Discipline Committee

I was waiting outside training room number 3, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed, alongside Watanabe-senpai.

"It turns out you're cunning too~," she suddenly exclaimed, seemingly amazed by my deceptive outward appearance.

"So you're saying I'm a good-looking dude with a twisted personality? Thanks, I guess," I replied, feigning nonchalance.

She smiled slightly and asked, "Besides, I wonder where your confidence comes from. Are you sure that Tatsuya-kun can win? Hattori is the strongest among the top five in the school, you know."

"Oh? So his skills are as big as his mouth, huh?"

She chuckled. "Pfft! You're the first person to say that after finding out. But if I may ask, why are you holding back?"

I didn't provide an answer regarding my confidence in Tatsuya; it wouldn't be wise to reveal his strengths before the match. However, Senpai had another question about why I seemed reserved.

Pretending to be clueless, I replied, "You mean about Morisaki? Do you really want me to get penalized too?"

She met my gaze, her beautiful brown-golden eyes studying me intently. Perhaps she felt that her question was too simple.

"No, I mean, why was your practice test like that? I noticed your magic activation was much faster than Morisaki's during yesterday's session. You know what I mean, right?"

My mouth opened as if I had just comprehended her words, though it was merely an act. However, my cheeks flushed since I was unaware of what had occurred during the entrance exam.

Several scenarios ran through my mind. Firstly, the system might have manipulated something to allow my entrance, but its credibility had already been undermined by the revelation of its true face.

[That hurts me~]

'Fuck off, Sys!'

Secondly, this body might have existed before my rebirth. If I had indeed taken the exam at First High, it would raise questions about my true identity. Due to trust issues, I preferred to investigate this matter myself rather than relying on the system for information.

After a brief silence, I sighed and my flushed cheeks returned to normal.

"Why are your cheeks red?" Watanabe-senpai asked with a curious smile.

"Well, it's a somewhat embarrassing matter; I don't really remember."

"Did you mess up your magic coordination?"

"No, the point is that I don't remember because I was sick."

"I see. So, what did the principal say?"

"He gave me a chance to retest my magic skills. But please keep it a secret."

"Seriously? If news of this spreads, it would create chaos throughout the entire school. However, I believe the school would still be surprised if you decided to switch to Course 1."

Yes, I cursed silently at the unwanted attention. But I planned to remain in Course 2, so I intended to maintain a low profile during the retest. I could contemplate the matter at a later time. It was a straightforward solution, but it remained troublesome nonetheless.

"Perhaps my place is in Course 2, but honestly, I don't mind where I end up."

Of course, that was a lie.

I smiled, and Watanabe-senpai smiled wryly while looking at me.

"Yeah, honestly, I'm tired of those labels too. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses; why can't people just accept that and live their lives quietly?" she murmured wearily, closing her eyes. Then, she glanced at me again.

"That's why..." she placed her arm on my shoulder and looked at me earnestly. "I need people like you and Tatsuya-kun. I hope the arrogance of Course 1 and the anger of Course 2 will gradually fade away. I believe in you, Kohai-kun!"

She smiled after entrusting me with a task that could potentially jeopardize my school life.

I scoffed, meeting her gaze directly. "So, in your eyes, I'm just a stepping stone for your grand plan?"

I asked, aware that my words might sound harsh, but I no longer cared.

"Of course not. I believe that if this succeeds, your name will be remembered, Kohai-kun."

"If you truly wish to bring about change, the school could start by implementing the logo here," I said, pointing to the empty space on my uniform where the logo should be.

"I think it would be highly effective. At least, Course 1 and Course 2 students wouldn't need to glare at each other when passing by, right?"

Her expression turned blank.

Huh?

'I never considered this idea before.' That's probably what she's thinking now.

She blushed, and I noticed her cough before she awkwardly smiled.

"I think your idea might be good, Kohai-kun. I'll discuss it with Mayumi before speaking directly to the principal."

I nodded, temporarily abandoning the teasing about her blushing.

After all, this change would benefit me and lead to a more peaceful school life.

"I'm curious though—how can an elite school like this not have enough funds to embroider the logos on students' uniforms? Or did something foolish happen during the implementation of this system?" I remarked sarcastically.

"Sorry for the wait."

