"I don't think this is a title suitable for July..."
Tatsuya and Miyuki welcomed the morning of New Year's Day, 2096, alone together, just as they always did. Their father was spending the holiday at his second house—the home of his former mistress—again this year.
Neither Tatsuya nor Miyuki, however, had any connection to the slothful lifestyle often associated with the holidays.
"Thank you for waiting."
At a time not much different from their usual departure for school, Tatsuya, who had been waiting in the entryway, looked up at the sound of Miyuki's voice.
"Yes. You look beautiful."
"Oh, Oniisama... please do not tease me."
Tatsuya offered his praise without a hint of hesitation, his gaze fixed squarely on his sister as she slipped her feet into her sandals. Immediately, Miyuki's cheeks were dyed a deep crimson. The way she looked up at him in protest, shy yet refusing to avert her eyes, possessed a destructive power that might have caused a man without immunity to writhe in agony.
"I wasn't teasing you, though... Shall we go?"
Perhaps it was simply the result of serving as Miyuki's brother for sixteen years, but Tatsuya accepted her protest with casual ease. Miyuki, seemingly understanding this, offered no further objection. She took Tatsuya's extended hand and stepped out from the entryway.
An automated commuter was waiting in front of the gate.
However, "automated" did not mean empty. In the rear seats of the four-person vehicle sat one adult man and one adult woman.
"Happy New Year, Master."
"Happy New Year, Yakumo-sensei. We look forward to your guidance this year as well."
To Tatsuya's brief greeting and Miyuki's polite bow, Yakumo responded from his seat with a delighted grin.
"My, my! You look even more radiant than usual today. A beauty to rival Kichijoten herself. If the celestial maidens of Mount Sumeru were to lay eyes on Miyuki-kun today, they might hide themselves in shame."
"Sensei... surely you have something else you should be saying?"
The one to interject into Yakumo's runaway eloquence was the woman sitting beside him.
"Ono-sensei, Happy New Year. But is this wise? Being seen together with the Master?"
"Happy New Year, Shiba-kun. Asking unpleasant questions so early in the year, aren't we? Meeting Sensei was purely a coincidence. I am here today to act as your chaperone."
"I see. So that is the cover story? I think claiming to chaperone high school students is a bit of a stretch... and if that is the case, isn't the title 'Sensei' problematic for you?"
"We can worry about that later. Shall we get moving?"
Perhaps sensing that Haruka was about to fall into deep thought, Miyuki offered the suggestion. Tatsuya, seemingly of the same mind, helped Miyuki into the vehicle as she spoke, then took his seat on the opposite side.
The moment Tatsuya locked the door, the commuter set off toward the station.
The four of them, having drawn considerable attention along the way, proceeded to the meeting place, where they continued to turn heads.
"Wow... Miyuki-san, you look gorgeous!"
"Happy New Year, Tatsuya-san. It suits you very well. Though, it is a little surprising."
"Happy New Year. It suits you too, Honoka."
Upon having her appearance praised—and by Tatsuya, no less—Honoka's cheeks flushed red in an instant.
"But by 'surprising,' do you mean it looks a bit out of place?"
"Nah, I don't think so. It suits you, Tatsuya. You've got the dignity of a young Yakuza underboss."
"I'm a Yakuza now?"
"You don't look like a Yakuza, but it's definitely rare to see a high school student who can pull off haori-hakama this well," Erika added.
"Rather than a Yakuza, the image is closer to a police constable or a magistrate from the Edo period," Yakumo remarked.
As Haruka and Yakumo, who had trailed a step behind, pointed out, Tatsuya's attire today was purely traditional Japanese style: haori, hakama, and setta sandals.
"Oh! Haruka-chan! Happy New Yea—"
"Happy New Year, Ono-sensei... Tatsuya-san, who is this gentleman?"
"The Chief Priest of Kuhon Temple, the Monk Yakumo. Or perhaps, for us, 'Ninjutsu Master Yakumo' is the more familiar title? He is my taijutsu instructor."
"I get it. That explains why we decided on Hie Shrine."
"It does?"
Haruka looked at Leo, who seemed to be the only one convinced, with an expression of total incomprehension. It was likely not common knowledge.
At the same time Leo was explaining the circumstances, Major Angie Sirius, who had come to Japan for an infiltration investigation, was also at Hie Shrine. Having received intelligence from a reliable source that the two suspects would be visiting this location at this time, she was posing as a worshiper to conduct surveillance.
(Even so, there are so many people... Is this what a Japanese "New Year" is like?)
To monitor the pair, she had to ensure she didn't look suspicious to those around her. With that in mind, Major Angie Sirius had read through fashion magazines from the past one hundred years and intended to adopt an "average" look.
However, her outfit was clearly out of sync with her surroundings. It would have been odd in a daily setting, but on a day like today, it stood out even more.
(What is it...? People are staring at me quite a bit... Is a foreigner really that rare?)
Shizuku's study abroad had been treated as an anomaly, after all. A foreigner of her age at a shrine would likely stand out. Having reached this conclusion, Major Angie Sirius decided to stop worrying about the gazes of others and focus on monitoring the pair. However...
(Shiba Tatsuya...)
Ever since she was handed the photo and told he was a surveillance target, Major Angie Sirius couldn't help but be curious about Tatsuya.
Even as the High Commander of the USNA Stars, she was still a girl of a certain age; finding a member of the opposite sex interesting wasn't strange. But she never imagined she would be so distracted by a surveillance target—someone who might potentially be a Strategic-Class Magician.
(...Wait? is Shiba Tatsuya looking this way?)
Dressed as conspicuously as she was, it was likely Tatsuya would notice her. Furthermore, Tatsuya was sensitive to gazes directed at him. Though, truthfully, he remained oblivious to gazes filled with romantic affection...
(It would be bad if I'm spotted here. I should pull back for now.)
He likely hadn't realized exactly who she was, but Major Angie Sirius decided on a temporary retreat.
With a lingering gaze fixed on Tatsuya in his haori-hakama, Major Sirius slipped into the crowd and returned temporarily to her base of operations in Japan.
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