I rushed straight to the Student Council Room after seeing the poster on the bulletin board.
━ bang!
“President!”
“…Huh? Who….”
As I burst in with gusto, I saw Anette studying at an antique desk in the library. She widened her eyes and tilted her head as soon as she spotted me.
“It’s Ken Feinstein.”
“Ken? …Wait, are you really Ken Feinstein?!”
I was used to people not recognizing my face by now, so when I called out my name, Anette startled and stood up.
“I heard your appearance changed, but….”
Anette’s reaction was quite different from before. Not only was her face flushed, but she was also strangely fidgety and couldn’t meet my gaze. She used to have a pretty confident and self-absorbed image.
‘Well, I guess she wouldn’t be very confident after putting up such a poster.’
I strode over to her like someone here to protest. It might seem rude, but I was the one who had previously repaired weapons. No matter how much of a president she was, she should let this one slide.
So I boldly approached her.
“…Eek!”
“……Eek?”
“U-Um, no, it’s just that you got too close, and I got flustered.”
As I leaned in closer to pressure her, Anette, visibly anxious, let out a strange sound. Then, clearing her throat shyly, she tried to look at me confidently.
“So, what’s going on?”
“What do you mean, what’s going on? Do you really not know what that poster is about?”
“Oh, that thing?”
Even with my unpleasant tone, Anette nodded confidently. It seemed she didn’t feel guilty about the poster at all. But why was she so assured?
“Hehe, isn’t it a good idea? I was surprised to see how much you changed. You being willing to do anything now will definitely help improve the students’ grades.”
“Exactly! So why did you go ahead without asking for my opinion?!”
“Ugh, you’re standing too close… My heart’s been racing so much since just now.”
“Hmph, it seems like you’re feeling a little guilty, huh?”
“……N-No, it’s not that.”
So then what is it? Anette turned red and looked at me with a perplexed expression.
“Ahem, anyway. Don’t worry too much. Although it’s called a Wish Right, it would be too risky to grant any wish without constraints.”
Suddenly sporting a generous smile, Anette patted my shoulder.
“The girls will only allow, like, a date at most, so you don’t have to worry too much. Isn’t that manageable?”
“……Well, if that’s the case.”
The issue I was worried about was, quite literally, the Wish Right. A Wish Right means you can demand anything, after all. In the worst-case scenario, it could lead to being told to become someone’s slave or to hand over money.
‘…If it’s just a date, then that might be okay.’
The poster had already been put up. Even if I tried to deny it now, the news about the first prize had already circulated among the students. So it would be better to restrict the Wish Right through the student council.
“I’m really letting you off the hook this time.”
“Eheh, you have both skill and character. You’re always a captivating talent.”
As I sighed, Anette smiled slightly and looked up at me. Then she leaned in with her finger, drawing circles on my chest as she spoke.
“By the way, if I were to come first, could I ask for something other than a date?”
“…Something else? Do you have more repairs needed or something?”
“Having you join our student council would….”
“Not happening.”
Having completed my objective, I turned without hesitation and left the Student Council Room.
“Ah! D-Don’t just go, think it over a bit━…!”
Hearing her urgent voice calling after me, I ignored it and closed the door. Still, I felt relieved that things weren’t as serious as I feared.
In the game, the student council president often caused huge events, so I had thought the Wish Right would really be a wild card. If it’s just a date, then that’s not something to worry about too much.
‘Getting first place isn’t that easy, anyway.’
Besides, just one person. It would be better for my mental health to keep a calm heart rather than unnecessarily fighting to have it canceled.
‘But since this has happened….’
Maybe I should aim for first place myself. Of course, I don’t think it would be easy. But if I got first, the Wish Right wouldn’t exist. I would get good grades, which would be nice as well. Even if I didn’t score first, studying more would likely boost my grades.
With my mind set, I headed back to the classroom.
。
‘Things have escalated….’
While walking down the hallway, I caught snippets of students whispering around Mary. Most of it was about the Wish Right Ken was going to have due to coming in first on the test.
More than Mary had anticipated, students were getting really interested in Ken.
‘I have to somehow take first place this time….’
Along with that, Mary felt a growing urgency. Suddenly, a lot of unexpected rivals appeared.
“Ken!”
“Oh? Mary? What’s up?”
This wasn’t the usual time for her to seek me out. But today, she had something to say.
She called out my name from the front door of the classroom like usual, but there were other girls around me. And when my name was called, all of them turned their gazes towards Mary.
