mknr 01 - enrollment (i).pdf

5/21/2018 MKnR 01 - Enrollment (I).pdf

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Magic High Schools are

Nationally established high schools for the purpose of nurturing

"Magicians", the practitioners of modern magic.There are a total of nine such schools set up in the country.

The locations of the premises are as stated.

First High School: Hachioji !anto, Toyo#

Second High School: Nishinomiya !ini, Hyogo#

Third High School: !ana$a%a Houriu, &shia%a#

Fourth High School: Hamamatsu Toai, Shi$uoa#

Fifth High School: Sendai Tohou, Miyagi#

Si'th High School: &$umo Sanin, Shimane#

Se(enth High School: !ochi Shiou, !ochi#

)ighth High School: *taru Hoaido#

Ninth High School: !umamoto !yushu, !umamoto#

+mong these, the First to Third schools ha(e a fi'ed uota of t%o hundred

students %ho are di(ided into t%o courses, -ourse and -ourse / The

Third High School terms them as "Speciali$ed -ourse" and "Normal

-ourse"#. The difference bet%een -ourse and -ourse / students lies in

the a(ailability of instructors0 if %e tae a%ay the a(ailability of a personal

instructor, then the curriculum bet%een the t%o courses are the same.

1hile the Fourth to Ninth schools, each %ith a uota of a hundredstudents, pro(ide instructors to all the students, the le(el of their

instructors is a notch lo%er compared to those of the First to Third schools.

)(en though (arious schools follo% the curriculum guidelines set by the

National 2ni(ersity of Magic, there are also schools that ha(e their o%n

special characteristics. For e'ample, the Third High School places

emphasis on practical battle magic, and, in contrast, the Fourth High

School places emphasis on a large number of highly comple'

manufacturing magic %hich are (aluable in areas of magic engineering.+side from the different focuses in the types of magic, there are also

schools that speciali$e in magic usable in a particular en(ironment. The


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Se(enth High School teaches, separate from the normal curriculum, high

le(el magic that has practical usability abo(e %ater or seas, %hile the

)ighth High School integrates practical outdoor lessons on magic useful in

regions of e'treme cold or mountainous regions %here the li(ing

en(ironments are e'treme.


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Chapter 0

Magic.

&t is a product of neither legends nor fairy tales, but instead has become a

technology of reality since a time unno%n to people.

The first (erifiable record dates bac to +3 444.

The incident, in %hich police officers possessing special po%ers stopped a

nuclear act of terror carried out by a fanatic group in order to fulfill the

prophecy of destroying humanity, became the first (erifiable case of magic

in modern times.

&nitially, that unusual ability %as termed "Supernatural 5o%er". +n ability

that %as present in a person as a result of a purely inherent, suddenmutation, %hose systemati$ation as a technology %hich could be spread

among the masses %as thought to be an impossible thing.

That %as an erroneous notion.

Through the research of "Supernatural 5o%er" by both the influential

)astern and 1estern nations, the e'istence of people %ho %ere imparted

"Magic" %as gradually made public. &t became possible to reproduce

"Supernatural 5o%er" through "Magic".*f course, talent is reuired to do that. Ho%e(er, only those %ho are

blessed %ith a high aptitude can attain a mastery that can put them at a

professional le(el, much lie those %ho possess ability in the fine arts or

sciences.

Supernatural po%er became a technology systemati$ed through magic,

%hile magic became a technical sill. + "Supernatural 5o%er 2ser"

became a "Magic Technician".

Silled Magic Technicians, capable of suppressing e(en nuclear %eapons,

are po%erful %eapons to a country.

+t the end of the /st century 66 in the year /748 99 the (arious nations

of the %orld, %hich are far from unified, are loced in a race to nurture

Magic Technicians.

The First High School is affiliated %ith the National 2ni(ersity of Magic.

&t is an upper9le(el, magic institution no%n to send the most graduates to

the National 2ni(ersity of Magic e(ery year.


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+t the same time, it is also an elite school that churns out the largest

number of e'cellent Magic Technicians in short, Magicians#.

1ith regard to magic education, there is no official stance on pro(iding an

eual opportunity in education.

This country does not ha(e the lu'ury to do so.

Furthermore, childish, idealistic debates re(ol(ing around the clear

disparity that e'ists bet%een the capable and the incapable are not

tolerated.

Thoroughly talent9dri(en.

Harshly competence9oriented.

Thats the %orld of magic.

&n this school %here only elites are accepted, right at the start of

enrollment, the students are already di(ided into high achie(ers and lo%

achie(ers.

)(en if t%o indi(iduals are both freshmen, they are not necessarily eual.

)(en if they are blood9related siblings.


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Chapter 1

"& cant accept this."

";oure still going on about that...


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&f they are siblings...

Then they are siblings %ho dont resemble each other at all.

*n one hand, anyone %ho sets eyes on the younger sister %ill no doubt be

capti(ated by her0 ten out of ten people, or e(en a hundred out of hundred

people, %ill agree that she is a lo(ely, beautiful girl.

*n the other hand, for the elder brother, other than his erect bac and

piercing eyes, nothing in his ordinary appearance could be said to be

attention9grabbing.

"Ho% can you be so unsure of yourself )(en %hen theres no one %hos a

match for you in studies and taijutsu> The truth is, e(en for magic9"

The younger sister reprimanded the elder brother for his %ea

proclamation, but,

"Miyui>"

+s he called out her name in an e'ceptionally strong tone, Miyui sobered

up and shut her mouth.

";ou understand right< )(en if you say that, it cant be helped."

"...& apologi$e."

"Miyui..."He put his hand on her lo%ered head and slo%ly stroed her glossy blac

hair, %hich had not a single fri$$ in it. "No%, %hat should & do to fi' her

mood..." the young man %ho %as the elder brother pondered %ith a

miserable face.

"...&m really happy you feel that %ay. & al%ays feel that &m being sa(ed

%hene(er you get angry in my place."

"?iar.""&m not lying."

"?iar. *nii9sama, youre al%ays scolding me..."

"&m not lying, & said. =ut, & too hold you in my thoughts the same %ay you

do about me."

"*nii9sama... hold me in your thoughts, you say..."

...Huh


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could not ignore had been so%ed, in order to resol(e the most immediate

problem, he shel(ed that doubt for no%.

")(en if you bac out of gi(ing the reply address, there is no %ay &ll be

selected as a replacement. &f you bac out at this ele(enth hour, you %ont

be able to a(oid a blemish on your appraisal.;ou do understand that, right< Miyui, you are a smart girl."

"=ut..."

"=esides, Miyui, &m looing for%ard to it.

Sho% this useless big brother of yours the glorious moment of his cute

little sister."

"*nii9sama is not a useless big brother>

...=ut, & understand. 5lease pardon me for being %illful."

"Theres nothing to apologi$e for. &(e ne(er thought of that as being

%illful."

"1ell then, &ll be taing my lea(e.

...5lease %atch me, *nii9sama."

";eah, brea a leg. &ll be looing for%ard to your performance."

"=y all means, see you later." The young %oman bo%ed and disappeared

into the auditorium. +fter ascertaining that she had left, the young man

breathed a sigh of relief.

1ell... %hat should & do no%


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The main building, the practice building, and an e'periment building made

up three of the school buildings.

+n auditoriumAgymnasium %hose internal layout can be altered (ia

transformation machinery. + library %ith three le(els abo(e ground and

t%o le(els belo%. T%o small gymnasiums. + preparation building euipped%ith a changing room, a sho%er room, an euipment9storage room, and

club rooms. The canteen, the cafeteria, and the procurement department

are in another building. +nd abo(e all that, the (arious large and small

anne'es constructed mae the design of First High School appear more

lie the campus of a suburban uni(ersity than a typical high school.

The young man looed left and right as he %aled along a path pa(ed %ith

a layer of brics, searching for a place to rest until it %as time for him to

enter the auditorium.

The &3 card that %ould allo% him to use the school facilities %ould only

be gi(en out after the school entrance ceremony ended.

&n order to a(oid a scene of chaos, the open cafe that %as meant to ser(e

(isitors %as also closed today.

+fter fi(e minutes of %aling around %hile referring to the campus map

displayed on his mobile terminal, beyond a ro% of trees, %hich %ere

positioned in such a %ay that couldnt escape his field of (ision, he spotteda bench in the courtyard.

It's a good thing that it's not raining, a fri(olous thought entered his mind

as he sat do%n on the three9man bench, opened his mobile terminal, and

started accessing a boo portal that he lied.

This courtyard seems to be a shortcut from the preparation building to the

auditorium.

They %ere probably roped in by the management of the entrance ceremonyto help out. That is, the current students upperclassmen to the young man#

%ho %ere passing the young man at a small distance. +ll of them had the

same eight9petaled flo%er emblem on the left side of their chests.

+s they passed by, a trail of artless, ill9meaning %ords escaped from their

bacs.

6&snt that id a 1eed ?ong time no see."

+ merry (oice suddenly called out from Miyuis blind spot. Miyui, %hilestanding at the front yard of the main temple building, had turned around

to loo %orriedly at her elder brother %ho %as buried in a mass of people.

"Sensei... please stop erasing your presence and sneaing up on us. 1e

ha(e been looing all o(er for you..."

3espite any e'tra (igilance, the same ind of thing ept happening o(er

and o(er again, to the point that itKs not so much a shoc as a pointless

%aste to Miyui.

