When Yugen returned to the Shiba residence, Miyuki greeted him with her usual warmth. However, the atmosphere shifted after dinner when Tatsuya requested a "consultation," prompting the three of them to gather in the living room. The topic at hand was the exchange of information regarding the task force's active operations—specifically, deciding exactly how much intel they should disclose to the authorities.
In the original timeline, Miyuki might have been kept in the dark, but here she was well-versed in the intricate circumstances surrounding the Shenzhou Association. Consequently, Tatsuya was also aware of Gu Jie, the mastermind behind the recent incidents. Tatsuya understood Yugen's desire to keep his role as the primary information source hidden as much as possible; thus, they agreed to disclose only the information that would directly lead to Gu Jie's capture.
Ultimately, the final decision was left to Tatsuya's discretion. Even the usually unflappable Tatsuya couldn't help but mutter, "This is going to be quite a task," prompting a small, graceful giggle from Miyuki.
The following evening, acting on a tip from the Yotsuba family, Tatsuya visited a detached house that Zhou Gongjin had purchased as a hideout. There, he encountered a "Generator," whom he neutralized without difficulty. Based on the image data Tatsuya sent back for analysis, it was confirmed that the man was a Generator manufactured back when the "No Head Dragon" syndicate was still active.
While there was no direct evidence pointing to Gu Jie's current location, Tatsuya was able to use an application of his "Elemental Sight"—the same technique he used to track Zhou Gongjin's footsteps—to see the traces Gu Jie had left behind. It appeared the mastermind hadn't fled far. Still, the fact that he had managed to evade capture so skillfully proved he was indeed a master worthy of being Zhou Gongjin's mentor.
That weekend, following an invitation from Shizuku, Yugen and Miyuki visited the Kitayama estate. In the original history, this role would have fallen to Tatsuya and Miyuki, but the pieces had shifted. Tatsuya had excused himself, claiming he had business at the Yotsuba main house—likely regarding the recent attack.
Usually, Yugen wouldn't dress so formally for a casual visit, but today he wore a suit, albeit without a tie (a habit from his time with the Shenzhou Association).
"Sorry for the intrusion, Shizuku," Yugen said as they arrived.
"Please, come in," she replied.
"Thank you for having us," Miyuki added with a polite bow.
Normally, their time together would be spent practicing magic, studying, or simply enjoying their time as a betrothed couple. Today, however, was different. The reason for the change in atmosphere sat before them: Shizuku's father, Ushio Kitayama, dressed casually but carrying a heavy air of concern.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting, Kagurazaka-sama," Ushio said.
"It's a bit early to say 'long time no see,' Ushio-san. And please, there's no need for such formality. You can act as you usually do," Yugen replied smoothly.
Since Yugen had become the head of the Kagurazaka family—making him the de facto leader of the Kansaka Group, one of the nation's most powerful conglomerates—it was only natural for even a man like Ushio to feel a sense of trepidation. Furthermore, Ushio knew that even if his daughter was Yugen's fiancée, he could not afford to be overbearing as an in-law. Ushio bowed his head respectfully, and Yugen gently chided him for the excess deference.
Yugen had already heard the gist of the meeting from Shizuku. He had decided to come himself simply because it was the most rational move; he was the one with the most flexibility to act.
"In that case, I'll take you up on that. I wanted to hear your thoughts—specifically, the opinion of the man leading the Kansaka Group."
"My mother still holds the practical authority, but... very well. You wish to discuss the resurgence of the negative media campaign against magicians, I presume?"
"Exactly," Ushio nodded. "My wife, my daughter, and now my son are all magicians. I cannot simply stand by as an uninvolved spectator."
Ushio's eldest son and Shizuku's younger brother, Wataru Kitayama, had begun attending a Shinkage-ryu Kenjutsu dojo last spring. After only six months, the master, Mototsugu, had judged that his "seals" could be safely removed, awakening his potential as a magician. Despite this, Ushio's plan to have Wataru succeed him in the business remained unchanged.
Setting that aside, the anti-magic sentiment in the media had been strangely quiet lately. This was largely due to the Kansaka Group's aggressive media acquisitions, including several large-scale TOBs (Takeover Bids). The outlets that would normally champion such views were now paralyzed with hesitation.
