"No, please don't be concerned with such a trivial thing."

However, it was a good thing, regardless of the situation. If Kuroba Mitsugu seriously hid his presence, even Hayama couldn't discern him by his eyes. He was also not provoked by the fact that Mitsugu's ability was excellent and he was able at his job. Moreover, the Kuroba Family is one of the strongest branches of the Yotsuba. So long as they're loyal to the head, Hayama should still serve them. If he couldn't withstand the master's whims, he would have been disqualified as a butler.

"And, Kuroba-sama. To what do I owe this patronage?"

"Well, I have something in mind, but... I want to talk to you for a while."

Hayama raised his eyebrow. He showed a somewhat discomfited face, but it was a deliberate emotional expression.

"Do you want to talk... about that?"

Hayama smiled politely.

Mitsugu hurriedly shook his hands in denial.

"No, no, please take the words at face value. I'd like to ask about something that I need your consultation in."

"Oh, dear, please forgive my rudeness."

Hayama carefully bowed in the darkness. It was as if there wasn't a hint of hesitation.

"Then, this way please."

Hayama led Mitsugu to the Main House, from where he had just left. As a butler of the Yotsuba Family, he had been given the discretion to use the waiting room of the Main House quite freely. Otherwise, he could always claim that the Head of the Kuroba family was using the room; there shouldn't be any complaints for him when doing so. If they were about to continue their conversation, they could always confirm later.

However, Mitsugu did not follow Hayama's lead.

"No, if Hayama-san doesn't mind, we can talk here."

Hayama halted his step and turned back, to direct a quizzical gaze to Mitsugu.

Mitsugu was ignoring the fact that he was acting suspiciously.

"Hayama-san, you have been talking with the Head about that man——aren't you worried about Zhou Gongjin?"

Hearing Mitsugu's words, Hayama nodded with a sense of revelation.

"It's natural to be curious about a job that was left to your care."

"Ah, no..”

At his own words being distorted into the worst meaning, Mitsugu hurriedly followed up with a rebuttal.

"However, please don't worry."

But, Hayama did not spare him any chance.

"I'm sure you've heard that, Miyuki-sama's guardian has been requested to take care of this issue in your stead."

Mitsugu frowned deeply.

"I know."

He knew the fact that Tatsuya was going to handle the matter long before his children visited him in September. It all started on that day in August. Mitsugu had seen Tatsuya's abominable prowess. Certainly, he felt some level of gratitude that he would not be one-armed, but that his pride was deeply damaged was also a fact.

"I was just giving the progress report. I wonder if it's why Miyuki is the likely candidate for the next head position. That way, we eliminate the possibility of him revolting against the Yotsuba. All of these things must be identified for the future of the Yotsuba Family."

Mitsugu revealed increasing discomfort, Hayama acted like he didn’t catch that.

"It is extremely important, though I know it is disrespectful towards Kuroba-sama, I was allowed to use this matter to determine his loyalty."

"That man can't possibly have any loyalty towards the Yotsuba Family."

Mitsugu threw out those words in spite. Both his words and expression, had never been shown in front of Miyuki and Tatsuya.

"Kuroba-sama, I have no idea of what you have in mind for such assertiveness, but..."

Hayama sought for permission to continue with his eyes.

But, Mitsugu silenced him with a gaze instead.

Hayama chose to ignore that and spun his answer in a tone that was aloof. Perhaps, no other man was able to utter such harsh words.

"Is the reason you distrust Tatsuya-dono related to the possibility of him finding out that the family tried to kill him as soon as he was born?"

"Hayama!"

Mitsugu threw off his politeness towards Hayama.

That action was initiated by the people in Mitsugu's generation. Besides the seven families affiliated to Yotsuba: 'Shiiba', 'Mashiba', 'Shibata', 'Kuroba', 'Mugura', 'Tsukuba' and 'Shizuka'; only Hayama knows about this fact. Even those who inherited the blood of the Yotsuba who are less than 20 years old have never been informed. Therefore, Kuroba Mitsugu lost his composure involuntarily.

