Chapter 17
SHIBA MIYUKI
After the whole Blanche incident, things at school returned to normal, and the administration and the school began their preparations for the Nine School Competition. It was one of the most religiously watched sporting events in Japan and was a point of contention and pride for all the participating students.
First High was no different, and so she found herself in the council room alongside her brother, who had been called as well for some reason.
"You called for me, Mayumi-san," she asked politely, and the senior nodded.
"I did. As the most celebrated incumbent student, you are to be a part of the Nine School Competition. You are our Ace in the Newcomer's division. So, I have called you here so that we may decide on the events that you wish to take part in," she said, and she nodded.
"What about Inei-kun? Has he made up his mind?" she asked, looking towards her cousin, who sat there with a book covering his face. He slid it down and nodded.
"Yeah, I will be taking part in the Ice Pillars Break and Monolith Code," he replied, smart of them and interesting.
"Though I have offered my protests in this regard, in regards to being named in a team with that orange-haired monkey," he added with a sigh, and the President's eyes narrowed as she chuckled, and the rest of the council members groaned, telling her that this was a regular occurrence at this point.
"Please refrain from insulting your classmates, Inei-kun. No wonder you don't have any friends," she rebutted as Inei-kun placed a hand on his heart, faking a pose.
"Such hurtful words," he moaned as Mayumi-san shook her head and turned towards her once again.
"Regardless of our melodramatic undersecretary, Miyuki-0san, have you given it any thought?" She nodded, for she had.
"Yes, I believe I would be best suited for Pillar's Break and Mirage Bat," she replied, and the senior nodded.
"Well, the truth is she would win anything you put her in," Inei-kun's voice cut in from the side.
"Ohh, that is high praise, Inei-kun," Mayumi-san said with a raised brow as Inei-kun put down the book and sat a bit straighter.
"It is what it is. If Monolith Code wasn't a male-only event, I would pick her to be my teammate," he said, and Mayumi-san seemed startled by that declaration.
"Well, that is a surprise. But you already have your task. We have won the tournament two years in a row, and I wish to make it a hat trick, so you will have to do your duty," she chastised him, and he nodded with a groan.
"Yeah, yeah," he replied.
"May I ask why I was called to this meeting?" her brother asked from the side.
"Ohh, Shiba-kun. I believe you are here because your name has been recommended by a certain someone for a very prestigious position," and the way she eyed Inei-kun told Miyuki that it had been his word.
"For what?" her brother asked.
"You shall be part of the engineering and advisory division during the competition," she declared.
"And am I right in the conjecture that the recommendation came from Inei-kun?" her brother asked.
"Yes," Mayumi-san did not deny it.
"And you are so trusting of his words?" he asked, and she nodded.
"When it comes to magic and food, I am!" she claimed passionately,
"And in his words, you are skilled enough to make Third High's Cardinal George look like a hack," she said with a glimmering gaze, looking like an evil sorceress hatching her plan.
"So, I am afraid you have no option but to refuse," she said with a rather intimating smile. Her brother sighed as their eyes met, and she gave him an encouraging nod.
"But will the students accept having a course two student as their engineer," he asked.
"If Inei-kun is right about you. They will soon be begging to have you as their engineer."
"Then I accept the nomination."
"Great, now let us finally have our lunch break. Shiba-san, Miyuki-san, join us," she offered, and they both accepted as they sat down on the empty seats.
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SAEGUSA MAYUMI
"Here you go," Mayumi smiled as a packed lunch was placed in front of her. She smiled brightly as she saw Mari's eye twitch and turned towards her personal chef.
"Thank you as always, Inei-kun," she replied, and the boy simply rolled his eyes as he leaned back in his chair.
"I should really begin to charge you for this," he buggered, but she did not miss the small upturn on the edges of his lips when he saw her expression as she opened the bento and looked at the elegantly cooked food.
Ever since their initial date, Mayumi had made it a tradition for him to bring her a home-cooked bento. Using her powers as the Student Council President, she had made it into his official duty as her undersecretary, and for providing that service, she would spare him the grunt work of the council.
"Is that Inei-kun's cooking?" Shiba Miyuki questioned as she opened her own bento. And she was amazed that she had been able to recognize it.