While Gu Jie had released a manifesto, the major media outlets had pivoted entirely toward condemning the "terrorist." This shift was driven by the recently enacted Special Measures Act Against Terrorism, which included clauses restricting media movements that could be construed as supporting terrorists. If an outlet went too far, they could be charged with "preparatory assistance to a terrorist crime."
In short, the media was forced to observe the "let sleeping dogs lie" principle regarding the terrorists.
"Recently, a joint statement condemning the terrorists was released by the Japanese government, the Magic Association, the Kansaka Group, and the Ten Master Clans," Yugen explained. "The Ten Master Clans are already moving to apprehend them. As for the media, the penalties in the Special Measures Act have made them lose their nerve. I wouldn't call the situation optimistic, but I intend to take further measures as necessary."
"I see. Perhaps a man of your caliber doesn't even need my help," Ushio remarked.
"I am only one man, Ushio-san. My reach has limits. If the need arises, I may very well ask to borrow your strength."
Public opinion was a troublesome thing; it could shake the foundations of the world. History was full of revolutions where the sheer weight of the masses' dissatisfaction toppled states. Yugen had no intention of letting things escalate to that point.
He had implemented countermeasures, but whether they would function perfectly remained to be seen. However, he considered it a stroke of luck that he'd managed to include "penalties for the illegal possession of rare materials equivalent to military supplies" within the Special Measures Act.
"So, you're saying it's difficult to prevent everything in advance?" Ushio asked.
"It's one thing if people have a specific ideology, but we also have to account for sudden emotional outbursts from the general public. In that sense, preventing every single instance of harm is a tall order."
For now, the best they could do was ensure students didn't walk home alone. Most students lacked defensive measures other than magic, and Yugen was concerned about the potential for "excessive self-defense" charges if they were forced to use magic to protect themselves. He had already submitted proposals to politicians regarding revisions to the penal code, alongside clearer rules for CAD possession.
No matter how talented a magician was, using magic in an emergency depended heavily on the individual's willpower, which created an inherent instability. Furthermore, modern magic—while excellent for rapid response—wasn't necessarily suited for prolonged, high-stress emergency situations. Ultimately, they agreed to monitor the media and take appropriate action as the situation evolved.
Monday, February 11th
When Yugen and his friends arrived at school, the campus was buzzing with an unusual energy. It was different from the tension that had followed Gu Jie's manifesto; this was closer to curiosity and excitement.
Yugen, having a fair idea of the cause, didn't show any surprise. As he entered the Class 2-A classroom, Shizuku and Honoka, who had arrived earlier, called out to him.
"Good morning, Yugen. Good morning, Miyuki."
"Good morning, you two," Honoka added.
"Morning, Shizuku, Honoka. The class seems a bit... hyperactive today. Did something happen?" Yugen asked, feigning ignorance since the details touched upon classified matters.
Shizuku, who had the widest social circle of the group, answered first. "I heard it from Erika, but apparently, Ichijou-san from the Third High is here at our school."
"Ichijou-san...? Yugen-san, do you know anything about this?" Miyuki asked.
"I helped facilitate the academic side of things, but beyond that, it's a school administration matter. I've stayed out of it," Yugen replied.
A student had withdrawn from their class the previous month, leaving only 24 students for the 25 terminals. Yugen had anticipated that Masaki Ichijou would be placed in Class 2-A as a short-term transfer.
"So, it's related to that incident?" Honoka asked, her expression clouded with worry.
"Most likely. Regardless, I don't expect his stay to be long."
Yugen noticed the concern on Honoka and Shizuku's faces, but his primary focus remained on Miyuki. He wasn't the type of man to be so "big-hearted" that he would simply ignore his own feelings to accommodate a rival. He had specifically nominated Masaki for this role to force a conclusion to the matter. If Masaki didn't give up after this, Yugen was prepared to silence him by demonstrating an overwhelming disparity in achievement—though his current accomplishments were already so significant they were almost hard to believe.
When the Vice-Principal, Yaosaka, entered Class 2-A with Masaki Ichijou, the atmosphere was surprisingly positive. The fact that Masaki harbored feelings for Miyuki was a secret mostly contained within the Ten Master Clans and their associates. From the perspective of Shizuku and Honoka, who knew the truth, they could only think: He certainly has a lot of nerve showing his face here.
However, not wanting to ruin the mood, they remained silent and joined the welcoming atmosphere.
"As you all know, Ichijou-kun is a student of the Third High School. However, due to family circumstances, he will be living in Tokyo for about a month," Yaosaka announced.
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