At the same time.
Mayumi, exhausted after a busy day, dragged her tired body home.
"Mayumi, just getting back from school?"
Her two older brothers, who were in college, were actually home today and greeted her, while her father, Saegusa Kouichi, was outside in the yard helping her younger sisters, Kasumi and Izumi, practice magic.
"Yeah, things at school have been a bit hectic lately." Mayumi nodded briefly in response, not in the mood for small talk with her brothers, and plopped straight onto the sofa.
Just then, Kouichi, who seemed to have finished the training session, walked in and glanced at his daughter before asking:
"Mayumi, have you been spending time with Hirofumi lately?"
"..."
At his words, Mayumi's adorable face instantly changed.
So that's what he wanted to ask right away...
The "Hirofumi" Kouichi mentioned was Itsuwa Hirofumi, a member of the Ten Master Clans' Itsuwa family and the younger brother of the Thirteen Apostles' Itsuwa Mio.
Since Mio was very close to Mayumi, she had always hoped Mayumi would become her sister-in-law, and Kouichi was also in favor of the idea.
But just thinking about that person made Mayumi sigh bitterly.
"Dad, please spare me. He might be a good guy personality-wise, but I really don't feel anything for him."
"Feelings are something you discover through small interactions," Kouichi said. "If you don't make an effort to get to know him, how can you develop any feelings?"
"Ugh..."
Mayumi, as if possessed by Azusa-chan, curled up on the sofa like a wounded little animal, listening to her father's lecture.
This was completely different from the elegant and dignified upperclassman at school or the lively, mischievous senpai.
"Fine, if you don't want to talk about Hirofumi, we won't."
Kouichi could tell his daughter wasn't interested, so he changed the subject. "Then, Mayumi, what about that Yotsuba Mahiro you mentioned before? How is he doing now?"
"Huh?"
Mayumi blinked in surprise, not expecting her father to suddenly bring up her junior. Still, she answered honestly:
"Mahiro-kun is the same as always. Whether it's the disciplinary committee's appointment or invitations from the student council and club alliance, he turns them all down."
Just thinking about it made her feel exhausted.
Someone so talented, with such excellent communication skills—if he joined the disciplinary committee or student council, it would be a tremendous boost!
But no matter how much she, Mari, or even Juumonji tried, they couldn't persuade him.
For the first time, she felt the frustration of defeat.
"Hmm... It's good for capable people to have some personality. But Mayumi, what do you think of Yotsuba Mahiro?"
"Eh...? What do I think...? He's a great junior, and very outstanding."
"What if he were your partner?"
"Wha—?!!"
Mayumi was utterly shocked, but then her expression shifted to one of intense embarrassment, her fair cheeks turning bright red.
Why had the conversation suddenly taken this turn?!
"I've already confirmed with the head of the Yotsuba family regarding Yotsuba Mahiro's situation. He currently cannot represent the main Yotsuba family." Saegusa Kouichi continued speaking, disregarding Mayumi's reaction. "So, Mayumi, since you don't like Hirofumi, marry him instead. Our Saegusa family will fully support you."
It was then that Mayumi noticed the data about Mahiro displayed on the terminal in her father's hand.
There was footage of Mahiro engaging with terrorists during the invasion of First High School.
Along with reports on the factory ruins left behind after the annihilation of Blanche's Japanese branch.
Behind his sunglasses, Kouichi's eyes burned with fervor and astonishment.
This speed of magic activation—even the Morisaki family, a branch of the Hundred Families renowned for their "High-Speed Activation" technique magic, paled in comparison to this young man in the footage!
It was instantaneous magic!
Not only that, but he had even learned their family's secret art, Magic Bullet Shooter, merely by adjusting a CAD.
This was even more unbelievable!
As for the outdated notion of reprimanding someone for stealing secret techniques—none of the Ten Master Clans entertained such backward thinking.
The reason each family had secret arts wasn't because they kept their exclusive magic tightly guarded.
