"Hey!!!" Meirin shrieked, her face beet red.
Simon just chuckled and greeted him. "Welcome, Dick."
"Hey!" Dick vaulted over the park bench and gave Simon a high-five. "HowвЂTMve you been? My roomie!"
"WeвЂTMre not roommates anymore," Simon said, shaking his hand to ease the sting.
"Hehe! You never know! We might just be roommates again in our second year."
The awkward atmosphere shattered. Dick had a magical ability to make his surroundings noisy and cheerful just by being present. He wiggled his eyebrows slyly at Meirin.
"And why is our esteemed eighth-ranked student sulking by herself again?"
"...DonвЂTMt you start," Meirin warned through gritted teeth.
Dick shook his head. "WeвЂTMve been together for a year, and you still donвЂTMt get it? That moment just now wasnвЂTMt the kind of moment you think it was..."
"Shut up!!" Meirin shouted, conjuring a spike of ice. Dick dodged with ease, creating a foothold of jet-black on a nearby tree and backflipping out of the way.
"So," Dick said, landing gracefully and shrugging. "Go on, Simon! What were you going to say?"
As expected, Dick was sharp. Still, without any prior information, he couldnвЂTMt possibly know what Simon was about to propose.
Simon scratched his head. "Since everyoneвЂTMs here now, IвЂTMll just wait until Kami arrives and we get to our lodging."
"Oh, right! The kind of talk thatвЂTMs best had over a drink, eh?" As he spoke, DickвЂTMs head turned. "Speak of the devil, sheвЂTMs here."
Simon and MeirinвЂTMs gazes followed his. In the distance, a girl with light purple hair was running toward them, waving her hand.
"Simon! Everyone!"
She wore a fluffy, cute, frilly t-shirt and short shorts. With her hair down for a change, Kamibarez looked utterly cheerful.
The faces of the three friends lit up. Meirin, in particular, bounced on her feet with excitement.
"Kami!"
The two girls rushed into an embrace. Meirin hugged Kamibarez tightly as if she would never let go, nuzzling against her.
"Sob! I missed you so much all break, Kami!" Meirin wailed. "I thought I was going to die! I just wanted to pinch these adorable, squishy cheeks!"
"I-I missed you too, Meirin," Kamibarez replied, her voice muffled.
Dick, who had been watching the emotional reunion, spread his arms wide. "The passionate friendship between us guys canвЂTMt be outdone!"
"Go away," Simon deadpanned.
Already hyped up, Dick slung an arm around SimonвЂTMs neck and laughed cheerfully. Kamibarez, enduring MeirinвЂTMs affectionate assault, looked over at Simon and giggled.
"Hello, Simon!"
"Long time no see, Kami."
Just then, Dick took a step back and studied Simon. "Huh. You know, the angle of my arm around your shoulder feels a little different than usual. Did you get taller?"
"Did I?" Simon replied. It wasnвЂTMt like he kept track of his height, so he wasnвЂTMt sure.
Her interest piqued, Meirin came closer with a thoughtful hum. "You did grow. You really did. Back in the first semester, we were about the same height, but now it feels like I have to look up at you a little." Blushing, Meirin quickly used her hand to compare her height to SimonвЂTMs, then promptly smacked his arm. "Congratulations?"
Simon rubbed the spot where she had hit him and let out a dry laugh.
"Why is everyone so worked up?" Simon wondered aloud.
"Hey, Simon! LetвЂTMs check our heights!" Dick spun around and pressed his back firmly against SimonвЂTMs. "I refuse to accept that youвЂTMre the only one who got taller!" he declared. "Now, Meirin! See whoвЂTMs taller. Hurry up!"
"Dick, get off your tiptoes," she said flatly.
"Wow, you pretended to be annoyed, but youвЂTMre taking this seriously!"
"I just hate cheating," Meirin sniffed.
Amid their youthful energy, Kamibarez fidgeted with her hands as she watched them. "IвЂTMm so jealous of you boys."
"Huh?" Dick asked.
"Because you just keep growing taller..."
A pang of guilt shot through Simon and Dick, and they quickly separated.
"K-Kami, youвЂTMll grow more, too," Simon stammered.
"Yeah! Of course!" Dick added heartily. "You all remember how huge her father is, right? In a few years, sheвЂTMll be a total knockout..."
A sharp smack to the back sent Dick stumbling away dramatically.
"There are things you can say and things you canвЂTMt," Meirin said, her voice dripping with ice. "Every word that comes out of your mouth is just so vulgar."
Dick just grinned. "Resorting to violence the moment we meet, are we? Hey, guys, want to see the scrapbook I made from the Langerstine local paper? ItвЂTMs вЂTMThe Pride of the Langerstine Grand Theater! The Heavenly Voice, Meirin Villenne!вЂTM
"Hey!" Meirin shrieked.
Watching his friends laugh and bicker, Simon felt a deep sense of peace settle over him. This was exactly what he had been missing.
