Chapter 59

### Chapter 59: The Same Path, Different Dreams (3)

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#5

"Get up, Rubia. We've arrived."

"…Huh?"

Just before we reached the Epic Class dormitory station, I shook Rubia's shoulder to wake her up. She had been dozing off with her eyes closed. With a dazed look, she tilted her head, then suddenly snapped back to reality, lightly slapping her cheeks.

"A, ah. Sorry. I must have dozed off..."

She gathered her bag and tried to stand up. I was holding onto the handle hanging from the ceiling, and as she got up, she looked even more tired and groggy.

"…Ah!"

Just as the tram slowed down sharply upon entering the station, Rubia's body swayed and she stumbled to the side.

—Thud.

She didn't fall awkwardly or spill the contents of her bag.

I quickly moved and wrapped my arm around her waist to steady her.

"Be careful."

"——!"

Her body was as light as a feather. Her waist was so slender that I could feel her ribs distinctly. A sweet scent, like a ripe peach, wafted from her.

"…T-thanks. Elio."

Her voice was somewhat flustered, and her ears turned red.

I helped her stand up straight, and she clutched her bag with both hands, bowing deeply as she walked toward the door.

I followed Rubia and stood next to her.

—Squeak…

The tram doors opened, and we stepped out together.

As we stepped onto the white-tiled floor of the station, I casually spoke to Rubia.

"Rubia."

"…Y-yes?"

"Do you remember what I said earlier? About not overworking yourself. I might not be the one to say this, but it's good to get enough sleep."

After a moment, Rubia's response came.

"…I'm fine. I'm still okay."

This wasn't just bravado. It was just her instinctive reaction, given her round personality.

She looked far from fine and very tired.

If she were to take on the role of leader for the group project in this state, it could lead to various problems. I didn't know much about the quality of the other group members.

…Maybe I should set a date soon.

I needed to have a serious talk with Rubia. Not just about the group project, but also because she has changed a lot recently, and I suspect my influence has played a significant role.

It's not just Rubia; Miu is also a problem.

What about Stella?

And to maintain a smooth daily life at Frontier, I need to get to know other male students, like Hector and Aldrie.

There's so much to do before graduation. I had planned to focus solely on studies and training, but it's not working out. It's been a chaotic school life.

Tap, tap.

With that, our conversation ended, and we walked to the park inside the dormitory.

I was thinking about having lunch and waiting for the afternoon swordsmanship class, while Rubia seemed to have other plans. If not, it would be better for her to go back to the dormitory and rest.

At some point.

"Huh."

"…Ah. Elio… sir."

We encountered Stella, who was crouched in a corner of the well-maintained park, apparently observing the garden.

At that moment, Rubia, who had been walking in the opposite direction, suddenly turned around. Upon seeing Stella, she seemed pleased and was about to… wait, why is she just standing there?

It doesn't matter. I asked first.

"What are you doing here?"

The incident at the dormitory last time came to mind, but I didn't show it. Stella, seemingly aware of the surroundings, blushed and replied.

"Looking at… flowers, sir."

"…Oh, I see."

Or not.

Is she really blushing because she's embarrassed?

Although the old Alphren loved nature, he would twist and break pretty flowers he saw on the way, and enjoyed destroying ant nests rather than observing flowers.

What kind of education did Stella's adoptive father give her to change her so fundamentally? Or did she just become more modest and aware of her femininity as she grew up?

It's quite surprising, but not unpleasant. In fact, it feels like a painting to see Stella like this.

However, Stella, who seemed embarrassed to be caught looking at flowers, started to avoid my gaze.

"Stella. Are you going to attend the swordsmanship class with me later?"

"Yes…? Yes."

"Have you eaten?"

"…Not yet?"

"Then who are you going to eat with?"

"Um…"

Stella's silver eyes rolled and looked over my shoulder.

Behind me, Rubia was standing still, silently watching our conversation.

"Rubia…? What are you doing there…?"

