Chapter 2
The 7th of April, 2097. Today, in the nine schools of magic concurrently, is the admission ceremony.
Three members of the school board, Tatsuya, Miyuki and Minami, came to school 2 hours before the ceremony.
Entering the backstage of the assembly hall, they met Mikihiko, Izumi, Kasumi and Mitsuya Shiina waiting for them.
"Good morning everyone." Not Tatsuya, the president of the school council Miyuki first welcomed the schoolchildren who came earlier.
"Good morning, Miyuki-senpai! Today, too, you are even more..."
"Yes, yes, stop, stop. Good morning, President Shiba, Shiba-senpaii, Sakurai-san."
This morning Izumi's tension was also ready to jump, but Kasumi prevented this, interrupting it. Miyuki, with a smile in which there was not a trace of surprise, greeted Kasumi and Izumi in turn, then turned to Shiina.
"Mitsuya-san, I made you wait?"
"No, nothing like that. I just came, sooner than I needed to..." Shiina waved her head, showing a denial. In this action was the charm of a pretty little animal.
She was short, below Kasumi and Izumi. Obviously, above the former president of Azusa, but at the same time she was similar to the atmosphere Azusa created around herself, and not by a physique. But just looking adult, she did not feel that weakness. At least that's how she saw Tatsuya.
When she waved her head, hidden headphones with neck straps appeared from under the swaying lush air hair. Their color was the same as that of the hair - olive brown.
She had previously said at the meeting that she would take something less noticeable. Perhaps this is for her routine, because it looked very neat.
(It feels like a daughter raised in a good family,) thought Tatsuya.
"Before going to the final meeting, Mitsuya-san, can I ask you something?"
"Ah~ ...yes. What is it, Shiba-senpai?" She could not hide the tension on her face, but still answered, looking Tatsuya straight in the eyes.
Tatsuya revised his assessment of Shiina in the depths of her mind.
"Is a guy with long hair gathered behind in a ponytail, standing outside the assembly hall your friend?"
Hearing Tatsuya's words, Minami's expression "Eh?" Appeared. Like Miyuki's guard, she was going to follow the neighborhood. Guys with long hair at the present time - a rarity. She thought that such a guy would have noticed.
"Long hair .. Ah~, are you talking about Saburou-kun?" However, Shiina seems to understand who he is talking about.
"His name is Saburou-kun? He hides himself rather skillfully."
"I think, undoubtedly, that this guy is my friend, Yaguruma Saburou-kun. "I" from "bow with arrows", "guruma" from "wheel", the first part of the name, as "samurai", and "ro", as in the name "Jiro",
"Yaguruma Saburou." In any case... oh, this Saburou-kun, why was he hiding?" Shiina frowned in embarrassment, and in her voice read the subtext "there's absolutely nothing you can do about it."
[note. trans.: Shiina lists the hieroglyphs of the surname and name Saburou, explaining how to write them using the example of known words. A common practice for the Japanese with an oral explanation of spelling.]
"Judging by your words, you are not just acquaintances? It seems that you are quite close friends."
"This is because we have been friends since childhood."
Shiina's cheeks blushed slightly, and she looked away from Tatsuya.
This expression of a person with lowered eyes, undoubtedly, made the others suspect the presence of a romantic relationship. However, Tatsuya guessed from Shiina's behavior that a guy named Yaguruma Saburou was an escort assigned to her by the Mitsuya family.
Of course, he did not say anything, so as not to interfere in the internal affairs of another of the Ten Master Clans. This was because Tatsuya did not know about his poor ability to evaluate others.
"Today, both the cafeteria and the canteen are closed, there is more than an hour left before the opening of the assembly hall, and newcomers will be admitted to the school building only after the admission ceremony.
He can wait here."
What Tatsuya said, in fact, was good intentions (or sympathy), based on personal experience two years ago. He noticed that there was no emblem on the chest of that guy.
"Everything is fine. After all, Saburou-kun is surprisingly self-assured ...
that is, adamant. However, thanks for your concern."
