Shippou's expression, Senkawa asked while proceeding to throw a smirk at him. ──It was more of a teasing question than anything else.

"It's not like that."

Shippou replied, playing it cool with a poker face… at least that was the plan, but its execution was not so successful.

The fact that there was no follow-up from Senkawa at this point was not an act of "warrior's compassion."

"Hey, Shippou. Speak of the devil."

In fact, Honoka and Shizuku are also in the same lecture. Takuma doesn't know if they noticed him there or not, so he doesn't know if their choice of a seat separated from his was intentional, but he was definitely taking notice of Honoka.

A tall male student walked up to Honoka's seat. He was tall, but not particularly tall for this time and age, standing around 180cm. His slender features with a small face make him look taller than he actually is. Still, in these modern times, men with broad shoulders tend to be preferred by the opposite sex, so "slender features with a small face" is not necessarily an advantage.

"…He acts awfully much like a playboy. Is he that sort of guy?"

Takuma frowned at Matomo fawning over Honoka with an over-familiar attitude.

"So-so. You’ll see."

Senkawa calmed the half-risen Takuma down.

Looking closely, Honoka could be seen smiling politely, but seemingly annoyed. And Shizuku, sitting beside her, for her part, didn’t even pay a glance at Matomo.

Before long, Honoka shook her head with a polite smile.

Torii Matomo didn't even drop his shoulders, but simply withdrew and took a seat, two seats next to him, but one directly behind the two of them, to the side.

Even so, he was seated closer to Honoka than Takuma.

◇ ◇ ◇

Senkawa’s question, "Are you aiming for Mitsui-senpai" from earlier to Takuma wasn’t far off the mark.

Takuma first became aware of Honoka immediately after entering the First High School.

This was when he took a fist beating from Tomitsuka Hagane, a senpai from the

Extracurricular Activities Association, also known as "Club Management Group."

As for the topic of the beating he took, he now accepts that it was at fault. Still, to say "now" would be misleading. After that, Takuma had his pride broken. He was made to realize that his behavior had been wildly arrogant and presumptuous. At that point, he admitted his fault.

However, in the immediate aftermath of his beating, Takuma did not understand why he was being subjected to this. The only person who offered a helping hand when he was being subjectively beaten down was Honoka. That was all it took, but it still left a strong impression on Takuma.

But there was a reason why he had not taken action until now.

Three years ago, Takuma had made a blunder with Honoka.

To be more precise, it was in early January 2097.

Takuma tried to take advantage of Honoka's fragile heart after the shock from the announcement of Tatsuya and Miyuki's engagement.

Takuma himself had no intention in doing such a cowardly thing. He simply couldn't stand to see Honoka in grief like that. But, Shizuku had made it clear to him that, from a third party's perspective, especially from a friend of Honoka's, that it didn't look like anything else than an attempt to take advantage of her recent vulnerable emotional state. Shizuku told him such. After being chastised, Takuma agreed with her that it did look that way.

Since he feels guilty for that time, Takuma hesitated to take the first step towards Honoka.

The fact that "Honoka has not given up on Tatsuya" gives him some relief. After all, there is no way Tatsuya will fall for Honoka.

As long as Honoka is chasing after Tatsuya, she won't fall in love with another man. ──Takuma comforted himself with such spineless deliberation.

He won't be able to say that so easily if a rival appears however. But Takuma still doesn't know for sure how he feels about Honoka. He doesn't know if he is simply drawing out the memory of a moment they bonded, or if he's truly in love with her.

（──First, I guess I have to face my feelings head on.)

(But it will be of no use if all I do is brood about it alone.)

Takuma decided to take action.

◇ ◇ ◇

With the end of the morning lecture, Honoka stood up after hurriedly packing up her things.

"Shizuku, I'll be going on ahead, okay?"

"I don't think so."

Responding in a low voice, Honoka didn't hear Shizuku's reply. She already had her back turned by the time Shizuku voiced "don't."

Shizuku watched Honoka's back as she left and disappeared into the corridor, giving a slight shake of her head as she slowly stood up. She didn't need to check on what Honoka was in such a hurry for. Honoka was──

"Kitayama-senpai."

She was suddenly called from behind and turned around.

"Shippou."

The person who called out to her was an underclassman from First High.

