Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 01 - Enrollment Chapter (I) Page 6

  This system had not changed from the previous era, although there are some differences.

  The offline terminals all started up automatically, and those that were already on refreshed their screens. At the same time, a message opened up on the screen at the front of the class.

  "—Orientation begins in five minutes, so please wait at your desk. Students who have not yet inserted their ID card, please do so as soon as possible—"

  The message was utterly meaningless for Tatsuya. It was just sundry matters such as registering for classes he had already selected, along with online guidance and excessive visual effects. Just as he was considering skipping the whole process and going to browse through the school reference room, two unexpected things happened.

  First, accompanied by the class bell, the door to the classroom opened.

  It was not a late student. Instead of a uniform, the lady was wearing a suit.

  As everyone watched, which wasn't an exaggeration, the beautiful and moreover exceptionally charming woman went up to the teacher's desk, set up a large mobile terminal, which she had been carrying under her arm, and then looked around the classroom.

  It was not just Tatsuya who was surprised, but the whole class that was struck with a sense of confusion.

  In schools that have adopted online courses, there is no teacher who stands at the front of the class. Since classes themselves are conducted through the terminals, there is even less reason to send staff members to classrooms simply to convey information. The only times the staff console is used in class is for exceptional circumstances, such as in the case of theory.

  However, there was nothing to indicate that this woman was a faculty member.

  "Alright, it doesn't seem like anyone is absent.

  Then first of all, congratulations to everyone for entering the school."

  There were quite a few students who returned the bow — in fact, the guy in the seat in front who Tatsuya had just met actually answered "Ah, thanks", but Tatsuya simply tilted his head at her strange behavior.

  Firstly, in order to verify attendance, there is no need to look around with the naked eye. The ID cards in the terminals updated seating status in real time.

  Then, there was no need for school officials to carry around a terminal of such size. The campus was riddled with Consoles. In fact, there should be a console monitor built into the teachers desk where she was standing right now.

  Finally, just what was she? From the information gathered, this school did not use such an outdated system as homeroom teachers, or at least it certainly wasn't in the prospectus—

  "It's nice to meet you all. I'm the integration counselor for this school, Ono Haruka. I'm here to establish a mentoring relationship with each of you in case any of you feel like you would like counseling in regards to specialized aspects of your course.

  (...Come to think of it, there was something along those lines...)

  Having someone to talk to about your concerns, was a concept Tatsuya had completely skipped over as unnecessary, but the fact was that the counseling system was one of the selling points of the school.

  "There are 16 such counselors in this school. We are grouped in pairs of men and women, and will be responsible for one class in each grade.

  Yanagisawa-sensei and I have been assigned to this class."

  At that she stopped talking and operated the console on the teachers desk; the upper body of a man in his mid thirties was displayed in front of the class.

  "Good to meet you, I'm your counselor Yanagisawa. Along with Ono-sensei, I will be in charge of looking after you. I hope we will get along."

  As the screen projected the image of counselor Yanagisawa, "Ono-sensei" continued her explanation on the platform.

  "Counseling is available through the terminals, so you do not have to come to us directly. Communication is done through quantum encryption, and the reports are stored via standalone data banks, so everyone's privacy is secure."

  As she said that, Haruka lifted the large data bank book, which Tatsuya had mistaken for an over-sized mobile terminal.

  "The school will fully support you all, so that you can each live a fulfilling life as a student to the fullest.

  ...As such, everyone, let's work hard together."

  She had been speaking in a rather serious voice until now, but at that she switched her tone, and spoke softly.

  All the energy seemed to leak out of the room.

  Both tension and relaxation, even able to calculate her body language, her emotional control was superb.

  Although outwardly she appeared young enough to be fresh out of university, her experience was palpable.

  If you spoke to her one-on-one, you could easily end up saying more than you intended.

  Such a quality is important for a counselor, but she seemed to possess enough to be a female spy.

  This is someone to be on guard against, Tatsuya thought.

  —That feeling only intensified as she turned to the screen in the background, bowed to her bemused looking senior colleague and cut the connection.

  With a small cough her professional smile returned, and she continued as if nothing had happened.

  "By now, the school curriculum and guides on the facilities should have been sent to your terminals. After that, you will register for your electives, and that will be the end of orientation. If there is anything you don't understand, please use the call button. Those who have already familiarized themselves with the curriculum and facilities can feel free to skip guidance and proceed straight to registration."

  At this point, Haruka quickly glanced at the monitor on the teacher's desk, and made an 'oh?' expression.

  "For those who have already finished registration as well, it's fine to leave. However you may not do so after guidance has started, so if you wish to do so, please leave now. If that's the case, please don't forget your ID card."

  As if waiting for those words, the sound of a chair scraping across the floor echoed throughout the classroom.

  It was not Tatsuya.

  The one who stood up was sitting in the front row window seat, just a little distance away, a slender, nervous-looking boy.

