01x01 - Enrollment Part I

[bunniefuu]

Magic.

At the dawn of the 21st century, this product of
fairy tales was systematized as an actual technology.

Those who possess superior abilities are known
as "magic technicians" or "magicians"

and are placed
under the care of various nations.

Among them, magicians
with the power to repel an army

and destroy a major city in one strike
were labeled "Strategic-Class magicians,"

and became the symbol of a military force
that influences world affairs.

On October 31, 2095,

an unidentified Strategic-Class magic...

wiped out a military city and a fleet of ships
on the southern tip of the Korean peninsula.

That day became known
as "Scorched Halloween."

The world was shaken by the arrival
of a new Strategic-Class magician.

DECEMBER 23, 2095 / DALLAS, TEXAS, USNA

Halt!

Lieutenant Alfred Fomalhaut!

You know there's no escape.

What the hell happened, Freddy?

You were given the first-magnitude code name.

What would make you desert the unit?

You've also been accused
of using your pyrokinesis

to commit a series of arson-murders
in this town.

You didn't really do that,
though, did you?

Freddy!

Please answer me!

Pyrokinesis!

Lieutenant Fomalhaut...

By the power vested in me
as the Stars commander,

under the USNA Army Criminal Law
Special Provision...

I hereby sentence you to death!

RESERVED TODAY

DECEMBER 24, 2095
RESERVED TODAY

DECEMBER 24, 2095
RESERVED TODAY
Does everyone have a drink?

This doesn't seem like quite the layout
for a farewell party,

but they did prepare a cake for us, too.

So, let's have a toast with this phrase.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

- Cheers!
- Cheers!

- Cheers!
- Yep.

I still can't believe...

that you're going to study abroad
in America, Shizuku.

It's like that came out of nowhere.

Sorry. My father wouldn't let me
talk about it until now, the last minute.

But I'm surprised you're allowed to go.

They usually don't give magicians
permission to travel abroad.

For some reason, they're letting me go.

According to my father,
the reason is it's a foreign exchange program.

How long will you be gone?
And when do you leave?

At the beginning of the New Year.
It's for three months.

Oh, three months!

Where in America are you going?

Here!

Berkeley.

Not Boston, then.

I guess the East Coast
is unstable these days.

Oh yeah, aren't the humanists making
a lot of noise? It's on the news a lot.

First witch hunts, now magician hunts?

They say history repeats,
but this is just silly.

So, do you know
who's coming here in your place?

I heard she's a girl my age.

STARS BASE, TEXAS, USNA

Come in.

Excuse me, Commander.
I brought you something to drink.

Ben!

Thank you.

You're welcome.

By the way, Commander,
do you have everything ready?

Yes, pretty much.

Well, for a while, forget about your duties
and just let your hair down.

It isn't a vacation.
I'll be on a special mission.

In fact, I'm anxious about it.

I have to find the suspected
Strategic-Class magician.

Why me, when I'm not
used to undercover investigations?

I know my age makes me
a good match for it,

but there are a lot of people
who've gone through specialized training.

Okay, okay-

If the target is whom we suspect, it's a Strategic-Class
magician who's responsible for Scorched Halloween.

Someone even more dangerous
than a nuclear m*ssile.

I can see why the General Staff Office would
prioritize combat power over intelligence training

when making their choice.

I get that, but...

Why not think about it like this?

The commander's duty is making contact with
the suspect and trying to throw them off balance.

Well, I guess that's about right.

I'm essentially an amateur
when it comes to espionage, after all.

Then, even more so, I think it's your loss
if you don't enjoy yourself there.

I believe that would get any suspects
to let their guard down around you, too.

Yes. You may have a point there, Ben.

Ben, I leave things in your care
while I'm gone.

There are fugitives
who still haven't been dealt with yet,

and normally, tracking them down would be
my duty, so I hate having to make you do it, but...

you're the only one I can trust
to take over my duties here, so...

You can count on me, Commander.

You're not leaving just yet,
but have a safe trip.

DECEMBER 31, 2095
SHIBA

Understood, Aunt.
I'll talk to you later.

Oh, that's right, Tatsuya...