"I see."
Almost simultaneously with Tatsuya's answer, Honoka burst into the room, hastily apologizing:
"Sorry for being late!"
Miyuki told Honoka that she was just in time, and Tatsuya turned to everyone:
"Let's begin the final check."
The reception ceremony ended in a solemn atmosphere and without problems. Undoubtedly, the calm atmosphere was caused by the curiosity of newcomers, parents and guests regarding the members of the school board.
They were particularly interested in Miyuki the president of the school council. After all, it's about the school where they go. In addition to the most reckless newcomers and their parents, everyone always pays attention to First High . Therefore, most students knew that the current president of the school board of First High is the heir of the same Yotsuba family.
Miyuki also collected the views of most of those who saw her in the images and broadcasts from the Nine Schools Competition. But again, they remained in a state of disbelief of the unearthly beauty seen by the living and the awareness of a direct relationship with the Yotsuba family.
Simple novices and their parents could not resist the pressure created by the beauty of Miyuki and the imagination of the Yotsuba family.
And the "uneasy" parents, too, could not ease the tension from the hidden unlimited magical power of Miyuki and the possibility of having an ominous hidden power in Tatsuya who is always with her.
The only moment of diminished atmosphere was the time of reading the representative newcomers address by Shiina. It was impossible to praise the "fluency" of the speech, calling it "gorgeous." Often stammering, she somehow found the strength to continue, and after completing the reading, leaving with a sense of accomplishment, she looked like "giving all her strength."
However, it was so touching for the thick-skinned "guests" that they surrounded and stopped Shiina, who seemed to them to be the correct freshman, innocent and unreliable. Compared with Miyuki two years ago, Shiina was released much faster. (The situation seems different when the representative is a guy, because last year there was no such performance.)
Also, as Tatsuya had suggested last night, Miyuki was not vigorously affiliated with the guests. Long held by Miyuki last year, Congressman Ueno, this year retreated at the very beginning.
Thanks to this, the time of conversations with Shiina ended earlier than expected.
Shiina-chan.
Izumi-san?
Waiting for the crowd around Shiina to begin to thin, Izumi called her.
The ring of guests around Shiina dissolved naturally.
Among the people associated with magic, it was widely known that Izumi was the youngest daughter of the Saegusa family. She was also Koichi's most beloved daughter. The betrayal of Saegusa Koichi at the Conference of the Master Clans was ordered to remain silent. For people connected with magic outside the "28 Houses" the Saegusa family is still the pearl of the magical world of Japan, along with the family of Yotsuba. Among the guests invited to the ceremony of entering First High of Guests, there was no one who had the courage to disappoint the Saegusa family.
"It was a perfect response."
"Thank you very much... So, what do you have for me?" Despite the shyness of the compliment to Izumi, Shiina firmly asked why she called her. Izumi knew that in spite of the fluffy atmosphere, Shiina was pretty smart. Therefore, she was not surprised by this guess of Shiina.
"I need to discuss with you one question, so will you give me some time?"
"Yes, I do not mind. Izumi-san, should I go with you?"
"Yes please. By the way, do you not want to call Saburou-kun?"
"After the inauguration ceremony there will be a conversation with the school board, Saburou-kun should also know this." Shiina did not show a drop of excitement when she heard the name of a childhood friend that was suddenly mentioned.
The place where Izumi took Shiina was the room of the school board.
There they were expected by Miyuki and Minami.
"Mitsuya-san, thank you for coming."
Miyuki rose from the chair of the school board president, and headed for the meeting table. Izumi placed Shiina opposite Miyuki.
"First, sit down, please." Smiling, Miyuki pointed to the place opposite.
Looking at Izumi's face, Shiina crouched timidly. After that Minami and Izumi sat down on each side of Miyuki.
A cup of tea was put before Shiina. After trying to thank, she saw that it was a 3H (Humanoid Home Helper), and rounded her eyes.
"Surprised? This 3H "Pixie" belongs to my fiancé and helps with the different routine affairs of the school board."
