The year 2095 AD had but one month remaining. It had been, Tatsuya mused with deep reflection, a tumultuous year. In April, he had fought terrorists; in August, a criminal syndicate; and in October, a foreign invasion. "Turbulent" was an understatement.
Yet, Tatsuya still had no leisure to leisurely reflect on the past year. Not in the proverbial sense of "there's still a month left; you never know until it's over," but for a more pressing and practical reason.
"...Gah—! I don't get any of this!"
"Quiet! Don't shout! You're annoying!"
"I want to agree with Erika, but I don't understand it either."
"L-Leo-kun, Erika-chan, please calm down... Aimy-san, don't egg them on."
It was the abominable arch-enemy for anyone calling themselves a student, be it middle school, high school, or university. An unavoidable obstacle. A wall that had to be overcome. The periodic exams were fast approaching.
"Onii-sama, it's this part."
They had gathered for exam study at Shizuku's house—or rather, her mansion. Tatsuya, Miyuki, Erika, Leo, Mizuki, Mikihiko, Honoka, Shizuku, Aimy, and even Subaru—not a single one was missing, not by coincidence, but largely because they were relying on Tatsuya's knowledge. Well, even for a study session, most of these members were excellent students, at least when it came to written exams. Leo, the sole exception, was merely average and had no need to worry about failing grades. The concern for failing grades lay more in practical skills, which were outside the scope of a study session.
Though occasional strange shouts erupted, the atmosphere was generally like a peaceful tea party—until Shizuku's bombshell announcement.
"Huh? Shizuku, could you say that again?"
"I'm actually going to study abroad in America."
To Honoka's flustered question, Shizuku repeated the answer, word for word, in the exact same tone.
"You never told me!?"
"Sorry, I was told to keep it quiet until yesterday."
To Honoka, who pressed in with a changed expression, Shizuku bowed her head with a genuinely apologetic look, evident to everyone present. This unwillingly made Honoka understand that Shizuku had truly wanted to confide in her sooner, and Honoka could say no more.
"But, could you even get permission for studying abroad?"
"Hmm, for some reason, permission was granted. My father says it's a student exchange program, so that's why."
"If it's a student exchange, why would it be approved?"
"Who knows?"
Mizuki's question was entirely reasonable, and it would be cruel to blame Shizuku, who was also tilting her head in confusion. Tatsuya couldn't quite understand the logic of "it's an exchange, so it's fine."
"How long? When do you leave?"
"Right after the New Year. For three months."
"Only three months...? Don't scare me like that."
Hearing Shizuku's answer, Honoka sighed in relief. It seemed she had been imagining a much longer study abroad period. But by Tatsuya's "common sense," even three months was quite long.
"Then we'll have to throw a farewell party."
Without dwelling on trivial matters, Tatsuya proposed a "current concern" to his friends.
The periodic exams successfully concluded (some had thanked Tatsuya, so he judged them to be fine) on Saturday, December 24th. It was the last day of the second semester and also Christmas Eve.
The town was bathed in Christmas colors... or perhaps "Christmas commercialism" would be more accurate. But to posture cynically like that and be left out alone would be far more foolish.
Even if it was meant to be a farewell party, if the date was specifically set for December 24th, and a large whipped cream cake was placed before them, adorned with a white chocolate plaque reading "MERRY XMAS," one absolutely must not call it "strange."
"Onii-sama, is something bothering you?"
Noticing Tatsuya's change with keen eyes, Miyuki asked, and Tatsuya shook his head, saying, "It's nothing." Yes, it had to be nothing. There must be nothing to cause discomfort to the guest of honor. Today, he was the host.
"Has everyone received their drinks? Well then, although it deviates a little from the purpose of a farewell party, since we've gone to the trouble of preparing a cake, let's make the toast with this phrase... Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas!"
To Tatsuya, who offered the toast in a calm voice, his friends responded with cheerful shouts, raising their glasses high.
The sign on the entrance of the café "Eine Brise" read "Reserved Today."
In the center of the North American continent, across the Pacific, it was still the night before Christmas Eve. The date was about to turn to the 24th. Compared to Japan, where the majority viewed Christmas as merely one event among many, America celebrated Christmas far more earnestly, devoutly, or passionately.
However, in the dead of the night before Christmas Eve, a figure was seen leaping from rooftop to rooftop. And several people encircled this suspicious individual from the air. Seeing that they were using flight-specialized CADs, which had only just begun to spread, it was clear they were police or military magicians.
"Stop, Lieutenant Alfred Fomalhaut! You must know you can't escape any longer!"
In front of the escapee, a small figure wearing a mask that covered their eyes blocked the way. A high-pitched girl's voice called for his surrender. Seeing something in her small frame, the fugitive Alfred Fomalhaut stopped dead in his tracks.
"...What on earth happened, Freddy? You were given the code of First-Magnitude Star, why did you desert your unit?"
"..."
"Some say the series of arson-murders happening in this city are also due to your pyrokinesis. You haven't done such a thing, have you?"
"..."
"Freddy, answer me!"
The answer came not in words. The stole draped over the girl's shoulder burst into flames without any ignition source, burning to ash.
"Lieutenant Fomalhaut, by the authority of the Stars' Commander-in-Chief under the special provisions of the Federal Military Criminal Code, I hereby execute you!"
A scream-like declaration. Against Lieutenant Fomalhaut, who was restrained, unable to move from a cage of darkness created by another magic, the masked girl, Stars' Commander-in-Chief Major Angie Sirius, aimed an automatic pistol with a suppressor.
The bullet, its magical interference completely nullified by powerful information enhancement, pierced Lieutenant Fomalhaut's heart with a single shot, trapping him in a realm of utter darkness.
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