Episode : 10：Reunion with Kotone Eyes That Know the Old Me
The morning at Elnea Academy in the harbor town is always filled with lively commotion. The light streaming in through the lecture room windows softly illuminates the lintel‚ and in the hallways‚ magical devices make regular "click‚ click" sounds. The overlapping voices of students carry a sense of new research and discussions about to begin once again.
Aria stopped in the corner of the hallway and tapped her fingertips. The investigation into the residual pollution from yesterday crossed her mind‚ and she felt a slight bewilderment at the gap with the academy's peaceful atmosphere.
（……Here‚ the world's crisis still seems like a distant topic）
At that moment——.
"Mornin'—! Perfect day for research today too!"
Along with an overly energetic voice‚ a girl carrying research equipment jumped into the hallway. It was Kotone. The load she held in both arms was clearly overloaded‚ packed tightly with grimoires‚ test tubes‚ and mysterious metal parts.
The first impression was "an overly energetic researcher." The surrounding students all turned at once and cleared the way‚ as if pushed back by her momentum.
Watching the scene from afar‚ Aria felt a faint stir in her chest. In her childhood‚ she too had been called a "prodigy" and walked down the academy hallways under gazes of attention. But now it was different. He lived quietly‚ trying not to stand out.
（……The me from back then‚ and the me now. What has changed?）
Kotone tried to set her luggage on the desk but lost balance‚ scattering the contents. What rolled onto the floor was—a small strange invention. It looked like a mouse-shaped metal doll‚ which suddenly let out a "Pii!" and started running.
"Wait‚ hold on! That's still in the prototype stage!"
The students hurriedly chased after it‚ turning the hallway into a small commotion in an instant. The mouse-shaped invention slipped under a desk‚ and Cross‚ who happened to be passing by‚ laughed‚ "Whoa! New pet?" Rinne desperately called out‚ "It's dangerous‚ stop it!" while Iris clapped‚ "So cute~!"
Aria couldn't help but retort in her mind.
（……The morning at the academy turns into this kind of commotion? She really is overly energetic.）
Kotone‚ standing at the center of the commotion‚ kept smiling even while panicking. Looking at her‚ Aria strongly felt the contrast with her childhood self. The past self who pursued precision‚ and the current self. And the girl before her seemed like she would shake both.
Once the hallway commotion settled‚ Kotone finally finished organizing her luggage and noticed Aria. Her eyes widened as she rushed over and raised her voice with the same momentum.
"Aria! It's really you! To think the old 'prodigy' is here!"
The surrounding students buzzed. Aria unconsciously tapped her fingertips and averted her gaze.
「……Stop calling me that. I'm just a regular student now.」
"Eh—? The old Aria was precise like poetry. Not a single wasted line in the magic circle. I even thought‚ 'Did she use a ruler!?'"
「……I didn't use a ruler.」 When Aria replied softly‚ Kotone nodded with satisfaction.
Rinne approached worriedly and lightly tugged on Aria's sleeve.
"Aria‚ are you okay?"
「……No problem.」
But inside‚ an uncomfortable feeling as if the past had been thrust before her spread.
Cross jumped in with a laugh to lighten the mood.
"Hey‚ Kotone-chan! If you keep throwing around technical terms‚ my brain's gonna short-circuit!"
"Eh‚ then what if I say 'phase difference in multi-layered interference barriers'——"
"Stop! My brain's emitting smoke!" Cross dramatically clutched his head‚ and the surroundings were wrapped in laughter.
Iris also approached with great interest and peeked into Kotone's luggage.
"Hey hey‚ if you drink that test tube‚ is it sweet?"
"You can't drink it! That's residual reaction fluid!"
「……It's not a snack.」 Iris drooped her shoulders‚ and Rinne retorted‚ "Of course not!"
A subtle tension remained amid the laughter. Kotone's words sounded provocative and lit a small spark in Aria's chest.
（……She knows the old me. I wonder how she sees the current me.）
In the academy's research lab. Magical devices and barrier equipment were lined up on the desks‚ and the distant buzz of students echoed. Aria and Kotone stood side by side‚ preparing for the experiment. The theme was "Small Multi-Layered Barrier" and "Fluctuation of Emotions." It was truly a place to test the fusion of theory and emotion.
"Alright‚ starting with my method!" Kotone puffed out her chest.
