Episode 22: Quiet Support — The Silent Reins Nagi Weaves
The night in the academy’s research building was a completely different world from the daytime.
There was not a soul in the corridors‚ and the lamps mounted on the walls cast a soft orange glow.
In the silence‚ only the faint vibrating hum of magical instruments trembled through the air.
In one of the rooms — a laboratory lined neatly with documents and magical devices — Nagi was seated at a desk.
An expressionless profile.
Slender fingers guided a pen across the page‚ filling a notebook with equations and rough sketches of magical waveforms.
The gaze was cool and precise‚ picking up only the necessary information with perfect accuracy.
(...The phase of the barrier is disordered again. Is the cause the rising residual concentration‚ or is it—)
In the middle of that thought‚ there came a modest knock at the door.
“Nagi‚ are you still up?”
It was Aria’s voice.
Nagi looked up.
Aria stood there looking a little uncertain.
In hand was a stack of documents‚ and — as always — the fingertips were tapping out a soft “ton-ton” rhythm.
(...That habit when nervous. As easy to read as ever.)
“Come in?”
Nagi said flatly.
Aria entered hesitantly and stood in front of the desk.
“Um… I wanted to ask you about something. I just can’t seem to read the residual waveforms…”
Nagi glanced at Aria’s hands.
The edge of the papers was trembling slightly.
The “ton-ton” of the fingertips was picking up speed.
“First‚ calm down. The paper’s shaking.”
“Eh… ah‚ you’re right.”
“You’re not planning on fixing that habit?”
“No… it’s unconscious…”
“I know.”
Nagi answered flatly‚ expression unchanged.
Aria gave a wry smile and relaxed the shoulders just a little.
(...The fact that something this small is enough to put them at ease really does make them easy to handle. No‚ saying “easy to handle” might be the wrong way to put it.)
Nagi took the documents and quietly turned the pages.
Aria’s uncertainty and tension melted into the air of the laboratory.
In the night research building‚ a quiet reunion between the two began.
When the documents Aria had brought were spread across the desk‚ Nagi wordlessly ran eyes over them.
Fluctuations in the magical waveforms‚ the rhythm of the chant‚ the phase shift of the barrier — all of them subtle‚ yet unmistakably disordered.
(...Just as I thought. Aria’s magic has recently become more susceptible to emotional influence. It’s different from the days when it was controlled by theory alone.)
Nagi glanced sideways at Aria’s hands.
The “ton-ton” rhythm of the fingertips against the desk was a tempo mixed with tension and concentration.
“Aria‚ the third beat of your chant is half a beat off.”
“Eh… you can tell even something that fine?”
“It’s off. Also‚ the rise of your magic is slow. Emotional fluctuations are interfering.”
“…You can tell that much?”
“I can tell just by looking.”
Nagi answered flatly and made a minute adjustment to the magical phase on the observation device.
The fingers moved smoothly‚ and the barrier’s waveform began to stabilize.
“There. This should make it a little easier to handle.”
“Eh‚ already? In just an instant?”
“Your habits are simple.”
“Simple…?”
“It’s a compliment.”
It was hard to tell whether it really was a compliment from the tone‚ but Aria relaxed the shoulders just a little.
Nagi then lightly snapped the fingers in time with Aria’s chant.
The rhythm was the same tempo as Aria’s “ton-ton.”
“Chant at this tempo. The fluctuations in your magic will settle.”
“…Really?”
“Really. If you doubt it‚ try it.”
When Aria began the chant‚ the magical waveform smoothed out far more cleanly than before.
Aria’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Amazing… it really stabilized.”
“That’s what I said.”
Nagi‚ still expressionless‚ recorded the readings from the observation device.
But inwardly—
(...As I thought‚ Aria is easy to handle. No‚ that’s not right. Worth supporting‚ is more accurate.)
Aria looked at Nagi with open admiration.
At that gaze‚ Nagi averted the eyes for just a fraction of a second.
“Nagi‚ your explanations are really easy to understand. Um… even if they’re a little technical.”
“Then‚ to put it simply—”
Nagi summarized while folding the fingers one by one in a flat tone.
“Your magic was fluctuating. So I adjusted it. That’s all.”
“…Isn’t that a bit too simple?”
“The main points are enough‚ right?”
“Y-yeah… well‚ true.”
Aria gave a wry smile‚ yet exhaled with a sense of relief.
(...Seeing that expression makes the effort feel worthwhile.)
Nagi did not let any of that show‚ and simply reached quietly for the next set of documents.
On the experimental table in the center of the laboratory sat a small multi-layered barrier device.
A disc engraved with magical script glowed faintly‚ causing the surrounding air to tremble ever so slightly.
“Alright‚ let’s try reconstructing the barrier with this.”
Aria held a hand over the device.
The fingertips still tapped out the familiar “ton-ton” rhythm‚ but it was calmer than before.
(...The earlier adjustment is taking effect. The rise of the magic is smooth.)
Nagi stood before the observation device and checked the waveforms.
The flow of magic was stable‚ yet faint fluctuations still remained.
“Aria‚ ease up a little on the magic for the second beat. Too strong and the phase will jump.”
“L-like this?”
“Yes. About half of that.”
“Half… by feel?”
“You can do it.”
Aria gave a wry smile but adjusted the movement of the fingertips.
The magical waveform settled perfectly into place.
