Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 01 - Enrollment Chapter (I) Read online

  "How patronizing. An idiot who tried to grab a Houki in the midst of activation has no business talking about levels."

  "Ah? Who're you calling an idiot, idiot?"

  "Uhm... that really is dangerous. Psions produced by another magician's activation ritual would cause a rejection by your own subconscious..."

  "Is what she said. Got it?"

  "Erika-chan too alright? Don't use your hands directly, you'd receive the interference 1000 fold."

  "It's fine. This is shielded."

  As the talk between his friends, meaningful in it's own way, finally shifted back in their direction, Tatsuya and Morisaki shared a glance without moving.

  "I still don't acknowledge you, Shiba Tatsuya. Shiba-san's place should be with us."

  On that note without waiting for Tatsuya's reply, Morisaki left. He probably said it precisely because it was a line that didn't bear an answer, something his opponent was fully aware of.

  "Suddenly calling me by my full name huh."

  As Tatsuya muttered to himself at a volume just loud enough to hear, Morisaki gave an involuntary shudder. His obstinacy was unlikely to stop there. However, it seemed likely his pride was a part of his nature.

  Beside him, hearing his murmur, Miyuki seemed disquieted. She had always been worried that her brother's knack for making enemies was a disadvantage for him.

  But more than that, she had had enough of Morisaki's prejudices.

  "Onii-sama, shall we head back?"

  "Yeah, you're right. Leo, Chiba-san, Shibata-san, let's go."

  Sharing a feeling of mental fatigue, the two of them nodded at the others, and began to leave.

  As if to cut them off, to make things worse, a pair of class A girls stood in their way, but their body language clearly indicated they didn't intend to do any more today.

  Exchanging looks with Miyuki, the moment dragged on.

  Understanding her brother's intent, Miyuki was about to bid them farewell, but then the other opened her mouth.

  "I'm Mitsui Honoka. I'm sorry for saying all those things earlier."

  She suddenly bowed, fully honest, and Tatsuya was rather embarrassed.

  This girl, who earlier wasn't hiding her elitism to say the least, seemed to have gone about a complete turnaround.

  "Thank you for protecting me. Morisaki-kun waved it off, but it's thanks to Onii-san that it didn't become a huge issue."

  "...It was nothing. Although, please stop with the Onii-san. We're same year students."

  "I understand. Then, what should I call you..."

  A fierce conviction blazed in her eyes.

  It'd be nice if this didn't become troublesome, he thought, as he took care to reply in a manner that didn't come out displeased.

  "Tatsuya is fine."

  "...Alright.

  And so, um..."

  "...What is it?"

  At the rapid eye contact, Miyuki stood before Honoka.

  "...Is it alright to go together with you to the station?"

  Nervously, but with a determined conviction hidden in her face, Honoka asked to accompany them.

  With a sense of surprise not so much at Honoka's words but the unexpectedness of the whole thing, Erika and Mizuki shared a look.

  Though even then those two, plus Leo and of course the siblings Miyuki and Tatsuya, had no reason to refuse, and indeed didn't refuse.

  ◇◇◇

  There was a delicate air on the way back to the station.

  The members were Tatsuya, Mizuki, Erika, and Leo from class E, along with Miyuki, Honoka, and Kitayama Shizuku from class A, the girl who had caught Honoka during Mayumi's appearance earlier.

  Next to Tatsuya was Miyuki, then for some strange reason, on the other side was Honoka.

  "...Then, the one who assists with Miyuki-san's adjustments is Tatsuya-san?"

  "Yes. I feel most at ease when entrusting things to Onii-sama."

  In response to Honoka's question, Miyuki answered proudly.

  "I just do a bit of arranging. Miyuki has amazing processing ability, so there's not much maintenance required on the part of the CAD."

  "Even so, if you only have the knowledge to simply understand the device OS you still can't do much."

