Episode 26: The Day Iris’s Fingertips Trembled After a Mild Fever
The morning in the port town carried the sweet scent of bread on the salty breeze as usual.
Even in the academy corridors‚ a leisurely atmosphere drifted about.
I—Aria—was heading to the classroom‚ tapping my fingertips “ton-ton” to adjust the rhythm of my magic power.
(...What is this restless feeling in my chest?)
I quickly understood the reason.
Iris was standing vaguely‚ leaning against the wall in front of the classroom.
“Good morning‚ Aria... Fwaah...”
It was her usual soft voice‚ but a little weaker.
I couldn’t help but rush over.
“Iris‚ are you okay? Your complexion is...”
“Huh? I’m fine~. Look‚ I’m full of energy today... Huh?”
The moment she tried to hop lightly‚ Iris’s body swayed and tilted.
“Whoa... Careful!”
I hurriedly supported her.
Iris looked at me blankly and smiled.
“Ehehe... Maybe the wind was just a bit strong?”
(No‚ it’s not because of the wind...)
Then‚ with perfect timing‚ Cross and Mark appeared.
“Hey Aria! About today’s muscle training menu—wait‚ Iris?!”
“Whoaa?! Miss Iris is about to collapse?! Use my shoulder!”
“No‚ I’m already supporting her!”
“Aria’s arms are too thin‚ I’m worried!”
“That’s rude!”
Then Rinne and Kotone also came running over.
“Iris-chan‚ are you okay?!”
“Pulse? Temperature? Magic flow?”
“Kotone‚ you’re acting like the medical team...”
Iris received everyone’s concern with a blank smile.
“You’re all overreacting~. I’m just a little sleepy.”
(...No‚ it’s definitely not “a little.”)
The restless feeling in my chest grew even stronger.
When we entered the classroom‚ Iris was sitting neatly in her usual seat.
She was smiling cheerfully‚ as if she hadn’t been unsteady just moments ago.
“Aria‚ look look. Today’s bento is heart-shaped~”
Iris happily opened the wrapping.
...But what was inside was clearly “something completely crushed.”
“...Isn’t that just completely smashed?”
“Eh?! Ah... you’re right...! But doesn’t it look like a heart?”
“You’re too positive...”
As we were exchanging such words‚ Cross slammed the desk with a bang.
“Iris! That unsteadiness earlier definitely isn’t from lack of sleep!
My muscle sensor is saying ‘danger’!”
“What even is a muscle sensor...?”
As I was exasperated‚ Nagi calmly added.
“Cross’s muscles aren’t sensing anything. It’s just his imagination.”
“Nagi-san‚ the way you say it!”
“It’s a fact.”
Mark also leaned forward worriedly.
“Miss Iris‚ if you’re feeling unwell‚ you can use my shoulder! No‚ my back is fine too! No‚ I’ll just carry you princess-style!”
“Mark‚ that’s just your wish‚ right?”
“No! Well‚ it’s not not‚ but it’s not!”
Rinne gently took Iris’s hand and asked softly.
“Iris‚ are you really okay? You’re not pushing yourself?”
“I’m fine~. My head just feels a little floaty...”
“That’s not fine!”
Kotone furrowed her brow while operating her tablet.
“Your magic flow is a bit disturbed. Iris‚ have you been resting properly lately?”
“Ehehe... Last night the stars were so pretty‚ I just...”
“Staying up late?!”
Everyone retorted at the same time.
Iris laughed while flapping both hands.
“But the stars were twinkling... and it felt like they were calling me...”
“That’s romantic‚ but dangerous!”
I couldn’t help raising my voice.
(...As I thought‚ it’s not just lack of sleep.
The fluctuation in her magic power is more unstable than usual.)
My chest felt restless.
My emotion magic was picking up on Iris’s “subtle discomfort.”
(...I have to support her. If there’s something I can do...)
Iris was smiling leisurely‚ ignoring my concern.
“Everyone‚ you don’t have to worry so much... I’m fine~.
Look‚ I can still smile properly today!”
That smile was certainly bright.
But—it seemed to have just a slight shadow over it.
At lunch break‚ the academy rooftop had a pleasant sea breeze‚ and distant sailboats in the harbor moved slowly.
Iris and I sat side by side on a bench‚ while the other friends watched over us from a short distance away.
“Aria‚ the wind feels nice today~”
Iris smiled as usual‚ but her voice was somehow weak.
“Yeah... but don’t push yourself. Your magic flow has been unstable since earlier.”
“Eh‚ you can tell?”
“I can. My magic reacts to emotions... so Iris’s fluctuations come through to me.”
Iris stared at me with a blank expression.
That face was so natural that I couldn’t help but smile a little.
“Then... I’ll just adjust your magic a little.”
I gently touched Iris’s hand and tapped my fingertips “ton-ton” to adjust the rhythm of the magic power.
Emotion magic is a magic that picks up the swaying of the other person’s heart and wraps it gently as it flows.
(...It’s okay. Don’t rush‚ slowly...)
The depths of my chest grew warm‚ and that heat rode the magic and flowed into Iris.
“Wa... somehow‚ it’s warm...”
Iris narrowed her eyes.
“Yeah. Your magic flow was just a little disturbed. With this...”