Yes?

The USNA Army Magician Unit Stars

is searching for the Strategic-Class magician
who used Material Burst.

Watch your back, Tatsuya.

Understood.

Well, Happy New Year.

JANUARY 1, 2096

Isn't Miyuki beautiful?

Happy New Year, Tatsuya!

That really suits you!

Happy New Year.

That looks good on you, too, Honoka.

You look good, Tatsuya. You have
the presence of a leader of a crime syndicate.

What, I'm yakuza?

Tatsuya...

Who's that?

Master Yakumo,
the head priest of Kyuchoji Temple.

Maybe you know him better as the famous
ninjutsu user, Master Yakumo Kokonoe.

He's my martial arts teacher.

Nice to meet you.

Tatsuya, do you know who that is?

No idea.

Maybe to a foreigner
your manner of dress is unusual, Tatsuya.

Brother, what are you looking at?

She's pretty.

Not as pretty as you, though.

Don't think you can use that trick
to fool me every time.

I'm not trying to fool you.
That's what I honestly think.

And that's not why I'm looking at her.

Is there something suspicious about her?

Suspicious...

Well, that outfit is rather peculiar.

But that's not all, is it?

Welcome home!

Silvie, you're back already?

Silvie?

Lina...

Why are you dressed like that?

0h, this?

Not wanting to stand out,

I looked into appropriate Japanese fashion
for visiting a shrine.

It took longer than I thought.

Does it look good?

Before I answer that,
let me ask you something.

Sure, what is it?

Did you see any other girls
who were dressed like you at the shrine?

Huh? Now that you mention it,
I don't recall seeing anyone.

Lina, I'm going to be frank with you!

That outfit shows a lack of common sense!

Don't be surprised!

The only place I might see an outfit
like that is in sketchy anime or comics!

Where did you get the idea from?

I bet you stood out
like a sore thumb in that!

Come to think of it,
the target did smirk at me.

Commander, let's cancel
the rest of your itinerary for today.

I'm going to carefully explain
modern Japanese fashion trends to you

in a way

that you'll understand.

okay-

VISITOR ARC I

JANUARY 9, 2096

NATIONAL MAGIC
UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED
FIRST HIGH SCHOOL

Sorry to keep you waiting.

That's the magic girl we saw at the shrine.

Shush.
That's the magic girl we saw at the shrine.

I'll introduce you, Tatsuya.

This is Angelina Kudou Shields.

She's the exchange student
and will be our classmate in Class A starting today.

Honoka, I'd like you to introduce me
to everyone, not just him.

Oh, sorrY!

Well, that's Honoka for you.

It's so Honoka.

Then, let's start over.

This is Angelina Kudou Shields
from America.

Please call me Lina.

Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you, Lina.

Are you related to His Excellency Kudou?

I seem to recall that his younger brother
settled in America and raised a family there.

Oh, you're well-informed!
That was a long time ago,

but my maternal grandfather
was General Kudou's younger brother.

I think that connection was how the topic of
a foreign exchange program was brought up to me.

Ready, Miyuki?

Whenever you are.

You can do the countdown, Lina.

Three...

two...

one!

Go!

I lost again!

I'm ahead by two, Lina.

They were tied up.

I think the exchange student's
casting was slightly faster.

Yes.

But Miyuki's interference power was superior,

and she took control
before the spell was complete.

You can prioritize speed or power,
but this wasn't so much a victory of pure force.

I'd say she won through tactics.

One more time, Miyuki!

I'll beat you this time!

Brother...

So, is Lina...

Yeah.

I believe with high certainty that she is
Angie Sirius, the commander of the Stars,

the USNA Army's
most powerful magician unit.

The question is...

Why would the USNA send in Sirius
who is essentially their trump card?

Exactly.

After watching her for a week...

I can tell Lina isn't cut out to be a spy.

I would suspect the real spy
to be acting separately,

but Sirius is too important
to use as a cover story.

If we assume that Lina is Sirius,

then her spy mission would be secondary.
The real mission is something else.

A mission so important
that the USNA would send Sirius overseas.

What could it be?

I have no idea...

what the USNA has in mind.

