The Irregular at Magic High School: Everyone Loves My Brother?!

Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Shattered Pride and Hidden Strengths



Disciplinary Committee Headquarters

Hattori faced Tatsuya, brimming with confidence in his inevitable victory. As a First Course student, he couldn't fathom losing to a Second Course freshman, especially one rumored to struggle with practical magic.

"I'll act as referee," Mari announced. "If anyone jumps the gun or breaks the rules, I'll stop you by force, so be prepared."

While Mari explained the rules, Hattori mentally rehearsed his strategy. He'd initiate a swift, speed-focused activation sequence, deploy a basic single-system movement spell, and send Tatsuya hurtling ten meters back to crash against the wall, incapacitated by the impact. He visualized this scenario repeatedly, cementing his plan.

For Hattori, a First Course student skilled in magic, losing to a Second Course student was unthinkable—unacceptable. This mock battle was one he couldn't afford to lose, though he never entertained the possibility of defeat.

"Both sides ready?" Mari called.

Hattori and Tatsuya gave slight nods. Hattori touched his bracelet-style general-purpose CAD, while Tatsuya aimed his pistol-shaped specialized CAD at the floor. Mari signaled the start.

"Begin!"

At her command, Hattori executed his plan with precision. Victory was assured—or so he thought. A sudden impact slammed into his abdomen.

"Guh!"

Hattori braced his legs to stay upright, but the next moment, he pitched forward, collapsing.

"…Winner, Tatsuya Shiba," Mari declared, glancing at Tatsuya with a hint of haste.

Tatsuya, seemingly indifferent, gave a curt bow and moved to stow his CAD in its case.

"Wait a second!" Mari called out.

"What is it?" Tatsuya replied, pausing.

"Was that self-acceleration magic?"

"No, just physical technique."

"But…" Mari pressed, unable to accept that Tatsuya's movement wasn't magic.

Miyuki stepped forward. "I can confirm. That was my brother's physical skill. He's a disciple of Master Yakumo Kokonoe."

"Yakumo Kokonoe, the ninja master?" Mari nodded, as if the name explained Tatsuya's prowess. "Physical skills rivaling magic… Impressive for an ancient style."

Mayumi, however, tilted her head, unconvinced. "So, the magic that took down Hanzo was also ninjutsu?"

"No, that was just a psion wave," Tatsuya clarified.

"But that doesn't explain why Hanzo's down," Mayumi countered, her curiosity piqued.

Tatsuya had used a single-system vibration spell, but Mayumi's dissatisfaction with his brief explanation led to a barrage of questions. Amid this, Rin spoke up, as if reaching a conclusion.

"Wave synthesis," she said.

"Rin-chan?" Mayumi blinked, confused.

Rin continued calmly, though another question lingered in her mind. Unlike Mayumi, who remained puzzled, Tatsuya gave a wry smile and nodded.

"Well done, Senior Ichihara," he said.

"But activating three vibration spells in such a short time… Your processing speed shouldn't warrant a low practical evaluation," Rin mused, frowning. If Tatsuya's speed met First Course standards, why was he in the Second Course?

Azusa's sudden appearance offered an answer. "Um, isn't that a Silver Horn?"

"Silver Horn? As in the Silver who developed loop-casting?" Mayumi asked, eyes wide.

Azusa launched into an enthusiastic explanation, her device obsession earning a silent sigh from Tatsuya. "But that's strange. Loop-casting is for repeating identical spells. Creating multiple waves with different frequencies for wave synthesis shouldn't be possible… unless you parameterized the frequency. But handling coordinates, intensity, duration, and frequency—four variables? Were you really doing all that?"

Her murmured realization left everyone in the training room stunned. Tatsuya, however, only offered a faint, bitter smile. "That's not something the school evaluates."

"I see… So that's what you meant," Mayumi murmured, piecing it together.

At that moment, Hattori stirred and rose. "Are you okay, Hanzo?" Mayumi asked.

"I'm fine!" he replied, brushing it off.

"Oh, right—before the vibration wave, it looked like something hit Hanzo's stomach," Mayumi noted.

"Indeed," Mari added. "Was that your magic too?"

"No, that was just compressed air from my high-speed movement impacting Senior Hattori's abdomen," Tatsuya explained.

"Another physical technique… Truly an ancient style," Mari said, impressed.

Later, Azusa's attempt to tinker with Tatsuya's CAD and Hattori's failure to apologize soured Miyuki's mood, but these were minor hiccups. Ultimately, Tatsuya faced no further obstacles to joining the Disciplinary Committee.

Disciplinary Committee Headquarters, Later

Back from the Student Council room, Tatsuya and Mari descended the internal staircase to the Disciplinary Committee's headquarters. Upon entering, Tatsuya grimaced at the room's disarray.

"It's a bit messy, but take a seat," Mari said.

"…Chairwoman, may I clean this place up?" Tatsuya asked.

"What?!" Mari's surprise was genuine.

Tatsuya, aspiring to be a magical engineer, couldn't tolerate the careless handling of CADs. Without waiting for Mari's response, he began tidying up.

"A magical engineer, with combat skills like that?" Mari muttered, incredulous.

"No matter how hard I try, I can't reach the top ranks," Tatsuya replied.

"Sorry…" Mari said awkwardly.

"Don't worry about it," Tatsuya said, continuing his work without a glance.

Mari shifted uncomfortably but joined in, starting with the papers on the desk. Tatsuya's side revealed a clear tabletop, while Mari's efforts only worsened the chaos. Catching his glance, she sighed and gave up.

"I'm not good at this," she admitted.

"I see," Tatsuya replied neutrally.

He suspected Mari was the root of the room's disorder but refrained from saying so, reasoning that no one else would clean it either. As he sorted papers, Mari exhaled in admiration. What seemed like haphazard piles were meticulously organized by type.

"Uh, sitting on the desk…" Tatsuya began.

"Oh, sorry," Mari said, her tone suggesting she wasn't sorry at all.

"May I look at the contents?" Tatsuya asked.

"Go ahead," Mari replied.

Tatsuya activated a half-finished terminal, swiftly organizing others. Mari, impressed by his speed, continued the conversation.

"If you join the Disciplinary Committee, it'll ease tensions with Second Course students," she said.

"But it might stir resentment among First Course students," Tatsuya countered.

"First-years aren't so steeped in those bad habits yet," Mari argued.

"Yet yesterday, someone outright refused to accept me," Tatsuya noted.

"Morisaki? He's joining through faculty recommendation," Mari explained.

"I see… Wait, what?!" Tatsuya nearly dropped the terminal he was working on, caught off guard.

Mari chuckled. "Didn't expect you to get flustered."

"I'm human, after all," Tatsuya replied dryly.

Finishing the portable terminals, Tatsuya moved to a fixed terminal's maintenance hatch. A curious voice came from behind—likely wondering why the Disciplinary Committee's headquarters was in such a state—but Tatsuya prioritized the maintenance, letting the thought pass.


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