Miyuki smiled to ease the strain of Shiina.
Shiina was fascinated for a while with this smile. Quickly pulling herself together, she showed an embarrassed smile. But on the face it was visible, that pressure became less.
"I think you've heard from Vice President Saegusa about the custom of the school board of this school."
"Yes, I understand what you mean."
Shiina confirmed what Miyuki had said. To be honest, the question Miyuki was about to ask was already decided informally between Shiina and Izumi. Shiina's call here was only a necessary formality.
"Clear. Then, considering this, I will ask. Do you want to become a member of the school board?"
"It's a great honor for me. I respectfully ask you to let me work with you."
Miyuki slightly relaxed her face. She was not worried about the refusal, like last year, because Izumi had already told her about the consent.
However, she could not calm down until the issue was really resolved.
Miyuki also realized that she had, you might say, a similar problem in her time, and this also caused calm.
"In that case, starting tomorrow, Mitsuya-san starts working as a secretary of the school board. About the details of the work you can learn from Sakurai-san."
"I am Secretary of Sakurai Minami. Mitsuya-san, I will be happy to work with you."
?
?
Following the words of Miyuki, Minami bowed and introduced herself.
"Please take care of me!"
Apparently, because of the excitement of the seniors, Shiina greatly nervous, bowed timidly.
"Um, President, Sakurai-senpai. I do not mind if you just call me Shiina." She suggested.
"I understand, Shiina-chan. Will that work?"
"Yes, please."
Such a friendly response from Miyuki helped Shiina finally relax.
With the issuance of ID cards, the first part of the receipt ceremony was completed. For first-year students, they opened a school building, despite the fact that it was Sunday.
Many newcomers went to see their classrooms and make friends with classmates whom they will spend together this year. The other students got bored together and went off to eat. This description suited most freshmen.
But, as they say, any rule has exceptions. This year, too, was a student, not suitable for templates.
After completing the formalities of the inauguration ceremony, Tatsuya left the assembly hall, leaving the cleaning and locking of the doors to the staff of the school and teachers. With him were also Mikihiko, Honoka and Shizuku. Mikihiko, as head of the disciplinary committee, listened to the final report from each member of the committee. Honoka, as a representative of the school board, checked the equipment. And Shizuku, quite simply, left to compose the company Honoka.
From the entrance to the assembly hall to the entrance to the building of the school go not far. Passing this small path, Mikihiko suddenly stopped with an amazed face.
"Mikihiko, what happened?"
"...Did someone use a spell?"
Hearing Mikihiko's answer to Tatsuya's question, the accompanying Honoka and Shizuku exchanged glances.
"A ancient magic spell?"
"It looks like... Maybe it's Vigilance. This is a spell that collects sounds from a specified remote location."
"An eavesdropping spell?"
"Hmm, well, in principle it is true..."
Shizuku did not know how to react to Mikihiko's sluggish speech, joke or scold. However, he quickly revived.
"It seems that he trained a lot. The level of skill is quite high. But the output power of the spell is low. Is this deliberate containment of strength or lack of ability...?"
"High skill with meager abilities?"
"Tatsuya, do you know anything?"
Tatsuya's voice showed that he thought he might know the identity of the user of this technique. But he did not answer the question of Mikihiko.
"Do you know where he is?"
Hearing Tatsuya's question, Mikihiko closed his eyes. Then he slowly began to turn his head, as if looking around. After making a third of the turnover, Mikihiko opened his eyes and answered with a confident voice Tatsuya's question:
"It seems that somewhere in the vicinity of a small sports hall number 1."
"Tatsuya-san... Today, after the ceremony did not a small gym open?
Tatsuya agreed with Honoka:"
"Correct. Club activities are also absent at the weekend. In any case, let's go and look at the place."
"Better to see once than hear a hundred times. No one objected to Tatsuya's opinion."
At this time in the room of the school board passed a tea party. Despite the fact that it was time for Shiina to go home, she stayed here, waiting for Tatsuya and Honoka to greet them again.
