by Sato Tsutomu
“Practical and considerate?”
Not comprehending, Izumi parroted back her words. “Practical and considerate” was too vague for personality analysis, so she didn’t feel that they were characteristics.
“Indeed. Practical and considerate, so there’s no way to tell what he’s thinking on the inside. After preparing many strategies, he is not greedy for profits and will choose the one with the lowest risk, so long as the original costs are covered. That is the type of person he is.”
Mayumi’s answer came after she correctly assessed her sister’s confusion, but this answer only served to arouse new questions from her sisters.
“But, if that’s the case……”
“Yeah. As I thought, this seems like the complete opposite personality type from what Kasumi-chan saw from Shippou-kun.”
“Then, in other words, he’s not acting on behalf of the Shippou Family’s plans?”
“Even so, there’s only so much a high school student can plan for with their limited powers. Shippou-kun should be aware of how fruitless this is regardless of how high his magic power is.”
“Does he have another backer besides the Shippou Family?”
“……Wouldn’t that be too big of a stretch?”
Seeing the wild theories espoused by her sisters mushroom even further, Mayumi couldn’t help but interrupt.
“……Ah ha, that’s true.”
“......Indeed, I think we’re overthinking this.”
The two of them smiled as they said this, but neither Kasumi nor Izumi seemed to honestly accept that in their hearts.
While Maki was speaking, Koichi never uttered a word to interrupt. When she finished, Koichi picked up a glass of red wine from the table. After consuming a quarter of the contents, he let out a soft sound before setting the glass back onto the table.
“In other words.”
Finally, Koichi turned his gaze back to Maki.
“Your grandfather plans on breaking his secret agreement with the anti-magic faction, correct?”
In response to Koichi’s leisurely phrased question, Maki decively nodded “yes”.
“I also believe that the proclamations of anti-magic ideology are both unrealistic and harmful. Any aid extended towards that sort of thing would only become a noose around my own neck. My father is also well aware of that point.”
“Thank you. You appear to be someone who can come to a logical conclusion.”
Koichi slightly inclined his head and used his eyes to urge her onward.
“I believe the uses of magic should receive more evaluation from society. Not just in the military or the police force, I think that magic has a lot of potential in the areas of the media or entertainment.”
“Media aside, you said entertainment? That is a novel idea.”
“Please do not misunderstand, I do not view people who are Magicians as monkeys. I have no plans on turning magic into something that just draws attention.”
“Ho?”
“Filming movies are often accompanied by danger. Furthermore, we are often troubled by the fact that SFX or special effects are unable to bring enough realism. Naturally, there’s no need to speak of reporters, but both as actors and supporting staff, the value of magic is incalculable.”
“……So?”
Koichi urged her on with high interest across his face.
“Even for Magicians who are treated poorly due to the fact that they are not combat capable, I firmly believe that there are many areas in the filming or media realm where they can display their talents.”
“I see.”
“I will invite the Magicians who never had the chance to prove themselves and give everyone a chance to wield such a wonderful talent like magic. For this, I will definitely prepare a reward that will prove most satisfactory for you.”
Here, Maki broke off and peeked at Koichi’s face. After sucking in a small breath, Maki’s expression seemed to show her rallying her courage before speaking again to Koichi.
“From the Magicians’ perspective, I am an outsider. I am neither a close friend nor am I affiliated in any way. However, I want to become a good neighbor, a close friend, to all Magicians. I earnestly hope you understand that.”
“Which is why you have chosen to obstruct the ploy of the anti-magic camp?”
“I know very well that I am powerless, but at the very least, I feel that I need to present my sincerity.”
“In return, you hope to be acknowledged and invited in by the Magicians, is that right?”
Koichi verbalized Maki’s request, but Maki never faltered. This degree of perception was within her expectations.
“I am not so brazen as to hope to earn your approval…… I just hoped that you could acknowledge this, that’s all.”
Koichi gazed at Maki’s face in slight interest.
“Sawamura-san, not only do you qualify to be an actress, you also have a certain talent as a negotiator.”
Of course, Koichi was not praising Maki in the literal sense. In order to catch his true intent, Maki gathered all of her attention. Except in this case, there was no need.
“Still, you are too adept at hiding your true feelings. That is what is truly unfortunate. Depending on the time and location, revealing your true self at times is useful in drawing more concessions from your opponent.”
Koichi easily revealed his trump card.
“There is no lie in your words. However, using Magicians as your pawns is not restricted to only entertainment. You are gathering Magicians as part of a plan to use them as a more direct power, are you not?”
Maki’s face wavered greatly. Yet, that was only for an instant. Using her acting ability, she settled her rattled heart.
“Forgive my performance.”
Even in Koichi’s eyes, Maki appeared to be earnestly asking for forgiveness. In regards to earning brownie points here, Maki won a small victory.
“So long as you do not take action against Magicians affiliated with us, the Saegusa Family, I will not interfere with your plans.”
Maki suddenly raised her downcast eyes.
“Truly?”
Now, her expression was beyond her control, but to none of her detriment.
“I promise you.”
“Thank you very much!”
