I returned to the Student Council Office immediately after that.
Rebecca-senpai had said she was going home right away too, but I knew that was likely a lie. She was undoubtedly still working.
With that in mind, I opened the door to the Student Council Office. As expected, I found Rebecca-senpai there, wearing her glasses and focused intensely on a stack of documents.
"Ray-san? Why are you back...?"
When she looked up, she had a somewhat awkward expression on her face.
"Because I was worried about you, Senpai."
"Haha... No, I just thought I'd finish a few things up."
"In that case, I'll help."
"Eh... No, it's fine. I'll be done soon."
"I'm afraid I don't trust you when it comes to this, Rebecca-senpai."
"Gasp! The betrayal! I can't believe you'd say that!"
"So, if you'll excuse me."
Rebecca-senpai seemed to be trying to laugh it off with a joke, but when I walked over to her desk, I saw a pile of documents that were actually scheduled for tomorrow.
She must have planned to finish all of this by herself after Dina-senpai and I left.
"Ah..."
Senpai let out a small cry of protest, but I ignored it. I took the stack of documents and began scanning them for errors, just as I always did.
"Senpai, you just worry about the seals."
"I understand..."
Perhaps sensing the resolve in my voice, Rebecca-senpai complied quietly. Normally, I wouldn't be so forceful.
However, in addition to Dina-senpai's request, I could see for myself that Senpai had been acting strange lately.
It was as if she were being driven into a corner by something.
It felt as though she was immersing herself in work just to escape—to hide. That was the impression I got.
While it was merely my own subjective view, Dina-senpai clearly felt the same sense of precariousness. That was exactly why I couldn't afford to misjudge the distance between us. Precisely because I knew she was harboring a burden, I couldn't try to force it out of her.
The only thing I could do now was support her so she didn't overextend herself.
By the time the sun had fully set and the world outside was pitch black, we had finished everything that needed to be done.
"Phew..."
"Good work, Ray-san."
Before I had even noticed, Rebecca-senpai had brewed some tea. She gently placed a cup in front of me, gave a soft smile, and returned to her seat.
"..."
I stared silently at the liquid in the cup.
My face was faintly reflected in the rippling surface. I had pushed myself a little too hard today, and I could feel the fatigue pooling in my limbs. But I couldn't let that show.
I took a sip of the tea with my usual practiced movements.
"It's delicious. But then, the tea you brew is always the best, Rebecca-senpai."
"Haha, thank you. The tea leaves themselves aren't even high-grade, though."
"I'm sure it's because you were the one who brewed it, Senpai."
"Is... is that so?"
"Yes. I believe that simply having someone brew it for you makes it taste better immediately."
"Fufu. You really are a radiant person, Ray-san."
"Radiant?"
When I glanced toward her, she seemed shrouded in a lonely atmosphere.
"I wish I could be like you, Ray-san—no. Forget I said anything. It was just a silly thought."
"..."
I didn't press her on those words.
For a while, the two of us simply soaked in the quiet afterglow of the Student Council Office. Eventually, we began preparing to head home.
"Well then, Ray-san. I'll handle the locking up, so feel free to head back ahead of me."
"No, I can't do that. I'll help."
"...You're being very forceful today, Ray-san."
"Did you find it unpleasant? If so, I apologize."
"No, not at all. I just thought... you were quite reliable."
After turning off the lights and locking the door, we set off on our way.
However, instead of heading toward the Girls' Dormitory, Rebecca-senpai continued toward the Academy gates.
"I'm returning to my family home tonight. So, I'll take my leave here."
"I'll walk you there."
"...I had a feeling you'd say that. Fufu, I knew it."
"It's dangerous for you to walk alone in this darkness, Senpai."
"You're right. Then, I'll take you up on the offer."
"Yes."
The two of us walked down the streets illuminated by lampposts.
Once we passed through the Central District and headed slightly south, we would reach House Bradley. Since it was late and the carriages had stopped running, we went on foot. It wasn't a long journey; we would arrive in less than an hour.
"Ray-san."
"Yes?"
"Are the preparations for the Cultural Festival fun?"
"They are. It's my first time, so I'm a bit overwhelmed... but it's fun. Plus, my class is doing a Maid Cafe, so my heart is already racing with excitement."
"My, my. What exactly do you mean by that? Could it be that you want to see cute girls? Are you interested in those sorts of things too, Ray-san? Fufu."
Senpai peered into my face with a mischievous grin.
I didn't try to hide my feelings; I simply spoke the truth.
"I am. My class has many cute female students, and I'm sure the maid outfits will look great on them. I'm looking forward to it."
"...I see. I feel like I understand you a little better now, Ray-san."
"In what way?"
"I can't very well tease you when you say it with such pure eyes."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Even so, I'm surprised a Maid Cafe was actually proposed."
"It was originally Amelia's idea."
"Eh... was it?"
"Yes."
Rebecca-senpai wore a blank, stunned expression. I had never seen her look like that before; it was quite a fresh sight.
But then again, it was an understandable reaction. When I first met her, I also thought Amelia was a high-born, noble lady befitting of the Three Great Noble Families. It wasn't that she wasn't noble now, but her passion for cute things was... somewhat beyond the norm.
Especially the way she constantly harassed Clarice and Elisa. The look on Amelia's face at those times was probably something that shouldn't be seen in public.
"It seems Amelia has a love for seeing girls in cute outfits. I heard she even designed the maid uniforms herself."
"So those designs that were submitted were Amelia-san's work?"
"Yes."
"I see. I rejected the very first design because the skirt was far too short... but she pushed right up to the limit after that, so I gave permission. So that's how it was."
"Amelia's passion is truly something remarkable."
"It's surprising... but somehow, it makes sense."
"Does it?"
"Because you're so radiant, Ray-san. Everyone around you ends up smiling. I'm sure Amelia-san is only able to be herself because you're by her side."
"Is... that so?"
"Yes. Since I'm the one saying it, there's no mistake. Ehem!"
Rebecca-senpai looked quite youthful as she puffed out her chest boastfully.
But just before we reached her home, we happened to run into someone.
"Rebecca. Are you just getting home now?"
"Ah... yes. Evan-sama..."
Senpai's expression clouded over instantly. It gave me the impression that she didn't just dislike him—it looked like she was afraid.
"Did you walk her home, by any chance?"
"Yes. My name is Ray White. I'm Rebecca-senpai's junior, a first-year at Arnold Magic Academy."
"I see. I am Evan Bernstein. I'm her fiancé."
Mr. Bernstein offered a handshake with a kind-looking smile.
He was of medium build with short brown hair, neatly styled and held firmly in place. He looked every bit the capable professional. The impression he gave wasn't bad at all—or it wouldn't have been, if not for the look on Rebecca-senpai's face.
"Now then, White-kun. This is far enough for the escort. I happened to have business at House Bradley myself."
"I understand. Then, I'll take my leave."
I bowed and turned back toward the way we came.
As I walked away, I glanced back for a split second.
He drew Rebecca-senpai close as they walked away, their bodies pressed together. To any passerby, they would have looked like a perfectly happy couple. Yet, for some reason, Senpai seemed small—as if she were shrinking into herself.
Could he be the cause?
Was Evan Bernstein the reason Rebecca-senpai had been acting so strange?
As the thought formed, Dina-senpai's words echoed in my mind.
“I think there’s something about Evan Bernstein.”
There was something about him. The phrase replayed over and over in my head.
From here on, this was just me being meddlesome. But I knew I couldn't move forward until I cleared this doubt from my mind.
Instead of heading back to my dormitory, I immediately changed course and headed toward Master.