While Tatsuya and the Kuroba twins were concluding their fruitless scouting mission, a conversation was unfolding within the Yotsuba estate between Maya Yotsuba and her head butler, Hayama. They had just finished a call with Major General Saeki, commander of the 101st Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion.
The topic had been a "false flag" terrorist plot aimed at the Nine Schools Competition. The masterminds were identified as a group of hardliners within the National Defense Land Army's General Staff, led by Colonel Sakai—men who advocated for an aggressive stance against the Great Asian Alliance.
Most crucially, they had discussed using "Special Major Tatsuya Ooguro" as the instrument to ensure these hardliners became the "true" culprits behind the incident. The leverage Maya had offered Saeki was significant: the opportunity to weaken the influence of the Ten Master Clans—specifically Retsu Kudou—over the National Defense Force.
As the negotiations concluded, Hayama turned to Maya.
"Are you certain this is the right course, Madam?"
"In what regard?" Maya asked, her response a deliberate redirection despite knowing exactly what he meant.
Anyone else would have fallen silent, but the veteran butler was not so easily deterred. "Lord Kudou's involvement remains within the realm of speculation."
"Which is exactly why I didn't mention the Elder's name, isn't it? Besides, if we're talking about evidence, there isn't any proof that the hardliners are planning a false flag operation either."
"It is a frame-up, then. Though I suppose pointing that out is a moot point," Hayama noted. "Purging the hardliners was the 'order' from our sponsors, after all."
"Indeed. We cannot go against the wishes of our benefactors. If this opportunity hadn't presented itself, we would have had to resort to far more... heavy-handed methods."
"In that sense, Zhou Gongjin's machinations have been quite convenient," Hayama added. "Though the thought of managing the aftermath regarding Master Tatsuya is enough to give one a headache."
"I'd prefer he didn't repeat last year's flamboyant display," Maya said with a theatrical sigh. "I'd like him to remain quiet for at least another six months, until New Year's... but I suppose if the sparks start flying toward Miyuki-san, we can hardly expect 'Tatsu-kun' to sit still."
She paused, looking out into the night.
"Madam, do you believe General Saeki will truly assist Master Tatsuya?"
"It doesn't matter," Maya replied coldly. "She can't stop him, so in the end, she'll have no choice but to help. Does the military really have the courage to mistreat a boy who is, for all intents and purposes, the world's most catastrophic magic weapon?"
Hayama thought he heard her add a faint, barely audible whisper: "...Because even I don't have that kind of courage."
Early the next afternoon, following the Eve Party.
Tatsuya, Miyuki, Honoka, and Shizuku had returned to the hotel after the girls insisted on having lunch in their rooms to avoid the crowds. As they stepped into the lobby—teeming with students who had arrived to cheer for their schools—a familiar voice called out.
"Yoo-hoo!"
"You came to support us, then?" Tatsuya asked, turning toward Erika.
"Of course! The other two are here, too."
"Erika, seriously... carry your own luggage for once—oh. Hey, Tatsuya," Leo grunted, appearing from behind Erika laden with bags.
Mizuki followed close behind him. "Erika-chan, the key... oh! Tatsuya-san, Miyuki-san, Honoka-san, Shizuku-san! Hello!"
"Have you eaten?" Tatsuya asked.
"Not yet," Erika replied.
"Let's call Mikihiko as well."
The group moved to the terrace of a cafe reserved for the competition delegations. Since the lunch rush had passed, the eight of them were able to secure a table without a wait. Once they settled in, Mikihiko immediately turned to Mizuki.
"You're later than planned. Did something happen?"
"Hmm..." Erika let out a playful, predatory hum.
"W-what?" Mikihiko stammered, leaning back as Erika flashed a mischievous grin.
"So, you were keeping track of Mizuki's schedule?"
"I just got an email from her! That's all!"
"Oh? Since when did 'Miki' and Mizuki start exchanging contact info?"
"It's just an email address! We're friends, aren't we?" Mikihiko snapped, looking away.
Erika shifted her gaze to Leo, who was sitting next to Mikihiko. "Hey, do you have Mizuki's info?"
"Nah. Didn't need it."
"Don't make this weird!" Mikihiko exploded, unable to handle Erika's teasing. "I wasn't the only one she emailed! She sent one to Miyuki-san, Mitsui-san, and Kitayama-san, too!"
But the more defensive Mikihiko became, the deeper he sank into the metaphorical quicksand Erika had prepared for him.
"And Tatsuya-kun?" Erika asked.
"I didn't receive one," Tatsuya noted. "By the way, Erika, was it true that you were delayed?"
"Yeah, well..."
"The shuttle bus got caught in a standoff with protesters at the base entrance," Mizuki explained, stepping in to help as Erika's expression soured.
"Protesters?" Honoka asked. The hotel was a significant distance from the base gates; even if they were making a racket, the sound wouldn't have reached this far.
"Yeah... the 'Humanists,'" Mizuki said softly.
"It's the same old nonsense," Erika groaned. "The 'it's wrong that over half of Magic High graduates are funneled into the military' speech. 'Wake up, the government is just using you!' Honestly, they should mind their own business. And where do they get 'over half' anyway? They're just adding the university advancement rate to the post-grad employment rate. You can't just mash statistics from different groups together like that. Basic math, people!"
"In demonstrations and agitprop, impact matters more than accuracy," Tatsuya pointed out calmly. "They likely know it's a fallacy, but the fact remains that forty-five percent of Magic University graduates do take jobs with the National Defense Force or its affiliates. It's a high enough number that the logic holds up to anyone who isn't looking too closely."
Erika frowned. "What's this? Tatsuya-kun, are you taking their side?"
"Me? Hardly."
Erika caught the faint, dry smile on Tatsuya's face and immediatey felt a pang of guilt. He's already a member of the military. Even if he'd had no choice in the matter, she realized her rant had been a bit tactless.
"Right. Sorry..." she muttered. Then, looking for a way to shift the mood, she turned back to Mikihiko. "Anyway, Miki."
"My name is Mikihiko."
He fell back on their old routine, sensing Erika was trying to change the subject.
"Are you still calling her 'Shibata-san'? You call Miyuki 'Miyuki-san,' so why don't you just call Mizuki by her first name?"
"That has nothing to do with anything!" Mikihiko shouted.
His attempt to be helpful backfired spectacularly as Erika doubled down on the teasing. Beside him, Mizuki had turned a shade of red that rivaled a ripe tomato.
Mikihiko tried to counter-attack... and only succeeded in dragging Mizuki down with him.
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