Maidens of Cygnus - Volume 1 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – April 3rd

This April, Juumonji Tatsuki will enroll at the National Magic University-affiliated Third High School.

The reason he chose to enter Third High instead of First High was because of Alisa. Tatsuki himself would deny this, but both Alisa and Yuuto — and not just them, the entire family believed so as well.

Two years ago, when Alisa was brought to the Juumonji Family, Tatsuki was the only one to not welcome her.

He didn’t harass her. He didn’t even ignore her. He just didn’t want to get involved more than strictly necessary, and made no effort to hide his position.

His animosity wasn’t so much directed at Alisa, as it was at his father, Kazuki. To Tatsuki, Alisa’s existence was nothing but proof of his father’s betrayal towards his mother. Also, reservations sprouted on his mind about his elder brother, Katsuto, who made the final decision to bring her.

Alisa is not to blame, Tatsuki understands that much. When the entire situation is considered, it can’t even be said there was wrongdoing at all.

Therefore, he couldn’t bring himself to condemn Alisa. But likewise, he didn’t condemn neither his father nor his older brother. To Tatsuki, Kazuki was a father worthy of respect, and Katsuto a brother he was proud of. Those feelings prevented him from expressing his animosity.

Tatsuki’s attitude towards Alisa was a result of not knowing what to do this his own feelings.

Alisa has not done anything wrong. But it was still painful for her that she unintentionally brought conflict into the house. Every time Alisa was confronted with Tatsuki’s indifferent attitude, she couldn’t help but blame herself.

◇ ◇ ◇

The flight to Kanazawa which Tatsuki will embark on was early in the morning.

No family members of his were in the departure lobby. He refused them. Tatsuki refused even having his mother see him off. He understands that his behavior is childish. He understands that his family thinks so as well. His younger sister, Kazumi, hasn’t tried to hide her disdain ever since he decided to go to Third High.

He felt that his mother blamed him. Not only for going to Third High, but also for being unable to accept Alisa.

His emotions were crying out irrational things. That he’s only angry on behalf of his mother. That maybe his sister isn’t even from the same mother. Of course, he couldn’t say these things. So he became all the more obstinate. He couldn’t not be obstinate.

The announcement came that the check-in for his flight is beginning.

He left him hometown behind, ran away from his family, and went forward to the boarding gate.

◇ ◇ ◇

It took one hour to go from Haneda to Komatsu.

There was no send off at the Haneda Airport, but there was someone waiting for Tatsuki at the Komatsu Airport.

A young man in a crimson jacket — with a shade of red so dark it was nearly black — waved his hand at Tatsuki who was coming out of the arrivals gate.

This young man was someone he knew. They had even met in person in the past.

The elder son of one of the families that compose the Ten Master Clans like the Juumonji Family, Ichijou Masaki of the Ichijou Family. Tatsuki had heard that for some time, he was aiming to take the place of husband in the Yotsuba Family, and was thus out of the contention for the next Head of his family, but since the engagement interruption was unsuccessful, he should now be back as the Ichijou Family’s next Head.

Tatsuki hadn’t been told he was waiting for him at Komatsu Airport. But since he was waving his hand at him, Tatsuki assumed he was there to meet him.

That being the case, he can’t walk around peacefully.

With so much energy that he left his wheeled suitcase behind, he jogged to Masaki.

“Ichijou-san, I apologize for not keeping in touch. I’m Juumonji Tatsuki.”

Tatsuki couldn’t change his childish behavior towards Alisa, but by nature he’s polite enough to be considered formal. Sure that the other person remembered his name, he properly introduced himself first.

“It has been a long time. Welcome to Kanazawa.”

Strictly speaking, Masaki’s welcoming words were incorrect. This is the Komatsu Airport, which is in Komatsu City, not Kanazawa City. It was probably because Masaki has a high awareness that Kanazawa is his hometown, and because Tatsuki’s destination is an apartment in Kanazawa City near Third High, that he said it that way. — Luckily, no citizen of Komatsu heard him say this.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here, Ichijou-san.”

