Losing Face

Even Kudo Mitsunobu, whose senses were exceptionally sensitive to auras, hadn't noticed it.

"Could I borrow this and take a look?"

Unable to bear the way everyone was looking at him, Kudo Mitsunobu took the earring off and handed it to Nakajo Azusa.

Azusa examined it carefully, looking as though she'd found a priceless treasure.

"Is it really okay to lend it to Azusa? Don't you have a match against Shiba Tatsuya later?"

Saegusa Mayumi's concern was perfectly reasonable. A CAD's internal mechanisms were highly precise, and even one careless mistake could damage the Magic Formulas stored inside.

Nakajo Azusa had heard Mayumi's words, too. Realizing her request had been a bit much, she reluctantly started to return the earring to Kudo Mitsunobu.

"It's fine, Nakajo-senpai. Go ahead and keep looking. I won't be using this CAD in the match."

"Besides, it only has a few Magic Formulas stored in it. Most of them are for everyday use."

Kudo Mitsunobu waved a hand, indicating that Azusa could keep looking.

"Kudo-kun, I don't think CADs this small are available on the market, are they?"

Ichihara Suzune asked curiously. Everyone present perked up their ears—even Hattori Hanzo, who was facing the window.

Naturally, Nakajo Azusa was the most curious of them all. She was the one most passionate about CADs, so encountering such a rare model had her positively thrilled.

After all, CADs on the market were all being designed to be lighter and more convenient. Even the smallest models available were about the size of a cellphone.

Some older models were as big as an entire arm, making them extremely inconvenient to use.

If a CAD this compact were released, it would surely kick off a new wave of innovation.

Its creator's name would be remembered just like Taurus Silver's, after he burst onto the scene all those years ago.

"Chapter 15: Losing Face"

"I developed it myself! It could also be made in other styles, like a ring."

"You're serious?" Saegusa Mayumi asked, clearly unable to believe her ears. She'd assumed it was the Kudo Family's latest product, and everyone else present had reacted much the same way.

She'd never heard of the Kudo Family researching CADs before, but she'd thought they must have changed their research direction and made a new breakthrough.

But for Kudo Mitsunobu to say he'd developed it himself was simply unbelievable. He was practically a superhuman!

"Then why haven't you released it?"

Ichihara Suzune asked in confusion. Releasing it would cause a sensation, and the boy before her would become famous, yet she hadn't heard of any such announcement lately.

"That's right! That's right!" Nakajo Azusa nodded enthusiastically.

"I told you, didn't I? This CAD hasn't been fully developed yet. Right now, it can only store a very small number of Magic Formulas, so it's really just a decoration. It's completely useless."

"Oh, right!" Saegusa Mayumi remembered that Kudo Mitsunobu had mentioned this earlier.

After all, magicians were weapons, and CADs were tools for those weapons. If a tool couldn't help its weapon unleash its power, it was meaningless.

"Still, this is impressive! You're the first person to shrink a CAD to this size and keep it working properly, Kudo-kun!"

Nakajo Azusa continued to look at Kudo Mitsunobu with admiration. She was his senior, yet all she could do was program CADs.

Meanwhile, Kudo Mitsunobu had only just started at Magic High School, and he was already close to solving the second of the four great problems in CAD research.

"I know. And I'm close to solving that problem. Once I do, I'll bring all of you senpai some prototypes. I hope you'll give me your feedback after trying them out."

"Did you make that pistol yourself, too? It doesn't look like a model sold on the market."

Watanabe Mari pointed to the pistol-shaped CAD Kudo Mitsunobu had set on the table earlier.

"Yeah. It's going to be sold alongside the earring-style CAD. I hope you'll support it when it goes on sale!"

He took his CAD back from Nakajo Azusa and hung it on his ear again. After a brief pause, he continued.

"Of course, I'll invite all of you to the grand opening, too."

"The grand opening? Aren't you going to release it through Kudo Technology, Mitsunobu-kun?" Saegusa Mayumi asked.

"Mm. The trademark is already being registered."

"Oh, and Hattori-senpai, I hope you'll do me the honor of coming, too." Kudo Mitsunobu naturally hadn't forgotten Hattori Hanzo, who was standing by the window.

After all, the two of them had only argued because they held different views. It wasn't as if they had some deep-seated grudge against each other. And since they went to the same school and were bound to run into each other, there was no need to let things get too strained between them.

Hattori Hanzo said nothing, only snorted. But from the side, the slight lift at the corner of his mouth showed that he was a little pleased.

"By the way, Miyuki and Shiba-kun still aren't here? It's been quite a while since classes ended."

Saegusa Mayumi glanced at the clock on the computer and frowned.

"Oh! Speak of the devil—they're here now."

Watanabe Mari folded her arms as the brother and sister walked through the door.

Before the two of them could even say hello, Hattori Hanzo strode straight over to them.

He didn't so much as glance at Shiba Tatsuya, as if there were no such person in the Student Council room. He went straight to stand in front of Shiba Miyuki.

"I'm the vice president of the Student Council, though I'll be stepping down after today."

"But I'd still like to welcome you to the Student Council, Shiba Miyuki."

Hattori Hanzo once again put on the same gentle, refined manner he'd shown when he first met Kudo Mitsunobu.

Shiba Miyuki looked a little angry as she faced Hattori Hanzo. But her good upbringing wouldn't allow her to ignore someone who had greeted her, so she could only nod to show she'd heard him.

After greeting Shiba Miyuki, Hattori Hanzo didn't seem to mind her attitude toward him at all.

He took a couple of steps back and stood beside Shiba Tatsuya again, as if he'd only just noticed Tatsuya was there.

But Hattori Hanzo made no effort to look Shiba Tatsuya in the eye. His gaze wandered elsewhere as he spoke.

"Shiba Tatsuya, remember this: I absolutely do not approve of you joining the Disciplinary Committee."