After Lina made her request to stay at the Shiba residence, Tatsuya didn't offer a lengthy argument—he simply led her home. As luck would have it, Miyuki had no Student Council duties that day and was already waiting for him.
"Welcome home, Onii-sama...?"
Miyuki's greeting faltered as she saw the blonde girl standing behind her brother.
"I'm back. Lina has some things to discuss with you. I'll be in my room, so please hear her out."
Tatsuya's style was to let others handle the messier details of their own negotiations, and Miyuki understood this well. Lina, however, had been operating under the assumption that Tatsuya would act as her advocate. Seeing him turn to leave without a word of explanation, she panicked and called out to his retreating back.
"Wait! Tatsuya, aren't you going to explain this to her?"
"What is there to explain? I've already given my permission. All that's left is for you to earn Miyuki's approval. I told you that you'd have to convince her yourself."
"Well, yes, but..."
Lina's confidence wavered the moment Tatsuya stepped away. Her motivation for staying was rooted in her growing feelings for him—feelings she hadn't even fully admitted to herself until recently. Subconsciously, she had believed that as long as he was by her side, she could face anything. But now, without his support, the reality of having to persuade her rival was enough to make her resolve crumble.
"Onii-sama," Miyuki said, her voice dangerously calm. "Why is Lina here? Was she not supposed to return to America?"
"It's best if you hear it from her, but to put it simply: she has nowhere to go back to."
"Because you defeated her?"
"And because you did as well."
With that final remark, Tatsuya descended to the basement, leaving the two girls alone in the foyer.
"Um... about that," Lina began, her voice small. "I asked Tatsuya, and he said it was okay, but..."
"What exactly did he say was 'okay'?"
"…I'd like to stay here for the next two years until graduation."
The request hit Miyuki like a physical blow. She understood that their victory might have cast doubt on Lina's status as a Strategic-Class Magician, but she couldn't fathom how that led to her moving into their home.
"Onii-sama gave his permission? I find myself wondering what kind of threat you used to coerce him."
"I didn't threaten him!" Lina snapped, her pride as a soldier resurfacing. "I just thought that if I stayed with you and Tatsuya, I might actually be able to grow."
"Then you could have stayed where you were. Why did you vacate your previous quarters?"
"That was a military safehouse! This isn't a mission anymore; it's a personal matter. I can't use military facilities for my own convenience!"
"And that leads you here? I am not nearly kindhearted enough to welcome a woman who once aimed for my brother's life into our home!"
"Tatsuya has already forgiven me!" Lina countered, lunging for the only shield she had. "Are you saying you intend to defy his decision, Miyuki?"
"...…"
Miyuki fell silent, the words hitting their mark. Over the past few months, even Lina had come to realize that for Miyuki, defying Tatsuya was an impossibility. Lina had gambled on that fact, using Tatsuya's authority to force Miyuki into a corner.
"Fine. I will acknowledge your stay," Miyuki said, her eyes narrowing to slits of ice. "However, the moment you attempt anything untoward toward my brother, I will kill you myself."
"Oh? And does a mere high school student like you truly think she can kill a Strategic-Class Magician in a fair fight? You can't even use that 'Luna Magic' of yours without Tatsuya's help, can you?"
"Is that so? I don't believe that concerns you. Besides, have you forgotten that you have already lost to me once? You are only standing here because Onii-sama intervened. Had that spell connected, you would be in a hospital bed right now—if you were lucky enough to be alive at all. Have you truly forgotten that?"
"...…"
This time, it was Lina's turn to be silenced. She remembered the ambush, the way she thought they had the upper hand, only for the situation to flip. She had been forced into a duel with Miyuki, and in that duel, she had been defeated. No—she should have been defeated.
It was only because Tatsuya had neutralized both of their spells and absorbed the backlash himself that she was still standing here. The weight of that realization pressed down on her.
"…I have no desire to admit it," Miyuki continued, "but if Onii-sama has given his consent, I will follow his lead. But do not forget: make one suspicious move, and I will show you no mercy."
"I... I understand. Thank you. Also, Elder Kudou said something, so if you're going to be angry, be angry at him."
"…What are you talking about?"
"He said that if I'm going to live in Japan from now on, I'll need to find a Japanese husband. And he said Tatsuya was the prime candidate."
"...…"
The temperature in the foyer didn't just drop—it plummeted. Lina felt the air turn brittle, a physical manifestation of Miyuki's magic spiraling out of control.
"Wait! I told you, if you're mad, take it up with General Kudou—!"
"If I erase you here and now," Miyuki whispered, her voice a chilling monotone, "then that conversation never happened. It's far easier to deal with you than it is to deal with His Excellency Kudou... Now, Lina, be a good girl and let me erase you!"
"P-please, calm down! Somebody help me!!"
Lina managed to duck past Miyuki and scrambled toward the only place where safety might be found: the basement.
"Tatsuya! Help!!"
"It's useless," Miyuki's voice echoed behind her, devoid of emotion. "The door won't open unless Onii-sama allows it."
"No... you've got to be kidding..."
Lina rattled the door, forgetting in her panic that it was a simple biometric lock. All she could see was Miyuki approaching with a haunting, beautiful smile on her face.
Suddenly, the door slid open.
"What is all this noise?"
"T-Tatsuya! Please, save me!"
"Onii-sama, please step aside," Miyuki said, her tone perfectly polite yet utterly lethal. "I must put an end to her immediately."
"Calm down. Now, what is the cause of this?"
With a single sentence, Tatsuya neutralized Miyuki's killing intent. The suddenness with which the bloodlust evaporated left Lina stunned, and it took her a moment to find her voice.
"…I just mentioned that Tatsuya was on the list of candidates for my future husband."
Tatsuya sighed. "What kind of nonsense is that? ...Wait, was it Retsu Kudou?"
"You're sharp as always. The General seems to have taken quite a liking to you."
"Good grief. Miyuki, once you've calmed down, show Lina to her room."
"I understand, Onii-sama."
Lina stood there, mouth agape, watching the transformation. The terrifying "Ice Queen" had vanished in an instant, replaced by the devoted, obedient sister.
It seemed that in this house, Tatsuya's word was the only law that mattered.
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