"Masaki."

  This is where Kichijouji gave him a lifeboat.

  "I'm sure you are also confused by all this suddenness."

  If he was going to ditch Masaki, Kichijouji wouldn't have called him here today.

  "I think you two should have a word alone with each other."

  Kichijouji turned his back to the two of them and left.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  ──It's heated.

  There, standing in front of Kirie, Masaki thought to himself.

  It’s only natural.

  Today is July 4th. The rainy season hasn't ended yet, but it's been clear and sunny since morning.

  Even there, at the path beneath the trees, where neither of them are exposed to direct sunlight, there was quite a heat. No, if anything, it's pretty hot.

  Whether it was purely a matter of the temperature and humidity in the air, or a reflection of his state of mind he didn't know, but Masaki thought ── with a touch of escapism ──

  that he should escape to somewhere indoors with air-conditioning.

  "Kirie, isn't it… kind of hot?"

  "Are you thirsty, Masaki-san? Do you want me to get you something?"

  At times like this, Kirie will always take the initiative. She's not trying to score points with him, it's just her nature. Masaki felt like he wanted to drop dead, remembering all the times he'd taken advantage of this virtuous volition of hers to get her to do things for him.

  "No, rather, let's go into a cooler place and talk there."

  150

  "Oh, right, we can do that."

  "What about that coffee shop we went to last time?"

  Masaki felt the need to get off campus for some reason, so he mentioned the first place that came to mind.

  "Yes, that's fine with me."

  Kirie, as per usual, simply accepted Masaki's words with a nod.

  Masaki started to walk towards the main gate. And as he walked, all he could think about was what he should say to Kirie.

  And Kirie, being Kirie, couldn't help but wonder about Masaki's answer.

  Both distracted, restless, and minds wandering wildly, they were in a situation that could even lead to the not so amusing event of a traffic accident.

  Because they were in such a state, they were oblivious to the three pairs of eyes watching them from the shadows.

  The coffee shop is about a five minute walk from the university. Today they both ordered a cold drink.

  Sitting face to face, by the time they ordered their drinks, Masaki felt a pang of regret.

  "Oh, I'll get it."

  Today, Kirie also opted for self-service and rose to her feet, heading for the counter.

  When she was far enough away, Masaki let out a sigh.

  (Why did I have to choose a spot with so many people…) The conversation he is about to have with Kirie is not one he'd like her to hear, even if it's related to the Ten Master Clans. But even if it was on the campus of the Magic University, you can't just casually use magic in the city like this. Today is Sunday. The shop is usually only frequented by Magic University students, but there are a lot of ordinary people here.

  And among them there might be plainclothes police officers or detectives who are either on patrol or investigating something. ──Whether plainclothes officers do go on patrol or not, Masaki does not know.

  (Sound insulation field… it's better if I don't use it. Damn, I should have chosen the university café.)

  151

  He went off campus in order to avoid being seen by acquaintances if he chose a cafeteria or a café there, but overlooked the fact that he ended up in a situation where he couldn't use his sound-blocking magic.

  "Sorry to keep you waiting."

  As soon as Kirie returned, Masaki rushed to fix his expression.

  (…There shouldn't be many people so shameless to the point of eavesdropping.) In the end, thinking that way, Masaki forced himself to accept the situation.

  He brought the straw of the glass Kirie had brought him to his mouth and quenched his thirst for the time being.

  Masaki then once again turned to face her.

  Sensitive to the change in Masaki's mood, Kirie stiffened, stricken with nervous tension.

  But, unfortunately for her, Masaki didn't offer any words to help her relax.

  "Kirie."

  "Ye-Yes."

  "A-About the conversation earlier..."

  Kirie wasn't the only one who was nervous.

  Masaki skipped the straw and drank his pure-black iced coffee, directly from the glass, in one gulp.

  "Cough, blech!"

  As a consequence of his haste in drinking it, the coffee must have gotten into his windpipe.

