The Infinite Dimensions Starting from The Irregular at Magic High School

"Mm. Thank you."

After Mari Watanabe took the terminal, Shiba Tatsuya turned and headed toward the engineering bus at the rear.

"Ah, Tatsuya really is conscientious. He stood out in the sun for so long in this heat, even though waiting in the bus would've been the same..." Yotsuba Mahiro murmured as he watched that departing figure.

But the next second, Mari lightly rapped him on the head.

"Isn't that because you refused to take over and dumped the work on Shiba?"

"You can't blame me for that."

Yotsuba Mahiro spread his hands helplessly and said, "Mari, it's not like you don't know those Course 1 Student boys, especially that guy called Miyazaki Inga. He really doesn't like me.

If I were in charge of roll call, who knows what kind of mess would happen."

Of course, that was only the surface excuse.

In reality, he had simply wanted to get a little payback on Shiba Tatsuya.

He clearly had such strong engineering skills, yet he insisted on dragging a half-baked amateur like him into it, needlessly increasing his workload!

"His name is Morisaki Shun! Honestly, remember people's names properly. Don't just change them however you like!"

Mari Watanabe angrily rapped him on the head a few more times, only stopping when that figure ran closer. Then she folded her arms.

"Mayumi, you're late."

"Sorry, sorry."

Though the reproach and apology between the two of them were both brief, Mayumi still tried to express her remorse as much as she could.

Because something had suddenly come up at home, she had arrived an hour and a half late.

Only...

"Mayumi, don't tell me you spent all that time at home picking out clothes? I heard girls take that long just to put on makeup..."

On closer look, that really did seem to be the case.

Today, Mayumi was not only wearing light makeup, her outfit was also different from usual. It was not First High's uniform, but ordinary clothes like Mari Watanabe's.

After all, today was only for moving into the dorms. There were no formal activities, nor any obligation to wear uniforms.

So she was wearing a pale-yellow off-shoulder sleeveless dress. The soft chiffon fabric clung to her slender body, outlining her undulating curves.

Her cool, fair arms were exposed as she lightly held down the broad brim of her sunhat.

Together with her petite figure, she had the pure, innocent air of a girl next door.

"Mmph. Mahiro, if you say things like that, you won't be able to find a girlfriend, you know!"

The pretty face beneath the sunhat was puffing up slightly at that moment, looking at him in dissatisfaction, with a faint blush on it as well.

Mahiro was already used to that reaction.

Ever since that day in the reading room, Mayumi would inexplicably blush whenever she saw him.

"Is that so? I don't think that'll happen."

His smile was quite meaningful.

But Mayumi misunderstood. He was clearly referring to Mibu Sayaka, yet Mayumi seemed to think he was talking about her.

In an instant, her jade-white ears were dyed pale pink. She turned her head away and huffed softly:

"Hmph. I knew it. I'm ignoring you!"

"All right, Mayumi. If the two of you want to flirt, you'll have plenty of time on the road. It's time to set off now."

Mari Watanabe looked at the two of them helplessly, picked up the terminal, and lightly tapped it against her forehead.

Urged on by Mari, Mahiro boarded the bus and casually found an empty row with no one in it to sit down.

But before long, a fragrant breeze suddenly swept over.

Mayumi had actually sat down beside him.

"I say, Mayumi, shouldn't your seat be up front? Why did you come all the way back here to squeeze in with me?"

"Aren't you curious why I was late?

The reason I was late today was entirely your fault, Mahiro."

Mayumi did not answer his question. Instead, she said something completely baffling, leaving him at a loss.

Just three hours earlier, the Saegusa Family had suddenly welcomed two guests.

They were the siblings from the Goze Family: the head of the family, Goze Mio, and her younger brother, Goze Hirofumi.

Their purpose in coming was also very simple. Once again, it was about the marriage between Hirofumi and Mayumi.

But for some reason, their attitude this time was even more forceful than before.

They were extremely insistent that Mayumi marry her younger brother Hirofumi, almost as if they wished they could settle the matter that very day.

Only after talking did they understand.

It turned out Goze Mio had also heard about Yotsuba Mahiro, and when she heard that Mayumi was quite close to this Yotsuba Mahiro, she had made a special visit.

Chapter 36: A Sudden Attack

Although Goze Mio's attitude had been very forceful at the time, Mayumi's refusal had been just as firm.

On top of that, Saegusa Koichi had mediated from the middle, smoothing things over without committing either way.

In the end, the Goze Family siblings could only withdraw for the time being, however reluctantly.

After all, no matter how one put it, Goze Mio was one of the Thirteen Apostles, a bona fide strategic-class magician, and also a member of the Ten Master Clans. The relationship between her and the Saegusa Family was fairly good as well.

So they had to give her at least some face.

Only, after listening to Mayumi's explanation, the expression on Mahiro's face turned extremely strange as well, though he accepted Mayumi's reasoning for the time being.

