Published at 26th of March 2019 2:11 am

Volume 22, Chapter 6

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Saturday, April 20, after school.

The President and the Secretarial Chief were absent from the school board of First High.

Two days ago, Miyuki informed the other members of the school board that she and Tatsuya would be absent from the school board that day. It was because on Wednesday evening she received a request from Mayumi to meet to talk.

But to Honoka and Izumi, she did not say the reason. Miyuki herself did not know what the conversation would be about, perhaps about something secret. Although Izumi might know something because she was the younger sister of Mayumi, but Miyuki still said only that she will have a business, without explaining what.

Honoka has not come today either. In the school board room there was only Izumi, Shiina and a member of the disciplinary committee (that is, an outsider) of Kasumi. "Today I will not be here" said Miyuki, "It's all right, rely on me," Izumi replied enthusiastically, after which there were so few people left. Of course, Minami was also absent here, because she accompanied Miyuki.

Kasumi, Izumi and Shiina were friends from childhood. There was a relaxed atmosphere in the school boardroom. Despite this, Izumi diligently processed reports on the activity of each club during recruitment week. Shiina helped her. And Kasumi ... carelessly sipped coffee.

- Listen, Izumi.

Sitting at the central table, Kasumi turned to the back of Izumi and spoke to her.

"What, Kasumi-chan?" - With reluctance in Izumi's voice asked, not being distracted from work.

-The business of President Shiba, is this after all the same, yes?

-What, the same thing?

It does not matter that they were twins, but the communication between them did not seem to be at the level of understanding the words "that" or "it."

"Well, did she not say that today too that she was going somewhere?" What if the president and Shiba-senpai were called by our onee-chan?

Izumi stopped and got up from her chair. It seems that she decided to take abreak.

-Why not? Pixie, tea, please.

Izumi sat down next to Kasumi. And Pixie, on the contrary, got up from her chair in the corner of the room, saying "I'm listening."

- Of course, there is a possibility that this is just a coincidence ... Thank you.

The last word was for Pixie's tea. There was green tea in the cup. Izumi enjoyed both the Japanese and Western directions in food: for example, she preferred Western sweets, and Japanese drinks.

-Onee-sama seems quite sociable, but her circle of close acquaintances is limited.

-Yeah, she's just like a cat. - Said Kasumi and took another sip of black coffee. She did a lot of boyish things, for example, did not particularly like sweets.

- And the truth."And Kasumi-chan is just like a puppy."

The second half did not say Izumi out loud. To joke over Kasumi was fun (although such fun is some kind of one-sided), but there was still Shiina, so she took care of Kasumi's reputation.

-In addition, the president, it seems, also has quite a narrow circle of friends.

-Since Miyuki onee-sama is the embodiment of the goddess, this alienation is natural for her.

Kasumi leaned back in her chair, whispered: "Oh, it starts ...". But Izumi did not bother with such a blatant attitude. On the other hand, she felt sorry for Kasumi, because she was unable to understand it.

Shiina looked puzzled at the two.

"... Shiina, do you also want to rest?"

-Exactly. Let's rest a little together.

-Ah ~, yes. Good.

Shiina sat in front of the twins. In her hands she had tea with milk and a lot of honey, which she made herself. In contrast to Kasumi, Shiina is a great lover of sweets. Nevertheless, the sweets she made never turned out to be too sweet, which was surprising, with such a passion for her.

-So, on what business could the divine president-san and the commemorative onee-chan meet?

-Well, if it was said that it will be in a restaurant in Akasaka, then ...

"Er, okay?"

Izumi began the conversation with an obvious fact for her, but for Kasumi this was what she first hears.

-Yes. It's just that you, Kasumi-chan, seemed to be not interested when listening, and so did not remember.

"It does not mean that I was not interested!" Izumi, did I really hear that, too?

Despite the fact that they were still in school, but there were no strangers here, and Kasumi used the "side" to refer to the first person.

-Probably ...

-H-Probably?

"When I asked directly about it, did not Kasumi-chan listen?"

Kasumi allegedly heard in these words a second voice, saying that she had to ask if she was interested in this. In this case, she could only mooch helplessly.

-So what is it that still wants to discuss Mayumi-san with the president and Shiba-sempai? "Maybe not intentionally, but Shiina threw her a lifebuoy.

-I will not be surprised if they will discuss the meeting.

Izumi ceased to bully her twin sister, it seems, only as a sign of respect for Shiina.

- Is that the meeting that was last Sunday?

"Katsuto-san, probably, will also come to try and reconcile with Shiba- senpai who ripped off the meeting, based on his sense of guilt for it.

-Ripped off? Izumi ...

-Really. Regardless of whether I was right, it was inappropriate words. "... Izumi, do you have something against Shiba senpai?"

"I would never have thought I'd hear this from Kasumi-chan, who has always had hostility when looking at sempai."

"I do not look at him with a hostile look!" Just a little dissatisfied!

"Is this not the same as a hostile look? ..."

"What did you say?" I told you, it's not so!

Izumi was silent without saying a word out loud. But despite this, Kasumi answered exactly as if it was a normal dialogue.

It was not by chance that Izumi came to feel comfortable with such a reaction. Was this a sense of unity of the twins? Such a state when you become absolutely understanding people, able to understand without words.

- Well, I also have various complaints about Shiba-senpai ...

"And only I myself realize them", - thought Izumi. Kasumi, it seems, only felt something like that. With this sense of superiority over the twin sister, Izumi was able to evade her argument.

-I appreciate that he rates Miyuki onee-sama most important. But when he has too much time to help others, he will not help. Possessing insight to understand what a partner feels, he will not show concern ... And if I express it in one word, then Shiba-senpai is heartless.

-... Yeah, yes, there is.

Although he himself was not at school now, but the unrestrained words of criticism about her sempai made Kasumi fall back into the chair.

- As I understand it, Shiba-sempai has a lot of abilities ...?

Shiina, on the contrary, wanted Izumi to continue. It was interest in Tatsuya not as the opposite sex, but as a sempai from the same school board as her.

-He has insight, but there seems to be no sympathy.

-In other words, even if one does not understand the feelings of the speaker, he will still be able to understand what he is thinking about ...?

-If I could, I would not be so annoying ...

Izumi sighed and made an understanding face.

-Shiba-sempai it seems, is able to somehow analyze the change in our emotions.

-Analyze ...? Not feel?

-Yes, it is to analyze. Therefore, he can easily ignore the feelings of the speaker, if he considers that at the moment it is not necessary.

-Izumi, this is already more than an exaggeration ...

"No, Shiba-senpai is like that." Usually he just looks a bit cold-blooded, but when it's not about Miyuki onee-sama, he's really heartless.

From the resolute statement of the twin sister, Kasumi began to twitch her face muscles.

But Shiina somehow put her hands to her cheeks and flushed.

"... Shiina, why are you so excited about it?"

"Well ... is not it wonderful?" And delightfully ...

- Ha-a?

Kasumi thought that she misheard. She could not understand where in the conversation there was at least one element that a young girl could admire.

"Well ... In the heart of Shiba-sempai there is only a place for President Shiba." Are you not envious of a girl ... who has a guy whose thoughts are only occupied by one person?

-Is this how ...? For me, there are a few difficulties...

-Well. So, Kasumi-san is too cold-blooded.

"I - cold-blooded?", - thought Kasumi?

"Kasumi-chan is cold-blooded?", thought Izumi.

-... Indeed, if an innocent girl thinks so thoughtfully, luck can turn away from her. In any case, let's get back to the main topic of the conversation.

-Ah, let's go.

Izumi carefully changed the subject, and Kasumi supported her. It seems that neither Kasumi nor Izumi saw an innocent girl in Shiina.

"Maybe it's an exaggeration that they want to reproach or reconcile, but I think it's my intention to at least discuss what to do next with Shiba sempai."

"It's clear from the onee-chan that Katsuto-san seems to be seriously concerned." Will he not get it? Yeah, most likely.

"But what offers can she make?" Since we're talking about Shiba-senpai, he will not behave in a hostile way without thinking carefully ...

"You mean he's ready for hostility?" That is, Shiba-senpai would not have missed what she can say?

-I do not know about it, but he may listen to Katsuto-san's words. He is still the head of the Juumonji family.

-I also think that it is difficult not to hear Katsuto-san's words, regardless of whether he is a leader or someone else. But the use of the family name Juumonji is not so useless. If the rumors about the Yotsuba family turn out to be true, nothing will change for them, even if they leave the Ten Master Clans. If the hostile behavior of the sempai stems from the intentions of the Yotsuba family, then I do not think that they will compromise.

-That's the truth. I feel that I would like to see how Miyuki onee-sama debuts on TV, but ... if everything is considered calmly, then I think it's a terrible thing to try to use the next head of the Yotsuba family for promotional purposes. But Tomokazu onii-sama also should be aware of the possibilities of the Yotsuba family.

Tomokazu onii-sama simply did not know Shiba-senpai. Therefore, I think that he naively assumed that speaking on TV is not such a big deal and it will not cause any disagreement. If Katsuto-san stopped him ... No, is this possible?

- It's Katsuto-san.

Shiina looked curiously at the twins exchanging twisted curves, because she, unlike them, did not have the opportunity to get to know Katsuto closely.

"... I'm worried about something." Do not onee-chan and others step on a mine?

Kasumi suddenly became openly alarmed.

-Kasumi-chan, do not say such strange things. What kind of mine? When Izumi said this, her face also turned a bit pale.

"Listen, Izumi, you know where the onee-chan and the others are meeting?" Maybe we'll go and see?

- And what will we do when we get there? ...

Izumi waved her head, showing denial, but the uncertainty in her words was noticed not only by Kasumi, but also by Shiina.

"Maybe we cannot do anything, but ..."

-... But anyway, it would be better to go, yes?

-Yeah ...

Shiina silently watched from behind Kasumi and Izumi, who exchanged remarks with anxiety in their voices, looking each other in the eye. The long silence that followed was interrupted by the visitors who came.

"Izumi-chan, Shiina-chan, thank you for your work."

- Kasumi ... what are you doing?

And they did not enter through the main entrance, but through the side door. They were Honoka and Shizuku, who came from the headquarters of the disciplinary committee through the staircase leading from it.

Honoka with a kind smile said words of gratitude to her cohai.

And from Shizuku went a subtle impression that she frowned.

- Kitayama-sempai!

This impression was stronger than everyone present at Kasumi. She suddenly jumped up and stood at attention.

-It's ... I ... because I have free time now ...!

-Yeah.

The contrast between the panic-stricken Kasumi and the calm little-spoken Shizuku caused the feeling of tension in the observers.

"I know that Kasumi is not on duty right now. I just thought, what are you doing, staring at your sister.

The tension in the air disappeared. Kasumi's stiffened body also went limp.

"So, what did you do?" Have you looked admiringly at a face that looks exactly like yours?

- N-there was no such thing!

Kasumi immediately rushed to justify herself.

"Kitayama-sempai!" We are not daffodils!

Not only Kasumi thought that it was necessary to wash this stigma. Izumi also stood up and began to protest.

"The daffodils?" How are the lilies?

By Shizuku's tone it was difficult to understand, she jokes or speaks seriously.

-No, no!

-Narcissus * [2] is a narcissus! And not the lily! - Izumi shouted after Kasumi.

"Was not the daffodil not from the lily family?" - Having measured the overexcited sisters of Saegusa with a cool look, Shizuku turned to Pixie.

