"Um, mind if I say something?"
"In the Disciplinary Committee, there's still one vacancy left from last year's graduate that hasn't been filled among the positions assigned by the student council."
The girl in the middle stated this matter-of-factly.
"Didn't you say you were still looking for candidates? Mari, the new school year hasn't even been going for a week yet. There's no need to rush this much, right?"
Mayumi sighed helplessly, trying to soothe her friend's impatience.
Watanabe Mari was her best friend and the head of the Disciplinary Committee. Aside from her somewhat boyish appearance, her personality matched it too.
But Mari ignored Mayumi's attempt to placate her and instead proposed:
"Why don't we have this Yotsuba junior directly fill the Disciplinary Committee position? Unlike the student council, we don't need to consider academic performance..."
The suggestion hit right at Mayumi's biggest concern.
Those wine-red eyes immediately lit up with unusual brilliance as she suddenly stood up, slapping a hand on the table.
"You're right! Mari, you're a genius! This solves two problems at once!"
If he joined the student council, they'd have to consider grades. Honestly, with Yotsuba Mahiro's academic record, joining the student council would likely invite criticism.
But the Disciplinary Committee was different!
As long as he could handle the daily patrol duties, even as a Course 2 student, no one could complain!
"Then it's settled, Yotsuba will join the Disciplinary Committee."
"Mari, I'm leaving Mahiro-kun in your hands. I'll handle the notifications tomorrow!"
And just like that, the three in the club alliance headquarters decided Yotsuba Mahiro's future, completely disregarding the person in question's opinion.
"But there's one more thing about Yotsuba-kun."
Mayumi suddenly added: "Although Mahiro-kun currently bears the Yotsuba name, it seems he's been abandoned by the family, cast out by the Yotsuba family head to fend for himself without even a defensive CAD."
At this revelation.
Watanabe Mari couldn't help but gasp in shock.
Even Juumonji Katsuto's stern, square-jawed face grew serious.
"Saegusa, can you confirm the truth of this matter?"
Mayumi shook her head. "Not yet. I just spoke with him this morning, and that's what Mahiro-kun said himself. But the part about not having a CAD is definitely true."
Although the school strictly prohibited students from casually using CADs on campus, carrying one daily wasn't an issue, in fact, it was practically mandatory.
Because magicians were extremely valuable national resources.
Both domestically and internationally, they were highly prized, especially the magical genes of numbered families, which were particularly precious and the focus of various factions' attention.
Therefore, for someone like Yotsuba Mahiro to move about without a CAD was a serious matter, both for the Ten Master Clans and for magicians in general.
"I'll look into this matter. Saegusa, you should also verify the facts with your family. As for providing Yotsuba with a CAD..."
"Well, our Disciplinary Committee has many decommissioned CADs we could temporarily lend to Yotsuba-kun."
Mari made this suggestion, only to be opposed by Mayumi.
"No way, Mari. Even if Mahiro-kun becomes a disciplinary committee member, committee CADs still can't be taken out of school," Mayumi chided her best friend who was trying to "line her own pockets" with a lecturing tone.
"Just use mine. I have a retired 'general-purpose' model at home that should help Mahiro-kun get by for a while."
"Oh~ I didn't expect Mayumi to be so nice to this Yotsuba junior, even willing to give him her own CAD," Mari propped her cheek with one hand as she teased Mayumi.
"Now I really want to meet this Yotsuba junior too."
"It's a loan! Hmph, I'm ignoring you now, Mari!"
Flustered by her best friend's teasing, Mayumi's face turned as red as if it were on fire.
No wonder she reacted this way.
A CAD represents a magician's entire being—their magic formulas, usage habits, and personal preferences are all reflected in it.
...
.....
....
"....Well then, time to head back."
After finishing his sparring session with Mibu-senpai at the kendo club, Mahiro prepared to leave school.
But just as he reached the main gate, a large group suddenly appeared and blocked his path.
