“…And it felt totally awful.”

“I see… I’m surprised you remained calm.”

It was that night, April 13, 2096. They’d been told there were guests today, so after the kids had finished dinner by themselves (though their eldest and next-eldest brothers hadn’t gotten home yet), Kasumi visited her twin’s room and had been griping about the afterschool events ever since.

“Yeah, well. I guess it was a good thing, too, considering all the stuff I would have had to do after. But if you ask me, I wanted to knock his lights out.”

Kasumi, who had been sitting on the carpet hugging a cushion, took that cushion as though it were a virtual Takuma and slammed it against the floor a few times.

“Anyway…from what you’ve told me, Shippou’s attitude seemed to go beyond unfriendly.”

“Oh, don’t put a ribbon on it. He had a chip on his shoulder was what it was.”

“All right, all right. Regarding his belligerent attitude, I find it hard to explain simply through the lens of a club committee exec being aggressive toward a disciplinary committee member.”

“That’s right! That’s why I said he was trying to pick a fight with a Saegusa as a Shippou,” insisted Kasumi firmly, slamming the cushion again.

Izumi didn’t deny it. “Leaving aside whether he did so as a Shippou, I also sense some personal hostility in him.”

Her unexpected comment led to Kasumi blinking several times, her cushion still in its down-swung state. “You mean he has a personal grudge against us outside of the family one?”

“A grudge? Kasumi… Well, perhaps it is something along those lines.” Izumi, showing confusion at Kasumi’s hyperbole, nodded, then made a face like she was listening to something inside herself. “I hear the current head of the Shippou is the mild-mannered sort. Judging solely from rumors, I don’t think he’ll come at the Saegusa directly, but…”

At about the same time, the current head of the Saegusa, Kouichi Saegusa, was welcoming an expected guest.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Maki Sawamura.”

“We’ve been waiting for you. I am Mayumi, eldest daughter of the family. Please—this way.”

Mayumi was the one to receive her. This was no coincidence—Kouichi had ordered her to show the woman in. As she showed Maki to the visitors’ dining hall, she had a hidden curiosity—or rather, a suspicion.

This woman is Maki Sawamura the actress, right? What could a celebrity want with the Ten Master Clans…?

Had a politician or businessperson visited, regardless of gender, Mayumi wouldn’t have thought it was strange. Also, celebrities wanting magicians’ assistance wasn’t exactly commonplace, but it wasn’t rare, either. The Ten Master Clans, however, were too powerful to be used for troubles in the entertainment world.

“Father, I’ve brought Ms. Sawamura.”

She thought this was shady but didn’t show it on her face. With the perfect attitude of a well-bred young woman welcoming a guest, she led Maki to the dining room in which her father waited.

After turning Mayumi back at the door and having the housekeeper who showed Maki to her seat leave as well, Kouichi, still seated, addressed her.

“Is this the second time we’ve met?”

Maki, also seated in a chair, smiled nicely. “I’m honored you remember that.”

“You’re very welcome. Please—before it gets cold.”

Everything from appetizers to the main course had been laid out on the table. Dishes weren’t being served separately because Kouichi thought of this as a secret meeting. Maki wasn’t displeased with this, either.

“Thank you very much,” responded Maki before taking her knife and fork in hand. Behind her word choices, carefully picked to be casual but still polite enough, her table manners were perfect.

When Kouichi saw that, it seemed to Maki that he smiled with satisfaction.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” said Kouichi apologetically, though it wasn’t clear how he’d interpreted the gaze—perhaps he’d misconstrued it. “I understand that wearing these glasses indoors is somewhat rude.”

“No, I certainly understand the need for them.”

Kouichi had been wrapped up in an international kidnapping incident targeting magicians when he was fourteen, and during a battle he’d lost his right eye. Now that he was an adult and had stopped growing, he used a false one, but when he was in his teens he had been famous in magic circles as the Eyepatch Magician. Even now, he favored slightly tinted glasses that would help others feel more comfortable with the fake eye. It was readily available information.

Once they finished the main dish while exchanging small talk, Maki straightened her posture. She’d wanted to bring up the topic in a more spontaneous manner, but Kouichi had never given her an opening during their meal.

“To tell the truth, there was something I wanted to let you know about, which was the reason for this visit today.”

Just as Mayumi had finished changing into normal clothes and was taking a break, her door intercom went off.

“Big Sister, it’s Izumi. May I intrude?”

“Sure. Come in.”

Come in was the password. Their HAR’s voice-recognition interface picked up her voice and released the lock on the door. Izumi and Kasumi both came in.

“I apologize, but there was something we wished your opinion on.”

Mayumi was a little surprised by the business Izumi had come to her with. Since they’d asked for her opinion, this didn’t have anything to do with their school studies or magical training.

