Chapter 61 Mayumi's Decision
"Sorry, sorry, I made you worry, senpai."
Yotsuba Mahiro awkwardly scratched his head.
Afterward, the few of them learned that he had suffered from low blood sugar because he hadn't eaten lunch.
Under the warm hospitality of the Saegusa family, he enjoyed a lavish lunch.
However, the matter Mayumi asked him to do had been resolved; the Gorin Family would no longer bother Mayumi, so the task was considered complete.
Therefore, it was time to leave.
After Yotsuba Mahiro left, Saegusa Koichi called his daughters to the study again.
"Father, what do you need us for?"
"Has Yotsuba Mahiro returned?"
"Yes, I had Mr. Nagura drive Mahiru back."
"Is that so…"
Saegusa Koichi paced back and forth in the study, finally stopping by the window, looking up at the distant sky.
The light casting down, creating a backlight, gave him a profound and mysterious aura.
"What do you think of Yotsuba Mahiro?"
Mayumi paused.
This was the second time Father had asked this question, wasn't it?
She remembered that although it ended inconclusively last time, Father clearly had intentions of bringing her and Mahiru together.
So this time…
She had a very bad feeling.
"Very handsome, even more handsome than Kou-senpai! Kasumi likes him very much!"
The first to speak was naturally the most lively of the three sisters, Seven Herbs Kasumi.
The Kou she referred to was Kudou's Adjuster.
He possessed powerful magic, an excellent appearance, and a kind personality.
If one disregarded his physical issues, Kudou Kou might even be the public leader of this generation's Ten Master Clans.
"Izumi thinks Yotsuba Mahiro is amazing, at least the most amazing of all the magicians Izumi has ever met."
The bob-haired girl, Seven Herbs Izumi, answered truthfully.
Leaving aside his already captivating appearance, his magic power was completely beyond expectation.
First, he broke Sister Mio's Strategic-Class Magic Abyss, and then she learned from her sister that their own advanced version of "Magic Bullet Shooter" also came from Mahiro's hands.
And she heard that his performance in the Nine Schools Competition was far superior to all his peers.
Even with the unfair rules from the Nine Schools Competition officials, he still steadily won the championship.
"I see."
Saegusa Koichi turned around, shifting his gaze to his eldest daughter.
"What are your thoughts, Mayumi."
"Me, me?"
"Yes, but I need you to look at it from the perspective of the opposite sex. I think you shouldn't dislike him, right, otherwise why would you have asked him to be your shield today?"
The unexpected statement made Izumi and Kasumi look up, their eyes wide with surprise as they scrutinized their father and sister.
Mahiro-senpai… was actually a shield invited by Sister?
"Father always knows… but even if you ask me like this…"
Although she had long anticipated the spotlight would turn to her, and she had already prepared herself mentally, Mayumi's gaze still drifted nervously when she was actually asked.
But from her appearance, it wasn't rejection, nor was it difficulty.
It was more like she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Saegusa Koichi also understood, and smiled slightly:
"I understand. Although Yotsuba Mahiro is two years younger than you, that age difference shouldn't be a problem, and he's Yotsuba Maya's child; he is indeed excellent in all aspects, and his family background is impeccable."
"Mayumi, if you have this intention, I will fully support you and formally propose a courtship to the Yotsuba Family."
Saegusa Koichi suggested.
But this time, Mayumi didn't react much, or rather, this was within her expectations.
Since she didn't choose Gorin Yoji, Father would definitely try to bring her and Mahiru together…
"I object!"
At this moment, Kasumi suddenly spoke, interrupting them.
"Kasumi, rein it in!"
Such a clumsy demeanor was unbecoming of a Saegusa family daughter, so Koichi immediately rebuked her.
"I'm sorry…"
Kasumi also knew she was a bit too impetuous, so she accepted her father's scolding.
But—
"But Father, Izumi and I also like Mahiro-kun, why is it only Big Sister who gets to date Mahiro-kun? That's not fair!"
"Oh?"
Koichi sat back down, straightened his posture, and rested his chin on his hands.