  Peering out from beside Miyuki was Mizuki, who joined in the conversation. Judging from Tatsuya's light smile as he replied, it wasn't really effective.

  "I don't have the skill to access the CAD core systems. That's too much."

  "Tatsuya-kun, could you also look over my CAD?"

  Looking back, Leo and Erika.

  The reason Erika changed her way of referring to Tatsuya from 'Shiba-kun' to 'Tatsuya-kun' was because Mitsui-san called him that so it's fine, she had unilaterally declared. In exchange, you can just call me Erika as well, she had imposed conditionally.

  Naturally, Mizuki also insisted on the trade, and everything became official pretty fast.

  "Impossible. I have no faith in my ability to handle such a specialized CAD."

  "Ah ha, you really are quite something, Tatsuya-kun."

  It was hard to tell if Tatsuya was being serious or just humble, but Erika's reaction was simple praise.

  "Why?"

  "You realized this was my CAD."

  At Tatsuya's question, Erika laughed merrily while twirling the retracted baton by the strap attached to the handle.

  However, there was a glint in her eye that went beyond a simple smile.

  "Eh? That baton's a device?"

  Sure enough, as if right on cue, Mizuki's eyes went round with surprise, and Erika just gave two quick nods in satisfaction.

  "Thank you for your normal reaction, Mizuki.

  If everyone had already noticed, I would've face-planted."

  Listening to that exchange, Leo inquired further.

  "...Where is the system built in? From the feeling earlier, it's not totally hollow is it?"

  "No luck. Apart from the handle it's totally hollow. It increases strength by using the technique of carving seals into it. Reinforcement magic is your field isn't it?"

  "...The technique takes a geometric pattern and engraves it into a sensitive alloy, which activates by injecting Psions, right?

  If you do that, wouldn't it bleed a considerable amount of Psions? You'd run out of gas pretty often wouldn't you?

  Carved seals are pretty inefficient in the first place, so I thought it's not a technique used very often nowadays."

  At Leo's points, Erika's eyes widened a little in both surprise and admiration.

  "Ooh, your field indeed.

  But there's one more thing.

  Strengthening is only needed during expansion and the moment of impact. If I limit Psion emission to those moments, I don't waste too much.

  It's the same principle as the helm splitter. ...eh, what happened guys?"

  As a blend of admiration and shock filled the air, Erika asked that question,

  "Erika... I'm pretty sure something like helm splitter was classified as a secret or mystery technique.

  That's far more amazing than merely emitting large amounts of Psion."

  Miyuki answered on behalf of everyone.

  It was pointed out rather casually.

  Judging by Erika's expression, she was startled.

  "Both Tatsuya-kun and Miyuki-san are amazing, but Erika-chan is also amazing...

  Are normal people rare at our high school?"

  "I don't think there are any normal people in a magic high school."

  At Mizuki's natural remark, the until now silent Kitayama Shizuku dropped a supremely precise retort, and the core of the matter disappeared in various ways.

  Chapter 3

  As the sign "First High School" obviously stated, this station was a mandatory stop for all attending students.

  There was practically only one path between the train station and the school.

  Due to the changes in the tram and their decrease in number, the event known as "riding the tram together" might be more accurately c
hanged to "walking to school with friends". For this school, this event was still quite common. Indeed, this event could be seen many times yesterday, the day after commencement, today, and has continued since the beginning.

  Although it might not be so sudden, Tatsuya thought.

  "Tatsuya-kun... Are you acquainted with the President?"

  "We met for the first time before the entrance ceremony... So, yes."

  In regards to Mizuki's question, Tatsuya was just as confused as she was.

  "It certainly didn't look like a first meeting."

  "It's as if she intentionally sought you out."

  Tatsuya had enough confidence in his memory to say that the day of enrollment was definitely the first time he met Saegusa Mayumi. However, just as Leo and Erika said, that approach did not seem like a first acquaintance.

  "...Maybe because of Miyuki?" (!)

