Life is Long. Don’t Rush Your Way Through It, Kid

The Bushin Festival Preliminaries were set to kick off next week. After reverting back to my "Cid" persona, I scouted the arena while fantasizing about various ways to direct my upcoming performance. Then, I grabbed two sandwiches from Magronald’s and headed back to the Dormitory, snacking along the way.

As I strolled under the setting sun, I suddenly remembered that I’d promised to treat Alpha to Magronald’s.

She always seemed so busy that I’d just let it slide. Eh, whatever. I’ll get around to it eventually. Since Alpha was an Elf, she’d easily live for another three hundred years, and I planned to hit at least two hundred myself thanks to the power of magic. I just needed to pay her back before one of us kicked the bucket. There was no need to rush.

The cicadas grew louder as I approached the academy. To me, summer evenings were defined by that noise—at least, that was the vibe I’d decided on.

The school was currently bathed in the glow of the sunset, and the restoration work following the fire was coming along nicely. At this rate, they’d be finished by the time summer vacation ended. Hyoro had previously bitched about how the whole place should have just burned to the ground, and I was inclined to agree. Every student praying for a vacation extension was likely thinking the same thing.

I walked the path to the dorms, cutting past the side of the school building.

The place was deserted.

Most of the students had already headed home for the break. Now that I thought about it, my sister had been throwing a fit, telling me we had to go back to our family estate together. I’d ignored her to head to the Holy Land, but I wondered what she was up to now. She’d probably be back by the time the Bushin Festival Main Tournament started.

I chewed the last bite of my first sandwich while lost in thought.

Just then—

"Overconfidence is your greatest enemy."

A practice rapier’s sheath tapped against my shoulder. I hadn't felt even a hint of bloodlust, so I hadn't even bothered to react.

The owner of the sword gave a soft chuckle and sheathed the blade. She was a honey-haired beauty with gentle features. It was Rose.

"Hi. Practicing?"

"Yes. I had a moment to spare, so I thought I'd get some swings in. Did you go to Magronald’s, Cid-kun?"

"I’m actually buddies with the manager there. Well, I found out recently, anyway."

"I went there the other day with two others. It was quite delicious."

"Two others?"

"Yes. Me, Author Natsume, and Alexia-san."

I don’t really get how those three are connected, but I guess they were together back in the Holy Land.

"Are you guys close?"

"Author Natsume and I have become very good friends. Alexia-san is also a wonderful girl, so I’m sure you’d hit it off with her too."

As long as she thinks Alexia is a 'wonderful girl,' there’s no way they’ll ever truly get along.

"However, things are a bit... strained between Alexia-san and Author Natsume," Rose added, looking a bit downcast.

Beta and Alexia, huh? I wonder how that’s going. They’re actually pretty similar, in my opinion.

"I’m sure they’ll figure it out eventually."

"I hope so... I'm worried about whether they'll be able to get along if I'm not around. We’re all supposed to be cooperating from now on. I don’t know what we can achieve, but we want to make the world a better place, even if only by a little."

"World peace is important, yeah."

"It is." Rose gave me a refreshing smile. "My apologies. It's almost time, so I must be going."

The sky was starting to dim.

"Sure. See ya."

"...Um."

Despite saying she was leaving, Rose lingered, looking like she had something else to say.

"Is something wrong?"

Rose hesitated for a moment before finally opening her mouth.

"I am going to meet my father now. He is going to introduce me to my fiancé."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'll hold off on saying 'congratulations' for now."

Her expression told me that was the last thing she wanted to hear.

"I am the princess of the Oriana Kingdom. I have lived my life carrying many expectations on my shoulders. However, I betrayed those expectations for the sake of my own selfishness."

"Uh-huh."

"And I may be about to betray the expectations of many people once again." Rose smiled, though she looked heartbroken. "But this time, it isn't out of selfishness. I hope I’m just worrying over nothing. But... if... if something should happen, will you believe in me?"

"Yeah, sure. I got it."

"If I have your trust, Cid-kun, I don't need anything else. I hope... I hope we can talk like this again."

Rose looked down to hide her face and turned to leave.

"Hey."

I called out to stop her and tossed her my second Magronald’s sandwich.

"Take it. You need to relax a little."

"Thank you."

Rose smiled softly.

The next day, I was jolted awake by Hyoro’s screaming.

"Student Council President Rose stabbed her fiancé and is on the run!!"

I lay there in bed, tilting my head and wondering what could have possessed her to do something like that.