"Airi..."
Masa looked at his childhood friend and also his cousin, Airi Isshiki. Still, he could tell that she wasn't alone since her best friend, Kanou Shiori, was also there to accompany her, but when Airi came to face him, Shiori didn't follow and stayed out, but stayed nearby as she was worried and wished to listen to their conversation.
Still, instead of thinking about Shiori, Masa looked at Airi, thinking about their relationship from the beginning until now.
Due to their similar age, the two of them had been practically inseparable.
No, it was just Airi who was too sticky for him, and Masa felt like he needed to take care of her, especially when her personality was a little awkward. Not only was she the daughter of the head of the Isshiki Family, one of the strongest magician families in this country, but she was also half-foreigner.
While it wasn't allowed for a magician to leave their country of origin, there were many "special" cases when a magician was allowed to leave, such as a student exchange, a job, a research, military, and even being an illegal immigrant.
Yup, even a magician could become an illegal immigrant and leave their country of origin.
As for why it happened, it was because those magicians couldn't see the future in their country of origin, and many of them were treated worse than livestock, so the only way for them to live a better life was to leave for another country.
Fortunately, it was quite easy for a magician to be neutralized in another country, especially when the number of magicians was so low, and they were an important asset for a country, as in this world, a magician equaled a weapon.
Nevertheless, how did an international marriage happen between a magician?
As a magician was an important asset for a country, shouldn't they be kept away from another country?
In the past, that might have been the case since many magicians were treated as secret weapons, and it was impossible for another country to steal their secrets, right?
Yet, now, it is different.
To enrich, strengthen, and develop a better magician, international marriages between allied nations were encouraged.
If Masa had to be rude, this marriage would be so-called cross-breeding, where two different species were hoped to create a new and better descendant.
For the majority, this might seem inhumane, yet a feeling was a complicated problem, so as long as the two people were happy, even if the method was weird, it should be okay, right?
Nevertheless, Airi was the child of an international marriage, and her mother was a foreigner.
While the adults might not think too much, the children were different.
Airi was different, so it was natural for the children to avoid her even if everyone had started to respect everyone's differences; in reality, it was hard to accept others for being different.
Moreover, once again, due to her family status, her parents and family were worried that some people would approach her with bad intentions, so that was the reason why Airi and Masa had been stuck together.
If it was Masa, everyone would believe in him, especially when he was so cunning and powerful.
Airi didn't hate Masa, so she had always been by his side.
Yet, now, they would be separated again.
"Yes, I will go to the First High School."
'It's always like this...'
Airi wanted to cry somehow, but she forced herself to become stronger. It was like in the past when Masa decided to join the Ichijou Family to fight in the Invasion of Sado; while she didn't want him to join since she didn't want him to be in danger, he still joined. When Masa made his decision, no one could stop him, and he used sophistry to make people follow him and agree with him.
Airi knew that she also couldn't win against him, and this time... once again, she knew that she couldn't stop him.
This time, they would be separated.
Masa would be in Tokyo, and Airi would be in Kanazawa.
Or, that's what Masa would think so, unless—
"I will go to Tokyo with you, too. First High School, right? I will join that school with you."
"Huh?!"
While Kanou Shiori, who eavesdropped on their conversation, was stunned since she didn't expect Airi to make such a conclusion, Masa was surprised, but he didn't stop her since, frankly, it was all fine even if Airi wanted to follow him.
"Are you sure, Airi?"
"Yeah." Airi nodded. "I will talk to my parents, or do you have a problem with me joining you at the First High School? Are you going to seduce more girls there?"
"...what do you think I am?"
Masa was speechless, but even if that was the truth, there was something that he should say and shouldn't say. "But what are your friends over there? She looks so worried, you know?"
Airi turned and saw Shiori, who was also staring at her.
The two girls stared at each other and felt awkward since Airi chose her "love" instead of her best friend.
"I... I will join the First High School, too."
