At Onna Air Base's command room, the monitors displayed a scene akin to hell itself. For Genji, who thought wars were distant affairs, it felt like a hammer to the head.
"Wars start easily, Genji. Remember that," his brother had warned before Okinawa. Now, Genji felt the truth of those words and his own inadequacy as his younger brother marched to the battlefield.
"Are you alright?" Honami's voice came from behind.
"Honami… just realizing how naive I was. Where are Miyuki and Maya?"
"Over there. Maya-sama asked Miyuki to keep an eye on you so you don't rush out," Honami replied.
Genji glanced at Maya and Miyuki talking, their conversation not for his ears. Only Yuzo or their youngest sister could overhear such a distance. Honami bowed, apologetic.
"Thank you, Motoharu-sama. You helped us."
"The Anti-Knight issue?" Genji asked.
"Yes. Maya-sama's high psion sensitivity could've been fatal with Cast Jamming. You stopped it first, and I'm grateful," she said.
Genji waved her off. "Raise your head. I just got lucky. Besides, it seems I was saved too. I won't pry about magic."
"Motoharu-sama… so humble," Honami said.
"No, I feel my weakness as the eldest," Genji replied, eyes on the monitors.
Two figures dominated the screen, weaving through gunfire, annihilating Great Asian Alliance soldiers with magic. "My brother faces death and charges into battle without hesitation. He's stronger than me, despite his quirks."
His siblings grew stronger under Yuzo's guidance, even their youngest friend. Genji, despite his privileged position, felt weak. His magical talent couldn't compare.
"Rushing out there would just get me killed. Reality's a bitter pill," he said, laughing hollowly.
"I feel the same," Honami admitted.
"What?"
"I wasn't born a normal magician," she whispered.
Genji hid his shock. She was a genetically engineered magician. "Why tell me?"
"I don't know. But you acted faster than me, fulfilling my role. Maybe I'm intrigued, Motoharu-san."
Overwhelmed, Genji's vision darkened, and he collapsed.
Tatsuya had rarely seen anyone surpass him. Even against adults, he never overreached. Yet, the sight before him felt like art.
A figure in a full-face helmet and combat suit, like Tatsuya's, wielded a katana-shaped CAD in one hand and a pistol-shaped CAD in the other. Blue lightning from the katana vaporized enemies, bullets ricocheted to wound soldiers, and slashes cut through warship shells. A barrier-like magic crushed foes mercilessly, piercing hearts, blasting heads, and incinerating bodies to ash.
"Not one to judge, but he kills without hesitation. A kindred spirit, perhaps," Tatsuya thought.
The figure's presence overwhelmed all. Tatsuya, staying true to his role and Yuzo's words, aimed his CAD at enemies and allies alike.
Most soldiers were dealt with. Yuzo's lightning magic electrocuted enemies instantly, a specialty inherited from his grandfather and his own preference. Tatsuya had teased, "Excuses," despite his own relentless decomposition and restoration magic.
Yuzo's extreme annihilation might raise questions, but his unique position as a "trump card" under Joint Command's strict orders silenced criticism. Tatsuya, under his temporary command, was also bound.
He spared no mercy for enemies charging recklessly war was just state-backed terrorism. In his past life, he might've recoiled at killing, but New Shadow Style training and Third Research Institute battles taught him hesitation meant death.
Tatsuya's first real-world Material Burst, launched via booster with a 50-km range, obliterated a fleet. Vector Reverse countered the resulting tsunami, neutralizing it perfectly.
But then: "Alliance fleet 60 km out! ETA one hour!" Five battleships, six cruisers, twenty destroyers a losing battle. Even Captain Kazama and Lieutenant Sanada were at a loss.
"Maybe revenge against the Yotsuba," Yuzo mused. "They crushed the Alliance's kin."
"Upper Command, this is Ueyama," Yuzo radioed. "I'll sweep the fleet with magic. Cover the fallout."
Reluctantly, Command agreed. Yuzo didn't want to use that spell, but with enemies at sea, it was the only option.
"Tatsuya, I'll handle the fleet. This'll drain my psions, so I'm counting on you," Yuzo said.
"Understood," Tatsuya replied, his own psion reserves nearly depleted from Material Burst.
Yuzo's eyes turned silver Osiris Sight, an advanced Elemental Sight, visualizing objects beyond normal perception, boosting magic power thousands-fold.
"Kaleidoscope," Yuzo announced, drawing a specialized pistol CAD, locking onto the fleet near Kerama Islands. "Mirror Dispersion, activate."
A prismatic triangle appeared above the fleet, unfolding to engulf it. Blinding light shot from the center, mirrored by surrounding prisms, forming a massive beam that struck the sea.
Maya, watching the monitors, gasped. "Light-wave vibration magic?"
