In the hall where different students from different schools interact with each other while wine glasses though instead of drinking wine they are drinking fruit juice or just juice. Some of them are just standing alone on their own not doing anything particular but staring into nothingness or someone is just staring creepily to a particular beautiful girl who can only be described as a perfect girl without defects.
The students are also eating food that was on long banquet tables, which are adorned with a variety of dishes, fruits, and floral arrangements.
This is all happening inside a grand and elegant hall with high ceilings and chandeliers, giving the hall bright light and creating a warm atmosphere for the students or the players 9SC. The floors are covered with a carpet in shades of red and gold.
Other than the students, there are also waiters and waitresses walking around the hall offering food and drinks to the students who had no time as they were busy mingling or to the students who are just being lazy to walk 2 meters at best. The waiters are wearing almost black and white tuxedos while waitresses are wearing maid uniform that consists of white apron with ruffled edges over a dark dress, white stockings, and black shoes, embodying a traditional maid aesthetic.
One of the waitresses is just standing silently beside someone and that someone is Tatsuya
"Erika" Tatsuya asked the silent and frowning waitress whose name was Erika. She has a short, fiery red-orange hair styled in a slightly tousled manner.
"What is it??" The silent Erika asked. Why is she silent around Tatsuya? Even though they were pretty close with each other since the beginning of the school year. Well, she just finished ranting about people who only respect or treat her nicely because of the Chiba name but not Tatsuya as he treats her the same way how he treats other people. Which made her happy on the inside. In fact, he does not see her as a Chiba as if that name does not ring a bell or she does not as Chiba would in front of others he does treat her as a Chiba.
"Would you be in trouble if you just stood around and did nothing?" Tatsuya asked.
"Nope because Mikihiko will do my quota for me," Erika said while snickering and pointing at Mikihiko who was wearing the uniform for the waiter which consisted of a white dress shirt over a black vest with a black bow tie, black trousers, and leather shoes.
Tatsuya just gave a blank stare.
"What!? I didn't force him" Erika said with a shrug "Mikihiko volunteered on his own to take my part of the job" She added as she defended herself that she did not bully him into doing her job.
Tatsuya sighed as he watched Mikihiko move at double the speed of the other waiters and waitresses to catch up.
"Anyway, I heard from the other student that you and the Student Council met the Kudou heir who was rumored to be enrolled in the Second High," Erika said as she changed the topic swiftly to not make herself admit that she was a bully which is true but she still did not to admit to it. However, she didn't choose the topic of the Kudou heir abruptly as she too is curious about the personality of the Kudou heir.
"We did not meet him exactly as what you're thinking" Tatsuya explained pausing for a bit "We just saw him from inside the bus waving while winking before giving a flying kiss to the student council." He added as he remembered that weird behavior from Kudou which is unbefitting for a standard heir. However, Saegusa Mayumi does this kind of thing too so maybe this is the standard now.
"Heh… seems like a fun guy to hang around unlike you, who only shows emotion when your sister is around," Erika said teasingly with a smirk while staring at Tatsuya because she waiting for a reaction from him but her disappointment, all she received was an emotionless stare with those blue gem-like eyes.
"Che…You really are no fun." Erika said with a pout. However, she does not know that someone is watching her intently if she is flirting with Tatsuya.
"Now tell me what he looks like. so I can try and talk to him" Erika started looking around the vicinity for the rumored Kudou heir in the group of Second High students.
"Unfortunately, the Kudou heir is not here from what I can see," Tatsuya said as he looked again for the Kudou heir or Kudou Minoru after hearing the Second Hight students talking about as they mention his name there's another name that the Second High students kept of mentioning their talk but he is unfamiliar with the name.
"Shame.. I'll get going then," Erika said but before she could go, she stopped as heard someone from below the stage podium announce that the Chairman of the Magic Association Kudou Retsu would give a word of encouragement to the students.
Murmurs and whispers were generated by the students. Most of them say that this might be the first time they will meet the Great Kudou Retsu in the flesh.
Without any warning, the lights turn off. making the students gasp in surprise but the spotlight lighting up a woman on the stage. The woman has long, flowing blonde hair and is dressed in an elegant, light-colored gown with a fitted bodice and a flowing skirt.
Tatsuya wondered if something happened after sensing an interference magic but he denied it.
When the lights turn on, An old man with a neatly combed back white hair. The old man wears a perfectly tailored black suit with a white dress shirt, deep purple tie, and matching vest, enhanced by a white pocket square.
This old man is Kudou Retsu, grandfather of Kudou Minoru. Retsu then nodded at Taysuya before he started preaching about what he did with only 19 people able to detect it. He then explained the purpose of what he did which was a mock terror attack and because only 19 people discovered it. They're the only ones that could potentially leave unscathed.
However before he could continue bragging, all of the double doors open abruptly. Men wearing armor with the logo of the FBI written on them. These men are also carrying caliber weapons with them.
Students panicked but some of the students thought that this was another test by the Chairman so they stood in front of the other to protect themselves from harm's way
Tatsuya looks vicinity around the as he looks for an escape but it seems all of the doors are surrounded. He then stared at Kudou Retsu if this was still part of the test but seeing that the old man had a serious expression on him, Tatsuya thought that this was not a drill or prank and this was a real attack. He prepared to spring up in action if Miyuki was going to be in danger. On the other hand, Miyuki wanted to come to his brother but her friends unintentionally prevented her from leaving because both of them were holding her arms. Her friends' names were Honko and Shizuku, Honoka had light brown hair in short pigtails tied with purple hairbands and expressive purple eyes. Her other friend is Shizuku who had medium-length dark gray hair framing her thoughtful grayish-blue eyes.
