A week into the new semester, the new student council was in place.
Yugen, at Azusa's request (a condition for her presidency candidacy), became vice-president. He's seen as a top contender for next president, alongside Miyuki.
"Sorry for the wait, Onii-sama," Miyuki said.
"Good work," Tatsuya replied.
Previously, Mayumi's (somewhat) abuse of power made the council room a cafeteria substitute. With the new regime, we used the actual cafeteria. First-course (1-A: Yugen, Touya, Miyuki, Shizuku, Honoka, Himeri) and second-course (1-E: Tatsuya, Leo, Mikihiko, Erika, Mizuki) had different practical curricula, so one group reserved seats.
"Sorry, Tatsuya-san, I made us late," Honoka apologized.
"No need to worry. It's overwhelming at first," Tatsuya reassured.
Post-beach trip, Honoka grew bolder with Tatsuya, who responded supportively. Romantic interest? Unclear. But it likely eased Miyuki's concerns about odd rumors.
"Pawning off work you don't want? Ridiculous," Yugen grumbled.
"Yugen, I wish you hadn't said that," Tatsuya sighed.
"Yeah, sorry. I know better."
Azusa initially wanted Tatsuya in the council as Miyuki's check. Yugen, a vice-president, couldn't be relied on solely, especially with light athletics club overwhelmed by applicants post-semester (most rejected for secrecy).
Dual club membership allowed Shizuku and Honoka (biathlon), Touya and Leo (mountaineering), Erika (kendo, loosely), Mikihiko, Mizuki, and Himeri joined light athletics. The club, mixed first- and second-course, avoided outsiders. Tatsuya didn't join—fine as a ghost member, but oddly dutiful.
New Wind Committee chair Kanon opposed Tatsuya's council entry: "He's essential for paperwork." So, Tatsuya stayed Wind Committee this year, council next.
"Light athletics was a convenience, now half a Shinkage-ryu dojo," Yugen said.
"Your training's tougher than my family's," Erika complained.
"Different menus for you versus others. Basic swings for a Senba-ryu license holder? Insulting."
"Well, yeah…"
Originally for Miyuki's martial training, it served as a sports club for Shizuku's Ise Shinto-ryu. Erika's advanced skill required separate menus. Yugen avoided Gousan's brutal regimen.
"Using Senba-ryu dojo experience, I set it to Kazuo or Shuuji's level. Erika's grit keeps her up," Yugen said.
"Brother-level, huh?" Erika groaned.
Shinkage-ryu and Ise Shinto-ryu are two sides of Tenjin magic. Shinkage-ryu's secret arts, exclusive to kin, tie to Ise's mysteries, passed through periodic marriages to avoid errors. This explained Yugen's training exemption.
"Grandfather said Erika's dad begged… likely eyeing an alliance," Yugen noted.
"That rotten old man…" Erika muttered.
"E-Erika-chan…" Honoka stammered.
Knowing Erika's Senba-ryu license, Yugen tailored her regimen for mastery. A new CAD for her, discussed with Isori, was in progress. With (mostly dual) members growing, light athletics got a new dojo, funded half-and-half by Joushima and Kagurazaka, built by Joushima's contractor.
Erika, recalling something, turned to Yugen.
"Yugen, free after school?"
"No council today. What's up?"
"My brother Kazuo wants to ask you something. That's all I know."
With no plans, Yugen nodded, but wondered why Chiba's head, a police officer, targeted him. Answers awaited their meeting.
Expecting Erika, she skipped for kendo club. She's uneasy with her Chiba family; only Yugen and Mikihiko know her background among peers.
En route, Yugen's cab reached the Chiba estate. Alert for surveillance—none detected—he proceeded cautiously.
The "Sword Sorcerer" Chiba family's home was a maze. First visit, Yugen cheated with Tenjin's Eye to map it. Since, he relied on memory.
No need this time—Kazuo, Chiba's eldest, summoned via Erika, greeted him.
"My apologies for intruding. I heard you have business," Yugen bowed.
"Thank you for coming, Kagurazaka-dono," Kazuo replied formally.
Using Yugen's surname signaled official Chiba or police matters, not personal. Erika's shallow briefing might curb her trouble-prone instincts.
In the guest room, before touching tea or sweets, Yugen spoke.
"Is this as Chiba head or police officer?"
"Both," Kazuo said.
He shared details of a suspicious ship and a fugitive passenger. The ship, spared by luck, yielded only basic registry data.
"Suspect they escaped via underground waterways to Chinatown?" Yugen asked. "If it's awkward, speak casually, Kazuo-san."
"Thanks… Likely Chinatown. Only place for such cover."
Yugen knew from Gen and Gousan: Yokohama's Chinatown, a haven for Great Asian Union defectors, held quasi-extraterritoriality. No official extraterritoriality exists, barring embassies or joint bases.
Using Tenjin's Eye on Kazuo's ship data, Yugen traced its route from Yokohama's Yamashita Wharf. Erasing a ship's path is near impossible, even with continental magic. Sighing inwardly at the result:
(Why'd a transport ship route through the Union's military port? Jackpot.)
Traces of Kimon Tonkou suggested preemptive caution against early mage arrivals. Police, versed in modern magic, falter with ancient or continental types. Understandable, Yugen asked seriously.
"Why call me? Mother insists I avoid Chinatown interference. Otherwise, I'll help as I can."
"I suspect their target's the thesis competition. I want you to minimize civilian harm."
Kazuo, as a cop, would act, but if foes were "military" not "terrorists," it'd exceed police scope. Mitsuya and Joushima likely knew. Evacuating civilians during the competition, like a "special alert," needed a leak-proof pretext.
"Understood. Shall I inform Mother?"
"Yes, intended as such. Ahem… I humbly request your aid, Kagurazaka-dono."
The thesis competition pointed to one issue. With deviations from the original, re-evaluating enemies was wise.
Returning to the Shiba's, Miyuki greeted him in a miniskirt dress and apron. October-appropriate indoors, but temptingly distracting, Yugen mused.
"I'm home, Miyuki."
"Welcome back, Yugen-san. How's it look?"
"Cliché, but it suits you. Cooking with the stove unattended?"
"It's done. Just waiting for Onii-sama."
Miyuki shared that Sayuri Shiba, their (nominal) mother, visited for a Defense Force relic replica request. Talks with Tatsuya failed; she stormed out. Tatsuya, noticing something, chased her by bike.
Her vague phrasing hinted at mixed feelings toward Sayuri.
"Tatsuya won't mess up. I'll change," Yugen said.
"Okay."
In casual clothes, a call came—Kazama, as expected. Yugen answered, seeing him on-screen.
"Yugen, Tatsuya out?" Kazama asked.
"Major, you know why. About Tatsuya, right? I'm clueless on details."
"Tatsuya used magic. Fujibayashi's erasing traces. Opponent's skilled."
"Skilled" meant trouble for Tatsuya, rarely hit and instantly healed. Likely military, multiple foes, including a sniper. Yugen suggested; Kazama confirmed from reports.
"Just possibilities. Ask Tatsuya—oh, he's back."
"Yugen, Major Kazama. Interrupting?" Tatsuya asked.
"No, we're discussing you. Brief us," Kazama said.
"Understood."
Tatsuya reported: a group from a self-driving car attacked Sayuri's commuter. Handling them, he faced distant gunfire, narrowly dodged, and used Mist Dispersion to erase the sniper. He omitted the relic, framing Sayuri—marginal Yotsuba—as the target.
Yugen assumed Tatsuya's intellectual curiosity drove relic analysis but stayed silent.
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