Nearly a week had passed since the conclusion of the Nine Schools Competition.
This past week, he had slept to his heart's content—never waking up before he naturally felt like it, and even then, a beautiful girl was always there to prepare breakfast for him.
Perhaps, this was what the pinnacle of life felt like?
However, today, his blissful routine was shattered by a phone call.
"Mayumi-senpai...?"
Still bleary-eyed, he mustered enough energy to glance at the caller ID and couldn't help but mutter in confusion, "It's still summer vacation, right? What's she calling me for at this hour?"
As soon as the call connected, a familiar greeting reached his ears.
"Mahiro-kun?"
"Ah, it's me, senpai... What's the occasion for calling at this time... yawn~"
"Mahiro-kun... it's already noon, you know? Don't tell me you're still asleep?" The voice on the other end sounded slightly incredulous, her phrasing odd.
"What's wrong with noon? I'm pretty sure it's still summer vacation... If I'm not sleeping, am I supposed to get up and study in advance?"
Mahiro joked, but a faint, displeased "Hmph~" could be heard from the other side.
This was followed by a sigh before Mayumi's voice returned.
"Mahiro-kun, do you remember what you promised me on the last day of the Nine Schools Competition?"
"Promised what...?"
Mahiro frowned, racking his brain.
He was desperately trying to recall...
He remembered that on the day the Nine Schools Competition ended, as they rode the bus back, Mayumi had still been sitting beside him.
And she had asked him:
"Um... Mahiro-kun, does what we talked about on the way here still count?"
"Of course."
"Thank you so much, Mahiro-kun! Then, take a good rest at home for the next few days, and come visit me in five days, okay?"
"Sure, no problem!"
No problem...
No problem...
No problem.
—End of recollection.
Mahiro: "...."
"Sorry, senpai, I completely forgot about that... But wait for me, I'll be there right away!!!"
Without even waiting for a response from the other end, Mahiro bolted upright from bed, threw on his clothes, dashed into the bathroom for a lightning-fast wash-up, and then sprinted out of his room at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
Sakurai Minami, who had been cleaning the living room, only felt a gust of wind brush past her.
"...Was that... Mahiro-sama?"
"Minami, I'm heading out! Be good and stay home!"
"Eh? But what about lunch?"
"Not today. You can eat by yourself! I'll be back later!"
"But..."
Before Minami could finish speaking, the sound of the front door opening was already heard. She stared blankly at the closed door again and couldn't help murmuring:
"But skipping meals isn't good... Mahiro-sama, you get hypoglycemic..."
If there was one flaw to speak of, this might be Mahiro's only physical weakness.
Unfortunately, he himself had never properly acknowledged this fact.
After leaving home, Mahiro followed the map navigation sent by Mayumi, transferred trains three times, and walked a long distance under the scorching sun before arriving at a grand gate.
The sheer scale of the building and its gardens made it clear—this was indeed the Saegusa residence.
Its grandeur completely matched that of the Yotsuba main house!
"Who are you? Why are you at our gate?"
Just as he was about to press the doorbell, the gate leading to the entrance suddenly opened, accompanied by a sharp voice.
One of two strikingly similar-looking girls had called out to him.
"Kasumi, that's very rude!"
The other girl, with slightly longer hair and a more delicate demeanor, scolded the one named Kasumi.
She then stepped forward and bowed slightly, saying:
"My apologies for my sister's rudeness. May I ask who you are and what brings you to the Saegusa residence?"
In contrast, this girl was indeed polite and naturally likable.
"No problem. I'm Yotsuba Mahiro, here at the invitation of Saegusa Mayumi-senpai. Pardon my intrusion."
Mahiro offered a courteous smile as he spoke.
But the moment the words left his mouth, the reactions of the two girls turned strangely intense.
"So... you're... Mahiro-nii-san?"
The previously well-mannered girl trembled, covering her mouth as if witnessing some unbelievable marvel!
Kasumi's reaction was even more startling—she practically leaped at him!
"Mahiro-nii-san, we finally meet you! You're even more handsome in person than in the recordings!"
Mahiro: "???"