"Telling me not to snea about, Miyui9un, is gi(ing uite a tall order.

&Km a shinobi. Sneaing about is %hat & do."

1earing the blac robe of a mon, %ith a clean sha(en head, he did not

seem at all out of place here but did not gi(e any impression of age.

The only description that could really be used %as LaloofK, and e(en

though he %as dressed as a mon, that %as impossible to belie(e.

"&n this day and age, thereKs no such occupation as ninja. & %ish youKdcorrect that as soon as possible."

)(en as Miyui earnestly protested,

"Tut tut tut, donKt misunderstand by labeling us ninjas. 1e are fully

legitimate shinobi. &tKs a tradition, not an occupation."

He replied %hile %agging his finger bac and forth. 6&t %as altogether

rather rude.

"1e respect your legitimacy. So please stop it %ith all the mystery. 1hy issensei so..."


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Fri(olous, she had been about to say, but ga(e up. &t %as pretty pointless,

she had learnt that by no%.

This %annabe mon 6 %ell, actually, he does ha(e the ualifications of a

genuine mon 6 !oonoe ;aumo, is a self ascribed "shinobi".

*r more liberally, a "ninjutsu user".

Dust as he insisted, he is an operati(e %ho dra%s the line %ith only

surpassing physical capabilities, teaching the %ays of ancient magic.

+t a time %hen magic %as becoming the target of science, yet still

concealed from the public %orld, and thought of as fiction, it %as re(ealed

that masteries such as ninjutsu had someho% become classified not just as

mere forms of medie(al martial arts but categories of magic.

;et rather than fiction, itKs probably closer to thin of it as a mysterious"art".

Naturally, as %ith other magic systems, the legend doesnKt tell the %hole

truth.

The "transformations" in the ninjutsu of storytellers are just high speed

mo(ement and illusions.

Not just ninjutsu, but all traditional forms of magic rely on trics lie that,

and things such as transformations, shape shifting, and alchemy areconsidered impossible in many fields of modern magic.

The !oonoe ;aumo %hom Miyui calls sensei, and Tatsuya calls

master, %as one %ho passed on such traditional shinobi magic no%ho%.

Ho%e(er, putting aside his priestly attire %hich screamed of falsehood

any%ay#, his appearance and residence not%ithstanding, no matter ho%

you loo at it he laced a sense of propriety9

"&s that the uniform of the First high school


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+h yes... moe, this is truly moe> Mrmph


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the ground, raised a hand in acno%ledgement before painstaingly

picing himself up.

"*nii9sama, are you alright...


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Here the acti(ation seuence is e'panded, and all the necessary parameters

input, in order to assemble the magic ritual.

&n this %ay, the -+3 allo%s the processing of all the necessary

components for magic in a single moment.

)(anescent clouds appeared out of no%here and %rapped around Miyuifrom her sirt to her blac leggings, all the %ay do%n to her sandals.

5articles also fle% out from the air, and poured from TatsuyaKs bac all the

%ay around his %hole body.

+fter the thin mist cleared up, the uniform and jacet of the t%o %ere

immaculate as e(er.

"*nii9sama, %ould you lie breafast< &f sensei %ants, you may join as

%ell."

Miyui, as if that had been only natural, ased in a light tone as she raised

the baset.

&n fact, Tatsuya ne% full %ell that such an amount of magic %as indeed

"nothing at all" to his sister.

@ @ @

=oth Tatsuya and ;aumo %ere sitting do%n on the (eranda, stuffing

themsel(es %ith sand%iches.

Miyui held a sand%ich in one hand, and %ith the other gallantly ser(iced

Tatsuya by handing him tea and plates.

+s he %atched this scene %ith a smile, ;aumo had sensed ill %ill coming

from some%here. +fter %iping his hands and mouth %ith a to%el held out

by a sha(en pupil, he put his hands together and bo%ed to%ards Miyui,

%hispering something in a uiet (oice,

"&tKs possible that &Km unable to beat Tatsuya9un in pure martial arts

already..."

There %as unmistaable admiration.

&f any other students had been around, en(y %ould ha(e been ine(itable.

&ndeed, the disciples %aiting on ;aumo %ere directing a mi'ture of

jealousy and en(y at Tatsuya upon hearing those %ords.

Miyui %as beaming as much as if those %ords had been directed at her.

Ho%e(er, TatsuyaKs heart %as unable to be mo(ed by such simple praise.


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"& canKt say &Km terribly gratified by those %ords, considering you just

demolished me earlier..."

+t TatsuyaKs grumbling rebuttal, ;aumo ga(e a surprised laugh.

"ThatKs only natural, Tatsuya9un. & am your master after all, and & had

faced you in an arena %here & am dominant.

;ou are still fifteen. &f & had fallen to someone %hoKs only half my age, all

my disciples %ould be running out on me."

"& belie(e *nii9sama should be more honest. &tKs rare to be praised by

sensei, so & thin you should tae this opportunity to laugh proudly."

Miyui %as still preaching in her (irtuous tone, but her mouth %as shaped

in a smile.

"...& thin that %ould mae me loo just a bit lie a pric..."

=oth ;aumo and Miyui %ere laughing happily, and e(en Tatsuya %as

not so stubborn as to not chide himself and join in.

TatsuyaKs bitter smile changed into %ryness, all the se(erity fading a%ay.

@ @ @

&n general both commuting to %or and school is no% accomplished (ia

mini railcars in depots that lea(e on a systematic schedule. The concept of

the Lfull trainK is a thing of the past.

&tKs not just trains, but all major forms of public transportation ha(e

undergone drastic changes in the last century.

?arge (ehicles that accommodate do$ens of passengers in designated seats

are no longer used, e'cept in some high speed long haul cases.+ small (ehicle called the -abinet, %hich consists of a small linear t%o or

four seat car lined to a central control system, is no% mainstream.

=oth po%er and energy is deri(ed from the tracs, so the si$e is about half

of a self9propelled car of the same capacity.

5eople line up seuentially on a platform to board the -abinets, that deri(e

the destination from a ticet or pass, then mo(e off along the tracs.

The tracs are di(ided into three speeds and there is a traffic controlsystem that manages the flo% of traffic, as %ell as o(erseeing the


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transitioning of cars from the slo% tracs to the high speed tracs, the shift

from high speed bac to slo% as the car approaches the destination, and the

docing of the car at the destination platform.

&tKs similar to lane changing %hile on a high%ay, and such a high density

operation %as only made possible thans to ad(ances in controltechnology, as itKs necessary to securely consolidate the running of do$ens

of cars that transport the same amount as larger (ehicles %ould ha(e in the

past.

&n the case of medium to long haul commutes bet%een cities, -abinets are

shel(ed and trailers run on a fourth high speed trac instead. The larger

trailers allo% the passenger to tra(el in greater comfort %ith more

amenities, but these are rarely used in regular commuting.

The romantic clichs of the past, such as the chance meeting on the train,

can no longer occur on the daily commute to school anymore.

&n return for not e(en being able to meet %ith friends, the threat of the

LchianK is thoroughly eradicated.

1ithin the -abinet there is no security camera or mie.

*ne cannot lea(e the seat %hile the car is mo(ing, and there are

emergency bulheads that separate the seats. Furthermore, the public

consensus is that pri(acy is preferred.

The train no%adays has the same pri(acy as a pri(ate car. There are

-abinets %ith security measures that seat only one passenger, or one can

ride a t%o seat car alone taing a four seat %ith t%o or fe%er people

incurs a surcharge#, but of course, Tatsuya and Miyui donKt tra(el

separately, and today theyKre commuting to school together as %ell.

"*nii9sama, the thing is..."

Tatsuya, %ho %as looing at the ne%s (ia the terminal screen, heard those

hesitant %ords and looed up in a hurry.

&t %as rare for his sister to spea in such a reluctant manner. &t had to be

something bad.

";esterday e(ening, & recei(ed a call from those people..."

"Those people< +hh... by that, did Father do something to anger you

again


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admission. +nd... *nii9sama, ha(e they really...


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"There is no compulsory education, so itKs not e'actly e'pected per se.

=oth Father and Sayuri9san ha(e appro(ed my coming of age, so &Km sure

theyKre simply trying to find a %ay to mae me useful.

&f they thin they can indebt me lie that though, then &Kll also sho% my

true intentions."

"...&f you say so, *nii9sama..."

There %as considerable reluctance, but Miyui ga(e a nod, and Tatsuya

breathed a sigh of relief.

Miyui does not no% the full truth of TatsuyaKs in(ol(ement %ith the

Magical )ngineer euipment maer, LFour ?ea(es TechnologyK, %here

their father ser(es as the de(elopmental section chief.

He had made up many things in his spare time, so misinforming her into

belie(ing he had a reasonable job %as a simple tas.

&f she ne% that in truth he %as merely used as a piece of reco(ery

euipment for research samples, it %as (ery possible that she could ha(e

paraly$ed the entire transport system.

&n spite of his fears, the train mo(ed on steadily as it began the transition

onto the slo% lane.

@ @ @

&n the first year class ), there %as a considerable sense of chaos. &n all

probability, a similar scene %as playing out throughout the other

classrooms.

Many students met each other just yesterday, and already small groupsha(e formed up here and there chatting a%ay.

