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Reminiscence Chapter is the 8th volume in the Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei Light Novel series.

The story is set 3 years before the siblings, Tatsuya and Miyuki enroll in First High School, when Okinawa is invaded. This is the moment where Miyuki starts to understand and feel far more for her brother than sibling love. It also explains some important points of what kinds of experiences Tatsuya went through and why his practical magic scores are poor.

Synopsis

Looking at Miyuki and Tatsuya now, it might be hard to imagine them as anything other than loving siblings. But it wasn't always this way...

Three years ago, Miyuki was always uncomfortable around her older brother. The rest of their family treated him no better than a lowly servant, even though he was the perfect Guardian, watching over Miyuki while she lived a normal middle school life. But what really bothered her was that he never showed any emotions or thoughts of his own.

However, when danger comes calling during a fateful trip to Okinawa, their relationship as brother and sister will change forever...[2]

World Affairs as of 2095

Spoiler
A summery of the changes to the world map caused by World War Three.

Strategic-Class Magicians - Thirteen Apostles

Spoiler
Strategic-Class Magicians are those elite few with the magical power to destroy entire armies and cities with a single spell. Thirteen Strategic-Class Magicians, known as the Thirteen Apostles, are publically known in 2095.

Chapter 1

Spoiler
Yotsuba Main House, November 6th, 2095.

It is one week after the events of the Yokohama Disturbance and the day that will become known as 'The Scorched Halloween'. Miyuki and Tatsuya have been summoned to the Yotsuba Main House by their aunt Yotsuba Maya. Miyuki feels slightly uneasy but is reassured by her brother that they are not the same as they were three years ago, when they were last here. Miyuki, feeling more composed, begins to reminisce about that time three years ago.

Chapter 2

Spoiler
Okinawa, August 4th, 2092.

Miyuki, currently in middle school, is busy studying modern history when the crew announce they are about to arrive in Nara. She watches the view whilst contemplating the modest modern dress code, caused by climate change. She’s excited for the holiday with her mother Miya but is upset that Tatsuya (currently addressed only as Ani) is with them.

◊ ◊ ◊

As Miyuki and Miya leave the VIP lounge, Tatsuya is collecting the luggage, having travelled commercial class for security reasons. Miyuki is troubled by how Tatsuya doesn’t appear to be bothered by being treated as a servant and by her inability to handle him.

◊ ◊ ◊

The vacation home is in Onna Serika. Miyuki is angry at her father for thinking that he can buy affection, and reflects on how he went from highly prized, due to his high psion count, to a mediocre magician due to the changes in the grading standards used, and so he abandoned being a magician and focused on business instead.

They are greeted by Sakurai Honami, a ‘Sakura Series’ magician and Miya’s Guardian, who had come ahead of the others to prepare the house and gather intel on the area. Miyuki asks for permission to go for a walk but is told to take Tatsuya, to which she reluctantly agrees.

Miyuki takes her walk, with Tatsuya following close behind. Miyuki is lost in thought, reflecting on her extremely pale complexion, compared to that of a Yuki-onna by her childhood friends, and how it’s so different to her families, as well as Tatsuya’s role as her Guardian compared to hers as a succession candidate. Miyuki is suddenly grabbed by Tatsuya to stop her just before she walked into someone, but they bump into her anyway after she has stopped.

The man who bumped into her is a young soldier, accompanied by two fellow soldiers. The man act in an intimidating manner but Tatsuya steps in front of Miyuki to protect her. The men try to goad the Shiba siblings, but Tatsuya simply tells them it’d be better if they back off.

The man gets angry and after several exchanges of words, he attacks Tatsuya but is blocked, to everyone else’s shock. He tries to attack again but is countered and brought down to his knees by a single blow. Tatsuya then takes Miyuki by the hand and leads her back to the villa.

They return home and Honami immediately realises that something happened from Miyuki’s face. Miyuki admits that there was an encounter so Honami checks her if she’s okay. Tatsuya then bows and leaves and Honami sends Miyuki to have a shower, where she cries over what happened.

Chapter 3

Spoiler
Yotsuba Main House, November 6th, 2095.

While waiting to meet with Yotsuba Maya, the Shiba siblings notice the Kuroba twins, Ayako and Fumiya, are leaving their grandmother's home. The Kuroba’s grandmother is the younger sister of the Shibas' grandfather, Genzou, with Fumiya being the number two candidate in the Yotsuba succession. The Shibas' assume the coinciding visits must be a coincidence as the twins would have come to say hello otherwise.

Chapter 4

Spoiler
Okinawa, August 4th, 2092.

Miyuki is getting ready to attend a party hosted by Kuroba Mitsugu, albeit reluctant due to having only just arrived that day. Honami comes to her room and notices Miyuki seems down, so after some teasing, she advises Miyuki on how to improve her defences by tricking her own emotions to mask them from others, something she needs given her position.

◊ ◊ ◊

Miyuki takes the advice and dons a false face as she heads to the party in low spirits. She finds Mitsugu a little annoying due to how he dotes on his kids and tries to ready her mindset as they arrive at the venue. They arrive and Tatsuya gets the door for her and she heads into the ‘battlefield of tedium’.

Entering the lobby, Miyuki sees lots of bodyguards trying to be discreet. Even Miyuki has Tatsuya and two additional female guards present. The two were needed as Honami had to stay with Miya at the villa as she was feeling ill.

Mitsugu comes over to greet Miyuki while ignoring Tatsuya completely. After exchanging greetings, Mitsugu leads Miyuki towards the twins whilst Tatsuya and the two bodyguards remain by the wall.

