With the Cultural Festival officially over, the final sales for each class’s attraction had been determined.
The Student Council members, myself included, were now busy tallying the results to create a ranking. Having finished my shift at the Maid Cafe a little early, I was in the Student Council Office assisting with the data entry.
I was particularly skilled at this sort of task, especially when it came to calculations, so I split the work with Dina-senpai... and before long, we were finished.
Summarizing the results in a table, I leaned back into my chair.
"Phew..."
"Ray. You did a great job."
"Dina-senpai."
As I took a breath, she handed me a drink.
It was just plain water, but at that moment, hydration was all I cared about.
I downed the water in one go and offered a polite bow to Dina-senpai.
"Senpai. Thank you very much."
"Don't mention it. Honestly, Ray, you really did work hard for us."
As she spoke, the other Gardening Club Seniors chimed in with their own praise.
"That’s right!"
"Mhm, mhm."
"I think Ray-kun really gave it his all!"
"Honestly, there’s nothing Ray-kun can’t do."
"Exactly! Even your big sisters are impressed!"
Hearing their voices, I felt a warmth spread through my chest.
"Everyone..."
To be honest, I felt like I was about to burst into tears. It wasn't just my classmates. I had been truly fortunate to meet such wonderful people among my club seniors as well... The thought struck me once more.
However, I still had a mission. There were things I had to do.
Because of that, I couldn't allow myself to cry.
"Ray-san."
Rebecca-senpai approached me.
She gracefully reached out, offering a handshake.
"Thanks to you, the Cultural Festival has concluded successfully. Strictly speaking, the Post-festival Party still remains... but we managed to get through all three days safely again this year. Thank you so much."
As I grasped her thin, small hand, Rebecca-senpai bowed her head. Her glossy, jet-black hair flowed elegantly. Seeing her like that... I struggled to keep my expression neutral.
She must not know.
She must not sense anything.
Deceive.
Deceive her.
Kill your own heart.
Behave toward her exactly as you always do.
I spat those words at myself like a curse, donning my mask as I addressed her.
"No. On the contrary, I’m just glad I could be of help to you, Senpai. I was able to experience a truly wonderful Cultural Festival. I’m the one who should be grateful, Rebecca-senpai."
"Fufu. Honestly, Ray-san, you really are a mysterious person."
She giggled, bringing a hand to her lips, while the other seniors watched me with gentle smiles. Ordinarily, I would have wanted to express my gratitude to them again.
But my heart was far from such pleasantries.
I knew the situation Rebecca-senpai was trapped in, and... I had to be the one to accelerate it.
This was a task only I could perform.
So, I suppressed my true feelings and smiled as I always did.
I suppose this was what it felt like to wear a mask. Once again, I felt a wave of disgust at my own ugliness.
"Well then, everyone. Let us move to the Auditorium. It is time for the final announcements."
Everyone followed after Rebecca-senpai.
In the midst of the movement, I stood still for a moment, alone.
The time I had spent in this Student Council was brief. Yet, it was filled with memories.
It wasn't just Dina-senpai and the others. The time I had shared with Rebecca-senpai was carved into this room as well.
I had seen her smile, her pouting face, her anger, and her sorrow. I had seared every one of them into my eyes.
That was exactly why I... had to break her.
Everything, for the sake of saving her—
◇
Since Dina-senpai and Rebecca-senpai were handling the announcements on stage, I had gone to join my classmates in the Auditorium instead.
"Ray! You’re back!"
It was Amelia.
Having seen the Maid Cafe through to the end, her cheeks were flushed red with lingering excitement.
That sense of accomplishment had been extraordinary. I, too, felt the satisfaction of having seen our project through.
"Yeah. The tallying finished without any trouble."
"Which means you already know... the rankings, don't you?"
"I do... but I’m not allowed to say. Please wait for the announcement."
"I figured... Ugh, my heart is racing!"
The other classmates seemed to have overheard us, and everyone was fidgeting restlessly.
I watched them all with a faint, bittersweet smile.
That's right. We were able to do this together. So for now, I should be happy.
I should simply bask in the joy of achieving this with everyone.
I just had to paste on my mask and play the part.
"Now, I shall announce the rankings—"
Rebecca-senpai’s clear, beautiful voice rang out through the hall.
But right now, I didn't want to hear her voice. I didn't even want to see her face.
I felt that the more I empathized with her, the more my resolve would waver.
Truly, human emotions were difficult things to master.
There were times when I thought it would be better if they simply vanished.
If I had to suffer this much, I didn't... need emotions.
But I had learned. Ugliness and beauty both certainly existed in this world. And it was only because of these emotions that one could perceive them.
Through the Far East Campaign, and through my days at this Academy, I had learned so much.
That was why, this time, I would do it right.
Because I never wanted to lose anyone ever again—
"WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
I felt the roar erupt from the crowd around me and realized that the first-place winner had finally been announced.
"We did it! We did it! Ray, we did it!"
"Ray-kun, we did it!"
"Ray! We’re first place! Look!"
"You did it, Ray..."
Amelia, Elisa, Evi, and Albert each called out to me.
I already knew. I knew that our class was in first place by a landslide.
And everyone was bursting with joy. It would be strange if I were the only one not celebrating. I immediately moved to blend into the excitement.
"Yeah! We did it! It’s all thanks to everyone’s hard work!! Thank you, everyone!!"
I raised my voice loudly.
Of course, it wasn't a lie.
There was no question that I was happy.
