The summer break was hectic—one word sums it up.
Until the Nine Schools Competition, it was non-stop magic training. At the event, I showcased Tenjin magic, defeating the "Crimson Prince" in two rookie events for victory. Named Kagurazaka heir (plus fiancées introduced).
Post-beach with Shizuku and others, I trained magic control at Kagurazaka's Tokyo villa with Himeri, Shizuku, and Miyuki, and at the Shiba's, magic daily. Also tutored Shina and Jirou at Mitsuya's.
Unlike Tatsuya, skipping Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion drills was a relief. Otherwise, it'd be idol-level minute-by-minute scheduling.
When Tatsuya was out for FLT or battalion duties, Miyuki and I were alone, her affection growing due to our engagement's fait accompli. She managed chores and studies well, staying composed. Tatsuya noticed but didn't probe, instead apologizing: "I'm responsible for spoiling her." Wanting her stress-free, I brewed coffee, earning his thanks.
Miyuki pouted—mutual enabling, perhaps?
Post-summer, another issue arose. In the principal's office, I faced Principal Momoyama Azuma and Vice-Principal Yaosaka. No personal grudges, but Momoyama tried expelling my sister Mika. I wasn't worried—she's tough—but it irked Kana and the Joushima.
Their cold sweat? Chihiro Kagurazaka, in elegant kimono, beside me. I sighed inwardly.
"As per my letter, he's now Kagurazaka," Chihiro said. "I won't dredge up the past, but if push comes to shove… you understand, Momoyama-boy?"
"…Understood."
At 84, Chihiro outranked 70-year-old Momoyama. As a Guardian, she overshadowed other mage families. To outsiders, a young girl humbling a bigwig. Exiting, her serious facade cracked.
"If not for Mika-chan, we'd skip serious talk. That brat should focus on nurturing youth, not benching them."
"Even with a barrier, that's bold to say outside the principal's office."
Household registry updated, I held a "Kagurazaka Yugen" student ID. Bowing to Chihiro, I entered 1-A's classroom.
My name change spread fast—no longer "numbered," some underestimated me. Himeri's transfer to 1-A amplified it. Magic high schools emphasize modern magic; ancient magic users typically attend regular schools, training at home. Mikihiko's dual mastery is rare.
Ancient magic families are secretive, a reality I now grasped.
As expected, some provoked me, but I silenced them with killing intent. Oddly, Morisaki held back—likely due to Monolith Code's debt. The homeroom teacher explained Kagurazaka's status, paling some provocateurs' faces. Self-inflicted, so I avoided further entanglement.
"Don't want more trouble… Are they kids?" I muttered.
"Yugen, you're mentally ancient," Shizuku jabbed.
"Know that, but don't say it."
Reincarnation pushed my mental age past 30, amplified by Gousan's escapades. To avoid cafeteria hassles, I ate on the roof in nice weather. September's chill loomed, signaling cafeteria returns.
Afternoon magic practice: Class A's five-person groups. Mine? All girls—Miyuki, Shizuku, Honoka, Himeri. Touya joined Morisaki's group, managing fine. Male glares annoyed me, so I touched my CAD, unleashing a 15-step spell in 105ms.
"105ms?!" Honoka gasped.
"Bit slow," I said.
"Fast enough!" Miyuki countered.
"Pure absurdity," Shizuku quipped.
Her sharp words stung; as "punishment," she gave me a lap pillow. Just punishment, mind you—wanted it, no denying.
For context: Miyuki (221ms), Shizuku (292ms), Honoka (306ms), Himeri (228ms) for same steps.
After school, student council prepared for the general assembly. Data sorted, no issues. Azusa's presidency candidacy proceeded as planned.
Next year? I doubt it, I told Miyuki, who typed without pause.
"Why?"
"Tradition suggests I'd run, but the head seems to want me later."
Aniki, a top entrant, became head due to club dynamics. No rule bars male presidents, but girls fare better superficially. Past presidents: Shizuru, Kana, Mika, Mayumi. Katsuto eyes me for club leadership. Ex-clan, but beating "Crimson Prince" proved my worth. Hattori's skilled but lacks Katsuto's gravitas.
