Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 30 - Rescue - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

July 22, 10:00.

One after another, at Miyakijima Airport landed two VTOL's rotors with thrust.

Their simultaneous arrival was only an accident, and wasn't planned in advance.

The first plane was the property of the Kitayama family, and it included Shizuku, Honoka, Erika, and Leo aboard.

The second belonged to the Saegusa family, and delivered Mayumi.

All five got into a nine-seater van, and were taken to a hospital located in the eastern part of the island. To the hospital where Tatsuya was supposed to be.

By the way, when the four from the first plane met Mayumi in the airport terminal building, not only Honoka, Shizuku and Leo, but even Erika greeted her. When Mayumi was still in First High School, Erika didn't even try to hide her estrangement from her, but it seems that something has changed in her head over the past two years....

Perhaps this was due to the misfortune that overtook her older brother Toshikazu.

However, there was no denying that between these five... there was an awkward atmosphere between the four kohai and one senpai. But it was only an age wall between people from one year of study and an older person. Among these four kohai's, Honoka had the most contact with Mayumi. However, even she became a member of the school Student Council only after Mayumi resigned as president. Although, Erika and Leo, fought with Mayumi during the Yokohama incident, but they didn't contact her as much as their other classmates.

However, all their awkwardness disappeared without a trace as soon as they arrived at the hospital.

Miyuki and Lina met their five guests in the ICU observation room. Making sure the door was locked, Miyuki suddenly “dropped the bomb.”

“Thank you very much for coming to visit Tatsuya-sama. However, Tatsuya-sama is not at this hospital.“

“Uhh!?“

Honoka had the most over-emotional reaction. The others also showed surprise by issuing various variations of "Eh?", "What?" etc.

“... Miyuki-san, what do you mean?”

Leo asked in a low voice, one of the first to recover from the shock.

“Tatsuya-sama was indeed involved in this incident, and was seriously injured.

However, he fully recovered when he was brought to the hospital.”

“...That's it!”

Erika shouted in a whisper, hitting her hand in hand.

“It's that healing magic, Restoration, huh? Which Tatsuya-kun possesses.”

On the day of the Yokohama incident, Miyuki revealed to Mayumi, Honoka, Erika, and Leo the secret of "Restoration." Shizuku wasn't with them then, but later, with the permission of Tatsuya himself, Honoka told her about everything.

It seems that initially none of them, except Mayumi, even thought about the possibility that “Tatsuya healed his wounds,” but now everyone seemed convinced.

“... Miyuki fooled us all with her crying display.”

Erika's tease was most likely intended to hide her own embarrassment. But her words definitely reflected the emotions of everyone present. The appearance on the TV of Miyuki, sobbing, leaning against the window and wall separating the corridor and the ICU, had an effect on everyone, forcing them to abandon any doubt.

“Please don't say such shameful things as if I were a liar.”

Miyuki protested by looking rather embarrassed rather than gloomy.

“Ah, yes, exactly.“

At this moment, Lina, who was also present, spoke with her changed appearance. Her voice sounded like she was remembering something.

“There were no fake tears. It was very difficult to calm Miyuki down, even though she knew that the wounds would be healed.“

Miyuki confusedly averted her eyes from the five staring at her.

“... Tatsuya-sama was lying on the ICU bed, completely bandaged. How can you keep

calm by looking at this?“

“...I understand.“

Unexpectedly, the first to accept Miyuki’s excuse was Leo.

“Sometimes it happens that the head knows that everything is alright, but the heart is still restless. This alone shows how deep Miyuki-san's feelings are for Tatsuya.“

“... Wow, even Leo could see all that.”

““Even me” is already too much!“

Erika inserted her tease as usual, and Leo snapped as usual.

Thus, the tense atmosphere disappeared.

“... So then where is Tatsuya-san now?”

“He left to do some secret work.“

Miyuki didn't give a specific answer to Honoka's question.

But Honoka didn't elaborate. She didn't lose interest, but simply restrained herself from poking her nose into his secret business.

Mayumi turned out to be the one who "stuck her nose" in this place the deepest of all.

