Theresia calmly states, “You’re the only one left, Haruto Zenfis. We’re still waiting for you to register.”
“Register?”
She sighs dramatically as if she’s trying to make a point. What kind of attitude is that for an educator?
“So you haven’t heard. I wonder if Professor Luseiannel knowingly kept it from you.”
She slumps her shoulder as if to groan, “Not again.”
“So what do you mean by register?”
My sister is the one to respond to my question with an eager hand up in the air. Obviously, it’s not the sketchy exchange student.
When I point to her, she answers brightly:
“It’s for the Schoolwide Standardized Magic Proficiency Exam!”
Ah, right. That thing. Right, right. That… What is that?
I sift through my memory, but find nothing.
“What’s that?”
I ask honestly.
My sister answers with full vigor, “Every year in the beginning of fall, there’s a schoolwide exam─as the name suggests─where the students choose from a set of standardized assignments…”
Uh-huh. I see.
It’s an exam where students enrolled in the researcher’s course─and affiliated with a research lab─must submit their findings. Students in the knight’s course are supposed to flaunt the magic skills they’ve been honing during their training.
Bigwigs from the House of Lords and the top brass of the imperial sorcerers are gonna be there to evaluate you.
Theresia says, “You’re affiliated with a research lab, Haruto. However, in your case, your grades in the magic skill classes were very high as well. You may choose from either course.”
Frankly, I don’t want to choose from either.
But if I have to, I guess I’d rather go with the research presentation. Not that I have anything to present, but I’m sure if I ask Professor Tear, she’ll help me forge various data and devise a research presentation. I think.
A voice butts in inside my ear: ‘You’re about to ask me for something unreasonable, aren’t you? I can tell.’
But I ignore it.
Before I set out to visit the headmistress’s office, I’d asked Professor Tear at the lab to watch as an advisor through a barrier. Just in case.
“By the way, Char. What are you planning to do?” I ask.
She just transferred to the academy, so maybe she doesn’t have to participate.
“I’ve decided to enter the Four Knights Match.”
“Four Knights Match?”
Apparently, it’s a magic battle that involves two teams of four players.
Why do you have to team up in fours just to show off your magic skills?
My skepticism must be written all over my face because the headmistress answers right away:
“The students in the knight’s course are, literally, anticipated to become knights who will dedicate themselves to this kingdom. In a time of need, teamwork with their comrades will be more valuable than individual fighting skills.”
Therefore making the Four Knights Match the main attraction of the exam.
Which means the school’s toughest students will be gathered. Isn’t that dangerous? Is Char gonna be okay?
I’m starting to get worried.
“Then I pick that one, too,” I say.
The room grows tense─actually, the tension is only coming from Char. But why?
“O-Oh, if, if you’re participating too, Brother Haruto, I must pull myself together and work even harder…”
No need to be so uptight. We’ll make it fun like we did at the Olympius Ruins exploration.
Either way, my job is to support Char from the sidelines as her teammate and showcase her brilliance to the world.
The headmistress says, “In that case, Haruto, may I go ahead and register you in the Four Knights Match as well?”
I don’t want to, but it’s all for my sister.
“Sure, I don’t mind.”
I try to play it cool.
“Haruto’s entering? Then I want to, too. Sign me up!”
The mysterious pretty-girl exchange student leaps out of the sofa and volunteers herself.
“I’m entering, too,” mumbles the other half of the mysterious exchange student duo. I don’t think anyone heard him. Can you put a little more oomph in it?
“You two have only just enrolled in the academy─”
“Aww, so we can’t enter?” pouts the girl.
“It’s not that you can’t…”
“Then we’re in!”
The mysterious pretty-girl exchange student─too long. What’s her name… Yulia?─winks at me with such pizazz that you can practically hear a cutesy twinkling sound effect.
“How should we decide our party?” she asks. “It’d be fun to collaborate with Haruto, but battling against him would be interesting, too…”
She looks around the room, deep in thought, and stops at the sight of…my adorable little sister sitting beside her.
Her expression lights up as she proposes, “Charlotte, let’s team up!”
She grabs Char’s hands.
“Huh? Uh, um…”
My little sister─who’s usually outgoing and unintimidated─seems a bit nervous. It might be because it’s rare for anyone to be so assertive with her, being the daughter of a count and also the youngest student to transfer into the academy.
Wait a sec. Don’t I know someone just like her?
“We’ve only just met today, but I have a feeling we will get along.”
“Hua? Y-Yes! Me too, I feel like we already know each other!”
Charlotte squeezes Yulia’s hands with stars in her eyes.
I see. I see the resemblance now.
The complete, yet harmless, lack of boundary.
She’s just like our mom, Natalia Zenfis!
“That Iris girl seems like fun, too. I’d love to ask her to join.”
“Miss Iris is in the same research lab as Brother Haruto and me.”
“Really? Then I want to go and take a look at your lab. Will you show me around?”
“Certainly! Our mentor Professor Tear is a fun person, too. I’m sure you’ll like her, Yulia!”
“Tee-hee! I can’t wait!”
They seem to be hitting it off already. Now that Char’s decided to show the campus around to the newcomer Yulia…
“Well, see you later, Theresia!” says Yulia.
“Thank you for having us,” Char greets.
…they both leave the room.
The other exchange student follows behind them without a word. I tug him by the back of his uniform collar.
“What?” he asks without so much as a side glance at me.
“If you try anything with Char, you’re in trouble.”
“I’m ordered not to inflict harm on others. As long as Yulia isn’t in danger, I won’t lay a finger on anyone.”
What does he mean “ordered”? By whom? Yulia? Or by their dad or a parental figure? Either way, their relationship is hard to grasp.
“Fine, then.”
I let go of his collar. He leaves the room, again, without looking back.
Welp, I’ve got layers of defensive barriers around Char, and the Anywhere Door’s position is secured to where she is.
If anything were to happen to my precious little sister, I can be there in a flash to hurl the culprit into mystery space-time.
As I’m psyching myself up, I realize I don’t need to be here anymore either.
“I’m leaving, too.” I try to make a cool exit, but I’m not quite pulling it off, am I?
Just as I do an about-face and walk off, the headmistress speaks up.
“Haruto?”
I about-face again since she’s stopping me. I’m really not cool at all, am I?
“Yes?”
Her expression looks grim.
“Perhaps you’re mistaken─no, I’m almost certain you are mistaken, so allow me to correct you.”
What? What’s with the build-up?
My heart starts pounding, but the headmistress tells me straight up:
“You can’t be on the same team as Charlotte.”
I can hear my utterly useless advisor snickering in my ear.