"Hey!"
"Do you know what a nasty personality you have?"
Erika Chiba pointed a finger at Chiba Yeyou, glaring at him angrily.
"Hey!"
"Do you know how overly familiar you are?"
Chiba Yeyou copied Erika Chiba, pointing a finger at her.
"Ah!"
"You jerk!"
"I was looking out for you, okay!"
"Aren't you afraid people will look at you strangely?"
Erika Chiba stood with both hands on her slender waist, looking as though her good intentions had been repaid with ingratitude.
"Tch!"
"Only the weak care about their surroundings. Their inflated opinion of themselves will become their greatest weakness!"
"A true master always keeps an apprentice's heart!"
"Besides, does sitting here mean you're worse than those people up front?"
"Not necessarily, right?"
"Or is that what you think yourself?"
"Miss Erika Chiba?"
Chiba Yeyou stared at Erika Chiba and unleashed a barrage of words, leaving her completely stunned.
"Huh?"
"I'm worse than them?"
"What kind of joke is that!"
Provoked by Chiba Yeyou, Erika Chiba immediately spoke up.
As the Chiba family's little princess, how could she be worse than anyone else?
Anyone who dared underestimate Erika Chiba would be taught a lesson the very next second!
A true master always keeps an apprentice's heart!
Tatsuya Shiba kept turning those words over in his mind. The more he pondered them, the more profound they seemed.
Afterward, even his eyes shone a little as he looked at Chiba Yeyou.
Mizuki Shibata was also stunned by Chiba Yeyou.
What an incredible mindset!
Unaffected by outside things, always maintaining a desire to explore magic. He really is amazing!
Mizuki Shibata could not help admiring Chiba Yeyou.
Erika Chiba, who had been riled up by Chiba Yeyou's provocation, now came to her senses. She sat down and silently pondered his words.
"Then that settles it. Since you're no worse than anyone else, why care who sits beside you or where you sit? Why agonize over something so meaningless?"
Chiba Yeyou leaned back lazily in his seat, admiring Mayumi Saegusa as she bustled around onstage.
This guy really is interesting!
That was the shared thought of the three sitting beside Chiba Yeyou.
"The entrance ceremony for National Magic University First High School will now officially begin!"
At the voice coming through the loudspeakers, everyone who had still been whispering fell silent.
Then Mayumi Saegusa, who was still onstage, bowed to everyone amid their applause before leaving.
"Next is the incoming students' address of thanks. Our new student representative, Miyuki Shiba!"
Tatsuya Shiba visibly perked up at the mention of the new student representative.
Then a long-haired girl in a green-and-white school uniform with a skirt stepped up to the podium.
"On this beautiful spring day, with cherry blossoms dancing through the air, I feel great joy and honor that my wish to study at the prestigious National Magic University Affiliated First High School has come true, a fruit borne by spring. On behalf of all the new students present, I am honored to be a member of First High School..."
As the girl onstage delivered her address of thanks, Chiba Yeyou could understand the boys below watching with shining eyes. After all, this was Miyuki Shiba. Those who knew, knew!
But what is with you girls whose eyes are shining too?
Have the lilies back home bloomed?
Especially that girl with orange hair. Her gaze is practically thick enough to make gravy!
That's just freaking ridiculous!
Chiba Yeyou could only silently offer his praise: Badass!
Even more ridiculous was Tatsuya Shiba telling them how well Miyuki Shiba spoke, with another rare trace of a smile, however faint.
A siscon plus lesbians?
How does that work?
Who gets Miyuki Shiba?
Could it be...
Hiss!
Badass!
At that moment, Chiba Yeyou gave Tatsuya Shiba a long look, then shifted slightly toward Mizuki Shibata.
Tatsuya Shiba looked utterly puzzled.
All I said was that my little sister spoke well. Why do you look so disgusted with me?
What is this about?
Tatsuya Shiba could not understand.
Meanwhile, Mizuki Shibata blushed a little as she felt Chiba Yeyou draw closer.
It could not be helped. The girl was extremely shy, and adorably clueless when it came to romance.
Who knew what fantasies she was indulging in now?
What is Chiba doing?
He's too close!
Could it be...
No, no, we only just met!
What should I do?
Blushing, Mizuki Shibata could only look toward Erika Chiba for help.
*???*
There's nothing wrong with what that girl is saying, is there?
What the hell are you blushing for?
Erika Chiba was baffled too.
There must be something seriously wrong with this girl!
So she, too, silently shifted to the other side.
"Address delivered by Miyuki Shiba."
Miyuki Shiba's bow marked the long-awaited end of the new student assembly.
Goddammit!
So annoying!
It's finally over!
Why does this ceremonial stuff always drag on so long?
Even another world can't escape it.
Sigh...
What a waste of my time!
"Let's go, let's go!"
Chiba Yeyou stood and headed outside.
He had had more than enough of one meeting after another.
