Evi and I arrived at the designated meeting spot.
Amelia, Ariane, and Rebecca-senpai were already there, but the atmosphere was heavy, to say the least. It was as if they were locked in a silent standoff, each warily keeping the others in check.
Could they be having some kind of argument?
I hadn't heard anything about the three of them being on bad terms—in fact, I’d thought they were getting along quite well recently—but human relationships are complex things.
I decided I should probably intervene.
"You three, fighting is no good. First, let’s talk things over calmly—"
As if my words were a starting pistol, the three of them snapped their heads toward me. They peered up at me with heavy, half-lidded gazes.
Ugh... the combined weight of all three staring at me at once was quite the burden.
"Ra-y-san~"
The first to approach me, wearing a beaming smile, was Rebecca-senpai. She looked truly radiant today. She had her hair styled in an elegant updo and seemed to be wearing a touch of makeup. Her outfit suited her perfectly as well.
Her somewhat short skirt looked like it would be a bit cold in this weather, but as Carol often said—beauty is a matter of endurance.
The pure white coat she wore over her clothes was also a perfect match.
"It seems you invited quite a few others today~"
"Yes. I thought it would be more enjoyable with a large group."
"I see, I see. I feel the same way. Thank you so much."
"No... the pleasure is mine..."
What was this? This overwhelming pressure...
I had felt this once before. Occasionally, Rebecca-senpai emitted a crushing sense of intimidation.
It wasn't magical in nature, of course. Her Prima Materia and Material Field were both perfectly normal.
And yet, why did I feel this pressure?
A strange chill ran through me—the kind that made my body tremble to its very core.
During the Far East Campaign, I had been pushed to the brink of death more times than I could count. I had faced countless life-and-death situations. Even in those moments, I had never been swallowed by an opponent's presence.
However, the pressure Rebecca-senpai exerted was of a completely different quality.
She was smiling. At a glance, she wore her usual beautiful expression, but behind it, I sensed a massive, indomitable will. Her eyes, narrowed by her smile, seemed to be fixed on me with terrifying intensity.
Terror.
Was I actually being dominated by overwhelming terror right now?
I, who had survived so many blood-soaked battlefields...?
C-Calm down. First, I just had to talk like I usually did.
I needed to follow Master’s teachings here!
"By the way, Senpai, you look very beautiful today. Having your hair tied up gives you a different impression than usual, but it’s very lovely. And that pure white coat suits you wonderfully. Combined with your beautiful black hair, white really is your color."
As I showered her with my usual compliments, her face gradually bloomed into a deep shade of crimson.
"Um...! I mean...! T-Thank you very much!"
In an instant, the pressure vanished completely.
For the moment, I felt relieved that I had averted disaster, but I truly wondered what that had been all about.
"Hmph. So you praise Rebecca-senpai first..."
"I see. It seems Ray is truly his usual self~ Hehe."
Amelia and Ariane were still staring at me with those half-lidded eyes. No, "glaring" would be more accurate.
"Of course, you both look wonderful as well, Amelia, Ariane. You both stand out beautifully against this snowy landscape."
"Ugh...!"
"S-So this is his natural technique...! It's incredibly effective...!!"
While the two of them buzzed with excitement over something, the remaining members of our group arrived.
Clarice and Elisa showed up, followed finally by Albert.
"Hmph! I’ve made a special effort to be here today!"
"Um... thanks for inviting me, Ray-kun."
"No, I’m the one who should thank you for coming. We didn't have much of a chance to talk during the tournament. Let’s enjoy ourselves to the fullest today."
After I spoke to Elisa and Clarice, I saw that Albert and Evi were already busy comparing their physiques.
"Evi. Those muscles of yours... even through your clothes, I can tell they are magnificent."
"Hehe. You think so? But you've gotten a lot sturdier too, Albert. You're unrecognizable from when you first enrolled."
"Hmph. I, too, have awakened to the path of muscle."
It seemed both of them had recovered from the injuries they sustained in the finals. That was likely thanks to the thorough treatment provided by Abby-san and Carol. They had apparently prepared meticulously for the tournament to ensure quick medical responses.
"Alright. Shall we head out?"
As for today's itinerary, even though we were going out as a group, we hadn't decided on a specific destination. Given that we had five women and three men, we decided to start with some window shopping.