"If you put it that way, I guess it really does have something to do with me... But Senior Mayumi, do you really hate that Goze Hirofumi that much?"

"I wouldn't say I hate him."

Mayumi gave a troubled, wry smile. "The truth is, I've always seen him as an older brother. I don't have those kinds of feelings for him at all. It's just that Mio has always wanted to match us up."

"Then what do you want me to do?" Mahiro asked bluntly.

"Really? Mahiro, you're willing to help me?" Mayumi looked over in surprise, and with a little delight.

"Of course."

He wasn't stupid, and his emotional intelligence wasn't as low as people imagined.

Since his senior was willing to share this matter with him, that had to mean she hoped he could help her in some way.

Besides, he really didn't want to see this adorable senior marry someone she didn't like.

Not to mention, the two of them had even exchanged their first kisses.

"Then... Mahiro, if you're free after the Nine Schools Competition ends, could you come to my house? My father wants to meet you."

When she said those words, her voice was extremely soft, quiet enough that only the two of them could hear.

And Mayumi's face, as if it were on fire, had already turned completely red.

Still, deep down, she was a little worried.

What if Mahiro refused?

And her father, Saegusa Koichi, wanted to bring Yotsuba Mahiro into the Saegusa Family. What if Mahiro was unwilling?

Or rather, what if he didn't like her?

Women's minds, after all, tended to wander rather far, and they would always worry about things that might or might not happen.

Although Yotsuba Mahiro couldn't tell what Mayumi was thinking, he could still see that worried expression.

So he reached out and placed his hand on top of her head. Just like when he stroked Miyuki's hair, he gently stroked her beautiful locks and said softly, "Don't worry, Senior. I promise."

"Also, I forgot to say this earlier. You look very beautiful today, Senior. That outfit really suits you."

That last sentence wasn't something he said just to comfort Mayumi. She really was beautiful.

A summer dress that bared her arms and fragrant shoulders.

The skirt length was different from usual too, pulled up above her knees.

Her slender, jade-white calves were exposed, paired with high-heeled sandals.

It was extremely pleasing to the eye.

And that elegant, graceful figure made her look just like a sheltered young lady from a wealthy family...

Oh, no, wait. She was already the young lady of the Saegusa Family.

"Is... is that so...? Thank you."

Her surprised tone paired with her slightly shy expression was simply a perfect combination.

Inwardly, however, because Mahiro had agreed, she breathed a sigh of relief. And because of that, when she looked at Yotsuba Mahiro again, the urge to tease him sprouted once more.

"...It would have been perfect if you were a little embarrassed when complimenting me."

The girl who was two years older than him leaned closer with a shy upward glance, both hands covering the open peaks of her chest.

Her body was petite, yet she had an average-sized chest. Pressed in by both arms, that alluring gap was clearly visible.

Not to mention, because Mayumi's sitting posture wasn't very proper, the thighs beneath her summer dress were faintly visible at that moment.

Even though her legs were still neatly pressed together, it was enough to stir up the desire to explore the unknown.

The intimate way the two of them looked in the back immediately drew countless looks of jealousy and envy from both boys and girls—

Frustration at President Saegusa seducing and teasing Yotsuba, and a longing to replace Yotsuba Mahiro and enjoy the president's fan service themselves.

Among them, the vice president named Hattori Hanzo was the worst of all!

If gazes could take physical form, Yotsuba Mahiro would probably have been burned to death countless times already.

"Danger!"

Just then, the second-year student sitting in front, Chiyoda Kanon—a beautiful girl with a somewhat dashing air—suddenly let out an undignified shout.

At the sound of her voice, almost everyone in the bus looked out the windows on the side facing the opposite lanes.

A large vehicle coming from the opposite direction—though smaller than the bus, an off-road SUV meant for leisure—was tilted sideways, grinding sparks from the pavement.

Someone shouted that a tire had blown.

Someone else said excitedly that the tire might have come off.

There was no sense of danger in their voices.

The opposite lanes of the highway were completely separate roads, divided by a sturdy guardrail.

Generally speaking, an accident in the oncoming lanes could not possibly affect this side.

To the young people watching, a fire on the far bank was a thrilling spectacle.

But only for a brief moment—only until right now.

Bang!

The vehicle suddenly leaped up in defiance of physics, as if it had been blasted into the air, and hurtled into the bus's lane.

Flames burned across its surface, and it kept an insanely high speed as it came crashing head-on toward their bus!

Like a speeding Hundred-Ton King!

Fortunately, the bus driver could be considered an old hand and knew how to deal with this kind of accident—

He slammed on the brakes, and everyone pitched forward from inertia.

Although a few students who had not fastened their seat belts bumped their heads and suffered minor injuries, the buses still came to a stop intact.

"Blast it away!"

"Disappear!"

"Stop!"