Meaning Unknown

It was a pleasant voice, as always, but I felt a chilling dread at Ellie’s words that she was dating Roel.

Relief and displeasure. Such conflicting emotions churned from the bottom of my heart. Feeling obligated to say something, I forced a smile, trying to act nonchalant.

,Congratulations.”

I was glad that Roel and Ellie had become lovers as in the original flow, but on the other hand, I couldn’t bring myself to add the sincere afterthought and had to swallow it. It made me feel pathetic.

Ellie hesitated, fiddling with her lips, then said in a careful voice.

,I’m grateful to you, and there’s something I want to say… Would you like to have dinner with us?”

Seeing Ellie biting her lip slightly as if pleading, her obsidian eyes shining, I stupidly couldn’t help but nod.

Now that my brother and Ellie are lovers, we’re just friends. So, I reassured myself that having dinner together was perfectly acceptable.

Pleased with my agreement, Ellie smiled prettily and told me to meet her at the academy’s main gate at 6 p.m. I stood blankly in the hallway, watching her walk away.

After Ellie disappeared, I raised my hand and slapped my cheek. I felt a little more awake. But a strange emotion had taken root in my heart.

What is this? I remembered what this emotion was called, but I couldn’t quite grasp what it was.

With a sense of emptiness, I opened the door to the clubroom. Only after seeing the clubroom, devoid of any warmth, was I able to recall the name of this emotion.

A sense of loss.

I slammed the door shut as if to deny it.

The door, which had made a loud noise, soon fell silent, as if mocking my actions.

***

It was a season with long days, and even when the appointed time arrived, the sun showed no signs of setting.

Since it was vacation, there was no need to wear a school uniform. I didn’t want to attach any significance to this dinner.

As if having dinner with a close friend, I waited for Ellie at the main gate, dressed casually in a short-sleeved white shirt.

Actually, I had been debating whether to keep my dinner appointment with Ellie. I wondered if Ellie would ever suggest eating with me again if I broke the promise with the excuse that I had forgotten about something trivial.

But before long, I realized that it was no different from running away, so I had no choice but to come out to keep the promise.

Ellie is already lovers with Roel. Whatever my instincts may be, I have to accept it. I felt like a gut feeling that this was the only way this emotion could be controlled by reason.

Not long after I leaned against the wall of the main gate, lost in thought, I heard my name called from afar. It was Ellie, wearing a light dress instead of her school uniform.

A pleasant strawberry scent wafted from Ellie as she approached. Had she put on perfume?

,Hehe, did you wait long?”

Ellie, smiling shyly, had her shoulder-length hair slightly curled inward, unlike usual, and she looked even prettier than before, as if she had put on makeup.

I forced a nonchalant, mature smile.

,No, I just got here.”

Having said that, I realized that I had no plans for dinner and asked.

,Is there anything you want to eat for dinner?”

I asked, glad that I had received money from Estelle, and Ellie grinned.

,I’ve already made a reservation at a good place. If we walk slowly, we’ll be on time for the reservation.”

At Ellie’s words, I cleared my throat for no reason and walked forward without knowing the destination.

Ellie matched my pace and said.

,Have you made any plans for how to spend the vacation?”

,I’m going to stay at the academy and receive personal instruction from Professor Lycan.”

At my answer, Ellie widened her eyes as if surprised.

,Really? That professor is famous for being strict… Are you going to keep up with Roel oppa without resting during the vacation?”

At Ellie’s words, laughing quietly, I reflexively blurted out as if pricked by a thorn.

,There’s no need to catch up with Roel.”

I wondered if my voice was a little sharp, and glanced at Ellie’s expression. Ellie, who met my eyes, smiled softly without showing any sign.

,Why~ Most of the combat department wants to surpass Roel’s record.”

Ellie’s words were true. Roel, who had been shining on his own since his freshman year, had set all sorts of records. It was only natural that such a legendary senior would become the goal of passionate juniors.

,That’s true. But not me.”

What does she think of my denial, does she think I’m still stuck in inferiority and pathetic? It might be better for each other if she was disappointed in me.

But there was no sign of disappointment in Ellie’s voice. Rather, her voice sounded cheerful.

,Are you looking at a higher place?”

,No, I’m not that relaxed.”

I once had this thought. If I showed Roel the magic book of Patulga, wouldn’t all my efforts be easily caught up with?

It was not a concern. It was an absolute setting for Roel and Ross. No matter what they did, Roel, who showed interest in it before long, would catch up.

When I thought of Roel using space magic in a more efficient and bold way than me, I felt like I was wallowing in the mud.

