“...Hup... hup...!”
“Heh...! Heh...!”
Night. We were engaged in our usual weight training in our room.
Sweat dripped down in steady beads, but that, too, was a pleasure. I was currently performing squats, thoroughly conditioning my lower body.
Naturally, I was wearing nothing but my boxer briefs.
“...Alright, that makes a thousand reps.”
“I’m finished too...! Phew... Now then, shall we move on to that?”
“Hehe... Indeed.”
“Hehehe...”
“Hahaha...”
Perhaps it was inevitable that Evi and I would become friends like this. On our first day in the dorms, we had seen each other naked. That was because we had both spontaneously stripped off our clothes and begun training as naturally as breathing.
And then... we realized.
This man is a kindred spirit.
No unnecessary words were needed.
As long as we had bulk... we could speak to one another’s souls.
“Kuku... How shall we handle it today...?”
“Hehe... You’ve got quite the wicked look on your face, Ray...”
“Hahaha, that, too, is a pleasure... is it not?”
“Right?”
Two nearly naked men carried on such a conversation in the kitchen. To be frank, the academy’s dormitory was exceptional. It was the epitome of luxury and, above all, incredibly spacious. It had apparently been renovated five years ago, so almost everything was practically brand new.
While that wasn't the only factor, there was no doubt that the quality of the facilities contributed to the academy’s popularity.
And what were we doing in such a kitchen? Making protein shakes, of course.
It was a given that we had both brought high-quality protein powder with us. We also went into town to purchase more on a regular basis.
But we didn't stop there. We wondered if, by mixing something else into the protein, we could achieve the ultimate nutritional supplement.
It was a plan born entirely from late-night energy, and it was about to be put into action.
“Evi. This time, we’re mixing this in.”
“Wha... Surely, that’s—!!?”
“That’s right... Chicken breast!!”
I pulled a piece of chicken breast from the refrigerator. Low in fat and, above all, rich in protein. It was also cheap. For students, this affordability was a blessing. To those who love their muscles, it would be no exaggeration to describe this ingredient as a bible.
“To think... you’d use that... The orthodox choice... yet, it’s a complete unknown. Ray, are you walking the path of carnage?”
“Yeah... Everything is worth a challenge, right?”
I took out a cutting board and used a knife to carefully mince the 150 grams of already cooked chicken breast, turning it into a mush until it no longer retained its original shape. Afterward, I heated it thoroughly and mixed it into the protein shake.
I stirred it, and then... I took a taste.
And then...!!?
“...Ngh!!?”
“H-How was it...!?”
“This is... without a doubt... disgusting!!!”
“Ah—I thought so!”
“Therefore, I shall give the rest to you, Evi.”
“Eh!? For real!?”
Even as he protested, he steadily poured my leftovers down his throat.
“Ugh... This is gross...”
“Yeah. Well, truth be told, I also suspected it would be impossible.”
“Well, figures.”
“Now then, let us spend these next four years searching for the ultimate protein.”
“You bet!”
And so, our restless spirit of inquiry continued...
◇
The weekend. Since I had no particular errands today, I had thought about going somewhere with Evi, but he was apparently away to show his face at his family home. Even though it was early morning, he was already gone.
Thus, as I was out for my usual run, I happened to run into Elisa.
“Oh! Elisa!”
“Ah... Ray-kun. Good morning.”
“Good morning. Are you going somewhere?”
“I was thinking of going to the library in the Central District, or maybe a bookstore today...”
“Hm! That sounds wonderful. May I accompany you?”
“Eh...?”
“The truth is, I find myself with too much time on my hands. Would that be alright?”
“N-No... It’s not a problem at all, you know?”
“Then let’s meet in front of the school gate. I’ll go back and take a shower... shall we say thirty minutes?”
“Y-Yeah! I’ll go change too...!”
“Hm? Is that so? Weren’t you going to go like that?”
“Well... because I’m going out with Ray-kun...”
“I see. That makes sense. Then, I shall look forward to it.”
“See you later...”
“Yeah.”
There was no need to put it into words.
Since she was going out with me, she likely wanted to take some care with her appearance. My Master had educated me on such nuances as well, so I understood immediately.
“S-Sorry to keep you waiting!”
“It is no problem. I only just arrived myself.”
I reached the school gate first. As I stood there with my arms crossed, waiting patiently, Elisa came trotting up.
—Hmm... I see.
She was wearing a simple one-piece dress. It was certainly the right season for it. Furthermore, the pure white dress suited her incredibly well. In addition, her hair was tucked behind her right ear, which somehow made her look strangely mature. The blue hairpin she wore also played a part in that.
