"But his psion reserves really are only at the level of a Course 2 Student..."
"Then what's this faint sense of danger I'm feeling?"
When Kudo Mitsunobu was ten, he had created the extraneous-system magic known as the Eye of Truth-Shattering.
A magician whose abilities were on par with his or weaker couldn't escape the scrutiny of his Eye of Truth-Shattering. While it wasn't powerful enough to instantly see through an opponent and determine what magic they could use,
it could fully observe the state of an opponent's psion reserves and the programming of their Magic Formula as it activated.
Of course, he didn't think Shiba Tatsuya could evade the scrutiny of his Eye of Truth-Shattering, either.
Shiba Tatsuya furrowed his brow slightly. He had felt like someone was watching him for a while now.
He had originally wanted to give up on his plan to step in and settle things, but then he saw the faintly anxious look on his sister's face.
He sighed softly. He couldn't stand seeing his sister unhappy or hurt. She was the only person who could still stir any feelings in his heart.
"Sorry. We got a little carried away."
Shiba Tatsuya stepped out from beside his sister, bearing the gazes of everyone present.
"Hm?"
As soon as he spoke, the sensation of being watched seemed to vanish.
But now wasn't the time to worry about that.
"'Carried away'? Are you making fun of me?"
Watanabe Mari spoke with a half-smile. Though she smiled as she spoke, she didn't look happy in the least.
"Yes. We suddenly said we wanted to see the Morisaki family's Swift-Cast, which has been passed down for generations. It looked so realistic that we accidentally lashed out."
Everyone present fell silent.
Kudo Mitsunobu was also unusually dumbfounded. He had clearly seen the male students in the back preparing their Magic Formulas.
The red-haired girl standing behind Shiba Miyuki had been gripping a baton-shaped CAD, looking ready to charge in and strike at any moment.
"I can't believe you'd tell such an obvious lie with a straight face, Shiba Tatsuya."
Kudo Mitsunobu really felt like he'd learned something new.
Clearly, Watanabe Mari had no intention of believing Shiba Tatsuya's nonsense, either.
Did he think she was blind?
"Then what was that attack magic the red-haired girl beside you activated?"
"That was just a self-acceleration Magic Formula. Erika didn't attach any attack magic to her CAD."
Shiba Tatsuya lied with a perfectly straight face.
If Kudo Mitsunobu hadn't used his Eye of Truth-Shattering to see the psions already flooding Erika's baton in that instant,
he might have believed him.
"So you can see through the Magic Formula when a CAD activates."
"I'm not good at practical magic, but I'm very good at analysis. After all, I'm just a Course 2 Student." Shiba Tatsuya pointed matter-of-factly at his chest.
"No, that's not ordinary at all."
Kudo Mitsunobu felt this was the first time in his life he'd wanted to say something out loud. And what was with everyone else acting like this was perfectly normal?
Had they all forgotten everything they'd learned? At the very least, he'd never heard of anyone besides himself having this ability.
And what did this ability mean? It meant that as soon as you activated a Magic Formula, your opponent would know exactly what magic you were using. They could use magic to counter yours or exploit openings based on your Magic Formula.
Just then, Shiba Miyuki, who had been standing behind Shiba Tatsuya, stepped forward. She clasped her hands in front of her stomach and bowed deeply to Watanabe Mari and Saegusa Mayumi.
"I'm sorry. This really was just a misunderstanding."
"Sorry for the trouble, senpais."
The sincerity in Shiba Miyuki's apology gave even Watanabe Mari, usually so imposing, pause. She found herself feeling a little inclined to let them off.
"Mari, let's leave it at that!"
"Shiba-kun, are you sure you really only wanted to watch?"
Saegusa Mayumi stepped between them and winked at Watanabe Mari.
Shiba Tatsuya seized the opportunity.
"That's right."
"Honestly..."
Watanabe Mari rubbed her tightly furrowed brow, then spoke in a lecturing tone.
"Since the Student Council President has said so, I'll let it go this time. Make sure nothing like this happens again. Understood?"
Everyone present straightened up to show they understood, then watched Watanabe Mari and Saegusa Mayumi walk away.
After taking a few steps, Watanabe Mari suddenly stopped. She didn't turn around, but asked in a rather cool tone,
"What's your name?"
"First-year, Class E. Shiba Tatsuya."
Kudo Mitsunobu followed Saegusa Mayumi and Watanabe Mari for a short distance.
Then he suddenly stopped. Saegusa Mayumi looked at him in confusion. "What's wrong, Koushu-kun? Aren't you coming?"
"Come to think of it, senpai, I was going to leave campus directly. Why am I going back with you?"
"That's true, isn't it?" Watanabe Mari said with feigned surprise.
"Then meet us in the Student Council room tomorrow at noon! You're officially joining the Student Council, so we should get to know each other."
Saegusa Mayumi nodded and took a key card from her handbag, handing it to Kudo Mitsunobu.
"This is for the Student Council's door lock. You haven't registered your fingerprint yet, so if you get there early tomorrow, use this card to get in."
Kudo Mitsunobu took the card and slipped it into his pocket. After saying goodbye to the two of them, he headed for the school gate.
"Want to go chat at a café later?" Mitsui Honoka asked.
Before you continue