The Synthesis Magician

When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling.

Beside the bed, Aida-san sat in a chair, softly snoring. Even in her sleep, her presence was comforting. But, as expected of someone like her, the sound of the sheets shifting was enough to rouse her.

"D-Date-kun!"

"Good morning, Aida-san..."

"You worried me so much..."

She leaned in, peering at my face with a concerned expression.

"I-I'm fine, really..." I stammered, feeling my face heat up. She was way too close. And her eyelashes were... ridiculously long.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. My back seems fully healed now—"

"—That's exactly it," she interrupted, pointing directly at me.

"Huh?"

"What happened out there?"

Her concern wasn't just personal; it was professional. As a Talent Dispatch Agency staff member, it was her duty to ask. But I could tell from her tone that this was more than a routine question—she was genuinely worried about me.

I sighed. There was only one way to handle this.

"Well, you see—"

I recounted everything that had happened, leaving out the part about my Gift awakening. I didn't even fully understand Inquiry yet, let alone how to explain it.

"They... did what to you?!" Aida-san's voice was sharp, her brows furrowed in anger.

"Well, there's no solid proof—"

"—Don't worry. I took 3D photos of the wound on your head. If we find the rock they used to hit you, we'll get their fingerprints."

"In a place like that abandoned district? Finding one random rock seems impossible."

"That's what the Talent Dispatch Agency is for," she said firmly, standing up.

She pulled out her agency-issued phone and started making a call. Agency phones were equipped for emergencies, even in hospitals. I assumed she didn't want to have this conversation in front of me, so she gestured that she'd step out for a moment.

But just as she opened the door, she nearly bumped into someone coming in—a girl I knew all too well.

"Big brother!"

Her shout practically reverberated through the hospital.

"Mikoto, tone it down... You're giving me a headache."

"Don't 'tone it down' me! What happened?! Why are you hurt like this?!"

This was Daté Mikoto—fifteen years old, a first-year high school student, and my younger sister.

Her bright, round eyes and double eyelids were striking, and her long black hair cascaded down to her waist, perfectly framing her sharp features. Even in her high school uniform, she looked like a model. Local boys adored her, and many had aimed to attend the same high school just to be near her. She even had her own fan club at school, complete with a "guard squad" formed by jealous girls.

Admittedly, as her brother, I couldn't help but feel proud of her.

"You're here, so you already know what happened, right?"

"Not from you. The hospital called. Of course I'd worry!"

"Well, you didn't have to doubt the hospital's word—"

"—Don't change the subject! What happened!?"

I sighed. "I'm recovering fine. By the way, got a boyfriend yet?"

"Now's not the time for that! And anyway, it's not like anyone could match me," she huffed, crossing her arms.

Her confidence wasn't misplaced. With her looks and charisma, it was hard to imagine anyone measuring up. Even talent scouts from the entertainment industry had approached her, though she always declined with a report to me afterward.

"Are you really okay?"

"Yes."

"Really, really okay?"

"Reassurance is important, huh?"

Her expression grew more serious. "Alright then... let's talk business."

"Ah... that."

When Mikoto said "business," there was only one thing she meant.

"So, big brother, how much did you make today?"

"Let's see... 10,800 yen for cleaning, and 25,000 yen for the transport job."

"In total—"

"—35,800 yen!" we chorused.

In the Daté household, "business" meant one thing: our infernal family finances.

"What about the hospital bill?" she asked, her tone grim.

"No clue yet. Depending on the cost, dinner tonight might be... without side dishes."

I buried my face in my hands, while Mikoto tilted her head toward the ceiling as if praying for salvation.

A soft chuckle broke the tension. Turning, we saw Aida-san, who had re-entered the room unnoticed.

"Don't worry," she said with a smile. "The agency will cover your medical expenses. The cause of your injuries is tied to the client's negligence, so they'll foot the bill once the investigation is complete."

Hearing this, Mikoto and I exchanged a look.

"Big brother!"

"Mikoto!"

We embraced dramatically, celebrating our temporary reprieve.

"You two are really close, huh?" Aida-san teased.

"N-not at all!" Mikoto stammered, quickly pulling away.

When it came to money, Mikoto and I operated as a team. But realizing someone else had witnessed our familial moment seemed to mortify her. She glanced sideways at me, then leaned in to whisper.

"By the way... who's this gorgeous woman?"

"That's Aida-san," I whispered back. "You know, I've mentioned her before."

As soon as I said it, Mikoto straightened her posture and bowed deeply.

"Thank you for always taking care of my brother!"

Her sudden shift to a formal tone was almost comical, like a sports club member addressing their coach. Still, her reaction made sense. I'd often told her how much Aida-san helped me.

In the Daté household, Aida-san was nothing short of a financial savior—a goddess who blessed our dire situation with opportunities.

"Fufu, you must be Mikoto-chan," Aida-san said warmly. "I've heard a lot about you. You're just as cute as I imagined."

Mikoto froze, her face turning beet red.

"B-big brother! What have you been saying about me?!"

Her wide eyes bore into mine, clearly demanding an explanation. I shrugged, giving her the same look I always did when she asked impossible questions.

"What?" my expression said. "I have no idea."