Stella, tilting her head, spoke first.

Rubia seemed to snap back to reality, but she didn't approach us, so Stella continued.

"If you haven't eaten yet, why don't you join us…?"

Rubia waved her hands.

"I think I need to rest a bit. I'll go back to the dormitory first, guys. You guys eat today…"

Rubia scratched her cheek and smiled, then quickly turned around and started walking quickly toward the 2nd dormitory.

"…"

"…?"

I remained silent, and Stella expressed her confusion.

Well…

If she needs to rest, there's nothing we can do.

It might be better for her to manage her condition.

"By the way, where's Yurie?"

"Yurie? Yurie?"

Stella, dusting off her white thighs, responded briefly.

Anyway, with Rubia gone and no one else around, Stella was naturally speaking informally to me.

You're quite thorough, aren't you?

"You guys always eat together, don't you?"

Rubia, Stella, and Yurie. The three of them would always sit at the same table and eat whenever they had the chance.

"Ah… Yurie is still in her general education class…? It will be at least an hour before she comes back. …Should we wait?"

"Usually, how do you handle it?"

"Hmm… I would wait while talking to Rubia."

Hmm.

An hour? That's too long.

There's nothing we can do.

Eating alone… it's surprisingly comfortable, Yurie. You'll realize it soon.

"No, I'm hungry. Let's just eat together."

"Okay."

Stella followed me without a word. I thought she would suggest waiting for Yurie out of friendship, but it was quite unexpected.

After just a week, my words, which have a three-month history, seem to have more influence.

I felt a bit guilty, as if I was stealing a friend.

…By the way.

I haven't eaten with Gabriel much lately.

From what I've seen, he seems to be trying to get closer to a friend named Aldrie. From a distance, it looked like Gabriel was doing all the talking, and Aldrie was just listening.

Well, he's a friendly guy, so he'll probably get along well. Once they become close, he can introduce me.

Anyway.

I need to get to know the other male students in my class… The biggest obstacle is the trio.

Hatti Yurecian, Jascal von Magnus, and Hector de Alcantara, who is in my group this time.

"…It'll be fine."

Leaving Hector aside.

Yusuf de Ria. He's the biggest problem.

Thinking about the group project made my head hurt again, but I wasn't too worried.

The villains who intentionally obstruct the project… I plan to deal with them cleanly in my own way.

#6

The sun began to hide its head below the horizon, and the dusk slowly approached in the early evening.

"Is there nothing to see? What the hell…"

Due to a sudden mock duel with Abel to check the changes in my skills over the past week, I was massaging my burning wrists, forearms, and calves when I subtly lifted my head.

"Here, here I am… Heek, hek."

At the 3rd Academic District Ordo Class station, as it was almost 7 PM, a girl in a maroon uniform, Lenny, was seen running from the back of the station.

Lenny lived here. The 3rd Academic District Ordo Class was her class. Despite that, she was almost the last to arrive. It seems the saying "the closer, the later" is true.

"Good job, Lenny. Did you run all the way?"

"Yes, I did. I thought I would be late if I walked…"

Since she arrived on time, it didn't matter.

I nodded and looked at the group members sitting on the benches around me.

I had arrived 30 minutes early, followed by Alphris von Chevlof, who came by tram. Then Lenny. So far, only three people had gathered.

…No. It's not a failure yet.

Hector unfortunately had no free time today. So he gave us a date and time to meet, and we would reschedule the group meeting after a short discussion here.

Swoosh.

Alphris, who was sitting nearby, suddenly stood up and approached me, whispering in my ear.

"Elio. Everyone is looking at you. Thanks to you, I'm getting a lot of attention, and it feels good?"

"Better to ignore it. It'll just make you tired."

"Ha ha, is this just part of daily life? The life of a popular person, I envy it."

"Popular? More like the life of a zoo monkey."

It was indeed a pointless interest. Alphris, seeing my disgusted expression, smiled again and returned to his seat.

I glanced at the clock on the station wall.