*In the • outdated • system • Cronquist • narcissus • classified as • belonging to • the family • lily. At present time, it is classified as belonging to the family of Amaryllis.

-Pixie instantly counted the answer from the database and gave it to Shizuku.

-I see. It means I made a mistake. Pixie, can I have some tea? "Yes."

It seems that Shizuku had nothing more to add, and she went and sat down at the table. Kasumi and Izumi also settled on their chairs, spending all their energy on a state of heightened tension. The plan to penetrate the meeting of Mayumi at the same time came to an end.

Kasumi and Izumi with a tired look, and the other three sat relaxed and drank who was black, who was green tea, and who coffee, when suddenly Pixie came up and stood next to Shiina.

-Shiina-sama. In the • reception • you • have • a visitor.

-Visitor?

Shiina hastily returned to her terminal and checked the messages from the school. There really was a new message that notifies her of a visitor.

"Thanks, Pixie." Mitsuya-senpai, Izumi-san, can I leave my place for the reason you heard?

-Oh sure. - Answered Honoka Shiina. Izumi also did not object.

-Many thanks. Pixie, clean up for me, please.

"Understood."

Approaching the door, Shiina turned around.

-Then she went, bowed, then opened the door and left. She left the bag with her personal belongings in the school boardroom.

◊ ◊ ◊

Behind First High was a vast artificial forest. The reason for its large size was that magic can be practiced in without disturbing the surrounding private houses. The land on which it was located was uneven, covered with hills and pits. There was also an outdoor pool and a long water channel.

A student of this school ran through this difficult cross-country. It was not just a run. Periodically, he looked back and changed direction to hide behind the surrounding trees.

This student was a first-grader named Yaguruma Saburou. He's hiding from pursuers.

No, the territory of First High was not invaded by terrorists or any other villains. At the request of Erika, the Mountain Club was helping in Saburou's training. The evading Saburou was pursued by 10 members of the club, including Leo.

Saburou was required to run 5 kilometers and at the same time not get caught by the pursuers. You could choose any direction. Naturally, leaving the path and going deep into the forest was not forbidden.

The pursuers had toy knives, the touch of which meant that it was necessary to start everything from the beginning. This was the condition imposed by Erika.

Saburou was full of optimism when Erika explained this condition to him. Just do not touch the toy knives. So, even if they catch up with him, you just have to handle the knives to be able to run away again.

However, he quickly realized how naive his expectations were.

After all, the pursuer with the knife was not alone. Even if the opponents were amateurs, it was difficult only to evade the attacks, being bound by a restriction in the form of a complete ban on counterattacking.

Should he hesitate, as the pursuers instantly surround him. And the most difficult thing to cope with was Leo's attacks.

He heard that Leo learned to handle the sword less than a month before the Yokohama incident. But he was a genius of close combat, whom Saburou had already come together against several times in a training battle.

The third laboratory was constantly visited by military servicemen. Being a subordinate of the Mitsuya family, he participated in joint training with these soldiers from childhood. Although his magical skills did not develop, his skills in hand-to-hand fighting were approaching the level of fighters of the rapid reaction squad of the self-defense forces, the confirmation of which he received from the praise of training partners. He was sure that he had became stronger.

However, enrolling in First High, Saburou received an important lesson that he still has to grow and grow. With Erika, he could do nothing at all. The same could be said about the president of the kenjutsu club, Aizu. Once he had a chance to fight with Vice-President Saito Yayoi, and she launched him (without exaggeration) in one blow, with a power not peculiar to the girl. It was "Tiger's Cut", Yayoi's favorite technique and her specialization. Having taken this blow, Saburou thought that he would die, despite the fact that he was in training armor.

And there was Saijou Leonhard.

When they confronted each other in the dojo with the shinai, he thought only that he was strong, but not a genius. At that time, he left the impression that he was a man of the type who, for the victory over the enemy, relies not on techniques, but on strength and endurance, as well as on rough, uncouth intuition.

Since that time, impressions of strength, endurance and brute intuition have not changed. But when the battles began in the open air, he realized something in the first battle. He experienced with his own skin that it was no longer a contest on the shinai. For Leo a full-fledged battle with arms and legs instead of weapons.

You cannot let him catch up. He must run away in any case. Before it came at the beginning of the third attempt. And now it was the sixth restart.

In total, he ran about 10 kilometers. The persuers, except Leo, have already been replaced several times by others.

If he does not cope this time, on the next attempt he will fall down in exhaustion. So Saburou estimated his current state.

Hearing the trailing sounds of footsteps behind him, Saburou changed direction and went deeper into the forest. These were the sounds of Leo's footsteps. He had run as long as Saburou, but the rhythm of his steps did not at all seem fatigued. Sensing the trembling of inexhaustible physical strength, Saburou moved to the depths of the forest, trying not to make noise.

-Found you! - From far away came the voice of Leo. "This is bad", thought Saburou and ran faster.

This cry was calculated confuse Saburou, so that he made a mistake. He doubted that he had really been noticed. However, this voice still penetrated his mind and made him forget caution, as a result of which he gave out the sounds of his steps senselessly.

From the thickets behind him came the sound of the rustle of leaves and the crunch of the branches that were moving away. He realized that this time he was indeed found.

Saburou rejected all attempts at secrecy and desperately jerked forward.

In the forest glade, located in the territory given to the Mountain Club, Saburou was lying on the ground, stretching his arms and legs. In the end, he could not run to the end, and he was completely exhausted.

"Saburou, are you okay?" - In the voice of Leo sitting next to him there was no alarm.

-... Yes. - Saburou had to gather all his strength to utter one short word through his heavy breathing.

-Though you did not manage to win, it was not so bad. I believe that you showed yourself quite well against the physical strength of these idiots from the Mountain Club.

On Erika's jab, members of the Mountain Club did not make any complaints. Leo just smiled wryly. All of them, it seems, realized that they are "strong idiots".

Not only the members of the Mountain Club ignored Erika's remark.

-Shibata-san, it's dangerous to approach too close.

-I do not think that it will be hurt if it falls, because there is water, but if the album gets wet it will be awful?

Mizuki, who was painting something in the album, nodded "OK" to the members of the club and moved away from the edge of the hole she was looking at.

To the surface of the water at the bottom of this large pit was 5 meters. She was made a new (you can say appointed) club president, Leo, on the instructions of the school board. Its purpose is a rock wall for free climbing.

According to Leo's policy, the Mountain Club will have to increase activities related to its name, and often leave last year's activity in the form of a "club of picks", a "survival club", a "club of miners" and others. For this, this "pit" was needed. Right now, a member of the club who did not take part in the "game of catch" joyfully stormed the sheer slope of this "rock". There were no safety ropes, but instead, the bottom of the pit was a 3 meter warm water pool with a temperature of 30 degrees, so the punishment for the fall was a bath. After that, the clothing becomes soaked with water and pulls down, wet shoes slip, and it all boils down to an endless cycle of attempts to climb and fall. Well, in fact, there is a staircase installed, so the situation is not so desperate.

The current theme of the art club was "muscle dynamics," chosen because of the undisguised infatuation of some girls for the club. Mizuki came here to paint free climbing, suitable for this topic. At first, Mizuki screamed lightly every time the "climber" broke and fell, but then, after spending almost an hour, she adjusted herself to draw a sweaty and panting student, clinging to the ledges of the rock.

- Leo.

Leo standing next to and preparing to conquer the wall from the depths of the forest, a voice called out.

- Mikihiko. We rarely see you in such a place.

Mikihiko appeared from the thickets. He was in school uniform, but he was not soiled in mud. Among the club members who noticed it, exclamations were heard, like "after all, he is a friend of the president" or "head of the disciplinary committee and really breaks common sense", although they seem to have forgotten about the presence of Leo and Erika.

-I received a report on a disappeared student and came to see. - Having said this, Mikihiko caught the look of Saburou lying down. "But it seems that everything is in order."

Nobody wanted to joke about this. Looking at Saburou, anyone would ask the question, "where is he in order?" But if they said "he's not right!", It might come up as a problem that happened during club activities. Their silence was something of a self-defense.

Yes, and Saburou did not object to this.

-Saburou, are you able to get up?

-... Yes.

Saburou rose after Erika's question. He was still shaking and it seemed he was holding on by willpower.

"If it's the case, practice with the head of the disciplinary committee." Miki, can you please?

"Err?" Is he all right?

Hearing Erika's request, Mikihiko was very surprised, rounding his eyes.

- Please.

Erika's reaction turned out to be a repeated request, not an answer to doubt.

-If without magic, then I do not mind ...

-That's good.

This meant that the head of the disciplinary committee could not take the initiative in violating the school rules on the prohibition of unauthorized use of magic. Which is quite natural. Erika it seems, from the very beginning was not going to ask for such unreasonable things.

-Saburou. Even if the head of Yoshida is without magic, he is one of the strongest in this school. Do not think about winning, think about the chance to fight a strong opponent.

-Got it! Yoshida-senpai, please!

With great difficulty, Saburou rearranged his legs to stand upright.

Mikihiko for a moment hesitated, but with the expression "there's nothing you can do" (he did not say so, but Erika understood so) on his face, he unbuttoned the buttons of his jacket.

He took off his jacket and handed it to Mizuki, who had already come to see what was going on.

The next moment, Saburou lunged at Mikihiko.

Reflectively dodging Saburou's lunge, he grabbed his wrist and turned it out. Saburou's body easily succumbed and fell to the ground.

Mikihiko let go of his hand, so that Saburou's joint did not suffer. Raising himself, Saburou realized this, and from that moment he began to closely monitor the movements of Mikihiko.

"Why did not you attack during the length of time while I was removing my jacket?" - Mikihiko asked with curiosity.

Realizing his mistake, Saburou's consciousness set off into the past. But it was just a new mistake. Taking advantage of this moment of consciousness, Mikihiko again immediately reduced the distance.

Mikihiko hammered his left hand without much force from the right side of Saburou.

Having received a fist in the jaw, Saburou cried out and fell, rolling a couple of times.

Immediately, the knee of Mikihiko crushed Saburou's chest, with his left hand he immobilized his right hand, and put his fingers to Saburou's eyes.

Saburou patted Mikihiko's knee free with his left hand, showing that he was giving up.

Mikihiko rose and turned his back to Saburou.

Saburou tried to grab Mikihiko from behind.

But he, suddenly turning around, avoiding his hands. Slowly, Saburou was slumped face down, Mikihiko grabbed his hands and twisted them behind his back, fixing them hard, sitting on him like a horse.

- Uwaa, so awesome!

Mizuki clapped her hands happily when she saw Mikihiko's fight, which was superbly held, which was a rare sight.

- Uee ... That's sick ...

Leo drunk a hell of a mixture of tea, green cabbage juice and juice from a bitter gourd. Erika, too, was with an acidic face from disappointment in Saburou and Mikihiko's smart approach to the duel.

"So you want to continue?" - Asked Mikihiko Saburou, releasing him from the seizure.

- I ask you to! Saburou answered without hesitation.

Thirty minutes later, the moment came when Saburou could no longer stand on his feet.

◊ ◊ ◊

"Shiina-chan has been there for a long time." muttered Izumi with concern in her voice interrupting her work on reports from each club.

- That's the truth. For a simple meeting this is too long. - Kasumi, who took the work of the disciplinary committee (despite the fact that Shizuku was aware of her free time) to the school boardroom, raised her head and agreed.

- Who came to see her? Pixie, do you know?

Kasumi asked unconcernedly, as if referring to an ordinary human servant.

- Disclosing private information is prohibited.

