Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 08 - Reminiscence Chapter

by Sato Tsutomu

  How is that any different? It’s the exact same thing!

  Thinking he wasn’t such a bad guy, was my mistake.

  "Humm……well Shiba kun, it’s as you heard, are you willing to have a match with him? Lance Corporal Higaki is still young, but he’s no less experienced than Haebaru."

  Refusing such an offer would by no means be unreasonable. There is no benefit to doing this.

  "I accept."

  Despite my thoughts being so, that person went ahead and consented to the Captain.

  Lance Corporal Higaki crouched slightly, raised both hands, and looking extremely observant faced that person.

  Despite bending over a bit, the Lance Corporal was still taller than my brother.

  It looked like a boy was about to be attacked by a bear—that’s what the scene resembled.

  Just by looking, it feels like being crushed under pressure.

  But that person simply slowly shifted from left to right, balancing on the left foot then the right, watching impassively at his opponent who was waiting for a chance.

  That volatile atmosphere under which it was difficult to breath, did not continue for very long.

  Lance Corporal Higaki’s body seemed to swell for a moment.

  The next instant, the Lance Corporal’s body turned into a cannonball and tore towards my brother.

  So fast……!

  With a huge leap my brother dodged the charge, but his stance collapsed.

  Fast as lightning, the Lance Corporal struck again.

  Rolling along the floor, that person somehow managed to dodge the tackle.

  I was absolutely stunned at Lance Corporal Higaki’s speed. But there was no way that even this would make a successor candidate to one of the Ten Master Houses, the Yotsuba, show an expression of surprise.

  "Using magic, isn’t that utterly cowardly!?"

  I lashed out at Captain Kazama.

  Not even I had noticed when he turned on the switch to his CAD. It had been well disguised. But the fact that he was using magic itself, was not something which could be hidden.

  The Lance Corporal’s speed right now, is being driven by self-acceleration magic!

  At my protest, Captain Kazama simply turned his head and looked at me.

  The answer came from the direction the Captain was still half turned towards.

  "That’s enough, Miyuki!"

  My brother’s words, were a double shock to me.

  My brother, had given me an order.

  My brother, had called me ‘Miyuki’.

  "There had never been a rule that the use of magic was not allowed."

  My brother flatly asserted so.

  Addressing me without a title, calling me Miyuki without honorifics, though it was all according to Okaa-sama’s instructions, the decision to reprove me itself was completely my brother’s decision.

  My brother, of his own will, rebuked my wishful thinking.

  At that, rather than feeling anger or resistance, a strange numb, tingling sensation was born inside my heart.

  "Higaki, close in with care!"

  Next to me, now that I had fallen silent, Captain Kazama threw out commands.

  As if I had just awoken, I noticed.

  The air surrounding my brother, had changed color.

  It felt like the light was dimming.

  It was obviously an illusion.

  My brother was exerting such pressure that an onlooker would have their visual field constricted.

  My brother changed his stance.

  His right palm facing the opponent, he extended his right arm straight out.

  His left hand supported his right elbow.

  Is this, the position for my brother’s non-systematic magic……?

  The muscles of Lance Corporal Higaki’s whole body seemed to swell again.

  This time, right at the moment my brother should have dived out of the way with both feet—at that instant.

  From my brother’s right hand, a torrent of psions poured forth.

  The psion wave swept through Lance Corporal Higaki’s body, and as they did his charge slowed with a snap.

  This is……! Gram Demolition!

  The raging storm of psion particles forcibly overwhelmed the self-acceleration magic applied to the body, and at the same time shook the connections between the mind and the body. Against a person skilled enough to control his body not through electrical nervous impulses but rather directly through his consciousness, the barrage of external foreign psions wrecked even greater havoc.

  It was almost like, Lance Corporal Higaki had forgotten how to tackle.

  As the Lance Corporal threw himself defencelessly at my brother, my brother simply moved aside and dealt one blow.

  His bulky body, spinning around once, was blown away in an almost comedic fashion.

  My brother walked over to the side of Lance Corporal Higaki, sprawled out on the ground looking at the ceiling.

  The Lance Corporal simply lay there with his large chest heaving up and down, showing no sign of rising.

  Holding out his right hand, my brother was expressionless.

  After just a moment’s hesitation, the Lance Corporal took that hand with a grin.

  He pulled on my brother’s hand.

  Don’t tell me, a trap!?

  That was just me thinking too much.

  Despite their difference in body weight, Lance Corporal Higaki was able to pull himself up and stand without dragging my brother to the ground.

  "—It’s my loss. Utterly. I understand well now that incident the day before yesterday wasn’t just me being caught off guard."

  He wasn’t speaking in such a loud voice, but for some reason I could hear Lance Corporal Higaki’s words clearly.

  "Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Lance Corporal Joseph Higaki, Onna Airborne, Sakishima Air Defense Corps, of the National Air Force in Okinawa. Will you tell me your name?"

  "I am Shiba Tatsuya."

  "OK, Tatsuya. Just call me Joe. Do you still have a while in Okinawa?