Wait, little girl, who are you calling "nii-san"?
We've never met before, right?
And I'm not some rare animal—no need to stare at me like that.
"Kasumi, Izumi, what are you doing? You can't leave a guest standing outside!"
At that moment, Mayumi suddenly appeared at the entrance.
She first reprimanded the two girls verbally, then stepped forward to peel Kasumi off him.
When Kasumi stubbornly refused to let go, Mayumi smacked her on the head.
Only then did Kasumi finally detach herself.
"Sorry about that, kouhai. Must be embarrassing to see this." Mayumi smiled wryly. "These are my younger sisters, Saegusa Kasumi and Saegusa Izumi."
"I'm Saegusa Kasumi, the older sister."
"I'm Saegusa Izumi, the younger sister."
"Nice to meet you, Mahiro-nii-san."
The two girls spoke like a comedy duo, finishing each other's sentences before introducing themselves in unison.
"Nice to meet you too, Izumi-chan and Kasumi-chan... I didn't bring any gifts for our first meeting, but I'll make it up to you next time."
As he spoke, he handed the gift he had brought to Mayumi.
"Really? Mahiro-nii-san?!"
"If you say so, then Kasumi won't hold back!"
The two girls looked at him with sparkling eyes, full of anticipation.
"Kasumi! Izumi!"
Mayumi gave them a slight glare before turning to Mahiro. "Mahiro-kun, you really don't have to do this. You're being too polite."
At this moment, Mayumi's feelings were complicated.
She knew very well that Mahiro's financial situation wasn't the best. Yet, despite that, he had brought her a gift and even prepared presents for her two younger sisters.
Moreover, the reason she had invited Mahiro over today wasn't entirely pure to begin with.
It made her feel somewhat guilty.
"Ahaha... It's fine, really. It's nothing much." Mahiro waved his hand, signaling for Mayumi not to worry about it.
Then, under the guidance of Mayumi and the twins, he entered the Saegusa family residence.
"By the way, Mahiro-kun, there's something I should tell you in advance. Aside from my father, there are two other guests here today."
"Then did I come at a bad time?"
"No, it's perfect timing." Mayumi shook her head with a gentle smile.
"I see..."
It was then that he noticed Mayumi's outfit for the day.
She wore simple yet elegant loungewear, draped with a white shawl-like outer coat. Even her usual wavy long hair wasn't left loose as before—instead, it was tied into a low ponytail resting on her back.
She exuded the aura of a virtuous wife and loving mother.
At the same time, they passed through the front hall and arrived at the main reception room in the back.
On the sofa sat a middle-aged man wearing sunglasses, his handsome features from youth still faintly discernible.
His expression was stern, and a cold glint could be seen in his single visible eye beneath the sunglasses. He wore a black outfit, every button meticulously fastened.
He carried the presence of a formidable figure.
Across from him sat two guests—a man and a woman.
The man had an average appearance, exuding a scholarly and somewhat unconfident demeanor, while the woman sat in a wheelchair, looking delicate and fragile.
After Mayumi's introduction, the man on the sofa was revealed to be her father—Saegusa Kouichi.
The man opposite was Itsuwa Hirofumi, the fiancé Mayumi had once mentioned as the source of her troubles.
And the woman in the wheelchair, nearing thirty, was the eldest daughter of the Itsuwa family—Japan's only publicly acknowledged Strategic-Class Magician, Itsuwa Mio!
She was also the sister who troubled Mayumi the most.
However, during the introductions, Mayumi seemed to do it on purpose—she leaned against Mahiro's arm.
Though her face instantly flushed red, she chose to persist.
"Hello, I am Yotsuba Mahiro. Please forgive my sudden visit," Mahiro said politely, addressing the three of them.
"I am the head of the Saegusa family, Saegusa Kouichi—Mayumi's father. You may call me Uncle. Though this is our first meeting, Yotsuba Maya and I are old acquaintances." Saegusa Kouichi stood up with a smile.
Originally displeased with Mayumi's sudden departure, Kouichi felt a surge of happiness upon seeing his daughter bring back the rumored Yotsuba Mahiro.