Miyuki greets the twins, Fumiya, a fellow succession candidate, who is happy to see her and Ayako, who sees Miyuki as rival. Mitsugu goes on to boast about his children, to Miyuki’s irritation, though she maintains a polite façade.

Fumiya becomes restless and asks about Tatsuya, who he admires as although poor at magic, Tatsuya excels in studies and sports. Miyuki points him out whilst suppressing her feelings.

Upon seeing him, Fumiya bounds over to greet Tatsuya, with Ayako trying to act indifferent as she follows him. The behaviour of the twins annoys Mitsugu, who follows after them with Miyuki in tow.

Fumiya enthusiastically talks to Tatsuya, who lets a smile show, shocking Miyuki who’d never seen him smile before. Mitsugu reprimands the twins for disturbing Tatsuya’s work, before thanking Tatsuya for his diligence. The twins object as it’s the Kuroba, as hosts, who are responsible for guarding the party.

Mitsugu is troubled as this is unsuitable behaviour for a succession candidate. Tatsuya defusing the situation by asking for permission to look around outside, which Mitsugu agrees to by taking responsibility for Miyuki in the meantime, to the twin’s disappointment.

Chapter 5

Spoiler
Yotsuba Main House, November 6th, 2095.

At the sudden sound of Miyuki’s giggling, Tatsuya’s gaze went straight to his younger sister. Upon receiving his puzzled look, Miyuki quickly apologises and says she was remembering something funny. Miyuki brings up how surprisingly nice he was to the twins back then. Realising around when she meant, Tatsuya points out they were all kids at the time. Miyuki goes on to state she didn’t know Tatsuya at all back then.

The conversation over Tatsuya returns to looking out the window thinking of who everything he did was all for the sake of protecting Miyuki, no matter the cost. Something as true now as then, even if back then Miyuki was unaware.

Chapter 6

Spoiler
Okinawa, August 5th, 2092.

Despite being tired from the party and journey, Miyuki rises early out of habit. She opens the window for air and sees that Tatsuya is undertaking some martial arts training.

Miyuki watches the ‘dance-like’ movements and she gets disappointed when he stops but quickly gets embarrassed when she realises this and hides.

◊ ◊ ◊

After they had eating breakfast, Honami asks Miya what their plans were for the day. Miya decides to go sailing in the afternoon. With the schedule decided, Honami suggests Miyuki that she can go and relax at the beach to which Miyuki agrees. Honami takes Miyuki to prepare, in a somewhat playful manner. As she’s carried away, she gets the distinct feeling Tatsuya is laughing at her behind his mask.

◊ ◊ ◊

After escaping the villa and Honami, Miyuki settles under the parasol Tatsuya had set up, feeling a little exposed by her swimsuit, while Tatsuya stared off at the horizon.

Wondering how they are compared to ‘normal’ families, Miyuki observes the people on the beach until getting embarrassed after seeing a couple being a little too friendly applying oil in public.

Miyuki gets flustered but hurriedly tries to calm down to avoid her magic leaking out. She looks at Tatsuya, worried that he wants to do the same and she freezes when their eyes meet, but Tatsuya simply looks back at the horizon after a few seconds.

While still embarrassed, Miyuki reflects on the fact that even though they are siblings, they are not a normal one because there is almost no contact or relationship between them. The only times they’re together, including to and from school, is when they’re out, spending time together like this, and it only happens on trips. To Miyuki, Tatsuya is not much family, but rather a boy she knows who’s one year older. Those are her true feelings and she speculates that it’s probably the same for him.

While she’s lost in thought, she hears Tatsuya get up and he puts her tunic over her, and she finally relaxes and quickly falls to sleep.

Miyuki wakes up two hours later and is thankful that Honami was so thorough in applying sunscreen. Tatsuya is still watching the horizon. Miyuki is a little uncomfortable as something seems off, with far fewer parasols around and the sand looks like someone played volleyball nearby but she still decides to go for a swim.

◊ ◊ ◊

After lunch, Miyuki had been reading but decides to show her mother her magic practice for a change of pace. Passing her brother's room, she overhears Honami scolding Tatsuya. He has left a wound untreated as it would hurt and so served as a penalty.

Honami is bewildered and it's clearly not the first time they’ve had this discussion. She tries to treat the wound, but Tatsuya really isn’t bothered. Honami goes on to point out that he’s not a combat machine and he should have avoided the fight by waking Miyuki and leaving the beach, rather than fighting because he didn’t want to disturb her nap. With the conversation over, Honami is about to leave, so Miyuki quickly retreats to her room, confused by what she have just heard.

◊ ◊ ◊

The cruiser was a six-seater sailing ship with an electric motor attached, so with the two crew, Miya, Miyuki, Honami, and Tatsuya brought the ship up to capacity. Miyuki is discreetly watching Tatsuya, who was watching the crew prepare for departure.

To date, she’d only seen him injured during training and direct confutations like the day before were rare. Miyuki believes that Tatsuya was only her Guardian so that he has a place in the Yotsuba, despite having no magical talent yet from the conversation they were having, such injuries were a regular occurrence.

Miya notices that something seems to be bothering Miyuki and asks, but Miyuki plays it off by saying it’s been a while since they went sailing and pretending to watch the sails being set up. Realising she was concerning her mother, Miyuki tries to clear her mind and focus on the scenery as they depart, heading north west towards Iejima.