The strong backlighting made his expression unclear as his gaze slowly fell upon Izumi.
"Izumi, is that true?"
"Mm."
Izumi nodded vigorously.
After this meeting, her choice was the same as last time, with no changes.
In fact, she was even more infatuated with Mahiro.
"Is that so… In that case, then you three sisters shall all marry Yotsuba Mahiro."
Saegusa Koichi uttered a surprising statement.
It shocked Mayumi even more than when Yotsuba Mahiro had said he would marry all three of them.
"No, Father!"
She was so flustered that she couldn't maintain the Saegusa family etiquette. "Are you really planning to do this?"
Marrying the same person as her sisters was something she had never imagined!
"If it were just me, it would be fine, but if my sisters are added, wouldn't our Saegusa family become a family that seduces juniors and has no integrity?!"
And she would naturally become a bad woman who snatched men from her sisters.
Although she didn't really care about these things, but…
"What does it matter? Do you dislike your Mahiro-senpai?" Saegusa Koichi smiled.
The two rhetorical questions completely silenced Mayumi.
The Yotsuba Mahiro's genetic makeup—as the head of the Saegusa family, he truly coveted it.
If all three daughters agreed, he naturally wanted them all to marry Yotsuba Mahiro, preferably bringing him into the Saegusa family!
This way, not only could more excellent offspring be born, but the Saegusa family's importance would likely increase in Yotsuba Mahiro's heart.
In fact, he had already seen through the truth.
He understood why Yotsuba Maya would let Yotsuba Mahiro leave the Yotsuba.
According to his understanding of Maya, the "Yotsuba outcast" was probably just a superficial explanation.
In reality, it should be that Yotsuba Maya couldn't completely control him, so she reluctantly sent him out.
Moreover, he estimated that Yotsuba Maya was probably also trying to arrange a partner for Yotsuba Mahiro now.
The most likely candidate was Shiba Miyuki from the recently emerged Yotsuba branch family.
Therefore—
"If you have made your decision, then work towards that goal. I will fully support your decision."
And so, with the strong support of Saegusa Koichi,
Even though Mayumi had much to say about it and didn't know Yotsuba Mahiro's opinion, she still had no choice but to start acting.
And now, summer vacation had just passed its halfway mark.
So Mayumi made a decision.
"Mahiro-senpai, let's go to the beach together!"
Summer, of course, means playing at the beach, even in a magic world with advanced technology.
...
.....
....
"Wow, the ocean…"
The salty sea breeze blew, and as far as the eye could see, there was only the endless azure ocean and white fine sand, with occasional scattered seashells adorning the beach.
Kasumi shouted excitedly, her long, shapely legs, exposed beneath her swimsuit, ran towards the shore without any cover.
"Mahiro-kun, and Izumi, come play!"
The girl, who had already rushed into the sea, her fair feet covered by the water, turned her head and waved at them.
"Big Sister, be careful!"
Izumi worriedly followed her, acting more like Kasumi's older sister despite being the younger one.
Not far from Izumi, Miyuki was strolling on the beach accompanied by Minami, her cool white feet covered in pristine white sand.
Only her face seemed a bit tired.
This was, of course, to be expected.
After all, just a few minutes ago, she was still being pestered by Izumi—
"…I am Seven Herbs Izumi. May I call you Miyuki-senpai?"
When she first met Miyuki, Izumi said this.
Her hands clasped together as if in prayer, her eyes sparkling like stars, her extraordinary beauty completely amazed her.
She was also faintly muttering words like "So beautiful," and "Like a goddess."
The way she circled Miyuki seemed somewhat familiar.
Although Miyuki maintained her gentleness throughout, there was a clear sense of awkwardness and discomfort in that gentleness.
As for why she was here?
The reason was simple: Tatsuya had gone on a long trip and wouldn't be back for a while, so he temporarily entrusted her to Mahiro.
So he brought her along.
It was said he went to excavate unearthed "holy relics," and he also heard it was a mission dispatched by the military.
But if he thought about it carefully—
"It should be a little trick orchestrated by that woman, Yotsuba Maya."
