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Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 16 - Yotsuba Succession - Chapter 2.1




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Chapter 2

Early in the morning on the first day of winter break, Tatsuya went to the FLT Third Division.

Miyuki and Minami stayed at home. The FLT Third Division could be said to be his home ground and he was always welcome there. Even Tatsuya knew this. That day, he chose to go to the lab because the server at home was slower. So, he spent his time at home carefully thinking about the project.

He was scheduled to begin the new project from this day onwards.

Rather than the development of a new CAD, he was designing a large-scale system using Magic Engineering. The project implementation date was yet to be known. In the first place, it was impossible to complete such a large-scale project with only the work of FLT.

The project name was ‘ESCAPES’ (Extract both useful and harmful Substances from the Coastal Area of the Pacific using Electricity generated by the Stellar generator). It was a project to access substances from the depths of the sea in the Pacific Ocean’s coastal region by means of a Stellar Furnace, but in a sense it was also a ‘means of escape’ or

‘free the substances’.

At the current stage, he still needed to wait to incorporate the design into the system and create the plan proposal. Still, it was a huge step closer to his goal.

He had this idea about three years ago in 2093, a year after the Okinawa Incident in August. The Loop Cast System, Flight Magic as well as the Stellar Furnace were developed for the heart of this system, and he managed to gather the last piece the other day. Whether it was this project or Tatsuya, both of them still had a long way to go. That aside, given the significance of the project, it was unavoidable for him to be fired up.

However, his enthusiasm was suddenly washed over by cold water after an hour of work.

“Sorry for bothering you, Young Master.”

Transmissions using quantum encryption were taboo. As Tatsuya was viewing some highly confidential data, he received a call from a female secretary from FLT’s Third Division.

“What is it?”

He did not want to stop working, however, the reason must be quite important if the secretary had knowingly disturbed him. Tatsuya stopped typing to hit the intercom button to reply.

“Excuse me, Kuroba Mitsugu wishes to see you, Young Master. What should I tell him?”

Tatsuya’s eyebrows rose unconsciously.

Mitsugu had not visited FLT before, as far as Tatsuya knew. As Mitsugu’s work entailed the collection of intelligence for the Yotsuba, he would have no reason to visit FLT, which was in the

commerce/financial division of the Yotsuba.

“I will see him. Please bring light snacks to the offline reception.”

He did not have enough information to guess the purpose of Mitsugu’s visit. Tatsuya realized that at once.

He needed to make sure of what the purpose of this visit was. That was his reason for asking the staff to guide Mitsugu to a room which was not equipped with an online monitoring system.

Tatsuya made sure to lock the waiting room before greeting Mitsugu.

As he approached Mitsugu, Mitsugu did not seem to have any intention of rising from the sofa. Instead, he noticed that Mitsugu was playing with his fingers anxiously and left his hat on the sofa which was a sign of uneasiness ever since he went inside.

“Long time no see, Kuroba-san. The last time was during the summer right?”

“Yeah.”

Mitsugu nodded his head impatiently. His behavior did not seem to be affected only by the bitter memories of the deep wound inflicted by Zhou Gongjin ‘last summer’. He seemed to be on edge even before Tatsuya showed up.

“May I sit?”

Mitsugu nodded in silence, while Tatsuya took the seat opposite to him.

Tatsuya fixed his eyes straight at Mitsugu. There was a large age gap, like that of a parent and child, between the two of them. However, it didn’t make Tatsuya nervous at all. There was no hint of bravado in his posture either.

Mitsugu distorted his lips in his upset. Even now, it seemed like he was going to cluck his tongue.

However, Mitsugu did not look down on Tatsuya as a ‘mere escort’.

Tatsuya was regarded as a failure of the Yotsuba Family, despite being the nephew of Yotsuba Maya, the current Family Head, and also the brother of Miyuki, the candidate for the next Family Head, especially among the non-combatant servants. As he ‘did not have the suitable magic power, despite having a direct blood relation to the Yotsuba’, he was ‘given the role of guardian to his sister out of pity’.