Hayama expelled the killing intent that was directed at him with a polite smile.

"That way, he would be tamed and loyal to the Yotsuba Family, and I'm sure you know that this will be needed for the future. Although there were times when my lady didn't realize this. That's why she left the rest to Miyuki-sama's care."

Mitsugu clenched his hand and grit the back of his teeth.

Mitsugu started the conversation to explore such a possibility, but inevitably, it has changed into condemnation from Hayama.

"Kuroba-sama. Your worries are unwarranted. Only real action has meaning. Even if you pretend to obey, and you planned to betray secretly, if in the end, you were not able to betray, the result is the same and is more profitable. A tool does not need to be loyal. For a weapon, there's no need to have a heart."

"Bastard, do you think of magicians as weapons...!?"

"You might be forgetting the fact that I'm also a magician."

He's also quite able compared to the other servants, thus, Hayama laughed casually.

Mitsugu was trapped in heavy silence.

"A weapon doesn’t hold any fear. A weapon doesn’t feel any anxiety. However, for one to kill an innocent person just because of the fear of their potential, perhaps the one whose heart has become a weapon was really a better person."

Those words wedged deeply into Mitsugu's mind. Hayama bowed and left the scene.

? ? ?

Friday, October 19th, 10 days before this year’s Thesis Competition. Today, the preparations for the presentation finally reached its last stage.

This year, there were no suspicious activities on the school grounds, unlike last year. Last year was an exception, it can be said that this year’s procedures were normal. Therefore, there was no need of extra manpower and the work was still able to progress towards completion as expected.

Tatsuya and company were also kept in peace. Perhaps, due to the hard work of Yakumo's disciples, or maybe through the undercover mercenary troops that were arranged by Butler Hanabishi. Hanabishi was the number two servant of the Yotsuba; he was responsible for various arrangements involving the underground business of the Yotsuba Family——in other words, the butler in charge——including the arrangements of required personnel. He should not have made any mistakes in his work.

The magicians in the Yotsuba Family were actually not many in number. Even not limiting it to only magicians related by blood to the Yotsuba compared to the other 10MC Families like the Saegusa or even Ichijou the number of magicians they could deploy was indeed ‘small’.

Although the number of Yotsuba Magicians was small, they won in terms of ability, these results had been proven. However, there were times where numbers were important, for such cases the Yotsuba had an organized network of disposable outsiders to collaborate with them.

The Yotsuba Family was often asked to purge those who conspired against the nation. To capture rebel organizations or magicians that worked towards that goal. It didn’t mean taking action only on magicians that took direct hostile action against the nation, so long as a magician was aiding a foreign military force with the intent to harm this nation it was enough.

This work had become an important source of income for the Yotsuba Family. Not just financially, Yotsuba's combatants had been trained through this work as well. It was also a means to brainwash the captured rebellious magicians.

The No Head Dragon was using 'Generators' without the consent of the magician. However, the Yotsuba knew very well that consciousness and emotion had a direct link to the power of magic.

They did classic brainwashing to their enemies. Earnestly imprinting the fear of death for defying the Yotsuba. An ideology of fear. In other words, those who weren’t afraid of death couldn’t be affected by this magic. Then, the Yotsuba would offer a deal to those who feared death, 'Depending on your work, we'll let you free.”

Then, those mercenary magician troops undertook missions in order to get their lives as a reward, being used by the Yotsuba in a variety of jobs. The escort mission this time was to latch onto magicians that showed unusual activity and to conduct a thorough search. It was work that required a number of people as indicated by the Yotsuba putting the stock of brainwashed magicians to use. Thanks to those arrangements, Tatsuya's friends and even First High itself was completely undisturbed.

Even with the pretext of being busy with work for the Thesis Competition the girls couldn't afford to remain in school until late at night. Although it seemed to be gender discrimination between men and women, only the boys were permitted to stay and work until night after the gates closed.

