Chapter 5
A week had passed since Tatsuya and Miyuki had received that phone call from Lina.
Lina's communication had been last Tuesday, and since today was Monday, six days had passed. There were still no clues about the terrorist attack or Heigu. This was the case not only for Tatsuya, but also Maya and Canopus as well, none of whom had made progress in the search for Heigu. Furthermore, today was February 4th. The Master Clans Conference would be held in two days' time.
The Master Clans Conference is the summit for the Japanese Magic Community. Even for Ancient Magicians who didn't even accept the Ten Master Clans as the Leaders of Magicians, they couldn't deny the influence of the Master Clans Conference. Especially this year, the Ten Master Clans Selection Meeting would be held on the second day. It would decide the next Ten Master Clans for the next 4 years, which heightened the Magician's concerns even more.
The students of First High, too, were restless since early morning. Though they were only High School Students, being Magicians themselves, they couldn't help being concerned. Especially for people who are related to the Ten Master Clans and the 18 Assistant Houses, or people associated with the Ten Master Clans whose probability for selection was low, were anxious to the point of being incapable of concentrating in school.
As Miyuki entered Class 2-A, the students reacted by freezing in shock, and silence fell upon the room.
"Good morning, Shizuku, Honoka." Miyuki greeted Shizuku in the seat in front and Honoka standing adjacent to Shizuku. With a greeting, she removed the spell on her classmates.
"Miyuki!? Why did you come to school!?" Honoka let out a voice similar to a scream. With that, Class 2-A was filled with the loud buzz of commotion.
"Why... Isn't today a weekday. For a High School Student to come to school is a given, isn't it? Or since when have I been ostracized by my friends? Or could it be bullying?" Miyuki tilted her head with one hand on her cheek, making a troubled expression.
In response to the unexpected counterattack, Honoka was bewildered. Shizuku too had a face which indicated that she had no idea as to how she could assist her. However, the troubles of the two did not continue for long.
"I apologize, that was a joke." A quick smile slipped out of Miyuki that turned into a giggle.
"I thought you would be absent? Today's the Master Clans Conference after all."
"Y-Yeah!" Honoka who followed-up, anxiously drew closer to Miyuki.
"Miyuki, is it fine to not go to the Conference? After all, this time, they're holding the selection meeting, too? Since you're the successor, ah..." Honoka covered her mouth with her hand, showing an expression that she messed up. The classmates who heard this, turned away all at once.
"Even though I would prefer it if you weren't so bothered about it..."
Miyuki put on a smile of embarrassment. But the classmates who, until recently, were concerned about her, couldn't help but worry about her attendance.
"So Miyuki, is it okay to not go?" Following Miyuki's statement, Shizuku asked a rather bland question to break the sour mood.
"Well, I wasn't invited to go."
As Miyuki answered while smiling, gazes which seemed to say "Eh?" gathered around her.
"I wonder if Honoka and Shizuku don't know this. The venue of the Master Clans Conference is a secret to everyone except the attendees. For the 18 Assistant Houses attending the Selection Meeting, as of today, they are only informed about the approximate location, with the specifics about the room being used still unknown."
"But Miyuki is..." To Honoka revealing her surprise, Miyuki pleasantly smiled. It paralyzed Honoka's tongue and throat.
"I wasn't invited. Thus, I don't even know where the meeting will take place. It's not that I take no interest in the contents of the meeting but if I don't even know the general location, there's no way I can go, right?"
"That's true." In place of Honoka who had started blushing quietly, Shizuku nodded in agreement to Miyuki's words.
At the same time, something similar was happening in Class 2-E.
"Hmm? Tatsuya-san, why did you come to school?"
"Good morning, Mizuki. To greet me with such a question in the morning."
"Eh, ah, no, about that... I'm sorry."
It wasn't that Tatsuya particularly felt uncomfortable but for him to say such a thing was natural. Tatsuya had never taken long periods of absence from school, so to be questioned, "Why did you come to school", on a Monday, the question coming out of nowhere was nothing less than a rarity.
But on this day, it wasn't just Mizuki who seemed to have forgotten her common sense.
"Tatsuya-kun, is it alright for you to come to school!?" Opening the window noisily, Erika cried out loud without any prior greeting.
"Erika... why do you all want me to be absent?"
The sight of Tatsuya frowning in displeasure, beside an embarrassed Mizuki entered Erika's sight.
"A, ahahahahahahaha."
Realizing her attitude to be a little senseless, she revealed a false smile. Somethings were impossible, even for her.
"But still, Tatsuya. Isn't today the start of the Master Clans Conference? Is it fine to not go there?"
Fortunately for Erika, she wasn't the only one who dared to venture into the minefield.
"Why would you want to know?" In response to Leo's question, without trying to play the fool, Tatsuya curiously asked a question of his own.
"I think that to not be interested would be strange." As Erika replied to Tatsuya's question, Leo nodded his head in agreement.
'These two are really getting along now,' Tatsuya thought while putting out another question.