As I walked silently, Ellie naturally changed the subject to a light topic.

We arrived at the restaurant we had reserved, listening to the words that winged little cats are popular as companion animals these days.

*

The restaurant we visited was the kind of place that couples would choose for a dinner date. The design, befitting a high-end restaurant, had the power to create a strong atmosphere. The fact that most of the customers sitting at the surrounding tables were men and women like us added to my conviction.

,You’ve reserved a good place.”

,Yeah! I really wanted to come here. So I made a reservation.”

I wondered if she originally intended to come with Roel. I wondered if something happened to Roel and I was just filling in for him. But it was difficult to tell Ellie my guess.

Guided by a server wearing a neat uniform, we took a seat by the window.

We had a meal with sirloin steak, salad, and a little red wine.

At first, I wondered if it would be uncomfortable to talk to Ellie. I was nervous because I didn’t know how I would react if I heard about Roel.

But Ellie skillfully led the conversation during dinner. She didn’t bring up Roel, and I couldn’t help but smile at her lovely confessions of her mistakes and faults from years ago.

I only nodded to Ellie’s words, but I felt that the wariness and burden I had felt implicitly had disappeared. I couldn’t get the thought that I enjoyed talking to her out of my head.

So far so good. That was my conclusion.

Ellie found stability with Roel, and I found stability with Luna. Happy ending. We just have to live our own happy lives.

After the meal, I naturally tried to pay for the food. But while I was away for a moment, Ellie seemed to have already finished paying.

,I told you. I’m grateful to you, let me buy you dinner.”

There’s nothing to say when she says that. I scratched my head and left the restaurant with Ellie. Some time had passed, and it was now showing signs of getting dark.

Should we go back now? As I was thinking that and putting my hand in my pocket. Ellie naturally linked her arm with mine. I felt a soft touch through the thin fabric. I shrugged my shoulders without realizing it.

,There’s a newly opened cafe… How about it? Will Ross buy us coffee?”

I nodded, naturally pulling my arm away so that Ellie wouldn’t be embarrassed. I got a meal, so coffee is a matter of course.

The place Ellie guided me to was close to the place where I had come to buy clothes to go to the ball with Ellie someday.

I thought of a cafe as simply a place with tables and slightly old sofas. But the place we arrived at was a room cafe, a place that deserved the name multi-room.

For some reason, it seemed that only male and female customers like us were here as well. After a short wait, we were guided by the staff to a room marked 17.

Whether it’s because the stores in the capital have space expansion magic as standard, the interior was wide enough for several people to lie down, unlike what I saw from the outside.

Inside, there was a soft gray carpet. The Western-style interior was full of antique charm. There were windows, but judging from the fact that pretty flowers were falling on the glass with magic, it didn’t seem like they were actually used as windows.

In the middle of the room, there was a table and a cushion that looked comfortable. Whether the staff cleaned it regularly with magic, there was no unpleasant smell or dust.

Before entering the room, I put the tray with the drinks and simple snacks I ordered on the table. Ellie brought a magic puzzle from the lobby, which was more difficult than I thought. Instead of fitting it into a paper-like board, I had to stack the puzzles like Jenga to create a shape.

The completed puzzle moved on its own as if it were alive. Only then did I understand the meaning of the name magic puzzle.

We were so focused on the puzzle that we had no choice but to drink coffee that had melted ice and become bland.

,It was fun. Right?”

Ellie asked, eating the last chocolate cake. I couldn’t deny it.

Until now, we had only repeated conversations that hurt each other. Contrary to my expectation that some problem would arise again today, it was true that we had a good time without any worries.

,That’s right, it was fun.”

I answered, putting the puzzle back in the box.

I finished drinking the bland coffee. It was time to go back to the academy.

Suddenly, the scent of strawberries rushed to the tip of my nose.

Before I knew it, I reflexively turned my head, and a sweet breath mixed with my breath.

My thoughts stopped. I forgot even the natural instinct to breathe and close my eyes.

I stupidly only felt the soft touch on my lips.

It was a short time, but the lips that touched felt as hot as if they had been burned.

I didn’t know what kind of expression I was making. In fact, I didn’t even know what kind of expression I should make.

,…First kisses are sweet.”

It was the same voice as usual. Except that it contained some excitement. Leaving those words behind, Ellie got up from her seat with a smile that I couldn’t understand and left the room.

In the room where the scent of strawberries still lingered faintly, I turned my head, staring blankly at where Ellie had left, and reflexively brought the coffee cup in front of me to my mouth.

There was nothing in the cup.