Episode 13: A Page of Misalignment An Empty Seat for Iris
The garden of the Royal Magic Academy was enveloped in the afternoon sunlight. Students sat on the lawn‚ chatting and nibbling on bread. Leaves rustled in the wind‚ creating a somewhat idyllic atmosphere.
Aria sat on a bench‚ quietly turning the pages of a book in her hand. She tapped her fingertips while organizing her theories. Keeping a slight distance from the surrounding bustle‚ she was spending a peaceful time.
（……This kind of time isn’t bad. I can think quietly.）
At that moment‚ a shadow suddenly fell over her.
「Ariaー！ Look at this！」
Iris burst in energetically. She spread both hands‚ and small musical notes of light popped up one after another in the air. It was an impromptu magical performance. The notes sparkled and danced‚ coloring the garden as they rode the wind.
The students let out “Wow!” cheers. Aria involuntarily closed her book and widened her eyes.
（……Sudden as always. But strangely‚ it eases my heart.）
The musical notes gradually increased‚ enveloping the garden like a small choir. However‚ the performance went a bit overboard‚ and the stirred-up dust hit Aria’s nose directly.
「……Achoo！」
「Sorry！ I got a little too excited！」 Iris hurriedly waved her hands.
The surrounding students laughed‚ and Aria unconsciously softened her expression. At the same time‚ she was bewildered by her own clumsy emotions.
（……My heart is shaken by her innocence. But how should I respond？）
Iris smiled with satisfaction and sat down next to Aria. The sunny spot in the garden created a small temperature difference between the two.
The same day‚ in the evening. The academy rooftop was as quiet as if the daytime clamor had been a lie. The sky was dyed red‚ and the wind fluttered the hem of their uniforms. Aria leaned against the railing‚ tapping her fingertips while deep in thought.
（……Reflection on today’s training. The fluctuation in the barrier is‚ after all‚ influenced by emotions……）
Then‚ the rooftop door opened with a “clack.”
「Ariaー！ I brought snacks！」
Iris came running over with a smile. She was holding a package in both hands‚ carrying it as carefully as if it were a treasure.
「Eh‚ ah…… thank you. What’s this all of a sudden？」
「Just because！ Aria‚ you’ve been making a difficult face lately‚ so I thought eating something sweet might cheer you up！」
Those innocent words warmed Aria’s chest a little. But at the same time‚ her head was still full of organizing theories.
（……I want to summarize the barrier structure right now…… but‚ Iris’s thoughtfulness makes me happy……）
As a result‚ Aria’s reply became half-hearted.
「Y-yeah. Sweets…… well‚ yeah. That helps.」
Iris’s smile wavered for just a moment.
Just an instant. But Aria didn’t notice.
「I-I see！ Then open it！」
Iris forced herself to act cheerful as she handed over the package. When Aria opened it――
「……It’s huge！？」
Inside was a giant cookie about the size of a face. And it was cat-shaped.
If Cross saw it‚ he would definitely say something like “It’s the cookie of victory！”
「Ehehe‚ it’s cute‚ right？ I thought Aria might like cats……」
「No‚ I don’t dislike them…… but how do you eat this？」
「With momentum！」
Iris puffed out her chest‚ but Aria froze in front of the giant cookie.
（……It’s not a size you eat with momentum.）
At that subtle reaction‚ Iris felt a sting in her chest.
（……I thought she would be happy. Maybe the timing was bad.）
But she quickly put on a smile.
「W-well！ We can share it with everyone！ Right？」
「Ah‚ yeah…… that’s true. Thank you.」
Aria finally returned a smile‚ but a small shadow had fallen over Iris’s heart.
On the sunset rooftop‚ the “slight temperature difference” between the two quietly accumulated.
On the way home from the academy. The twilight town was lively with the smells of food stalls and people’s voices. Aria and Iris walked side by side‚ but it felt somewhat awkward. The subtle atmosphere from the rooftop still lingered faintly between them.
At that moment――
「H-helpー！」
A child’s voice echoed from the alley. Aria and Iris turned around at the same time.
「Let’s go！」
「Yeah！」
The two ran off. In the depths of the alley‚ a small magical beast — though it was more like a round fluffy ball — was clinging to a lost child. It didn’t look dangerous at all. In fact‚ it was cute.
But the child looked like they were about to cry.
「It’s okay‚ it’s not scary！」
Iris crouched down and gently called out.
Meanwhile‚ Aria began analyzing the magical beast’s movements.
（……This magical beast has low aggression. It’s more of a friendly type. But since the child is scared‚ first we should create some distance——）
「Alright‚ safety first.」
Aria deployed a barrier‚ creating a thin wall between the magical beast and the child.
At that moment‚ the magical beast let out a “kyururu” cry and stuck flat against Aria’s barrier.
……It was clearly playing.
「Aria‚ it’s not scared at all！」
「No‚ just in case……！」
Iris smiled wryly and picked up the magical beast. It happily licked her cheek.
「See‚ it’s a gentle child. Right？」
「……It matches my analysis‚ but it’s somehow frustrating.」
As Aria made a complicated face‚ Rinne and Cross came running from the entrance of the alley.
