Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 03 - Nine Schools Competition (I)

by Sato Tsutomu

  "Looks like the measurements are perfect."

  "Just a little tight under the arms."

  Mari commented as she took in the suit that Tatsuya was wearing and Tatsuya responded while looking down at himself.

  "Nothing we can do about that, since this is a backup. Even if the measurements are the same, there's no way to take all the individual differences into consideration. If you wore a larger size, the waist would look terribly large."

  "That's true, so there is nothing I can do."

  Mari's words sounded like she was smiling wryly while her tone sounded like she was shrugging — although she didn't actually make those motions — so Tatsuya mirrored her as well.

  "Wouldn't it be better to purchase a new one?"

  There was no ill intent behind Mari's words.

  "It's too wasteful to buy a new suit only to wear it twice. If this was a cloth emblem that could be removed when worn then it would be fine, but this......"

  As he said this, Tatsuya glanced downwards at his left breast.

  At the emblem with the eight petals.

  This was a meeting with other schools, so it was integral to identify one another based on school emblem — hence why Tatsuya was forced to wear this uniform.

  "Might not just be twice. There's the thesis competition in the fall, so there's no way of guaranteeing that you won't get promoted to Course 1."

  Mari was smiling as she said this, but her eyes were dead serious.

  Tatsuya scowled as he replied:

  "Even if I am selected for the thesis competition, wearing my own uniform shouldn't be a problem. Furthermore, there's no way I can get promoted to Course 1, because to this day there's no precedent or even a rule for it."

  Tatsuya's words drew a laugh out of Mari.

  "Precedent? I think your current status is already unprecedented, right? History has never seen a Course 2 student like you, so you cannot deny the possibility by saying there's no precedent for it. Rather than saying unprecedented, you should aim to become that 'precedent' and pave the way for future underclassmen like you."

  "............"

  Seeing Tatsuya's pained expression, Mari once more burst into delighted laughter.

  "Well, I'm off to find the brass from the other schools, want to join me?"

  "......No thanks, Erika should be looking for me."

  The moment Tatsuya brought up Erika, a flicker of doubt flashed across Mari's eyes.

  This should probably be saved for future ammunition, eh? Such a thought crossed Tatsuya's mind, but the two of them shared a considerable history, so this was probably inappropriate for joking.

  Tatsuya silently watched Mari depart.

  "Eh? Where's Miyuki?"

  Just as Tatsuya predicted, Erika returned with Mikihiko in tow.

  "I sent her back to the other students. She'll drop by my room later this evening, so introductions can be made there."

  "Ah, OK."

  The first half of Tatsuya’s words was directed towards Erika, the latter to Mikihiko.

  Rather than being one of regret, Mikihiko's reaction was more like a sigh of relief.

  "......No need to force yourself."

  "......Ah?"

  He wasn't immediately aware that Tatsuya was speaking to him.

  Hence why Mikihiko's reaction was half a beat slow.

  "Hold on, it's not like that! It's true I'm a little nervous, but......"

  "Ew~ Guys just love to show off in front of cute girls."

  "Erika is just as beautiful, especially today."

  "Eh? Wait a minute, stop that......"

  "So?"

  Towards the teasing Erika, Tatsuya struck first by using her own tactics against her, then urged Mikihiko onward.

  "Tatsuya, you...... No, I'm just embarrassed to be wearing this at my first meeting."

  Mikihiko stuttered to a stop then adopted an exhausted expression as he shook his head.

  Hearing this, Tatsuya carefully scrutinized Mikihiko and Erika's uniforms again.

  Mikihiko was wearing a white collared shirt paired with a black bowtie and vest.

  Erika was wearing a black dress that swished back and forth with her white apron and headdress.

  Simply put, they weren't butler and serving girl, they were servant and serving girl.

  "I don't think that's strange, don't all the employees wear that?"

  All the servants in the room were wearing similar clothes as Mikihiko.

  "See, Miki is too self-conscious."

  "My name is Mikihiko."

  It was blatantly obvious from their tone and expressions that they had been down this road before.

  Mikihiko seemed very uncomfortable in his current suit. This was probably because he came from a traditional family and detested dressing up as a servant.

  "Speaking of which, where are the other two?"

  Tatsuya really wanted to know why they were working here, but ultimately decided against it.

  "Do you really think Leo would be a good waiter?"

  "He should at least know how to control himself......"

  Tatsuya tried to subtly defend his friend, but Erika's laughing expression didn't falter.

  "Mizuki said she didn't like this uniform, maybe she's like Miki in this regard?"

  "My name is Mikihiko!"

  "Yeah, yeah, yeah~"

  Rather peeved, Mikihiko voiced his protest, to which Erika casually agreed before turning back to Tatsuya.

  "Owing to these reasons, the two of them are working behind the scenes. Leo is doing manual labor in the kitchen and Mizuki is in charge of the dishes."

  Tatsuya didn't know "which reasons" those were, but was able to follow Erika's meaning. Probably.

  "Because both of them are good with machinery."

  "Yeah, their appearances are very deceiving."

  In the modern age, no matter if it was dock work or dish washing, manpower was very rarely directly applied.