After relaxing for a while, Miyuki opens her eyes to see Honami glaring at the water. She hears the word 'submarine' as the assistant crew member is desperately using the radio. The ship switches from sail to motor and it tries to turn back.

Tatsuya calls to Miyuki and tells her to head over to the front of the boat. Complying, Miyuki moves back but seeing her mother, who’s body is failing, Miyuki pulls out her C.A.D., ready to act in her stead.

Looking back, she sees torpedoes approaching the boat and is shocked. Tatsuya raises his hand without a C.A.D., which annoys Miyuki and so she looks to Honami to act when suddenly Tatsuya invokes magic and disintegrates the torpedoes in an instant, leaving Miyuki shocked. His use of highly advanced magic without a C.A.D. and in an instant, it leaves her realising that she actually knows nothing about him at all.

As Honami continues to use magic under the water, Miyuki simply stares at Tatsuya’s back as he reverts to the child he seemingly appears to be on the outside.

Chapter 7

Spoiler
Yotsuba Main House, November 6th, 2095.

Tatsuya, who had been looking out the window until now, suddenly looks over at the doorway, moments before a knock came. After waiting for Miyuki to give her permission, a maid led Major Kazuma into the room and promptly left.

They exchange greetings, having realised that he was also summoned by Maya, which is something that the Shibas were not aware of. With Miyuki present, Kazuma is more formal than he normally is with Tatsuya. This is because despite having been acquainted for the same length of time, they have never interacted without Tatsuya present.

Chapter 8

Spoiler
Okinawa, August 5th, 2092.

By the time the Coast Guard arrived, the submarine had already disappeared. Sakurai-san was angry that the navy hadn’t noticed the submarine invade Japanese waters but she, Miya, and Miyuki were tired, so they headed back to the villa, informing the officer to send someone to see them if they needed anything in particular regarding the incident.

At the villa, Miyuki’s mind is a maelstrom of thoughts as she couldn’t understand what she’d seen. Tatsuya had directly modified with the structural information of the torpedoes and decomposed them, magic that's of the highest difficulty, and it is something not even her mother or Aunt Maya could do. Yet he was removed as a succession candidate and became her Guardian because of a lack of talent. She’d never seen him use anything high level beyond ‘Gram Dispersion’, which is why he’d focused on high physical abilities to earn a place in the Yotsuba.

Miyuki realised that she knows nothing about Tatsuya despite him being her Guardian for six years and wonders who to ask about him and his true abilities. Just as she gets her thoughts in order, Honami arrives to call her downstairs as someone from the Military has arrived to discuss the incident and has insisted on seeing everyone.

The soldier who came to talk with them identified himself as Captain Kazama Harunobu. They discuss the incident, with Honami taking the lead. She tells them that they encountered the submarine randomly and they don’t know why it attacked. When Kazuma implies that they have done something to provoke the submarine into attacking, Honami starts getting angry but Tatsuya interjects.

He tells them that the people from the submarine likely intended to abduct them, as the type of torpedo that was used in their attack was a foaming torpedo, which would make it look like an accident, a theory supported by the fact that the radio was jammed. Kazuma asks if Tatsuya has more evidence which Tatsuya confirms but he refuses to elaborate. Miya asks if Kazuma needs anything else, and he takes the hint that the conversation is over.

Tatsuya and Miyuki see Kazuma to his car where they see someone guarding it. They saw the man, who started the fight the other day. Kazuma laughs, immediately realising that Tatsuya was the one who floored him and is impressed at Tatsuya’s skills. He calls over the man, Higaki, and the pair apologise for the incident. The apology was accepted. Afterward, Kazuma invites Tatsuya to visit his squad at Onna Base if he has the time.

Chapter 9

Spoiler

Okinawa, August 6th, 2092.

On the third day of the holiday, a strong tropical storm was brewing. At Honami’s suggestion, Miya decides to watch a Ryuukyuu dance but it’s for women only. Miya gives Tatsuya the day off, so he decides to take Captain Kazuma up on his offer and visit the base.

Miyuki asks to accompany him to Miya’s surprise, using the fact that she needs to understand her Guardian’s abilities as a pretext. Miya reminds the two to hide their identities by addressing each other and acting out as normal siblings, for the duration of the visit.

◊ ◊ ◊

Taking care to dress appropriately, the siblings head to Onna Base where they are welcomed by Lieutenant Sanada from Weapons Development. Tatsuya is surprised to be met by an army officer on an air force base and Sanada is impressed with Tatsuya’s knowledge.

Sanada leads them to a gymnasium where fifty or so magician soldiers are undergoing training drills. Seeing so many magicians in one place reminds Miyuki that Okinawa is on the frontline border.

They met Kazuma, who left the training to a subordinate, to greet them and to confirm that Tatsuya is in middle school. Miyuki reflects on the fact that Tatsuya is a prodigy in everything but magic and though not sociable, he is relied upon at school and how things would be different if he was not one of the Yotsuba.

While lost in thought, Kazuma invites Tatsuya to join the training but he declines the request due to his weak magic. This surprises Miyuki as they had not told them that they were magicians and he was not wearing any C.A.D. or any other aids like charms.

She’s worried that they’re being observed but Kazuma simply says that his experience of working with so many people over the years. Kazuma wonders why she’s worried so Tatsuya covers for her making his poor magic an excuse, leaving Miyuki confused as to why he’d cover for her.

Chapter 10

Spoiler
Yotsuba Main House, November 6th, 2095.