Somehow, Shiori, who knew that she couldn't hide anymore, came out and expressed her thoughts.
"Huh? Really? That's good!"
"Are you sure, Shiori?" Masa looked at Shiori, the talented girl that he found during Airi's fencing competition.
Similar to Airi, Shiori was also quite awkward with her emotions, and she couldn't show much of her expression, yet even so, she was a sweet and cute girl with short, wavy purple hair.
Yet, inwardly, Masa thought that girls really grew fast; in the past, the two of them were flat, yet now, the two of them had grown up and had a womanly charm that was impossible to hide.
If Masa was an average harem protagonist, he might not have realized the feelings of the two girls until so long ago, but he wasn't. Still, this wasn't the time, and he wasn't such a thirsty man who would jump at any charming woman. It was like the case when he saw Masaki's mother and Airi's mother, who was also his aunty; even if they were lovely, he did nothing, respecting them as his elder... nevertheless, he wondered whether it was okay for the two of them to join the First High School instead of the Third High School.
After all, if such a thing happened, then there was no doubt that the plot would change, and there wouldn't be the story of the Mahouka Koukou no Yuutousei.
'Well, it doesn't really matter,' he thought.
It was just a spinoff story, and frankly, except for Tatsuya, Masa had never thought anyone in this world could be his match, especially when he could control people to become his most loyal servant.
So, somehow, this problem was solved?
Yet, while Masa didn't think too much, even if Airi went to join him at the First High School, the girl thought differently since, this way, she would be living with Masa in Tokyo.
Not with their parents, family, or anyone else, only the two of them.
When Airi had such a thought, her expression was that of a shy girl, thinking that their life would be like a newlywed, which made her blush red.
"What's wrong, Airi?"
"N-Nothing!"
Yet, Shiori only sighed inwardly as she watched the two with a helpless smile.
Nevertheless, when Airi expressed her thoughts about following Masa to Tokyo, her father thought differently. "No, you can't."
"Huh? Why?!"
Even Masa was surprised by his uncle's decision not to allow Airi to go to Tokyo.
Why didn't the head of the Isshiki Family, or Airi's father, allow Airi to follow Masa?
Because he knew well that Masa was a bad boy!
In an environment where there was a lack of supervision from parents and family, in the case of Masa and Airi, they stayed together; what would happen?!
As a father, he didn't dare to think about it!
Yes, the two might be cousins, but in this country, a cousin is allowed to marry.
If Masa couldn't hold on, and Airi couldn't refuse and happily accept, then—
"Ugh!"
While Masa's uncle had prepared himself, he felt his heart was hurt!
More importantly, he didn't want to be separated from his daughter so early!
Yet—
"It's a matter of a politic. Kanazawa is our hometown, after all, and we're a magician of the One who is also a member of the Kanazawa Magic Science Institute. More importantly, you are my daughter, so how can I send you to Tokyo?"
Airi opened her lips and couldn't say anything since she knew that as the daughter of the head of the Isshiki Family, she had a duty that she had to perform.
"Then, why Masa can go?"
"He is from the Hiiro family, after all."
Yes, if there was a reason why no one stopped him from going to the First High School, it was because Masa was from the Hiiro family. While he was still part of the Isshiki Family, he wasn't within the main line, and he had more freedom than Airi.
Yet, Masa knew that was the reason why his uncle refused Airi's.
Still, while Masa wanted to say something, his uncle beat him first.
"To be honest, I know that it might seem early, but before you two enter a high school, there is something that I want to talk about with you two."
"Hmm?" 2x
Masa and Airi looked at his uncle (her father) in confusion.
"Masa, can you take care of Airi as your fiancee?"
Masa and Airi were dumbfounded, and naturally, the two looked at each other, but while Airi blushed shyly, he felt at a loss.
"Uncle, we..."
"Yes, we have decided to engage the two of you."
"...."
Masa didn't know what to say for a moment.