  "...But she mentioned Onii-sama's name specifically?"

  Tatsuya was surrounded by Mizuki, Erika, and Leo, people that could be called "familiar faces" without difficulty. Just like yesterday and most likely into the future, the group would gather around Tatsuya and Miyuki near the station, exchange greetings, and go to school together.

  It wasn't a bad feeling at all.

  In fact, it was quite a nice way to start the day.

  However, just as the five of them were leisurely walking the short distance to school, they heard a call of "Tatsuya-kun~~" from behind them that any reasonable bystander would find embarrassing. It was accompanied by the rapidly approaching form of a petite individual and, according to Tatsuya's groundless belief, the termination of peace and quiet.

  "Tatsuya-kun, good morning~. And Miyuki as well, good morning."

  Compared to Miyuki's greeting, the greeting directed towards himself was quite casual, Tatsuya thought. However, she was still the 3rd Year Student Council President.

  "Good morning, President."

  It was necessary to observe proper protocol, just to be on the safe side.

  Immediately following Tatsuya, Miyuki also bowed respectfully. The other three offered polite, albeit slightly awed, greetings. It was only natural to have such a reaction.

  "Are you alone, President?"

  Although obvious at a glance, the question was still offered, with a subtle invitation to walk together to school.

  "Hm. There isn't really anyone that walks with me to school in the morning."

  A confirmation to both the obvious query and the subtle invitation.

  Although, speaking of which... the President was quite the personable individual.

  "I would like to speak with Miyuki about a few things... May I walk with you to school?"

  The comment directed towards Miyuki was spoken in an approachable tone, but spoke to a different level compared to their earlier conversation.

  It looked like Tatsuya was not misreading the situation.

  "Hm, if it's quite alright..."

  "Oh, it's not like the topic is a secret. Or do you prefer to talk at a later time?"

  As she said this, the President smiled at the three slowly retreating individuals, who immediately froze.

  "President.. I feel as if your attitude towards one of us is slightly different, or is that just my misinterpretation?"

  Of course not, the three of them responded verbally or with hand gestures. Mayumi smiled and nodded her head at the same time that Tatsuya displayed a disappointed expression. (!)

  "Eh? Is that the case?"

  By now, changing her word choice and pretending not to notice was too late. Her tone and expression had already betrayed her.

  "Is the subject you wish to speak about related to the Student Council?"

  At this point, Tatsuya did not plan backing down, but he was feeling the pressure as well.

  Miyuki frantically changed the subject back to herself.

  "Hm, I planned on finding an opportunity to speak with you in detail. Do you have any plans during lunch break?"

  "I plan on eating in the cafeteria."

  "With Tatsuya-kun?"

  "No, Onii-sama and I are in different classes..."

  It seems like she remembered what happened yesterday.

  At the sight of Miyuki slightly lowering her head and lowering her voice, Mayumi nodded as if in understanding.

  "There are quite a lot of students that care about these little things."

  Tatsuya slightly glanced to his side.

  To no surprise, Mizuki nodded in affirmation. It looks like yesterday's incident wasn't quite over yet.

  However, if the President spoke like this, wouldn't this be a problem? Tatsuya thought.

  "In that case, why not join me in the Student Council Room for lunch? If you don't mind bentos, the room has an automatic meal dispenser."

  "...The Student Council Room is equipped with the Dinner Server Module?"

  The normally composed Miyuki could not conceal her amazement as she replied.

  Which was accompanied by a sense of befuddlement.

  What was something that is normally seen in airline terminals or long-distance trains doing in a Student Council Room?

  "Before entering the Student Council Room, I didn't want to talk too much about it. But it's for students working late into the day."

  An embarrassed Mayumi smiled ashamedly while trying to persuade Miyuki.

  "If it's the Student Council Room, it's not a problem if Tatsuya-kun tags along as well."

  At that moment, Mayumi's smiling face became teasing and, to put it bluntly, mischievous. Hopefully, that was a mistake on Tatsuya's part.

