As he moved to the sunroom, Tatsuya reflected on how many events today had strongly brought back memories of three years ago. And for the first time in a long while, he thought of Sakurai Honami. A memory tinged with regret.
If it were now, Tatsuya couldn't help but think. But he also knew and accepted that all he could do was regret. Furthermore, if not for her sacrifice, Tatsuya might never have considered joining the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion to hone his magical skills.
This time, no one had to be sacrificed. Tatsuya was able to console himself that his three years had not been wasted. And in his heart, he offered a silent prayer for her, who had fallen as his shield three years ago.
That was likely why his surprise was even greater. Looking at the face of the young girl who brought the refreshments, Tatsuya almost cried out.
"...Is something the matter?"
"No, it's nothing."
Perhaps noticing the change in Tatsuya's expression, the girl spoke to him. Beside her, Miyuki showed even greater surprise than Tatsuya.
And it was no wonder. The face of the girl in the serving uniform was the spitting image of Sakurai Honami.
Not long after the girl exited with her colleague, Maya appeared in the sunroom. Hayama was not with her. This indicated that the gathering was private. It was for the same reason that Tatsuya was permitted to be seated.
"What's wrong, Miyuki-san? You seem surprised."
As soon as she sat down, Maya questioned Miyuki with a worried expression. It was the usual face of Yotsuba Maya, completely different from the person who had confronted Tatsuya earlier.
"No... Aunt, who was that girl just now?"
"Oh, you mean Minami-chan?"
Hearing Miyuki's question, Maya nodded as if to say, Of course.
"Her name is Sakurai Minami. She's a second-generation Sakura series, and the genetic niece of Sakurai Honami, who served as your mother's Guardian."
"Second-generation" referred to someone born to a Modified Magician. And the term "genetic niece" likely meant that her mother was a first-generation individual with identical genetic information to Honami. It made perfect sense that their faces were so alike.
"She's quite a capable user too. I think her latent abilities rival those of the Saegusa twins. I'm training her to become Miyuki-san's Guardian when the time comes. There are situations where a female bodyguard is absolutely necessary for a woman when she becomes an adult."
Miyuki seemed somewhat convinced by Maya's pretense. Indeed, there were situations where it would be inconvenient for Miyuki, a woman, to only have Tatsuya, a man, as her bodyguard.
Tatsuya thought that if Maya's earlier statement about "hiding Tatsuya from the Stars" were to actually happen, Minami would likely be assigned to Miyuki.
"By the way, it seems Minami-chan also has a crush on Takkun?"
"What?!"
Maya, half-amused, dropped a bombshell on Miyuki, who had been trying to forcibly convince herself. Hearing this, Tatsuya pondered, holding his head, What is this aunt trying to do?
Listening to the airport announcement, I remembered the events of six days ago. After Sakurai-san went to assist my brother, there was no one left to operate the screen, so from that point on, I only saw the footage broadcast on the news.
A light, more brilliant than the sun, suddenly appeared beyond the horizon. The enemy ships vanished within that light. The beach, its topography altered by the surging waves. The triumphant return. That is the outcome of those events, shared by the public and by us.
The fact not shared with the public, known only to us, is that the light which destroyed the enemy was due to my brother's power.
A Strategic-Class Magician who wields "Material Burst," a Strategic-Class Magic that converts mass into energy and incinerates everything with that immense energy. That is my brother's true power, his true form. That my brother is the hero who repelled the enemy. And the sad event that only we know: Sakurai-san never returned afterward.
Sakurai-san, cremated at the joint funeral for the victims, had her ashes scattered completely into the sea, according to her last wishes. It was my brother who returned Sakurai-san to the mother sea. My brother never showed a pained expression. He gently comforted me when I broke down in tears. Is my brother not sad? Or is he incapable of being sad?
No, neither of those matters. Because I have decided.
Watching Sakurai-san turn to ash, I understood. I had died once at that moment. Losing the life given to me by my mother, I was granted a new life by my brother. Therefore, all of me belongs to my brother.
"Miyuki, it's almost time to go inside."
"Yes, Onii-sama."
My brother called out to me, and I rose from the lounge sofa. Mother no longer changes her expression when I say "Onii-sama." She must truly resent it, but even I no longer care about Mother's feelings regarding this matter.
My brother, as usual, carried all our luggage, and he alone was in a normal seat, but I no longer cared about that either.
(Because Onii-sama says he wants it that way. Onii-sama's will is absolute.)
I took my mother's hand, who was not in perfect health, and followed my brother. A voice that still can't reach. Words that cannot be conveyed.
But I have already decided.
(Onii-sama, no matter where Miyuki goes, she will follow you to the very ends of the earth.)
As I boarded the plane, having made my resolve, Mother glanced at my brother—or so I felt.
"Mother?"
"No, I was just a little uneasy thinking of that child as Honami-san's replacement."
Whether that was her true feeling or merely an attempt to hide her embarrassment, I couldn't tell. Mother, after all, is also somehow proud that my brother is the hero who repelled the enemy. But she believes that showing it would affect my brother, who regrets Sakurai-san's death, so she doesn't let it show "in front of my brother."
However, Miyuki has sometimes seen her wear a proud expression when my brother is not present.
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