Volume 15, Chapter 6

October 15th, 2096, after school, two weeks before the Thesis Competition, First High School was full of commotion due to the preparations. Despite that, the current buzz was due to something else entirely different.

They were talking about a sudden visitor. The students from second and third years’ were familiar with this visitor; even the freshmen could hardly miss the presence of the popular OG1.

The person in question, Saegusa Mayumi, was walking towards the guest room. The school seemed to have decided to treat her as a member of the 10MC instead of as the former Student Council President; a daughter of the Saegusa family. Mayumi requested to see Tatsuya alone. This was due to the nature of her request.

"I'm sorry, Tatsuya-kun. I thought it was best to come to First High to talk to you..."

Mayumi expressed her thoughts and bowed; probably, because she noticed the commotion she had caused. Most likely not because she heard the rumors, since her skill of perception was through sight, not by hearing. While walking to the guest room the commotion from everyone in sight could be heard. By now, they've become the subject of curiosity and speculation. It's hardly possible for her to not be aware of the situation.

"No, please don't worry."

Tatsuya had his share of being gossiped about due to his position and ability. But, his answer was not meant to be consolation for Mayumi. Certainly, the fact that she came to visit the school meant that there would be rumors going on for 75 days2. Still, it's better than to be disturbed at home. There was a mountain of things that he didn’t want to show to a member of the 10MC in his house. Of course, he said it casually but he couldn’t ignore the risks of Mayumi ever seeing them.

It is more convenient for Tatsuya that Mayumi chose to come to school rather than his house. It would be quite easy for her to obtain his address, but she blatantly chose to be gossiped about. Though Tatsuya could hardly care about such baseless rumors. And yet, she chose to come to school; she must have been considerate of Tatsuya. —He reached this conclusion based on her actions.

"How do you do?"

Mayumi seemed to be quite tense, unbefitting of her character.

Tatsuya thought, despite being tense, she didn't forget to start with words of greeting. It's hard to say that such an extent was required.

1OG: Old Girl (ex-female student of First High)

2The original word: uwasabanashi o nana jū go-kakan, literally: 75 days life span of rumor, meaning: rumors in the world do not last long, it is something to be forgotten soon by its nature.

At this rate, there's a chance of wasting time. With that in mind, Tatsuya decided to take the lead.

"This year, I won't be as busy, since I'm only in charge of the security for the event day itself."

"Is-is that so? It's surprising for you to not join the competition team.”

"That's why, depending on your request, I might be able to assist you."

Tatsuya didn't think that Mayumi came just to see him. They don’t have that sort of 'intimate relationship' where the other party could be convinced with words like "I came to meet you because I wanted to see you. This is not to say that they have a normal Senpai-kouhai relationship, but for her to come to meet Tatsuya there must be something that she wanted to ask for.

"...You're right. You can't help it even if it's a waste of time."

Mayumi's eyes were still hesitating. But as he had said, at this rate they will only waste their time. Both Mayumi and Tatsuya couldn't possibly have an unlimited amount of free time. Since she visited Tatsuya with something on her mind, there's no way she would leave First High dejectedly without even delivering her request.

"I wonder if Tatsuya-kun remembers Nakura-san."

"Yes, my condolences."

"Please don't be concerned. Tatsuya-kun, you know about what happened to him?"

"I saw the local news."

"Did you collect such information for the Thesis Competition security preparation?"

"Well, something along those lines."

"..Then."

Mayumi paused for a split second, not to avoid the main issue, but to shake the last bit of hesitation.

"Do you know about his cause of death?"

"Only that he was murdered."

"I guess that's the extent of the published information."

A bitter smile floated on Mayumi's lips, unexpectedly letting out her feelings.

"You're right. Nakura-san was murdered, and I don't know who the culprit is."

Tatsuya showed slight confusion at her words.

"You're not looking into it?"

"My father.."

Mayumi stopped briefly, but she decided to discard her hesitation.

"My father knows who killed Nakura-san."

Tatsuya didn’t hide his astonishment.

"Did your father admit this?"