It was somewhat unexpected, but Shizuku wasn't surprised. She knew that Takuma had chosen Magic Law for his major. Not that Shizuku had any particular interest to look into that. It was something that she learned naturally from the First High alumni information network.

So it's no surprise that he's in this particular lecture room. Even if he was not aiming for Honoka, this lecture is one that students majoring in Magic Law should take in their second or third year.

He probably just called out because he wants something with Honoka. I'm sure he wanted to talk with her, but he couldn't get to her in time. ──Shizuku decided that was the case.

"If it's about Honoka, she's probably at the school cafeteria."

"I'm not here for Mitsui-senpai."

Shizuku tilted her head, she never imagined that Takuma would call out to her for something other than Honoka.

"Ah, no. I wanted to ask something about Mitsui-senpai."

"You want to ask me about Honoka…? Okay, sure."

Shizuku lifted an eyebrow doubtfully, but nodded without a long consideration.

"Hold on."

Shizuku pulled out her mobile terminal and ran a stylus (electronic pen) across the screen. Probably sending a text message.

"──Come with me."

Returning the stylus to the slot in the terminal holder, Shizuku tucked it into her bag while turning her back on Takuma and walking away.

Shizuku took Takuma to the station underneath the campus.

"Get in."

Shizuku boarded a chauffeur-driven ── not an automatic ── large self-driving car and beckoned Takuma from inside.

"Go around the block for about ten minutes, please."

After confirming that Takuma had gotten in and the doors had closed automatically, Shizuku instructed the chauffeur.

The chauffeur replied, "Yes, ma'am" and at the same time, the car started to quietly drive away.

"So?"

"Huh? Err…"

Takuma being confused by the unexpected turn of events, Shizuku sighed, as if to say, "You still don't get it?"

"If you want to have a conversation that you don't want others to hear, the best place to do it is in a car."

Shizuku's action was seen as over the top by Takuma, yet there was a rationale to it that left Takuma unconsciously scratching his head, thinking, "How did I not see that…"

"Now, hurry up and speak."

Unconcerned about Takuma's feelings about that, Shizuku urged him on. Or, by some chance, she chose to act like this to prevent him from being trapped in an awkward situation.

"…Kitayama-senpai, I don't know if you remember. But you called me a "jerk" once."

Shizuku gave a light tilt of the head. She must be searching her memory, because she let out a "hmm…"

After thinking about it for ten seconds, Shizuku muttered, "Oh, that."

"I remember."

Then she replied to Takuma with an affirmative.

"I think that, sure, I deserved to be called 'jerk' at that time."

"And?"

"Do you think I'm fine now? I haven't really been able to come to the university lately, so I don't know how things are with Mitsui-senpai now. I thought that I should, in essence, wait to see how things go for a while, but I don't want to be too late because of that."

"So you want to make a move on Honoka?"

"Yes. By the time I understand my own heart, it may be too late to worry."

"By too late, you are talking about Torii-kun?"

"I'm ashamed to admit that I only found out today that Torii is hovering around Mitsui-senpai."

"I see…"

At first glance, Shizuku's expression remained unchanged. But a subtle upturn in the corners of Shizuku's mouth could be noticed whenever Honoka is mentioned.

"You can do whatever you think is best. I may be Honoka's friend, but I still don't think it's my place to interfere."

It was a dismissive remark. But the tone of her voice was not harsh.

"Is that so…"

Still, as Shizuku said, it's indeed unreasonable to expect her to assist him, so Takuma didn't insist. "Shippou."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Do you like Honoka?"

"There is something I have to clarify first."

"Yes…"

At Takuma's answer, Shizuku gave a smile that made things a little easier to understand.

◇ ◇ ◇

After parting ways with Takuma at the underground station, Shizuku met up with Honoka at the entrance of the cafeteria.

"Shizuku, where have you been?"

"Did you meet up with Tatsuya-san and the others?"

Honoka inquired, but Shizuku replied with a question instead of an answer.

"No, I couldn't find them."

"And you look surprisingly fine with it, don't you?"

As Shizuku noted, Honoka didn't sound too disappointed.

"No, not at all. Though, I was hoping we could have dinner together today."

And, sure enough, Honoka didn't look so disheartened as she said that.

"Why don't we invite Tatsuya-san and have a dinner party?"

Impassioned by the uncomfortable feeling welling up in her chest, Shizuku blurted out a plan that has been on her mind for some reason. And when she said, "dinner party," she's not exaggerating. Her father has given her a great deal of discretion to act in the name of the major sponsor of the Stellar Generator incorporated company.

