The Irregular at Magic High

Chapter 11

"...Don't think I owe you anything."

After the officials had gone out of sight, the one who had acted first, in other words the first course student whom Tatsuya had protected, glared at Tatsuya and said as much in the same thorny voice. Tatsuya's expression had a rather 'ah man' look to it. All his friends had a face similar to his. Relieved that this normally needlessly excited character wouldn't play up here at least, Tatsuya returned the gaze of the course A student who suddenly grew a spine. 

"I don't think that at all, so don't worry. What got you off wasn't my glib tongue but rather Miyuki's sincerity." 

"I came along because even though my dear brother is good at talking people down, he has problems convincing them." 

"Indeed." His artificial look of reproach faded, replaced by a wry smile. 

"...My name is Morisaki Shun. As you thought, I am of the Morisaki house." 

Seeing the warm banter between the siblings, his hostility faded somewhat, and he gave his name. "I'm just saying it's not really that much of a big deal. I've seen plenty of practical examples in visual materials." 

"Ah, now that you mention it, I think I've seen them before too." 

"You only just remembered it now didn't you. As I thought, Tatsuya's on a different level to you." 

"How patronizing. An idiot who tried to grab a Houki in the midst of activation has no business talking about levels." 

"Ah? Who're you calling an idiot, idiot?" 

"Uhm... that really is dangerous. Psions produced by another magician's activation ritual would cause a rejection by your own subconscious..." 

"What she said. Got it?" 

"Erika-chan too all right? Don't use your hands directly, you'd receive the interference 1000 fold." "It's fine. This is shielded."

As the talk between his friends, meaningful in it's own way, finally shifted back in their direction, Tatsuya and Morisaki shared a glance without moving. 

"I still don't acknowledge you, Shiba Tatsuya. Shiba-san's place should be with us." On that note without waiting for Tatsuya's reply, Morisaki left. He probably said it precisely because it was a line that didn't bear an answer, something his opponent was fully aware of. 

"Suddenly calling me by my full name huh." 

As Tatsuya muttered to himself at a volume just loud enough to hear, Morisaki gave an involuntary shudder. His obstinacy was unlikely to stop there. However, it seemed likely his pride was a part of his nature. Beside him, hearing his murmur, Miyuki seemed disquieted. She had always been worried that her brother's knack for making enemies was a disadvantage for him. But more than that, she had had enough of Morisaki's prejudices. 

"Dear brother, shall we head back?" 

"Yeah, you're right. Leo, Chiba-san, Shibata-san, let's go." 

Sharing a feeling of mental fatigue, the two of them nodded at the others, and began to leave. As if to cut them off, to make things worse, a pair of class A girls stood in their way, but their body language clearly indicated they didn't intend to do any more today. Exchanging looks with Miyuki, the moment dragged on. Understanding her brother's intent, Miyuki was about to bid them farewell, but then the other opened her mouth. 

"I'm Mitsui Honoka. I'm sorry for saying all those things earlier." She suddenly bowed, fully honest, and Tatsuya was rather embarrassed. This girl, who earlier wasn't hiding her elitism to say the least, seemed to have gone about a complete turnaround.