She unfolded a mechanical theory and drew the barrier array with precision. The lines were without the slightest deviation‚ showing the same precision that reminded one of Aria in her childhood.
"See‚ this is the 'aesthetics of precision'!"
「……Sounds like an advertising slogan.」 Aria softly retorted.
Next‚ Aria constructed the barrier. While tapping her fingertips‚ she infused just a little emotion. The lines wavered slightly‚ but that wavering softly spread the light.
「……This is a method I couldn't do in the past.」
Kotone's eyes widened and she involuntarily raised her voice.
"Eh…… The fluctuation is stable!? Theoretically it should be unstable……!"
At that moment‚ a "Meow" came from under the desk. A small cat had jumped out of Kotone's pocket.
"Eh!? Why!? I only had test tubes in there earlier!"
「……This is the first time I've seen a researcher who pulls a cat out of her pocket.」 Aria calmly retorted.
Rinne hurriedly picked up the cat‚ Cross laughed "New summoning magic?" and Iris clapped "So cute~!"
After the small commotion‚ the barrier experiment continued. Kotone initially pouted her lips saying "Rival!" but her expression gradually changed.
「……Interesting. Aria‚ your method can't be explained by theory. But it's definitely becoming power.」
Her voice mixed respect along with rivalry.
It was a moment in the research lab's light where the past and present Aria seemed to stand side by side.
After the research lab commotion settled‚ Aria and Kotone sat side by side in a corner of the hallway. The academy at night was quiet‚ and the moonlight streaming through the windows drew faint patterns on the floor. The surrounding buzz disappeared‚ creating an atmosphere just for the two of them.
「……Aria‚ you were truly perfect back then. Not a single deviation in any line. I thought I could never catch up."
Kotone's voice was a little softer‚ carrying the tone of reminiscence rather than provocation.
Aria tapped her fingertips and lowered her gaze.
「……I wasn't perfect. My mother's guidance was strict‚ and I even caused my magic power to run wild. The terror from that time still hasn't disappeared.」
The words were short‚ but they felt like they were wrung from deep in her chest.
Kotone listened silently. Complex emotions swirled in her chest. Rivalry‚ admiration‚ and interest in the current Aria.
（……What I've been chasing isn't just the old "prodigy." The current him is also interesting in a different way.）
Suddenly‚ Kotone unconsciously imitated the tapping of Aria's fingertips. Their fingers marked the same rhythm‚ creating a short moment of sharing. Aria looked up in surprise‚ and Kotone laughed as if to hide her embarrassment.
「……Ah‚ I ended up copying you. Maybe a researcher's habit is contagious?"
「……Don't make even habits into research subjects.」 When Aria softly replied‚ a slight laugh was born between the two.
Even after the heavy conversation‚ Kotone's clumsy words slightly softened the air. Under the moonlight‚ the distance between the two shrank just a little.
After leaving the research lab‚ Rinne‚ Cross‚ and Iris joined Aria and Kotone. The academy courtyard was dyed in twilight‚ and students' laughter echoed from afar. The tense atmosphere gradually regained its gentleness.
"Wow‚ today's experiment was really worth watching!" Cross laughed heartily.
"A cat even came out……" Rinne looked at Aria with a wry smile.
「……That was unplanned.」 When Aria replied softly‚ Iris innocently laughed‚ "It was cute so it's fine!"
While readjusting her luggage‚ Kotone still had eyes that couldn't hide her researcher curiosity. In her pupils‚ respect mixed along with rivalry.
（……The old Aria was a symbol of precision. The current Aria shows strength while embracing fluctuation. Being able to see both is really interesting.）
On the other hand‚ Aria quietly organized things in her heart.
（……The old me was precise. The current me…… is still a work in progress. But maybe that's fine.）
While tapping her fingertips‚ she felt the tension in her shoulders ease just a little.
At that moment‚ Kotone raised her voice with "Ah!"
"I forgot something! I left my notebook in the research lab!"
Watching Kotone's back as she hurriedly ran off‚ Cross laughed "She's such a scatterbrain‚" and Rinne muttered "She really is overly energetic." Aria let out a small sigh but had a slight smile on her lips.
The academy's twilight quietly spread‚ leaving a lingering aftertaste that connected the past and present. It was a time that hinted at the budding of a new relationship and the deepening of future competition and friendship.
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