"No, it's fine. I'll do my best."

That "it's fine" is not an agreement, she meant it was unnecessary.

"Besides, I'm sure I'll get a bit tense if it's a dinner party and all." (──As I thought, Honoka's attachment to Tatsuya-san is weakening.)

Shizuku thought so. But she didn't know the reason for it.

She couldn't decide whether it was a good change or a bad change for Honoka.

"Anyway, Shizuku, you still didn't answer my question. What were you doing?"

"I was giving relationship advice."

Shizuku replied with a succinct answer that wasn't a lie as she walked towards the serving counter.

"Eh? Shizuku, did someone confess to you?"

"It was a consultation.."

So it wasn't with me, Shizuku implicitly denied.

"Oh, okay then. So, who was it?"

"Can't tell."

"Don't say that, come on, tell me."

"No can do. It's sensitive information."

"Can you tell me what you mean by sensitive information…?"

"Anyway, no."

As she heard Honoka say "stingy," Shizuku hoped and prayed that the change would be good for her.

◇ ◇ ◇

Honoka is an outstandingly beautiful woman, with a figure that is prominent where it should be and subdued where it should be. When she became a university student, she changed the school uniform for her casual clothes, which further accentuated her beauty.

So much so, in fact, that there was no shortage of male students making passes at Honoka. But the reason why Torii Matomo is approaching Honoka is not because she is beautiful with a nice body.

Then what is it?

The motive was the emotional imprinting.

There is a group of modern magicians in Japan called, "Elements." Their origins go back to the early days of the Magician Development Project, before even the Magician

Development Institutes, which gave birth to the Ten Master Clans, were even operational.

It was a time when the world had not yet established the classification of the Four Systems and Eight Types that make up the framework of Modern Magic. Since time immemorial, the traditional classification of attributes was in accordance with the general knowledge from that time, when "earth," "water," "fire," "wind," "light," and

"thunder" were still considered to be effective. It was in accordance with this concept that the "Elements" bloodline was developed.

Elements are magicians who have enhanced their interference force for specific events. In other words, they're magicians with bodies that can easily contain a soul that outputs a specific type of Event Interference Force, or Pushion Wave.

In addition to the symmetrical physiology that magicians generally have, each Element has its own unique physical characteristics.

For example, the "Fire" Element has well-developed inner muscles and impoverished outer muscles. The "Water" has a low body fat percentage regardless of gender. The "Earth" has a high bone density and therefore don't have thicker bones (since it has no need to).

And the "Light" has higher levels of sex hormones. In men, they’ll have thicker beards and body hair, and more muscle mass. In women, breasts and hips are more prominent, and there is no unwanted hair.

Matomo did not participate in the Nine Schools Competition in his first year of high school. He didn't even show up to cheer. So he didn't know Honoka when he was in high school. And due to the curriculum, he didn't actually meet Honoka during his first year at the university.

It was only in his second year that he saw Honoka up close. He knew immediately that she was an Element of "Light." Although the prominent feminine features did not necessarily mean that she was an element, Matomo could tell intuitively. After all, he too is an Element.

Torii Matomo's attribute, or symbolic element, is "Wind." The external characteristics of the "Wind" Element are quite recognizable, having long necks and long ears. And that's exactly what Matomo looks like. He appears to have a small face because of his long neck, which gives a strong impression that he is taller than he really is. Paired with his large, that is to say long, ears, he gives off the impression as being from an "elven tribe" from some fantasy movie.

At first, as a fellow Element, Matomo approached Honoka, curious to see if she would be able to identify his "Wind" too. But he soon fell captive to Honoka's charm. When he became seriously charmed by her, he soon found out that he already had a "love rival" named Tatsuya.

Magic University students, as people who in some way or another are involved in magic, know the name Shiba Tatsuya. His track record sets him apart from the rest. He is barely as popular as Ichijou Masaki, the new nationally recognised Strategic-Class Magician. But when it comes to instilling fear ── of enemies and friends alike, Tatsuya is a cut above.

When most students find out that Shiba Tatsuya is their rival, they give up. But Matomo didn't back down. Instead, he was hell-bent on rescuing the girl he had fallen in love with from her "unrequited love".

