Case 1: Ichijou Masaki
[Camouflaged Love]
Monday, June 28th, 2100 A.D.
Miyuki and Tatsuya went to the Magic University together. And this time around, there was no sign of Lina next to Miyuki. This was a rather unusual occurrence. Ever since she entered the university, Lina has always been standing by Miyuki's side, as if filling in for Tatsuya's almost constant absence on campus. So much so that there have been rumors of a special relationship between them.
Rumors and the falsehoods within aside, there was certainly a special relationship between Miyuki and Lina.
Miyuki, as the next head of the Yotsuba Family, used the power of the Yotsuba Family to give Lina a place where she could belong.
Lina acted as a bodyguard for Miyuki in place of Tatsuya when he was unable to accompany her.
This relationship hasn't changed even now that Lina has become a naturalized Japanese citizen. On the family register alone, Lina's father was Toudou Aoba. But in a sense, Toudou was only lending his name. All with the pretext of keeping the Strategic-Class Magician "Angie Sirius" in Japan. With Toudou being her father-in-law, there was no fear that someone under the thumb of the USNA might try to subvert this.
However, all Toudou had done for Lina was to grant her a family register upon her naturalization. He didn’t provide her with any financial support whatsoever.
Lina was capable of becoming financially independent at any time if she so chooses. As her official status wasn’t that of the Strategic-Class Magician "Angie Sirius," but as a student of the Magic University as "Angelina Kudou Shields" ── now "Toudou Rina" ── she couldn’t pursue a career as a magician. However, there were plenty of ways for her to make a living without having to be a magician, be it as a model, a celebrity, as a TV personality or as a material. (Incidentally, as a brief mention, "material" refers to becoming a base model for CG idols. From a standpoint of protecting the privacy of minors, almost all of the so-called Shoujo idols and almost, if not all of the Shonen idols had been replaced with CG models that were almost indistinguishable from real people).
Nevertheless, Lina still prioritizes her sense of duty from the circumstances that led her to defect during the STARS rebellion, and also ── although she herself may not like to admit it ── her friendship with Miyuki. She chose to act as Miyuki's bodyguard in place of Tatsuya, who could no longer always be by her side.
In a sense, Lina has her livelihood guaranteed as compensation. The fact that the Yotsuba Family is taking care of her financially is not a unilateral benefit, but a remuneration for her service. At least, that's how many in the Yotsuba Family see it, and that's how Tatsuya intended it to be. As for Miyuki and Lina themselves, they have their own feelings about it.
It was under such circumstances that Miyuki had always had Lina next to her since she entered university. And with Lina there, Tatsuya was able to focus on his work without any worries.
And now that Lina is away, it was hardly surprising that Tatsuya would move back to
Miyuki's side. However, to the students who have grown used to Tatsuya's absence and Lina's presence for the past two years or so, the sight of Miyuki happily walking arm-in-arm with Tatsuya by themselves was a great shock.
◇ ◇ ◇
At noon on this day, Tatsuya headed for the main gate of the university with Miyuki in tow. Rather than going home, they'd decided to have lunch off campus.
In front of the main gate of the Magic University is a T-junction, where the road that runs along the wall on both sides meets the paths leading directly to the campus. And, at this gate, Tatsuya and company came across the duo of Ichijou Masaki and Kichijouji Shinkurou, with five or six female students in tow.
At the sight of Tatsuya and the others, Masaki had a look of astonishment on his face. But this was soon replaced with a happy smile.
"Shiba-san. I see you're with Shiba today."
Masaki calls Miyuki "Shiba-san" and Tatsuya "Shiba." Since both Tatsuya and Miyuki were aware of this, they were not confused.
"Good afternoon, Ichijou-san, are you having lunch now?"
As they were walking, Miyuki asked Masaki, who was approaching from the other side of Tatsuya.
"Yeah. Shiba-san, are you going out today as well?"
"Yes. We thought we'd splurge a bit today."
"We had the same idea. Would you like to join us?"
Up to this point, Masaki had been keeping Tatsuya out of the conversation. However, Masaki's eyes were glancing at Tatsuya, gauging his reaction.
"Do you mean us?"
Miyuki sought Tatsuya's opinion with her eyes.
"Ichijou, you already have your companions over there."
"Indeed. I believe they would not feel comfortable if we were to join them, so I think it's best if we pass for today."
After Tatsuya directed his words at Masaki, Miyuki returned to him with a refusal.
"I see. Then maybe next time."
They were already well past the main gate. Masaki said it with surprising ease as he led Kichijouji and a group of female students away from Miyuki.
Tatsuya took Miyuki and walked in the opposite direction from Masaki's group.
"Masaki, what was that all about?"
As soon as Tatsuya's duo left, Kichijouji asked Masaki in a reproachful tone.
"Hmm? What?"
As for Masaki's tone, though it wasn't quite candid, it was clear to Kichijouji that he was feigning ignorance.
"That back there was just rude in so many ways. To those two, and to everyone else here for that matter." "I guess so."
"You guess… Masaki, you become a bit strange when she's around. You have already been this way since before, but now it's getting even worse. I can't even say that it's just 'a bit' anymore."
"Maybe so."
"Masaki!"
Masaki turned away from Kichijouji, raising his voice at him and looked back to the group of female students behind them.
"Kirie."
He called out to a junior who is a year younger than him, whose name was Tsuruga Kirie. A junior in a double sense, since she was also from Third High. Being a relative from his mother's side, she was also the leader of the gang of women who hung around Masaki.
"Yes?"
Although not necessarily because she was his junior, she had a fairly obedient attitude towards Masaki ── or rather, an impression of obedience towards him.
"I'm sorry I made you feel uncomfortable."
With a Kichijouji expressing surprise at the ease with which Masaki apologized, for the person receiving the apology herself, Kirie simply replied, "No, not at all…" in a reserved manner.
"To everyone else too, my bad. I'll treat you guys to something nice as an apology."
Kirie aside, the rest of the female students raised cheers of delight with a heart.
"Don't say that… We'll be late for the afternoon lecture again…"
Kichijouji grumbled, not so much in a frank advice capacity as in resignation.
Kirie, who did not raise a cheer, said in a quiet voice, "Thank you very much" with a smile.
◇ ◇ ◇
By the beginning of July, the surrounding students had become used to having Tatsuya attend school every day in Lina's absence.
Concurrently, Tatsuya was frequently asked by Lina's fans, and Miyuki by Lina’s friends alike, about when she would be returning to the university.
"Around next week or so…"
Instead of directly asking Tatsuya or Miyuki about Lina's schedule, Masaki overheard about it through a friend.
"So, I heard she's apparently returning home to America."
"Ooh… So, she managed to travel to the United States. Did she get some special permission because it's her homeland?"
His friends continued chatting about Lina. Masaki listened absentmindedly.
Kichijouji was currently doing something on his own. Nobody noticed that Masaki’s "mind was somewhere else."
"But then wouldn't she not be able to return from there? Isn't the USNA the same in respect to the fact that they practically forbid magicians from leaving the country?"
"No, I don't think so. Shields-san is already a naturalized Japanese citizen."
"Her official name is Toudou Rina-san, I think… So, now that she holds citizenship here, I don't think the USNA can try to prevent her from returning to Japan."
"I don't know about that. There shouldn't be many magicians in the United States who are as high level as her."
"…Do you think they could try to force her to stay? What do you think, Ichijou?"
"That'd be a problem!"
With the question being suddenly raised at him, Masaki replied in a stronger tone than he intended. "Ichijou?"
Because of his fierceness, his friends looked at him with a mixture of surprise and disbelief.
