"Good morning, Ichijou-san. Yes, feel free."

  Masaki called out to her as he stood, she looked up at him and nodded with a bright smile.

  With her permission, rather than taking the "seat with the best view of Miyuki," Masaki sat down right beside her.

  "You're not with Shiba today?"

  The only reason why Masaki was willing to make such a bold step today was because neither Tatsuya nor Lina were next to Miyuki. Lina would not let Masaki near Miyuki, and when Miyuki and Tatsuya were having their time together, Masaki wouldn't even want to go near them. In fact, when he invited her when she was with Tatsuya for lunch the other day, he was expecting her to decline.

  "Tatsuya-sama was called to the laboratory by Higashiyama-sensei."

  Higashiyama Kazutoki is Tatsuya's and Miyuki's seminar advisor. He has also collaborated with Tatsuya on the "Event Interference Force = Pushion Wave Theory." As a matter of fact, he collaborated with Tsukuba Yuuka on research related to Outer-Systematic Type Magic.

  "Unfortunately, he will not be attending this lecture."

  "I see. That's a shame."

  Masaki's tone of voice was not wholly absentminded in his back-channel.

  "Yes, indeed it is."

  128

  Despite how Miyuki surprisingly felt about it inwardly, she did not let it show on her face.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  After the first period lecture, Miyuki went to Higashiyama’s laboratory to pick up Tatsuya.

  By the time Miyuki peeked into the laboratory, Tatsuya had already finished packing up his desk.

  "Until later."

  Having said this to Professor Higashiyama, Tatsuya stood up and walked over to Miyuki.

  "Miyuki, thank you for coming."

  He greeted her with an apology for having her come and pick him up.

  "Shall we go?"

  He suggested moving to the next classroom.

  Miyuki answered with a "Yes" and wrapped her right arm around Tatsuya's left arm.

  "Tatsuya-sama, it's about Ichijou-san…"

  While walking with their arms entwined, Miyuki looked up and spoke to Tatsuya. She didn’t worry at all about anything in front of herself as she walked. She didn’t worry about bumping into anything since she entrusted Tatsuya entirely with where they were going, thus allowing Miyuki to focus her attention on the conversation.

  "What's wrong with Ichijou?"

  "It's an uncomfortable feeling I've been sensing for some time now, but it has been particularly intense lately."

  Her tone of voice wasn’t difficult to hear. The anxiety on Miyuki’s face was palpable.

  "An uncomfortable feeling. When specifically?"

  "Yes. Like when he asked me a while ago if he could sit next to me."

  "And?"

  129

  Tatsuya's face didn’t show a hint of irritation, even though he had just heard what could be easily construed as Masaki making a pass on Miyuki while he was absent.

  "I said yes, of course. After Ichijou-san took a seat next to me, he seemed to have lost interest in me."

  "…Couldn't he have just been concentrating on the lecture?"

  "I think there is that too. But sometimes I felt a gaze directed at me, and that gaze was…"

  Tatsuya frowned. If he is really directing lustful gazes at Miyuki, that is something he can't overlook.

  "…I think it resembled someone you’d see admiring a painting or a sculpture."

  But Miyuki's line containing her apparent bewilderment was far removed from Tatsuya's own assessment.

  "You think Ichijou sees you as an object?"

  "An object… Perhaps in the sense that he doesn't see me as a real living person, but I don't think he sees me as some sort of possession. I feel like it's something akin to him 'being happy just to look."

  Satisfaction just by looking at Miyuki. ──Surely there are plenty of men like that around.

  However, it is not a feeling that a man who has tried to break up an engagement in the past based on infatuation should have, even as a joke.

  Or maybe it's because it's "in the past."

  (Is it the "past" in Ichijou's mind…?)

  (If so, then what's with this behavior of his, trying to woo Miyuki every chance he gets?) (Hmm? … Behavior?)

  Tatsuya felt a strong pull to the words he asked himself in his mind.

  "Tatsuya-sama, do you have any idea of what it could be…?"