“So, such a large-scale performance was needed to cover up the absence of Tatsuya-kun? But are you sure you should have told me this? The eldest daughter of the Saegusa family?“

The families of Saegusa and Yotsuba are disputing clans. This is no longer a secret not only for the Ten Master Clans, but also for anybody who is at least a little familiar with the circumstances. Of course, Miyuki knew that too. She was chosen as the next head of the Yotsuba family.

“I don't want to continue the conflict with the Saegusa family.“

Miyuki’s response was based on her position as the next head of the family.

“Besides, I'm not going to be hostile towards you just because you are from the

Saegusa family. But in response I ask: Senpai, will you tell about the absence of Tatsuya-sama to someone from your family or even to someone outside the family?“

“I'm not going to do something like that.”

Mayumi answered with a tone as if she was coaxing herself.

She lowered her eyes and paused.

“...Yes. I have no intention or motive to do anything unfavorable to Tatsuya-kun or Miyuki-san.“

After these words, Mayumi very quietly whispered:

"I didn't know that my cunning father had planned something like that."

“Okay, Miyuki-san. Tatsuya-kun is now being treated inside the ICU. He is not yet able to talk, but nothing threatens his life. He just sleeps, and there is no fear that he won't wake up. It'll do?“

“Thank you for understanding.“

Miyuki bowed to Mayumi.

Looking up, Miyuki turned to Erika, standing next to Mayumi.

“... We will do exactly the same.”

Answering Miyuki, Erika turned around and looked at the others, "won't we?"

Under her gaze, the other three — Honoka, Shizuku, and Leo — nodded at the same time.

“But why?“

“Do you mean why I revealed the truth to you?”

Miyuki asked Shizuku about the missing part of the question.

“The less people that know the secret, the more secure it is.”

Shizuku expressed the meaning of her question with such a phrase.

“It is not always so.“

“In what sense?“

Miyuki shook her head in the negative, which Shizuku bowed her head inquiringly.

“When people are only refused, it strengthens their doubts and fuels the desire to get to the bottom of the truth. If it were possible to completely isolate the secret from the public, then no one would even know about it. I'm not saying that it is impossible to keep secrets for a long time, but I think that it is rather difficult.“

“So you think a little leak is normal?”

“By no means. I won't allow Tatsuya-sama to interfere with either the government, the army, or the media.“

Miyuki didn't raise her voice, but from her strong-willed tone, Shizuku blinked her eyes.

“It's easier to make people believe a lie than keep secrets. That is my opinion.“

“Why do you think so?“

Not only Shizuku wanted to hear Miyuki's explanation.

Mayumi, Honoka, Erika, Leo, and even Lina all looked at Miyuki with interest in their eyes.

“With Lina, I kind of discussed it yesterday,” Miyuki thought, but didn't laugh at that.

“Well, in order to continue to keep a secret, you need to make all people believe that

"something like that doesn't exist." And if you get several people, or even several tens of people, to believe in a lie, then it will begin to spread further on its own.“

“Miyuki... I thought so yesterday ... but you are an evil women.”

“Really? I don't think that anywhere in the world there are people who do not resort to lies.“

Miyuki with a calm face protested to the surprised Lina.

Six people, including Lina, muttered in their minds: “That is not the point!”

“... In other words, Miyuki-san, do you want us to become these very “people who believe in the lie?””

With an understanding face, Leo voiced the "right answer."

“I'm not going to ask you to actively spread the "lie." But if they ask you, I would like you to answer that Tatsuya-sama is in the hospital.“

Miyuki's answer was intended not only for Leo, but for everyone else.

“Of course, I agree.”

Honoka was the first to respond. The others following one after another, consenting responses from Erika, Leo, Shizuku and Mayumi followed.

Due to the hype caused by yesterday’s reporting with a hidden camera, the entrance to the hospital where Tatsuya allegedly lies was closed to everyone except those who had anything to do with him. Any visits from this moment were organized only after prior authorization.

The media, as usual, tried to refer to "freedom of the press," but this time the public opinion was on the side of the hospital.

It seems that the influence of the "crying beauty" was too strong. Regardless of the truth (the report was organized by the Yotsuba family), everything looked like the television crew had done it to themselves.