"Oh, no… it’s just that Shields-san has been a Japanese magician ever since she was naturalized. If they were to try to prevent a Japanese citizen from returning, it would be a serious threat to the reputation of our country."
"I see now. The Ten Master Clans, as representatives of the Japanese Magic Community, would not tolerate that."
The argument Masaki came up with on the spur of the moment was enough to convince his friends.
On the other hand, Masaki himself was feeling a sense of urgency of "I have to check…".
After the end of the last lecture of the day, Masaki walked around the campus looking for someone he knew who should know the details about the situation. He thought he might find this person in his seminar room or in the club room, but there was also the possibility that they had already gone home. His impatience made his pace become more and more hurried.
On the way, he happened to see Kirie walking among a group of her classmates, and Masaki's pace involuntarily slowed.
Unlike when she is around his group of female admirers, Kirie has a relaxed smile on her face.
Masaki felt a sudden pang of sadness well up inside him. Even so, he wasn't at the age where he’d be moved to tears. But perhaps five years earlier, this would be enough to bring some tears to his eyes.
He always knew that Kirie was pushing herself whenever she was around him. Especially right after she enrolled at the university.
Being a relative and a junior at that, Masaki had known Kirie since before she started high school. They had known each other fairly well for a long time. This is why he immediately noticed a change in her around the time she enrolled at the Magic University.
The Kirie that Masaki used to know, that followed him closely around, was no more. She no longer gets self-conscious when around him, and doesn’t show any signs of constantly watching whatever expression he has on his face.
In the past, she used to always smile like that. She wasn't so much of a striking beauty, but she made him feel at ease when in her company when she would use her old expression that had a certain air of homeliness to it. She was considerate, but she was not a person who would look out for every little thing about others.
Masaki had some idea of the reason behind her change.
He also knew that it had nothing to do with him.
Masaki retraced his steps and turned off to the side.
Though it was a long detour, he didn't want to speak to Kirie at the moment.
The two people Masaki was looking for, Tatsuya and Miyuki, were in their seminar laboratory. Apparently having a break right now, the seminar students gathered around one table with a variety of drinks such as cold green tea, juice, iced coffee and iced tea cups in front of them.
"──Shiba, may I have a word with you?"
Some laboratories were off-limits to outsiders, but these were clearly marked with a sign on the door. Higashiyama’s seminar room wasn’t so strict. And, since the sliding door of the entrance was left open, Masaki walked into the room without a word of caution and addressed Tatsuya.
"Yeah, it's fine."
Tatsuya promptly stood up.
"Is the hallway okay?"
He didn't ask Masaki why, because he wasn't planning on going far.
"Yeah, no problem."
Masaki himself had the same intention from the start.
"──That news is wrong, you see. Lina is still in the country. I can't tell you where, though."
Tatsuya flatly lied to Masaki, who had asked him about the possibility of Lina not being able to return to Japan, based on the rumors he had heard about her from his friends from the corridor window.
Lina's trip to the United States was not made by legitimate means. She traveled to the United States without a passport, entering USNA with a fake ID made by the military there. The same will apply for her return. She wasn't even supposed to be recognized as having been to the United States.
"Is that really so?"
"You can even check the departure records. They'll let you have access to them, right?"
By normal procedure, a third party is not allowed to access immigration records. But there are always extra-legal loopholes. Being a nationally recognized Strategic-Class Magician, Masaki should have the pull for that.
"No, I'm not going to go that far, but… In that case, why are there rumors of her going to America?"
"Miyuki explained to her friends that "she's out on an errand for her home country," so maybe it's a misunderstanding, no?"
"A USNA errand? I know I'm not supposed to ask this, but what is she doing for America?"
"I can't comment, of course. It's a private matter, even if she is not a magister."
Masaki didn't persist in digging into Lina's background.
"And what about Shields-san coming back next week?"
Instead, he was concerned about the date when Lina would return to the university.
"There are no changes in that schedule. Do you have any business with Lina?" "No, it's not really that, just…"
Masaki's speech abruptly became slurred when Tatsuya questioned him.
"Ichijou. Don't tell me that you are thinking that when Lina comes back to the university, that I would simply disappear from Miyuki's side."
"…I am not."
There was a brief but hard to ignore pause before Masaki gave his denial.
"…You know, I'm really not up for any more fistfights."
Tatsuya emphasized with a sullen voice.
"Of course."
This time, Masaki answered without any pause.
◇ ◇ ◇
Tsuruga Kirie was waiting for Masaki at the entrance of the Department of Fundamental Magic Studies building, where the Higashiyama Laboratory is located.
"Masaki-san…"
That's what Kirie calls Masaki when there aren't any other female students around. This is what she used to call him in the past. Kirie is from the Tsuruga Family, and is a relative on Masaki's mother's side of the family, so it's not strange that she calls him by his first name instead of his last name.
The relationship between Masaki and Kirie is a bit complicated. Masaki's maternal grandfather is the younger brother of the previous head of the Isshiki Family, and the younger brother of the previous head's wife is Kirie’s paternal grandfather. They are the younger brother and brother-in-law of the previous head of the Isshiki Family, which makes Masaki's grandfather and Kirie's grandfather brothers-in-law. In other words, Masaki and Kirie are second cousins, but in familial terms, their grandfathers are not related to each other by blood.
However, though they are cousins, Masaki's maternal grandmother is older and Kirie's paternal grandfather is younger. Masaki's maternal grandmother’s maiden name is "Tsuruga." In other words, Kirie is descended from the main family on Masaki’s mother’s side.
Yet, Masaki's mother's maiden name is neither "Tsuruga" nor "Isshiki." It's "Wakasa," the Wakasa Family is a branch family of the Tsuruga Family. Given the fact of the grandmother entering the Tsuruga Family through marriage, and the fact that the grandfather married into the family, it stands to reason then that Kirie is a direct descendant on Masaki's mother's side of the family.
Although, in terms of lineage hierarchy in the Japanese Magic Community, Masaki is a direct descendant of the Ichijou Family and also blood related to the Isshiki Family, while Kirie isn't blood related to the Isshiki Family, let alone the Ichijou Family. Although it's only a difference of three generations, it can be said that Masaki has the superior lineage.
"Kirie, do you need something?"
Be that as it may, the reason why Masaki is acting somewhat pompous whereas Kirie had a demur attitude isn’t because of the difference in their family’s or lineage, but because of the difference in their ages, their relationship as a senpai and kouhai, and since they’ve known each other for a long time.
"It's not that I have any particular business… I just saw you a while ago."
"By some chance, were you trying to run after me?"
"No, I wasn’t trying to do that sort of thing!"
The tone of Masaki's question was not exactly harsh, but Kirie hastened to deny it.
"It's just that, somehow, I have a feeling that Masaki-san might be here."
"Somehow, huh?"
This is why she should not be underestimated, Masaki muttered deep in his mind. Kirie is from the Tsugura Family, making her a descendant of an ancient bloodline dating back to the days of the Yamato Imperial Court. There is something in their blood that may not be recognizable as magic by today's standards, but it's still some sort of ancient superpower. "So, what is it?"
"Well, err…"
Kirie looked like she is anxious about her surroundings. Although she answered Masaki's question by saying she had no business, there still seemed to be something she wanted to talk about. They are on the path where students go in and out of the faculty building. This was hardly the place for a private conversation.
"…Let's go somewhere else."
After saying that, Masaki took Kirie outside the campus.
Masaki took Kirie to a coffee shop about a five-minute walk away from the university. It was Fumiya's favorite place to take Tatsuya for a cup of tea, but Masaki knowing about this coffee shop had nothing to do with Fumiya.
"You can pick whatever you want."
