“Ugh… I’m back again… to the Academy.”
I nodded at Evan’s words.
It truly felt like I had returned.
Seeing other students gradually returning to the Academy confirmed it.
What seemed like it would be a long vacation had passed in what felt like no time at all.
They say time flies when you’re having fun, and it really feels like time has flown strangely fast just by fooling around here.
It’s as if I’ve unwittingly become a cleric in my heart, feeling a bizarre sense of guilt.
If I feel guilty just for sitting around and playing, it seems I’ve been living quite a busy life.
‘It’s going to get busy again soon…’
I can’t believe the vacation is ending this quickly…
How long had it been since I had a proper break? Before I could even enjoy the sweetness of it, I have to return to the Academy.
The time spent was the same, but the quality was different.
Of course, if you were to ask me if I hated those days when I was out saving people day in and day out, I would say no.
If anything, it was enjoyable…
Considering that it was something I needed to do, I want to give myself full marks for enjoying what had to be done.
“Speaking of which, the first years will have their entrance ceremony now.”
Stella’s words take me back to that time.
Back to when I first had the entrance ceremony… Actually, I had never been able to attend the entrance ceremony.
I had deliberately gotten involved in a fight using magic and had asked a professor for permission to go capture a demon while under a probationary period.
I wonder what I was thinking to go alone back then.
‘Looking back now, it seems like a crazy thing to do…’
Was it because I had faced high-level demons several times before?
At that time, Evan was weak enough to struggle even to sever a high-level demon’s limb, but now he has grown strong enough to take down such demons in an instant.
It was regrettable that I couldn’t see it with my own eyes each time.
Even though I couldn’t see it through divine power detection.
‘I was passed out every time.’
Most of the time, I was lost in sheer ecstasy.
Hmm, thinking back now, I really did some crazy things.
It’s fortunate everything went well; there were plenty of times it could have gone terribly wrong.
Thinking that I’ve spent a tough year and am now in the second year…
“[It feels… quite emotional.]”
Truly.
“Didn’t you say that last time too?”
Oh.
“[Did I?]”
I replied to Stella with a flustered expression.
But is it not something one can say?
After all, I’m watching my favorite characters grow, and if that doesn’t bring joy, it would be rather strange.
Well… even though I’m watching them grow, it’s not like I see them with my own eyes; I can only get a rough outline through divine power detection.
I long ago gave up on seeing the world with my own eyes until I catch the Demon King, so I’m currently satisfied with just that.
What can I say…
To solve an inherent disability, it seems I must wish for something.
The goddess might find it ridiculous that I’d wish for such a thing.
But I wouldn’t intend to use it as a wish.
As I ponder about wishes, Stella beside me grabbed my sleeve and shook it, calling out to me.
“Hey, Aria. That…”
“[Yes? Is something wrong?]”
“W-we’ll be in the same room, right?”
“[Ah… the same room?]”
It should be so.
If she wants, I can arrange for her to stay in the dorm as her first roommate, so there shouldn’t be any problem. When I told her not to worry, she smiled with relief and nodded her head.
Considering Stella’s personality, this reaction was understandable.
Unlike me, who is already used to being together, it must be daunting to think about living with a complete stranger for a year.
However, it seems like Stella, who initially had a “let it be” attitude about staying in the dorm, has gradually changed her mindset.
I wonder if the others felt the same way.
Hmm, maybe.
Speaking of which, since I had been living like a guest at the royal palace during the entire winter vacation, I was starting to crave simple homemade meals.
The Academy’s food isn’t as good as what I had in the Empire—it’s all very upscale and greasy, so I was beginning to yearn for something more simplistic.
Most importantly…
‘I want to eat…’
Even a simple meal in the Empire felt like Western cuisine compared to where I lived, so it wasn’t easy to enjoy it.
It’s only because my body has transformed and I’ve gotten used to this world that I could eat those types of foods comfortably. If you ask if I like them, I can confidently say no.
“[Since I’m here, should I cook something for you after a long time?]”
“…!!”
Stella’s eyes widened at my words.
Then she nodded eagerly.
What?
I just mentioned it casually because I wanted to eat Eastern food, yet her reaction was more intense than I expected.
Is there a reason to react that much…?
“[Uh… I don’t think I’m particularly good at cooking…]”
It’s not too hard to measure with divine power detection, but not being able to see or hear or distinguish colors makes cooking quite difficult.
What I manage to cook is done with the few remaining senses I have, but to say I’m good at it would be a stretch.
However…
“But… I want to eat.”
Stella dismissed those reasons, saying she just wanted to eat.
It had become her favorite dish since it was something we had eaten when we first met.
‘Uh… hmm…’
If she goes that far, it would be hard to refuse…
There’s both the feeling of not wanting to refuse and the feeling that denying it would be difficult.
Well, if I make it, it shouldn’t be a big problem…
After all, a friend wants to eat, so I should make it for her.
“[I’ll make it for you when we get back to the dorm.]”
“Oh! Thank you, Aria!”
I should be grateful…
Even if it looks like this, I’m making an effort to cook with a disability~
Of course, I was just joking when I thought that, and I didn’t genuinely mean it that way.
If I told Stella this, she’d probably have a rough time for a while, so I didn’t mention it.
I just kept it to myself.
However…
“That’s unfair, Stella! You’re the only one eating the dish Aria makes!”
“Huh? Wait a minute, that’s…”
“Hey, Aria! Can I go with you to eat too?”
Her bright smile left me speechless.
Usually, we would first consider whether she could even cook, but seeing her act so casually made me think I might be overthinking this.
‘Well… that’s Uriel for you.’
She had always had this personality, so I shouldn’t find it surprising now.
More importantly, if I was going to back out because of that reason, I wouldn’t have suggested cooking for Stella in the first place.
“Uh… that…”
In contrast to Uriel, who had already declared she was hungry, Evan wore an expression full of complex feelings, considering whether to say this or not.
If I didn’t invite him over, he’d probably think about it all day long, right?
It’s probably not just a feeling, so I should let him know.
“[Evan can come too.]”
“C-can I really come? Really?”
What is he asking something so obvious for?
I don’t discriminate against friends like that.
I have no idea why everyone is so eager to eat what I cook, but if they want it, I should oblige.
After all, it just means I’ll be making a little more.
Even so, it still feels embarrassing.
Ah, but I should give a warning in advance.
“[By the way… as you all know, proper measuring might be a bit challenging. I might go easy on the seasoning, so if you find it lacking, please let me know.]”
At my words, the two of them widened their eyes.
Uriel nodded in response, saying she would let me know if it lacked flavor, smiling, but Stella and Evan stopped talking and froze in place.
‘Huh?’
What’s with them?
That question lingered for just a moment,
“I’m sorry… Aria…”
“Uh, I’m sorry…”
“…”
Unlike Uriel, the two of them were quite perceptive.
I never thought they would notice the Taltula aspect that I myself hadn’t even realized, so all I could do was smile awkwardly and pass it off as if it were nothing.
I thought it was just a joke, so why am I the one apologizing?
They say that those who know you best are the ones who are more sensitive.
I wish they had reacted like Uriel instead.
Ugh, really.