"By the way, Shiina-chan."
Waiting for a pause in a lively conversation about the high school days between Izumi and Shiina, Miyuki set the cup of coffee on the table and spoke to Shiina.
"Yes, president?"
Shiina turned to Miyuki with a very tense face. At this point, she was absolutely not ready for this.
"Someone has recently tried to penetrate this room with perception magic, is not this the childhood friend of the kun Shiina-chan? It seems that his name was Yaguruma Saburou-kun."
Miyuki smiled in a friendly way. But there was a mysterious light in her eyes.
"Er?"
On the one hand, she was depressed by Miyuki's gaze. But more than this, Shiina was shocked by what she heard from Miyuki. After a brief stupor, Shiina quickly took off her headphones with a quick movement of her hand.
"Shiina-chan, that's okay!"
Izumi panicked when she saw this. Miyuki looked calmly at Shiina, understanding why she had done it. Trying to speak with Shiina, Miyuki stopped Minami with a gesture of a finger attached to her lips.
The sound and magic perception of Shiina are not related to each other.
This is different from Mizuki, who uses aura-blocking glasses to contain the power of her magic perception. However, Shiina felt that removing earplugs (headphones with volume control) would exacerbate the perception of external magical waves. Without headphones that physically weaken the sound, Shiina cannot lead everyday life.
Forced adjustment of the hearing by magic will spoil the magic perception, which will make the use of magic difficult. When she wears headphones, there is no problem with using magic, but she becomes insensitive to external magic interference. Therefore, she did not notice the perception magic aimed at the school board room. The dilemma of Shiina (in this case we can say "three" lemma) could not be solved, except that the surrounding people tried not to make noise.
Shiina, with half-closed eyes, concentrating her mind, looked for a while as if listening to barely noticeable sounds, and soon after that she opened her eyes.
"Saburou-kun, what are you doing...!" There was more anger in her voice than surprise. In addition, this anger was caused by shame.
"Shiina-chan, I think you'd better wear headphones first." said Miyuki, after which the part of anger disappeared from the face of Shiina.
Instead, her cheeks instantly turned red. Wearing the headphones hanging around the neck again, the still red Shiina looked away shyly to the floor.
"Um, sorry... For the impolite behavior of my friend .." she said in a fading, fading voice.
"Do not worry about that. To all important places, including the school board room, especially strict protective measures are applied."
Not immediately realizing what Miyuki said, Shiina showed her hesitant face for a while.
"...Protective measures, is it something like a barrier?"
"The principle of action is very similar. Two years ago in our school there was one small incident, and since then we have concluded a contract with a specialist to enhance security."
Thinking for a few seconds about the "little incident," Shiina finally understood something and gave an ambiguous "Hmm...". The older sister told Siena what happened in First High 2 years ago. She was shocked to hear that Miyuki called the invasion of armed terrorists a "small"
incident.
"Is Yaguruma-kun - bodyguard of Shiina-chan?"
However, with Miyuki's next question, the oppressive pressure of Shiina was dispelled.
"Yes, no, that is, it's a bit different..."
This time the senseless answer of the agitated Shiina made Miyuki think.
Izumi at that moment, looking with pity at Shiina came to the rescue.
"Miyuki-sempai, Yaguruma is a family completely subordinate to the Mitsuya family, and all her people combine the work of servants and bodyguards. Saburou-kun was to become Shiina-chan's personal bodyguard, because they are of the same age, but they refused him to enter the senior school after that. Correct, Shiina-chan?"
"Y-yes, this is..."
Shiina's evasiveness was due to the fact that she did not want the reason to be heard. Even in a place where he does not hear (eavesdropping is impossible, according to the president of the school board), she could not say aloud that he was removed from the position of guard because of the lack of magical talent. Shiina knew that this decision was very painful for Saburou.
"That's how... In other words, is Shiina-chan incapable of controlling Yaguru,a-kun's behavior?"
"Ah, yes."