"Wind Committee won't release Tatsuya. Mika-neesan might swoop in, lecturing new and old chairmen."
"Yugen-kun, can't you avoid it?" Mari asked.
"You're here, Chairman? Too late."
Mika, post-graduation, avoided meddling but left thorough handovers, even advising new committee members. Persistent issues frustrated her. The messy committee room pre-Tatsuya and me proved it.
"I'm out of the registry, but blood-related. Just 'do your best' from me."
"Harsh," Mari said. "By the way…"
"Same address as always."
"Good. Yugen-kun, you're close with Kitayama and Shiba… Dating?"
Expected question, discussed with Miyuki—no fluster. My cheer was evident. I answered Mari.
"Who knows? No dating experience. Book knowledge versus reality—you'd know, Chairman."
"Fair… But you dodged well."
"Your imagination."
Mayumi, Hattori, Rin, and Azusa were absent, consulting Katsuto on Mayumi's proposal: lifting officer election limits. Club involvement seemed unnecessary.
"If a riot hits the assembly, Wind Committee's fit. You sure you're here, Chairman?"
"Cleared with Mayumi. Club involvement benefits them."
"How?"
Allowing select club leaders CAD carry, easing Wind Committee's workload. Recruitment season's chaos—experienced by me—showed reliance on council and committee, despite temporary CAD leniency, was flawed. Hattori's aide, a second-course student, factored in.
"Mibu-senpai?" I asked.
"Yes."
Class reassignments between courses are rare. Early second year, Hattori, Azusa, and Kei topped rankings. But summer term-end exams shook things up:
Hattori Gyoubu Nakajou Azusa Kirihara Takeaki Mibu Sayaka
My magic growth claims were echoed by their leaps, especially Sayaka, a second-course student overcoming inferiority. Her Nine Schools exclusion held (Tatsuya's engineer role came later).
Cause? Likely light athletics club interactions. Kirihara, vibration-acceleration focused, had psion overactivity; I suggested flexibility via heavy psion use in weak areas. Sayaka, emulating Mari's magic despite differing strengths, had psion clogging; I cleared it.
Modern magic's "broader than superpowers" claim implies no weak areas. Reality differs—teaching environments don't match latent potential. Clan and affiliate families maintain robust education, a key strength. Many second-course students could excel with better training. Neglecting this pre-stage is a systemic flaw, tangled in moral issues.
Magic high's benchmark: 1000ms for single-step spells. Top students' gap is under a second—achievable with focus. Leo, Erika, Mizuki's potential? Mikihiko's already transformed, so omitted.
Back to topic.
"Post-spring, Mibu's inclusion matters," Katsuto said. "Kirihara seemed conflicted."
"What about Onii-sama?" Miyuki asked.
"Hattori'd hate sharing space, so no club for Tatsuya."
Oddly, faction groups formed within our year, per school boards and SNS. I'm supposedly leading the largest—top first-course students and nearly half second-course. No memory of forming it.
Key members: 1-A's me, Miyuki, Shizuku, Honoka, Touya; 1-E's Tatsuya, Leo, Mikihiko, Erika, Mizuki, plus Himeri. Annoying rumor, but no harm yet, so I'll watch and wait.
"Tatsuya's too capable for Chiyoda-senpai to release. She'd beg Nakajou-senpai tearfully."
"You restructured our database and say that?" Miyuki teased.
"Just an arrangement, doesn't count."
Tatsuya faced issues: Counselor (covert agent) Haruka consulted third-year Hirakawa Koharu, his counselor, post-Mirage Bat. Koharu, anxious about magic university and dropping thesis sub-membership, leaned on him. This led to contact with her sister, Chiaki. Mind control, including emotional manipulation, risks turning affection to hostility. Chiaki as their pawn? Uncertain.
"Surprised Miyuki didn't comment," I said.
"Onii-sama undervalues himself," she replied.
"Agreed, but Mayumi's touchiness with you will spike."
"Her fanclub's annoying enough."
Assembly day.