However, Mitsugu knew very well that Tatsuya wasn’t a ‘failure’.

Certainly, he could be counted as one based on the current Magicians’

standards, but he had a special power that was more than enough to compensate for this flaw. Mitsugu understood this very well.

The upsetness that Mitsugu showed to Tatsuya, was due to the fact that Tatsuya saw him as an equal, despite Tatsuya’s age that was not so different with that of his own son.

He couldn’t afford to be seen as such. Instead, the one with bravado and trying to push himself unconsciously, perhaps, was Mitsugu himself.

“What business do you have with me?”

Tatsuya asked so when Mitsugu did not show any signs that he would start talking. He did not say “I’m busy now”, but the way he said it had that nuance. Of course, this was on purpose.

Although this was a rude way to say something to someone, no, to a senior, Mitsugu restrained himself. He figured that it was unbefitting of him to be upset over such a trivial issue, given that he was the one who paid a visit, hence, he kept it to himself.

“Do not come to the New Year’s Gathering.”

Without feeling the need to cover up the words that he had just said, Mitsugu came only to say those words bluntly to Tatsuya.

“I never had any intention to come.”

“What…?”

However, Mitsugu probably never expected this kind of answer from Tatsuya. The sulky face that had been directed to Tatsuya since he entered the room suddenly faded from Mitsugu’s face. Currently, he was wearing an unguarded surprised expression on his face.

“I have no intention of attending the New Year’s Gathering. The order from Toushu-sama was only given to Miyuki.”

Tatsuya called Maya ‘Toushu-sama’ instead of ‘Oba-ue’. Implicitly, he was trying to say that Miyuki’s attendance was ordered by the Head of the Family; it was not to be countered by the unreasonable request of Mitsugu.

“How quibbling…!”

Mitsugu clucked his tongue. It seemed like he chose to abandon his effort to cover up his frustration, once his real face was revealed.

“Then, I want you to persuade your sister not to come to the New Year’s Gathering.”

However, he said this with less intensity. Mitsugu probably realized that he wouldn’t win against Tatsuya and his tone was also somewhat tempered.

It didn’t mean that Tatsuya was going to accept the request, regardless of the politeness with which it was delivered.

“Why don’t you say it directly to her?”

Even Mitsugu himself knew that he was bound to be rejected. However, Tatsuya brought the conversation to a slightly different direction than what he was expecting.

“She wouldn’t do so even if I told her to. That’s why I’m asking you to.”

“I was not referring to Miyuki. Why didn’t you directly request Toushu-sama herself to retract the attendance order?”

Mitsugu was speechless for a moment.

“….I don’t need you to tell me that. I have discussed with Maya-san about her decision possibly being premature.”

“Then, there is no meaning for Miyuki and I to be absent from the New Year’s Gathering. Even if we decline, there is no way Toushu-sama would tolerate it.”

Perhaps, Mitsugu was considering Tatsuya’s words and fell into silence.

Tatsuya smirked wickedly, yet meaningfully.

“I can understand that it’s still premature for Fumiya as he still needs a few more experiences to make a male Family Head.”

“That’s an unjust suspicion!”

Mitsugu replied with a strong voice. He lifted his right hand from his armrest, albeit squeezing it tightly in the middle and stopped; he was restraining himself from hitting the table reflexively.

“Originally, I was reluctant to make Fumiya the Head of the Yotsuba Family. His personality is too kind to lead the Yotsuba Clan. I think that in terms of Magic Power, Miyuki is suitable to be the next Family Head.”

Tatsuya could not suppress his surprise when he heard Mitsugu’s rebuttal. Tatsuya always thought that Mitsugu wanted Fumiya to be the Head of the Yotsuba Family.

“Then, why do you think it is still premature?”

However, Tatsuya chose to keep his misunderstanding to himself for now. It was more important to stick with his priority to figure out Mitsugu’s intention.

Mitsugu was hesitant to answer and swallowed his breath. He returned to face Tatsuya with a defiant attitude.

“At the New Year’s Gathering, we will be deciding the next Family Head. Maya-san wishes for Miyuki’s appointment.”

