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

Tatsuya's words left Leo, Erika, and even Mizuki speechless. Miyuki watched their stunned reactions with amusement, prompting a wry smile from Tatsuya.

"Uh… is that kind of magic even a thing?" Leo stammered.

"I don't think so…" Mizuki murmured.

"So, you theoretically invented a new magic?" Erika asked.

Tatsuya shook his head, still smiling. "Not invented—discovered by chance."

"Chance? That's still incredible! Creating new magic theory as a high schooler?" Mizuki's excitement surged, overwhelming the others, though Tatsuya remained unfazed.

"Mizuki, you're bothering others," he said calmly.

"Oh! Sorry…" Mizuki shrank back.

Tatsuya nodded and continued. "You know how using two CADs at once causes psion wave interference, usually preventing magic activation?"

"Yeah, I've tried it," Leo said.

"Talk about reckless," Erika teased.

"Shut it!" Leo snapped.

"Let's hear Tatsuya out," Mizuki mediated, averting their usual bickering.

"I could stop here, but since you're curious," Tatsuya said. "This pseudo-Cast Jamming uses that interference. One CAD deploys the target magic's activation sequence, another deploys its inverse. Both sequences are amplified without converting to magic formulas, then released as non-systematic magic. This disrupts similar magic formulas to some extent."

The three listened, mouths agape, slightly regretting their casual curiosity.

"But 'High-Frequency Blade' is persistent magic, right? Can you disrupt it after activation?" Leo asked.

"Persistent magic isn't permanent. It requires reactivation eventually. I timed it right to disrupt it," Tatsuya explained.

Mizuki choked on her empty glass, startled. Erika frowned, deep in thought, her expression uneasy.

"Why keep this secret? You could patent it and make a fortune," Leo said.

"There's a reason, right?" Erika added, echoing Leo's thought.

"It's incomplete," Tatsuya said. "It only makes magic harder for the opponent, but I can't use magic at all. Worse, this technique, without Antinite, could be exploited by anti-magic groups. They'd use it despite their contradictions, and magic's critical for defense and security. Until that's resolved, I won't publicize it."

The three nodded, awed and convinced.

"You think that far ahead…" Mizuki marveled.

"I'd jump at the profit," Leo admitted.

"You're always planning ahead," Erika noted.

Miyuki, suppressing a laugh, spoke up. "Reading an activation sequence mid-cast or projecting interference isn't something just anyone can do. It's because it's you, Brother. You should be prouder, but that humility is what makes you special."

"Are you saying I'm indecisive and spineless?" Tatsuya teased.

"No! You're neither! I won't forgive anyone who says that, not even you!" Miyuki protested.

"Miyuki, you're disturbing others," Erika said.

"Calm down," Mizuki urged.

"Sorry…" Miyuki quieted.

Tatsuya sipped his coffee, unfazed. "Getting serious over a joke? Makes me wonder if you really think that."

"I'm saying you're not! I'll swear to it!" Miyuki insisted.

"I don't think you're indecisive or spineless," Erika added.

"You seem decisive and straightforward," Mizuki agreed.

"Thanks, all of you," Tatsuya said sincerely, though he found their fervor puzzling.

"Let's eat," Leo suggested.

"You're so greedy," Erika jabbed.

"You're looking at the menu too!" Leo shot back.

"All this talk made me hungry," Erika admitted.

"I want this, Tatsuya," Mizuki said.

"Got it," Tatsuya replied.

Miyuki pointed to her choice. "This for me, Brother."

"Alright. Erika, Leo, nothing for you?"

"We want food!" they said in unison, then glared. "Don't copy me!"

Miyuki and Mizuki laughed, while Tatsuya rubbed his temples.

"You're being loud again," he warned.

The two scratched their heads sheepishly. With the impromptu Cast Jamming explanation over, the group settled into an early dinner, their bond as lively as ever.

Yeah, that felt exposition-heavy. Writing and reading it was exhausting.

The day after Tatsuya handled the kendo and swordsmanship club incident, Miyuki was changing in the locker room after gym class. Elated by her brother's feats, she was in high spirits, charming classmates to the point of nosebleeds.

"Heading to the student council, Shiba-san?" Honoka asked.

