Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei (Manga) Plan to Assassinate Tatsuya Shiba

Spoiler Alert: This page contains spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Shiba Tatsuya Ansatsu Keikaku (司波達也暗殺計画) is a manga based on the spin off series Plan to Assassinate Tatsuya Shiba which follows the story of Hashibami Yuki, a professional assassin. The adaptation is by Ichino Yuyu (一いち乃のゆゆ), character designs by Ishida Kana. It began publication on May 27^th, 2019 and is serialized by Monthly Comic Alive.

Synopsis

The year 2094. The age when magic was established as a technology of reality and the training of magicians became a national policy.

A girl, Hashibami Yuki, was seen by a junior high school student at the scene of an assassination.

Promotional Art

Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Volume 4

Volume 5

Episode

Title

01

A Chance Meeting

Hashibami Yuki drops on her target in an abandoned alleyway and kills him in an instant. Leaving the body, she casually walks to a car where her handler is waiting. Handing her a Kanzashi hairpin, the handler tells her about the next target and offers a selection of clothes to change into. Later Hashibami leaves a club via a back door with a young man in tow. The begins to start making out when Hashibami stops him just before they kiss to remove her hairpin to stop her hair pulling. They resume and just as he tries to kiss her again she stabs him in the neck, assassinating him. Her work complete she turns around to see Shiba Tatsuya casually looking at the scene of the crime.

02

Confrontation

Hashibami is unsure how to react to Tatsuya just standing there when Tatsuya starts to walk towards her and then just casually walks past her as though nothing happened, completely disinterested in the murder scene he’s walking past. After a moment’s confusion, she realises she needs to silence the witness and follows Tatsuya before activating her special ability to attack Tatsuya from behind at superhuman speeds. However, Tatsuya effortlessly counters her attack as though it was nothing, causing her to fall to the floor instead. Tatsuya turns back around to face Hashibami as she gets up, injured, and starts to close in on her. Suddenly a car speeds down the alleyway at Tatsuya. He leaps over it as it skids to a halt. Hashibami’s handler opens the door for her and the pair speed off leaving Tatsuya behind. As they speed away the handler, shocked Hashibami was defeated, asks who the boy was. Hashibami thinks it over and, thinking he maybe a magician, they discuss options on what to do. Meanwhile, Tatsuya has resumed his original task and continues on to a non-descript basement door. He casually uses magic to open the lock and then descends underground.

03

Reconnaissance

Tatsuya reappears from the basement he ventured into and calmly passed through the back streets and came out into the main street. A car pulls up and Tatsuya is a little confused seeing Fujibayashi since it isn’t a military operation but gets into the car. He requests she reconstruct the intel he pulled and passes over a handheld device. She then mentions Sanada, who wants feedback on the Trident CAD and Tatsuya confirms they work as desired. Two days later Yuki is very embarrassed to be dressed in a middle school uniform and trying to infiltrate Tatsuya’s school for reconnaissance. When she notices the other students making a fuss, she turns to see the Shiba siblings and is shocked by Miyuki and her appearance. The Shiba’s casually walk to school together alone. She tried to take measure of Tatsuya's abilities but can't read him at all, with makes her anxious. Tatsuya look's back and, after hesitating a moment to think, she decides against the plan and flees the scene.

04

Report

Yuki is having breakfast whilst reflecting on the situation and trying to decide a plan and the fact, the infiltration failed before the gate. She receives a call from Croco telling her she’s been summoned by her boss. Arriving at the Abousha office Yuki is told by Croco to head straight to the president’s office. After being greeting by the president, Morozumi Kuruma, gets straight to the point Morozumi states it’s unusual for her to mess up and asks for an explanation, not apologies. She explains everything openly, including being immediately detected at the school that morning. Thinking it over the president agrees Tatsuya isn’t a normal person and agrees to offer the companies support but she is to take him down herself. That evening Tatsuya calls the Yotsuba main house to report the situation and speaks with Maya. Confirming she’s unrelated to the New Soviet Union agents they deduce it’s because he’s a witness he’s being targeted. Maya asks if he wants reinforcements but Tatsuya declines. Passing the call to Hayama who first scolds Tatsuya for the situation with Yuki and they discuss his plan, which is to ‘erase’ literally. They agree to leave it in Tatsuya’s hands with him being given permission to act as necessary and they end the call. The call over Maya moves over to greet Kuroba Mitsugu and Fumiya. Mitsugu brings up the call and Maya looks back at him reproachfully for eavesdropping. Sighing she tells him it was a report on the dealing with of the New Soviet Union agents. Mitsugu tries to debase Tatsuya by scornfully criticising him. Maya overturns his objections pointing out it was a small job and to leave things to Tatsuya. Mitsugu tries another approach by timidly suggesting it be good for Fumiya’s training. Maya agrees to send him to investigate.