When Tatsuki left his house this morning, he was told by his second brother, Yuuto, that someone from the Ichijou Family would go pick him up to act as his guide. But he expected an employee of a company run by the Ichijou Family, or one of their subordinate magicians, to guide him. He certainly didn’t expect to be welcomed by their heir.

On the other hand, it wasn’t surprising that Masaki, as second year student at the Magic University, was here. The Magic University is still in spring break, so in a way it’s natural that he would be home for his vacation.

He is Japan’s second Nationally Recognized Strategic-Class Magician. He needs to exercise his authority over the New Soviet Union and the Great Asian Union in his hometown in Hokuriku as much as he can. Ichijou Masaki is not allowed to partake in part-time jobs or club activities. In truth, living in Tokyo is undesirable, even if it is to attend Magic University.

In Tokyo, though they aren’t Strategic-Class Magicians, there is the Juumonji Family, the ‘Iron Wall’. South of Tokyo, in the Izu Islands, there is also a Yotsuba Family base, which is supported by Shiba Tatsuya. This area already has an excess of military power.

On that point, the magical strength on the Sea of Japan side is inferior to the Pacific side, despite the threat from the North. Since the invasion of Sado Island in 2092, land, sea and air forces have been focused and heavily deployed in this area. But the only magic force that stands out is the Ichijou Family. The National Defense Forces also have battalions of magicians stationed at the bases in Maizuru and Niigata, but not everyone in the National Defense Forces’ magician battalions are magicians. Besides, it must be said that the standard of combat magicians is inferior to that of the Ten Master Clans.

Taking all that into account, it is not strange that Masaki is in his hometown. But at the same time, Tatsuki thought he would be busy because of that. As a Nationally Recognized Strategic-Class Magician, Masaki, who has returned home for a long vacation from university, should be required to participate in information exchange with the National Defense Forces stationed in Maizuru and Niigata, cooperation protocol reviews, and depending on the situation, maybe even in training.

Tatsuki doesn’t know much about the National Defense Forces’ operations yet, but when he was in elementary school he saw Katsuto being invited to their bases very often. It was just a sensible guess, but he was confident that it was about right.

So Tatsuki became worried. Worried that next Head of the Ichijou Family, Ichijou Masaki, is forcing himself due to a request from his brother, the Head of the Juumonji Family.

“Ichijou-san, well, aren’t you busy?”

Therefore, though it may be presumptuous of him, Tatsuki was compelled to ask.

“Hmm? I’m still on break from university, though.”

Is he playing dumb because he’s looking after me? — Tatsuki thought, and examined Masaki’s expression. But as far as Tatsuki can tell, Masaki didn’t look to be doing that.

“No, umm... I mean, with things like meetings with the National Defense Forces...”

“Aah, that’s what you were talking about?”

Cautiously getting to the point, Tatsuki asked, and Masaki returned a smile that told him not to worry. 

“It’s true that there are days where I have to show up at the National Defense Forces and we talk about a lot of things, but that doesn’t happen every day. I’m not a student at the National Defense Academy, I’m pretty much a civilian. That’s just accommodating to the military’s circumstances. You’re going to be a kouhai at my alma matter, Tatsuki-kun, so it’s only natural that I would make time for you.”

“...Thank you.”

It may be straightforward, but Tatsuki thought Masaki’s chivalry was ‘cool’. At that moment, he felt for Masaki a kind of respect different from the one he has for his brother.

“I’ll do my best to become a kouhai who you won’t be embarrassed of, Ichijou-san!”

“That’s good, Tatsuki-kun. I’ll be expecting great things from you.”

Masaki gave Tatsuki a pat on his shoulder to encourage him.

“Of course.”

Tatsuki bowed his head with a smile.