It was soon time for the gates to close today as well and the Student Council members had begun to clean up. However, since they weren’t using paper now in terms of returning the documents into the cabinet the 'cleaning up' process was quite different when compared to one hundred years ago. There was less movement and no rush or noise involved in the process and it could be done almost immediately.

"..Miyuki-senpai, I will excuse myself now."

Tomorrow is Saturday, Miyuki will be going to Kyoto and be absent from school. She had applied for extension time from school to prepare things for the Student Council who will be covering her work tomorrow. That was why Izumi went out first.

"Izumi-chan, I'm counting on you for tomorrow and the day after."

"It’s an honor. I'll do it to the best of my ability!"

Izumi had been fidgeting by the door before answering back in high-spirits due to Miyuki’s reply.

"Seems like Miyuki has grown accustomed to handling Izumi-chan."

Honoka stood up from her terminal and gave a wry smile.

"You have talent to be a wicked woman."

Shizuku who came to the Student Council room to go back with Honoka capitalized this chance. It was a phrase that she couldn’t say if she was to be objective but since Miyuki knew there was no malice she only retorted with a laugh.

"There's no such thing as wicked or virtuous if the opponent is a girl, right?"

"..Miyuki, you're cold."

Even though Shizuku tried to sigh earnestly, Miyuki did not laugh.

Shizuku's role in this year’s Thesis Competition was to escort the main presenter Azusa, but Honoka tagged along even now. From the station onwards, it was just the two of them but they were with Azusa up to the station. No, actually, there were bodyguards watching them from behind, however they tried to keep out of Shizuku's and Honoka's sight. At the very least, she was alone with Honoka in the individual train compartment.

"Hey, Shizuku."

While waiting in line for the individual compartment train, Honoka spoke to Shizuku with her head down.

"What."

However, Shizuku had no idea what Honoka was concerned about. A two-seater vehicle stopped in front of them, while Shizuku was staring at Honoka with a puzzled and curious expression.

They boarded the train after lightly bowing to the three people beside them who had waited for a four-seater vehicle. Honoka asked again, when Shizuku was specifying the path to their destination.

"Umm.. I wonder if it's ok."

"What is?"

"Well, Nakajo-senpai's escort.."

"Ah, about that."

Shizuku relaxed her shoulders with a 'that's it?' expression.

"I was told by Nakajou-senpai."

"That she's going to be escorted only by Chikura-senpai?"

Since they’re best friends, Shizuku added in the part that was omitted by Honoka herself.

"Is it better to have someone from the same grade as a guard after all?"

"Yeah.. I can understand what you mean. There are also some underclassmen that don’t act reserved around her too."

"Kazumi and Izumi are exceptions though."

"Ah, well... I feel that even Minami-chan has some kind of a wall around her."

"Well."

Shizuku showed her agreement to Honoka with that word. Originally, she was the one who argued that it was easier to connect with the students from the same grade, so it was an expected response from her.

"And, I'm sure she'll be ok with Chikura-senpai."

"Hmm? Ah, because Chikura-senpai's magic is suitable for being a guard."

"Yup."

After suddenly being told that it would be fine, Honoka couldn't say anything more. As expected of a best friend, with the little hints that Shizuku gave to her, she was able to find out the meaning behind those words.

Chikura Asako’s magic specialty was 'Vector Inversion'. As long as the original direction of the shot was known in advance, it was possible for her to intercept and repel objects such as rifle bullets. The problem of being caught by surprise was not exclusive to Asako and something most magicians struggled with. It was very powerful when being aimed at by guns.

Moreover, her magic was not exclusively for deterring projectiles. In the case of a human opponent, it also repelled momentum. It was very useful against masses with high speed as long as it didn’t exceed 200 km/h.

As Honoka said, Chikura Asako has one of the most suitable magic properties as a guard among the First High escort members.

"Anyway, are you ok, Honoka?"

"Eh.. about what?"

Shizuku stared at Honoka who answered with such a na?ve face.

A message was projected onto the window, alerting that they were about to reach the station.

