Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 03 - Nine Schools Competition (I) (30 page)

Erika grudgingly said this as she watched him leave, but it was hard to decipher her mood based on her voice and expression.

Yet, Tatsuya believed those weren't Erika's true feelings.

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I don't know if there are any ulterior motives, but shouldn't you go easier on him?"

Erika didn't seem to comprehend Tatsuya's meaning, so she took a while to respond.

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There isn't any real ulterior motive.
But you're right, I am being a little spiteful.
I knew that Miki wasn't good in this type of situation, but I still.
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"Wanted to annoy him?"

"Hm~ I guess?
He beats around the bush too much, which irritates me whenever I see him like that.
Now I can understand why he can't smile openly, but I cannot acknowledge why he refuses to get angry.
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That is being stubborn to the extent of four-legged animals."

"How kind of you."

"Please stop."

Tatsuya was simply sympathizing with her words without any other intentions, but was taken aback by Erika's unexpectedly fierce reaction.

"Didn't I just say I was being a little spiteful?
Miki and I aren't here of our own volition, we're forced to be here by our elders.
Even if I look like I'm being kind, in reality we're just in the same boat."

Her stubborn attitude was undoubtedly born of an obstinate heart.

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I'll skip the details.
Not like I can do anything with the answers anyways, so I'll just pretend I didn't hear that."

Tatsuya wasn't about to step into that minefield yet.

"Sorry, just don't ask.
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By the way, Tatsuya-kun."

Erika didn't hold it against Tatsuya for not comforting her.

"What is it?"

"Tatsuya-kun.
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is very detached."

Her tone and words were complete opposites of one another and were not critical in the slightest.

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That was quite the abrupt change in topic."

"But, I'm very thankful that you're so detached.
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I think.
You're not too gentle, so I can safely vent all I want.
Nor do you pity me, so I don't feel embarrassed.
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Thank you."

The last two words were so quiet that they almost couldn't be heard.

Seeing Erika flee towards the nearby tables, Tatsuya thought:
everyone has their own troubles.

For a buffet with no designated seating for upwards of 400 people, the cuisines could not be set in one central location.
The buffet sprawled over the entire ballroom of the hotel's top floor, with three tables set by the two walls and in the center in the front, middle, and rear for a total of 9 tables.
Cuisines suitable for teenagers were constantly being replenished on the serving tables.

Historically, the students from each school usually congregated around one of the tables.

That being said, only small fry (?
) were able to focus on eating, but the brass from each school weren't so relaxed.

At Mayumi's signal, Miyuki bid farewell to her peers and moved with the Student Council.

As Mayumi and Suzune were greeting the leadership from the other schools — and engaged in ruthless spying, Miyuki was carefully scrutinizing her brother, who was watching Erika, from behind them.

She didn't make any noise or reveal any expression, but inwardly sighed.

Miyuki esteemed Tatsuya more than anyone else (not only did Miyuki respect Tatsuya more than anyone else, she also rated him higher than anyone else).

She knew her brother wasn't perfect — but still believed that her brother was, on some level, superhuman.

Miyuki also knew that her brother possessed many glaring flaws.

One of these flaws was that he was unable to believe other people's good will towards him.

This can be partially blamed on his dullness, in that he was unable to comprehend goodwill directed towards him.

More importantly, Tatsuya honestly questioned why people would think positively of him.

On some level, this was inevitable.

Because his own parents neglected to pour this emotion called "love" into him, and even personally stripped "love" from his mind.

Miyuki knew it would take a miracle for her brother to return her feelings.

Even so, seeing an adorable classmate (even in Miyuki's eyes, Erika was an undeniable beauty) display an almost affectionate — Miyuki believed this might be "love" — towards him, Tatsuya still watched her go, behind that unyielding mask of logic, causing Miyuki's heart to ache more than be at ease.

Miyuki believed that her brother didn't even notice the gaze she was directing towards him.

Or maybe he noticed that she was watching him.

But Tatsuya definitely wasn't able to comprehend what feelings Miyuki was holding inside — once she thought of this, Miyuki despaired.

And grew more furious.

—This way, she must scold him sternly in order to calm down.