Looking at the solitary Miyuki, Mahiro couldn't help but mutter softly.
At this moment, he was lying on a beach chair outside the villa, hundreds of meters from the coast, quietly enjoying the sun and sea breeze, as well as the cold drink handmade by Minami.
Bathed in the warm embrace of the sun, his gaze drifted towards the distant horizon, emptying his mind and immersing himself in the boundless sky.
He temporarily indulged in this feeling of self-forgetfulness.
Until a shadow fell over his head.
"?"
He shifted his gaze and saw Mayumi bending over, staring at his face.
It was fine normally, but wearing a swimsuit and bending over like that, it somewhat bordered on giving benefits.
"I didn't expect her to seem small usually, but she's unexpectedly well-endowed!"
Yotsuba Mahiro muttered softly, he knew this sensation intimately.
"Well-endowed? What are you saying, Mahiru-kun?"
Mayumi bent deeply, holding her sun hat, and propped herself up on one hand on her knee, peering at him from the front as she asked.
She thought she heard Yotsuba Mahiro say something just now, but the sound was too low to hear clearly.
However, her blinking eyes had an unexpectedly cute and dazed contrast, which was very charming.
"Ah, no, what I meant was that Senior Mayumi's swimsuit is very beautiful."
"Is that so? Thank you."
Mayumi looked very pleased.
However, he wasn't just making excuses; he was telling the truth.
Mayumi wore a sun straw hat on her head and a white two-piece swimsuit, with a floral sarong tied around her waist.
Although it was a relatively revealing outfit, the overall impression exuded an elegant temperament unique to a young lady.
"Do you mind if I sit here?"
"Please, feel free."
It was really strange.
The place they were at was an island in the Ogasawara Islands, a private beach belonging to the Saegusa family.
It was Senior Mayumi's family's territory, she could do whatever she wanted, yet she came to ask for his opinion.
However, he still sat up from the beach chair, because Senior Mayumi seemed to have something to say.
"Um… About what happened at my house last time, thank you very much, Mahiro-senpai."
"Are you talking about Gorin Mio and Gorin Yoji? Well… it was just a small matter, no need to thank me repeatedly."
Mahiro waved his hand, as if he had done something insignificant, which made Mayumi unable to help but laugh.
"That's really your style, Mahiro-senpai. Even though Senior Mio is a Strategic-Class Magician, you don't seem to put her in your eyes at all."
To be honest, she was truly very grateful to Mahiro.
He came to fulfill that promise that seemed like a joke, and even repelled Senior Mio for her sake.
One could even say he helped her solve the biggest problem in her life.
"How could that be." Mahiro spread his hands and said, "I actually respect Gorin Mio quite a bit. After all, she is indeed very strong. If the setting were changed to a sea area…"
At this point, his voice suddenly paused.
Although the Abyss was more powerful in seawater, if it really were changed to a sea area…
Then he should win even more easily, right?
After all, if he directly froze the seawater into glacial land, Gorin Mio's magic would be completely useless.
"Never mind, let's not talk about this. By the way, where's Senior Watanabe? Why didn't she come along?"
Mahiro was very curious.
The relationship between Mori and Mayumi was like that between Kitayama Shizuku and Honoka; basically, the two were inseparable, always together.
But when he asked this question, Mayumi inexplicably threw a tantrum.
"Mmm… Honestly, there's already such a beautiful girl who specifically wore a swimsuit for you and is sitting here.
And there's the beautiful Junior Miyuki in the distance, as well as my sisters, and Miss Sakurai who takes care of you, Mahiro-senpai.
Yet you're still thinking about Mori."
"Mahiro-senpai is really a playboy."
By the end, Mayumi's cheeks were puffed out, just like a pufferfish.
"What is all this about?"
Being told all this, Mahiro was also at a loss whether to laugh or cry. "I was just asking about Senior Mori's situation… And if I had to say, Miyuki and Minami are one thing, but Kasumi and Izumi are still middle schoolers. I haven't fallen so low as to make a move on middle schoolers, have I?"
"So, you're not denying Junior Miyuki and Miss Sakurai, then." A hint of slyness flashed in Mayumi's eyes.
