Tatsuya, who should be stuck with his sister like glue (that was only the wild mass guessing from their teammates), was summoned to the entrance of the grounds shortly after the two departed.
"Ono-sensei, thank you for your hard work."
Haruka was the one who called him out here.
"Hey, saying thank you for your hard work to an elder...... You're aware of what you're saying, right?"
At Tatsuya's mischievous smirk, Haruka's shoulders drooped helplessly.
"......I guess that's what my position has turned into...... A supporting actor whose secrets have been exposed, only to be buried within the 'ignorant masses'......"
"What are you talking about. You're spouting nonsense."
"No worries. I'm a nonsensical woman anyway."
"......I think it's about time you returned what I placed in your keeping. I don't have much time."
Seeing Tatsuya reach out a hand, Haruka playfully sighed.
Even if she didn't say it, her expression clearly said: "Can't you cooperate a little." Despite this, she understood that time was of the essence, so she obediently handed the electric carrier (carry-on baggage with electric wheels attached to facilitate movement) over to Tatsuya.
"Seriously...... I really wish someone would actually reward me a little. I'm a life counselor, not an errand boy."
"Our sensei was the one who asked Ono-sensei to do this, not me. Still...... Let me think for a moment. If you're unhappy with these trivial tasks, allow me to ask you something more in line with your actual job."
"No, it's not like I wanted an actual task."
"It's tax-free income...... You really don't want it?"
Haruka's eyes sparkled with an easily understood wavering.
......Is this sort of kind disposition (and not "personality") truly suited for intelligence work? Tatsuya watched her in a taunting manner.
He didn't have to wait very long.
"......I give up. It's our duty to assist students deviating from the right path. This isn't the time to say I'm off duty or I haven't got the time."
So, she was looking for an excuse to make this easier on herself, Tatsuya thought.
However—
"Alas, that's not the task I had in mind. I'm referring to your other line of work."
"......What exactly do you want me to do?"
Haruka was immediately on high alert.
Is it really alright for her to be this transparent? This time, Tatsuya was seriously concerned.
Forget it, even if she messed up by feigning silliness and punished with "this" and "that", those were not related to him in any way.
"No Head Dragon...... I want to know the current HQ for the Hong Kong International Criminal Organization 'No Head Dragon'."
Haruka frantically glanced around them and closed in on Tatsuya as if she was going to hug him.
"How do you know about No Head Dragon!?"
While her tone was agitated, Haruka didn't forget to lower her volume as she asked him. Still, even if she asked, this wasn't a question he could answer. Tatsuya's relationship with Kazama and the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion was still classified. That was a direct order from their aunt, the current head of the Yotsuba Family. Even if he answered with something like "I heard it from somewhere else", there was no guarantee that some trace of this relationship could not be exposed.
"It's only natural that I would investigate the culprits intending to do me harm."
Hence Tatsuya chose this vague answer that could be applied towards anything. Nevertheless, Haruka correctly interpreted this to mean the recent obstructions in the Nine Schools Competition.
"......What devilry are you up to now? 'Public Safety' and 'Internal Affairs' have both been mobilized for this case. There's no need for Shiba-kun to act on this!"
Haruka was still whispering. From their posture, any bystander would mistake this for a troublesome relationship.
Miyuki posed no difficulty, so long as Honoka, Shizuku, or any of the others didn't see them, Tatsuya thought.
"Currently, there are no wheels in motion. Still, if retaliation becomes necessary, but the enemy's location remains unknown, that would be a little troubling. ......Speaking of which, I think our current proximity may cause some misunderstanding."
Haruka quickly jerked back.
Maybe this came from an elder's pride, but she was using a placating smile to cover her internal discomfiture.
It's about time to seriously advise her to abandon the intelligence work, Tatsuya thought.
......That being said, he never thought of retracting his request.
"......Insurance, is it?"
"That interpretation would be acceptable."
After carefully examining him, she swiftly nodded.
"......Understood. Give me one day."
"Impressive! You only need one day?"
This was pure, worry-free praise.
Haruka was someone who wore her heart on her sleeve and could only smile in embarrassment.
As Tatsuya dragged the electric carrier back to the pavilion, the students on duty all gazed at him with interest. Completely ignoring the fact that he was the center of attention, Tatsuya retrieved something from the bag.
"......Wind breakers?"
Mayumi approached Tatsuya with nary a thought and asked as she examined the object in his hands.
"No, these are mantles."
Tatsuya raised the black fabric and unfurled them.
It was a Western mantle that would extend to the floor even on someone of his height.
"Those too?"
"Those are robes."
After depositing the black mantle on the table, this time he pulled out a gray fabric. This one was a long robe with a hood attached.
"What...... exactly are you going to do with these?"
There were "?" marks floating all over the pavilion. Only Miyuki could tell at first glance and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"That's for the match. Thankfully, they made it in time."
"Onii-sama, wouldn't that be against the rules?"
Setting aside the completely confused Mayumi and the others, Miyuki asked Tatsuya with a degree of seriousness.
