The glare was born less of anger than of embarrassment. As if to say, It's nothing to laugh about! Mayumi rattled on, seeking help from the student next to Mari—Tsugumi Igarashi, also formerly of First High, affectionately known as "Tsugumin."
"Tsugumin, Mari is treating me like a 'heavy woman'! Don't you think that's cruel!?"
"Well, you are heavy, aren't you? Mainly in the sense of family lineage."
"Guh... No, even leaving that aside!"
Even though she was facing a direct descendant of the Ten Master Clans, Tsugumi cut her down with a single remark. Mayumi choked on her words for a moment but still couldn't accept Mari's comment.
Since their lunch break wasn't infinite, Tsugumi steered the conversation forward.
"Yes, yes, we'll hear Mayumi's detailed circumstances later. Even so, Mari..."
"Right. To think they would send a marriage inquiry to the home of Yugen-kun's parents now..."
"It's not marriage, it's an engagement!"
In Tsugumi's case, she had already been announced as the fiancée of the next head of the Mutsuzuka family. In Mari's case, her relationship with Shuuaji was not just dating but had marriage in sight (acknowledged by both sets of parents). Compared to them, Mayumi was in a state of being "left on the shelf." Both Mari and Tsugumi inwardly tilted their heads at Mayumi's correction, thinking, What's the difference?
"I knew Mayumi was interested in Yugen-kun... but is that rumor from First High true as well?"
"...It wasn't a rumor. When I met them at the entrance ceremony last spring, they admitted they were lovers."
"So, back then, huh..."
The rumor Tsugumi asked about was that Yugen Kagurazaka and Miyuki Shiba, students at First High, were lovers. It was a rumor that had surfaced about a week after their enrollment, and the two in question had never shown any signs of caring about it.
Mayumi had engaged in physical contact with Yugen partly to verify if the rumor was true. Aside from Mayumi herself, Mari had witnessed the phenomenon of Miyuki's mood souring because of this most often, frequently dropping a fist on Mayumi's head to peel her off.
Then, during the entrance ceremony last April, Mayumi learned that Yugen and Miyuki were genuinely dating. To tell the truth, she had noticed a change in their atmosphere at the celebration party for the Nine Schools Competition the year before last and had questioned them. However, since Yugen didn't let slip a single clue, she had given up the pursuit, thinking she was overthinking it.
"I know because of my fiancé's connections, but Mari, do you only know about the notifications and letters between the two families?"
"Well, yes. My sister-in-law married into the Mitsuya family, but I haven't heard anything beyond that."
"Actually, regarding Yugen-kun and Miyuki-san's engagement... apparently, the Ichijou family sent an inquiry to the Yotsuba family asking if an engagement between Miyuki-san and Masaki Ichijou-kun was possible."
"Hah? No, isn't that a stretch?"
In fact, both Mari and Tsugumi remembered Masaki Ichijou asking Miyuki to be his dance partner at the party after the Nine Schools Competition two years ago. Both had immediately read the expression on Masaki's face as that of a boy in love. Mayumi knew it as well, having recently acted alongside him in Kyoto.
However, no matter that he was the heir to the Ichijou family, this act was essentially "cutting in" on the fiancée of the current head of the Kagurazaka family. It was undoubtedly a matter that could incur the wrath of the Kagurazaka clan.
"I did hear rumors about the Mitsuya and Yotsuba families getting closer for a time... but if those three are living together, it's not strange that some people would make such vile conjectures."
"Eh!? What is that? That's the first I've heard of it!!"
"Eh, you didn't know?"
Not just Mari, but even Tsugumi knew the fact that Yugen was lodging at the house where Tatsuya and Miyuki lived. Mayumi raised her voice at this news, which was completely new to her. The other two had mistakenly assumed that Mayumi, being a Saegusa, would already know, and their eyes widened at her fresh reaction.