Mayumi's proposals—lifting election limits, granting select club leaders CAD carry—passed. Tatsuya's Koharu talks led me to escort Mayumi home, fending off her fanclub with non-magic knockouts. As Mika's brother, ex-presidents' kin, I'm no easy target like second-course Tatsuya.
Trouble brewed during Azusa's candidacy speech. Anti-second-course hecklers clashed with her fans, ignoring Mayumi, Hattori, and Rin's warnings. Wind Committee, maybe clubs, would act. I sighed, knowing who'd erupt.
"Silence!" Miyuki's voice echoed.
Her psions raged, but I grabbed her shoulders, dispersing them.
"Stop. You'll freeze the hall. Vent later, calm now."
"Sorry, Yugen-san…"
Her power, amplified by Tenjin and psion training, carried risks I accepted. Seeing my anger, her rage cooled—not coldly, but from fear.
Grabbing a mic, I spoke.
"I didn't want to say this, but here goes. Seniors, are you seriously our role models? Bickerers and instigators—can you honestly claim to aim for magehood?"
I recalled my three president sisters, marveling at their endurance.
Magic high, a national elite institution, breeds pride. But mental maturity lags skill. I'm imperfect, yet settling for superiority or inferiority mocks effort.
"Who decided first-course are elite? Why brand second-course as spares—inferior? What's the point of magic judged by license tests? The former president said at graduation: 'Know your strength first. Fail, and you waste time.' Seniors, you didn't forget that in six months, right?"
First-course: top 100 of 200 entrants; second-course: bottom 100. Teacher disparities widen gaps. Second-course students self-study, like Tatsuya and Mikihiko, aided by mage lineage. Non-lineage lack teaching—systemic failure. Government and school shirk fostering second-course talent (e.g., hiring magic university grads as teachers). I avoided meddling; curriculum changes are inevitable.
Venting discontent internally makes sense but fuels friction. Educators ignoring this don't belong.
No one rebutted—my pressure silenced them. My light intent overwhelmed the hall, leaving Mayumi sweating.
"Got complaints? I'm open. Want a mock battle? I'll take you. That's all. Nakajou-san, continue."
"Y-Yes!!"
Tatsuya's take: "Aiming for king?"
"Not my style. Leading masses? Let capable ones do it."
Not fitting for Kagurazaka's heir, but I'm not spreading myself thin.
"What's with this vote?" Mari muttered, eyeing results.
Total: 554. Azusa: 184—enough for presidency.
Miyuki groaned. Tatsuya sighed. I looked drained.
Mayumi explained: "Yugen, 200; Miyuki, 170."
"Fine, some mistook me, but why count these names?" Miyuki protested.
Not just names—hers included "Queen" or "Snow Queen." Valid, as no duplicates existed.
"Yugen's got 'Overlord Yugen-sama,' 'Emperor Yugen,'" Mari added.
"King? Emperor? That's treasonous," I said.
"Wrong angle to nitpick," Tatsuya quipped.
Joking, but Miyuki's queen title paired me as king. One vote read, "Marry the Queen, idiot couple." I know the handwriting—revenge planned.
Miyuki, teary, clung, wanting the culprit. Guessing her intent, I soothed her.
"Calm down, Miyuki. Revenge gains nothing. Queen to them, but my adorable princess."
"Yugen-san…"
Stroking her head, she hugged tightly, content. If only it ended there.
Mayumi hugged my back.
"No lovey-dovey, Yugen! You've got an older sister!"
"Saegusa-senpai, what're you doing?" Miyuki snapped.
"You…" Tatsuya groaned.
Sandwiched, I was oddly calm, proud my body didn't react. Mari's fist dislodged Mayumi; Miyuki stared, smiling.
(Sigh.)
(Rough day, Yugen.)
(Thanks for the sympathy, Tatsuya.)
That night, bath-time Miyuki (towel-clad) ambushed me. Details unspeakable, but no life-altering fallout—swear it.
Reflecting on my lonely past life, it "wasn't bad." This life's decent, but I crave peace, Yasu○-sensei… No? That's harsh…
Notes: Summer arc aligns with original. CAD carry for club leaders addresses Wind Committee's burden, as teachers shirk guidance, relying on student autonomy—a stopgap, to be expanded. Yokohama Incident next.
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