This is the first thing that Masaki said to Kirie after they sat down opposite each other. "…Thank you for always doing this for me."
Since Masaki always treats her like such, Kirie didn't hesitate and thanked him for it and ordered an iced royal milk tea from the table top panel. Masaki went for a cappuccino despite it being summer.
A few moments later, the choice between table service and self-service was presented. Kirie opted for the self-service and said, "I'll go and get it" standing up from her chair.
Kirie returned with the ordered drinks on a tray.
Masaki took the cappuccino from the tray and set it down on the table in front of him. Once she sat back down, Kirie first put a coaster down and then the glass of iced tea on top of it.
"Kirie. You have something you want to tell me, don’t you?"
"It's not really something like that…"
She hesitated for a while, but when she was silently pressured by Masaki, she confessed, "I would like to ask you something."
"You can ask me anything."
Masaki stood proudly and regally. Much like saying, "I have nothing to feel guilty about."
However, at the same time, there was too much of this prideful air.
"…Masaki-san, you avoided me earlier, didn't you."
"…What are you talking about?"
"You saw me and made a U-turn, didn't you?"
"…That wasn't me avoiding you. I just saw you enjoying yourself with your friends, so I decided to refrain."
Kirie stared squarely at Masaki. It wasn't an accusatory look, nor was there a shred of intimidation, but it still made him feel like he was in the wrong"
"Is it because you find me unpleasant?"
"No, of course not!" Masaki exclaimed.
Kirie froze still with eyes wide. She didn’t look frightened.
Masaki, on the other hand, was even more shocked than Kirie, and it showed. He didn't appear to have consciously raised his voice. His expression reflected his disbelief at his own overreaction.
"…My bad. I didn't mean to shout or anything."
Masaki bowed his head and apologized to Kirie.
"No, it's fine, I'm just surprised because it happened so suddenly. It wasn't really that loud."
Kirie's words were meant to comfort him and there wasn’t any falsehood in them. Masaki's voice was not loud enough to arouse the attention of the other guests.
"That's a relief."
"Relief?"
Now reassured by Kirie's words, Masaki asked back quizzically.
"Yes. To know that you didn't think of me as being a nuisance."
"……"
"I'm relieved to know that Masaki-san doesn't dislike me."
Masaki broke eye contact with Kirie.
This gesture of his gave a slightly different impression than pure embarrassment.
There were hints of guilt here and there in his expression.
◇ ◇ ◇
Masaki and Miyuki share the same first period lecture on Saturday’s. It is a time which he looks forward to.
He diligently attends every lecture unless there is work related to his family, but for times like this there is a different path he takes to class than usual. He arrived at the classroom much earlier than he does for his other lectures. And then he sat down in a place where he has a clear view of the usual place where Miyuki sits.
University classrooms are different from those of the last century in that each desk and chair is independent of the other. Students take their lessons through a terminal integrated into each desk. However, in the case of the Magic University, there are not many recorded lectures. There are countless courses where the lessons can be accessed later as archived lectures, but the lectures themselves are not a processed video itself, but are real-time recordings of the lecturer. Many of the lecturers even stand on the podium. This is due to the policy of not neglecting question and answering discussion sessions, even in large lectures. There are no partitions blocking the view between desks.
For Masaki, this classroom is the best place to enjoy a complete and unobstructed view of Miyuki without any interruptions of barriers or neighboring seats. And, since this is a university classroom, there are no fixed seats. So, occasionally, he can do something like this.
"Good morning, Shiba-san. Do you mind if I sit here?"
"Good morning, Ichijou-san. Yes, feel free."
Masaki called out to her as he stood, she looked up at him and nodded with a bright smile.
With her permission, rather than taking the "seat with the best view of Miyuki," Masaki sat down right beside her.
"You're not with Shiba today?"
The only reason why Masaki was willing to make such a bold step today was because neither Tatsuya nor Lina were next to Miyuki. Lina would not let Masaki near Miyuki, and when Miyuki and Tatsuya were having their time together, Masaki wouldn't even want to go near them. In fact, when he invited her when she was with Tatsuya for lunch the other day, he was expecting her to decline.
"Tatsuya-sama was called to the laboratory by Higashiyama-sensei."
Higashiyama Kazutoki is Tatsuya's and Miyuki's seminar advisor. He has also collaborated with Tatsuya on the "Event Interference Force = Pushion Wave Theory." As a matter of fact, he collaborated with Tsukuba Yuuka on research related to Outer-Systematic Type Magic. "Unfortunately, he will not be attending this lecture."
"I see. That's a shame."
Masaki's tone of voice was not wholly absentminded in his back-channel.
"Yes, indeed it is."
Despite how Miyuki surprisingly felt about it inwardly, she did not let it show on her face.
◇ ◇ ◇
After the first period lecture, Miyuki went to Higashiyama’s laboratory to pick up Tatsuya.
By the time Miyuki peeked into the laboratory, Tatsuya had already finished packing up his desk.
"Until later."
Having said this to Professor Higashiyama, Tatsuya stood up and walked over to Miyuki.
"Miyuki, thank you for coming."
He greeted her with an apology for having her come and pick him up.
"Shall we go?"
He suggested moving to the next classroom.
Miyuki answered with a "Yes" and wrapped her right arm around Tatsuya's left arm.
"Tatsuya-sama, it's about Ichijou-san…"
While walking with their arms entwined, Miyuki looked up and spoke to Tatsuya. She didn’t worry at all about anything in front of herself as she walked. She didn’t worry about bumping into anything since she entrusted Tatsuya entirely with where they were going, thus allowing Miyuki to focus her attention on the conversation.
"What's wrong with Ichijou?"
"It's an uncomfortable feeling I've been sensing for some time now, but it has been particularly intense lately."
Her tone of voice wasn’t difficult to hear. The anxiety on Miyuki’s face was palpable.
"An uncomfortable feeling. When specifically?"
"Yes. Like when he asked me a while ago if he could sit next to me."
"And?"
Tatsuya's face didn’t show a hint of irritation, even though he had just heard what could be easily construed as Masaki making a pass on Miyuki while he was absent.
"I said yes, of course. After Ichijou-san took a seat next to me, he seemed to have lost interest in me."
"…Couldn't he have just been concentrating on the lecture?"
"I think there is that too. But sometimes I felt a gaze directed at me, and that gaze was…"
Tatsuya frowned. If he is really directing lustful gazes at Miyuki, that is something he can't overlook.
"…I think it resembled someone you’d see admiring a painting or a sculpture."
But Miyuki's line containing her apparent bewilderment was far removed from Tatsuya's own assessment.
"You think Ichijou sees you as an object?"
"An object… Perhaps in the sense that he doesn't see me as a real living person, but I don't think he sees me as some sort of possession. I feel like it's something akin to him 'being happy just to look."
Satisfaction just by looking at Miyuki. ──Surely there are plenty of men like that around.
However, it is not a feeling that a man who has tried to break up an engagement in the past based on infatuation should have, even as a joke.
Or maybe it's because it's "in the past."
(Is it the "past" in Ichijou's mind…?)
(If so, then what's with this behavior of his, trying to woo Miyuki every chance he gets?) (Hmm? …Behavior?)
Tatsuya felt a strong pull to the words he asked himself in his mind.
"Tatsuya-sama, do you have any idea of what it could be…?"
Sensitive to the thoughts going through Tatsuya's mind, Miyuki looked up at Tatsuya expectantly.
"No, I just thought that Ichijou's actions certainly don't make much sense."
But, finding his hypothesis rather far-fetched, Tatsuya said noncommittally.
"So, Tatsuya-sama also thinks so… I also am not sure how to best deal with Ichijou-san," "That's problematic," muttered Miyuki seriously, to which Tatsuya thought, "I can't let this continue any longer."
