Following the address left behind by Yotsuba Maya, Mahiro and Miyuki finally arrived at their destination. It wasn't a family estate or a private villa—it was a VIP reception room within a high-security military hotel.
Standing at the door, waiting like a silent sentinel, was the Yotsuba Family's head butler, Hayama.a
"Welcome, Miyuki-sama, Mahiro-sama." Hayama, dressed impeccably in his butler's uniform, placed his hand over his chest and gave a graceful bow.
"It's been far too long, Hayama-san!" Miyuki greeted him warmly, her voice carrying a softness that made her look almost relieved.
She had always held a good impression of Hayama. Among the Yotsuba Family's retainers—so many of whom were tainted by scheming and personal ambition—Hayama was one of the rare few who carried out his duties without malice or ulterior motives. His judgment was fair, his loyalty absolute. Even his opinion of Mahiro and Tatsuya had always been unusually high.
In fact, the phrase "a monster-like magician, strength rivaling the strongest" had first spread through the family because of Hayama's evaluation of Mahiro.
Mahiro, however, only glanced at him with mild surprise. It was the first time Hayama had ever greeted him directly.
"Then, although it may sound a little forward, please allow me to guide you. The Lady has been waiting for quite some time."
With that, Hayama opened the heavy double doors with both hands, the polished wood creaking softly as light spilled from the room inside.
The moment they stepped into the reception hall, they realized the gathering was far from small.
"Uncle Kuroba… Ayako, Fumiya, Sakurai-san, and Aunt," Miyuki said gracefully, bowing slightly like a proper noble daughter. "It's been a long time. I'm honored to see you all again."
Her manners were refined, the kind befitting the daughter of the Yotsuba. She was every bit the perfect ojou-sama.
Mahiro, however, didn't bother with pleasantries. His eyes swept the room until they landed on Sayaka, seated opposite Maya. Without hesitation, he strode toward her.
The moment Sayaka caught sight of him, her face brightened with a joyful expression.
"Mahiro, congratulations on your victory in the Icicle Offensive and Defensive Competition!" she said earnestly, her cheeks faintly flushed. "Your match was breathtaking. You looked… h-handsome, truly. I'm only sorry I couldn't say this sooner."
She was holding a delicate teacup, her slender fingers absently tracing the rim. It was a small, unconscious habit she had whenever she was nervous.
Mahiro noticed instantly, his eyes softening. He reached out, gently placing his hand over hers.
"Don't worry about small things like that. What matters is that you're safe. That woman didn't do anything to you, did she?"
The way he said "that woman" made Sayaka's gaze flicker nervously toward Maya.
But Yotsuba Maya only sat gracefully on the opposite sofa, watching them with an elegant smile. She showed no trace of anger, only an enigmatic amusement. Seeing that, Sayaka finally relaxed.
She shook her head lightly, her lips curving into a refined smile. "No, Yotsuba-sama has treated me with kindness. We merely spoke… a great deal about you, Mahiro-kun, and about the Yotsuba Family itself."
After answering, Sayaka turned her head to where Miyuki stood and gave her a polite nod. "Miyuki-san."
"Mibui-senpai," Miyuki echoed warmly.
The two young women seemed perfectly at ease with one another, almost as if they had met countless times before. Mahiro quickly realized—Maya must have already revealed Miyuki's identity to Sayaka.
At that moment, a voice, smooth and captivating, finally reached his ears.
"It has been far too long, my dear child."
The speaker was none other than Yotsuba Maya herself, the matriarch of the family.
Her crimson lips curved as her voice, as clear as a songbird yet laced with forbidden allure, filled the room.
"It hasn't been that long, has it?" Mahiro replied coolly. His eyes rose to meet hers across the polished table. "For people like us, time barely passes at all compared to those days."
Opposite him sat a woman whose beauty seemed untouchable by age. Yotsuba Maya's appearance remained unchanged, as though time itself dared not touch her.
Her long, silky black hair cascaded smoothly down to her waist, framing a face so flawless that it seemed sculpted by the gods. Her slender figure was one that women would envy and men could easily lose themselves in.
