Volume 10, Chapter 10

Tatsuya fervently denied any connection to the humanism agitator who leaked the information about the micro-black hole experiment to Lina.

Tatsuya had also judged Lina's conjecture to be correct.

Nonetheless, as if to mock both of them, the large wave of anti-magician actions flowing from east to west on the North American continent was blamed on the humanism agitators.

That the wave would soon engulf the world was only a matter of time. March was the wrong time of year, yet 'winter' would arrive then.

? ? ?

It could conveniently be called diplomacy, on the same level as battleship diplomacy or 'behind closed doors' diplomacy.

The great alliances forming the balance of power in this era created the framework for diplomacy, making conferences and ceremonies the main style of diplomacy practiced; however, that did not mean battleship diplomacy and secret 'behind closed doors' diplomacy had disappeared. Ceremonies could not be successful without secret 'behind closed doors' diplomacy to do the preliminary arrangements; those who participated in this transformed their status from the ornaments of diplomacy to the craftsmen of diplomacy, who secretly maneuvered the present world.

In any era, in any nation.

The seeds of conspiracy could be eradicated from this world. Tonight also.

In this nation as well.

"..For the love of Pete, this group of fanatics is incorrigible."

"Hahaha.. It's easy to get groups like that moving, but taking the reins is difficult."

Two middle aged men, separated by a table, were sitting across from one another wearing suits as can be expected, but the man plying the other with sake was of European descent, not Asian.

Perhaps he had been in Japan for a long period of time, or maybe it was just a matter of taste, or maybe it was a product of his education, but he gracefully poured the transparent liquid from the bottle into a small bowl; in short, he was pouring into sake cups while obeying all the proper etiquette for sake drinking.

"When I re-examine it, I find it truly mysterious that this high quality sake

—what's it called, this sake called Seishu.. despite not being distilled, has no color and is so clear."

Flawlessly, he did not forget to interject some flattery concerning the other's country.

"No, no, compared to wine's vivid red and floridity, it is undeniably inferior. Of course, I intended to only prepare things that satisfied your preferences."

The one who had been complimented did not forget to show modesty.

What these men had in common was that they would never show what they really thought.

"That is the truth.. it's so comfortable that I almost decided to get drunk, but since the fanatics I mentioned never run out of lawless things to do, I cannot afford to take it easy."

"I cannot thank you enough for the special consideration that you have given to the safety of my compatriots during our stay in your country in this regard."

There was no change in their voices. The slight smile on their faces remained the same. Nonetheless, if someone had been sharing the same space as these two, that person would have been aware of a strange atmosphere from the beginning.

"No, no, it's a natural courtesy. Since the fanatics you mentioned cannot be reasoned with.. For example, no matter how much we explain it to them, they will not listen to the fact that the blast that destroyed the Asian Alliance Armada is the product of scientifically organized magic and not the work of a demon."

""They won't listen to us" is not an excuse when you can't protect foreign visitors under your care from harm.. you have my sympathies."

The two men tilted their bottles toward each other and gulped from their sake cups simultaneously, as if they had planned it.

"You might take this as mere bellyaching when you hear it, but if I could give them at least a general outline of the 'Great Bomb', then I think I could get them to settle down."

"..You might also take this as mere bellyaching when you hear it, but the military is maintaining its grip on all information regarding the weapon used on the southern tip of the Korean peninsula. No matter how confidential it is, civilian control is a basic democratic principle.. why are the soldiers being so stubborn about it?"

The instant their eyes met, sparks flew; the next instant, both their faces had vacuous eyes and smiles on them.

? ? ?

"Everything is as you heard just now."

Fujibayashi stopped the playback of the recorded conversation and lifted her head.

"Lately, even our diplomats seem to be giving their all. As expected, they are probably able to comprehend the importance and rarity of the 'Strategic Class'."

"What else?"

Fujibayashi tilted her head and looked inquiringly at Tatsuya, who was hesitating to say something, in order to press him to continue.