Personally, Maki knew she won this bet against herself. Though it was true that she lost while haggling with Saegusa Koichi, Maki had successfully removed the greatest unknown quantity that lay in the path of realizing the “new order” she envisioned.
◊ ◊ ◊
After seeing Maki off, Koichi returned to his own room, carefully locked the door, and trod towards the telephone. After pressing the call button, he waited for 10 seconds. The image that was displayed on the tabletop’s small screen was the face of Elder Kudou.
“Mister, sorry for bothering you so late in the night.”
Koichi didn’t use “sensei” or “sir” and instead used “mister”. This was the custom since his private tutelage with Yotsuba Maya and Yotsuba Miya under Elder Kudou.
“No worries. You must have something important to say?”
“Indeed. I have something of utmost importance to discuss with you.”
Koichi said this as he gracefully extended his body towards the desk. On the camera, he looked like he was leaning in to discuss something private. In reality, what Koichi was about to discuss next was both a private conversation and a conspiracy.
“Actually, I just met with a member of the media.”
Koichi first laid everything out and explained that humanists (anti-magic supporters) from the USNA were manipulating the media within the country to the detriment of Magicians.
“Based on what I heard today, progress on the media has gone quite far.”
“Since it’s you, obviously this isn’t the first time you have heard about it. I thought you had already finished investigating everything about the media operation?”
Kudou asked without any hint of a smile.
“So you saw right through me.”
Without any resistance, Koichi conceded Kudou’s point.
Actually, Kudou was the one whose expression changed.
“I will listen to you for now.”
Kudou asked with an exhausted expression.
“What are you planning to do?”
“The Yotsuba have grown too powerful. They have long surpassed the Ten Master Clans and are beginning to upset the balance of the country. Mister, don’t you think so?”
At Kudou’s inquiry, Koichi responded with something that appeared unrelated.
“You are planning to use the anti-magic supporters to chip away at the Yotsuba’s power?”
However, Kudou seemed to correctly pinpoint what Koichi wanted to say. In short, this meant that Elder Kudou held the same concerns that Koichi did.
“At First High, there is a student who is closely connected to the 101st Battalion. A high school responsible for educating teenagers is connected to the military. Don’t you think this would be a topic of vast interest to the media or politicians from the ethics wing?”
“Your daughters are also attending First High.”
“In this situation, students would only be treated as victims.”
“First High’s principal is neutral…… Someone who refused to join your camp.”
“Indeed, but that is only a minor detail. I care far more about the connection between the 101st Battalion and the Yotsuba.”
Kudou’s next reply came more than 10 seconds later.
“……So that is your goal.”
“Not only that, but there is some speculation on that regard. So, how about this, Mister? So long as the negative activity is within acceptable parameters, I believe fervor for the anti-magic supporters will wane. In addition, the targets of their attacks are high school students, which if handled correctly, society’s ire could be directed towards anti-magic ideology. I believe that this plan bears a certain degree of merit towards the Ten Master Clans.”
“I do not have the power to approve of your plan. I never held the authority to do so.”
“Even without authority, you still have influence.”
“……I do not oppose your plan.”
“That is more than sufficient. Thank you very much.”
Koichi hung up the phone in satisfaction. Prior to the line going dead, the image of Kudou’s expression was rather reflective of his age in that it held no dominance at all.
Chapter 9
AD 2096, April 14th, Saturday night. The name on top said this was the home of Shiba Tatsurou; actually this was the home of Tatsuya and Miyuki which was welcoming strange guests.
"This is Tatsuya-niisan's house?"
Ayako smilingly nodded yes to her younger brother who was standing at the entrance asking 'Isn't this too ordinary?' with his gaze.
"It's not as if I don't understand why you would ask that, but this is certainly it."
While these siblings were confirming it, the word ordinary was not a word readily applied to Tatsuya and his sister. An old western mansion in the middle of nowhere or a secret laboratory surrounded by high fences would be a much more appropriate place for him to live, and both siblings felt that was where he should live.
However, Ayako had received the map data directly from Hayama. There was no way it was false. While Fumiya controlled his feelings of disbelief, he pressed the gate post call bell.
“Yes, whom may I say is calling?”
The response was in a voice neither sibling had heard before. The Kuroba siblings had last heard the voices of Tatsuya and his sister on January 3rd of this year when the pair visited the main house to do the New Year’s greeting. A full three months had passed but the siblings were confident that they would recognize the voices of Tatsuya and Miyuki.
“I am Kuroba Fumiya. I believe this is Shiba Tatsuya’s residence.”
Even so, the unknown voice did not make Fumiya pause and he gave his name as well as stating his errand. Some time passed until the next response, probably to ascertain what Tatsuya’s wishes were. Since this was an unexpected visit without prior communication, it was fortunate that they apparently hadn’t missed Tatsuya, thought Fumiya letting out a sigh of relief.
“Please enter.”
The motor made a faint sound as the front gate unlocked. Fumiya pushed the gate with arabesque scrollwork. And then faster than he stepped on to the grounds, the front door opened. Within it a young girl in a black dress and a white apron appeared and directed a deep bow to the pair.
