“Hey… don’t you think Rei’s gotten kinda… handsome lately?”

That whisper drifted to my ears during lunch in the cafeteria.

“Yeah… the quiet aura, the way he looks when he uses magic…”

“But, you know, he’s always glued to Mai.”

“That’s exactly what makes it so good!!”

“So trueee!!”

—I don’t get it!!

Sure, Rei had shot up a little in height lately, his features were maturing, and his words carried a calmer, older tone.

But still!

“Morning, Mai. You’re cute today, too.”

“…Stop saying that already…!”

His over-the-top affection toward me hadn’t changed at all.

And somehow, that very devotion was being praised as “Rei’s pure-hearted loyalty to Mai,” which only earned him more fans.

And then—

“Rei, please go out with me!”

“…No.”

“Then at least let me join you and Mai!”

“Absolutely not.”

“But if the three of us conquer the world together, we’d be unstoppable!”

“Mai. Run.”

“Full speed!!”

Recently, a whole new faction had appeared—students who wanted both Rei and me.

So now we were sprinting down the hallways just to escape.

“Why is this happening!? What even IS this!?”

“…Because I grew up…?”

“That’s what you’re reflecting on!?”

At last, we dashed into the faculty office for refuge.

Teacher Lorl sighed with a wry smile and handed us tea.

“Well, this is just your popularity boom. A page of youth, you know?”

“This ‘youth’ is a raging wildfire!!”

“But don’t worry—the school’s planning a proper response. Starting next week, we’ll have individual guidance sessions to help everyone sort out their feelings.”

“Wait… you mean like love counseling?”

“Exactly. Emotional management is just as important as mana management.”

Meanwhile, Rei clutched at my sleeve the whole time, ignoring the conversation.

“Mai… can I hold your hand?”

“…Ugh. Fine. Whatever happens, happens…”

Macikado Mai, age eight.

The rainy season, when my brother’s exploding popularity gave me a headache—

And I realized all over again how troublesome a “magical girl and her brother” could be.