Our conversation was interrupted by a voice from another direction.

It was Tatsuya, walking toward us with a small suitcase, presumably containing his CAD. Miyuki accompanied him, her usual smile adorning her face.

"Hooh... Once again, I'm impressed by your calm demeanor. It seems Tatsuya-kun didn't flinch at all," Watanabe-senpai nodded, acknowledging Tatsuya's unwavering composure.

Tatsuya responded with a wry smile after joining us.

Not wanting to waste any more time, we entered training room number three.

Glutton-senpai, Loli-senpai, Ichihara-senpai, and the Narrow-eyed character were already waiting inside the room.

Upon entering, I approached Saegusa-senpai with a faint smile. A guy next to her stared at me, but I paid him no mind.

When she realized I was approaching, she turned her face away with a pout.

I chuckled, smirking. "Are you angry...? Pfft!"

"Hmmph!"

"Haku-san, you should show me a little more respect. You know, I'm older than you," She said, crossing her arms. She continued to avoid looking at me, but I found it endearing.

I smiled and added, "In that case, Senpai should also behave accordingly in front of me. But I honestly prefer this version of you over the strict senior."

She coughed slightly, her cheeks turning slightly red.

"There's no other choice then..."

"Huh? Did you say something?" I asked, genuinely caught off guard, as I hadn't heard her murmur.

"The mock battle is about to start," Ichihara-senpai interjected in her usual emotionless tone.

"Oh, yes, of course," I replied, standing up straight and gazing at Tatsuya, who held a Specialized CAD resembling a long-barreled pistol.

"Oh? Silver Trident..."

I couldn't help but comment on the CAD, feeling a shiver down my spine upon realizing its price.

As expected of a rich boy.

Wait.

Now, I'm rich too.

"Is that the CAD made by the mysterious genius magic engineer, Taurus Silver?" Saegusa-senpai asked in a hushed whisper, and I casually nodded.

"Wow~" I glanced to the side, noticing Azusa-senpai, whom I had momentarily forgotten, entering fan mode. Her eyes gleamed with excitement at Tatsuya's CAD.

Ichihara-senpai simply shook her head wearily.

"Do you always bring extra storage cartridges with you?" Watanabe-senpai, who stood between the two, couldn't hide her curiosity.

"Yes, I'm not proficient with General CAD," Tatsuya replied flatly. The senior seemed to sneer upon hearing that, but Tatsuya remained unfazed.

"Alright, let me explain the rules. Direct or indirect attacks that could be lethal are prohibited. Techniques that could cause permanent disability to the opponent are also prohibited."

"Abilities that directly damage the physical body are not allowed. However, direct attacks that result in no more than a broken bone are permitted."

"Both of you, please move behind your respective starting lines and refrain from activating your CAD until I give the signal. I will intervene forcefully if any of you cross the line prematurely. That's all."

The two individuals nodded, walking about 5 meters apart and positioning themselves to face each other.

The senior's expression grew serious, indicating his determination.

Tatsuya simply looked at him calmly. It seemed he was accustomed to real combat situations.

In this kind of scenario, the victor is typically determined by who can complete their magic sequence the fastest.

Considering the senior's position in Course 1 and being the top student in the second year, his activation speed was expected to be impressive.

However, Tatsuya was not your average magician.

"...Begin!"

With Watanabe-senpai's shout, the duel commenced.

The senior swiftly moved his right hand to set up the CAD, efficiently tapping on three key points. His movements were precise, displaying his skill.

Observing from Element Sight, I could see that the senior had already completed the rapid basic single-system magic acceleration sequence.

Yet, he let out a surprised scream.

At the same time, Tatsuya had already executed his martial arts movements, causing the senior's eyes to widen in astonishment. The senior desperately tried to adjust his magic coordinates, but Tatsuya was nowhere in his line of sight.

The senior glanced around frantically.

If the target suddenly vanished from sight, spell failure was inevitable.

Tatsuya was already behind the senior, initiating the activation sequence for an oscillation-type, single-system magic.

Three consecutive psion waves hit the senior's back with overlapping effects, causing his body to sway and eventually faint due to the unexpected psion wave attack.

Well, that was anticlimactic.

"...The winner is Shiba Tatsuya."