But Miyuki's question was unexpected for Shiina. Having said "this is a problem...", Miyuki became thoughtful.
"In that case, unauthorized use of magic is considered a personal decision of Yaguruma-kun... In that case, one cannot hope for mitigating circumstances."
This remark of Miyuki left no room for misunderstanding. Therefore, Shiina could not say a word.
"Even if you subtract that the attempt of magic failed... To show such a poor discipline at the very beginning of the semester... What do you think, Izumi-chan?"
Shiina stared at Miyuki, who turned to Izumi, stunned. She did not stop them.
"Since I know him a little, I would ask for condescending measures for him... On the other hand, I think we cannot answer too gently. Because other students are adversely affected by the realization that those involved in the Ten Master Clans can go unpunished, violating school rules."
"Please wait a bit!"
She rose sharply. Her words spoken in a hurry were difficult to make out, but she was able to draw the attention of Miyuki and Izumi.
"Saburou-kun did not agree with this! So he did something so stupid!"
When Miyuki looked at her, Shiina continued to speak in an agitated tone.
"'I did not agree with this'? Do you mean that he did not agree that he was removed from the position of your bodyguard?"
"...Right." With a confused face, Shiina answered Miyuki's question.
Following a slightly receding wave of excitement, a wave of shame swept over her.
"In other words, did Yaguruma-kun try to find out the state of the school council room with the aim of ensuring the security of Shiina-chan?" Miyuki said this not to tease Shiina.
"Right. The main reason for the incident is that the Mitsuya family could not convince Saburou-kun. We had to convince him correct.
Therefore, if he acted for me, then it is my duty to stop him. It's incompetence for me as a leader. Saburou-kun will receive a severe reprimand from me, and this will not happen again." She spoke with caution, avoiding words she could not say. "Therefore, please, only this time, forgive Saburou-kun for his stupid act!"
"Shiina-chan. Do you understand the meaning of your recognition of responsibility for Saburou-kun?"
And in Miyuki's voice, in behavior and eyes, there was softness and kindness. However, to answer this question, Shiina had to collect all her will power.
"...I understand."
"Izumi-chan, what do you think? I believe we can trust Shiina-chan."
"I also think that this time it will be ok." Izumi answered with a smile.
With this smile, she was more like her father Koichi than her older sister Mayumi.
"Many thanks!" Shiina bowed deeply. She understood the meaning of the words "this time," uttered by Izumi.
Tatsuya and the other three stopped in front of the small gymnasium number 1.
"What about the spell?"
"Still active. I think, just behind this wall." Mikihiko replied honestly to Tatsuya's question.
"...But, without asking me, Tatsuya, you do know yourself, do not you?"
he also added.
"I do not want to use extra power."
Mikihiko did not object to Tatsuya's seemingly selfish words. Mikihiko had enough knowledge to understand that Tatsuya does not speak this way because of laziness.
The beholder will see. This was clear even without quotations from famous philosophers. A magician who looks with perception magic, will feel the magical power invested in such a look.
If there is a huge difference in magical skills, you can monitor the enemy and not be seen, but with any magic, the risk will not be zero. Even Tatsuya's Elemental Sight can be seen if the enemy knows such a technique. If Mikihiko is able to recognize the enemy, Tatsuya does not need to take risks.
"Tatsuya-san, then, what will you do?"
"Can you catch him?"
Although Honoka and Shizuku did not fully understand Mikihiko, they seemed to think that it was not worth creating problems if their friend had already taken up this matter. They asked Tatsuya what he would do with the violator of school rules. ... It seems they were not completely aware that in this case, the first one they should ask is the head of the disciplinary committee, that is, Mikihiko.
Tatsuya glanced at Mikihiko, but it seemed that it did not bother him.
Therefore, without saying anything superfluous, he told these three his plan.
"...Someone is approaching."
A freshman, enrolled in First High , Yaguruma Saburou returned his consciousness, directed to the room of the school board, back to the back of the small gym No. 1.
"These presence signs... two, no, three people?"