This stemmed from the previous year's Valentine's Day, when Koichi, piggybacking on a whim of Mayumi's, had investigated Yugen's background. Having received a severe protest for acts interfering with the Mitsuya family's role, Mayumi had made it a point not to investigate anything related to Yugen. Even though she could have viewed personal data like his current address as Student Council President, she had refrained from doing so.
Regardless of the truth of whether they lived in the same house, Tatsuya, Yugen, and Miyuki (joined by Minami since their second year) commuted together almost exclusively. This led to speculation among students that they might be living in the same neighborhood.
With the announcement that Yugen and Miyuki were engaged, it was no longer strange for them to be living together. Added to this, the fact of their cohabitation (or rather, living together) spread from a student who overheard a conversation in the principal's office.
"I never thought Mayumi was such a maiden."
"...Hey, Mari. What did you think I was?"
"Shall I evaluate you as a 'scheming woman wearing a cat's mask'?"
"That's just an insult! I'm not that old badger!"
"Mon? You said mon..."
Thinking that the daughter of an old badger (tanuki) would be better described as a vixen (female fox) than a cat—resulting only in a game of deception between parent and child—Mari returned the conversation to the Ichijou family's inquiry.
"I was only watching during the Nine Schools Competition two years ago, so I'm not that detailed on it... but I thought there was interest, at least. Isn't Mayumi more knowledgeable about that area?"
"I suppose... Actually, I accompanied them during the competition last year, and it's true that Ichijou-kun was directing heated gazes at Miyuki-san. Yugen-kun stayed silent, but I think he was definitely in a bad mood."
"That goes without saying. From Yugen-kun's perspective, it was like Ichijou-kun was making eyes at his lover... So, does that mean you piggybacked on that to sound out the possibility of an engagement with Yugen-kun too?"
"P-Piggybacked? It wasn't like that! Besides, regarding Yu-kun..."
Seeing Mayumi suddenly tone down when the topic turned to Yugen, Mari and Tsugumi exchanged glances and nodded. They concluded there was no doubt: Mayumi held feelings for Yugen that went beyond mere friendship.
"Then why are you hesitating? In terms of lineage, if you trace Yugen-kun back, he's from the Ten Master Clans just like you, Mayumi. Even if his fiancée Miyuki-san is from the Yotsuba—a Ten Master Clan family—in terms of family status, you are on equal footing, aren't you?"
"...Hey, Mayumi. You mentioned before that your sister was engaged to Yugen-kun but it was annulled. Is that related?"
Hearing Tsugumi's question about Mayumi's indecisive attitude, Mari touched upon the subject Mayumi had spoken of before, causing Mayumi's expression to stiffen. Since Mari's guess had hit the mark, Mayumi began to speak as if resigned.
"It's about Izumi-chan's engagement. It was revived last spring. However, Yugen-kun told me that Father has been breaking the conditions agreed upon at that time..."
"...Is it going to be annulled again?"
"No. I really need you to keep this a secret from here on, but as soon as Izumi-chan's engagement is finalized, she will no longer be a member of the Saegusa family. My mother has already agreed to this."
Almost all details regarding Izumi's engagement pact were kept secret, but the clause that "she will cease to be a Saegusa upon engagement" was something she was asked to reveal only to those who could absolutely keep a secret. Mayumi had gone to her mother in secret, and after confirming that everything was true, she learned that the pact had been made with the Kagurazaka family without going through Koichi.
"I see. So if you, Mayumi, were to announce yourself as a candidate for Yugen-kun's fiancée here, there is a high probability that you, like your sister, would cease to be a member of the Saegusa family."
"...Mayumi, do you want to live as a member of the Saegusa family?"
"I don't know. No, I just don't know anymore..."
For Mayumi, who had behaved as a member of the Saegusa of the Ten Master Clans and taken pride in it, she could not simply discard her family name for the sake of the person she loved without hesitation, as Izumi could. Yet, it was also a fact that she disliked being at her father's beck and call and had no enthusiasm for the marriage proposals he recommended.
