The infirmary was quiet, the rustling of leaves outside the window occasionally accompanied by birdsong, creating a moment of peace. Hinano sat beside Tetsuya’s bed, her hands nervously clutching the hem of her skirt, while her other hand rested awkwardly on her knee, unsure of where to place it. Lowering her head, she spoke in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible. "I’m sorry… I really didn’t mean to… Does it still hurt?"


    Tetsuya leaned against the headboard, watching Hinano fidget with an amused smile. He waved a hand gently, his voice as warm as ever. "It’s fine, don’t worry so much. It was just a small accident. It doesn’t hurt anymore."


    Before he could finish his words, Hirohito, lying in the bed next to him, dramatically raised his hand, shouting as if desperate for attention. "Me! I’m still in pain! I really thought I was going to die! Before I lost consciousness, I even saw a bright holy—"


    Before Hirohito could finish, Tetsuya abruptly sat up and lunged at him, clamping a hand over his mouth while raising the other hand as if ready to smack him.


    "Mmmph—Mmm! Let go!" Hirohito flailed, his muffled protests barely comprehensible.


    Tetsuya turned back to Hinano with an awkward expression, trying to brush the moment aside. "Ahaha… Uh, Hinano, did the teacher say anything?"


    Hinano blinked, hesitating for a moment before finally answering. "Nothing special. Just a reminder to prepare for the upcoming school-wide mock battle… and not to be late."


    Just then, the infirmary door creaked open. Mone stepped in gracefully, carrying two cups of water in her hands. Tilting her head slightly, she wore a curious expression. "A school-wide mock battle? What’s that?"


    "Mone!" The moment Hirohito heard her voice, he miraculously sprang up from his bed, suddenly looking as if he had never been injured.


    Hinano raised an eyebrow and muttered under her breath. "Hmph, just minutes ago, he said he was dying."


    "Wow, you sure recovered fast," Tetsuya said, his tone filled with exasperation.


    Hirohito completely ignored him, instead flashing what he thought was a charming smile at Mone. "If you’d agree to go on a date with me, I’d heal even faster!"


    Mone simply gave him a cold, uninterested glance before replying flatly. "Hirohito, for a patient, you seem far too energetic."


    Hirohito clutched his pillow and suddenly nodded seriously. "I only have this much energy because I saw you, Mone!"


    Hinano rolled her eyes at his dramatic statement, her brow twitching slightly in annoyance. "There you go again..."


    Mone pursed her lips, her smile carrying a hint of mischief as she turned toward Hinano. Her eyes glimmered with amusement before she casually dropped a bombshell. "A date, huh… I wouldn’t mind considering it. But only if Hinano and Tetsuya come along too."


    "What?!"


    Hinano and Hirohito both exclaimed at the same time, while Tetsuya, caught off guard, almost dropped his cup of water, causing ripples to dance on the surface.


    Hinano’s cheeks instantly flamed red like a ripe apple as she flailed in protest. "Why do I have to go with Tetsuya?! What does this have to do with me?!"


    Mone’s smile grew softer, her tone airy. "The more, the merrier."


    Hirohito immediately collapsed onto his bed, groaning dramatically. "…Why does that idiot Tetsuya have to be the third wheel?!"


    Hinano’s embarrassment quickly morphed into anger, and she promptly landed a punch on Hirohito’s shoulder. "What kind of ridiculous schemes are you cooking up now?! Just earlier, you even… even tried to kiss her!"


    The moment the word "kiss" left her lips, her voice grew smaller, more hesitant, until it became a mere murmur. Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she bit her lip, unwilling to meet anyone’s gaze.


    Hirohito rubbed his sore shoulder and muttered defensively, "It wasn’t even on the lips…"


    "What?!"


    Hinano clenched her fists, looking ready to pummel him again, her face practically steaming.


    Sensing the impending chaos, Mone cleared her throat and interjected with a light chuckle. "Let’s not dwell on that. Hinano, if this continues, Hirohito’s shoulder won’t survive much longer." Shifting her attention to Tetsuya, her expression turned more serious. "Earlier, you mentioned the school-wide mock battle. What exactly is that?"


    Tetsuya snapped back to reality and gathered his thoughts. "It’s an annual large-scale mock battle at our school. They randomly select two students to duel, assessing their magical abilities."