However, this so-called terrorist did not talk to the students and just quietly aimed their gun at anxious the students.
Katsuto and Mayumi walk forward to one of the armed men and ask what they want as that is usually the opening question during negotiation. However, instead of answering, all of the men smirk as open they're armored vests as they laugh hysterically.
After they opened, Mayumi and the other students saw this panic as they saw bombs underneath that vest and with only 5 seconds left.
"Get down" Katsuto uses his phalanx to shield the students but his magic is not enough to cover all of the students. Tatsuya and Miyuki even the Old Kudou were about to move but they noticed that armed started disappearing without a trace.
The panicking student took notice of this and looked at the disappearing figure of the terrorist group.
However, not all of them disappeared, 14 armed men had yet to disappear. So the students rightfully panicked again though that did not last long.
The 14 armored men started glitching before revealing who the armed men and it was none other than students from Second High.
Tatsuya frowned a bit seeing this as he recognized who was in front of the Second High student who was previously disguised as a terrorist.
Even with the minimal reaction, Erika was able to notice this as she had been staring at him because she had a hunch that he knew something "You know them?" She asked.
Tatsuya glanced at Erika before turning back his attention to the late Second High students "The one in front is the Kudou heir." He said.
"Oho…" Erika reacted as she watched the Kudou heir with interest.
"Good evening everyone, sorry for us for being late and I'm sorry too for pranking and testing you girls and boys for a bit," Oreki said with a smirk.
"Pranking?" Some of the students collectively thought while the bright ones thought of the Testing part that Oreki mentioned.
"That was quite magic you did, young man" Retsu approached Oreki as he did that.
"It's just mental interference magic" Oreki casually said, However, the students who heard this were shocked as mental interference is a highly sought and banned magic that the common people were not even allowed to use.
The other students who suspect that Oreki is the Kudou now seem to realize their mistake after seeing the brief interaction and when Oreki that he uses mental interference magic to create those illusions instead of using Parade.
Tatsuya and Miyuki are shocked after hearing or for the most Miyuki only as MIM is their family's magic specialty and this is the first time someone made an application to make others see what they want to see, Both of them look at each other and nod in agreement.
"Mental interference huh? I don't think even the Yotusba knows about this kind of application. You do be careful they might approach you for that or even kidnap you at worst but..." Retsu said as he gave a knowing look at Oreki "It seems you would like that" He added.
"Seems you know about it," Oreki said with a smile. He then remembered that Retsu was the master/teacher of Maya and Miya.
"Of course!" Retsu answered as he chuckled "With that, I thank you for what you did to her and also to my grandson here" He added with a smile while looking at Minoru.
Minoru bowed to his Grandfather.
"I accept but in exchange I want you to take responsibility for what I did here," Oreki said.
Retsu laughs lightly before saying "If that's all then I can do that." He looked at the students who were watching and listening to their brief interaction "Now then, I leave you to your own devices" He then walked out of the banquet hall.
Oreki watched the old man leave and turn to the important students "Although Retsu is going to take the blame for what happened, I still want to apologize again for the little prank that I did" He said with a smile while bowing his head.
"And I would like to formally introduce myself, I'm Kamisato Oreki and this is my group, I won't introduce them because you know their name in the future" He introduced himself but not the others. "But based on your thoughts, I would like to introduce Kudou Minoru here to confirm and erase completely your previous suspicion of me being the Kudou heir" He pointed with his thumb at Minoru.
Mayumi and the Student Council were a bit embarrassed about that misunderstanding but they all did a double-take on what Oreki said, Tatsuya and Miyuki also did the same double-take after hearing what he said.
"You.." Mayumi was about to ask but Oreki completed her question.
"Read mind? Yes, the reason? Mental interference Magic remember." Oreki said as he looked at the Suzune reading her mind "How? you asked, too much science can't be bothered to explain but all I can say is that I covered this hall with my PSIONS and you inhaled some of them to make you see things that I want you to see."
Oreki then side glances at Tatsuya a bit so that no one would notice but Tatsuya "And your Elemental Sight won't be able to see them." He said making Tatsuya add more danger level at him. Though Miyuki notices this interaction as her Onii-sama senses tingle.
Oreki then looks to Honoka making the poor girl flinch "And why did all of that? I just want to test the competition and seems like our win will be a breeze" He said with a smirk.
That earned him a jeering from the other students which resulted in insulting Oreki and the Second High students.
"So congratulations for being in second place. Mayumin" Oreki ignored those insults and extended his hands to Mayumi.
The student council wondered why call her that except for the shortest girl in the group as she liked the sound of the nickname that Oreki gave to Mayumi.
"We're not that easy" Mayumi replied in confidence.
"The harder you try, the harder you fall" Oreki retorted, He wanted to talk more to Mayumi but someone wanted to butt in so he let him.
"Arrogant fellow who thinks that he can win all on his own.! Who do you think you are" a guy with brown hair from First High shouted to Oreki.
"I'm going to ignore you because you're weak," Oreki said casually making the guy fume in anger but his sidekick held him back.
"Anyway, I won't be reading anymore mind as that's no fun," Oreki said with a smile at the Student council group. "Don't worry I did not read who your crushes or like except for Mayumin" He added
"Hey!!"Mayumi yelled.
"Let's continue the banquet!"