"..Besides, I believe it involves the honor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Three years ago, we underwent a one-sided invasion; they were slathered with the slur of 'coward' throughout Japan, despite the fact that they were working desperately to reach a non-military resolution — efforts that have been made to look foolish."

"The Asian Alliance's actions did that..?"

Explaining this to Fujibayashi was 'like lecturing to Buddha', but it appeared that Miyuki wasn't getting it.

Well, even Tatsuya had enough common sense to recognize that this should be considered a normal level of comprehension.

"Japan and USNA are allied nations, but at the same time, with regards to the North Pacific area, they are potentially rival nations. If Japan became moderately weaker, the USNA would reap benefits."

Seeing that Miyuki had made a small nod of agreement, Tatsuya continued.

"On the other hand, although the Asian Alliance is a large nation, it doesn't have the power to go head to head with the Japan-America alliance. Additionally, they are not in such a bad state internally that they would need to make a gamble of this level. —So then, why did the Asian Alliance recklessly invade Yokohama?"

Tatsuya paused his explanation in order to give Miyuki time to think. He did not want his sister to become nothing more than a pretty air headed 'puppet'.

"The Asian Alliance does not have the power to take on Japan and America at the same time.. Although Japan is an ally of America, they think it would be better for them if Japan became a little weaker than it is now.."

During her monologue, Miyuki silently made an "aha" as she grasped the concept.

"Unbelievable.. the Asian Alliance and the USNA were secretly working together?"

Tatsuya's satisfied smile said "Well done" and Fujibayashi, who was watching both of them, sported a wry grin.

"Working together might be too strong a term, but I think the likelihood that there was some form of complicity going on is extremely high."

Tatsuya turned his eyes in Fujibayashi's direction, and her wry grin disappeared with a slight nod of agreement.

"For example, something like the USNA intentionally delaying the dispatch orders to its Pacific fleet regarding the Asian Alliance's military invasion."

Fujibayashi's response to Tatsuya's conjecture was a positive one.

"Perhaps the Asian Alliance's military objectives were not occupying territory and destroying government facilities; isn't it more likely that their objectives were to kidnap technical experts and plunder technology?"

"That could be true. If you take the place and military power into consideration, then they could not have hoped to have greater results than that. Until they reached the point of mobilizing their fleet, I believe that they were prepared for tactical failure. As a result, they felt it was alright to take on a hornet's nest."

"As they say, the bird that doesn't make noise doesn't get shot. If you scare a snake by poking a bush, then you will get hurt — naturally I mean our side."

Tatsuya kept his poker face, but,

"The opinion of the one who is the most involved in this matter is expected to be packed with a lot of emotion."

Apparently Fujibayashi was not going to let him get away with it.

"Well then.. it is about time I took my leave of you. No matter how much we call it 'a pre-recruitment interview', it is unnatural for a soldier to spend so long in a civilian household on a Sunday."

"Thank you very much for giving us your time today."

Tatsuya got up at the same time as Fujibayashi in order to convey his gratitude to her.

He was not trying to make a point or be modest. Although he himself was unaware of it, the thought of "Miyuki is entertaining so I should not stint on any form of courtesy" was running through Tatsuya's mind.

As he escorted her to the door, Fujibayashi thrust her hand into her bag while saying "Oh, yes." Actually, she did not really remember just now; naturally, this was just an act.

What she took out was a small, beautifully wrapped box. "Here, it's two days early but it's your courtesy chocolate."

(Courtesy Chocolate or Giri choco is given out of politeness and does not indicate that the giver has any romantic feelings for the recipient.)

"Courtesy, is it?"

She had been completely honest about her lack of time.

Calling it courtesy chocolate was enclosing it in a joke, but Tatsuya knew quite well that Fujibayashi was not the type to cut corners, so this was not a convenient mistake.

"Are you unhappy that it's courtesy?" Fujibayashi laughed mischievously.

For an instant, Miyuki's eyes were tinged with a sharp light,

"No, stop kidding around."

But as Tatsuya replied promptly, the light completely disappeared as if it had been an optical illusion.

