Chapter 19

### Chapter 19: A Peaceful Week (1)

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#1

"Senior."

The moment I heard that title, I realized this wasn't reality.

Cicada, cicada, cicada...

If I had known how to use precise magic back then, I would have wanted to shoot a fire bolt and get rid of the noisy cicadas immediately.

Spring had passed, and early summer had arrived.

A drop of sweat fell from my forehead and chin.

...It's hot.

The sun is blazing, and I hate such clear, scorching weather. On a day like this, I was sitting on the hot backyard steps, waiting for Miu, and when I heard someone call my name, I turned my head.

Was it that my dream based on memory was wrong, or was Miu transcendentally fast? I think the latter is more likely, but Miu was suddenly by my side.

"You came early today?"

Miu giggled and nodded.

"Of course. I missed you, Senior."

"...You say that every day."

"Oh, come on, today was especially bad. I really wanted to see you, so I worked really hard to finish my classes quickly. You should understand that, at least!"

Miu pressed her index finger against my nose, and I could only give an awkward smile in response.

Miu is very sensitive to heat.

It's so bad that she wants to get into the cool library as soon as possible to read books, and she often tries to torment me by staying by my side.

I could see droplets of sweat forming on her fair skin, perhaps because she had just come from intense exercise.

The scent was stronger and more intense than usual, so I was breathing through my nose very shallowly.

"Senior."

Miu suddenly called me.

I was about to deny it, saying I didn't smell anything, but I stopped because I knew Miu would get excited and cling to me even more.

"Uh-huh."

Miu smiled sweetly and said,

"Do you want to practice with me today?"

"......?"

She said something that could be easily misunderstood, but her playful expression clearly showed her intentions.

I shook my head.

"I want to rest today. It's too hot."

"Eh... You should move your body even more on days like this. If you just sit around like a dried sardine, your stamina and sword skills won't improve at all! Come on, get up! Hurry!"

"No... I want to go to the library."

Miu looked disappointed.

"You're not a kid... Of course, it's cute when you throw a tantrum, but that's not the point!"

Miu tapped the scabbard at her waist.

"You have to graduate, right? The assistant professor of the sword club, Miu, who defeated the Academy's top instructor with a sword, will teach you. Okay?"

"You always tease me."

At first, you would deliberately lose and say, "Wow, Senior, you're amazing!" with a smile, but in the next competition, you would defeat me in one move and declare your victory while sitting on top of me. Most of the time, the jokes end there, but it's a miserable training session, and I don't really want to do it.

"This time, I won't. Come on, quickly. Hurry."

Drag, drag.

Miu tried to pull me along by grabbing my arm.

Actually, Miu is definitely much stronger than me, so this means she doesn't really want to drag me along recklessly.

Miu doesn't force me to do something I really don't like, or play rough pranks on me.

Knowing this,

"Hey, it hurts. It hurts. Let go and talk."

I tapped Miu's hand with the opposite arm, and she finally let go, looking flustered.

"Ah... Really? I tried to control it... Are you okay, Senior?"

I smiled.

"If it hurt, my arm would have been pulled out already."

"Ah... I'm sorry, Senior!"

After I said that, Miu seemed to imagine a rather grotesque scene and quickly bowed deeply before sitting down.

She then swept her wet side hair back and leaned her cheek against my shoulder.

My shirt will get a bit damp.

This close proximity is a bit awkward.

"Hot..."

"Senior."

"...Yeah?"

I was about to suggest going to the library because of the heat, but Miu spoke first, so I closed my mouth.

"I've thought a lot about it."

"Really? You didn't think much."

"..."

Miu glared at me, and I raised my hands in surrender.

"Anyway, what is it?"

"Uh-huh."

"You're a third-year this year, right? After winter, you'll graduate from the Academy."

"That's right."

"Yes, so I was wondering..."

Miu looked up at me with bright eyes.

"Your grades are in a really bad state now, right? If this continues, you might not be able to graduate properly, right?"

"I'm getting more curious about the intention behind your question."

"No, it's true, right? Isn't it?"

"...It is."

I've messed up in so many ways.

As Miu said, even with sword skills, which have a high evaluation ratio, I need to improve somehow. It's not easy to make progress, especially for someone like me who is talentless.

"So, what I'm saying is..."

"Uh-huh."

"Can't you just repeat a year?"

You've finally gone crazy.

"Is that possible?"

To my resigned question, Miu shouted.

"Why not! Just repeat the year! Since your grades are already ruined, I'll teach you harder for a year! By the time you graduate, I'll make you a top-notch young swordsman! Really! I'm serious! I'm completely confident!"

"I'm not confident, you know."

Staying here for another year is a big deal.

The tuition is a huge burden, but more importantly, I need to graduate as soon as possible to find my path with this diploma.

Here... Miu's presence might help my mediocre sword skills a little, but if I only make a little progress in a year, it's better not to try at all.

Miu clenched her fists and didn't give up.

"This isn't a bad suggestion, right? Just repeat the year and graduate with me! Okay? Senior?"

"Really... I have my own circumstances. Isn't this just you wanting to stay with me for another year at the Academy?"

"You're right! That's the main reason! But it would be great if your sword skills improve a lot too!"

What a selfish kid.

Miu still hadn't lifted her face from my shoulder, but she was looking up at me with her eyes, hoping for my repeat year to succeed.

I scratched my neck, feeling awkward.

"I'll still see you after I graduate. I can visit occasionally, so don't ask me to repeat. You're a full scholarship student, but I can't afford the tuition here anymore."

I pointed out the part Miu was worried about.

Then Miu muttered gloomily.

"I won't see you every day."

"..."

There's nothing I can do about that.

