In early February 2096, just as the group began moving toward a rematch with the Parasite threat, a report of dire tidings arrived from across the Pacific.
"Onii-sama, this is...!"
Tatsuya and his sister learned of it through the morning television news. Broadcast at a time that seemed deliberately calculated to coincide with the start of the Japanese morning, the content was shocking enough to render even Tatsuya speechless.
"...This matches the story Shizuku told us, does it not?"
"...Though it seems to have been heavily embellished."
Having finally regained his voice, Tatsuya replied with a bitter edge. The news report took the form of an anonymous internal whistle-blower complaint from a government official.
As he listened to the details, Tatsuya's expression became terrifyingly void of emotion.
"Onii-sama?"
"They've wrapped it in sugar, but..."
"Then, it is as we thought?"
"The 'Humanist' movement—the expulsion of magic—is their true intent."
Tatsuya answered Miyuki's stiff, anxious expression with a tone that suggested exasperation rather than worry.
"The roots are the same as 'Humanism'... Since those without magic overwhelmingly outnumber us, there's no need to even ask which side the media will take. The bigger problem is the source of the news."
Tatsuya reached for the phone console, then halted mid-motion. Who had he intended to call? Among the many candidates, the face that floated through Miyuki's mind was, for some reason, that of a person she could hardly call an ally.
Lina was nursing a headache—not metaphorically, but a literal, throbbing headache—caused by the explosive news that had suddenly dropped out of nowhere.
Her frank desire was to skip school entirely. However, despite being a one-hundred-percent combat-ready operative, she was useless when it came to defusing a political situation like this. Furthermore, Colonel Balance had ordered her to conduct herself "as usual."
She couldn't very well sabotage a direct order from her superior officer. Lina pressed a hand against her throbbing temples and exited the ticket gates at "First High School Station." From here, it should have been a straight path to the school gate.
"Good morning, Lina."
Confronted by a figure suddenly blocking her path, Lina forgot her headache, spun on her heel, and bolted like a startled hare.
"Running away the moment you see someone's face? What kind of attitude is that?"
"A-Ahahaha..."
Lina's escape attempt failed after a mere three steps. Miyuki had already circled around to the ticket gate to cut off her retreat. Trapped by the beaming smile of her classmate, Lina decided to try and laugh it off.
"Well, fine. Actually, it's not fine, but there's no need to waste time with small talk and make us late. I have something to ask you. Let's talk as we walk."
"...Talk about what?"
Though she radiated wariness, Lina followed obediently. The fact that Tatsuya had saved the very target she was supposed to execute played a large part in her compliance. Perhaps a faint glimmer of romantic affection was also involved, but Tatsuya ignored such nuances and cut straight to the heart of the matter.
"Did you see this morning's news?"
"...I saw it. Unfortunately."
"How much of it is true?"
"The core parts are all total lies!"
She kept her volume down, but the intensity of her tone was fierce.
"But they got the superficial facts right, which makes it even nastier! It's a textbook example of information manipulation!"
"Public opinion manipulation, as expected."
Lina tilted her head, unable to grasp the nuance of Tatsuya's knowing expression.
"What? 'As expected'? Public opinion manipulation?"
"No, just a guess. So, the superficial factual relationships are correct, then?"
"...That's right!"
Having the one thing she didn't want pointed out identified so precisely, Lina forgot her suspicion from seconds ago and spat out the confirmation with unconcealed frustration.
"However, with content like that, it should have been classified. I doubt an outsider could have investigated that deeply."
"...It was 'The Seven Sages,' probably."
"The Seven Sages? Unrelated to the Seven Sages of Greece, I assume?"
"There is an organization that calls itself 'The Seven Sages.' Though their true identity is unknown."
"Unknown even to you? Isn't it a domestic organization within the USNA? Is that even possible?"
"It is! Frustratingly enough!"
Lina looked genuinely vexed.
"These Seven Sages... is there any possibility they are connected to the Humanists?"
Lina considered Tatsuya's point for a moment as they walked, then shook her head.
"I can't deny it one hundred percent, but probably not. Judging by past examples, the Seven Sages are an organization unrelated to ideology or fanaticism."
"Setting aside fanaticism, is an organization without ideology even possible?"
"...I phrased that poorly. They don't have what you would call a normal ideology. According to our profilers, they possess a mentality that is ephemeral and driven by amusement—like thrill-seeking criminals. Burning with obsession over a single ideology doesn't fit their image. Above all, the Seven Sages have actually cooperated with us in the past. It seems it was a very one-sided form of cooperation, but that was when we learned the name 'Seven Sages.'"
"I see."
Nodding, Tatsuya concluded that the image of the Seven Sages did indeed differ from that of the Humanists.
"Let me ask you one last thing."
There was still some distance remaining to the school gate, but Tatsuya signaled the end of his questioning.
"...What?"
Hearing a seriousness in his voice that exceeded everything prior, Lina's response was filled with renewed caution.
"Was inviting the Parasites into this world an intended result?"
"No."
Lina denied Tatsuya's question flatly.
"If you're asking that seriously, I'm going to get angry, Tatsuya. I have already executed three 'infected' individuals. If you're suggesting this is the result of someone's plot, then I won't forgive whoever is responsible."
"Right. My apologies."
Having heard what he needed to hear, Tatsuya asked no further questions.
"Then, I want to ask you one thing."
"What is it?"
Judging that he couldn't very well refuse after interrogating her, Tatsuya gave a short reply.
"How did you save Mia? It looked like she self-destructed."
"Sorry, but I can't answer that."
"Tatsuya!"
"Just as there are things you don't want known, there are things I need to keep hidden, too."
"...What's that supposed to mean?"
Lina already knew quite a bit about Tatsuya. Even when she thought she was hiding her identity, Tatsuya had seen right through her.
"I can't tell you how, but I can tell you why."
"Then, why?"
"Because having an acquaintance die right in front of your eyes takes quite a toll."
"What...?"
"I mean that the mental damage incurred from 'disposing' of someone yourself is different from the damage of having someone 'die on you.'"
Lina didn't fully understand the weight of his words. But Miyuki understood exactly who Tatsuya was speaking of.
Miyuki recalled the woman who had gone to the battlefield with Tatsuya three years ago—and never returned.
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