“Elisa.”
“Y-Yeah...”
“I think you look very cute. The dress is lovely, but I particularly like that hairstyle. You usually wear it down, but it’s nice to see it pinned up occasionally so your face is clearly visible.”
“...Th-Thank you! U-Um... Ray-kun looks cool too, you know?”
“Do I? It’s just a simple shirt and jeans.”
“Yeah... I think it’s nice.”
“I see. Thank you.”
After our exchange, we decided to head into the city. Our first destination was the library. The Royal Library in the kingdom's Central District was a historic landmark, housing a truly vast number of books.
I visited occasionally as well; the tranquil atmosphere made it a very relaxing place.
“Elisa, I’ll be over here reading.”
“Yeah... Okay. I’ll go get the book I want to read, too.”
“Right.”
Speaking in low voices, I took a seat with the book I had picked up at the entrance.
Looking up, I saw that the ceiling was vaulted, making me realize once again the sheer scale of the building.
It was currently 9:00 AM.
Before long, I lost all awareness of Elisa sitting beside me as I immersed myself in the world of books.
“Hm... is it already this time...?”
“Ah... um, what should we do now...?”
“Shall we go get something to eat?”
“If Ray-kun is okay with it... I am too.”
Thus, we decided to eat at a nearby restaurant. We entered and took our seats. After ordering, we began to chat.
“Elisa, how are you finding the academy?”
“Um, well... I’m enjoying it.”
“I see. That’s good to hear. I also feel truly fortunate to have met such good schoolmates, including you, Elisa.”
“Me too... Since I never had any friends before... I was worried before I came to this academy... but I’m really happy I met everyone.”
“I felt the same. I had my anxieties at first too.”
“Eh? Ray-kun thought that too...?”
Elisa asked with a bewildered look on her face.
I still felt a slight hesitation about disclosing things about myself. However, because I felt a desire to be open with my close friends, including Elisa... I decided to tell her.
“This is my first time attending a proper school.”
“Eh... Is that so?”
“Yeah. Various things happened. So, while I was looking forward to it at first, I also had my anxieties. But they were groundless. After all, I was able to become friends with you, Elisa.”
“I-If you say that, I’m happy too...”
“Yeah. So, I’ll be counting on you from here on out.”
“...Yes!”
After finishing our meal, we decided to part ways. Apparently, Elisa had various errands to run back at the academy.
I still had time to kill and was just about to wander around town when a familiar face appeared before me.
“Amelia?”
“Ray? Why are you here?”
The one who had just stepped down from a carriage was Amelia. Today, her hair and clothing seemed more formal than usual. From her appearance, I inferred that something had happened regarding her family.
“I had some free time today. I just happened to be in town.”
“I see. I was just at my family home.”
“Ah... that explains it.”
“Yeah. It’s that noble socializing stuff. I truly hate it.”
As we talked, the two of us decided to wander the area. Apparently, Amelia was in the mood to talk... or so she said.
“Is noble socializing difficult?”
“It is... especially for the Three Great Noble Families. Even I’m already being pressured about marriage...”
“Marriage, I see. It’s true that excellent sorcerers marry early—or rather, they tend to have children early.”
“Yeah. After all, bloodline is undeniably related to magical talent.”
“True. I won’t deny that.”
Bloodline was certainly a factor. However, I got the impression that Amelia was strangely dissatisfied with the status quo.
“Sigh... plus, the Magics Chevalier is coming up soon. I’ll have a hard time doing the rounds of greetings this time, as well.”
“I see... Being a noble is a heavy burden.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. All I’m doing is complaining...”
“No, I don’t mind. Sometimes it’s important to speak your mind like this.”
“...It helps to hear you say that, but...”
“If I can be of help to a schoolmate, it brings me nothing but joy.”
“Hehe...”
“What is it?”
“No... I just thought, you really are that kind of person.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. I find that part of you very likeable.”
“I have a very positive impression of you as well, Amelia.”
When I said that, Amelia stole a glance at me. It might have been my imagination, but her face seemed a little red.
“...R-Really?”
“Yeah. There aren’t many people as beautiful, intelligent, and firm in their convictions as you.”
“H-Hmm. I see.”
Amelia twiddled a strand of her crimson hair.
I continued to speak my mind, as I always did.
“This is something I’ve thought since the first time we met. My assessment of you will not change.”
“...I-Is that so... Well, fine then!!”
Amelia suddenly started running away for some reason.
Watching her with a smile, I set off to follow after her.