But reporters are unlikely to give up so easily. For them, “freedom of the press” should be above all. Perhaps this will sound like an exaggeration, but the more they were restricted, the more their spirit of struggle flared up...

In other words, neither the newspaper or television people gave up. Also, several spies from various intelligence agencies integrated themselves into this crowd of reporters and photographers.

A medium-sized cruise boat drifted off the coast of Miyakijima . It belonged to one of

the nationwide television networks, but had on board agents of the army Intelligence Department. But, it wasn't the army capturing the television network crew’s boat. The Intelligence Department was one of the subcontractors of the country's largest television network. And it goes without saying that the representatives of the television network didn't even know about it.

“How is it going?“

The team leader, who was silent until they moved away from the island, asked about the results from the other members of the team who were also silent.

“Useless. I have to admit that infiltration will be extremely difficult.“

“Hackers haven't achieved anything yet, either.“

“It’s difficult to get in touch with the hospital staff, so the search for those who want to cooperate will take much longer.“

With each adverse report, the team leader’s frown on his face became even deeper.

“This hospital has an extraordinary level of security. It seems that other organizations haven't found any clues either.“

“Well, at least there's some consolation.”

The team leader muttered in response to a report by a team member who oversees the activities of other intelligence agencies.

The team leader looked out the window. The evening sun was covered by clouds covering the entire western sky. There was still some time before sunset, but it was almost dark. The typhoon’s path deviated westward, that is, since yesterday it only moved away, but the waves only intensified.

“It's only the second day. It's too early to raise the white flag.”

The team leader said in a confident tone, staring at the faces of all the assembled team members.

“For now, let's go back to the hotel on Miyakijima. But if the weather improves at night, then be prepared to depart at night. Until then, everyone is free.“

“Understood.“

The members of the team answered the leader in unison.

Everyone stood up and went to their posts.

The cruise boat headed for Miyakijima, located 50 kilometers west.

Later on in the evening, Mayumi, Honoka and the others moved into guest rooms prepared for them in the eastern part of the island.

At the moment, only two remained in the hospital: Miyuki and Lina.

“A cruise boat of the army Intelligence Department is moving towards Miyakijima.“

A report was sent to Miyuki’s mobile terminal from the Miyakijima Naval Police.... The police on this island were technically civil servants, but absolutely everyone in this police station were magicians working for the Yotsuba family.

“Okay. There is no need to touch them.“

“I understand. We continue to observe.“

The call was ended so abruptly that it could be considered rude. Miyuki understood that this wasn't due to the fact that she was treated scornfully, but to prevent wiretapping, so she wasn't particularly offended.

“Miyuki, what did they say?”

Lina asked Miyuki, who is with her for the company in the ICU observation room. Lina didn't seem to question the situation when adults ask for instructions from a girl of her age.

“It looks like the ground forces ship has sailed to a neighboring island.”

“The ground forces ship...? The Japanese military is scary.“

“In Japan, there is also the Marine Corps. Only for some reason it belongs to the army.“

“So the Marines are on this ship?”

“No, hardly. This is the work of people from the Intelligence Department, so I don’t think it is a ship of the Marine Corps.“

“Ara, the detrimental influence of sectionalism in Japan is exactly the same as in the States.“

“Agreed.“

Miyuki smiled at the amazed Lina.... But it was a bitter smile.

“I wonder if all the agents are now gone?”

Lina asked, changing her tone.

No. Miyuki shook her head, making a serious face.

“It seems that agents of the NSU are still working hard at sea.“

“Wow! What courageous guys. After all, soon a hurricane will come here.“

Miyuki involuntarily smiled at such a reaction of Lina, not seen from her earlier in Japan.

“Not a hurricane, but a typhoon. In addition, according to the weather forecast, another two days are left before the typhoon approaches.“

Wiping the smile from her face, Miyuki Corrected Lina.

“The day after tomorrow is coming soon.”

Objected Lina, also making a serious face.

Miyuki meant that "the typhoon won't come tonight," but the fact that the typhoon will come the day after tomorrow really was "very soon."

“...Yeah.”

Miyuki agreed with a bitter smile on her face. Lina responded with a very proud face.