Chapter 7

### Chapter 7: First Day of School (3)

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#5

“Senpaiiiii!”

Cherry blossom petals were falling against the red sunset.

“...Of course.”

I was leisurely turning the pages of a book on the back garden stairs when I let out a faint sigh and closed the cover.

I told her to lower her voice.

As expected, she didn’t listen at all.

Even though all the regular classes have ended, it’s unlikely that anyone would come around here, but still, it’s troublesome if she keeps shouting while vaulting over the fence...

Doodoo.

Indeed, it must be the running of a superhuman who has reached a certain level. The figure of Miu, which I saw as a small dot when I briefly looked back, was now clearly visible.

Miu’s arms, breaking through the wind, were rushing towards me.

“I’m heeeere...!”

“Stop.”

When I raised my palm, a screeching sound was heard as she came to an abrupt halt. It wasn’t a joke; the grass at her feet was torn apart as if screaming.

At this point, she might as well be a human tank.

After dating Miu, I found out that she had been controlling her strength before. To prevent me, the fragile one, from breaking...

It hurts my pride. Somehow.

I asked Miu, who was standing blankly in front of my palm.

“...Class?”

“Of course, I attended all of them properly!”

There’s no particular reason for me to ask.

This girl...

...often skips classes to meet me.

Miu’s uniform had slightly changed compared to last year.

First, her blue name tag turned white when she became a second-year student, and she started carrying a sword sheath on her waist after joining the swordsmanship club.

In contrast, I...

...just got a gold name tag.

Anyway, the special classes, including the swordsmanship and magic clubs, have slightly different curriculums compared to before. In Miu’s case, the swordsmanship club sometimes extends their classes until late in the evening.

That’s right.

On days with extended classes, she would always abandon everything and rush to me.

She said that the academy wouldn’t lose her, so it would only end with a warning, and there would be no real penalty.

Therefore, the guilt of gradually eroding my junior’s grades was entirely mine...

But she manages to sneak out and come here without being caught.

Miu is skilled enough to easily evade anyone’s tracking. For some reason, she has never been caught.

Miu pouted and stuck out her lower lip.

“I came here because I missed you, Senpai, but you always react so indifferently. It’s unfair.”

“Wait. What did you say in the middle?”

“Did you not want to see me, Senpai? Right? You just like me and keep thinking about me all the time, right? Oh, I was really bad... When a cute and pretty junior like me runs over to hug you, shouldn’t you at least pretend to give in and hug me once?”

“No, seriously. What did you say just now?”

“Is that important now? Did you miss me, Senpai, or not? Just answer quickly. Before I get upset. I won’t say a word to you until you answer. Hmph.”

“...”

She’s going to drive me crazy.

Miu seemed to enjoy my awkwardness quite a bit. Actually, not just a bit, but a lot.

Knowing that I’m not good at saying embarrassing things, she always tries to elicit such responses from me.

Wiping my face with one hand, I eventually moved slightly to the side of the wall and quietly said,

“...I missed you too, so sit down.”

“Mwahaha.”

Miu’s smile stretched to her ears.

“Then I’ll make myself comfortable, Senpai. Hehe.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she plopped down next to me.

Her shoulder pressed against mine, and I could feel the softness of her skin through her uniform. The faint floral scent from her hair permeated the air around us.

Miu always came here with me.

The back garden stairs behind the main building.

Since Miu joined the swordsmanship club, she couldn’t continue her part-time job in the library, so there was no need to meet there anymore.

We could go elsewhere, but this place felt comfortable for some reason.

Actually, I feel the same.

The open view is quite nice, and watching the swaying bushes and leaves in the breeze calms my mind.

The sunset was spreading. Miu’s black hair was beautifully covered in a shimmering crimson.

Rustle.

Miu took out a book she had brought from her bag.

I, too, silently reopened the book I had been reading.

I flipped through the pages, but the content I had just read didn’t really sink in.

At some point,

I felt a small weight on my left shoulder.

“...”

I didn’t flinch as I used to; I just stiffened slightly.

Why is this narrow shoulder so comfortable for her to lean on every time...

Since she likes it, I can’t really tell her to stop, so I moved my neck a bit to give her more space to lean on.

I faintly heard Miu’s small laugh.

“...”

“...”

We were quiet, without any conversation.

That’s why it was our time.

#6

“Hello, everyone?”

When I stepped out of the tram, a senior was standing in front of me.

A short-haired woman with a kind smile.

Most importantly, four stars.