  "Are you alright!?"

  Kirie half-stood, raising her back in a fluster as Masaki choked.

  Signaling her not to come over with one hand, Masaki gave an embarrassed chuckle.

  "Man… I'm a really sloppy guy."

  "I think it's better to have at least a little bit of a chink in your armor, it makes you more approachable, in my opinion. …Because it's hard to get close to someone who's perfect in every way."

  152

  "Yeah, I guess it is…"

  "Yes. I like that kind of person more."

  "──I see."

  The atmosphere had changed.

  The tension drained from both of their faces, the stiffness lifted from their bodies.

  "Kirie. I don't dislike you. If I am to put in a way without any pretensions, I find you likable."

  Kirie stared at Masaki with a calm expression.

  Awaiting his next words.

  "But I've never looked at you, Kirie, in a romantic way."

  Kirie didn’t appear to be shocked. Rather, she looked as if to say, "I knew it."

  "Umm, can I ask you something that may sound rude?"

  Masaki eyed her quizzically.

  "…Feel free."

  But he didn't say no.

  "I'm not the only one who you don't see in a romantic way, right?"

  "…Well, yes, that's true."

  "And that's because you have Shiba-san?"

  "…That's right."

  While his words became clogged up for a moment, Masaki nodded crisply.

  "Is that really so?"

  However, Kirie gave Masaki a doubtful look.

  "What are you trying to say?"

  "I happened to have heard your conversation with Kichijouji-san earlier. And I dare to assume you are not at all in love with Shiba-san, am I right Masaki-san?"

  "…Then you also heard what I said about that, didn't you?"

  153

  "In that case, you should not have any reason to be in love with that person."

  Kirie fixed her gaze on Masaki.

  Masaki squirmed uncomfortably under this gaze.

  "You haven't even experienced your first love yet, have you?"

  Kirie asked with a very serious expression.

  "I had a first love, at least."

  As one would expect, Masaki looked peeved.

  "If that’s the case, then I think you don't know how it feels to be in love anymore, Masaki-san."

  "…What?"

  "I said that you don't know love…"

  "No, it's not that I didn't catch what you said."

  Masaki asked back, because he didn't understand what she meant by it.

  "Errm…"

  It also looked like Kirie didn't expect him to understand without further explanation.

  "…Shiba-san is a wonderful person, isn't she? Her looks, her talent. She shines so brightly that it's hard to believe she is a person just like me."

  "And what does that have to do with…?"

  He asked back, his words quizzical, but Masaki's head was moving vertically in broad strokes.

  "I'm sure that Masaki-san is so overwhelmed by that person's radiance that your heart is in a stupor."

  "…Are you trying to say that I'm blinded?"

  "No, it's not that."

  Kirie shook her head in haste.

  "I think it's because she is so fascinating that you can't find attractiveness in other women. …Well, I guess I could just say that she is too beautiful."

  154

  Kirie took an audible deep breath. Her cheeks were slightly flushed.

  "I think that you, Masaki-san, have become numb to your desire for women as a man."

  After she finished her line, she added in a whisper, "I can't say about the body, though." It's this additional part that made her blush.

  "That's why you don't feel attracted to just me or to other women… Although selfish of me, that's how I feel about it."

  Masaki dropped his gaze to his hands and contemplated.

  "…I think you might be right."

  After a not-so-brief silence, Masaki muttered to himself.

  "Perhaps, in some way, I am a sort of Icarus who forgot where he stands and got too close to the sun. But it's not my wings that have melted away, it's my heart."

  "That's not true."

  With a self-deprecating smile, Masaki looked up in surprise at the unexpectedly firm tone.

  "The heart is not just some phony waxwork thing. I'm sure Masaki-san's heart hasn't melted in any way."

  "…You think so?"

  "Yes."

  Kirie smiled with great confidence.

  "Masaki-san. Why don't you give it a try?"

