03x02 - Double Seven Part II

[bunniefuu]

I'm sorry, Brother.

I was reminiscing a bit about the past.

Were they fun memories?

No.

Back then, I was so foolish.

And it seems so comical.

Even though I'm your little sister...

I didn't have a single clue about you.

No.

I didn't even try to understand.

Miyuki...

APRIL 13, A.D. 2096

- Please join the track team!

- WELCOMING INEXPERIENCED PEOPLE

The recruitment process
sure is peaceful this year.

Yes. I just hope nothing happens.

Right.

Still, who would've thought?

Last year, I was this close to being
suspended for causing an uproar...

but this year, I'm on the side
that cracks down on uproars.

Kirihara, would you mind
not talking about that?

Someone might get the wrong
idea, and it would mean trouble.

You're ignoring me?

Yes? Extracurricular
Activities Federation.

Is that right? Understood.

Shiba, Ms. Shiba...

Yes?

We have a situation in the
Robot Research Club's garage.

Could you go mediate?

Understood. - Understood.

ROBOT RESEARCH CLUB WELCOME NEWCOMERS

Just give it up already!

This kid says he wants to
join the Robot Research Club!

We called out to him first, so
would you mind not butting in?

Uh... I...

Robot Research Club, Motorcycle
Club... Both of you settle down!

I'm from the Extracurricular Activities
Federation. What's the problem?

Hey, out of the way!

I'm with the Disciplinary Committee.

The Extracurricular Activities
Federation is handling this already.

Get lost, Disciplinary Committee.

But I'd say that disputes between students is
the purview of the Disciplinary Committee.

Hey, hold up!

So persistent! Stay out
of my way, will you?

We told you we'd deal with this, Saegusa.

Or wait, maybe you need to
have it spelled out to get it?

This is none of your business!

I hate to break it to you...

but the Disciplinary Committee is
under no obligation to do your bidding!

Are you picking a fight with me, Saegusa?

Not my intention at all.

Though I'm not at all loath to fight!

Oh?

So, a Saegusa's going to take on
a Shippou's challenge to fight?

Sure, I'll take up the gauntlet
for the beatdown you're offering.

When I'm done, you'll never think
about picking a fight with me again!

Your other half's not here.
Will you be okay on your own?

What, you want an excuse for losing?

Hold up! Calm down!

Both of you, what are you doing?

The Federation and the
Disciplinary Committee...

tasked with governing the students, fighting
among each other? What's the meaning of this?

We apologize for causing a commotion!
- We apologize for causing a commotion!

We're going to look the other way this
time, but there won't be a next time.

Both of you, get back to work.

I believe that the rest of you should also
go back to doing what you were doing.

The Student Council will not
pursue this case any further.

As for the Disciplinary Committee and the
Federation, I'll make things right on my end.

So, as you can see, he
was totally annoying.

Good for you for controlling
yourself, Kasumi.

Yeah, well...

But if I'm being honest, I
really wanted to blast him away!

Still, Shippou's behavior is
altogether too unfriendly, right?

Unfriendly is putting it mildly.

That's called belligerence!

All right.

So, about that belligerent attitude...

to say that the Extracurricular Activities Federation
was being hostile to the Disciplinary Committee...

doesn't go far enough
to explain it, right?

That's right.

He was picking a fight as
a Shippou with a Saegusa!

Whether or not it was as a Saegusa, he
did seem to have some personal animosity.

You mean a personal grudge?

I hear that the current head of the
Shippou Family is gentle by nature.

I doubt he'd ever provoke us directly.

Come in.

Did you get to the bottom of it, Nakura?

Yes, sir.

The New Breed Front, which
occupied the offshore tower...

was collaborating with FAIR.

FAIR?

A magician supremacist extremist
group from America, right?

But...

I thought the offshore
tower was a model case...

exhibiting magicians being involved in
security as humans and not as weapons.

Why did they try to destroy it?

Because their aim isn't to see magicians
and humans existing hand in hand.

But even so...

if they trample on the hopes of so many
magicians, there's sure to be internal discord.

And criticism aimed at the organization.

Why would they take such rash action?

It would seem that there's a USNA
humanist among their top players.

By having a giant monument
such as the offshore tower...

be destroyed by the New Breed Front...

they were surely trying to broadcast
the danger of magicians to the world.

Fine. Step back.

