“El! I want to buy something, let’s go out to the street together!”
It was the first weekend in a while, and as always, the cheerful voice of Anne filled the room.
“Should we? I have nothing to do anyway, so I might as well go out.”
“Yes! I’ve already prepared everything, so let me know when you’re ready!”
I wondered if that was the reason she was diligently bathing and picking out clothes earlier.
It was unusual for Anne to wake up early in the morning and get ready to go out on a weekend.
But if that was the case, she could’ve at least told me in advance.
“By the way, aren’t Selian and Yuli going with us?”
“Haha… I have something else to do…”
“I also have something to attend to, so I’ll have to pass. Take your time and enjoy yourselves.”
Normally, Anne would have suggested it to Selian and Yuli first, but since they stayed quiet, I asked them and it seemed they both had separate matters to attend to.
“Really? Should I buy something on the way back?”
“No, it’s fine. You can just come back.”
“Hmm… Alright.”
I thought about picking up a cake or something on the way back, but they didn’t seem particularly interested.
I left Anne, who was sitting on the bed swinging her feet while waiting for me, and headed to the bathroom.
Every morning when I wash up, I feel that TS magic is really amazing.
Even if I wash roughly, cleanliness is maintained. If only it could erase the symptoms of gender reversal, I imagine TS Mages would be sitting on a mountain of money.
All the nobles and women would have thrown money at him just to receive his magic.
Putting aside unnecessary thoughts, I rubbed my eyes, which had no crust at all, and washed my face.
Even when I was a man, I washed up roughly, but now I do it even more carelessly, and yet, magic is indeed great.
The only thing I did was apply a small amount of lotion that didn’t even need to be used, and my preparations to go out were complete.
Looking in the mirror, I saw a face that one couldn’t imagine had just woken up.
“It’s definitely El!”
When I opened the bathroom door, Anne got up from the bed, saying as if it was familiar.
At first, Yuli and Anne were almost horrified when they saw me wash up, but now both of them seem accustomed to it.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes!”
“Then we’ll be off. See you later!”
As I left the room with Anne, I greeted Yuli and Selian.
“Okay, have fun!”
“Since it’s rare for you and Anne to go out together, take your time and enjoy yourselves.”
Leaving Selian and Yuli behind in the room, Anne and I set out into the city.
The streets that I hadn’t been to in a long time were just as they always had been.
I saw the lady haggling for prices, the blacksmith sweating while sharpening a sword with a whetstone, and children running by laughing – the usual sights of the street.
“Hey… El, is there anything you like?”
While walking side by side through the everyday scenery, Anne suddenly asked me.
“Well? I like delicious food, I like reading novels, and if I had to say, I like swinging a sword too… I like various things, I guess.”
It’s definitely better than before.
Back then, even having likes and dislikes was a luxury.
I remember that the only thing I liked in that bleak environment was the cheap meat we occasionally received as rations.
Even back then, I only knew how to eat. I’m glad I didn’t turn into a pig.
“Hmm… I always go out for delicious food; Selian knows about novels well; I train together with you already…”
“And the one we can’t forget… is our Anne!”
I wrapped my arms around Anne, who was lost in thought.
Hmm… every time I do this, I feel like I’m just hugging a large doll because Anne is so small.
Anne often comes to hug me first, and when I hug her first, she gets shy about it, which I find really cute.
“But where are we going?”
After letting her go, I asked the still-silent Anne, who shook her head and finally spoke.
“Huh? I was just following El…”
“I was following Anne…”
Both of us tilted our heads in confusion simultaneously.
No, after all, it was Anne who went out because she had something to do.
“Then… doesn’t El have a place you want to go?”
“Not particularly. I didn’t really plan to go out today anyway.”
“Hmm… that won’t do…”
“What was that thing you mentioned earlier? Can’t we just go straight there?”
I guess the habit of being lazy during the break hasn’t completely faded yet, and if I don’t have anything to do, I only feel like finishing whatever task there is and going back to rest.
However, it seems our Anne has no intention of letting me go easily.
“No way! I have to wait until lunch…”
“When I saw you preparing early this morning, I thought it was urgent… should we just go to a cafe to pass the time?”
“Yes! Let’s hurry!”
“Should we head back to the dormitory now?”
“What about your task? You said you had something to do at lunch?”
“Hehe… thinking back, I don’t think it’s today! Let’s just go back!”
Anne, who hurried me to come to the cafe, suddenly realized she had been mistaken when it was about lunchtime and apologized, but I had no intention of blaming her.
I know that if I don’t force myself to move like this, it would be hard to shake off my lazy habits, so if there’s a chance to move under some excuse, I happily welcome it.
