The next day, Mahiro left home earlier than usual.
The Shiba siblings had gone to visit Kokonoe Yakumo to investigate the kendo club's captain, a person named Shikou, so they didn't go to school together.
Mahiro wanted to arrive early to find that teacher who had a habit of tailing students.
And have a good talk with her about [Blanche].
Since she could mention that name and even knew about its affiliated groups and members, it meant she definitely knew more than just the name.
However, as he was thinking this and leisurely walking along the short path to the school gate, a voice suddenly called out from behind, "Mahiro-kun~" in a tone that made him feel somewhat embarrassed.
Then, a petite figure came running up lightly.
With that form of address and such a small stature, Mahiro didn't need to guess who it was.
"Mahiro-kun, good morning~"
"Good morning, Mayumi-senpai."
Seeing Mayumi, he didn't know why, but a thought occurred to him.
It seemed that in front of others, this senpai could maintain a dignified and graceful appearance, but once out of sight, she would reveal her mischievous personality without reservation.
"By the way, Mayumi-senpai, do you always come to school alone?"
"Mhm, I don't have any special arrangements to come with friends in the morning. Mari and Azusa-chan are coming from completely different directions."
Mayumi puffed her cheeks slightly and complained, "If possible, this onee-san would love to have a companion on the way to school~"
"..."
You can say that, but don't look at me.
I'm not on your route either—only this part near the school gate overlaps with yours, senpai!
Mahiro silently complained in his heart, then quickly changed the subject:
"So, senpai, are you coming to school this early because of the debate session in the auditorium after school today?"
"Oh my, Mahiro-kun already knows about that?"
Mayumi blinked playfully, her voice tinged with surprise.
"Of course. I do have eyes and ears in the student council, after all," Mahiro said half-jokingly.
After the commotion yesterday, the school's "Big Three" had discussed the issues between First Course and Second Course students with this [Aspirants Alliance] for some time.
But regrettably.
These people were all about voicing their opinions without giving any thought to concrete solutions, instead demanding that the student council come up with a plan.
Thus, the student council proposed changing the approach, scheduling the final discussion and resolution for today after school in the auditorium.
"Speaking of which, I thought you'd reject them with a much more aggressive stance. I didn't expect such a gentle method."
"Hmm? Does Mahiro-kun really see the student council, the disciplinary committee, and the club alliance as so unreasonable?"
Faced with Mayumi-senpai's question, he merely smiled without answering.
Though he had lived at the Fourth Research Institute for fifteen years and wasn't entirely familiar with the outside world, some things he still understood.
For example, the status of the Ten Master Clans in Japan's magic society.
One could say it was an honor for the members of the Aspirants Alliance to engage in equal dialogue with people like Mayumi-senpai.
Harsh as it sounded, that was the reality.
Whether it was Saegusa Mayumi or Juumonji Katsuto, they were the direct heirs of two great families—future successors of the Ten Master Clans.
Their words carried the weight of the Ten Master Clans.
So no matter how equal the discussion seemed, the pressure was absolute.
"By the way, Mayumi-senpai, have you decided who will participate in the debate?"
In truth, he had just asked casually.
But unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Mayumi flashed a smile as if to say, "You've hit the nail on the head," then pointed at her own cheek.
"...Mayumi-senpai is going to take the stage herself?"
Mahiro's tone was half-doubtful, and upon receiving confirmation, he was left speechless.
"What about Juumonji-senpai and Watanabe-senpai? Shouldn't they be involved in something like this too? After all, you can only represent the student council's stance..."
"No, they've already entrusted full authority to me."
As she said this, she clasped her hands behind her back and even smiled at Mahiro.
"Juumonji-kun has other matters to attend to, and Mari isn't suited for this kind of debate."
"Besides, time isn't exactly abundant. With just one person, there's no risk of minor disagreements being exploited, nor getting dragged into emotional arguments."
Though she didn't say it outright, Mayumi-senpai seemed quite confident in her own logical reasoning.
Was this the so-called more talk, more mistakes?
But judging by Mayumi-senpai's demeanor, she seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the debate.
And indeed, that was the case.
Gazing at the cherry blossoms scattering from the branches, Mayumi murmured softly, as if sighing with emotion, "If they can present factual evidence to convince me, adopting it as one of the school's operational policies wouldn't be out of the question."
"Of course, it'd be even better if Mahiro-kun could lend a hand!"
Mayumi seemed to hold high expectations for him.
But.
No way.
Help? Absolutely not.
First, he'd just offended the First Course students—now he was supposed to turn around and crush the Second Course students?
After that debate, he might as well pack his bags and crawl back to the Fourth Research Institute.
By the time he reached school, he saw second- and even third-year Second Course students everywhere, rallying support.
However, some students wore white wristbands on their arms, outlined with red and blue stripes resembling the French flag.
According to intel, these were all members of Egalite.
Who would have thought that the prestigious First High School could be infiltrated to such an extent by a rotten organization...
Unfortunately, Mahiro couldn't find Ono Haruka all day—she was nowhere to be seen.
After school, most of the Second Course students and some from the First Course gathered in the auditorium, arranged just like during the opening ceremony. The only difference was the people on stage—now represented by Mayumi and five delegates from the "Aspirants Alliance," though not the same five who had occupied the broadcasting room.
"Wow, Mayumi-senpai is really something..." Mahiro muttered, standing near the backstage as a special guest, watching the debate between First and Second Course students up close. Though called a discussion, it had devolved into a one-woman show by Student Council President Mayumi.
Her usual bewitching, impish smile was gone, replaced by a dignified and righteous demeanor as she dismantled their arguments with ease. Mahiro even recognized some of the lines she used—the same ones she had said during their first meeting. She really knew how to put lessons into practice...
Despite facing five opponents, she left them speechless. To Mahiro, it felt like these delegates had been forced onto the stage just to fill seats.
"Of course she is," Watanabe Mari said with a proud smile, as if she herself were the one on stage. "Mayumi excels at pinpointing flaws in others' arguments. Her cognitive processing is incredibly sharp—unless the opposition's logic is flawless, numbers mean nothing to her."
Still, Watanabe Mari's gaze turned cold and disappointed as she glanced at the five on stage and the wristband-wearing students below.
"Egalite."
Perhaps Tatsuya had leaked the information, but such details were impossible to keep hidden. The real issue was that no one knew what these people truly wanted. For now, they could only guard the auditorium and keep an eye on the Alliance members.
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