What was right and what was wrong? Even regarding the inquiry, Mayumi ended up thinking with the premise of being a "Saegusa." How was this any different from the arranged marriages her father had brought up until now? Mayumi was tormented by these thoughts.
"...This is serious. Mari, why don't we just tear Mayumi away from the Saegusa family?"
"W-What are you saying, Tsugumin!?"
"Because at this rate, you'll never make up your mind, right? Even if you stay at home, the name of Saegusa will follow you around eventually."
Mayumi tried to rebut Tsugumi's abrupt bombshell, but faced with Tsugumi's piercingly sound argument, she fell completely silent. Would she continue to live as a daughter of the Saegusa, obedient to her father? Or would she live as the human being Mayumi Saegusa? Tsugumi's remark cast a stone into the pond of this choice.
Then, a female student approached them—Kana Mitsuya, a third-year university student and former Student Council President of First High. She usually taught as an instructor in the Magic Engineering Course at the Magic High School (having obtained a teaching license through special exception due to practical experience and published papers), but once a month, she came to the Magic University to guide juniors in her seminar.
"Oh? Mayumi, Tsugumi, and Mari. Serious worries about engagement, perhaps?"
"Hello, Kana-senpai."
"Yes, well... Oh, that's right. Kana-senpai, would it be possible for the Mitsuya family to take custody of Mayumi?"
"W-Wait a minute, Tsugumin!?"
"...May I ask the circumstances?"
And so, with Tsugumi taking the lead, they explained Mayumi's situation. After thinking for a moment, Kana opened her "Eyes"—something she rarely showed—and looked at Mayumi with a serious expression. Mayumi instinctively held her breath, waiting for Kana's words.
"Mayumi. Don't hide anything and tell me honestly. You love my brother, Yugen, don't you?"
"...Yes."
"Is that because he was originally of the Ten Master Clans? Because Yugen is an excellent magician?"
"No! Yu-kun is... well..."
"Okay, that's enough of a pulse. Fine, Tsugumi. Mayumi, contact your home right now. I will contact my parents and explain the situation."
Understanding Mayumi's emotions and perceiving through her "Eyes" that there was no falsehood in her feelings, Kana judged that Mayumi needed time to sort out her heart. Ideally, Mayumi's mother should be the one to admonish her, but knowing the Saegusa family situation, Kana muttered inwardly that she couldn't ask for too much.
"I'll speak to Father, Mototsugu-niisan... and Yugen as well."
"Eh, wait, are you dragging them into this too!?"
"What are you saying, Mari? The one at fault here is the head of that family, who neglects family harmony and is obsessed with schemes."
Mari broke out in a cold sweat at Kana's unusually scathing words, but Kana began making calls as if she didn't care in the slightest.
For Kana, who had long since resolved herself to marry into the Yotsuba family in the future, she had no intention of forgiving the Saegusa family for their persistent antagonism toward the Yotsuba—including the matter with her brother. However, she could not abandon Mayumi, her rival and one of her adorable juniors.
So, thinking this was the last bit of meddling she could do for Mayumi as a member of the Mitsuya family, Kana began explaining the situation to the person on the other end of the line.
(Author's Note)
I am not changing the Humanist parts for now—"for now." Eliminating the anti-magician movement would likely impact the Youth Conference and such... but, well, I've decided not to worry about that. (Lol)
I added Riri to the scene with Izumi and Kasumi. I'd like to think Riri's presence alleviates Kasumi's burden... hopefully.
Also, regarding Mayumi's situation, you might wonder, "How does this work plot-wise?" However, using the personal connection between Kana and Mayumi as the main axis, and considering it's dangerous for the eldest daughter of the Saegusa to wander around alone, I decided to give her time to gather her thoughts at the Mitsuya household.
I feel like Koichi might try to plot something to exploit this, but Kana merely offered a lifeboat as a fellow alumna of the same high school. Her consideration for the Saegusa family was merely incidental.
To translate it roughly and bluntly: "If you hadn't done unnecessary things, your daughter wouldn't be suffering like this. Do you understand, huh?" That's the vibe.
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