Rather, it was because only the magical traits inherited in their family's genes allowed them to use these exclusive techniques!
If an outsider could learn them, they would naturally feel joy—no, more accurately, excitement!
It meant this person's genetic lineage was exceptional, and incorporating them into the main family could produce even more outstanding descendants!
This was precisely Saegusa Kouichi's line of thought.
Otherwise, he would never have encouraged his daughter to associate with that mediocre Itsuwa Hirofumi.
It had simply been for the Itsuwa family's bloodline.
But now, something far superior had appeared!
Watching Mahiro in the footage, he was reminded of his youth, when he and the Yotsuba sisters—Yotsuba Maya and Yotsuba Miya—had studied under Kudou Retsu.
Originally, he had been engaged to Yotsuba Maya. Combined with the Saegusa and Yotsuba families leading the Ten Master Clans, they had once been considered a match made in heaven.
Yet all of that had been lost along with his right eye in a sudden, unforeseen incident.
But never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that his former fiancée might now become family through marriage!
Thus, Kouichi insisted that Mayumi seize this opportunity at all costs!
However, upon hearing this, Mayumi's face flushed crimson. She protested shyly, "Dad! He's just my junior right now... and... and I don't even know how he feels about me."
Compared to Itsuwa Hirofumi, she did prefer spending time with Mahiro.
Setting aside his exceptional magical abilities, just his natural, relaxed way of conversing and what he had done for their junior Mibu was enough to captivate her.
Not to mention his striking looks.
Regardless of gender, people generally cared about appearances to some degree. On that front alone, Mahiro scored full marks with her.
"Is that so? If you're not up to it, we can always send your sisters Izumi or Kasumi instead."
"Wha—?! How could you?!"
With a startled cry, Mayumi's expression turned utterly shocked.
Kouichi was currently very interested in Mayumi's reaction—it was rare to see his eldest daughter display such a flustered expression.
Mayumi's startled exclamation caught the attention of the Saegusa sisters, who had just finished their practice.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
Without much regard for Mayumi's feelings, Kouichi picked up the terminal and handed it to the two sisters, asking, "Izumi, Kasumi, what do you two think of this person?"
"So handsome!"
"Hmm, he seems even more good-looking than Tomo-nii."
Kasumi and Izumi watched the person in the video, and purely based on appearance, their impressions were quite favorable.
"Wow! Wait a minute! This person's magical power is incredible! The frozen area already covers a hundred square meters, right?"
"Seriously..."
On the screen, the surveillance footage of Mahiro instantly casting the Domain of Ice Mist to freeze the entire first floor of the library was playing, and the two young girls watched with stars in their eyes.
"Dad, who is this person? He's wearing the same uniform as Mayumi-nee—is he also a student at First High?" Kasumi inquired, while Izumi also looked at her father, hoping for an answer.
"That's right. He's also a student at First High, named Yotsuba Mahiro. How would you feel about having him as your husband?"
"Yes! I want to! Not only is he handsome, but his magic is so strong too! I want to be his bride!"
The short-haired girl cheering excitedly was the elder of the twins, Saegusa Kasumi, whose personality was more straightforward.
She had always been more clear-headed.
From a young age, she understood that as a member of the Ten Master Clans, she couldn't possibly have a marriage that satisfied her personal desires. So why not marry someone handsome and powerful?
Meanwhile, the slightly longer-haired Izumi, who carried herself with the grace and composure of a young lady, puffed out her cheeks and said:
"Call it intuition, but I don't think Mahiro-nii would like Kasumi. You should let me have him instead."
"Izumi! How can you try to steal him from your older sister?!"
"Both of you, that's enough!"
The quarreling sisters were suddenly interrupted by their eldest sister Mayumi, who rapped them each on the head. While Mayumi exerted her authority as the eldest sister, she also felt exhausted.
How had things come to this?
Kouichi, however, nodded in satisfaction. It seemed the Saegusa family could get ahead of the others for once.
----------
For advance chapters join my Patreon.
[email protected]/Aarvan