Tatsuya and Kazuma are deep in conversation when Kazuma comments how the Yotsuba Main House is dense with the smell of death, like that of a field hospital. Tatsuya comments that it’s because this is the site of the Institute 4, infamous even amongst the other Institutes, closed down for human rights violations as the ‘Institute of Death’ which produced only the Yotsuba themselves. Tatsuya comments that all the buildings are just to disguise the site as the real Institute facilities are in the basement.

Kazuma adds that he was shocked to learn all this three years ago but it’s no surprise that the Guardians, tempered side by side with death, are so formidable even as children when raised and trained in such an environment.

Chapter 11

Spoiler
Okinawa, August 6th, 2092.

Miyuki quickly got bored of the training when it switched to close combat and was wondering what she should do when Kazuma invites Tatsuya to join the combat. Seeing that Miyuki was bored, he agrees to join.

His first partner was Sergeant Toguchi, a man with a medium build, who Tatsuya was told that he had boxing skills on a national level as a student. Toguchi slowly closes on Tatsuya but the match is over when Tatsuya closes in an instant and felled him with a single blow.

Kazama orders Corporal Haebaru, who gave of the impression of a well-forged blade, to face Tatsuya next and was told not to hold back. Haebaru attacks immediately, and the spectators are impressed that Tatsuya can fend off the onslaught without difficulty, despite the eye blurring speed.

Kazama comments that Tatsuya carries himself like an experienced combatant and even the untrained Miyuki could see that Tatsuya had the advantage. The exchange of blows and counters continued until it looked like the Corporal appeared to have caught Tatsuya, for him to just slip to the slide and bring him down and took an elbow to the side, ending the fight.

The soldiers gather around Tatsuya to praise his skill, given Haebaru was one of the units' strongest. Kazuma inquires where he was trained, and Tatsuya simply states there is a dojo at his mother’s place. Kazuma seems unconvinced but decides not to pry for now and instead asks Tatsuya to fight one more match to protect the Corps honour. Lance Corporal Higaki volunteers, looking to vindicate himself for the other day, and Tatsuya accepts the challenge.

Higaki and Tatsuya face each other, both waiting for an opening, when Higaki suddenly launches like a cannonball at Tatsuya, which he was able to dodge. Miyuki is outraged that he’s using magic but Tatsuya scolds her whilst defending Higaki’s attacks, pointing out that they never said magic wasn’t allowed. Kazama gives Higaki a warning to be careful as the air around Tatsuya dimmed as Tatsuya points his outstretched palm at Higaki. The Lance Corporal charges again and a torrent of psions sweep through him. The attack, which leaves Higaki defenceless in his charge, was able to let Tatsuya side step and deal a single blow, bringing Higaki down.

Tatsuya goes over to Higaki and offers a hand, which Higaki accepts with a smile. Having confirmed that he wasn’t just caught off guard the other day, Higaki introduced himself formally. He gives Tatsuya permission to address him as Joe before offering to show Tatsuya around Okinawa if he gets bored at all. Kazama cuts him off, laughing, as they are still in training before inviting the siblings to have tea.

They discuss Tatsuya’s use of Gram Demolition as the siblings have tea with Sanada and Kazama, with Miyuki feeling a little strange due to the role reversal and her being a background character here. They enquire why Tatsuya doesn’t use a CAD, in which he admits that he has issues using them. Sanada asks if Tatsuya would like to try some of the CADs he is developing. Tatsuya accepts, with his eyes showing more desire than Miyuki had even seen before.

They head over to Sanada’s lab and seeing that Tatsuya was showing enthusiasm, Miyuki, who thought that he was indifferent to everything, became very confused. Her mind wonders to what he must think of her and almost trembles at the thought. Tatsuya notices but she writes it off as being tired and sits down, while Tatsuya looks at the CADs.

Miyuki’s mind dwells on the matter and the fact that if not for her, he could be free to live his own life yet letting him go seems so much scarier. Unable to quell such thoughts, Miyuki maintains a poker face while she waits.

Chapter 12

Spoiler
Yotsuba Main House, November 6th, 2095.

Tatsuya and Kazuma continue discussing the past when there’s a knock at the door. Miyuki answers and a butler who seems around Tatsuya’s age enters and apologised that the meeting before their's is overrunning so there will be a delay.

The butler waits for Kazuma’s acknowledgment but not the siblings. Though Tatsuya does not consider himself a Yotsuba, Miyuki cannot reject being Miya’s daughter, or by extension, Yotsuba Maya’s niece.

Chapter 13

Spoiler
Okinawa, August 8th, 2092.

Despite the turbulent start, the vacation is now entering its fifth day at 1pm. Miyuki had been quietly reading a rare paper textbook on magic and she finds it a bit advanced so she wonders if Tatsuya would understand it. Tatsuya has been working on the two CADs that was given to him by Sanada two days ago whenever he was free. Miyuki wonders if he can actually tune them and ends up at his door before she realises it.

Miyuki hesitates before knocking and was about to leave but Tatsuya opens the door before she can to see what she wants, and Miyuki asks to enter. Upon entering, she sees that the only thing of note in the nearly bare room is the workstation full of code that was connected to a half-dissected CAD. Miyuki’s attention snaps back to Tatsuya when he addresses her as Madam and she asks him to call her Miyuki instead, to which he agrees. After that, she retreats back to her room and cries, lamenting on how any kindness he shows her must be an act.

Chapter 14

Spoiler
Okinawa, August 11th, AD 2092.