However, Pixie's response was a typical machine phrase. Such pre- programmed in AI phrases for her were easier, and she could pronounce them more smoothly.

- Well what kind of a stamped answer ...?

With a tense smile, Kasumi tried to protest. Both she and Izumi knew that was Pixie.

-The Master • instructed me • to act as • an ordinary • machine. Kasumi's protest was cut to the ground.

"Asking for the contents of someone else's messages has always been bad manners."

- ... Yes, I'm sorry.

Having received in addition to everything else reproach from Shizuku, Kasumi surrendered. It seems that there is already a stronger bond between the two than the sempai-kohai.

"Shiina's still at the meeting?" - But Shizuku, it seems, is also worried.

- No. Mitsuya-sama left the school.

Not only Shizuku reacted to Pixie's reply with a surprised face and an escaped "Eh?".

-When!?

-16 minutes and 50 seconds • back.

Pixie answered Honoka's question of immediately. In theory, this information should not be available to Pixie, because she had only the function of passing commands to the school boardroom system, but now no one paid attention to it.

-It's strange.

-What's strange? - Hearing Shizuku mutter, Honoka asked with an ominous premonition.

-She did not take her things.

With anxiety on her face, Kasumi jumped up from her chair in a hurry.

- Sempai, I'll go, I'll try to learn more.

"Kasumi-chan, where are you going !?" she asked Izumi, not the "sempai" Shizuku and Honoka.

If she goes to the teacher's office for information, she will also be refused under the pretext of prohibiting the issuance of private information. The same story is waiting for her in the classroom.

"I'll look for Saburou." It seems that he said that today he will be somewhere in the territory of the Mountain Club.

Kasumi explained her plan to her twin sister and left the school boardroom.

◊ ◊ ◊

With a troubled look at Saburou's heavy breathing, kneeling, hands buried in the ground, Mikihiko put his hands into the sleeves of his jacket that Mizuki held.

Kasumi did not care what stage this was, and how to react to it. She did not have time for this.

"Saburou sempai, I beg your pardon!"

Kasumi approached Saburou resolutely and, without worrying that her clothes would get dirty, rose to her knees next to him, so that their eyes were at the same height.

"Where did Shiina disappear to so suddenly!"

Hearing these words, Saburou forgot how to breathe. His face has became pale, but not because of a lack of oxygen.

-Shiina ... is gone?

-Saburou, you do not know?

Gathered around these two Erika, Leo and Mikihiko simultaneously frowned. Saburou was seized by a fit of hard cough.

-Hey !? How are you? "All right."

The normal Saburou rose after Kasumi got up, but he hardly stood on his feet. Collecting all the remaining energy, he staggered and stumbled, jerked to his bag. Unhooked the wireless voice module from his mobile information terminal, he inserted it in his ear. Forgetting about any manners, as soon as the line was connected, he shouted into the microphone.

"Father!" Shiina is gone! Do you know anything!?

On the other side of the telephone line was his father, Yaguruma Shirou.

-Shiina ojou-sama? Wait a minute, I'll call you back soon. - Shirou answered and cut off the connection from his side.

His father's name appeared on the terminal's display after about a minute of Saburou's agonizing expectation, who did not take his eyes off him.

-This is Saburou! Father, did you find anything out !?

-It seems that there were no orders from the Mitsuya family. What happened, tell everything in order?

Shirou did not scold Saburou with claims, like "why did not you look after Shiina?". I did not blame him as a guard of Shiina. This would have even more exerted pressure on Saburou's spiritual wounds.

-Yes, I just heard it myself ...

-... Motoharu-sama now asks for information from the school.

Saburou thought that this was a very quick reaction, as if the older brother of Shiina gave him instructions while standing next to him.

-At the moment, you do not need to do anything. Hasty actions under unknown circumstances can only worsen the situation.

-... I understand. Let me know if anything becomes known.

-Okay. The probability that Shiina-sama will simply return to school is not zero. Just wait a little. Ok?

-Got it.

Saburou pressed the end button. He looked confused.

- Kasumi, what does all this mean?

In this state, he, most likely, for some time will not be able to respond. With this thought, Erika turned not to him, but to Kasumi who was standing in front of him.

- Yes, this is ...

In fact, Kasumi did not understand much either. Nevertheless, she told in order everything she knew herself.

-She was called to the reception, hmm ...

-If you just think about it, did the visitor take her with him? After Erika's muttering, Leo voiced his idea.

-No, there are other options besides kidnapping. She could leave with him and at will, or leave separately from the visitor.

Mikihiko rejected Leo's hasty conclusion. But Kasumi refuted all peaceful guesses.

-Shiina left her things in the school boardroom. "In any case, let's go to the school boardroom."

Hearing the suggestion of Erika's frown, Leo expressed doubt.

"Why should we go to the school boardroom?" To find out who came, would not it be better to go straight to the teacher's office and find out by force?

-Tatsuya-kun or Juumonji-senpai could and would find out what happened. But to us in the teacher's office we will be answered only by a firm refusal.

"That does not explain why we need the school board."

- In the school board room there is Pixie.

"Ah, there it is." - Leo understood with an understanding face, but then Kasumi objected.

- But Pixie will not answer, saying that this is private information ...

"If Pixie lets you know that this is an emergency, she will respond." Machines are more flexible in such situations.

-Right. Let's go to the school board room.

-Uh. Maybe I'll visit it for the first time.

Leo just voiced what he thinks, he did not try to defuse the atmosphere with a joke.

"It's strange that you have not been called there yet." Ah, that's why you were called to the disciplinary committee.

"They did not call me there either!

But from the comical scenes of the debate between Erika and Leo, the tense atmosphere is still a little bit exhausted.

◊ ◊ ◊

-Pixie, we have an emergency situation. Could you tell us who came to see Shiina-chan?

-I cannot • answer • without • Masters • permission. - Answered Pixie's refusal to Honoka's request.

Pixie woke up inside this shell, reading Honoka's thoughts. The spiritual informational form of the life of Honoka, which was infused in Pixie, was given by her, that is, it could be said she was her spiritual mother. But anyway, she did not have any feeling or desire to follow Honoka's orders. The owner of Pixie, and those to whom she wants to entirely dedicate herself, was Tatsuya alone and unchanged.

-Pixie. "Instead of Honoka, who could not think of anything else to convince, she began talking to Shizuku with Pixie. - Your Master is absent from the school board because of an important matter.

-This is true.

"If we now contact Tatsuya-kun, we can prevent this important matter."

This is a reasonable conclusion.

"I'll do it if you do not admit it's an emergency."

-Interfere • Master • not • allowed.

-Then tell us. Even if I have to interfere with Tatsuya-kun for this, I want to find out what happened to Shiina-chan.

Pixie was silent. Behavioral principles "cannot disclose sensitive information without Tatsuya's permission" and "cannot interfere with Tatsuya" conflicted with each other. If Pixie was a simple machine, it would be hanging from a contradictory task in which it is impossible to prioritize. But

Pixie's electronic brain functioned under the control of a spiritual information entity called the Parasite. "She" set her own priorities.

"Yes."

This caused surprise and joy of those present. However, they all quickly calmed down and focused their attention on what Pixie would say next.

-The visitor • named • himself • the envoy • of the Mitsuya • family.

-But we heard that the Mitsuya family does not know about this.

In response to Erika's objection, Pixie turned her head with a mechanical movement, pointing to the side of the large display.

- Please • check out • the video.

The display shows the recording from the school video surveillance camera. This proved that it was not without breaking the school systems, but nobody worried about it now. Since the minds of those present were filled with one problem, for another big problem there was no attention left.

- This woman • was called • the envoy • of the • Mitsuya family.

The image showed two people. A woman who is about 20-25 years old and a man who is about 30 years old. Contrary to age, it seemed that the man is respectful of a woman.

-She ... I think I've already seen that face somewhere ... - Izumi mused thoughtfully.

"These two are military."

"Erika said, only a few seconds of watching the behavior of these people.

-If I'm not mistaken, the Third laboratory seems to be constantly visited by the military? - Asked Mikihiko, looking at Kasumi.

-Yes, it is, but ...

-I think there are no people among the members of the Mitsuya family who are in the service of the self-defense forces. Izumi refuted Mikihiko's guess.

- This means that the military deceived Mitsuya?

"It seems ... the suspicion of Leo about kidnapping may turn out to be true."

-Miki! Do not say such dangerous words, like "kidnapping"! Erika chided, raising her voice. Mikihiko, noticing that Saburou's complexion was even paler than before, hastened to apologize.

-But still. When the schoolgirl is taken away by the military, is it not unusual?

When Leo again pointed to the truth, Erika and Mikihiko clenched their teeth.

-... If it turns out that these two are her acquaintances from the Third Laboratory, then there is a high probability that our concern is unnecessary.

-But we were told that the Mitsuya family does not know about this?

Said Mikihiko, to reassure everyone, and this time refuted Erika.

"... I think we first need to wait for confirmation that Shiina-chan did not really return home."

-Right. - Shizuku supported the opinion of Honoka.

-Exactly. Saburou. Saburou's head hung in despondency, when he heard his name from Erika, sat up sharply, straightened his shoulders and raised his head. - Go home for now.

Saburou did not reply with a nod to Erika's direction.

"But ... my father said to stay here ..."

-Yes, that's right ... So, you have nothing to do but wait for a call from your father?

Erika bit her lip in an irritated way.

"In any case, if it turns out that the First High student has been abducted, then for us it will not be someone else's business." You cannot just ignore it.

- That's right. - Leo agreed with Mikihiko.

In truth, unlike the chief of the disciplinary committee of Mikihiko, Leo should not have worried about other students, but no one here made a stupid remark about this.

-Shizuku. Is it really good not to get Tatsuya-san and others involved...? After all, Shiina-chan disappeared while working in the school council ...

"Yes, I think it would be better to contact Miyuki." - Understanding Honoka's thin hint, Shizuku agreed.

-You do not want to interfere with the president's business? - Izumi expressed her concern. As expected, after reading the atmosphere, she did not call her "Miyuki onee-sama."

-You can just send the same message?

"I'll write to Miyuki." - Honoka picked up Shizuku's idea and went to the terminal.

◊ ◊ ◊

When Miyuki received a message from Honoka, she was in a well-known beauty salon.

The meeting with Mayumi was scheduled for 17:00. There was still a lot of time left, and she decided to do the hair styling. It was a high class institution for important people who demanded security, which operated on the principle of "entrance by invitation only." The price was high, corresponding to the skill of the workers, but this was compensated by the low number of clients, so the sudden reservation of the visit was not a problem. At the same time they decided to entrust the salon and hair dresser to Minami.

Because of this client-oriented nature of this institution, there was a place for bodyguards. Tatsuya sat directly behind Miyuki and read the book. The book is not paper, but electronic. It was not an article related to his work at

FLT, it was not documents related to his work on the Yotsuba family, but just some useless reading-book for killing time. In other words, Tatsuya was not doing anything right now.

On Miyuki's terminal, the incoming message sounded. The signal was different from usual - it was a sound tuned to urgent messages from a group of close friends.

"Tatsuya-sama, I'm sorry." - Miyuki, who was now unable to verify the message, decided to ask Tatsuya to help.

-What? - Tatsuya answered, tearing himself away from reading. "Could you take a look at my terminal?"

-A message?

-Yes. It seems that something urgent.

Tatsuya was not so unfeeling that it was easy to read Miyuki's personal messages, but since she herself asked, he could not refuse her. He took out of her purse Miyuki's mobile terminal and clicked on the icon of the e-mail application.

