The shining sunlight.
Rather than a pleasant feeling, it gave a strong sense of summer.
It was a scorching sun, enough to make one's skin feel hot.
This meant that summer vacation was approaching.
Before vacation, there's something every student must face.
Final exams.
A time most students dread.
Although students prayed for it to never come, such wishes rarely come true.
That day eventually arrived.
Despite the scorching heat, the students were studying diligently.
This year's first and second-year students were exceptional, and their hard work created an atmosphere of academic enthusiasm.
As everyone worked hard, the day of the final exam finally came.
While most students, tired from studying through the hot night, dragged themselves to the exam, there was someone who walked with a bright smile.
"Hmm~ Hmm~."
Rie walked with a smile, weaving through the hot sun rays.
She left the dormitory, crossed the sunlit garden, and headed towards the main building.
Although there was some distance between the dormitory and the main building, Rie never lost her smile.
She was even humming a tune.
Despite having studied all night and not getting proper sleep, Rie was surprisingly energetic.
This level of enthusiasm was rare for her.
She found the intense sunlight pleasant and the chirping of birds around her felt like soothing music.
"The weather is nice~."
Indeed, the weather was nice.
The floating clouds and the shining sun felt wonderful, even if it was a hot day.
The heat didn't bother her.
"Now, I just have to do well in the exam."
Rie grinned, muttering to herself.
The weather was perfect, and she was in great condition.
Now, all that remained was to showcase her skills.
However, there was a problem.
Rie hadn't properly studied for this exam.
While studying and right up until falling asleep, Rie's mind wandered.
She thought it was foolish and embarrassing, but she couldn't stop her daydreaming.
Those daydreams scattered her focus.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})She couldn't hold her pen properly while studying and she couldn't sleep well either.
Normally, such distractions would frustrate her, but for some reason, she constantly found herself smiling.
Even now.
She might not have studied properly, but she was still smiling.
As Rie continued walking with that smile, she glanced into a nearby classroom.
"Oh?"
It was Rudy's exam room.
Rie took a brief peek inside.
Faces were visible from inside the classroom.
It was Rudy.
"Ah..."
Upon seeing his face, her face started to turn red.
She had been thinking a lot about Rudy, but lately, she had been avoiding him.
She wanted to approach him, tease him, and chat with him, but it was difficult to approach him.
Was it because of the imaginations she had at night?
Whenever she saw him, her face would flush.
Rie clenched her fists.
She couldn't continue like this.
Also, today was Rudy's birthday.
She wanted to wish him a happy birthday and suggest having a meal after the exam.
Rie began to step forward but then stopped in her tracks.
"...Should I just talk to him after the exam?"
It was just a few minutes before the exam.
If she suddenly talked to him, it might disrupt Rudy's concentration.
Although she thought it was important to have a meal together, the exam was more important.
Rie stared intently at the back of Rudy's head but turned her head away.
"I can tell him later."
"Phew...!"
I'm in great condition today.
I slept well, and everything I studied was clearly etched in my mind.
I could recite everything as if reading from a book.
My research, the battles I fought, and the things I studied on my own are all swirling around in my mind as knowledge.
I was fully prepared.
"I'll do it. I'll be the top student."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})I muttered to myself, reaffirming my determination.
Leaving the dormitory, I walked while going over what I had studied.
The students around me were all carrying notebooks or studying materials.
Everyone was working hard.
But I was confident.
I put in a tremendous amount of effort.
Although Rie's sudden confession had distracted me, I quickly pulled myself together.
I can worry about that after the final exam.
Afterwards, I can...
Thud—
Suddenly, a gloomy man brushed past my shoulder.
"…?"
I looked around, confused.
Instead of apologizing, he just walked on.
"What was that?"
I was irritated, but not particularly angry.
I couldn't let my mind wander in a place like this.
I needed to focus again.
I must concentrate on the final exam.
"…But, he seemed familiar."
A man with inconspicuous black hair.
He was already far ahead, so I couldn't see him clearly.
However, he reminded me of someone.
"...Evan?"
There weren't many with black hair.
One of them was Evan.
"No way, it can't be him."
I shook my head.
Although I hadn't seen him lately, that wasn't the Evan I knew.
The Evan I knew was someone who focused and worked hard in everything he did.
He wasn't someone with such a gloomy atmosphere.
"Never mind."
I went back to reviewing my studies while heading towards the exam room.
"Then, let's start the test."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Professor Robert announced at the front of the examination room.
It felt somewhat odd seeing Robert standing at the front.
Usually, it was someone more serious, but now it was Robert, who had always had a rather casual demeanor.
I'm getting nervous.
My hands were tingling from the anxiety.
"Phew..."
As I exhaled to calm my nerves, someone touched my shoulder.
It was Robert.
As he passed by, he patted my shoulder reassuringly, as if encouraging me to do my best.