“I see.”

Although he said it this way, he had already foreseen this.

“However, I believe we need to postpone Miyuki’s nomination as the next Family Head to take care of a more important thing. It’s not only me. Shiiba, Mashiba, Shibata and Shizuku, also have the same idea.”

“So it’s the consensual decision of the Heads of the Branch Families, with the exception of Mugura and Tsukuba. Then, what is the important issue?”

“It’s about what we are going to do with you.”

Mitsugu grinned. It was a dark smile, one that harbored a dark feeling.

“In about two years, the ‘Sakura Series’ modified body, Sakurai Minami, will have sufficient enough power as a Yotsuba Guardian. That girl is particularly excellent even when compared to other modified bodies made by the Yotsuba. When that happens, your duty as a Guardian will become obsolete.”

Unlike his usual self, there was a hint that Mitsugu was intoxicated with his own words.

“Don’t worry. We’ll let you graduate from Magic University. You can contribute to Yotsuba’s financial activities as ‘Taurus Silver’ afterwards.

There’s no need for you to continue your work in the JSDF either. We’ll release you from your secret military duty.”

Mitsugu’s eyes were still enveloped in darkness, he lifted the edge of his lips further.

“Ah, that’s right. You will replace your father’s position in FLT.

Although your existence will never be published as the president, you will still be the largest shareholder.”

“I have no interest in such things.”

Tatsuya cut off Mitsugu’s words with a bored voice.

“The things that you’ve said just now are not to be decided at Kuroba-san’s discretion.”

Tatsuya implicitly said that Maya was the one to decide those.

“Such a verbal agreement can be interpreted as an intention to revolt.”

“….No, I have no such intention.”

The wicked smile disappeared from Mitsugu’s face as if the demon who had possessed him had left.

Perhaps, he realized that he was not acting like himself, Mitsugu’s head was facing down again in silence.

“Kuroba-san, the one who ordered Miyuki’s attendance for the New Year’s Gathering is Toushu-sama, Oba-ue. Miyuki and I can’t just be absent on our own discretion. You should understand that much right?”

“Even so.”

While keeping his eyes on the table at the reception room, Mitsugu said so in a low voice.

“I don’t wish to make Fumiya and Ayako sad.”

Tatsuya narrowed his eyes sharply.

“Are you sure?”

Mitsugu raised his face, and stared straight at Tatsuya.

“I have said to you that I don’t wish to make them sad. I won’t do anything.”

“So you will wait and see from the sidelines?”

“I’m neutral. Although sentimentally speaking, I am your enemy, but I won’t do anything for the sake of my children.”

Mitsugu erased the remaining traces of hostility and declared so.

Tatsuya perceived that as a fact.

“Why do you wish to separate Miyuki and I? You didn’t answer this despite giving me that other explanation.”

Mitsugu rose.

“I’ll answer you if you arrive at the Main House on time.”

Mitsugu looked down at Tatsuya while saying so in place of a farewell.

 

On the first day of the winter holiday, Miyuki was spending her time doing her homework when an unexpected visitor arrived sometime after she had eaten lunch.

“Miyuki-san, long time no see. You look very well.”

“Yuuka-san also hasn’t changed. Please take a seat.”

The visitor who sat opposite to Miyuki in the living room was Tsukuba Yuuka. She was the eldest daughter of the Tsukuba Family, a Branch Family of the Yotsuba Family. She was also one of the candidates to be the next Family Head.

She was 22 years old. She was a former vice president of First High’s Student Council, currently in her fourth year at the Magic University.

She had black hair at shoulder length with a 6:4 fringe ratio and styled in a way that revealed the piercings in her right ear. With perfect make up, she appeared to be a refined female college student.

The relationship between Miyuki and Yuuka, if summarized in a single word, was neutral. Alternatively, mutual non-intervention. She was not competitive like Ayako, or intimate like Fumiya, neither was she as hostile as Katsushige, the other Family Head candidate, the Shibata Family’s eldest son. Therefore, it was quite surprising that she paid a visit this way. It was much more likely for Katsushige to come and declare war in this situation.