    Mone nodded thoughtfully. "Oh… so a lot of people must come to watch?"


    Tetsuya added, "Yeah, even nearby residents and parents attend. It’s the biggest event where the school showcases its strength."


    Hirohito suddenly chimed in. "But realistically speaking, there are hundreds of students in our school. The chances of us getting picked are pretty low, right?"


    Hinano narrowed her eyes at him, her tone laced with suspicion. "So you’re trying to jinx us now?"


    Hirohito shrank back slightly, putting on an innocent act. "I’m just stating facts! Just an objective observation."Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Tetsuya slung his bag over his shoulder and turned to Hinano with a smile. "It’s getting late. Want to walk home together?"


    Hinano hesitated, glancing at Tetsuya before turning toward Mone, her expression unreadable. She slowly shook her head. "Not today… I have something to take care of, so I’ll stay behind a bit longer. You guys go ahead."


    Tetsuya blinked, a fleeting look of disappointment crossing his face, but he didn’t press further. He simply nodded. "Alright. Take care."


    Unlike him, Hirohito wasn’t as understanding. As Tetsuya dragged him toward the door, he let out a dramatic wail. "Noooo! Mone! Aaah!!"


    With Hirohito’s cries fading into the distance, the infirmary gradually returned to silence.


    Hinano sat beside the hospital bed, gripping the hem of her clothes tightly. Her head hung low, as if a thousand words were trapped in her heart, yet she couldn''t bring herself to say a single one. Mone placed the cup of water she was holding onto the table and tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a faint, enigmatic smile as she silently observed Hinano.


    Finally, Hinano couldn''t hold it in any longer and broke the silence, her voice laced with hesitation. "What did you mean when you said you''d ''help me'' back in the classroom?"


    Mone smiled knowingly, her gaze turning deep, as if she could see through every emotion buried in Hinano’s heart. "What else could I have meant? Obviously, I was talking about you and Tetsuya."


    Hinano froze, her entire body tensing up. A flush rapidly crept from her ears down to her neck, and she stammered incoherently. "W-What… You—don’t say such nonsense! I never said anything like that! Besides, I just met you today!"


    Mone watched her with amusement, as if observing a flustered little kitten. Her smile softened with a hint of exasperation. "Come on, Hinano, think about it from a different perspective. Isn''t it more surprising that no one else has noticed? The way you acted in the classroom—it was obvious to everyone. Do I really need to spell it out?"


    Hinano lowered her head further, nervously wringing the fabric of her skirt. Her voice grew quieter. "Was it… really that obvious?"


    Mone nodded silently, her tone calm yet teasing. "Yeah, so obvious that ignoring it would be impossible."


    Hearing that, Hinano wanted nothing more than to disappear. She grabbed a pillow and pressed it firmly over her face, as if hoping to hide from reality.


    Mone sighed lightly at the reaction, her lips curling into a gentle smile. Her tone softened. "You don’t have to be so nervous. I’m not here to expose your secret. I just thought… you and Tetsuya seem to have a great relationship, so I wanted to give you a little push."


    Hinano slowly lowered the pillow, looking at Mone with wide, uncertain eyes. "But… why would you help me?"


    Mone shrugged nonchalantly, her tone casual but kind. "I just moved here, so I don’t know many people yet. Your class has a nice atmosphere, and I thought I’d try to fit in. Plus…" She paused briefly, her gaze softening. "I can tell you care about Tetsuya. If it’s important to you, I don’t mind helping."


    Hinano stared at her for a moment, then bit her lip, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you… but can you let me think about it a little more?"


    Mone didn’t push her, merely nodding with an easy smile. "Of course. These things can’t be rushed. By the way, where do you live? Want to walk home together?"


    Hinano shook her head, her voice still a little downcast. "I live in the eastern district…"


    Mone chuckled lightly. "Oh, that’s the opposite of my way. Well then, I’ll head off first. See you tomorrow."


    The infirmary fell quiet once more. Hinano gathered her belongings and slowly walked out of the school gates. The setting sun bathed the sky in hues of orange and red, yet her heart felt strangely heavy.


    As she walked home, her head hung low, her mind replaying the conversation over and over. "I was supposed to walk home with Tetsuya today… how did things end up like this?"


