Just for Today
Today was the day I would show Lois what I could do.
Ah—not with a sword. With the violin.
Truth be told, I'd been thinking about nothing else since yesterday. Would Lois like the violin? What piece should I play for her? It was such a trivial thing, yet it kept nagging at me. But at the same time, I couldn't help feeling a little excited. Lois didn't even know I could play.
"She'll definitely be surprised."
With that thought, I opened the door to the student council president's office.
The moment I stepped inside, Lois couldn't hide her astonishment.
"Oh... Sharve? Where's your sword?"
"Wait, more importantly—what's that in your hand?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at the barrage of questions.
"It's a violin."
I held the instrument up for her to see.
"I can see that!"
Lois puffed out her cheeks slightly.
"I'm asking why you suddenly brought a violin here."
"And to the student council president's office, no less..."
Lois pinched the bridge of her nose, as if she'd given up on me entirely.
"Good grief..."
She studied me for a moment, then narrowed her eyes.
"Sharve, don't tell me..."
"Are you trying to impress me?"
I averted my gaze for no particular reason.
"N-no, I'm not...?"
"You're not, yet you came all the way to the president's office carrying a violin?"
"..."
"Am I right?"
The corner of Lois's mouth curled up.
"You wanted to look good in front of me?"
"...Maybe a little."
"Pfft."
Lois finally burst out laughing.
"You're really cute."
"Can't you say something other than cute?"
"Hmm... then what should I say?"
Lois tilted her head, pretending to think it over.
"Well, let me hear it first, then I'll decide."
At those words, I tucked the violin under my chin.
"Then, listen closely."
I placed the bow on the strings and took a deep breath. And then, slowly, gently, carefully, I drew out the first note.
I began to play, drawing the bow across the strings with a gentle touch, and a beautiful melody filled the president's office. Normally I closed my eyes when I performed, but today I kept them open, watching for Lois's reaction. To my surprise, she simply sat still, listening. Encouraged by the sight, I put a little more strength into my bowing. My fingertips found the strings naturally, and the bow glided back and forth without hesitation.
When I played the violin, I usually thought of nothing else—only the pitch and the rhythm. But today was a little different. I want Lois to like it. That single thought lingered in my mind. I wanted to play better. I wanted to look cooler. More today than yesterday, more tomorrow than today. With each passing day, I found myself wanting to show her a better version of me.
I held the final note, letting it ring out long and clear, then slowly lowered the bow.
Silence settled over the office. I glanced at Lois cautiously. She was still looking at me.
"...Well? What do you think?"
At my question, Lois blinked a few times.
"Huh, you're actually good?"
"Excuse me? Of course I am!"
Satisfied with my reaction, Lois smirked.
"And here I thought you were just cute. Turns out you have this side to you too."
"...That was really impressive."
As she said it, Lois slowly began running her fingers through her hair.
"So Sharve can do things like this too..."
Lois murmured, almost to herself.
"What about you, Lois?"
"Hm?"
Lois stopped mid-gesture and looked at me.
"What can you do?"
"Like chess, or maybe magic..."
"We still don't know much about each other, do we?"
"...I'm really curious about who you are, Lois."
Having heard me out, Lois began to slowly approach me.
"You're curious?"
"What?"
Before I knew it, we were standing so close that the tips of our shoes were almost touching.
"...I asked if you're curious."
Lois took my right hand in both of her small ones.
"...Yes."
"I'm curious."
Still holding my hand, Lois gazed quietly at me.
"Then I suppose we should start getting to know each other now."
"Starting now?"
"Yes."
Lois smiled faintly.
"What you like, what you hate."
"What you do in your free time, what goes through your head."
"...And just how curious you are about me."
I looked away, though I had no reason to. Lois really could be so sudden sometimes.
"Hmm..."
She thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Lately, talking with you is the most fun I have."
"...What?"
"Why? What's wrong with that?"
Lois laughed.
"I'm the one who told you first."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes."
Lois gave our joined hands a gentle sway.
"So now it's your turn, Sharve."
"My turn?"
"Yes. Ask me something you're curious about."