It was an honest smile, one that he hasn’t shown to his father Kazuki, his elder brother Katsuto, nor his second brother Yuuto for the past two years.

Masaki had driven a car to the airport. Whether it was borrowed from his parents or from the company, the design of the four-door sedan could not be said to be fitting for young people.

Tatsuki sat on the passenger’s seat instead of the back seat.

The back seat was Masaki’s recommendation, but he didn’t particularly mind that Tatsuki didn’t conform by picking the passenger seat, and started the self-driving car.

“You might be aware, but my sister is also joining Third High.”

Masaki started talking to Tatsuki just after getting on the freeway.

Tatsuki knew about Masaki’s sister without needing to go out of his way to learn about her.

“Yes, I know about her. Her name is Ichijou Akane, right? I heard she got great results in a Martial Magic Arts tournament despite being a middle school student.”

Upon hearing Tatsuki’s reply, a forced smile came to his face.

“It’s annoying that she’s becoming even more of a tomboy... Anyway, you sure talk like an adult.”

“...Should I change that?”

“No, that way of speaking is probably more fitting for a direct descendent of the Ten Master Clans. I want my sister to learn that too.”

Given that line, only a vague smile could show on his face.

◇ ◇ ◇

Tatsuki will move into a two-storied wooden apartment building for students. This property was a referral from a real estate agent close to the Ichijou Family and his brother Katsuto handled the moving process, though Tatsuki also came to see it before he passed the Third High exams. Tatsuki doesn’t feel particularly dissatisfied with the apartment meant for students coming from afar to live alone, as it was equipped with the minimum of furniture and regular home automation.

  “Ichijou-san, thank you very much.”

“I’ll be in Tokyo when university starts so I won’t be able to help you much, but if you have any issues, please let my family know.”

“Yes, I’ll be relying on them.”

Masaki left with a look of satisfaction on his face due to Tatsuki’s child-like demeanor.

It’s the first time Tatsuki lives alone, and since he’s always been with his parents and housekeepers around, he has almost zero ability for household chores. Even so, he had little anxiety about his upcoming life.

Instead of anxiety, his expectations of a life by himself occupied most of his thoughts. Tatsuki didn’t intend to live an indulgent life, but the freedom to decide everything by himself was attractive for the fifteen-year-old.

Being able to decide everything by himself means that he must decide everything by himself. Tatsuki also understood that — or he thought he did. But if he doesn’t turn his thoughts to his expectations right now, he might regret his decision to leave the house immediately. And for Tatsuki that’s not all. He may be forced to recognize that his persistence was a mistake.

This was one of the reasons he was particularly hopeful about living alone. His luggage was already carried into his room. He was told that the manager oversaw the process in his stead. Probably because it was an apartment building aimed towards students. Unusually for these days, the manager lives in the same building, at the very front of the first floor. He sounded like a nice old man. Tatsuki didn’t inquire too deeply, but it seemed that the man probably chose a job that he could do while living alone after his children became independent and his spouse passed away.

Incidentally, Tatsuki’s room was at the far end of the second floor.

He didn’t have a lot of luggage. He had already been told the apartment has all the furniture and appliances needed to live alone. It is assumed that the cooking will be handled by the automatic cooker, so even if he brought pots and frying pans he wouldn’t be able to use them. So naturally, Tatsuki didn’t bring useless things like that.

Just after cleaning up, he heard a knock on the door. Tatsuki shifted his attention to the front door inquisitively. There is an intercom equipped with a camera in every house, but they deliberately knocked.

Could it be someone suspicious who doesn’t want his face on video?

But even without ringing the intercom, they’ll be recorded by the security cameras that are already in the hall. It doesn’t make sense to be someone suspicious.

Tatsuki answered the intercom and asked “Who is it?”. At the same time, he put his CAD on standby. Three, years ago, FLT — Four Leaves Technology launched a completely thought-operated CAD that coexists with the thought-operated CADs from other manufacturers, and is now the de facto standard. Now, magicians don’t have to use their hands to operate their CAD. They’ve obtained overwhelming speed and freedom in their use of magic.