1ith no ne% acuaintances to greet, Tatsuya %as trying to find his o%n

terminal by eyeing the numbers stamped into each des %hen, suddenly

his name %as called une'pectedly, he looed up.

"MorningO>"

)riaKs (oice %as as (ibrant as e(er.

"Bood morning."=eside her, Mi$uiKs smile %as comparati(ely modest.


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+s if they %ere already on good terms, )ria %as seated ne't to Mi$ui

%a(ing her hand.

&t seems lie they had been taling until they found him.

Tatsuya raised a hand in acno%ledgement, then %aled o(er to the pair.

Cather than a coincidence, it seems lie they had been sorted

alphabetically. Hence as Shiba and Shibata, Tatsuya %as ne't to Mi$ui.

"&t seems %eKll be ne't to each other, pleased to mae your acuaintance."

";es, &Kll be in your care."

Mi$ui ans%ered TatsuyaKs %ords %ith a smile. =eside them or rather,

abo(e them#, )ria had a rather dissatisfied e'pression, probably on

purpose.

"For some reason, & feel left out


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"Care


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=ecause of that, its not uncommon for those %ho lac ability in pure

magic to aim for becoming Magic +rtificers......

")h, %hats this< Shiba9un, you %ant to become a Magic +rtificer Ho% absolutely rude> This must be %hy

youre not popular>"

"The hell< The rude one here is you> Dust cos youre slightly good looing,

dont get all stuc up>"

"?oos are (ery important yno%< +lthough & suppose someone as sloppy

and %ild looing as you %ouldnt understand.

+nd %hats %ith that slang, that ind of thing is from the %rong century.

1hy dont you get %ith the timesO


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+s the first bell rang, the students began to dissipate and mae their %ay

bac to their o%n seats.

This system had not changed from the pre(ious era, although there %ere

some differences.

The offline terminals all started up automatically, and those that %erealready on refreshed their screens. +t the same time, a message opened up

on the screen at the front of the class.

"6*rientation begins in fi(e minutes, so please %ait at your des.

Students %ho ha(e not yet inserted their &3 card, please do so as soon as

possible6"

The message %as utterly meaningless for Tatsuya. &t %as just sundry

matters such as registering for classes he had already selected, along %ithonline guidance and e'cessi(e (isual effects. Dust as he %as considering

sipping the %hole process and going to bro%se through the school

reference room, t%o une'pected things happened.

First, accompanied by the class bell, the door to the classroom opened.

&t %as not a late student. &nstead of a uniform, the lady %as %earing a suit.

+s e(eryone %atched, %hich %asnt an e'aggeration, the beautiful and

moreo(er e'ceptionally charming %oman %ent up to the teachers des, setup a large mobile terminal, %hich she had been carrying under her arm,

and then looed around the classroom.

&t %as not just Tatsuya %ho %as surprised, but the %hole class that %as

struc %ith a sense of confusion.

&n schools that ha(e adopted online courses, there is no teacher %ho stands

at the front of the class. Since classes themsel(es are conducted through

the terminals, there is e(en less reason to send staff members to classrooms

simply to con(ey information. The only times the staff console is used in

class is for e'ceptional circumstances, such as in the case of theory.

Ho%e(er, there %as nothing to indicate that this %oman %as a faculty

member.

"+lright, it doesnt seem lie anyone is absent.

Then first of all, congratulations to e(eryone for entering the school."

There %ere uite a fe% students %ho returned the bo%. &n fact, the guy inthe seat in front %hom Tatsuya had just met actually ans%ered "+h,

thans", but Tatsuya simply tilted his head at her strange beha(ior.


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Firstly, in order to (erify attendance, there is no need to loo around %ith

the naed eye. The &3 cards in the terminals updated seating status in real

time.

Then, there %as no need for school officials to carry around a terminal of

such si$e. The campus %as riddled %ith -onsoles. &n fact, there should bea console monitor built into the teachers des %here she %as standing right

no%.

Finally, just %hat %as she< From the information gathered, this school did

not use such an outdated system as homeroom teachers, or at least it

certainly %asnt in the prospectus6

"&ts nice to meet you all. &m the integration counselor for this school, *no

Harua. &m here to establish a mentoring relationship %ith each of you in

case any of you feel lie you %ould lie counseling in regards to

speciali$ed aspects of your course.

...-ome to thin of it, there %as something along those lines...#

Ha(ing someone to tal to about your concerns, %as a concept Tatsuya had

completely sipped o(er as unnecessary, but the fact %as that the

counseling system %as one of the selling points of the school.

"There are J such counselors in this school. 1e are grouped in pairs of

men and %omen, and %ill be responsible for one class in each grade.

;anagisa%a9sensei and & ha(e been assigned to this class."

+t that she stopped taling and operated the console on the teachers des0

the upper body of a man in his mid thirties %as displayed in front of the

class.

"Bood to meet you, &m your counselor ;anagisa%a. +long %ith *no9

sensei, & %ill be in charge of looing after you. & hope %e %ill get along."

+s the screen projected the image of counselor ;anagisa%a, "*no9sensei"

continued her e'planation on the platform.

"-ounseling is a(ailable through the terminals, so you do not ha(e to come

to us directly. -ommunication is done through uantum encryption, and

the reports are stored (ia standalone data bans, so e(eryones pri(acy is

secure."

+s she said that, Harua lifted the large data ban boo, %hich Tatsuya

had mistaen for an o(er9si$ed mobile terminal.

"The school %ill fully support you all, so that you can each li(e a fulfilling


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life as a student to the fullest.

...+s such, e(eryone, lets %or hard together."

She had been speaing in a rather serious (oice until no%, but at that she

s%itched her tone, and spoe softly.

+ll the energy seemed to lea out of the room.

=oth tension and rela'ation, e(en able to calculate her body language0 her

emotional control %as superb.

+lthough out%ardly she appeared young enough to be fresh out of

uni(ersity, her e'perience %as palpable.

&f you spoe to her one9on9one, you could easily end up saying more than

you intended.

Such a uality is important for a counselor, but she seemed to possess

enough to be a female spy.

This is someone to be on guard against, Tatsuya thought.

6That feeling only intensified as she turned to the screen in the

bacground, bo%ed to her bemused looing senior colleague and cut the

connection.

1ith a small cough her professional smile returned, and she continued as ifnothing had happened.

"=y no%, the school curriculum and guides on the facilities should ha(e

been sent to your terminals. +fter that, you %ill register for your electi(es,

and that %ill be the end of orientation. &f there is anything you dont

understand, please use the call button. Those %ho ha(e already

familiari$ed themsel(es %ith the curriculum and facilities can feel free to

sip guidance and proceed straight to registration."

+t this point, Harua uicly glanced at the monitor on the teachers des,

and made an oh


67/197

The one %ho stood up %as sitting in the front ro% %indo% seat, just a little

distance a%ay, a slender, ner(ous9looing boy.

He bo%ed to%ards the teachers des, then e'ited into the corridor near the

bac of the classroom.

He faced for%ards the %hole %ay, looing neither to his left nor right, andit %as rather interesting %atching that figure put on a bra(e face and lea(e

the classroom proudly, but that %as just for a moment. &t %as not just

Tatsuya, but almost half the class that %atched the bac of the youth as he

disappeared do%n the corridor, but soon all eyes %ere bac on their dess.

&t didnt seem lie anyone else %as about to go. Tatsuya did not %ant to

lea(e so much that he %as %illing to ris all those stares as %ell.

Ceturning to the tas at hand, Tatsuya placed his hands o(er the eyboardand considered things to do to ill time, %hen he sensed a glance and

looed up.

From the other side of the teachers des, Harua %as %atching him.

)(en as they loced eyes she didnt loo a%ay, but %ent on to flash him a

smile.

1hat %as that...#

+s if e(en noticing that, Haruas smile broadened. &t %asnt for any lengthof time, rather so short and discreet that no other student noticed, but

nonetheless carried an e'aggeratedly secreti(e air.

He %as certain that this %as their first e(er meeting.

;et it %as notably beyond a fae smile, so Tatsuya (igorously %ent

through his memories.

Thans to that, he illed plenty of time but...

;ou should rela'... %as that the meaning behind it< *r is she trying to

tae a%ay my composure...

& %ont e(en consider the possibility that shes come to a classroom in a

school %ithout teachers to try to hit on students...#

+s he considered, he didnt follo% the other students %ho had finished

registration out of the class, but rather stayed in his seat pondering %ith

interest. Then someone spoe up in a friendly tone.

"Tatsuya, %hat are you going to do until lunch


68/197

+s if it %ere his signature pose, ?eo %as resting his chin on his arms

crossed o(er his chair in the e'act same position as earlier.

&t is no longer customary, at both junior and senior high school, to eat in

the classroom. 3espite ad(ancements in both %aterproofing and dust9

proofing technology, information terminals remain precision instruments.&f you end up doing something lie accidentally spilling soup all o(er one,

a rather miserable outcome is to be e'pected.

&td be better to find a more suitable place some%here, lie the cafeteria,

courtyard, rooftop or club room.

+lthough it %as one more hour until the cafeteria opened.

"& had been planning to go loo through the reference room catalog from

here but... *!, &ll accompany you."+t Tatsuyas reply ?eo had mumbled dejectedly, but his eyes shone bright

%ith enthusiasm. Tatsuya smiled at ?eos easy to read e'pressions.