It's me. Let me talk to Mr. Kudou.

So, what did you want to talk to me about?

Big Sister, do you know what kind of
person the head of the Shippou Family is?

Kasumi...

Wh-What is it?

You caused some trouble
with Shippou, didn't you?

How did you find out?

Look, you...

Please hold on a minute, Sister.

Regarding the incident today...

you could say it was Shippou who
was more to blame than Kasumi.

Fine. I'll trust what you say.

So, you wanted to know what kind of
personality the Shippou head has.

Yes.

Let's see.

Not that I have any firsthand knowledge...

but I think he's dependable and thorough.

Dependable and thorough?

Right.

He'll formulate multiple strategies,
keep risks to the minimum...

try not to reap too much, and
securely get his money's worth.

That's the type of person he is.

But doesn't that mean...

Yes. It seems like the total opposite
of how Shippou was acting toward you.

So, it is a personal grudge
against me after all?

Can you think of a reason?

Nope.

But if he ever tries to pull something on
me, I'm so going to destroy him first!

Kasumi!

Huh?

I'm sorry!

I apologize for calling so late, sir.

It's fine.

Thank you very much.

I've just received word...

that the USNA's humanists are planning a
negative press campaign against magicians.

Oh?

Apparently, the manipulation of
information is already gaining traction.

I'm sure you knew about this before today.

You've seen right through me, then?

So, what are you planning?

The Yotsubas have too much power.

Before long, they could even disrupt the balance
between the Ten Master Clans and the nation.

Do you not agree, Your Excellency?

You're going to use the anti-magic faction
to diminish the Yotsubas' power, then?

A student with close ties to the 101
Battalion is enrolled at First High.

The collusion between this teenaged
boy's high school and the military...

The media and the humanist politicians would
favor such a storyline, don't you think?

But your own daughters
attend First High, as well.

I am emphasizing the link between
the 101 Battalion and the Yotsubas.

Is that what you're after?

Your thoughts, Your Excellency?

I believe that approving a
limited negative campaign...

will allow the anti-magic
trend to lose steam.

Their target is still
a high school student.

If we handle this right, we might even be able to
direct the public's ire toward the anti-magic faction.

I believe this plan would have
merit for the Ten Master Clans.

I don't have the authority
to approve your plan.

No authority, maybe, but
you do possess influence.

I am not against your plan.

That's sufficient. Thank you very much.

Excuse me.

THE IRREGULAR AT MAGIC HIGH
SCHOOL DOUBLE SEVEN PART II

APRIL 14, A.D. 2096

Big Brother Tatsuya, Big Sister
Miyuki, long time no see.

It's been a long time
since we've seen you.

We apologize for coming over so late.

Why are you here in Tokyo today?

I didn't think the Kanto region
was your territory, Fumiya.

Actually, there's something I
wanted to let you both know.

At this time, anti-magician forces
are starting to manipulate the media.

From where?

The USNA humanists.

An anti-magician campaign
through the media?

It's not just the media.

They've also approached
members of Parliament.

Tell me more about this. - Right.

First, they criticize the military's use of magicians
on the pretext of defending their human rights.

Next, based on the fact that a quarter of Magic
University graduates serve in the military...

they create a false narrative that the magic education
institutions are colluding with the military.

In the third phase...

they call for the liberation of the children
about to be exploited by the military...

focusing on First High, which is known to send
the most graduates to the Magic Universities.

That's their scenario as
far as we know at this time.

I'm impressed that you
were able to dig so deep.

Oh, uh...

Thank you very much.

I'll try to think of a
countermeasure myself.

If anything comes up, let me
hear your follow-up report.

Understood!

APRIL 18, A.D. 2096
NATIONAL MAGIC UNIVERSITY

Thank you for waiting, Jumonji!

Hey, sorry to make you come
all this way, Saegusa.

Don't give it second thought.

It must be really urgent for
you to summon me, Jumonji.

A soundproof field?

Is it that important?

Starting from this week, there's been a surge
in anti-magician reporting by the media.

- 3 hours ago This is the truth! The reality of magicians being used for militaristic
purposes 5 hours ago "We can't choose our own future." Young magicians drafted to the SDF

- 1 hour ago Magicians are a privileged class Magician Officers are favored


- As far as I can see...

the media's divided in terms
of tone. That's because...

they each have different sources.

Meaning that there are two
different forces behind the scenes?

