Because It's Mine.
Because It's Mine.
"Done."
At last, the explanation was over.
With departure for the exhibition fast approaching, Plan left the lecture hall without a backward glance.
But those left behind didn't so much as stir. They had no room to even think of stopping him.
Silence, dead and deep, settled over the lecture hall.
What finally broke it wasn't the sound of a human voice.
*Scratch, scratch—*
As soon as one person started scribbling notes as if in a trance, the others instantly followed suit.
*Scratch, scratch—*
*Scratch, scratch—*
Whether they truly understood Plan's explanation didn't matter. Anyone could marvel at something wondrous — that was simply human nature.
Right now, they just wanted to preserve this 'wonder' as a written record.
"...."
Hailey swallowed hard. She was, after all, a mage herself.
She wanted to ask about a dozen different things, but she simply couldn't. The subject was Plan, of all people.
Left with no alternative, she shut her eyes and began replaying the explanation she'd just heard in her mind.
Concentrating was not easy, however. Thoughts of Plan sprouted wildly in every direction, tangling her head into a mess.
"...Focus. Focus."
She muttered it to herself, but there was no way she could actually focus.
The skill of pinpointing the core among countless mana circuits, and the method for calculating the exact quantity required with zero margin of error. The difficulty was already so overwhelming that she couldn't have fully understood it even with total concentration... and at the moment, her head was far too cluttered with idle thoughts.
She decided to just take notes for now and review it later. That was what Hailey resolved.
"...."
Unfortunately, however, she had neither her notebook nor any writing instrument on her person.
*Scratch, scratch—*.
It felt as if the world was flowing on, leaving Hailey behind. While everyone else was fervently taking notes, she alone remained motionless.
Her growing unease was only a natural consequence.
"...."
Carefully, she tapped the shoulder of the female student beside her.
But the girl didn't even turn her way. Utterly absorbed, she seemed to have completely forgotten Hailey's existence.
And Hailey did not have the nerve to tap someone's shoulder a second time.
'Fine. I'll just do it on my own.'
Theory was nothing but a basic foundation. Wasn't the act of internalizing and applying it solely one's own responsibility?
In other words, if she simply put in the effort alone, then this much would surely....
"Haah...."
She pressed a hand to her forehead. Obviously, that was impossible.
She could do nothing but sigh.
It was already too late to start taking notes, and now that she'd decided to do it belatedly, she had no means to. Frustration mounting, Hailey bit her thumbnail.
Being left out on her own, falling behind — she was terrified of it.
And in the end, there was only one possible way to resolve this crisis.
◈
'Sapour,' despite belonging to Märchen Academy, was located separately from the main campus grounds.
To begin with, it was more a designation for an entire region than a reference to a specific space or building.
The scale of the exhibition was simply too grand to be encompassed by any ordinary word.
Now all that remained was to board the carriages and move out under the professors' leadership... but the students were taking an agonizingly long time to actually climb aboard.
"Professor."
Brody, who was supposed to be directing the procession, was just standing there blankly.
"Professor?"
"Huh?"
Only then did the professor lift his head. At the same moment, he finally recalled what his task was.
Becky tilted her head as she asked.
"Um, how do we board the carriages?"
"...Just get on. Four people each, pair up however you like."
That was the best response Brody could manage.
His thoughts wouldn't settle; his head felt hollow. As if he'd been struck hard somewhere.
Plan. The reason was, naturally, that boy.
Regarding him — the one who had forced even a professor to learn, who had turned the entire Magic Department upside down — a great many questions chased each other's tails in Brody's mind.
But even if he couldn't understand it, he had no choice but to acknowledge it.
—I'd stake my teaching career on it.
Violet's words suddenly surfaced in his mind.
The confident glint in her eyes, and the furious courage with which she had spat those words. Brody felt as though he finally understood the reason behind them.
"Ah-ha. Got it~"
Becky bowed politely, then turned around. Her expression as she answered was bright.
The reason was simple. She'd already made a prior appointment to ride in the same carriage as Plan.
—Hey, Plan! Why did you summon me, of all people?!
—Because you're mine.
—Wha, wha, wha, wha, wha, what?