05

Investigation

Two men are erased on the street. Later Yuki receives a call from Croco to inform her two of their colleagues went missing near Tatsuya’s house. She asks if it was Tatsuya but Croco is unsure as the area is next to Kyuuchouji temple. Upon hearing this Yuki freaks out confirming they mean the Kyuuchouji temple run by Kokonoe Yakumo, who is notorious for his hate of guns. They don’t know if either Kokonoe or Tatsuya are involved in the disappearances. The conversation ends with Yuki commenting on how the situation keeps getting more complicated. It’s just past three o’clock in the afternoon when Kuroba Fumiya arrives at Tokyo station. He is greeted by one of his father’s men who he scolds for being conspicuous and they quickly depart. As they walk Fumiya reflects on his annoyance Tatsuya is being targeted and resolves to work as quickly as possible. Later Yuki is picked up by car.

06

Interference

Fumiya is sitting in the back seat of a car disguised as a young girl, tracking Tatsuya’s location determined to help Tatsuya. Meanwhile Wanizuka and Yuki are waiting outside of Miyuki’s etiquette school, having been tailing Tatsuya. Tatsuya quickly leaves and Wanizuka realises men aren’t allowed inside. Realising it's convenient for them, the two follow Tatsuya’s car. Tatsuya notices the tail on his car. Tatsuya stops at a restaurant and heads inside. Yuki orders Wanizuka to park on the second floor and they plan for him to go inside while she lies in wait in the car. Inside Wanizuka watches Tatsuya when Fumiya, still disguised as a girl, enters the restaurant, immediately notices Wanizuka watching Tatsuya and sits down at a separate table to observe, attracting attention from the boys present. 2 hours later Yuki receives the signal and she gets in position behind a pillar. As Tatsuya passes, she visualises her attack and starts to move but is stopped after a single step, Tatsuya has noticed and is looking at her, stalling her steps. A scream is heard from the silhouette of a girl nearby. This stirs Yuki, who cancels the plan and escapes.

07

Abduction

Yuki is woken by Wanizuka calling to inform her she needs to come to the office. He picks her up and hands her some breakfast and they discuss the matter from the car park and Yuki withdrawing as they drive. Yuki is less than thrilled with the situation. Later Yuki returns from the company office and tells Wanizuka they are being given assistance from Bobby and Jack. Neither she nor Wanizuka are happy about this as the helpers have a bad reputation as an ogre that murders for pleasure and a demon bomber. Hearing this Wanizuka reflects on the fact Yuki is still very innocent and idealistic, as fits her age, despite having been killing since she was twelve. At the Yotsuba main house, Fumiya gives his report to Yotsuba Maya who proceeds to tease him about becoming Tatsuya’s bodyguard before asking why not deal with them quickly rather than teaching them a lesson as Fumiya proposed. Fumiya argues the organisation could be useful in the future. Maya takes a detailed report from Hayama with more information that Fumiya provided, to Fumiya’s regret. Hayama reports the organisation appear to be ninja, but the type without magic. They review Yuki’s profile and her special ability, but Maya seems unimpressed. Voicing concern Tatsuya may go overboard, Maya give Fumiya permission to intervene and gives him two weeks to resolve things. That evening, Yuki is observing the Shiba residence from a house across the street. It’s nearly eight o’clock in the evening as she’s getting impatient. Just as they are about to call it a day, Tatsuya appears. Yuki discreetly tails him but before she can act Tatsuya is surrounded by four men and she realised it’s a kidnapping as she watches Tatsuya get pushed into a car without resisting.

08

Pursuit

Two of the men attack Yuki as she watches another two of them load Tatsuya into the van. She throws a knife at Tatsuya’s head to attempt to kill him, but it narrowly misses. One of the men pulls a knife and the two charge Yuki who acrobatically jumps onto a balcony and then onto the roof of the escaping van. The van swerves evasively and she’s thrown off as remaining two men catch up to her and a melee ensues with on man dropped instantly while the seconds knife is stopped by her hidden gas pack and she quickly kills him by stabbing his neck. Yuki then calls Wanizuka to pick her up, and once she’s in the car she gives him the Licence Plate of the van. Quickly tracking the van, the pair drive to its location and Yuki heads in.