I'm back!

Welcome home, Lina.

Mia, you're here?

Yes.

I apologize for the intrusion, Major.

Please have a seat, Mia.

Silvie, get us some tea, please.

Milk tea, yes?

Another cup for you, Mia?

Yes. Thank you.

Did you learn anything
about the Strategic-Class magician, Silvie?

I pored over the entire public database
but didn't find any new information.

Really?

Mia, you're undercover at the Magic University.

Have you heard anything?

Nothing yet.

I'm sorry.

How about you, Lina?

Have you gotten friendly
with the target at all?

Yes, I believe we're on good terms,

but I haven't learned anything important.

I have a feeling my cover
will be blown before that.

Has something happened?

Yes, actually...

SCHOOL
INFORMATION

SCHOOL
INFORMATION
By the way, Lina...

SCHOOL
INFORMATION
Yes ?

Usually the nickname for Angelina
would be "Angie," wouldn't it?

Or is my memory playing tricks on me?

No, you're right.

Back in elementary school,
there was a girl named Angela in my class,

and everyone called her "Angie."

And that's why you're called "Lina"
instead of "Angie"?

You don't think it was a coincidence?

I don't know.

I really don't.

It's fine! He's just a high school student.

Even if he does suspect me...

I'd never let him catch on.

Lina...

What are you doing here?

Tatsuya, you're in Course 2, aren't you?

Yes.

I was wondering why your uniform
was different from everyone else's in Class A.

Miyuki explained it to me,
but she didn't sound too happy about it.

But when I asked Honoka
about it afterwards,

she said you were top class in First High
when it came to the real thing.

Tatsuya, why are you pretending
to be a poor student - an Irregular?

I'm not pretending.

I really am an Irregular.

For the practical skill test, they grade you
on three things. Speed, scope and intensity.

But in real combat, those three things aren't
the only things that determine if you win or lose.

As far as practical skill tests go, I'm an Irregular,
but I'm good at fighting. That's all.

Skills necessary in taking tests and real combat
are two different things.

I agree with that opinion.

Instead of just being
a bright student at school,

I'd like to be a magician
who can be useful in real combat.

How disquieting.

You can tell, can't you?
That's impressive.

That was dangerous.

I figured you could dodge it.

I hope you're ready to explain yourself.

Will you...

let me go first?

This kind of hurts.

Jeez, that hurt.

You tried to bust a hole in my face.

I think it's only natural for you
to get a little pain in exchange.

A clump of Psionic particles
is hardly lethal.

At worst, you'd only hallucinate
that you got shot with a g*n.

And that isn't enough of a reason
for me to treat you roughly?

Fine. You win.

Please forgive my rudeness, Mr. Tatsuya.

Forget about it.

And you don't need to be polite.

When you pretend to be elegant like that,
you're like a different person.

Are you saying I'm not elegant?

It's out of character.

That's not true!

I'll have you know that I was once invited
by the president to have tea!

Oh?

Only a handful of magicians get chosen to meet
the president, and you were one of them?

Well, whatever.

Lina, you wanted to test my skills.
Is that what this is about?

Y-Yes.

It was simple curiosity.

Then, this incident is over.

Don't test me again.

Aren't you going to ask me?

Ask you what?

Ask me what?

Aren't you going to ask about my identity?
You don't want to make sure of it?

I don't care.

There are things in this world
you're better off not knowing about.

You're a jerk.

Lina! Wake up!

It's Major Canopus! There's an emergency!

Ben, what's wrong?

We've located
where last month's fugitives went.

What?

Where are they?

Japan.

We believe after landing in Yokohama,
they went under the radar in Tokyo.

whY Japan?

Whv Tokyo?

The Joint Chiefs of Staff have decided
to dispatch an additional pursuit team.

Does the Japanese government
know about this?

No, it's a secret operation.

Commander, this is the message
from the General Staff Office.

"The mission currently given to Major Angie Sirius
should now be her second priority.

Her first priority
is to track down the fugitives."

Understood.
Please relay that to headquarters.

Roger that. Be careful, Commander.

VISITOR ARC

VISITOR ARC II