Shizuku said 'we'll continue later', and faced forward.

Shizuku resumed the topic, while taking a bath after the meal.

"Honoka, are you ok?"

"Eh, did you say something? Wait a minute."

Honoka was washing her hair, and turned her head towards the hot bath where Shizuku was immersing herself.

"Never mind, come here after you're done with your hair."

"Wait, just a bit more."

Honoka rinsed her hair again from the shampoo, before taking out a towel from the storage rack covered with tarpaulin. She wiped her hair to absorb the moisture, put the wet towel in the laundry bag, and turned to get a bottle of conditioner.

"Should I do it for you?"

"No, I'm fine. If I asked you to do this, you'd do it carefully, and end up taking too much time."

"Isn't it ok? Let me do it."

Shizuku got out of the bathtub. Hot water was dripping off her as she pushed to seize the rinse bottle from Honoka.

"Honoka, your hair is so straight and beautiful. How envious."

Shizuku sighed while stroking Honoka's wet hair.

"It's nothing much.. compared to Miyuki."

She was stating the obvious praise, before facing down due to embarrassment.

"There's no point in comparing with Miyuki."

Against Shizuku’s serious rebuttal, she awkwardly laughed with the expression of 'well, you have a point'.

Shizuku opened Honoka's banded hair, and gently rinsed it.

"Anyway, I prefer Honoka's hair."

"Eehh!? That's just favoritism, rather, you’re just too biased towards your friend."

However, Shizuku’s next reply astounded Honoka; Shizuku said 'it's natural to be biased since we're friends'.

"Moreover, Miyuki's hair color is too heavy for my taste."

In contrast, Shizuku showed an uncommon eloquence.

"I prefer Honoka's bright colored hair."

"I-I see.. Thanks."

Honoka said the last word with a small voice, barely reaching Shizuku's ears.

For a moment, Shizuku applied conditioner to Honoka's hair in silence, Honoka also entrusted her hair to Shizuku in silence.

Shizuku took the showerhead into her hands.

Honoka closed her eyes.

Shizuku evenly showered Honoka's hair with hot water and the conditioner was rinsed away by the water pressure.

Shizuku resumed the earlier topic from the bathtub and it was after she finished washing Honoka's hair, as she promised.

Honoka and Shizuku entered the bathtub face to face. The bathroom in Shizuku's house was spacious; the room itself was about twice as large as in a general household despite not being the main bathroom. The bathtub also corresponded in size; it could comfortably fit two people together.

"Honoka."

"Yeah?"

"Are you alright?"

"Eh, about what? You were asking the same thing earlier.."

Shizuku stared at Honoka's face again from the water’s surface.

Apparently, Honoka was trying to play dumb, at any rate, Shizuku was determined and dropped the question again.

"Are you fine with staying back in Tokyo? Don't you want to join the trip to Kyoto?"

Honoka froze and gasped.

The temperature of the hot water had not changed. However, Honoka's body and face were frigid, as if the temperature had dropped.

"That's.."

"Sorry, I was insensitive."

Shizuku looked away from Honoka who had gone pale even on the lips.

"..It's ok. Shizuku, you have been cheering for me after all, I think it's natural for you to wonder."

After saying, 'wait a minute', Honoka took a series of deep breaths. She regained her composure along with the complexion of her face.

"Fuu.. Shizuku, I'm fine now. Look here?"

Urged by Honoka, Shizuku returned her line of sight. They were facing each other once again.

"Truthfully, I wanted to go to Kyoto together with Tatsuya-san. It doesn't even need to be the two of us exclusively. I don't even mind if we go together with Miyuki. As long as I can be with him, it's good enough."

"..Then, why?"

"I don't want to be a hindrance."

Shizuku stared at Honoka, after hearing the unexpected answer.

Honoka smiled powerlessly with a lonely look.

"Shizuku too must have realized, right? Tatsuya even instructed me not to come to the Thesis Competition and stay in Shizuku's house instead."

