Ch.34Chapter 34

Study Group.

While anyone could create one, there were more people who didn’t bother, thinking it wasn’t really necessary.

Initially, it started as an alternative for Karen who wanted to study more, but now it was becoming a group suitable for everyone.

It would give Karen, who truly wanted to study more, the opportunity to do so.

I thought that learning what to study and how to study would certainly be beneficial, and if she really wanted to do it, where else would she find such an opportunity?

For Sera, who was thinking about the Academy, it was essentially time to set goals. She could observe our Professor up close and decide whether to focus on creating originals or concentrate on magic composition research.

And since Aria said graduating from the Academy was her priority, she could get advice from the Professor about her graduation thesis.

Therefore, we decided to meet on Friday afternoon when Academy students would likely be free.

Karen said her afternoons were free anyway because of the welcome party attendees, while Sera and Aria told me they’d go along with whatever I wanted to do.

“…Um, do we really have to go like this?”

As we headed to the Professor’s research lab, something felt off about our posture.

I was squeezed between Sera and Aria, struggling to match their stride, but there was a limit. With them linking arms with me on both sides, I felt like I was being escorted somewhere against my will.

“Aria won’t give way.”

“…Sera won’t give way.”

They exchanged words suggesting the other should yield. I felt dazed, wondering if this was what they meant by small shrimp getting crushed in a whale fight.

As we stumbled down the corridor, my skirt became a critical situation.

“Uh, uhh…”

“Hmm?”

When I froze in panic, the two holding me also stopped and looked at me. With their gazes on me from both sides, I squeezed my eyes shut.

“My, my skirt is about to fall down…”

It had somehow come loose and was slipping. I barely managed to hold it up by lifting one leg, but once we started walking again, that would be the end of it, so I had no choice but to remain in an awkward posture.

As I whimpered, Sera immediately released my arm.

Aria followed suit, albeit a bit later, freeing both my hands. Without even having time to roll up my sleeves, I grabbed my skirt along with the belt.

“…Should I help you?”

“No… I’m fine.”

At Aria’s voice, I shook my head vigorously. Sera then gave me a look that said, “Should I help you?”

Since this wasn’t something I wanted anyone’s help with, I quickly turned my head away.

The one good thing was that I was no longer being half-dragged along as before. With Sera carrying my bag, I just needed to hold my skirt slightly.

When we arrived at the research lab side by side, the Professor glanced in our direction.

“Professor!”

As I waved my hand and revealed myself from between them, the Professor stood up and approached.

“You’re back? Sera and Aria, right?”

“Yes, hello.”

“Hello.”

The Professor welcomed me back by gently pulling me close and started stroking my head vigorously. I stayed still, wondering if she was trying to smooth down my disheveled hair.

I hadn’t realized it before, but whether it was because my hair was very long or because the Professor always washed my hair, whenever I felt her touch like this, I became sleepy.

If hypnosis existed, perhaps it would feel like this. I felt drowsy.

“Hwaaaahm.”

My mouth opened wide. The involuntary yawn brought tears to my eyes. After blinking several times to show my moist eyes, Sera gently touched them.

“So cute.”

“Like a cat.”

Aria added to Sera’s comment.

Opening my eyes that had naturally closed, I looked up. Sera was taller than me, the Professor was taller than Sera, and Aria was taller than the Professor. With all three being considerably taller than me, I felt surrounded by walls.

Perhaps it was because Sera was standing close, touching my face, while Aria was carefully examining the tips of my hair.

“I got your message. I think you said you’d start today, but did you contact Karen? You should look after your junior.”

“…Ah, I did.”

I raised my hand at the Professor’s words. The Professor gasped and then, as if unable to resist, began rubbing my cheeks vigorously.

“Well done. Our Ourr is doing better than her seniors!”

“Ueeeh.”

As my soft cheeks were being pressed in all directions, Sera gave a bitter smile.

“I was busy bringing Ourr…”

“If only Sera had given way…”

“No, Ourr is closer to me, you know?”

Sera’s voice flared up at Aria’s comment. The Professor burst into laughter, finding it amusing. Then, pinching my cheek lightly, she said:

“Our Ourr is quite popular.”

“I guesssh sho.”

I answered with one cheek still being held.

After lunch, the Professor returned from giving a lecture to first-year Academy students.

In the Professor’s research lab—which could rightfully be called a professor’s office—four people were seated at the large table. The Professor, who had left me with the others, quickly scanned each face.

Third-year students Sera and Aria, and first-year Karen—an unusual combination. If there was anything in common, it was probably just that they were all friends with me.

The Professor looked at me sitting blankly in the chair and smiled. Then she began writing on the glass hanging on one wall with a marker.

“…Ahem, the reason we’ve gathered here is for the study group.”

The Professor erased the friendly atmosphere from earlier and adopted a businesslike expression and voice.

“Rather than doing something serious right away, the goal is to get to know each other—what seniors and juniors are in the group—and build relationships. Getting friendly first will make it faster when teaching each other something later.”

Black lines flowed smoothly, forming letters.

“Even if we can’t all meet like this later, it would be better than being awkward when a few gather to study briefly.”

“So there’s no set time?”

“No, there should be a set time.”

The Professor shrugged at Sera’s question.

“…Friday afternoon? Since Academy students just need guidance, there’s no need to stay long, so I can come back early like this to supervise the group. The first goal of the group is also for you to manage on your own.”

Everyone nodded at that.

It seemed like the Professor would just provide direction and let the students handle the rest—simply acting as a guardian.

Karen glanced at me and then smiled broadly. Perhaps because she was so focused on studying, she seemed pleased with the situation.

After the explanation, the Professor handed out papers to each of us. I quietly took out my pen while observing the situation.

The Professor was saying something, but I wasn’t here to study with the group—I was just tagging along because my friends had gathered. So I ignored everything else and started doodling letters to practice writing.

Person? It was the most impressive word I’d heard during the Mana Circuit Advanced Application class with Sera and Aria. Since I had been a person, it was a word that resonated with me.

The nameplate I held had the word “Ourr” on it, but beyond this personal identifier, I completed a word that gave a sense of belonging.

Come to think of it, it didn’t seem to apply to me now. It was more like reminiscing about something that once applied only to me, so I shook my head right away.

I recalled what I had learned today. Tilting my head, I thought about redrawing a magic circle. Maybe I’ll try copying a fire magic circle. As I mindlessly doodled with my pen, I felt the atmosphere grow cold around me.

Startled, I looked up to find the other four staring at me.

“…Eh?”

What had they been talking about to look at me like this? As I wondered, the Professor looked at me with sympathetic eyes and stroked my head.

In the somehow sad atmosphere, I found myself being embraced by the Professor.

The words “Why are you all acting like this?” rose to my throat, but the strange atmosphere made me reluctant to break it.

“Well then, please submit your papers to me… shall we end here for today?”

“Yes.”

My expectation that things would get lively once everyone became more familiar seemed to have been wrong. The Professor collected the papers and set them aside.

“But since you’ve taken time out of your precious Friday to come here, it seems a shame to just send you away… Would you like something to eat? What do you like? Pizza?”

“…Oh, I’d like pizza!”

Sera raised her hand high. Being a third-year and the most energetic, she was the first to respond. Aria followed suit.

“Pizza is fine with me too.”

“Ah, me too…”

With Karen’s voice last, it was unanimous.

I remained quietly in the Professor’s embrace throughout.

“Pizza…”