I felt the ultimate joy in having achieved this with this class.
There had been so many obstacles at the start.
I was an Ordinary, mocked as a Withered Wizard—many people in this Academy had kept their distance from me.
But now, we had come together like this to welcome the greatest of moments.
So, for this moment alone, I decided to be happy from the bottom of my heart, and I embraced my friends.
However, my gaze inadvertently drifted toward the stage.
There stood Rebecca-senpai, smiling gently.
Our eyes met.
In that instant... I felt my expression cloud over for a fleeting second, as if observing myself from afar.
It seemed I truly wasn't cut out for living a clever life.
"Ray... what’s wrong? Did something happen?"
While the rest of the class was still celebrating wildly, Amelia looked at me with concern.
She stepped closer, staring intently as if trying to peer into the depths of my eyes.
Please, stop.
I can't look you in the eye right now.
Because my resolve—my desperate resolve—will waver.
Amelia. Don't look at me with that expression.
Unable to say those words, all I could do was hang my head.
"Ray. What happened? For you to look like that..."
Amelia was the only one who realized my state immediately.
But I couldn't tell her everything here.
I was a strong person. No, I was a man who had to be strong.
"Amelia. I..."
"...You can't say, can you?"
"...I'm sorry."
Sensing my struggle, she spoke in a soft, gentle voice.
Then, she firmly took my hands in hers.
"Once this is over, you’re going to tell me everything."
"Yeah. I promise."
"Mm. Ray, you’re strong, but you have your weak points too. But you know, I think that’s what makes you human."
In the midst of the clamor, we could only see each other.
The voices around us, the surrounding chaos—nothing entered my eyes or ears.
I was simply captivated by the strength in Amelia’s eyes.
"Ray. Thank you. It’s because I met you that I was able to come this far. I was able to truly enjoy this festival."
"Yeah..."
"That’s why, Ray, you’re a very good person. You’re a very kind, very beautiful person. I don’t know what happened. But I believe that if it’s you, Ray, you can do it."
"...Amelia. Will I be able to move forward properly?"
"Don't be silly."
Then Amelia pulled me into a tight hug.
"If it’s you, you can do it, I’m sure. Because Ray, it’s not just me. Everyone has changed because of you."
As she broke the embrace, Amelia softly gestured toward the rest of the class.
"Whoa, look at that! Quite a show you're giving us!"
"Things are heating up over there!"
"Woo-hoo!"
"White, you did it! It’s thanks to you!"
"White-kun! Thank you! We took first place because you were here!"
For some reason, my classmates were all offering me words of gratitude.
It wasn't "for some reason," was it...
Had I somehow managed to do something for everyone without even realizing it?
"Hey, Ray."
"..."
"This sight... it’s something everyone built together. And you were at the center of it. You understand that now, don't you?"
"I see... No, so that’s how it was."
I realized it then.
Had I influenced those around me more than I ever imagined?
My life had been spent simply moving straight ahead, stubbornly and recklessly.
I never looked back.
Because I never wanted to face the wreckage of my own past.
I lifted my head. There, I saw the genuine smiles of my friends.
It was a strange thing, for me to be at the heart of this.
But you never know what will happen in life.
You can never accurately predict the future.
I had simply moved forward with all my might every day. The culmination of that effort was this moment right now.
I felt that I had run through those horrific days... specifically for the sake of this very second.
That’s what I believed.
"If it’s you, Ray, I know you can do it. And... just as you inspired me at the Magics Chevalier, I want to be that kind of presence for you."
Ah... Amelia.
You’ve truly become so strong.
There was no longer any trace of the fragile girl you used to be.
Amelia looked even greater than I did now.
She looked radiant.
"...Amelia. Thank you. You’re right—I had already found it. The thing that’s been precious to me for a long time."
I whispered the words to myself.
That's right. I can do this.
I can fulfill my duty.
And I wanted to show this sight to Rebecca-senpai as well.
I wanted to tell her that this wasn't just me. It wasn't just Amelia. It wasn't just our classmates.
We were only able to achieve this because Rebecca-senpai was there too.
"Thank you, everyone! This was the best Cultural Festival!"
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!"
Everyone thrust their fists into the air.
Yeah.
My resolve was set.
I will save Senpai. That's all.
Because that is my mission.
◇
"Ray, what’s wrong? Calling me to a place like this."
The roof.
The sun was already dipping below the horizon, and the students below were eagerly awaiting the Post-festival Party.
But I couldn't participate in that.
Because I had work to do.
"Maria. I have something important to tell you."
"...Um, is it about that matter?"
"Yes."
I spoke to Maria in a dispassionate, calm tone.
Having caught Maria just outside the Auditorium, I had brought her here to the roof.
Everything was for Rebecca-senpai’s sake.
And for that, I needed Maria’s cooperation.
To Rebecca-senpai, Maria was an irreplaceable, beloved younger sister.
If that was the case, I had to make use of her.
"Before that, let me clarify one thing. My true identity."
"Identity...? About the Far East Campaign?"
"No, about who I am now."
"Now? You’re just a student, right? I know that."
The air grew heavy with tension.
Maria must have sensed it too, as a faint bead of sweat formed on her brow.
"I am... the Ice Sword Sorcerer."
"...Eh?"
At that moment, a sudden gust of wind swept across the roof.
Our hair whipped in the gale.
Without holding back, I revealed my true nature.
Without averting my eyes from hers, I confronted Maria with the reality of who I was.