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

Miyuki savored the chocolate cake Tatsuya had bought to cheer her up, but a flurry of questions from the day prompted her to set down her fork.

"Onii-sama, I have something to ask."

The cake wasn't enough to distract her curiosity.

"What is it?" Tatsuya replied.

"You were talking in the student council room at lunch…"

"Oh, that. I should've told you." With a voice command—"Cabinet 'Blanche,' open"—a projection of data on an anti-magic international political group appeared in the living room, compiled from Tatsuya's own research and family sources.

"They claim to fight magic-based discrimination. What do you think they mean by 'discrimination'?"

Tatsuya always encouraged Miyuki to think for herself, pausing explanations to pose questions. Though prepared, she struggled to grasp what answer he sought.

"Maybe it's hard to see at first," he hinted.

"Is it about personal ability not being reflected in social status?" she ventured.

"That's close, but not quite the common view."

Tatsuya never scolded her mistakes, instead using them to broaden her understanding. This "discrimination" wasn't about fairness but a tactic: vilifying high-earning magicians to condemn magic itself. By framing magicians as profiting effortlessly, they stoked resentment, pitting non-magicians against them.

"Magicians' high income comes from rare skills," he explained. "Their numbers are few, so the average looks inflated. But they work hard, and many fail."

"Magic talent alone doesn't guarantee wealth. You get that, right?"

"Of course," Miyuki nodded.

Blanche's "anti-discrimination" rhetoric masked a demand: magicians should serve society for free.

"Then why do some magic high school students support this?" Miyuki asked.

"Envy. They see others with greater talent and resent it. 'They can do what I can't.' It's not just magicians—every field has people blaming talent for their lack of recognition. They don't consider the effort behind success, refusing to leave their world or seek other strengths."

Miyuki's face tightened, pained by his words.

"Blaming innate talent for failure is a weakness. I've got it too," Tatsuya muttered, almost self-deprecating.

Miyuki couldn't bear it. "That's not true! You have a talent no one can match! You worked harder than anyone to overcome not having the same gifts!"

She couldn't stand anyone belittling Tatsuya, even himself. Her outburst echoed her fierce loyalty.

"That's only because I had a different talent," he said calmly.

Miyuki flushed, embarrassed by her reaction. She'd misread his point—he was discussing human nature, not himself.

"If I didn't have that, I might've bought into 'equality' too, despite knowing it's an illusion."

Unfazed by her outburst, he continued. "Magic is power, good or bad. Blanche's backers want to weaken this country's magicians."

"You mean there's someone behind them?"

"Likely. But the Ten Master Clans, especially the Yotsuba, won't let that slide."

At the mention of Yotsuba, Miyuki paled, grasping the deeper implications. Tatsuya, unusually, didn't comfort her.

"I'm heading to my room," he said, sensing an unfavorable turn if he stayed.

"Onii-sama, we're not done," Miyuki said, grabbing his arm with trembling hands. She couldn't let him leave, not with her questions unanswered.

"This afternoon, you said you were working at the Disciplinary Committee, but where were you really?"

"Called to the counselor's office by Ms. Ono, then dragged to the infirmary by Ms. Yasutake."

"With your skills, couldn't you have broken free?"

"Using force on a teacher's a bad idea."

Tatsuya deflected her probing, but inwardly, he wasn't calm. Being falsely accused didn't sit well, even for him.

"You seemed awfully friendly with Ms. Yasutake," Miyuki pressed.

"She throws me off. Before I know it, she's in my space, arm linked with mine."

"Is she more skilled in combat than you?"

"Not sure. She's got some training, though."

Only a master like Yakumo's disciple could close the distance unnoticed, making Reimi a wildcard in Tatsuya's eyes. But Miyuki saw it differently.

"Are you letting her link arms with you?"

"What?"

"Ms. Yasutake's… well-endowed."

"Miyuki, you're misunderstanding."

"You're a healthy high school boy. It's not strange to have such interests!"

"Hey, hold on."

Miyuki was spiraling, half-convinced her brother was some lecher. Tatsuya fought the urge to sigh.

"If you have those urges, then I—"

"Then what?" Tatsuya stared, puzzled by her pause.

Miyuki felt he was probing her intent, though he was merely exasperated. Her misunderstanding deepened.

"Onii-sama, stop getting so close to Ms. Yasutake! Aunt might not stay quiet either!"

"Aunt's got nothing to do with this. And avoiding her's easier said than done."

Reimi's sudden appearances left him little room to react.

"I'll try to be careful," he said, patting Miyuki's head before retreating to his room.

Miyuki stood rooted, touching where he'd patted her, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.

No matter what, Miyuki can't resist Tatsuya.