Kyoko vs. Haruka
Uninterested in the thesis competition's presentations—or magic technology itself—Haruka planned to nap in the cafeteria. But as she entered the lobby from the nearest gate, a familiar voice stopped her.
"Teacher Ono, is that you?" Yasutomi called.
"Yasutomi-sensei," Haruka replied.
As a counselor handling mental care, Haruka was fairly close with Yasutomi, the school nurse who managed physical health.
"Here to listen to the presentations? I thought you weren't interested," Yasutomi said.
"No, just something I'm curious about… Why are you here? Escorting her?" Haruka nodded toward Chisaki.
"Yes. Hirakawa-san wanted to see today's presentations. She's still recovering, not in top shape. Her sister was supposed to come, but couldn't, so I'm escorting. I was coming anyway, so it worked out."
"I see… You were already planning to attend?" Haruka asked, puzzled that a nurse would care about magic tech.
"Not the presentations themselves, but I'm interested in Shiba-kun's."
"Got it…" Haruka recalled Yasutomi's (one-sided) fondness for Tatsuya, nodding but sensing another oddity.
"Hirakawa-san… What's her sister's business?"
"She's stopping by the hospital first," Chisaki answered.
"Hospital… Counseling?" Haruka asked.
"Seems so," Chisaki replied.
Haruka felt a pang of guilt. Her failure to persuade Koharu meant Chisaki wasn't here as a representative.
"We're heading to the green room. You, Teacher Ono?" Yasutomi asked.
"Cafeteria," Haruka said.
"Alright, see you."
Parting with Yasutomi, Haruka settled in the cafeteria to relax. But the world wasn't so kind.
"May I join you?" a voice asked.
Haruka's heart nearly stopped. It was Kyoko.
"Uh… sure," Haruka stammered.
"Thank you." Kyoko sat gracefully, ordering tea from a waitress with calm poise, while Haruka struggled to hide her panic.
"Staring like that makes me shy," Kyoko said.
"S-Sorry," Haruka apologized.
"No, it's an honor to catch 'Miss Phantom's' interest."
"I never imagined the 'Electron Sorceress' would know of me. The honor's mine. So, what's this about?" Haruka replied, overly formal, eager to end the conversation.
"No need to spell it out, right?" Kyoko said.
"Sorry, I'm not as sharp as you."
"Just suggesting we respect each other's boundaries. Don't worry, you're in no trouble."
Kyoko stood lightly, holding both their bills. "This is on Tatsuya-kun, by the way."
Realizing her surveillance was exposed, Haruka, stubborn but aware, silently vowed revenge.
In the green room, Tatsuya watched the five schools' presentations on a monitor when a visitor arrived.
"Came early," Mayumi said.
Early wasn't an issue, but Mayumi's childish tone—despite being older—gave Tatsuya a slight headache.
"Oh, Saegusa-san, Watanabe-san, and Ichihara-san too," Yasutomi said, entering with Chisaki.
"Huh? Yasutomi-sensei, and you're…" Mayumi started, surprised, as she and the others hadn't sensed the new arrivals, unlike Tatsuya.
"Hirakawa-san, you came," Tatsuya said.
"I was curious… and you invited me," Chisaki muttered, looking away.
Miyuki and Mayumi briefly glared, unnoticed by all but Tatsuya.
"No Koharu-senpai as escort?" he asked.
"She's stopping by the hospital, so I asked Yasutomi-sensei," Chisaki said.
"That's how it is~ Shiba-kun's got it rough~" Yasutomi teased.
Don't cozy up then! Tatsuya thought but didn't say, as Miyuki and Mayumi blocked Yasutomi's approach.
"Why'd you come early, senpai?" Tatsuya asked Mari.
"Interrogation wrapped up faster. Sekimoto showed signs of mind control," Mari replied.
"Pretty sophisticated…" Tatsuya said.
"The psychiatrist said nothing, so it's not conventional. Maybe a real 'Evil Eye,'" Mari suggested.
"An innate non-systematic magic user…" Tatsuya murmured.
Mari caught his words. "Even strong mental interference magic needs a foundation in the target. Sekimoto was already vocal against the state's secret control of magic, believing global sharing of magic formulas and activation sequences would advance the field—an open-source advocate."
"Academically sound, but naive given national conflicts," Mayumi said sympathetically.
"More like wrong," Tatsuya cut in sharply.
"Harsh, Tatsuya-kun…" Mayumi said.
"Shiba-kun, you ready?" Chisaki interjected.
"No big prep needed today," Tatsuya replied with a wry smile.
"Don't overdo it. You're not badly hurt, but you need rest," Mari said.
"I know," Chisaki replied, sulking.
Noting her pout, Tatsuya's wry smile deepened.
Note: Their hands were completely mismatched…
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