-It's from Honoka. She writes that Shiina was kidnapped from school.

-Shiina-chan?

"Please do not move your head." - The hairdresser startled by surprise strictly warned Miyuki. He was good at pretending that he did not hear their conversation. Tatsuya was not against reading aloud the contents of the message, because he trusted in this man's job the ability to keep his mouth shut.

-Shiina disappeared right after she was visited by a couple of visitors, a man and a woman who seemed to be military. There is a high probability that she followed these two.

-It's not a kidnapping?

Restrained, Miyuki asked, trying not to move her head.

"Maybe she was forced to go with them, but at least it's not like kidnapping with violent methods."

Miyuki was aware of the strengthening of the First High security system, which was held after the lesson learned from the incident with the invasion of terrorists in the year before last. It is almost impossible to kidnap a student who is under strict supervision of the system, in no way inferior to its reliability in the central government.

"... Should we go back to school?"

"Even if we return, we cannot do anything." Moreover, if it turns out that this is really kidnapping, then the police should deal with this.

If this unlikely event, like the abduction of Miyuki happened then Tatsuya naturally would not say that.

-So, let's leave it to the police?

-At this stage it is still not possible to say exactly what this abduction is, so it will be problematic if one learns about it. However, Shiina refers to the direct line of kinship of the Mitsuya family. And the Mitsuya family have their connections in the police, and Erika seems to be motivated to help too.

-Erika?

-Yes. I do not know why, but it seems that Leo and Mikihiko are also involved in this matter.

-And they really can leave it?

Miyuki worried about whether they themselves would not do anything, but Tatsuya did not show at all that he saw the problem.

-We also have our own affairs. "... That's right."

Tatsuya was telling the truth. Even if it were not he who said it, Miyuki would also agree. Only Miyuki could not do anything about her anxiety about what his friends would think about Tatsuya.

◊ ◊ ◊

In the Mitsuya family house, the head of the family Gen and the eldest son of Motoharu had a private conversation.

"My father seems to have taken Shiina."

"... It's clear."

Hearing about the message from Saburou, in which it was said that Shiina was gone, Gen and Motoharu immediately realized what "cooperation" Tsukasa was talking about. The answer received after this from First High, the image with the visitors confirmed that it was Tooyama Tsukasa.

-Saburou-kun did not seem to notice Tsukasa-san. "Because he never met her."

-Really?

Gen's answer was a surprise for Motoharu. Despite the fact that Shiina was quite familiar with Tsukasa, it was difficult to believe that Saburou, who was always together with Shiina never met Tsukasa.

-Tsukasa-san really carefully chooses people who are shown her eyes. Because of the circumstances of the official duty, which is carried on the shoulders of the Tooyama family, they believe that it is better to have as few people as possible knowing their personalities.

"But she met with Shiina quite often, yet never showed herself to Saburou- kun ...

-Perhaps she is such a person because of her work, like walking on a tightrope. No, not only Tsukasa-san. The entire Tooyama family has long been involved in such secret activities.

-... The magic of the Tenth Lab - it seemed like they were barriers against physical and magical attack?

Gen shook his head at his son's question.

-Initially, yes. But because of the peculiarities of the form of activated magic, the Tooyama family got the role of being something more than simple shields. The Tooyama family was included in the intelligence department of the national self-defense forces in the form of a counterintelligence unit.

-That is, their whole family cooperates with the army? I believe that we, the Mitsuya family, are also contributing to helping the army, helping to collect information throughout the East Asian region.

Gen shook his head again.

-This is not cooperation. The Tooyama family has become a full-fledged part of the intelligence department and has a secret influence on it.

Gen was silent. Motoharu held his breath, waiting for the continuation of his father's speech.

-... The Tooyama family does not have such unlimited power as the Yotsuba family. If we talk about magical power, the Juumonji family of the same Tenth laboratory are stronger than them. They also do not have political power like the Saegusa family. They do not have fame, but they do not have a bad reputation either. Being in the shadows, they will protect the interests of the faction to which they belong by any means.

Gen gave a deep sigh.

-If the goals they pursue are in the interests of the country, in the interests of magicians and in the interests of 28 houses, then I would say that their behavior is quite tolerable. However, they can also secretly plan hostility between 28 houses for their own interests. This is more annoying than a simple threat to understand, like the Yotsuba family.

-... So, this time is a chance?

"... What do you mean?"

Motoharu's question was unexpected for Gen.

"The promise that Shiina will not threaten anything ... If Tsukasa-san is aiming at Shiba Tatsuya-dono, this will be a confrontation between the Tooyama and Yotsuba families, this may be a chance to get rid of the potential threat to the Tooyama family."

-I cannot say that there is no such probability, but ... we ourselves cannot do anything. Even if it comes to confrontation between the families of Tooyama and Yotsuba, we ourselves will have no choice but to remain observers.

-Is this the best option, that we will only look, hoping that the desired result will be achieved?

"It's just consolation." But it's better with him than without him.

In any case, until it ends in some form, Shiina will not return. Gen grinned at how easily he accepted this fact.

◊ ◊ ◊

The big sedan car that drove Shiina was not only spacious, but also comfortable. Not as comfortable as a limousine, but also an acceptable level.

Departing from the First High parking lot, a large sedan arrived in Karuizawa without using a road train (transportation of cars like a ferry, but on land). In this era, not using this advantage during long trips was a strange choice.

The car drove up to the old Western-style mansion, which left an impression of itself "really in our time there are still such buildings?". The atmosphere around this house was as if it were a scene from some horror film. Shiina went out of the car with a light tremor all over her body.

"Shiina-chan, is it cool outside?" Do not be shy, let's go inside.

It was already the middle of April. In Karuizawa it was not so cold. But there was no point in standing outside, so Shiina took advantage of Tsukasa's invitation and went inside.

- Uwaa ...!

Shiina's involuntary burst of surprise. Externally looking like an old Western- style mansion, inside it was a classic setting, exuding an atmosphere of luxury.

- Shiina-chan's room is right here. Use it at your discretion.

The room in which she led Tsukasa, for luxury was no worse than the vestibule, furnished in the best aristocratic preferences. A huge bed with a canopy attracted special attention to Shiina. And a dressing table with gold trim in antique style. Even accustomed to luxury, Shiina wondered how much it could cost.

-In the closet there is a change of clothes. The size should fit. Although according to plan you are here for only one night, you will probably need it?

-Ah, yes. Many thanks.

Tearing her mind from the bed and table, Shiina thanked Tsukasa.

-It's my pleasure. It's because I asked you to help, so to provide everything you need is natural to me.

-Sorry ...

Shiina wondered for a while whether she should ask now, but in the end decided to ask.

"I cannot contact my family, right?"

"I'm sorry." Can you just think it's part of your job?

-I understand. - Shiina said, while thinking: "I knew it."

-I'll call you when the food is ready Tsukasa said and left the room. The sound of locking was not audible, but Shiina did not even think to check it.

She had to leave her bag with her personal belongings in the school boardroom, but she had her personal mobile information terminal in her inner jacket pocket. Got it, she checked the signal level. As she thought, the antenna icon was crossed out.

"I signed it myself, I cannot refuse now."

Shiina opened the closet and took off her school uniform. Dressing in simple room clothes, she ducked onto the sheet to check the softness of the canopy bed.

She did not know how Tsukasa had persuaded her father and her brother. She felt guilty for leaving school without telling Saburou and the senpais from the school board, but she believed that her family would tell them about this situation.

She did not even think that she was considered missing.

◊ ◊ ◊

Emotions that surfaced on the face of Honoka, who had finished her reply, were a mixture of confusion and disappointment.

- What does Miyuki write?

"It's from Tatsuya-san." - Erika asked Honoka a question with an unconcealed shock in her voice. "He writes that we'd better leave it to the police."

Erika's face was also disappointed.

-What kind of a template answer is that ...

-Show me.

Shizuku glanced at the display that displayed the message. After reading, she, in an uncharacteristic manner, heavily frowned.

-... And it is true, it is written that it is better to leave it to the police. "Ah, yes."

Reproaching herself that "it was necessary to explain more clearly," Honoka sent Tatsuya's response to a large wall display.

-Wait ... So, Tatsuya also believes that there is a high probability that Mitsuya has been deceived ...

"But, since there is no evidence, we do not know if the police will respond ...

Most likely not.

Leo and Mikihiko frowned on their unfavorable expectations.

"And still if this is confirmed, and the Mitsuya family will turn to the police, then just leave it to the police ... it's not normal!"

-... But this can be the most sensible decision. What we can do outside of school is very limited.

Izumi tried to reassure the indignant Kasumi.

"If you leave everything to the police, then what will you do if it becomes too late!"

Kasumi screamed in rage at Izumi.

"Then tell us, what can you do, Kasumi-chan?"

Izumi calmly responded to the twin sister, absorbed in emotions. Perhaps Izumi herself could remain calm just because Kasumi was already shedding all the emotions.

- ... Why not use the search network of our family !?

"But she's in Kyoto now." Kasumi-chan knows who to contact and what to say?

- We'll ask onee-chan!

-Onee-sama went to a meeting with Shiba-sempai.

-That's good! At the same time, I'll complain to her about it! Kasumi ran out of the school boardroom.

"Hey, Kasumi-chan!" Do you even know where she went? ... Well, everything! I beg your pardon, Mitsui-senpai. For today we will finish, good- bye! - Said Izumi and left after Kasumi.

Shizuku looked disappointedly at the departed terminal of the disciplinary committee.

-Honoka. Can I leave it here for now?

-Of course, there are no problems.

Kasumi on Monday is waiting for something not very funny. After thinking about it, Honoka shrugged, deciding that it was not her business.

"So, what shall we do?" As Tatsuya advised, will we sit back and wait?

On Leo's inciting question, Erika answered in a malicious voice.

"If he says to leave it to the police, then we will." But this does not mean that we will sit idly by.

-Erika, what are you going to do ...? - Asked Mikihiko anxiously. He was worried not because he did not know what she was learning, but because she guessed what she was going to do. "You've already decided?" In the dojo, after all, there are a lot of people connected with the police?

-Abuse of power for personal purposes.

-H-nothing.

From straight faced Shizuku, Mikihiko screeched his face.

- When such links exist, it is a sin not to use them.

The old Erika would now have a mischievous smirk. But the current Erika did not smile.

◊ ◊ ◊

The place where Mayumi invited Tatsuya and Miyuki was a traditional Japanese restaurant in Akasaka.

Tatsuya thought that he should be three times older to visit such a place. Moreover, for this institution of the same age it would not be enough, it was still necessary, at least, to have status, fame and wealth.

Tatsuya's group arrived at the restaurant 3 minutes before the appointed time. A restaurant employee conducted these three young people who were not suitable for this place, showing nothing but a smile on their face.

Exactly at 17:00 Tatsuya, Miyuki and Minami entered the room in the traditional Japanese style.

There they were alone waiting for Katsuto.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." - Tatsuya said and sat down, without asking permission to sit down.

-No, you are just in time. - Katsuto confirmed that they have nothing to blame themselves.

With a small gap from Tatsuya and Miyuki, followed by Minami. Miyuki sat on the pillow next to Tatsuya, and Minami sat right on the floor behind Miyuki.

All four sat in the "right" posture on their knees [Seiji]. None of them did any relaxing movements, showing that it was uncomfortable for them to sit like that. All looked long accustomed to the seiji.

- I'm sorry!

