I asked Andy-senpai if he was dating Joan-senpai, but he skillfully dodged the question without giving me a clear answer, so I decided to head home.
Once I got home and settled in my room to relax, I started hearing noises from the neighboring room. It seemed that Toko, who had been outside of town with Ilmera and the others, had returned as well.
Deciding to read some manga until dinner, I reached out for a comic from the shelf when, all of a sudden, the door swung open.
“Knock next time!”
I said that as Toko proceeded to gently knock on the already open door.
“I need to talk to you,” she said.
“This is the most meaningless knock in the world… What is it? Did you get into a fight or something? Besides, I don’t even know how to mediate girl fights anyway,” I replied.
“No worries, I’m not even sure you could mediate fights even if they weren’t girls’… And no, we didn’t fight.”
“So, what is it?”
“Today, we went to the lake since early morning. Four of us ventured pretty deep into the forest but there was nothing but wolves.”
“Ah, I see…”
“So, what’s the deal?”
“You’re getting special treatment!”
“Are you still a kid? That’s just how nature works. Don’t blame me for what happened – you know, for your own bad karma or whatever,” I said.
“Even Ilmera and Yui said you guys got lucky,” Toko persisted.
“Stop blaming me like that. It’s clearly your bad behavior catching up with you,” I said.
“I’m fine.”
“You know, you have high magic levels, right? I heard monsters are attracted to those with strong magic…”
“Really?”
That sounds like both a relief and a bother at the same time…
“Nah, Noel said so. It’s more like a folklore though.”
That’s probably just Noel’s way of being nice…
“What? Are you asking me if I want to go to the lake with you now? We could go together, just like in kindergarten – holding hands,” I teased her.
“Not a chance! It’s couple season at this time! The absolute worst!” she replied.
“Alright, so what do you suggest? For your information, I’ll be going to the lake next Sunday.”
“Really? Are Frank and Cedric coming too?”
“No, it’s Sharl. We’re going to gather herbs.”
“Probably Chloe as well?”
“Yeah, that’s her usual group… Are you saying you guys are on dates both today and next week?” Toko questioned.
“Today was a date, but I’m not sure about next week… I think some maids will come too.”
“You’re right. Maids wouldn’t leave their master alone in a dark forest where wolves could show up.”
“Which wolves are you talking about? And besides, you said it yourself – master, me. Got it.”
“Anyway, don’t go on Sunday. Go on Saturday!”
“Saturday, though, is when Ilmera can’t go because her detection magic is needed.”
“Can’t you or Noel use it?”
“No, we haven’t learned it.”
“Is that so? I thought it was common magic since Cedric and Frank could use it,” I said.
“Understood, understood. If we get money from bear pelts, I’ll share,” I finally agreed.
“So it’s all about the money, huh…” Toko muttered.
“Yay! Brother, you’re the best!”
“See? I told you.”
“I don’t know what we can buy with that money… Maybe some manga?”
She was such a free spirit…
Toko, now in a great mood, picked out a manga from the bookshelf and began reading it right there. I, on the other hand, simply lay down on the bed, ignoring her usual antics, and decided to read my own manga. Meanwhile, my phone started ringing.
“Phone,” Toko indicated with her finger pointed at the phone charging on the bedside table.
“Throw it here.”
“It’s the president calling… Probably just an after-date chat. Here,” she said, tapping the screen. The ringing stopped.
“Hello?” Sharl’s voice came through the phone.
“Hey, what’s up?” I asked, getting up from the bed and walking toward the phone.
“Uh, sorry about that before…” Sharl said.
“Leaving in such a rush?” I asked, already knowing what she meant.
“Yeah, that’s it…”
Of course, Toko, if you’re misunderstanding something about what happened here, I swear, it’s not what it looks like.
“Is it because Joan-senpai is D-class?”
“Yeah… oh no, I probably shouldn’t have said that,” Sharl panicked.
“Nah, Sharl has her own position to consider. I don’t mind, so it’s fine, okay?”
“Still, I feel sorry that I ended things on awkward terms…”
It’s too late to worry about that now, really…
“…And you must have one more apology to make,” a voice chimed in.
Oh, there’s something else?…
“Ah, also, I visited the magic shop, but it was boring, wasn’t it? Sorry about that…” Sharl said.
“But it wasn’t boring at all. I already said I liked everything because it was new and exciting,” I replied.
Huh, I didn’t entirely understand what Sharl was saying…
“Right?”
“Yeah, yeah. Plus, you seemed to have fun too, so it was a good day,” I tried to reassure her.
“…Tsukasa-sama, you’re definitely a good person. Normally, people wouldn’t go to such places on a date,” another voice commented.
“Chloe, you’re interrupting…” I complained.
“…Big Brother, you should invite her out again. Now would be the perfect time – she can’t possibly say no,” Toko chimed in.
“You’re interrupting too!” I whispered.
“Is Toko there?” Sharl’s voice asked.
“No, she’s not,” Toko mockingly answered.
“I can hear you. What are you doing?” Sharl countered.
“Reading manga,” Toko replied.
Are you reading manga to avoid leaving this room?…
“You two really do get along,” commented Sharl.
“One, two…”
“Absolutely not. If anything, we barely get along,” we both said in unison.
“Perfect timing!”
“…Didn’t I tell you not to match each other perfectly like that? It’s clearly deliberate,” Sharl accused.
“Twins’ speciality…”
I thought Sharl told us not to synchronize intentionally…
“President, how’s the caramel macchiato flavor coming along? If it’s too hard, you don’t have to push yourself,” I said.
“Ah, you twins always find a way to provoke me…” Sharl muttered.
“I’m not provoking her,” I said.
“Sharl, Toko has a poor word choice and limited vocabulary,” I explained.
“No, I have rich word choice. You’re just dumb,” Toko countered.
“Shut up!”
“Hey, don’t fight over the phone! The caramel macchiato flavor should be ready soon, I think. I got a hint today at the magic shop,” Sharl said.
What kind of strange market did Sharl visit to discover a caramel macchiato hint? Frogs or desiccated animal parts? Is this really okay?
“President, you’re amazing! I can’t wait!” Toko cheered.
“Hmph… just wait and see,” Sharl teased.
If we had this conversation at the academy, it would definitely entertain others, but it’s not going to happen.
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