The bubbling voices of young women could be heard as they exchanged parting courtesies together on the way to the closed door, but the siblings returned to the living room with faces that said nothing had happened.

? ? ?

There was a strong impression that the war which changed borders (the Third World War) had completely changed the cultural trends in this country.

Nonetheless, the truth was that it had not produced that great a change; numerous so-called 'superficial' customs had failed to become obsolete.

One of them, Valentine's Day, was scheduled for tomorrow. Essentially, comments like 'St. Valentine's Day' are not supposed to be so superficial; chocolate and presents are nothing but a plot by the candy companies, and the rest lacked the persuasion power necessary to kill the custom. While well aware of those things, the young engaged in their personal dance.

Tomorrow would be Valentine's day, and its frivolous ambience would permeate the First High School campus all day long. In this matter, magicians (to be) were also normal young girls.

"..Mitsui-san, it's alright to stop for the day, really." After school, in the student council room.

For some time, the error bell had been repeatedly going off.

Azusa was not irritated with Honoka, who had set it off again; she had spoken those words because she was concerned that Honoka might be sick in some way.

"That's right, Honoka. It's better if you leave for the day already."

The one who made that assertion with her clear blue eyes clouded was Lina, who had been roped into being a temporary Student Council officer. Lina's real identity was hidden from ordinary students like Azusa and Isori, but she couldn't help being audacious.

-It was clear to even Honoka, herself, that it was best in these circumstances if she left; however, "No, I'm fine."

While she was clearly showing that she was in a bad state, Honoka firmly made that answer.

..Since she was aware of the cause of her poor condition, she was embarrassed about them indulging her out of concern; for that reason, the persistent girl knew she gave off the mistaken impression of overexerting herself due to extreme feelings of duty, which made them worry more and made her feel worse.

"Mitsui-san, I think it is a fine thing that you are so responsible, but it is not wrong for you to rest."

Even though she was being spoken to like that by Isori, Honoka would not say "Okay, I'll rest" yet until Miyuki dealt her the knockout punch.

"Honoka, it is really better that you don't overexert yourself. No matter how hard you try, you are not really getting any work done today, are you?"

Miyuki also, on the surface, wore an extremely concerned face. As the girl whose mysterious beauty tended to make you forget she was human made that look while giving out the truth, Azusa, Isori and Lina were left with nothing to do but nod "That's right."

Nonetheless, Honoka was aware that Miyuki had figured out the reason for her 'poor condition', so to her, this was an extremely distressing comment. Especially the "you are not really getting any work done today" part.

"I see.. Um. Then.."

After displaying that slight hesitation, Honoka enthusiastically stood up and energetically bowed.

"I am truly sorry! Please forgive me for leaving early, today. Since from tomorrow onward, I will once again work hard!"

"Yes, we will work hard tomorrow."

Miyuki gave her reply to Honoka, forestalling (disregarding) any answer from the two sempai. Azusa felt that there was something strange about Honoka not using 'also' to indicate the effort put into today's work was the same as the effort she intended to put into tomorrow's work, but only Honoka, herself, could understand what she meant by that.

As she bowed her head and asked to be excused, Honoka's face as she abruptly left had red-stained cheeks.

? ? ?

"..Honoka left early for that reason."

Miyuki explained that to Tatsuya as they took the road from the school to the station.

"Oh.. Maybe she's getting ready for tomorrow."

"Unmistakably."

Miyuki nodded, extremely sure, and Tatsuya's face started to look as if he was feeling very uneasy.

"Since Honoka is the type to put a lot of effort into things like this.."

"Are you happy, Onii-sama?"

She was not feeling jealous — Miyuki was questioning him in a teasing tone; not really in the mood to be teased, Tatsuya shrugged in answer.

"Rather than feeling happy, I feel guilty. Even though I can give her material things in return, I can't give her the most critical thing in return."

Miyuki made a show of shyly grabbing Tatsuya's sleeve as he whispered to her in a somewhat serious tone of voice.

"..Please, don't trouble yourself about that. Both Honoka and I just want Onii-sama to be happy with all our hearts."