When Tatsuya and Katsuto's eyes had already met and they were about to begin, the front door opened and Mayumi and Mari entered the room.

-Excuse me, did we make you wait?

-No, we just arrived.

When asked by Mayumi, Tatsuya answered immediately. Katsuto was already ready to answer, but eventually closed his mouth, without saying anything.

Mayumi, with a sigh of relief, took her place next to Katsuto and opposite Miyuki. And Mari sat down next to Mayumi.

Seiji Mayumi looked better than ordinary female students, but compared to Tatsuya, Miyuki or Katsuto, she looked awkward anyway. Even Mari looked better in this matter.

- Okay, right away ... ...

Mayumi wanted to start negotiations (or better to call persuasion), but suddenly from behind the front door a voice was heard: "I'm sorry." Mayumi answered: "Yes, I'll ask." The door opened, and on the other side there appeared not the waitress, but the young mistress of this restaurant.

"Visitors came to us who called themselves your comrades ..." The hostess spoke with an impartial face.

The surprise was natural, because everyone who was supposed to come was already here.

"Er, and who are they?"

Although Mayumi was also confused, she quickly recovered and asked.

-They introduced themselves as Saegusa Kasumi-sama and Izumi-sama.

-Er ...!?

Shortly after losing her speech, Mayumi asked Tatsuya and Miyuki "to wait a moment," and, without waiting for the mistress, walked to the entrance to the restaurant. Saying "I'm sorry," the landlady bowed and closed the door on the other side.

While they waited, Miyuki asked Tatsuya: "They are about this matter, are not they?"

"The business?" Tatsuya-kun, do you know anything about why the younger sisters of Mayumi interrupted us? - Mari asked Tatsuya, hearing this question from Miyuki. Katsuto frowned at the fact that Mari's mannerisms had not changed since First High, but Tatsuya did not care, and he responded with an air of ease.

-Yes. Today the first daughter of the Mitsuya family was taken from First High, and there is a possibility that she was abducted. That's what it was about.

"Kkidnapped?" - Marie was surprised, slightly rounded eyes. - The youngest daughter of the Mitsuya family, that is, Shiina?

-Watanabe-senpai is also familiar with them?

-A little familiar through Mayumi. So, this year, Shiina entered First High?

-That's right.

-Well, what about the kidnapping?

Tatsuya briefly retold everything he knew himself.

-This is a serious matter! Tatsuya-kun, and Shiba, too, what are you doing here!?

Mari seemed incredible that the president of the school board and another important member of the school board do nothing while the student may be involved in something criminal.

-In what sense ...? But Tatsuya only smiled crookedly. He was invited here. Although Mari was only one of the participants, but she treated the invited party, and such accusations from her sounded ridiculous.

-Shiba. - Katsuto turned to Tatsuya.

-What is it?

-Can I address you not from the position of the families Juumonji and Yotsuba from the same Ten Master Clans, but as a sempai to the cohais of the same First School?

- I do not mind.

Immediately after Tatsuya nodded, there was a feeling that Katsuto's massiveness had increased significantly.

"Let's postpone this conversation." You should give priority to the first-year student who may have been kidnapped.

Tatsuya again woke a crooked smile. This time it was more ironic than in the previous one.

"Juumonji-senpai, I dare to call you that." In the role of representatives of the Yotsuba family, the daughter of the Saegusa family invited us to this place, indicating that the meeting will be held with the participation of the head of the Juumonji family. In this case, your words about the postponement of the conversation can be regarded no more than the remark of the Juumonji family of the Ten Master Clans.

Katsuto could not respond to Tatsuya's words.

-"Based on this, neither I nor Miyuki will object if you say that we should postpone this meeting" said Tatsuya and looked at Miyuki. Miyuki's elegant nod-bow became a dumb sign of agreement. "However, it seems to me that there is no point in postponing the meeting."

"... What do you mean?"

-It is still unknown whether the incident that happened to Mitsuya-san is a crime. Since it is known that she left First High, then, with the authority of the police, after studying the records from the street cameras, you can easily find out where she was taken away.

Hearing this, Mari wedged an irritated conversation.

"If you know so much, then why did not you do anything?"

"It could have happened because of her own will." Tatsuya replied in an indifferent voice. - Yes, Mitsuya-san definitely was taken away. But if she left by her consent, the attempt to save her would be an illegal invasion of her personal space.

-This remark is not in the style of Tatsuya-kun, who without further ado, invaded Blanche's base. - Mari objected with obvious sarcasm.

However, not only Tatsuya, but Miyuki also did not show an emotional struggle. Because it was obvious to them that Mari's sarcasm was not a logical deduction, but a desperate search for a reason.

"At that time, I did not have to check whether I was free or busy. - Tatsuya said in refutation of Mari's words. After that, he looked from the clenched teeth of Mari back to Katsuto. - As students of First High, we cannot do anything publicly. But if you insist that the meeting should be postponed, then we will not protest.

Katsuto folded his arms and thought. At that moment the front door opened sharply and noisily.

"Shiba-senpai, you're mistaken!"

-Kasumi-chan, well, stop!

-Kasumi-chan ... Oh, Miyuki-senpai, Shiba-senpai, I'm sincerely very sorry for that!

Raging Kasumi, Mayumi in a step behind her, and pale and apologetic Izumi.

It was the invasion of the three sisters of Saegusa.

"Kasumi-chan, in any case, let's go home?" Well?

Mayumi tried to calm her younger sister by talking to her like a little girl, but Kasumi's gaze was clearly fixed on Tatsuya.

-We cannot ignore it silently! Is it really possible to just sacrifice Shiina?! "Yes, you can," - such an answer did not follow.

"So you heard this conversation?" - Instead, Tatsuya answered the question with a question.

"I heard it." Overheard! This is bad!? - With a reddened face, Kasumi, in a fit of despair, responded with a defiant tone.

"Eavesdropping is bad." - Tatsuya with the usual tone said the obvious.

- ...!

"But, as you already heard, it will save me time." Shiina is a minor. Even if she wants this, the police can protect her only with the consent of her guardians.

"And so what?"

- Kasumi-chan. Shiba-senpai says that you turned to the wrong address. - Izumi said, pulling Kasumi by the sleeve.

- To the address?

"Shiba-senpai means we should talk to Shiina-chan's family, not with him.

- To talk about what!?

Izumi grabbed Kasumi's right arm.

-Let's go. We have already received valuable advice from Shiba-senpai, we should not stop him further.

-Right. - Said Mayumi and took Kasumi's left hand.

-Izumi? Onee-chan? Hey ... What are you doing !?

"Tatsuya-kun, Miyuki-san, I understand that it's rude to say this after I invited you here, but do you mind being finished for today?" I will take care of compensation for this.

- Yes, it's good.

The existing atmosphere no longer had serious conversations. Tatsuya readily accepted Mayumi's apologies.

-Kasumi-chan, let's go.

-Okay, we're going.

That said Mayumi and Izumi, dragged the silent Kasumi to the exit. Tatsuya and Katsuto exchanged glances and at the same time sighed.

"Juumonji-senpai, in that case, please forgive me."

After these words, Miyuki, who was silent for most of the time bowed with a serious face, on which there was no shadow of a smile.

-You two, I'm sorry that it happened. "Katsuto could only say that." Mari said nothing.

Thus, a private conversation between the families of Yotsuba, Juumonji and Saegusa ended without any specific conversations.

◊ ◊ ◊

It was almost 18 hours. It was not long before sunset. Erika and Leo left school and now were in the Chiba Dojo.

- Erika, I'm sorry for making you wait.

While she was questioning the students, Mikihiko came up.

"Did you send Mizuki home?"

"I led her home." - Responding to Erika, Mikihiko seems to have been a bit embarrassed.

- It's clear.

However, Erika ignored Mikihiko's sincere reaction.

"Erika, what have you got?" Did you find any clues?

-At the moment, records from street surveillance cameras are being studied.

-Clear. If it is known that the car started from First High, then it can be tracked through the street cameras, even if they used the railroad crossing.

And why did I not think about such an obvious thing before?

Mikihiko reproached himself for not paying attention. But Erika turned away with an uninterested face. So Leo had to answer.

-A proposal to check records from street cameras came from a message from Izumi.

"From Izumi-san?" Yes, then there is nothing to be surprised.

Mikihiko mentally compared the parameters of Kasumi and Izumi.

"I do not know what you thought, but Izumi seems to have received this advice from Tatsuya."

- Haha ...

Now Mikihiko realized what Erika's behavior was about. Although the fact that this advice was given by Tatsuya, in this case was only Leo's assumption, no one in this place even doubted this.

- Sorry, please allow me to pass.

At that moment, Saburou came up to them.

- Saburou, what is there with the Mitsuya family?

From the question of Erika, Saburou's face darkened. In this expression of the person was hidden not only disappointment, but also anger.

-... It seems that both the head-sama and Motoharu-sama still do not consider it necessary to make a big noise.

-Motoharu ... this?

-The elder brother of Mitsuya-san.

Leo and Mikihiko exchanged phrases in a whisper. Saburou did not seem to have heard them.

-Strange and somehow ... suspicious! Saburou was confused by his guess.

"For the gentlemen of Shiina's family, it seems like not paying attention to her - is common! Allegedly, she does not have a strict injunction to go straight home! It's because she was assigned a real guard instead of me! They do not know where she is, and they tell me "do not fuss," I do not understand this!

- Listen, maybe her guards secretly follow her?

To Leo's question, Saburou sharply waved his head.

"I asked the Yaguruma family." Shiina is still outside their field of vision.

Erika's face showed that she was thinking about something, but she did not comment on it aloud.

"So, Saburou, what are you going to do now?"

"Let me wait here." I came for this.

- I see. Then it's good.

More and more people were going to the dojo. Soon the training of the evening section for working adults was to begin. Erika's father also had to participate as an instructor.

- You three, follow me.

Without waiting for an answer, Erika left the dojo.

She led them to a small separate building, which was considered Erika's room.

- This way.

The door that Erika opened opened was less than 170 centimeters high, and the three guys had to duck to enter. It was a room on 4.5 tatami in traditional Japanese style, in the center of which there was a stove in the floor, and in the wall there was a niche with scrolls of calligraphy.

-Heh, this is the tea room

-It's funny, right? They pretend to be a kenjutsu. Although the traditional kenjutsu and our kenjutsu are completely different things.

Erika replied with contempt to the surprise of Leo. And this contempt was not for himself, but for other people. Mikihiko darkened when he saw that her enmity with the family had no sign of relief.

- And I thought that the entrance to the tea room should be even smaller.

It's unclear whether Leo did not notice this, or pretended not to notice, but he completely ignored Erika's insulting remarks.

- A small door? If you want such limitations, try, come in from there.

Erika casually pointed to a small sliding door 70 cm high, then retired to the inner sliding wall-door, are located opposite the door through which they entered.

- Why stand, take a seat.

Erika returned, holding a tray with a teapot and a few cups. Erika slowly sank to her knees and placed cups for 4 people on tatami mats. Three guys sat opposite each of the cups, placed on saucers.

Under the expectation of what she will say, with the looks of the guys, Erika sipped her tea and raised her head.

- What? Or do you want me to hold you a tea ceremony?

The three guys waved their heads sharply. Erika, narrowing her eyes slightly, looked at them with her eyes.

-I do not want to be engaged in such tiresome things.

-Ahaha ... and the truth.

There was a sincere apology on Mikihiko's face, but Erika ignored him. After that they sat for a while in silence.