As you know, information gathering
isn't really the Jumonji Family's forte.

I have no evidence to back up
what I'm about to tell you.

Will you hear me out
without getting angry?

Fine by me.

Let me hear what you have to say.

It's looking highly likely that the
effort to censure the JDF in the press...

is secretly being driven
by the Saegusa Family.

I do admit that my father is a tactician
who's fond of backroom maneuvering.

And even I, his daughter, don't always
have a grasp on what he's thinking.

But no matter what the reason, he's not one to
forget his duty as a member of the Ten Master Clans.

There's no way he'd ever put Japan's
magic industry in an unfavorable position.

Then, Mr. Saegusa must think this is
actually good for Japan's magic industry.

What that may be, I have no clue.

All I know is that...

at a glance, Mr. Saegusa seems to
be betraying the Ten Master Clans.

Fine, Jumonji.

In that case, would you mind
coming over to my place?

I'm going to ask my father directly.

And I'd like you to be there.

Fine.

- Thank you for making time
in your busy schedule...

- APRIL 19, A.D. 2096

to see me.

Well, it was at your request, Katsuto.

So, what brings you here today?

Right.

Are you the one who's been
inciting the anti-magic press?

Yes. Good job figuring that out.

Father, how could you?

Mayumi, why are you so flustered?

By doing this, you've betrayed
the Ten Master Clans... no...

the Japanese magic industry!

Saegusa...

Mr. Saegusa...

I don't understand your thinking here.

So, I'm asking you for an explanation.

Are you asking me as a member
of the Jumonji Family?

I'm asking you as a Jumonji.

First off, I want to dispel
any misunderstanding.

This campaign...

was launched by a foreign
anti-magician faction.

Not only did they feed
stories to the mass media...

they're also funding them.

So, does that mean that your intervention
in the press is a countermeasure?

Absolutely.

And unfortunately, just as they planned...

the anti-magician movement is
about to become public sentiment.

But as there's no specific spokesman for
public sentiment, it's not easy to refute.

Katsuto...

Do you know the most effective
way to counter public sentiment?

To split it?

That's correct.

You can put out a fire faster...

by dividing the coals into multiple small fires
before it turns into a single, large blaze.

Small fires are better than a major blaze.

I see. That's probably true.

But...

people can perish in small fires, as well.

If they're not extinguished in time...

a small fire can conceivably become
a fire that takes human lives.

I'm speaking theoretically.

It's mutual, sir.

Mr. Saegusa...

Regarding the Saegusa Family's manipulation of
the press, the Jumonji Family hereby requests...

that you make your regret known and immediately
suspend your anti-magician campaign.

The Saegusa Family hereby requests a
written petition from the Jumonji Family.

I'd prefer to give my answer after
I've seen your official protest.

Understood.

I'll draw one up as soon as I return home.

I'm sorry you had to make this trip today.

Has Katsuto left?

Yes.

I can guess what it is
that you'd like to say.

Go ahead and say it.

What we just discussed...

I feel that Jumonji's argument is sound.

Mayumi, Master Kudou
is also aware of this.

He wasn't against my plan.

I have no idea what the
elderly master may be thinking.

All I know...

is that it seems like a mistake to pointlessly
disrupt the lives of our fellow magicians...

living in the same country.

It's just to let them vent. It'll
be all over in a month at most.

Even in a mere month, thoughtless slander
can inflict lifelong wounds in some cases!

Mayumi...

For whose sake are you so angry?

Is it for Katsuto?

Or is it for...

someone at First High School?

About that matter we discussed...

Next Tuesday, April 24...

a member of Parliament will be
visiting First High School.

Would that be Congressman Kanda
of the Civil Rights Party?

Yes.

Apparently, he's going to crash First High
with his usual entourage of reporters.

Crash and do what?

He's probably going to try to point out any
collusion between First High and the military.

But there is none.

If he can't find any, he'll manufacture something by
cutting and pasting testimony and subjective comments.

And his entourage of journalists...

will embellish them ten times over...

and will probably make a commotion
over them, don't you think?

Right, I can see that happening.

Thanks for reaching out.

That's information I can use.

I'm looking forward to seeing
how you deal with this.

It looks like the time has come
to set that plan in motion.

THE IRREGULAR AT MAGIC HIGH
SCHOOL DOUBLE SEVEN PART III