"No. But I'm sure he knows; at the very least he has an idea. Nakura-san had been ordered by my father to go on a secret mission in Kyoto."

"A secret mission in Kyoto, huh..."

If you used the familiar expression "undercover work" to Tatsuya, that will be referred to as illegal work.

"I didn't get to hear this directly either. My father didn’t say anything besides 'a certain work'. I was told that 'I don't need to know'."

"I see."

That was the same as saying 'let him do the dirty work'. Tatsuya thought that perhaps Saegusa Kouichi has no intention to hide it.

"So then Senpai, what do you want to do?"

Mayumi had hoped that this question would never arise. However, Tatsuya immediately asked it and stared into her eyes, making her wince her eyes for a little while.

Yet, Mayumi didn't want to silently face down. She was empowered by her sense of duty and righteousness and spoke to Tatsuya face to face.

"I want to know the truth."

"Do you want to identify the culprit?"

"Yes."

There was a slight delay before she answered. But that didn’t mean that Mayumi was hesitating, she was just trying to calm her heart down before it started beating faster.

"I'll say it upfront. My relationship with Nakura-san was never a close one."

Hearing Mayumi's confession, Tatsuya was amazed. However, he quickly suppressed his mouth so as to urge her to continue.

"My relationship with Nakura-san was strictly business-based. I never thought of him as more than a bodyguard."

"Even so, you still want to search for the culprit? Even though the risk is hardly small."

Tatsuya tried to lightly provoke Mayumi.

He received a piercing stare in reply.

"Don't take me wrong. I'm not doing this out of sympathy."

"Then why?"

"My bodyguard was killed in one of the Saegusa Family's missions. Though I know that he was not ordered to die, it was a job with a high risk of death so the result is the same. I don't want to avert my eyes from the truth. As a member of the Saegusa Family, at the very least I want to know the truth."

"How commendable."

Tatsuya sighed.

Mayumi lifted her eyebrows.

"But."

Even when she raised her voice, Tatsuya continued with a cold tone.

"In the end, it's only for your own self-satisfaction, Senpai you should understand this as well."

"Hmph, that's right. But, there's nothing wrong with self-satisfaction, right?”

That was not a voice of desperation, but one filled with strong will, even Tatsuya couldn't immediately think of words of rebuttal.

"In my current state, I can't do anything. I'm not satisfied with myself. I can't proudly bear myself as the eldest daughter of the Saegusa Family."

"As the eldest daughter of the Saegusa... is it."

"Yes, for better or for worse, it is my position. I don't want to run away from my responsibility. That's why I'd like to confirm the doubt in my heart. I wonder if this is weird."

"No, I don't think it's weird."

Mayumi's words were both enviable and repulsive to Tatsuya.

Miyuki had not yet been introduced as a direct descendant of the Yotsuba. Instead, she was forced to hide her identity. But, Tatsuya also never thought that being a Yotsuba was a good thing or something to be proud of to begin with, yet to be unable to reveal your true self is a sad situation. These were all Tatsuya's thoughts, instead of feelings.

His sister was forced to hide the pride of her birth. Tatsuya envied Mayumi for her presence, in the light of Miyuki's own existence.

"I see, then what's the connection with me? Even if you ask me to find the culprit, I don't have the 'know-how' to become a detective, nor have I helped in the investigation previously. Unfortunately, I think I can't be of service to you."

However, despite his demeanor, Tatsuya truly wished that he could help her. But it was an impossible task, even for him. He didn't have any means of finding out the whereabouts of the killer whose name was unknown. Even the idea of doing that tired him.

"Wait!"

Despite the frank rejection from Tatsuya, Mayumi stopped him when he was about to leave his seat.

"There's a high chance that the culprit was involved in the Yokohama Incident!"

Those uttered words, made Tatsuya fail to leave the sofa.

"The same culprit as in the Yokohama Incident, you said?"

Tatsuya shouldn't have worn a surprised face.

But what Mayumi thought had little to do with his amazement.

"Seems like Nakura-san had done some research on the mastermind of the Yokohama Incident in Chinatown recently."