A fourth-year senior, like the sky. Moreover, she had a golden student council badge shaped like a crescent moon on her chest.

I immediately bowed deeply.

“Hello, senior.”

“...Ah, hello. Senior.”

The blonde kid from earlier also greeted her, and the girl... just bowed her head slightly. I didn’t hear her voice.

“You don’t have to be so formal. We’re going to be like a family from now on.”

The student council senior covered her mouth and laughed.

“That’s the boys’ dormitory 1, and that’s the girls’ dormitory 2. Go to your rooms, unpack, and then gather in the large hall next to the student council building. The keys will be distributed in the lobby. If you don’t know where the large hall is, just ask me.”

“Yes, thank you, senior.”

With a smile, the student council senior turned around, and I quickly pulled my suitcase towards the left dormitory building.

Rumble...

Even while almost running, my eyes scanned the Epic Class dormitory area thoroughly.

The short impression was this.

It’s freaking huge.

The fresh green trees, the spacious garden, the clear pond with carp swimming... The beautifully landscaped scenery, which could rival dozens of the most famous resort islands in the continent, made it impossible for my eyes to leave the view as I entered the dormitory.

It feels like I’m looking at a palace, to put it mildly.

It’s not just the size; the dormitory building I’m heading to is overwhelmingly large and so luxurious that I feel guilty wearing shoes to enter.

However,

I had a question.

There are only five grades in the Epic Class. Considering the class size of fifteen students, the total number of students wouldn’t even reach a hundred...

Why is the dormitory so big?

The answer came quickly.

The rooms are, freaking huge.

“...Wow.”

The room on the first floor of the boys’ dormitory 1.

At the end of the corridor, I entered the room from the shiny lobby, where I received the key from the student council senior, and I had to suppress a cheer.

“Luxurious.”

I’ve never seen a more luxurious room in my life.

Even the mansion of a noble I visited briefly as a child didn’t come close to this level.

The white walls filled my field of vision, and marble tiles were laid out neatly below. The luxurious bathroom had a separate shower room.

The transparent windows behind the drawn curtains offered a panoramic view of the dormitory. The structure suggested there was an outdoor terrace.

The queen-sized bed, which would make a soft thud if I threw myself onto it, made me confident I would fall asleep immediately.

That’s a quick overview.

This is the room I’ll be staying in for five years...

A thrilling sensation spread from my heart, but I didn’t have time to be dazed.

I left my suitcase in the shoe cabinet, took my student ID and room key from my pocket, and stepped out into the corridor.

The corridor, lit by soft lights, was also luxurious. The atmosphere was intense. The soft carpet made my steps quiet.

The building I was in was 1.

The opposite one was 2.

The one in the middle was 3.

The buildings were arranged in a ∩ shape. As far as I know, 3 has various facilities on each floor, such as a training ground, practice hall, swimming pool, and student-exclusive dining hall. All of them are free to use.

Moreover, each building is connected to the others through long corridors, allowing movement from lobby to lobby.

Of course, there’s no direct connection between 1 and 2; you have to go through 3.

The opening ceremony is held in the large hall.

From 3, I need to go up to the fifth floor via the stairs or elevator.

Then, I need to follow the corridor leading outside to find the large hall next to the student council building...

“...”

“...”

In front of the elevator in 3.

The blonde kid from earlier was next to me.

There was no one else nearby.

It was almost 10:00, when the opening ceremony would start.

I thought we might be the last ones to enter.

Ding—

The blonde kid, who had been ignoring my existence like air, was about to head for the stairs when the elevator sound made her hesitate and turn back.

I entered the elevator first as the doors opened.

“...Hmph.”

The blonde kid seemed to hesitate for a moment but then entered with a derisive snort.

She prioritized the urgency of time over the discomfort of being in the same space with me.

Hum—

The elevator moved towards the fifth floor, which I had already pressed.

Glance.

I looked down at the proud girl who was not even glancing at me.

Up close, she looked even more like a doll.

Small stature, even smaller face. Her large, red eyes and small, plum-colored lips made her look like she would nibble on every bite of food.

Her scent was quite unique, a sweet and tangy aroma like lemon mixed with milk.

I casually spoke.

“Friend.”

“Don’t talk to me. And who’s your friend?”

A cold answer came back immediately.

I almost got rejected.

“Didn’t the senior say we’re going to be like a family? But it’s too much to be family right away, so let’s start as friends...”

“Don’t talk to me.”

Her delicate eyebrows twitched. The blonde hair tied with a black ribbon also fluttered slightly.