  It felt like her smile was not all that pure, that there was some sort of devious calculative lure to it. That wasn't quite like the usual impression she gave, but strangely enough, it didn't rub Masaki the wrong way.

  "Try? Try what?"

  "Why don't we try trial-dating? I'll do everything in my power to make you become a woman that you can love. And if you really don't feel that way about me, Masaki-san, we can simply break up at any time."

  "But that's too dishonest."

  "It's okay if it's dishonest. It's what I want, after all."

  155

  "Wait, that's…"

  Perhaps Kirie is trying to entangle Masaki with a preconceived notion.

  Masaki vaguely felt that it might be that too.

  It was then that he decided on, "If you are okay with it."

  "I know…"

  "Qǐng shāo děng!"

  However, just at the moment when he was about to give the "Okay," a single girl interrupted the conversation from behind Masaki with a, not very loud, but strong tone of voice.

  Masaki turned around, startled by being caught off guard.

  Kirie’s eyes went wide and froze.

  "Please wait."

  The girl, who re-stated it in Japanese, wore a red uniform, characteristic of the National Magic University Affiliated Third High School.

  "…Liú Lìlěi, san?"

  "…Leila-san?"

  The former voice was from Kirie, the latter from Masaki.

  As both of them said, she is the former nationally recognized Strategic-Class Magician, Liú Lìlěi of the Great Asian Union, a girl who has been adopted into a branch family of the Ichijou Family, and was now a naturalized citizen by the name of Ichijou Leila.

  "Akane… And even George…"

  Masaki is stunned at the sight of the figures following Liú Lìlěi.

  "Akane, why are you here…?"

  "Shinkurou-kun told me about it and I got curious."

  "George!"

  "…Sorry."

  Kichijouji refused to make eye contact with Masaki as he apologized.

  156

  "…And you, Akane. You have school tomorrow."

  "These days, the Kanazawa-Tokyo trip is just a day long anyway."

  Masaki pressed a question against his sister in an exasperated voice, but Akane brought a completely devil-may-care attitude.

  "Anyway, Nii-san. It seems like Lei-chan has something to say to you."

  "Lei-chan" is a nickname for Liú Lìlěi, or Ichijou Leila, which is used almost exclusively by Akane.

  At his younger sister's urging, Masaki remained seated in his chair and turned his whole body around to face Leila ── whom henceforth will be referred to by her current name.

  Leila looked quite displeased.

  "Masaki-san. I think that, even if the person herself consented, it's not right to be dishonest."

  "Y-Yeah, I suppose so."

  "Then you'll have to go out with me!"

  "Eh…?"

  Masaki is taken aback by Leila's line, which is completely inconsistent from beginning to end.

  "If that's the reason you're willing to date someone, then even I can be your girlfriend!"

  "No, wait."

  Masaki held his right hand out in front of Leila and held his head with his left.

  "…Leila-san, you're angry because you think trial-dating is dishonest, aren't you?"

  Masaki asked, dropping his hands.

  "That's right."

  Leila's expression is one of unconcern for what she has said and done.

  "But if you are asking me to be my girlfriend, isn't that a contradiction?"

  "And why is that?"

  Leila earnestly tilted her head in puzzlement.

  157

  Masaki wanted to hold his head in his hands once again.

  "Because I'm serious about this."

  However, the next line from Leila forced him to stay in place.

  "I'm not asking for trial-dating. My love is real."

  "Mine is too!"

  Kirie, who had been left aside by the turn of events, stood up, driven by a sense of urgency.

  "…Tsuruga-san, calm down."

  Kichijouji, who had been silent and looking away uneasily, tried to calm Kirie down.

  "Because you're attracting attention."

  This seemed much like a lover's quarrel between a couple of university students and a high school girl. ──No doubt some of it would catch the eye of the other patrons.

  "Err, how about we call it quits for now? We can talk about this some other time."

