Summer over, Tatsuya worked in the student council room—pinned by Miyuki and Mayumi's insistence. Mari, who came to fetch him, chatted instead; he deemed leaving unwise.
"So, Ichihara?"
"His vibe could've been better, but he passed out."
"Rin-chan's pretty intense."
Tatsuya ignored the side chatter, focused on tasks. Miyuki worked too, cheeks flushed. Azusa eavesdropped, face crimson, intrigued.
"Speaking of, we're retiring~"
"Topic shift. But yeah, that time."
"Feels like thesis comp season."
"Rin-chan's top candidate."
"Tatsuya-kun, not joining?"
Caught off-guard, he paused.
"I'm Course 2—don't want more spotlight."
"You'd handle heat."
"Discipline's ace."
"Watanabe-senpai, clean your own desk?"
"...Hate it. Ichihara knows."
Mari panicked at Suzune's ambiguous jab—self-aware of dumping chores on him.
"Ah-chan, be president?"
"Impossible... Hattori's better..."
"So, prez from non-top next."
"But rumor: Juumonji passing to Hattori?"
As they bantered, Tatsuya eyed Azusa—unaware she was top.
"Oh! Tatsuya-kun, counseling dept called."
"Counseling? No sessions..."
"More like Ono-sensei."
"Onii-sama, I'll go too."
"No, Miyuki—work left. Senpai, done—leaving here."
"Mm, thanks."
Finished, he submitted to Mari, headed to counseling.
"Tatsuya-kun's busy. Couldn't snag him all summer."
"What, Mayumi? Why chase him?"
"Hey, Mari! You tried too—Sansui absent!"
"Wha!? How'd you know!"
Azusa smiled at their spat, then sensed chill from across—fled to corner...
Counseling: Haruka Ono awaited, mildly annoyed. Instinct urged Tatsuya to business.
"Need something?"
"Know Hiragawa Koharu, third-year?"
"Acquaintance, not close... Why?"
Not probing ties—he knew. Long drag? Miyuki might rampage back home.
"She's thesis rep candidate, but unstable. Nine Schools thing."
"Koigusa-senpai kept her magic."
"But not frontline ready anymore."
Mirage Bat trauma lingered; Tatsuya's fix removed brain-burn but not heart-fear.
"Want your help convincing her."
"Convincing? Unclear."
"Rep candidate, but quitting school."
"...Told her she needn't shoulder all."
"Yeah. She said. But not everyone's you—strong."
Tatsuya grimaced: he wasn't strong, just numb. Emotions stolen by birth-mom; "strong" felt off.
"Why me? No quals, not close."
"But you'd stop her quitting. I'm swamped—that incident."
Omitted details, but Tatsuya knew: his fault partly.
"No complaints if fails."
"Fine. Dept doesn't think you're last resort."
"...If plan, try first? Amateur me's iffy."
"OK. Hear her out—she trusts you."
"Sigh... Where's Koharu-senpai?"
"Home, probably... Call?"
"No—visit soon. Address?"
"Privacy... But fine."
She handed paper, warning secrecy.
"Thanks. Session over."
"...Someone outside?"
"Ugh, inevitable."
Public security busy, but she claimed counseling primary—stayed for consults.
Back at council, Tatsuya beheld unwelcome sight, head in hands...
(Koharu's Turmoil Brewing...)
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