"You investigated me?"
"That's only natural."
Maya-sama raised her teacup gracefully, her movements calm, deliberate, and yet filled with the authority of the Yotsuba Head. She spoke without the slightest ripple in her voice. "No matter what, you are a magic engineer—no, more precisely, a magic adjuster—who was developed in the Fourth Research Institute. In essence, Mahiro-kun, you are still a possession of the Yotsuba Family. It is only natural that I should have the right to supervise you."
"…Are you serious?"
"Yes."
The moment that word left her lips, the air trembled.
A sharp wave of psions surged forth, invisible yet suffocating. It spread across the room and locked onto Maya's body, as if Mahiro could crush this fragile-looking woman with nothing but a thought.
"Mahiro-kun, yamete!"
Miyuki cried out, instantly sensing the abnormality. She grabbed Mahiro's sleeve tightly, her voice trembling. "Don't… don't act rashly!"
Even Ayako gasped aloud, her hands tightening into fists. She had no idea where to look or whom to side with. On one side was Yotsuba Maya, the great and terrifying Family Head. On the other was her most beloved cousin, the senpai who had protected her ever since she was a child.
And yet, when Maya lifted her gaze from the rim of her teacup and met Mahiro's burning eyes, there was no trace of fear.
No matter how sharp his killing intent was, she brushed it aside like the flutter of a moth's wings. Within the depths of her pupils was something far more unreadable—an emotion Mahiro could not name, an abyss masked behind a faint, mocking smile.
Then, as though bored with his threat, Maya-sama dropped a revelation like a blade across the table.
"But there was something that surprised even me. That girl who just left, Mibu Sayaka. You've already taken her as your woman, haven't you? Minami wasn't bad either, yet she was taken away first by someone outside. Why is that?"
"U—ugh?!!"
Mahiro let out a sound so uncharacteristically flustered that even he regretted it instantly. The psion waves he had been controlling unraveled in an instant, dissolving like mist under sunlight.
"A-ah…"
The strangled gasp this time came from Miyuki. Her delicate fingers covered her lips, but her wide eyes flickered with a storm of emotions—shock, jealousy, confusion—like molten fire clashing with ice within her soul.
She looked back and forth between Mahiro and Maya-sama, her breath unsteady.
As for Ayako, her world tilted violently. The pressure in her chest became unbearable, her limbs weakened as if drained of life, and a heavy dizziness filled her head. She nearly collapsed onto the sofa.
Her Mahiro-senpai—the one who had guided her since childhood, the one who had always stood before her, protecting her—had already been claimed by another woman?!
"Wha… what kind of nonsense is this?!" Ayako thought desperately. If this is just a dream… please, kami-sama, let me wake up right now!
"Oh my, what interesting reactions."
Maya's slender fingers lifted to cover her smile, her expression perfectly feigned—eyes wide with false surprise, lips curved in mock politeness. She looked every bit the picture of innocence, as though saying, Ara? Did I say something improper?
But the curve of her mouth betrayed her true delight. The wicked amusement of Yotsuba Maya could never be fully hidden.
"Aunt… is what you just said… really true?"
Miyuki finally found her voice. Though her face was pale, she placed a trembling hand over her chest and asked seriously.
"Miyuki, are you that concerned?"
"Yes."
Her answer came in a firm nod, though her voice was soft.
Ayako too, though quieter, could not tear her heart away from the question. Unlike Miyuki, however, she did not have the courage to directly demand answers from the Family Head.
But neither of them thought of asking Mahiro directly.
This detail made Maya-sama's eyes sparkle with even greater amusement.
"In that case… since you are both so concerned, how about this?" Maya tilted her head ever so slightly, her smile sharp enough to cut glass. "Miyuki, why don't you become Mahiro's bride? And Ayako as well."
"Eh?! Th-this…!"
Miyuki's composure shattered. She nearly choked on her own breath, her cheeks blooming red like fire. She knew her fate as a Yotsuba magician meant her marriage could never be her choice, but… to be thrown into such a proposal, so suddenly, and with Mahiro-nii of all people?!
Too fast. Too shocking. Too cruel.
Ayako, unlike Miyuki, didn't hesitate in the slightest. She stood up from the sofa, clenched her fists by her chest, and shouted with burning resolve, "Madam Head! I have no objection! I, Ayako, am willing to marry Mahiro-senpai!"
"..."
Yotsuba Mahiro pressed his palm against his forehead with a sigh, the headache building stronger than ever. "This has to be a joke… Yotsuba Maya, you really have way too much time on your hands."
"Oh my, Mahoro isn't satisfied with such an arrangement?"
Her tone was slow, deliberate, like she had already predicted his every word. Maya-sama gracefully sipped her black tea, her slender legs crossed elegantly while her painted toes tapped against the tatami in a playful rhythm.
Mahiro let out an exasperated breath. "Satisfied or not isn't even the point here! Do you honestly think this kind of occasion is suited for a joke like this?"
"It's not a joke, you know."