"..Really?"

"Really, it's okay to accept her gift without protest."

"Umm, I'm sorry to bother you just as you were getting in the mood, however..."

Tatsuya, with Miyuki still clutching his sleeve, turned to look at Lina, who had hesitantly interrupted them; although she sounded more irritated than embarrassed, reluctance displayed on her face.

"Mood? You are uttering peculiar things, Lina."

"The peculiarness is in your heads!" is what she wanted to assert loudly, but applying verbal brute force would not win against Tatsuya anyway, as she had already found out.

"In short, Honoka's condition was bad, because she was worrying about giving Tatsuya chocolate tomorrow?"

"You've grasped it quite well, Lina. Giving chocolate is a custom unique to Japan, I believe."

Lina had been looking at Tatsuya's face when she asked the question, but Miyuki answered as if it was perfectly natural for the reply to come from her. ..This could not be said to be the first time it happened, so Lina had already stopped thinking "these siblings are doing it again" when Tatsuya didn't answer the question.

"That not true. 'Girls giving chocolate for Valentine's Day' is a famous Japanese cultural tradition. Even in the States, a lot of girls copy it, and I have heard about it about from some of my classmates aside from Miyuki."

Lina dealt with Miyuki's reservations by giving her a somewhat tedious answer.

"Hmmmm.. who are you going to give chocolate to, Lina?"

"Even you are asking me that question, Miyuki..?"

It could be deduced from the disagreeable scowl that Lina had been asked that question persistently by a lot of people. Although it might take different forms, this kind of curiosity was the same as a hundred years before and make no mistake, it will not change in another hundred years.

"I don't plan on giving anyone chocolate."

"Oh my, not even courtesy chocolate? Or is it possible that you weren't told about courtesy chocolate?"

"I know the general details of courtesy chocolate."

"Then, wouldn't you make a lot of people happy if you give it to them, to the people who helped you when you started to study abroad and others like that?"

Lina lightly glared at Miyuki's face. However, she was not able to read anything but mild curiosity from Miyuki's expression.

"If I gave people presents from me, personally, various problems would break out."

"That's it? Popular people have it tough."

Lina's breath stopped in her throat at Miyuki's mutter.

She felt like Miyuki's popularity exceeded even Miyuki's power, but she recognized that was a paranoid delusion.

"If we are talking about popular people, aren't you even more popular,

Miyuki? Who are you going to give chocolate to, Miyuki? You're going to give Tatsuya your 'I love you' chocolate, right?

That Miyuki would bestow true love chocolate on Tatsuya was obvious, so go ahead speak of your love for him to the utmost, because I am going to tease you so bad, thought Lina, but..

"What are you saying, Lina? Onii-sama and I are siblings. It would be weird if I gave my older brother 'I love you' chocolate, right?"

".."

I didn't say anything because I had decided not to say another word, right.. Lina whispered in the depths of her heart.

? ? ?

"..Psst, psst, Izumi, what do you think Onee-chan is doing?"

"I think that.. she's making chocolate?"

"Then.. what's up with the creepy laughter..?"

Currently in their third year of middle school, Saegusa Kasumi and Saegusa Izumi, twin daughters of the head of the Saegusa Clan, were quietly whispering into each other's ears at the entrance to the kitchen.

"She looks like.. she's happy. Sort of."

"But, isn't that a little wrong?"

In front of the pair's eyes, Mayumi was happily double boiling bars of chocolate. However, even if they described her as happy, the smile on her face was definitely not the kind that belonged on the face of a young maiden in love on the night before Valentine's Day.

"..Who do you think she is going to present it to?"

The tone of Mayumi's laughter had already gone from "uhuhuhuhu," passing through "HuhHuhHuhHuhHu.." and the rest and was now close to becoming something like "KukKukKukKukKukKu.." As the person who resembled their elder sister acted as if she was plotting to poison someone, the twins looked at each other with faces drained of color. "Kasumi-chan, about the chocolate that Onee-sama is using, is that.."

