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

Hayama, tasked by Tatsuya to review security footage, notices his mistress Maya's unusual lack of enthusiasm. Typically, Maya tackles any request from Tatsuya with zeal, but today, her usual spark is absent.

"Lady Maya, is something wrong?" Hayama asks, cautious but concerned. The seasoned butler rarely pries, yet he worries her demeanor might signal illness a rare misstep for someone so devoted.

"Nothing's wrong," Maya replies curtly. "Why ask?"

Her tone lacks its usual vibrancy, heightening Hayama's concern. "Are you unwell?"

"No, I'm fine," she assures, brushing off his worry. "Look at this."

She points to the Bay Hills Tower footage. Hayama, trusted with Tatsuya's requests, examines it closely. "What's the issue?"

"The problem's next! Watch this part!" Maya's voice sharpens.

Hayama, puzzled, lets out an uncharacteristic "Huh…"—a lapse for the veteran butler. Sensing her agitation, he braces for something serious, but the footage reveals nothing alarming. Confused, he glances at Maya.

"What's wrong with it?" he asks.

"Did you even watch it properly?" she snaps.

"Yes, but I saw no issue," Hayama insists. Tatsuya's magic obscures Miyuki's form, and the spell itself is undetectable. To Hayama, it seems harmless nothing to warrant attention.

Maya sighs, exasperated. "You didn't notice?"

"My apologies," Hayama says, bowing deeply, ashamed to have disappointed her.

"Here!" Maya fast-forwards, pointing at the screen. It shows Miyuki stumbling, Tatsuya catching her, exchanging words, and Miyuki embracing him. To Hayama, it's typical sibling behavior, hardly noteworthy for someone like Maya, who knows them well.

"This is normal for Tatsuya and Miyuki, isn't it?" he ventures.

"That's the problem!" Maya snaps.

"Huh?"

"I'm jealous of Miyuki! She gets to cling to Tatsuya like that it's unfair!"

Hayama, who knows Maya's true nature, mentally chides himself for missing this. "I see…"

"It's not just that!" Maya continues. "Tatsuya showing up like that only makes Miyuki depend on him more!"

"Miyuki has only Tatsuya," Hayama offers gently.

"There's still that man with the psion count, isn't there?" Maya retorts, referring to Ryūro, her late sister's husband, whom she despises for remarrying quickly. "He's moved on happily."

"Even so, Miyuki's reliance on Tatsuya is understandable—"

"I know!" Maya cuts in. "But it feels like she's flaunting it when I want to be closer to Tatsuya!"

Hayama, hiding his slight exasperation, maintains his composure a testament to his skill as a butler. "I'm so jealous of Miyuki!" Maya laments.

Just then, Hayama's phone vibrates. Grateful for the interruption, he excuses himself. "Yes?"

"It's Tatsuya," the voice says.

"Tatsuya!" Hayama exclaims, louder than intended.

"Tatsuya's calling?" Maya's eyes light up.

"Yes…" Hayama confirms.

"Exactly as expected," Tatsuya says knowingly.

"As expected of you, sir," Hayama replies. Tatsuya's call is no coincidence he knows Maya's mood and Hayama's predicament.

"Put my aunt on," Tatsuya says. "I'll handle it."

"Thank you," Hayama says, bowing to the phone, relieved.

"Lady Maya, Tatsuya wishes to speak."

"Really? I get to talk to Tatsuya!" Maya grabs the phone reverently, cradling it like a treasure.

"Hey, Tatsuya, what's up?" she asks, her tone softening.

"Nothing major," Tatsuya replies. "Just wanted to apologize for the trouble and thank… 'Maya-chan' for her help."

Maya freezes. The rare, affectionate nickname denied despite her pleas lifts her spirits instantly. Tatsuya's goal achieved.

Unbeknownst to him, this will soon require soothing Miyuki's jealousy a small price for calming Maya's envy.

In the bustling student council room of First High School, affiliated with the National Magic University, preparations for the entrance ceremony keep everyone busy except, it seems, for Mayumi.

"Hey, Mayumi!" Mari snaps.

The student council president, Mayumi, is leisurely browsing on her PC, gathering information.

"You're…" Mari starts.

"Don't lecture me," Mayumi retorts. "You're just as curious."

Mari's right Mayumi's idleness could dampen morale. "Your slacking affects everyone!"

But the council members are exceptionally competent. "President, it's not ready for review yet," one says. "Please check these documents later."

Mayumi's usual diligence earns her leeway, so no one complains about her current distraction.

"See, Mari? Nothing to worry about," Mayumi says smugly.

"Fine, fine!" Mari relents, peering at the screen. "What's this news?"

"Magic Association Kanto Branch attacked by a deserter? Culprit: a former defense force sergeant magician?" Mayumi reads.

The incident, resolved by Tatsuya and Miyuki, is already making headlines. A magician attacking a magic-related site has the media in a frenzy unsurprising for such a significant event.

"Pretty grim," Mari remarks.

"Magicians fighting each other? Awful," Mayumi agrees.

With anti-magic movements gaining traction, such incidents fuel their rhetoric. For magicians, it's a self-destructive scandal.

"But you seemed thrilled reading this," Mari points out.

Mayumi grins. "Ta-da! 'Mysterious brave girl magician saves the day.' Impressive, right?"

"Reckless, but admirable," Mari concedes. "Who is she? No details?"

"Nope, just blurry images," Mayumi says.

"Strange," Mari muses. Tatsuya's magic and Maya's intervention ensured no clear images of Miyuki surfaced, but these high schoolers wouldn't know that.

"Look at this," Mayumi says, showing a grainy image.

Mari squints. "Hmm?"

Mayumi pulls up another photo—a new student's. "Recognize her?"

"Looks like… the top freshman?" Mari says.

"Exactly! Miyuki, our valedictorian. So reliable!" Mayumi beams.

"She's joining the student council, right?" Mari asks.

"Of course! It's tradition for the top student," Mayumi says. "Though you'd want her for the disciplinary committee."

"True," Mari admits. "But I hear a boy her age took the guy down."

"Right! The article says a 'prince' saved the mysterious girl," Mayumi teases.

"Impressive," Mari says. "Not with magic, but brute force."

Tatsuya didn't use magic not because he couldn't, but because his magic can't "capture" like it can "defeat." To outsiders, he seems like a brawler, as the article suggests.

"If he's enrolling here, I'm dragging him into the disciplinary committee," Mari declares.

Mayumi laughs. "That'd be fun."

They exchange mischievous grins, unnoticed by a council member who sighs discreetly.

"No photos of the boy, though," Mayumi says.

"Not even blurry ones?" Mari asks.

"Nope. Just witness accounts of the takedown," Mayumi replies.

"Who is this guy?" Mari wonders.

"Someone close to her, probably," Mayumi speculates. "A boyfriend?"

"Doubt it," Mari says. "She was just a middle schooler."

"Says the girl who's never dated," Mayumi teases.

"Mari!" Mayumi yelps as Mari smirks. The two, self-proclaimed "frenemies" but obvious best friends, know each other's secrets. Mayumi's lack of romantic experience, partly due to family circumstances, is no surprise to Mari.

"No boyfriend in your final year? Tragic," Mari teases.

"You know why!" Mayumi protests.

Their banter echoes through the room, halting work briefly. Yet, the entrance ceremony proceeds smoothly, signaling the start of a turbulent new chapter.