Despite the lively student banter, Tatsuya stayed vigilant. In an alley leading to their usual café, he sensed a tail but didn't turn, keeping his focus sharp.
"Wanna stop by somewhere?" he suggested, aiming to shake the pursuer.
Miyuki, Honoka, and Shizuku eagerly agreed, mistaking it for a casual detour.
"How rare for Onii-sama to suggest a stop," Miyuki said.
"Even Tatsuya-san needs a break sometimes," Honoka added.
"Let's go," Shizuku said.
The trio flanked Tatsuya as they entered their regular café, Eine Brise. Behind them, Leo, Erika, and Mikihiko exchanged knowing glances, unnoticed by all but Tatsuya.
"They look thrilled," Leo said.
"Yeah, Tatsuya-kun's about to get busier tomorrow," Erika noted.
"Can't be helped. We wanted a breather too, right?" Leo said.
"Tea should be fine," Mikihiko added.
"What's that about?" Mizuki asked, confused.
Mizuki, out of the loop, felt excluded but didn't press further.
Their usual two four-seat tables were taken, so they split: Tatsuya, Miyuki, Honoka, and Shizuku at the counter; Leo, Erika, Mizuki, and Mikihiko at the nearest table.
"Welcome! Still a heartthrob, huh, Tatsuya-kun?" the master teased.
"You'd be too if you shaved that beard," Tatsuya shot back.
The playful jab, using the outdated term "heartthrob," was just banter between acquaintances, but one girl missed the joke.
"He's right! That beard ages you, Master," Mizuki said earnestly.
"Ages me… Harsh, Mizuki-chan," the master said, slumping and stroking his gray beard—a natural trait, as he was a quarter German.
Leo had started frequenting the café due to that shared heritage.
"Been a while. Busy?" the master asked.
"Tatsuya-san's a thesis competition rep, so he's swamped," Honoka said.
"Student council's kept us busy too," Miyuki added.
"A first-year in the thesis comp? Impressive," the master said.
Lacking magic talent, the master was still knowledgeable about the Magic Association, given his café's location on the magic high school route. His genuine praise made Miyuki, not Tatsuya, beam with pride.
"Yokohama's the venue this year, right?" the master asked.
"Yes," Tatsuya confirmed.
"If you've got time, swing by my family's place. It's a café, Rotterbart, halfway up Yamate Hill," the master said.
"Your family runs a café too?" Miyuki asked.
Tatsuya sipped his coffee, nodding. While the others enjoyed snacks, he genuinely loved the café's brew.
"I'd love your honest opinion, Tatsuya-kun, on whose coffee's better—ours or my dad's. I think I've surpassed him, and you'd judge fairly," the master said.
"Quite the salesman," Tatsuya teased.
The master grinned, relieved Tatsuya saw through but humored his pitch.
"Erika-chan?" Mizuki called as Erika stood.
"Off to pick some flowers," Erika said.
Leo stood too, clutching his pocket. "Gotta take a call."
"Leo-kun too?" Mizuki tilted her head, puzzled, noticing Mikihiko scribbling something.
"What's that, Mikihiko?" Tatsuya asked.
"Just jotting down a thought," Mikihiko replied.
"Keep it low-key," Tatsuya said, sipping his coffee.
Miyuki seemed to catch on, but Honoka, Shizuku, and Mizuki were clueless.
Outside via the back door, Erika confronted the tail.
"Hey, mister, wanna have some fun?" she purred.
"You should value yourself more," the man replied, a hint of regret in his eyes.
Erika's beauty was undeniable, yet she pressed, "I said fun. What'd you imagine?"
"Don't tease adults. It's getting dark—lingering could get you attacked," he warned.
"By a thug?" Erika smirked.
"Thugs do this?" Leo emerged, launching an attack.
Focused on Erika, the man couldn't counter and was knocked back.
"'Thug' as in 'passing magician,' right?" Erika said, radiating menace.
"Scary woman," Leo quipped, playing up his fear.
"Help! Robbery!" the man yelled.
"Pathetic," Leo scoffed.
"No one's coming in this space. But nice reflexes," Erika said.
"They can't even notice us," Leo added.
"I see…" the man muttered.
He lunged, knocking Leo back and charging Erika. No ordinary schoolgirl, she countered deftly.
"That hurt… Your attack would've killed anyone else," Leo groaned.
"Same goes for you. That hit could've killed a normal person," the man said.
"Physical enhancement, huh?" Leo noted.
The man's eyes widened, surprised Leo clocked his non-human traits.
"I surrender. I'm not your enemy," he said.
"What's that mean?" Erika demanded.
Planning to capture and let Tatsuya interrogate, Erika saw he was willing to talk and decided to question him on the spot.
"I'm no spy. I stop them. We've got no conflict," he said, pulling a gun and aiming at Erika.
"You bastard!" Leo growled.
"I didn't use it earlier. Proof I'm not your enemy," the man said.
"More like avoiding a mess," Erika retorted.
Locked on, Erika stayed calm. The man pulled something else from his pocket, tossing it at their center. The can hit the ground, spewing smoke. Erika and Leo backed off. When the smoke cleared, the man was gone, leaving a note that could be a warning.
--+--
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!
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