Wide-eyed, Watanabe-senpai declared the outcome of the duel. Apart from Miyuki and myself, the other senior girls wore expressions of surprise.

Tatsuya merely nodded and walked back toward the table where his small CAD suitcase was placed.

I felt a tap on my waist. Saegusa-senpai smiled, pointing at the senior who still lay unconscious.

I made a lazy face, finally nodding. As a man, I felt somewhat guilty watching the girl lift the guy's body.

"Hold on."

Watanabe-senpai called out to Tatsuya, who remained unfazed despite his victory.

I dragged the senior's body and leaned him against the wall.

"That move... Did you prioritize speed? It seems similar to Haku's technique."

Hearing this, those curious among us began contemplating the match.

At first glance, it appeared similar to Body Flicker, but there were noticeable differences.

Body Flicker allowed the user to swiftly move over long distances based on the number of psions employed. When using this technique, the user's speed was untraceable, resembling 'teleportation' as they left no trace of their existence.

What Tatsuya employed was a martial arts technique that relied purely on physical techniques. If I'm not mistaken, it was called Shukujiho.

He used it to shift to the opponent's blind spot, where he could then incapacitate them with his magic.

"Unlike Haku, who practices Ninjutsu, my movements are purely physical techniques."

"My brother is a disciple of Ninjutsu practitioner Kokonoe Yakumo-sensei."

Miyuki explained with a proud smile.

Watanabe-senpai held her breath in surprise. "The renowned Kokonoe Yakumo..."

She asked with a hint of awe.

Saegusa-senpai closed her mouth, recovering from her shock. It seemed she had numerous questions.

"Was that attack also Ninjutsu? I thought I saw a Psion wave."

Tatsuya briefly glanced at me, his expression remaining neutral. I could tell he wanted a little assistance here.

I sighed softly and responded, "Senpai is correct; that attack was not Ninjutsu. However, based on the stacked psion wave movement, the foundation of that psion wave movement comes from an oscillation-type, single-basic system."

She turned to me with a slightly puzzled look. "But I still don't understand how Hanzou could lose like that."

I grinned.

"He simply fainted."

"How?"

"Magicians can perceive psion signals such as visible light and sound waves, but as a side effect, when Magician A is exposed to undetected movements of psion waves, they often misinterpret their own body's movements, feeling as if they're swaying. It's similar to experiencing seasickness on a rocking ship."

"True, that's a good explanation."

Tatsuya smiled faintly at me.

"But for a magician who is typically trained to withstand psion wave movements to be affected to such an extent, I believe there is still a gap that doesn't account for the strong effect of Tatsuya-kun's magic."

"Compound wave."

The one who answered Saegusa-senpai's question was Ichihara-senpai, holding a terminal in her hand.

"Rin-chan?"

Saegusa-senpai was intelligent enough to grasp her point.

"By creating three different waves that intersect at Hattori-kun's location, it generates a powerful surge through this wave motion. I didn't expect you to make such precise calculations in an instant."

Ichihara-senpai's explanation elicited a slight smile from Tatsuya as he remarked, "Good explanation, Ichihara-senpai."

"If your technical speed is so fast like this, why is your technical score low?"

Tatsuya couldn't help but wryly smile at Ichihara-senpai's question.

Meanwhile, I noticed Azusa-senpai quietly approaching Tatsuya from behind, her eyes gleaming with curiosity as she looked at his CAD.

"Tatsuya-kun, is that the Taurus Silver CAD?"

Tatsuya sighed before finally nodding.

"Wow! The CAD created by the enigmatic engineer from Four Leaves Technology, whose name, appearance, and data remain shrouded in mystery!"

"Ah! He was also the first engineer to discover the Loop Cast system. Although the theory to calculate magic sequences and copy activation sequences simultaneously existed in the past, nobody could implement it until he did!"

Tatsuya grew uncomfortable, hastily closing his small suitcase after stowing away his CAD.

"A-chan... try to calm down a bit."

Saegusa-senpai attempted to soothe the excited Loli-senpai, who was now staring at Tatsuya's CAD suitcase with drool at the corner of her mouth.

I casually observed the girl's behavior, suppressing a chuckle.

