Spice It Up (The Irregular at Magic High School Fanfic)

Volume 1 (Enrollment) - Chapter 2

He awoke, washed his face, dressed, and headed downstairs, where Miyuki had started making breakfast.

"Morning, Miyuki. You're up quite early today." It was hardly sunrise.

The first lesson was at 8 A.M. Factoring in the commute, and time for wrapping up breakfast, there would still be an hour extra.

"Good morning, Onii-sama... please help yourself."

She handed him a glass of fresh juice, which he emptied in one breath.

Miyuki's hands stopped.

"Onii-sama, I was actually planning to go with you today..." she lifted a basket of sandwiches.

"I don't really mind, but... will you be coming in your uniform?" He asked, her uniform a stark contrast to the sweatshirt he was wearing.

"I haven't told sensei of our enrollment yet, so..." wearing her uniform would inform him without her having to muster up the courage to say it herself, is what she meant to say.

"Understood. I'm sure Master will be happy to see you...But you know how he gets when he's so excited..."

"If anything happens, Onii-sama, please protect me."

The sweet wink from his little sister brought a smile to Tatsuya's face.

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In the early morning chill, Miyuki glided up the hill, hair fluttering behind her. Without kicking off the ground to propel herself, she zoomed up on her roller blades.

Tatsuya kept pace beside her. Though he was jogging, each stride stretched as far as 10 meters.

"Perhaps I should slow down a bit?" Miyuki asked, having spun around to face Tatsuya.

"No, that's hardly training."

Miyuki used a magic that decreased the effects of gravity, and another that would guide her body to her destination. Tatsuya's magic amplified acceleration upon kicking off the ground, and suppressed upward motion.

Although simple combinations of magic and acceleration spells, they were quite effective, not to mention their simplicity allowed both Miyuki and Tatsuya to maintain invocation.

It'd be hard to say which magic was of a higher difficulty. Miyuki, while appearing to have effortless control, due to lack of foot use, had to manage her motion vector completely with magic.

On the other hand, Tatsuya could determine the direction of his movement with his legs.

One who must reactivate his spell with every step, and another who could not release her control for an instant.

The training each imposed on themselves were of completely different natures.

◊ ◊ ◊

Their destination was about ten minutes away from their house, on top of a hill. It could be described as a Temple, however, its inhabitants did not resemble monks in the slightest.

Although the temple was shrouded with hostility, Miyuki entered without hesitation.

Tatsuya had met a violent welcome from about twenty disciples upon passage through the gates.

"Miyuki-kun! Long time no see." A merry voice called out.

Miyuki had turned to look at her elder brother, buried in a mass of people.

"Sensei... please stop erasing your presence and sneaking up on us. We have been looking all over for you..."

"Telling me not to sneak about, Miyuki-kun, is quite a tall order. I'm a shinobi. Sneaking about is what I do."