Following his mock battle with Tomitsuka, Tatsuya finished up his remaining Student Council duties and made his way toward the school entrance. Since Miyuki and Minami used a different locker area, the plan was to part ways temporarily and reconvene at the main gate.
"Aha! Found you, Shiba-kun!"
"Amy... shouldn't your exit be on the other side?"
Tatsuya had sensed her trailing him for a while, but he turned to ask why she had chosen to follow him rather than heading out with Miyuki and the others.
"I heard you went toe-to-toe with Tomitsuka-kun! So? How'd it go?"
"Technically, I was declared the winner," Tatsuya replied with his usual lack of vanity. "Though, if we're counting clean hits, Tomitsuka landed far more than I did."
"I knew it! You're seriously a beast when it comes to actual combat, aren't you?"
"...What makes you say that?"
"I mean, look at last year's Nine Schools Competition. You filled in for Morisaki-kun and the others in Monolith Code, right? Everyone was saying that—no offense to Morisaki-kun's group—the only reason we beat the Third High 'Prince' was because you guys stepped in."
It was an objective truth. Tatsuya had survived the Prince's onslaught because of his unique constitution, and Leo had blocked those strikes with his bare hands. Had Morisaki's team competed, the Prince would likely have used a different strategy entirely. However, the "what-ifs" of the past held no interest for Tatsuya; he wasn't the type to indulge in groundless speculation.
"Plus," Amy continued, her eyes sparkling, "no one would tell me the full story, but I heard you were a total hero during the Thesis Competition. Word is you stopped an entire invasion by Great Asian Union magicians."
"That was primarily the work of Juumonji-senpai and Ichijou. I merely assisted with the evacuation."
"Really? But Honoka was so worked up when she talked about it. I just assumed you must have done something amazing."
Tatsuya noted that even in her excitement, Honoka had seemingly kept the classified details under wraps. That was a relief. If she were to let the truth slip, he would be forced to "silence" her—a prospect Tatsuya wished to avoid, given the genuine affection the girl showed him.
"By the way, Amy, what kept you so late? The Hunting Club doesn't have activities today, does it?"
"Ahaha... You're good, Shiba-kun. I can't believe you actually keep track of every club's schedule."
As a former Discipline Committee member and current Student Council Vice President, it wouldn't have been surprising, but Tatsuya didn't actually have the school's entire calendar memorized.
"I happened to see the Hunting Club's horses being hitched earlier, so I simply put two and two together. I don't track the schedules themselves."
"I see... Still, the fact that you notice and remember small stuff like that is what makes you so cool."
"Is that so?"
"Yep! Oh, mind if I walk with you to the station?"
"I don't particularly mind, but..."
"Then wait for me! I'll be right out!"
Since she didn't need to change into outdoor shoes, there was no reason she couldn't have just exited through the Engineering Course lockers. Tatsuya chalked it up to force of habit and continued toward the main gate where Miyuki was waiting.
When Tatsuya reached the gate, Miyuki and Minami were already there. They both cast frequent, puzzled glances at the extra person trailing behind him. Amy, seemingly oblivious to their scrutiny, continued to chat brightly with Tatsuya.
"But seriously, Shiba-kun, you really are incredible."
"In what way?"
"The fight with Tomitsuka-kun was one thing, but that experiment you did? That was insane! I could never have planned something like that."
"Of course not," Miyuki interjected, her voice like silk over sharpened steel. "I couldn't have done it either. That plan was only possible because it was Onii-sama."
"Right? He's in a league of his own!"
Amy chirped her agreement, completely missing the barbed undertone in Miyuki's voice. Usually, Miyuki loved hearing her brother praised, but today, she looked profoundly unimpressed.
"Speaking of which, Amy," Miyuki said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Weren't you supposed to be fond of Tomitsuka-kun?"
"Huh? Oh, I like Tomitsuka-kun! As a friend, anyway."
Miyuki recoiled slightly at Amy's bluntness. To say such a thing with zero malice—essentially friend-zoning a popular boy without a second thought—was a level of social fearlessness Miyuki wasn't prepared for.
"Tomitsuka-kun is popular, sure, but I think I like Shiba-kun better. He knows so much, and he even helped me with my studies."
"You'll have to handle the next exam on your own," Tatsuya noted.
"Ehh?! Don't be like that! Please, you have to teach me~!"
Amy began to cling to Tatsuya's arm with casual familiarity. Behind them, the "Ice Queen" had fully descended. Since Amy lacked the sensitivity to detect magical auras, she was blissfully unaware of the localized drop in temperature. Tatsuya managed to soothe Miyuki with a quick look of eye contact, narrowly preventing an unseasonal frost from covering the pavement, but Miyuki's mood remained cold.
"Hey, Shiba-kun."
"What is it?"
"Can I call you by your first name? I call Miyuki by hers, but I've always just called you 'Shiba-kun'."
"I thought you used 'Tatsuya-san' before?"
"Hmm... that felt a bit off at the time. But now, 'Shiba-kun' feels like there's too much distance between us."
"You can call me whatever you like, Amy."
"Really?! Okay then—Tatsuya-san it is!"
To Miyuki, hearing her brother's name roll off Amy's tongue felt like watching a stranger walk into her private sanctuary. If Minami hadn't been firmly (and discreetly) holding her back, Miyuki might have actually lunged at her. Tatsuya watched the exchange with a detached, almost clinical observation.
"Hey, Tatsuya-san! Next time we have a day off, let's go out somewhere! Naturally, Miyuki and Sakurai-san are invited too!"
"I'm afraid I must decline," Miyuki said instantly. "Minami-chan and I have prior engagements on our next holiday. What about you, Onii-sama?"
"I'd prefer to avoid that particular destination," Tatsuya said, his voice flat. "So, I'll go with Amy."
"I see..." Miyuki's expression went dangerously blank. "Amy. Please ensure you don't cause any trouble for my brother."
"I know, I know! I'm not a kid, you know!"
Amy completely failed to grasp the subtext of Miyuki's warning. What Miyuki had actually said was: If you get too close to my brother, I will show you no mercy.
As they parted ways at the station, Amy looked genuinely thrilled about their upcoming "date." Tatsuya, on the other hand, was torn. He was glad to have a valid excuse to avoid the mandatory visit to the Yotsuba main house, but he was already dreading the sheer amount of work he would have to do later to appease the two girls currently radiating frozen fury behind him.
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