"Aah, oh yes.. that's the stuff that's ninety-five percent cacao with zero percent sugar.."

In the past, products that stated that they contained ninety-nine percent cacao had been available for purchase, but what was currently available commercially was the strongest, bitterest chocolate, and that was what Mayumi was using as an ingredient.

"Over there, that bag.."

"It's espresso powder.."

"Onee-chan, what kind of awful.."

? ? ?

An incredibly heavy burst of Psion arrived in the Information Dimension and quickly crashed into an isolated Information Body.

"You are only doing so-so today, so why don't we cut off this morning's session now."

"..Thank you."

As Tatsuya adjusted his breath and directed a bow towards Yakumo, Miyuki rushed up to him to hand him a towel.

Despite it being midwinter, there was a large quantity of sweat on Tatsuya's forehead. After spending some time being lost in watching Tatsuya wipe the sweat off, Miyuki started a conversation with Yakumo.

"Sensei, I think Onii-sama is extremely exhausted from using Gram Demolition.."

Yakumo caught Tatsuya's eye as he was about to answer the question himself, then shook his head to indicate that it was alright.

"Some exhaustion can't be helped. Since for Tatsuya-kun, the Information Dimension holds concepts of things that did not originally exist, 'Movement' and 'Exclusion'."

Since Monday of last week, Miyuki had demurred with "I would be a hindrance" and had not watched training. Because today was Tuesday, it had been a week and a day since Miyuki had come. Therefore, although Miyuki knew Tatsuya had proposed "How about we try to work out some new magic that will work against the Parasite," (as Miyuki was agitated that Yakumo was the one he made the proposal to) she hadn't known what they had come up with until she had asked Yakumo. Even though they called it new magic, it looked like nothing more than simply practicing using Gram Demolition in the Information Dimension to Miyuki.

"That's ..something that is produced as a byproduct of arranging, right?"

She was confident that her brother was the strongest magician, but she knew there were a lot of things that he couldn't do. If it were necessary to secure victory, her brother would let his heart and body be damaged, for example — shortening his life span — and she intended to use anything, even tears, to quickly stop him from doing that.

"No, I don't think it's that kind of thing."

Yakumo's answer quickly contradicted Miyuki's theory.

"Because only Tatsuya-kun's recognition method is changing. He is not directly hitting the target; he is establishing coordinates by making marks from one second to thirty-two minutes from the side of the target, and he is producing a concept bullet that will give him the exclusion of movement in an area he has subconscious dominion over that he connects to the real world — right, Tatsuya-kun?"

"That's what we're doing, Miyuki. Rotating back and forth between thinking and sensing makes me mentally.. no, it only exhausts my sensitivity. Don't worry, I won't do anything that would make me fall victim to a side effect."

"Really.."

Miyuki appeared reassured by Tatsuya clear explanation.

"So, there is a good chance of making a means to attack the Parasite?"

Upon being gazed upon by his younger sister with glittering eyes that said "just what I would expect from Onii-sama," Tatsuya unintentionally made a pained smile.

"No."

"If he goes up against a 'child' who has just been born, he will probably destroy him. But it would be tough to go up against an 'adult' fortified with months and years of experience."

Tatsuya let out a pained laugh as he shook his head. Yakumo intervened and lowered her expectations slightly.

—Thanks to that, the siblings ended the session without awkwardness.

Miyuki had not accompanied Tatsuya this morning on a whim, much less to check on the progress of Tatsuya's training.

Miyuki had come to Yakumo's temple on the morning of February fourteenth last year and the year before, so this was the third time.

She probably didn't have to state her errand.

When they returned to the temple priest's quarters, Miyuki took out a pretty package from the bag she left there and presented it to Yakumo.

"Sensei might consider this a heathen custom, but please accept this. Sensei is always doing so much for my brother."

As she did this, Yakumo made a smug smile.

"No no, good things are steadily maintained, even if they're foreign heathen customs."

Surely Tatsuya wasn't the only one thinking "Every year, he says the same thing, this guy.."

"Shisou, everyone's watching."

