episode_0018

On the way back to school.

We shared a ride in a large vehicle belonging to members of the Facilities Engineering Department going on a business trip to the northeast area near Central Prism Academy. They had already heard about our shared ride from Maya, so they welcomed us without saying anything.

As I boarded the vehicle, I felt a little disappointed and took one last look at the main gate of .

Even now, countless students are walking toward the train station or boarding the vehicles they came in. There were students who hugged each other out of regret and shouted to see each other again, promising to meet again.

As I looked at them, the face of one person I unfortunately could not meet came to mind.

Cool silvery white.

However, she is a girl who hides a passionate desire to win in her heart.

‘… In the end, I didn’t see Hilde’s face at all.’

Even though I thought I would definitely go see him someday. On the one hand, I felt pressured to see Hilde’s face angry at me for winning and running away. It was a subtle feeling of regret and relief at the same time.

‘… But we will definitely meet.’

When that time comes.

Be sure to apologize to Hilde.

Even if it’s you, who was destined to be the strongest, and me, who was destined to be the weakest. If we meet again after completing all our responsibilities, let’s make sure to compete.

‘You’re probably stronger.’

Maybe if we meet again someday and fight.

She will definitely defeat me.

because.

I am… Because ‘Clara’ can no longer become stronger.

“… ”

Even so.

I will do my best to win.

As much as the time I won and ran away.

Hitting her with all my might was my atonement.

but.

It wasn’t time yet.

“Now let’s go! Everyone! Please board!”

So, we sat together in the cargo hold, which was loaded with various materials and tools.

Albit was sitting right next to me and was impressed with me for having managed to arrange a vehicle heading towards .

“I was at a loss as to what to do on the way back… Thank goodness.”

“I’m glad there are kind people going this way―☆”

“He suddenly disappeared and I wondered where he had gone.”

“I have often come to in the past☆ There were people I met as if by fate―☆ How about it? Isn’t it somehow romantic to help each other? Yes―☆”

“… I see.”

For some reason, Rbit didn’t find fault with my girls’ talk like usual. All I could do was feel the wind in the cargo hold where we were sitting and quietly look ahead.

Across from the cargo bay where we were sitting side by side.

Two girls, long and short, were lying there.

Grumbling-

Kara was sleeping soundly, covered in the loose gray work coat from . And Lotta was lying down groaning with a frown on his face, as if he was motion sick.

“Ugh… ”

The sight of her struggling while twisting her big cat ears was both cute and sad. It had been a long time since my orange hair, which I had carefully combed and braided in the morning, woke up frizzy.

I laughed out loud while looking at that.

‘Maybe because the prisoners’ sense of parallelism is more sensitive than that of other students, their car sickness is much worse.’

This was a fact I didn’t know in the game.

I wouldn’t have guessed that the reason why , which is mainly attended by children of beast nobles, is serious about securing an exclusive route for the ether levitation train is so humane.

“… ”

Albit took a quick look at his classmates, looked further away, and spoke.

“Because I can see the surroundings better than when I came by train. Once again, I feel like we are living in Academy City.”

“Wow―☆ It’s been a week since I came here, but it still hasn’t felt real~? Have you already forgotten the memories you had with the cute senior from ? I’m sorry―☆ Pupupu☆”

“There were so many strange people and strange things happening that it was difficult to get used to it… .”

“Ahh—?! I guess I just looked at this cute girl and called her ‘strange’―☆”

Eight

Eight

I playfully poked Arbit’s cheek. She was still admiring the scenery of Academy City with a faint smile on her face.

The scenery passing by through the open view of the cargo hold, as if taking a trip to the countryside. The peaceful sight of the academy city caught my eye like a landscape painting.

Blue sky.

A big tree.

White buildings.

As we left the complicated , the streets became noticeably quieter. The sight somehow made me feel like I was returning from the city to my hometown.

Albit suddenly looked at the scene and muttered.

“… It was really fun.”

“Huh?”

“As my senior said, the week of school life was enjoyable. It was really fun meeting new people and new friends… ”

“… ”

“… How much more enjoyable will our school life together be in the future?”

Albert looked into my eyes.

Two eyes shining with excitement and excitement.

Just purely appreciate today and look forward to tomorrow.

It was filled with the simple happiness of a girl living in an academy city.

It’s not about saving the world or solving countless cases.

I’m just thankful for an ordinary day and meeting… Such a girl.

Albit said with confidence.

“It was a good thing I came to .”

“… ”

“Thank you, senior. For protecting all by yourself.”

“… ”

“Thank you for helping us and creating a place we can go.”

“… ”

When I heard that, I felt embarrassed for some reason.

And somewhere, a part of my heart felt cold.

All I could do was smile quietly and nod.

“… Yes!”