“I’m from next door, so I thought to come say hi.”

A boy of the same age as Tatsuki answered with words that weren’t quite polite. At first he was looking in the wrong direction, but he rapidly turned to the camera, maybe he didn’t realize there’s an intercom?

Is he nervous? This apartment building is for exclusive use of male students of Third High. There should be no reason for him to be nervous, and yet...?

While racking his brains, Tatsuki opened the door.

“Nice to meet you.”

Seemingly devoid of shyness, the other person greeted him with a reserved but friendly smile.

Tatsuki couldn’t tell through the intercom, but the boy was about 5 centimeters shorter than him, though he seemed to be heavier. Not because he was fat, he had a well-built physique. Apart from the height, he probably has a body similar to his older brother, Katsuto.

“I’m Ikura Samon, a freshman.”

(Ikura? ... Could it be?)

“Pleased to meet you. I am Juumonji Tatsuki.”

Tatsuki felt the similarity between the surname Ikura, and the Ichinokura of the 28 Families, but introduced himself without mentioning it.

“I am a freshman at Third High too.”

Tatsuki added to his introduction, to which Ikura Samon returned a broad smile that could only be described as “reserved”.

“I thought you’d be a freshman. You can call me Samon. Ah, is it okay to speak to you like this?”

He’s acting too familiar, but he’s not lacking in manners. Also, Samon’s tone and expression were strangely pleasant.

“It’s fine, we’re in the same year, after all. You can call me Tatsuki too.”

“Ah, of course.”

Samon extended his right hand.

Tatsuki immediately took his hand.

Samon’s hand was big and strong. Even in this way he reminded Tatsuki of his older brother.

“I live next door. It’s my first time in Kanazawa too, so let’s help each other if there’s something we don’t know.”

After saying so, Samon took back his hand.

“So you’re not from here either. I just came from Tokyo, where did you come from, Samon?”

After asking, Tatsuki added “Ah, please come in” and turned his body sideways.

“Well, don’t mind if I do...”

Samon went through the entrance door, slipping past Tatsuki, then took his sandals off and entered the apartment.

Tatsuki closed the door and returned as well.

In this apartment — and probably in Samon’s too, there is no table. The first tier of the two-tiered bunk bed was simply replaced by a task and a shelf. The two sat down directly on the wooden floor.

“Sorry, I haven’t been able to buy anything to drink yet.”

“Then let’s go buy some later... To answer what you asked earlier, I’m from Nagaoka in Niigata. If you’re here from Tokyo, then by ‘Juumonji’, you mean the Ten Master Clans’ Juumonji Family, right?”

“That’s right.”

Tatsuki had no intention of hiding that he was from the Ten Master Clans’ Juumonji Family, so he simply confirmed Samon’s suspicions.

“I suppose I shouldn’t ask why you’re going to Third High instead of First High, huh.”

“It’s nothing much. Just some small family circumstances.”

Here as well, Tatsuki didn’t particularly intend to dodge the question.

He really didn’t think of it as a bluff.

Tatsuki thought that it was common for relationships within families to deteriorate due to half-sisters that their fathers had.

“I see. Even so, you speak in a pretty grown-up way, Tatsuki.”

“...Do I? I’m not trying to pick any expressions in particular, though.”

“I don’t mean the wording, it’s the tone. I guess even the home education is different for the Ten Master Clans?”

“I don’t think that’s the case...”

Tatsuki, who himself doesn’t intend to do anything special, can only make ambiguous statements.

At the same time, he also doesn’t feel the need to change the way he speaks.

The same thing had been mentioned by Masaki not long ago, but Tatsuki doesn’t see it as a flaw he should fix.

This, for better or for worse, was Tatsuki’s personality.