Teasing Angelina

With the added advantage of multiple attributes, she's even more popular than Haruka Ono, who occasionally offers some fan service and has a slightly chubby face.

However, things did not turn out as Yotsuba Mahiro had imagined; there were no major upheavals or undercurrents at the school.

A lieutenant in Magic-Equipped Independent Battalion and a spy from the USNA maintained a peaceful coexistence, each going about their own business.

It's as if Kyoko Fujibayashi really only came here to be a teacher.

It was as if Angelina was only there as an exchange student to study at the First High School.

Aside from the fact that this faculty member seemed to pay him excessive attention.

Aside from the fact that this exchange student seemed to want to fit into his small group.

Although he didn't appear that enthusiastic on the surface, he got along well with every student in Class A.

But you can still feel that unusually high level of enthusiasm.

"... That's amazing! This Lina actually possesses magical power that's almost comparable to Miyuki's."

"Yes, even their spell activation speed is only comparable to Shiba's."

Inside the Student Council room, Mari and Mayumi huddled together, reminiscing about the match between Miyuki and the exchange students they had just watched.

Although Miyuki won a complete victory in the five-round match, and seemed quite relaxed about it, Angelina, the exchange student, also delivered a remarkable performance.

Even now, when they think back on it, the two can't help but exchange a glance.

Then he looked at the third person in the room.

"And what about you? What do you think? This exchange student status shouldn't be as simple as just being a student, right?"

Mari was asking Yotsuba Mahiro, who was sitting at the last seat and was enjoying coffee from the automatic dispensing machine.

In fact, Mari already had a vague guess at this moment.

Before the enhancement injection, Angelina's performance was perfectly acceptable, but having undergone the enhancement, she knew the potion's power.

Even though Miyuki held back and didn't go all out.

To be able to compete with them is simply outrageous and completely beyond the scope of students.

"I do know about that, but I can only tell you when the others arrive."

Mahiro put down his coffee and looked at the two of them, saying this.

"Others? Who else is coming?" Mari asked, puzzled.

"Of course—they've already arrived."

Mahiro was about to speak, she noticed someone had entered through the door, so she stopped talking.

"Excuse me, Watanabe -senpai and the student council president."

The door to the Student Council room opened, and then Miyuki walked in.

Behind her followed several people: Honoka, Erika, Sayaka, Mizuki, and Shiba Tatsuya.

"Wow, this is actually my first time in the Student Council."

Erika looked around like a tourist, seemingly filled with curiosity about everything.

"Alright, Erika, if you want to take a look around, that's fine with you later. Let's get down to business first."

"Yes, yes, I understand~"

At Mahiro's invitation, Erika also sat in an empty seat. At the same time, Mahiro got up and locked the Student Council door. Then he released the Jumonji family's "Phalanx" to cover the entire Student Council room, adding another layer of soundproof barrier inside.

"... Mahiro?"

Mayumi frowned slightly. She seemed to realize that things were not as simple as she had imagined; otherwise, why would so many layers of barriers be needed?

"Is it that serious?" Mari, somewhat puzzled.

"You'll find out how serious it is in a moment, but before I say anything, I'd like to ask Tatsuya first."

Mahiro to his seat, rested his chin on his hands, and looked at Tatsuya, asking, "You should have already guessed Lina's identity, right?"

"Ah."

Tatsuya nodded and said directly, "That kind of cheat-level magical power is extremely rare in the whole world, and there are only a handful of people in USNA. Moreover, it is named after the Kushima family, so it is probably related to the Kudou Family by blood."

As far as I know, I recall that Mr. Kushima had a younger brother who went to the USNA and started a family there. It's likely that the Kudou Family lineage comes from that person, and that's how they became exchange students."

"Wait, what are you talking about?"

Mari was completely confused.

Originally, she only thought that the exchange student Angelina was a little special, but now it seems that she is not just special, but extremely powerful.

This has even involved the Kudou Family; this is no small matter!

"What are you talking about? Of course, I'm talking about Miss Lina's identity."

Yotsuba Mahiro knew what Mari was thinking, so she didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Actually, Angelina Kudou Shields is the captain of the Stars under USNA."

"Etc!"

Upon hearing this, Mayumi's eyes widened and she stood up in surprise, exclaiming, "Mahiro- kun, you mean 'Sirius' Gian Hillius from the Stars???"

"Hmm," Mahiro hummed softly in affirmation.

"What evidence do you have? This is no joke."

Mari said this very seriously, a point that Mayumi also agreed with.

"There's definitely no evidence right now. We can only say that the name uses a homophone. Besides that, even if we pin it on Lina, she probably wouldn't admit it. So all I can say is that this information comes from the Yotsuba Family. Is that enough?"

"The Yotsuba Family..."

Now, Mari and Mayumi had no more questions, and instead, they both gasped in surprise.

After all, that's Gian Hillius, one of the Thirteen Apostles publicly known strategic magicians in the world, and a representative of the strength of American magicians!