Perception magic does not overwrite Eidos (unless it is the type that strengthens its own five senses), so it is difficult for other people to perceive it. But this does not mean that there is no trace at all. Saburou knew it very well. Even just aiming "Vigilance" on the school boardroom room had the risk of being accused of unauthorized use of magic. He did not plan to take on further risks.
Based on reading the signs available without magic, Saburou believed that three magicians approach him. Two of them are women. They were definitely students, not teachers. And they did not hide their presence at all. But the remaining one man ably controlled the signs of his presence.
It was not like he was sneaking, hiding his presence. It seemed that he controlled his signs naturally, unconsciously. This shows significant skill. It could be one of the teachers.
I used perception magic, which is difficult to notice to others, besides it was an ancient magic that detectors do not pick up well, but an experienced First High employee can well guess, thought Saburou.
The probability that these three are simply being inspected, he ruled out from the very beginning. Unfortunately, the stated goal in the form of monitoring possible threats to Shiina was not realized. His "Vigilance", in the end, could not get through the barrier surrounding the school boardroom.
It seems that magic schools not only use modern magic spells, came to mind. Saburou reluctantly admitted this. However, he will not hear what Shiina is talking about, even if he strengthens the "rumor" even more.
Keeping quiet judgment, and knowing that it's time to retreat, Saburou escaped.
(...I intended to escape.)
Without making a sound, Saburou left the place where he was hiding.
Naturally, he went in the opposite direction from the approaching people. Walking along the wall of the gym, he was going with an innocent look to the alley passing there. However, he was forced to stop without going a couple of steps.
"What!?"
He barely managed to suppress a cry in amazement. But it did not make any sense.
"Are you new? I felt in these areas unauthorized use of magic. I would like to listen to what you say, so please come with me."
A high school student whose presence was not felt until he faced him face to face. Saburou knew that face. In addition to him, there were many newcomers who knew this person and name.
A member of the school board. The super-engineer of the Nine Schools Competition. The key participant in the "Stellar Furnace" experiment.
And also the groom of the next head of the Yotsuba family.
"Shiba Tatsuya!"
Saburou was an extremely cautious man. He quickly untied the thread that held his hair with his ponytail. And he hid his face in the long hair.
Then he activated the ancient magic of the Skanda high-speed movement, and tried to escape from Tatsuya.
"Wait."
he voice Tatsuya called to Saburou was not that strong. At least, the forces to hold back the legs of the fleeing was not there. The movements of Saburou's legs were delayed by a psion projectile shot with this voice.
Countermagic, Gram Demolition.
It was, quite simply, a psion cannon. If the entire body is subjected to the psion stream, then the magic that is in the process of activation is also canceled, but the physical control of the body is paralyzed.
The legs no longer held. The balance of the whole body was disturbed.
During the fall, Saburou was barely able to regain some freedom of movement to fall, without getting injured. Although the fall looked awkward, but it helped to avoid injuries.
?
?
(Damn, move!)
Swearing in his mind at his body, Saburou tried to regain control of himself. He knew why his limbs did not obey him. Therefore, he was not afraid of the sudden onset of paralysis, and therefore he was overly impatient.
The muscles contract, following the signal transmitted along the nerves.
So all people are arranged, magicians have no differences in this. But for people like Saburou, that's not all.
The muscles perform the command that the brain gave. There is a slight delay in time until the nerve passes the command. This delay is a few fractions of a second, which does not interfere with daily life. This is usually not even recognized.
But for those who have sharpened their minds in order to feel this moment, the time stretching between the intention and the performance is a terrible and unpleasant moment of inconvenience. The increased concentration of the mind seems to stretch the time, and, seeing the approaching attack of the enemy, you feel regret that you can neither avoid nor prevent it, because the intention has not yet reached the limb.
No, it's good if you can at least realize your annoyance. After all, this moment can also bring an end.
Those who could overcome the sense of a gap between intentions and actions, developed various techniques for a more free movement. One of these techniques instead of transmitting commands to the muscles with the help of nerve impulses, uses psions to convey intentions directly to the body.
