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

On the day of the entrance ceremony at First High School, affiliated with the National Magic University, excitement and nerves intertwine as students prepare except for one heated exchange.

"I can't accept this!" a girl's voice rings out past the school gate.

Curious students glance over, keeping their distance.

"Why is Onii-sama a reserve?!" Miyuki protests. "Your entrance exam scores were top-tier!"

"Still on about that?" Tatsuya sighs.

To onlookers, it's a novel scene, but for the Shiba siblings, this argument is old news, repeated countless times. Tatsuya remains calm, while Miyuki's fervor stays contained, though barely.

"I'll say it as many times as it takes! It's absurd you're a reserve!" Miyuki insists, convinced her brother outshines her in every way.

Tatsuya knows this, but calming her is no easy task. "The valedictorian should be you, Onii-sama!"

"Listen, Miyuki," Tatsuya says evenly. "This is a magic high school. Practical magic skills trump test scores. My abilities? I'd be near the bottom of reserves."

He's not being humble it's the truth. Standard magic exams don't showcase Tatsuya's unique strengths, which aren't even evaluated.

"No one can match you in academics or combat!" Miyuki counters, not exaggerating. Few high schoolers could rival Tatsuya in either.

But her next words cross a line. "If it were about magic—"

"Miyuki!" Tatsuya's sharp tone cuts her off. She gasps, and nearby students flinch. His voice carries an intensity unlike his usual calm, startling even onlookers who mistake them for a couple, not siblings.

"That's not something to say," Tatsuya continues, softer now, pointing to his chest, then hers. Her uniform bears an eight-petal emblem; his lacks one. At First High, this marks the divide between Course 1 and Course 2 students. Tatsuya, a Course 2 student, speaks plainly.

Miyuki falters. "I'm sorry, Onii-sama…"

"No need to apologize," he says gently. "You always fight for me. That's enough to keep me going."

"That's not true…" she murmurs.

The siblings' tense exchange shifts to a tender warmth, scattering the onlookers unable to handle the sudden sweetness.

"You're always scolding me," Miyuki says, pouting. "I'm a terrible sister."

"Not true," Tatsuya insists. "Just as you think of me, I think of you."

Silence falls. Tatsuya didn't mean anything odd, but Miyuki freezes, her cheeks flushing. He resists tilting his head in confusion.

"You… think of me?" she whispers, her face reddening further.

Tatsuya meant "think" as in care, but Miyuki misinterprets it as deeper affection, a nuance lost on him. More pressing matters occupy his mind.

"Miyuki," he says firmly.

"Yes?"

"Even if you refused the valedictorian role, I wouldn't be chosen. It'd only hurt your reputation. You understand, right?"

As a Course 2 student, Tatsuya knows he'd never be selected, no matter the circumstances. Miyuki knows this too, and his point leaves her conflicted.

"But," Tatsuya adds, "I'm looking forward to something."

Miyuki blinks, puzzled. What could her brother be excited about?

"Can't this useless brother see his adorable sister shine?" he whispers, as if embracing her from behind.

Miyuki's face blazes redder than before, but one phrase stings. "You're not a 'useless brother'! You're my pride, Onii-sama!"

She won't forgive anyone disparaging Tatsuya not even himself.

"Fine," she concedes. "If you insist, I'll do it. Watch me closely, okay?"

"I will," Tatsuya promises. "Go on, it's time for your rehearsal."

"Yes! I'll make you proud, Onii-sama!" Miyuki dashes off, turning back to add, "Keep watching!"

"Always," Tatsuya assures her. "No matter what."

As Miyuki heads to her duties, Tatsuya gazes at the school building, wondering how to pass the time until the ceremony. For the next three years, if all goes smoothly, this will be their home.

With his role as Miyuki's escort done, Tatsuya ponders how to pass the time before the entrance ceremony. Returning home feels pointless, and coming back to school would be a hassle. Settling on a bench in the courtyard, he opens a favorite book site on his phone to read.

"Hey, isn't that kid a Weed?" a girl's voice sneers nearby.

"So eager… for a spare," another mocks.

"Just a Weed, huh?"

The term "Weed," slang for Course 2 students, stings despite being banned by the school. Course 1 students, adorned with an eight-petal emblem, call themselves "Blooms," while mocking their emblem-less peers as "Weeds."

"'Weed,' huh? I get it," Tatsuya mutters, unfazed. He enrolled here for Miyuki's sake and one other reason. The Course 1-Course 2 divide doesn't bother him, but he knows Miyuki would be furious to hear such talk.

Lost in his book, Tatsuya nearly misses his alarm set for thirty minutes before the ceremony. He'd promised Miyuki he'd watch her shine, so skipping isn't an option.

"(Almost time for the auditorium to open…)"

As he powers off his phone and stands, he senses someone nearby and pauses.

"Freshman, right? It's time for the ceremony," a girl's voice says.

Tatsuya looks up slowly. A skirt catches his eye first, then a large bracelet on her left arm a CAD, a magic-casting device. Only student council members or select students can carry one openly. She must hold some status.

"(Best not to draw attention from a high-ranking senior)," Tatsuya thinks, planning a quick exit. "Thank you. I'll head there now."

"Impressive. A screen-type device?" she notes, nodding at his phone.

Tatsuya, who hadn't fully stowed it, hesitates. He'd prefer to avoid engaging with someone of her caliber a likely council member given his "spare" status. But she seems undeterred.

Finally, he looks at her face. She's petite, barely 155 cm, her face about 25 cm below his. "(Quite small for an upperclassman…)" he muses, noting she's shorter than Miyuki, perhaps due to genetics.

"Virtual displays aren't allowed here," she continues, "but plenty of students use them. You're using a screen-type even before enrolling. Impressive."

"They're better for reading," Tatsuya replies. His worn device speaks for itself, and she doesn't press further.

But she doesn't let him go either. "Reading, not videos? Even more impressive. I prefer books over visuals myself, so that's refreshing."

"Uh…" Tatsuya senses her friendliness. Her casual tone and slight step closer confirm she's outgoing.

"Oh, I'm late introducing myself! I'm Mayumi Saegusa, student council president. 'Saegusa' as in 'seven grasses.' Nice to meet you!"

Her charm could mislead a typical freshman boy, but Tatsuya's mind is elsewhere. "(A Numbered family… 'Saegusa'?)"

Magical talent often ties to lineage, and in this country, prominent magical families bear numbered surnames. Tatsuya feels a pang of his own insecurities but suppresses it, introducing himself. "I'm Tatsuya Shiba."

"You're that Shiba?!" Mayumi exclaims, her eyes gleaming with intrigue.

Tatsuya braces himself. He assumes she's reacting to his reputation: Miyuki's brother, the top freshman, yet a magical failure. He maintains polite silence, expecting disdain.

But her tone carries no scorn. "The teachers can't stop talking about you!"

Her enthusiasm feels almost like praise, but Tatsuya suspects it's about the oddity of such a talented sister paired with a "deficient" brother.

"Your entrance exam scores? A 98 average across seven subjects! Magic theory and engineering were perfect, including essays. Unprecedented!" she gushes.

Tatsuya blinks. Should she be sharing this? Exam results are confidential, even to the student. Her openness catches him off guard.