  "Yes, right! Let's do that!"

  Kichijouji's proposal for an ending was greeted with an enthusiastic agreement from Masaki.

  And then, instead of using the machine at the table, he took the ticket number, got up and seemed to run in the direction of the cashier. ──This wasn’t just some fit of emotions, it was a strategic retreat.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  The morning of July 5th.

  There were countless students going back and forth on the Magic University campus. This morning, rather than Tatsuya, Lina’s figure could be seen next to Miyuki.

  On the other side of Miyuki and Lina walked a group of male students surrounded by female students. Lina noticed Masaki at the heart of it and quickly prepared herself to shoo him away.

  "Good morning, Shiba-san."

  158

  Masaki greeted Miyuki with a smile. He behaved as usual, acting as if he hadn't noticed Lina at all.

  However, unlike the usual, he didn't follow up with a flippant remark, instead, after Miyuki returned his greeting, he passed by and walked away, just like that.

  "…What’s wrong with him?"

  Lina asked Miyuki in puzzlement.

  "Who knows? But, I wonder if he's made any progress."

  Miyuki looked back at him and gave a slight tilt of her head.

  At the other end of Miyuki's gaze is Masaki and the underclassman who is always by his side.

  Looking at the two of them, Miyuki could see that the distance between them seemed to have grown shorter since last week.

  159

  Case 2: Mitsui Honoka

  [Lost Love]

  Three years ago, Shippou Takuma, who is now a Magic University second-year student

  ── in February 2097 made a deal with the popular actress, Sawamura Maki. In the aftermath of the terrorist bombing of the Master Clans Conference, which killed countless civilians, and the growing Anti-Magic Movement, Takuma borrowed the help of the media to counter it ── as Sawamura Maki's father is the president of an emergent media group ── and in return, promised to abide by any wishes Maki might have in the near future.

  ("Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei" Vol. 18)

  One year ago, Takuma was asked by Maki to honor his promise. Takuma tried to resist the far more unexpected request, but in the end he was unable to refuse and signed the contract Maki presented to him.

  And then, at the end of last month, that is, on Tuesday, June 29th, 2100, Takuma finally had fulfilled Maki's request, and today, on July 1st, he attended the Magic University with his shoulders unburdened for the first time in a long time.

  (I feel like it's been quite a while…)

  Standing before the main gate of the Magic University, Takuma found himself feeling a surprisingly deep sense of emotion. Though he had been attending the university while he was working on Sawamura Maki's request, the work there had been hardly progressing as scheduled, and he had been unable to attend more than the first through third periods, taking courses on an irregular basis.

  As a result, his grades have been poor all year. Takuma is very excited to finally be able to concentrate on his studies and is looking forward to a fresh start.

  "Shippou."

  Stopping in his steps, Takuma looked quizzically at the midst of the crowd of students passing by, a man had called out to him from behind.

  "Good morning, Senkawa."

  160

  The person who called out to him was a fellow second-year student and alumnus of First High like Takuma. He and Takuma were teammates in the Monolithic Code at the Nine Schools Competition, in particular during their first and third years of high school, and he is also Takuma’s closest friend at the Magic University.

  "Hey, good morning. That's unusual."

  Takuma didn't ask, "What is?" back.

  As for Takuma, he is unwilling to do so, but in the past year it had certainly been unusual for him to make it to the first period with time to spare.

  "…It'll be not so rare from today on."

  "So, have you finished filming?"

  Was it a declaration of his unwillingness to give up, or was it his determination? Takuma’s response, which could be interpreted as either, was the best he could do.

  Senkawa seemed to have pinned that down with this reply. As his closest friend at the university, he was one of the few people who knew that Takuma had been taking part in the filming of a movie.

  That’s how it is. As mentioned, the "request" of the actress Sawamura Maki was an offer to appear in a movie. Not only that, he had to play the part of Maki's young lover ── in other words, to play the leading male character.