"As I said, why? Well, it does seem the amount of interested people is rather numerous but..."
While saying that, Tatsuya glanced backwards, and his classmates hurriedly averted their eyes.
"If you think that my relation to the Yotsuba Family is a good enough reason, then you would be mistaken. Just because a person is blood- related to the Ten Master Clans does not mean he or she can participate in the Master Clans Conference. For example, as the successor of the Juumonji Family, Juumonji-senpai attending is a given but, Saegusa- senpai is unlikely to be attending."
"...So that's how it works?" Leo wore a face that lost interest. Conversely, Erika had an expression that seemed to express her content.
"Therefore, even if I did know the location of the conference, I'm not interested in going. In the middle of the conference, rather than to be bored waiting, it would be more beneficial to go to school and take lessons."
"But still, aren't you interested in the contents discussed in the Master Clans Conference?"
"I'm not allowed to attend, so even if I wanted to go now, I have no way of doing so. All the results of the conference will be publicized. There's no way for me to know the process of the discussion."
"Haa... in the end, we only need to follow the announcement huh?"
"That is indeed the case."
If the discussion ended here, it would have been resolved under the category of small talk.
"In the end, powerless small fry Magicians can only follow something you decided? That sounds like something Ten Master Clans-sama would say.
A loud monologue resounded throughout the quiet classroom which had been listening to Tatsuya.
The source was diagonally behind Tatsuya. More accurately, it was diagonally behind Mizuki.
"What? You have something you want to say?"
Using her sharp eyes, Erika glared at Hirakawa Chiaki, the student who had voiced such words.
Chiaki didn't answer Erika's question. If that was the extent of her reaction, it would have ended fine. But, Chiaki looked away. Erika's eyes twitched upwards at the provocation. Erika, who was at the window, walked in through the door. Then, she headed towards Chiaki.
"Wait a moment! Chiba-san, calm down!" The one who hastily blocked Erika's way was a male student.
Not yielding to Erika's spirit, he tried to resolve the situation peacefully as if he was the class rep. The student in question was Tomitsuka, a man who fit the definition of a worrywart.
"Tomitsuka-kun, could you stand down? I have something to say to that girl."
"No, that will definitely end badly!"
Tomitsuka, who certainly understood what Erika meant by "something to say", tried desperately to dissuade Erika. But, as if to ruin his efforts, Chiaki stood up behind Tomitsuka.
"Isn't it true?"
"What?" Over the shoulder of Tomitsuka, the two girls glared at each other.
"Chiba-san, err, lessons will be starting soon...?" Acting like a shield for Chiaki, Tomitsuka still tried to arbitrate the issue.
"There's still 5 minutes." But was tragically shot down.
"So, Hirakawa-san, answer me?" The intensity of Erika's gaze was such that it could even cause a grown man to shudder. Chiaki's knees were currently trembling, but she still bravely replied.
"The fact he's related to the Ten Master Clans! Are you telling me I'm wrong?!"
"And? It may be true that Tatsuya-kun is related to the Ten Master Clans, so what? Even if someone's parents are from the Ten Master Clans, the children aren't necessarily involved as well."
"Sophistry. Chicanery. Being a member of the Yotsuba Family behind our backs, he hid it and deceived us!"
"Perhaps a young girl who was fortunately brought up in a normal household may not know, but children who do not take their parents' surnames is not a rare occurrence in the Magician Community."
Chiaki's tongue was tied and she was unable to reply due to the fact she knew Erika was telling the truth. That fact was common knowledge.
"Wha-Why..."
"Nn? If you have something you want to say, just be out with it." Erika's contemptuous tone angered Chiaki. Rage broke any reason left in her.
"Chiba-san, why are you getting angry because of that guy!? Do you like him or something!?"
The classmates who had been spectating the argument frowned. This was because Chiaki's reasoning was sorely lacking in dignity for a High School Student. To put it crudely, ‘Whether someone likes someone or not, what does it matter? Aren't you being an idiot?' was what they felt.
"Are you an idiot?" Erika spoke those thoughts aloud.
"Do I like Tatsuya-kun? I'm not so reckless." Hearing Erika's objection the students of Class 2-E tilted their necks in puzzlement.
"To be a love rival against Miyuki, I've seen the horrors it can bring. I'd rather not risk my life in such a dangerous scenario for love."
If Miyuki had heard her, the situation wouldn't have ended so simply. Even sympathizing with that statement would be dangerous. But, excluding Tatsuya, Chiaki and Tomitsuka –– In short the spectating students of Class 2-E –– deeply nodded in agreement at Erika's words.
"Ah, to seriously argue against such a dolt, I must look like quite the fool." Saying that, Erika briskly walked out.
"Tatsuya-kun, I'll be returning. See you next time."
"Ah, see you next time." Returning a wave to Tatsuya, she smiled and left Class 2-E. The end result was that Chiaki successfully drove off Erika. But Chiaki was left standing and trembling in embarrassment.
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