Naturally, the men were relegated to luggage-carrier duty.
"...In that case, please excuse me while I take the spot next to Ray-san."
"I don't mind, but aren't you a bit close?"
"Oh? You think so?"
"No... if you don't mind it, Rebecca-senpai, then I won't complain."
"Yes. I think this is perfectly normal, so I'll stay right here by your side."
Her tone was incredibly soft, yet there was a spirit behind her words that brooked no argument. Then, Amelia smoothly slid into the spot on my left.
"Then I'll take this side."
Being sandwiched between Amelia and Senpai, we began walking straight ahead for the time being.
From behind us, I heard a chorus of hushed voices: "Isn't this... kind of bad?" "Shh! Clarice-chan! You have to keep quiet about that...!" "I think I... will just observe from back here for a while..." "Hmm... as I thought, my biceps aren't in peak condition today." "In that case, I've got a training routine I’d recommend!"
This was Ariane's first time being part of this specific group, but since she’d met Elisa and Clarice before, they seemed to be chatting normally.
"Hehe..."
"Hmph! I won't lose!"
Before I knew it, Amelia and Rebecca-senpai were clinging tightly to my arms.
It was honestly making it difficult to walk, so I considered asking them to let go... but my instincts warned me otherwise.
—It's better not to do anything unnecessary right now.
Even through our coats, I could feel the sensation of their soft, bountiful chests against my arms. Even for me, I couldn't help but wonder if this was a bit much... but the overwhelming atmosphere made it impossible to speak up.
Master’s teachings also suggested that in cases like this, it was better not to stir up trouble. I decided to just wait and see.
After enjoying some shopping, we decided to have lunch in the park. Since I was the one who had invited everyone, I had actually stayed up the night before to prepare boxed lunches.
It was cold out, but we could simply use magic to keep the food warm.
"So, I’ve brought sandwiches. There's also fried chicken and various salads. Please, help yourselves."
Oooooh!!
Everyone cheered in unison.
As they sat on the park benches, we began portioning out the food. I was quite confident in this meal, having put my heart and soul into the cooking. I was sure it would suit everyone's tastes.
"Delicious! Ray, you really can do anything!"
"U-Uh-huh! It's so good...!"
Clarice’s golden twin-tails bobbed up and down with delight, and Elisa’s long, half-elf ears twitched busily as she ate.
As for the men...
"Mm...! This is a masterpiece—low calorie, high protein! Especially this sandwich... despite being made with chicken breast, it's incredibly juicy. Well done."
"I eat Ray's cooking every now and then, but it's as good as ever!"
Albert and Evi seemed thoroughly satisfied. I sat down in an available seat. Nearby, Ariane was quietly munching on a sandwich.
As for Amelia and Rebecca-senpai, they were staring intently into each other's eyes while they ate, as if they were the closest of friends.
"Ah... um... Ray, this is very delicious."
"I see. I’m glad you like it."
Ariane’s demeanor seemed to have changed slightly since the tournament. She was strangely restless whenever she talked to me, her face was often flushed, and she stubbornly avoided making eye contact.
"Could it be that I did something to offend you?"
"Eh...!!? N-Nothing of the sort! Truly!"
"Is that so?"
"Yes! It's just that my emotions haven't quite caught up yet, or rather, I'm just confused about various things!"
She lightly tapped her chest, as if to emphasize that she was perfectly fine.
I suppose I was just overthinking things.
"Anyway, it's been a while since I served you my cooking, Ariane. Not since that time I supported you from behind."
"G-Geez...! That was embarrassing, so please forget about it!"
She turned her face away with an exaggerated huff. I thought her reaction was quite cute... but before I knew it, Amelia and Rebecca-senpai were standing behind us like specters.
"Heh... I don't believe I've heard the details of that story?"
"It seems Ariane-san is currently the front-runner... Yes, quite. I believe the three of us need to have a nice, friendly chat..."
"Ah... this is, um...! N-Noooooooo! I am innocent!"
With a cry of utter despair, Ariane was dragged away by the two women, who were both radiating a terrifying aura. I didn't quite understand what was happening, but I figured it was best to let them be.
Master had always told me not to stick my nose into women’s squabbles unnecessarily, after all.
Ariane. I don't quite understand what’s going on, but I won't forget your sacrifice—.