Freed from Mayumi, Tatsuya aced his practical and chatted with Erika and the others in the lab's corner.
"So, Erika, you spread some rumor?" Tatsuya asked.
"Sorry," Erika said. "I knew you and Hirakawa-senpai weren't a thing, so I thought it'd be funny…"
"Don't spread rumors for fun," Tatsuya sighed. "I don't care, but it's unfair to Honoka."
"I'll apologize to her later," Erika muttered.
Tatsuya wanted to press how Erika knew about Honoka's confession but held back. If it was a fabricated rumor, he'd only dig himself deeper.
"Erika-chan, you haven't finished your assignment," Mizuki pointed out. "Chatting's fine?"
"Ugh, I was taking a break," Erika grumbled, returning to her work.
Tatsuya watched her go, unfazed.
"Why so many rumors about you, Tatsuya-san?" Mizuki asked.
"Beats me," Tatsuya said. "Probably fallout from the election."
Before the student council election, rumors swirled that Tatsuya would run. Haruka mentioned they'd morphed through a game of telephone, settling on his candidacy.
"Going home with Hirakawa-senpai again today?" Mizuki asked.
"No idea if she's here," Tatsuya replied. "Besides, persuasion can happen at school."
"Why'd Ms. Ono ask you to convince her?" Mizuki pressed.
"Probably to slack off," Tatsuya said, dodging the truth. He'd learned Mizuki wouldn't push if given a plausible excuse.
"Maybe…" Mizuki trailed off. "If you don't know, oh well."
"What're you two talking about?" Mikihiko joined.
"Nothing," Tatsuya said. "Your practicals have been solid since second term, Mikihiko."
"Thanks to your advice," Mikihiko said. "Feels like old times using magic. I'm stoked."
"Course 1 next year, maybe?" Tatsuya teased.
Mikihiko flushed, taking the comment seriously. He knew Tatsuya's strict yet fair judgment, so even a jest felt like high praise.
"Yo, Tatsuya, coach me again?" Leo called.
"Me too!" Erika added.
"No staying late," Tatsuya warned. "Let's wrap this up."
As Tatsuya was dragged off by Erika and Leo, Mikihiko and Mizuki were left alone. Both shy and awkward, their conversation stalled.
"Uh…" Mizuki started.
"So…" Mikihiko mumbled.
Classmates, unable to handle the mix of tension and innocence, drifted away. The mood only eased when Erika and Leo, done with Tatsuya's help, returned.
After Discipline Committee rounds, Tatsuya buried himself in the library's restricted archives when a visitor arrived.
"Shiba, you here?" Kobayakawa called.
"Kobayakawa-senpai? Something up?" Tatsuya asked.
Heard you're persuading Hirakawa," she said. "Wanted to know how it's going."
"Haven't done much," Tatsuya admitted.
"Really? People saw you two leaving together yesterday," Kobayakawa said.
"Yeah, Ms. Ono roped me into escorting her home," Tatsuya explained. "Just following orders."
Kobayakawa nodded. "I messed up her magic career. It's not right for her to quit because of me. Please, convince her."
"You're not done either, Senpai," Tatsuya said. "Watanabe-senpai says you're working hard."
Kobayakawa smiled shyly and left. Tatsuya resumed his research, only to be interrupted again.
"Shiba-kun?" Haruka called.
"Ms. Ono, what now?" Tatsuya asked.
"It's about Hirakawa. Come to counseling with me."
"I'm busy," Tatsuya said, gesturing to his work.
"Nine Schools, Headless Dragon, data…" Haruka muttered snidely.
Tatsuya sighed, abandoning his research to follow her. "Holding grudges isn't healthy, Ms. Ono. You're a counselor—you should know."
"If you hadn't pulled that stunt, I'd have more mental space!" Haruka snapped.
"I wasn't restricted on how I used it," Tatsuya said. "I paid you enough, didn't I? Need more?"
"No thanks," Haruka huffed.
Tatsuya's logic was sound, and Haruka knew her resentment was petty. She respected his ability, unlike the arrogance of some Course 1 students, but admitting defeat to this mature-under-pressure underclassman stung.
"So, Hirakawa-senpai's here today?" Tatsuya asked.
"It's selection day for the Thesis Competition," Haruka said. "She's a top candidate, so she's probably checking results."
Tatsuya, uninterested in the competition, hadn't checked the results or read the theses. But if it helped persuade Koharu, he'd look later.
"How'd she do?" he asked.
"Third place. She's a representative," Haruka said. "Izumi got second, Ichihara first."
"Good. Use that to convince her, Ms. Ono. It's your job, right?"
"Your sarcasm's annoying," Haruka said. "Higher-ups think you're more effective. You agreed, so see it through."
"I never agreed," Tatsuya corrected. "You pushed me into it."
"You're already helping," Haruka said. "And Koharu looked happy talking about yesterday."
"Did she? I just walked her home," Tatsuya said.
Reluctantly aiding Koharu, Tatsuya might just be the softhearted person Miyuki believed him to be.
Note on Miyuki's Absence: Miyuki's presence is fading, overshadowed by rumors and Tatsuya's obligations. Chiaki's resentment could escalate, targeting Tatsuya for stealing Koharu's focus, potentially stirring more trouble.
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