Sometime later, Erika suddenly jumped up and ran away with the words "wait a bit", then returned with an armful of pies-manju. After that, all four again spent some time sitting almost motionless. "Almost motionless" meant that there were movements of hands holding pies to the mouth.

The further development of events began closer to 8 pm.

-Erika-Odzosan. - On the other side of the miniature door the young man's voice was heard. Erika quickly got up, walked over and sat on her knees next to the mini-door and opened it. A small sheet of electronic paper was pulled out from there.

Erika took it and went back to the center of the room.

"... What's there?" - Mikihiko quietly asked, after waiting for Erika to finish reading.

- It was confirmed the place where Shiina was delivered by car.

Hearing this, Saburou leaned forward and laid his hands on the tatami. Nobody called him to calm down. Erika, Leo, and Mikihiko fully understood that Saburou was looking forward to the news.

-It seems that there were no stops and on the way, the car came to Karuizawa.

-It's surprisingly far...

In Leo's words, the meaning was "it means it would be good if we understood this earlier."

- It's better to spend time to get ready for everything possible.

This phrase was invested with the sense that it would be difficult to make it possible to use data from surveillance cameras. Hearing Erika's indirect answer, Leo shrugged slightly.

Erika turned the sheet of electronic paper so that everyone saw it.

-It looks like a western style haunted house.

-Miki. When you say this, it does not sound like a joke.

Saying this, Erika did not seem to mind the part about "ghosts."

-... Can I get a road map? Saburou looked at the report and looked up and asked Erika.

-Good. Just do not think to go there today.

-Why !? Saburou shouted fiercely at Erika. For Saburou, who wanted to save Shiina as quickly as possible, these words of Erika were completely unacceptable.

-For two reasons. First, we are not yet ready for this.

-I'm already ready!

"Do you want to go alone?" Stop it. You'd just dig your own grave.

Do not "fail," but "dig your own grave." Hearing this, Saburou finally realized that there might be a trap.

-And yet, after we finally found it ...!

-We cannot say that we found it. We only know that the car brought Shiina to this mansion. We watch the building, and find out if it starts moving on.

-......

Seeing that Saburou, at last, was silent, Erika voiced a second reason.

-Secondly, the necessary agreements with the police have not yet been completed. If you yourself do not care that you're jailed, then I do not want to see dumbhead here who neglects the necessary preparations.

Having understood the hint of the possibility of being sent to prison for magicians who broke the law, Saburou did not say anything else. Saburou himself would not have regretted losing his life for Shiina. But he could not force his sempai from school to do it. And alone he most likely cannot do anything.

"Saburou, go back to your house and discuss this with your family." It would be good to enlist the cooperation of people working for the Mitsuya family. And even in the worst case, do not start acting alone.

- ... I understand.

Indeed, now it was just this. His actions in the end could bring problems not only to his family, but to the Mitsuya family. Saburou reminded himself again that he was not in a position where one can freely do anything.

◊ ◊ ◊

At the same time, Shiina relaxed carelessly, lying in the tub.

- Ah ... Saburou-kun, probably, is worried ...

Feeling guilty for leaving school, without warning the senpais from the school board and not saying anything to Saburou, always worried Shiina, like a fish bone caught in the throat. Thus, even though the tension was removed by relaxation from the bath, it again and again came to the surface of consciousness.

And with this she could not do anything. Because in the school waiting room Tsukasa asked her to keep it a secret that the self-defense forces are engaged in such things.

Since these "military exercises" were regarded as military secrets, it is natural that communication was forbidden of it. But she had no idea why they took a high school student for these trainings. But she did not even think about going against the instructions of Tsukasa.

Moreover, she could not say that an adult 10 years older than her, whom she admires, can do something bad to her.

Justifying herself with this, Shiina, in order not to suffer even more, focused her attention on bathing.

Unfortunately, in this western house, in which she was under a kind of "house arrest", there was not a big bathroom like on a hot spring. Instead, there was an antique bath with curved legs.

Calculated for large Europeans, it was considerably more spacious than standard Japanese baths. Little Shiina could easily pull her legs in. Thus, she had to worry about not going completely under the water, if you relax your legs.

A faint smell, mixed with steam, said that aromatic oils were added to the hot water. It was an aroma that calmed down, slowly penetrating into the depths of the mind. At first, she was tormented by doubts whether it was some sort of narcotic substance, but very quickly she did not care.

Needless to say, that while bathing, Shiina took off her headphones, playing the role of ear plugs. Even the sound of water from the shower that was washing her hair was heard for her like the sound of pouring rain, so she had no other choice. Knowing that the magical abilities at this time will be weakened, but while she was washing her hair and body, she used sound- blocking magic.

However, while she was just lying in the water, trying not to make too much noise, she could directly encounter the outside world of pure sounds without her "ear plugs". At this time, not only was her acute hearing manifested, but also, according to her subjective opinion, magical perception also became much sharper.

All the waves in this Western-style mansion were caught by the "hearing" of Shiina, who was just sitting with her head on her arm, lying on the edge of the bathtub.

Before the door to the bathroom stood guard, a female soldier. The weak psion waves emanating from it sounded like the noise that a CAD produces in the standby mode. In other words, this female soldier was a war magician.

And not only her. Those who moved through the building, both men and women, all kept their CAD in standby mode while being ready for battle.

Conversely, among the five people patrolling the building from the outside, there was only one magician. And the psion waves emitted by him, unlike the soldiers inside, were suppressed. Perhaps this was done so that that from the outside it was not clear that there are magicians inside this western-style mansion.

... Such information Shiina was able to draw only from waves scattered in space.

And that was not all she noticed. Waves emitted by magicians inside the building carried a clear aggressiveness. It was felt that they were waiting for the enemy. The purpose of their counterattack was not just resistance to the enemy, but his destruction or capture.

This fully corresponded to the explanation of Tsukasa about this "work-in- progress".

Tsukasa asked Shiina to play the role of an important person in training to save the VIP. In other words, this meant that some main force playing the role of saviors would "come to the rescue" of Shiina.

That is, now the kidnapped party is in a state of waiting for the attack of the rescue squad. The treatment of Shiina seemed unsuitable to the concept of a hostage, but here, undoubtedly, the meaning of the words "important person" was reflected.

Reflecting on this, Shiina realized something important.

Playing the role of a hostage, she did not know when the rescue team would arrive. Maybe right now. She was afraid that if this happened, she could be taken out in this form, only wrapped in a towel.

She could no longer relax, sitting in the warm water. Trying not to make too much noise, Shiina got out of the bath.

◊ ◊ ◊

At the same time, when Tatsuya and the girls returned home, as if knowing that they had come, the sound of a videophone sounded. The name of the caller - the head of the house of Yotsuba, Maya - was displayed on the screen.

Fortunately, they had not yet changed into homewear. Tatsuya exchanged glances with Miyuki and pressed the call acceptance button.

- Good evening Tatsuya-san, Miyuki-san. Ara, did you go somewhere?

Maya spoke in a friendly manner from the screen. Today she also looked friendly.

-Yes, we were invited by Saegusa Mayumi-jo. "There was no particular need to hide this, so Tatsuya answered honestly.

-Ara, then an invitation from the Saegusa family?

"Not really." Since the head of the Juumonji family was present, they probably wanted to talk about what happened at the recent meeting.

- Hu-huh-hu, this is very similar to this young lady.

Tatsuya agreed that it was in the style of a good-natured Mayumi.

-However, there were some difficulties, and we were forced to cancel the conversation immediately after entering the prepared room.

-... I think it was rather impolite, what happened?

Tatsuya told Maya the whole story, from the moment of the disappearance of Shiina.

-The youngest daughter of the Mitsuya family ... This is a very entertaining story, but now we do not have time for it.

In other words, it meant that there was some urgent matter. And there's nothing to be surprised about, because when Maya calls them directly something almost always happens. Tatsuya stood still and waited for her next words.

-It turned out that yesterday, when Tatsuya-san and Miyuki-san were attacked, it was the work of the agents of the USNA army penetrated into the country, which the intelligence department of the national self-defense forces brainwashed.

"So this is the work of the intelligence department?"

For Tatsuya, who received a warning from Yakumo, this story was only a confirmation, but he could not help but admire the ability of the family to collect information that gathered evidence in just one day.

- Many USNA Army agents are still under arrest.

Tatsuya was interested in what these agents came for. He believed that, with a high probability, their goal was the magician using "Material Burst", that is himself, but he would not even have thought to try to convince himself of this by interrupting Maya.

- So, I would like Tatsuya-san to release them.

"The agents of the American army?" Tatsuya asked, slightly surprised.

The intelligence department attacking Miyuki is not forgiven. Sooner or later she was going to let them understand this.

But their work was to detain foreign agents who commit illegal activities. It would be bad to interfere with this for the sake of revenge.

- Among these agents there are Star members.

This Tatsuya also assumed. True, he believed that the Stars were almost all of them, and not a few "among them," as was said.

-Instead of helping them only, it's better to let everyone escape, is not it?

-Got it.

This meant that there was some connection between Maya and the Stars. And on this route came a request for salvation.

Now the interests of the Yotsuba family and Tatsuya's interests in revenge for the attack on Miyuki have united. And since this will benefit Miyuki, the effort will not be wasted.

Tatsuya accepted Maya's order, including also his "differences" from the events of the previous evening.

◊ ◊ ◊

Early the next morning. Leo, Mikihiko and Saburou arrived in the Chiba family dojo.

-Saburou. Have you talked to anyone in your family? - Dressed, Erika went to them and turned to Saburou.

-Yes. I was told that I can do whatever I want.

-... That's good.

It was like saying that it was useless, but Erika did not care. It was important that Saburou learned to be reasonable for his own interests.

-I understand that Leo wanted to participate in the fun, but could not even think that Miki would come too.

-My name is Mikihiko. - It seems that he could not just not say this phrase. After his daily complaint to Erika, Mikihiko added a serious voice. "How can I remain indifferent when I'm so drawn into this?"

-Ahaha ... What a good-hearted person.

"... Call it what you want." It's better than being tough.

-Well, maybe. Well, are we going? - Having said this, Erika climbed onto the passenger seat of the police car parked on the road opposite the dojo. Three guys squeezed into the back seat, and the police car started off.

"By the way ... is this normal?" - Leo turned to the policeman in uniform, sitting at the wheel.

"Was it not because of the irrational behavior of Erika-Odzosan that we had to start so soon?" - Answered the policeman, without changing his face. Leo thought it was not the result of Erika's adoration, but because of the inability to smile. He mentally swore that he would never become like this in his life.

The police car reached the Karuizawa station on a road train (it was more economical and faster than even driving at full speed). There they met with the local police. Needless to say, these policemen were also under the auspices of the Chiba family.

Leo thought that in fact the Chiba family was more terrible than the Yotsuba family, but he was not so reckless as to voice it.

Saburou, who has a direct relationship to all that is happening, did not have time to think about such things.

The old building he saw yesterday in a police report. Saburou attached his gaze to this western-style mansion. Or maybe even tried to look inside with the help of some magic.

Erika was busy instructing the assembled policemen.

Therefore it is natural that the most relaxed of Erika's group, Mikihiko was the first to notice the approach of these girls.

- Yes this is Kasumi-san and Izumi-san.

Two identical faces turned to the side, from which the unintentional voice of Mikihiko sounded. Haircuts and behavior were completely different, but facial features were exactly the same.

- Yoshida-senpai.

"And also Chiba-sempai and Saijou-senpai?" And Saburou-kun also came?