Albert seems embarrassed for saying such sentimental and emotional words. I turned my head forward again and was admiring the scenery of Academy City passing by.

“… ”

I finally looked at the three juniors who were all gathered together.

Albit.

Rota.

Kara.

The three juniors joined through a story that gradually became happier than the story in the game.

“… ”

The blue sky with the wind passing through my hair.

A large tree visible on the horizon and a hill slowly approaching.

On the way back to school.

Even though I knew that the story had now begun, I somehow felt that any anxiety I had had for two years was disappearing.

＊

When the sun’s height lowers slightly and the color of the sky gradually turns yellow.

We arrived at the hill village where is located.

“Then let’s go!”

“Yes―☆ Thank you for your hard work☆”

Buuu…

The vehicle that brought us left with the engine roaring.

After standing on the side of the road for a while, we gathered our belongings and started to climb the hill leading to the shopping district.

“… Phew. I’m still dizzy… ”

“Oh~!! This is where my new school life begins!! It really is a good place to embrace the will of revolution!!”

“… Just say you look poor.”

“Poverty! It seems like a peaceful village where good people live!!”

“… Ugh.”

Lotta stumbled down, still holding on to his messy hair.

Kara was impressed as she carried Lotta’s luggage for him.

Albit walked forward while quietly supporting Lotta.

I looked at him from behind and smiled happily.

‘The Peach Sisters, everyone is here.’

The three people walking boldly toward the slowly setting sunset looked as confident as the protagonists of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. I walked slowly, wanting to see more of it.

“Rota, do you still feel like throwing up?”

“Ugh… no. Be patient… Wow… ”

“Hahaha! It’s not right to hold back the things that are welling up in your heart!!”

“Ugh… My head is pounding so please shut up… ! Ugh… Wow… ”

“Rota—?!”

“Hahahahaha—!! It’s really interesting!!”

“Kara!! Please be quiet!!”

“Rbit You’re noisy too… Wow… !”

“Hahahaha!!!”

‘It’s definitely nice that all three of us are together, so it’s a bit noisy.’

The back of lovely juniors.

I walked slowly in the warm sunlight.

You can see the hill village where is located.

The scenery of the shopping district was so peaceful that the events of three days and two nights felt like a dream. As they slowly prepare to end the day, the shopping district dwarves who were looking after the store look back.

“Huh? Clara?”

“Where are you?”

Even though they knew that we were going to different schools, people who live ordinary lives are happy about ordinary reunions. As they watched our noisy return, they approached us, their short legs busily teasing us.

“Uh! It’s Clara! Miss Albit too!”

“Welcome~!! Who is the tall student next to you?”

“Hahaha! In this body, I am a friend of the people! You can say that you are a revolutionary with a red star in your heart! I came to enroll in ! Take care, comrades of dwarves!”

“A little weird… No, a special lady came, hehe.”

“Why did Ms. Lotta lower her head… Ugh?!”

“Hey, someone bring some water!!”

“Don’t look… Ueup—?!”

Dwarves panic at the sudden happening.

Albit is worried while patting Lothar on the back.

Kara raises her hands and smiles, delighted with the new encounter.

When I saw that, I realized that I had returned home.

From afar, Grandpa Hwata from the repair shop and a polite young man from the bakery also approached, waving their aprons.

“Oh, you’re back. The neighborhood was so quiet while you were away.”

“You are here. I just happened to make some bread for you all.”

I said, waving at them as they welcomed our return.

“I went there―☆ Does anyone have any motion sickness medicine―☆”

A more noisy scene than ever.

I couldn’t see it when I fell into alone.

A story from a game that now exists in a corner of faded memories.

“Here! Here’s some motion sickness medicine!”

“Well, if everyone is staring at you like that, it’s rude to Lady Lotta!”

“Guys over there! Miss, don’t embarrass me, come here!”

“Hahahaha!! It really is a friendly neighborhood!!”

“Kara… I can’t forgive you… ”

“By the way, Ms. Albit, I heard the sound of something collapsing from the school some time ago, so I took a quick look and saw that the main entrance to the main auditorium had collapsed.”

“This damn school… Well then… ”

I finally felt that the story had begun.

It’s not a story in the game, but a story that I changed little by little.

Among the countless thoughts, only one thought came to mind.

‘Because I can become stronger on my own… And I’m glad I’m back as Clara.’

Because I can greet them as an ordinary senior Clara, rather than as the [Pink Spiral] who will swallow up all the stories. And as a [Pink Spiral], I can solve problems that ordinary senior Clara cannot handle.

Ordinary happiness achieved through the intersection of the wishes of a man and a girl.

The day when all the students of that appeared in the game finally returned to their school.

I live in a strange, special world.

I was grateful for the happiness of the day that changed little by little and became better.