I considered buying a slice of cake for Yuli and Selian on the way back, but remembering how they kindly declined this morning, I decided against it.
Anne seemed to be in a good mood, smiling brightly the whole way back to the dormitory.
“Is something making you happy?”
“Huh? No, nothing! Ehehe…”
Anne, unable to hold back her laughter, had a clumsy side, but her youthful looks and personality meant it wasn’t awkward at all.
“Yuli and Selian are probably still not eating lunch. Let’s hurry back before they eat!”
“Yes! Quickly, quickly! Come on!”
“Is there really a need to rush like that?”
“Hey!”
Anne, who had run ahead, noticed that I was only following her at a brisk pace and grabbed my hand to start running.
“Okay, let’s go in!”
“Huh?”
She was in a hurry to go back earlier, but when we reached the door to our room, she stepped back just a little behind me.
I thought Anne was acting strangely today as I entered the room.
“Welcome back….”
“Happy birthday!”
“Happy birthday to you!”
With the words of congratulations from the two, a small firecracker sound surprised me.
As I stood there in shock, Anne, who had stepped back, hugged my waist from behind and confirmed once again.
“Happy birthday, El!”
Right. Today was Elysia Frentz’s birthday.
I hadn’t told my friends separately, but Yuli, who had been a childhood friend, probably remembered my birthday and planned this event.
I stood there with wide eyes as if I hadn’t expected it, covering my mouth with my hands, unable to say a word.
I felt a single tear rolling down my cheek.
Selian approached and began to peel off the remnants of the firecracker stuck to my hair, speaking up.
“Today is El’s, Elysia Frentz’s birthday. Don’t forget it from now on.”
“Yeah. I won’t forget.”
“Now, now. Don’t just stand there dazed, let’s blow out the candles on the cake first!”
Anne, who had been behind me, pushed me into the room, drew the curtains, and turned off the lights.
In the dark room, only the flames of the candles stuck in the cake dimly illuminated the surroundings.
As I slowly approached and blew out the candles, my three friends clapped instead of fireworks.
“We have a birthday present, but… first, take this!”
As the curtains were lifted and the room brightened up, Yuli extended something towards me.
When I opened the small box in her hand, which was just large enough to fit in her palm, there was a ring inside.
“Tada.”
Anne held out her hand, while Yuli and Selian also raised their hands to show me.
Each of their index fingers bore a ring of the same design as the one in my hand.
I lifted my left hand and slowly slipped the ring onto my index finger, and it fit perfectly, as if it had been made for me.
“Ehehe!”
As soon as I put on the ring, Anne grabbed my left hand and started to fiddle with it playfully.
Even though I didn’t know much about such accessories, I understood the significance of matching rings like this.
They were showing me trust and friendship.
I felt immensely grateful, happy, and sorry.
*
During the night when everyone was asleep, I once again fiddled with the ring on my finger under the blanket.
The ring was fixed on my finger without shaking because of its perfect fit, and instead of the usual coldness of metal, I felt warmth.
As it remained on my finger, I couldn’t tell if that warmth was from my body heat or if it was a warmth I felt from the kindness of the girls who matched it with me.
And beyond that warmth, I felt a coolness.
For a moment, I set aside my emotions and replayed the day once more in my mind.
Was the surprised expression when I entered the room natural?
Did I cry the right amount, not too much?
Did my happy expression seem awkward?
Did I successfully deceive my friends?
Did they fall for it?
Was I mistaken?
Was I wrong?
I don’t know.
There’s no way I could forget Elysia Frentz’s birthday.
Before being deployed on the mission, I memorized her personal information so thoroughly that I could recall it even in my sleep.
Although a few months have passed, ever since I decided to truly become Elysia Frentz, I have been reflecting on everything about her so that I wouldn’t forget.
That’s why even when I went out alone with Anne this morning, even when she pulled me aside and dragged out the time, even when I was eager to return to the dormitory, even when Anne stepped back in front of the door, and even when I was startled by the firecracker sound – I already knew.
I just pretended not to know so that I could act more convincingly.
Having never received birthday wishes before, I was unfamiliar with that emotion, and even the fact that today was not even my real birthday, but rather Elysia Frentz’s birthday, was a thing I wouldn’t personally know for my whole life.
Thus, I thought I could just act as usual, but unnecessary thoughts were swirling in my head.
About the fact that I must wear a mask for the rest of my life due to their sincerity.
Having made that determination to become Elysia, I never expected my resolve to crumble so easily because of just a single ring.
Replaying today’s weakness in my mind, I hope that tomorrow I can take one more step closer to Elysia Frentz.
