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

After school, Tatsuya waited at the cafe entrance, but his contact hadn't shown. It wasn't a big deal—she'd emailed earlier about being late. With no better place to kill time, he'd arrived as planned. Arms crossed, eyes closed, he stood there, ignoring the curious glances from passing schoolgirls. Their looks held no malice, so he let it slide.

"Sorry, did I keep you waiting?" Sayaka's voice broke his thoughts after fifteen minutes.

"No, you mentioned you'd be late," Tatsuya replied flatly, stating the facts without flair or blame.

Relief softened Sayaka's expression. "Good. I was worried you'd get mad and leave."

She was in full "cute girl mode" now, a stark contrast to her sword-wielding intensity. Tatsuya couldn't help but note the difference.

"Something wrong?" she asked, catching his stare.

"No, just thinking how different you seem when you're like this, compared to when you're holding a sword," he said.

"Cute…" Sayaka mumbled, her cheeks flushing at his blunt compliment. Tatsuya's face remained impassive.

"Are you some kind of flirt, Shiba-kun?" she teased.

"Not a magician yet," he deadpanned. "For now."

Mid-sip of his coffee, Tatsuya paused, his gaze shifting to a figure lurking behind a potted plant.

"Watanabe-senpai…" he said.

Sayaka followed his line of sight, spotting Mouri. But Tatsuya sensed something off in her reaction—something guarded.

"It's my day off," Mouri said, stepping out. "And I finished the committee report, so don't worry."

"I know," Tatsuya said. "Just a coincidence you're here?"

"Exactly," she replied.

Tatsuya knew someone was tailing them, but pressing Mouri wouldn't yield answers. As committee head, couldn't she tail more discreetly? He brushed the thought aside, letting it go.

"Sorry for interrupting," Mouri said. "My bad, Mibu."

"Uh, yeah…" Sayaka's reply was stiff.

Mouri left without a care. Tatsuya felt her presence fade, then turned back to Sayaka.

"So, senpai, about that answer?" he prompted.

Steeling herself, Sayaka spoke. "I don't just want to voice our concerns to the school. I want to demand better treatment."

Tatsuya found her stance bold but unsurprising. He went to sip his coffee, only to find the cup empty. Setting it on the saucer, he met her eyes.

"Specifically, what are you demanding?" he asked. "More teachers?"

"Not exactly…" she trailed off.

She knew as well as he did that magicians were scarce, and so were teachers at a state-run magic school.

"Then club activities?" he pressed. "I checked—the kendo club gets the same gym time as the kenjutsu club. Budgets favor magic clubs, but that's standard for magic high schools, based on activity needs."

"Aren't you frustrated, Shiba-kun?" Sayaka burst out. "You outshine Course 1 students in magic theory, general studies, physical tests, and combat skills. Yet just because your practical scores are low, they look down on you. Doesn't that burn you?"

Tatsuya held her gaze, his expression unreadable. Unable to handle it, she looked down at her juice.

"Of course I'm frustrated," he said.

"Then—" she started, regaining momentum.

"But I don't expect the school to fix it," he cut in. "As an educational institution, I have no expectations. All I need is access to restricted magic university texts and a diploma. I don't care about the rest. I'm not childish enough to blame the school for classmates calling us 'weeds.'"

It wasn't his full truth, but it was his stance. Sayaka, intimidated by his steely aura, pressed on.

"But you said you're frustrated!" she insisted.

"We don't share the same principles, senpai," Tatsuya said. "That's unfortunate."

Undeterred, Sayaka leaned in. "What drives you, Shiba-kun? How can you be so detached?"

Her eyes demanded honesty. Suppressing a sigh, Tatsuya answered seriously.

"I want to develop a gravity-control thermonuclear fusion reactor," he said. "Studying magic is just a means to that end."

"What…?" Sayaka faltered.

She could tell he wasn't lying, but his goal—one of the three great technical challenges in weighted magic—was unthinkable for a Course 2 student. It left her reeling.

With a silent bow, Tatsuya stood. He hadn't expected her to understand, nor did he care. Her confusion was irrelevant to him.

"…Shiba-kun, what are you…" Sayaka's murmur trailed behind, but he didn't look back. His focus had already shifted.

Watanabe showing up then was odd, he thought. She didn't mind being spotted, so there's likely another play here. But what's the goal?

Tatsuya pictured the likely mastermind but couldn't see their motive. If they'd acted directly, they'd have gotten answers easier. Is this just low-priority info-gathering?

It sounded like them. For now, he shelved the question. The real issue was the criminal organization lurking in the academy—and how they'd move next.

The day after his clash with Sayaka, Tatsuya found himself in the student council room, a rare visit. He'd intended to probe who'd sent Mouri to eavesdrop on their talk, but that plan was sidelined by chaos.

"What do we do!? A misorder!?" Azusa wailed. "It won't arrive until next week, and it's not online!"

"Nakajo-senpai, I can go buy it," Miyuki offered.

"Really!?" Azusa said, eyes wide. "Is that okay!?"

"Of course," Miyuki said. "Onii-sama's here too."

