The Irregular at Magic High School: Everyone Loves My Brother?!

The day after his birthday, Tatsuya was in the library, browsing documents. Off duty from Public Morals Committee work, he had free time until Miyuki finished her Student Council tasks.

"Tatsuya-san," a voice called.

"Honoka? What's up?" he replied, looking up from his reading.

Having finished his research, Tatsuya was about to head to the cafeteria for coffee when Honoka stopped him. "I'm sorry I didn't know yesterday!" she said, flustered. "This is a day late, but… a birthday present."

"Thanks," Tatsuya said. "You didn't have to."

The cake from yesterday, a group gift thanks to the Master's kindness, had been enough for him.

"No, I had to!" Honoka insisted.

"Honoka, keep your voice down in the library," he said gently.

"Oh! Sorry…" she said, blushing at her mistake, realizing the entrance wasn't a free pass for noise.

"Let's move somewhere else," Tatsuya suggested.

"Okay…" Honoka said, her eyes brimming with gratitude, though he was just planning to leave anyway.

"Want something to drink?" he offered.

"No, I'm fine," she said.

"Alright. Can I open this here?" he asked, holding up the neatly wrapped box.

"Y-Yes!" she stammered, catching his meaning.

Inside was a slightly misshapen batch of cookies, clearly made with care. "They're a bit of a mess…" Honoka mumbled.

"They're fine," Tatsuya said. "Thank you."

Judged by Miyuki's high standards, he could be critical, but seeing Honoka's near-tears expression, he softened. "Try one?" she urged.

"Here? Alright, I'll dig in," he said, picking up a cookie. Either she's confident, or… he thought, biting into it. "Delicious."

"Really!?" Honoka beamed.

"Yeah, the shape's off, but the taste is perfect," he said.

"Really, really!?" she pressed.

"Really," he said, offering her one. "Want a bite?"

Her face flushed deeper. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"N-Nothing!" she squeaked.

"You sure? You're red all of a sudden," he said, tilting his head, still holding out the cookie, oblivious to how bold his gesture was.

"Ahh~" he said, mimicking a feeding motion.

"!?" Honoka's blush deepened, but his deadpan face showed no teasing intent.

"Ahh… oh, it's good," she said, taking a bite.

"See? You're good at baking, Honoka," he said.

"I-I live alone, and, you know, I'm a girl…" she mumbled.

"Sure, but not every girl's a great baker, right?" he said casually.

He wasn't thinking of anyone specific, but Honoka overanalyzed. "Miyuki's good too, right?"

"Miyuki? Yeah," he said.

"Is your mom bad at it?" she asked.

"Mom? Don't remember," he said.

"Don't remember… Wait, your mom…" she trailed off.

"She passed away," he said. "Not too long ago."

He meant he lacked typical mother-son memories, not that he forgot her entirely. "I'm so sorry!" Honoka said. "I brought up something sad!"

"It's not sad for me," he said. "Just don't tell Miyuki. She might still be sensitive."

"Okay!" she said.

"Thanks," he said, flashing a rare smile.

"Hau!" Honoka's heart squeezed at his expression.

"You sure you're okay?" he asked. "You look off."

"No, I'm fine! …Wait, 'sure'?" she said.

"You've been red and acting weird," he said. "Cold?"

He touched her forehead, comparing it to his own, deliberately avoiding touching foreheads—he had a hunch about her blush. "No fever," he said.

"I'm fine!" she insisted.

"Good," he said, finishing his coffee with her cookies as a treat.

"By the way, Honoka," he said.

She didn't respond, lost in thought.

"Honoka?" he said, waving a hand.

"Y-Yes!?" she snapped back.

"You sure you're okay?" he asked again.

"No, I just…" she hesitated. "You call Erika and Mizuki by their first names, but me and Shizuku by our last names."

"Is that bad? I can use your first name," he offered.

"Really!?" she said, leaning in eagerly.

"Yeah," he said, caught off guard by her enthusiasm. Her excitement was endearing, but her near-hug energy was a bit much. "Honoka, don't you have club activities? It's not a rest day, right?"

"…Oh!" she gasped.

"Starting soon. You'd better hurry," he said.

"I-I'm fine. I'm taking a sick day," she said.

Her excuse sparked a playful idea in Tatsuya. "So you are sick. Let's go to the infirmary."

"N-No, I…" she stammered.

"What? Can't walk?" he teased.

"I'm fine!" she said, smacking his chest, realizing he was joking.

"Kidding aside, you really need to go," he said.

"But…" she said.

"But what?"

"I haven't said the important part," she said, clenching her fists, her gaze piercing. "Tatsuya-san, I love you! Please go out with me!"

Realizing she'd confessed in public, Honoka turned scarlet and fled.

"Yare yare," Tatsuya muttered, poker-faced but faintly pleased, as onlookers later noted. "I haven't answered yet. But it's very Honoka."

Days later, Tatsuya formally accepted, and they started dating. Miyuki offered congratulations, but an icy glare chilled Honoka, who, too blissful, didn't notice.