In the residence of Viera and Reina Kyouya, on the morning of the 14th of April.
Both Viera and Reina sat at the table. Their maid served them both a cup of green tea each. She moved back to the wall.
Reina picked up her cup and took a sip out of it.
"We still haven't heard from those two assassins,"
Viera mentioned, irritated. He picked up his cup and lightly rotated it in his hand.
"They're probably dead."
The maid said with a listless look on her face. The twins turned to her with expressions of surprise.
The maid—Lily—never said anything without reason to. What she said was either based on facts or her intuition. There was also the fact that her intuition was rarely wrong.
Even so, Viera couldn't believe that.
"Those two are top assassins. Even if they are regular people, they've been able to assassinate magicians before. A failure like Ayato couldn't possibly—"
"I'm not sure what you know about Ayato Kyouya, Master Viera and Mistress Reina, but he's not what you imagine."
Lily frowned while speaking. Thinking about Ayato Kyouya certainly wasn't pleasant for her. She had a somewhat—what she would consider to be—a disturbing experience.
Reina furrowed her brow and set her cup down.
"What do you mean, Lily?"
"What did Lady Mayoi tell you two?"
Viera gulped down the green tea and slammed the cup onto the table.
"Mother told us that he's just a failure that doesn't know his place. In other words, we need to do something to take him down or remove him from the equation completely. Basically, we do something to make Father recognise that we're better than that bastard or we kill him."
He explained to the maid. She mulled over what he said.
"It seems like she wasn't that detailed when she went over it with you. Yesterday was your first time meeting him after all."
She seemed to be whispering to herself. Reina pushed her seat back and went to the window nearest to her.
"Mistress Reina?"
"What's up, Reina, you don't look too happy. I thought a sadist like you would enjoy this type of thing."
"Are you joking? It's like that guy doesn't care at all... He completely ignored that provocation and he killed our assassins. He doesn't care about the family at all."
The girl seethed in anger. She clenched her fist, restraining herself. She was ready to burst her bubble and throw magic out. Lily nodded with the same grave look that Reina had.
"Yes, Mistress Reina. Ayato Kyouya is a blemish on the Kyouya Family. One that we must cleanse. Even with everyone's efforts over 10 years, he still continues to spread."
Lily set down the tray in her hand and walked out of the room. Viera couldn't help but wonder what exactly about Ayato Kyouya helped him survive his entire life. Even if he was a magician, there must've been countless attempts of assassination during that period. And yet, here Ayato Kyouya is. As persistent as a mosquito.
What was an even bigger mystery was the fact that the patriarch, despite seeing Ayato's persistence, hasn't done anything about him. Viera sighed, unable to obtain the answers he wanted.
He stood up and got ready for school.
·———·
Right before homeroom, they met in the classroom of Class 1-C.
"Good morning, Ayato!"
"Good morning, Retsuya, Emi."
He said, closing the book that was in his hand. He set it on the table.
"Oh, what're you reading?"
It piqued Retsuya's interest.
"I'm just reading about Doctor Mari's theory on Summoning Magic."
Ayato showed them the cover of the book. Retsuya winced, stepping back.
"Uwah! That book is so long for a thesis."
"It's interesting if you ask me. She predicts that with the right catalysts and mana, we could summon creatures from folklore or mythos. Although, she says that we would need an item that anchors them down to reality. So, whether they're real or—"
The door of the classroom slammed open, despite it being automatic. The teacher slammed it to cause the students to quiet down. Emika and Retsuya took their seats as well as every other standing student.
"Alright, class, I wasn't here yesterday but I'm your homeroom teacher."
It was a woman. She seemed tired. She had bags under her eyes and was smoking a cigarette. The woman held a clipboard in hand.
"My name is... Just call me Miss Toru. I know all of your names, so don't worry."
She said. Even though she was talking, only some people heard her. Miss Toru was mumbling since she had a cigarette in her mouth.
"Anyways, for homeroom today, we'll be..."
At that time, everyone thought the same thing.
'Speak clearly...'
·———·
At break time, Ayato decided to tell Retsuya and Emika about the assassination attempt yesterday.
"You were what...?!"
"Is this a Kyouya thing? I mean, you are a part of the most influential family in the Seven Great Families."
"Wouldn't it be the opposite, though?"
Emika suggested. They both looked at her—Retsuya frowned, perplexed.
"Why would it be the opposite?"
"Sure there are probably high bounties on Ayato's head because he's a Kyouya but wouldn't it also be more plausible that people wouldn't attack him because he's a part of the most influential magician family? They wouldn't want to die."
The red-haired boy crossed his arms.
"No, I mean, he was attacked though."
"The question is why would assassins try to assassinate you? I'm sure Kiara Kyouya is a better target."
Ayato let out a chuckle.
"Maybe because I'm not as amazing as my sister."
He told them about the assassins but he failed to mention a few facts. He failed to mention the fact that he killed them. Even though Retsuya seemed to be from a branch family of one of the Seven Great Families, he was still wet behind the ears, one could say.
A high school kid killing two assassins would cause an uproar, Kyouya or not.
Ayato also didn't tell them about the fact that his half-siblings sent the assassins. A combination of the twins and a nerd.
"I'll go to the toilet."
Ayato said, getting up from his chair. It was almost the end of break however, there was a reason why he wanted to go.
Outside of the classroom, the Kyouya twins glared at Ayato.
"So, you came to us? How brave."
"I'll get straight to the point. What do you want with me?"
The boy viciously asked.
Ayato was in a foul mood.