The schedule for this year's Nine Schools Competition was set: the Eve Party on August 3rd, the opening ceremony on the 5th, and the closing ceremony on the 15th. While the competition itself would span eleven days—one day longer than the previous year—the venue remained unchanged. As was tradition, the First High delegation gathered at the school at 8:00 AM on the day of the party. From there, they were to split between large motor coaches and engineering transport vehicles to head toward the hotel adjacent to the venue.
This year, the technical staff included two freshmen: one boy and one girl. The boy was Kento Sumisu. As he stood receiving instructions from Tatsuya regarding the transit, he radiated an aura so eager that one could almost imagine a tail wagging excitedly behind him.
"That boy… do you think he has feelings for Shiba-senpai?"
"Kasumi, please. Stop with the creepy delusions. You were doing that the other day, too," Izumi sighed.
The "other day"—referring to a certain incident at a fashion mall—clearly hadn't been fully processed by Kasumi yet.
"By the way, about that '3H' unit Sis mentioned…"
"I wonder if there's more to it?"
Both Kasumi and Izumi had heard from their older sister, Mayumi, that a Parasite now resided within Pixie. They knew Tatsuya was her owner, but neither of them could believe he simply wanted a robot to look after his personal needs.
"Kasumi."
"Ah, Kitayama-senpai!"
"What are you doing? It's almost time," Shizuku said, approaching them.
"Right! Oh, by the way, Kitayama-senpai… what do you think of Shiba-senpai?"
"Shiba-senpai? You mean… Tatsuya?"
Shizuku tilted her head slightly to the side. The gesture was so unexpectedly charming that both Kasumi and Izumi found themselves struck by how cute she was. As far as they knew, Shizuku—who rarely let her emotions show—almost never made such expressions.
"I mean, he's really popular, right? Sis told me that last year's Valentine's Day was an absolute disaster zone because of him."
"I was in America at the time, so I don't know the details… but I heard it was quite the spectacle," Shizuku replied.
"Oh! So the senior who went abroad on the exchange program was you, Kitayama-senpai?"
Izumi looked genuinely surprised. While she had heard of the exchange program, she hadn't realized Shizuku was the one who had gone.
"Tatsuya's popularity isn't limited to First High, though," Shizuku added.
"Wait, what does that mean…?"
"Just get on the bus for now. I'll tell you more inside."
With the departure time looming, Shizuku hurried the twins onto the bus. She took a quick glance back over her shoulder, a faint, bashful smile playing on her lips.
This year, the journey was mercifully free of accidents or the ominous tension that had plagued them previously. The First High delegation arrived at the hotel without incident. Everything proceeded exactly as scheduled, leading smoothly into the start of the Eve Party.
Tatsuya had already entered the venue. Unlike last year, he was dressed in his own uniform. Seeing the eight-petaled gear emblem embroidered on his shoulder, Miyuki—who was standing by his side—offered a delighted smile.
"Miyuki, what are you smiling about?"
Tatsuya could always distinguish between a social courtesy and a genuine smile. Sensing a particular warmth in his sister's expression, he couldn't help but ask.
"I was just thinking how well the Magic Engineering uniform suits you, Brother. It makes me very happy."
"Why mention that now? You've been looking at it for four months."
"I agree with her, Tatsuya-san!" Honoka chimed in.
"Me too," Shizuku added.
"Yeah. Maybe it's because last year's felt like a loaner. It didn't quite seem to fit right," Subaru noted.
"True. Tatsuya-san's grades were good enough that he wouldn't have looked out of place as a Course 1 student, but since we weren't used to seeing him in that uniform, it felt a bit off," Amy agreed.
Honoka and Shizuku seemed to be competing with Miyuki to see who could agree more fervently, followed closely by Subaru and Amy. Amidst the flurry of consensus, only Mizunami seemed to sympathize with Tatsuya's palpable bewilderment.
Tatsuya was currently surrounded: Miyuki (Pillars Break, Solo), Shizuku (Pillars Break, Pair), Honoka and Subaru (Mirage Bat), Amy (Roar and Gunner, Pair), and Mizunami. To any outside observer, it was a Veritable harem—and then another factor made its appearance.
"It has been a long time, Lord Tatsuya."
"It's been a while! Are you well, Mitsui-dono?"
"Ah, it's been ages, Tsukushin-san!"
"I can't compete this year so I won't get my chance, but next year, I am definitely going to beat you, Kitayama-san."
"I welcome the challenge. I won't lose either."
"Hello, everyone. It's good to see you again."
While Masaki Ichijou stood in the distance agonizing over how to approach the group, the girls from Third High—Airi, Shiori, Touko, and Karen—marched right up to Tatsuya and naturally folded themselves into the "harem."
"By the way, Lord Tatsuya, are you not participating in the events this year?"
"I'm part of the technical staff. Besides, I wasn't actually entered as a player last year, either."
"Tatsuya-san, there is something that has been bothering me…"
"What is it?"
Karen, the resident strategist of the group, had been feeling a sense of unease regarding this year's competition. She had hoped she was simply overthinking it, but she wanted the opinion of Tatsuya, who occupied a similar analytical role.
"The changes to the competition events… No matter how I look at them, they're strange. The Steeplechase is set up so that it can't be spectated. Even with Monolith Code, they have cameras everywhere—even in the forest stages—so people can watch. This is different."
"It sounds like it's worth looking into," Tatsuya mused. He turned his head. "Ichijou, can I leave that to you?"
"Wh—Why me?!"
"You're from the Ten Master Clans. Can't you ask your father? Well, if you don't have the spare resources to move on something like this, I suppose it can't be helped."
"We—We have plenty of people for something like that! Fine, I'll do it! I just have to look into it, right?"
"If the Ichijou family isn't up to the task, we of the Isshiki family would be happy to investigate," Airi added provocatively.
Being prodded by Airi, who also belonged to a family with a "One" in their name, Masaki's competitive streak flared up more than necessary.
"We'll handle it! Just give me two or three days!"
"Wait, Masaki…!"
Masaki talked big and immediately spun on his heel to leave, with George Shinkurou trailing behind him. Watching them go, Airi and the others simply resumed their pleasant conversation with Tatsuya.
Masaki really has become a total background character…
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