09

Extricated

Yuki infiltrates the factory alone and stealthily makes her way through the complex. Working her way though the building she reaches the back door having found nothing. Returning the way she came and still finding nothing, she leaves the building and calls Croco to confirm nobody left. Confused by the situation she thinks on things. She realises it’d be easy for Tatsuya to escape unnoticed and wonders if he dealt with the abductors. Yuki and Wanizuka head to Wanizuka’s apartment to talk. She tells Wanizuka she couldn’t find a thing inside, there was no trace. Yuki concludes he must be a magician to which Wanizuka tells her to erase all evidence completely leaving no traces, he’d have to be very high level and beyond their abilities to handle.

10

Postponement

Morozumi Karuma, president of Abousha, thinks on the situation with Tatsuya and convinced Kokonoe Yakumo is involved decides to take action. Fumiya is getting ready to head out when he is stopped by his subordinate, who reminds him he needs to wear his female disguise. Fumiya reluctantly complies and gets his disguise ready before heading out. Fumiya is having a drink at a coffee shop near Tatsuya’s school when one of his subordinates joins him at the table. They discuss the situation and worry that the enemy may resort to bombing the school since Tatsuya is so skilled. Wanizuka drops Yuki off to set up for another attempt. Wanizuka is very concerned about setting up in Kokonoe’s territory but Yuki simply has no choice but to target Tatsuya on his commute and so gets out of the car to get ready.

11

Infiltration

Wanizuka and Yuki see the Shiba siblings arrive and head home form school. Yuki tails them at a distance until she senses bloodlust from her colleague Jack, an especially violent killer who leaves a high body count. She is about to act as to minimise the bloodshed, but Jack is already diving from a tree at Tatsuya who glances at him and then continues walking as Jack suddenly collapses to the floor. Jack looks up and Yuki follows his gaze to see Fumiya disguised as a girl up on a wall. Fumiya surveys the area and then drops down as Jack stands up and shoots him with a needle gun, taking him out before turning to Yuki. Realising she can’t escape, Yuki activates her physical boost and charges Fumiya, jumping to dodge and stopping Fumiya from attacking. Yuki gets in close from behind but Fumiya dodges and Yuki attacks again with a kick, causing Fumiya to fall. Yuki follows through with her knife, but Fumiya blocks her arm with his boot. With Fumiya sitting on the floor, Yuki takes the opportunity to jump away and retreat.

12

Drawing Closer

Wanizuka picks Yuki up after her escape and she’s still very flushed, concerning Wanizuka who thinks she’s injured. Yuki then asks him to prepare a gun for her, with a focus on stealth. Morozumi Kazuma is reflecting on the situation in his office. He’s understood the message from the girl who took down Jack, that they can be suppressed without killing, but is bewildered by her use of a needle gun which should be against Kokonoe’s principles and wonders if they are just a front and who the girl is. Next day Yuki disguises herself as a student and uses a stolen ID to infiltrate the school where she hides in the infirmary. Meanwhile Fumiya is observing from a blimp in the sky above the school. Kurokawa has detected two people, one being Nuts, who have infiltrated the school. Fumiya, disguised as a female student decides to infiltrate and jumps out of the blimp, using magic to land on the roof and ‘Evil Eye’ to avoid being stopped by the teachers as he approaches the second of the targets, not Yuki, using a magic to home in on their thirst for blood. Yuki heads up to Tatsuya’s classroom but finds it empty.

13

Bomb

Yuki finds Tatsuya’s classroom is empty. Realising someone is coming, she darts into the classroom and hides under the lectern. A man enters the room and she realises that it’s her co-worker, codenamed Bobby, who is switching Tatsuya’s chair. Realising there will be a bomb in the chair that will involve five or six people she wonders what to do when without warning the room's door opens, revealing Fumiya disguised as Yami. Recognising ‘her’, Yuki throws a gas grenade at Yami to incapacitate her so they can escape. As the pair of assassins make their escape, Fumiya radioed Kurokawa and seeing the chair, sends it up to the blimp with magic before resuming the hunt. Yuki and Bobby are descending the stairs. Bobby, who was affected by the gas, tells Yuki to leave him and escape but she won’t, instead lifting him onto her shoulder so they can escape faster. Suddenly Bobby is shot by a needle and starts thrashing, causing Yuki to drop him. Spinning around, she sees Fumiya who is aiming the needle gun right at her. Yuki asks ‘her’ name and Fumiya replies Yami.

