A Delicate Doll

"Mm!"

"The entrance exam at our school directly determines a student's status for all three years, doesn't it?"

"We only need to make a small change to one of the rules, and the school can be just like an ordinary school, senpai."

"Could it be..."

After all, Saegusa Mayumi had been born into the Saegusa Family, and her father was known for his strategic acumen. There was no way she could be lacking in intelligence.

Naturally, she had also figured out what Kudo Mitsunobu meant by changing.

"That's right."

Kudo Mitsunobu nodded with a smile.

"Don't we have final exams at the end of every term? Course 2 Students who do well move up to Course 1, while Course 1 Students who do poorly are moved down to Course 2."

"That way, Course 1 Students will fear being overtaken by Course 2 Students. They'll work hard at magic, afraid of becoming the very second-rate students they once scorned and looked down on."

"And Course 2 Students will work just as hard to become Course 1 Students, hoping to shed their useless label and earn better treatment."

"What do you think, senpai?"

Kudo Mitsunobu spread his hands and smiled at Saegusa Mayumi.

Saegusa Mayumi's expression slowly shifted from thoughtful to delighted. After a little while, though, it became calm again, and she shook her head.

"Koushu, magic schools are different from ordinary schools."

"Students at ordinary schools can achieve results by working harder than others, but magicians are different. In the world of magic, talent determines everything."

That was right. In the world of magic, talent determined everything.

However, magical talent was also a very fragile thing. Students could easily suffer an accident that left them unable to use magic ever again, forcing them to drop out.

That was why the Course 2 system existed: to fill the vacancies caused by such accidents.

That was how Course 2 Students came to be regarded as replacements for Course 1 Students.

"So it's simply impossible for Course 2 Students to become Course 1 Students. Having one move up every two or three years isn't convincing at all."

Kudo Mitsunobu raised a finger and wagged it. "Saegusa-senpai, don't tell me you can't even resort to a little trick."

"What do you mean?"

He couldn't tell whether this senpai was pretending to be clueless. He didn't believe Saegusa Mayumi was the sort of person who wouldn't know what to do about something like this.

Kudo Mitsunobu sighed and glanced around to make sure no one was nearby.

This wasn't something they could let just anyone overhear, so it was best to be a little careful.

Chapter 3: A Delicate Doll

To be safe, Kudo Mitsunobu made sure anyway. A faint blue light flickered from the earring on his right earlobe, and a soundproof barrier made of psions enveloped the two of them.

"Your magic is so fast."

Saegusa Mayumi's beautiful eyes shifted with interest. As expected of the leading figure among the younger generation of the Kudo Family.

Kudo Mitsunobu looked at Saegusa Mayumi and spoke.

"Then I'll tell you my idea. Your family should have a few branches that haven't been publicly acknowledged, right?"

Saegusa Mayumi nodded without speaking.

In truth, every magical family had branches like that. They served as the main family's private army.

"Have the children from those families hold back during the entrance exams, then pass the major exams in their second or third year and move up to Course 1. That shouldn't be difficult for you, senpai."

Saegusa Mayumi couldn't help falling into thought. In fact, Kudo Mitsunobu's suggestion was the same idea she had come up with.

How could the eldest daughter of the Saegusa Family not understand such a simple political maneuver?

In fact, when Kudo Mitsunobu had given her the problem, this was the first solution that had come to mind.

She had just wanted to see whether Kudo Mitsunobu's approach matched her own.

"Hm?"

Kudo Mitsunobu noticed a girl, even shorter than Saegusa Mayumi, hurrying toward them.

He quickly took down the soundproof barrier surrounding them.

"Saegusa-senpai, it looks like your friend is coming over."

Kudo Mitsunobu quickly alerted Saegusa Mayumi, who was still lost in thought.

Interrupted, Saegusa Mayumi hurriedly looked up and waved at the petite girl approaching her, smiling knowingly.

"President, why are you still here?"

The girl's voice was soft and sweet, like that of a wounded little animal. Just standing there, she made people want to tease her.

"Koushu, let me introduce you. This is the secretary of our Student Council, Nakajo Azusa."

"Everyone calls her Azusa-chan."

Saegusa Mayumi walked over to Nakajo Azusa, patted her head, and spoke with a mischievous smile.

Before Kudo Mitsunobu could say anything, Nakajo Azusa's cheeks turned visibly red, like a puffed-up pufferfish.

Her little hands waved up and down as well.

"President, please don't call me Azusa-chan in front of underclassmen. I have my senpai image to maintain, too."

The little senpai did her best to act like a senpai in front of Kudo Mitsunobu, but to him, she looked even more like a small animal.

Probably a rabbit!

Though that was what Kudo Mitsunobu was thinking, his manners were impeccable.

"Hello, Nakajo-senpai."

"My name is Kudo Mitsunobu. I hope we'll get along."