  If you’re ever bored, give me a call. Although I may not look like it, I know quite a few people around here."

  "That’s enough, Joe. We’re still in the middle of training."

  Captain Kazama called out while laughing, and reacting as if shocked, Lance Corporal Higaki stood to attention.

  Hmm…… so he’s a subordinate who’s treated rather affectionately. I suppose that means he’s trusted……?

  Having to change my opinion of this guy over and over is starting to become painful.

  In the first place it’s not like he’s someone I’m liable to meet with often, and since he’s someone I’m not likely to see again it shouldn’t really matter to me what kind of guy he is.

  "I’m sorry for having asked so much of you. Because of it, it seems like some of my subordinates have had it rather rough as well. Will you accompany us for tea? I’d also like to inquire about that ‘tooate’[13] just now."

  Tooate, is probably referring to my brother’s non-systematic magic.

  My feeling of unease went up greatly, but it was impossible to refuse such an invitation in this situation.

  "So, that psion wave really was Gram Demolition?"

  "Was that really all? I believe there was also some continental Ancient magic, ‘Tendan’ in there as well."

  While technically they had invited us to tea, what was served instead was coffee.

  Sitting on one side are my brother and I.

  On the other side are Captain Kazama and Lieutenant Sanada.

  A coffee break with four people.

  Somehow, the atmosphere feels a little strange.

  Captain Kazama is talking with my brother.

  Lieutenant Sanada is also talking with my brother.

  As that person’s little sister, I simply sat in the background as per my instructions.

  Here my brother is the protagonist, and I’m just an accessory.

  "—From what I’ve seen, Shiba-kun,
you don’t carry a CAD around right?"

  When they say the name Shiba, they’re referring to my brother. I am ‘Shiba-kun’s little sister’.

  "What are you using as an aid?"

  This is my first time experiencing such a thing.

  It’s weird, yet not uncomfortable.

  "I do use a specialised CAD, but generally speaking it doesn’t really have the right feeling……I’m bad with magic that requires a CAD to cast, after all."

  "Ohh, I see. If you’re so comfortable with manipulating psions like that already though, I don’t see how using CADs could possibly present a problem for you."

  The topic has already shifted from my brother’s non-systematic magic to his CAD.

  "Shiba-kun, would you like to try the CAD I’m developing?"

  "Lieutenant Sanada develops CADs?"

  "My job is the development of magic equipment in general, including CADs. This one in particular is a prototype CAD featuring cartridges as storage."

  I had the sudden feeling that my brother’s eyes were shining. It was a fairly modest reaction in comparison to most people, but for my brother to show so much interest in something was extremely unusual already.

  "I would like to."

  This is probably the very first time, I’ve seen him express his desire so clearly.

  We were taken to a place I don’t think was in the base, a clean and tidy laboratory.

  For me, who had been certain that military bases were all dirty, drab places, I was not quite able to contain my feelings of surprise. The faint smiles Captain Kazama and Lieutenant Sanada wore when they looked over at me was most likely because of that.

  My brother looked around in admiration, or impression.

  It feels like today, I’m seeing many sides of this person for the first time.

  However as much as I had thought that this person was indifferent to everything, even he must have things he’s interested in……

  I wonder then, just what does he think of me?

  That question, was suddenly floating in my mind.

  The answer came automatically.

  Desperately, I fought against the shaking which threatened to wrack my body, stiffening myself as much as I could.

  "……Miyuki, are you feeling unwell?"

  My body, so so close to trembling, suddenly stopped at the sound of my brother’s voice. Not only my body, even my heart almost stopped. The moment he called my name, Miyuki, had felt like he was answering the question I had been asking myself. Like he was coldly, indifferently affirming the answer I already had in my heart.

  But my brother’s voice didn’t seem cold—for some reason it felt like it was filled with compassion.

  "—No, I’m fine. I guess I’m just a little tired. If I sit down a while, I’m sure I’ll recover in no time. Is it alright if I go sit in that chair over there?"

  Asking the Captain, I was allowed to sit down on a chair by the wall.

  Now separated from my brother’s side, I felt a little better.

  My brother was holding a large pistol shaped CAD, and being instructed by Lieutenant Sanada.

  At the sight of my brother my earlier doubts reared their ugly heads again, ballooning, and I leaned heavily back.

  No matter how much I shake and shake, I cannot erase them from my consciousness.

  Just what does my brother, think of me……?

  I have no confidence it’s love.

  There’s no way it could be favour.

  It may be simply, that I’m hated.

  If I didn’t exist, if only I didn’t exist, my brother the honour student, the elite athlete, possibly soon a full-fledged military magician, could live his own life.

  Yet, right now, looking away from my brother, as if letting go of his hand, as if being shaken off, was something infinitely scarier.

  "—The device has acceleration and movement compound sequences inbuilt, giving the 7.62mm bullets a maximum range of 16 km—"

  "—That’s amazing. Still, the actual practicalities—"

  Now holding a large-caliber rifle CAD and chatting away happily, my brother's voice came across incoherently.