◇ ◇ ◇
Saturday’s lecture at the Magic University ends at noon, after the second period. This is earlier than other public universities. But this did not mean the end of the day for students and teachers alike. Of which they usually have seminars and club activities afterwards.
A little after noon, Tatsuya and Miyuki were planning to go out for lunch a little further away from the crowded school cafeteria. There was not much time before the expected arrival time of the commuter (robot taxi) that they had called right after the lecture. They walked at a fast pace towards the north gate ── the main gate is on the south side ── it was on their way.
Unlike the area in front of the main gate, the area around the north gate is laid out as a series of narrow paths intersecting buildings, giving limited visibility. It wasn’t until they reached the gate did Tatsuya and Miyuki encounter Masaki and the usual group of female students that accompany him.
"Shiba-san, are you having lunch now?"
As is usually the case, Masaki called out to Miyuki.
He had never noticed it before, but now that he thought about it, there is no "passion" in Masaki's eyes. Though he might be enthusiastic, there is no genuine passion in his eyes. ──So Tatsuya thought.
"Yeah, even Ichijou-san and your friends as well?"
Miyuki was disconcerted on the inside, but she didn't let it show on the surface at all, and answered Masaki with a perfect "lady's smile."
"In that case."
"But it seems that you are in a hurry, Shiba-kun."
As Masaki was about to deliver his usual invitation to Miyuki, Kichijouji interposed his words to Tatsuya.
"Yeah, unfortunately. Sorry."
With the question raised at him, Tatsuya responded honestly. The idea of "this might be a good opportunity to find out what Ichijou is up to" had crossed Tatsuya's mind, but he had already booked a commuter and a restaurant. He considered that it would be impractical to change his plans at this point.
"I'm sorry to stall you, Masaki. Well, Shiba-kun, another time."
And Kichijouji for his part seemed to have an idea.
"Yeah, see you later."
Tatsuya didn't know what his intentions were, but he felt it was best not to interfere.
Tatsuya prompted Miyuki and parted ways with Masaki's group.
◇ ◇ ◇
"Masaki. I need to talk to you alone."
Soon after Tatsuya and Miyuki had left, Kichijouji said to Masaki with a stern expression.
"What's wrong out of the blue?"
Masaki asked back with a puzzled look on his face,
"Just the two of us."
Kichijouji repeated the same request without a dent in his stern expression.
"George…"
Masaki called Kichijouji by his nickname in a hushed tone.
"……"
But Kichijouji stubbornly refused to budge.
Masaki let out a sigh and turned away from Kichijouji to Kirie.
"Kirie. It seems like George has remembered something important we need to talk about. I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask that you take lunch without us."
Then he turned to the other female students with an affable smile.
"And everyone else too, I'm sorry, but that's how it is."
Kichijouji's seriousness seemed to have even rubbed off on the girls, and none of the "hangers-on" raised any complaints. The girls left Masaki and Kichijouji, saying "see you later" and "You can make it up later."
Kirie and the others scattered away out of the north gate.
Meanwhile, Masaki and Kichijouji made a U-turn and made their way to the school cafeteria.
Securing an empty seat he spotted in the crowded cafeteria, Kichijouji took his set meal order from the counter and sat down at the table, deploying his sound insulation field with no questions asked.
"George, what got you so upset?"
Masaki, who had returned to the table a little later, asked Kichijouji in a quizzical tone.
That wasn't a feigned ignorance on Masaki's part. He genuinely doesn’t know what has gotten Kichijouji in such a bad mood.
Kichijouji turned his brooding eyes toward Masaki.
"Masaki. You have been acting strange lately, you know that?"
Kichijouji's voice didn't contain an ounce of humor.
"Whoa, isn’t that an abrupt thing to say all of a sudden."
"Masaki!"
"…Okay. I'm being serious. What's the problem?"
Resigned to not evading the questions at hand, Masaki retracted his fake smile and faced Kichijouji.
Neither of them bat any eyes at the food growing cold.
"It's about your behavior around Shiba-san."
"…I think it's about the same as how I always acted around her before."
"No, it isn't. At least not until the year before last, it wasn't as flippant as that."
Kichijouji's tone is laced with conviction.
"That's not…"
Masaki tried to argue, but couldn't quite articulate himself properly.
Meaning that Masaki himself is both aware of this fact and has an idea of what is going on.
"You began to act strangely like that, Masaki, when Tsuruga-san started university."
Masaki's face contorted at Kichijouji's point. It's an expression of a nerve having been struck.
"…This has nothing to do with her."
Masaki, however, refused to verbally admit it.
"So you're well aware that you've been acting strangely since last spring, aren't you?" "……"
"Keeping quiet? Not that I mind. It's not like I'm trying to accuse you of anything, Masaki." "……"
"I just want to say one thing to you, Masaki. Rather, I can't not say it!"
Kichijouji's voice and his eyes, were both filled with the heartfelt concern of a person who cares about his best friend.
"…Say it."
Nevertheless, for all he wished, Masaki could not remain silent.
"I want you to put a stop to this, before you push yourself any further and end up doing something really shameful!"
"……"
And still, he couldn't help but be lost for words at this line.
"Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
Masaki didn’t say anything. No, judging by the quivering of his lips on his tense face, he must be trying to say something but can't quite manage it.
"You see, I knew long ago that you have been deliberately trying to look like a pick-up artist, Masaki."
"I see…"
Masaki muttered in a resigned voice. It's a muttered admittance of what Kichijouji pointed out to be true.
"Really, that isn't you… I couldn't stand watching it. It was painful just to watch."
"…My bad."
"I won't ask you why, since it looks like you don't want to talk about it. But you should put a stop to it. Nah, it has to stop. Not just for yourself. It's also disrespectful to Shiba-san to use a stalking horse around her."
"I'm not using a stalking horse or anything."
Masaki's face changed.
"I like her. That's not a lie."
This is the only thing that is non-negotiable, Masaki pleaded.
"But your "like" is not in the romantic sense of the word "like," is it?"
However, Kichijouji's counter argument again left Masaki speechless.
"It's a kind of "like" in the worshiping or admiration sense, isn't that right?"
"…It's not like I'm idolizing her, though."
"I get that it's not a shallow sentiment."
Masaki's rebuttal was easily brushed aside by Kichijouji.
"But it's a similar kind of feeling. It's a one-sided affection that you can't help but to feel. It’s the feeling that makes you happy when the person shows you just a bit of kindness. Am I wrong?"
"…No, you're not. I know that she doesn't have any feelings for me."
"So, Masaki, you would be happy to just look at that woman. That's the truth, isn’t it? For that reason, Masaki, it was superfluous of you for having made a pass on her, let alone it having been inappropriate."
Kichijouji made an arbitrarily conclusive statement to which, as expected, there was no rebuttal from Masaki.
"This pick-up artist Masaki is not only rude to Shiba-san, but also to yourself."
"To myself…?"
"Yes, of course. To your true feelings. You are defiling your own affection for Shiba-san, Masaki. In any case, you should really stop doing this."
"…I'll think about it"
Kichijouji let out a sigh when Masaki didn't say he was going to stop right away.
"…I know you won't answer this, and though I said earlier that I wouldn't ask why, I'll still go ahead and ask. Why are you playing such a stupid clown?" And as expected, Masaki didn’t give a response.
◇ ◇ ◇
The evening of Saturday, July 3rd. At the residence of the Ichijou Family in the former Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa.
Ichijou Akane, the eldest daughter of the Ichijou Family and a second-year student at the Third High School, cheered with delight at the unexpected email. The volume of her voice was such that her mother came to check what was going on.