Feeling awkward, I asked,

“Did I do something wrong to you?”

“...I just don’t like you.”

“No, can you keep treating a friend you’ll see often like this just because you don’t like them? I feel really hurt...”

“Shut up. I told you not to talk to me.”

She’s so prickly.

But she still answers me properly.

“Then let’s at least introduce ourselves. That’s fine, right? I’m Egidio Crani. What about you?”

“...”

She seemed determined not to answer at all.

I feel wronged. What did I do? At most, we had a playful eye duel in the tram.

I wondered if she would maintain this prickly attitude with other friends besides me, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t be the case.

Thinking she only treats me like this made me a bit resentful.

I muttered in a low voice.

“That’s too much. I thought you looked like a cute little sister, so I wanted to take good care of you...”

“...!”

This time, she reacted.

Quite strongly.

“...What did you just say?”

Her red eyes, which had been turned away, now faced me with a strange whirlpool in them.

...Huh.

I must have hit a nerve, but I don’t know what.

Calling someone a cute little sister is a compliment, isn’t it?

Ah, maybe the ‘little sister’ keyword is the problem. Given her small stature and strong personality, she might dislike being treated like a child.

That would make her upset.

My guess was more accurate than I thought.

“No, I didn’t mean it that way, just...”

“...You.”

Her fine hair slowly rose into the air. Her delicate shoulders trembled slightly with a faint anger.

“...Who do you think you’re looking down on? I told you not to talk to me. If you can’t understand that, you should know better than to keep nagging. ...And what? A cute little sister? Who’s taking care of who? Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not someone below you; I’m someone far above you. Got it?”

I don’t know. How am I supposed to know, you? You need to tell me.

...Hmm, that’s right.

She looks like the daughter of a noble, and indeed, she has an incredibly high sense of pride. It makes sense that she would be angry if she thinks a man she doesn’t like is looking down on her by calling her a little sister.

Well...

I thought I was being quite friendly.

If we have to talk about who’s right or wrong, isn’t it her fault for being unnecessarily prickly?

I think so, but I can somewhat empathize because I used to avoid conversations with strangers.

But I never outright rejected and insulted someone like this. No matter how you look at it, it’s her fault. Yes. It seems we won’t get along.

The elevator soon reached the fifth floor.

At the same time, an oppressive aura that couldn’t be hidden rotated around me, constricting my body. A few strands of the blonde kid’s hair floated in the air.

A cold, angry voice followed.

“Look closely now. Who’s above you.”

She seemed to be about to do something. A whirlpool of something other than magic swirled in her eyes, which were burning with anger.

Her blonde hair fluttered,

and her delicate hand waved.

Hum—!

She declared.

“—Kneel.”

“...?!”

The aura that had enveloped me became even thicker and stronger.

My skin tingled. It felt like a snake was nesting in my body. It was as if invisible ropes were tightly binding me and pulling me down, roughly speaking.

It doesn’t seem to be magic. It’s a strange ability.

Ding—!

The elevator announcement for the fifth floor soon sounded from the ceiling.

The doors slid open,

and—

“...”

“...?”

Nothing happened.

“...What are you doing?”

“Eh, eh? Why... huh?”

Sunlight poured in through the open door. The already bright blonde hair shone brilliantly.

“Didn’t work, or... disappeared?”

I saw the blonde kid’s pale face turn red in an instant.

Confused, she asked in a tone that was off.

“...This can’t be. Why? Huh? Uh?”

“What can’t be?”

I asked with a derisive smile, but she seemed very flustered and suddenly looked up at me with a blank expression.

“You, you... what did you do?”

“What, what did you try to do to be so flustered? I didn’t do anything.”

“L-Liar! It was working fine just now, it can’t suddenly disappear...”

Hmm.

There might be some leeway in other aspects, but using her ability on a classmate... That’s really annoying.

The crime is not light, so it’s only right that she pays the corresponding price.

I need to correct her bad habits later.

Therefore.

Swoosh, swoosh.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. It can happen. Even a well-used ability can suddenly stop working. Don’t worry, your ability hasn’t disappeared.”

“—Gyaaah?!”

I did the thing she would hate the most.

I messed up her hair with my hand.

The blonde kid, whose neatly styled hair was now a mess, clutched her head and showed a reaction like a broken machine, her face redder than ever.

“...You, you, you, you, what, what, what are you doing...!”

“I’m going first. If you want to be late, you can stay there.”

The blonde kid, with an indescribable expression, was dazed for a while before letting out a scream and followed me.

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