"Then, %hat are you going to loo at


69/197

Taen abac by Tatsuyas ne't uestion, ?eo grinned.

"& guess & %ould seem to be the type.

1ell, youre not %rong."

+lthough not looing do%n on his intellectual ability as he did pass theentrance e'ams, the fact remains that this guy has a more li(ely outdoors

loo to him, or rather, a mischie(ous air. Most liely it %ouldnt ha(e just

been Tatsuya %ho felt he %as more suited to the action of the arena than

fiddling %ith precision machinery in the %orshop.

?istening to ?eos ne't %ords ho%e(er, Tatsuya admitted his mistae.

"Ceinforcement magic produces the greatest effect %hen combined %ith

%eapon sill. & %ant to be able to maintain my o%n %eapons as much as

possible."

?eos ambitions %ere the mountain corps or riot police. &f those ambitions

%ere reali$ed, hed ha(e many opportunities to use simple %eapons such as

batons, shields, machetes, etc. Those are all compatible %ith reinforcement

magic, and depending on the composition of the materials used, %ill

produce different effects.

This classmate seems to ha(e a far firmer grasp of %hat he is capable of

than he loos."&f youre going to the %orshop, %hy dont you come %ith us"

)ria %as barging in all o(er Mi$ui. &t %as a rather similar pattern to

%hat had happened earlier, but ?eos face remained neutral.

"Ho%e(er you loo at it, youre far more suited for physical courses. Bo

chec out the arena."

"& dont %ant to be told that by a %ild animal lie you."

Tit for tat.

"1hat %as that< ;ou didnt e(en hesitate in the slightest>"The uarrel bet%een them possessed the breanec uality of a typing


70/197

eyboard.

"Stop it both of you... ;ou(e only just met today right 1ere %asting time."

Mi$ui had up to no% patiently been refraining from interrupting, but no%

she finally %eighed in and tried to forcibly change the course.

";eah> &f %e dont hurry, %ell be the only ones left in the classroom."

&mmediately, Tatsuya also jumped in. 1ith their rapid9fire argument

interrupted, both ?eo and )ria glared daggers at each other, then

immediately spun around and turned their bacs.

@ @ @

+s early as the second day of admission, there %ere some students %ho

began to tae action.

Tatsuya didnt no% %hether to thin of it as too uic or just par for the

course.

+ll he ne% %as that if it came to a confrontation or bacing do%n, it

%ould most liely be the former.

=oth )ria and ?eo %ere bright and optimistic, and Mi$ui seemed shy yetcarefree.

1hile fully a%are of his o%n inclination to%ards cynicism and moodiness,

Tatsuya considered himself fortunate that his first friends in high school

%ere them.

Ho%e(er, most liely is not 77P.

There had remained about 79/7P.

&t %as nice they hadnt baced do%n ser(ilely, but ho% %ould this turn

out< Tatsuya %as eenly contemplating the matter.


71/197

"*nii9sama..."

Miyui %as lightly grasping the hem of Tatsuyas uniform %ith her

fingertips, and her face as she looed up at her brother %as a mi'ture of

an'iety and embarrassment.

"3ont apologi$e, Miyui. ;ou arent at fault in the least."

&n order to gi(e strength to his sister, Tatsuya replied in a firm tone.

";es, but... %ill you stop them


72/197

Ho%e(er, Miyuis classmates, especially the boys, %ere of course stri(ing

to sit %ith her.

They had started off pretending to be polite saying things lie "its pretty

cramped" and "sorry to be a bother", but seeing Miyuis un%a(ering

determination, had gone on to say that it %as unsuitable for a first coursestudent to share a table %ith second course students considering the gap

bet%een them, and ended up telling ?eo %ho had finished eating that he

%as to (acate his seat.

+t this selfish display of supreme arrogance, both )ria and ?eo %ere on

the (erge of e'ploding. Tatsuya finished his meal in a hurry, taled %ith

?eo and the still9eating Mi$ui and )ria, then stood up.

Miyui had soundlessly apologi$ed to Tatsuya and the others, before

%aling past the (acated seat to stand by her brother.

The second act had been the afternoon (isit to a specialist class.

&n the remote precision magic laboratory other%ise no%n as the shooting

range, a practical class %as being carried out by rd year class +.

&t %as the class of the Student 5resident, Saegusa Mayumi.

The student council %as not necessarily chosen by grades, but the

president this term %as a once in a decade prodigy in remote precisionmagic, and had brought countless trophies to the school.

That %as something e(en the freshmen had heard.

They had also confirmed the rumor of her couettish nature at the entrance

ceremony.

There %ere many students paced around the range trying to get a loo at

her sill, but the number %ho could (isit %as limited. 3ue to that, among

the numerous ostensible reser(ists for first course and second coursestudents, Tatsuya and co. had grandly camped up at the front ro%.

Naturally, he had been un%illing to stand out.

Then during the third act, in progress this (ery moment, Mi$ui caustically

spat out.

"1ont you all stop being such poor losers< Miyui9san has said she

%ishes to go %ith her brother. &ts not the place of anyone of you to say

other%ise is it


73/197

-oncerning the circumstances, after school, Tatsuya had been %aiting for

Miyui, %hose accompanying classmates had started to accuse. =y the

%ay, those classmates %ere girls. *b(iously there %as also a floc of male

students in the (icinity of Miyui# %ho had started silent at first, but that

restraint had already been lost and all decency rapidly follo%ed."Hasnt Miyui treated you guys %ell enough already< &f she %anted to go

%ith you, she %ould ha(e said so. 1hat right do you ha(e to try and tear

those t%o apart"

That %as one of Miyuis male classmates.

"Thats right> 1ere sorry for Shiba9san, but %e just %ant a little more

time>"

That %as one of Miyuis female classmates.

+t their selfishness, ?eo ga(e a hearty laugh.

"Ha> Thats just self9justification. Find a better time for it."


74/197

)ria also retorted %ith a smile and edged sarcasm.

"&f you really had ased, maybe you %ould(e had her consent from the

start"

3ue to its discriminatory nature, the use of the %ord 1eed is prohibited

by school regulations. &t is a rule still gradually being learned, but e(en soits not e'actly a %ord to be used in this conte't %ith so many people

listening.

The one %ho reacted to this rant head9on %as, %hether to say une'pected

or to be e'pected probably to be e'pected really#, %as again Mi$ui.

"1e are all the same freshmen. ;ou guys are =looms, but right no% just

ho% are you any better than us =y all means, sho% us>"

+t the first course students threat, ?eo responded aggressi(ely. Ha(ing

come to this, no outcome other than tit for tat could be e'pected.

The right lay %ith Mi$ui.=ecause they understood that full %ell, those complacent %ith the current

system, both staff and students alie, stood aside.


75/197

Though there had been a clear (iolation of the rules here, the (ast majority

%ould ignore their situation and pretend to ha(e seen nothing.

)(en if the (iolation %as not only of the school rules, but the la% itself.

"Then & %ill>"

The only ones allo%ed to carry a -+3 in the school %ere senior members

of the student council and certain committee members.

The use of magic off campus %as tightly regulated by la%.

Ho%e(er, the mere possession of -+3 off campus %as not restricted.

There %ould be no point.

-+3s are currently indispensable tools for magicians, but they are not

essential for the use of magic. Magic can be used e(en %ithout a -+3.Therefore, the la% does not restrict the mere possession of a -+3.

The procedure for students %ho possessed -+3s %as to lea(e them at the

office before classes started, and to pic them up upon returning home.

So it %as not surprising for students to ha(e -+3s on the %ay bac from

school.

"+ speciali$ed -+3


76/197

+ large portion of magic is dependent on talent.

+t the same time, that means lineage plays a (ital role.

There are many first course students %ho enter school %ith e'cellent

results not as a result of studying magic at school but because of parents,

family business, possibly e(en gaining combat e'perience from there.

"*nii9sama>"

)(en before Miyui had finished her cry, Tatsuyas right hand stretched

out.

There %as no %ay he could reach, but he reached any%ay. 1as it

meaningful, or %as it just a meaningless refle'i(e action.

1hate(er it %as, in this case, nothing came of it.

That %as because6

")e>"

That scream came from the first course student aiming his -+3.

The handgun -+3 had been noced from his hand.

=efore their eyes, casually s%inging a baton that had suddenly appeared

from some%here, in a rela'ed manner, )ria %as smiling. There %as no

trembling or hastiness in that smile. Dust by looing at that confidentalertness, you could tell there %as no such thing from the beginning. &f the

same situation had occurred 77 times, the first course students -+3

%ould ha(e gone flying 77 times. That %as a certainty.

"+t this distance, the body mo(es faster."

"& agree, but you %ere planning on %hacing my hand as %ell, %erent

you"

+s )ria put the bac of the hand holding the baton to her mouth and ga(e

off an ohohohoho, her decepti(e laughter hiding her real intentions, ?eo

%as nearing the end of his patience.


77/197


78/197

"&m serious. 1hether you %ere going to engage or not, & can tell from

your stance.

;ou seem lie an idiot, but your arm speas other%ise,"

"...+re you maing fun of me< ;oure maing fun of me right to my face


79/197

)(en the blueprint for the magic ritual, the acti(ation seuence, is a type of

5sion. Ho%e(er, the acti(ation seuence alone cannot affect reality.