"Shiba, want to go to homeroom with us in a bit?"
Erika Chiba saw Tatsuya Shiba take out his student ID, which read Year 1, Class E, and asked.
"Sorry, I still have to wait for my little sister."
Tatsuya Shiba refused without a second thought.
Everything had to come after Miyuki.
"Your little sister?"
"Um... could your little sister be Miyuki Shiba, the new student representative?"
While Erika Chiba was still confused, Mizuki Shibata spoke from beside her.
Although she phrased it as a question, Mizuki Shibata seemed quite certain.
"Yes."
Tatsuya Shiba nodded. There was nothing to hide about it.
"Are you twins?"
Erika Chiba asked.
"I get asked that a lot, but no. I was born in April, and my sister was born the following March."
Tatsuya Shiba glanced at Miyuki, who was surrounded by people, as he answered.
"By the way, how did you know?"
Tatsuya Shiba asked in puzzlement.
"Well, because of your auras!"
"The stern expressions conveyed by the auras around you two really are very similar!"
Completely unaware of the consequences of those words, Mizuki Shibata answered as though it were perfectly natural.
Holy shit!
You're way too honest!
Couldn't you just say they both have the surname Shiba?
How is this any different from showing your hand outright?
The moment Chiba Yeyou heard that, he knew Tatsuya Shiba must have noticed something.
Sure enough, Tatsuya Shiba's expression changed immediately.
"To think you can see an aura's 'expression.' Your ability really is unimaginably good!"
Tatsuya Shiba spoke with a dark expression.
Hearing that, Mizuki Shibata knew Tatsuya Shiba had discovered the problem with his eyes. She buried her head in her ample chest, lowering it without a word and playing ostrich.
"Okay, okay, why are you being so serious?"
"Look how badly you've frightened the poor girl!"
Chiba Yeyou walked over to Mizuki Shibata and gently patted her shoulder to comfort her.
Spiritron radiation hypersensitivity...
Tatsuya Shiba must know now!
Tatsuya Shiba gave Chiba Yeyou a puzzled look, then said nothing more, his expression returning to its usual calm.
Mizuki Shibata looked at Chiba Yeyou gratefully. Tatsuya Shiba's expression had frightened her just now, too.
But when she looked at Chiba Yeyou again, a trace of shock appeared in her eyes.
There aren't any psions around him!
Do they dislike him?
No!
If that were the case, he would have practically no chance of becoming a magician!
Watching the psions staying a full meter away from Chiba Yeyou, Mizuki Shibata sank into thought.
Suddenly, she seemed to realize something!
Is it fear?
Or submission?
No!
Neither!
It's reverence mixed with adoration!
How is that possible!
Aren't those expressions only humans have?
Mizuki Shibata gave Chiba Yeyou a long look.
"Brother!"
The excited voice instantly broke what little tension remained.
Miyuki Shiba hurried toward Tatsuya Shiba, looking just like a newlywed returning to her husband, a swallow coming home to its nest. The sight made the corners of Chiba Yeyou's mouth twitch.
Fuck!
Why do I feel like we're all so unnecessary here!
How about you two throw in some kisses, hugs, and lifting each other up?
"Brother, sorry for the wait!"
Miyuki Shiba spoke happily, a faint blush on her face.
???
Something was wrong with me?
What the hell were you blushing for?
Chiba Yeyou felt a little out of place.
But this really wasn't his fault!
"That was fast!"
Tatsuya Shiba gazed 'lovingly' at his little sister.
Well, at least Miyuki was absolutely convinced that was the case.
Then two more people came over, one of whom was Mayumi Saegusa.
"Hey!"
"We meet again!"
"My dear president!"
Chiba Yeyou grinned at Mayumi Saegusa as he spoke.
Then everyone present was stunned.
Your dear president?
What happened between you two?
Hurry up and tell us!
Those were Erika Chiba's thoughts.
Meanwhile, Mizuki Shibata blushed again. All one could say was that this girl's thoughts were a little...
"What are you talking about?"
The guy standing beside Mayumi Saegusa immediately got worked up.
"What are you talking about?!"
"What do you mean, your president?!"
Mayumi Saegusa also snapped out of it and hurriedly objected.
But Mayumi Saegusa's face was bright red, and she looked utterly adorable with her lips pursed in a pout.
The guy beside her was left staring dumbly at her, too.
This underclassman teased me again!
Why do I end up at a disadvantage every time I run into him?
I'm always the one teasing other people!
Mayumi Saegusa, calm down!
Then Mayumi Saegusa composed herself, and her expression returned somewhat to normal, though a lingering blush still clung stubbornly to her cheeks, refusing to fade.
"Sigh..."
"Who would've thought that after taking advantage of me, Madam President wouldn't want to take responsibility!"
"I was wrong about you, you scumbag!"
Chiba Yeyou wore a look that said he'd lost out and had seen right through her.
"You..."