“What is it?”

“Sis, do you know what kind of person the Shippou family head is?”

The first thing Mayumi thought was Why would you want to know that? but she quickly realized the answer.

“Kasu…”

Mayumi realized her own eyes had glossed over without having to see her sisters react.

“Wh-what?” Not only did Kasumi’s voice crack—her eyes were wandering. Seeing that response, Mayumi realized her gut instinct was correct.

“You got into a fight with Shippou, didn’t you?”

“How did you know?!”

Kasumi suddenly confessed (or did something like it) without trying to play dumb, when in reality, she had intended to try to lie her way out of it. Mayumi’s tone had been so forceful that she’d accidentally answered honestly.

“What am I going to do with you…?”

“Please wait a moment, Big Sister,” interrupted Izumi when Mayumi immediately assumed a pose like she was about to launch into a lecture. “It is true that Kasumi very nearly got into a personal bout with Shippou, but I would say that Shippou holds more of the blame for this incident than she does.”

Mayumi looked at Izumi suspiciously. But Izumi’s gaze was firm and steady. Mayumi heaved a sigh and her expression loosened. “All right. I believe you.”

Upon hearing those words, Kasumi sighed in relief, and her tension dissolved. She glanced at Izumi, probably to signal her deepest gratitude.

“You wanted to know what kind of person the Shippou family head is, right?” Mayumi narrowed her eyes, clearly thinking about it a little. “Let’s see… I haven’t ever directly met him, but I think he’s a dependable, careful person.”

“Dependable and careful?” repeated Izumi, not getting it. Dependable and careful applied to so many people that it didn’t even seem like a real description to her.

“Yes. He’s dependable, careful, and you never know what he’s really thinking. He puts together plans and makes deals, keeps risks to a minimum without getting greedy for results, and always gets to where he needs to be. That type of person.”

Mayumi gave that answer fully aware of what her sister’s question had meant. But it only gave her sisters more questions.

“But that seems like…”

“Yes. It would seem to be the opposite of the attitude Shippou had with you, Kasu.”

“Then that means he’s not scheming something for his family?”

“But whatever he is planning, he can only do so much as a high school student. No matter how high his magic power is, he must understand it will only take him so far.”

“Maybe he has some kind of support from outside his family?”

“…Isn’t that a bit of a stretch?” asked Mayumi, unable to stop herself from interjecting into her sisters’ inferences as they escalated.

“…Ha-ha, I guess so.”

“…Yes, we must be thinking too much about it.”

That’s what they said, and they smiled, but neither of them looked really convinced.

Kouichi didn’t say a single word while Maki was talking. When she was finished, he took the wineglass on the table in his hand. After downing the remaining quarter-glass of ruby liquid, he set it back down, making a soft noise.

“So,” he said, finally looking back at her, “you mean to say your father plans to go back on his word on his secret pact with the anti-magic advocates?”

Maki nodded, a clear yes to his slowly spoken question. “I believe that ideologically opposing magic is unrealistic, harmful propaganda. Taking such a stance will only lead to strangling oneself in the end, and I’ve been able to make my father understand that.”

“Thank you. You seem like someone capable of rational judgment.” Kouichi bowed slightly in thanks, his eyes encouraging her to continue.

“I believe magic’s benefits should be treated as more valuable to society. My thoughts are that there is still room to see it put to good use in many fields—not only for military and police, but for other things, like the media and visual entertainment.”

“The media aside—entertainment? That’s quite a novel idea.”

“Just to be sure you don’t misunderstand me, I do not mean to treat magicians as display objects. I’ve no intent whatsoever to create a new form of magical street performance.”

“Really?”

“Movie filming, more often than not, comes with danger. And there is never a time we don’t worry about whether special effects or stunt artists will be able to accurately portray reality. It goes without saying for the film crew, but magic has limitless value for actors, actresses, and the support staff as well.”

“…Go on,” prompted Kouichi, his face one of keen interest.

“Many magicians face unfortunate treatment because they haven’t reached a level where they can use magic in actual fighting—but I fully believe there are just as many places for them to display their power in the movie and news worlds.”

“I see.”

“I would like to ask you to allow me to scout magicians who are stuck without opportunities and give them a chance to use this precious talent of magic. In that vein, I’ve prepared compensation that I’m sure will meet with your approval.”

Maki paused here and peered into Kouichi’s face. She took a breath, pretending to muster her courage, then pressed her case further.

“To magicians, I’m an outsider. I haven’t had the chance to become familiar with any, either. However, I would like to be good neighbors and close friends with them. That is what I’d very much like you to understand.”

“Which is why you’re disrupting anti-magic advocate plans?”

“It may be a drop in the ocean, but even so, I wanted to express my sincerity.”