She probably thought that she was able to draw Tatsuya's attention. Her reasoning was flawed, since Tatsuya unmistakably had no interest in the topic.

"You're well-informed."

"That person never left my side when on bodyguard duty. Lately, he'd been bringing many souvenirs from Chinatown. I wonder if he was mistaken about my age... I was wondering if Nakura-san wanted to give me hints about the mission, so now I'm intrigued by them."

"I see."

Mayumi might not have realized, but that remark was thought-provoking.

Nakura's employer was Saegusa Kouichi, and his relationship with Mayumi was strictly business-based so he's basically an outsider.

To leave the dirty work to the bodyguard of his eldest daughter, a subordinate that had been trusted to such an extent had left hints to another party about what he had been forced to do.

Seems like Saegusa Kouichi didn't have full control over his subordinate.

Or, in a truer sense, there are no subordinates that could be called loyal confidants of the Saegusa Family.

——This might bring about a bigger meaning in the future.

Tatsuya stopped thinking about the internal conditions of the Saegusa Family.

"It might be as you've said. Nakura-san's work was related to the Chinatown in Yokohama. But to deduce that from such weak evidence, I think there might be a chance that it was completely unrelated to the Yokohama Incident."

At this point Tatsuya thought that he could actually use Mayumi's help for his problem. Even though she didn't possess physical prowess, her combat ability had been proven on the battlefield at Yokohama. Moreover, she is much more mobile as a college student when compared to Miyuki and Minami who were still attending high school.

His objection was intended to cool Mayumi's head. It was possible that Mayumi was influenced by her feelings too much to consider the possibility of her own misconception. If she still insisted in asking for Tatsuya's cooperation based on those conclusions, Tatsuya would have just proceeded from her assumption.

"Well, that might be true.."

Apparently she was thinking about the thing that Tatsuya pointed out. Mayumi timidly took a peek at Tatsuya.

"Then... Tatsuya-kun thinks that ‘the culprit being related to the Yokohama Incident’ was my misunderstanding!?"

But it was only for a few seconds, before Mayumi took a stronger stance against Tatsuya's 'so- what' attitude.

"I didn't mean that."

Tatsuya appeased Mayumi with a fake smile.

"It was only because I'm afraid that your preconception of the truth is being clouded by your strong feelings."

Mayumi puffed up her cheeks... Despite becoming a college student, this expression still had its own deadweight.

"Preconception and perception are two different things."

These glaring words from Mayumi were delivered to Tatsuya's ears just fine. However, Tatsuya chose to treat them as self-monologue. Hence, he paid no further attention to them.

"...I understand such a thing."

However, she returned these words to Tatsuya with firm eyes.

"Do you understand the danger?"

Tatsuya has been waiting for the chance to drop this line.

"Yes. Even so, I still want to do something."

From her answer just now, the uncertain feeling had completely disappeared.

"That's why, Tatsuya. Please lend me your strength."

However, it didn't seem to affect Tatsuya. It was convenient for him if he took up this matter as a response to the strong request of Mayumi’s.

"——I understand."

Mayumi showed a relieved expression with a smile.

Tatsuya was feeling the same, despite not showing it on his face.

"Specifically, what do you want me to do?"

"Tatsuya-kun, are you going to Kyoto for a preliminary inspection with the guard?"

"Yes, this upcoming weekend."

"I'd like to ask for you to accompany me for a while on that day. Let's go to the scene where Nakura-san was killed."

After delivering her last request, Mayumi returned a question.

"Will that suffice?"

Depending on the situation, Tatsuya could spare a little time to accompany her. However, that question was a set up to know her full intention.

"Even I understand, you know.."

Although Tatsuya couldn't care less about others so long as it didn't interfere with his priority, he wouldn't go so far as to ignore others' feelings. It was not a pleasant feeling to see his close friend fall for his words.

"As a daughter of the Saegusa Family, I still don't have the ability to support myself. I have no means to move people regardless of my talent as a magician, I couldn't ask you to do the work of the police by looking for the criminal, either."

