Chapter 9

The following is the English translation:

---

This is the headquarters of the Club Alliance, just before school lets out.

"——That's the detailed account of how the Kendo Club's recruitment demonstration was disrupted by the Swordsmanship Club."

Tatsuya reported the incident he had witnessed and experienced firsthand—the quarrel between Nii Saya and Kuze Takeaki that escalated into a private duel, and how Tatsuya personally dealt with the Swordsmanship Club to prevent a full-scale brawl. In front of him were three people.

"But to think you could handle over a dozen people and come out unscathed..."

The person on the right was the Student Council President, Nanase Mayumi.

"The exact number was fourteen. You truly live up to being Master Kurenai's disciple."

Sitting in the middle was Watanabe Maki, the Discipline Committee Chair, who could be considered Tatsuya's superior in a certain sense.

She wore a happy smile—not because it was "funny," but because it was "interesting." The comment she made was not sarcastic. Although her way of expressing emotions was not straightforward, she seemed to genuinely admire Tatsuya.

What Mayumi and Maki admired about Tatsuya was that after subduing Kuze, he maintained a defensive stance against the enraged group from the Swordsmanship Club without initiating any offensive actions, easily dispelling the situation. However, Tatsuya did not think he had displayed any technique worthy of praise.

He did not know the average skill level of high school students, so he could not gauge the value of handling fourteen people simultaneously without causing any injuries, which was far from the level of the disciples at Yagura Temple.

More importantly, Tatsuya paid more attention to the third-year male student standing on his left.

He was likely the President of the Club Alliance, Togashi Katsuhito, the heir of the prestigious Togashi family, whose surname included the character for "ten."

(He's like a boulder...)

He was about 185 cm tall, not so tall that one had to look up.

However, he had a thick chest, broad shoulders, and well-defined muscles visible even through his uniform.

Not only in terms of physical attributes, but his presence was exceptionally dense, as if all the elements that make up a human being were compressed to the limit.

Indeed, he was one of the three major figures of Second High, alongside Mayumi and Maki—Tatsuya recognized this just from his appearance and impression.

"Didn't you manage to grasp the initial cause of the incident?"

Maki changed her expression and asked, drawing Tatsuya's attention back. Tatsuya recalled the event he had just reported and confirmed Maki's question.

"Yes. The Kendo Club claims that Kuze-sempai initiated the provocation, while the Swordsmanship Club claims that the Kendo Club started it first. The truth of their claims could not be verified."

Tatsuya had witnessed the quarrel between Saya and Kuze. When he and Erica left the viewing area and were about to exit the gymnasium, he heard the noise of what seemed to be an argument, but did not hear the content. By the time Tatsuya pushed through the crowd and directly witnessed the scene, Saya and Kuze were already in a confrontational stance, ready to clash.

"Was your decision not to intervene at the beginning based on this reason?"

This was a question from Mayumi.

Katsuhito had been listening all along without speaking.

"My default stance is to intervene if the situation becomes dangerous.

If it can be resolved with minor injuries, I consider it a private matter between the parties involved."

In response to Mayumi's question, Tatsuya added a condition to his affirmative answer. As Mayumi had said, Tatsuya initially took a passive stance because he did not know which side to stop. To intervene and stop both parties simultaneously, there needed to be room for negotiation or the person intervening needed to have enough authority to suppress the parties involved, but neither of these elements existed at the time.

However, there was another reason. The Discipline Committee's job was to regulate the use of magic in violent acts. Although Saya and Kuze's duel was a private matter, it initially did not involve the use of magic. If Kuze had not used the magic "High-Frequency Blade," Tatsuya would have maintained a passive stance until the end.

"......Well. Indeed, we cannot dispatch personnel every time a conflict arises."

According to the principle, problems during the recruitment period should be handled internally by the Club Alliance. Maki's statement was based on this principle, so neither Mayumi nor Katsuhito raised any objections.

"Then, what is the current status of Kuze, whom you subdued?"

"Kuze-sempai has a fractured collarbone, so he was handed over to the Health Committee.

However, the injury can be immediately healed with magic.

He has already admitted his mistake in the infirmary, so I judged that no further action was necessary."