Nevertheless, Yuuka was not hostile toward Miyuki. They were of equal standing in being candidates to be the next Head of the Yotsuba Family.

It was a given to let her in if she was coming to pay a visit, unless she came at an unearthly hour.

“It’s been about a year, since the last time we met at last New Year’s Gathering.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

“Even if we both live in Tokyo, the opportunity to see each other is unexpectedly scarce.”

“Tokyo is huge after all.”

“You’re right. It certainly feels so in times like these. Miyuki-san, you’re a sophomore in First High, right? Are you the Student Council President?”

“Yes, you’re well informed.”

“It is my alma mater after all. You have had quite a loud achievement, haven’t you?”


“I know it’s not favorable to attract so much attention at this stage, but I think it’s rude to hold back toward my opponents… Yuuka-san, you’ll be graduating soon right?”

“Yes. Although, I will be continuing into graduate school.”

“You will not directly proceed to help the Main House?”

“Seems like they want me to increase my value a little bit. At this late hour.”

While she neutrally answered Miyuki, Minami brought out the tea.

Although she was trying to be as natural as possible with her words, it was actually quite awkward. The phrase Yuuka used earlier, ‘loud achievements’, actually carried a deeper meaning which was ‘is it alright to be so conspicuous’ while Miyuki answered by explicitly saying ‘I know, but it’s rude to hold back my power’ in return. By answering so, she was criticizing Yuuka, who was hiding her power during her high school days.

After which, Miyuki asked if it was alright for her not to help the Main House, although her real question was ‘is it alright to leak out the Yotsuba’s secret technology to the university?’.

Regardless of her capability in engaging such a nasty tactic, it didn’t fit Miyuki’s taste. She was actually thankful for the arrival of tea at the right time to bring back the focus of the conversation.

“Then, Yuuka-san, what business do you have with me today?”

Miyuki and Yuuka brought back their cups to the saucers at the same time, and Miyuki asked her about the main issue.

At Miyuki’s straightforward question, Yuuka stopped beating around the bush.

“Why don’t we go together to the Main House for the upcoming New Year’s Gathering?”

“…Is that, an invitation to go to the Main House from Tokyo together?”

“Yes. Since I have a car, we can ride together.”

“Is it alright for me to hear your reason?”

Miyuki couldn’t hide the wariness that had been welling up in her mind.

It was unavoidable. After all, Yuuka was one of her rivals as a candidate for the next Family Head position. They had minimal exchanges even if she was a relative, so she was not so different as a stranger is in everyday life; she knew nothing about her besides her face.

Although her approach in this negotiation was rather immature, Yuuka paid no care about it. Yuuka, unlike most others, did not overestimate Miyuki’s halo effect. Even if Miyuki had both good looks and magic power, she was still a 16-year-old girl, a girl who was younger than Yuuka by 6 years. Yuuka clearly understood this.

“Reason, huh. Do I need to say it?”

Yuuka tried to avoid the topic by sweetly looking up at Miyuki. Miyuki responded with a cold look to that act of hers.

“I understand.”

Yuuka didn’t seem to seriously cheat her way out so she dropped her playful attitude immediately.

“My foremost reason is because my escort is gone.”

“No longer around? Yuuka-san’s Guardian is——”

Yuuka closed her eyes and shook her head several times to stop Miyuki from getting up from the sofa.

“She is no longer around. That is to say that she died before my very eyes.”

Miyuki covered her mouth only for a short time, before blinking again.

Miyuki was ashamed of her own ignorance. It was a given to understand that ‘no longer around’ was hinting at ‘has been killed’ if she had thought harder.

Although Yuuka was already an adult, she was a Magician of the Yotsuba. With her versatility with magic, it was rare for her to receive dangerous work requests, but it was not impossible. In other words, the possibility of her Guardian getting killed in a mission was not zero.

Moreover, she was a rare magician with a high aptitude in Outer Systematic Mental Interference Magic. There were also those who targeted her for her genetic qualities, knowing her magic beforehand.

“My… Condolences.”

