"Struggling?"
"Yes. Your swordsmanship is amazing, the best I've ever seen. But I don't understand why there's hesitation in your strikes."
"You're mistaken. There isn't."
Faced with Mahiro's confident questioning, Sayaka froze for a moment before replying coldly:
"My sword never wavers."
Though she outwardly denied his claim, a hidden chord inside her had been struck.
Was she struggling?
The answer was undeniably yes.
Mahiro wasn't wrong. As a Second Course student, she truly was lost deep down.
She was no worse than anyone else—she had poured in so much effort and sweat—yet she couldn't earn anyone's recognition.
Instead, she was met with disdain everywhere.
Subjected to scornful gazes.
Even during last year's demonstration match, she hadn't even been granted the right to spar with a First Course senpai, instead being mocked and rejected outright.
Many times, she had questioned herself.
What did all her dedication to kendo amount to in the end?
Just sweat?
And more than that, she didn't understand.
She had hidden it all so well—so how had this kohai, meeting her for the first time, seen right through the hesitation in her sword?
"Is that so?"
Since Sayaka didn't admit it, Mahiro didn't press further.
He stepped into the dojo, neatly removed his shoes and placed them by the entrance, then walked over to the weapon rack and picked up a wooden sword.
Turning back, he pointed it at Sayaka and said:
"Mibu-senpai, how about a match? No magic involved—just pure kendo."
If there truly was no hesitation in her heart, the best way to prove it was through a duel.
Sayaka understood that too.
So she nodded and agreed:
"Sure, no problem."
Though they had only just met—not even ten minutes ago—perhaps because he had seen through her secret right away, or perhaps because she wanted to convince herself, Sayaka also wanted to spar with this mysterious kohai.
But when she actually stepped onto the floor and took her stance opposite Mahiro, she couldn't help but let out a soft sound of surprise.
What's going on?
Though it was just a new kohai standing across from her with a sword, for some reason, she felt like she was looking at herself.
His grip, his stance, even the sharpness of his presence—it was almost identical to hers!
No, it was an illusion.
It had to be.
Sayaka closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her gaze was filled with determination and focus!
"Let's begin, Senpai," Mahiro said.
"Won't you wear protective gear?"
"No need."
"Alright!"
Since Mahiro had chosen to forgo the protective gear, Sayaka also decided to remove the black chest protector and tossed it to the ground.
All that remained was her kendo uniform, resembling a shrine maiden's attire.
Truth be told, engaging in such a match without protective gear was dangerous.
Even though they were using wooden swords, their strikes still packed enough force to easily fracture bones.
"Here I come!"
Sayaka moved first.
"Kote!"
The wooden sword sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, aiming straight for Mahiro's wrist.
Crack!
Her strike was blocked.
The wooden swords clashed violently, producing a crisp, explosive sound.
This much, the girl had already anticipated.
What followed was an unrelenting barrage of attacks from Sayaka, displaying the full repertoire of her ancient swordsmanship school's techniques without reservation!
Her assault was as fierce as fire.
Just as the phrase "Fūrinkazan" (Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain) described—her attacks were like raging flames.
But the more she fought, the more Sayaka felt a growing sense of shock!
There was no other reason.
Sayaka felt as though she wasn't fighting against that enigmatic underclassman—but against herself!
Whether it was the sword techniques, the stances, or even the sequence of strikes—everything was executed exactly as she would have done it!
Not a single detail out of place!
And yet, it was even sharper, devoid of any hesitation, a relentless and unwavering swordplay!
Until finally—
Snap!
Her wooden sword was knocked away.
Meanwhile, Mahiro's blade pressed firmly against her collarbone.
"...I lost."
Sayaka lowered her head, biting her lip tightly.
She acknowledged her defeat without hesitation, but her heart was filled with disappointment.
She never expected that after all her diligent daily training in kendo, she would lose to a freshman who had just enrolled.
Yet, at the same time, she was deeply curious. So she asked:
"...Um, could you tell me why? How did you, my kouhai, manage to use my sword techniques?"
Mahiro smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, Mibu-senpai. That was just a little trick of mine."
As he spoke, a fleeting arc of light flashed in his pupils.
A permanent perception-type magic—Copy Eye.
That was what the Fourth Research Institute called it.
Whether it was magic or martial arts, as long as his Mystic Eyes caught a glimpse, he could instantly learn and master it.
Even the unique magical properties of Shiba Tatsuya's Decomposition and Regrowth were no exception.
It even allowed him to cast spells without a CAD.
That was how he had learned the secret techniques of the Kudou family.
And it was also the fundamental reason why Shiba Tatsuya couldn't kill him.
So, in truth, what Mibu Sayaka had just faced wasn't so much Mahiro as it was herself—her own swordplay, executed without a trace of hesitation.
...
...
...
While Mahiro was interacting with the kendo club's beauty, the Student Council Alliance headquarters was also discussing matters concerning him.
"Hey, Juumonji-kun, have you heard about our junior, Yotsuba Mahiro?"
Seated on the right side, Student Council President Saegusa Mayumi turned to the opposite seat, where Juumonji Katsuto—another member of the Ten Master Clans—sat.
He was a towering third-year student, as massive as a mountain.
Despite being only 185 cm tall, his muscular build made him appear extraordinarily imposing, like a boulder.
Hearing Mayumi's question, Katsuto nodded slowly.
"Yes. His average score across seven subjects, as well as his magic practical exam, barely met the passing line for First Course students."
But that wasn't the main point.
The real issue was—he was actually a descendant of the Yotsuba family.
Could he have been adopted from a branch family into the main Yotsuba household?
It wasn't impossible. In fact, it was quite common—when a child displayed exceptional talent, they were often adopted into the main family for specialized training.
"Saegusa, has the Student Council finalized this year's recruitment list?"
"Juumonji-kun, are you suggesting...?"
"Yes. I want him to join the Student Council. It's our duty as magicians of the Ten Master Clans, and we should support each other."
Katsuto confirmed Mayumi's speculation.
"That shouldn't be a problem."
Mayumi pondered.
This year, the Student Council only had one new recruit so far—Shiba Miyuki, the freshman representative—so there were still vacancies.
Even if the positions were full, they could always create an additional role just to bring Mahiro in.
The only concern was Mahiro's academic performance...
"Um, may I say a few words?"
The third person seated in the middle, a cool-looking short-haired girl from the Student Council Alliance headquarters, spoke up, drawing the attention of the other two.