Soon, Mahiro and Miyuki arrived at their destination following the address left by Yotsuba Maya.
It was a VIP reception room in a military hotel.
Waiting for them at the entrance was the Yotsuba family's head butler, Hayama.
"Good day, Miyuki-sama, Mahiro-sama."
Dressed in his butler uniform, Hayama placed a hand over his right chest and bowed slightly.
"It's been a while, Hayama-san!"
Miyuki responded warmly. She had a favorable impression of Hayama, as he was one of the few in the Yotsuba family who remained strictly professional without mixing in personal biases. Moreover, he held high regard for both Mahiro and Tatsuya—especially Mahiro.
The phrase "Monstrously powerful, rivaling the strongest magician" had originated from Hayama himself.
Mahiro, however, looked at Hayama with slight surprise. This was the first time the butler had greeted him directly.
"Now, though it may seem impolite, I must ask the two of you to proceed to the reception room immediately."
"The Madam has been waiting for some time."
Mahiro and Miyuki said nothing, merely nodding in response. Hayama then placed both hands on the door handles and pushed them open forcefully.
Upon entering, they realized quite a few people were already present.
"Kuroba-ojisama, Ayako, Fumiya, Sakurai-san, and Oba-sama—good day to you all. It's been a while."
Miyuki exchanged greetings with those present, much like a gathering in aristocratic circles. Mahiro, uninterested, spotted Sayaka seated across from Maya and walked straight toward her.
Seeing Mahiro approach, Sayaka's face immediately brightened with joy.
"Congratulations, Mahiro, on winning the Ice Pillars Break. The match was spectacular, and you... looked very cool. But I'm sorry I couldn't congratulate you right away."
Sayaka held a teacup in her hands, her fingertips lightly tracing the rim.
It was a small habit of hers—something she did when nervous.
Mahiro noticed instantly and gently covered her hand with his own.
"That's all trivial, as long as you're alright. That woman didn't do anything to you, did she?"
The term "that woman" made Sayaka instinctively glance at Maya sitting across on the sofa. Seeing her smiling without any displeasure as she watched them, Sayaka finally relaxed.
Shaking her head gently, she replied with a graceful smile: "Lady Yotsuba has been very kind to me. We just had a long conversation about you and the Yotsuba family."
Then she turned to Miyuki and gave a slight nod: "Miyuki-san."
"Sayaka-senpai," Miyuki responded.
Their interaction was calm, and Sayaka showed no surprise at Miyuki's presence.
It seemed Maya had already revealed Miyuki's identity to Sayaka.
"It's been a while, my dear child."
At this moment, the extraordinarily elegant and beautiful woman across from them spoke up.
Her vermilion lips parted, releasing a voice as clear as a lark's song yet carrying a hint of forbidden allure.
"Not really that long. Compared to those days, how much time has actually passed?"
Mahiro looked up at the figure opposite him.
Maya's appearance remained completely unchanged.
Her smooth black hair cascaded down to her waist, possessing exquisite features that could intoxicate any man and a slender figure envied by women.
The black-and-red sensual dress she wore accentuated her curvaceous figure to perfection.
The fullness of her bosom seemed ready to burst through the fabric at any moment.
It was as if time had left no trace on her.
Her sitting posture was utterly casual - reclining lazily on the sofa, every movement exuding seduction.
"Aren't you going to explain your purpose for coming here personally?" Mahiro asked.
"No particular purpose."
Maya crossed her delicate legs slightly, revealing a section of pale white thigh beneath her skirt.
She picked up the rich, aromatic black tea and took a small sip from her crimson lips.
"Just a pitiful mother who was abandoned by her child, sneaking into the tournament to see her son."
"Hah... First, the idea that I abandoned you is complete nonsense. Leaving aside whether I could even do such a despicable thing, even if I wanted to abandon you, it would be impossible."
"Second, how exactly do you combine the words 'pitiful' and 'mother' to describe yourself? Doesn't that feel jarring?"
His blunt words shocked everyone present.
Whether it was Kuroba Mitsugu, Ayako and Fumiya, or even Miyuki - all looked at him in astonishment.
Hayama frowned slightly, about to reprimand him, but Maya stopped him.
"Mahiro-kun..."
Sayaka sitting beside him gently tugged at his sleeve.
"I'm fine."
Mahiro took a deep breath to calm his agitated emotions before looking at that woman again.
"Let's get to the point. If there's nothing important, I'll be leaving. I have things to do."
"What an impatient child..."
Seeing Mahiro about to leave, Maya turned to the young girl beside her: "Sayaka, would you mind taking Fumiya and Minami to tour the Nine Schools Competition venue?"
"They've been looking forward to seeing it so much."
The excuse couldn't have been more obvious.
Sayaka hesitated slightly upon hearing this but did not refuse.
After Mahiro arranged to have dinner with her, Sayaka left the reception room with Fumiya and Minami in tow.
Immediately afterward, Hayama and Kuroba Mitsugu also exited the room.
Meanwhile, Maya had already set down her teacup, resting her cheek on one hand.
Her inscrutable smile remained as she watched Mahiro the entire time.
"School life has been enjoyable, hasn't it?"
"Mhm."
"And you've caused me quite a bit of trouble, right?"
"Mhm."
"Was the CAD I sent you useful?"
"Mhm."
The exchange resembled an ordinary family conversation, with Mahiro responding only in monosyllables.
Yet in the next moment, Maya's tone suddenly shifted.
"It seems you've been quite diligent in carrying out the task I assigned you~"
"Mhm... Huh? What do you mean?"
He met Maya's gaze—those amethyst eyes sparkling with mischievous amusement.
"Chiba Erika, Shibata Mizuki, Kitayama Shizuku, Mitsui Honoka, Saegusa Mayumi, and the Mibu Sayaka who just left."
As if reciting a familiar list, Maya named every girl who had gathered around him.
"Ten Master Classes, Hundred Families lineage, renowned entrepreneurs, elemental bloodlines, and those with special talents. Quite impressive."
The woman's lips curved into an elegant smile, as though Mahiro's every move had been under her surveillance.
Mahiro's expression darkened completely upon hearing those names.
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