Catching loopholes in words, just like the debate not long after school started.
And most importantly, he really couldn't deny it.
There's no need to mention Minami; it's an open secret.
Although she hasn't been taken yet, it's probably only a matter of time.
As for Miyuki, he would never let her go…
"As expected, Mahiru, you're quite the playboy…"
Mayumi sighed softly; even though her unintentional probing didn't get the answer she wanted, she still felt a little uncomfortable.
But then again, if it weren't for Mahiro's benevolent attitude, she wouldn't have had an opportunity.
Strictly speaking, she was a genuine third party right now, feeling a bit sorry for Mibu.
But there was nothing she could do; even without her, countless excellent women would gather around Mahiru.
After all, that's how the world of magicians works.
The more powerful a magician, the more mating rights he will acquire, as many magical families desire the genetic factors of excellent magicians.
This way, the descendants born will have increasingly stronger talents, allowing the family to continue or even flourish.
Basically, all magicians are like this.
Rather, truly monogamous situations are very rare.
And for someone like Yotsuba Mahiro, a magician with extraordinary talent capable of defeating even Strategic Class Magicians and with strength beyond measure, it's even more impossible for him to follow a monogamous system like ordinary people.
Even if he wanted to insist, the Yotsuba behind him probably wouldn't agree, and the Ten Master Clans would certainly not permit it.
Just as her father said, if she didn't make a move soon, by the time other families reacted, she might truly lose her chance.
Ms. Sakurai's appearance was the strongest proof!
'Sigh…'
Mayumi was both annoyed and helpless.
She probably really was destined to fall for this Mahiru in this lifetime.
Thinking of this, Mayumi's gaze towards Mahiro also held a hint of resentment.
"?"
Mahiro threw out a few question marks in confusion, "Senior, why are you looking at me like that? Did you pick up something unclean from the ground and eat it? Your expression feels very strange…"
"Of course not! Hmph, Mahiru, you big idiot, I'm not talking to you anymore." She huffily turned her head away.
Senior Mayumi was just like that.
In front of outsiders, she always appeared poised and generous, the elegant and composed young lady of the Saegusa Family, and she possessed excellent control and judgment in serious matters.
But as you got to know her better, you would discover her mischievous side.
After getting even more familiar, you would realize that this Senior could sometimes be quite childish.
"She's clearly dressed up so maturely and sensually… almost 'like a completely different person' from her usual self, yet her personality is still so childish."
Mahiro mumbled this softly, and it was caught by Mayumi.
"Wait."
She was initially quite pleased to hear that she was dressed maturely and sensually, and a happy expression couldn't help but appear on her face, but upon hearing it, she stiffened as if suddenly realizing something was amiss.
"Mahiru… what did you mean by what you just said?"
It wasn't 'as if'; Mayumi had indeed noticed.
"Which sentence?"
"You said I looked so mature I was like a different person."
She realized she was being teased by this Mahiru, "In other words, you're implying that I usually look childish…?"
"Senior, you're overthinking it."
Mahiro's lips curved slightly; he had indeed meant that just now, but how could he admit it?
Facing the slightly glaring, cute Senior, he put on a serious, honest expression and said with extreme sincerity, "I have never thought of Senior Mayumi as having a baby face or a childish figure."
"Baby face…"
"Childish figure…"
These two words pierced her heart like two sharp swords, leaving her deeply struck.
Having a cute face that wasn't very mature, and being short unlike the tall Mori, these were arguably Mayumi's biggest pains.
She unconsciously lowered her head to look at her chest, and at that moment, she seemed to understand the meaning of Mahiro's earlier words, "small, yet surprisingly well-endowed."
Her face immediately flushed crimson.
"What, Senior, are you angry? I was just kidding."
"Ugh…"
Mayumi let out a whimper like a small animal.
"Seriously, Senior, you're actually great. You have a well-proportioned figure and a gentle demeanor. Although you're small, I personally really like it."
"Ugh…"
"It would be even better if I could hold Senior in my arms."
"Stop talking!"