14

Aspiration

Fumiya and Yuki face off, and Fumiya reveals his codename ‘Yami’ to Yuki. As Fumiya fires, she leaps out of the way and dives down the stairs. As Fumiya reaches the corner that Yuki had disappeared behind, she lunges at him with her knife, but he dodges. Fumiya shoots again but Yuki narrowly dodges and escapes upstairs and pulls her gun. As Fumiya rounds the corner, he sees the gun and reflexively dodges backwards. Yuki quickly pursues and attacks. In the exchange, Fumiya is shot in the leg and Yuki in the arm. Yuki quickly uses this chance to flee, leaving her companion’s body. The fight over, Fumiya quickly uses magic to get rid of the body by sending it to Kurokawa, before sliding down the wall in pain. Tatsuya then arrives with a classmate, who he sends on ahead before treating Fumiya’s wound and restoring the wall where the second bullet was buried. Handing the bullets to Fumiya, commenting Fumiya was holding back but the issue seems to be similar to boxing, where he should be aiming at her and not where she’d dodge to. Fumiya asks why Tatsuya isn’t in class and Tatsuya tells him he’s skipping, leaving Fumiya thinking Tatsuya is cool.

15

Spirit

Yuki manages to escape to behind the school where she pulls out one of Fumiya’s needles from her injured arm and hides for an opportunity to leave the campus. Fumiya returns to the blimp and confirms they recovered the body and that the man is dead. Kurokawa goes on to inform Fumiya the man was armed with explosives and that the chair also contained an explosive trap. Fumiya also reports Hashibami Yuki escaped. Yuki reaches Wanizuka’s car and gets in and reports it was a failure and gets changed in the back seat. When she’s done, Wanizuka asks about Bobby and Yuki reports he was taken out by the girl from before, Yami. The pair head back to report the failure to the company. Back at Abousha, Yuki reports to Morozumi Kuruma and is reprimanded and warned though she has solid skills, if her apparent incompetence continues, she will be forced to do the more traditional work of a female assassin. The warning issued, Morozumi advises her that he will be mobilising more people and overseeing it personally, which shocks her. After Yuki leaves, Morozumi mulls over the situation and decides to deploy all ten available professional killers of the thirty-five on the payroll, determined to make a point of showing a ninja's spirit to Kokonoe Yakumo, still believing Tatsuya and Yami are his disciples.

16

Dejection

Fumiya is feeling down as he thinks back to how he got hurt on the mission and Tatsuya had to help him. Fumiya leaves the bathroom to find Kurokawa waiting. Noticing Fumiya’s melancholy, Kurokawa tries to snap Fumiya out of it but his attempt to make Fumiya annoyed fail. Kurokawa then tries to find out what the issue is as the bomber was dealt with so it’s an overall win. When Tatsuya’s name comes up, Kurokawa comments that it made sense to use Tatsuya’s ability given the circumstances and casually asks if there is compensation to pay, which Fumiya confirms but doesn’t go into details. Fumiya then says they need to move things up given the methods the enemy is willing to employ. Kurokawa suggests calling reinforcement since the enemy are ninja with BS Magicians among their number, but Fumiya states it’s not an option due to his father so they’ll have to make do. Fumiya then asks Kurokawa to make adjustments to his CAD to make it easier to use while he’s balling his hand up into a fist, making use of the boxing reference Tatsuya made. Some time later, Wanizuka and Yuki have tailed Tatsuya to another café.

17

The Outbreak of War

Kurokawa reports to Fumiya, disguised as Yami, that Yuki has been seen tailing Tatsuya and asks for five minutes to get his men in position. Meanwhile Yuki gets called by her associate who warns her that Yami’s people are closing in and to switch to the second plan. Yuki then casually gets out of the car as Fumiya arrives and bolts. Fumiya tries to use magic, but Yuki uses cover to block his attack and escapes. Fumiya tells Kurokawa to follow and takes off after Yuki. Fumiya tracks Yuki to a building containing closed clothing shops. As he searches for Yuki, Fumiya is attacked at the stairs by a different ninja. Initially pushed back, Fumiya uses a flash grenade to stun the ninja and then takes them down using Direct Pain whilst shadow boxing. The ninja incapacitated; Fumiya continues to climb up the stairs.

