A Sweet Dream and a Fresh Start

Today was Phantasos's final day in Leshill.

He sat cross-legged atop the ridge of the hill, and behind him stood Simon, breathing tensely, his face tight with nerves.

"Then I'll begin."

"Come at me as hard as you like, successor!"

It was the final assignment of Phantasos's lessons. He would cast Sleep directly upon him and be evaluated for it. This was the moment to pour out everything he had learned over the past week.

Simon began painstakingly drawing each layer of the five-stack Sleep magic circle behind Phantasos's back, one after another, with the utmost care.

And the moment the final fifth stack of Sleep activated—

"!"

Phantasos's eyes went wide.

Wh-where am I……?

A blue sky, sunlight pouring down, a field where flower petals drifted lazily on the breeze.

It couldn't be real.

A woman—someone Phantasos had longed to see more than anything, someone he had dreamed of countless times—was reaching out her hand.

"Phantasos, our little sleepyhead. How long are you going to keep sleeping?"

The man beside her spoke up.

"Hahaha! There's nothing wrong with dreaming. Just be sure to dream big! That's how you become someone great!"

Tears slid down Phantasos's cheeks.

"Mother! Father!"

"Big brother, what are you doing?"

A tiny girl held out her hand.

"Hurry up! We promised we'd go fishing today."

"Mary……!"

Phantasos, turned back into a little boy, sat in a circle with his four family members, eating lunch by a picture-perfect lake and spending the afternoon fishing.

He was happy.

"There are wondrous fish in this lake, you know! Care to try your hand, Phantasos?"

"Yes, sir!"

Even his behavior had reverted to a child's. He grinned ear to ear, bounced around, and soon grabbed hold of his father's fishing rod.

"Father!"

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry! And thank you!"

His father laughed, a little sheepishly.

"Haha! What's brought this on all of a sudden? You'll embarrass me."

"B-big brother, you dummy! The rod's shaking!"

Holding back the tears that threatened to spill, Phantasos yanked the taut fishing rod with all his might.

Whoosh!

With a tremendous splash, a huge fish burst from the water and leaped into the sky.

"Whoaaa! Big brother caught a huge one!"

"Splendid! That's our boy!"

"Fish soup for dinner tonight, then."

Gazing at the three of them, their faces split in bright smiles, Phantasos let the tears stream freely down his face.

And then—

"……"

Phantasos's eyes snapped open.

Dense green leaves, and sunlight streaming down through the gaps between them. He raised an arm—where the small hand of a boy had been, there was now a broad, bear-like palm. Hairy legs, too. He touched his face. Rough skin, and a slight dampness near the corners of his eyes.

"President Phantasos."

He turned, and there beside him stood a blue-haired boy, watching him with a desperately nervous expression.

"H-how was it?"

Phantasos stared hard at Simon, his reddened eyes blazing.

It wasn't a nightmare.

It wasn't that dream—the one where his parents were murdered before his eyes.

How long had it been since he dreamed of the happiest days of his life?

Fists clenched tight, Phantasos let out a thunderous roar of a sob.

"PERFECT!!!"

WHOOOSH!

Leaves rained down in a rush and startled birds scattered into the sky. Simon exhaled in relief and smiled.

"Good dreams, then?"

"That I did! Good dreams indeed!"

Phantasos grinned slyly.

"There's nothing left for me to teach you, successor! Class dismissed!"

Simon bowed at the waist.

"Thank you so much for everything!"

"That's my line!"

Phantasos seized Simon's hand with glistening eyes.

"Thank you—truly—for letting me dream that dream one more time!"

Phantasos finished his preparations to leave Leshill.

Simon's family, and even the villagers of Leshill who had grown fond of him, gathered to say their farewells. A week was a short time, but the Leshill of Phantasos's stay had been a lively one.

"Sorry for all the noise at night! Hahahaha!"

"Safe travels, Phantasos!"

"Come back and visit when your adventures wear you out!"

As he waved and receded into the distance, Phantasos looked back at Simon and thrust a thumb skyward.

"You'll make a fine Student Council President, successor!"

Simon smiled.

"I'll do my best!"

And so, weeks passed after parting with Phantasos.

Simon honed the Sleep curse Phantasos had taught him, training tirelessly while helping Richard with his duties as baron. He kept in touch by letter with Dick, Meilin, and Camibarez.

And finally—

With only four days left until the start of the second year at Kizen—

"I'm off!"

It was Simon's turn to leave Leshill. In the garden, Nephthys had sent someone to prepare a teleportation circle for him.

"Off you go, Simon!"

Richard puffed out steam, his face flushed with excitement.

"See that you always act in a manner befitting a Student Council President! Bow your head to no provocation, no trial, ever!"

"Yes, Father!"

Anna clutched Simon's hand, eyes brimming with tears.

"Just come back healthy, dear. Eat three square meals, don't overwork yourself studying, watch out for carriages in the city, and write if anything happens."

"I will, Mom!"

As the teleportation circle filled with light, Simon committed the sight of Richard and Anna to memory.

"I'm off!"

With those final words, Simon's body was enveloped in radiance.

Langestin—capital of the Dresden Kingdom and the port city closest to Roc Island.

It was the city of beginnings where Simon had first arrived after leaving Leshill.