Two uneventful days later, nothing has changed between the siblings. The family were having breakfast when emergency alerts suddenly start blazing, from all the devices and equipment, from the Military, warning them Japan is being invaded by submarines from the West Sea and that the Kerama Islands are under attack.

Miyuki was ready to panic while Honami requests permission to call Yotsuba Maya and is quickly given permission by a nervous Miya. Only Tatsuya was calm as he read the information in the terminal. Miyuki wonders if he even has emotions when he receives a call from Captain Kazuma offering shelter at the base.

Tatsuya relays the message to Miya but before she replies Honami informs her Maya is on the phone, to Miyuki’s surprise as the Yotsuba twins are on bad terms in something akin to a cold war. Miya speaks to her sister and tells the others that Maya has arranged for them to shelter at the base, likely the reason Kazuma called Tatsuya.

Miya and Honami discuss their options but decide to go to the base, as the shelter should be sturdier and they cannot trust an enemy who attacks without a declaration of war will abide the rules of war. Seeing their grim expressions Miyuki realised she’s the only one who doesn’t fully comprehend the situation. The decision made Miya instruct Tatsuya to call Kazuma.

Lance Corporal Higaki fetches them in an army jeep and they quickly travel to the base. They saw that the roads were empty, apart from military vehicles, as though martial law was invoked.

The five people in the jeep arrived at the base with nothing happening en route, despite an hour has passed since the attack first started, meaning that the enemy are being held off for now.

A number of other civilians have been evacuated to the base and the Shibas are sharing the shelter with five other people. Miyuki reflects on the fact that she may have to fight and that it will be her first battle. She looks to Tatsuya, with his CADs hidden and ready. Miyuki wonders if it was his first battle too, but unlike her, however, Tatsuya is an experienced killer and has remained perfectly composed until he suddenly stands up.

◊ ◊ ◊

Honami also stands up suddenly, having heard gunshots from an automatic rifle. Honami asks what’s happening but the base is shielded so Tatsuya cannot confirm. The man from the other group, realising they are magicians, demands that they find out what’s happening on ground and magicians were things created to serve people, angering Honami and the others.

Tatsuya interjects pointing out was that the case they serve society and public order as stated in the ‘Charter of the International Association of Magic’ and that 80% of magicians are natural, not engineered. Miya cuts Tatsuya short and requests that he investigate what’s happening around, but he objects as he won’t be able to protect Miyuki. Miya was angered by this and Honami quickly tells Tatsuya to leave the shelter to her, so he heads out.

The gunshots are getting closer and as footsteps approached the room, Honami gets ready to protect the two Shibas. Four soldiers arrive, all Left-Bloods, and the leader, Private First Class Kinjou, offers to take the civilians to an underground shelter.

Honami tells them one member of their group has stepped out. The soldier insists but Miya refuses to abandon her son and asks them to take the others instead while they wait. The four soldiers quietly discuss the situation while Miya tells Honami her ‘intuition’ is telling her not to trust them, a skill derived from her Mental Interference magic that earned her the title of the 'Ruler of the River of Oblivion'.

The soldiers finish their discussion and insist that the three should join them too. Just then, Lance Corporal Higaki calls the leader of the soldiers' name and PFC Kinjou immediately turns and opens fire into the corridor.

Honami moves to raise a shield but cast jamming is activated by one of the four soldiers, stopping Honami and Miyuki from casting magic and causing Miya to slump over, due to her illness and Miyuki realised she needs to stop it.

Higaki calls out from the corridor, demanding to know why the four have betrayed them. He and PFC Kinjou argue over the gunshots until something that Higaki says causes a moment of hesitation in the four and the cast jamming weakens. Seeing her chance, Miyuki casts her innate MI spell Cocytus on the cast jammer, careful to only hit him and freezes his soul.

The guilt that this is the third person she’s killed with Cocytus hits her and she hesitates. The remaining soldiers take their guns and aim it at Miyuki, Honami and Miya and shot them down before Honami’s shield can take effect.

Her body cold, Miyuki laments that she never got to apologise to Tatsuya for being the 'chains' that bound him.

"Miyuki!"

She fluttered her eyes open to see the rebels gone and Tatsuya’s panicked form stretching out a hand as she felt herself dying.

And then Tatsuya’s magic rebuilt her body and she revived completely unharmed and she called him Onii-sama for the first time as Tatsuya hugged her in relief. Having confirmed that Miyuki is ok, Tatsuya then heals Miya and Honami, Miyuki seeing him begin mastering the spell after only three uses. Honami was shocked but Miya didn’t awaken.

Kazuma apologises and asks if there is anything that he can do to make up for what happened. They were targeted due to the man who was with them, being an executive in a munitions company.

Tatsuya first asks for a situation report and asks if it’s the GAU. Kazuma says its likely but unconfirmed and that enemy troops have landed in force on Nagoshi, controlled the waters of the Kerama Islands and guerrillas have attacked from Naha to Nago, although 80% of the area affected by the guerrillas have been reclaimed. The rebels are mostly supressed too, but their job of buying time is done.

Tatsuya then asks for Kazuma to protect the other three for him and Kazuma agrees to take them to the Air Defence Command and Control Centre before finally asking for an Armour Suit and infantry kit. Kazuma asks why and Tatsuya states its for revenge for trying to harm Miyuki.

Kazuma agrees for Tatsuya to join them in repelling the enemy, only on the condition that he will abide the rules of war, no killing of non-combatants or surrendered enemies. Negotiations are concluded and Tatsuya leaves Miyuki and Miya to Honami and follows Sanada to get some armour.

