Mahouka SI: The Yotsuba Prince (The Irregular at Magical Highschool SI

Chapter 30

SHIBA MIYUKI

Today was the final day of the Nine School Competition, and she was competing in the Mirage Bat in the senior's section. A special term that had been granted to their school, given the slew of injuries suffered by their students.

The senior's monolith Code ended yesterday, but the crowd had its attention focused on someone else. The freshmen's monolith Code is final.

Even now, days later, it was all the people could talk about, given just what they had witnessed. Flight Magic was considered an impossibility, but no longer. FLT and Taurus Silver had made the impossible possible, and now she was going to use it to win this match.

"Is everything fine?" her brother questioned from the side as she fiddled with her CAD.

And she quickly nodded.

"Yes, it is fine," she replied, and why wouldn't it be? It was all specially calibrated for her by her brother—the very creator of this magic.

But she was troubled a bit by another matter, something that was weighing on her rather heavily.

"You were summoned by the Major a few days back?" she asked, and her brother nodded.

"I was," he did not lie, not that he ever had.

"May I ask what it was about?" she asked. Given the aggressive behaviour seen by the Competition committee, she knew that the upper echelons of their magical society did not look very favorably upon him.

She had a hunch that her brother's meeting was over that matter as well.

"On the surface, it was a simple meeting between colleagues with no deeper meaning," her brother replied, and her eyes narrowed as her grip over her CAD tightened.

"And in reality?" she asked.

"The military wished to know whether I would move against Inei if the order came from the top brass," and she bit her lip as she looked up into his eyes, his words proving her suspicion right.

Her psions roared forth as she raged at that. The temperature in the room began to drop as a sheen of ice spread over the walls and the floor.

"Those..."

"Miyuki," her brother's voice broke her out of her trance as she reigned back control of her psions.

"I am sorry," she said even as she seethed in rage at the audacity of those around them.

"It was expected in a way by Maya-sama and me," he told her, and she perked up at that. Afterall, given the nature of the contract between the military and the Yotsuba, the ultimate green signal for any mission must be given by their aunt Maya-sama.

"And what did she say?" she asked.

"She said that such an action would not be allowed and that it would violate their agreement," and she smiled at that, relieved that their aunt was standing behind them.

The name Maya Yotsuba carried a certain reputation, and even the top brass of the military could not afford to get on her bad side.

"I just don't understand why they are so against Inei-kun," she spoke helplessly.

"Yes, he is brash and powerful. But he should be thought of as an asset, for he is a Japanese magician. I don't understand why they are all so against him," she raged unable to understand the behaviour of those occupying the Higher offices.

"Fear is one factor," her brother answered as he looked at the TV, which still showed highlights of the freshman Monolith Code. The event was the most watched event ever in the history of the competition.

"Though more specifically, it is the fear of isolation. Inei, for all his qualities, is a political and diplomatic nightmare," and she chuckled at that title.

"Embracing him would lead to hostilities with both GAA and USNA, something which scares many of the people occupying the highest offices of our country," though in her mind, it was their fault. They were the one's who bore her cousin animosity and were going against him.

He had done nothing to them, or at least nothing in recent times.

"Though I wouldn't worry much about our cousin," he suddenly said.

"Despite all the actions of his enemies, they have only added to the fame and credibility of Inei Yotsuba and have lost much of the prestige around them. Inei will be fine," he assured her and she nodded.

"That he will be," she agreed as she saw the clip of him floating over the ruins of a city, looking down like a deity.

"That clip has gone viral all over the globe," she added. It really had blown up, given its scenic value, and it had only added to their cousin's fame, who had done it all deliberately.

"I also told our aunt about your little slip-up with Mayumi-san," and she chuckled nervously at that.

"What did she say?" she asked.

"She was not happy but was rather surprised that despite you telling her of this, Mayumi-san had not mentioned it to anyone else," and she shook her head.

"She promised me that she would keep it to herself, and I believe her," she said resolutely, and her brother nodded, just then the doors to the waiting room slipped open, and her eyes widened as she saw the person who entered the hall.

Her eyes widened as she saw the most feared magician in Japan walk through those doors with a smile on her face.

"I was not told of your arrival," her brother began, putting himself between her and the newcomer.

"I did not wish to bother you. Plus, it was a last-minute, decision," came the reply in a soft and elegant tone that carried in it the power and confidence to level whole nations.

"It is good to see you, Aunt Maya," she greeted the Witch of the East and the head of the Yotsuba clan as she came to a halt infront of her.

"It is good to see you too, Miyuki, Tatsuya," her aunt greeted as she slowly reached for her face and pushed it up, making her look into her eyes. The similarity between them was uncanny, as the woman smiled.

"You have grown up quite a bit, Miyuki-chan," she said, and she could do little but smile.

"May I ask why did you come here?" her brother asked from the side, taking their aunt's attention away from her.

"To cheer you on, of course," she said as she flung open her fan covering her face, and despite her sing-song voice, she not for a second believed those words to be the truth.