“And in exchange, you want me to approve of you scouting magicians?”

Kouichi preempted Maki’s demand, but Maki didn’t seem rattled. She’d planned for this level of insight from him. “I would never be shameless enough to demand you approve of it—simply giving your tacit approval would be enough.”

For a short while, Kouichi looked at Maki’s face, amused. “Ms. Sawamura, you seem to be someone talented not only as an actress, but as a negotiator as well.”

Kouichi, of course, hadn’t simply complimented her as his words would imply on the surface. Maki focused so that she wouldn’t miss his true thoughts. However, there was no need to.

“You’re too skilled at concealing your motives, though. A regrettable thing, I feel. Depending on the time and place, revealing your real motives can draw people to the negotiating table who otherwise wouldn’t have listened.”

Kouichi laid his own cards on the table easily.

“You never told a lie. But your goal in making game pieces out of magicians isn’t just to produce television shows. You’d also like to gather them as a more direct form of strength. Am I wrong?”

Unrest shot through Maki’s face. But it only lasted for the slightest of moments. Using her natural acting skills, she forced her emotions back down. “I fear I’ve underestimated you.”

Even from where Kouichi sat, Maki seemed to be apologizing sincerely. That bonus point with him earned Maki victory.

“As long as you stay away from magicians with connections to the Saegusa, I will not interfere with you.”

Maki’s downcast eyes shot back up. “Really?”

Just like that, she relinquished control over her own emotions, but it didn’t subtract any points with Kouichi.

“I promise it.”

“Thank you so much.”

Maki realized she’d won her gamble. She’d lost her deal with Kouichi Saegusa in terms of points—but she’d succeeded in removing the greatest threat to her realizing the new order of her dreams.

After sending Maki away, Kouichi returned to his quarters, and after locking the door tight, he headed for the telephone. He pressed the call button and waited ten seconds. The small display on his table came up. It was the face of the elder Kudou.

“Sensei, I apologize for calling so late.”

Kouichi didn’t call Retsu Kudou “Old Master” or “Your Excellency,” but “Sensei,” the Japanese word for teacher. It was an old habit from back when Kudou had taught him privately along with Miya and Maya Yotsuba.

“I don’t mind. It must be important, hmm?”

“Yes. I have something incredibly important to discuss,” said Kouichi, leaning over the desk a little. From the other side of the camera, it would have looked like he’d brought his face closer to speak privately. In fact, what Kouichi was about to start was a secret meeting—and a conspiracy.

“I just had a visit from a guest related to the mass media,” he began, before explaining that USNA humanists (anti-magic advocates) were manipulating the mass media there and plotting negative campaigns against magicians. “From what I heard today, their machinations against the media have progressed very far.”

“I know you—this isn’t the first you learned of it. You’ve been doing an exhaustive investigation of these media manipulations, haven’t you?” asked Kudou, not even smirking.

“You’ve seen through me,” said Kouichi without compunction, confirming what Kudou had said.

Kudou, actually, was the one whose expression changed then. “I suppose I’ll ask you.” With tiredness creeping into his face, he asked, “What is it you’re planning?”

“The Yotsuba are too strong. So strong that they could upset the balance of the Ten Master Clans in the near future—and even the nation itself. Do you not think so as well, Sensei?”

Kouichi’s answer to Kudou’s question appeared unrelated at first.

“You want to use the anti-magic movement to reduce the Yotsuba’s power?”

But Kudou read between the lines perfectly. Put differently, that meant the Kudou elder nursed the same concern as Kouichi.

“There is a student at First High who is deeply involved with the 101st Brigade. There is a cozy relationship between the military and the high school in charge of the teenage boy. Don’t you think the media and humanitarian politicians would find that subject to their liking?”

“Your daughters are going to First High, too, aren’t they?”

“In this case, the students would be victims and nothing more.”

“First High’s principal is in a neutral position…and he’s turned down joining your faction, yes?”

“That’s right—but that’s a trivial matter. What I see as important is the link between the 101st and the Yotsuba.”

It was more than ten seconds before Kudou could respond to that. “…So that’s your aim.”

“Not all of it, but the rest is still firmly in the area of speculation. What do you think, Sensei? I believe that tolerating negative campaigns on a limited basis would also relieve some of the anti-magic movement’s tides. Their target of attack is still in high school—if we play our cards right, we could even turn public opinion against the movement. I think this has numerous merits for the Ten Master Clans.”

“I’m in no position to authorize your plan. And I’ve never had that sort of authority to begin with.”

“You may not have authority, but you have influence.”

“…I will not oppose your plan.”

“That is all I ask. Thank you very much.”

Kouichi ended the call with satisfaction on his face. Kudou Retsu’s expression on the screen just before it disappeared was one devoid of ambition, as befitted one his age.