◊ ◊ ◊

Honami asks Miyuki if it’s alright to let Tatsuya go to war, and as the reality hits her, she runs after him and asks him not to go. Tatsuya explains that he is going because he needs to get revenge on those who tried to hurt her, as Miyuki is the only thing that can be truly precious to him. This leaves Miyuki confused and he apologises and tells her that it’s time she knew, even if he’d rather she didn’t Miyuki is Miya’s daughter and Maya’s niece, and so she should ask Miya for the details. Having said his piece, Tatsuya ends the conversation on that he’s going to protect her future and then left with Sanada for the battlefield.

◊ ◊ ◊

Miyuki returns to the room she left Miya and Honami in. Seeing that she made them wait, Miyuki apologises and informs Miya that Tatsuya is joining the battle. Cursing the ‘defective product’s’ misbehaviour, Miya tells the soldier waiting to guide them to the control room.

Five blast doors later, they arrive and were led to one of the single rooms for executives in the control centre. Honami confirms that there is no surveillance and that the glass can project any of the centre’s monitors.

Miyuki asks Miya about what Tatsuya said. Miya agrees that it's time she knew, but first scolds Miyuki for calling him Onii sama in private, as it could impact her place in the succession. Miyuki tries to argue, pointing out that he saved them with his power but Miya counters that it’s all he can do.

Honami stays silent as she got the images from the battlefield up on the screen as Tatsuya deployed and Miya began to tell Miyuki the truth.

“Tatsuya was born defective as a magician."

"From the time he was born, Tatsuya could use only two types of ‘magic’. Decomposition of Eidos, and reconstruction of Information Bodies.”

She points out his abilities aren’t truly magic as they don’t alter the information as magic does, and as he cannot use magic, he cannot be a Yotsuba of the Ten Master Clans. So seven years ago, Miya performed Mental Reconstruction surgery as part of the ‘The Artificial Magician Plan’ where they altered his mind to let him use magic, at the cost of stronger emotions, his urges, such as rage, hate, lust, gluttony and blind love, with one single exception, his feelings for Miyuki.

However, the results were unsatisfactory and the level he could use magic at was inferior in performance, and so he could only be used as a Guardian.

Miyuki couldn’t believe Miya performed the surgery, but Miya confirms that only she could have done it, by using her innate Mental Structure Interference magic. At that point, she realised Miya too lost some of her emotions in the experiment, whether a side effect or guilt.

The screens currently show that Tatsuya has made contact with the enemy. Wherever his CAD pointed, the enemy turned to dust.

Miyuki asks why he still feels affection for her, so Miya explains his only remaining emotion is the desire to love and protect Miyuki, his one true emotion, which is something he knows well. He feels nothing for her, his mother, and likely only saved her to stop Miyuki from being sad.

Miya admits that they didn’t mean to go so far but as only one emotion would be left after the experiment, they directed the attachment to Miyuki, who would be with him far longer than Miya would.

Miyuki was both glad to know the truth and wished she didn’t and decided to unflinchingly look to the present and the future by going forward.

Turning to the screen, she watched as Tatsuya advanced, no bullet being able to touch him, as armoured vehicles and soldiers alike were disintegrated one after another, while any wound his allies received were healed in an instant. It was like watching the special effects of a movie, not a real battle, rather an unreal scene.

To the enemies fighting against Tatsuya, he was terror incarnate. A nightmare who revived their foes and obliterated all before him, leaving only shadows and dust.

Like a Demon, Tatsuya strode across the battlefield, all because Miyuki was shot. She wonders how she can possibly repay him, when even her very life is something that Miyuki owes completely to him.

Chapter 15

Spoiler
Yotsuba Main House, November 6th, 2095.

It had been one week since they parted at Tsushima base and the details of the aftermath were unknown even to Kazama. Tatsuya’s thoughts are interrupted by the knock of an elderly butler who advises Tatsuya, Miyuki, and Kazuma that Maya is ready for them and she enters the room, apologising to Kazuma and Tatsuya for the delay before sitting down.

Cutting straight to the point, Maya tells them of some of the developments stemming from the incident in Yokohama.

Firstly, that the Magic Association has concluded that the blast wasn’t in violation of the charter forbidding weapons that cause nuclear contamination, so there won’t be any penalties.

Secondly, that 'Heavenly General' Liú Yúndé, one of the ‘Thirteen Apostles’, was killed along with the fleet. This surprises Kazuma, who was unaware as the GAU was keeping it quiet.

Maya then tells them the government is planning to use this fact to wring concessions out of the GAU for the attack, as such the fleet is being deployed along with Itsuwa Mio, Japan's Apostle.

Hearing this, Miyuki becomes concerned as Mio is very frail physically but Maya states it’s a calculated risk. Maya goes on to tell them that the blast has motivated the NSU to have the Apostle Igor Bezobrazov reassess the effectiveness of large-scale magic.

Tatsuya is surprised by this, as including him means that the incident has caused four strategic class magicians to mobilise. As a result, peace with the GAU is likely to be attained soon, Maya concludes.

Finally, Maya tells them that the destruction of the Zhènhai Naval Port, being caused by magic, is being investigated by many, to determine who the operator is. As it would be undesirable for Tatsuya to be discovered, Maya asks Kazuma to refrain from contacting Tatsuya for the time being.

