After the inauguration, an after-school meeting paired engineers with athletes. Tatsuya was assigned six first-year girls, over half of whom he knew.
"I'm Tatsuya Shiba, first-year, handling CAD tuning and strategy," he introduced briefly for the unfamiliar faces.
"Please take care of us, Onii-sama!" Miyuki cheered.
"Tatsuya-san, looking forward to it," Honoka said.
"Yo, Tatsuya!" Eimi greeted.
"Please, Tatsuya-san," Shizuku added.
The four familiars—Miyuki, his sister, among them—welcomed him warmly. The other two, Satomi and Takigawa, Course 1 girls, seemed less enthusiastic.
"Doesn't matter who, as long as they're competent," Satomi said.
"I'd prefer a girl," Takigawa muttered.
They viewed CAD tuning as inconsequential to the competition. Satomi, teasingly, asked, "So, Shiba-san aside, what's your deal with those three?"
Honoka, Shizuku, and Eimi faltered. "Uh…" Honoka mumbled.
"It's not like…" Shizuku trailed off.
Eimi stayed silent.
Miyuki interjected, "They're Onii-sama's friends."
"Friends? Doesn't seem like you're that close," Satomi pressed.
"They're friends," Miyuki insisted, smiling.
"But—"
"Friends."
Sighing, Tatsuya muttered, "Can we start?" The trio's affectionate gazes were too obvious, but Miyuki refused to acknowledge it. As his sister, she was closest yet farthest—family, not a lover. Tatsuya loved her as a sister but never romantically, so she emphasized "friends" to check Satomi.
"Sorry, Onii-sama," Miyuki apologized.
"It's fine if you're calm now," Tatsuya said, always indulgent with her. Her gaze locked on him, ignoring the jealous looks from Honoka, Shizuku, and Eimi.
After art club, Mizuki stood alone at the meeting spot. With the Nine Schools Competition nearing, Tatsuya, Miyuki, and others stayed late for practice, delaying their departure. From her spot, Mizuki saw the girls Tatsuya coached, unaware some sent him more than trusting glances.
"(Why did Erika act so recklessly at the ceremony?)" Mizuki wondered. Erika, quick to fight, rarely started trouble, yet provoked Course 1 students by rallying applause for Tatsuya. Without her, Mizuki would've clapped quietly. "(Leo backed her, but was it necessary?)"
Their synergy was clear, but Mizuki sensed Erika's feelings. "(Does Erika… like Tatsuya?)"
Mizuki liked him too, but wasn't sure if it was romantic. Erika's feelings, however, seemed clearer. Hesitant to voice it, even in thought, Mizuki felt it was taboo. Suddenly, her eyes stung despite her glasses, a bright light piercing her vision.
"What… is this?" she gasped, searching for the source.
"The school… the lab building?" Her unique sight traced the light's origin. Curiosity drove her toward the lab building.
Climbing the stairs, Mizuki caught a faint scent. "The calming blend of aromatic woods from magical pharmacology…" The fragrance grew stronger near the pharmacology lab. Fearless, she approached the slightly open door and peered inside.
"(Spirits?)" Blue, cyan, and indigo orbs danced within. Shocked, Mizuki recognized the summoner. "Yoshida-kun?"
"Who's there?" Mikihiko spun, startled.
Calling out during a spell was unlike Mizuki, but curiosity won. Mikihiko, caught off-guard in a supposedly empty lab, faltered. His spirits lunged at Mizuki. Terrified, she crouched as a gust roared behind her—a psion surge sparing her skirt.
"Stop, Mikihiko. I'm not here to fight," Tatsuya's voice cut in.
"Sorry, Tatsuya, and Shibata-san," Mikihiko said.
"No need to apologize. Mizuki disrupted your focus," Tatsuya replied.
"Me!?" Mizuki squeaked, seeing Tatsuya's grin and realizing he was teasing. "That's mean, Tatsuya-san!"
"Sorry. But barging into a warding barrier is startling," he said.
"You knew? You're… extraordinary," Mikihiko said.
"Just say abnormal. Those are spirits? Water spirits?" Tatsuya asked.
"Yeah," Mikihiko confirmed.
"Look like psion clusters to me. Mizuki, what do you see?"
"Blue-ish orbs…" Mizuki replied.
"You see their colors?" Mikihiko asked, stunned.
"Yes, blue, cyan, indigo…"
"Really!?" Mikihiko leaned close, staring intensely, startling Mizuki.
"If it's consensual, I'll leave, but otherwise, it's a problem," Tatsuya coughed, noting their near-kiss-like stance. The flustered pair nearly fell.
"Yare yare…" Tatsuya steadied them, unamused. They blushed, looking away.
"You're curious about Mizuki seeing spirit colors, but don't get rough," Tatsuya warned.
"A year ago, I might've forced her to join me. Not now," Mikihiko said.
"Good. Mizuki, everyone's at the meeting spot. Want to stay with Mikihiko?"
"No! Wait, it's that late!?" Flustered, Mizuki bowed to Mikihiko and bolted from the lab.
"See ya, Mikihiko," Tatsuya said, waving.
"Thanks, Tatsuya," Mikihiko replied, watching him leave quietly.