No one knows what she looks like, nor does anyone know her age or ethnicity.

The only thing known is that it's a strategic-level magic spell, comparable to a nuclear explosion and possessing strong radiation—"Heavy Metal Burst."

Now they're being told he's just a student about their age?

That's just too unbelievable.

Seeing their reactions, Mahiro simply smiled. What kind of expression would these people have if they knew that Tatsuya "Mahesvara"?

"Well, I don't find it surprising at all."

Erika spoke up, resting her chin on her hand and looking Tatsuya up and down with a playful Mahiro.

"While strategic-level mages are strong, don't forget we also have two monsters here: Yotsuba Clan and Tatsuya. Oh, and Miyuki is strong too; Lina even lost to her just now."

"..."

That makes a lot of sense.

"But... if Lina is a strategic-level mage, then what is her purpose in coming to First High School?"

It was Mizuki who voiced the question, and it could be said that her words echoed the sentiments of everyone.

Tatsuya already had a guess in his mind, but he had no evidence, so he chose not to speak recklessly.

"As for the purpose, I do know."

"It's all because of that 'Scorched Halloween' and me," Mahiro.

He made no attempt to hide anything and spilled all the information he had.

This includes his complicated relationship with Ben Gide Beef Pizza... oh no, I mean Gide Shez Black Gu, and the connections involved.

If it were in the past, he definitely wouldn't have told them so much, since knowing too much without the power to back it up would be tantamount to courting death.

But now, even Mizuki's strength can be said to be among the top in the Course 1 Student, so it doesn't matter if she says it.

If they want revenge, they'd better think twice about their own strength.

After hearing the story, everyone except Tatsuya, with his icy expression, and Miyuki, who already knew the inside story, looked at him with complicated expressions.

"Mahiro- kun, is there anything I can do to help this time?"

Sayaka, who was sitting next to him, reached out and gently took his hand.

For so long, Sayaka's greatest wish, besides staying by Mahiro's side, has been to be able to help him.

But Mahiro had gone too far, leaving her and everyone else far behind.

It was only after receiving the enhancement drug that she realized just how vast the gap in strength between herself and Mahiro truly was.

"Well, no need. As always, I'll handle this myself."

Upon hearing this, Erika's expression immediately changed, revealing her displeasure, but before she could speak, Mahiro quickly added:

"However, if we're talking about helping, there is one thing: please treat Lina normally, don't expose her identity, and also don't reveal anything about her identity."

That last point is natural.

No one present had the habit of gossiping about others when they had nothing better to do.

As for the first two points, it was clearly about making them act in a play with Lina. Although they didn't know what Mahiro was Mahiro, they eventually agreed under his strong insistence.

After all, the game has only just begun; how can it end so quickly?

During lunch break, the student cafeteria is open as usual.

Today, Lina came to sit at the same table with them as yesterday, just like yesterday, although her exemplary social skills as an international student forced her to decline many invitations.

"Lina is really popular."

Thank you. I'm so glad everyone is so kind to me.

Because she had Mahiro, Erika teased Lina as usual.

Lina didn't feign shyness or modesty; instead, she responded nonchalantly.

Speaking of which, besides Miyuki, it seems that Erika is the person Lina is closest to at this table.

Perhaps it's because they are both of mixed European and American descent that they inexplicably share common interests.

Although one is from the USNA and the other is from Germany.

"Speaking of which, Miyuki, your magic is really amazing." Lina said with a slight sense of discouragement, "I'm practically undefeated among American high school students, but I can never beat Miyuki."

"And Honoka too. Although I'm stronger overall, I'm utterly defeated when it comes to precision control."

"Lina, an internship is an internship, not a competition. I think it's better not to take winning or losing too seriously."

Miyuki gently comforted her.

This wasn't acting; Lina genuinely felt frustrated.

Especially with Miyuki.

Driven by a woman's most primal competitive instincts, since she was equally beautiful, she always sought to excel in other areas.

As a result, he accidentally lost some of the most important things for a magician.

What kind of monsters are Japan high school students?

If Miyuki is this strong, just how strong must Yotsuba Mahiro be?

Unconsciously, amidst Miyuki's comforting words, Lina's gaze fell on Mahiro across the table.

And Mahiro, who happened to Mahiro at her, slowly smiled and said, as if joking:

"By the way, there's something I'm curious about that I'd like to ask Lina."

"What's the problem?"

"Isn't your name Angelina? Normally, your nickname should be 'Angie,' not 'Lina,' right?"

"That's how it should be... but it's not unusual to call her Lina. It's mainly because when I was in elementary school, there was a girl in my class named Angela, and everyone called her Angela, so I became Lina."

This shouldn't be a problem that causes inner turmoil.

At least Erika, Mizuki, and Honoka were sitting at the same table, thought so.

However, a look of panic instantly flashed across Lina's face, and even her smile when answering was somewhat awkward and forced.