For the next three days, Tatsuya had a rare break from both Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion training and Third Division development work. Last year, this gap in his schedule was filled with tutoring Miyuki, but this year, he planned to dedicate it to Reimi.
"Really? Then let's go somewhere!" Reimi said, her eyes brightening.
"I'll go wherever you want. Any place in mind?" Tatsuya asked.
"Hmm… how about the beach?" she suggested.
"The beach? We don't have to make it a day trip, you know," he said.
"Of course, let's stay overnight! But not too far—traveling too long is a hassle," Reimi decided.
And so, a two-night, three-day trip was planned. Tatsuya's duties as Miyuki's Guardian remained, but Maya and Hayama, not wanting to chain him to that role, arranged a substitute Guardian for such occasions.
"Understood, Tatsuya-dono. Enjoy your rest," Hayama said over the call.
"Thank you, Hayama-san. I'll leave it to you," Tatsuya replied.
"One moment. Maya-sama wishes to speak with you."
"Auntie?" Tatsuya said, surprised.
Curious, Tatsuya listened to Maya's words. Her message caught him off guard, but he felt gratitude for her concern and expressed it before ending the call.
"Onii-sama, will I really be apart from you for three days?" Miyuki asked, her voice tinged with worry.
"Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on things," Tatsuya reassured her.
"Please call me at night. I won't be able to sleep otherwise!" she pleaded.
"Yare yare," Tatsuya sighed, ruffling her hair like a father with a teenage daughter. "It'd be nice if you found someone good for you, Miyuki."
Maya's words had solidified his resolve—it all came down to his determination now.
"There's no one better than Onii-sama!" Miyuki protested. "But… eventually, you and Sensei Yasutomi…"
"Miyuki?" Tatsuya prompted, raising an eyebrow.
"N-Nothing!" she stammered, flustered.
With his sister reluctantly convinced, Tatsuya was free to enjoy his trip with Reimi.
Without his school uniform, Tatsuya didn't look like a student next to Reimi. In fact, with her youthful appearance and his calm demeanor, people often mistook him for the older one.
"The beach is so nice~" Reimi said, stretching happily.
"Yeah," Tatsuya agreed.
Even at the shore, Tatsuya kept his jacket on. He'd explained his reasons to Reimi and shown her before, but with the public around, he hesitated to reveal his scarred body.
"You don't have to worry about me. Why don't you go swim, Reimi?" he suggested.
"Actually, I can't swim~" she admitted with a sheepish grin.
"Then why'd you pick the beach?" he asked, bemused.
"Maybe I just wanted to relax like this. Plus, it gives you a chance to take it easy, right?" she said.
Whether that was an adult perspective or not, Reimi had chosen the beach with Tatsuya in mind.
"Thanks," he said sincerely. "But next time, think about yourself too."
"Okay~ You're so sweet, Tatsuya-kun," she teased.
"Me? That's a harsh joke," he said, shaking his head.
Reimi already knew about his true magic and how he'd erased the No Head Dragon's eastern Japan branch during the Nine Schools Competition. Tatsuya didn't see himself as kind.
"No, it's not a joke or a lie. You're genuinely a sweet guy," Reimi insisted.
"I can't win against you," Tatsuya conceded with a faint smile.
Standing, Reimi pulled him into an embrace, letting his head rest against her chest. It was playful affection between lovers, but if anyone knew she was a teacher and he a student, it might've been scandalous. Luckily, no one on the beach could tell Tatsuya was a high schooler, which gave Reimi the confidence to be so bold.
"It's getting chilly. Should we head back to the room?" Tatsuya suggested.
"Yeah, staying out too long might give us a cold," Reimi agreed.
As the health teacher, Reimi's observation was spot-on. Others were slowly leaving the beach as well. Even if summer days were long, night always came.
"Reimi, after dinner, I have something to talk about," Tatsuya said.
"Talk? About what?" she asked, tilting her head.
His formal tone puzzled her. She already knew about his true magic and his role as Taurus Silver—what else could require such seriousness?
After dinner, Reimi prepared to listen, but she noticed Tatsuya's rare hesitation. Sensing his unease, she hugged him tightly.
"It's okay. No matter what, I'm your girlfriend," she said softly.
"Thanks, Reimi," Tatsuya said, his resolve strengthening.
Her words steadied him, and his eyes regained their usual sharpness.
"I told you about the magic accident—how I lost most of my emotions," he began.
"Yes, I remember," she said.
"And about my true magic—how my calculation area is dominated by two innate magics."
"Right. The high-level 'Decomposition' and 'Regrowth,'" she confirmed.
Reimi couldn't understand why he was reiterating this so formally. But she didn't think he'd bring it up for idle chatter, which left her confused.
"But I can use a little magic. That's because my mother used mental interference magic to artificially create a calculation area. That's what caused me to lose my emotions," he explained.
"That kind of inhumane experiment… no research institute would do that," Reimi said, shocked.
"Not a normal one. The one who planned it was my mother, Shiba Miya—formerly Yotsuba Miya, the older sister of the current Yotsuba head," Tatsuya revealed.
"Then… you and Miyuki are…" Reimi trailed off, stunned.
"Miyuki is the top candidate for the next Yotsuba head. And I'm her Guardian," he said.
The bombshell left Reimi unable to maintain her usual calm demeanor. She'd handled his true magic and battalion role with composure, but learning her boyfriend was tied to the Yotsuba—the most powerful of the Ten Master Clans—was too much.
"Why tell me this? This isn't something you can just share with others, right?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"You're right. But the head—my aunt—gave me permission. She said, 'If you truly love her, tell her everything.' This is my resolve, Reimi. I really love you," Tatsuya said.
For the first time, Tatsuya, whose romantic emotions were faint, told Reimi he loved her. It meant he genuinely saw her as his partner.
"I'm so happy…" Reimi said, tears welling up. "I thought you were only dating me because I confessed."
"No way. I've always liked you," he assured her.
"But you never said it before," she pointed out.
"That's because I wasn't ready to commit to a lifetime with you. Until now," he said.
"A lifetime?" Reimi echoed, catching on his words.
"Outside my family, only my battalion comrades and my master know I'm a Yotsuba. You're the first I've told directly. Like my aunt said, it must mean I love you. I want to be with you forever," he said.
"Is that… a proposal?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Half of one," he admitted. "I'm still a student. I'll say it properly after I graduate."
"Then make me yours, Tatsuya-kun. Mark me," Reimi said, her tone resolute.
A teacher seducing a student could mean disciplinary action. But in that room, they weren't teacher and student—just a man and a woman. Without overthinking, they became one.
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