Miyuki respectfully bowed, to which Yuuka shook her head from left to right for.

“Such an expression is not suitable. Her work was to risk her life to protect me, and she was fulfilling her responsibility. She has no need to worry anymore about being my substitute. If the other world is real, she must be breathing in relief that she no longer has a need to be ordered around at the mercy of a pampered girl.”

Yuuka’s excessively honest comments were making Miyuki

uncomfortable.

“Even though it’s the job of a Guardian, to make fun of someone who protected you with her own life… I wonder if that’s appropriate?”

Yuuka was shocked and blinked her eyes countless times.

“It’s because Miyuki-san’s Guardian is your own older brother. I’m sorry for inciting an unpleasant feeling.”

On the surface, Yuuka honestly bowed. However, her words seemed to hint at other feelings, so Miyuki did not really receive the supposedly honest apology from Yuuka.

“It is not unique to my brother and I. Putting aside the fact that Fumiya-kun does not have a Guardian, Katsushige-san does properly treasure Kotona-san, right?”

Tsutsumi Kotona was Shibata Katsushige’s Guardian, and it was an indisputable fact that Katsushige was taking care of Kotona. However, that case was an inappropriate example. Contrary to Miyuki’s intention to encourage Yuuka to reflect, it made her laugh calmly instead.

“Well, Katsushige-san and Kotona-san are like ‘that’ after all.”

Miyuki turned her stare aside in disappointment at Yuuka who continued to laugh and giggle. She couldn’t deny the blunder that she’d just made.

“Anyway, without having Onii-sama and I together with you, you can arrange an escort immediately right? Unlike us, Yuuka-san, you have the Tsukuba Family with you after all.”

Yuuka stopped laughing, she saw the glance from Miyuki.

“Well, that’s true.”

Yuuka sat upright towards her.

“It’s hard to find someone who’s on par with your brother… Moreover, it’s not bad for Miyuki-san, too, right? It’s impossible to take a taxi all the way to the Main House after all, and Tatsuya-san only has a license for a motorbike right?”

Indeed, she couldn’t exactly tell a taxi driver to drive all the way to the Yotsuba Family’s House which was not located on the map, and it was impossible for a motorbike to bring too many things.

However, that was never a problem from the beginning.

“As long as I contact them beforehand, I can request for a car to pick us up at the station. I have done so since last year, and I will be doing so this year as well.”

Miyuki was the niece of the current Family Head, regardless of her position in being a next Family Head candidate. It was a given that she was treated as a VIP to the extent of picking her up from the station.

“Yuuka-san as well, didn’t you do the same until last year?”

Car driving had reached the level of semi-auto drive. Even without the support of the transport system, the burden of driving was already much lesser than in the past.

Even so, the fatigue brought on by driving was not completely eliminated. It took only two hours to travel from Tokyo to the Main House, but it was much easier to take a ride to the nearest station and have people to pick them up from there. There was no need to specifically drive on her own.

“I don’t mind that either. However, it’s best if you don’t do that.”

“Why is that so? There hasn’t been any inconvenience until now.”

“Until last time, that is. However, it’s better to stop that for now. I can’t say the reason though.”

Can’t say the reason, which meant that it was not only her ungrounded concern, but rather Yuuka had very clear grounds for her reasoning.

“Yuuka-san, is there something that you know?”

“I can’t say that.”

“…Why, can’t I do so even if it’s the same as last year? What kind of merit will I get in going together with Yuuka-san?”

“I can’t say that either.”

Miyuki stared deeply at her, but Yuuka was warding it off with innocent eyes.

“…I see.”

The one who broke the stance was Miyuki.

It wasn’t due to her weakness. Miyuki simply did not have any means to make Yuuka talk.

Even if she used magic.

Yotsuba Magicians were categorized into two, those who specialized in Mental Interference Magic and those that possessed a unique, powerful magic. Miyuki specialized in an extremely powerful and unique Mental Interference Magic, hence, she possessed both traits. On the other hand, Yuuka was only a typical Mental Interference Magician.