    She stopped in her tracks, murmuring softly. "I ruined it myself… I really am an idiot."


    Her footsteps grew slower, her shadow stretching long under the sunset, making her appear lonelier against the worn cobblestone road. She brushed her hair behind her ear, Mone’s words still lingering in her mind.


    She sighed gently and whispered to herself, "I’ll think about it… later."


    Yet, the melancholy on her face did not fade. The golden light of the setting sun cast a glow upon her, highlighting the complicated emotions reflected in her eyes.


    Just then, a small, childish voice called out. "Hinano-nee chan!"


    Hinano turned around at the sound of a familiar voice and saw Miyo running towards her excitedly, her small feet pounding against the ground at full speed. Behind her, Aiko followed closely, calling out, "Be careful!"


    Hinano gasped and rushed forward to catch Miyo. But in their hurried collision, both of them tumbled onto the ground, a small cloud of dust rising around them.


    Miyo, unfazed, beamed brightly and wrapped her arms around Hinano. "Hinano-nee chan, I missed you so much!"


    Aiko approached, gently brushing off the dust on Hinano’s knees. Her voice carried warmth and a hint of apology. "Sorry about that. She hasn’t seen you in a while and got too excited."


    Hinano smiled as she carefully plucked a stray blade of grass from Miyo’s hair. "It’s okay. A little fall like this is nothing."


    Miyo tilted her head up, her eyes full of anticipation. "Hinano-nee chan, when will you come play with me again?"


    Hinano hesitated, glancing at Aiko before lowering her gaze. Her voice carried a touch of uncertainty. "Um… I’ll see when I have time."


    Noticing Hinano’s subdued expression, Aiko spoke gently. "You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you, Hinano?"


    Hinano blinked in surprise and looked up at Aiko, a soft warmth spreading through her chest.


    Aiko took Miyo’s hand, her steps light as they walked together under the quiet evening sky. The sounds of their footsteps felt comforting, filling the silence with a sense of calm.


    "It’s getting late. Let’s head home," Aiko said, her tone carrying a quiet reassurance.


    Miyo nodded, her voice soft. "Okay."


    Hinano followed behind them, curiosity tugging at her thoughts. "By the way, why are you two out so late today?"


    At the question, Aiko let out a small sigh, a flicker of worry crossing her face. Her tone turned somber. "One of Miyo’s classmates has been missing since yesterday…"


    "Wait… what?" Hinano stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening in shock. "Has anyone started looking for them?"


    Aiko nodded, keeping a firm yet gentle grip on Miyo’s hand. Though her voice remained steady, a slight tension lingered beneath it. "The school has already sent people out, and the parents stayed behind to help… but so far, there’s been no progress."


    Miyo clenched her tiny hands into fists, her head lowered, her steps slowing as an unspoken worry filled her small frame.


    Aiko noticed and stopped walking, turning to Hinano with a quiet seriousness. "You should be careful on your way home too."


    Hinano nodded firmly. "I will. Don’t worry."


    Just then, Miyo tugged at Aiko’s sleeve, her voice barely above a whisper. "Mama…"


    Aiko knelt down, wrapping her arms around Miyo, stroking her hair with a soothing touch. A reassuring smile graced her lips. "Don’t be afraid, sweetie. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you."


    Miyo, taking in Aiko’s warmth, slowly nodded.


    Seeing her relax slightly, Aiko smiled before standing up again. Taking Miyo’s hand once more, she turned to Hinano with a lighter tone. "By the way, how’s school been lately?"


    Hinano, caught off guard, blinked before answering quietly. "We’re all busy preparing for the upcoming mock battle. Everyone’s been working really hard."


    Aiko let out a small, amused sigh. "It’s that time of year again, huh? Ishin and I will bring Miyo to watch. Make sure you give it your all."


    Hinano nodded slightly. "Yeah, I will."


    As the three of them walked along the dimly lit path, the earlier tension gradually faded, replaced by lighthearted conversation. The moonlight cast a soft glow over them, adding a serene touch to their laughter and chatter.


    Yet, despite the warmth of the moment, Hinano couldn''t shake off the heaviness lingering in her heart.


    She let out a quiet sigh, murmuring to herself, "I hope they find that kid soon…"