18

Overwhelming

Sensing her colleague has engaged Yami (Fumiya), Yuki leaves the building as planned, filled with regret that Yami and Shiba Tatsuya not only have to die, but that Yami won’t even die by her own hand when she’s the one who messed up and caused the conflict between them. Later on, Kurokawa regroups with Fumiya amidst a number of fallen ninja, and reports that Yuki has escaped. Fumiya gives the order to attack Abousha immediately, citing that having taken out the nine assassins here has created an opening for them to strike. Much later that evening Yuki receives a call from Wanizuka who reports that Abousha was hit by ten people led by Yami, and that the president was captured. Yuki asks about Jane and the others in the ambush but Wanizuka tells her they cannot be contacted. Wanizuka asks Yuki her intentions as the company cannot operate without the president. Yuki tells him this is the only job she can do and says she needs a week. Early morning. It’s pouring with rain when Tatsuya is stopped by Yuki whilst returning from Kokonoe’s temple. Yuki calls out his name and gives her own and states she’s here to settle the bill and that he won’t escape, or they’ll attack his house. Yuki then charges with her knife but is casually countered. She spins in the air and tries to shoot but is deflected and kicked in the stomach and sent flying. Yuki fires again as she spins in the air before hitting the ground, but Tatsuya just catches the bullet, leaving her shocked. Tatsuya comments it’s actually quite easy if you read the trajectory. Yuki attacks again, this time leaping into the air and throwing knifes, which Tatsuya casually dodges without moving a simple step. Yuki closes in with a kick but Tatsuya grabs her leg and gives her a solid kick to the stomach and Yuki collapses to the street unable to move. Looking down at the fallen Yuki, Tatsuya coldly says her name and warns her never to appear before him again, or she’ll be erased. Tatsuya resumes his jog, leaving the battered Yuki on the street in the pouring rain. Unable to move, Yuki can only utter one word as she watches Tatsuya leave. "Monster."

19

Surrender

Fumiya, disguised as Yami, finds Yuki on the street where Tatsuya left her. Seeing the state Yuki is in Wanizuka, who has been captured by Yami’s men, calls out to check she is ok. Yuki tells him it is just bruises. Fumiya signals his men to take Yuki away. Yuki awakes tied to a chair and Fumiya, still disguised as Yami, and an attendant enter. Fumiya gets to the point and explains the situation. Abousha has fallen under their control, Morozumi having surrendered upon hearing their identity. Fumiya tells her they are the Kuroba, branch family of the Yotsuba. Seeing Yuki recognises the name, Fumiya tells her he wants her to submit to them and gives her a choice: Submit as a vassal; or lose all her memories from birth. Everything, with the exception of knowledge. Even her own name. Yuki refutes that saying that’s not a choice at all, and when Fumiya keeps smiling, Yuki realises It wasn’t just Shiba Tatsuya, Yami (Fumiya) is also a monster. Yuki then gives her answer, she will submit but only to Yami herself, and server her specifically. This throws Fumiya but he makes a call and gets permission. Yuki asks about Wanizuka and Fumiya tells her they will continue working together going forwards. Fumiya then leaves and Yuki is released. Some time later Wanizuka is driving Yuki to meet with Kuroba Fumiya. Yuki is not enthusiastic, stating she works for Yami, and Wanizuka tried to reason with her and tells her to mind her manners. At the meeting Fumiya arrives and Wanizuka tried to be polite but Yuki is not leaving him flustered. Fumiya tells Wanizuka it is fine as they have already tried to kill one another and greets Yuki. This leaves Yuki confused for a minute until she realises Fumiya is Yami. This leaves Yuki in disbelief as Yami was cuter than her, leading her to ask if Fumiya is really Yami dressed as a man, much to his lament.

20

Contract

May 2096. Wanizuka drives Yuki to work. She laments she has been working a lot recently and wonders if it’s really okay. She also wonders if she can work in the fancy dress she has on, but Wanizuka reassures her it’ll be fine and cannot be avoided. Reaching the destination, Yuki disembarks and heads towards her target. Sunday. Wanizuka visits Yuki’s apartment and hands her a terminal. Hearing the details hidden within the message they hear more details of the targets in the case and the people behind it and the name Shiba Tatsuya comes up. Wanizuka Asks Yuki what she wants to do but she makes it clear she would rather not get involved. Fumiya is being teased by Maya about the intel he’s provided, indicating Tatsuya may be involved with a criminal plot. She comments it would be a problem if violence came to light, even if in self-defence. She orders Fumiya to deal with it whilst hiding his identity, and orders him to make use of Yuki as well as advising Fumiya she’ll be dispatching an apprentice. At her home, Yuki answers her door to be greeted by Ousaki Nao.

21

Dispatch

Yuki is a little bewildered by Nao’s arrival but settles down to the meal Nao has made for her. “By the way, who should I kill?” Nao’s casual remark causes Yuki to choke on her food. Yuki confirms that Nao was supposed to be a housekeeper, and Nao explains she is, but also an assassin apprentice. Nao explains she was originally trained as an escort but lacked the talent and so has been repurposed as an assassin and has been sent to assist. Yuki is reluctant to accept Nao but realises she has no choice. Nao and Yuki discuss the case, but they aren’t sure who contracted the hit though it appears to be a cult with anti-magic sentiments. This brings the conversation to when Abousha weren’t against the Yotsuba, but Yuki corrects Nao, stating it was a misunderstanding of the president’s, they never had anti-magician sentiments. They discuss then discuss the case some more and then discuss how to address each other while cohabitating. Elsewhere, the leader of the cult, Konishi Ran, reflects on the situation with Shiba Tatsuya and the experiment at First High and decides to act, using her cult members to dispense justice to eliminate the evil magician, Shiba Tatsuya.

