"Mmm... I feel like oranges and a kotatsu go together strangely well..."
It was New Year's Eve. All that was left for us to do was wait for the clock to strike midnight.
As for our schedule, we were set to return the following day, New Year's Day. Both Amelia and Rebecca-senpai apparently had gatherings for the nobility to attend early in the year.
I, on the other hand, had no particular plans and could have stayed at my parents' house a bit longer, but I intended to head back while escorting the two of them.
When I first brought this up, I expected Stella to be a little saddened... but that wasn't the case at all.
Dinner was over, and while the four of us were currently tucked into the kotatsu, Stella was busy studying for next year's entrance exams. Rebecca-senpai sat beside her, tutoring her one-on-one.
Because Stella was so athletic, people often assumed she was poor at studying. In reality, she was quite capable academically.
Master had been thorough in that regard during her training. As she put it, "Idiots can’t use decent sorcery."
"So, this part here is—"
"Mm-hmm. I see—"
Since they were interacting so seriously, Amelia and I were each doing as we pleased to avoid disturbing them.
That said, Amelia was currently sprawled out in a rather unladylike fashion, continuously munching on the oranges piled on the table.
Part of me wanted to point out that she might gain weight if she ate that many, but I knew better than to ever mention age or weight to a woman.
Over the past few days, I had spent a significant amount of time with both Amelia and Rebecca-senpai. I noticed that Rebecca-senpai hadn't changed much at all. She was the same graceful, attentive, and wonderful senior she always was.
As for Amelia, I wondered if she was always this relaxed at home, or if she had simply fallen victim to the magic of the kotatsu.
It was fine in its own way, but seeing Amelia like this was fresh and more than a little amusing.
"..."
As for me, I was reading a book. I had originally intended to read in my room, but since we had decided to be together for the turn of the year, I remained here.
"Phew."
I let out a soft breath and snapped the book shut.
"Ray. Are you finished?"
"Yeah."
"Here. I’ll give you an orange."
She deftly held out a peeled orange. My parents' house was filled with a mountain of them that they had received as gifts, and Amelia was currently making significant progress in consuming them.
She peeled each one with meticulous care before placing the slices on a plate. It was a display of sheer technical mastery.
Wait—when did she peel such a large quantity?
Looking closely, I realized she was also distributing them to Stella and Rebecca-senpai, who were popping the slices into their mouths while they studied.
"Thanks. Still, this is unexpected."
"Eh? What is?"
"Seeing you like this at home, Amelia."
The moment I said that, she dropped an orange slice. Her face instantly went pale.
"What's wrong?"
"Um... that’s not it, okay?! I’m not usually this relaxed—I mean, I usually maintain a much more dignified appearance, you know?"
"Is dignity really necessary when you're just relaxing at home?"
"It is! S-So, um... it's not really me... Yes, the kotatsu! It's the kotatsu’s fault!"
She began to ramble incoherently. I assumed she was just embarrassed, but personally, I thought she looked quite cute like that.
"My, my. You two are having an interesting conversation."
It seemed their study session had ended, as Rebecca-senpai joined the talk. Stella, for her part, muttered, "I'm so tired..." and slumped her head onto the table.
"Rebecca-senpai is pretty much the same as usual, isn't she?"
"That's true. I'm like this at home as well."
"Ugh... it feels like I'm the only one being lazy here...!"
Amelia puffed out her cheeks and began to sulk. I wasn't trying to say it was a bad thing, though...
"Amelia. I didn't mean it as a criticism; it's just fresh. Besides, I think you look quite cute like that."
C-Cute!!?
For some reason, their voices overlapped. I could understand Amelia's reaction, but I wondered why Rebecca-senpai was so flustered.
"C-Could it be, Ray-san, that you prefer people who make you want to look after them?"
"No, not particularly. I just meant that it was nice to see a side of her I haven't seen before."
"I see. Is that so?"
Rebecca-senpai sighed in relief, resting a hand on her chest.
In contrast, Amelia wore a triumphant look. Seeing that, Rebecca-senpai stared fixedly at her, but Amelia simply puffed out her chest with a "Hmph!"
Afterward, the four of us continued to huddle in the kotatsu, eating oranges with singular focus.
"Hey, hey. I’m definitely going to get into the Academy next year!"
Stella said this with a bright, confident smile. Of course, that was a given. There was no way Stella would fail.
"Yeah. It’s only natural that you’ll enroll, Stella."
"Ehehe~. Now I can see you every day, onii-chan!"
"Heh. I’m looking forward to it too."
I reached out and patted Stella’s head affectionately.
"I was just thinking, Ray, but that side of you is unexpected too," Amelia noted.
"It is," Rebecca-senpai agreed. "Ray-san always gives such a cool impression."
"Could it be that he has a soft spot for younger girls?"
"Guh... if that’s the case, wouldn’t we be at a considerable disadvantage?"
"I-I’m the same age as him, so I’m safe! Rebecca-senpai is the one who’s out!"
"Wait! That’s going too far!"
The two of them were back to their usual banter. I was so preoccupied with patting Stella’s head that I didn't catch every word, but it was heartening to see them getting along so well.
Finally, the clock reached 11:50 PM.
In ten minutes, the year would turn.
"Once again... thank you all for everything this year."
I bowed my head. It was a sincere sentiment. Truly, I had received help from so many people this year, and I was genuinely happy to be spending the turn of the year with them.
"I’ve received plenty of help from you too, Ray. I look forward to next year."
"I feel the same. You’ve truly helped me in many ways, Ray-san."
"Hmph! I’m going to make sure you take care of me a lot next year too! Nice to meet you, onii-chan!"
I smiled at their words.
Then, we began the countdown. Stella had brought a clock to the table and stared at it intensely.
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1—Happy New Year!"
Happy New Year!
Our voices overlapped as the new year officially began.
What kind of year would this be? Stella would enroll, and we would move up to our second year. Rebecca-senpai would become a fourth-year—a High Rank student. I was certain this year would be even more enjoyable than the last.
"I look forward to another year with you all."
"Me too."
"Me too! Yay!"
The smiles of the three girls filled my vision. In the background, my parents watched us from the living room with warm, amused expressions.
"Yeah. Once again, I’m counting on you all this year."
The year had changed. In the past, I had never thought of this moment as special. Not during my time in the military, and not during my recovery. Time was simply something that passed. That was the only sensation I knew.
And yet, for some reason, this year felt different.
It was proof... that I had changed.
I had once believed that this world would remain ugly forever, and that I would always be trapped within it. But just as the world turns, people change too. Over the past year, I feel as though I’ve finally learned the truth of that simple, inevitable cycle.
What kind of year would this be?
There might be hardships, and there would surely be joy.
But there was one thing I knew for certain: I was looking forward to my life at the Academy more than ever before.