No matter how curt Honoka was with him, Torii Matomo would not be discouraged. Although the "Wind" is associated with fickleness, his surname "Torii" means the west heading on the compass, that is, the "West." He was born with the "West Wind," the prevailing westerlies, which always blows from a specific direction.

Undaunted by the name of Shiba Tatsuya, Torii Matomo proved to be a formidable rival for Shippou Takuma.

Lunchtime on Friday. Takuma was ready to take action.

"Shiba-senpai, Mitsui-senpai. Do you mind if I join you?"

Takuma asked, as Tatsuya, Miyuki and Honoka sat around a table. Judging by how much still lay on their plates, they seem to have just started eating. The only reason why he was able to approach them in this situation was because they all knew each other, because of their senpai-kouhai relationship, that is to say.

"Shippou, it's been a while, hasn't it?"

Firstly, Tatsuya responded to Takuma.

"Yes, it has. It's been a while."

"Are you done with that job of yours?"

Tatsuya knew that Takuma had been participating in the filming of a movie. Tatsuya knew that Takuma was involved in the filming of a movie because he is a part of Sawamura Maki’s plan to create jobs for Magians in the entertainment industry.

"Yes, as of the end of last month."

Aware of this, Takuma nodded in response to Tatsuya's question without becoming flustered.

"Shippou-kun, I know it's been so long, but, there is…"

Next, it was Honoka who spoke up to Takuma, looking apologetic.

"Oh, you mean that you're waiting for Kitayama-senpai?"

This table has seating for four. There was only one empty seat left.

"Yeah, I'm sorry."

"Okay, I understand. Well, maybe next time."

Takuma backed down without a fight. To tell the truth, he knew what he was doing when he approached and asked them to share a table with a stranger. As a testament to this, he kept the tray with his food in his hands, never placing it on the table.

"I'm really sorry."

By refusing the feelings of guilt, he made Honoka conscious of a "debt" to him. That's what this trick is all about.

"No, I don't mind at all."

Takuma brought the crisp smile that he acquired through the shooting of the movie, and headed off to another table.

Takuma repeatedly approached Honoka throughout the day, it was not only during lunchtime, but also in between and after the end of the afternoon lectures.

◇ ◇ ◇

On Saturday, July 3rd, at the Magic University, just after the morning lecture. The campus was bustling with students on their way to have lunch. It was not so densely packed that it could be called crowded, but since the flow of people didn't follow any single direction, it gave a very chaotic feeling.

Takuma's second period was a practical lab ── Takuma's major falls under the Liberal Arts category of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in which magical labs are required by both ── it was from there that he went to the cafeteria, which is almost in the middle of campus from the laboratory building near the north gate. And then, near the entrance to the cafeteria, is where he spotted Honoka looking around restlessly.

There was no sign of Shizuku next to her. She must have left her in the classroom again.

"Mitsui-san."

Just before Takuma was about to call out to Honoka, a male student approached her from the other direction and called out to her. It was Torii Matomo.

"You're having lunch now, right? How about we have lunch together?"

"Eh, but…"

Takuma understood why Honoka is hesitant.

"Mitsui-senpai. If you are looking for Shiba-senpai, he went out the north gate."

Takuma didn’t hesitate to intervene in Honoka and Matomo's exchange.

"Shippou-kun."

Honoka turned around. Across from him, Matomo was scowling, but Takuma paid him no mind. If anything, that's what he wanted.

"Are you not eating with Kitayama-senpai?"

"With Shizuku? She should be here soon."

"Then let's go ahead and find seats first."

Takuma said this to Honoka, and then turned to Matomo.

"Do you want to sit with us, Torii-kun?"

Matomo couldn't hide his surprise when Takuma suddenly addressed him.

"…You are Shippou-kun from First High, right?"

Matomo, for his part, also remembered Takuma, with whom he had fought a fierce battle two years ago.

And with a glance, he understood.

"If it's okay with Mitsui-san, I'll be happy to join."

That Takuma is his rival.

"H-Hey, guys…?"

Honoka is at a loss as the two suddenly started to exchange sparks.

"…What are you doing? The seats are getting taken."

Shizuku, who had just arrived, said in an exasperated voice.

Looking particularly embarrassed, Takuma and Matomo set about searching for empty seats.

◇ ◇ ◇

"You are in pretty high demand, huh, Honoka?"

"Please… stop teasing me, Shizuku."