22

Kicking

Nao is less than thrilled with Yuki’s tendency to sleep in and give her a stern waking up, making it clear she is not going to tolerate such late awakenings over breakfast. Wanizuka arrives and is shocked to see Yuki up so early. Yuki indicates Nao is the culprit and explains Nao is both a housekeeper and assassin apprentice sent by Fumiya. Nao comes over and introduces herself to Wanizuka. Once the meal is over the three settle down to discuss the case at hand, explaining that the Konishi cult is using brainwashing on its members and is the cause of much of the organisations recent work. Wanizuka explains that the police have ruled out drugs being the cause. They discuss Konishi Ran and it’s revealed she is believed to have ties to the Chinese mafia. Wanizuka also explains that people believe what they want to, so using things people believe in will make it easier to indoctrinate people but for them to target specific people, something more must be behind it. Reaching this point, Wanizuka admits he has no real leads in the investigation yet. At this point, Nao suggests infiltrating the cult.

23

Mock Combat

Nao’s suggestion is turned down as it isn’t feasible for a magician to infiltrate the cult, though Nao initially thinks it’s her age and objects thinking Yuki is about the same age, though Yuki is quick to point out she’s nearly twenty. Nao persists saying she just needs to learn to fight as a non-magician. Yuki and Nao head to a Kuroba training facility. Confirming the test’s style, Yuki heads out first. After they begin, Yuki notices she cannot detect Nao at all until she suddenly senses Nao’s attack and has to dodge several times before being able to turn the tables by kicking some rubble at Nao and closing the gap to bring a knife to Nao’s neck, ending the mock battle.

24

Shadow

The training over, Yuki gets cleaned up and then meets with Wanizuka. Once Nao joins them, Yuki tells Nao that Nao will not be infiltrating the cult. Nao accepts the order. Yuki then announces she will be the one to infiltrate the cult, much to Wanizuka’s surprise. Wanizuka is concerned but Yuki explains Nao was not wrong, they need more information and it cannot wait. The following Tuesday, Yuki is tailing Shiba Tatsuya, Miyuki and Minami, not to target them, but the people after them. Counting eight or so, Yuki watches as the first one attacks Tatsuya and get taken out immediately.

25

Magic

Yuki watches on as Tatsuya brutally puts down the attacking men, even neutralising the bomb that the suicide bomber one wears and is reminded of his power. The 15th of May. The leader of the cult receives the report on the failed assassination. She assumes that one of the girls accompanying Tatsuya must be his escort and that they were the one who neutralised the bomb as Tatsuya had no CAD. Taking this into account he ponders how to proceed. Yuki returns home to her apartment and is given a warm welcome by Nao.

26

The Plan

Yuki settles to the feast Nao has prepared. Seeing food she didn’t buy, Yuki is confused and asks if Nao needs reimbursing but Nao casually points out they have an account from the Kuroba for such expenses, showing Yuki the card she was given by Hayama, reassuring Yuki the cost won’t be deducted from Yuki’s pay later. Seeing Nao smiling and laughing after the defeat in the mock battle throws Yuki, leaving her wondering how Nao recovered so quickly, or if she is simply putting on a brave face. Just as Yuki gets to her homemade dessert, the phone rings. Nao answers and tells Wanizuka to call back in five minutes. After Yuki has finished, she takes Wanizuka’s call over the video phone. Noticing Wanizuka seems tired, Yuki realises it is because Tatsuya is involved. Fumiya and his father are demanding, but good employers, but when Tatsuya is involved, things get complicated. Cutting to the point, Yuki tells Wanizuka to investigate the cult while she will try to get on the ground level, having Nao act as the client. After discussing the plan, Yuki asks Wanizuka to also investigate the businesses aligning with the businessman Iwakiri, who is related to the cult. Kuroba Ayako and Fumiya are in their apartment, Ayako having just gotten out of the bath. Her lack of consideration for her male sibling annoys Fumiya and they bicker a little as she tells her he’s received a report from Tokyo about Tatsuya.