"Huh?" Miyuki turned.

"Pfft!" Honoka's nose bled at the sight of Miyuki in her underwear, her figure overwhelming for a peer.

"Uh, student council work today?" Honoka recovered.

"Yes, it's busy with some issues," Miyuki replied.

"Got it," Honoka said.

"Have you two picked a club?" Miy Hoseki, who'd been quietly comparing her chest to Miyuki's and Honoka's, finally spoke.

"Biathlon club," Honoka answered.

"SS Board Biathlon? I heard they had some crazy accident," Miyuki noted.

"The current captain seemed sensible, and it looked fun," Honoka said, her voice weaker, recalling yesterday's events.

"Speaking of, Tatsuya was amazing yesterday," Honoka added.

"Of course, that's expected of Brother," Miyuki said proudly.

"Wish I'd seen it…" Shizuka muttered.

"Shizuka?" Honoka glanced.

"Nothing," Shizuka said, disappointed.

"Going home quietly today?" Miyuki asked.

"Probably best. See you tomorrow, Honoka, Shizuka," Miyuki said.

"Eek!" Honoka gasped, thrilled yet flustered by Miyuki's use of her first name.

"Bye, Miyuki," Shizuka said coolly.

"See you," Miyuki replied, leaving.

Honoka collapsed, overwhelmed. Shizuka waved, calming her excited friend, though Honoka's enthusiasm lingered.

"You two heading home?" Eimi asked, startling them.

"Just Eimi?" Honoka sighed.

"What's up?" Eimi asked.

Shizuka answered, "That was scary. We should use stealth magic to slip out."

"But magic's banned on campus…" Honoka hesitated.

"It's not attack magic, so it's fine," Eimi assured.

"The last one wasn't either…" Honoka muttered, recalling a recent incident.

Tatsuya, now a respected disciplinary committee member thanks to Mari's exaggerated tales, was swamped. "Trouble at the gate? On my way," he responded to his fifth call that day. Conveniently, incidents always happened nearby, almost as if planned.

"Stop it, disciplinary committee!" Tatsuya shouted at two brawling students. One fired an air bullet, which Tatsuya dodged effortlessly.

"He dodged that?" a voice marveled.

Tatsuya ignored it, focusing on the culprits. But someone bumped into him, allowing the brawlers to escape. "Sorry," the stranger said.

Tatsuya apologized, though he suspected collusion. The timing was too perfect, and the fight lacked real hostility. His victory over Kirihara had spread schoolwide, earning him jealous glares from first-tier students.

"Tatsuya, are you okay?" Honoka and Shizuka rushed over.

"I'm fine," Tatsuya assured.

"Who's this?" Eimi, a red-haired freshman, asked.

"Miyuki's brother," Honoka explained.

"The super pretty Miyuki? No wonder he's cool. Second or third year?" Eimi asked.

"First," Tatsuya said.

"No way! With that skill?" Eimi gawked.

Tatsuya, unfazed but mildly annoyed by her staring, introduced himself. "Disciplinary committee, Class 1-E, Tatsuya Shiba."

"Akechi Eimi—call me Eimi!" she grinned.

"Got a call, gotta go," Tatsuya said, rushing off.

The three girls lingered. "Tatsuya's busier after yesterday," Honoka noted.

"That air bullet seemed intentional," Shizuka said.

"Probably jealousy. A second-tier student beating a first-tier one? They're pissed," Eimi guessed.

"That's so petty!" Honoka exclaimed.

"Let's find evidence and catch them!" Eimi proposed.

"I'm in!" Honoka agreed, worried for Tatsuya.

"I'll help," Shizuka said. "But we've got bigger problems."

She pointed behind them. Recruiters were charging toward them, having spotted the freshmen.

"Honoka, stealth magic!" Eimi urged.

"I dropped it worrying about Tatsuya!" Honoka admitted.

"Talk tomorrow, run now!" Eimi shouted.

"See you, Eimi!" Honoka called.

"This way!" Shizuka directed.

They split up, only realizing later at the station that escaping together would've been just as effective.

Nosebleeds from seeing same-sex bodies? Probably not for guys, but it'd be awkward if it happened.