Though calling it a "large group" might be an exaggeration—there were only four people.
Shiba Tatsuya and Miyuki, along with Chiba Erika and Shibata Mizuki—all familiar faces.
How did they all end up together?
"Mahiro-nii!"
Spotting Mahiro, Miyuki happily called out to him.
Meanwhile, Erika and Mizuki, who had been about to greet him too, froze in shock upon hearing Miyuki's address.
"Wait, Tatsuya-kun, what did Miyuki just call him? 'Nii-san'?!"
Naturally, it was Erika who voiced this, as both she and Mizuki turned to the Shiba siblings for answers.
Facing their questioning looks, Miyuki responded cheerfully, "Of course, Mahiro-nii. Is there something wrong with that?"
"Everything's wrong with that!" Erika exclaimed loudly.
"If Yotsuba-kun is a young master of the Yotsuba family, and you're calling him 'nii-san,' doesn't that mean you're connected to that ultra-mysterious Yotsuba family?!"
"Ah...."
Hearing this, Miyuki quickly covered her mouth, realizing she might have said too much.
But before she could think of how to explain, Mahiro stepped in to help:
"Don't get so worked up. Miyuki has no connection to the Yotsuba family."
"It's just that she and her brother are my landlords, and since I'm older than Miyuki, she calls me 'nii-san.'"
Miyuki was momentarily stunned by this explanation, but when Mahiro walked over and gently patted her head, the intimate gesture made her blush and lower her gaze as she murmured:
"Y-yes, that's right."
She hadn't expected Mahiro to fabricate a lie on the spot to cover for her.
"Indeed. He's renting the place next door and living there," Tatsuya added his confirmation, making the two girls believe the story.
Erika and Mizuki knew the Shiba siblings because they were in the same class as Tatsuya.
As they walked together, the group chatted and joked around—especially Erika, who kept teasing Mahiro and Miyuki.
At first, Miyuki could still handle it, but soon her face turned bright red, and she didn't even dare to lift her head.
Beside her, Tatsuya showed no reaction.
This was normal, given his personality. As long as Miyuki wasn't harmed, he rarely had much of a response.
On the other hand, Mizuki had grown unusually quiet during the trip.
The entire time, she kept watching him and the Shiba siblings with a peculiar gaze.
Noticing her stare, Mahiro tilted his head and asked curiously, "Shibata, what's wrong? Is there something you want to say?"
"Ah, no…"
Mizuki frantically waved her hands and shook her head, but after hesitating for a moment, she finally voiced the question on her mind.
"It's just… I thought the Yotsuba family wouldn't be short on money, right? So why are you renting a place to live?"
At the mention of this, Erika also snapped to attention and immediately looked at Mahiro.
The Yotsuba family, one of the Ten Master Clans, was a colossal entity—even more formidable than her own Chiba family. Rumors said they stood at the very pinnacle of the Ten Master Clans.
As the heir, why would Mahiro ever need to rent a place?
However, faced with their questions, Miyuki visibly panicked, unsure how to respond.
She could only turn to Mahiro for help.
Watching their reactions, a faint, imperceptible smile tugged at Mahiro's lips.
Finally, they'd asked the right question!
So, he repeated the same explanation he had given Saegusa Mayumi earlier, recounting it with dramatic tears and emotion.
After hearing it, both Erika and Mizuki wore expressions of shock and disbelief.
"Wait… so Yotsuba-kun was actually kicked out of the Yotsuba household?"
Miyuki also stared at him in disbelief, subtly shifting closer to whisper, "Mahiro-nii, if Auntie finds out you're slandering her like this outside…"
"Heh, who cares about that old hag?" Mahiro smirked, completely unfazed.
This was nothing—hardly worth mentioning.
Still, from today onward, his reputation as the "discarded heir of the Yotsuba" was effectively cemented.
Little did he know, this would also mark the beginning of his troubles.