Consultations and Clandestine Meetings
Classes for the morning had ended, and Lina headed to the school cafeteria with Miyuki. Naturally, Honoka was with them as well.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Onii-sama."
"No, I wasn't really waiting. You should have gone ahead and grabbed your food."
As Course 2 students without assigned instructors, Tatsuya and his group never had classes run overtime. In that regard, Miyuki felt being a Course 2 student had its advantages.
"Still, I see the Course 1 students still have discussion-based classes with the teachers."
"They don't have those in America, do they?"
"No. I heard they were done away with quite a long time ago."
When the twin jewels that were Miyuki and Lina moved, the surrounding students parted to clear a path. Honoka followed apologetically behind them, though she was unaware that she was quite popular in her own right.
"Come to think of it, Lina, what was that consultation you had with Onii-sama this morning?"
"Oh, it wasn't anything big. I just asked him something I forgot to ask during the Public Morals Committee patrol the other day."
What Lina said was a lie, but Miyuki had no way to verify it. While Tatsuya was one thing, Lina was competent enough not to make the kind of clumsy mistake that would let a mere high school student catch on to her deception.
"Tatsuya is easy to talk to, you know? I might consult him a few more times in the future, so try not to get jealous, okay?"
"I am not particularly jealous."
She was already accustomed to handling Miyuki, so they could exchange jokes like this comfortably.
"Let's hurry back. Tatsuya-san and the others are waiting."
"You're right."
"Honoka really is always thinking about Tatsuya, isn't she?"
In this regard, for better or worse, she was very much a girl her age.
"By the way, I heard that vampire incident is causing a stir in America, too."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I heard from Shizuku. Apparently, it's happening in the south-central region, centered around Dallas, rather than the West Coast."
"So it seems."
"Did you know, Tatsuya?"
"More or less. But it seems there's a press blackout over there, too, so there's no way to investigate the details from Japan."
"Shizuku said pretty much the same thing."
Miyuki sat next to Tatsuya, and Honoka sat opposite him as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Watching this spectacle with a wry smile, Lina took the seat next to Miyuki.
"It's causing a panic in Japan, and now similar incidents are happening in America. What do you think, Tatsuya-kun?"
"If you ask me what I think… well, without enough information, I can't say for sure. However, it would be natural to assume it is either the same culprit or multiple individuals possessing the same ability."
"But you can't seriously think the incidents in America and Japan were committed by the same person, right?"
"That's why I said I can't say for sure."
When Erika pointed out the doubts in his conjecture, Tatsuya shrugged his shoulders with a bitter smile.
"Speaking of which, Lina, didn't you have to meet someone this afternoon?"
"I'm still okay for now."
Recallling Lina's schedule from the morning, Tatsuya asked. Several beautiful girls at the table wore expressions of boredom at the exchange, but the two boys and one girl present failed to notice.
While afternoon classes were underway, a male and female pair of third-year students—who had free attendance privileges—were meeting secretly in a certain club room. However, the atmosphere in the room lacked any sweetness; this was not a "rendezvous," but a "clandestine meeting."
"I'm sorry about this, Juumonji-kun. Meeting in a place like this."
"No, there is no need to worry about eavesdroppers here. This location is actually convenient."
If the former Student Council President, Saegusa Mayumi, and the former Club Management Group Head, Juumonji Katsuto, were seen meeting anywhere else, they would have stood out, even accounting for classes being in session.
"Provoking the Yotsuba family right now would be unwise."
"Thanks to that Old Fox of a father of mine. Now then, Juumonji-kun. I am conveying a message from my father—from the head of the Saegusa family, Saegusa Koichi. The Saegusa family desires a 'Joint Struggle' with the Juumonji family."
"That isn't exactly peaceful. A 'Joint Struggle' rather than 'Cooperation'?"
"How much do you know about the vampire incidents?"
"Only what has been reported on the news. My family does not possess as many pawns as the Saegusa."
At Katsuto's humble remark, the corners of Mayumi's lips relaxed slightly.
"Well, the Juumonji family motto is 'One Warrior Worth a Thousand,' after all. In that case, I will share the information the Saegusa—who rely on numbers—have managed to gather."
As Katsuto listened to the information from Mayumi, his expression grew severe. To an ordinary high school girl, that expression would have been somewhat frightening—
"Juumonji-kun, you look a little scary, you know?"
—Mayumi said, in a tone that could have been taken as either a joke or serious.
"Mn… My apologies."
No matter how mature he looked, Katsuto was still a high school student. Being told to his face that he was scary was impossible to ignore.
(This is the difference between Juumonji-kun and Tatsuya-kun, isn't it?)
Thinking that Tatsuya would have just brushed the comment off, Mayumi smiled at an angle where Katsuto couldn't see.
"From what you've told me, wouldn't it be better to seek cooperation from the Yotsuba family as well?"
"That is true, but… our family and the Yotsuba are currently in a state of cold war."
"The feud between Koichi-dono and Maya-dono goes back a long way… It can't be helped. But why have relations deteriorated this badly?"
"I don't know the details myself, but apparently, my Old Fox of a father attempted unauthorized access to data regarding the Yotsuba family's private forces. He got caught, and now we're in this situation… So, I will ask you once again. Will you form a joint front with the Saegusa family?"
"I accept."
"…That was awfully quick."
"From what I have heard, the situation does not allow us the luxury of sitting idly by. The Juumonji family will issue the notification to the Master Clans Conference."
"I'm counting on you."
With the serious discussion concluded, Katsuto asked Mayumi a question that struck him rather late.
"A man and a woman in a locked room, yet you don't seem conscious of it at all… Talking to you, I start to wonder if you even see me as a man."
"That is a misunderstanding. A mis-un-der-standing. You are top-class in terms of manliness in my book, Juumonji-kun. But, you see…"
"We have been rivals since enrollment. I suppose becoming anything romantic is impossible at this point."
After they both laughed, Katsuto crossed his arms and fell into thought.
"What is it?"
"No, it's just… previously, when I told Shiba to 'Join the Ten Master Clans,' I recommended a 'Saegusa sister' to him… but I suppose there wouldn't have been any problem if it had been you, either."
"Wha—... What are you suddenly saying, Juumonji-kun!"
"Would you be opposed to it?"
Faced with an attack born of Katsuto's natural obliviousness, Mayumi could do nothing but let her cheeks burn bright red…
The oblivious Katsuto attacks! A critical hit on Mayumi! …Just kidding.
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