Just a short walk from the school gates toward First High Station, tucked away around a corner, sat the café Einebrise—a favorite haunt for Tatsuya and his friends. Today was no different. On their way back from the ceremony, Tatsuya, Miyuki, Minami, Honoka, Shizuku, and Mikihiko occupied their usual spot, passing the time with coffee and idle conversation.
After parting ways with the Saegusa sisters, Tatsuya's group had briefly reunited with Azusa. However, she had been adamant that they were free to go for the day, so Tatsuya decided to head home with Honoka and the others, who had already been waiting nearby.
"So, whatever happened with the recruitment for the top freshman?" Shizuku asked during a natural lull in the conversation.
She didn't ask out of a specific agenda, nor was it fueled by a love for gossip. It was simply a thought that had surfaced to fill the sudden silence.
"It sounds like it didn't go well," Tatsuya replied.
"Wait, did Shippou-kun actually turn down the Student Council?" Mikihiko interjected. His own curiosity tended to take precedence in conversation, which, in this case, spared them from an awkward silence.
Honoka had been looking uncharacteristically dejected—as if the failure were somehow her fault—so Tatsuya offered a clarifying follow-up.
"Apparently, he wants to focus on his club activities. He has other goals he wants to pursue; there isn't much we can do about that."
"Yeah, we can't exactly force him," Mikihiko added. Whether he was consciously reading Tatsuya's intent or not, his support helped lift the heavy atmosphere that had settled around Honoka.
"Rather than dwelling on it, it would be more constructive to think about who to invite in his place," Minami suggested.
"True," Tatsuya nodded, his expression turning serious. "It would be problematic for the future of the Council if we didn't recruit a single freshman this year."
"I have an idea," Miyuki said, lightly clapping her hands together as the thought struck her. "What if we brought Minami-chan onto the board?"
Minami, who had been silently listening to her seniors until that moment, visibly stiffened at Miyuki's suggestion.
"Miyuki, let's not be cruel to Minami," Tatsuya interjected. "Tradition dictates we recruit the top-ranked student. If we're looking for an alternative, we have to choose based on entrance exam scores."
"Who was second, again?" Shizuku asked.
"Let's see... that would be Izumi Saegusa-san," Mikihiko recalled. "Saegusa-senpai's younger sister."
"And third place was Kasumi-chan, the other sister," Honoka added. "The gap between Shippou-kun and those two was incredibly small—the top three were neck and neck. Their scores are in a completely different league compared to everyone from fourth place down."
"So, it wouldn't be strange for either of the Saegusa sisters to join the Council," Shizuku noted.
"But if we're following the rankings, wouldn't it have to be Izumi-san?"
At Shizuku's words, a faint shadow of distaste crossed Miyuki's face. It seemed the earlier "incident" had left her with a lingering wariness toward the elder twin.
"The final decision rests with the President," Tatsuya said, his voice neutral. "But ultimately, it comes down to the candidate's own willingness."
Tatsuya certainly hadn't missed the change in Miyuki's expression, but his response remained ambiguous—neither explicitly agreeing with her nor dismissing her concerns. In truth, Tatsuya felt a similar sense of impending exhaustion regarding the other twin, Kasumi. He suspected that regardless of which sister joined the Council, his life was about to become much more complicated.
Later, while Tatsuya was washing his hands in the restroom, Mikihiko walked in. Under normal circumstances, it would have been a mundane coincidence. But as Tatsuya moved to leave, Mikihiko stopped him, his voice low and uncharacteristically somber.
"Tatsuya."
"What is it? A topic too sensitive for the others?"
"Yeah... it's not something I want a crowd to hear."
"Understood. I'll keep it between us."
The tension in Mikihiko's face, born of hesitation and doubt, softened slightly at Tatsuya's quick assurance.
"I appreciate that. You're always quick on the uptake."
"Don't stay in here too long or people will start to wonder," Tatsuya reminded him. "Keep it brief."
Suddenly conscious of their surroundings, Mikihiko hurried to speak.
"Tatsuya, did you notice the new Japan Branch Manager for Rosen Magic Craft at the ceremony today?"
"I did. We exchanged a brief greeting."
"Just a brief one? I heard the previous manager was trying quite hard to recruit you at the Nine Schools Competition after-party last year."
"Fortunately, I didn't have the time today," Tatsuya replied, a grimace flickering across his face at the memory of that persistent nuisance. "So, what about this new manager?"
"Do you remember his name?"
"Ernst Rosen. Apparently, he's a direct member of the main family."
"Exactly," Mikihiko nodded. "The industry trade rags are making a huge deal out of it—he's the biggest player they've sent in years. But more importantly... he's Erika's mother's first cousin."
Tatsuya paused. "Erika's mother was a relative of the Rosens?"
Mikihiko gave a small, unmistakable nod. "Apparently, her maternal grandfather eloped with a Japanese woman."
"Eloping... how old-fashioned," Tatsuya remarked dryly.
"I guess. He turned his back on the Rosen family to flee to Japan, so they cut him off completely. Her grandmother—Erika's mother's mother—came from a family that didn't approve of the relationship either. From what I've heard, Erika's mother had a very difficult life because of it."
"That's unfortunate. But your point?"
Tatsuya recognized the domestic tragedy, but he sensed Mikihiko wasn't just looking for sympathy for Erika. He nudged him to get to the heart of the matter.
"...Ever since that scandal, the main Rosen family hasn't had a very good impression of Japan. Even though they have a business base here, they never assigned a blood member of the main family to this branch."
"Now that you mention it, that's true."
"Maybe I'm overthinking it," Mikihiko whispered, "but I have a feeling Ernst Rosen's arrival in Japan has something to do with Erika."
"And what is it you want me to do?"
"I don't need you to do anything specific. I just... I wanted you to keep it on your radar. No, that's not it... honestly? This is a little too heavy for me to carry alone. I think I just wanted to drag you into it with me."
"That's cold," Tatsuya replied.
Mikihiko let out a self-deprecating mutter, and Tatsuya's response was blunt. Yet, despite the words, Mikihiko didn't feel any actual sting of reproach in Tatsuya's tone.
"Well, I'll keep it in mind."
"Yeah. Thanks."
Tatsuya raised a hand in a silent parting gesture and left. Mikihiko gave a small bow to the empty room and waited a few moments before following. It was, after all, an inappropriate place for two people to exit at the exact same time.
(Dragging others into your problems is never a good feeling, is it?)
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