This technique is a kind of non-systematic magic, but people who can master it are not limited to magicians. It cannot be said that anyone can learn this, because in any technique everything depends heavily on the availability of talent. However, if you train in the right way, you can achieve mastery even without magical talent. There are many people who, not knowing that this is actually non-systematic magic, mastered it in the form of a martial arts skill.
Therefore, deprived by magic talent Saburou willingly studied martial arts.
As a result, he already mastered this technique at a high level. By today, he could already, without using magic, move on par with or even faster than magicians using self-acceleration magic.
But this time it had the opposite consequences. From the interruption received by Tatsuya's spell, not only was the self-acceleration magic forcibly canceled, but Saburou also lost physical control over the body, because it was carried out with the help of psions.
(Grab me? Are you coming here for this?)
He himself fell, and the enemy was already a step away from him.
Saburou understood that he was in a position from which he could not escape under ordinary circumstances. However, he did not give up.
After regaining control a little, he lifted his head and looked around looking for a suitable stone. Neither on the surface of the elastic water-permeable pavement nor on the lawn of the adjacent territory was there any stones desired by Saburou. However, he found a thick branch lying at the base of one of the trees.
Apparently, it broke off at some point. Not bad, one of the tips is sharp.
(Great, it will do.)
Saburou concentrated his mind on a branch. He was not going to cause serious injury. He wanted to escape from this place, taking advantage of the moment of confusion caused by a slight poke. But before the
"power" of Saburou worked, he was again swept by the psion stream.
A second Gram Demolition.
It struck not the branch on which "force" was supposed to act, but Saburou himself.
(Are you kidding !? Is it usually a final blow from such a situation...?) Finally, the restored control of the body was again lost with a second blow, and Saburou's clouded consciousness fell into darkness.
"...Ruthless as usual Tatsuya,. Was it necessary to use Gram Demolition for the second time?" Mikihiko asked in a half-joking tone when they met again after they split up in front of the small gym.
"He seemed to have a rather troublesome ability."
"Ability?"
Mikihiko was puzzled why Tatsuya used the expression "ability", not
"magic." However, Tatsuya did not answer this question.
"But he unexpectedly for me lost consciousness... It seems that he has a pretty strong susceptibility to psions."
"Tatsuya-san, will everything be all right? Maybe it's better to take him to the school infirmary?"
With this question of Honoka, Mikihiko's interest also shifted to Saburou's state.
"If the susceptibility to psions is especially high, then, Tatsuya, it's a bad thing? In addition, Tatsuya's interruption of spells causes a shock, as if struck in the gong next to the ear."
"You're creating a bad reputation for me. I adjusted the output power.
Well... this time, really, everything got out of hand."
"Tatsuya !?" Mikihiko with a nervous voice reacted to the recognition of Tatsuya.
Tatsuya, on the contrary, remained cool, despite the fact that he did.
"I think he's asleep now, not fainted. To be sure, let's take him to the school infirmary."
Tatsuya deftly lifted Saburou's body and put it on his shoulder. Not Mikihiko, nor Honoka, nor Shizuku began to joke about the way he looked, understood the difference between fainting and sleeping.
When Saburou opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the face of a childhood friend looking at him.
"Saburou-kun. Thank God you woke up."
In a tear-stained, smiling face, then the shade of anxiety manifested itself, then disappeared.
"...Shiina, I'm fine."
He did not understand the current situation and could not remember how he went to bed, but immediately got up to show that he was okay.
Because for him the first priority was to eliminate Shiina's alarm.
"Does it hurt anywhere? The look is not clouded? Do you hear me normally?"
"Does not hurt anywhere, eyes and ears are normal."
Shiina calmed down a little when she heard Saburou's report. Yes a little.
Saburou thought that the anxiety in her was not yet completely eliminated.
"Thank God. Then..."
