Tatsuya arrives at the Kanto branch of the Japan Magic Association, a place far too grand for an ordinary teenager to enter. But the one who summoned him is no ordinary woman, granting him seamless access. His aunt, Maya Yotsuba, bears the prestigious surname of the Yotsuba clan, one of the Ten Master Clans, and serves as its formidable head.
One might wonder why Tatsuya and Miyuki carry the surname Shiba instead of Yotsuba. The answer lies in a web of family history. Their mother was Maya's elder sister, yet it was Maya who inherited the role of clan head. Unmarried and without an heir, Maya's leadership has left the Yotsuba clan in a quiet struggle over succession. Tatsuya and Miyuki, though close relatives, remain on the periphery of this contest—for now. But today's summons has nothing to do with inheritance. It's something else entirely.
"You must be Tatsuya Shiba," the receptionist says with a deference unusual for a high schooler-to-be. "They're waiting for you upstairs."
"Understood," Tatsuya replies, his tone clipped.
The staff's respectful demeanor stems from their awareness of Tatsuya's unique status. To an outsider, such treatment might seem perplexing, but Tatsuya is no stranger to it. Still, he's not here by choice. Regardless of the summons' purpose, it's the summoner Maya that fills him with quiet dread.
"Excuse me," Tatsuya says, entering the room.
"Right on time, Tatsuya-dono," a voice greets him.
"It's been a while, Hayama-san," Tatsuya responds.
Waiting for him is Hayama, the Yotsuba family's head butler and Maya's most trusted confidant. His presence signals the gravity of the situation.
"For you to leave the estate, Hayama-san, this must be quite the matter," Tatsuya observes.
"As sharp as ever, Tatsuya-dono," Hayama replies with a nod. "Impressive."
"If it's significant enough for you to be here, it's likely political… or tied to the Defense Forces, isn't it?"
"Exactly!" a woman's voice chimes in from the next room.
Tatsuya tenses, his guard up instantly. Hayama, unfazed, merely shakes his head with a wry smile.
"Hayama-san, can't you do something about her?" Tatsuya mutters.
"Such a thing would be far too presumptuous," Hayama replies smoothly.
Tatsuya sighs, resigned.
The voice belongs to none other than Maya Yotsuba. Hayama knew she was there, but Tatsuya hadn't anticipated her presence in such a setting. Her arrival is as disruptive as ever.
"Takkun! It's been forever!" Maya exclaims, bounding into the room.
"It's… been a while, Aunt Maya," Tatsuya says, his voice stiff.
"Still so formal!" she pouts. "I keep telling you, 'Maya-chan' is fine!"
"Hayama-san, the documents?" Tatsuya asks, ignoring her.
"Of course," Hayama says, handing over a folder. "Here they are."
"Paper?" Tatsuya notes, raising an eyebrow. "That's unusually secure."
"Huh? Takkun, are you mad at me?" Maya interjects, tilting her head.
Tatsuya and Hayama continue their discussion, pointedly treating Maya as if she's invisible. Her theatrics falter, and finally, Hayama can't hold back a chuckle.
"My apologies," he says, stifling his laughter.
"I was hoping you'd hold out a bit longer," Tatsuya says dryly.
With Hayama's composure broken, Tatsuya can no longer ignore his aunt.
"If you're here, Aunt Maya, does that mean the target's objective is nearby?" Tatsuya asks, glancing at the documents. "There's nothing in here about it."
"You got it, Takkun!" Maya chirps. "You're so smart, figuring it all out!"
Tatsuya's expression hardens. "Hayama-san, when and where is this… failed experiment planning to strike?"
Hayama, still suppressing a smile, remains silent for a moment.
"Hayama-san?" Tatsuya prompts.
The butler's amusement betrays the seriousness of the situation, and Tatsuya nearly sighs but restrains himself. With Maya, any sign of weakness could invite unpredictable consequences.
"This failure," Maya says with a casual wave, "is planning to attack this very building today."
"What?" Tatsuya's tone sharpens, not from misunderstanding but disbelief.
"Yup!" Maya continues, unfazed. "He's targeting this building. A human incendiary device, so maybe he's planning to burn something down!"
"As Lady Maya says," Hayama adds, his tone measured, "the individual in question seeks to make a statement against the Magic Association, which he blames for ruining his life."
Without a word, Tatsuya offers a curt nod to Hayama and bolts from the room. Miyuki is in this building too his urgency is only natural.
Watching him go, Maya sighs with exaggerated disappointment. "Aww, Takkun's gone already…"
"Lady Maya, Tatsuya-dono has his own concerns," Hayama says gently.
"I know, I know," she replies, waving a hand. "But he could've stayed a little longer, right?"
Hayama sighs softly.
"Fine, fine," Maya says, her tone shifting to cool detachment. "Hayama-san, tea."
"Of course, my lady," he replies.
Maya's playful demeanor with Tatsuya is a stark contrast to her usual icy composure. Only Hayama and perhaps Tatsuya and Miyuki know this side of her. It's a testament to the trust she places in her butler.
"Still, Takkun's gotten even more impressive, hasn't he?" Maya muses. "I hope we can have a proper chat next time."
Miyuki's reluctance to let Maya near Tatsuya stems from a fear that her aunt might steal him away. But due to certain unspoken circumstances, Tatsuya is bound to Miyuki's side a fact that renders her worries baseless. Yet Maya, with her unpredictable nature, has the potential to turn even groundless fears into reality.
Maya also sees Miyuki as a potential successor but hesitates to name her publicly. Miyuki's devotion to Tatsuya is so absolute that declaring her the heir would likely distance them both from Maya a loss she's unwilling to risk.
"Your tea, Lady Maya," Hayama says, setting the cup before her.
"Thank you," she replies, then pauses. "What?"
"Nothing," Hayama says, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I was just thinking how you only act this way with Tatsuya-dono."
"Is that a problem?" Maya retorts. "He's my adorable nephew, after all."
"Of course," Hayama says. "But wouldn't most people want their nephew to dote on them?"
"He doesn't dote on me, so I have to do the doting," Maya says with a shrug.
"I see," Hayama replies, unfazed.
"I'm jealous of Miyuki," Maya adds, her voice softer. "She gets to be with him anytime, anywhere…"
Such sentiments are hardly typical of an aunt toward her niece, but Hayama, ever the discreet butler, knows better than to comment. Preserving his mistress's mood is a butler's duty, after all.