However, Tatsuya was the only one who could give him a chiding look rather than merely keeping his face unnaturally stiff.

"Hm? Isn't it alright? It's an incentive to train you."

Naturally, Yakumo didn't act like he noticed Tatsuya disapproval at all. "Doesn't this touch on the precepts on worldly desires?"

"As long as it doesn't end in carnal desire, it doesn't matter."

Yakumo spoke as if he was aloof from the world, but the avarice on his face didn't suit his words.

As Tatsuya shrugged "there's nothing that can be done with this man," the number of disciples who silently agreed with him was close to a majority.

? ? ?

Until half a century ago, a large number of people used electric cars for transportation, but the modern era's cabinet had won on the point of ability to estimate arrival times.

If the method of how they're used is considered, the reason why can be understood, but cabinets do not have what is called an arrival time table. Naturally, in order not to cause any congestion, there is a wide window for cabinet arrival without being late. The lack of legally imposed speed limits within a cabinet's route forms the basis for fast arrival times. Though it can be said that it was a little inconvenient for meeting at a prearranged time and place.

In the first semester, Tatsuya and his friends had met at the station and joined the flow going to school together many times, but recently their pattern had been to congregate when they arrived in their classroom.

"Good morning, Tatsuya-san."

"Morning, Honoka."

This defiance of the difficulty, could it possibly be due to being young. Or perhaps it was due to being in love.

Maybe both answers were correct. "Ah, good morning, Honoka-san."

"Morning, Mizuki."

And for a maiden in love on this day alone, companions are intolerable. Since being with Miyuki was the default, nothing could be done about that, Honoka thought.

However, anyone other than Miyuki was not a friend but a mere obstacle. No, it was because they were friends that Honoka thought she wanted them to make assumptions based on what today's date was.

—Certainly, that thought showed on her face.

It could be said that Mizuki read the mood by the slight change in Honoka's expression.

Mizuki quickly started fidgeting. Although she was extremely uncomfortable. It would be too unnatural to suddenly burst out words like "I'll go on ahead" or "I remember I have to" right now.

Even though she wanted to align with Honoka's expectation, in that situation Mizuki couldn't move; unexpectedly (?), Miyuki was the one who abolished the stalemate.

"Mizuki, is there something on your uniform?"

"Eh?"

Of course, upon suddenly being told that, Mizuki craned her neck with all her might, trying to look over her shoulder to see her back.

There was no way doing such a thing would allow someone to see their own back and since there was nothing back there in the first place, it was nothing but an exercise in futility, however—

"Stay. I'll get it for you. Onii-sama, I'm sorry, but please go on ahead. Honoka, could you go on ahead too?"

"Oh, I understand."

Honoka looked awestruck by this unexpected development; Tatsuya nodded easily and Honoka nodded at his look.

Honoka awkwardly forced her legs to trail after Tatsuya's back and turned only her upper body to thank Miyuki with her eyes.

Miyuki nodded with a small smile.

Honoka's nervousness and excitement over the unimaginable chance to walk to school with only the two of them knew no bounds. Even though Tatsuya made conversation, she was only able to make the proper responses by the skin of her teeth. Additionally, her voice was hoarse. In spite of Tatsuya walking rather slowly, her legs had difficulties due to joint stiffness, and she nearly stumbled over spots where there was nothing to stumble over.

Even if she was the only one who called it stage fright, it was the unmistakable truth.

If they entered the school building like this, the difference of status between the first course and second course students would part them. Honoka also understood that this incredible chance was also about to be wasted very well.

Not using the salt you were given was nothing more than betraying yourself to your rivals.

"Um, Tatsuya-san!"

Just as they passed the school gate, Honoka called for Tatsuya to stop.

"Would it be alright if I could have a moment of your time!"

The way she spoke was like she was standing on ceremony with a superior officer several ranks above or an upper level manager several classes above her.

"Fine."

Not even the least bit of surprise showed on the humbly smiling face that had stopped for her as Tatsuya nodded.

"Over here.. please."

Stealthily, as if hesitant to attract people's e-->>

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