The Day Before
On Saturday morning, the day before the thesis competition, Tatsuya met Suzune at a place other than school.
"Sorry, Shiba-kun. I really needed you to come."
"No problem. There's hardly any class today anyway."
As a Course 2 student, Tatsuya could skip classes with relative freedom, though assignments would pile up. His role as competition representative currently exempted him from those.
"Why's Hattori-senpai here?"
"He's my escort. As club federation head, I can excuse his absence."
"Hm…"
Tatsuya wondered if this was an abuse of power, catching Hattori's sour glance. Their relationship wasn't great, but Tatsuya didn't care to dwell on it.
"So, Ichihara-senpai, where are we going?"
"Tachikawa Hospital, affiliated with the National Magic University."
"Chisaki Hirakawa… Wouldn't it be better if I weren't there?"
"No, you're essential."
Tatsuya was surprised. He thought his presence, as the cause of Chisaki's incident, might hinder persuasion or questioning.
"I need you to be her wall."
"Wall?"
"Yes. Chisaki Hirakawa's magical engineering grades were second only to yours—ninety-two points, enough for first elsewhere."
Unsure of Suzune's point, Tatsuya listened quietly.
"You excel in hardware, and second-years like Nakajou and Isori are talented. But beyond you three, our school's technical level drops sharply."
"So, Chisaki Hirakawa."
Tatsuya murmured, grasping Suzune's intent and their destination.
"I didn't know until this incident, but she's excelled in magical engineering. It'd be a waste to lose such talent."
"Her sister Koharu is a skilled engineer too, so it's no surprise Chisaki's grades are high."
"Exactly. Koharu was a regrettable loss, but she had the knowledge to be a representative. Her sister, even as a Course 2 student, has the potential to be an outstanding engineer."
Tatsuya accepted this as obvious, but Hattori, the escort, was shocked. Lacking their experience, he couldn't process it so easily—though in this context, Suzune and Tatsuya's detachment was the anomaly.
"I want you to provoke her, Shiba-kun."
"Won't that backfire? Answering questions is one thing, but making her focus on me might strain her mental state."
"It's fine. Yasutomi-sensei called earlier. After fainting yesterday, Chisaki woke up unable to recall why she resented you."
"…"
Tatsuya instantly suspected the manipulator behind Chisaki's actions had covered their tracks, but Suzune and Hattori, lacking such insight, seemed unconcerned.
"Just act normally, and it'll be fine."
"Got it… Where's Yasutomi-sensei?"
"Probably in Hirakawa's room. Here we are."
Suzune knocked on Chisaki's hospital room door.
"Yes, who is it?" a voice called.
"Ichihara."
"Come in!"
The voice wasn't Chisaki's, and Tatsuya, Suzune, and Hattori all recognized it.
"Welcome," Koharu greeted.
"Shiba-kun…" Chisaki said.
"Hirakawa-senpai, you're okay?" Tatsuya asked Koharu.
"Thanks to you. I might make it to cheer tomorrow."
"Good. And Chisaki?"
Suzune and Remi frowned at Tatsuya calling Chisaki by her first name, but they softened when Hattori glanced their way.
"I'm okay… Sorry, Shiba-kun. I did things to you, but I don't remember."
"It's fine. With Koharu-san in that state, it's natural you'd think I stole the representative spot."
"But you convinced Onee-chan not to quit school, and she recommended you as her substitute… Why did I misunderstand?"
Tatsuya glanced at Remi for insight into Chisaki's condition, but she only shook her head silently.
"Can you come tomorrow?"
"After what I did, I'd just be in the way…"
"You should come. Koharu-san was supposed to be the representative. Next year, aim for it yourself, Chisaki. Knowing the other schools' levels will help."
"Me, a representative? But I'm Course 2…"
"Forgot? So am I."
Tatsuya gave a wry smile, pointing out her oversight.
"Yasutomi-sensei will chaperone, and with Koharu-san there, you'll be fine, right?"
"Right… Okay, I'll go tomorrow."
"Shiba-kun, thank you for helping not just me but Chisaki too," Koharu said.
Accepting her apology, Tatsuya left the room with Suzune and Hattori.
"Shiba-kun," Suzune called sharply in the hallway.
"Yes, Ichihara-senpai?"
Tatsuya turned, sensing her irritation's cause, which Hattori also noticed.
"You did well getting Chisaki to look forward, but why call the Hirakawa sisters by their first names and me by my last?"
"There were two Hirakawas in there. First names are more efficient."
"But adding '-senpai' to Koharu-san would've distinguished them! There was no need to call her by her first name!"
"No idea why you're mad, but we need to hurry to school for final checks, Suzune-senpai."
Fully aware of what Suzune wanted, Tatsuya casually used her first name and walked off. Suzune froze, then flushed red.
Note: In the original, this was a semi-threatening scene for Suzune, but Tatsuya softened it here.
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