"I-It's nothing. Nothing at all. Ahahahaha…"
Sending her mother away with a deceptive smile, Akane sat down on her bed in a position with her legs in the format of an "A" (a usual girl sitting style, a folded legged sitting style) and stared fixedly at the terminal displaying the email she had received with an earnest look on her face.
Akane took a deep breath.
"──Okay!"
With a shout of determination, she called the sender's phone number from the link in the email.
The call connected immediately.
"Hello! It's Akane. Is this Shinkurou-kun!?"
"Akane-chan? Yeah. It's me. …Sorry for having you call me."
Kichijouji was surprised to receive a call from Akane straight away. He had sent Akane an email asking, "When would be a good time to call." He had underestimated the average high school girl, or rather Akane’s enthusiasm.
"Umm. I just wanted to talk to you right away. So, what’s the problem?"
Just talking on the phone, Kichijouji was almost overwhelmed by her energy.
"It’s not a problem per se, rather, I want to ask you something."
"What is it? Ask me anything."
But staying overwhelmed would not accomplish his goal. Kichijouji chided himself in his mind, "Pull yourself together, Shinkurou."
"Are you familiar with Tsuruga-san, Akane-chan?"
"Kirie-san? Yeah, I know her. Our family is very close to Tsuruga-san's. …Wait! Don't tell me that you have an eye on Kirie-san, Shinkurou-kun!?"
There were signs of panic on the other end of the phone. Kichijouji cocked his head to the side, wondering what was going on.
"Are you cheating? You’re trying to cheat!? No, no, you absolutely cannot!"
"…Err. I think you might have misunderstood something, I just wanted to ask you if there's something going on between Tsuruga Kirie-san and Masaki."
"With Nii-san? Aaah, so that's what it is…"
Akane breathed out a sigh of relief over the terminal's uniphone (voice communication unit).
"Right, the relationship between Nii-san and Kirie-san. Let's see, where should I start…" There were signs of pondering on the other end of the line. Kichijouji didn't make any attempt to disturb Akane by rushing her.
"Shinkurou-kun, you know that our grandfather is the younger brother of the previous head of the Isshiki Family, don't you?"
"I know, but where does it fit in?"
"Kirie-san is from the Tsuruga Family, and though her family is associated with the Ichijou Family, we aren’t related, yet there is a connection with the Isshiki Family."
"I didn't know that…"
Even Kichijouji, who has known Masaki for so long, usually forgets that Masaki is blood related to the Isshiki Family. It was completely unexpected to find out that Kirie is connected to the Isshiki Family.
"Ah. But it's not like Kirie-san is from the Isshiki Family. They are relatives, though."
"So you mean… they are maternal relatives?"
"I don't know if I would call them maternal relatives. The wife of the previous head of the Isshiki Family was a member of the Tsuruga Family. Kirie-san is the grandchild of her younger brother."
"I had heard that they were distant relatives, but I didn't know they were related like that…"
Kichijouji sorted out in his mind the blood relationship that Akane had told him. Masaki and Kirie's grandfathers were both brothers-in-law through the previous head of the Isshiki Family. Though they are relatives, they are not related by blood. On the other hand, Kirie's grandfather became the uncle of the current head of the Isshiki Family, but Kirie herself has no genes from the Isshiki Family.
"And now comes the main part of the story."
Kichijouji's thoughts had wandered astray, but these words from Akane brought his mind back.
"You see, it seems like the genes of the Isshiki Family and the genes of the Tsuruga Family are very compatible when it comes to producing magicians."
"…You mean that by pairing the Isshiki Family and Tsuruga Family, excellent magicians can be born?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Originally, the Ten Master Clans was established in order to conduct experiments with artificial insemination and artificial wombs to determine the most suitable couplings for producing excellent magicians, which the men and women deemed to be particularly compatible were virtually forced together. It was not all that strange to be told that the same thing is still being practiced today. If anything, it would be more natural to think that it is still being practiced.
And when he thought about it, he arrived at a sudden realization.
"Could it be that the Isshiki Family is trying to bring Masaki and Tsuruga-san together?"
"From what I can tell, it's not just the Isshiki Family, but the whole Tsuruga Family that also wants Kirie-san and Nii-san to get married. Actually, I think they even wanted for them to get engaged at once, but you know how Nii-san is. It’s only been a little more than three years since the attempt to push forward with proposing an engagement to that person, who is the next head of the Yotsuba Family. And since that hasn’t completely been settled yet, neither the Isshiki Family nor the Tsuruga Family can apply any kind of pressure, and they're getting impatient."
"No, that matter is pretty much settled already…"
Kichijouji objected with a fed up voice. Kichijouji was not present at the party held after the March 2098 graduation ceremony of the First High School. So he didn't witness that incident between Tatsuya and Masaki.
However, he learned by word of mouth what had happened there. It's a little hard for him to believe, but it was said that the two of them exchanged blows over Shiba Miyuki. At the time he heard of this, he frankly thought "when did this happen?". However, it should be noted that this fight was settled without the use of magic. ──The outcome being Masaki’s defeat.
And it's because he is aware of this that Kichijouji felt that Masaki's attitude at the Magic University was "a disgraceful pick-up artist play."
"But we still haven't received an official reply from the Yotsuba Family, you see." "Eh…?"
"Well, they probably didn't have any intention of answering to begin with."
"That's…"
Kichijouji could understand the Yotsuba Family's position. In the first place, it was an absurd thing to propose an engagement to Shiba Miyuki immediately following the announcement of her engagement to Shiba Tatsuya. Knowing the Yotsuba Family, it was understandable that they felt mocked at the attempt. Kichijouji thought if not for that, such an unreasonable and imprudent decision could have led to open hostilities.
"In other words, due to the situation, those formal talks of marriage are still up in the air…"
But if you remove the fact that the formal proposal from the Ichijou Family has not been formally answered by the Yotsuba Family, then the marriage proposal is still pending. While pretty much everyone in the magical community thinks it's a closed book, it still might be something hard to ignore when trying to make a formal proposal towards Masaki.
"It must be hard for Kirie-san too, you know. Because she probably likes Nii-san."
"I don't remember her ever showing any sign of it when we were attending Third High, though…"
Kirie isn't just a year behind them at the Magic University, she was also his kouhai at Third High. As a high-achieving underclassman that she was, Kichijouji had known of her since high school.
"When you were all in high school, I think she thought of Nii-san as someone unreachable for her."
"Did she voice her thoughts on the matter when her family, her relatives and the Isshiki Family told her to marry Masaki?"
"I don’t think that she has been able to give up because she wants to, rather, because she is unable to at all. After all, it’s her family, her relatives, and the Isshiki Family, who have been pushing her to do it. By some chance if it ends up happening, it’s only natural to hope for the best, isn’t it?"
A lot of things are now coming into view, thought Kichijouji.
(That's something that Masaki would think. Really, what an idiot…)
"Akane-chan. Thank you. I feel like I'm starting to understand a lot of what I've been wondering."
"Really? I'm happy I could help, then."
Akane said in a buoyant tone
"Shinkurou-kun. I'll leave Nii-san and Kirie-san in your hands. Out of everyone you came to me to ask about their relationship, Shinkurou-kun, so this must mean you’re at the end
of your rope, right? I'm sure someone who Nii-san trusts the most like you, Shinkurou-kun, can do something about that…"
She added in a formal voice.
"…I'll try my best."
To which Kichijouji responded, since he wasn’t on the spot.
◇ ◇ ◇
Sunday, July 4th.
Kichijouji called Masaki to come to the Magic University.
