Today was the deadline for submitting the thesis, presentation draft, and data to the school. Suzune, Isori, and Tatsuya, ever meticulous, had prepared the storage media the day before. Their lunch break meeting was for a final review, checking formatting against submission guidelines. The trio split the tasks, and per Haruka's advice, Suzune would personally deliver it to Naraku.
"Was Ono-sensei's advice tied to yesterday's incident?" Isori mused, finishing his part.
"Possibly," Tatsuya replied quietly, mindful not to disturb Suzune, still working.
"School network's easiest to breach from within," Isori said.
"Still not easy," Tatsuya countered.
"True. But you could do it, right, Shiba-kun?"
"You could too, Isori-senpai. Peeking's doable with enough know-how."
"Stealing's another story," Isori noted.
As their slightly dangerous talk continued, Suzune finished her checks and turned to join them.
"About yesterday's attacker—really a student here?" she asked, organizing the materials, her tone skeptical but understandable.
"Can't say for sure," Tatsuya replied.
"Uniforms aren't hard to get," Isori added.
Isori genuinely thought it uncertain, but Tatsuya had identified the attacker through her presence, keeping quiet due to her connections.
"You and Chiyoda-san can access the student roster, right?" Suzune pressed.
"Kanon only glimpsed her profile. With nearly three hundred female students, pinpointing one from a fleeting glance is tough," Isori said.
Kanon, as Discipline Committee chair, and Isori, as a student council officer, could view the roster. Kanon had tried, but spotting one girl among hundreds from a brief look proved impossible, and she gave up quickly.
"What about you, Shiba-kun? See her face when you disrupted her spell?" Suzune asked.
"Unfortunately, no," Tatsuya said.
"Alright. Everyone, stay cautious," Suzune concluded, ending the meeting.
Tatsuya considered offering to escort Suzune to the geometry prep room but sensed Hattori and Kirihara nearby, so he said nothing.
Back in the classroom, Erika, perched on Tatsuya's desk, noticed him first.
"You're early today," she said.
"Just checking things," Tatsuya replied.
Erika vacated his seat, and as he sat, she perched on the desk's edge.
"What were you talking about?" Tatsuya asked, not because he overheard but because Mizuki looked uneasy.
"Feeling watched," Erika said.
"Watched?" Tatsuya's gaze fixed on Mizuki.
"Since this morning, I've felt creepy stares… like someone's waiting for an opening," Mizuki said.
"Stalker?" Tatsuya suggested.
"No one's stalking me!" Mizuki denied, shaking her head dramatically, her self-esteem as low as Tatsuya's.
"It's not just me. It feels like a bigger net's being cast," she added.
"Mikihiko, notice anything?" Tatsuya asked, exploring possibilities.
Mikihiko felt Tatsuya's question implied certainty. "You sensed it too?"
"No, I didn't know until Mizuki mentioned it," Tatsuya said.
"Got it. Like Shibata-san said, spirits have been restless since morning. Someone's probably casting a spell," Mikihiko explained.
"Shiki? Like shikigami or SB stuff?" Leo interjected.
Mikihiko nodded. "It's a different type from our spells. I can't pin it down, but someone's probing, no doubt."
"Mikihiko," Tatsuya said, his voice taking a chilling edge.
"Something up?" Mikihiko asked.
"You said 'different from our spells.'"
"Yeah?"
"Different from Shinto spells, or from this country's ancient magic?"
Mikihiko's face tightened, realizing the weight of his casual remark.
"Not our country's magic, I think," he said.
"What, foreign spies?" Leo asked, shocked.
"Probably," Erika replied, her tone flat, almost bored.
"They're moving boldly," Tatsuya said.
"What's the police doing?" Erika grumbled.
"Erika-chan?" Mizuki questioned.
Tatsuya and Mikihiko noted Erika's tone wasn't anger but irritation at her family's incompetence.
"I'll look into it," Mikihiko said.
"Don't dig too deep," Tatsuya warned.
"Got it. I know my limits," Mikihiko said, slightly embarrassed, sensing Tatsuya's expectations.
The bell rang, signaling afternoon classes. Erika rushed to her seat, diving into assignments.
(Chiaki's backed by foreign magicians? Whatever's exploiting her, it's my responsibility.)
Finishing his work early, Tatsuya sighed inwardly, sensing trouble behind Chiaki's reckless actions.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/DaoistRoeoNQ
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