  He bowed towards the teacher's desk, then exited into the corridor near the back of the classroom.

  He faced forwards the whole way, looking neither to his left nor right, and it was rather interesting watching that figure put on a brave face and leave the classroom proudly, but that was just for a moment. It was not just Tatsuya, but almost half the class that watched the back of the youth as he disappeared down the corridor, but soon all eyes were back on their desks.

  It didn't seem like anyone else was about to go. Tatsuya did not want to leave so much that he was willing to risk all those stares as well.

  Returning to the task at hand, Tatsuya placed his hands over the keyboard and considered things to do to kill time, when he sensed a glance and looked up.

  From the other side of the teacher's desk, Haruka was watching him.

  Even as they locked eyes she didn't look away, but went on to flash him a smile.

  (What was that...)

  As if even noticing that, Haruka's smile broadened. It wasn't for any length of time, rather so short and discreet that no other student noticed, but nonetheless carried an exaggeratedly secretive air.

  He was certain that this was their first ever meeting.

  Yet it was notably beyond a fake smile, so Tatsuya vigorously went through his memories.

  Thanks to that, he killed plenty of time but...

  (You should relax... was that the meaning behind it? Or is she trying to take away my composure...

  I won't even consider the possibility that she's come to a classroom in a school without teachers to try to hit on students...)

  As he considered, he didn't follow the other students who had finished registration out of the class, but rather stayed in his seat pondering with interest. Then someone spoke up in a friendly tone.

  "
Tatsuya, what are you going to do until lunch?"

  When he lifted his head, a voice rang out from the seat in front.

  As if it was his signature pose, Leo was resting his chin on his arms crossed over his chair in the exact same position as earlier.

  It is no longer customary, at both junior and senior high school, to eat in the classroom. Despite advancements in both waterproofing and dust-proofing technology, information terminals remain precision instruments. If you end up doing something like accidentally spilling soup all over one, a rather miserable outcome is to be expected.

  It'd be better to find a more suitable place somewhere, like the cafeteria, courtyard, rooftop or club room.

  Although it's one more hour until the cafeteria opens.

  "I had been planning to go look through the reference room catalog from here but... OK, I'll accompany you."

  At Tatsuya's reply Leo had mumbled dejectedly, but his eyes shone bright with enthusiasm. Tatsuya smiled at Leo's easy to read expressions.

  "Then, what are you going to look at?"

  Magic is not taught in public schools until junior high. For children with the aptitude of a magician, public cram schools after school are the foundations of their magic knowledge. This step is not to look for technical skill, but to determine for both themselves and their parents whether they have enough raw talent to make it as a magician.

  While some private schools incorporate forms of magical education as extra curricular activities, it is stressed that they are by no means a reflection of magic performance.

  Magic begins as a full-fledged education from the senior high school curriculum onward. Although among the magic high schools, the First high school is considered the most difficult to enter, there are many students who come from ordinary junior high schools. There are classes on specialized magic courses that some of the students have never seen before.

  In order to alleviate confusion stemming from unfamiliarity with some of the specialized courses, they have the opportunity to go and observe classes in progress both today and tomorrow.

  "Wanna go to the workshop?"

  This was Leo's reply to Tatsuya's question.

  "Not the arena?"

  Taken aback by Tatsuya's next question, Leo grinned.

  "I guess I would seem to be the type.

  Well, you're not wrong."

  Although not looking down on his intellectual ability since he did pass the entrance exams, the fact remains that this guy has the more lively outdoors look to him, or rather a mischievous air. Most likely it wouldn't have just been Tatsuya who felt he was more suited to the action of the arena than fiddling with precision machinery in the workshop.

  Listening to Leo's next words however, Tatsuya admitted his mistake.

  "Reinforcement magic produces the greatest effect when combined with weapon skill. I want to be able to maintain my own weapons as much as possible."

  Leo's ambitions were the mountain corps or riot police. If those ambitions are realized, he'll have many opportunities to use simple weapons such as batons, shields, machetes, etc. Those are all compatible with reinforcement magic, and depending on the composition of the materials used will produce different effects.

  This classmate seems to have a far firmer grasp of what he is capable of than he looks.

  "If you're going to the workshop, why don't you come with us?"

  While the two of them talked, they received a sudden proposal from the seats next to them.

  "Shibata-san's also going to the workshop?"

  "Yes... I also want to be a Magic Artificer."

  "Ah, I see!"

  Erika was barging in all over Mizuki. It was a rather similar pattern to what had happened earlier, but Leo's face remained neutral.

  "However you look at it, you're far more suited for physical courses. Go check out the arena."

  "I don't want to be told that by a wild animal like you."

  Tit for tat.

  "What was that? You didn't even hesitate in the slightest!"

  The quarrel between them possessed the breakneck quality of a typing keyboard.

  "Stop it both of you... You've only just met today right?"

  Their compatibility really is quite something, isn't it? Tatsuya thought, while attempting to arbitrate with a sigh, but the two weren't about to be so easily stopped.