Saegusa sisters ran up to Mikihiko and the other guys who stood at a distance from the rest of the adults participating in the meeting.

-Are you also here for Mitsuya-san?

-Yes.

In their exchange of questions and answers, many unnecessary words were missed, but among them there were those who did not understand what the conversation was about.

-It would be foolish if we finally interfere with each other, maybe it will be better to unite? - Said Erika, appearing from behind Mikihiko.

-Really. Agreed Izumi. From Kasumi, too, there was no objection. Neither Izumi nor Kasumi doubted that Erika would be honest with them. Those who felt this discomfort, were Leo and Mikihiko.

Such reasonable care was not at all in the style of Erika, which they knew. In such cases, last year's Erika, defiantly discarding tactics, preferred simply to go ahead.

Now everything was completely different.

Both Leo and Mikihiko, both thought that this was, in some way, similar to Tatsuya's way of thinking.

Nevertheless, it was senseless to interfere with this. Here, as Erika said, there was a scene in which everyone, in order to avoid friendly fire, should act in an organized manner.

Keeping this light puzzlement in mind, the two joined in to discuss tactics.

◊ ◊ ◊

When she opened her eyes, it was already light outside. At the same moment, when her consciousness finally awakened, she was overtaken by a stream of unbearable noise. Shiina hurriedly put on her headphones.

The abnormal, amplified hearing of Shiina works only when her consciousness is awake. When drowsiness exceeds a certain threshold, sounds become normal. This was the basis of the hypothesis that her excessively sensitive hearing is a magical effect.

Evaluating her position, Shiina came to the conclusion that, in the end, she was never "saved" overnight. Tsukasa told her that this "work" would take only half a day, but it looks like the schedule was extended.

Shiina was hungry. But not so much that the stomach is already rumbling. Remembering that she could be taken away at any time, she decided to change her school uniform first.

In this room, or rather in the private space of Shiina, on the second floor, similar to the room in a luxury hotel, there were separate bathroom, toilet and a wardrobe.

Wearing only a dress from the school uniform, she in the dressing room was engaged in what became for her already an everyday morning habit - she did the brushing of her unruly hair. Since there were the same cosmetic accessories that she used to use (although she wondered how they knew this), she quickly did her make-up, having magically checked beforehand whether any harmful substances were mixed.

Just at that moment, there was a commotion. From the corridor, there were claps and sounds of the running of people running around.

Wanting to find out what is happening there, Shiina pulled at the doorknob. The ancient pen did not fall.

"Closed !? ... well, yes, that's as it should be."

Her reflex surprise lasted only for a moment. Shiina calmed down, remembering that she played the role of a "kidnapped important person." She mentally told herself that everything was all right.

Her CAD was not taken from her. She can use magic at any time. If necessary, she can escape, knocking out a window or making a hole in the floor.

Her thoughts on such things were evidence that the situation in which she fell into began to seem very suspicious. However, she suppressed suspicion of Tsukasa and decided to continue to consider herself as a "captive princess" for a little while longer.

"I want to eat ..."

With similar thoughts, she distracted herself from the growing tension.

◊ ◊ ◊

- The image from the surveillance cameras is restored!

"Is this a special magical assault force?" Why are the police attacking us?

The commander of the operation, the lieutenant (this time Tsukasa did not bear the official responsibility for the task), shouted with a misunderstanding on her face.

A Special Magical Assault Team, abbreviated SMAT . It was an organization that brought together the military magicians of the police, created as a result of a rethinking of the fact that the police could not adequately react to the incident in Yokohama the year before last. The decision to create it was taken immediately after the incident, but after the signing of the peace treaty with the Great Asian Alliance, protests rushed in from all sides, and as a result, the formation was completed only a month ago, under the influence of the incident in Hakone.

Being under the sights of major media, accused by the new non-profit press in "too long in creation", this squad was finally formed. However, despite the attacks from these short-sighted reporters, the morale of the detachment's members was high. And their main feature was that almost all of them were graduates of the Chiba dojo.

The lieutenant appointed by the commander of this operation belonged not to the division in which Tsukasa was.

He was not informed about the secret details hidden behind this operation. And the details lying on the mind, he did not really understand. The mere fact that this building now has SMAT storming it forced him to now build various assumptions ...

"... So, that fighter from the Chiba family intervened?"

With the thought of "how troublesome ..." Tsukasa sighed. With the use of Shiina as a bait, not only was the appearance of those two (Tatsuya and Miyuki) from the Yotsuba family expected, the calculation also provided for the intervention of the Saegusa family.

Tsukasa knew that the "Saegusa twins" loved Shiina and took care of her. That's why she facilitated the departure of the head of the family, Saegusa Koichi, to Kyoto, to an "important conversation" with "important people."

As planned, several magicians of the Saegusa family still appeared. This meant that the Saegusa family itself did not interfere in the drafting of the strategy. If only it was not the intervention of the police ... that is, the Chiba family.

Despite the fact that the intervention of the Chiba family is a very significant factor, it was not such a serious miscalculation, which would have a fatal threat for this operation.

But there was another miscalculation, made with the original meaning of this operation.

"Shiba Tatsuya did not appear ... Did not peck at the bait?"

The main miscalculation was that the main goal did not appear.

"I thought he would be more selfish, but it's more like the middle class than expected."

From the school, in which the next head of the Yotsuba family is the president of the school board, the first-grader was kidnapped. Tsukasa assumed that it would be a matter of honor for Tatsuya to come to return her.

Based on observations of the day before yesterday's attack on the etiquette school, Tsukasa came to the conclusion that Tatsuya has absolute certainty in his power. If he is this type of person, then for him the honor should be above all. Tsukasa's theory was that the ability to sacrifice his honor, he considers a defect equal to defeat and inherent only to children or the elderly.

However, the guy named Shiba Tatsuya, apparently, had a character that was not obsessed with these boring notions of honor. Tsukasa acknowledged her miscalculation. She planned to observe how carefully Tatsuya would handle state forces in the rescue of Shiina. If he did not take into account the lives of the military, she was planning to destroy him as a dangerous man for the country.

But, unfortunately, she did not manage to observe whether he would act hostilely or not, knowing that the enemy is the self-defense force.

"It's a pity that things usually do not go as they planned ..." Tsukasa muttered in disappointment. Then she went to the commander of the lieutenant.

- Commander-dono.

"What is it, Sergeant Tooyama?"

"Let me, as your subordinate, go to watch our prisoner of war."

The term "prisoner of war" had a clear definition of military law.

For the military, the use of the word "prisoner of war" in any conditional sense "captive" was not a rare occurrence.

In antiquity, even captured horses of the enemy army were recorded as "prisoner of war".

It is unlikely that the lieutenant could have thought of anything other than the fact that the "prisoner of war" mentioned by Tsukasa is the girl who is held in this building, that is, Shiina.

-I'll authorize it.

-Many thanks.

Tsukasa wanted to go first to Shiina's room. But she did not plan to stay there. With the permission of the commander, she planned to go to the place where the "prisoners of war" were kept by the agents of the American army. Although in fact they were not considered "prisoners of war" yet. And the rule that illegal agents cannot be considered "prisoners of war" until they themselves recognize them, she decided not to notice.

◊ ◊ ◊

-Three minutes before the assault.

-I got it. I leave the command on you. "It's an honor for me."

Rather the commander of SMAT squad smiled. When he still went to the Chiba dojo, he was the chief of the "Erika's Guard". Recalling the past on this smile, Erika turned away in confusion.

There, among the waiting assaults, she noticed that Kasumi and Izumi, surrounded by a group of guardian magicians from the Saegusa family, are straining to look at that mansion.

Erika felt that they could not move if they were so nervous, but quickly changed her mind, deciding that this was normal.

She had heard it before. These two have their first real battle. Although there was a case of confrontation with helpless activists, but they did not have the opportunity to meet an enemy with equal firepower.

Even if they do not study anywhere, but at a magic high school, still high school students usually do not take part in real battles. Only after entering the Military Academy, climbing into the zone of military operations under a hail of bullets - it is very strange for people like them.

Erika remembered that she herself was involved in the riots immediately after receipt. Then she jokingly said: "I thought high school would be a more boring place." Now she believed that this was not a joke. This time, she did not say it out loud, but thought about it.

The Blanche terrorists attack on First High, a sudden attack of the army by the Great Asian Alliance, Parasites and Stars, ancient magic magicians who became pawns in the hands of foreigners. All these incidents were not caused by her, but she was involved in all of them.

And the same thing could be said about Tatsuya. So thought Erika.

When a major incident occurs, Tatsuya participates in it.

Tatsuya participates, she also participates. Together with Tatsuya always comes trouble. And in the end, the family ...

-Erika-san, what happened?

-Nothing.

A member of the SMAT detachment asked Erika in a worried voice, to which she shook her head. It was another, besides the commander, a member of the "Erika's Guard."

-By the way, it's almost time, right?

-Yes, another 20 ... 15 seconds.

You will not lose to evil fate. You will become stronger. But this is useless when only you are strong. Even if you are an angel of death.

Last summer, one person was involved in similar circumstances. This man is strong. Therefore, being retracted, he remained calm.

When you become strong, you start to be less afraid of fate. You become capable of outsmarting the angel of death without causing a tragic outcome.

Although Tatsuya attracts misfortunes, he also makes the people involved more powerful. So much so that they with a smile cut their way through these troubles.

"Therefore, Saburou ... become stronger, so that even if your childhood friend is in trouble, you could cut your way with a smile."

Erika mentally turned to the guy who looked like he was trying to restrain himself so as not to break forward, risking his life.

A girl named Mitsuya Shiina seemed to Erika born under a star of adventure. Even if not as much as Tatsuya, but still she was like him.

So that Shiina will not lose the troubles that can be called upon, Saburou should be made stronger.

For Erika, training Saburou was a precedent. Everything was for the sake of retribution.

... The name of the rival who Erika wanted to surprise was "Fate".

◊ ◊ ◊

Shiina turned to hear the sound of the door unlocking. It was not her imagination.

- Tsukasa-san.

"Shiina-chan, I'm sorry to have detained you longer than expected."

-No, this room was quite cozy.

-Yes? That's good. Tsukasa smiled at Shiina. There was no sense of guilt in that smile. "Now that we've reached the final stage of the exercise, you need to stay a little longer in this room." There was a small mistake and the schedule was extended, but soon rescuers will arrive in this room, and this will all end.

-So, I will no longer be moved anywhere?

-Yes.

Relief appeared on Shiina's face. She did not doubt Tsukasa's words that she received permission from her parents, she just thought that they would worry if she stayed longer.

-I need to return to my post, so we say goodbye.

-Ah, good. Thank you for everything.

"This is for you, Shiina, thank you in advance for your work."

Shiina did not doubt Tsukasa until the very end.

◊ ◊ ◊

The battle began between the self-defense forces and the police, between the intelligence department and SMAT.

Despite the fact that it was called a battle, the number of participants from both sides was small.

Police, conducting a siege, stormed a small number of elite fighters. And the self-defense forces initially allocated a few soldiers to this case.

However, the level of preparation for a real battle was higher precisely at the self-defense forces. Both sides attacked the enemy with non-lethal weapons, and in these conditions, the losses of SMAT were higher.

-Summoning a sacred wind!

-Panzer!

The efforts of Leo and Mikihiko were notable among the others. Mikihiko was ruled by the windmills as if he called transparent windmill demonized the barricades with a sledge hammer, while Leo, in the event of a breakthrough of defenses, defended positions, enveloping himself with armor from Fortification magic.