The fleet vanished without a trace no tsunami, just calm. Everyone stared, stunned, except the fainted Genji.
Yuzo collapsed, caught by Tatsuya. "You're a mystery, but thanks. You saved us," Tatsuya said, retrieving Yuzo's CAD and returning to base.
The Alliance suffered 30,000 soldier losses and over 100 ships. Two strategic magicians Tatsuya and Yuzo emerged, unknown to the world.
Yuzo awoke under an unfamiliar ceiling a villa, not the Mitsuya's. Maya entered.
"You're up," she said.
"Where…?"
"Sibah's villa. Better for Miyuki's sake than the base."
He'd slept three days, exhausted from massive magic use. Maya negotiated to bring him here to avoid nosy moralists.
Tatsuya and Miyuki returned to Tokyo with Yotsuba escorts. Genji went to report home. Maya asked, "Nagano Yuzo? Or Mitsuya Yuzo?"
"You figured it out. Genji's Speed Loader gave it away?" Yuzo asked.
"Your brother's speed implies pre-held magic. And Gozo probably told me your name."
"Genji's single, by the way," Yuzo added, catching Maya's interest in his brother.
"Honami's smitten. She confessed after he fainted from overload," Maya said.
Honami, an adjusted magician, had a short lifespan. Yuzo offered, "I can use Domain Enhancement to strengthen Honami's psion and physical body, extending her life. For you, I'd repair your brain's magic calculation area and psion sensitivity. Condition: don't tell Tatsuya and Miyuki I'm a Mitsuya until the time's right."
Maya agreed. Yuzo treated Honami under the guise of checking for attack effects. Maya's body somehow rejuvenated to her mid-20s.
"Leave Honami's family issues to Grandpa Gozo," Yuzo said.
Maya hugged him, laughing. "You're amusing. Mayao will like you."
"Stop, I can't breathe!" Yuzo gasped, half-joking to cope.
He received an email from the Mitsuya estate details to be discussed upon return. With the airport closed for three weeks due to reinvasion risks, Yuzo stayed with Maya, who intruded in towels or lingerie, claiming, "Tatsuya's unresponsive."
Honami apologized, unable to defy Maya. Yuzo gave in.
"Call me Mom," Maya teased.
"No way. My real dad's more reliable," Yuzo thought. Maya muttered, "Calling him Dad? No thanks."
Her actions felt more like a lover's than a mother's. She buried Yuzo's face in her chest.
Miyuki, sensing something, clutched her chest, muttering about growth. Tatsuya sighed, "Sorry, Yuzo. Good luck."
The Alliance retreated after heavy losses. Japan swiftly condemned them, leaking evidence globally. The Alliance's denials were drowned out.
Tatsuya, unofficially "Lieutenant Kuroda Ryuya," joined the newly formed 101st Brigade: Independent Magic Battalion for his Material Burst.
Yuzo, for Mirror Dispersion, became an unofficial strategic magician in the same brigade, but as a technical officer, rarely deployed. His spell's undetectable nature defied official recognition.
At Naha Airport, Maya saw Yuzo off. Honami watched from afar.
"Thanks for everything," Yuzo said.
"No, thank you," Maya replied.
He handed her a faded letter from Gozo, addressed to her from her father, Yotsuba Genzo.
"Sorry for forgetting," Yuzo said.
"It's fine. I'll repay you," Maya said, kissing his cheek. "I don't let my prey escape."
Baffled, Yuzo left Okinawa.
In the Sibah's chilly living room, an irked Miyuki faced a weary Tatsuya.
Honami and Maya's treatments succeeded. Maya's psion sensitivity normalized, and Honami's lifespan issue remained uncertain. Maya, resigned to a short life, felt joy at living longer.
At Yotsuba's estate, Maya met Mayao after six years. Their rift, sparked by Mayao's lost humanity, began healing, thanks to Yuzo.
"Okinawa's done. What's Yotsuba's move?" Maya asked.
"We'll handle Honami's case. Gozo's cooperative. We'll talk to the Mitsuya head, considering Tatsuya," Mayao said.
"With conditions, including silencing Genji about Tatsuya's Regrowth," Maya noted.
"Surprising. Yuzo's condition was just hiding his Mitsuya name," Mayao said.
"Miyuki calls Tatsuya 'Brother' now, likely Yuzo's influence," Maya added.
"Same lineage, but he seems troublesome. Popular, maybe?" Mayao teased.
Maya frowned. "Wanting more kids, Mayao? Yuzo's dense."
"Tatsuya's got it rough too. I'd want a son like Yuzo," Mayao said.
"Yuzo's for Miyuki," Maya declared.
"After Tatsuya? Greedy. Maybe I'll adopt Yuzo," Mayao countered.
As the sisters bickered, Hayama mediated. Yuzo sneezed loudly, unaware he was their topic.