Her remarks about her powerless self were right on the spot so Tatsuya didn’t offer a single word of comfort. He was able to retaliate when the No Head Dragon messed with him with the help of the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion. He was able to intervene with the Parasite Doll plan by the help of Kokonoe Yakumo, and the Mobile Suits from the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion.

Which also shows that, by no means was Tatsuya's individual power able to tackle all the problems he had. He never forgot this fact. When he learnt the limit of an individual's power, he couldn't think of any rebuttal.

"Just as Tatsuya-kun said in the beginning. At the end, this is for my own self-satisfaction. It might be foolish to run into danger for such a thing. Yet..."

"Understood."

Tatsuya repeated the same words, blocking Mayumi's words.

"Then, Sunday the 21st. Please select the exact timing and location to fit your schedule."

"..Thanks, Tatsuya-kun."

Mayumi bowed her head low while sitting on the sofa.

"Then, I will email the details for the time and venue tomorrow.

"Can I ask one more thing?"

Mayumi was about to leave her seat when Tatsuya said this.

"Has Nakura-san's body been cremated?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Do you have anything left from what he was wearing at the time he passed away? For example, his clothes."

"The police requested those, since they want to store them as evidence. Furthermore, Nakura-san has no relatives, so I thought it might help to catch the criminal even a little if I handed them over."

"Is it possible to have short access to those materials?"

"..I can try to ask the detective who gave me his contact information."

Tatsuya slightly lowered his head as response to Mayumi's answer.

Because she looked like she had something to say, Tatsuya urged her to speak with his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think that I would get so sensitive."

"I will cooperate as much as possible, so long as it's possible."

After saying so, Tatsuya stood up in order to prevent Mayumi from repeating her 'thank you' gesture.

During this short period, he had considered that Nakura might have been killed by Zhou. It was not so absurd to hypothesize that Saegusa Kouichi had Nakura Saburou investigate Zhou. And there was even a possibility where the Head of the Saegusa Family had a collusion planned with Zhou.

He did think that Nakura's death was connected to Zhou Gongjin so there might be a lead to his whereabouts there. Therefore, he did not need Mayumi's words of gratitude.

After sending Mayumi up to the gate, Tatsuya went to the Student Council room.

For some reason, the current Public Morals Committee Chief was there with the Student Council Officers, there was even the presence of the previous Club Leader.

"Onii-sama, thank you for your hard work."

"Ah, sorry for my tardiness."

Miyuki rose and gave him a hand gesture to sit with a smile, before Tatsuya headed to his desk. He noticed the edgy stares on him, and chose not to react to them.

"Shiba-senpai."

The one who started the conversation was Izumi, who had been fighting to face her terminal right after Tatsuya entered the Student Council room.

"Do you have anything you want to ask?"

On the surface, Tatsuya's question was very reasonable and superficial. In fact, the expected dialogue was most probably started because she wanted to know what had happened in the meeting just now.

"That's not it!"

And there was nothing going out of his prediction.

"Onee-sama, no, has my sister gone back?"

"She has. Did you perhaps have something for her?"

"No, that's not the case. But, that, I just wonder what kind of business forced my sister to take up your valuable time."

The meaning behind Izumi's words was clear as day. She wanted to know what kind of a conversation her sister just had with Tatsuya.

"Please don't let it bother you. There's no need for you to worry."

However, Tatsuya played with his opponent, by avoiding the expected focus of the conversation.

"I'm not worrying about Senpai!"

As a result, Izumi retorted back frantically. Then, she blushed after receiving smiles from the upperclassmen, as per the usual pattern.

The one who helped take over the matter from the dismayed and red-faced Izumi was Miyuki. She unmistakably did so while taking a peek at her brother; she was curious about the closed meeting between Tatsuya and Mayumi. No, it would be better to say that she was the one who wanted to know the most.

"Then, Onii-sama. What did you talk about with Saegusa-senpai? I hope you don't mind sharing it with us?"

Immediately after Miyuki asked so, there were signs of people preparing to hear the answer. Tatsuya looked around the room; nobody in the room diverted their eyes while waiting for his answer.