"But isn't that strange? No matter how capable the Loop Cast CAD is, it still can't—"

"That's indeed peculiar. The Loop Cast is designed to cast one type of magic in sequence. Even if it's the same vibration magic, changing the wavelength and number of vibrations set by the magician would result in variations within the activation sequence. If the Loop Cast simply copies

the original activation sequence, it would be impossible to achieve the 'compound wave.'"

I smiled at the astuteness of her analysis. "Unless Tatsuya sets the number of vibrations as another variable, it becomes possible to employ the same activation sequence for achieving the compound wave, accounting for all the variables. In other words, he input the variables of target, power, duration time, and number of vibrations."

Ichihara-senpai's eyes widened at my words, clearly taken aback. "Yuki-kun, are you saying he did all of that in an instant?"

She stared at Tatsuya in disbelief, completely speechless.

Tatsuya simply shrugged his shoulders and offered a faint smile.

"Speed calculations involving multiple variables, scalability, and even power interference—none of these are graded subjects."

"I see why," I muttered, realizing the complexity of Tatsuya's skills.

While the seniors were still preoccupied with the voice that was in pain, I approached Tatsuya with a smile on my face.

Since I entered the student council room, I had been bothered by a system notification.

[Quest!]

[Defeat Shiba Tatsuya using Ninjutsu.]

[Reward: Howard Stark's Diary, "Future Energy"]

Setting aside the prize offered by the system, the idea of facing Tatsuya in a duel made my heart skip a beat.

Was it my competitive spirit, or the newfound vigor in my healthier body that used to be prone to illness?

Perhaps I simply craved a new experience, unburdened by any responsibilities.

"Hey. I see you haven't even broken a sweat. Care to have a duel?" I invited Tatsuya, momentarily forgetting that he had already put away his CAD and would need to retrieve it again.

His eyes widened briefly, and then he returned my challenging smile.

"No."

"Huh?"

"It's already too late to continue; I have another appointment with Miyuki after this."

He replied, his expression returning to its usual calmness after a brief smile.

[Quest Failed!]

[User receives nothing, lol.]

Annoyance twitched across my smile as the system mocked me once again.

Tatsuya looked at me in confusion, and just then, we heard a voice from behind.

"What are you guys talking about?"

It was Watanabe-senpai, walking towards us. I noticed that she had been conversing with Miyuki, but I paid no attention to their discussion.

"Oh? I asked him to duel, but he declined," I said, pointing my thumb at Tatsuya behind me.

"Hooh! But it's a shame if Tatsuya-kun doesn't want to," Watanabe-senpai responded.

Tatsuya merely smiled wryly. I couldn't tell if he was intentionally holding back his abilities or if he truly had other plans.

"Well then, let's proceed to the Disciplinary Committee headquarters, as originally planned," Watanabe-senpai said sweetly, heading towards the exit closest to our location. We followed, leaving the others behind.

It seemed Watanabe-senpai saw no need to inform the narrow-eyed senior about our departure.

After walking for a while, we reached the door of the disciplinary committee room.

Before entering, Watanabe-senpai turned to us and let out a wry smile.

"The room is a bit messy, but you can rest here for a while."

She swiped her ID, opening the door and leading us inside.

"What the..."

I tilted my head, puzzled by the scene before me.

The room looked more like a storage warehouse than a disciplinary committee headquarters.

CADs were scattered like building blocks, and files were haphazardly strewn about.

Tatsuya let out a deep sigh.

"Our primary duty is to patrol the school grounds. The state of the headquarters is unavoidable," Watanabe-senpai explained with an unapologetic smile.

"Even so, Chairman, would it be alright if I tidy up a bit?" Tatsuya asked, clearly uncomfortable in such a messy environment.

I felt the same way.

"As someone aspiring to become a magic engineer, I can't work in a dirty room with CADs strewn about," Tatsuya added.

"I'm equally surprised. The sign on the front door says 'Disciplinary Committee,' but this room lacks any semblance of discipline. Perhaps the janitor is to blame?" I said, rolling my eyes.

Watanabe-senpai offered a resigned smile, unable to provide a counterargument. She tilted her head slightly, a perplexed expression on her face, before asking another question.

"Magic engineer? With such combat prowess?"

Upon hearing Watanabe-senpai's inquiry, which I myself was curious about, Tatsuya let out a wry smile.

"No matter how hard I try, my abilities only grant me a C-Rank license."