Especially eye-catching was the black and crimson dress she wore. It wrapped around her curvaceous body with such elegance that it accentuated every alluring line. The fullness of her chest seemed ready to break free, and yet her poise remained composed, refined, untouchable.
It was as though she existed outside of time. Even her posture exuded a languid charm—half-reclined against the sofa, every slight gesture carrying an aura that could entrance anyone.
"Aren't you going to tell me yourself, Maya-san, the real purpose of coming here?" Yotsuba Mahiro asked, his tone sharper than the others in the room expected.
"There's no particular purpose," Maya replied casually.
She crossed her delicate ankles with a subtle motion, the hem of her dress parting just enough to reveal the pale, jade-like skin of her leg. With one hand she lifted a porcelain cup of rich black tea, its faint aroma filling the air, and she took a small sip from its crimson rim.
"It's just that a poor, pitiful mother—abandoned by her own son—came secretly to the Nine Schools Competition to see him again."
"Heh… stop joking, Maya-san." Mahiro's lips curled in defiance. "First of all, the idea that I abandoned you is absurd. Even if I wanted to, which I don't, it would be impossible for me to do such a heartless thing. Secondly, combining the words 'poor' and 'mother' with yourself? Don't you think that sounds… a little ridiculous?"
His blunt words made the room fall into stunned silence.
Kuroba Mitsugu's eyes widened. Ayako and Fumiya were frozen stiff. Even Shiba Miyuki, who was usually composed, turned to Mahiro in astonishment.
"Mahiro-kun…" Sayaka tugged gently at his sleeve, her voice carrying concern.
"I'm fine," he replied firmly.
Hayama frowned, clearly intending to scold Mahiro for his tone, but Maya raised her hand lightly, halting him. She showed no anger, only a faint, unreadable smile.
Mahiro inhaled slowly, steadying the heat rising inside him. When he spoke again, his voice was calm. "Let's not waste time on wordplay, Maya-san. If there's nothing important, then I'll be on my way. I have things to do."
"You're still as impatient as ever, Mahiro-kun," Maya said with a quiet chuckle.
But instead of stopping him directly, her gaze shifted toward Sayaka. "Sayaka-chan, could I trouble you to escort Fumiya-kun and Minami-chan around the venue? They've been so eager to see the Nine Schools Competition."
The excuse was transparent, yet Sayaka hesitated only briefly before nodding. After all, she had already promised Mahiro they would eat together later. Taking the children with her, she left the reception room.
Hayama and Kuroba Mitsugu also excused themselves soon after, leaving only the two Yotsuba in the room.
Maya placed her teacup down gently, propping her chin on one slender hand. Her lips curved ever so slightly, her violet eyes gleaming with an enigmatic amusement as they locked onto Mahiro.
"School life is treating you well, isn't it?"
"Mm."
"And you've managed to stir up quite a bit of trouble for me, haven't you?"
"Mm."
"The CAD I sent you has been useful?"
"Mm."
Their exchange sounded almost like an ordinary conversation between family members. Mahiro's curt responses of "Mm" were meant to keep things simple, but he should have known better—Maya was never simple.
Because the very next moment, her tone shifted.
"It seems, Mahiro-kun, that you've been diligently completing the assignments I left for you~"
"Mm—Eh? What do you mean by that?"
His eyes narrowed as he met her gaze. Her irises, shimmering like deep amethyst crystals, sparkled with a playful cruelty.
"Chiba Erika, Shibata Mizuki, Kitayama Shizuku, Mitsui Honoka, Saegusa Mayumi… and even the recently departed Mibu Sayaka."
Her voice was like silk, soft yet suffocating, as she listed the names one by one. Names of the girls who had become entwined with his life.
"The Ten Master Clans, the Hundred Families, powerful business heirs, elementally gifted families, and those with rare talents… You've managed to gather quite the collection around yourself, Mahiro-kun."
Maya's smile deepened, elegant and merciless, as though every single one of his connections had already been catalogued in her mind.
Mahiro's expression darkened completely. Hearing each name spoken aloud, one after the other, was like being stripped bare in front of her piercing gaze.