The four of them boarded a large passenger ship at the port. Their destination was only accessible by sea, a journey Dick explained would take about a day.
"We couldвЂTMve just hung out in Langerstine for a few days," Meirin grumbled. "Why did we have to get on a ship?"
"Always so impatient!" Dick retorted. "Just trust me and be patient. Have I ever let you down with my choice of destination? IвЂTMve picked out the perfect spot for our trip."
"Yes! I trust you, Dick!" Kamibarez chirped.
Dick feigned a sob. "Kami is the only one who ever takes my side!"
Even though it meant spending a full day at sea, the trip was thoroughly enjoyable. They had a mountain of stories to share from their vacation. As soon as they unpacked in their assigned cabins, the four friends gathered in one room, their chatter filling the air. They eagerly discussed their break, reminisced about their first year, and looked forward to the challenges of their second year at Kizen. But amidst the excitement, Simon was a bundle of nerves, anxiously trying to gauge his friendsвЂTM moods.
вЂTMWhen would be a good time to bring up the Student Council?вЂTM he wondered.
The conversation flowed so rapidly that he couldnвЂTMt find an opening. The current topic was declaring their majors for the second year.
"Seven departments, sixty spots each," Dick announced, ticking off the information on his fingers. "Students choose their majors in order of their final first-year rank, from first to four-hundredth. The popular ones, like Cursology and Jet-Black Dynamics, fill up the fastest."
Kamibarez tilted her head. "What happens if a department is full?"
"What can you do?" Dick shrugged. "You just have to pick another one."
"Oh..." A flicker of fear crossed KamibarezвЂTMs face.
Meirin smiled and gently brushed a stray bang from her friendвЂTMs forehead. "Considering you ranked ninety-fifth, I donвЂTMt think you have anything to worry about."
"Y-You think so?"
"Of course!" Dick chimed in. "Anyone in the top two hundred can pretty much get into whatever department they want. Besides, Hemomancy isnвЂTMt that popular. The ones who should really be worried are the mid-to-low-ranking students aiming for Cursology or Jet-Black Dynamics."
"Not quite," Meirin cut in smoothly. "ShouldnвЂTMt the most worried person be a certain someone ranked four-hundredth who has no choice at all?"
Dick flinched, and Simon and Kamibarez erupted in laughter. With a resigned sigh, Dick leaned his head back. "Eh, whatever. ItвЂTMll work out. ThereвЂTMs no way Venomology will be full, right?"
"Dick," Simon said, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Hm?"
"The Department of Summoning is always open."
"Hahahahaha!" everyone roared.
According to Dick, the Department of Summoning was the most unpopular major at Kizen and hadnвЂTMt reached its student capacity in years. Anyone who wanted in could get in.
"Yeah, whatever! To hell with it." Dick flopped onto the floor. "If Venomology is full, IвЂTMll just follow Simon into Summoning!"
Kamibarez smiled sweetly. "If you come to Hemomancy, IвЂTMll take good care of you, Dick!"
Dick gasped dramatically. "Betrayed by Kami, the one I trusted most..."
"Then you shouldвЂTMve worked harder your first year," Meirin shot back, clearly relishing the chance to lecture him after so long.
Sensing the conversation turning against him, Dick quickly changed the subject. "Oh! But seriously, who do you think will be the Student Council President this year? What does everyone think?"
SimonвЂTMs heart plummeted. He had let his guard down for a moment, and now this.
"IsnвЂTMt it obvious?" Meirin said, crossing her legs. "ItвЂTMll be Aizel, the strongest of the third-years."
"I heard in my club that the runner-up, Valak, is amazing too!" Kamibarez added.
Simon watched them carefully. As expected, his name never came up.
вЂTMStill, this is my chance,вЂTM he thought. вЂTMThe topic is on the table.вЂTM Before making a formal offer at the inn tomorrow, he wanted to test the waters.
"What if," Simon began, and all three turned to look at him. "You were offered a position in the Student Council? What would you think?"
An abrupt silence fell over the room, and Simon winced. вЂTMWas that too blunt?вЂTM
"I... I think IвЂTMd refuse," Kamibarez said, and SimonвЂTMs heart sank. "Of course, IвЂTMd be grateful for the offer, and it would be a great honor! B-But... I donвЂTMt know if I could handle such an important role, and I donвЂTMt think IвЂTMm skilled enough..."
It felt like an earthquake was rumbling through SimonвЂTMs mind.
"I wouldnвЂTMt take it even if they begged me," Meirin stated flatly.
вЂTMWouldnвЂTMt take it even if they begged her?вЂTM Simon felt as if he were about to cough up blood.
"Second year is when we start our real major studies, right?" she continued. "WeвЂTMll be entering a specialized field, and itвЂTMs the year we learn the most at Kizen. Being in the Student Council would just be a burden when I should be focusing on my studies."
With a trembling heart, Simon turned to his last hope, looking at Dick with pleading eyes.
