"I really could have done without this downpour..."
It was called a "farewell party," but everyone knew they would be reunited come spring. Furthermore, considering that high school students were rarely granted permission to study overseas, it was perhaps inevitable that curiosity would outweigh the sorrow of parting.
"So, where in the States are you heading?"
"Berkeley."
"Not Boston, then?"
Shizuku's reply to Erika's query was a single, curt geographic noun. However, Miyuki knew this wasn't born of irritation; it was simply Shizuku's nature. Because she understood this, Miyuki's interest remained focused solely on the content of the answer.
"I heard the atmosphere on the East Coast isn't very good right now."
"Ah, the 'Humanists' are making a scene again, aren't they?" Erika chimed in. "I've been seeing a lot of news about that lately."
"First witch hunts, now 'Magician hunts'? They say history repeats itself, but this is just ridiculous," Leo spat, his voice cold.
Mikihiko nodded in agreement with Shizuku, prompting Tatsuya to step in—not to defend the movement, but to offer a calm, analytical perspective to Leo's outburst.
"It's not exactly a total repetition. We don't fully understand the context behind the witch hunts of the 17th century, but this recent wave of 'Magician Hunting' seems to share its roots with New White Supremacism. Still, you're right—it's probably best to avoid the East Coast for now."
"I was not aware of that."
Miyuki interjected, her eyes silently pleading for further explanation as she supported her brother's statement. Beside her, Honoka and Shizuku turned similar gazes toward Tatsuya.
"If you look at the member lists of the activist groups, you find the same names popping up with fairly high frequency," Tatsuya explained. "The lists aren't exactly in public circulation, so it's no wonder you haven't seen them."
"You know, Tatsuya-kun, your stories always sound awfully criminal..." Erika shook her head, feigning a shiver. "But enough dark talk. No more!"
Tatsuya offered a wry smile and nodded at Erika's exaggerated dismissal.
"Do you know anything about the student coming in your place?" Miyuki asked, changing the subject somewhat abruptly, likely feeling responsible for shifting the mood.
"My place?"
"It is an exchange program, isn't it?"
As expected, it didn't click immediately, but upon Miyuki's clarification, a look of understanding dawned on Shizuku's face. As always, the shift in her expression was subtle and hard to read.
"I heard it's a girl, the same age as us."
"You don't know anything else?"
"No."
Is that it? As that collective thought ran through everyone's mind, Tatsuya laughed and pressed her, but Shizuku nodded as if her lack of information was perfectly natural. There was simply no one to tell her what kind of person her replacement would be.
Seeing Shizuku's reaction, Erika and the others seemed to decide this topic had run its course and began excitedly discussing something else.
"Tatsuya."
"What is it?"
"Thank you."
It was an expression of gratitude for conveying what she wanted to say to the group, albeit in a different form. For a split second, Tatsuya froze, unsure of what he was being thanked for. Though, for him, "freezing" lasted no longer than a blink.
As evidenced by the fact that they were holding a farewell party today, all ten of them gathered here had no other plans for Christmas Eve. It felt surprisingly out of character for Shizuku, Erika, or Mikihiko to have no family obligations, but the Kitayama, Chiba, and Yoshida families were all hosting parties strictly for adults. There was no stage for first-year high schoolers to stand on.
Tatsuya had received invitations from Mayumi and Mari, but he had declined them, citing this prior engagement.
"I'd feel bad keeping the Master here forever."
With a line that feigned innocence but was laced with intent, Erika effectively sank the cafe owner's hopes of keeping them longer, and the ten friends set out for home. Honoka boarded the same cabinet as Shizuku, presumably to stay over at her house. While not uncommon at First High, it seemed Honoka's connection to her parents was also somewhat thin.
Erika, Leo, Mizuki, Mikihiko, Amy, and Subaru each boarded separate vehicles. The latter four aside, Mikihiko and Mizuki seemed to be hoping for some sort of "happening" to occur...
However, no such drama awaited Tatsuya and Miyuki. They boarded a two-seater cabinet, sitting intimately side-by-side for the ride home. Although the interior of a cabinet is ostensibly a private space, Tatsuya never forgot the proverb "walls have ears." Whenever discussing sensitive matters, they always obscured proper nouns. Miyuki, well aware of this, waited until they had crossed the threshold of their home and settled into the living room before she actually broached the subject that had been radiating from her the entire ride.
"This study abroad arrangement for Shizuku... it strikes me as terribly strange."
"Strange... Yes, I agree."
Tatsuya prepared coffee for two and sat down on the sofa. He took a sip, his silence urging her to continue. Miyuki hesitantly began to list her doubts.
"First, it is unnatural that someone with Shizuku's level of magical aptitude would be permitted to study abroad. Until a moment ago, I had convinced myself that this was not a sabbatical for a magic student, but rather studying abroad as the daughter of a major industrialist. But if that were the case, it is absurd that she knows nothing about the student coming in exchange. When I consider that this discussion arose so suddenly at this time of year, I cannot shake the feeling that there is an ulterior motive. It feels almost as if..."
"As if it's a covert operation to probe into us?" Tatsuya finished her sentence, smiling faintly as he muttered the words in a detached tone. "According to our Aunt, we are suspects, after all. Material Burst. I suppose they can't simply leave it alone."
Hearing her brother speak the very words she had hesitated to voice, Miyuki's eyes widened, followed by a smile of relief.
"I see... So you think so as well, Oniisama?"
"If it were just an exchange student, that would be one thing. But when you combine it with Aunt's warning, thinking of this as a coincidence is far too optimistic."
"Then, it is as we feared? The Stars...?"
"If that's the case, being forbidden from contacting the Major and his team hurts us."
"Even if we were to ask Aunt... she wouldn't tell us, would she?"
"The fact that this study abroad program is moving toward realization makes it obvious that Aunt is tacitly approving it."
The Yotsuba are currently vying with the Saegusa for the leading position among the Ten Master Clans. There is no way they would be unaware of an irregular situation involving the overseas study of a high schooler with superior magical qualities. Furthermore, Tatsuya believed that Maya—his aunt—held a strong aversion to sending magicians overseas. Just as it was with him, she operated on the principle that one never knows when or what might happen.
"However, looking at it from the reverse, I don't think this is entirely to our disadvantage. Aunt wouldn't overlook an opponent who was merely coming to sniff around. Trouble is likely brewing in America as well. I suspect she wants us to catch the tail of whatever is happening."
"Nothing has been decided yet... perhaps nothing good will come of rushing to conclusions."
"You're right, Miyuki. Exactly as you say."
Though they spoke words of caution, both the one offering comfort and the one being comforted knew with certainty: these were merely words to put their minds at ease.
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