"Tatsuya, you're joining the Public Morals Committee?" Leonhard Saijo asked.
"Yeah, so I'll need to go there again after school," Tatsuya Shiba replied.
"That sounds like quite a hassle," Leonhard Saijo remarked.
"Will working on the Public Morals Committee be dangerous?" Mizuki Shibata asked worriedly.
"Erika, you're up," Tatsuya Shiba said.
"Sorry, I spaced out for a moment." Erika Chiba apologized, then hurried over to take the test.
Erika Chiba soon finished her test, and Tatsuya Shiba was up next.
Tatsuya Shiba went up to the machine, placed both hands on the console, and began inputting psions.
"So slow."
Well, that's about what I'm capable of.
Seeing his test results, Tatsuya Shiba thought to himself.
The Student Council room.
Tatsuya Shiba and Miyuki Shiba arrived at the door.
As I thought, it really isn't suited to me. I'd be better off turning it down decisively, Tatsuya Shiba thought.
Seeing the Student Council members hard at work, he spoke.
"I'm Tatsuya Shiba."
"I'm Miyuki Shiba."
"Oh, you're here." Mari Watanabe smiled.
"Welcome, Miyuki." Mayumi Saegusa smiled.
"And thank you for your effort too, Tatsuya."
At that moment, Gyoubu Hattori, who had been standing by the window and striking quite a pose, turned to look at Tatsuya Shiba. His expression seemed less than friendly.
Gyoubu Hattori walked past Tatsuya Shiba without acknowledging him and went straight over to Miyuki Shiba.
"Miyuki Shiba, I'm Gyoubu Hattori, the vice president. Welcome to the Student Council," Gyoubu Hattori said.
Miyuki Shiba was deeply displeased by her ignoring Tatsuya Shiba, and she nodded in acknowledgment with a displeased expression.
After greeting Miyuki Shiba, Gyoubu Hattori turned and went straight back to his seat, with no intention of turning back to acknowledge Tatsuya Shiba.
"Let's get started. A-chan, sorry for the trouble," Mayumi Saegusa said helplessly.
"Okay," Azusa Nakajo replied.
"Then let's go too," Mari Watanabe said, looking at Tatsuya Shiba.
"Where to?" Tatsuya Shiba asked.
"The Public Morals Committee headquarters, of course. It'll be easier to understand if I show you around," Mari Watanabe explained.
"Watanabe, please wait a moment," Gyoubu Hattori said just then.
"What is it?" Mari Watanabe asked in confusion.
"I object to appointing that first-year student to the Public Morals Committee," Gyoubu Hattori said.
"There has never been a precedent for appointing a Weed to the Public Morals Committee."
"Calling Course 2 Students Weeds is forbidden. You've got some nerve saying it in front of me," Mari Watanabe said coldly.
Calling Course 2 Students Weeds was already against school rules, and yet he, the Student Council vice president, had dared to say it in front of her, the chair of the Public Morals Committee.
"Going to excessive lengths to cover it up won't help. Or are you planning to report a third of the school's students?" Gyoubu Hattori demanded.
"The Public Morals Committee relies on strength to clamp down on students who break school rules. A Weed without strength isn't fit for the job."
Seeing the two of them at each other's throats and arguing incessantly, Tatsuya Shiba didn't want his situation to cause a rift among the Student Council members, so he spoke up.
"Watanabe, I don't think I'm qualified for the position either. After all, I know what I'm capable of. If the Public Morals Committee really does confirm the appointment, I think Bai Feng would be much better suited to the position than I am."
"Bai Feng?" Mari Watanabe asked in confusion.
"Yes, Baifeng Uesugi-the one you suspended for a week," Tatsuya Shiba said.
"Him? He's still suspended right now, isn't he? Let's wait until he comes back to discuss it," Mari Watanabe said thoughtfully.
She had already been curious about Baifeng Uesugi, and hearing what Tatsuya Shiba said made her even more curious about him.
"Tatsuya can predict what magic is about to be cast by directly reading the Activation Sequence as it unfolds. I think that makes him a good fit for the Public Morals Committee."
"How is that possible?"
Hearing Mari Watanabe's words, Gyoubu Hattori was shocked, but his tone was full of disbelief.
"Even an Activation Sequence for a basic, single-system spell needs around thirty thousand characters' worth of information. How could he possibly read it in an instant?"
"From a common-sense perspective, it's certainly impossible. But that's precisely what makes his ability all the more valuable. It serves as an effective deterrent against those who attempt offenses that have been difficult to establish as crimes and have resulted in hasty closures and punishments until now.
"Besides, there's another reason I want her to join the committee. Just as you said, there's an emotional gulf between Course 1 and Course 2 Students.
"Course 1 Students crack down on Course 2 Students, but it never happens the other way around, which makes that gulf even deeper.
"I don't like encouraging that kind of discrimination in the committee I lead."
Hearing Mari Watanabe's words, Gyoubu Hattori had no response. He could only turn to Mayumi Saegusa and speak.
"President, in my capacity as vice president, I object to Tatsuya Shiba taking a position on the Public Morals Committee. A Course 2 Student without magical ability isn't qualified to join."
"Please wait a moment. Although my brother's practical magic grades aren't very good, that's only because of the way he's assessed. He's more than capable in actual combat."
Miyuki Shiba had been listening to their argument the whole time, and at that moment, she could no longer hold back. She stepped forward and spoke.
"Shiba, a magician must perceive phenomena as they truly are from a calm and rational perspective. It is precisely because we possess the power to make the impossible possible and contribute to society that we must hold ourselves to even stricter standards.
"Someone who wishes to become a magician must never blind themselves out of favoritism."
Gyoubu Hattori tried to reason with her.
"If I may speak frankly, I haven't blinded myself, nor am I showing anyone favoritism. I'm merely stating the facts."
Miyuki Shiba defended herself.
"That's enough, Miyuki," Tatsuya Shiba interrupted.
"Brother?" Miyuki Shiba looked at Tatsuya Shiba in confusion.
"Sometimes I really should learn from Brother and stop worrying so much about every little thing I do," Tatsuya Shiba said.
"Brother." Miyuki Shiba looked at Tatsuya Shiba, her mind filled with memories of how Baifeng Uesugi handled things.
Although he was usually very lazy, when trouble arose, he dealt with it according to his heart and never did anything against it.
"Vice President Hattori, in that case, how about we have a mock battle and test our skills?"
Tatsuya Shiba said as he came up to Gyoubu Hattori.
"What?" Gyoubu Hattori was shocked and wondered if he had misheard.
After all, he was a Course 1 Student and had never lost a match since enrolling. Yet this Course 2 Student standing before him dared to challenge him.
"Uh..."
"..."
"..."
The Student Council members around them all looked stunned after hearing Tatsuya Shiba's words.
They all knew how strong Gyoubu Hattori was, and they knew he had never lost since enrolling.
"Don't get full of yourself. You're just a reserve, yet you dare challenge me."
Gyoubu Hattori spoke angrily.
"Heh heh heh." Hearing that, Tatsuya Shiba said nothing and merely smiled.
(PS: Keep the "power generation" coming, and the happiness won't stop! As a new author, thank you all for your support. I hope you'll click to request updates and send some "power generation."
Give this new author a little more encouragement and motivation. Wishing you all happiness and joy in advance!)