As they passed through the gates of the Magic Association's Kanto Branch, Tatsuya walked hand-in-hand between Miyuki and Kyoko. To an outsider, they might have looked like doting sisters with their little brother.
"We've been expecting you… Oh my, quite the cozy trio," Hayama remarked.
No one else would say it so bluntly, but Miyuki and Kyoko exchanged shy smiles, their cheeks faintly flushed, knowing others likely thought the same.
"Well, if it isn't Miyuki-kun," a familiar voice called.
"Sensei? What are you doing here?"
"I brought him," Hayama answered.
Before Miyuki could process, a figure lunged toward Tatsuya with terrifying speed.
"Takkun!!"
"Unya!?"
Tatsuya's startled yelp at the sudden embrace softened Miyuki and Kyoko for a fleeting moment.
"!?"
Snapping out of it, they realized this was no time for swooning. Miyuki and Kyoko scrambled to pry the figure—Maya Yotsuba—off Tatsuya.
"Aunt Maya! Now is not the time for hugs!"
"Exactly, Head of the Yotsuba! We need to focus on restoring Tatsuya-kun, not cuddling him!"
"Ugh, but this Takkun is a once-in-a-lifetime treat… Fine, fine. Hayama-san, explain."
Though reluctant, Maya knew restoring Tatsuya was the priority and ceased her cheek-rubbing—though she kept him firmly in her arms.
"To put it simply," Hayama began, "the one responsible for shrinking Tatsuya-dono is none other than Yakumo Kokonoe, standing right here."
"What!?"
Miyuki and Kyoko's simultaneous outburst drew a gleeful laugh from Yakumo, the accused.
"That reaction? Exactly what I was hoping for."
"Don't act so smug about it!" Hayama chided.
"No, no, I'm not being smug. I just gave them the Tatsuya-kun they wanted to see."
His words froze Miyuki, Kyoko, and even Maya in place. Hayama, however, nodded, instantly grasping why Yakumo had done it.
"Still, to pull this off without Tatsuya-dono noticing? Impressive."
"Oh, I think Tatsuya-kun suspected something," Yakumo said. "He didn't catch me outright, but he had his doubts."
"B-but, Sensei… how could you turn my brother into this?"
"Just a little secret technique," Yakumo replied, grinning. "The effect lasts a day, tops."
"So by tomorrow, Takkun will be back to normal?" Maya asked.
Yakumo nodded. "Rest assured, Tatsuya-kun won't remember any of this. As long as everyone keeps quiet, you can do whatever you want with him today."
"'Whatever we want'…?"
The three women echoed in unison, their voices tinged with dangerous curiosity.
"Now, let's not get carried away with anything morally questionable," Yakumo added, stroking his shaved head with a cautionary tone.
Hayama, standing beside him, wore a wry but amused smile.
"Well, I'll take my leave," Yakumo said. "Miyuki-kun, make sure you get Tatsuya-kun home safely. He'll wake up with no memory of today, and even he might panic if he's not in his room."
"Understood, Sensei. Until next time."
No one stopped Yakumo as he breezily left. With the time they had left, all three women clearly agreed that fawning over Tatsuya was far more worthwhile than interrogating the culprit.
"Miyuki-san, Fujibayashi-san, you've had your fill, haven't you? Hand him over to me."
"No, Aunt Maya, I haven't had nearly enough!"
"Same here! I was driving the whole way and only got to hold his hand!"
As the three bickered, Hayama offered Tatsuya a snack. Tatsuya's delighted acceptance softened Hayama's expression, his eyes warm with grandfatherly affection.
"Hayama-san? What are you doing?" Maya asked.
"Nothing much. It's just… seeing Tatsuya-dono react like this is a rare treat. It's like having a new grandson."
Maya scolded him, but her own heart melted watching Tatsuya munch happily on the snack.
"Well, now that we know the cause, we'll take our leave," Miyuki said.
"What, already?" Maya protested.
"Yes. I don't want to put any more strain on my brother."
Her words carried an unspoken jab: Maya's attention is too much for him. Taking Tatsuya's hand as she had on arrival, Miyuki headed back to the gate.
"I'll be going too," Kyoko said, bowing. "As you suspected, Head Yotsuba, it was indeed an ancient mage's work."
Left behind were Maya, gazing longingly after Tatsuya, and Hayama, watching her with the fond eyes one might reserve for a grandchild.
The next morning, Tatsuya woke with a start. The calendar's date didn't match his memory of yesterday.
"A glitch? No, every device in the house malfunctioning at once is impossible…"
Deciding it wasn't worth overthinking, he headed to Yakumo's temple as usual.
"Tatsuya-dono, are you alright from yesterday?"
Yakumo's disciples swarmed him with concern, leaving Tatsuya visibly confused.
"Sorry, but I don't have any memory of yesterday."
"Oh, Tatsuya-kun, getting lost in chatter already?"
Yakumo appeared at the perfect moment, launching a kick to divert Tatsuya's attention. Tatsuya dodged and countered, losing his chance to press further about the missing day. Returning home, he boarded the cabinet to school, still puzzled by Miyuki's odd behavior.
"Hey, Miyuki…"
"I don't know anything!"
"…I didn't even ask yet."
Miyuki had dug her own grave, but Tatsuya didn't pry further. Secretly, she wished he'd ask—it might've been easier than enduring his oblivious silence, which earned him a resentful glance.
"Yo, Tatsuya, where were you yesterday?"
"Tatsuya skipping is pretty rare, huh?"
At school, Leo and Mikihiko greeted him.
"I don't know myself… I've got no memory of yesterday."
"R-really?"
Tatsuya's gaze lingered on Erika, who seemed to know something, but he quickly looked away.
"Tatsuya-kun, can we talk?"
"Saegusa-senpai? What's up?"
In the end, Mayumi's photos betrayed the secret everyone tried to keep. Yakumo, the mastermind, faced Tatsuya's merciless wrath in their next sparring match.
------------------------------
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