With the negotiations concluded, Kazuma leaves and Maya orders Miyuki and the attendants out of the room, leaving her alone with Tatsuya. Maya initially drinks her tea while Tatsuya casually waits in silence. Maya speaks first and confirms that this is the first time that the two of them have ever spoken alone before and they banter briefly, but not with a friendly rapport, although Maya seems to appreciate having an unreserved companion.

Once the tea had arrived, Maya thanks Tatsuya for his efforts in Yokohama but makes it clear she thinks things went too far, though Tatsuya was just following orders. Tatsuya apologies as he too thinks they went too far.

Tatsuya asks if there is any movement so far and she tells him the USNA STARS are investigating and that he and Miyuki are both suspects.

Maya then orders Tatsuya to drop out of school and lie low at the main house. Tatsuya refuses.

Maya confirms he’s refusing her order.

Tatsuya states Miyuki alone may order him.

The world turned to ‘night’. It was not mere darkness but containing a full sea of stars. And the stars became beams of light.

Without a sound, the night shattered.

Revealed within were the aunt and nephew, still staring at each other. However, the tension was gone. Tatsuya comments that she didn’t go all out and Maya, using the pretext of him breaking her spell, agrees to let him stay at school. Tatsuya rises, bows and leaves the room.

◊ ◊ ◊

After some time alone in thought, Maya summons Hayama and asks him to prepare tea in the solarium and bring the Shiba siblings. As he’s about to leave, she stops him and asks what was on his mind.

With the permission given, Hayama asks if it’s ok to leave Tatsuya like that. Unlike most of the other Yotsubas, Hayama rates Tatsuya very highly, as someone to be wary of. Maya admits he could betray the Yotsuba at any time and that she’d likely lose if they fought even with Meteor Stream, the spell that cemented her place as one of the strongest magicians and earned her the epitaph ‘Queen of the Night’ due to it being near unstoppable. However, she points out that he will never betray Miyuki and Miyuki won’t oppose the Yotsuba, as Miya raised her to ensure it wouldn’t happen. However, this means Miyuki must become the next family head, to ensure that Tatsuya would never turn on them. She then assures Hayama that she has everything planned out so he shouldn't worry.

It’s commonly thought that the Yokohama Incident of 2095 was the extension of the invasion of Okinawa in 2092, and their subsequent defeat was as an attempt to redeem themselves. However, for the events following the invasion of Yokohama to end in the same way as the ‘Battle of Okinawa’ can only be called the irony of history.

Chapter 16

Spoiler
Okinawa, August 11th, 2092.

Tatsuya, accompanied by the Onna Airborne under the command of Kazama, has driven the invading enemy to the water’s edge, and the battle was an utterly one-sided slaughter. Yet it lacked all one’s characteristics, no explosions, no blood, no bodies. It was utterly silent as even Tatsuya’s allies had ceased firing and watched on. Everything, from bullets to the enemy soldiers was being disintegrated. Yet the absence of the horrors of war led the enemy to continue fighting, with the idea of retreat never crossing their minds.

Tatsuya was on an utter rampage, as though murder was not taboo, the sight of Miyuki nearly dying had shaken him that much. Had he arrived moments later, she would be dead. He used Regrowth on another for the first time, and even though it can instantly heal fatal wounds, it cannot revive those people past the threshold of death. And with Tatsuya’s altered emotions, the fear of losing Miyuki is all the more amplified, and despite his current calm, he was seething with rage. He only appeared calm due to the absence of other emotions. A madness dominated only by one purpose.

Though the front lines were in a state of collapse, the chain of command was still intact so a retreat was ordered by the GAU forces and they fought to be the first to flee to safety. The Onna Airborne got ready to fire but before they could, Tatsuya started disintegrating the amphibious assault craft, the boarding soldiers along with them. At the sight of this, the enemy threw their guns in the water and surrendered.

Tatsuya, however, in his manic rage tried to continue the slaughter by stopping the surrender before it was formalised and had to be pinned down from behind by Lieutenant Yanagi at gun point. Kazuma reminds Tatsuya of the condition of joining them, and Tatsuya calms down and agrees to stop.

◊ ◊ ◊

With the enemy surrendered and disarmed, the troops are feeling relieved that it’s over until a message is received, informing them that a fleet of six ships is approaching and will be in artillery range in twenty minutes. Even hearing this, none of the enemy tried to escape, Tatsuya’s undisguised bloodlust made it clear that it wasn’t worth it. After the is message received, Kazuma orders the soldiers to withdraw with the prisoners.

Instead of retreating, Tatsuya asks for the location of the enemy fleet. He then asks for the extended range armament device they showed him at the base before using wired communications to secretly discuss his plan to destroy the fleet with Kazuma but doesn’t want to be seen doing it. It’s agreed that only Tatsuya, Sanada and Kazuma will remain while the order was given for the rest to withdraw.

◊ ◊ ◊

Back at the control centre, the soldiers withdrawing could be seen on screen, and that three people have stayed behind. Honami clearly wants to join Tatsuya and Miyuki holds her hand, thinking that he may have a means to destroy the fleet, but if he could use some form of Strategic Class Magic, then he would be defenceless while using it.

Honami asks Miya for permission to join Tatsuya, and she agrees. She comments that the base isn’t safe with the fleet out there and that Tatsuya knows what to do in theory but has never used this ability. She believes that he should be fine given his intelligence.

◊ ◊ ◊

The enemy ships possess an overwhelming firepower, so Tatsuya knows that it was a race against time. First, he decomposes and reconstructs all the bullets from the magazine of the armament device to mark them. With the fleet 30 kilometres out, Tatsuya modifies the spell in the device, which shocks Sanada, and fires it, but the attempty fails since the bullet only reaches 20 kilometres away.