Watanabe-senpai seemed at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.

To be honest, I didn't particularly care about international magician licenses.

I rolled up my sleeves, keeping them from getting dirty, and took off my First High blazer, placing it on a chair. Thankfully, I tied up my hair before coming to school.

I began organizing the files and placing them neatly in a box.

I sorted the books by category and placed them on the shelves.

Picking up the scattered CADs, I collected them in a box before handing them to Tatsuya.

Then, I grabbed the vacuum cleaner and started cleaning the chairs, curtains, and the floor.

Looking at the table with disgust, I reached for the table cleaner.

"Are you skilled at cleaning and cooking? Your previous rough manner of speaking is in stark contrast to your present refined appearance. You could be every man's dream wife, don't you think?" Watanabe-senpai chuckled, clearly not making much progress in the cleaning department.

"Cleaning and cooking have nothing to do with appearance. And besides, I'm a man!" I exclaimed, my voice carrying, but I didn't pause in my cleaning efforts.

Despite the advanced technology available, the school didn't provide automatic cleaning facilities for the student activity rooms.

Watanabe-senpai halted her attempts, conceding defeat. "I'm sorry, I'm really terrible at this."

As I was tidying up the table, Watanabe-senpai praised my organizational skills. "You've even organized the books by category and subject? That's impressive," she remarked.

However, while she sat on the freshly cleaned table, I accidentally brushed against her thighs.

She playfully seated herself on the table, a mischievous glint in her eyes, leaving me to wonder if the surface I had just painstakingly cleaned remained unscathed.

Her thigh area was concealed beneath the fabric of her dress uniform, which had felt surprisingly soft against my arm earlier. The uniform, designed for First High girls, accentuated her slender legs and hugged her curves enticingly.

Despite being mentally 25 years old, I managed to resist the urge to blush, opting instead to refrain from reprimanding the mischievous youngster.

Hopefully, her butt hadn't left a noticeable mark on the table.

She didn't seem bothered and playfully apologized, saying, "I'm sorry," with a mischievous pose.

We delved into a serious discussion about why Watanabe-senpai had recruited us for a project involving the improper use of magic and improving the perception of course 2 students. Tatsuya raised concerns about negative reactions from other students if they saw juniors working with seniors of equal standing.

"While we may not openly discuss it, there could be a negative reaction if a junior is caught collaborating with someone of equal standing," Tatsuya explained.

"That's true. However, first-year students might welcome this change. Haven't your friends already been discussing it?" Watanabe-senpai countered.

"Yeah, I think if course 1 takes over, the negative reactions will outweigh the welcoming ones," I chimed in with my own thoughts.

"Resentment does seem inevitable. But what about the newly enrolled course 1 student? They probably haven't been exposed to discriminatory thoughts or prejudices yet, right?" Watanabe-senpai continued the discussion.

"I recall, but I believe this approach could lead to various reactions down the line... Can I take a look at this book?" Tatsuya asked, referring to our task list, before proceeding to work on one of the terminals that needed maintenance.

Once he finished his task, he turned to me and asked, "Haku, could you help me with this one?"

"Easy---Hey!, can't you sit properly without disturbing everything around you?"

Watanabe-senpai interrupted me, expressing her surprise. "Are you guys monsters? Kohai-kun, you're good at fighting, cleaning, cooking, and now this? What on earth are you two?" she exclaimed.

"Instead of sitting there and disrupting my view, you should find something to do," I replied authoritatively.

"Huh? I am working too," she retorted, crossing her legs.

"You nearly kicked me!" I exclaimed, attempting to continue my work on the terminal without further interruptions from Watanabe-senpai.

"What did you say?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Tsk! Get out of the way, you foolish girl!"

"Hey! Address me properly," she protested, crossing her arms.

"I'm serious. Or do you want your boyfriend to get upset?" I playfully challenged, teasing her in response.

She gasped suddenly and awkwardly scratched her cheek. Tatsuya gave a small cough before adding, "You two seem close, but your relationship might be complicated since Senpai has a boyfriend."

"T-That's impossible! I-I'm fine with a lo-long distance re-relationship with Shu... I'm fine with it..." Watanabe-senpai stammered nervously, inadvertently revealing what appeared to be personal issues between them.