"Brother? And Mahiro-niisan, what are you two talking about?"
Miyuki descended gracefully from the sky, her fluttering skirt drawing some attention.
The valley beneath the twilight was enough to awaken humanity's most primal desires.
Mahiro glanced sideways and said, "Nothing much, just discussing CADs."
"Yes, Mahiro just received his CAD today and still needs to familiarize himself with it."
"Is that so?"
Miyuki leaned forward slightly, examining the contents of the box with curiosity before exclaiming in surprise, "So this is the CAD Aunt specifically had the company make for Mahiro-nii-san?"
Just like Tatsuya.
When she noticed the relic ring inside the box, she was equally astonished.
No one truly understood what functions that sacred relic possessed.
However, compared to Tatsuya, Miyuki's eyes held a trace of melancholy.
Knowing her aunt's character as she did, she was certain Mahiro-nii-san was being used as another test subject.
Even after leaving the Fourth Research Institute and the main family, could they still not escape her aunt's clutches...?
Noticing Miyuki's expression, Mahiro slipped the silver ring onto his finger under her startled gaze.
"Mahiro-nii-san, you..."
"It's nothing. More importantly, Miyuki, that outfit suits you perfectly. You look beautiful!"
After adjusting the ring, Mahiro gave her an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
The outfit consisted of a multilayered, fluttering chiffon miniskirt paired with sheer leggings that accentuated her slender legs and glossy patent leather ankle boots. The corseted top fastened at the back was made from a remarkably thin, lustrous fabric—its curves not sewn but woven into the material itself, perfectly contouring her bust. Beneath it was a puffed-sleeve blouse that clung snugly to her arms, matching the leggings' design. A wide headband with feather decorations, resembling ear muffs, secured her long hair.
This ensemble—designed to minimize air resistance while protecting her chest, yet maintaining elegance—was the official uniform for Mirage Bat, the marquee event of the Nine Schools Competition's athletic magic division, also known as the Fairy Dance.
Recalling how Miyuki had looked earlier, plucking stars from the night sky in this outfit...
She truly did resemble an ethereal spirit.
"R-really? Thank you, Mahiro-nii-san."
Miyuki's pale cheeks flushed crimson as she retreated shyly.
Mahiro-nii-san complimented her.
How embarrassing...
"Mmm, indeed quite lovely~"
Just then, an intriguing voice suddenly spoke up behind Miyuki.
With a startled yelp, Miyuki spun around to find Kokonoe Yakumo—who had been assisting her practice moments ago—now standing inexplicably behind her.
He even began muttering incomprehensibly under his breath.
"Mmm~ Truly exquisite. I've been meaning to say this since practice began."
"Compared to the school uniform, it diminishes none of that youthful innocence while fully unleashing that irresistible charm."
"A freshly bloomed flower! A verdant sprout! Yes... moe! This is moe! Mmm!"
Growing increasingly excited, Yakumo advanced toward the retreating Miyuki until—with a sudden pivot—he dropped into a low stance, raising his left arm overhead.
A heavy thwack echoed as his forearm blocked a knifehand strike.
But immediately after, a dull thud followed as Yakumo went flying.
The intercepted strike had come from Tatsuya.
The fist that hammered into his chest, however, belonged to Mahiro.
The monk crashed into the wall like a framed painting, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Ahem, that punch was much stronger than Tatsuya's, and I didn't expect you to have mastered concealment so well either."
Facing Kokonoe Yakumo's praise, Mahiro didn't feel the slightest bit pleased. Instead, his expression gradually darkened.
"You damn perverted bald monk, what the hell are you whispering to Miyuki?! Believe me, I'll disassemble you right here and now, you bastard!"
"My, my, calling me a damn bald monk is rather impolite, Mahiro-kun."
Yakumo spoke nonchalantly, not even bothering to deny the accusation of being a pervert.
He got up from the ground as if nothing had happened, casually shaking off the gravel clinging to his clothes.
"No matter how you look at it, you learned my techniques. In the end, I'm still one of your teachers. You should show at least the bare minimum of respect to your teacher, you know?"
"Hah, teacher? You?"
Though Kokonoe Yakumo was renowned and revered by the world, even hailed as a master, to Mahiro, he was anything but.
Just a perverted, bald old monk!
"Um... Mahiro-nii, please don't fight with the teacher. Miyuki is fine," Miyuki pleaded weakly, though her efforts were futile.
"It's alright, Miyuki. This barely even counts as an argument."
Having taken a punch, Yakumo acted as if nothing had happened.
The perverted monk, with a scar over his eye and wearing flip-flops, was already walking toward them.
He was surprisingly tough.
"But then again, the head of the Yotsuba family is truly hard to understand. To think she'd let a little monster like you out—does she intend to turn Japan's magic world upside down?"
As he spoke, Yakumo's narrowed eyes slowly opened.
A dangerous glint flickered in the depths of his pupils.
Yotsuba Mahiro—this magician was the most dangerous existence he had encountered in all his years.
Far more terrifying than even his disciple Shiba Tatsuya's decomposition and reconstruction.
After all, Tatsuya could still be restrained by Miyuki. At the very least, the River of Lamentation could completely erase him.
But Yotsuba Mahiro was an uncontrollable monster!
Especially those eyes—once they locked onto you, there was no method to erase him!
At first, he had thought Yotsuba Maya released Mahiro from the Fourth Research Institute to eliminate Tatsuya, an unstable element that posed a threat to the Yotsuba family.
But now, it seemed that wasn't the case.
At the very least, the two of them were coexisting peacefully for now.
"Who knows?" Mahiro shrugged indifferently. "If she really wanted me to turn the magic world upside down, the first thing I'd do is tear down this temple of yours."
"Now, now, that won't do."
Yakumo laughed heartily, patting his bald head. "This humble monk still relies on this little temple for shelter, ahaha."
"Mahiro-nii..."
Miyuki gazed at Mahiro with worry, her clenched fists damp with sweat.
Though Mahiro-nii occasionally bickered in daily life, it was only when facing Kokonoe Yakumo that he showed such a dangerous expression.
She understood the reason well.
Apart from her, the two of them were simply incompatible by nature.
But the teacher had also helped her and her brother many times.
If possible, she wished the two could get along peacefully...
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