"Huh?" Azusa turned, spotting Tatsuya. "Shiba-kun, you saw that?"

Azusa looked on the verge of tears. Tatsuya, tilting his head, decided calming her was priority one.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"N-Nothing," Azusa stammered.

"Onii-sama, I'm running an errand," Miyuki said. "Will you come?"

"Sure, I've got no plans today," Tatsuya replied.

He glanced at Azusa, who looked relieved, as if her panic had been a mirage. Tatsuya wanted to sigh but kept his ironclad poker face.

"We'll be back, President, Ichihara-senpai," Miyuki said.

"Thanks, and sorry, Tatsuya-kun," Mayumi said.

"No trouble at all," Tatsuya said. "I'm free today."

He'd already devoured the restricted texts he needed, and no urgent documents were on his radar. He really had nothing else to do.

"You've seemed busy lately," Suzune said, peering at him with concern.

"Not really," Tatsuya said.

Suzune studied his face, but no trace of fatigue or worry showed.

"So, Miyuki, what are we buying?" Tatsuya asked.

"School supplies for the student council," she replied.

"Got it," he said.

If he didn't know the situation, he might've asked why they couldn't just reorder. But he knew—and chose not to press.

"I'm glad you're here, Onii-sama," Miyuki said. "Now I'm safe from thugs."

"Come on," Tatsuya said, a wry smile breaking through. "No one's lurking near the school."

Miyuki's teasing drew a chuckle. It was just a joke—at least, they thought so then.

After grabbing the supplies and arranging delivery, Tatsuya and Miyuki headed back to the academy, ignoring the curious stares around them.

"Isn't that Mitsui-san, Kitayama-san, and Akechi-san?" Miyuki said, squinting.

"You're right…" Tatsuya said. "What are they doing?"

They seemed to be tailing someone from the shadows, but from where Tatsuya and Miyuki stood, they couldn't make out the target.

"This is bad…" Tatsuya muttered.

"Onii-sama?" Miyuki asked.

"Stay back," he said.

Tatsuya sized up the situation. The trio was in too deep, and it was dangerous.

"I'll help!" Miyuki said.

"You won't listen if I say no, will you?" Tatsuya said, sighing. "Fine, but no reckless moves."

"Yes!" Miyuki nodded.

Knowing his sister's stubbornness, Tatsuya permitted her to tag along, a faint smile on his face.

The "beautiful detective trio" had been tailing Tsukasa, the kendo club captain, who'd been acting suspicious. But they'd been lured out.

"We've been spotted!?" Honoka gasped.

"We have to chase him!" Eimi urged.

Unaware they'd been drawn into a trap, the three pursued Tsukasa into an alley. But he was gone, replaced by menacing men in full-face helmets surrounding them.

"Both of you, run on my signal," Shizuku said calmly.

Activating her CAD, Shizuku unleashed a blinding spell, and they bolted. Eimi landed a hit on one thug, but it wasn't enough to drop him.

"What… is this…?" Honoka groaned.

"My head's splitting…" Eimi clutched her skull.

Shizuku's eyes widened at the rings on the thugs' fingers. "Antinite… Cast Jamming!?"

"Not enough power, huh?" one thug sneered.

The jamming intensified, forcing Honoka, Shizuku, and Eimi to collapse.

"Magicians aren't needed in this world!" a thug roared, drawing a knife.

The trio braced for death.

"What are you doing?" a low, furious voice cut through.

"Get away from our students!" a clear, sharp voice followed.

In an instant, the knife-wielding thug was sent flying.

"Miyuki! Tatsuya-san!" Honoka cried.

"Are you okay?" Tatsuya and Miyuki asked in unison.

Even in chaos, their perfect sync left Honoka and Shizuku dumbfounded.

"You—!" a thug snarled, lunging at Tatsuya.

"Fool!" Miyuki snapped, unleashing an attack spell.

"How!? Cast Jamming didn't stop you!?" the thug stammered.

Miyuki's icy gaze pierced him. "Non-magician jamming doesn't work on me."

Another thug tried to boost the output but collapsed, unconscious.

"What's going on?" another demanded.

"You don't need magic," Tatsuya said. "I'm enough for you."

"Think you can take us without magic? Pathetic," they scoffed, drawing ranged weapons.

One by one, they fell, unconscious, before they could fire.

"You're safe now," Miyuki said, extending a hand to the trio.

With absolute trust in Tatsuya, she'd watched him handle it flawlessly.

"Tatsuya-san and Miyuki saving us… is this a dream?" Honoka murmured.

"It's real, Honoka," Shizuku said.

"That was unreal…" Eimi added.

Still dazed, the trio agreed to Miyuki's request not to speak of it. She cited reasons, and they accepted, but Shizuku alone pondered the deeper implications.

"It's done," Tatsuya said.

"Good work, Onii-sama," Miyuki replied.

"What now? No cameras caught us, but should we call Sensei?" Tatsuya asked.

"I'll handle it," Miyuki said.

Deploying a soundproof field, Miyuki called Yakumo. Tatsuya kept watch over the thugs, though their injuries ensured they wouldn't stir for at least ten minutes. It was just a way to pass the time.