"I don't believe there will be a problem since we handed in the CADs in time. The rule book didn't say that we are forbidden from wearing uniforms inscribed with magic themselves."
Hearing his answer to Miyuki, the number of "?" marks on Mayumi's head increased by one as she asked Tatsuya.
"Magic inscriptions?"
"Correct. This is done by combining the principle of Engraving Magic with the mediums from Ancient Magic. The mantle and robe include enchantments that facilitate the user using magic."
"Supplementary effects...... There should be no problem if no specific technique was incorporated within......"
Feeling Mayumi's gaze, Suzune nodded as she replied.
"There is no violation here. Specifically, there isn't a rule for something that complex."
"If there is a problem, we can just abandon them. It's not like we cannot give battle without them."
Mayumi slightly creased her eyebrows as Tatsuya turned around.
"Hey, Tatsuya-kun."
Her anxiety far outweighed the unease in her voice.
"Since we're still in the competition, everyone has kept a lid on the celebratory mood. The moment we advanced to the finals, our victory in the Newcomers Division was already assured. So please, don't push yourself too much!"
"Understood."
Even without her saying so, Tatsuya had already largely given up on this match.
—Because at this time, we haven't......
After leaving the examination of the mantles and robes to Isori (the Isori Family were renowned for their expertise in Engraving Magic, not that Isori himself hid his personal interest either), Tatsuya left the pavilion to relax himself.
When he was appointed as one of the substitutes, the mission he received from Mayumi was to clinch First High's victory in the Newcomers Division.
The moment they advanced to the finals of Monolith Code — in other words, right now, Tatsuya had already accomplished his objective.
He was carefully warming up to prevent injury during the match.
Bruises or scratches were meaningless to him, but if there was a major fracture or artery being severed, he had to take precautions against his classified abilities automatically activating.
Even if he could voluntarily halt the process, whether he could do so in time was another story. His personal restoration ability would immediately complete the repair processes in the blink of an eye.
The Nine Schools Competition was being recorded. Even if no one could consciously catch the instant this occurred, future playbacks could still capture the moment.
As if reminding himself all over again, he continued to work through his exercises. During this, Miyuki also left the pavilion, but seeing as she wasn't on urgent business, Tatsuya allowed himself to finish his calisthenics.
"Onii-sama, please take this towel."
She handed him a sublimely wet and cold towel.
Miyuki had been standing for a considerable amount of time in the blazing summer heat, yet the towel felt as if it was freshly removed from the icebox...... Upon learning that this was her area of expertise, this fact was no longer surprising.
By paying attention to all the minute details, she was certainly a sister who pampered him, Tatsuya thought.
In normal circumstances, hordes of men would undoubtedly pursue her at the cost of their lives.
No, even in the present, his sister was still probably capable of sending men to their doom with a word. Even setting himself aside, though he would probably be the first man into the breach, Tatsuya felt a slight chill as he considered his sister's future.
"Onii-sama, is there something on my face?"
Even though she didn't seriously believe that something was on her face, Miyuki had no other way of interrogating her brother who was watching her with an indecipherable expression.
—Tatsuya didn't answer. Answering would only muddy the issue.
"Onii-sama......"
At Tatsuya muddling through the question, Miyuki didn't press onward.
"......It's almost time for the finals. Our next opponent will be a difficult one......"
"......Indeed."
Bluffing was irrelevant at this point.
Even if this wasn't a competition and live battle instead, with both sides going all out without restrains, Tatsuya had no confidence that he could "triumph" over the two of them at the same time, nay even if he was against Ichijou Masaki alone.
"Under a state of restricted power and ability ...... for one who belongs to the side that restricts such as myself, to go and say such a thing is illogical, and may arouse your displeasure, but......"
Miyuki hesitated briefly as she slowly drooped her head, losing her nerve to speak each time.
Then, she resolutely raised her head and shyly declared.
"......Even so, I have faith that Onii-sama will not lose to anyone!"
Without waiting for Tatsuya's reply, she turned back to the pavilion with the lightness of a sparrow. Watching his sister's departing figure, Tatsuya stood there for some time.
(Seriously, as you will......)
As Miyuki herself said, she was one of the key cogs within the system that limited Tatsuya's abilities.
One of the key reasons behind why he was unable to use his true strength to display his indomitable might was undoubtedly Miyuki.
That being said, Tatsuya didn't believe — that Miyuki was so willful.
Faith that he would not lose to anyone was the hope of she who wished of him to remain unbeatable.
Tatsuya's intellect was not mature enough to completely understand the subtleties behind this.
Yet, Tatsuya could understand these feelings.
Maybe he should say he was able to understand it only because Miyuki was the one who made the wish of him.
This was not someone giving orders or instructions, but a mental characteristic that was naturally expressing itself.
As you will, referred to exactly that.
Defeat was no longer an option in the next match.
But as the saying goes, easier said than done.
No matter how he calculated the matter, the odds were stacked against him. Tatsuya couldn't help but sigh at this.
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