  Sensitive to the thoughts going through Tatsuya's mind, Miyuki looked up at Tatsuya expectantly.

  "No, I just thought that Ichijou's actions certainly don't make much sense."

  130

  But, finding his hypothesis rather far-fetched, Tatsuya said noncommittally.

  "So, Tatsuya-sama also thinks so… I also am not sure how to best deal with Ichijou-san,"

  "That's problematic," muttered Miyuki seriously, to which Tatsuya thought, "I can't let this continue any longer."

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Saturday’s lecture at the Magic University ends at noon, after the second period. This is earlier than other public universities. But this did not mean the end of the day for students and teachers alike. Of which they usually have seminars and club activities afterwards.

  A little after noon, Tatsuya and Miyuki were planning to go out for lunch a little further away from the crowded school cafeteria. There was not much time before the expected arrival time of the commuter (robot taxi) that they had called right after the lecture. They walked at a fast pace towards the north gate ── the main gate is on the south side ── it was on their way.

  Unlike the area in front of the main gate, the area around the north gate is laid out as a series of narrow paths intersecting buildings, giving limited visibility. It wasn’t until they reached the gate did Tatsuya and Miyuki encounter Masaki and the usual group of female students that accompany him.

  "Shiba-san, are you having lunch now?"

  As is usually the case, Masaki called out to Miyuki.

  He had never noticed it before, but now that he thought about it, there is no "passion" in Masaki's eyes. Though he might be enthusiastic, there is no genuine passion in his eyes.

  ──So Tatsuya thought.

  "Yeah, even Ichijou-san and your friends as well?"

  Miyuki was disconcerted on the inside, but she didn't let it show on the surface at all, and answered Masaki with a perfect "lady's smile."

  "In that case."

  "But it seems that you are in a hurry, Shiba-kun."

  As Masaki was about to deliver his usual invitation to Miyuki, Kichijouji interposed his words to Tatsuya.

  131

  "Yeah, unfortunately. Sorry."

  With the question raised at him, Tatsuya responded honestly. The idea of "this might be a good opportunity to find out what Ichijou is up to" had crossed Tatsuya's mind, but he had already booked a commuter and a restaurant. He considered that it would be impractical to change his plans at this point.

  "I'm sorry to stall you, Masaki. Well, Shiba-kun, another time."

  And Kichijouji for his part seemed to have an idea.

  "Yeah, see you later."

  Tatsuya didn't know what his intentions were, but he felt it was best not to interfere.

  Tatsuya prompted Miyuki and parted ways with Masaki's group.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  "Masaki. I need to talk to you alone."

  Soon after Tatsuya and Miyuki had left, Kichijouji said to Masaki with a stern expression.

  "What's wrong out of the blue?"

  Masaki asked back with a puzzled look on his face,

  "Just the two of us."

  Kichijouji repeated the same request without a dent in his stern expression.

  "George…"

  Masaki called Kichijouji by his nickname in a hushed tone.

  "……"

  But Kichijouji stubbornly refused to budge.

  Masaki let out a sigh and turned away from Kichijouji to Kirie.

  "Kirie. It seems like George has remembered something important we need to talk about.

  I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask that you take lunch without us."

  Then he turned to the other female students with an affable smile.

  132

  "And everyone else too, I'm sorry, but that's how it is."

  Kichijouji's seriousness seemed to have even rubbed off on the girls, and none of the

  "hangers-on" raised any complaints. The girls left Masaki and Kichijouji, saying "see you later" and "You can make it up later."

  Kirie and the others scattered away out of the north gate.

  Meanwhile, Masaki and Kichijouji made a U-turn and made their way to the school cafeteria.

  Securing an empty seat he spotted in the crowded cafeteria, Kichijouji took his set meal order from the counter and sat down at the table, deploying his sound insulation field with no questions asked.

  "George, what got you so upset?"

  Masaki, who had returned to the table a little later, asked Kichijouji in a quizzical tone.

  That wasn't a feigned ignorance on Masaki's part. He genuinely doesn’t know what has gotten Kichijouji in such a bad mood.

