See You Tomorrow
As the sun began to set completely, the lights of the mana lamps flickered to life across the academy grounds.
A cool breeze swept down from the mountains, making the air refreshing, and we walked on, our hands still clasped together.
“…”
“…”
There was no conversation.
Was it just my imagination, or did the path to the cafeteria feel unusually long today?
“Lutes.”
It was Eline who broke the silence.
“Yeah?”
“…Did you wait long?”
“No, not really.”
“I see.”
That was it.
As silence wrapped around us once more, I felt like I was going to go crazy from the anxiety. My heart was still racing, and perhaps it was because I wasn't used to the sight of Eline, who kept her eyes fixed straight ahead every time I glanced at her.
Naturally.
Just act naturally.
Thinking that, I tried to push the conversation forward, bit by bit.
“Eline.”
“Yes?”
“What do you… usually do?”
What do you do?
Asking a lover what they do in their free time—it was a classic question. Though, of course, I was asking it with a hint of irony.
“Study.”
The answer came as naturally as expected.
“…And?”
“Eat.”
“And after that?”
“Review what I studied.”
…It was no wonder the Magic Tower kept calling for her.
So, her routine was basically: wake up, preview, lecture, review. I was inwardly awestruck by a schedule that operated on a completely different plane of existence.
“Do you do that on weekends, too?”
“Yes.”
Hmm, I see.
“Sometimes I go for a walk.”
A walk, huh. So that’s why she called me out for walks on the weekends.
…Hearing her talk, I started to think. At first, I had just vaguely imagined the schedule of a model student, but hearing it in person was nothing short of shocking. And when I realized she had been doing that for two years and would continue to do so in the future…
I couldn't help but think it must be exhausting.
Maybe she just thinks differently. Perhaps she has a grand ambition, or maybe she sees a world I know nothing about.
‘Well, she is going to the Magic Tower.’
The Magic Tower was the most prestigious academic institution in the empire, bar none. And since they were the ones calling for her—a place where even geniuses who made your jaw drop struggled—it was no surprise.
I felt it all over again: she really was incredible.
What was she doing all that for?
…Was it for her family?
“Return as soon as you are finished.”
I suppose I was the same, in a way.
From what I remembered, the Payless family was small in scale, but they were known for always producing exceptional talent. I figured… that was likely the reason.
“What do you do?”
And now, Eline turned the question back to me.
Alright, this question should be easy.
“I just play around.”
I said the question was easy, not that the answer was.
I had to keep this going. I had to break this silence.
“I sleep, play games, drink… and sometimes play chess during lunch…”
Listing it all out, it sounded like I was just lazing my life away.
“Sounds fun.”
It was clearly an attempt to empathize, but her tone was so flat that I felt a sense of pity in it. Of course, she probably didn't mean it that way.
Still, I thought I’d be able to tell by now. Was I just kidding myself?
“You’re busy tomorrow, right?”
Since we were third-years, we had to start preparing for graduation in earnest, so we were bound to be busy overall. She gave a small nod.
“Then it’ll be hard to see you.”
For a split second—perhaps it was just my imagination—I felt her grip tighten, just a little, on my hand.
“…I have time on the weekend.”
“Huh?”
Ah.
“If you’re busy, it’s fine. You don’t have to push yourself…”
“I’m not busy.”
“Oh.”
She was firm. And a little scary.
We started walking again. When we arrived at the cafeteria, I felt the familiar weight of gazes shifting toward us, but I was starting to get used to it.
Come to think of it, back in my territory, the villagers were always staring at me when I was a kid, and I’d never thought much of it. Maybe I’d get used to these stares quickly, too—I let myself indulge in that happy delusion.
As I turned my head, I saw Ross and Cain in the distance, staring at me with expressions of pure shock.
“What do you want to eat?”
Eline said, leading me forward.
“What about you?”
“You choose.”
Me?
“…I chose last time, too.”
During our first meal on Saturday, I’d impulsively ordered two steaks, leaving her no choice but to eat them. I felt bad about that, and now she was telling me to choose again.
“Choose again.”
Eline slowly turned her head in front of the menu board. Though it was subtle, I saw the corners of her mouth curling up as she looked at me.
“What you picked was delicious.”
…I took a deep breath.
I felt like I’d done it so often lately that I’d mastered the breathing technique for finding a professor’s composure.
“…Uh, okay.”
I managed to calm myself down and slowly turned to look at the menu. Let’s pick something good.
‘Something not too greasy, something everyone loves, something that doesn't divide opinion, something with a clean aftertaste, good for dinner, and a reasonable portion for a lady.’
“Um…”
I have no idea.
In that moment of hesitation, I glanced over and saw her looking away from the menu, scanning the room for a seat. She must have been trusting my decision.
In the end, after a split-second of deliberation, I decided to go back to basics.
“Two gratins, please.”
The most common, most ordinary dish: gratin. Perhaps because everyone likes it, it was the safest choice.
In a situation like this, the cliché would be to say, “Oh? This is an unpopular dish I’ve been eating in secret, but it’s actually really good,” to score some points, but…
I didn't have that kind of charm. I was just a guy who ate whatever was put in front of him. Why was I like that? Past me, why didn't you try exploring some good restaurants?