They are currently in Shizuku's room at the Kitayama's mansion. As Honoka's live-in bodyguard, she is currently living at the Kitayama's mansion. With a table in between them, they're working on their seminar report together at the moment. Or, to be more precise, they were having a tea break in between writing the report.

"Sorry. But I don't think those two are trying to make fun of you, Honoka, you know." "I…"

"Know that," Honoka was cut off as she started speaking.

"And you don't seem all that unhappy about it either, do you, Honoka?"

Shizuku didn’t hold back on the stammering Honoka.

"…It's not that I don't like people fawning over me, okay. It makes me feel more confident as a woman."

Honoka replied without shame in her tone and added, "And you think so too, don't you Shizuku?"

"We're not talking about me right now, and it’s not even about that."

"Shizuku, what are you trying to say?"

Honoka frowned, finding Shizuku's attitude a bit too insistent.

"Are you afraid that Tatsuya-san will misunderstand something?"

"Tatsuya-san is not a person who misunderstands things like that…"

The weak tone of her voice was proof that Honoka herself didn't believe in what she was saying.

"If you think about it, Honoka, you've been acting strange since the beginning of the year."

Shizuku was not concerned about those fine details. Her suspicions and feeling that something is out of place, didn’t just happen overnight. It was based on something she had been feeling for a long time.

"You are taking a forced approach. Bringing a frivolous appeal. Acting like the stereotypical 'annoying' woman that boys are attracted to and girls hate. You know, it's almost as if you wanted to be rejected by Tatsuya-san, Honoka."

"That's awful! Why didn't you just tell me then!"

After Shizuku's observations, even this protest sounded hollow.

"I said it countless times. This is not like you."

"…I wonder if that's true."

"It wasn't just once or twice, when we were alone I would warn you that 'that doesn't suit you, you should stop it'."

"……"

Finally, Honoka couldn't even feign ignorance anymore.

"Listen, Honoka. I can't bear to watch this continue anymore."

A sigh resembling a groan escaped from Honoka as she clenched her back teeth tightly.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"I'm so──"

"I'm sorry!"

The flustered Shizuku's attempt at an apology was overlapped by Honoka's apology.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for worrying you. I'm sor-"

Honoka covered her face with her hands and broke into tears.

Shizuku stood up, walked around the table and cradled Honoka's head in her chest.

"It's just like you said, Shizuku."

Having stopped crying, Honoka confessed to Shizuku, who was sitting across from her again, muttering a few words.

"I wanted Tatsuya-san to reject me."

"Why?"

There was no condemnation in Shizuku's tone. It was merely a question.

"At the end of the year, it just occurred to me."

In a voice that is more faint than calm, Honoka began to speak about her hidden feelings.

"I was wondering how long I was going to keep doing this."

"…Was it becoming too much for you?"

Shizuku's voice as she asked, sounded like she was the one in pain. "No."

Honoka shook her head.

"How do I put it… I felt like it was different from what I thought it was going to be." "Different?"

"I thought my love would be much more painful. I thought my love would be more painful than it was, because no matter how far I went, Miyuki was always the number one for Tatsuya-san, and he never saw me as a woman. He doesn't even lust after me. But then I realized that it wasn't that painful at all."

"Is that so…"

"Yes, it is. I love Tatsuya-san, but I realized that maybe my "love" for him is a different kind of "love" than romantic love."

"……"

"But still, that's frustrating, don't you think?"

"Eh?"

Honoka had now abruptly taken on a more relaxed tone as she said that line, leaving Shizuku with a big question mark at the top of her head.

"Even though I was definitely in love, at one point, somewhere, I was not in love anymore. Even though I should have been in love, I think I might have been a misunderstanding all along."

"…It wasn't a misunderstanding, Honoka. You were in love with Tatsuya-san."

"Thank you, Shizuku, but you know what, I'm not so sure anymore."

"……"

"Once you reach a stage where you lose confidence in your love, you've lost the game as a woman in love."

"…That's not true."

"No, it is."

Honoka gave a broad shake of her head.

"To lose without even being rejected, isn't that losing by forfeit? Or is it a forfeited game? I didn't think that was acceptable."

Honoka's hands are clenched into fists, an unconscious gesture perhaps?

She had a weird belligerent air about her.

"If this is going to be a lost love, then I want to be properly rejected. That's what I thought."

