In novels or dramas, a hero swooping in at the critical moment is a familiar trope—but in reality, such miracles are rare. Miyuki knows this all too well and had no reason to expect such a rescue. Yet Tatsuya's arrival, defying her expectations, only deepens her adoration for him. It's hard to blame her.
"What do you think you're doing to my sister?" Tatsuya's voice cuts through the tension.
"Brother!" Miyuki cries, her heart soaring.
The man charging at Miyuki with a knife is halted mid-step as Tatsuya slips between them with fluid precision. In a moment that feels almost out of place, Miyuki's heart flutters not from fear, but from awe at her brother's presence.
Even amidst her elation, she watches his every move with keen attention. Tatsuya catches the knife bare-handed, and in the next instant, the blade shatters into fragments.
The man gasps, stunned by Tatsuya's sudden appearance but even more by his actions. Without a trace of magic, Tatsuya intercepted the knife, and in a heartbeat, it was destroyed. To clarify, while Tatsuya caught the blade with sheer skill, he did employ magic to shatter it. But the man, overwhelmed, lacks the composure to notice.
Before he can recover, Tatsuya's fist drives into the man's stomach not a simple punch, but a twisting strike that inflicts excruciating pain. The man doubles over, coughing blood, his strength sapped. Tatsuya sidesteps as the man collapses forward, then delivers a precise elbow to his cervical spine. The crack echoes through the air. Miyuki was attacked Tatsuya has no reason to hold back. As the man slams into the floor, Tatsuya's killing intent vanishes as swiftly as it appeared.
"…You didn't kill him, right?" Miyuki asks, her voice trembling slightly.
She doesn't doubt her brother's skill, but the sight of the bloodied man stirs a fear not for the attacker, but that Tatsuya might bear the stain of a killer.
"He's fine," Tatsuya assures her. "No fatal damage, and I targeted areas that won't leave lasting harm."
His confidence reassures her. Miyuki exhales, the tension draining from her body.
"We need to move," Tatsuya says, his tone urgent. "This was too flashy, especially so close to the Magic Association's branch. The surveillance network here is far stricter than in the city center."
"Oh!" Miyuki gasps, realization dawning.
The Shiba siblings have secrets to protect. Drawing attention in such a sensitive location could invite complications. Chastising herself for her oversight, Miyuki feels a pang of regret for her recklessness.
"Let's go," Tatsuya urges.
"Wait, just a moment," Miyuki says, glancing around.
"What is it?" he asks, his voice calm but curious.
Despite the need to flee, Miyuki scans her surroundings. Tatsuya, rather than pressing her, waits patiently.
"The gift you gave me…" she murmurs.
"It's safe," Tatsuya says. "I retrieved it earlier."
"When did you—?" she starts, bewildered.
"We'll talk later," he cuts in. "I've tampered with the surveillance system as much as I could, and the lobby was clear, but there's no guarantee we weren't recorded."
For ordinary siblings, subduing a criminal might be a badge of honor. But for Tatsuya and Miyuki, exposure is a risk they can't afford. Their actions, however heroic, must remain hidden.
"I'll need to ask Aunt Maya to handle the online surveillance," Tatsuya adds.
Aunt Maya—the one person Miyuki least wants near her brother, the one she dreads owing a debt to. Yet Tatsuya's decision to involve her, a consequence of Miyuki's actions, leaves her powerless to object.
"I'm so sorry!" Miyuki exclaims, her voice loud with shame.
She feels the weight of her mistake, believing her carelessness has forced Tatsuya to rely on Maya. Deep down, a fear lingers that owing Maya might pull Tatsuya away from her side. She doesn't yet realize how irrational that fear is.
Tatsuya takes her hand, leading her away from the scene. Once they're a safe distance, he speaks in a soothing tone. "Don't worry about Aunt Maya. This was her target she ordered me to apprehend him."
"Aunt Maya did?" Miyuki asks, surprised.
It's not unusual for Maya to assign such tasks to Tatsuya, but her tendency to dote on him often overshadows that fact in Miyuki's mind.
"So asking her to cover this up won't create a debt," Tatsuya explains. "It's just part of the cleanup."
"Then… you left the man there because…?" Miyuki ventures.
"Hayama-san's likely already handling it," Tatsuya says. "If he's involved, that man must be a significant figure."
Miyuki feels a wave of relief. Not only is there no debt to Maya, but Tatsuya has fulfilled his mission flawlessly. Her brother's competence is unwavering.
The relief makes her sway slightly, her tension unraveling.
"You okay?" Tatsuya asks, steadying her.
"Yes, just… a bit overwhelmed," she replies, her body trembling as he catches her.
Tatsuya notices her reaction but doesn't press. For Miyuki, the sensation of being held by him drowns out all other thoughts.
"(Brother's holding me…)" she thinks, her heart racing.
"Miyuki?" Tatsuya prompts, concern in his voice.
"Y-Yes?!" she stammers, flustered.
"You're sure you're okay? Your face is red," he notes.
"I'm fine!" she insists, forcing strength into her legs. "(I can't worry him further!)"
Regaining her composure, Miyuki glances at the bag in her hand the hair accessory Tatsuya gave her. Despite being left in an inferno, it's pristine, untouched by soot or sparks.
"Brother… could it be?" she begins, her eyes widening.
"Walls have ears," Tatsuya says softly, placing a finger to her lips with a faint smile, signaling silence.
"But, Brother, that was—!" she tries again.
"It's just an inanimate object," he says dismissively. "Nothing for you to worry about."
His words are enough. Miyuki understands what he's done, and more importantly, she realizes this gift is a second offering from him a silent act of care.
"Thank you, Brother!" she exclaims, her voice brimming with joy. "To receive a gift from you twice… I'll treasure it forever!"
To others, their exchange might be incomprehensible, but for Tatsuya and Miyuki, it's enough that they understand each other. As Miyuki throws her arms around him, oblivious to their surroundings, a surveillance camera quietly captures the moment.