In his mind, Yotsuba Mahiro was the top candidate to be the Saegusa family's son-in-law!
"Hello, I'm Itsuwa Mio. I've heard a lot about you from Mayumi. Seeing you now, you certainly live up to your reputation," Itsuwa Mio praised.
The young man before her carried an even more striking presence than what she had seen in recordings. His handsome features and refined demeanor already surpassed her younger brother by a considerable margin.
If he were to compete with Hirofumi for Mayumi's affection... would Hirofumi even stand a chance?
She hoped Saegusa Kouichi would keep things within the family. The thought of Yotsuba Mahiro, an outsider, snatching away the sister-in-law she favored naturally left a sour taste in Mio's mouth.
Thus, the gaze she directed at Mahiro wasn't exactly friendly.
"Hello, Mahiro-kouhai. I'm Itsuwa Hirofumi, a former student of First High School," Itsuwa Hirofumi said with a bitter smile.
Setting aside magical prowess, just this single meeting made Hirofumi feel like he had already lost.
Not to mention how close Mayumi and Mahiro seemed to be.
"Hehe, Mahiro-kun, don't just stand there dumbfounded. Come sit—I'll pour you some tea."
Mayumi pulled him onto the sofa to the side, creating a three-way standoff.
True to her word, she poured him a refreshing cup of barley tea.
Her domestic charm instantly filled the air with a faint, simmering tension.
The brief silence was soon broken by two exclamations.
"Wow, we have a guest! So handsome! Hey hey, I'm Saegusa Kasumi, Mayumi-nee's little sister!"
"I'm Saegusa Izumi, also Mayumi-nee's little sister!"
"Hello, I'm Yotsuba Mahiro, Mayumi-senpai's junior."
Kasumi and Izumi, two little girls holding hands, skipped into the living room and excitedly circled around Mahiro.
Mayumi was utterly exasperated.
They had just met earlier, yet now they were acting as if it were their first encounter. What were they scheming? As their older sister, she knew exactly what they were up to!
The worst part was that Mahiro-kouhai was even playing along with their act!
"Hehe, did big brother come here to ask our father for Mayumi-nee's hand in marriage?" Kasumi blinked her big eyes, as if deliberately fanning the flames.
"I think so too! Mayumi-nee has never invited a boy home before—their relationship must be special... right, nee-san?"
Listening to her little sisters spout such shameless nonsense, Mayumi smacked her own forehead.
"That's enough. Where are your manners? You should greet your elders first," Kouichi snapped coldly.
Only then did the twins "notice" the awkwardly seated Itsuwa siblings—Mio and Hirofumi—and stuck out their tongues playfully, embodying the lively mischief of little girls.
"Oh... oh! Mio-nee, Hirofumi-nii, you're here too!" The twins giggled as they obediently sat beside Kouichi.
These two sisters were not only as beautiful as Mayumi but had also inherited her cunning and devilish prankster nature.
Their behavior was entirely deliberate—aimed squarely at the Itsuwa siblings.
"Mmm, it seems Izumi and Kasumi have grown up quite a bit. Hirofumi, you should talk to them more," Itsuwa Mio said with a smile.
"..."
Hirofumi, who had been sipping tea to calm his nerves, nearly choked.
Seriously, nee-san? They're still so young!
Hirofumi felt somewhat helpless. He truly didn't want his sister or family interfering in his love life, but unfortunately, being born into one of the Ten Master Clans meant he had no freedom when it came to marriage.
Ultimately, everything was for the sake of inheriting the family's superior magical genes.
"Brother Hirofumi, perhaps you should consider it. My younger sisters are all very cute, and actually... I think... I think we aren't suited for each other. Of course, it's entirely my fault. You're a good person, Brother Hirofumi, there's nothing wrong with you."
Mayumi delivered this "good person" card with an apologetic tone.
But at a time like this, such words were undoubtedly twisting the knife in Itsuwa Hirofumi's heart.
Even though Hirofumi had long given up on the idea of marrying Mayumi, hearing this still made his heart bleed!!!