Hearing his increasingly bold remarks, gradually heading towards unspeakable territory, Mayumi could no longer hold back and interrupted him.
Turning her head, with tears seemingly sparkling in her eyes, she huffily said to him:
"Mahiru, I'm going to punish you! I'll punish you by making you apply sunscreen for me!"
"?"
How did the topic change so quickly?
It was just like the weather on an island: one moment, clear skies, the next, a torrential downpour.
Also, are you sure applying sunscreen is a punishment and not a benefit?
However, girls are indeed like that.
And before he could even voice his thoughts, Mayumi pulled out a bottle of sunscreen from who knows where and placed it on the table, while she herself flipped over and lay prone on the flattened beach chair.
She kept urging him to hurry.
But the temperature on her face rapidly rose, from her fair, jade-like neck to her delicate earlobes, all tinged with a faint blush.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming."
Mahiro picked up the sunscreen and pulled the beach chair to Mayumi's side, sitting down.
Looking at her smooth, beautifully defined back, Mahiro asked, "Shall I start?"
Although Senior didn't answer, it was considered tacit consent.
So, he reached for the strap.
Like unwrapping a Christmas present, he gently untied the ribbon.
During the process, he could clearly feel that Senior seemed to tremble slightly, as if very nervous.
If you're nervous, then don't let me apply it.
He smiled, picked up the brownish-yellow bottle of sunscreen, and poured the slippery, cool liquid directly onto Senior's back.
That sudden coolness made her tremble slightly again.
Then, Mahiro began to carefully and evenly apply it.
Unlike Miyuki's cold, pale skin, like an ice princess, Mayumi's skin wasn't excessively white; it was delicate and soft, like fine mutton-fat jade.
It was just that her muscles were too tense, too stiff.
And because Mayumi was lying prone, he couldn't see the shy expression on her cute face even more clearly.
"What a shame…"
Mahiro mumbled softly, and it happened to reach Mayumi's ears.
Her delicate body trembled slightly again, and her earlobes turned crimson.
…
…
…
Time came to evening.
The fiery red sun gradually approached the horizon, and the snow-white clouds were tinged with a burnt sugar color under the sun's reflection.
"Cheers!!!"
The few of them raised their glass cups and clinked them gently together.
Since they were at the beach, a beachfront BBQ was naturally essential.
Eating grilled meat while feeling the sea breeze, that sense of comfort, perhaps the meaning of life lay in this.
"Wow, Ms. Sakurai's knife skills are amazing."
Sakurai Mizuki stood in front of the cutting board, effortlessly preparing ingredients, while Kasumi occasionally let out exclamations of surprise from the side.
As for Izumi, the younger sister, she once again clung to Miyuki.
It wasn't until Mayumi lightly tapped her on the head that she finally quieted down completely.
However, seeing the plates of skewered ingredients and Mizuki's skilled manner, Mayumi also had a small idea.
She offered to help with the grilling.
"Are you really okay with this, Senior?"
In his impression, Mayumi was a young lady who never lifted a finger, so she could grill?
It wasn't just him; Miyuki and Minami were also a little worried.
"No problem, don't underestimate me. I specifically practiced."
However, when she said this, Izumi and Kasumi were already hugging each other tightly, their faces pale, continuously backing away.
Sister's cooking…
That was an extremely terrifying thing!
They remembered that every time their sister tried to cook, while it wasn't to the extent of blowing up the kitchen, what she made was difficult to evaluate.
To describe it, it was like turning cream stew into a witch's cauldron.
So, every time, they ended up having to eat food from the automatic meal dispenser.
However, this time, before the twins could stop her, Mayumi began her grand grilling endeavor.
She picked up expensive, high-quality cuts of meat skewered on steel skewers from the tray and arranged them one by one on the freshly lit grill.
If one only looked at her movements, they were indeed skilled, but…
The flames below seemed to be burning fiercely. Was it really okay to grill meat with open flames directly on top?
Just seeing this scene, Mahiro could already foresee the future and felt a slight stomach ache.
Not to mention Miyuki and Minami, who were already skilled in cooking; they exchanged glances and subtly hid behind Mahiro.