The towering buildings and the staggering crowds that made your eyes spin were as lively as ever.

"Well, then."

Even this maze of a city had grown familiar after a few visits. Simon strolled along at his leisure.

Langestin was merely a waypoint. There was one reason he'd arrived here four days before the entrance ceremony.

Going straight to Roc Island would feel like a waste, so he planned to meet up with the members of Group 7 and have some fun together.

I can't wait!

His heart thumped with excitement.

This was the first time he and his friends would be traveling purely for pleasure—no missions, no assignments, just peers on a trip.

Of course, Simon had one other purpose besides the fun.

Slide.

Simon drew from his pocket the Student Council President's badge, handed down to him by Phantasos.

That purpose was—

Recruiting Student Council officers!

Obviously, a student council couldn't be run by the president alone. He needed people to help him.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

People he could trust. People who would stand by him.

Simon turned those words over carefully in his mind.

"And besides, the four hundred second-years who've survived this far are already the finest talents on the continent! Whoever you seat in a chair will pull their own weight, guaranteed!"

"That's certainly true."

"Every Student Council President in history has done it this way, so don't worry your head about it. In fact……"

Phantasos gazed up at the sky, his eyes clouded with wistfulness.

"The hardest thing in all of Kizen…… is finding four friends you can truly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠trust."

By the time the memory faded, Simon had somehow arrived at the meeting spot.

It was the seaside stretch where they'd ridden the Underworld Whale as freshmen, so the way was familiar. Following the coastline, he soon spotted a large harbor where ships came and went.

And beside the harbor, a small park. This was the place they'd agreed to meet.

Oh!

Someone had already arrived.

Without quite realizing it, Simon slipped quietly behind a nearby wall.

Who is it?

He peeked out to check who had gotten there first.

Skin white as jade, sky-blue hair ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like a flowing stream. A pastel-colored top beneath a light outer jacket, paired with a skirt and heels. A shoulder bag hung from her arm.

The girl stood still, gazing at the sky and humming a tune to herself. Hum, hum— even the simple melody sounded sweet and dreamy.

……Ugh, where did this tension come from all of a sudden.

Seeing Meilin after so long, she seemed more beautiful than ever.

Simon clutched at his chest.

Being alone together is a golden opportunity, but how do I even bring up the student council officer thing?

Just as Simon was lost in thought, the humming stopped.

"Gotten in the habit of spying on people, have we?"

Simon flinched. Meilin's blue eyes were pointed straight at him.

He stepped out with an awkward laugh.

"……I-it's been a while, Meilin."

Meilin smiled faintly and waved a hand, awkwardly.

Soon Simon was standing beside her.

"……"

"……"

Whoosh—

An awkward wind blew through.

They'd been glued to each other's sides all year long, so why on earth was it so stiff today, of all days?

What do I talk about? What do Meilin and I usually talk about again?

"……"

Beside him, Meilin was busily sweeping her hair back, strand by strand. Simon decided that, as the man here, he ought to be the one to break the ice.

And if the conversation flowed naturally from there into student council business? Perfect.

"Meilin."

"Oh—yeah?"

She looked up at Simon with eyes brimming with warmth. Apparently she'd been secretly hoping he'd speak first, too.

Small talk about the weather felt far too obvious, so Simon decided to ask after the people around them.

"Se……"

The instant he was about to ask is Serne doing well?, Simon clapped a hand over his own mouth.

Wow, I really have drifted away from school life, haven't I.

That was a total disaster.

"Se…… what?"

"N-no, nothing. Se——ened like something, I mean. You dressed up really nicely today. Ha ha!"

A faint flush coloring her cheeks, Meilin let out a teasing laugh.

"Thanks. And what about you—isn't that white shirt you're wearing the school uniform?"

Ugh.

Simon's face went red.

"How'd you know?"

Meilin snorted.

"Because every single weekend when we go hang out in Rochest it's a white shirt and black pants, you dummy! Please, for the love of darkness, buy some new clothes. It's not like you're broke."

"Every coin goes to the undead."

At Simon's joke, Meilin burst out laughing.

"Honestly! You really are—"

Thankfully, the ice had melted.

As Simon sighed in relief at having survived what could've been the worst reunion imaginable—forget proposing the student council—Meilin kept sneaking glances at him.

……Well, still.

She'd ragged on his fashion sense as a joke, but the truth was the fit was so good that even a single shirt on this guy felt like cheating.

Just as Meilin was feeling an unfamiliar flutter for the first time in a while—

Now's my chance!

Simon's eyes sparkled as he watched for his opening.

"Meilin! There's something I really need to tell you!"

"Wh-what?"

Startled by Simon suddenly closing the distance, Meilin flinched back.

"……Hmm, I'm not quite sure where to begin with this."

As Simon hesitated, circling around the subject, Meilin's cheeks tinged pink. She twirled her hair around her finger, pretending to be nonchalant.

"……Take your time."

"Actually, I—!"

Just then, a sound came from nearby. Simon and Meilin both startled and whipped their heads around.

Slowly—

Dick, who had been hiding behind a bench this whole time, sheepishly lowered his head.

Realizing he'd already been caught, he simply stretched his arm up over the bench and waved it back and forth.

"Don't mind me, carry on~ carry on~ Man, youth really is the best."

"DUDE!!!"