"It seems like Senpai also has a matter to settle in Kyoto."

At the same time, Izumi's body was trembling. Her head was down, so her expression couldn't be seen, but Tatsuya could easily guess that she was thinking about Nakura. However, he decided that it would be counterproductive to voice some comfort for Izumi here. Hence, he continued with his words, while pretending that he did not notice anything.

"She said that she'd like to accompany us in the preliminary inspection. I denied her request after she refused to explain the reason behind it, but she had a comparatively serious face on her."

Hattori sighed a little after hearing Tatsuya conclude his answer. He must have been having the same concern.

However, he was not letting Tatsuya off the hook; he took up a harsh tone towards Tatsuya.

"Shiba, why did you deny her request when you don't have any urgent errands? The preliminary security inspection is only to look around to see the state of the city, right? You should be able to make some time for her that wouldn’t hinder your activities."

Tatsuya had assumed that this question would arise. Honestly, he thought that a good young man would have a hard time accompanying her. Not that he meant to ridicule her, rather he was saying that out of favor. He tightened his lips consciously to refrain himself from saying so.

However, another person followed up in blaming him.

"Tatsuya-san, I also think so."

Hattori's response was in line with Tatsuya's plan, but it was unexpected for Honoka to agree with Hattori.

"Although she had Ichihara-senpai and Juumonji-senpai at Magic University, she purposely chose to come to First High. Doesn't that show how much she relies on you?"

Without knowing what the reason behind Honoka’s words was, Tatsuya couldn’t reply immediately.

There was no merit for Honoka if Tatsuya and Mayumi were to meet up in Kyoto. Even if Miyuki was jealous of others, Mayumi might still try to use the chance, since Miyuki was his real sister. She should have discerned that Minami was also taking a step back from Tatsuya as usual.

Chances were——while it might be rude to Honoka——she might be purely feeling sympathy for Mayumi.

"Tatsuya, wouldn't it be fine if you spare some time for her?"

"..That's right."

Even Mikihiko made that suggestion. Tatsuya could no longer act that he was not doing something bad. Even Mikihiko didn’t know that the true purpose of the trip was to arrest Zhou

Gongjin, he was only told that there was a certain 'Traditionalist' group in Kyoto who conspired to make more trouble. He still acted as if he was stubbornly against Mayumi's cooperation request and gave off the feeling of being forced to do it, despite the real situation he was facing.

Moreover, this development was also convenient for Tatsuya. They had just given him a valid reason to spend time with Mayumi, so there was no need to disguise their meeting as coincidence.

In reality, Tatsuya didn’t expect for her to be very useful. However, even the addition of a single person was better for manpower. Tatsuya believed that the request he received was not only to search for Zhou Gongjin, but also to take care of him once he's found. However, the content of Maya's request was 'cooperation for capture'; if he couldn't locate him first, there was no way to capture him. To do so, it was necessary to act like he was looking for Zhou. That was why he gathered a lot of people.

"I shall apologize first, although it would be a little awkward for me to contact Senpai. Izumi, do you mind if I contact her?"

"Why do you ask me such a thing?"

Izumi asked with an annoyed voice. She was alarmed by that question as Tatsuya treated her like she had a sister complex.

"Izumi is Saegusa-senpai's sibling after all."

However, even for Tatsuya, it was not possible to act that cold towards an underclassman girl.

"You don't need my permission. Please act as per your discretion."

Izumi replied to Tatsuya with a cute face, despite receiving such an uncute remark from Tatsuya.

? ? ?

Near the border of the former Nagano Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture, a nameless village exists in a narrow valley surrounded by the mountains. This village which has never been listed on the map is the home of the infamous Yotsuba Family.

In the center of the village, there is a conspicuously large single-story Manor of the Yotsuba. In the main room within the house, Yotsuba Maya, the head of the family received a report from her butler, Hayama.

"...Seems like all the facts are pointing to Nara."

"The JSDF Intelligence Bureau..."

Mockery floated from the shiny red lips of Maya. It was not too vulgar; instead her expression was rather noble.

"I have also searched for the department that did the intervention in the investigation report, in case they're being an obstacle."