It is not all that uncommon for students to come to the Magic University on a Sunday, since many students can be seen coming and going throughout the campus. In particular, students such as Masaki, who often miss lectures and seminars due to work, tend to use Sundays to catch up.
At the end of a tree-lined path, in a corner of the campus away from the other students. Under the green canopy of overhanging branches, while trying to avoid the eyes of others, Kichijouji faced Masaki.
"George, what's going on all of a sudden?"
It was unusual for Kichijouji to call Masaki like he just did.
"I heard about Tsuruga-san."
Kichijouji cut to the chase without any preamble.
"Was it Akane…?"
Masaki frowned after having guessed correctly.
"We already talked about this yesterday. I'm still processing everything.
So, give me a break and don't push it, is what Masaki means.
Kichijouji, however, ignored his appeal.
"Masaki, you were acting like that because you don't want to marry Tsuruga-san?"
Masaki unconsciously glanced left and right. This was not the middle of nowhere, deep in the mountains. They might have chosen a place with relatively few students, but that doesn't mean no one will pass by.
"Don't worry, I'm using sound insulation magic. You didn't notice?"
Having this pointed out to him, Masaki realized that he had been so agitated that he hadn't noticed the magic that was active in his immediate surroundings.
"Did you think that by playing the role of a pick-up artist, that she would come to dislike you?"
"…George, cut it out."
"Nonsense. There's no need for you to act like a jerk."
"Stop it already."
"If you dislike Tsuruga-san so much, just come clean and say so. It'd be better for Tsuruga-san too."
"Don't say another word…"
"And yet you always keep her by your side and keep insinuating things. That's cruel, Masaki."
"I told you to stop!"
Masaki raised his voice.
Kichijouji, however, stood unfazed. Although he did as he was told and momentarily shut his mouth, he maintained an accusing stare at Masaki.
"…It's not like I dislike Kirie or anything."
"So you're just keeping her at arm's length? That's even crueler."
"It's not like that!"
"Then what are you doing?!"
They both stared at each other.
"It's none of your business, George!"
"I'm your best friend!" Masaki gasped.
"My best friend is losing his mind. It's only natural that I would worry!" Masaki is at a loss for words after Kichijouji fired back.
"Even Akane-chan is worried about you! I won't back down until I at least hear what your honest feelings are!"
Kichijouji is ragged out of breath,
Masaki loudly exhaled the breath he had been holding in.
"This has got to stop now…"
There was a profound sense of melancholy in the muttering that Masaki had released.
Kichijouji held his breath at what could have easily been a soliloquy.
"…What do you mean?"
For a moment, Masaki gave a "now I’ve done it" look, probably because he didn't intend to let Kichijouji hear his mutterings.
Letting out another sigh, Masaki met Kichijouji's gaze. Until this point, he had always faced Kichijouji, exchanging glares, but this was probably the first time since the start of this discussion that they properly met eye to eye in order to achieve a meaningful dialogue.
"Did you hear from Akane about the relationship between the Isshiki and Tsuruga?"
Kichijouji nodded in response to Masaki’s question with, "I’ve heard it."
"What did you think?" "What I think is…"
Kichijouji didn’t answer right away this time after Masaki asked him this brief question.
Having your marriage partner chosen for you based on your genetic compatibility is not something that one would emotionally like to accept. However, considering the origins of modern magicians and circumstances surrounding magicians, he felt that it might be a necessary evil.
There are even rumors in some areas that there are still human experiments being carried out in order to develop magicians. Kichijouji thought that, compared to compulsory fertilizations and cloning, the marriage route might be considered most humane.
"I'm a man, so I don't know how women really feel. But if I were being forced against my will to be with a man for the sole purpose of giving birth to a superior magician, it’s a terrible thing in my opinion."
"…How do you see the role of men in this, Masaki?"
"In the most extreme case, a man is no longer useful once his partner is pregnant. But a woman has to raise a whole new life inside her own body. A life that comes from a man she doesn't even like. I can't really imagine what that must feel like."
"…There are artificial wombs nowadays."
"Why has the use of artificial wombs remained so low? I hear that nowadays there are almost no cases of women suffering physical injuries as a result of egg retrieval. Also, pregnancy is a very heavy burden for the woman. It must be physically easier to rely on an artificial womb than to grow a baby in one's own womb. And yet even today, there are still an overwhelming number of women who prefer to carry their children in their own wombs. Why is that? Ain't there a reason for that that we men don't understand?"
"…I'm a man too, so I don't know either."
Kichijouji looked down and shook his head several times as if to say, "I’ve given up."
"Then, Masaki, you──"
As he said this, Kichijouji raised his head and made eye contact with Masaki.
"──Are you trying to make Tsuruga-san dislike you because you feel sorry for her?"
"Everything would end up better if she were to dislike me and if I were to dislike her, I think…"
Masaki averted his eyes and stared off into the distance.
"What do you mean?"
But when Kichijouji asked what he meant, he promptly returned his gaze.
"Regardless of what Kirie thinks of me, neither the Tsuruga Family nor the Isshiki Family are going to give up."
"──"
Kichijouji admitted deep in his mind that he was being shallow in his thinking. Since the beginning, this is a case where the interests of the magician community are prioritized over the feelings of the individual. Certainly, "I don't want to" is not enough to stop it.
"In terms of the potential to produce superior magicians, a combination of the Ichijou
Family and the Yotsuba Family is much more promising than a combination of the Isshiki Family and the Tsuruga Family. A combination of the Isshiki Family and the Tsuruga Family has a proven track record, but the Ichijou Family and the Yotsuba Family are from the Ten Master Clans. More so if the other person is Shiba-san. The chances of having a child born with superlative talent is high."
"…There is also the possibility that the blood is too strong for the child to make it."
"Even with taking that risk into account, it's clear which combination has a higher expected value."
Kichijouji couldn't help but concede the validity of Masaki's argument. The "blood is too strong" argument itself is an unfounded and a contrived one.
"So long as I'm approaching Shiba-san and making a show of it, I can't force Kirie to be with me because of the interests of the magical community. Maybe I can at least buy some time until Shiba-san and Shiba are officially married."
"And after that… what do you plan to do?"
"Magicians typically marry early. As long as I keep grumbling about "I can't forget about Shiba-san," Kirie might be allowed to marry whoever she wants."
"So, you are going to keep playing the clown, Masaki… for the sake of Tsuruga-san?" Unclear about what was so amusing to him, Masaki let out a strained chuckle.
"I can't make anyone laugh at me. So, I guess I can't really be called a clown. Perhaps a hateful character who plays with the heroine's feelings?"
Kichijouji thought, "Huh?" In this particular context, the heroine is not Shiba Miyuki, but rather Tsuruga Kirie.
Kichijouji found it surprising to see Masaki unconsciously putting Kirie in the heroine's role instead of Miyuki. At the same time, he felt that "perhaps there might be a thread of hope."
"…Masaki, you just said a while ago that you are 'a man she doesn't even like'."
"And what about that?"
"You know, Akane-chan said that Tsuruga-san likes you, Masaki."
"Akane did? No, there is no way."
"Why not?"
"There is no reason for her to like me. Think objectively. I've been acting like a harem king to her, being a pretty disgusting person for as much as I can."
"So you are aware that you have been a jerk…" Kichijouji muttered musingly.
Although he had said it himself, Masaki was a little hurt by his reaction. But if he were to pay attention to this now, the conversation would go off on a tangent. He decided to let it slide and proceed with the conversation at hand.
"Kirie has a tendency to pay too much attention to other people. It is part of her virtue that she is so attentive, but I have seen many times before when she is unable to assert herself properly because of this. I think Akane must have misunderstood when she saw Kirie being told by her family and relatives to "fall in love with me," and end up being put in a position where she couldn't say no."