The 5sions processed by the user %ould simply scramble then return.

=roadly speaing, this is the function of -+3s, to tae the 5sions initially

pro(ided by the acti(ation seuence, and form them into 5sions themagician can use to re%rite phenomena: the magic ritual.

Speciali$ed -+3 are often shaped in the form of guns because using the

au'iliary aiming systems incorporated in the area corresponding to the

barrel, coordinate data is input at the moment the acti(ation seuence is

initiated, and in order to reduce the calculation load on the user, 5sions

arent emitted from the mu$$le.

From magician to -+3, then -+3 bac to magician.&f this flo% of 5sions is disrupted, then magic dependent on -+3s %ill no

longer %or.

For e'ample, if during calculation or e'pansion a load of 5sions are fired

from outside, the 5sion pattern of the acti(ation ritual %ill be scrambled,

disallo%ing the building of an effecti(e magic ritual and erasing the magic.

?ie no%.

"Stop right there> 2sing attac magic on others for any reason other thanself9defense is not just a (iolation of school rules, its a criminal offense>"

The e'panding acti(ation seuence of the female student %as shattered by

a bullet of 5sions.

Celeasing a 5sion bullet, %hile in itself the simplest form of magic,

reuires e'tremely precise control in order to destroy just the acti(ation

seuence and a(oid any e'traneous damage, and sho%s superb sill on the

part of the user.2pon recogni$ing the o%ner of that (oice, the female student %ho %as

intent on attacing )ria and company became pale, and not as a result of

the magic. She fell into another female student, and they collapsed.

The one %ho ga(e the %arning, and had fired the 5sion bullet, %as the

Student -ouncil president, Saegusa Mayumi.

Her 6 as far as Tatsuya had seen 6 e(er9smiling face, e(en no%, did not

ha(e much se(erity in it.Ho%e(er in the eyes of someone capable in magic, her small figure %as

%rapped in an aura of 5sion light far beyond that of ordinary mages,


80/197

gi(ing her an in(iolable air of dignity.

";ou are students from + and ) arent you.

& %ill hear you out. 5lease come along."

+ hard, e(en cold (oice, came from the girl ne't to Mayumi. +ccording tothe introduction of the Student -ouncil during the entrance ceremony she

%as the rd year 5ublic Moral -hief, 1atanabe Mari.

Maris -+3 held an already deployed and e'panded acti(ation seuence.

&t %as not difficult to imagine %hat any form of resistance here %ould lead

to.

?eo, Mi$ui, and Miyuis classmates, %ithout a %ord, stiffened up.

Mo(ing not out of rebellion, stepping up ne't to his classmates fro$en bythe atmosphere, %ithout a trace of haughtiness or pride, neither do%ncast

nor timid, Tatsuya %aled %ith an e(en measured gait, follo%ed by

Miyui, to stand before Mari.

Mari cast a ui$$ical glance at these first years %ho had suddenly come

striding up.

To Mari, these t%o had not seemed lie in(ol(ed parties.

Tatsuya too her ga$e %ithout flinching, and stopped a respectabledistance from her.

"1ere sorry, the pran %ent too far."

"5ran


81/197

conditioned refle' is truly %orthy of a first course student."

His e'pression as he ans%ered %as deadpan, although his (oice %as

some%hat shameless.

";our friends %ere about to be attaced by magic, but you still insist it %as

a pran


82/197

1ithout the slightest deceit, she ga(e a deep bo%, and as if the miasma

%as dispelled Mari looed a%ay.

"Mari, its fine already.

Tatsuya9un, that really %as just a demonstration right


83/197

+fter the officials had gone out of sight, the one %ho had acted first, in

other %ords the first course student %hom Tatsuya had protected, glared at

Tatsuya and said as much in the same thorny (oice.

Tatsuyas e'pression had a rather ah man loo to it.

+ll his friends had a face similar to his.

Celie(ed that this normally needlessly e'cited character %ouldnt play up

here at least, Tatsuya returned the ga$e of the course + student %ho

suddenly gre% a spine.

"& dont thin that at all, so dont %orry.

1hat got you off %asnt my glib tongue but rather Miyuis sincerity."

"& came along because e(en though *nii9sama is good at taling people

do%n, he has problems con(incing them."

"&ndeed."

His artificial loo of reproach faded, replaced by a %ry smile.

"...My name is Morisai Shun. +s you thought, & am of the Morisai

house."

Seeing the %arm banter bet%een the siblings, his hostility faded some%hat,

and he ga(e his name."&m just saying its not really that much of a big deal.

&(e seen plenty of practical e'amples in (isual materials."

"+h, no% that you mention it, & thin &(e seen them before too."

";ou only just remembered it no% didnt you. +s & thought, Tatsuyas on a

different le(el to you."

"Ho% patroni$ing. +n idiot %ho tried to grab a Houi in the midst of

acti(ation has no business taling about le(els."

"+h< 1hore you calling an idiot, idiot


84/197

+s the tal bet%een his friends, meaningful in its o%n %ay, finally shifted

bac in their direction, Tatsuya and Morisai shared a glance %ithout

mo(ing.

"& still dont acno%ledge you, Shiba Tatsuya. Shiba9sans place should be

%ith us."*n that note %ithout %aiting for Tatsuyas reply, Morisai left. He

probably said it precisely because it %as a line that didnt bear an ans%er,

something his opponent %as fully a%are of.

"Suddenly calling me by my full name huh."

+s Tatsuya muttered to himself at a (olume just loud enough to hear,

Morisai ga(e an in(oluntary shudder. His obstinacy %as unliely to stop

there. Ho%e(er, it seemed liely his pride %as a part of his nature.=eside him, hearing his murmur, Miyui seemed disuieted. She had

al%ays been %orried that her brothers nac for maing enemies %as a

disad(antage for him.

=ut more than that, she had had enough of Morisais prejudices.

"*nii9sama, shall %e head bac


85/197

"& understand. Then, %hat should & call you..."

+ fierce con(iction bla$ed in her eyes.

&td be nice if this didnt become troublesome, he thought, as he too care

to reply in a manner that didnt come out displeased.

"Tatsuya is fine."

"...+lright.

+nd so, um..."

"...1hat is it


86/197

*S you cant do much."

5eering out from beside Miyui %as Mi$ui, %ho joined in the

con(ersation. Dudging from Tatsuyas light smile as he replied, it %asnt

really effecti(e.

"& dont ha(e the sill to access the -+3 core systems. Thats too much."

"Tatsuya9un, could you also loo o(er my -+3


87/197

field isnt it


88/197


89/197

Chapter 3

+s the sign "First High School" ob(iously stated, this station %as a

mandatory stop for all attending students.

There %as practically only one path bet%een the train station and the

school.

3ue to the changes to the trams and their decrease in number, the e(ent

no%n as "riding the tram together" might be more accurately changed to

"%aling to school %ith friends". For this school, this e(ent is still uite

common. &ndeed, this e(ent could be seen many times yesterday, the day

after commencement, today, and has continued since the beginning.Although it might not be so sudden,Tatsuya thought.

"Tatsuya9un... +re you acuainted %ith the 5resident


90/197

groundless belief, the termination of peace and uiet.

"Tatsuya9un, good morningO. +nd Miyui as %ell, good morning."

-ompared to Miyuis greeting, the greeting directed to%ards himself %as

uite casual, Tatsuya thought. Ho%e(er, she %as still the rd ;ear Student

-ouncil 5resident.

"Bood morning, 5resident."

&t %as necessary to obser(e proper protocol, just to be on the safe side.

&mmediately follo%ing Tatsuya, Miyui also bo%ed respectfully. The other

three offered polite, albeit slightly a%ed, greetings. &t %as only natural to

ha(e such a reaction.

"+re you alone, 5resident


91/197

")h< &s that the case


92/197

+n embarrassed Mayumi smiled ashamedly %hile trying to persuade

Miyui.

"&f its the Student -ouncil Coom, its not a problem if Tatsuya9un tags

along as %ell."

+t that moment, Mayumis smiling face became teasing and, to put itbluntly, mischie(ous. Hopefully, that %as a mistae on Tatsuyas part.

)(en if it %as a misinterpretation, that particular %ay of putting it still

ga(e him a headache.

"...Speaing of problems, there is one. There appears to be some conflict

bet%een myself and the Qice95resident. &m terribly sorry."

Tatsuya did not plan on interfering bet%een Miyui and the Student

-ouncil, and so he left the interruption at that.

*n the day of enrollment, the male student behind Mayumi that

continuously glared at Tatsuya %as probably the Qice 5resident.

That line of sight did not appear to be a misinterpretation.

&f Tatsuya carelessly %ent to the Student -ouncil Coom to eat lunch, this

undoubtedly %ould lead to conflict bet%een the t%o of them.

Ho%e(er, it appeared that Mayumi had not grasped the meaning behind

Tatsuyas %ords.

"The Qice95resident...


93/197

3espite that, there %ere people %ho directly refused Mayumis social

in(itation.

")(en though its a rare opportunity, & thin %ell pass."

)(en using the %ord "pass" in this %ay, it still con(eyed a definite

"refusal".

)ria and companys une'pected response caused the situation to become

slightly a%%ard.

Nonetheless, trying to get their underlying feelings across, or e(en to

smooth things o(er, %as franly impossible.

