The pre-Nine Schools Competition mixer hosted over 360 athletes and around 400 with staff. Absences for various reasons reduced attendance, but over 300 still gathered.
Tatsuya attended in a Course 1 blazer, as the engineer jacket was deemed unsuitable. The spare blazer fit poorly around his midsection, though not custom-made, so he ignored the discomfort. "Onii-sama, are you okay?" Miyuki asked, eyeing his waist.
"It's not a big deal," he replied, dismissing minor issues.
"President?" Mayumi called Miyuki over, pulling her away.
Finally alone, Tatsuya sensed a stare, preventing him from relaxing. "Drink, sir?" Erika appeared, dressed as a waitress with uncharacteristic makeup.
"Erika? So this is what you meant by 'participant,'" Tatsuya said.
"Did Miyuki tell you?" she asked.
He thought she looked transformed but kept it to himself, finding the outfit fitting. "(Fitting for Erika?)" he wondered, unsure why. Miyuki returned, interrupting his thoughts.
"Erika, you look cute," she said.
"Tatsuya-kun didn't compliment me," Erika pouted.
"Don't expect that from Onii-sama. He values inner qualities, not appearances," Miyuki replied.
Erika flinched, thinking Miyuki criticized Tatsuya, but nodded in agreement. "So, Tatsuya-kun's not into cosplay," she said.
"That's cosplay?" Tatsuya asked.
"Seems that way to guys," Erika replied.
"Guys like Saijō-kun?" Tatsuya teased.
"Miki. He blurted out 'cosplay.' I punished him, of course," Erika grinned wickedly.
Tatsuya felt for Mikihiko, while Miyuki tilted her head at the unfamiliar name. "Miki?" she asked.
"Oh, right! I haven't introduced him to you," Erika said, weaving through the crowd with her tray.
"Where's she going?" Miyuki wondered.
"Probably to fetch Mikihiko. Yoshida Mikihiko, you know the name, right?" Tatsuya said.
"Your classmate, third in magic theory, right?" Miyuki confirmed.
"Yeah, apparently Erika's old friend," Tatsuya added.
Miyuki, delighted by his response to her casual remark, reached for his arm but was interrupted. "Miyuki!" Honoka and Shizuku called, hurrying over.
"You two are always together," Tatsuya noted.
"Yeah," Shizuku replied.
"No reason to split up," Honoka added.
"Fair enough," Tatsuya said, chuckling at their constant companionship, mirroring his own with Miyuki.
"Where's everyone else?" Miyuki asked.
"Over there," Shizuku pointed. The group looked awkward, avoiding Miyuki's gaze.
"What's that about?" Tatsuya asked.
"They want to talk to Miyuki but don't know how with you around," Shizuku explained.
"Am I a guard dog?" Tatsuya quipped.
"They don't know how to approach you," Honoka clarified.
Course 1 pride and lack of familiarity made Tatsuya intimidating. "Miyuki, go to them," he urged.
"Onii-sama?" she hesitated.
"Come to my room later. My roommate's equipment. Honoka, Shizuku, you're welcome too," he added.
Reluctantly, Miyuki joined her teammates. "Shiba-kun's mature," Kanon remarked, approaching with Isori.
"Chiyoda-senpai," Tatsuya greeted.
"But you're just delaying the issue," Kanon said.
"Time solves some problems," Tatsuya replied.
"She's right, Kanon. Some things shouldn't be rushed," Isori added.
Mari joined, and Tatsuya sighed, craving solitude in the crowd. "I brought him—where's Miyuki?" Erika returned with Mikihiko.
"With her teammates. She'll come to my room later, so introduce him then," Tatsuya said, first to Erika, then Mikihiko, who seemed uneasy.
"No pressure," Tatsuya said.
"No, it's not that! This outfit's just embarrassing for a first meeting," Mikihiko explained.
"It's standard for staff, isn't it?" Tatsuya asked.
"See, Miki's overthinking it!" Erika teased.
"My name's Mikihiko! Why am I even dressed like this? I was supposed to be backstage!" he protested.
"Mix-up, I said! Miki, that table's empty," Erika pointed.
"…You'll pay," Mikihiko muttered, heading to work.
"He always forgets," Erika sighed.
"Go easier on him," Tatsuya suggested.
"Just venting. I know he's bad with this stuff," Erika admitted.
"You wanted to rile him up?" Tatsuya asked.
"Maybe. His obsession's frustrating," she said. "I get irritated seeing him so twisted."
"You're kind," Tatsuya noted.
Erika shook her head. "I said it's venting. I'm not much different."
"I won't pry. It's pointless. I'll forget this," Tatsuya said.