In fact, the injury from the bamboo sword was only a "crack in the bone," and Kuze's collarbone "broke" when Tatsuya threw him to the ground, but Tatsuya did not mention this.

Maki had not witnessed Kuze's injury and had not seen the extent of the injury, so she was naturally unaware of this detail.

"Hmm... Well, whether to pursue the parties involved is ultimately up to the person who reported the incident."

Maki readily agreed with Tatsuya's statement and looked at Katsuhito.

"Togashi, as you have heard.

Regarding this incident, the Discipline Committee does not intend to report it to the Disciplinary Committee."

"Thank you for your lenient handling.

After all, he used a highly lethal magic like High-Frequency Blade. Even if no one was injured, a suspension would have been necessary, and the parties involved should have been aware of this.

I will properly admonish him and use this incident as a lesson."

"Thank you."

Katsuhito slightly bowed, and Maki nodded.

"But will the Kendo Club accept this handling?"

"They will have to accept it. They provoked the conflict and have no right to complain."

Maki dismissed Mayumi's concern with a single sentence, and Mayumi did not argue.

The Discipline Committee Chair made the ruling, the President of the Club Alliance accepted it, and the Student Council President had no objections, thus the incident was concluded.

Tatsuya listened to their conversation indifferently. It was not his job to address any lingering dissatisfaction.

"Chair, may I take my leave now?"

Tatsuya politely requested to leave from Maki.

"Ah, hold on, I want to confirm one more thing before that."

Maki seemed reluctant to give Tatsuya more work (but probably only for today), and her tone was casual.

"Was Kuze the only one who used magic at the time?"

"Yes."

Tatsuya briefly answered Maki's question.

To be precise, Kuze was the only one who successfully activated magic, but Tatsuya did not bother to explain such a detail.

"I see, thank you for your efforts."

With permission to leave, Tatsuya departed from the Club Alliance headquarters.

---

After leaving the Club Alliance headquarters, Tatsuya originally intended to go to the Student Council room.

It was almost sunset.

Even if Shizune could use magic, it was not suitable for a young girl to walk alone at this time, and Shizune would definitely not leave Tatsuya to go home by herself.

However, he had to change his plans midway.

The building where the Club Alliance was located was different from the main building where the Student Council room was.

To go from the Club Alliance headquarters to the Student Council room, one had to walk around to the entrance of another building (no need to change shoes; the custom of changing to indoor shoes is almost nonexistent now), but Tatsuya saw a familiar group of faces here.

"Ah, good work~"

"Brother."

Erica greeted first, but Shizune ran over first.

Her unexpectedly agile reaction left the others speechless.

"Good work, brother. You really showed your skills today."

"It's nothing, Shizune. You did the hard work."

Shizune held her schoolbag in front of her, about waist-high. As they came to a distance where only the schoolbag separated them, Shizune looked up at Tatsuya with a longing gaze. Tatsuya, as she wished, gently stroked her hair a few times.

Shizune closed her eyes in comfort, never taking her eyes off her brother.

"Although we know they are siblings, still..."

Ryo approached the two, looking embarrassed, and slightly turned his gaze away as he spoke softly.

"They really look like a perfect match..."

Ryo's companion, Mutsuki, blushed but stared at the two intently.

Erica, with half-open eyes, watched Ryo and Mutsuki.

"What are you two... What do you expect from them?"

Erica exaggeratedly shrugged, raised her palms, and slowly shook her head from side to side. Although it was a pretentious gesture, Erica performed it exceptionally well.

"As you said, they are siblings."

Erica continued to glare at Ryo with half-open eyes. Ryo and Mutsuki seemed to have truly understood the implications of her words, as their panicked reactions were the best evidence.

"Don't... Don't say silly things! I... I didn't expect anything!"

"That's... That's right, Erica! Don't... Don't say such nonsense!"

"......Alright, alright, I'll take it as that."

However, if Erica had not teased and mocked them, Ryo and Mutsuki's misunderstanding would have continued indefinitely.

Tatsuya, unaware of Erica's solo efforts, finally let go of his sister's hair and looked at the three of them.

Shizune also showed a reluctant expression and looked at the three of them.

—It was