The practical window for preparing the Stellar Furnace experiment was set for a mere four days, from April 21st to the 24th. Considering how long it had taken to assemble the equipment for the previous Thesis Competition, such a timeline seemed almost hopelessly short.
Yet, Tatsuya and Miyuki remained unfazed. As Tatsuya had told Isori, they weren't building a permanent, structural energy plant this time; they were simply demonstrating the mechanism. This was, at its heart, a performance of magic—not the construction of a fully operational industrial reactor.
As the preparations steadily advanced and the goal came into focus, the anxiety vanished from the faces of the team. Even Kasumi, who maintained a facade of reluctance while working every bit as hard as Miyuki, began to look confident. The same held true for Tomitsuka and Chiaki, who had joined as classmates; their uncertainty was replaced by the quiet thrill of progress. Among them, however, was an outlier: Kento Sumimori, the silver-haired first-year, who seemed less concerned with the physics and more content just to be in Tatsuya's orbit, his entire being radiating the joy of being helpful.
Then came Tuesday, April 24th. On the eve of the demonstration, they held the final rehearsal in the radiation lab. They filled a spherical tank made of high-strength, heat-resistant resin with a 50-50 mixture of heavy and light water. It was Professor Tsuzura who had secured the necessary volume of heavy water.
"Let's begin. Miyuki."
"Yes, Brother."
The first sequence, Gravity Control, hummed into life.
"Kasumi, Izumi."
"Fourth-Phase Transition—engaging!" the twins called out in perfect unison.
"Honoka, Minami."
"Gamma-ray Filter is active."
"Neutron Barrier fixed in place."
Tatsuya didn't rely solely on their reports. Through his "eyes," he watched the structural integrity of the magic as each step was cleared.
"Miyuki."
"Focal point set."
He called her name once more, and she confirmed that the stage was fully set.
"Isori-senpai."
"Starting electromagnetic repulsion neutralization."
With the final safety valve released, the room filled with the rapid-fire status checks of the members stationed at the monitors. Amidst the chorus of voices, Tatsuya looked on with clinical calm at the first step toward his long-held dream.
The final rehearsal concluded without a hitch. If this had been a simple experiment, the results would have been more than satisfactory. However, this demonstration was intended as a political statement against the anti-magic movement. With the weight of tomorrow's "real" performance on their minds, the team left the lab.
"Welcome back."
Shizuku was waiting for them in the Student Council room. Though not a member of the council herself, she made frequent use of the direct stairs, much like the Public Moral Committee Chair.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Shizuku. Thank you for staying," Miyuki said.
"It was no trouble. Nothing happened," Shizuku replied with a slight shake of her head before turning her gaze to her best friend. "Honoka, what about that?"
"Ugh...!"
Honoka flinched. That single reaction told Shizuku everything she needed to know. With a sigh of exasperation, Shizuku stood up, walked behind Honoka, and physically forced her around until she was facing Tatsuya.
Shizuku let go, scanned the room, and spotted Honoka's bag. She reached in, pulled out a small, beautifully gift-wrapped box, and shoved it into Honoka's hands. Then, she stepped behind her friend again and gave her a firm, literal push in the back.
"Um, Tatsuya-san! Today is your birthday! It's... it's just a small thing, but I spent so much time picking it out! Please, please accept it!"
Honoka squeezed her eyes shut and thrust the box forward with both hands. She kept talking without pause, making one wonder if she was even breathing, yet her voice remained perfectly clear. From the corner of the room, Kasumi's faint whisper of "I didn't know..." reached Tatsuya's ears, though Honoka was far too panicked to notice.
"I'd be honored to accept it. Thank you," Tatsuya said.
"N-no, the pleasure is mine! Um... but could you please wait until you're alone to open it?"
"Hmm? Oh, I understand."
As Tatsuya nodded, looking slightly puzzled, Honoka let out a massive sigh of relief. She looked as though her legs might give out from the sudden loss of tension, but she managed to stay upright, her face glowing with a sense of total accomplishment. Seeing that Honoka had reached her limit, Shizuku stepped forward.
"Tatsuya-san, are you free this Sunday?"
Shizuku's abrupt transitions were a staple of her personality. Even Tatsuya, who was well-accustomed to her, felt a momentary flicker of surprise. Still, he recovered instantly.
"At what time?"
"Evening. Around six."
"...That should be fine."
"It's a bit late, but I want to have a birthday party for you at my house. Is that okay?"
In Shizuku's "Is that okay?", she was asking three things at once: Is it okay if I throw you a party? Is my house an okay venue? and Are you mad that I planned this without asking?
"It sounds wonderful. I'd be glad to come, so please, don't worry about it."
Knowing that her offer was born of genuine affection and not some ulterior motive, Tatsuya reached out and gently patted Shizuku's head. She had been looking up at him with a slightly guilty expression, and he wanted to reassure her.
""""AH!!""""
"Hmm?"
Four distinct voices—all belonging to girls—rang out in a chorus that bordered on a shriek. Everyone knew the first three belonged to Miyuki, Minami, and Honoka. However, the identity of the fourth voice remained a mystery to everyone except the girl herself—and, of course, Tatsuya.
"Miyuki, and Minami-chan too," Shizuku added, completely unbothered by the outcry as she extended the invitation to them.
"Yes, that would be lovely," Miyuki replied with a practiced, ladylike smile.
"I would be honored to attend," Minami added, her voice modest but firm, driven by the determination not to bring shame to Tatsuya.
Satisfied with their answers, Shizuku remained where she was, content to let Tatsuya continue patting her head for a long moment.
In the end, as always, Tatsuya was playing on a level entirely his own...
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