27

Nao

Ayako and Fumiya discuss the situation brewing in Tokyo. Fumiya explains how Tatsuya subdued attackers including a suicide bomber. They discuss how such tactics are logical against a magician, not just Tatsuya. Fumiya explains that the explosives used are grade of explosive the average thugs would not be able to acquire as it was illegal for the private sector. This means the cult isn’t just an extremist group, but rather a full-on criminal organisation. Ayako asks if they are leaving it to Yuki, and Fumiya tells her that is the order, but he wasn’t told not to get involved personally, making it clear he intends to go. The morning of the sixteenth of May. Yuki is awoken at 9am by her alarm, one she didn’t set. Confused she calls out for Nao, but only finds a written note saying Nao has gone to work, which only confuses Yuki further. Meanwhile, Nao was in an establishment the targets are known to frequent when she inadvertently gets hit on by one of said targets, a man called Akaishi Jules. Despite not intending to make contact today, Nao reciprocates and the pair chat over drinks. Telling Jules her name is Chiho, the pair leave together. Jules takes ‘Chiho’ out on the town, first getting her a change of clothing and then treating her to dinner. Drunk and barely able to stand, Nao is led to a hotel room by Jules. Deposited on the bed, Jules starts to strip Nao when she drunkenly asks to take a shower first. Jules compiles, stripping there and heading into the shower. Alone, Nao gets, up. She was only pretending to be drunk as she knew what Jules’s aim was from his behaviour. Realising she has no other choice, Nao decides to act now despite being completely unarmed. She walks into the shower, using Flash Cast to trigger a spell that turned a droplet of water from the shower into a bullet and launching it into Jules’s ear, killing him instantly.

28

First Job

Nao has returned to Yuki’s apartment and as the pair are drinking tea, Yuki notices something is wrong with Nao and asks what is wrong. Nao tries to avoid the subject, but Yuki immediately reveals she knows Nao just killed, thinking it was for the first time from Nao’s reaction. Nao corrects her, stating it is the second time. Nao asks if Yuki struggled the first time and Yuki explains she didn’t vomit but did struggle to sleep. The conversation moves on to the assassination of Akaishi Jules and Nao explains what happened and that she is confident no evidence was left and there was no murder weapon. Yuki asks if it was magic, and Nao explains it was and she didn’t use a CAD but cannot say more. The body is found by the hotel staff sometime later. The police investigate but the lack of wounds leaves them wondering if it was natural causes, but the officer wonders who turned the shower off. The staff member explains they automatically turn off after thirty minutes. Wanizuka visits the apartment and Yuki and Nao fill him in on what happened and discuss the assassination. Nao explains that they won’t know it was a murder until the autopsy due to the magic used. The conversation turns to the cult and Yuki peruses the information brought by Wanizuka. The route will cause a clash with the police, but Wanizuka thinks it’ll help the cult identify Yuki as a friendly if she appears injured. Nao asks what she should do, asking if she should make a move on the next target, but Wanizuka tells her to lie low so they can observe the police first. Meanwhile the cult leader, Konishi, is concerned that something has happened to Jules and thinks that it might have been a retaliation from someone protecting Shiba Tatsuya.

29

Accomplishments

The Nineteenth of May 2096. Fumiya is on the videophone discussing the situation with Yuki, Nao and Wanizuka. Wanizuka reports that the police investigation into the murder has gotten nowhere, they know there was a girl and magic is suspected but the sensors didn’t detect anything, so the police have nothing. Fumiya congratulates Nao on her performance, stating she has passed the exam and states he will ask the family head to recall her to the main house if she wants, citing the street cameras tracing her to the apartment as the reason. Yuki interjects saying she is happy to relocate if the need arises, commenting that fearing the cameras would make this line of work impossible. Fumiya presses Nao for her answer, and upon confirming with him there are five remaining targets, Nao asks to remain until the mission is over, citing the rehabilitation of Yuki’s slovenly behaviour as the main reason. Fumiya agrees. Saturday, Toyko. Ayako and Fumiya arrive at their hotel as Kurokawa checks them in. The pair head to their room and watch the intel Fumiya requested on video channel 98. Upon finishing, the pair don their disguises. Meeting Kurokawa in the parking lot, the pair get ready to head out. Kurokawa asks if they are storming the headquarters, but Fumiya declines, saying they will target their weapon procurement lines first, commenting they need more information before targeting Konishi. The three arrive at the target location, and Kurokawa confirms this is where they need to be to crush Konishi’s weapon’s procurement lines.