  In the same room, unable to shut my eyes or block my ears, I was forced to bear the haunting dark clouds misting my mind in silence.

  A thought drifted by the back of my head, wishing this would all end soon.

  All the while, to prevent my selfishness from appearing in my expression, I maintained a hollow pokerface as hard as I could.

  Chapter 12

  November 6th, AD 2095 / Yotsuba Main House - Drawing room

  Upon the sound of more knocking at the door, Miyuki turned around.

  "Merely being a Yotsuba Guardian isn’t anything special. My own conceit was abruptly brought to a close by Yanagi-san, and I’m still unable to win against my master yet."

  Tatsuya and Kazama continued the story Miyuki was remembering.

  "I don’t believe you held any conceit from the beginning. Also, I’m unable to win against him either as well."

  It seems Miyuki had only been spacing out for a short period of time.

  Still, to her, it felt like she had recalled a great many things.

  The knocking came again, stronger this time.

  When Miyuki let them in, with a polished ‘excuse me’ a young butler entered.

  Rather than young, he was more simply still a youth. He did not seem to be much different in age from Tatsuya.

  Despite that, not allowing a hint of irritation or impatience to show on his face, he was well trained indeed.

  "I am very sorry."

  All of a sudden, the youth began to apologise.

  "The business with our earlier associate is rather prolonged……could you please wait just a while longer, my lady requests."

  My lady, refers to Yotsuba Maya.

  She has never married. The term ‘my lady’ is therefore technically incorrect, but neither Miyuki, Kazama, or Tatsuya possess correcting conventional nomenclature as a hobby.

  For that matter, even if they did, for the sake of politeness supplying a more accurate term was out of the question.

  "It is not a problem."

  Querying Miyuki and Tatsuya visually, Kazama answered the youth’s request.

  "Thank you very much."

  The youth did not bother verifying Tatsuya and Miyuki’s consent.

  Setting aside Tatsuya, not even asking Miyuki, was probably because as a relative Miyuki was considered one of the Yotsuba.

  That is not incorrect.

  Tatsuya did not for a moment consider himself a Yotsuba, but the same cannot be said for Miyuki.

  As much as she is able to reject being the eldest daughter of Shiba Tatsurou, she cannot reject being the daughter of Shiba Miya.

  Therefore she, against her own desires, cannot reject being the niece of Yotsuba Maya.

  Chapter 13

  August 8th, AD 2092 / Okinawa - Vacation House

  From the first day, the Okinawa vacation had had a turbulent atmosphere. Yesterday, tranquility had been recovered. Right now on this day, time is also passing quietly.

  Although you could call a boring summer vacation a problem, I would not want to endure a vacation where I was so worn out from difficulties.

  At last, after our arrival in Okinawa on the fourth, we were able to enjoy our holiday in the South to the fullest.

  However, I had doubt that Ani was included in ‘we’.

  The current time is 1:00 pm. Instead of taking an afternoon nap right now, I am reading in my room. Sakurai-san found a rare paper magic textbook for me and I am indolently viewing it at my desk.

  —It is good to be indolent. After all, I probably would be unable to understand all of it anyway.

  Only the most technical volumes on magic are printed on paper, and even high school students have trouble getting a hold of them; it would be the height of hubris to think that I, a mere middle school student, could understand it by only reading it once.

  Ho
wever, that person just might be able to do it.

  I received the impression that that person, in short Ani, had in his own room a workstation where he had been enthusiastically typing something related to CADs on his keyboard.

  The CADs were the two gun shaped ones he had received from Lieutenant Sanada the day before yesterday.

  At first, they used the word ‘lend’ as they talked, but in no time, it became ‘give’. I felt like there was a cross examination over "Is this okay? Doesn’t it belong to the national defense force?" ……He said it was an investment for the future, and it was not the case that I could not understand what he was anticipating. However, unfortunately, his investment is predetermined to be a total loss. Because that person is my ‘Guardian’, he will never be any kind of soldier.

  That is no reason to refuse what can be called a gift however, it is only a prototype after all. There is no way it has any meaning beyond a souvenir given to a visitor that has a promising future.

  Now that I think of it, that person seemed to really like receiving this present.

  The day before yesterday, yesterday, and today, he fiddled with the CAD system whenever he had free time. —Is he able to do some kind of CAD tuning? I have never seen him do it. Still, until now he has never shown me his combat practice either. The reason for that might be because he had no free time to rest.

  I wonder if he has lost interest in it?

  Could fiddling with a CAD really be very interesting?

  Well, even if you call it tuning, he is probably only at the level of using switches at assigned levels. However…….

  Before I realized it, I was already standing in front of the door of that person’s room.

  Umm, what did I come here for?

  I probably want something, right.

  In my confused state of mind, my left hand that was raised in order to knock on the door seemed like it belonged to someone else.

  Due to my confused state of mind, my left hand froze on the brink of knocking on the door.

  Somehow I feel as if I am playing the part of a buffoon without an audience for my antics. Even worse, a third rate buffoon.