Tatsuya states that they’ll have to wait for the enemy to come within 20 kilometres, the moment when they’ll be in range too. They discuss withdrawing but Tatsuya states that the base will be at risk if it’s not ended here, as there is no time to find another vantage point. Kazuma and Sanada agree to stay with Tatsuya and see this to the end.

As the enemy came into range, Tatsuya fires all the four remaining bullets and he focuses on the one that falls within the enemy fleet. As Tatsuya initiates the large-scale magic unknown to the other two, the enemy fleet opens fire. Before it could hit, Honami arrives on a bike and in full armour.

She activates a huge number of magical shields, protecting the four of them. In single field defence, the Sakura series, which Honami belongs to, is unrivalled. As he watches the shields stop the bullets from hitting them, Tatsuya stretches out his right hand towards the west, and forcibly unclenches his palm.

The bullet breaks down into energy.

In that moment, the mass conversion magic Material Burst was used for the first time.

Beyond the horizon, a flash and a huge roar reverberates. An eerie rumbling was heard and realising that it was a tsunami, Kazuma grabs Honami who had collapsed, and the three flees, Sanada on the bike with Tatsuya in tandem and Kazuma using magic, carrying Honami.

Atop a hill some distance away, Tatsuya kneels by Honami. Augmented magicians are unstable, and she’d burnt out protecting Tatsuya. Honami tells Tatsuya that it’s not his fault, as she chose to help him. Tatsuya tries to heal her, but she stops him as she’s glad that she could die as a person and not as a tool.

And she dies.

Hearing her last words, Tatsuya decides that there is no need to grieve, convincing himself to remove the grief away.

Chapter 17

Spoiler
Yotsuba Main House, November 6th, 2095.

Tatsuya thought about Honami for the first time in a long time, his memories laced with regret. He knew that he could do nothing but regret and understand. The fact that he could do it this time without anyone sacrificing themselves means that she didn’t die in vain. He dedicates a silent prayer to the woman who nobly sacrificed herself three years ago.

That was why he was shocked to see the maid serving them who was her spitting image. Miyuki looks shocked enough for Maya to notice as she arrives and queries the reason.

Miyuki asked about the girl and Maya, appearing a different person after her confrontation, realises the reason and tells them that she’s Minami, a second generation Sakura Series, and sort of a genetic niece of Honami. This means that her mother was a first generation Sakura Series, who all had identical DNA.

Maya goes on to tell them that Minami is very skilled, and is easily on par with the Saegusa twins. She is also a candidate to be a future Guardian for Miyuki, as a male bodyguard can be inconvenient at times. Although, the true purpose was for extra protection for the possible havoc and destruction in the future.

Chapter 18

Spoiler
Okinawa, August 17th, 2092.

Six days after the battle, the three Shibas are waiting at the airport. After Honami was deployed, there was no one at that time was able to manipulate the screen so everything that Miyuki knows on what happened afterwards only came from the news.

At that time, suddenly at the waterline, a light brighter than the sun erupted, and the enemy fleet disappeared as the coast was hit by the breaking waves.

Apart from this, all that Miyuki knows is that the public doesn’t know that Tatsuya was the strategic class magician who used ‘Material Burst’ and was the hero who drove the enemy away. And that Honami never returned. Her remains were cremated at a joint funeral service for the victims of the attack and her ashes were scattered into the sea, as Tatsuya comforted Miyuki as she cried.

After watching Honami’s cremation, Miyuki had decided. She too had died that day, and the life given to her by Miya was gone. A new life was granted to her by Tatsuya had been born, therefore all she is belongs to Tatsuya.

Tatsuya calls her to let her know that it’s time and she leads Miya, who is still frail, to the plane, thinking the words that cannot be spoken.

—Onii-sama, no matter where you go, no matter how far; I, Miyuki, am going with you—

Untouchable - The Nightmare of 2062

Spoiler
It was a time of war, World War III.

While on a school trip to Taipei, Yotsuba Maya was kidnapped and untold horrors were inflicted upon her, crushing her mind. Saegusa Kouichi, her fiance, lost an eye while trying to protect Maya from being kidnapped and got seriously injured.

After she was rescued, Yotsuba Genzou ordered Yotsuba Miya to use her unique magic on Maya to separate the emotions from the memories of the atrocities she had suffered through, for fear that they would destroy her. Unable to only target the specific memory, Miya ends up removing the emotions from all of the memories she had experienced for the past twelve years.

After waking up, Maya blames Miya for what she had done, saying that she had "killed" the person she was before, and her personality changes. Her betrothal to Saegusa Kouichi is dissolved, due to the fact that the abduction event had left her body broken and unable to bear children.

Unwilling to let the defilement of his daughter go, Yotsuba Genzou is supported by the Yotsuba Clan to go to war with the organization behind this incident. 

After everything is over with, thirty members of the Yotsuba clan had died. On the other hand, the Dahan; and the leading organization in magical research in Asia, the Kunlunfang Institute, which was responsible for the kidnapping, had lost almost four thousand members and their commanding core was destroyed. Merely 30 people from the Yotsuba clan effectively obliterated the Dahan and wiped out all of their research on magic. Dahan then internally collapsed, leading to the Great Asia Union unifying Asia. This was the end of WWIII.

After the end of World War III, to those who knew the truth about what happened to Dahan, the Yotsuba name became synonymous with the word "Untouchable", instilling fear in everyone who knew about it.

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