Stella's comment caused quite a stir, but things eventually settled down.
I finally managed to convince her that neither of them was my girlfriend. Since I see them both as a respected friend and a senior, the idea of us being lovers had never even crossed my mind.
Amelia is a friend from my class, and Rebecca-senpai is a senior I truly admire from the bottom of my heart. Beyond that, they are both daughters of the Three Great Noble Families. In all likelihood, they will eventually marry someone chosen by their houses.
While the matter regarding Rebecca-senpai and Evan Bernstein officially stands, I’ve heard it’s set to be resolved in the near future.
More importantly, while they are ladies of the Three Great Noble Families, I am an Ordinary. The gap between our social standings is vast.
Besides, I often find myself wondering if I even have the right to love someone at all. Still, I can't help but wonder if the day will ever come when I, too, fall in love.
"Oh my. Ray, you actually brought home two friends... and they’re both such beauties."
"My name is Amelia Rose. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I am Rebecca Bradley. Thank you for having us, Mother."
Amelia and Rebecca-senpai performed graceful curtsies, lifting the hems of their skirts. Seeing their poise reminded me once again that they were indeed noble ladies.
"Wait. Did you say... from the Three Great Noble Families?"
"Yes. Ray and I are very close."
"That’s right. Ray-san has been a tremendous help to me."
Hearing their responses, my mother began to tremble with shock. She grabbed me by the collar and pulled me close to whisper frantically in my ear.
"Wait, what is the meaning of this?! You mentioned you might bring friends home for the holidays, but you never said they were daughters of the Three Great Noble Families!"
"Ah. Did I forget to mention that?"
"You certainly did! Honestly, you nearly gave me a heart attack!"
After that frantic exchange, I showed them into the living room and then to their guest rooms. Since we live in the countryside, the house is quite large. We had plenty of space, so Amelia and Rebecca-senpai were each given their own room.
"Oh! Ray! You’re back!"
"Father. It’s been a while."
We shared a firm embrace. From the living room, the voices of the women echoed down the hall. They were currently in the middle of preparing a grand dinner.
I obviously couldn't let Stella help with the cooking, so I had Amelia keep her occupied. My mother and Rebecca-senpai were handling the meal together.
Since my father had just returned, I went out to greet him alone.
"Hmm? I heard you brought friends, but are they girls?"
"Amelia and Rebecca-senpai. They're both the eldest daughters of the Three Great Noble Families—"
Before I could finish, he let out a thunderous shout.
"Whaaaat?! A-Are you dating both of them?!"
I immediately shut down his preposterous suggestion. "Of course not."
"I-I suppose not... but you’re so oblivious, Ray. I wonder how the girls feel about it..."
He mumbled the last bit under his breath, so I couldn't quite catch it.
Once my father joined us, the six of us sat down for dinner. The conversation was unexpectedly lively and enjoyable.
It was a fresh experience to hear Amelia and Rebecca-senpai describe how I acted at the Academy when my parents asked. They both characterized me as someone who was "oblivious but a very good person."
I don't quite understand it myself, but being "oblivious" must be because I struggle to properly read people's hearts.
I do my best to act like a normal student, but it’s mostly just a performance. I spend my time thinking, This is how a normal student would react, and then following suit. That said, I’m not nearly skilled enough to keep up an act perfectly, so I usually end up just being myself.
"Alright! I'm going to take a bath with Amelia-chan and Rebecca-chan today!"
As soon as dinner was over, Stella practically dragged the two of them toward the bathroom.
With nothing left to do, I considered my options. I realized then that I wanted to see the stars.
The sky was clear tonight, which meant the view would be beautiful. The winter sky offers a different kind of beauty than the summer one. Since I was at a loose end, it felt like the perfect time.
"Father, Mother. I'm going out to look at the stars for a bit. I'll be right back."
Dressed lightly, I stepped out into the night.
When I exhaled, my breath turned into a plume of white mist. Yet, I felt strangely warm tonight. It wasn't a fever, but rather a shift in my internal state.
I looked up. It had been snowing for the past few days, leaving the sky perpetually overcast, but now it was perfectly clear. I stood there for a moment, gazing at the brilliantly shimmering stars.
I walked to a nearby embankment and sat down. As I looked up at the vast expanse alone, I heard footsteps behind me.
"Ray-san. You shouldn't come out here dressed so lightly."
It was Rebecca-senpai. Her face was slightly flushed from the bath, and the tip of her nose was red from the biting cold. She was bundled up properly and was carrying a coat for me.
I didn't strictly need it, but since she had gone to the trouble of bringing it, I accepted it with a grateful smile.
"Thank you. By the way, where are Stella and Amelia?"
"They're playing together. Apparently, Stella is fascinated by Amelia-san's Butterfly Effect."
"I see."
I hadn't thought Stella was particularly interested in magic, but we’ve spent more time apart than together lately. Perhaps her interests have shifted.
"The sky... it’s beautiful."
"Yes."
Senpai sat down beside me, and we looked up at the stars together.
"Um... would it be alright if I sat a little closer?"
"Of course. I don't mind."
Our shoulders touched. Even through our layers of clothing, I could feel her warmth.
"About what happened during dinner... Ray-san, is something on your mind? You seemed a bit distant."
"...You caught me."
I was genuinely surprised. I didn't think I had been that obvious, but she had clearly been watching me closely.
"I suppose I was just reflecting on this past year."
"This past year?"
"Yes. I’ve only mentioned it briefly, but I fought as a soldier in the Far East Campaign. I lost many comrades there, and the experience left scars on my heart as well as my body. Though, I know I'm not the only one."
For some reason, the words flowed easily from my heart. Senpai watched my profile, listening with rapt attention.
"I was also remembering a conversation I had with Lise. That in the end, neither she nor I can truly understand the hearts of others. All we can do is imagine and try to get as close as possible. But it makes me wonder... have I really grown as a human being?"
Perhaps it was the cold that brought these thoughts to the surface. The Far East Campaign had ended in a winter just like this one. In that final battle, I had lost so many friends. Every time this season rolls around, the memories return.
"Ray-san..."
Senpai's slender hand reached out and touched mine. It was filled with a steady, comforting warmth.
"I... I can't say anything about your past. But the year I’ve spent since meeting you has been irreplaceable to me. Meeting someone like you has made me very happy, Ray-san."
"...Senpai."
I could tell instantly that her smile wasn't forced. She meant those words from the bottom of her heart. That realization made me feel a pure sense of joy.
Senpai gently leaned her weight against me, our bodies pressing closer together. It was a remarkably comfortable moment. I felt as though, even without words, I could understand another person just by being near them.
The stars tonight... for some reason, they seemed more brilliant than ever before.
"Hey, Ray-san."
"Yes?"
"Can I come visit like this again next year?"
I looked into her eyes—deep, dark pools that seemed to peer into my soul. A faint, sweet scent drifted from her.
"Of course. I look forward to spending more time together."
"Yes! Me too!"
I felt my heart skip a beat—a sensation I had never experienced before. Perhaps I really was continuing to change after all.