  Even if it was a misinterpretation, that particular way of putting it still gave him a headache.

  "...Speaking of problems, there is one. There appears to be some conflict between myself and the Vice-President. I'm terribly sorry."

  Tatsuya did not plan on interfering between Miyuki and the Student Council, and so he left the interruption at that.

  On the day of enrollment, the male student behind Mayumi that continuously glared at Tatsuya was probably the Vice President.

  That line of sight did not appear to be a misinterpretation.

  If Tatsuya carelessly went to the Student Council Room to eat lunch, this undoubtedly would lead to conflict between the two of them.

  However, it appears that Mayumi did not grasp the meaning behind Tatsuya's words.

  "The Vice-President...?"

  Mayumi slightly tilted her head but quickly, in an action straight out of movie dramas, clapped her hands.

  "If it's Hanzou-kun, you don't have to worry about it, there won't be a problem."

  "Even if that's the case, but?"

  In that instant, Tatsuya made up his mind to avoid the incident that led up to his sister receiving that nickname, no matter the cost.

  "Hanzou-kun will be in the clubroom for lunch break."

  It was completely unrelated to what Tatsuya was thinking — that was only natural — Mayumi's smile did not diminish in the slightest as she continued to speak.

  "In that case, everyone can come as well. Letting everyone know about the Student Council's activities is one of our duties as well."

  Despite that, there were people who directly refused Mayumi's social invitation.

  "Even though it's a rare opportunity, I think we'll pass."

  Even using the word "pass" in this way, it still conveyed a definite "refusal".

  Erika and company's unexpected response caused the situation to become slightly awkward.

  Nonetheless, trying to get their underlying feelings across, or even to smooth things over, were frankly impossible.

  "Is that so."

  But there was one person who did not change, and that was Mayumi's smiling face.

  Was she simply obtuse or able to comprehend something that everyone else could not?

  Tatsuya felt that she simply did not need a reason.

  "In that case, just the two of you then."

  What do we do, Miyuki's eyes silently as
ked Tatsuya.

  Refusing was still a valid option up until that moment, but following the response from Erika's group, there was simply no way to smoothly decline.

  "...I understand. Miyuki and I will call on you then." (!)

  "Excellent. Then the details can wait until later. I'll wait for the two of you."

  For some reason, Mayumi was very pleased by this response. Turning quickly, she left them with a spring in her step.

  Even though they were all headed towards the same school, the footsteps of the five who watched Mayumi leave became quite heavy indeed.

  Tatsuya sighed.

  ◇◇◇

  Lunch break quickly arrived.

  Footsteps remained heavy.

  Just climbing two flights of stairs became an exhausting task, and it wasn't because of a lack of exercise.

  The real weight came from the heavy mood; heavy footsteps was just a metaphor, though the reluctance towards going remained the same.

  Compared to Tatsuya, Miyuki was the complete opposite. Her steps were light and energetic.

  Tatsuya was not insensitive enough to completely misunderstand the cause of Miyuki's joy, so he remained silent.

  Their destination was at the end of the hallway on the fourth floor.

  From the outside, they were all the same. They all had the same wooden doors.

  What was different was the wooden engraving embedded on the door, the speaker on the wall, and the cleverly disguised safety devices.

  The sign on the door clearly displayed the words "Student Council Room".

  The invitation was for Miyuki, Tatsuya was purely complementary. Thus, the job of knocking fell to Miyuki. (Of course, this is another metaphor, since communication is through the speaker rather than knocking.)

  After Miyuki solemnly requested entry through the speaker, from the opposite end came a cheerful welcome.

  With a slight noise, so slight that even pressing one's ear to the door would not have detected it, the lock opened.

  Tatsuya placed his hand on the door knob and opened the door, adopting a stance that shielded Miyuki on the way inside.

  In reality, there was nothing that called for such a response. Tatsuya was well aware of this point.