"Well," Dick said, scratching his head. "Honestly, isnвЂTMt it obvious IвЂTMm better suited to be the cunning villain getting scolded by the Student Council than a member of it?"
Meirin and Kamibarez burst into peals of laughter. Encouraged, Dick went on. "But itвЂTMs all just a fantasy, right? Why would the third-year president offer positions to second-years when they have their own cronies?"
"Exactly," Meirin agreed.
The three of them laughed, but Simon couldnвЂTMt bring himself to smile.
вЂTMI... I shouldnвЂTMt have asked.вЂTM He was more confused than ever about how to approach them tomorrow.
He could almost hear their shared thought: вЂTMItвЂTMs not like weвЂTMll get an offer anyway.вЂTM
Of course, Simon had no idea what they were truly feeling in their hearts.
The next morning, they finally arrived at the Parona Peninsula. As the murmurs of the crowd grew louder, Simon and Kamibarez, both light sleepers, went up on deck.
"Wow...!" Kamibarez gasped. "ItвЂTMs so beautiful!"
After the endless sea, land was finally in sight, covered in a sea of blue flowers. With every gust of wind, petals danced through the air, creating a breathtaking scene. Simon and Kamibarez stood mesmerized.
"This is the Parona Peninsula," a voice said. Dick was walking toward them, yawning. "The moonflowers that bloom here this time of year are pretty, but the real spectacle is something else."
"A real spectacle?" Simon asked.
"Yep. IвЂTMll explain once we get down there." Dick pointed with his fingertip. "More importantly, weвЂTMre about to dock. LetвЂTMs go change."
The Parona Peninsula, a region belonging to the Baldwin Kingdom, jutted out from the continent into the sea. While the Dark Alliance treaty allowed for relatively free travel between kingdoms, this particular peninsula had strict identity checks due to complex regional interests. Naturally, SimonвЂTMs group had a pass to bypass it all.
вЂTMItвЂTMs been a while since IвЂTMve worn this.вЂTM
Simon pulled on a pair of black trousers, fastened his belt, and draped a coat over his white shirt. After adjusting his tie, he made sure the red badge signifying his second-year status was pinned correctly before grabbing his luggage.
"LetвЂTMs go!"
Simon and Dick left their room, meeting up with Meirin and Kamibarez. Murmurs followed them everywhere.
"TheyвЂTMre from Kizen!"
Within the Dark Alliance, the crisp black uniform of a Kizen student held immense power. It felt like being a celebrity. Gazes followed them, and people instinctively parted to let them pass.
"Ahhh, this is the life!" Dick declared, an expression of pure bliss on his face as they walked toward the portвЂTMs immigration hall. "Look at these stares, filled with envy and awe! Power, strength, honor—I have it all! I вЂTMamвЂTM Kizen!"
He spun around. "IsnвЂTMt that right... huh?"
Simon, Meirin, and Kamibarez were already walking a considerable distance ahead of him.
"YouвЂTMre embarrassing us. Hurry up," Meirin said with a frown.
When they finally reached the immigration hall, the people in line tried to let them go ahead, but Simon just smiled and said it was fine, taking his place in the queue. A moment later, it was their turn.
"Hello," Simon said cheerfully.
The port official yawned, not even looking up from his paperwork. "Ticket, name, nationality."
"Pardon?"
"Are your ears clogged? Ship ticket! Name! Nationality! And something to prove your... huh?" The official finally noticed the uniforms Simon and his friends were wearing and the strange, murmuring atmosphere of the crowd. "A-Are you really from Kizen?!"
"This guy still hasnвЂTMt caught on," Dick muttered, stepping forward as if to take charge. He snatched the documents from the officialвЂTMs hand. "This immigration hall is a real mess, isnвЂTMt it?"
Though the opening ceremony hadnвЂTMt happened yet, even first-year Kizen students had investigative authority. Second-years were granted wartime operational command. The port official snapped to attention.
"I will rectify the situation immediately!"
"My superiors will handle any rectification, not you," Dick sneered.
"U-Ugh!"
"This place needs a good shake-up to get its act—" Dick yelped as Meirin grabbed him by the ear and dragged him away. Beside them, Kamibarez bowed her head repeatedly.
"IвЂTMm so sorry! Our friend was being rude..."
"W-What are you saying, a Kizen student! IвЂTMm the one who should be sorry!" the official stammered.
After they cleared immigration, Meirin let go of DickвЂTMs ear with a sigh. "Did you enroll at Kizen just to power-trip on civilians? Honestly."
"It was just a joke, obviously!" Dick said, rubbing his ear. "But you have to admit, that guy was being a jerk to us because he thought we were just kids. His attitude changed based on who he was talking to, so I changed mine, too."
"Uh-huh. And thatвЂTMs why I was satisfied enough to stop you there," Meirin retorted.
Simon was the last to emerge. "So, Dick. Where to now?"
"First..." Dick looked around at the growing crowd of tourists gathering to stare at them. "Should we change our clothes?"
Meirin and Kamibarez nodded eagerly.

Comments

Loading...