“Here you go.”
As expected of a gratin that everyone ordered, a booming voice called out just a few minutes after we ordered, and two gratins appeared.
Eline and I each took one and naturally sat down at a window seat. The appetizing food was wafting with the scent of rich cheese and various meats. Eline carefully took a spoonful and ate it.
“Is it good?”
She nodded. Honestly, I couldn't tell. Her expression was completely blank.
We didn't have much to say during the meal. For one, we’d run out of topics, and besides, talking while eating wasn't exactly the best etiquette.
When we stepped out of the cafeteria, the academy was filled with the light of mana lamps in the pitch-black night. Since she had come to me last time, it was my turn to walk her back.
Her dormitory was right next to the education building, so it was incomparably closer than mine. Now, it felt completely natural for her to take my hand as soon as we left the cafeteria.
My heart still raced whenever she held my hand, but it seemed like my body was starting to get used to it, allowing me to respond relatively calmly.
Five minutes.
Before I knew it, the Alpha Class dormitory came into view.
‘It really is close.’
The cafeteria closest to my dorm was a fifteen-minute walk away. The fact that this place was only five minutes away was just… was this the privilege enjoyed by the elite?
As we arrived at the entrance of the dormitory, which was engraved with ornate patterns, she turned her head.
“That was fun.”
Fun.
All we did was meet up and eat, yet she said it was fun. Were these trivial things fun to her?
Would the next time we see each other be on the weekend? Since the only place we ever ran into each other was the hallway, maybe, if I was lucky, I’d see her there tomorrow.
She started to walk away slowly, then stopped dead in her tracks.
“Lutes.”
“Yeah?”
“You said you play chess at lunch, right?”
Chess. It was a cultured pastime for mages and a fairly popular board game. I played it often, too.
“Yeah, I play often. Why?”
“Where?”
“…In the library?”
“I see.”
She pondered for a moment, then opened her mouth as if she’d made a decision.
“Play with me tomorrow.”
…?
“Aren’t you busy?”
“Lunchtime is fine.”
Lunchtime is fine, she says. “Oh…”
“Do you not want to?”
“No, it’s not that.”
Well, since chess was a liberal arts subject in our first year, most students had probably moved the pieces at least once, and she would have been no exception. But…
I’d never seen her play before, so I’d naturally assumed she wasn't interested. It was unexpected. “Okay, see you at lunch tomorrow.”
‘Or maybe I just never saw her because they only play among themselves in the Alpha Class.’
If anything, I thought she might be better than me. Eline turned her body as if her business was finished and headed into the dormitory.
Chess with Eline.
‘This is terrifying.’
What if I lose without being able to do anything?
At night, as Eline stepped out of the bath, warm steam clung to her. She changed into her pajamas and slowly pushed her chair to sit at the desk.
At this time of night, she usually spent her hours reading dense academic journals or gazing at the night view through the window.
“…”
She placed a glass of warm water next to the desk and began to scan the bookshelves. Then, from among the countless books, she carefully pulled out one covered in dust.
A chess notation book she hadn't touched since her first-year liberal arts course. She blew on it, and the dust scattered, proving how much time had passed.
‘…’
It was an impulsive decision. A hastily created point of contact.
The last time she’d played chess was at the end of her first semester in freshman year. She hadn't had any interest in it since. But even so, it was the only thing she could grab onto right now, so she’d just gone for it.
She opened the book slowly and looked at the board.
“Knight… Rook…”
She read the book carefully, her quill scratching against the paper.
She didn't know why, but she didn't want to be found out as a beginner. She didn't want to show him that she was flustered.
“Hoo…”
She let out a breath.
Tomorrow.
She would be able to see him again tomorrow.
“…”
She stopped writing for a moment and looked up at the ceiling. Her heart kept pounding. She closed her eyes tightly and tried to calm her flushed cheeks.
‘Calm down, Eline.’
She slowly turned her head to look at the desk. A cheap, old heating artifact that had long since gone cold. She carefully touched the worn-out, small, and now useless thing.
Closing her eyes and clutching it tightly, she felt her heart settle once more. When she opened her eyes, the stars were still shining brightly outside, and suddenly, a building glowing faintly in the distance caught her eye.
The Beta Class dormitory.
He must have gone in by now.
Is he… sleeping?
“…”
She shook her head lightly and began to write again. Yes, she would see him tomorrow.
She didn't even realize that the corners of her mouth were curling upward.
“Hmm.”
When I came to my senses, it was already midnight, but I hadn't put the chess set away. Was it because of how confidently I’d spoken when I said I “play often”?
If I lost too easily, it would be embarrassing, so I had to prepare.
I had to sharpen my senses as much as I could.
Since my opponent was Eline, she would surely be at a high level. I was nervous. How good would she be? She might be the toughest opponent I’d ever faced. Of course, it was Eline, after all. She’d probably be incredibly good, right?
… “I’ll play a little more before I sleep.”
I couldn't fall asleep.
I had to be fully prepared for tomorrow.