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Having finished my business in Defel, I returned to the Academy the very next day.

During the semester, there wouldn’t be much reason to leave the Academy, so I probably won’t visit Defel for half a year. If she has the ability to run a general store underground, she could certainly investigate Frentz in detail over that span of time.

The Academy felt incredibly deserted upon my return, making it an easy environment to become lazy.

Since there was no need to attend classes, I could sleep in as much as I wanted. My friends, who usually accompanied me, were back home now, so if I wanted, I could just hibernate in my room all day and even read novels late into the night without a dormitory supervisor around.

I didn’t even need to pretend to be a proper young lady as per usual. The few people remaining in the dorm were barely acquaintances anyway.

However, sometimes I would catch myself acting like a noble lady without even realizing it, causing me to flinch and chuckle.

Yet, I still made an effort to maintain at least a minimum standard of behavior.

Though it was a short time, my visit to my friends’ homes had been quite helpful. Even now, reminiscing about those moments gave me a sense of gradually improving in my swordsmanship.

Thus, no matter how late I got up, how much I hibernated in my room, or how much I procrastinated at night, I never skipped my daily training.

While it might be unreasonable to surpass Selian right away, at the very least, I should try to catch up to her once before graduation.

And besides training, there was something else I never missed.

It was the part-time job assisting Frecia with her magic research.

Even if it was called magic research, recently Frecia seemed to have lost interest in conducting experiments on me, as I hadn’t been used as a test subject nearly as much as before.

I would only occasionally receive a call from Frecia to go to Magic Building 707 to enjoy some tea and chat about various things.

Having spent a few weeks living a bit lazily while still striving to live with some effort during summer break, students began to trickle back to the dormitory one by one.

*

“Long time no see, Sel!”

“Yeah, I was really looking forward to seeing you!”

Selian arrived punctually, without delays from her previous letter.

As soon as she stepped off the carriage, she rushed to embrace me.

Seeing her so warmly hug me after a long time was surprising, but considering the distance she had with me before, it’s no longer surprising.

After a few pats on the back, we finally released the embrace, allowing me to see her face up close.

“Hmm? You have some pretty dark circles under your eyes!”

This wasn’t just from being tired for a day or two. From my experience as an assassin, those could only appear after at least a week of improper sleep.

“Did you spend your entire vacation reading novels until late at night?”

“U-uh, yeah. I just couldn’t help it during the break…”

Who would have thought that the model Selian would look like this? Our relationship is still less than half a year, so it’s sometimes surprising to see these new sides.

“Still, if you read to the point where you have dark circles like that, it must have been really interesting. Can I borrow it after you finish reading?”

“Of course! I’ll pick the best one for you, so just wait a moment.”

“No, there’s no need to choose. If you’re reading it right now, that’s good enough for me…”

“Ah, right. Yeah. I’ll lend it to you as soon as I finish.”

“Thanks! But you should try to get some more sleep.”

Honestly, even with her dark circles, her beauty shone through, revealing another charm.

But having habits that ruin health isn’t good.

“Haha… I never imagined I’d be giving you advice like this, Sel.”

While it was Selian’s problem with staying up late, I was the one with the issue of being too lazy, but let’s keep that a secret.

“Don’t worry. I should be able to sleep well starting today.”

It seems she nearly finished her book. She would probably lend it to me soon.

*

With Selian back in the dorm, the registration and revision period for the second semester was drawing to a close.

I had offered to help her with unpacking, but she energetically refused, so I took over a table in the dormitory lounge and fell into contemplation.

I was still wavering between a double room or a quadruple room, each having its pros and cons.

If I had to lean slightly towards one, it would likely be the quadruple room.

After all, regarding my secret, I could be careful, and the double room was just as risky as the quadruple room in the end.

Thus, I figured the quadruple room, which would save me some money, might be the better choice.

“What are you doing over here?”

I had been deep in thought for a while when Selian came down to inquire.

“I’m filling out the application for the second semester.”

I waved the paper gently.

“I might not have much freedom in the second semester, so I was thinking of moving to either a double or quadruple room. I’m leaning towards the quadruple room for now…”

“Well, that’s great!”

“Uh?”

I jumped a little at Selian’s loud voice, but she smiled brightly and explained what was great about it.

“It turns out my butler mistakenly applied for a double room for me on the 2nd semester application!”

“Isn’t it just a matter of asking them to rectify it since it’s still the revision period?”

Most students who use single rooms are typically wealthy, so the Academy promptly addresses such matters.

Even within the Academy, money exchanges prevent them from neglecting their VIP clients.

It isn’t a special treatment, but it’s certainly something done with a bit more effort.

“True, but I wouldn’t want to bother them…”

“But sharing a double room with a stranger would be uncomfortable…”

“So, would you like to share a double room with me?”

Before I could finish my sentence, Selian had interjected.

If I could share a double room with Selian, I would have far fewer things to worry about than living with a complete stranger.

Besides, we’ve already shared a room before, so the pressure wouldn’t be too much.

“But we can’t just apply for the members of a multi-person room based on our whims…”

“I checked the rules, and apparently it’s possible. Many students apply that way in the second semester.”

Although she mistakenly applied for a double room this time, Selian usually stays in a single room, so it seems strange she would even check the regulations for a multi-person room.

Do model students really have to know these things?

“Hmm… Really? I’m fine with it, but are you really okay, Sel…”

“Of course! Now, shall we go apply right away?”

