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

Tatsuya finds Mayumi's reaction puzzling. Why does she talk about him as if his achievements were her own, beaming with delight?

"No matter how great my scores, they're just paper results. Data in a system," Tatsuya says, pointing to his emblem-less chest. "Magic skills matter here, not tests."

His attempt at a polite smile turns bitter. Mayumi, as student council president, must understand his point.

But she shakes her head, unfazed. "Not true! I couldn't do that. I'm pretty good at theory, you know."

Tatsuya wonders how others see her but holds his tongue. Cutting her off would be rude, even for him.

"Even with the same exam, I'd never score like you," she insists.

"It's almost time. Excuse me," Tatsuya says, brushing past her.

"Hey, wait!" Mayumi calls, but she doesn't pursue, knowing a council president delaying a freshman would cause trouble.

Tatsuya hurries to the auditorium, unaware of his own unease.

"Wow, Mayumi, shot down hard," a voice teases.

"Mari!?" Mayumi spins around.

Mari, who'd been watching from the shadows, smirks. Tatsuya had noticed her but sensed no threat, so he ignored her. Mayumi, apparently, hadn't.

"Didn't know you liked guys like that," Mari prods.

"It's not like that!" Mayumi protests.

"He's a freshman, right? Wonder what Hattori would think," Mari teases.

"Hanzō has nothing to do with this!" Mayumi snaps.

"Oh? You know how he feels about you," Mari says slyly.

Mayumi hesitates. She's aware of Hattori's crush but sees him only as someone to tease, not a romantic interest.

"What were you two chatting about so eagerly? Never seen you like that with a stranger," Mari presses.

"Our hobbies aligned. He's a bookworm too," Mayumi says.

"Hmm," Mari hums skeptically.

"What?"

"That's all?"

"I told you, it's not like that!" Mayumi insists.

"I didn't say anything. What're you thinking?" Mari grins.

"Ugh, whatever!" Mayumi huffs, turning toward the auditorium. Mari laughs loudly at her friend's flustered retreat.

By the time Tatsuya enters the auditorium, half the seats are filled. With no assigned seating, students can choose freely, but Tatsuya sighs at the sight: the front half is occupied by Course 1 "Blooms," the back by Course 2 "Weeds." The clean divide between new students sparks both curiosity and exasperation.

"(The ones discriminated against often have the stronger bias)," he muses. He lacks such prejudice but doubts many Course 2 peers share his view. Finding kindred spirits would be tough, and he has no interest in trying.

Not wanting to stir trouble, Tatsuya heads to the back, picking an empty spot at the edge of a row. He prefers the corner for peace.

"(Twenty minutes left… too short for anything meaningful)," he thinks, settling in. The auditorium's signal restrictions block his phone, and using it would be rude anyway.

"(Miyuki's probably done with final checks. No, she'd have finished earlier)," he reflects, amused at himself for thinking of his sister. A wry smile forms, but a voice interrupts.

"Is this seat taken?"

Tatsuya uncrosses his arms, opens his eyes, and sees a girl addressing him.

"Go ahead," he says.

No companions are with him, and a girl is preferable to some gruff guy though whether he thinks this is unclear. He lets her sit.

"Nice one!" another voice chirps.

"Now we can sit together!"

"Finding four seats was tough."

Apparently, she's part of a group of four. That explains choosing this spot. But Tatsuya wonders about their connection middle school friends, perhaps?

"(If so, you'd think at least one would be Course 1)," he muses, crossing his arms and closing his eyes again.

Tatsuya doesn't care who sits beside him, but as he tries to nap, he senses someone watching. Opening his eyes slightly, he confirms the girl next to him is staring.

"(My elbow's not touching her, and I haven't done anything to warrant complaints, right?)" he thinks reflexively, though her gaze isn't accusatory.

"I'm Mizuki Shibata. Nice to meet you," she says softly.

Her timid voice lowers Tatsuya's guard. "Tatsuya Shiba. Likewise."

Observing Mizuki's rare round glasses not stylish, but not for vision correction either—he suspects, "(Psion hypersensitivity?)"

In an era where vision correction is obsolete, her glasses likely counter psion hypersensitivity, a condition where one uncontrollably perceives psionic light, affecting emotional stability. The lenses, specially treated, are a common remedy.

"(Eyes that see too much…)" Tatsuya notes, deciding to be cautious. His secrets could be at risk, though her condition shouldn't easily expose them. He tucks the thought away.

"I'm Erika Chiba. Nice to meet you, Shiba-kun," another girl chimes in from beyond Mizuki.

"Likewise," Tatsuya replies, pausing his thoughts. Erika's interruption is timely Mizuki was growing uneasy under his gaze, not from attraction but discomfort.

"Funny coincidence, huh?" Erika says cheerfully.

"What's that?" Tatsuya asks.

"Shiba, Shibata, Chiba sounds like a tongue twister, doesn't it? Close enough, anyway."

"Fair point," Tatsuya concedes, but his mind drifts elsewhere. "(Chiba… another Numbered name? I don't recall an Erika in that Chiba family, though maybe a branch relative…)"

"Hey, Shiba-kun, staring's making me blush," Erika teases.

"No offense meant. Sorry," Tatsuya says. Unlike Mizuki, Erika's expression hints at amusement, unnoticed by her, Mizuki, or even Tatsuya himself.

"So, are you four from the same middle school?" Tatsuya asks after the other two introduce themselves, curious why they're together so soon after enrolling.

"Nope, we just met," Erika says.

"Just met?" Tatsuya echoes.

"We were lost at the directory board, and Mizuki spoke up," Erika explains.

"Directory board? Lost?" Tatsuya struggles with her vague phrasing.

"We couldn't find the auditorium," Erika admits.

"What about your phones? Maps are standard," Tatsuya points out. All freshmen received ceremony details, including venue location, accessible via Local Positioning System.

"None of us brought ours," Erika says.

"Virtual displays are banned, per the guide," one adds.

"Didn't want to stand out on day one," another chimes in.

"I just forgot mine," Erika laughs.

"I see…" Tatsuya says, unconvinced. They should've checked the venue beforehand, he thinks but doesn't voice, avoiding conflict. As fellow Course 2 students, they'll likely cross paths often. Crossing his arms, he leans back, letting sleep take over.