Nakajo Azusa looked around in a panic, trying to evade Shiba Tatsuya's sharp gaze, but it was no use. In the end, she could only lower her head in resignation.
"Um... the school's Disciplinary Committee is an organization responsible for dealing with students who violate school rules."
"The Disciplinary Committee's main duty is to stop students from using magic illegally on campus and arrest them. Then they submit the evidence against the students to the Disciplinary Committee chairman and the Student Council president for joint review."
"In other words, they're basically the police on campus, or something like inspectors."
Nakajo Azusa got it all out in one breath, then buried her face in the desk, as if saying those words had used up all her strength.
"Brother, isn't this amazing?" Shiba Miyuki turned to Shiba Tatsuya with delight.
"No, Miyuki, there's still something I haven't gotten clear. Don't look as if I've already agreed."
Whenever Miyuki made that face, Shiba Tatsuya, a hopelessly devoted big brother, found it hard to refuse her.
Shiba Tatsuya shifted his gaze back to Watanabe Mari and spoke.
"Going by what Nakajo-senpai just explained, I take it that if a fight breaks out, I'm supposed to stop it?"
This time, Watanabe Mari didn't avoid Shiba Tatsuya's question.
"That's right. If magic hasn't been used, you can decide for yourself whether to intervene. But once magic is used, you'll have to use your strength to put a stop to it."
"Watanabe-senpai, I told you, didn't I? I became a Course 2 student because I lack the strength. Now you're asking me to do this kind of work. You can't be serious!"
Shiba Tatsuya's voice rose several notches without him realizing it.
But Watanabe Mari paid no attention to what he said. Instead, she just curled the corner of her mouth.
"That's fine. When strength is needed to stop someone, I'll be there, along with the others in the Student Council."
"Do you have any other questions?"
"But—" Shiba Tatsuya tried to continue, saying that he wasn't suited for the job and so on.
"Tatsuya-kun, why do you always put yourself down?"
"What do you mean?" Shiba Tatsuya stared at Kudo Mitsunobu, who had just spoken.
"Other people may think your ability to see through another person's Magic Formula is powerful, but they don't take it too seriously because they have no real sense of what it can do."
"But do you think I, who have the same ability, don't understand just how useful it is?"
Shiba Tatsuya's gaze grew sharper and sharper as he stared at Kudo Mitsunobu like a hawk.
But Kudo Mitsunobu didn't seem to mind at all. After a pause, he continued.
"Anyone with this ability can defeat an opponent through the right response, even if they have very little psion energy."
"So I can't agree with you constantly belittling your own ability, Tatsuya-kun."
After a long silence, Shiba Tatsuya looked away.
"But the fact is, I'm a Course 2 student."
"And if a Course 2 student joined the Disciplinary Committee, it would cause quite a stir, wouldn't it?"
Seeing that his argument about lacking strength wasn't working, Shiba Tatsuya tried another angle, hoping to get everyone to give up on the idea.
"I'd say that's exactly what I'm aiming for."
Watanabe Mari spoke frankly.
"Your ability is a secondary reason for wanting you to join the Disciplinary Committee. The main reason is your identity. The two complement each other, which is why I made this decision."
"I want to change the situation where Course 1 students look down on Course 2 students, and Course 2 students are hostile toward Course 1 students. What we need is a capable Course 2 student to achieve something and shut them up."
"So your arrival couldn't have come at a better time."
Watanabe Mari fixed her bright, intense gaze on Shiba Tatsuya, leaving him nowhere to look away.
His lips moved a few times as though he wanted to say something, but he couldn't seem to get the words out.
Beside him, Shiba Miyuki was looking happier and happier. Her gaze toward Watanabe Mari was growing warmer, too.
Until then, Watanabe Mari had made only an ordinary impression on her. But after that noon, her standing in Miyuki's eyes had risen immeasurably.
After all, Watanabe Mari was genuinely working to improve the standing of Course 2 students and giving her brother the opportunity to prove himself on a bigger stage.
Shiba Tatsuya couldn't bring himself to reject the hopeful look in his little sister's eyes, nor could he resist the temptation of being legally allowed to carry a CAD on campus.
"But my strength—"
This was Shiba Tatsuya's last resistance, though it seemed rather feeble.
This time, Kudo Mitsunobu turned his gaze to Shiba Miyuki.
"Shiba-san, how good is Tatsuya-kun in actual combat?"
"Brother is very strong. As a Course 2 student, he's only held back by the school's rules. In actual combat, he wouldn't be inferior to anyone."
Shiba Miyuki spoke with conviction, her words brimming with faith in Shiba Tatsuya.
"Miyuki, you're exaggerating."
"Tatsuya-kun, your sister says you're that strong. Are you still going to say otherwise?" Kudo Mitsunobu asked.
Shiba Tatsuya hesitated.
A slight curve appeared at the corner of Kudo Mitsunobu's mouth.
"Then, Tatsuya-kun, how about a semi-public mock battle with me?"
"How about making the audience members the Student Council and the Disciplinary Committee?"
"Of course, Mayumi-senpai, please let Jumonji-senpai know as well."
The idea had only just occurred to him. He could use the fact that Shiba Tatsuya couldn't refuse his sister's request to get him to have a mock battle with Kudo Mitsunobu and demonstrate his abilities.
"Wait. Why did the topic suddenly turn to this?"
Shiba Tatsuya was clearly having trouble accepting it. He'd refused to serve on the Disciplinary Committee because he didn't want to draw attention or cause trouble.
But fighting the next head of the Kudo Family, one of the Ten Master Clans, in front of a crowd would obviously attract even more attention.
"Of course, we won't go overboard with the rules. How about a two-minute time limit, with no offensive magic above Class C?"
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