  Including all the details, machines could replace all manual labor.

  Simply put, the two of them were responsible for operating the automatic systems in the kitchen.

  "I was originally on support as well, so why did you call me out here?"

  Possibly because Mikihiko was unlike Tatsuya in this regard, as the person in question he was unable to understand why and also unwilling to accept as well.

  "Didn't I explain many times that it must've been a clerical error?"

  "That's not an explanation!"

  "OK, OK, stop fussing. We're only interns, but we're still on the clock. Look, the tray over there is empty."

  "......Erika, I'll get you for this later."

  Mikihiko left that behind as he walked over to the tables, but in Tatsuya's ears, those words weren't "serious" at all.

  "Plainly, it was Mikihiko who forgot in the first place......"

  Erika grudgingly said this as she watched him leave, but it was hard to decipher her mood based on her voice and expression.

  Yet, Tatsuya believed those weren't Erika's true feelings.

  "......I don't know if there are any ulterior motives, but shouldn't you go easier on him?"

  Erika didn't seem to comprehend Tatsuya's meaning, so she took a while to respond.

  "......There isn't any real ulterior motive. But you're right, I am being a little spiteful. I knew that Miki wasn't good in this type of situation, but I still......"

  "Wanted to annoy him?"

  "Hm~ I guess? He beats around the bush too much, which irritates me whenever I see him like that. Now I can understand why he can't smile openly, but I cannot acknowledge why he refuses to get angry...... That is being stubborn to the extent of four-legged animals."

  "How kind of you."

  "Please stop."

  Tatsuya was simply sympathizing with her words without any other intentions, but was taken aback by Erika's unexpectedly fierce reaction.

  "Didn't I just say I was being a little spiteful? Miki and I aren't here of our own volitio
n, we're forced to be here by our elders. Even if I look like I'm being kind, in reality we're just in the same boat."

  Her stubborn attitude was undoubtedly born of an obstinate heart.

  "......I'll skip the details. Not like I can do anything with the answers anyways, so I'll just pretend I didn't hear that."

  Tatsuya wasn't about to step into that minefield yet.

  "Sorry, just don't ask...... By the way, Tatsuya-kun."

  Erika didn't hold it against Tatsuya for not comforting her.

  "What is it?"

  "Tatsuya-kun...... is very detached."

  Her tone and words were complete opposites of one another and were not critical in the slightest.

  "......That was quite the abrupt change in topic."

  "But, I'm very thankful that you're so detached...... I think. You're not too gentle, so I can safely vent all I want. Nor do you pity me, so I don't feel embarrassed...... Thank you."

  The last two words were so quiet that they almost couldn't be heard.

  Seeing Erika flee towards the nearby tables, Tatsuya thought: everyone has their own troubles.

  For a buffet with no designated seating for upwards of 400 people, the cuisines could not be set in one central location. The buffet sprawled over the entire ballroom of the hotel's top floor, with three tables set by the two walls and in the center in the front, middle, and rear for a total of 9 tables. Cuisines suitable for teenagers were constantly being replenished on the serving tables.

  Historically, the students from each school usually congregated around one of the tables.

  That being said, only small fry (?) were able to focus on eating, but the brass from each school weren't so relaxed.

  At Mayumi's signal, Miyuki bid farewell to her peers and moved with the Student Council.

  As Mayumi and Suzune were greeting the leadership from the other schools — and engaged in ruthless spying, Miyuki was carefully scrutinizing her brother, who was watching Erika, from behind them.

  She didn't make any noise or reveal any expression, but inwardly sighed.

  Miyuki esteemed Tatsuya more than anyone else (not only did Miyuki respect Tatsuya more than anyone else, she also rated him higher than anyone else).

  She knew her brother wasn't perfect — but still believed that her brother was, on some level, superhuman.

  Miyuki also knew that her brother possessed many glaring flaws.

  One of these flaws was that he was unable to believe other people's good will towards him.

  This can be partially blamed on his dullness, in that he was unable to comprehend goodwill directed towards him.

  More importantly, Tatsuya honestly questioned why people would think positively of him.

  On some level, this was inevitable.

  Because his own parents neglected to pour this emotion called "love" into him, and even personally stripped "love" from his mind.

  Miyuki knew it would take a miracle for her brother to return her feelings.

  Even so, seeing an adorable classmate (even in Miyuki's eyes, Erika was an undeniable beauty) display an almost affectionate — Miyuki believed this might be "love" — towards him, Tatsuya still watched her go, behind that unyielding mask of logic, causing Miyuki's heart to ache more than be at ease.

  Miyuki believed that her brother didn't even notice the gaze she was directing towards him.

  Or maybe he noticed that she was watching him.

  But Tatsuya definitely wasn't able to comprehend what feelings Miyuki was holding inside — once she thought of this, Miyuki despaired.

  And grew more furious.

  —This way, she must scold him sternly in order to calm down.

  —Her brother's overly dim personality would definitely be a stumbling stone on his path to developing meaningful social relations.

  —Yes, this was for her brother, a scolding born of love.

  Beneath the beatific smile normally seen on statues, Miyuki made this decision.