  Kichijouji turned his brooding eyes toward Masaki.

  "Masaki. You have been acting strange lately, you know that?"

  Kichijouji's voice didn't contain an ounce of humor.

  "Whoa, isn’t that an abrupt thing to say all of a sudden."

  "Masaki!"

  "…Okay. I'm being serious. What's the problem?"

  Resigned to not evading the questions at hand, Masaki retracted his fake smile and faced Kichijouji.

  Neither of them bat any eyes at the food growing cold.

  "It's about your behavior around Shiba-san."

  "…I think it's about the same as how I always acted around her before."

  133

  "No, it isn't. At least not until the year before last, it wasn't as flippant as that."

  Kichijouji's tone is laced with conviction.

  "That's not…"

  Masaki tried to argue, but couldn't quite articulate himself properly.

  Meaning that Masaki himself is both aware of this fact and has an idea of what is going on.

  "You began to act strangely like that, Masaki, when Tsuruga-san started university."

  Masaki's face contorted at Kichijouji's point. It's an expression of a nerve having been struck.

  "…This has nothing to do with her."

  Masaki, however, refused to verbally admit it.

  "So you're well aware that you've been acting strangely since last spring, aren't you?"

  "……"

  "Keeping quiet? Not that I mind. It's not like I'm trying to accuse you of anything, Masaki."

  "……"

  "I just want to say one thing to you, Masaki. Rather, I can't not say it!"

  Kichijouji's voice and his eyes, were both filled with the heartfelt concern of a person who cares about his best friend.

  "…Say it."

  Nevertheless, for all he wished, Masaki could not remain silent.

  "I want you to put a stop to this, before you push yourself any further and end up doing something really shameful!"

  "……"

  And still, he couldn't help but be lost for words at this line.

  "Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"

  134

  Masaki didn’t say anything. No, judging by the quivering of his lips on his tense face, he must be trying to say something but can't quite manage it.

  "You see, I knew long ago that you have been deliberately trying to look like a pick-up artist, Masaki."

  "I see…"

  Masaki muttered in a resigned voice. It's a muttered admittance of what Kichijouji pointed out to be true.

  "Really, that isn't you… I couldn't stand watching it. It was painful just to watch."

  "…My bad."

  "I won't ask you why, since it looks like you don't want to talk about it. But you should put a stop to it. Nah, it has to stop. Not just for yourself. It's also disrespectful to Shiba-san to use a stalking horse around her."

  "I'm not using a stalking horse or anything."

  Masaki's face changed.

  "I like her. That's not a lie."

  This is the only thing that is non-negotiable, Masaki pleaded.

  "But your "like" is not in the romantic sense of the word "like," is it?"

  However, Kichijouji's counter argument again left Masaki speechless.

  "It's a kind of "like" in the worshiping or admiration sense, isn't that right?"

  "…It's not like I'm idolizing her, though."

  "I get that it's not a shallow sentiment."

  Masaki's rebuttal was easily brushed aside by Kichijouji.

  "But it's a similar kind of feeling. It's a one-sided affection that you can't help but to feel.

  It’s the feeling that makes you happy when the person shows you just a bit of kindness.

  Am I wrong?"

  "…No, you're not. I know that she doesn't have any feelings for me."

  135

  "So, Masaki, you would be happy to just look at that woman. That's the truth, isn’t it? For that reason, Masaki, it was superfluous of you for having made a pass on her, let alone it having been inappropriate."

  Kichijouji made an arbitrarily conclusive statement to which, as expected, there was no rebuttal from Masaki.

  "This pick-up artist Masaki is not only rude to Shiba-san, but also to yourself."

  "To myself…?"

  "Yes, of course. To your true feelings. You are defiling your own affection for Shiba-san, Masaki. In any case, you should really stop doing this."

  "…I'll think about it"

  Kichijouji let out a sigh when Masaki didn't say he was going to stop right away.

  "…I know you won't answer this, and though I said earlier that I wouldn't ask why, I'll still go ahead and ask. Why are you playing such a stupid clown?"