"Thanks," Erika whispered, barely audible, before hurrying off. Tatsuya, finishing his drink, sensed another stare. Already grappling with a new dilemma, he pondered how to handle it.
Watching Tatsuya and Erika from afar, Miyuki was exasperated by her brother's obliviousness. To her, Erika was undeniably beautiful, her feelings for Tatsuya clearly beyond friendship. "(Probably only Onii-sama and Erika herself don't see it…)" she thought.
Tatsuya's romantic emotions, though present, were faint, making him blind to such affection, especially from someone he'd known for just four months. "(I need to lecture Onii-sama about this,)" Miyuki decided, fabricating a reason to visit his room later, though his invitation made it unnecessary.
While Mayumi introduced her to other schools' top athletes, Miyuki pondered this, her face composed. Her beauty captivated passing boys, their steps faltering—whether for her or Mayumi, only Katsuto, accustomed to them, passed unfazed. Distant gazes also fixated on the pair.
"Look, that girl's stunning," a Third High boy said.
"No chance for you," another teased.
"Shut up! But Masaki might have a shot."
"He's the Ichijō heir, after all."
Third High's first-year boys were smitten with Miyuki. Her overwhelming beauty made most give up instantly. "Masaki?" one asked.
"George, know her?" Masaki prompted.
"Miyuki Shiba, First High. Competing in Ice Pillars Break and Fairy Dance. First High's first-year ace," Kichijōji replied.
"Beauty and talent? The gods are unfair," a boy sighed.
"Shiba Miyuki…" Masaki murmured.
"Rare for you to ask about a girl, Masaki," Kichijōji noted, their long friendship making Masaki's interest unusual—he never sought girls; they came to him.
"Lucky guy," a classmate envied, ignored as Masaki stared at Miyuki.
Another Third High first-year group, girls too intimidating to approach, exuded a different vibe—less daunting, almost approachable. "Oh?" Airi noticed.
"What's wrong, Airi?" Kan asked.
"He's gone," Airi said.
"When?" Kazuko wondered.
"Need something?" Tatsuya's voice startled them from behind.
The four—Airi, Kan, Kazuko, Kuren—screamed inwardly, caught spying on Tatsuya. "You've been watching me. Have we met?" he asked.
"No!" Airi blurted.
"First time," Kan said.
"We just… know of you," Kazuko admitted.
"Oh? You were near First High, weren't you?" Tatsuya's gaze fixed on Kuren, recalling her.
"N-no!?" Kuren stammered, sweating.
"No good scouting in that area, huh? Or another reason?" Tatsuya pressed calmly, his eyes unyielding.
"N-not like that!" Kuren faltered, nearly defeated. Noticing, Tatsuya looked away.
"What do Third High's elites want? Miyuki's info?" he asked.
"Elites? Not at all, Tatsuya-sama," Airi said, formalizing her tone for ease, though it seemed to intimidate further.
"We learned about you while researching Miyuki," Kan explained.
"You're in the Nine Schools Competition too!" Kazuko added.
"Didn't notice you were a strategist. Bit of a blow," Kuren admitted.
"What event, Tatsuya-sama?" Airi asked.
Tatsuya, unfazed by the four, was surprised a first-year was a strategist. "I'm not an athlete. Just an engineer," he clarified.
"Engineer? Not competing, Tatsuya-sama?" Airi asked.
"I don't know your names either. I'm not a strategist," he said. Engineers needed only their athletes' info, making his stance reasonable.
"We didn't introduce ourselves. I'm Airi Isshiki, Third High first-year," Airi said.
"Kan Jūnanaya, same," Kan added.
"Kazuko Shijūkuin, hi!" Kazuko chirped.
"Kuren Tsukisaki, Third High strategist," Kuren said.
"Tatsuya Shiba, First High first-year, as you seem to know," Tatsuya replied.
As introductions ended, the guest speech began. Tatsuya turned to the stage, expecting Retsu Kudō, the Ten Master Clans elder. Instead, a young woman in a flashy dress appeared. "What? Isn't Kudō-sama speaking?" Airi asked.
"It's mental interference magic. He's already backstage," Tatsuya whispered, revealing the trick.
Retsu, once called the ultimate trickster, was up to mischief. Tatsuya eyed him behind the woman, who smirked like a child succeeding at a prank and whispered to her. "First, I apologize for the jest. It's weak magic, but only five noticed. If I were a terrorist aiming to kill everyone here, only five could've acted," Retsu said, pausing to glance at Tatsuya, who bowed politely.
"I look forward to your performances and ingenuity. Even small magic, used wisely, can outshine misused great magic. Remember that," Retsu advised.
Tatsuya smiled silently. An elder atop the magic world, yet challenging its norms—fascinating. Maintaining a neutral expression, he applauded Retsu, amused by the irony.