「Are you okay！？ Wait…… huh‚ a fluffball？」
「Whoa‚ it’s cute！ Aria‚ were you overthinking with logic again？」
「I wasn’t overthinking！」
「You were！」
Cross and Rinne’s retorts flew‚ and Iris let out a small chuckle.
The child saw the magical beast being held by Iris and felt relieved‚ stopping their tears.
「Thank you‚ big sister……」
「No problem‚ it’s okay！」
Watching that exchange‚ Aria felt a slight stir in her chest.
（……I should have been able to move more calmly. Iris always naturally puts people at ease.）
After the child left‚ Iris muttered quietly.
「……I wish I could have done more together with Aria.」
Her voice was small‚ almost lost in the wind.
But Aria missed it because the magical beast happened to cry “kyururu” at that moment.
「Hm？ Did you say something？」
「No‚ it’s nothing！」
Iris put on a smile‚ but a hint of loneliness lingered in her eyes.
In the twilight street corner‚ another piece of misalignment between the two quietly piled up.
The academy garden at night was as quiet as if the daytime clamor had been a lie. Magical streetlights flickered here and there‚ and shadows swayed every time the wind moved the trees. Aria climbed the stairs leading to the rooftop and breathed in the quiet air.
She thought no one was on the rooftop…… but the moment she thought that.
「Aria？」
When she turned around‚ Iris was standing there‚ wearing a soft smile that was slightly different from her daytime innocence.
「What are you doing at this hour？」
「Aria‚ you too. ……You looked like you were thinking about something.」
Iris quietly stood next to Aria. The night breeze passed between them‚ rustling their hair.
Aria tapped her fingertips while recalling the events of the day.
（……I couldn’t properly respond to Iris’s thoughtfulness. That was…… not good.）
Iris gazed at Aria’s profile and gathered a small bit of courage in her chest.
（……I’ll say it. Even just a little‚ I want to convey my feelings.）
「Hey‚ Aria. I…… um……」
The moment Iris tried to weave her words.
「By the way‚ about today’s investigation results on the remnants――」
Aria suddenly brought up a different topic.
Iris’s words disappeared as if swept away by the wind.
「……Ah‚ yeah. The remnants. They’re important‚ huh.」
Iris put on a smile‚ but a shadow crossed her eyes for a moment.
Aria didn’t notice.
（……Did she have something she wanted to say？ But right now‚ the investigation comes first——）
Iris quietly leaned against the railing and looked up at the night sky.
「Aria‚ you really are serious‚ aren’t you.」
「Eh？ Am I？」
「Yeah. ……And I like that about you.」
The last words were almost a whisper. They didn’t reach Aria.
At that moment‚ a figure waving from afar came into view.
「Ariaー！ Irisー！ Are you taking in the night breezeー？」
It was Rinne. She waved her hand innocently and ran toward them.
「Wah‚ Rinne……！」
Iris hurriedly straightened her posture‚ and Aria awkwardly cleared her throat.
Rinne stood between the two and smiled brightly.
「Was there a nice atmosphere？ Did I interrupt？」
「N-no‚ not at all！」
「I-it’s nothing！」
Seeing the two panic‚ Rinne let out a meaningful “fufu.”
After that‚ the three talked a little‚ and Rinne went home first.
Once again‚ only Aria and Iris remained on the rooftop.
「……Shall we head back soon？」
「Yeah.」
Iris was smiling‚ but Aria still couldn’t read the wavering behind that smile.
When they left the academy gate‚ the night breeze gently brushed their cheeks. The magical streetlights flickered‚ casting soft light on the stone pavement. Aria and Iris walked side by side‚ both seemingly searching for words.
「Today…… a lot happened‚ huh.」
Iris muttered quietly.
「Yeah. The street corner incident‚ the rooftop……」
Aria continued while tapping her fingertips‚ choosing her words carefully.
「Um…… thank you. For helping with various things.」
「Ehehe‚ you’re welcome！」
Iris laughed innocently.
Her smile was as bright as always‚ yet it somehow seemed a little lacking in strength.
（……Is it just my imagination？）
Aria felt a small unease in her chest‚ but she still couldn’t grasp the reason.
They reached the fork in the road in front of the academy.
「See you tomorrow！」
Iris lightly waved her hand‚ turned around gracefully. Her skirt fluttered softly as she walked away into the night breeze.
Aria watched her back and muttered quietly.
「……What was that just now？」
She tapped her fingertips.
The warmth remaining in her chest was different from the fluctuation of magic. It was more ambiguous‚ more troublesome‚ yet somehow pleasant.
（……I feel like I need to face it properly. Both Iris’s feelings and my own.）
At that moment‚ a lively voice rang out from a nearby stall.
「Grilled dumplings‚ anyoneー！ Eat something sweet and cheer upー！」
Then‚ a cat meowed “nya” and crossed in front of Aria’s feet.
「……No‚ I am cheered up‚ but…… that’s not what I mean.」
Aria walked into the night road with a bitter smile.
The misalignments continue. Yet‚ the distance is certainly shrinking.
That ambiguous relationship still left a pleasant aftertaste for now.
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