‘…Ugh.’
I felt a bit taken aback by this drastically changed situation but soon steadied my mind and approached Ken.
“M-Mary?”
She grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the classroom immediately. I didn’t want to have a conversation in front of those girls. Plus, I didn’t want to see Ken surrounded by other female students.
“I’m sorry for dragging you out like this.”
“No, I’m actually thankful. It was getting a bit uncomfortable with everyone crowding around.”
I thought I was being a nuisance, but instead, Ken was grateful. Feeling relieved at his response, Mary smiled gently. It seemed like while Ken had changed, his fundamental self remained the same despite everyone else’s reactions.
“Um, Ken. The reason I called you out is….”
Feeling more courageous in the face of his unchanged demeanor, I decided to put forth the invitation I had in mind. Speaking the words caused my cheeks to heat up. I was anxious that he might refuse.
But unlike my anxiousness, Ken beamed and replied, “Oh! That’s a great idea!”
I immediately received a positive answer. All my worries melted away, replaced with a warm, fuzzy happiness as I smiled softly.
“Ah, but I’ll have to eat dinner separately. So let’s meet a little after class ends.”
“Sure!”
I could wait that long without any issue. After waving Ken off as he returned to class, I turned and began to rub my cheeks, thinking, “Was my face strange? …Why is it so hot…?”
Soon after relaxing from being tense in front of Ken, I recalled my awkward self and shuddered from embarrassment. Normally cold and expressionless, Mary was now a completely different person. If her followers saw her like this, they might faint.
As she touched her cheeks, she placed her hand over her chest.
Thump, thump!
Her heart raced more powerfully than usual.
‘Thank goodness….’
I had feared I might get rejected. But the thought of being able to study together in the library made all my earlier anxieties fly away. In their place, expectation and excitement settled.
Mary shyly smiled.
。
After classes ended, Mary hurried to the library.
‘I need to grab a spot first.’
Since the prize for coming in first was introduced, many students had too much motivation for studying, making the library busier than usual.
Due to that, there seemed to be fewer available spots as students crowded the large academy library.
‘So Ken’s influence is remarkable.’
Among them were quite a few boys. Of course, they weren’t trying to ask for a date with Ken. The reason they sought to come in first was due to a certain rumor.
Recently, there was a rumor circulating in the Kingdom of Lilias about a certain crafting adventurer who was none other than Ken.
The boys intended to take advantage of the privileges they would get from coming in first to have him craft their items.
‘But now, where to sit….’
Arriving in the library, Mary looked around, clutching her study materials. The place was buzzing with students who had already taken up seats, and empty spots were hard to find. Plus, she needed two seats since Ken would be joining her.
After a moment of searching, she spotted a table with exactly two empty seats.
‘…Emily is there.’
The scene revealed the determinedly studying figure of Emily. With an incredible focus, Emily was busy organizing her notes, showing how serious she was about this upcoming test.
“……”
Mary considered looking for another spot, but curiosity about her made her approach Emily.
“Emily.”
“…Huh?”
Emily turned her head toward Mary, who had been buried in concentration.
“Uh, um? Mary?”
Startled by my sudden approach, Emily flinched a bit. Typically, our encounters had mostly been confrontational.
“Can I sit next to you?”
Without a care, I asked in my usual deadpan manner.
“…I don’t mind.”
Slightly wary of this different side of Mary, Emily nodded nonetheless. Knowing that we typically glared at each other, Emily found Mary’s calm face to be strange.
With Emily’s permission, Mary sat down beside her, placing her study materials onto the desk.
“You’re really putting in a lot of effort.”
“……”
Glancing at Emily’s notes again, Mary noted the numerous memos and written notebooks everywhere. The sheer volume of her work laid bare just how serious she was about this exam.
‘…She’s serious about this.’
Emily genuinely wanted to come in first. After all, she was the one who initiated this competitive spirit by vowing to make a request once she got the top spot.
Remembering the look on Emily’s face at that time, Mary realized it resembled that of a girl in love.
“If you come in first, what do you plan to ask for?”
That question had been hanging in Mary’s mind. She had assumed that Emily would probably request a date, but now she doubted that would be the case. Furthermore, it was puzzling that Emily had caused Ken trouble previously.
“……Just.”
Holding her pen, Emily flushed and covered her mouth when she heard Mary’s question.