Setting her porcelain teacup back down, Maya-sama's eyes gleamed with a strange delight. "Koichi—head of the Saegusa Family—has been eagerly pressing to marry off his daughter to you. And you, my dear Mahiro, are now the most sought-after existence among the Hundred Families, the Eighteen Auxiliary Houses, and even the Ten Master Clans. Surely you realize this much, don't you?"
Her lips curved into a mischievous smile as she leaned forward slightly, her gaze soft yet piercing. "If I don't make a move quickly, my precious Mahoro might be snatched away~."
Mahiro twitched. A forty-year-old oba-san acting like some blushing maiden… how embarrassing.
Yet, of course, he understood what she was saying. He had already realized this much when Mayumi filled him in on her family troubles the other day.
And in this world of magicians, monogamy was never a binding concept. Quite the opposite—magicians sought to preserve and strengthen bloodlines by having multiple partners, creating branch families upon branch families.
But still…
Mahiro's eyes flickered toward Miyuki. His little sister's cheeks were flushed crimson, her hands pressed tightly over her knees as if to keep herself steady.
Turning his gaze back to Maya-sama, Mahiro exhaled and spoke firmly. "Forget it. I don't want to waste time arguing with you about this here. If you want to keep playing your games, then go ahead and watch my life like it's some cheap drama. I only have one request—don't you dare touch the people around me."
"That goes without saying."
Maya-sama's smile deepened, her voice dripping with an almost syrupy sweetness. "They are all my future daughters-in-law. Why on earth would I harm them? On the contrary, I'll protect them dearly… for your sake, of course."
Mahiro clicked his tongue. "Tch. Fine then. Enough of this nonsense—let's get to business. I want information on the international crime syndicate, Headless Dragon."
"Oh my?"
Maya-sama's eyes lifted ever so slightly, surprise flashing across them for just a moment before amusement quickly replaced it. "You're moving faster than I expected. I thought it would take you a few more days to uncover their involvement."
Mahiro narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that? Don't tell me you were meddling with the off-the-record gambling tied to the Nine Schools Competition."
Maya-sama chuckled softly, covering her lips with slender fingers. "Ara, how absurd. The Yotsuba Family would never stoop to such vulgar pursuits."
The delicate sound of her laugh echoed through the room like silver bells, but Mahiro wasn't fooled.
"Still…" she continued, "I can share information about Headless Dragon, but only if you answer me a question first."
Mahiro frowned. "What question?"
Maya's lips curved in a way that was almost hypnotic, her tone both teasing and sharp. "This revenge of yours… is it for the little Nanakusa girl? Or is it for Miyuki? Or perhaps… for someone else close to you?"
Her words were like barbed hooks, dragging at the truth he hadn't yet spoken aloud.
"If I said it was for Miyuki, would you believe me?"
At that, Miyuki's breath caught. Her sapphire eyes widened, shimmering with emotion as she looked at her brother.
Maya-sama's amusement only grew. "I believe you. Since it's my precious child speaking, how could I not believe?"
She leaned back into the sofa's embrace, eyes half-lidded in satisfaction. "But more than that, isn't this also revenge against their repeated provocations? Their arrogance? Their interference in what belongs to you?"
Mahiro didn't answer. He didn't have to—she had already read him like an open book.
Satisfied, Maya-sama set down her cup and spoke with a weight that shifted the air in the room. "Very well. I'll tell you. The head of the East Japan branch of the Headless Dragon syndicate is Douglas Huang, a trusted confidant of their leader, Richard Sun. And speaking of Richard Sun… there's a particularly interesting piece of information—something with a very direct connection to you."
She let the suspense hang deliberately, moistening her lips with another sip of tea before she continued. "Have you heard of Gide Schetz Black, the so-called 'Black Teacher'? He is the supreme commander of the terrorist organization Blanche. His relationship with Richard Sun is… complicated."
"I'm not interested in that," Mahiro cut her off sharply. "Just tell me where Douglas Huang is hiding. That's all I need."
Maya-sama giggled softly. "Hehe… as you wish. I'll have the necessary intel delivered to Ayako and Fumiya. The two of them will assist you during the operation."
Mahiro turned his eyes toward Ayako. She winked playfully at him, clearly more than ready for the task.
But Maya-sama wasn't finished. Her tone shifted again, soft yet unyielding. "Of course, this information isn't free. I also have… one condition."
Mahiro's lips twisted. "Figures. Fine—say it."
Her eyes glowed with that strange, enigmatic light that always seemed to hide three meanings in every word. "I need you to become the head of the Yotsuba Family."
The room fell silent. Miyuki gasped audibly, her hand flying to her lips. Ayako's playful expression faltered into shock.
Mahiro, however, merely narrowed his eyes, his calm expression hiding the storm that brewed beneath.
*****
Note that the information about Headless Dragon and Blanche is largely accurate except for the head of Blanche. I guess the author made it in that manner to fill in the blanks about the Japan's head of Blanche who died during the terrorist attack.
Gu Jie is said to be the overall head of Blanche but I'm not really sure.