The siblings were led to the living room where only Tatsuya was waiting for them.
“Fumiya, Ayako-chan, it’s been a while.”
They didn’t take offense over being greeted by Tatsuya who remained seated. Ayako seated herself directly across from Tatsuya. —Without being encouraged to sit.
“Nee-san!”
Fumiya properly remained standing politely and rebuked his sister’s rudeness, but Ayako listened to it as if it had nothing to do with her.
No, it was not as if she was ignoring him. Immediately after Ayako sat down, she politely placed both hands on top of her skirt, looked straight ahead and bowed.
“Tatsuya-san, it’s been so long since we’ve called on you. Please forgive us for the impoliteness of not taking the time to make an appointment with you beforehand.”
“It is not necessary to bother about such a thing. We’re second cousins, no, fellow kinsmen, furthermore fellow high school students. There’s no need for appointments for a visit between high school students who are relatives.”
“Thank you for your generosity. …Fumiya-san, what are doing? Quickly greet Tatsuya as well.”
It was a somewhat insolent excuse. Nonetheless, Fumiya with his fundamentally serious nature was unable to ignore his own wrongdoing.
“Fumiya, you sit too. Such formality will make it impossible to talk.”
Tatsuya smiled as he spoke those words to Fumiya who was standing stock still with emotions he did not understand. Upon Tatsuya urging him to sit, Fumiya somehow regained his calm and sat down next to Ayako as he was told to.
“Tatsuya-niisan, it’s been a while.”
Fumiya simply bowed his head. However, this was not due to his being reserved with Tatsuya or him looking down at Tatsuya or anything like that. Fumiya was simply nervous over meeting his second cousin that he respected and hadn’t seen in about three months.
At nearly the same time as that, Miyuki and Minami entered the living room. Miyuki was empty handed but Minami carried a tray with tea for four.
“Ayako-san, Fumiya-kun, please have some tea.”
Clad in a flare skirt that hit below the knee and prettily made up, Miyuki sat down next to Tatsuya. Miyuki, who had been wearing her usual at home attire, changed into her outside clothes to face their sudden guests.
“Miyuki-oneesama, pardon our intrusion.”
Undaunted by Miyuki, Ayako deliberately stood up and politely bowed. Her classical wide flowing dress fluttered elegantly with her movements. His elder sister’s display of her competitive spirit caused Fumiya to look away with a ‘my head hurts’ look on his face (by the way, Fumiya was dressed in normal male clothing and wasn’t wearing a wig). Tatsuya watched the pair with amused eyes.
Just as Ayako sat down again, Minami placed the tea on the table.
“Please forgive us for coming so late at night…, but, tomorrow morning, we have to be back in Hamamatsu.”
Fumiya broke the ice with his introductory remarks, at last calming the atmosphere.
“The hour is not so late that it can be called late at night.”
Actually, the said late hour was just about after dinner would be finished. Nevertheless, the pair’s late night visit did not feel troublesome. Fumiya and Ayako were the relatives closest to Tatsuya and Miyuki in age, and some of the very few relatives that they knew were not their enemies.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t said it yet. Congratulations for gett
ing into Fourth High School.”
“With the abilities of you two, it’s a natural outcome, though. Congratulations, Ayako-san, Fumiya-kun.”
Taking her cue from Tatsuya’s remarks, Miyuki offered her congratulations. It was well past the announcement of the exam results and it had been about a week since the admissions ceremony, but it had been about three months since they had direct contact.
“Thank you. Tatsuya-san, Miyuki-oneesama.”
“Actually, I considered going to First High School, but-”
Ayako-san offered her thanks, and Fumiya followed after his sister with a pained smile that had more pain than smile.
“I was told that it wasn’t good for too many of us to be in one place.” (Fumiya)
“You made a request to Oba-sama?”
Ayako nodded in response to Miyuki’s question.
“We didn’t receive a reply from the honored clan leader directly, though.”
“Her instructions were passed to father by Hayama-san, give up on First High School.”
Whatever she actually felt, Ayako’s face did not show any upset about it at all, but Fumiya appeared to regret it deeply.
“If Oba-ue forbade it, nothing can be done.”
Tatsuya responded with a tone of generalized sympathy to comfort Fumiya and then casually changed the subject.
“By the way, why are you in Tokyo, today? Aren’t you in charge of work in the Kanto region, Fumiya?”
When the word ‘work’ exited Tatsuya’s mouth, Fumiya sat up like he remembered something.
“Actually, I have something to tell Tatsuya-niisan and Miyuki-san.”
As he spoke his eyes flickered to Minami who was standing behind Miyuki awaiting her command.
“Don’t worry about Minami.”
Tatsuya answered the question in that gaze.
“This girl is Sakurai Minami. Miyuki’s Guardian.”
Both Ayako and Fumiya showed naked surprise at Tatsuya’s added explanation.
“Eh, but Miyuki-san...”
“Tatsuya-san, did you quit being Miyuki onee-sama's Guardian?”
Tatsuya smiled and shook his head to Ayako’s question which she had suddenly interrupted Fumiya to make.