In the vibrant atmosphere of the academy, I stretch my body. The practical exam is finally over, and today, with the last written exam, we students will embark on our vacation.
After a disastrous defeat at the Competition of Pales Academy and all the struggles of preparing for exams, everything regarding scores is already behind me.
Students from Aios Academy cheer and greet each other as they start to prepare to leave.
“Haah, going back again, huh?”
However, it’s only natural that some people aren’t exactly thrilled about the vacation, and that person is me.
It’s not that I dislike the academy, but the thought of returning home and what future awaits me is already weighing down my steps.
It’s not that I hate it.
Being a guy, I can’t completely say I dislike it. Estimating, there are at least five women waiting for me.
Honestly, I don’t need to fold all ten fingers, it’s just enough to keep my body intact.
“I should suggest some welfare.”
One person a day.
I think it’s better to say something now, or else I’ll really be worried about randomly getting picked one day.
Especially since last time, I excluded Sen, but now that she’ll be included, it’ll be tougher.
“I don’t even know what to say to Sister Diana.”
My sister, who works at the Dragon’s Boundary, will probably return in time for my vacation, but I certainly can’t show her that kind of scene all day at home.
“Haah, but I have to go.”
Since Eris is pregnant, I need to take care of her too. At least, I feel a bit relieved that Rin and Eris won’t team up against me.
Dealing with both of them together was exhausting.
If I knock one down, it felt like the other would be resurrected, a never-ending cycle that would continue until the world ends.
I could accidentally end up meeting the Goddess of Death at this rate.
The classroom feels empty as most students have already left.
Even though it’s a place I’ll come back to after the vacation ends, I strangely feel a sense of loss.
Huh?
Feeling an unexpected emotion, I momentarily close my mouth and look around.
Regardless of everything else, simply counting my time here, it’s been about a year and a half.
Considering the number and scale of incidents that happened, it’s surprising how short that time felt, causing a smile to escape me.
Feeling the warm sunlight streaming in from the window enveloping my body, I suddenly felt like it was finally time to rest.
“How curious.”
It’s not after protecting the continent from all the apocalypses.
It’s not after saying goodbye to the Goddess of Death in the Spirit Realm and resurrecting back onto the continent.
Strangely enough, as summer vacation at the academy starts now, I feel like everything is over, and I’ve reached a time where I can comfortably relax.
Becoming introspective, I slowly walk outside.
Truthfully, the classroom doesn’t hold many memories, but I feel a strange longing for its special scent.
“Well, it’s not the end or anything.”
With that thought, I step outside and close the door.
As I stroll down the already vacant corridor, a reddish-brown-haired woman with crossed arms is waiting for me at the end.
“Why are you out so late?”
Mei asks teasingly as I helplessly smile and scratch the back of my head.
“Just… I guess I got attached more than I thought.”
“Hmm?”
I laugh it off when Mei asks what I mean.
Naturally, she stands next to me and we start walking together.
“Are you going back too?”
I asked because, of course, she would come to my house, but she dramatically sighs with an annoyed expression.
“Unlike students, the professors still have work to do.”
“You’re not a professor, though.”
“I’m the assistant. The Dean still has a lot to do, so I have to help. It’ll take at least three days.”
“I see.”
I was about to say that I had to leave first, but Mei slyly entwines her arms in a tempting manner.
“In that sense, how about we set off together? We could stay in my room for three days.”
Despite her blatant suggestion, I gently loosen my arms and respond.
“The kids are waiting for me. They’ve probably already calculated when I’m coming.”
Riding in the carriage takes a bit of time, and while Adriana offered to warp me, I declined.
I wanted to enjoy this time a little leisurely while riding in the carriage.
“Tch, what a pity. I guess it can’t be helped.”
Surprisingly, Mei takes it rather coolly, glancing around before blowing a kiss.
“Hehe, see you! I’ll meet you at home later.”
Watching her joke around and run down the corridor, I can’t help but smile at the memories of her as a delinquent student back in the academy.
So emotional.
I don’t know why I feel this way, but anyway.
I slap my cheeks and head to the dormitory. Unlike the main building of the academy, the dorm is still noisy and chaotic.
Everyone is saying goodbye to friends, promising to meet again after vacation, and sorting through their belongings to share or discard unnecessary items.
Since I had already packed yesterday, I throw my backpack over my shoulder and head out. It feels light in my hands, thanks to not having too much luggage.
“Hello!”
“See you! Until next time!”
“Yay! It’s vacation!”
Hearing students shout from all directions, I weave through the crowd heading outside.
It’s always a scene you can see when vacation arrives, but today felt particularly extraordinary.
At the academy entrance, people line up to meet their children, with nobles’ carriages waiting nearby.
Naturally, I had nothing like that, so I bought a carriage ticket for a trip departing in 30 minutes.
“Huh?”
Among the crowd, a woman standing alone, shining like a light. A striking beauty with black hair whom I had met just the other day in a dream.
Rin, in a white dress, gracefully smiles and waves at me.
Seeing her, I can’t help but smile back. Just earlier, I was wondering how I would endure Rin’s intense displays of affection when I returned home.
But seeing her face like this filled me with joy.
There’s no feeling of burden; instead, I strongly hug her.
“I didn’t expect you to be this happy to see me.”
As I embrace her without a care for the people around, Rin joyfully wraps her arms around my back.
After our brief hug, we lock eyes. Love drips from her gaze.
“If you were going to come greet me, you should have told me in advance.”
“Then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
The way she giggles reminds me of the little country girl she used to be, causing me to tightly grasp her hand again.
It surprisingly felt nice, and Rin naturally held my hand back.
“I guess that means we have to cancel the carriage. We’re warping back, right?”
Seeing Rin like this made warping back seem enticing, but then she pulls out a piece of paper from her pocket.
A carriage ticket for the same time as mine.
“I bought it in advance, thinking you’d probably want to leave right away.”
“……”
I didn’t expect her to read me this well, but it doesn’t really matter.
She’s quite the wise woman.
“A carriage date wouldn’t be too bad, right? We can hold hands the whole time.”
“The other passengers will stare.”
“So what?”
Rin says, brushing off the gazes of others. It feels a bit reckless, but…
Well, why should we care about other people’s stares?
“Alright, let’s do it.”
“Maybe it’s been so long since we met in reality that Daniel has become so kind.”
She smirks, linking her arm with mine.
Her cheerful smile wraps around my heart, reminding me why she was my first love back when she was just a little girl.
Thinking back, I remember how much she has endured and experienced.
In the zero cycle, she awakened as the earliest apocalypse and ended up annihilating the continent.
In the first cycle, she survived until the end and became the survivor of the next cycle.
In the second cycle, to save me, she tearfully reset the entire continent, killing everyone herself.
Only in the end, seeing her smile, I felt a lightness in my heart.
“Since we still have a bit of time left, shall we grab some bread?”
I suggest, and Rin beams back with delight.
As we walk toward a nearby bakery, Rin whispers to me.
“Bread? I’m not too full yet, so it should be fine, right?”
“…..Huh?”
Wondering what she meant, I look at Rin, and she sheepishly caresses her belly.
“I haven’t greeted Dad yet?!”
With a laugh, Rin shares her pregnancy news, and I swallow hard, waving at her belly.
“……Hello.”
– The End –