"&s that so


94/197

Dust climbing t%o flights of stairs became an e'hausting tas, and it %asnt

because of a lac of e'ercise.

The real %eight came from the hea(y mood0 hea(y footsteps %as just a

metaphor, though the reluctance to%ards going remained the same.

-ompared to Tatsuya, Miyui %as the complete opposite. Her steps %erelight and energetic.

Tatsuya %as not insensiti(e enough to completely misunderstand the cause

of Miyuis joy, so he remained silent.

Their destination %as at the end of the hall%ay on the fourth floor.

From the outside, they %ere all the same. They all had the same %ooden

doors.

1hat %as different %as the %ooden engra(ing embedded in the door, the

speaer on the %all, and the cle(erly disguised safety de(ices.

The sign on the door clearly displayed the %ords "Student -ouncil Coom".

The in(itation %as for Miyui0 Tatsuya %as purely complementary. Thus,

the job of nocing fell to Miyui. *f course, this is another metaphor,

since communication is through the speaer rather than nocing.#

+fter Miyui solemnly reuested entry through the speaer, from the

opposite end came a cheerful %elcome.

1ith a slight noise, so slight that e(en pressing ones ear to the door %ould

not ha(e detected it, the loc opened.

Tatsuya placed his hand on the door nob and opened the door, adopting a

stance that shielded Miyui on the %ay inside.

&n reality, there %as nothing that called for such a response. Tatsuya %as

%ell a%are of this point.

This beha(ior %as something deeply ingrained into the siblings daily

acti(ities.

6+nd of course, nothing happened.

"1elcome. 3ont mind us, please come in."

3irectly in front, a (oice came from the opposite end of the table.

Tatsuya really %anted to as Mayumi %hat caused her such happiness to

greet them %ith a smile lie that as she beconed them in.Miyui led the %ay into the room, follo%ed hurriedly by Tatsuya. He


95/197

stopped one step from the door, %ith Miyui t%o steps from the door.

1ith both hands slightly before her, Miyui bo%ed in greeting, a te'tboo

e'ample of formality.

1hen compared to such a honed mo(ement, Tatsuya had no chance of

imitating it.

Miyuis speech and mo(ement patterns %ere completely different from

Tatsuyas. This %as most liely the %or of their deceased mother.

")h... No need to be so formal."

+fter %atching Miyui e'ecute a perfect greeting that %ould not be out of

place in a formal gala, Mayumi seemed to shrin a little.

)(en though there %ere t%o other members in attendance, they seemed to

be o(er%helmed by the atmosphere as %ell.

There %as one other person present that %as not a member of the Student

-ouncil. The representati(e from the 5ublic Moral -ommittee %ore a

mas of composure, but anyone could tell that %as a bra(e front, not to

mention a (eteran obser(er lie Tatsuya. Truly, my little sister is uite

moti(ated today, Tatsuya thought.

The only thing that pu$$led Tatsuya %as e'actly %hy Miyui chose such

an intimidation tactic.

"5lease sit. 1e can tal %hile %e eat."

Maybe it %as because Miyuis opening sal(o rattled her, but Mayumis

(oice had changed. To put it positi(ely, the (oice %as still harmonious. To

put it negati(ely, the intimate friendliness from before %as gone.

She %as probably referring to the long table in the meeting room.

+t this moment, the signal reached the table interior, rearranging the table

to be appropriate for dining. (!)

Cegardless, the siblings approached the e'pensi(e table and chose their

seats. Miyui slid a chair out and sat do%n, %hile Tatsuya chose a seat just

belo% hers.

For someone %ho al%ays adamantly insisted that her elder brother tae a

seat higher than her o%n, the only reason Miyui controlled her outburst

%as because of the understanding that she %as the focus of todays

meeting."Meat, fish, or (egetarian. 1hich do you prefer


96/197

1hat %as ama$ing %as not just the 3inner Ser(er Module, but the

comple' selections a(ailable as %ell.

Tatsuya piced (egetarian, %ith Miyui mirroring his choice. +fter

recei(ing their orders, the /nd ;ear student 6 probably the Secretary

Naajou +$usa 6 acti(ated the large cabinet9lie machine tuced near the%all.

No% the only thing that remained %as %aiting.

Mayumi %as seated in the main chair. To her side and directly across from

Miyui sat another rd ;ear female student. *ne seat o(er %as the 5ublic

Moral -ommittee member, %ho %as across from Tatsuya. +$usa sat ne't

on the other side of the committee member. +fter regaining her bearings a

little, Mayumi began.

"&ntroductions %ere e'changed at the enrollment ceremony, but just in

case, lets go o(er this again. To my side is our +ccountant, &chihara

Su$une, also no%n as Cin9chan."

"...The only one %ho calls me that is the 5resident."

)(ery part of her solemn face ga(e off a stern impression, though %ith her

tall frame and %illo%y limbs, Su$une %ould ha(e done full justice to the

description of "beauty".

&t must be admitted that "Cin9chan" fit her profile better than "Su$une".

"The t%o of you should no% the one on Cin9chans side, right< This is the

-hair of the 5ublic Moral -ommittee 1atanabe Mari."

Mari didnt say anything, but her not taing e'ception to anyone %ould be

natural.

"+nd follo%ing that is our Secretary, Naajou +$usa, also no%n as +9

chan.""Student -ouncil 5resident... 5lease dont call me +9chan in front of the

underclassmen. & ha(e my position to thin of too."

=ecause she %as e(en more petite than Mayumi and possessed a more

childish face, %hene(er +$usa directed a teary9eyed face up%ards, she

unintentionally ga(e off the impression of a child about to cry.

+nd that %ould probably be the reason she is called "+9-han", Tatsuya

thought. That might be too cruel a truth for the person in uestion."The last one %ould be Qice 5resident Han$ou. +nd that maes up all the

members of the Student -ouncil -ommittee."


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"1hich & am not part of."

"*h yes, Mari is not a member of the Student -ouncil. +h, the

preparations are complete."

The co(er to the 3inner Ser(er opened, presenting neat and proper meals

%ithout a hint of character on a series of trays.

There %ere only fi(e meals.

1ere short one... )(en though Tatsuya thought of this, he did not mention

it aloud because he %as thining of a solution. 1hile Tatsuya %as

processing this, Mari uietly too out a bento bo'.

Seeing +$usa stand up, Miyui also left the table. +s its name implied, the

3inner Ser(er %as capable of producing meals, but %ithout a matching

table set, it %as more efficient to manually bring the trays o(er.

+$usa first put her tray on the table, then brought Mayumi and Su$unes

portions as %ell.

Follo%ing that, Miyui carried o(er the t%o trays for the siblings, and %ith

that a most interesting lunch began.

&n the beginning, the con(ersation %as completely open.

)(en then, Tatsuya and Miyui had (ery fe% con(ersational subjects that

coincided %ith the committee members.

The con(ersation naturally flo%ed to%ards the topic of food.

&t couldnt be helped that the 3inner Ser(er produced %hat %as more or

less fast food, but modern processed foods ha(e nearly the same uality as

normal cuisines. That being said, if it can only match "normal uality"

cuisines, then the deficiencies of processed foods cannot be denied.

"3id you mae that bento yourself, 1atanabe9senpai


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Dust as Miyui %as starting to panic, a (oice from her side responded for

her in the negati(e.

"...& see."

Tatsuyas eyes %ere %atching Maris hand motions, or her fingers to be

precise. &f it %ere made by a machine, or by hand, %hat ind of cuisines%ould, or %ould not, be possible...< &t ga(e the impression that he could

see through e(erything, causing Mari to feel uite embarrassed.

"?ets start bringing bentos of our o%n tomorro%."

1hen Miyui spoe up as if nothing had happened, Tatsuya also shifted

his line of sight.

"Miyuis bentos are certainly incredible, but as to %here to eat them..."

"*h, yes... First %e need to find some%here to eat them..."

The siblings dialogue 6 not only the contents, but the atmosphere itself 9

seemed a little too intimate for a pair of blood9related teenagers.

"...Dust lie a pair of lo(ers."

Su$une adopted a smile that %as not a smile, and dropped an e'plosi(e

comment.

"&s that so< &f %e %erent siblings, then %e %ould be lo(ers, is that %hatyou thin


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"...Thats true. & tae bac my earlier comment. ;ou are an interesting guy,

Tatsuya9un."

1ith a slight smile 6 and for a beautiful young lady, she often re(eals a

smile before a boy 6 Mari changed her earlier e(aluation.

First the Student -ouncil 5resident, no% the -hair of the 5ublic Moral-ommittee. & guess & better get used to people calling me by name.

"&ts about time %e get to the point."

&t might ha(e been a little une'pected, but the time allotted for lunch brea

%as limited.

+fter e(eryone finished eating, both Tatsuya and Miyui nodded upon

hearing Mayumis %ords.

"Dust as our school places hea(y emphasis on self determination, the

Student -ouncil has been granted (ast po%ers %ithin the confines of the

school. Not only our school, but most public high schools also adopt a

similar method."