I paused to think. I kept turning it over in my head—what question could I ask that wouldn't put her on the spot?
"Well then..."
I looked at Lois and said,
"What do you usually do for fun, Lois?"
She froze for a moment.
"That's what you're curious about?"
"Yes."
"Tch, I was hoping for something more impressive."
"Should I think of another one?"
"No, it's fine."
Lois chuckled.
"Getting to know the little things is part of it too."
With that, she slowly let go of my hand.
"Shall we go, then?"
"Huh? Go where..."
Lois smirked and answered.
"You asked, didn't you?"
"What I do for fun."
"This is..."
The place Lois led me to was Valterre Hall. To put it simply, Valterre Hall was the Magic Department's dormitory. Eclair Hall, the Swordsmanship dormitory, was a good twenty-minute run from here even at full sprint, so this was actually my first time setting foot inside.
"Yes, it's the dormitory."
Lois answered with a perfectly casual expression.
"But why the dormitory...?"
At my question, Lois gave a sly smile.
"Because today, I want to hang out with you."
"This is my room."
When the door opened, a surprisingly ordinary room came into view. Magic tomes were neatly arranged on the desk, and a small table with chairs sat in one corner. And Lois's bed, which caught my eye from the corner of my vision, was completely unkempt.
"...Were you busy this morning?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
When I pointed at the bed, Lois's eyes went wide.
Clatter—
She frantically scooped up the blanket and pillow strewn across the mattress.
"Ah, wait! Don't look!"
"I already saw."
"Please pretend you didn't!"
"Is that even possible?"
"It is!"
Face bright red, Lois began tidying the bed at lightning speed. It was nothing like the composed student council president she usually showed everyone. I couldn't help but smile.
"So even you make mistakes like this."
"Only today... this is a one-time thing..."
Lois trailed off.
"I mean, it's just..."
She stopped tidying and looked at me.
"I overslept a bit this morning, so..."
"...Ah."
Hearing that somehow made me feel embarrassed too.
"A-anyway. What do you want to do now?"
Setting aside my burning face, I steered us back on track.
"Ahem, well..."
"Let me think..."
Lois pondered for a moment, then perched on the edge of the bed. Then she patted the spot beside her.
"Sit here."
I looked back and forth between Lois and the bed.
"Wait, is this..."
"It's not like that!"
"...I just want to be with you."
"That's why I brought you here..."
Lois said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
"Being together was the whole point?"
"Yes."
Lois nodded.
"We were together yesterday too, weren't we?"
"We were."
"...But I wanted to see you again."
Lois paused briefly before adding. I looked away for no reason. Honestly, Lois was almost too honest for her own good.
"Then... shall we talk?"
"Sure."
"What should we talk about first?"
Lois looked at me from where she sat on the bed.
"Hmm..."
I thought for a moment, then said,
"Childhood stories?"
"Sounds good."
"You go first, Lois."
"Me?"
"Yes. I've been the one asking all the questions so far."
Lois considered it for a moment, then smiled softly.
"Shall I start from when I was really little?"
"Go ahead."
"When I was little..."
And so we began trading stories about nothing in particular. Truly trivial things—the kind you couldn't even put a name to. Yet strangely, none of it was boring. We weren't doing anything special. We weren't anywhere special. It was simply enough to be with Lois.
We talked for so long that a considerable amount of time had slipped by before I noticed.
"Has it gotten this late already?"
Lois said, gazing out the window.
"You're right."
I slowly rose from my seat.
"I should probably head back, then?"
"...Yes."
Lois answered quietly, a hint of reluctance in her voice.
Before stepping out the door, I turned back to look at her. Lois stood there seeing me off, outwardly indifferent, but I could tell.
Stay with me a little longer.
Just for today... just this one day...
It was as if she were saying those words.
"...Good grief."
I let out a sigh and started walking back into the room.
"Sharve? Why are you...?"
Lois looked up at me, bewildered.
"...Just for today."
"Just for today, I'll be a little bad."
"What?"
Lois's eyes went round.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, just..."
I chuckled and sat back down beside her.
"Just for today, I don't think it'd hurt to head back a little late."
"...It's only for one day, after all."