Regardless of their capabilities in defeating an opponent, Yuuka was more versatile in techniques used to force others to confess secrets. At the very least, she was not using any violence on the surface but a way to extract information without force.

“Regarding your offer, I will answer you after consulting with my brother.”

“Really? Then, I’m expecting a good answer from the both of you.”

Yuuka stood up from the sofa.

She said to Minami ‘the tea was delicious’ when the entrance was opened, and left with a rough greeting of ‘see you’ to Miyuki who was sending her out from the Shiba’s home.

 

“Yuuka-san… Such a thing.”

When Tatsuya reached home, he heard of Yuuka’s visit and offer from Miyuki and he stopped to think for a while. Of course, he was unable to draw any conclusion from Yuuka’s, no, the Tsukuba Family’s intention only from that much exchange of words. However, after hearing Yuuka’s offer and Mitsugu’s unreasonable request, he couldn’t help but think that these two occurrences were unmistakably related with one another.

“She did not try to give a vague reason, but told you that she ‘can’t’ say it?”

“Yes. It seems like she was hiding something that she knew about.”

In other words, something was going to happen. It was not only at the level of conjecture, but determined information. And that something was going to happen during the New Year’s Gathering, no, along the way to the Main House from here.

There was a possibility that Yuuka’s remarks were made in order to cause paranoia for Tatsuya and Miyuki, which would discourage them from going to the New Year’s Gathering. However, when taking into consideration Mitsugu’s intimidation (that there’d be attempts of attack against us) into account, the possibility seemed to elevate.

(Where will they attack? More importantly, who’s the target? Miyuki?

Or is it me?)

If it were Tatsuya, it would not be uncommon. Whenever he did any secret missions, he was always careful not to let others know about his identity. There shouldn’t even be any witnesses. However, if he let someone slip away by mistake, and the organization where that person came from swore to take revenge regardless of the risk, it wouldn’t be strange to have one or two enemies like that.

However, if it were a temporary retaliation of an illegal organization, he had no idea as to why they’d choose this kind of timing.

If they chose an out-of-sight place, the result would be the exact opposite for a magician opponent. Besides, the attack could let him turn the tables with ‘self-defense’ as an excuse, so this method had a high risk.

On the other hand, if the target were Miyuki, the mastermind could be narrowed down to nearly a single cause: the succession to be the Yotsuba Family Head. Tatsuya thought that it did not hold any worth to beat other families just to get the status of Family Head. If Miyuki wished to decline, Tatsuya wouldn’t even mind. From his point of view, the other candidates seemed to be reluctant as well. The eager ones were the adults.

Still, there wasn’t anything that would need drastic action to suit the adult’s convenience. The route from the station to the Main House was also home ground for the Branch Families of the Yotsuba. It was a perfect venue for cover-ups or assault-and-feign-innocence.

If the target were Miyuki, it would be better to accept Yuuka’s offer.

There was a possibility that the assailant would retreat if they knew that Yuuka was with them, and he would be getting help from the Tsukuba Family if they were actually attacked.

On the contrary, if Tatsuya was the target, they would likely be forced into a disadvantage if Yuuka was with them. It would cause him to suffer more serious collateral damage if he was to accept Yuuka’s proposal.

Nevertheless, they might be forced to make a certain concession if he were to accept Yuuka’s proposal. Yuuka might be forced to do it by the assailant’s instruction. Yet, the collateral damage received by Yuuka will remain to be a debt to both Tatsuya and Miyuki. In the end, the one who would gain the most would be Yuuka. Even if she felt no benefit with possessing the next Family Head position, it was a disadvantage for them to be indebted to another party who might become the next head.

“Let’s reject it.”

After thinking things through for a long while, Tatsuya stated his conclusion. Within his mind, a voice kept telling him that it was alright to accept Yuuka’s offer. His intuition also whispered the same.

However, the benefits were too uncertain, and he judged that the disadvantages were greater if he were to accept Yuuka’s offer.

“Understood. Then, I’ll contact Yuuka-san.”

She didn’t use the telephone with the large display in the living room, so she probably intended to contact Yuuka from a smaller display terminal in her room. Miyuki bowed to her brother and went up to the second floor.