  ......There was no way she could have remained ignorant of the looks she drew from her surroundings, but maybe no one could understand the real her.

  Mayumi and company were (on the outside) chatting freely with the Student Council members from Third High, who were likely the stiffest opposition to First High's campaign.

  In the rear, the 1st Year students from Third High were whispering to one another.

  If they were eavesdropping on their senpais' analysis of combat strength and strategy, then they would be worthy of the militant nature of Third High and even move their upperclassmen to tears, but......

  "Ichijou, look, isn't that girl rad?"

  "Who the heck says rad these days...... In which generation did you attend high school?"

  "Shut up, I wasn't asking you. So, Ichijou, what do you think?"

  "Why are you so excited...... It's no use, that level of beauty is out of your league, so don't bother trying."

  "Man, would you quit it, even if I can't, Ichijou should be no problem, right? Because Ichijou's got the looks and brains and is a member of the Ten Master Clans to boot, surely we can get on his coattails, right?"

  "I'm amazed you can speak so brazenly with a straight face......"

  In reality, they were conversing in this manner — which was very much like regular highschoolers.

  "Masaki, what is it?"

  However, the male student in the center of the group did not respond to the enthusiastic endorsement and focused all his attention on the female student in question.

  Instead of focusing on his charming visage, his handsome aura stood out and perfectly matched the description of a "young and handsome warrior" in the archaic fashion. Standing near 180 cm in height with a thick set of shoulders, compact waist and slender legs...... 1st Year student Ichijou Masaki of Third High was just as his teammates described, a man whose physical appearance was quite popular with the ladies.

  "......Masaki?"

  Bewildered, Masaki looked towards the person who called his name. The other person was also a male 1st Year student from Third High whose build was well-trained but not overly tall.

  "......George, do you know who she is?"

  "George" was a nickname, as his outer appearance was thoroughly Asian and his real name Kichijouji Shinkurou was purely Japanese. Upon hearing Masaki's question, this student immediately replied without further consideration.

  "Hm? Oh, I think you can tell from the uniform, she's a 1st Year student from First High. Her name is Shiba Miyuki, and she's participating in 'Icicle Destruction' and 'Fairy Dance', so she must be the 1st Year ace from First High."

  "Whew, so both talented and beautiful, eh?"

  Ichijou Masaki ignored his teammate who was bending back in a comical fashion and muttered to himself.

  "Shiba Miyuki, eh....."

  This sound caused the male student known as George to turn a curious eye on Masaki.

  "It's quite rare for Masaki to show interest in the ladies, isn't it?"

  The other students expressed their agreement.

  "Now that you mention it, that's quite right."

  "With Ichijou's merits, usually the ladies approach him directly, so he's usually not the pursuing one, right?"

  "You have no idea how many people are jealous of this fellow."

  This surrounding environment gradually turned into one where "single men were starting to get angry", but Masaki remained silent.

  He would continue to observe Miyuki during several unobtrusive intervals.

  His gaze possessed considerable warmth.

  As the VIPs began speaking, the high school students that were the focal point of the day stopped what they were doing and paid overly serious attention to the adults speaking — or pretended to do so at any rate.

  After Erika returned to her station, Tatsuya had no one left to speak with and finally obtained a modicum of peace.

  Just taking in the famous figures from the magic community was a sufficient way to spend the time.

  S
ome he beheld for the first time, others had only been seen on TV.

  Of course, there were also people he had met before or sat with in the same room, but not conversed with.

  Among these people, the one who held most of Tatsuya's interest was the elder from the Ten Master Clans known as the "Patriarch".

  Kudou Retsu.

  He was one of the most important figures from the Ten Master Clans in the 21st century and, until around twenty years ago, was acknowledged to be one of the strongest Magicians in the world.

  After this elder, once renowned as one of the strongest, retired from the front lines, he rarely appeared in public events but for some reason chose to appear every year at the Nine Schools Competition. This detail was public knowledge.

  Likewise, Tatsuya had never met this man, but had seen him on video.

  In his heart, Tatsuya discovered an excitement akin to witnessing a historical figure striding into the light.

  After the various VIPs finished encouraging or lecturing the crowd, it was finally Elder Kudou's turn.

  He must be over 90 years old now.

  How much of that once astonishing Magic Power still remained?

  Did he possess a physical body still capable of wielding magic?

  As Tatsuya considered this, the master of ceremonies formally introduced the elder's name.

  Not just Tatsuya, every high school student held their breath as they waited for Elder Kudou to take the stage.

  The appearance of this famous figure made Tatsuya forget to breathe out.

  The person who appeared beneath the congregated lights was a young, blonde woman wearing a formal gown.

  This immediately threw the audience into an uproar.

  Tatsuya was not the only one shocked by this.

  This incredibly unexpected turnout caused discussions to break out throughout the audience.

  Wasn't Elder Kudou supposed to take the stage?

  Why was a young woman appearing in his place?

  Did something happen, forcing her to speak in his place?

  (—No, that's not it.)

  Tatsuya finally realized the truth.

  The woman wasn't the only person on stage.

  An elderly man stood behind her.

  Everyone's attention was only drawn towards the outwardly captivating young lady.