“I just want to have a chance to apologize.”
“A chance to apologize…?”
“Yes, …I’ve done plenty of bad things to Ken.”
Though Mary could only see her side profile avoiding eye contact, the sincerity in her demeanor was palpable.
“But why do you want to apologize all of a sudden?”
A memory floated in Mary’s mind — the sight of a girl in class declaring her affection for Ken.
“Is it perhaps because Ken has suddenly changed?”
“W-What?! N-No, not really?!”
When Mary casually asked her question, Emily became exceedingly agitated, denying it.
“Is it unrelated to how Ken looks?”
“Yes! Sure, Ken looks good now, but….”
After some hesitation, Emily glanced at Mary, who was observing her expressionless face. Although they had always been at odds, Emily understood Mary’s nature.
She knew she was a kind person.
“Ugh… well, since it’s you, I’ll be honest.”
Eventually, Emily sighed, loosening the thoughts she had been holding inside. Shortly after she began to explain,
“…Uh, then, you’re saying you troubled him because you liked him?”
“…….”
Contrary to her expectations, Mary’s reaction displayed irritation.
“I thought you were over that, Emily.”
“Y-Yeah! But I didn’t understand my own feelings either!”
Initially, it had only confused her. The person she had fallen for at first glance had suddenly changed, making her act in a manner she despised.
At first, she had bullied him out of that confusion, but over time, he grew adorably attractive.
Or perhaps she always felt that way but hadn’t realized it due to her denial.
“Anyway! …So I want to apologize now. …That’s separate from whether you’ll forgive me or not.”
“I see.”
Listening to Emily left Mary flustered, as she hadn’t anticipated this revelation.
However, hearing what she’d said pieced everything together. It made sense why Emily had clung to Ken in those teasing moments, which once frustrated Mary; the affection was rooted deep within.
“Most importantly, I can’t stand the idea of a bunch of fakes getting first place just by looking at Ken’s face.”
Emily tightened her grip around her pen.
“I mean, those guys didn’t spare him a glance when he was chubby. He was always charming, even back then…”
Seeing Emily’s anger prompted Mary to feel a sense of familiarity and warmth.
After all, she was expressing exactly what Mary had been thinking.
“Ken was cute.”
“I can totally agree with that! Honestly, now I kinda wish I could see what he was like before losing weight.”
Once Emily laid bare her honest feelings, a bond began to form as they talked effortlessly.
Though they had never really had solid conversations before, talking about Ken allowed them to feel a connection.
Somehow, they both felt like they understood the other on a deeper level.
‘…Hmm? This sensation, where have I….’
In that moment, Mary experienced a sensation similar to the dizziness she had felt in the hallway just a while ago.
It felt like she’d gone through something similar before, evoking a deja vu, only it was stronger.
‘What’s going on…?’
Interestingly enough, Emily shared that same sentiment.
。
After school, I hurried back to Raphne’s Tower.
I was headed there for our usual dinner.
‘But I never expected Mary would invite me first.’
Many other girls had recently approached me, suggesting we study together during the exam period.
I initially intended to refuse, but then Mary appeared out of nowhere and pulled me away.
Even if it was an unexpected move,
‘But I think having Mary’s help will definitely benefit me, right?’
If we help each other study, it will surely yield good results for this test. Plus, studying with someone easygoing and familiar is much better.
I always felt some reluctance to be with the other girls in class since we hadn’t properly conversed before.
“I’m back! Raphne, I’m here, did you wait for me?”
While mentally organizing the subjects we were going to study today, I opened the door to the room at the top of the tower.
As the door swung open, I was greeted by a familiar sight.
Raphne stood by the window, turning her back to me.
‘…Is she receiving something?’
Raphne standing by the window usually meant one thing: she was awaiting an item delivered by a summoned servant.
And now, she didn’t even react when I arrived… What on earth?
Typically, Raphne would run up to me and hug me as soon as I entered.
“Raphne, …what are you doing?”
I walked over to her, drawn by curiosity.
I wanted to see what she was gazing at.
As I approached her, glancing over her shoulder, I noticed something very familiar that made my eyes widen.
“…Ken.”
As I drew near, Raphne quietly called out to me.
Her voice startled me for a moment.
“……What is this Wish Right…?”
When she turned to face me, her empty gaze and the gentle smile that rose to greet me sent a shiver down my spine.
In her hand, she held something that looked just like the one on the academy bulletin board.
Thanks for update