(...Truly obedient. No — this is about the magic. Only the magic is obedient.)
Nagi immediately denied the inner thought and recorded the readings from the observation device.
“Okay‚ next is layering the multi-barrier. I’ll put up the first layer‚ so Nagi‚ match the phase of the second.”
“Understood.”
The two moved their hands almost simultaneously.
Aria’s barrier radiated a soft light‚ and Nagi’s fingertips moved as if tracing the edge of that light.
Magical script floated into the air‚ overlapped‚ and began to rotate quietly.
The moment Aria’s magic wavered‚ Nagi immediately applied a correction.
The movement was without hesitation‚ as though Aria’s every habit had been completely grasped.
“…Nagi‚ that’s amazing. It’s like you’re reading all of my movements.”
“I am reading them.”
“Instant answer?!”
“Your habits are simple.”
“You said ‘simple’ again…”
“It’s a compliment.”
Aria smiled wryly‚ yet looked somehow pleased.
At that moment‚ the laboratory door burst open.
“Whoa—! You two are doing something incredible!”
Mark entered with exaggerated applause.
“The light’s spinning around and it’s got this… futuristic feel!”
“Mark‚ quiet.”
Nagi said expressionlessly.
“Eh‚ futuristic feel is no good?”
“I don’t care about the futuristic feel. The noise is annoying.”
“Harsh!”
Kotone also poked a face in and her eyes sparkled at the light of the barrier.
“Wow… so pretty! Aria-kun‚ Nagi-san‚ you’re amazing!”
“Kotone‚ it’s dangerous if you step there.”
“Eh?”
When Nagi pointed it out flatly‚ Kotone hastily pulled the foot back.
(...Noisy‚ but not bad. As long as Aria is calm‚ that’s enough.)
Thinking that‚ Nagi returned the gaze to the observation device once more.
The barrier was stable‚ the light pulsing quietly.
The coordination between the two was clearly beginning to take shape.
Once the experiment had settled for the moment‚ the light of the barrier device gradually weakened.
Only the faint vibrating hum of the magical instruments and the sound of Aria organizing papers remained in the laboratory.
While recording the readings‚ Nagi glanced sideways at Aria.
Aria was earnestly organizing the documents‚ yet the fingertips were still tapping “ton-ton” against the desk.
(...Looking calm‚ yet not quite calm. Still‚ more stable than earlier.)
Nagi felt a faint stirring deep in the chest.
It was not unpleasant; rather‚ it was a warmth-tinged sway.
(...Feeling this kind of emotion toward an observation subject is inefficient.
But…)
Aria suddenly looked up and smiled at Nagi.
“Nagi‚ you really saved me. If you hadn’t been here‚ today’s experiment would have definitely failed.”
That smile was unguarded and straightforward—
Nagi averted the eyes for just a moment.
(...Please stop. When you make that face‚ it becomes harder to maintain distance.)
None of it showed on the face.
Yet something quietly spread ripples deep in the chest.
Aria set the documents on the desk and let out a deep breath.
“Nagi‚ why can you understand my habits and the fluctuations in my magic so well?”
“Because I observe.”
“That much?”
“You’re easy to read.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“I merely stated a fact.”
Aria smiled wryly‚ and Nagi calmly switched off the observation device.
Just then‚ the laboratory door opened and Cross poked a face in.
“Hey— are you two still at it? I brought a late-night snack!”
In hand was a tray with bread and soup.
“Cross‚ quiet. The barrier will be disturbed.”
“Eh‚ from my voice?!”
“Your voice resonates unnecessarily.”
“Isn’t that harsh?!”
Cross slumped the shoulders theatrically‚ and Aria stifled a laugh.
(...Aria’s expression at times like this is more stable than during the experiment.
As expected‚ environmental factors have a large influence.)
While making that analysis‚ Nagi quietly set a document at the edge of the desk.
It was a memo extracting only the necessary parts so that Aria could read them easily.
(...It’s not consideration. It’s for efficiency.
…For efficiency.)
Telling that to the self‚ Nagi sat back down in the chair‚ expression unchanged.
The night deepened‚ and a quiet darkness spread beyond the windows of the research building.
Only the glow of the lamps illuminated the laboratory‚ casting soft shadows from the magical instruments on the desk.
Aria held the documents and looked back at the door.
“Nagi‚ thank you so much for today. …You really helped me a lot.”
The voice was soft‚ carrying a note of relief.
Nagi nodded lightly‚ expressionless.
“I only did what was natural. If you stabilize‚ overall efficiency rises as well.”
“Efficiency… yeah. You’re right.”
Aria smiled wryly‚ yet looked somehow pleased.
Just before opening the door‚ Aria’s fingertips moved in a light “ton-ton.”
It was not tension‚ but a somehow settled rhythm.
(...Stable. Was it today’s adjustment that took effect‚ or—)
Nagi did not pursue the thought further and quietly lowered the gaze.
After Aria left‚ a warm afterglow lingered in the laboratory.
On the desk was a single memo that Nagi had casually left behind.
It had been placed gently atop the documents so that Aria would notice it later.
Written there in Nagi’s characteristically concise hand was this:
“Observation ongoing — latent response favorable.
However‚ beware of overload.”
It looked like a cool analysis‚ yet there was something soft about it.
That was Nagi’s own way of staying close.
The laboratory lamp swayed faintly‚ and the quiet night returned once more.
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