In the wake of the "Vampire" incident, as the anti-magician movement began to lose its fervor, Michaela Hongo—who had been under strict surveillance by the Saegusa family—was finally granted permission to go outside. Of course, the permission came with a heavy warning: any attempt to contact the USNA or any suspicious behavior would result in immediate re-confinement.
The first place she headed was First High School. Her destination: the Student Council Room.
"I'm sorry, Mayumi-san. I wouldn't have been able to get inside the gates on my own."
"Don't worry about it," Mayumi replied. "I had to act as your monitor anyway, so this works out perfectly."
As an alumna of First High, Mayumi easily escorted Mia onto the grounds. Mia's eyes darted around restlessly, clearly searching for a specific face.
"...If you're looking for Tatsuya-kun, he should be in the Student Council Room," Mayumi added knowingly.
"I-It's not like I specifically have business with Tatsuya Shiba! I just... I wanted to thank him for saving me."
"Tatsuya-kun and Juumonji-kun were the ones who rescued you, after all."
Mia had been possessed by a Parasite; Tatsuya's unique magic had excised the entity, and Katsuto's barrier had protected her physical form afterward. Mia understood this rationally, but Mayumi knew that the girl's desire to see Tatsuya went far beyond mere gratitude.
"You want to see him privately, don't you? Just a moment."
Mayumi pulled out her terminal, spoke a few words into it, and tucked it back into her pocket.
"He says he's coming over now."
"Who is?"
"Your beloved."
"ッ!?" Mia's face turned bright red.
"This might end up being a 'monitored date,' but please try not to kick me to death out of jealousy," Mayumi teased.
Since Mayumi harbored her own feelings for Tatsuya, she had resolved to be the one to monitor this "date" no matter what. She flashed a small, devilish grin that Mia didn't catch, hiding her own competitive streak behind a joke.
Mia stood with her head bowed, suddenly at a loss for words now that she had successfully lured Tatsuya out under the guise of "expressing thanks."
"I'm sorry, Tatsuya-kun," Mayumi said. "I'm sure you had plenty of Student Council work to do."
"No, I've already finished today's tasks. There are no urgent matters pending."
"Oh? I suppose this year's Council members are quite capable then."
"Your younger sisters are among them, after all," Tatsuya countered.
Mayumi had tried to tease him, but Tatsuya effortlessly flipped the script by mentioning the Izumi twins. Though he hadn't intended it as a jab, Mayumi turned away, blushing furiously at the mention of her family.
"By the way," Tatsuya turned to Mia, "are you not returning to America yet?"
"I still haven't proven that I didn't intervene in the incident of my own free will," Mia explained.
"The fact that a Parasite possessed your body should have been proof enough. I wonder what the Saegusa family is thinking."
"I haven't a clue," Mayumi sighed. "I never know what that wretched 'Old Fox' of a father is plotting."
The description seemed to tickle Mia, who covered her mouth and began to giggle. Tatsuya and Mayumi both tilted their heads in unison, surprised by her sudden change in mood.
"Did I say something funny?" Mayumi asked. "You were so nervous a second ago, and now you're laughing like that?"
"I'm sorry. It's just... Mayumi-san's description was very funny."
"Mine? What did I say?"
Tatsuya leaned in and whispered into Mayumi's ear. "I suspect the term 'Old Fox' struck her as a particularly novel and amusing idiom."
"Oh, so that's it... It's not meant to be funny, though. It's a very accurate description."
Mayumi puffed out her cheeks and looked away, genuinely annoyed that her sincere grievance was being treated as a joke. She looked like a pouting child.
To settle things down, Mayumi suggested they go to a cafe, and the other two followed suit. There was no reason to refuse, though the sight of one boy accompanied by two striking beauties naturally drew a fair amount of attention.
"People are staring..." Mayumi whispered.
"It can't be helped," Tatsuya replied. "You are both beautiful girls. It's likely frustrating for others to see an ordinary student like me escorting you both."
"Beautiful girls? Tatsuya-kun, do you really still think of us as 'girls'?" Mayumi teased, leaning in.
"My apologies. You are both beautiful women."
"Y-you didn't have to correct yourself like that..." Mayumi stammered, caught off-guard by his directness.
While Mayumi was being hoisted by her own petard, Mia was truly embarrassed, staring at the floor in silence. Tatsuya watched her quietly.
"Speaking of which," Mayumi said, changing the subject, "I heard you repelled Representative Kanda of the Civil Rights Party. The media is calling it a 'brilliant demonstration.'"
"I intended to use the hysterical media reaction to trigger a counter-information campaign, but it seems it had a greater impact than I anticipated."
"You're a bad man, Tatsuya-kun."
"I am aware."
Mayumi looked at him with a mischievous, "little devil" smile; Tatsuya met her gaze with a cold, almost "true devil" smirk of his own.
"Tatsuya-kun, you're scaring me..."
"Well, I am a bad man, after all."
"Sorry! I didn't think you'd actually take it to heart!" Mayumi waved her hands frantically.
Mia, feeling increasingly like a third wheel in their private banter, finally couldn't take it anymore.
"U-um!"
"Yes? What is it?" Tatsuya turned to her.
"Thank you so much for saving me. I wanted to give you something in return, but... unfortunately, I have nothing."
"You don't need to worry about it. The incident happened in my vicinity, so I simply dealt with it."
In truth, Tatsuya's philosophy was that as long as his own life wasn't disrupted, he didn't care what happened. He had helped because Leo had been attacked, but if Miyuki hadn't been at risk, he would never have involved himself in the Parasite affair.
"I cannot accept that! My conscience won't allow it! But... since I have nothing else to give... I will give you all of me."
"Wait! Mia-san, do you even realize what you're saying!?" Mayumi shouted, nearly jumping out of her seat.
"Of course I do. Tatsuya Shiba... please, accept me."
Mayumi's eyes narrowed, but then a slow, wicked grin spread across her face. "In that case, as your monitor, I suppose I'll have to have Tatsuya-kun 'take' me as well. Tatsuya-kun, do you think you can handle both of us at once?"
For once, Tatsuya seemed to have no comeback. Mayumi flashed the most devilish smile of the day, relishing her victory.
(Wait... is Mayumi just using this as an excuse to get what she wants, too?)
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