"I don't mind. The JSDF has their own problems, right? The issue is almost settled, so I'll turn a blind eye."

The old butler bowed reverently as an exaggeration. In Maya's eyes, the JSDF was a huge underdog, Hayama had no doubt about this.

"More importantly, about Tatsuya-san."

Maya's interest immediately shifted from the JSDF. Since they were talking about Tatsuya originally, it was natural to get back to the topic.

"He should be working really hard at this moment, right?"

"Yes. Particularly due to the secret development of the new magic, I couldn't think of any other possibility."

"New magic... Is it going to be a short-range physical attack, or should we make another guess?"

"If you don't mind my conjecture."

"I don't mind hearing what you have in mind, Hayama-san."

Maya did not hide her curiosity, and asked Hayama.

It is not rare for Maya to leave the negotiations to her subordinate but that's the way it goes in this family. However, she doesn’t just idly spend spare time every day. She also certainly does not indulge in game sprees. As one of the Yotsuba, the most important challenge is magic improvement. Hence, she spent a great deal of time in researching magic.

For her, the rumors that Tatsuya is developing a new magic, is a story that intrigued her curiosity.

"If he derived the new magic from Angie Sirius' Brionac, and judging from the name he gave to the new magic 'Baryon Lance', it seems to be a magic that emits canon particles by decomposing the substance to proton-neutron levels."

"I wonder if it's a chargeable particle cannon."

"If that's the case, it's not a new magic but a reproduction of Brionac, Tatsuya-dono must have known that. Though there is still a high possibility of a neutron-based cannon."

"A neutron gun.. Neutron barrier is already seen as magic in the realm of perfection, Tatsuya- san has surely taken this fact into account as well."

Maya who has been enjoying her time making such conjectures, suddenly showed a worried face.

"..'Baryon Lance'. It's neither a 'Launcher', nor a 'Cannon', not even a 'Gun', I wonder why it is a 'Lance'?”

Hayama was also curious about that part, but it seems like the answer had been decided before the question was asked.

"I don't know to such an extent. But he said that he would show the new magic when he visits during the New Year’s Meeting."

Perceiving that there's not much left to be said, Maya wisely preferred to observe rather than over speculate. However, the bad impression still lasted, and made her throw a spiteful question.

"Why didn't I ask for more details? I wonder if that child is really obedient, so I thought that testing him would be a good idea."

"With all due respect, in order to achieve your purpose, you don't need to make sure to such an extent."

This, however, might have a boomerang effect for Maya. At Hayama's word, Maya shrugged in a barely visible gesture.

"I never thought that much in relation to that purpose."

Seeing Hayama's eyes fixed on her, Maya felt that there was a need for a valid excuse.

"It isn’t because he's my nephew. If I were to reject that child, it wouldn't be profitable for the Yotsuba."

"I think the reason of being your nephew is fine."

"Hayama-san."

"Pardon my rudeness."

At Maya's call to own up to his mistake, Hayama reverently bowed. However, it was not for an apology. If that was the case, he would have used phrases like 'I've said too much' or 'please forgive my insolence'.

Since Hayama did not retract his statement by saying it was 'insolence', as a result, Maya faintly blushed at his statement.

"Hayama-san."

Hayama had resigned from Maya's room, and was about to go to his residence, and in the middle of the garden, he heard a voice from behind.

His presence couldn't be felt, there was no unbalance. In this village, it was not unusual for one to have a skill such as assimilating their presence in the wind and even the darkness.

Besides, the voice which called from behind was familiar for Hayama.

"Kuroba-sama. Pardon me for not noticing your presence."

At the very least, he felt obliged to say this much in sarcasm.

The defeated Kuroba Mitsugu wore an uncomfortable face, of course, he was not angered by this much of sarcasm.

"No, I was rude too for not unmasking my presence."

Hayama didn't care whether Mitsugu's words were truth or lie. It was highly likely because his profession devoted him to be in the shadows, on the other hand, he thought that it was also possible that he was extremely used to the state of stealth on every work-related occasion.

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