Miu pouted.

"You seem fine. Being away from me for a long time. I feel heartache just thinking about it."

"..."

I have a feeling. If I don't answer properly, Miu will be upset for a while.

I sighed.

"That's not true. I see you every day, so I'll feel empty without you."

It was the best expression I could give.

Knowing this, Miu beamed.

"Hehe, of course! Then repeat the year! Senior!"

"I don't want to."

"Why not!"

Repeating the same lines as before.

Suddenly, Miu pulled back her pouted lips.

"But, I'm really scared."

"..."

I tapped my heels on the grass.

"What if something big happens to you while I'm not around? What will I do if I'm left alone? Just thinking about a life without you is incredibly painful."

"..."

"To me, you are everything. There are only about six months left until graduation. We've come this far, and I don't want to be far away at all."

"I haven't even decided what to do after graduation."

Trying to reassure her.

Miu shook her head slightly.

"But... I'm just... worried. If I can't see the person I love, and they come back hurt from somewhere, I'll be really sad. Most of all, I have the ability to protect you, so I'll regret it even more."

What did I say back then?

The sunlight became even more intense, and Miu's figure, illuminated by the sun, began to distort like smoke. I could feel with all my senses that it was time to wake up.

"Ugh, just thinking about it makes me feel bad. If you fall and get hurt, it will hurt my heart, but if someone beats you up and leaves you battered, I might not be able to hold back. Even though the sword wasn't given to me for that! I'll draw my sword without hesitation for you."

Cicada, cicada, cicada...

The sound of cicadas gradually faded away.

"Really... It will hurt. If you're not there."

And, finally...

"I will never, ever, make my beloved Senior suffer or feel pain. No matter what happens, forever."

Facing Miu's fierce eyes, which shimmered with a strange purple swirl.

#2

"..."

It was just starting to dawn.

Sigh.

I sat up in bed, ran my hands through my messy hair, and muttered.

"What a dream."

Why did I have to dream about Miu?

Last night, Rubia messed with my nerves, and now Miu has invaded my mind and caused chaos.

It's too vivid, making me even more restless.

"..."

Looking outside the curtain, it was still early morning.

I thought I had gone to bed late, but my biological clock hadn't been disrupted, and I woke up at the usual time.

Click, click—

I stretched my neck and got out of bed.

After repeating my morning exercise routine a few times and washing my sweaty body with cold water, I methodically prepared to attend the lecture.

Swoosh.

I put on my uniform and stood in front of the bathroom mirror.

After confirming there were no issues, I slung my bag, which contained my notebook and other writing tools, and stood at the dormitory door.

"..."

From now on, my Frontier life begins.

A slight, boring excitement settled in my heart.

There was no reason to be nervous.

I took a step as usual.

Quickly opening the door, I left the room.

#3

March 15, Tuesday.

Before heading to the first lecture at 9 AM, I had a quick breakfast with Gabriel in the dormitory lobby and parted ways.

Then, I walked leisurely to the tram stop.

Unfortunately, the first lecture on Tuesday was a general education course I had registered for.

What was the subject again? It was related to the empire's literature and history.

Anyway, I chose it because it was in the literature field, which I found interesting, and it wouldn't be too boring.

The distance to the tram stop wasn't far, so I wasn't worried about being late. There was still plenty of time.

The morning sky was bright.

A few seniors in the same uniform as me were waiting for the tram at the stop, and I exchanged a few words with them as a freshman before returning to my spot and sitting on the bench.

"Yawn...?"

At that moment.

I yawned briefly and looked to the side.

There, Miu was standing with a neat posture.

...Well, it's possible.

We could be on the same tram.

There's only one tram stop for the Epic Class dormitory, and another one above it. There are only two stops. If she's going to a different general education course that starts at 9 AM, we could meet here.

Trying to act calm, but the dream I had this morning is making me feel strange.

Miu seems to be glancing at me, but I try not to look at her and wait for the tram to arrive.

After about three minutes.

Squeak—

Seeing the large machine gliding smoothly on the tracks from a distance, I stood up and boarded the tram.

A few Frontier students inside looked at us.

It's a common occurrence, so I don't pay much attention, but I walked to a seat in the opposite direction of where Miu was heading and sat down.

I neatly forgot about Miu's presence.

Since we would get off at different stops, I planned to close my eyes and review today's schedule.

There was a sword specialization class before lunch, followed by the last lecture of the day, a superpower theory specialization class. Both were two-hour lectures.

Since the first day usually starts with a light orientation, I wasn't too nervous. Rather, I was eager to attend the classes and see how impressive the professors at Frontier, especially those in the Epic Class, were.

With that thought, I was in the tram.

Before I knew it, we had arrived at the destination stop.

Squeak—

There.

I got off the tram with Miu.

...

Hmm.

We could get off at the same place.

This place is huge, with many buildings.

Pushing through the crowded morning crowd.

I entered the same building as Miu.

...

At that point.

We walked side by side, maintaining a suitable distance without speaking.

Whirr—

We took the elevator together to the third floor.

Finding the designated lecture room, I opened the door first.

Creak—

Then.

The cool air from the air conditioner in the spacious, bustling lecture room instantly cooled the heat from the crowd, and all the students inside turned to look at us.

Ah, right...

This lecture is quite popular.

Our white uniforms drew everyone's attention, and the groups of male and female students who were chatting stopped and then started whispering among themselves.

First, let's find an empty seat.

Most of them were already taken.

The few empty seats that remained had bags on them, indicating that the owners had gone to the bathroom before the lecture started.

There were about five minutes left before the start.

So.

As I scanned the remaining seats with my eyes.

I couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

These diligent kids.

They only left two seats!

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