Home Study and Raven's Shadow
The presentation assignment was due next week. That meant we had to research and prepare our content within a single week.
“It might be better to just get it done now rather than rushing at the last minute. What does everyone think?” Yulia, our group leader, suggested first.
Of course, I agreed with her. Considering the brutality of group projects, knocking it out right away seemed like the lesser evil.
“I think that's a good idea,” I said, casting my vote first. Naturally, all eyes turned to the remaining two.
Sharon, who had been quietly sitting there the whole time, gave a small nod.
“Yeah. Sounds good.”
What a short answer. Still, it was way better than her staying completely silent.
That left just one more. Rachel, picking at her ear with a bored expression, replied indifferently.
“Do we have to? It's a hassle. We can just take it slow.”
Just as I expected. That attitude was the most dangerous. If I had to name the villain of this group project, no one could argue it wouldn't be Rachel. She'd keep putting it off for being “too much trouble,” then on presentation day, irresponsibly claim she forgot to do her research. The rage that boils up in that moment can only be understood by those who've experienced it firsthand.
[Looks like you've got a lot of pent-up frustration, huh.]
Hmm. Got a little heated there for a second. Anyway, this development wasn't good. I figured we could push a bit harder, but kind-hearted Yulia apparently couldn't just ignore a group member's opinion.
“So, when would work best for everyone?”
“Do we even need to meet up? Can't we just each handle our parts, wing the presentation, and call it done?”
“Hmm...”
In the end, I stepped in to explain why we needed to meet.
“If we all work separately, communication will suck, and it'll end up way more annoying and inefficient. How about we get together properly once, hammer it out, and then add personal touches afterward?”
Rachel scrunched up her face, blatantly showing her displeasure.
“Hassle. And you, nerd.”
She suddenly pointed at me and voiced some bizarre suspicion.
“You harboring weird thoughts or something?”
“...Huh?”
“Three girls, one guy. Need I say more? You looked thrilled when the group formed.”
Come on. Where's this twisted version of events coming from? The only time I was happy was when Yulia suggested we team up. When I realized it was you two filling out the rest, I was pretty much in despair.
[Tch. Busted?]
'What are you talking about!' And why are you so quick to accept that!?
I've said it a million times, but my taste is pure love, not harem stuff. No matter what happens, that won't change. Probably.
“Rachel, you can't just accuse someone based on baseless guesses. Besides, Kro's not like that.”
Yulia defending me? I was a little touched.
“You're no fun. I was joking. Right, nerd?”
She poked my side with her elbow, forcing fake agreement. For the sake of a peaceful group project, I swallowed my pride.
“Haha. Of course.”
“So we're meeting up to work on it? Rachel, that cool with you?”
“...Fine. Stop staring at me like that.”
Ooh. Rachel folding so easily was more surprising than expected. Was she weak to that kind of thing? Did pure smiles melt her tsundere defenses?
“Since we're on the topic, how about we do it today? Everyone okay with that?”
Both Rachel and I nodded.
“What about you, Sharon?”
“Fine.”
And so, Group 8 decided to dive into the project right after class ended that day. But there was still one issue left.
“Where should we meet?”
“Can't we just do it at a café?”
Yulia pondered my suggestion before speaking up.
“A house might be better than a café. Talking about the project there could bother other people.”
“Yeah, you're right.”
“Okay. All settled then.”
Huh? All settled? Rachel's smile somehow felt ominous.
So this was what she meant by all settled. After class, I returned home from the Academy—with three female students in tow.
“Ooh, nerd. Your place is nicer than I thought.”
“Kro, mind if we crash for the day?”
Rachel grinned that same ominous grin from earlier.
“The day? Nah, we're intruding all week till the presentation.”
Hold up! No one said anything about that!
“Kro needs his rest too. It'll be a hassle if we come every day.”
“Hassle my ass. Pretty ladies visiting every day? I'd be grateful. Right?”
“......”
“Hey, nerd, lighten up. Can't I joke around?”
How did things end up like this? Of all places, my house gets picked as the meeting spot. But I couldn't complain—everyone else had valid reasons why their places wouldn't work. A solo apartment close to the Academy. Honestly, what better setup for a hideout?
The one silver lining: I kept things meticulously tidy, so no risk of any Phantom Thief Raven info slipping out. On the surface, it was just your average Academy student's pad—nothing more, nothing less.
The moment we entered, Rachel flopped straight onto the bed.
“Ooh, so fluffy.”
“...You cool with just lying on my bed like that?”
“Huh? What's that supposed to mean? You aren't getting any weird ideas, are you?”
No, common sense says most people wouldn't. Even same-sex friends don't casually crash on beds at each other's places, let alone opposite-sex ones.
“Sorry, big sis has no interest in dating a nerd like you. Dream on.”
She rejected a confession I never even made, lost in her own delusions. I had plenty to say, but my magnanimous self let it slide.
“Alright, let's get started on the project. Rachel, get off the bed and sit here.”
“Yes, yes, whatever our leader says.”
She slid off the bed like silk and sauntered over to the table. Where was Sharon, though? In this tiny place, it was like she'd vanished into thin air, playing hide-and-seek.
Maybe in the bathroom? The door was firmly shut. I knocked lightly to check.
“Sharon? You in there?”
“Yeah. One sec.”
Ah, bathroom it was. A moment later, the door opened, and Sharon stepped out—holding something in her hand.
Wait. What's that...?
“Kro. What's this?”
Sharon lifted it up with her usual impassive expression.
I answered casually.
“Oh, just a handkerchief.”
A red handkerchief. One of my magic props. I'd used one to escape the sewer last night and pulled out a spare, but forgot it on the bathroom sink.
“Hmm...”
Sharon stared at it intently, lost in thought. What was up? Did she suspect something? No way. There were no marks on it—impossible to link it to Phantom Thief Raven just from that.
“A magic prop, right?”
“Huh? Oh... yeah, something like that.”
“Got it. You're a magician.”
She remembered my Unique Magic. A bit surprising, but it made sense. My duel with Layered had been a big topic among the kids, so her recalling it wasn't weird.
“Something wrong?”
“No. Nothing.”
Sharon's green eyes flicked over me briefly. She handed back the handkerchief and headed into the room first—the ice princess. I stared at the bright red cloth in my hand, deep in thought.
'No way...'
“We need to pick a presentation topic.”
“What was the assignment again?”
“Research a famous magician. Who should we go with?”
All four of us gathered in the room and started brainstorming.
There were countless famous magicians, really. Ever since the dawn of mystery in history, those who wielded magic had always carried on.
Many real-world myths and legends featured figures reimagined here as actual historical magicians. Like Merlin from the Arthurian tales. Given the original story's setting, he ranked among the most famous.
“Let's just do Merlin.”
And there it was, the obvious pick. Rachel, eager to wrap this up quick, spat out the safest name.
“Hmm... Isn't that too ordinary? We might overlap with another group.”
Yulia didn't seem thrilled with Merlin.
“Then you pick, leader.”
“How about a modern magician instead of some ancient one?”
“Who? Adrius?”
This time, a name from a pretty major original character popped up. Hearing an original character mention another one felt kinda fresh.
“Hmm. Who to choose...”
Yulia pondered, unable to decide easily. I couldn't think of a standout name either, so I stayed quiet.
Then, out of nowhere, Sharon—the last person I'd expect—piped up.
“How about Phantom Thief Raven?”
Why'd that name come up there...?