“L-Lord Veret as a tournament representative!? As expected~! Everyone! Quickly arrange ferries to Lamdarb Island! We cannot miss Lord Veret’s exploits~!!”
After that, as planned, the representative team for the Inter-Academy Magic Tournament was announced.
I’d anticipated some kind of harassment, but the days passed in surprising peace.
The other students were apparently building up their own training for the tournament, so they didn’t have time to mind us.
As representatives, the Council members + Alice could use the practical-skills building by special arrangement; the place was packed every day, with each team scheduling around each other.
“Um, Ouga-kun?”
“Hm? What?”
“You really don’t need to help with the work, you know? I was already asking too much.”
“Ah, that. Don’t worry about it. I had time on my hands. This kind of work is good practice.”
“But……”
“Besides, if we finish it early, we get to enjoy our time with you more, right?”
”…… Understood. Then — please.”
“Lunch time, Reina!”
“Ouga-kun, please open the door quietly. What is it?”
“Hands off the work. It’s lunch break. Time to break, literally.”
“Ah, I’m fine. My body’s the type that can skip meals, so all of you eat without me.”
“Refused. I made yours, too. We’re going outside. Staying cooped up isn’t good for the body.”
“Ah, wait, Ouga-kun!?”
“I came up with a new menu we’re putting on the market. We’ll taste it together! Hahaha!”
“Reina! It’s after school! We’re going to polish our teamwork for the Tournament!”
”…… I’ve gotten the hang of this. If I don’t come, I get hauled along, don’t I.”
“Heh heh heh, finally catching on. That’s why I help with the work.”
“Thanks to you, even today’s paperwork is finished.”
Reina glanced at the Processed tray-stack of documents and gave a small smile.
A week since joining the Council. I’d snatched work away from Reina and, with Mashiro’s and Karen’s cooperation, plowed through the duties.
As a result, working time was dramatically reduced, and I’d succeeded in carving out time to train for the tournament.
Or rather — that goddamn Headmistress (hag). What’s that about a second-year carrying things over?
…… That girl’s name is on the roster, but the only people actually working are Reina and Karen.
And Karen was occupied until just recently with the whole Crown Prince incident, so practically it was Reina solo. I’m honestly impressed she didn’t break.
The more I think about it, the more I overlay my own past circumstances on hers, and the more I feel sorry for her.
A parental impulse like I have to protect her is welling up.
“Thanks to you, Ouga-kun, the Council has been running properly since you joined. Miss Liche is naturally smart, too, so she picks up the work fast.”
“Naturally. She’s someone I keep beside me. Of course she’s outstanding.”
“Fufu, that’s right. ……This way, even if I weren’t around, there’d be no issue. I’m relieved.”
…… What does that mean?
She may have meant to mutter that under her breath, but in this quiet space of just the two of us, there’s no way I’d miss it.
“You’re at the practical building today, right? Everyone’s waiting, let’s go.”
But before I could ask what she meant, Reina passed me by.
I don’t know why. Her back looked so fleeting — so much like it might genuinely vanish — that before I knew it, I’d grabbed her hand.
”…… Ouga-kun?”
She called my name and I snapped back to myself.
Damn it……! Her back looked too much like the backs of my coworkers who’d quit at my old workplace, and my hand had moved on its own……!
I need an excuse — a good excuse — while I spun my genius brain, I caught onto what she really meant.
Right…… so that’s it! Then I can fit it into the current situation to manufacture a reason for grabbing her hand!
“I’m not letting you go anywhere. You will come back here (as Council President), without fail.”
She’s planning, if we lose the Inter-Academy Magic Tournament, to take responsibility and resign.
Two years in a row missing the championship — even she couldn’t keep that seat. The other students would, of course, place blame on Mashiro and me and not attack her.
But Reina, who had been responsible for her predecessors leaving the school after the same outcome last year, was deeply pained by it.
Combining the pieces, the conclusion that Reina intends to cover for us is easy to reach.
That’s not acceptable. I joined the Council because Reina is there. A Council without her is hell. Floné would gleefully install me in her seat.
Given Reina’s personality, even if I offered her a position with House Veret after she withdrew, she’d refuse.
If that happens, the whole plan collapses. I have to prevent the future where my hard-won academy life turns into labor hell, with everything I’ve got……!
“I’ll give it everything for that. By any means, with these members, we’ll meet as the Council together. We will sweep aside the difficulties standing in our way.”
In response, Reina didn’t speak. I, too, didn’t stop, and continued.
This is it. The only chance. For her to know my resolve.
A step in — to the core of her circumstances.
“Even if our opponent is the Headmistress — Floné Milfonti.”
”…………”
…… A first. The first time I’d seen such an expression.
She thinks she’s papered over it well.
But I can tell.
The eyes that wavered for an instant. Eyes speak as much as the mouth.
What I’d seen — resignation, suffering, and a faint hope. She, too, is expecting.
To be released by me from that boss of black corporations, Floné.
“So — never say what you just said again. Promise me.”
”…… Fufu, what a strange Ouga-kun. I’m fine, I’ll be here. Now — let’s go.”
Pulling on the hand I’d been holding, Reina began walking again.
No good. At this rate I can’t draw out her real feelings — I’d waste today, my heart unsettled.
…… No question, what I’ve been building up is reaching her. That brief flash of hope in her eyes proves it.
A little more. Just a little more is missing — until my real intent reaches her heart.
To bridge that small gap, let me play my trump card too. I didn’t want to if I could help it…… but I judged this the best way to make Reina understand.
”…… Reina. I’ll show you something interesting today.”
“Something interesting……?”
“Yeah. You’re special to me, Reina. No more hiding things.”
”…………”
Let me steel myself. Without entering the tiger’s den, you can’t claim its cub.
If I’m not laying myself bare, she’s not going to open her heart.
The risk is there. But even so — I want Reina.
“Look forward to it.”
—— And so, the day of the Inter-Academy Magic Tournament arrived.
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