I found his gesture surprising but comforting.
It was just like him.
“Let's do this...”
I muttered to myself, soft enough for no one else to hear, and began going through the exam paper.
"The exam is now over."
Robert's voice echoed in the classroom.
I rested my head on the desk.
I wasn't sure if I did well or not.
I had been so focused that I lost track of time and didn't realize how quickly it had passed.
But I was confident that I answered every question.
As soon as I finished reviewing my answers, the test ended.
All my tension was gone, and I felt drained.
"Everyone, enjoy your summer vacation."
Robert said as he prepared to leave the classroom.
“Oh.”
He stopped on his way out and looked at me.
"Rudy Astria, come to my office tomorrow morning."
"…Yes?"
I raised my head in confusion.
"I have something for you to do."
Something to do?
I couldn't think of anything Robert would ask me to do.
"What do you mean by that?"
I asked him, lifting my head to meet his gaze.
"We'll talk about it tomorrow. For now, just go and rest."
“But if you tell me to rest without…”
Before I could push further, Robert gestured behind me with a nod of his head.
“Hmm?”
Behind?
I turned to find all the students looking outside.
Outside the window, there was a woman.
Knock, knock─
She was tapping on the window from the outside.
"Ah, Astina?"
I looked at her in surprise.
We were on the 4th floor.
A height that could be deadly if an ordinary person were to fall.
So it was natural for people around to be surprised when she was outside the window.
As I approached to open the window, Astina smiled.
"Why are you suddenly outside..."
As I opened the window, Astina grabbed my hand.
"Let's go."
"What?"
Astina pulled my arm and pulled me towards the outside.
I could see the ground below.
The ground far below.
I looked back at Astina.
"No, what, what is this? Astina, I…"
"It's fine. I'll use magic."
Astina smiled and channeled her mana.
"Ah."
Suddenly, her expression changed.
"Let's just go like this."
"Huh?"
Astina suddenly lifted me, as if embracing a princess.
"No... What are you doing?"
"Food."
Astina chuckled.
"Didn't we decide to go eat?"
Well, going to eat is fine, but...
Why like this?
"Ugh…!"
With me in her arms, Astina soared into the air.
Although I'm a man and Astina is a woman...
What in the world is she doing?
"If we exit through the main gate, there'll be too many interferences."
"So, if we eat together...!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!"
As I tried to argue, Astina began flying at an incredible speed.
"We'll talk about the rest while we eat."
Luna hurried her steps.
The place she was rushing to right after the exam:
The classroom where Rudy was.
Until now, she had been waiting for Rudy.
Since he promised to give an answer, she thought she could just wait.
But she couldn't just wait for an answer indefinitely.
She'd been busy with research and studies, and Rudy was also busy, so they hadn’t seen each other much.
"Today...! I have to go see him!"
Today was Rudy's birthday.
The answer is one thing, and the birthday is another.
As his friend, she should at least celebrate it.
Excited at the thought of seeing Rudy's face after so long, Luna hurried to the classroom where Rudy had taken his exam.
Arriving at the classroom where Rudy had his test...
"Hmm?"
"Huh?"
Luna and Rie ran into each other.
Luna tensed up.
Rie.
According to Ena, she was the top person to be wary of.
She met such a person in front of Rudy's classroom.
'Did... Did I come a bit late...?'
Luna flinched when she saw Rie.
'Right, right. Rie is a friend! A friend!'
Luna hid her surprised expression and smiled.
"Rie, what brings you here?"
"Ah, well..."
Rie looked at Luna with a troubled expression.
But then, her face changed.
A confident expression...!
"I came to see Rudy!"
Luna stepped back, startled by her declaration.
She was so direct...
In response, Luna clenched her fists.
"Oh, really? I came to see Rudy too."
Luna stated confidently.
'Right, there's no need to back down!'
Luna and Rie exchanged glances, each full of bravado.
It was as if they were sizing each other up; both stood tall, shoulders back.
Neither felt inferior to the other.
They didn't know about each other's affairs, so it was only natural.
"Um... Ah..."
Then, murmurs of confusion arose from around them.
For a while, the two exchanged glances before gradually coming to their senses.
The test had ended, and people were milling around.
Since they were posturing at the entrance of the classroom, people couldn't pass by.
"Ah... I'm sorry. Uh..."
"Oh, ah..."
Rie and Luna stepped aside to let others pass.
"Shall we go inside?"
"Yeah, let's."
Gone were their confident demeanors; now they both spoke cautiously.
They entered the classroom.
"Huh?"
"What?"
As they entered the classroom, they both made bewildered expressions at the same time.
Rudy was not there.
The students hadn't left yet.
But Rudy was nowhere to be found.
They would have surely seen him leave since they were right outside the classroom.
"Where did he go?"
"What's going on?"
They looked around the classroom, confused.
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