 

“I’m sorry, even though you offered us…”

“I feel disappointed, but don’t mind it. It was a sudden request after all.”

“I’m really sorry.”

“It’s alright. However, if you encounter anything, don’t hold back to contact me.”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

“Then, I’ll wait for your further contact.”

After putting back the video phone on the table, Yuuka laid her back on the large sofa in her living room. She even extended her feet in relaxation. It was a little disgraceful kind of conduct for a young lady, but she was currently living in the apartment alone. There were neither servants nor her mother to preach to her about manners here.

Before she reached 20, her mother and housekeepers alternately came, but all of them stopped coming as soon as she had turned 20. In Yuuka’s consciousness, she was enjoying 20 years’ worth of freedom for the past two years. Since her housemate who didn’t really talk much was gone, she had the whole place as her private space. She was thinking that a free, unrestrained life was good.

While she was still relaxing, she mulled over Miyuki’s response to her offer.

It was within her calculations that Miyuki would reject the offer. Rather, it would have been a surprise for Miyuki to accept her offer, given the limited information that Yuuka gave. There was a possibility that Miyuki thought that she would request the next Family Head position from Miyuki.

Anyways, Yuuka was not particularly interested in gaining the status of becoming the Yotsuba Family Head.

In the first place no matter how many candidates were selected, there was no meaning besides adjusting the appearance. Furthermore, if they were to comply with the Yotsuba’s rules faithfully, Shiba Miyuki would be fully determined as the next Family Head. Currently, there was no better magician than Miyuki in the Yotsuba. Even when compared to the current Family Head, Maya, Miyuki was still better as a magician. At the very least, the Tsukuba Family knew this fact.

Yuuka, no, the Tsukuba Family, had decided two years ago that they would support Miyuki as the next Family Head. Since then, Yuuka was released from the monitoring and fuss, as it was assumed that she would not to be the next Family Head of the Yotsuba. Though, they didn’t give up the candidacy in order to use it to maintain sway as with the other Branch Families.

“Moreover, Miyuki-san has that ‘Onii-sama’, too.”

Yuuka knew what happened last year on the 31st of October at the Tsushima Base and the southern tip of Korean Peninsula. She also knew of what happened in Okinawa, back in August from four years ago.

“I’m not even sure I can win against Miyuki-san alone, much less when she has such a powerful human weapon as her ally.”

Yuuka had no drinking habit. This time, however, she thought that it would be better if she drank some.

She recalled the instance when she gave in to her mood and ended up having a hangover (fortunately the drugs developed for hangovers were able to immediately take effect), even before she brought the cup to her mouth.

“Even so… To have Tatsuya-san to serve her, that is just crazy. Even though there is no guarantee that he would keep quiet forever.”

Instead of a glass of wine, she poured out a bright red brewed rose hip tea to a glass tea cup, for the sake of their similar appearances, and drank the tea before her in one go.

“Shibata Oji-sama, Kuroba Oji-sama, and Shizuka Oji-sama, too, why do they have such enmity towards Tatsuya-san? I thought that Tatsuya-san is an important force for the Yotsuba though…”

She tilted the glass tea cup slightly, and Yuuka frowned a little. On top of the high temperature, the color emphasized that it was too darkly brewed.

“No, it’s not only the Oji-sama’s… Even the Main House’s staff also treat Tatsuya like a failure. The servants treat him so rudely, what the hell is the meaning behind all that?”

Yuuka took a sip of the rose hip tea. She was probably used to the sour taste, as she did not make a frown on her face this time.

“Okaa-sama also never told me why Tatsuya-san receives such treatment… I wonder if there is such a deep-rooted karma to this extent?”

Yuuka placed the tea cup with half of its contents on the table. She went to the bathroom right behind her, while a HAR manipulator came down from the ceiling to send the cup to the kitchen.

If Miyuki were to be the next Family Head in this upcoming New Year’s Gathering, the reason behind Tatsuya’s unnatural diminishing treatment might also be revealed. Yuuka thought so, voicelessly.

 





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