- Shiina! Where are you !?

Saburou shouted, forgetting about fear and his own safety. Thus, he broke away from Leo and caught a magical attack from one of the military magicians who met them.

A soldier dressed in urban area camouflage and bulletproof vest, performing a maneuver under self-acceleration magic, along with this movement magic fired a small metal ball.

Having received in a stomach a steel ball the size of a ball for table tennis, Saburou stopped.

The military magician pulled out a stun baton. Unlike the batons available on sale, this was a combat model, with the power of a real crushing weapon.

Approaching Saburou's head, the club attack was halted by Erika's short sword, which had come from somewhere. The next move she hit the soldier in the face with the side of the blade.

It was not a strong blow with a swing, but rather a blow with a whip. From the blow, the soldier did not fall with broken teeth, and he fell not in his side, but straight down.

"Saburou, you're too impatient!" From this, you become sloppy!

- Got it! Sorry!

It seems that the intelligence department decided that a turning point had come here. They concentrated the main forces at the stairs leading to the second floor.

The level of magical abilities of the main forces was quite high. Their magical power surpassed SMAT, in which magicians with better fighting power were gathered from among the police.

-Mikihiko, you do not feel that there is something wrong with these guys !? "Perhaps they temporarily raised their magical powers with drugs!"

It was the feeling of Leo fighting with his fists, and Mikihiko's shooting magic.

- Uh, almost knocked!

Erika repulsed a short missile with a flying projectile. The enemy was only a few meters away, and the police began to experience difficulties in invoking magic because of these "bullets" arriving from close range.

The initial speed of these projectiles was about 200 km / h. But the radius of danger was small, because the projectiles from light alloy quickly slow down. And for the same reason they did not possess a penetrating ability. Catching such a shot at close range, you can get a fracture-level injury, but at a distance of more than 2 meters it will be just bruises and light burns.

The problem was precisely in the "burns". At the moment of contact, the projectile shell emitted a high-voltage electric discharge, which hit even through clothing.

In other words, it was a kind of wireless taser gun. Both the side of the self- defense forces, and the police, were cautious against the same representatives of the Japanese authorities as they are. Nobody dared to use attacks that could kill the enemy.

In such a battle, from the point of view of ease of use, a weapon with which one cannot worry about killing an opponent will show its superiority. Especially from the point of view that when both opposing camps are approximately equal in magical power, then there is a possibility that the outcome of the battle will be determined at the moment when someone can overcome their indecision.

And this balance was broken by two fragile girls protected by a group of reliable comrades.

-Izumi, our way out!

-Yes, Kasumi-chan!

Hearing these voices, Erika, Leo and Mikihiko jumped aside.

-Three!

-Two!

-One!

-Start!

Countdown was voiced by two alternating voices. The last joint cry was a signal to activate magic.

In the narrow space of the corridor, a violent wind raged. It was assumed that the descending wind would simply surround both enemies and allies, but in fact it turned out that squeezed together in a narrow space, the military and police were densely attacked by the wind from behind and from the side. Only those who managed to instantly lift magical airtight barriers could stand on their feet under the impact of a frantic wind.

"Nitrogen Storm".

Hypoxia, caused by exposure to air with a markedly increased concentration of nitrogen, neutralized part of the fighting magicians.

-Next step! Kasumi shouted. The compound magic of "The Saegusa twins" was a process in which to cast one magic, roles are assigned to construct a sequence of magic and control the interference force in an event. Although their abilities in magic were absolutely equal, most often for the construction of a sequence of magic, Izumi answered, and for controlling the interference force of the event - Kasumi. And also now Kasumi had the right to decide what type of magic will be used further.

The choice of Kasumi fell on the magic of "Dry Storm". This magic collected carbon dioxide from the air displaced by the Nitrogen storm to the center of the room, created a hail of dry ice and sent it to the enemy. Airtight shields designed to protect against gases, could not protect from solid dry ice.

Thus, at the current moment, all the soldiers of the self-defense forces from among the defenders of this point, were defeated.

-Kasumi-chan!

-I know!

The magic that Izumi asked for, and which was finally called, was called

"Oxygen chamber." Translated from English, this "chamber" meant "a closed room, a capsule with oxygen." It was magic for the treatment of hypoxia by creating a zone with increased oxygen concentration.

"Yoshida-senpai, Saijou-senpai, please take care of binding the enemy!"

Policemen who fell under the "Nitrogen Storm", began to recover and rise.

And Leo, Mikihiko and the police, who did not fall into the danger zone, began to link the unconscious soldiers of the self-defense forces, who did not get the curative benefit of the Oxygen Chamber.

"What ... happened?"

Saburou, recovering from the half-fainting state, staggering, hobbled to Erika.

-Uwaa, these two insolence do not hold ~

-What?

-Nothing. - Involuntarily expressing their thoughts about the twins, Erika replied to the interrogated Saburou. "Okay, let's go for Shiina."

Leaving the cleanup of the consequences of the police battle, Erika and Saburou went to the second floor.

Near the entrance to the room in which it seems Shiina was held, stood a female soldier. Erika pointed her sword at her. A moment before she activated the magic of self-acceleration, a female soldier threw a weapon with built-in CAD on the floor and raised her hands.

- ... Are you giving up, or what?

Erika did not think that she would be answered.

- Yes, I give up. "But this woman soldier easily confirmed Erika's words. - With my surrender, these exercises end with the victory of the rescue party.

- What? Exercises?

Neither Erika nor Saburou could immediately understand the meaning of these words. The female soldier opened the lock and flung open the door.

Still not understanding what was happening, before the mind itself realized the situation, Saburou's body entered the room in search of Shiina.

Entering inside, Saburou looked around the room. He heard Shiina's voice before he could notice her.

-Saburou-kun!?

-Shiina!

Saburou walked briskly forward, but then suddenly stopped. His body thoughtlessly tried to hug Shiina. But by force of will he was able to restrain himself. Immediately stop at it did not work, and by inertia he jumped closer.

-Saburou-kun, what are you doing here? - Shiina asked, looking at Saburou with her eyes wide open, not hiding surprise.

-I came to the rescue! Shiina, are you unhurt? Did they do anything wrong with you?

-For help? What for? - In her question it was heard that she was sincerely surprised. But for Saburou, this reaction of Shiina seemed even more incredible.

-Really ... brainwashing ...?

"Uh, I really do not understand what you're talking about, Saburou-kun." I just helped in the self-defense forces exercises?

Saburou vacantly opened his mouth.

- Exercises ...?

Muttering aloud what he heard, he continued to stand with his mouth open.

Erika turned to the woman soldier, who raised her hands again after opening the door.

- Can you explain what's going on here?

Erika sent her not only her sword, but also a sharp look.

"This is an interrogation of a prisoner of war?" - Said the female soldier in a calm voice.

- That's right!

"In that case, lower your sword, please." Intimidation of prisoners of war through hints of physical harm is prohibited by military laws.

-Oh you! - involuntarily broke out from Erika, but looking into the eyes of a female soldier, she clucked her tongue and lowered her sword.

-So it will go down?

"Then can I drop my hands?"

"... It's good."

A female soldier dropped her arms and took a pose at the bar "freely."

-The theme of these exercises was the rescue of an important person. We were divided into a rescuing and defending side. Initially, in order to win, the rescuing party needed to rescue the person playing the important person of the civil from this mansion and deliver it to a certain place before 18:00 of today. However, due to some problems with the rescue party, the conditions were changed so that the victory will be achieved at the moment the rescue party reaches that room.

Erika's left-handed sword was on her head.

-What does it mean? Do you want to say that Shiina is the "important person"?

-Correct. Mitsuya-sama has been cooperating with us since yesterday. "... But we are not part of the self-defense forces."

-We already guessed. But, since there was no notice of the interruption of the exercises, we continued them with you as a rescue party.

-~~~~!

Without hiding irritation, Erika ruffled her hair.

"... You can go." I'm not an enemy of self-defense forces, so I do not consider you a prisoner of war.

- Thank you, all the best.

The female soldier saluted Erika and walked briskly away down the corridor. She did not take the weapon, apparently in order to show that she really does not have hostility.

-No, well, really ... it was an unexpected turn. Erika muttered gloomily.

-Shiina ... What she said now is true? - Saburou asked Shiina still not believing in the voice.

"You mean the doctrine?" It's true. I was asked by Tsukasa-san, and I helped the military.

-Tsukasa-san?

-Tooyama Tsukasa-san. She is a sergeant from the Intelligence Department of the Self-Defense Forces. Saburou-kun, did not you meet her? She often comes to the Third Lab.

-... I'm hearing her name for the first time.

-More important than another! - With an expression on her face, as if she "realized something important," Shiina suddenly jumped closer to Saburou. "Why did you intervene in military exercises !?" You could have been seriously injured! Besides, what will you do if you are arrested, accused of obstructing official state affairs?

-We did not interfere with the implementation of state affairs. Said Erika standing next to them.

-Chiba-sempai ...

Shiina remembered that there was a third party present and blushed with shame.

- Even for the self-defense forces, it is unacceptable to arrange such disorders in the city. Since there was no official request for the exercise, the police will arrest those who are involved, so these are the guys.

-Ah ... But is not the same judgment applicable to the sempai who also participated in the riots?

-No, because we are here in cooperation with the police. By the way, Mitsuya-san, it seems that you know me?

Co-operation with the police is not the reason that you can run around the city, waving arms, but there was not a drop of guilt on Erika's indifferent face. And then she suddenly realized that, in fact, this is her first meeting with Shiina.

"Please, call me without" san. " And, if it is possible, I would be glad if you would call me Shiina. ... Chiba-sempai is well known among first-graders.

-I see. Then, Shiina. I'm not trying to protect Saburou, but I think you should not be so reckless to scold him. After all, he thought that Shiina was kidnapped.

"Err?" Shiina was petrified. After a few seconds, she woke up, turned to Saburou and asked: - It's true?

-Yes! In addition to the Chiba-sempai, Kasumi-san and Izumi-san also came. Mitsuya-senpai and Kitayama-sempai were also very worried ... It was a big mess.

-How so ... After all Tsukasa-san said that she will tell everyone who needs it.

"I'm not saying that Shiina is to blame." But in any case, it would be worthwhile to tell us about it in advance.

"Aw ..." Shiina howled in a thin voice, when she realized what she had said.

... No matter how cute it looked, Erika did not possess the habits of the "older sister" from a women's school that loves "younger sisters", so there was no strange atmosphere.

"But because we were so worried about you, you should properly apologize."

- Yes. Chiba-sempai, I'm very, very sorry.

Shiina bowed sincerely. But Erika was not angry at all.

"... No, not in front of me." And before Honoka, Shizuku, Izumi and others.

- Okay, I get it.

"... It will be quite difficult." - Erika whispered.

There was no such feeling of naturalness as Mizuki had. Shiina seemed too incomprehensible, that for Erika it was quite difficult. Luckily, Shiina did not hear Erika's whisper.

-Let's talk about something else.

-Good.

"Shiina, did you mention the intelligence department before?"

"Yes, as far as I understand, Tsukasa-san works in the counterintelligence unit of the intelligence department of the national self-defense forces."

"Is there something wrong with this?" - with such a question in her eyes Shiina looked at Erika.

- Intelligence department, hmm ... No, I do not mean anything.

Erika thought that this could be a prejudice against the intelligence department. But she could not deny the aftertaste of understatement in this dubious story.

Share