Honoka said resolutely.

"And I wanted to make it clear to Tatsuya-san too, not only to me, and bring it to a conclusion."

She immediately continued.

It was a self-indulgent grievance.

"…It must have been annoying for Tatsuya-san." At least that's the impression Shizuku got.

"I wondered if it was okay to be that selfish."

Shizuku was somewhat relieved to know that Honoka herself felt the same about the "selfish" part.

"…Honoka. Are you going to continue doing it?"

Shizuku asked Honoka, breaking the silence that created an air of 'this is it.'

"I don't know what I should do… To be honest, I get the feeling that I've had enough of this."

The tone was light, but there was genuine uncertainty in Honoka's eyes.

"It'd be better if you stopped this already."

There was no uncertainty in Shizuku's answer.

"It's just ridiculous to play the boring girl just to get a rejection."

"Hmm… But if I stop here, it's like it's all for nothing."

"It was all for nothing anyway."

"Huh?"

"I'm sure it's impossible even for Miyuki to get Tatsuya-san to be the way she wants."

Honoka let out a big sigh at Shizuku's assertion.

Even so, Honoka was unable to bring herself to stop, so it seemed to Shizuku.

"──Honoka, I have a proposal."

"What is it, tell me?"

Honoka gave a look full of expectations to Shizuku. 

"Why don't you just ask Tatsuya-san? Go up to him and ask him straight 'please reject me'."

Although it seemed like an outlandish suggestion at first glance, Honoka didn't reject it out of hand.

Rather, the look on her face showed "that it’s something she hadn’t thought of."

"Don't people say that honesty is the best policy? Well, you can't really play games with Tatsuya-san anyway, so it's best to just be honest with him."

"You're saying that I should ask him to reject me because I want to put an end to this love?"

Shizuku nodded.

"But wouldn't I look stupid if I did that?"

"Acting like a no-good woman to get him to reject you looks far more stupid, believe me."

"That's cruel of you. But, yeah, maybe you're right…"

Honoka didn't spend much time pondering.

"──Okay, got it. I'll ask Tatsuya-san on Monday. I'm sure he'll be stunned."

"There is no doubt about that, he would get stunned at that, right?"

"Shizuku…"

"But I'm sure things will turn out well. Both with your relationship with Tatsuya-san and your relationship with Miyuki."

"Yeah, I suppose so."

In a complete 180, Honoka laughed as if her doubts were blown away.

◇ ◇ ◇

Monday, July 5th, 2100.

The figure beside Miyuki as she arrived at the Magic University was that of Lina.

After exchanging greetings with Miyuki and Lina, Honoka and Shizuku, who had been waiting for Tatsuya in front of the main gate, made up some fitting business to attend to and walked onto the campus, parting ways with them.

"Tatsuya-san is…"

"…I guess it was a day off."

Honoka and Shizuku looked at each other and let out a sigh at the same time.

"Mitsui-senpai!"

There, from beyond the main gate she was called in a brisk, raised voice. It was Shippou Takuma.

"Mitsui-san!"

They heard a voice from the pavement behind them, as if trying to compete with Takuma's. It was Torii Matomo.

"We'll have to wait until Tatsuya-san comes to the university to settle this. Until then, why don't you enjoy being the bad girl and playing with your juniors?"

Shizuku suggested to Honoka with a very serious face, that didn't it make it sound like she was just joking

"Play? No, I don't want to, being a bad girl is too troublesome."

Honoka replied, looking to be genuinely against the idea.

But, seeing how Takuma and Matomo energetically approached her, as if competing in a walking race, Honoka brought forth a nice charming smile and said "Good morning, Shippou-kun" and "Good morning, Torii-kun," giving each their own morning greetings. At that moment, there was no sign of disappointment for not being able to meet Tatsuya.

Seeing Honoka skillfully handling her juniors, Shizuku exhaled a soft sigh.

(…Honoka has enough of the makings of a bad girl.)

Shizuku muttered in her mind.

(…But being who she is, Honoka certainly won't be able to find a new love unless she puts her feelings for Tatsuya-san to rest.)

However, she soon changed her mind, "I guess I don't have a choice."

(What bad timing, both of you.)

She felt sorry for Takuma and Matomo, but they'll have to be Honoka's distractions for a while. ──With that under consideration, it was Shizuku who might be the one with the makings of a bad girl.