Tatsuya agreed %ith the principle. Management9centric and 3eterministic9

centric %ere lie the ebb and flo% of the tides, fundamentally different but

at the same time impacting one another. 1ith the (ictory in the *ina%a

3efense =attle years ago and the subseuent rise in international (oice,the old management9centric style that led to diplomatic disad(antages and

internal unrest %as s%ept out in fa(or of self9determination becoming the

theme of society. &n time, there %as another re(erse0 a portion of pri(ate

high schools adopted a harsh management9centric philosophy. Thus, it is

difficult to unilaterally calculate the progression of e(ents. (!)

"*ur Student -ouncil uses the traditional method of concentrating the

po%er and authority in the president. This presidential style can also be

described as e'treme centrali$ation."

Hearing these %ords triggered some unease, though this %ould probably

be discourteous to Mayumi.

Tatsuya tightly clasped his fist.

"The president is elected by the student body, the other members are

appointed by the president. 1ith a fe% e'ceptions, the president has the

right of appointment and remo(al for all officers."

"My position as the -hair of the 5ublic Moral -ommittee is one of thosee'ceptions. The Student -ouncil, the -lub Management Broup, and the


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teachers each select a representati(e to determine this position."

"+nd because of this, on some le(el Mari holds the same authority & do.

2nder the rules, the president has a term period, but the others do not. The

term lasts from *ctober to September 7 of the ne't year. =et%een this

time, the president has the right of appointment and remo(al for allofficers."

+bout time to get to the point.# Tatsuya did not interrupt, but merely

nodded to indicate he understood.

"There is an annual tradition to in(ite the st ;ear representati(e to the

Student -ouncil, %ith the intent of training them to become the successor.

Hopefully, the st ;ear representati(e %ill be elected to be the ne't Student

-ouncil 5resident. +lthough it is not a guarantee, this has been the case for

the past 8 years."

"So the 5resident %as also a st ;ear representati(e< Ruite impressi(e."

"+hO, err, yes."

Mayumi blushed and stammered her reply.

Tatsuyas response %as merely flattery, since he already ne% the ans%er.

The odd part %as that Mayumi should already be inured to such flattery

gi(en her position, yet she still reddened in embarrassment. This %as noact, but true embarrassment. This is certainly uite de(ious... She loos

lie a perfectly normal high school student. 6 &t cant be that she

intentionally lets people see that she is easily embarrassed, and that is the

true acting portion" &t %as ob(ious that

)ria %as (ery pleased %ith the result, as could be seen from her clenched

fist and the %ay she turned to loo at Tatsuya. &ndeed, she %as more deft

this time compared to the first time they conducted this e'ercise, and there

%as mared impro(ement to both acceleration and deceleration.

The purpose of this e'ercise %as to accelerate the flatbed car to the middle

of the trac, then decelerate to the other end, accelerate from that end bacto%ards the middle, and decelerate to the starting point... To be repeated

three times. The acti(ation seuence inputted into the -+3 %as for these J


111/197

acceleration and deceleration in(ocations. =ecause there %ere no set

acceleration or deceleration (ectors


112/197

e(en hea(ier footsteps than during lunch brea.

+lthough the atmosphere surrounding the circumstances %as a little pitiful,

because Miyui could understand Tatsuyas feelings, she remained silent.

Thans to the fact that the &3 -ard %as already registered in the

certification system 99Doining the Student -ouncil is apparentlyconsidered a guarantee. +lthough resistance is possible, Mayumi and Mari

%ould probably insist# 99 the siblings entered the room. (!)

&mmediately upon entering, there %as a sharp ga$e tinged %ith hostility.

The source came from the opposite side of the machine in the %all, in a

seat that %as unoccupied during lunch brea.

")'cuse us>"

&t %as hard to say %hether it %as out of sorro% or pride, but Tatsuya %asalready accustomed to this type of ga$e and atmosphere. He maintained his

poer face, bo%ed in silence, and %ith that the hostile ga$e dissipated lie

rainclouds before the sun. )(en then, it %asnt as if the hostility had

disappeared completely, more lie the pre(ious hostile ga$e %as no%

directed in a more fa(orable light to%ards Miyui, %ho %as no% standing

in the front. The reasoning behind this should need no further e'planation.

The o%ner of this ga$e stood up and %aled to%ards the siblings. No,

more lie %aled to%ards Miyui. Tatsuya remembered his face. *n the

day of enrollment, he %as the /nd ;ear student standing closely behind

Mayumi as if a%aiting orders, thus maing him the Student -ouncil Qice

5resident.

The Qice 5resident stood roughly as tall as Tatsuya. The difference %as

that his shoulders %ere a little narro%er.

He had a handsome (isage that did not %arrant additional %ords to

describe, and an unremarable build. He did not gi(e off a robustimpression, but from the %ay psion light densely clung to the air around

his body, he must be a young man %ith considerable Magic 5o%er.

"& am the Qice 5resident, Hattori Byoubu. Shiba Miyui, %elcome to the

Student -ouncil."

His (oice %as a little abnormal, but considering his age he %as probably

suppressing any personal reaction.

His right hand shoo a little, probably because the %ish to shae hands%as not completely erased.


113/197

+s to %hy the shaing stopped, Tatsuya did not care to consider.

Hattori returned to his seat %hile completely ignoring Tatsuya. =ehind

Miyui, a displeased aura %as gathering, but that too disappeared in an

instant. The only one %ho noticed %as probably Tatsuya, thans to his

pro'imity. Thanfully she managed to control herself, Tatsuya pattedhimself discreetly on the chest.

The Qice 5resident %as completely una%are of Tatsuyas %orries 6

though that shouldnt be surprising, gi(en they just met 6 or the source of

Tatsuyas %orries. Dust then, t%o (ery casual greetings fle% in.

"+h, youre here."

"1elcome, Miyui. ;ou too, Tatsuya9un. Bood %or."

From the %ay Mari casually raised a hand in greeting, she %as alreadytreating Tatsuya as one of them. Mayumi %as the complete opposite. Her

attitude %as much different from before. Then again, most groups %ould

be upset if an outsider %ere to intrude, although no outburst actually

happened. Tatsuya, much lie e(eryone else, had long since arri(ed at the

conclusion that trying to understand these t%o %as a hopeless cause.

"&n that case, no need to delay. +9chan, if you please."

"...;es."&t appeared that she already ga(e up. For a moment, +$usas head drooped

%ith a sad e'pression before she put on a %ooden smile and led Miyui

to%ards the terminal on the side.

"1ell, lets be off."

&t hasnt e(en been a %hole day yet and shes already speaing so casually.

Maybe flightiness is part of her character, Tatsuya thought.

"1here to


114/197

"& thought so too."

+s she %as saying this, Mari began to stand up. =ut just as she %as about

to lea(e the chair, a comment stopped her.

"1atanabe9senpai, please %ait a minute."

The (oice came from Qice 5resident Hattori. 2pon hearing this, Mari

replied in a manner that to this day Tatsuya still cannot get used to.

"&s something the matter, Hattori Byoubushoujou Han$ou"

Tatsuya glanced at Mayumi.

Seeing Tatsuyas ga$e, Mayumi tilted her head %ith a "Hm"

"Thats your familys official title, isnt it."

"&t has nothing to do %ith the title no%. The school has already accepted

the name Hattori Byoubu> ...No, thats not %hat & %anted to say."

"Thats because youre too formal, isnt it


115/197

"1atanabe9senpai, the topic & %anted to spea %ith you about is precisely

regarding the replacements for the 5ublic Moral -ommittee."

The blood that had originally caused Hattoris face to flush completely red

had no% receded. Dust lie the slo%9motion screening for an animation,

Hattori had calmed himself."1hat


116/197

"Thats a taboo term, Qice 5resident Hattori. + taboo term as banned by the

5ublic Moral -ommittee. ;ou ha(e a lot of ner(e using that in front of me,

the -hair of the 5ublic Moral -ommittee."

Facing Maris reprimand, %arning, or maybe a little of both, Hattori

sho%ed no sign of %eaness.";ou can ban that term all you %ant. 3o you plan on punishing a third of

the entire student body< The difference bet%een =looms and 1eeds is

something that is %ritten into the school system and acno%ledged by the

school itself. The source of the difference bet%een =looms and 1eeds is

the difference in ability. 5ublic Moral -ommittee members are responsible

for the tas of subjugating students that brea school rules. + 1eed %ith

inferior abilities is incapable of accomplishing that tas."

To Hattoris proud assertion, Mari only smiled coldly.

"&t is true that the 5ublic Moral -ommittee is ability9based, but ability

comes in many forms. &f %e need to use strength for suppression, thats

%hat &m here for. )(en if &m up against 7 or e(en /7 opponents, & can

handle them alone. &n this school, the only people that can go on

against me are 5resident Saegusa and -lub Management Broup ?eader

Duumonji. +ccording to you, the people %ith lo% combat capability are

unnecessary. So, do you plan to challenge me, Qice 5resident Hattori


117/197

impossible to belie(e.

Ceading the acti(ation seuence. This by all rights should be impossible.

For Hattori, that %as "common sense".

"&n other %ords, e(en before the magic has been in(oed, he alreadyno%s %hat magic his opponent is using."

Ho%e(er, Maris ans%er did not change. This %as the truth, %as definitely

possible, and Mari had no doubts %hatsoe(er as she said it.