  And as expected, Masaki didn’t give a response.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  The evening of Saturday, July 3rd. At the residence of the Ichijou Family in the former Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa.

  Ichijou Akane, the eldest daughter of the Ichijou Family and a second-year student at the Third High School, cheered with delight at the unexpected email. The volume of her voice was such that her mother came to check what was going on.

  "I-It's nothing. Nothing at all. Ahahahaha…"

  Sending her mother away with a deceptive smile, Akane sat down on her bed in a position with her legs in the format of an "A" (a usual girl sitting style, a folded legged sitting style) and stared fixedly at the terminal displaying the email she had received with an earnest look on her face.

  Akane took a deep breath.

  "──Okay!"

  136

  With a shout of determination, she called the sender's phone number from the link in the email.

  The call connected immediately.

  "Hello! It's Akane. Is this Shinkurou-kun!?"

  "Akane-chan? Yeah. It's me. …Sorry for having you call me."

  Kichijouji was surprised to receive a call from Akane straight away. He had sent Akane an email asking, "When would be a good time to call." He had underestimated the average high school girl, or rather Akane’s enthusiasm.

  "Umm. I just wanted to talk to you right away. So, what’s the problem?"

  Just talking on the phone, Kichijouji was almost overwhelmed by her energy.

  "It’s not a problem per se, rather, I want to ask you something."

  "What is it? Ask me anything."

  But staying overwhelmed would not accomplish his goal. Kichijouji chided himself in his mind, "Pull yourself together, Shinkurou."

  "Are you familiar with Tsuruga-san, Akane-chan?"

  "Kirie-san? Yeah, I know her. Our family is very close to Tsuruga-san's. …Wait! Don't tell me that you have an eye on Kirie-san, Shinkurou-kun!?"

  There were signs of panic on the other end of the phone. Kichijouji cocked his head to the side, wondering what was going on.

  "Are you cheating? You’re trying to cheat!? No, no, you absolutely cannot!"

  "…Err. I think you might have misunderstood something, I just wanted to ask you if there's something going on between Tsuruga Kirie-san and Masaki."

  "With Nii-san? Aaah, so that's what it is…"

  Akane breathed out a sigh of relief over the terminal's uniphone (voice communication unit).

  "Right, the relationship between Nii-san and Kirie-san. Let's see, where should I start…"

  137

  There were signs of pondering on the other end of the line. Kichijouji didn't make any attempt to disturb Akane by rushing her.

  "Shinkurou-kun, you know that our grandfather is the younger brother of the previous head of the Isshiki Family, don't you?"

  "I know, but where does it fit in?"

  "Kirie-san is from the Tsuruga Family, and though her family is associated with the Ichijou Family, we aren’t related, yet there is a connection with the Isshiki Family."

  "I didn't know that…"

  Even Kichijouji, who has known Masaki for so long, usually forgets that Masaki is blood related to the Isshiki Family. It was completely unexpected to find out that Kirie is connected to the Isshiki Family.

  "Ah. But it's not like Kirie-san is from the Isshiki Family. They are relatives, though."

  "So you mean… they are maternal relatives?"

  "I don't know if I would call them maternal relatives. The wife of the previous head of the Isshiki Family was a member of the Tsuruga Family. Kirie-san is the grandchild of her younger brother."

  "I had heard that they were distant relatives, but I didn't know they were related like that…"

  Kichijouji sorted out in his mind the blood relationship that Akane had told him. Masaki and Kirie's grandfathers were both brothers-in-law through the previous head of the Isshiki Family. Though they are relatives, they are not related by blood. On the other hand, Kirie's grandfather became the uncle of the current head of the Isshiki Family, but Kirie herself has no genes from the Isshiki Family.

  "And now comes the main part of the story."

  Kichijouji's thoughts had wandered astray, but these words from Akane brought his mind back.

  "You see, it seems like the genes of the Isshiki Family and the genes of the Tsuruga Family are very compatible when it comes to producing magicians."

  "…You mean that by pairing the Isshiki Family and Tsuruga Family, excellent magicians can be born?"