30

Raid

Fumiya and Ayako discuss the plan with Kurokawa in the car. After some discussion, they plan to steal the money the cult is using to buy its weapons. As the purchases are illegal, the means they can use to pay are limited, meaning their ability to replace the money is hindered as it needs to be off the books. This issue would then hinder the cult’s activities. The plan settled, Ayako heads out. The following day, Konishi is informed that the cult’s facility has been attacked and the money has been stolen. On top of this, despite the heavy security, both the footage and guards were rendered useless, meaning they have no clue who did it. No alerts, no sensors tripped, no direct attacks, no footage, nothing. Wondering if the attacker was trying to stop the assassination of Shiba Tatsuya, Konishi decides to focus on killing Tatsuya before dealing with the theft by making use the resources they currently have available.

31

Demonstration (Protest)

May Twentieth. Yuki attends the protest by Konishi’s followers, helping out a woman who get herself injured, carrying them to the side of the street. Another young woman comes over and thanks Yuki for helping her acquaintance. The young woman is very friendly and invites Yuki to come with her to thank her properly, since the protest is coming to a close anyway. Yuki agrees. Elsewhere, Konishi gives a statement to the press saying that she is trying to make the government see the fears of the general populace about magicians. Afterwards, she heads back to her office and plans her next move, this time using women.

32

Infiltration

Yuki heads to a coffee shop with Yamono Hana and they chat over drinks and ice cream. The conversation turns to the fear of magic and Hana brings up the Yokohama incident from the previous year, referencing videos of people latterly bursting, blood flying everywhere as well as other really brutal spells. She comments it’s scary to live in the same city as people who can do such things. Later, Yuki finds herself being led to the headquarters of Konishi’s organisation by Hana. Ayako, who was tailing them, is disappointed it’s a public base and decides to withdraw for the day. Hana introduces Yuki to the receptionist at the door and gets permission to introduce Yuki. The pair then head inside and meet with Konishi. Hana leaves after introducing Yuki and Konishi leads her to another room to talk.

33

Evil Eye

Yuki sits down and drinks tea while Konishi talks. Konishi starts discussing her organisation’s stance on magic and on how it is so dangerous that it needs to disappear from the country. After a while Yuki begins repeating Konishi’s words in a daze. Once Yuki is deep enough under Konishi's influence, Konishi starts asking Yuki about herself and she reveals her real name as well as the fact she is a professional killer with five years of experience. Yuki arrives home and finds Kuroba Ayako waiting there for her with Nao.

34	Violence
	Upon seeing the pair of magicians in her room, Yuki’s brainwashing kicks in and she immediately attacks. After a fierce exchange, Nao and Ayako flee to the roof and escape with Ayako’s magic, leaving only feathers in their wake.

35

Puppet

As Ayako and Nao escape from the roof, they launch a spell at the brainwashed Yuki and injure her leg, ending her pursuit. As the pair leave, Yuki’s mind is filled with the directives her brainwashing had implanted. Kill magicians. Kill Shiba Tatsuya. Elsewhere, Konishi is taking a break and thinks about Yuki as she drinks her tea. Konishi realises her mistake in not getting more details about her employers from Yuki before dispatching her and decides to correct this once she returns. Konishi receives a call and is informed that their weapon storage has been hit. She immediately orders more security to deploy to the other warehouse and calls in the five people she had summoned. Meanwhile, Yuki is following her implanted directive and approaching Shiba Tatsuya’s house.

36

Overpowering

Tatsuya immediately reminds the brainwashed Yuki that he warned her she’d be erased if she ever appeared in front of him again. Miyuki stops him since she works for Fumiya now, but those few words from Tatsuya were all it took. The fear of Tatsuya overwhelms the brainwashing and Yuki flees in terror. Not far away, Yuki is apprehended by Fumiya, disguised as Yami, but they quickly stop when Yuki is able to show the brainwashing has been broken. In the back of the truck, Yuki gives her report and Fumiya concludes that the room, hypnosis techniques and Konishi’s Evil Eye spell are the cause of the cult’s brainwashing. Concluding that the Evil Eye is imperfect, Fumiya decides that ear plugs and sunglasses will be enough to mitigate any risks. Upon getting Kurokawa’s approval, they agree to sortie once the required items are secured. While they wait, Fumiya and Yuki go to see Ayako and Nao and explain what happened. Yuki gets some grief from Nao, but Ayako is happy to let things slide. The conversation moves on to the task at hand and Fumiya states he will be taking Konishi down tonight. Ayako confirms he means to assassinate her, planning to use her as a practice target for ‘Poisoned Bees’. Nao is left shocked by how blasé the other three discuss an assassination as though they were discussing the weather.

37	Title
[File:MKnR PtATS-37.png 162px]]	Summary