At that moment—
“Ariaaaa! Adjust my magic toooooo!”
Mark came running at full speed.
“Why?!”
“I’ve been feeling like my soul is wavering lately too!”
“That’s just your imagination!”
Cross followed right after.
“Aria! Adjust the magic in my muscles too!”
“Magic doesn’t flow through muscles!”
“Why not?!”
Rinne sighed while dragging the two of them away.
“Geez... don’t get in Aria’s way!”
Nagi crossed her arms and said calmly.
“...You two are just noise sources.”
“Nagi-san‚ the way you say it!”
“It’s a fact.”
Even amid that commotion‚ Iris was giggling.
“Everyone’s so close~”
“No‚ rather than close... just noisy...”
But Iris’s smile had softened a little.
Her magic flow was also more stable than before.
(...Good. It seems she’s feeling a bit better.)
Iris gently squeezed my hand back.
“Aria... thank you. Somehow‚ the heaviness in my chest feels lighter.”
“Yeah. Don’t push yourself. Tell me right away if anything happens.”
“Yeah. I feel at ease when Aria is here.”
Those words made my chest warm a little.
But at the same time—
I felt a faint “shadow”-like fluctuation remaining in the depths of the magic power.
(...As I thought‚ it’s not just fatigue.)
That discomfort dropped a small anxiety into the depths of my chest.
After school‚ the academy lounge was dyed orange by the setting sun streaming in.
Normally a place where a leisurely atmosphere flowed‚ today it felt somehow unsettled.
Iris was sitting on the sofa‚ gently pressing her chest.
“...Somehow‚ it’s a little hard to breathe.”
At those words‚ the air in the lounge instantly tensed.
“Iris‚ that’s definitely not okay!”
Rinne rushed over in a panic.
Cross also crossed his arms and furrowed his brow.
“Hmm... my muscle sensor is saying ‘danger.’”
“I told you muscles don’t talk!”
I immediately retorted.
Mark flapped both hands while shouting.
“Miss Iris! Please sit on my lap! No‚ my back is fine too! No‚ I’ll just carry you!”
“Mark‚ that’s just your wish‚ right?”
“No! Well‚ it’s not not‚ but it’s not!”
Kotone had a serious expression while operating her tablet.
“The magic fluctuation... is stronger than earlier. Iris‚ you really should rest today.”
“Ehh... but I want to talk with everyone...”
Iris smiled.
That smile was soft‚ but somehow fleeting.
(...As I thought‚ she’s pushing herself.)
The depths of my chest felt restless.
My emotion magic was picking up Iris’s “deep fluctuation.”
Nagi quietly opened her mouth.
“Iris. With your constitution‚ disturbances in magic place a heavy burden. If you push yourself... it could become irreversible.”
“Eh... Nagi‚ you’re worrying about me that much?”
“I only stated the facts.”
“That’s kindness!”
Cross retorted.
Iris giggled.
“Everyone’s so kind~. But I’m really fine? Look‚ I can still smile.”
Saying that‚ Iris’s cheeks were just a little pale.
(...No. She’s smiling‚ but she’s not fine.)
The depths of my chest tightened.
I gently sat next to Iris.
“Iris‚ let’s rest for today. Don’t push yourself.”
“Aria... you don’t have to worry so much...”
“I do worry. Because... the fluctuation in your magic is different from usual.”
Iris blinked in surprise‚ then smiled softly.
“...Aria‚ you’re really kind.”
That smile was warm‚ yet somehow had a shadow over it.
(...I mustn’t overlook this shadow.)
My friends felt the same.
The air in the lounge held a quiet resolve beneath the usual liveliness.
The academy courtyard at dusk had a soft sea breeze blowing through‚ and orange light illuminated the stone pavement.
We had moved from the lounge and were sitting on a bench taking a breather.
“Fuu... somehow‚ I made everyone worry~”
Iris smiled small.
That smile was as soft as always‚ but somehow mixed with a fleeting quality.
“Of course we worry. After you were that unsteady.”
I tapped my fingertips “ton-ton” while gently probing the magic fluctuation.
It was more stable than earlier‚ but the residual shadow in the depths hadn’t disappeared.
Rinne gently draped a jacket over Iris’s shoulders.
“You should rest for today. Don’t push yourself.”
“Thank you‚ Rinne. You’re kind~”
“Of course!”
Cross crossed his arms and nodded.
“Alright‚ starting tomorrow my ‘healthy muscle training menu’—”
“Please don’t!”
Everyone immediately retorted.
Mark clenched his fists and declared.
“Until Miss Iris recovers‚ I’ll watch over her every day!”
“That sounds exhausting in itself‚ so no.”
Kotone cut him off calmly.
At that exchange‚ Iris giggled.
That smile seeped gently into my chest.
(...It’s okay. Everyone is here.
But—I can’t overlook this fluctuation.)
I gently stood up and offered my hand to Iris.
“I’ll walk you to your room. Rest slowly today.”
“Yeah. I feel at ease with Aria.”
Those words made my chest warm.
But at the same time‚ a small anxiety remained sunk in the depths of my chest.
Just then—
From far away in the academy‚ the low sound of a magic alarm echoed.
“...Residue reaction again?”
Nagi furrowed her brow.
The evening air felt just a little colder.
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