Perhaps because we hadn’t seen each other in a while, Selian seemed particularly excited today.

She picked up my application from the table with one hand and grabbed my hand with the other, pulling me along.

Since I wouldn’t do much just sitting there debating between a double or quadruple room, following along to let someone else decide isn’t a bad option.

With Selian leading me by the hand, I half-forced myself to make my way to the Academy office.

*

On the last day of the application and revision period, Anne and Yuli returned to the Academy after the vacation was fully squeezed out.

After quickly helping the two settle their belongings, we gathered around a café table outside the Academy where the four of us usually frequented, sipping on our drinks.

“We’ve officially reached the end of our vacation.”

“Yeah… Ugh… We have to start that dreadful studying again…”

Anne seemed tormented already, clutching her head and groaning.

But Anne, you’ve never studied that hard anyway.

Of course, I restrained myself from voicing that thought. Even if it’s true, there’s no need to say it out loud.

“Oh, right. Speaking of which, I should have done some packing while you two were unpacking.”

Suddenly realizing it, now that the application period is over, I’d have to move to the double room with Selian.

Though it wouldn’t take long since I don’t have too much stuff, it’s still better to do it when I remember.

However, upon my mention, Yuli raised her eyebrow in confusion.

“Packing? What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, right. I haven’t told you two yet. Actually, I’m moving to a double room with Selian for the second semester…”

“Wow! This coffee is really delicious. Here, El, you should try it too.”

“Huh? I ordered the same thing as Selian… Ugh!”

I knew for sure that Selian ordered the same drink, but perhaps she had forgotten and forcefully made me drink from her straw.

After a sip, it was indeed the same coffee I had been drinking moments ago.

“Selian? I’d like to hear more about that…”

“Well, um… Haha…”

Meanwhile, Yuli seemed fixated on grilling Selian while Anne appeared uninterested, staring at the straw in my mouth.

“Hey, Anne, do you want to try it?”

I pulled the straw away and offered it to her.

Even though it was Selian’s coffee, one sip wouldn’t hurt.

“Ah! Th-that’s…”

“Oh, you don’t have to feel forced to drink it.”

Seeing Anne hesitate made me retract the drink, but to my surprise, her small frame leaned over the table, grabbing my hand.

“No! I’ll drink it!”

Even though I was just pulling it away, her reaction made it awkwardly overblown as if I was robbing her.

Plus, since Anne was small, it felt like I was stealing from a little sister, which tugged at my conscience.

Taking the drink from me, Anne took a deep breath before slowly taking a sip through the straw.

“Selian? You can’t cut in line like that next time, okay?”

“Y-yes…”

Turning sideways, I saw Selian, oddly enough, sulking as if being scolded by Yuli.

What had they discussed while Anne and I were talking? I vaguely remembered something about dormitory matters.

“Wait a second… Until what time was the dormitory revision submission?”

“I believe it’s until 5 PM when the staff leaves…”

Before I could finish my sentence, Yuli shot up from her seat. Her eyes darted to the clock hanging on the café wall.

4:30 PM.

“Ah, are you perhaps, like Selian, making a mistake and applying for a double room? It’ll take about 20 minutes to get back to the dorm, so we should hurry…”

“Sel! And take Anne with you, hurry up!”

With a surprisingly commanding voice for her shy demeanor, Yuli issued half an order to Selian.

Without knowing what was happening, I found myself led by Yuli as we began to run, and Anne, seemingly enamored with the coffee she was drinking, had been drawn along by Selian behind me.

Despite missing my coffee, Anne still had the straw in her mouth.

*

“Yes, your application has been received. I’ve registered all four of you for the same room in a quadruple room.”

Not quite knowing how everything passed, I came to my senses to realize Selian, Yuli, Anne, and I had successfully applied for the quadruple room.

“Gasp, gasp…”

Having run for a while, the least trained Yuli was catching her breath, Selian was still sulking, and Anne, for some reason, was still sucking on her straw.

Oh well, I don’t know. I’m sure it’ll all work out somehow.

*

“Is there an Elysia Frentz among the first-year students in the Swordsmanship Department?”

Frecia asked the administrative assistant in the department office. Being a professor in the Magic Department, Frecia had her assistant there as well.

Thus, after a moment of searching through the lists of other departments, the assistant was able to find Elysia’s name.

“Yes, she is in Class 1 of the Swordsmanship Department. How can I assist you?”

At the assistant’s words, Frecia recalled the incident from two days prior in Elysia’s room.

“Meow. Starting tomorrow, I won’t be here anymore. I’m sharing a quadruple room with a friend.”

As expected, when I visited Elysia’s room last night, it was occupied by another student.

From Elysia’s lamenting meowing, it seemed like financial reasons were at the root of the issue.

“Can I provide that student with a single room based on my discretion? Just say it’s a scholarship.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. The scholarship program within the school is already full…”

“I don’t mind taking it out of my salary.”

As someone who doesn’t indulge in luxury, Frecia wouldn’t mind the burden of a single room accommodation fee.

If she could secure Elysia’s single room by using a bit of her excess funds, that would be no trouble at all.

“Just a moment, please.”

However, Frecia’s hope soon fell flat.

“Oh, the revision period has already ended. It seems impossible to transfer dormitories. You may need to look for another option.”

That night, a heart-wrenching sound of a cat’s lament echoed from outside the quadruple room where Elysia stayed.