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On the morning of my departure for Kyokutou, I woke up and stretched as the early sunlight began to spill through the window.
The quiet was soon broken by the frantic thump-thump-thump of footsteps approaching my door.
"Master! Look, look!"
The door flew open, and Carol practically lunged into the room.
"Good morning, Carol. You’re lively today."
"Being lively is my best quality, after all!" she chirped, proudly puffing out her chest before taking a step back and spreading her arms wide. "Never mind that! Look! Well? What do you think? Does it suit me?"
I looked her over. She was dressed in the Academy uniform.
Unlike the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky clan uniform, which was primarily black and blue, the Academy's attire was a bright, vibrant blue. I recalled there being a white jacket included in the set, but Carol had opted for just the vest. With a sweater wrapped casually around her waist, the look perfectly suited her energetic personality.
"The Academy uniform, huh? It looks good on you."
When I offered my honest praise, Carol beamed and gave me a playful twirl.
"Doesn't it? Hehe, thanks!"
While today marked my departure for Kyokutou with Fuuka and Shion, it was the first day of school for my disciples. I’d heard they were heading to the Academy shortly to take the performance tests required for enrollment.
"Geez, Carol, you're too fast..."
A second figure appeared behind her, peeking timidly from the edge of the doorway. Sophie stepped slowly into the room, dressed in the same uniform.
Unlike Carol, Sophie wore hers perfectly, without a single wrinkle or modification. It was very like her serious nature.
"Good morning, Sophie. It suits you, too."
"A-ah, thank you very much..."
When I complimented her, she shyly reached down to smooth the hem of her skirt.
"Master, I'm sorry for intruding so early," Log said as he finally entered, offering a quick apology.
He was also in uniform. He hadn't modified it like Carol, yet he didn't look quite as stiff as Sophie. With his jacket collar neatly straightened, he exuded an air of maturity that was new to him.
"I don't mind. You look pretty sharp yourself, Log."
"Really?! Yes!"
"I already knew Sophie was cute because I saw her during the measurements, but... hmm. I guess Log actually looks okay too," Carol teased.
"Yeah. You look more grown-up than usual," Sophie added.
Log beamed at my comment, but he looked away awkwardly at the girls' remarks, clearly feeling a bit self-conscious.
"O-oh... You two, well... you look cute too, I guess?"
"Ugh, what kind of compliment is that? If you're going to praise us, be honest about it! ...Wait, are you blushing?"
"B-be quiet!"
I watched them bicker with a small smile—a scene I’d witnessed countless times. Glancing out the window, I saw the sun had fully risen, and the city was beginning to stir with life.
"Your life at the Academy starts today. Your lives belong to you, so I don't intend to meddle too much. However, if you're still aiming to conquer the Great Labyrinth of the South... it would be best to return to Tsutrail to resume the conquest in six months, a year at the latest. If you take things too easy, the First Unit will finish the job before you."
"One year..." Log muttered.
"No problem!" Carol declared. "We got this strong in just one year, right? That means by next year, we'll be way, way stronger!"
"She's right," Log nodded. "We'll definitely show you we can overtake our seniors in the First Unit!"
They were certainly motivated. I didn't think I needed to worry about Log or Carol.
The problem, as I suspected, was Sophie.
"Well, we should probably head out. Master needs to get ready for Kyokutou," Log suggested.
"True! I got to show off the uniform, so I'm satisfied. Let's go!"
"Master Orun, thank you for seeing us so early. We'll work hard to get stronger, so please, do your best as well!"
The three of them turned to leave.
Decisions made after hesitating will always lead to regret. Therefore, you should make the choice that your future self can at least live with.
Isn't that right, Grandpa?
"Wait."
I stopped them just as Log reached for the door handle.
"...? Master, is something wrong?"
"Before you go, there's something I want to discuss with Sophie. Alone, if possible."
"J-just the two of us?!" Sophie squeaked.
"Ooh! This is the part where we stay out of the way," Carol said with a meaningful, mischievous grin. "Come on, Log, let's go. Sophie, we'll wait for you at the front entrance!"
"A-ah. Right."
Carol led a confused Log out of the room, wearing a smirk that said she'd completely misinterpreted the situation.
◇
"S-so... what did you want to talk about?"
Now that we were alone, Sophie spoke up, her voice tight with nerves.
"To put it bluntly, it's about your future, Sophie."
"My future?! T-that's..."
"I hesitated until the very last second about whether to tell you this. I was afraid that by saying it, I would narrow your horizons. But I think you'll realize it yourself sooner or later, so I decided it was better coming from me."
"W-wait! Just a second! Let me calm down!"
"Ah, sure."
Sophie cut me off and took several deep, visible breaths.
"P-please, go ahead!"
Her expression was incredibly stiff, her eyes wide with anticipation.
"Before I get to the point, I want to ask you something."
"W-what is it...?"
"What do you plan to study at the Academy, Sophie?"
"Eh? At the Academy?"
The question seemed to catch her off guard, but her expression soon shifted back to a serious one.
"Magic tools. I want to deepen my knowledge of magic as well, of course, but I want to create magic tools that can bring out the full potential of my Ability."
"...By your Ability, you mean Psychokinesis?"
"Yes. Right now, my fighting style treats magic and Psychokinesis as separate things. I want to establish a style that is uniquely mine, where the two are perfectly integrated."
"So that's the goal you're aiming for."
"Yes."
Sophie answered firmly, meeting my eyes with a clear, steady gaze.
Looking at her, my guilt only deepened. Because I had confidently told her that her Psychokinesis was an Ability, she had believed it without question. If I hadn't said anything, she might have discovered the truth much sooner.
I suspected even her engagement scandal at the start of the year might have been my fault. "Doctor" Ozwell McCloud had been behind that, and I now realized he’d targeted Sophie because she appeared to violate the Principles of Special Abilities—specifically the rule that another Ability user shouldn't appear within a second-degree relative.
"Sophie, I have to apologize to you."
"Apologize? For what?"
"For your Psychokinesis. You believe it’s your Ability, but it isn't."
"............Eh?"
"I told you it was an Ability when it wasn't, and in doing so, I might have limited your potential. I'm truly sorry."
I slowly bowed my head to her.
"Wait... I'm sorry, I think I'm confused... Psychokinesis isn't an Ability? Then... what is this power?"
"Psychokinesis is actually an application of Ki manipulation."