—Her brother's overly dim personality would definitely be a stumbling stone on his path to developing meaningful social relations.

—Yes, this was for her brother, a scolding born of love.

Beneath the beatific smile normally seen on statues, Miyuki made this decision.

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There was no way she could have remained ignorant of the looks she drew from her surroundings, but maybe no one could understand the real her.

Mayumi and company were (on the outside) chatting freely with the Student Council members from Third High, who were likely the stiffest opposition to First High's campaign.

In the rear, the 1st Year students from Third High were whispering to one another.

If they were eavesdropping on their senpais' analysis of combat strength and strategy, then they would be worthy of the militant nature of Third High and even move their upperclassmen to tears, but.
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"Ichijou, look, isn't that girl rad?"

"Who the heck says rad these days.
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In which generation did you attend high school?"

"Shut up, I wasn't asking you.
So, Ichijou, what do you think?"

"Why are you so excited.
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It's no use, that level of beauty is out of your league, so don't bother trying."

"Man, would you quit it, even if I can't, Ichijou should be no problem, right?
Because Ichijou's got the looks and brains and is a member of the Ten Master Clans to boot, surely we can get on his coattails, right?"

"I'm amazed you can speak so brazenly with a straight face.
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In reality, they were conversing in this manner — which was very much like regular highschoolers.

"Masaki, what is it?"

However, the male student in the center of the group did not respond to the enthusiastic endorsement and focused all his attention on the female student in question.

Instead of focusing on his charming visage, his handsome aura stood out and perfectly matched the description of a "young and handsome warrior" in the archaic fashion.
Standing near 180 cm in height with a thick set of shoulders, compact waist and slender legs.
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1st Year student Ichijou Masaki of Third High was just as his teammates described, a man whose physical appearance was quite popular with the ladies.

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Masaki?"

Bewildered, Masaki looked towards the person who called his name.
The other person was also a male 1st Year student from Third High whose build was well-trained but not overly tall.

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George, do you know who she is?"

"George" was a nickname, as his outer appearance was thoroughly Asian and his real name Kichijouji Shinkurou was purely Japanese.
Upon hearing Masaki's question, this student immediately replied without further consideration.

"Hm?
Oh, I think you can tell from the uniform, she's a 1st Year student from First High.
Her name is Shiba Miyuki, and she's participating in 'Icicle Destruction' and 'Fairy Dance', so she must be the 1st Year ace from First High."

"Whew, so both talented and beautiful, eh?"

Ichijou Masaki ignored his teammate who was bending back in a comical fashion and muttered to himself.

"Shiba Miyuki, eh.
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This sound caused the male student known as George to turn a curious eye on Masaki.

"It's quite rare for Masaki to show interest in the ladies, isn't it?"

The other students expressed their agreement.

"Now that you mention it, that's quite right."

"With Ichijou's merits, usually the ladies approach him directly, so he's usually not the pursuing one, right?"

"You have no idea how many people are jealous of this fellow."

This surrounding environment gradually turned into one where "single men were starting to get angry", but Masaki remained silent.

He would continue to observe Miyuki during several unobtrusive intervals.

His gaze possessed considerable warmth.

As the VIPs began speaking, the high school students that were the focal point of the day stopped what they were doing and paid overly serious attention to the adults speaking — or pretended to do so at any rate.

After Erika returned to her station, Tatsuya had no one left to speak with and finally obtained a modicum of peace.

Just taking in the famous figures from the magic community was a sufficient way to spend the time.

Some he beheld for the first time, others had only been seen on TV.

Of course, there were also people he had met before or sat with in the same room, but not conversed with.

Among these people, the one who held most of Tatsuya's interest was the elder from the Ten Master Clans known as the "Patriarch".

Kudou Retsu.

He was one of the most important figures from the Ten Master Clans in the 21st century and, until around twenty years ago, was acknowledged to be one of the strongest Magicians in the world.

After this elder, once renowned as one of the strongest, retired from the front lines, he rarely appeared in public events but for some reason chose to appear every year at the Nine Schools Competition.
This detail was public knowledge.

Likewise, Tatsuya had never met this man, but had seen him on video.

In his heart, Tatsuya discovered an excitement akin to witnessing a historical figure striding into the light.