A light of understanding showed up in Shizuku's eyes.

"Tatsuya was really worried about us too. Anyone who aims for the Thesis Competition materials couldn't be just a petty thief, he must be quite an opponent. Like last year, I think they were quite a formidable opponent."

"Honoka, do you think that Tatsuya-san is making his move due to a mission?"

Shizuku dropped both of her shoulders, before embracing them while trembling.

Honoka waded through the hot bath and settled beside Shizuku.

Thus, the both of them sat side by side, even though the space in the bathtub allowed them to do so it was still cramped after all.

Their bodies were in close contact with each other, Honoka held Shizuku by the shoulders.

Shizuku lowered her hands, which had been clamping on her own shoulders.

"Yup.. I think Tatsuya is on a mission for the JSDF. Moreover, I think the opponent is a formidable large-scale organization. There are possibilities that we could be taken as hostages too."

"Is that why he requested you to be protected by a bodyguard?"

"It's not just us. The fact that I was made an escort was because Shizuku is also a possible target, together with me. Mizuki is protected by Yoshida-kun for the same reason. Since Yoshida-kun's skill is on a professional level."

"That's a side benefit."

"Right."

The two of them laughed while taking off their bath towels.

However, Honoka's laughter soon stopped.

By the time that Honoka had lost her laughter, Shizuku had also stopped laughing.

"Even for this Kyoto trip, I'm sure that the preliminary security inspection is only a practicality. He must have a separate goal in mind. It's also possible that it's going to be rough. After all, the ones asked to join for the trip are experts in combat. Even Minami-chan has her barrier magic that would be very useful in an emergency."

"I think you're quite skilled yourself."

"No, I'm useless. I can only help from a distance, if it's a close-range attack I would only be a hindrance to Tatsuya.."

Speaking strictly on a general magician level, Honoka's combat power was not low. It could even be said that she was one of the top on a high school level. However, when compared to Miyuki or Tatsuya whose combat ability ranked as first-class or even higher among military magicians, even Shizuku as her close friend couldn't offer words of consolation.

"That's why, its fine."

Honoka felt uncomfortable looking at her best friend casting her head down in silence.

Honoka embraced the top half of Shizuku’s face that was above the hot water, to her chest.

"Fu-Onoka, can- brea-"

"Hyaa!?"

Honoka released Shizuku's head with a scream.

After Shizuku was freed, she took a deep breath with her nose and mouth. She didn't stare at Honoka's bitter face but at her chest instead. "So-sorry!"

Honoka stuck out her hand on top of the water while apologizing.

The two of them let out a 'pu' sound at the same time.

The awkwardness vanished into thin air instantly. "Shizuku, I'm sorry."

"It's ok, I'm sorry too."

"No, Shizuku, you were thinking about my feelings. So you don't need to say sorry." Honoka said so with a carefree smile.

"Honestly, I really want to go to Kyoto. Yet, I don't want to be a hindrance for everyone. That's why, I'll properly stay back in Tokyo this time. I did think that Tatsuya-san doesn’t want me to realize this, so I pretend. I'm staying back here, just as he wanted me to."

Shizuku smiled warmly towards Honoka's words. "Honoka, you're a good girl."

Honoka's calmness crumbled in the blink of an eye. "Wha-what are you saying!?"

"If I was a boy, I wouldn't leave Honoka alone."

"Umm.. Shizuku-san!? Your eyes look dangerous now!?"

"You have good style.. You also look approachable and cute." Shizuku's thin, slick fingers stroked Honoka's jaw.

"Shi, Shizuku!? Somehow you are acting like Eimi!?"

"Hmph. I have a bigger chest than Eimi."

"That's not the point!"

"Do you mean that the difference is negligible when compared to yours?"

"I said no such thing!"

"Show it to me."

"Kyaaa!"

"..I knew this, but this is absurd."

"Wai-, Shizuku, please, sto-"

It was hard to record in detail what happened this time. The only thing known was that they had both gotten their heads very hot in the bath.