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

Before heading out, Mari hands Tatsuya and Morisaki armbands and slim video recorders. They're to record any issues, though committee testimony alone usually suffices as evidence.

"Next, I'll send the committee code to your terminals," Mari says. "Use it for instructions and confirmations. CADs are permitted on campus for committee members—no approval needed. But misuse brings harsher penalties than for regular students. Two years ago, someone was expelled for it."

Tatsuya raises his hand. "Can we use committee CADs?"

Mari tilts her head. She'd seen Tatsuya's personal CAD yesterday—far superior to the committee's near-junk equipment. "If you want, but are you sure?"

"They're expert-grade, top-tier," Tatsuya replies.

"What?!" Mari leans in, eyeing the CADs. Morisaki's eyes widen too.

"Azusa-senpai might know this series," Tatsuya adds.

"She's too scared to come near this room," Mari snorts.

"Got it," Tatsuya says, nodding.

Mari nods back, understanding Tatsuya's fixation on cleaning the room. "Use them! They've just been collecting dust."

"I'll take these two," Tatsuya says, picking up two CADs he'd programmed with his data yesterday.

"Two?" Mari grins. "You're something else."

Dual CADs typically cause psion interference, hindering magic activation. Mari, assuming Tatsuya knows this, finds his choice amusing. Morisaki, ignorant of the context, scoffs, thinking Tatsuya's showing off. "You're sneaking around because you can't use them!"

"Advice, huh? You're pretty confident," Tatsuya retorts.

"I'm not like you!" Morisaki snaps. "Last time was a fluke. Next time, I'll show you the difference in our caliber!"

Tatsuya's sharp gaze meets Morisaki's bravado. Believing there'll be a 'next time' means he's already lost.

Delayed by Morisaki, Tatsuya arrives ten minutes late to meet Erika, only to find her gone. He sighs. My fault for being late, but I didn't expect her to leave.

(Guess I should look for her.)

Recalling Erika's excited expression, he sighs again and leaves the classroom. Finding her in the crowd is trivial for him.

"There," he mutters, spotting her and hurrying over at a jog.

Meanwhile, Erika lingers at the school entrance, muttering to herself. "Saying I'm rarely alone… maybe he's not as observant as I thought. I'm usually on my own."

She continues, not expecting anyone to hear. "Lately, though, I've been acting weird. Clinging, maybe."

"Erika," Tatsuya calls.

Startled, she recovers with a smile, unsurprised he found her. "You're late."

"Sorry," he says.

"You're actually apologizing?" she teases.

"I'm late, no question. That's separate from you not waiting."

"Sorry…" Erika mumbles, genuinely contrite. She's not one to follow others, but Tatsuya's presence compels her.

"You get called a jerk, don't you?" she says.

"Rude," Tatsuya replies. "Never about my personality. I've been called a bad person, though."

"That's worse!" she exclaims.

"No, a bad guy."

"Even worse?!"

"Or a demon."

"Enough!" Erika snaps, exasperated.

"You okay? You seem worn out," Tatsuya says.

"You have been called a jerk, haven't you?" she presses.

"Yeah," he admits.

"Ignore our whole exchange?!" Erika feels her energy drain, defeated by his nonchalance.

At the student council room, Mayumi grumbles while fiddling with her PC. "So busy, it's maddening."

"What are you looking at?" Mari asks.

"Hm?" Mayumi's screen shows not field reports but bento side dishes. "Everyone else had bento today! Tomorrow, I'm bringing one too. And to Tatsuya-kun…"

"What was that?" Mari prods.

"Nothing!" Mayumi blurts, relieved Mari didn't catch her slip. But someone else did.

"Miyuki-san? Something wrong?" Azusa asks, sensing Miyuki's mood sour sharply, her animal-like instincts tingling.

"Nothing at all," Miyuki replies, voice cool.

"Okay…" Azusa trembles.

"I'm heading out for patrol," Mari says. "Miyuki, I'm counting on your brother."

"Of course! He'll exceed all expectations," Miyuki beams, her mood slightly lifted by Mari's mention of Tatsuya.

"Top freshmen get fought over every year," Rin says. "Not just Watanabe-senpai, but Tatsuya-kun will be busy too."

"You're worried about him, Rin-senpai? That's rare," Azusa notes.

Usually aloof, Rin's concern surprises Azusa. Both Rin and Mayumi fluster.

"No ulterior motives!" Rin insists. "Just don't want him overwhelmed so soon."

"Rin-chan, do you like Tatsuya-kun too?!" Mayumi gasps.

"What?! I'm just concerned for a capable recruit!" Rin protests.

Azusa finds their flustered state amusing until she remembers the other underclassman in the room. Glancing at Miyuki, she freezes. An invisible blizzard rages around her, a storm of icy fury. Azusa's stomach twists.

"Anyway, Tatsuya-kun's fine, so please calm down, Miyuki-san!" Azusa pleads, trying to defuse the situation.

Only when Tatsuya's call comes through later does the tension finally ease.