The hour hand was pointing to 7.

The second hand ticked and slowly moved to the right, indicating it was just past 7 PM.

There were still only three people here.

"…"

"…"

"…"

Where does Yusuf live? In the 2nd Academic District? If so, why is he so late when he lives in the same district as me?

It's too early to conclude. It just passed 7 PM. If he missed the tram, it could take about 20 minutes to catch the next one. So we sat and waited for Yusuf.

In the meantime, I took out a book titled "Mana Control I" from my bag and flipped through it. I vaguely remembered reading a similar advanced textbook in middle school, so it felt somewhat familiar.

That's how it went.

A short while later.

"A, he's not coming…"

Lenny quietly muttered.

Perhaps because she hadn't eaten, a soft growling sound came from her stomach.

—Thud.

I closed the book.

Checking the clock… it was 7:45 PM.

5 minutes late is nothing. 10 minutes is tolerable, and 20 minutes can be excused with a missed tram.

But 40 minutes late.

It's almost an hour.

…Clearly.

Hector was the only one who couldn't attend today's meeting, and the other group members agreed to meet at the 3rd Academic District Ordo Class station at 7 PM today.

Yusuf was included in that agreement.

"This isn't right."

Alphris, sitting opposite with his legs crossed, casually said. He seemed hungry too. I was also starting to feel hungry.

We had planned to go to a restaurant first and then slowly discuss the project at a café, but it didn't work out.

If Yusuf arrives late without a convincing reason, he will have to be prepared for serious consequences.

Group projects are most sensitive to "promises."

Not only must each member fulfill their agreed roles, but if an important promise is not kept, one person's mistake can ruin everything.

If the basic promise of being on time is not kept, it means they are not committed to the group project.

At that moment.

—Squeak…

The tram doors opened.

"—Ah, I found them!"

In the crowd of students pouring out, a blonde girl spotted us and waved casually.

"Sorry for being late… Everyone is already here?"

Dada. I watched Yusuf run over. I wasn't looking at her with a glaring or unpleasant gaze, but I was checking her hands.

—She doesn't have a bag.

Lenny and Alphris, including myself, had all brought our bags. They contained the "Mana Control I" textbook, as we had gathered to work on the group project for that subject. Bringing the textbook was a basic requirement.

But not having a bag… it means she lacks the minimum willingness to work on the project.

I didn't even sigh.

"You're 58 minutes late. What happened?"

Let's hear her out.

"Uh? Well, actually… I was taking a bath. I lost track of time because it felt so good. Sorry."

She bowed deeply, just like she did to me in the morning. Without waiting for a response, she lifted her head and noticed our stiff atmosphere, tilting her head.

"…Why are you all like this? I apologized. I'm sorry for being late. I didn't skip without a word. Did I do something really bad? If I apologize again, will it be okay?"

Swoosh.

To her, who was about to bow again.

"Yusuf de Ria."

In the morning, Hector called Yusuf's name.

This time, it was me.

Yusuf paused and tilted her head again.

"…What? Why are you suddenly serious? Are you angry?"

I wasn't annoyed. I was just very angry.

I asked calmly.

"When did you start your bath?"

Yusuf thought for a moment and answered.

"About 30 minutes ago…?"

"30 minutes ago, at 6:30 PM?"

"Probably…?"

Thud, thud.

I tapped the bag strap with my fingers and said.

"…It takes at least 10 to 20 minutes to get here from the 2nd Academic District by tram. You started your bath 30 minutes before the agreed time?"

"I tried to finish quickly…"

"Would someone in a hurry dry their hair completely? Do you know any high-level living magic? No, right? I remember you're majoring in sacred arts. Is there a sacred art to dry your hair?"

"…"

Yusuf was speechless.

I continued.

"Where did you leave your bag? The textbook?"

"I forgot it in my hurry."

"…No, you don't seem to be in a hurry at all. Do you think your words and actions match?"

She was supposed to know her limits. Stop