"Yes, but how could you tell?" she asked.
"Oh, he served us some cake he made when we visited his home. It was quite delicious," she added, and though she had clearly mentioned that she had gone there with her brother, it still bothered her for some reason.
And as she took a bite of the food, she found herself getting enamored with it. It was rather simple rice with the seasoning dish, yet the seasoning seemed to melt in her mouth because of the heat of the ice. It was something novel and out of this world.
"Here, let me have a bite," Mari added, picking a bite out of her food. She gulped down and, after a second, flared up.
"You bastard, how can you cook so well?" Mari asked, looking at her own fingers.
"Well, because I used to have a cafe of my own," he replied, and that reminded her.
"Isn't it set to open soon?" Miyuki asked, again surprising her with how intimate she was aware of Inei-kun's affairs.
"Yeah. Speaking of that, I know that all of you are busy, but if you do have some time. I would like for you to come to the place this weekend. I plan to throw a small part..."
"Yes. Yes. We will be there," Mari and A-chan added before he could finish the sentence, and both of them were big fans of his cooking.
"We will be honored to be there."
And with that, they chatted away, with Inei-kun leaving a bit early as well that day, breaking the tradition of walking her back to her home. And she was left alone in the office working, a rarity for often he would accompany her, mostly in silence, not uttering a word.
Yet now, without him, the whole room felt a lot more desolate than usual. And Mayumi found her mind drifting toward the conversation between Miyuki and Inei kun.
"Mayumi?" she felt her name getting called. She looked up and found Mari entering the office.
"Mari, what are you doing here so late?" she asked, and her friend raised a brow.
"I could ask you the same thing," she said and pointed towards the clock, and indeed, it had been half an hour past her usual time.
"I just got lost in the work," she replied as she closed off the system and began to pack her things.
"It must be all because of that white-haired bastard," Mari-san said, making her chuckle. Her and Inei had gotten off on the wrong foot and took great pleasure in irritating one another.
"You must be covering up for his work. That is why he was so worried about you," she added, and Mayumi shook her head.
"I am afraid not. Despite his occasional rants, Inie-kun actually does finish his work and often helps me with mine," and he did indeed.
"And what did you say about him worrying about me?" she asked, and Mari took out her phone.
"The bastard messaged me earlier to check in on you, saying that you had a habit of overworking yourself. It seems he knows you much better than I do," Mari teased as they both left the office and made their way to the main gate.
"So, how is it going with him?" Mari asked, and she had dreaded this question. Ever since her date with Inei-kun, things have been complicated. The date was something she had never experienced, and she began to feel conflicted about her feelings about him.
"I do not know," she replied.
"Come on, Mayumi," Mari bugged.
"I really do not. It was a simple date...."
"It was not a simple date, stupid," Mari said.
"But he is a junior," she rebutted.
"So what? As I said previously, the gap does not matter," Mari replied.
"And what if I am wrong? What if he does not feel the same way about all this, and the date was just a formality," she added.
"Well, I doubt anyone would consider a date with you a formality. And do you really think that if he did not like you, he would bring lunch for you every day just because you asked," Mari said, and on second thought, it did seem rather stupid?
"Sometimes you can be very stupid Mayumi."
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Back in one of Japan's Military Headquarters, one General Kazama sat down with Kudo Retsu. both of them were amongst Japan's premier magicians with significant political backing, though they did belong to rather opposing factions.
Elder Kudo was from the faction that sought peace with GAA, while General Kazam wished for confrontation. And yet they were both concerned over another matter.
The general began, pushing forward a file titled "The USNA has officially launched a request to the Japanese government."
"They are requesting the extradition of the terrorist named 'word cleaver' for his crimes against the USNA and its military," the general added. The request was being forwarded to the old Kudo Retsu because he was the Elder of the Ten Master Clan Council.
"And you have brought this to me. Why?" the old man questioned knowing the answer full well.
"Because this falls under your purview as the Elder of the Ten Master Clan Council. Because the person they have named as the 'world cleaver' is none other than the mysterious son of Maya Yotsuba. Inei Yotsuba."
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