“That’s just because Eunice-kun is scared of Klaha-san. You don’t need to worry about it.”

That was the response when she mentioned that she hadn't quite warmed up to him yet.

It was midday. Moreover, it was the kind of time when summer was full of itself, declaring, "If I don’t put in the effort now, I’ll disgrace the very essence of hot seasons." There was the sun, the trees, the sea breeze, and even buildings. And, astonishingly, within a certain building called the "laboratory," multiple rooms existed. Even more unbelievably, inside a room labeled "cafeteria," there were creatures claiming to be "humans."

Specifically, there were two of them.

One was a girl who had risen early in the morning, spent her time in the lab assisting a girl named Ney in tending to plants, and deepening her own knowledge—Klaha.

The other had appeared just as Ney had gone back to her room, declaring she would take a nap, with a presence so grand that it almost felt divine—Lililia, who had just woken up.

As Lililia sluggishly rummaged through the cooler, wondering what to eat, she eventually ended up holding a raw egg in her hand, staring at it. Seeing this, Klaha couldn't ignore it. She prepared tea for both of them, placed some easy-to-eat snacks on a plate, and within the short time it took for those to be finished, she also made a simple fried rice dish.

While eating, Lililia suddenly said, "Thanks~. I shall grant you a wish."

Klaha started to decline, saying it wasn’t necessary, but before she could finish, Lililia reached into her pocket, saying, "Then, maybe I should give you a charm or something?"

Klaha quickly thought. Before she could be handed something outrageous, she should use this opportunity to ask for advice.

That was how she ended up saying, "I haven't been able to get along with him very well."

And the response she got was, "He’s just scared of you."

“...Huh?”

“Oh? That didn’t quite click?”

“Yes. Scared…? Of me?”

When she asked, "Eunice-san is?" Lililia nodded. When she asked, "Of me?" Lililia nodded again. She kept eating, swallowed, and then spoke in a clear voice.

“Eunice-kun doesn’t have much confidence in himself.”

“………………?”

“If it’s someone obvious, like me or Ziel-kun, that’s one thing. But when it comes to someone as composed as you, Klaha-san, he probably gets nervous. It’s not like you two have a common ground, like with Professor Wilae or Professor Roylen.”

“Someone like me…?”

Klaha took a moment to process those words.

That she was composed. That Lililia and Ziel had an obvious presence. She figured there was no point in denying these things—not because there was no room for debate about whether the two had an obvious presence or whether she was composed, but because the logic that stemmed from these assumptions was what mattered in this discussion. So, she put those thoughts aside and considered something else.

No confidence in himself.

The youngest Grand Mage. From their first meeting, he had always carried a certain unique air about him.

“Think of him like a cat that isn’t used to people. Just be patient with him. Though, it’s odd for me to be the one saying that. But it’ll be fine, don’t you think? Aren’t you and Eunice-kun about the same age?”

“Ah, that’s true. Probably.”

“See? So there’s nothing to worry about.”

With that, Lililia smiled, soaking in the summer light.

What exactly did she mean by "See?" The rational part of Klaha’s mind wondered. Just because they were the same age didn’t necessarily mean they’d get along. Yet, for some reason, that single sentence seemed to resolve everything. Maybe it was because Lililia’s voice and smile carried an inexplicable sense of clarity and persuasion.

And then—

“Oh, speak of the devil.”

“Huh?”

Before she could dwell on it further, Lililia had already stood up.

Lililia pulled out her chair. Stood up. Walked around the table to the window. Opened it. As Klaha followed her movements, the reason behind them became clear.

“What’s up, Eunice-kun? It’s scorching outside.”

“I can’t find my way indoors, so I thought I’d go outside and look at the sky to reorient myself.”

“Huh. Must be tough for people who can’t navigate indoors.”

“...Why is it that you can walk through the laboratory effortlessly?”

“Do people get lost in their own house?”

“I don’t think there are many people who suddenly stop getting lost the moment they decide ‘this place is home’… Are you some kind of spirit?”

“Exactly.”

With an exaggerated motion, Lililia grabbed him by the waist and hoisted him up through the window.

Purple hair. Eyes like the galaxy.

Eunice had suddenly appeared outside the window—and then stepped inside.

“So, what’s up? Breakfast?”

“Morning has long since passed.”

“Don’t give up.”

“I don’t want to cling too desperately and make the morning hate me… It’s not like I’m particularly hungry. It’s just that earlier, I saw Ziel, and right at that moment—”

“Ah,”

Just as those words were spoken, Klaha met Eunice’s gaze.