Seeing this, Mahiro decided to twist the knife further. "Mayumi-senpai is right," he said. "She likes me, and I like Mayumi-senpai too."
If they were going to put on an act, they might as well go all out.
To emphasize his point, he even tightly clasped Mayumi's hand, intertwining their fingers.
By now, Mayumi's face was practically steaming, flushed with embarrassment, but she still nodded in silent agreement.
Witnessing their intimacy, Kasumi and Izumi couldn't help but gasp in shock, looking even more flustered than Mayumi herself.
As for Hirofumi, he looked as if he had swallowed bitter melon and coptis root—so bitter he couldn't even speak.
His sister, Mio, frowned delicately, never expecting this boy to actually dare compete with the Itsuwa family for a bride.
She had high hopes for her brother's marriage to Mayumi and had long planned for them to wed after Mayumi graduated.
No matter what, she couldn't give up now!
Mio fixed her gaze on Mahiro, her expression grave, though it soon smoothed over as she asked, "Mahiro-kun... you don't mind me calling you that, do you?"
"Not at all, Mio-san."
"Good. Then, Mahiro-kun, let me ask you—what do you plan to do after graduation?"
"I haven't really thought about it yet."
"So, you haven't made any plans for the future, have you?"
The moment Mio said this, Mayumi's expression shifted slightly. Even Kouichi furrowed his brow, picking up on the underlying implications.
Then, Mio continued, "Moreover, I've heard some things among the Ten Master Clans. Mahiro-kun, you've already been abandoned by the Yotsuba family, haven't you?"
"...What are you trying to say?"
Mahiro also sensed the hostility in her words. His smile faded, replaced by an unreadable calm.
"I'm asking you—with no future and no family standing, do you really think you're worthy of Mayumi's excellence? Can you give her the future she deserves?"
"Perhaps you should consider someone else. For example, Izumi and Kasumi—their ages suit you better, don't they?"
Under normal circumstances, the twin sisters might have been delighted to hear the latter half of that statement. But after such cutting remarks, their expressions darkened with displeasure.
They never expected Mio-nee to say something so cruel!
Meanwhile, Kouichi watched Mahiro with interest, curious to see how he would handle this relentless strategic-class magician.
After all, he had three daughters—plenty to go around for both of them.
"Mio-nee, that's going too far!"
Mayumi could no longer hold back and spoke up, "No matter what, Mahiro-kun is the one I chose, and his excellence is recognized by all in the Ten Master Clans!"
However, Mio completely ignored Mayumi's rebuttal, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Mahiro.
Mahiro gently patted Mayumi's hand in response.
When Mayumi turned to look, she noticed that Mahiro's face had once again curved into a smile—though this one was different from any she had seen before. It carried a dangerous edge!
Especially when he picked up his teacup and took a slow sip. Behind his sunglasses, Kouichi's pupils constricted sharply, his heart skipping a beat.
In that moment, he saw the shadow of Yotsuba Maya in this young man!
The mannerisms, the demeanor, the smile—it was identical!
Without a doubt, this was undoubtedly Yotsuba Maya's child.
If anyone could have glimpsed inside the teacup at that moment, they might have even spotted a few fleeting meteors flashing by.
Mahiro leisurely set down his tea, crossed his legs, and with an elegant smile hanging on his lips, spoke: "I must admit, you're quite right, Miss Itsuwa. At present, I indeed possess nothing."
"But that doesn't mean I won't in the future."
"Moreover, since Mayumi has made it clear she doesn't care for Itsuwa-senpai, he should set his sights on other girls instead of clinging stubbornly to one tree."
"It doesn't matter if Mayumi doesn't like him now—feelings can be cultivated over time. Marriages among the Ten Master Clans aren't decided by personal preference alone," Mio countered.
The Ten Master Clans often intermarried among themselves, and even when no suitable matches were found within, they would select from the Hundred Families. Mio's rejection of Mahiro was simple—
In her eyes, he was nothing more than a discarded pawn cast aside by the Yotsuba main family, a fallen branch of a once-great lineage, utterly unworthy of Saegusa Mayumi!
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