Masaki assured him of this with great confidence. He seriously believed in the words he said.
However──
"──It wasn't a misunderstanding!"
All of a sudden, a shout came from behind Masaki.
"Akane-chan didn't misunderstand anything!"
"Kirie!? Why did you come here…"
Turning around, Masaki caught the sight of Kirie staring at him with teary eyes.
Masaki exclaimed "Wait!", and then turned to face Kichijouji.
"George!"
"That's right. I called her."
Kichijouji calmly admitted it was his doing. There is not a hint of remorse on his face.
"Why did you do that!?"
"Because she is involved in this."
"Then why did you have to bring me to hide behind the trees!?"
"If she had been in plain sight, you wouldn't have told me how you really feel, Masaki, would you?"
"Guh…"
Kichijouji's claim was one hundred percent true. The proof is in the fact that Masaki doesn't have anything to say back.
And Masaki didn't even have the time to say anything back.
"Masaki-san!"
"W-What?"
Kirie was far more angry than Masaki.
"Please stop doing this to me. Stop trying to decide how I feel!"
"I-I'm sorry."
"When did I ever say I disliked you, Masaki-san!?"
"No, no… I thought you disliked me too…"
"You didn't say that, did you!"
"Ye-Yes."
Overwhelmed by Kirie's intensity, Masaki's tone was subdued.
"Masaki-san."
Kirie closed the distance and peered up into Masaki's face, looking straight into his eyes. "I like you, Masaki-san."
"……"
"I've always liked you for a long time."
"……"
As if suddenly becoming a totally foolish man, Masaki had nothing to say back. "And this isn't because my family or my relatives told me to. This is how I really feel." Then, Kirie's expression suddenly became timid.
"…It's my fault, too, because I couldn't confess it for a long time. I didn't have the confidence to confess to you, Masaki-san. Thinking that I wasn't good enough for you."
"No, I'm not any sort of great guy…"
Masaki muttered, as if to give consolation, or perhaps as an excuse.
But, unfortunately for him, Kirie didn't pay it any heed.
"It's true that I was being pushed by my family. If my father hadn't ordered me not to leave your side, Masaki-san, and if my mother hadn't encouraged me by saying that you were kind enough not to reject me. I would still be just staring at Masaki-san from afar…" "That would be pretty much a stalker…", the source of the muttering was Kichijouji.
Of course, both Masaki and Kirie ignored the mumbling.
"Masaki-san, I want you to believe in this one thing."
Masaki didn’t hide from Kirie’s gaze. He certainly wasn't a weak man that would run away from this.
"I like you. I'm in love with you. These are my true feelings." This, unmistakably, was a confession.
"I'm…"
Masaki thought, "I have to say something."
But he couldn't find the right words to say. He couldn't get the words together in his head.
He had always thought that Kirie stayed by his side because her family had forced her to. And though it wasn't a complete misunderstanding, it wasn't something she had "no choice but to do," as Masaki had previously assumed.
The fact that she herself had romantic feelings for him was completely unexpected by Masaki.
"Masaki."
This is where Kichijouji gave him a lifeboat.
"I'm sure you are also confused by all this suddenness."
If he was going to ditch Masaki, Kichijouji wouldn't have called him here today.
"I think you two should have a word alone with each other." Kichijouji turned his back to the two of them and left.
◇ ◇ ◇
──It's heated.
There, standing in front of Kirie, Masaki thought to himself.
It’s only natural.
Today is July 4th. The rainy season hasn't ended yet, but it's been clear and sunny since morning.
Even there, at the path beneath the trees, where neither of them are exposed to direct sunlight, there was quite a heat. No, if anything, it's pretty hot.
Whether it was purely a matter of the temperature and humidity in the air, or a reflection of his state of mind he didn't know, but Masaki thought ── with a touch of escapism ── that he should escape to somewhere indoors with air-conditioning.
"Kirie, isn't it… kind of hot?"
"Are you thirsty, Masaki-san? Do you want me to get you something?"
At times like this, Kirie will always take the initiative. She's not trying to score points with him, it's just her nature. Masaki felt like he wanted to drop dead, remembering all the times he'd taken advantage of this virtuous volition of hers to get her to do things for him.
"No, rather, let's go into a cooler place and talk there."
"Oh, right, we can do that."
"What about that coffee shop we went to last time?"
Masaki felt the need to get off campus for some reason, so he mentioned the first place that came to mind.
"Yes, that's fine with me."
Kirie, as per usual, simply accepted Masaki's words with a nod.
Masaki started to walk towards the main gate. And as he walked, all he could think about was what he should say to Kirie.
And Kirie, being Kirie, couldn't help but wonder about Masaki's answer.
Both distracted, restless, and minds wandering wildly, they were in a situation that could even lead to the not so amusing event of a traffic accident.
Because they were in such a state, they were oblivious to the three pairs of eyes watching them from the shadows.
The coffee shop is about a five minute walk from the university. Today they both ordered a cold drink.
Sitting face to face, by the time they ordered their drinks, Masaki felt a pang of regret.
"Oh, I'll get it."
Today, Kirie also opted for self-service and rose to her feet, heading for the counter.
When she was far enough away, Masaki let out a sigh.
(Why did I have to choose a spot with so many people…)
The conversation he is about to have with Kirie is not one he'd like her to hear, even if it's related to the Ten Master Clans. But even if it was on the campus of the Magic University, you can't just casually use magic in the city like this. Today is Sunday. The shop is usually only frequented by Magic University students, but there are a lot of ordinary people here. And among them there might be plainclothes police officers or detectives who are either on patrol or investigating something. ──Whether plainclothes officers do go on patrol or not, Masaki does not know.
(Sound insulation field… it's better if I don't use it. Damn, I should have chosen the university café.)
He went off campus in order to avoid being seen by acquaintances if he chose a cafeteria or a café there, but overlooked the fact that he ended up in a situation where he couldn't use his sound-blocking magic.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
As soon as Kirie returned, Masaki rushed to fix his expression.
(…There shouldn't be many people so shameless to the point of eavesdropping.) In the end, thinking that way, Masaki forced himself to accept the situation.
He brought the straw of the glass Kirie had brought him to his mouth and quenched his thirst for the time being.
Masaki then once again turned to face her.
Sensitive to the change in Masaki's mood, Kirie stiffened, stricken with nervous tension.
But, unfortunately for her, Masaki didn't offer any words to help her relax.
"Kirie."
"Ye-Yes."
"A-About the conversation earlier..."
Kirie wasn't the only one who was nervous.
Masaki skipped the straw and drank his pure-black iced coffee, directly from the glass, in one gulp.
"Cough, blech!"
As a consequence of his haste in drinking it, the coffee must have gotten into his windpipe.
"Are you alright!?"
Kirie half-stood, raising her back in a fluster as Masaki choked.
Signaling her not to come over with one hand, Masaki gave an embarrassed chuckle.
"Man… I'm a really sloppy guy."
"I think it's better to have at least a little bit of a chink in your armor, it makes you more approachable, in my opinion. …Because it's hard to get close to someone who's perfect in every way."
"Yeah, I guess it is…"
"Yes. I like that kind of person more."
"──I see."
The atmosphere had changed.
The tension drained from both of their faces, the stiffness lifted from their bodies.
"Kirie. I don't dislike you. If I am to put in a way without any pretensions, I find you likable."
Kirie stared at Masaki with a calm expression.
Awaiting his next words.
"But I've never looked at you, Kirie, in a romantic way."
Kirie didn’t appear to be shocked. Rather, she looked as if to say, "I knew it."