"Can't an aunt come and cheer on her precious niece," she said and she gulped nervously.

"And Miyuki-chan," suddenly those eyes were back on her.

"Yes, Obaa-sama," she said, perking up at those words.

"Tatsuya-kun was exaggerating," she began, making her raise a brow.

"You need not concern yourself over your little slip-up with that Saegusa girl," she added, making her perk up.

"It was all bound to get out one day. Plus, your action has provided me with some rather interesting and entertaining spectacle. So let it not bother you and focus your energy on the competition," she said, not knowing how to react. She crossed her eyes with her brother, who gave her a nod.

And so, she nodded.

"I believe it is time for you to Miyuki-chan," her obaa-san added and she nodded and turned away.

And as she left the corridor, her brother joined her as she whispered.

"Did you know about this?" she asked, and he shook his head

"I did not."

Just as they left, the door to the waiting area slid open once more. Two people entered the hall, and a now-seated Maya Yotsuba turned to face them as they walked towards them.

"It has been quite long, Inei-kun," she greeted the boy before her eyes turned to the side, landing on the girl beside her.

"And it is a pleasure to finally meet you, Saegusa Mayumi," she began as the pale-faced girl gulped nervously.

"I have heard so much about you."

0000

MAYUMI SAEGUSA

In Japan's magical society, there were few names that demanded absolute respect, and when it came to them, Kudo Retsu, the elder's name, came to mind first.

And then there were names that demanded absolute fear. And when it came to them, one name came to mind. Maya Ytosuba, the head of the Yotsuba clan, the Empress of the Night.

She was rather a seclusive figure, unlike the other clan heads, and rarely, if ever, appeared in public. The people rarely if ever, saw her, and yet here she was standing right infront of Japan's premiere magician, who had just greeted her, in rather ominous words.

"Coming from you, those words seem like a threat?" Inei-kun's voice from the side broke her out of her trance.

And to her surprise, the woman whose name was feared all over Japan chuckled.

"How dare you say that," she chastised the boy beside her chuckling before those eyes landed on her once more.

"Don't tell me he has painted me as some kind of a cruel monster?" she asked, and she could neither believe her eyes nor her ears as she finally shook her head.

"No. No, he has not. Inei-kun has always spoken very highly of you, Yotsuba-sama," she said as she bowed her head.

"Oh, I doubt that," she said as sweat dripped down her face.

"And please call me Maya, if you will. Afterall you, I believe you are rather close to my son aren't you," and the way those words were said made her face heat up as she did not know how to respond.

"If you are done messing with her, may I ask what brings you here?" Inei-kun asked her tersely, and the woman simply chuckled.

"So protective," she commented as Inei-kun stepped forward, putting himself between her and the clan head.

"Is it so unlike an aunt to come and cheer on her family?" Then, her eyes moved to her.

"...and meet their dear friends," she added, and Mayumi smiled, not knowing what to do.

"For you, it is," and the sheer audacity of Inei-kun surprised her.

"I was right, wasn't I? You truly have made me out as some kind of a cruel mother," she added as she closed her fan.

"Well, no matter. I came here to cheer on Miyuki and the girl who has caught your eye, and I must say you are even more beautiful in person, Mayumi-chan," and she finally smiled.

"That is generous of you, Yotsuba-sama," she said.

"Please, didn't I say call me Maya," she offered, and she looked at Inei-kun, who shrugged.

"Then it is good to see you, Maya-sama. As a magician, I have always admired you," she complimented.

"Oh, have you? That is interesting," she said as suddenly the butler beside her whispered something in her ear.

"I am afraid I must leave now. This was always meant to be a short visit," the woman began as she rose up from the seat.

"You are leaving?" Inei kun questioned.

"The purpose of my visit is over. Plus, something has come up so I must leave. Take care of yourself Inei-kun, and Mayumi-chan," she said.

"Do you want me to escort you?" Inei-kun offered.

"No, I already have Hayama with me. Though, I wouldn't mind the company of your dear friend," and at that, they both turned towards her as she slowly nodded.

"I would be honored, Maya-sama," she said as she stepped forward.

"Then please join me."

.

.

.

.

They had made only small talk throughout the journey as she escorted the Yotsuba clan head to her car, with her asking her several questions along the way. And she slowly eased up afterwards, and it wasn't until they reached their destination that she spoke to her about something rather serious.

"You truly are a sweet girl, Mayumi-chan," she had gotten used to that name and tone by now, and she smiled.

"I can see why Inei-kun likes you as much as he does," she said, Mayumi's face flushed up at those words, yet she did not deny them. She hardly could.

"And I like you as well, so let me give you a small piece of advice as both your elder and his mother," her tone turned serious as she stared into her eyes.

"Inei-kun is a very complex person, and he does not trust anyone easily. Never take the fact that he trusts you for granted, so never break his trust because that is the one thing he would never stand for."

And with that, she turned away and began to enter the car.

"And do be careful about your own father. Believe it or not, me and him are cut from the same cloth. It's just that he hides himself in lies while I embrace myself for who I am."

0000

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