“……”

“H-hello. …It’s nice weather, isn’t it?”

“Ah, yeah. Hello. ……………”

“…………Yes.”

“…………Yeah.”

“Is weather this extreme really considered ‘nice’? Though I may question it, there is no one to provide an answer. Only the silence of summer lingers in the dining hall…”

As Lililia inserted her own narration,

Considering the conversation just before, Klaha couldn’t help but look at Eunice with those eyes.

He’s afraid of me.

Really?

“Well, I shouldn’t be in the way, so I’ll get going.”

“Ah, no, Eunice, I was just about to head back to my room—”

“By the way, where are you going, Eunice?”

“Nowhere in particular—wait, what?”

Before she could gauge the truth of the matter, Eunice suddenly moved in a big, swift motion.

He crouched down. Flattened himself against the wall by the window. Shrunk in on himself. Held his breath. Whether by some kind of magic or not, his presence seemed to thin, as if he were fading away.

The reason for this was immediately clear.

“Oh,”

“Ah,”

Another figure appeared outside the window.

“What’s up, Ziel? Out here in this heat?”

“Considering his usual behavior, I figured he’d have stepped outside for a bit. Have you seen Eunice?”

Klaha almost let her gaze shift toward him.

The one pressed tightly against the wall. By some miracle, Eunice had managed to evade Ziel’s searching eyes despite his nervous expression and the sweat forming on his brow. But—Klaha stopped herself. If she moved her eyes, she might give it away. So she kept looking at Ziel’s face while watching from the edge of her vision.

Shhh—

Eunice, his expression desperate, pressed a single finger to his lips.

“Haven’t seen him at all. Why? Playing hide-and-seek?”

“I doubt we’d be playing hide-and-seek at our age…”

“There’s also the fact that it could be life-threatening.”

“It absolutely shouldn’t be.”

“But I was a little surprised. Ziel, you can actually make your way around the building’s exterior?”

“It’s just a matter of following the walls with my hands. What do you take me for?”

To be honest, Klaha had wondered the same thing.

Of course, given Ziel’s past achievements—like tracking footprints in the eastern lands—it was an ability she should have expected. But it was hard to shake off preconceived notions.

“Well, in any case, he hasn’t come this way.”

Lililia said it smoothly.

“I see.” Ziel nodded. “Thanks. See you later.” He raised a hand in a casual gesture and departed with an easy, refreshing stride, his black hair catching the summer wind.

“Phew.” Eunice let out a breath.

“Sorry. You really saved me.”

“Well, I’ll be off now.”

With that, Eunice took off running. His steps were light—Klaha thought—but considering his level of physical ability, how was it that he never once seemed fatigued while trekking through the forest?

“Did you see that, Klaha?”

Once Eunice was out of sight, Lililia spoke.

“See what?”

“It’s not that you did anything wrong. It’s just that Eunice is always like that. I think we’re good now. Hey, Ziel—!”

“Ziel—!”

Lililia leaned far out of the window and called his name. The birds in the forest flew up in a flurry. But before they even had the chance to settle back down, Ziel returned.

“Yes?”

Standing by the window once again, Ziel looked up at Lililia.

“I’m impressed you found your way back.”

“I was waiting nearby, just in case.”

“Oh, really? Sorry. That was a lie. Eunice came in through this window just a moment ago.”

“I figured as much.”

“Eh?” Klaha found herself repeating the word twice.

First, out of shock that Lililia had given him away. Second, because Ziel had already known.

“I thought it was odd that you had the window open in this heat. Which way did he go?”

“That, I can’t tell you.”

“Figures.”

Ziel smoothly vaulted over the window and stepped inside. Before heading out into the hallway, he glanced back at Klaha and nodded lightly. “Sorry for dragging you into this.”

Then he stepped into the hall, looked left and right, crouched down, and studied the floor as if searching for footprints in the dirt. But of course, there were none. Realizing this, he sighed, rubbed his forehead, and took off running in a random direction.

Once he had vanished from sight—

“I used to think about this a lot back at the church,” Lililia said.

“Think about what?”

“How so many people are living their own lives, and while we’re here, all kinds of things are happening in places we don’t even know about.”

“Huh…”

That was certainly true, Klaha thought, nodding.

But not knowing what exactly had just transpired left her feeling strangely unsettled.

“A lot of things happen, don’t they?”

“Yeah. A lot of things happen.”

And with that, as Lililia followed up with, “I think your worries will be solved eventually,” Klaha simply tilted her head in response and spent the rest of the afternoon in idle chatter.