  "Heh, you must be a bitter enemy from some previous life."

  "You were some bear ravaging the fields, and I was the hunter hired to get rid of you."

  "Alright, let's go! We're wasting time."

  Mizuki had up to now patiently been refraining from interrupting, but now she finally weighed in and tried to forcibly change the course.

  "Yeah! If we don't hurry, we'll be the only ones left in the classroom."

  Immediately, Tatsuya also jumped in. With their rapid-fire argument interrupted, both Leo and Erika glared daggers at each other, then immediately spun around and turned their backs.

  ◇◇◇

  As early as the second day of admission, there were some students who began to take action.

  Tatsuya didn't know whether to think of it as too quick or just par for the course.

  All he knew was that if it came to a confrontation or backing down, it would most likely be the former.

  Both Erika and Leo were bright and optimistic, and Mizuki seemed shy yet carefree.

  While fully aware of his own inclination towards cynicism and moodiness, Tatsuya considered himself fortunate that his first friends in high school were them.

  However, most likely is not 100%.

  There had remained about 10-20%.

  It was nice they hadn't backed down servilely, but how would this turn out. Tatsuya was keenly contemplating the matter.

  "Onii-sama..."

  Miyuki was lightly grasping the hem of Tatsuya's uniform with her fingertips, and her face as she looked up at her brother was a mixture of anxiety and embarrassment.

  "Don't apologize, Miyuki. You aren't at fault in the least."

  In order to give strength to his sister, Tatsuya replied in a firm tone.

  "Yes, but... will you stop them?"

  "...That'd be counterproductive."

  "...You're right. Still putting Erika aside, for Mizuki to have that kind of personality was...unexpected."

  "...I agree."

  Watching from a step back — or in other words, directly in front of the siblings, was a group of new students glaring at each other with a volatile atmosphere simmering between them. One group was comprised of some of Miyuki's classmates, and the other was, needless to say, Mizuki, Erika, and Leo.

  The first act was the dining hall during lunch.

  The dining hall of the First high school was considerably larger than the cafeteria found in most other high schools, but as the new students were still rather unaware and unsure, this time of year was generally crowded.

  However, as the four of them had left the visit of the specialist classes early and came to the dining hall, they had secured a four seat table without any trouble.

  It was a four seat but due to the facing benches, they'd probably be able to squeeze three of the more slender girls on one side.

  When they were about halfway through their meals (Leo had finished eating already), Miyuki had arrived surrounded by a group of male and female students, spotted Tatsuya, and rapidly made a beeline for him. The dispute started from there.

  Miyuki had tried to eat together with Tatsuya. It wasn't that she was the type who would refuse to interact with her classmates, but simply that, for Miyuki, the top priority partner would always be Tatsuya.

  Only one more person could fit at the table. Whether to choose her classmates or Tatsuya was a matter Miyuki didn't even consider.

  However Miyuki's classmates, and especially the boys, were of course striving to sit with her.

  They had started off pretending to be polite saying things like it's pretty cramped and sorry to be a bother, but seeing Miyuki's unwaverin
g determination, had gone on to say that it was unsuitable for a first course student to share a table with second course students considering the gap between them, and ended up telling Leo who had finished eating that he was to vacate his seat.

  At this selfish display of supreme arrogance, both Erika and Leo were on the verge of exploding. Tatsuya had finished his meal in a hurry, talked with Leo and the still eating Mizuki and Erika then stood up.

  Miyuki had soundlessly apologized to Tatsuya and the others, before walking past the vacated seat to stand by her brother.

  The second act had been the afternoon visit to a specialist class.

  In the remote precision magic laboratory otherwise known as the 'shooting range', a practical class was being carried out by 3rd year class A.

  It was the class of the Student President, Saegusa Mayumi.

  The student council is not necessarily chosen by grade, but the president this term was a once in a decade prodigy in remote precision magic, and had brought countless trophies to the school.

  That was something even the freshmen had heard.

  They had also confirmed the rumor of her coquettish nature at the entrance ceremony.

  There were many students packed around the range trying to get a look at her skill, but the number who could visit was limited. Due to that, among the numerous ostensible reservists for first course and second course students, Tatsuya and co. had grandly camped up at the front row.

  Naturally, he had been unwilling to stand out.

  Then during the third act, in progress this very moment, Mizuki caustically spat out.

  "Won't you all stop being such poor losers? Miyuki-san has said she wishes to go with her brother. It's not the place of anyone of you to say otherwise is it?"

  Her opponent was a student from class A. It was the guy they had seen in the dining hall during the break.

  Concerning the circumstances, after school, Tatsuya had been waiting for Miyuki, whose accompanying classmates had started to accuse. By the way, those classmates were girls. Obviously there was also a flock of male students in the vicinity (of Miyuki) who had started silent at first, but that restraint had already been lost and all decency rapidly followed.