"+ccording to our school rules, depending on the type of magic used, the

le(el of punishment also changes. 2nfortunately, if %e %ere to disrupt the

acti(ation seuence before in(ocation lie Mayumi did, there is no %ay to

tell %hat magic %as originally used. &f %e %aited until the acti(ation

seuence finished, then that %ould defeat the entire purpose. Thus it issafer to disrupt magic during the acti(ation seuence. 1ithout any definite

accusation of %rong doing, the only thing %e can charge them %ith is

attempted disruption and the subseuent lighter punishment. =ut %ith

Tatsuya, %e can properly catch those that ha(e been using stronger

magics."

"...=ut, if he ran across an actual crime scene, and %as unable to stop the

magic in(ocation..."

Hattori could not o(ercome his shoc, but still managed to rebut.

"&n that case, it %ould be beyond a st ;ear -ourse student any%ays.

+nd probably beyond /nd ;ear students as %ell. Ho% many people do you

no% that are able to in(oe second and still manage to deny their

opponent from in(oing first< =esides that, there is still one more reason &

%ant him to join the 5ublic Moral -ommittee."

Mari tabled the first reason and started another.

No matter %hat, Hattori couldnt come up %ith a counter argument on the

spot.

"To this day there is no 5ublic Moral -ommittee member that comes from

-ourse / students. &n other %ords, -ourse / students that improperly use

magic against school rules are apprehended by -ourse students. +s you

said, there is a %ide di(ide bet%een -ourse and -ourse / students.

-ourse students can apprehend -ourse / students, but the re(erse is not

true. This configuration has only ser(ed to %iden that di(ide. & do not lieit that the committee members under my command are only ser(ing to

%iden this differential impression."


118/197

"+h... Ruite impressi(e, Mari. ;ou ha(e e(en taen this into account< &

thought you only cared about Tatsuya9un."

"5lease be uiet, 5resident."

Mayumi %anted to change the surrounding atmosphere, but %as stopped

by Su$une.

+ reproachful loo.

+ shaing head.

The former %as from Mayumi, the latter from Su$une.

+nd so, t%o conflicting emotions %ere mi'ed together into one

inseparable %hole, and came bursting out %ith resentment.

"5resident... as the Qice95resident, & object to appointing Shiba Tatsuya asa 5ublic Morals -ommittee member.

1hile & accept that -hair 1atanabe has got a point in her assertion, the

original mission of a 5ublic Morals -ommittee member is to unco(er and

subjugate the school rule breaers.

+ -ourse / student %ho is lacing in magic ability cant perform the duties

of a 5ublic Morals -ommittee member. Such a misplaced appointment

%ill surely damage your reputation as the 5resident.

5lease reconsider."

"5lease %ait>"

Tatsuya turned around frantically.

Dust as he had feared, Miyui could no longer bear %ith it.

+bsorbed in Maris speech, he had missed the right timing to restrain her.

1hile he frantically attempted to preempti(ely stop her, Miyui, %ho had

started speaing, %as faster.

"This may sound audacious, Qice95resident. My brothers practical magic

results may indeed be unfa(orable, but that %as merely because the

practical test %as not effecti(e in gauging my brothers strength.

&n a real battle, my brother %ould not lose to anyone."

*n hearing those %ords that %ere filled %ith certainty, Maris eyes

%idened a little. Mayumis faint smile disappeared as %ell, and her serious

eyes turned to%ards Miyui and Tatsuya.

Ho%e(er, the seriousness in the ga$e Hattori returned on Miyui became


119/197

thinner.

"Shiba9san."

The one Hattori %as addressing %as, needless to say, Miyui.

"Cegardless of %hat happens, a Magician must mae judgments calmlyand logically. &ndi(idual bias may be una(oidable for a normal person, but

for one %ho is aiming to become a Magician, please bear in mind that you

should not let your indi(idual bias cloud your judgment."

There %as no indness felt in the admonishment. He %as probably just

acting as an e'cellent "2pperclassman", %ho despite his self9

righteousness, %as looing after his junior of the same -ourse . 6=ut,

under these circumstances, Tatsuya seemed to no% that such a manner of

speaing %ould cause an opposite effect, and the moment %hen Miyui%ould rebue Hattori.

Sure enough, Miyui %as getting increasingly heated up.

"5ardon me for saying so, but my judgment is not clouded> &f *nii9sama

could use more of his po%er6"

"Miyui."

Tatsuya held his hand out in front of Miyui, %ho had completely lost her

cool.

1ith a startled face, Miyui shut her mouth %ith a mi' of embarrassment

and regret, and hung her head in shame.

Ha(ing stopped Miyuis %ords %ith a %a(e of his hand, Tatsuya %aled

up to Hattori.

Miyui had indeed said too much. She had almost said the things that

shouldnt be said. Ho%e(er, it %as Hattori %ho had made Miyui say that

much. Tatsuya had no intention of putting all the blame on Miyui alone.

"Qice95resident Hattori, %hy dont %e ha(e a moc battle"


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The one %ho ga(e a small shrie %as +$usa.

The other three, as e'pected of upperclassmen, remained composed.

+nd then, a small %ry smile surfaced on the troubled face of the one %ho

%as getting (erbally abused.

"1hats so funny"

"+ Magician should remain calm, right"

Ha(ing his o%n %ords thro%n bac at him in ridicule, Hattori held his

breath.

Tatsuya didnt stop there. He did not feel lie stopping.

"+s it is, & thin that %e %ont no% each others anti9personnel battle sill%ithout fighting.

&ts not lie & %ant to become a 5ublic Morals -ommittee member but... if

its for pro(ing that my little sisters judgment is not clouded, then it cannot

be helped."

He seemed to be mumbling to himself.

To Hattori, it sounded lie a challenge.

"...Fine. &ll gi(e you a good lesson on %hat it is to no% your place."

&t %as not just his mouth that had betrayed his agitation. His controlled

tone, on the contrary, indicated the depth of his anger.

1ithout a moments delay, Mayumi interjected.

"+s the Student -ouncil 5resident, & authori$e the formal moc battle

match bet%een /nd ;ear -lass =, Hattori Byoubu and st ;ear -lass ),

Shiba Tatsuya."

"*n the basis of the Student -ouncil 5residents declaration, as the -hair

of 5ublic Morals -ommittee, & recogni$e that the match bet%een the t%o

of you as a legitimate e'tracurricular acti(ity in abidance of the school

rules."

"The time of the match %ill be thirty minutes from no%, at the third

practice room. The match %ill be a pri(ate one, and & authori$e the use of

-+3s by both sides."

&t %as a measure to pre(ent the match from becoming a bra%ling incident6 an act of (iolence forbidden by the school rules.


121/197

*n the declaration from Mayumi and Mari %ith solemn e'pressions and

nonchalant (oices, +$usa started typing furiously into the terminal.

@ @ @

"&ts just the third day of school, and my cat is going to be out of the bag,

huh..."

+fter retrie(ing his -+3 case in e'change for the appro(al letter stamped

%ith the student council presidents stamp e(en no%, this sort of thing %as

still done on paper#, Tatsuya grumbled just before the door to the third

practice room, and from behind him, came a (oice that %as on the (erge of

tears.

"&m really sorry..."

"&ts nothing you need to apologi$e for."

"=ut *nii9sama, its because of my fault that &m causing trouble to you

again..."

Turning around, and taing half a step, Tatsuya held his hand abo(e his

little sisters head.

Miyuis body trembled as she closed her eyes. =ut, after feeling the gentle

pat on her head, she timidly looed up.

)(en no%, her tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

"& said this too during the school entrance ceremony, right"

He seemed lie he %as about to lunge for%ard, but,

"Shut up you ne%comer."

+ uic roar from Mari made Morisai Shun stand upright and close hismouth.

"This is an official meeting for the 3isciplinary Members, so e(ery person

here is a member of the 3isciplinary -ommittee. +t least get that through

your head before you shout out lie that."

"& apologi$e>"

Ho% pitiful0 MorisaiKs face sho%ed tension and fear. He %as brought in

only t%o days ago by Mari. Not only that, he %as still feeling heat frombeing reprimanded from the Student 5resident, a hea(y burden for a

serious ne% student such as him.

"*h %ell, tae a seat."

Mari let out a ner(ous e'pression as she ordered the blood9drained faced

first year to sit do%n. Dudging from her demeanor, she did not seem lie

the type of person %ho %ould feel pleasure from oppressing those that

%ere %eaer than her.

Morisai sat in the chair facing Tatsuya. &t %as an un%anted seating

arrangement for the t%o, but they couldnt help it because they %ere the


170/197

ne%est members. =eing an underling meant they had to sit at the edge of

the table, glaring at each other.

")(eryone here


171/197

"+re they e(en useful"

)(eryone stood upright, put their heels together, and used their right fist to

hit their left chest. Tatsuya %ondered %hat %as going on, but he learned

later that this %as the traditional salute that the 3isciplinary -ommittee

used. There %ere other rules lie saying "Bood morning", no matter %hat

the time %as, and such.

The other si' members started lea(ing the room one by one. !outarou and

Sa%ai, the last ones to lea(e, said "3onKt try too hard" and "&f you ha(e

any uestions donKt hesitate to as me" as they left it %as ob(ious %hichone said %hat#. +s Tatsuya %as being courteous at least formally# to the

t%o, Morisai glared at him %ith annoyance. Mari sa% this and held in a


172/197

sigh %hile feeling a headache coming around.

"First, &Kll gi(e you guys these."

Mari ga(e the t

mknr 01 - enrollment (i).pdf

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