"Umm, can I ask you something that may sound rude?" Masaki eyed her quizzically.
"…Feel free."
But he didn't say no.
"I'm not the only one who you don't see in a romantic way, right?"
"…Well, yes, that's true."
"And that's because you have Shiba-san?"
"…That's right."
While his words became clogged up for a moment, Masaki nodded crisply. "Is that really so?"
However, Kirie gave Masaki a doubtful look.
"What are you trying to say?"
"I happened to have heard your conversation with Kichijouji-san earlier. And I dare to assume you are not at all in love with Shiba-san, am I right Masaki-san?"
"…Then you also heard what I said about that, didn't you?"
"In that case, you should not have any reason to be in love with that person." Kirie fixed her gaze on Masaki.
Masaki squirmed uncomfortably under this gaze.
"You haven't even experienced your first love yet, have you?" Kirie asked with a very serious expression.
"I had a first love, at least."
As one would expect, Masaki looked peeved.
"If that’s the case, then I think you don't know how it feels to be in love anymore, Masaki-san."
"…What?"
"I said that you don't know love…"
"No, it's not that I didn't catch what you said."
Masaki asked back, because he didn't understand what she meant by it. "Errm…"
It also looked like Kirie didn't expect him to understand without further explanation.
"…Shiba-san is a wonderful person, isn't she? Her looks, her talent. She shines so brightly that it's hard to believe she is a person just like me."
"And what does that have to do with…?"
He asked back, his words quizzical, but Masaki's head was moving vertically in broad strokes.
"I'm sure that Masaki-san is so overwhelmed by that person's radiance that your heart is in a stupor."
"…Are you trying to say that I'm blinded?"
"No, it's not that."
Kirie shook her head in haste.
"I think it's because she is so fascinating that you can't find attractiveness in other women. …Well, I guess I could just say that she is too beautiful."
Kirie took an audible deep breath. Her cheeks were slightly flushed.
"I think that you, Masaki-san, have become numb to your desire for women as a man."
After she finished her line, she added in a whisper, "I can't say about the body, though." It's this additional part that made her blush.
"That's why you don't feel attracted to just me or to other women… Although selfish of me, that's how I feel about it."
Masaki dropped his gaze to his hands and contemplated.
"…I think you might be right."
After a not-so-brief silence, Masaki muttered to himself.
"Perhaps, in some way, I am a sort of Icarus who forgot where he stands and got too close to the sun. But it's not my wings that have melted away, it's my heart."
"That's not true."
With a self-deprecating smile, Masaki looked up in surprise at the unexpectedly firm tone.
"The heart is not just some phony waxwork thing. I'm sure Masaki-san's heart hasn't melted in any way."
"…You think so?"
"Yes."
Kirie smiled with great confidence.
"Masaki-san. Why don't you give it a try?"
It felt like her smile was not all that pure, that there was some sort of devious calculative lure to it. That wasn't quite like the usual impression she gave, but strangely enough, it didn't rub Masaki the wrong way.
"Try? Try what?"
"Why don't we try trial-dating? I'll do everything in my power to make you become a woman that you can love. And if you really don't feel that way about me, Masaki-san, we can simply break up at any time."
"But that's too dishonest."
"It's okay if it's dishonest. It's what I want, after all."
"Wait, that's…"
Perhaps Kirie is trying to entangle Masaki with a preconceived notion.
Masaki vaguely felt that it might be that too.
It was then that he decided on, "If you are okay with it."
"I know…"
"Qǐng shāo děng!"
However, just at the moment when he was about to give the "Okay," a single girl interrupted the conversation from behind Masaki with a, not very loud, but strong tone of voice.
Masaki turned around, startled by being caught off guard.
Kirie’s eyes went wide and froze.
"Please wait."
The girl, who re-stated it in Japanese, wore a red uniform, characteristic of the National Magic University Affiliated Third High School.
"…Liú Lìlěi, san?"
"…Leila-san?"
The former voice was from Kirie, the latter from Masaki.
As both of them said, she is the former nationally recognized Strategic-Class Magician, Liú Lìlěi of the Great Asian Union, a girl who has been adopted into a branch family of the Ichijou Family, and was now a naturalized citizen by the name of Ichijou Leila.
"Akane… And even George…"
Masaki is stunned at the sight of the figures following Liú Lìlěi.
"Akane, why are you here…?"
"Shinkurou-kun told me about it and I got curious."
"George!"
"…Sorry."
Kichijouji refused to make eye contact with Masaki as he apologized.
"…And you, Akane. You have school tomorrow."
"These days, the Kanazawa-Tokyo trip is just a day long anyway."
Masaki pressed a question against his sister in an exasperated voice, but Akane brought a completely devil-may-care attitude.
"Anyway, Nii-san. It seems like Lei-chan has something to say to you."
"Lei-chan" is a nickname for Liú Lìlěi, or Ichijou Leila, which is used almost exclusively by Akane.
At his younger sister's urging, Masaki remained seated in his chair and turned his whole body around to face Leila ── whom henceforth will be referred to by her current name.
Leila looked quite displeased.
"Masaki-san. I think that, even if the person herself consented, it's not right to be dishonest."
"Y-Yeah, I suppose so."
"Then you'll have to go out with me!"
"Eh…?"
Masaki is taken aback by Leila's line, which is completely inconsistent from beginning to end.
"If that's the reason you're willing to date someone, then even I can be your girlfriend!" "No, wait."
Masaki held his right hand out in front of Leila and held his head with his left. "…Leila-san, you're angry because you think trial-dating is dishonest, aren't you?" Masaki asked, dropping his hands.
"That's right."
Leila's expression is one of unconcern for what she has said and done.
"But if you are asking me to be my girlfriend, isn't that a contradiction?"
"And why is that?"
Leila earnestly tilted her head in puzzlement.
Masaki wanted to hold his head in his hands once again.
"Because I'm serious about this."
However, the next line from Leila forced him to stay in place.
"I'm not asking for trial-dating. My love is real."
"Mine is too!"
Kirie, who had been left aside by the turn of events, stood up, driven by a sense of urgency.
"…Tsuruga-san, calm down."
Kichijouji, who had been silent and looking away uneasily, tried to calm Kirie down.
"Because you're attracting attention."
This seemed much like a lover's quarrel between a couple of university students and a high school girl. ──No doubt some of it would catch the eye of the other patrons.
"Err, how about we call it quits for now? We can talk about this some other time."
"Yes, right! Let's do that!"
Kichijouji's proposal for an ending was greeted with an enthusiastic agreement from Masaki.
And then, instead of using the machine at the table, he took the ticket number, got up and seemed to run in the direction of the cashier. ──This wasn’t just some fit of emotions, it was a strategic retreat.
◇ ◇ ◇
The morning of July 5th.
There were countless students going back and forth on the Magic University campus. This morning, rather than Tatsuya, Lina’s figure could be seen next to Miyuki.
On the other side of Miyuki and Lina walked a group of male students surrounded by female students. Lina noticed Masaki at the heart of it and quickly prepared herself to shoo him away.
"Good morning, Shiba-san."
Masaki greeted Miyuki with a smile. He behaved as usual, acting as if he hadn't noticed Lina at all.
However, unlike the usual, he didn't follow up with a flippant remark, instead, after Miyuki returned his greeting, he passed by and walked away, just like that.
"…What’s wrong with him?"
Lina asked Miyuki in puzzlement.
"Who knows? But, I wonder if he's made any progress."
Miyuki looked back at him and gave a slight tilt of her head.
At the other end of Miyuki's gaze is Masaki and the underclassman who is always by his side.
Looking at the two of them, Miyuki could see that the distance between them seemed to have grown shorter since last week.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login