However, what is this pressure, felt by Shiina, looking as if something else is disturbing her? Saburou's back was covered with an unpleasant sweat, while he expected that he would hear from his childhood friend.
"Saburou-kun, do not shy away."
Saburou thought, did he correctly hear what Shiina said? He not only did not understand why Shiina spoke inappropriately for her soft personality, but also did not have time to figure out what was going on.
The subsequent behavior of Shiina was generally incomprehensible to the perplexed Saburou. She swung her right hand and slapped Saburou.
From the cheek Saburou heard a loud slap.
Saburou saw the movement of Shiina, and could easily evade. It would be better to say that he did not have problems with this. But in his mind, there was not even such an option as evasion.
Tears began to appear in Shiina's eyes.
"For what...?" Saburou wonderingly asked Shiina, who looked as if she would at any moment be roaring.
"...Why did you try to do something stupid, like eavesdropping?" Instead of an answer, from Shiina there was a counter question. Not even from the content of the question, but from this trembling voice, Saburou could not utter words. "I look so helpless...?"
"Shiina..."
Saburou could not answer "yes" or "no". Helpless or not, he intended to eliminate the dangers that threatened her. But if he voices his real intentions, Shiina will take them for a positive response. On the other hand, if he responds negatively to Shiina, he will lose the reason to be with her side by side.
Shiina looked tearfully at her childhood friend, who called her name and fell silent.
"Saburou-kun." She said a little sad, but accusing voice. It was not pretense, so the young man could not stop feeling guilty. Of course, this greatly affected Saburou's feelings. He was still silent, not because he was stubborn, but because he did not know what he could say without blurting out too much.
She looked steadily, Saburou stared.
The first to give up (or was just tired) is Shiina.
"...You know, I promised the president-san. To take responsibility for Saburou-kun."
These words had a dramatic effect.
"Wha...!?"
Saburou looked at Siena with a panic on his face.
"Why did Shiina become responsible!?"
"And you yourself, Saburou-kun, why are you so worried?"
Saburou again could not say anything. But this time he could not take his eyes off.
"What's wrong with assuming responsibility?"
"This is..."
"You did something bad just because you thought I would not take responsibility!"
There was nothing to justify. Shiina came straight to the point.
"Eavesdropping in a room of the school board with the help of unauthorized use of magic - this is in fact threatening to be suspended from class? I do not want Saburou-kun to do this!"
"...I understand. Sorry."
Saburou could do nothing except to say it and bow. He understood why he was removed from the position of guardian of Shiina. His feelings were not convinced, but he understood the reason.
His actions, taken to ensure the security of Shiina, are, after all, only complacency. Saburou was aware of this. There was no question of disturbing Shiina with her own problems. Since he already harmed her, you could say that he takes the investigation for the reason.
"So... like Shiina's father said, will I have to keep a distance from you?"
Asked Saburou, with difficulty pronouncing the words. He will not be disappointed if he does. But if the refusal is received from Shiina herself, he will surrender. It was Saburou's thoughts at that moment.
"It's too late."
But Shiina's answer was something completely unexpected for Saburou.
"Too late... how?
"Have not I told you lately? I promised President Shiba. That I will be responsible for everything related to Saburou-kun."
Saburou realized that this time he really blundered. However, he could not simply answer "Yes, is that how it is?" and accept this.
"I did not ask for this!"
"He did not ask!"
Saburou reflexively screamed, but was interrupted by another brisk cry, accompanied by a menacing face.
"But will this help!?"
Shiina was worried more and more.
"After all, if I had not said this, Saburou-kun would have been punished with suspension from the day after the reception!"
Saburou did not make a sound in response to the hysterical cries of Shiina.
"I'll be watching Saburou-kun! If Saburou-kun does something bad, I will have to take responsibility! So no more stupid acts like today! Do you understand!?"
"Um, yes." Again responding instinctively, Saburou showed devotion.
"... Good. Then, shall we go home?"
On the other hand, speaking out, Shiina felt better. As if an evil demon had disappeared from her, and she, as usual, smiled at Saburou.
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