...What on earth did 'mine' even mean?
Well, he probably meant exactly what he said, but taking it at face value was even more insane....
Before she knew it, Becky's face had flushed bright red, and she shook her head vigorously. For now, the important thing was that they'd agreed to ride the carriage together.
"Who should I ride with...?"
"I hate going with people when it's awkward."
The students were still chattering amongst themselves. Since the carriage ride wasn't short, choosing who to go with was a fairly significant matter to them.
But.
"Who you ride with isn't the real problem here — did you guys take notes?"
"I couldn't. There was nothing written on the board in the first place."
"We're screwed...."
The students were so fixated on discussing Plan that the issue of seating was laughable by comparison.
"This is amazing."
Becky murmured to herself without realizing it.
Normally, words like "we're screwed" were reserved for an 'exam subject.' That was only natural. Grades followed you as results, a permanent record.
But Plan's lecture today was different.
It wasn't going to be on a test, and if you asked whether you could apply it immediately, the answer was absolutely not.
It was simply on a different plane of quality. Plan had struck squarely at a longing that any mage would carry within them.
"What should we do? Should we just go ask him?"
"...Are you insane? If you're going to do that, you go."
"Sorry. Let's pretend I never said it."
What was even more amazing was that not a single person was actually considering going up to Plan to ask him directly.
Ah. That's not quite right.
They were considering it, but they couldn't muster the nerve. His stature was rising like mad with every passing day.
'...But wait, am I the only one?'
Becky thought this as she looked down at her own notebook. It was the notebook in which she'd tried to capture as much as possible of Plan's 45-minute explanation.
『Regarding the Collision Phenomenon between Harmonization and Support-Type Magic』
『A Study of Pronunciation According to Dialect Speakers of the Elven Region』
.
.
.
There were already several summarized theses, completed according to Plan's requirements. Perhaps thanks to that, Becky had been able to take decent notes during today's lecture as well.
Of course, if you asked her whether they were perfect notes, the answer was absolutely not.
Still, they filled her with pride, and they were useful.
As a commoner, Becky rarely had the chance to access such diverse materials. Being a mage meant that everything except breathing cost money.
But thanks to Plan, she'd gained access to countless materials free of charge. He'd even entrusted her with papers that you'd normally have to purchase from a shop... the effort was fleeting, but the reward was immense.
However.
"It'd be nice if he were just a little bit kinder...."
No, but if he were kind, he wouldn't be Plan.
The way he is right now is what's cool about him.
"Right. That's how it is, I guess...."
Having sorted out her thoughts to her own satisfaction, Becky began walking toward the carriage. That was when it happened.
"Hey, Becky. Becky!"
It was a voice she wasn't exactly thrilled to hear. Becky turned around with an awkward expression.
Sure enough, the owner of the voice was Jenny.
"What Plan explained just now — did you happen to take notes?"
"Huh?"
Becky's head tilted to the side, almost unconsciously.
Every single time Jenny had ever spoken to her, it had always been to pick a fight, but today the reason was just a little different.
"I was looking for someone who took notes~ Turns out nobody really managed to."
"Oh, yeah."
She nodded. She could believe that.
"But you're super close with Plan! You took notes, right? I saw you scribbling away the whole time."
You're super close with Plan.
Why did that one line make her feel so good?
But even if she felt good, some things were still a no-go. She didn't particularly feel like sharing the efforts she'd poured out toward Plan.
"Well... you know my grades. It was just doodling-level stuff, really."
She could share them, but... no matter how she thought about it, she kind of disliked Jenny. She was the type who hung around Hailey and Aria.
"Really? Oh.... Well, fine, I guess."
"Yeah."
"Sure, sure. I figured as much~"
Jenny whipped back around. The nasty little mutters she let slip as she walked away sent a slight chill down Becky's spine.
Becky finally started walking toward the carriage in earnest.
"Becky."
But again, someone called her name. Checking who it was, her eyes went wide and round.
"...?"
Glossy blonde hair, clearly well tended — a noble daughter who was the farthest possible thing from Becky's world.
It was Hailey.
◈
"...."
Hailey stared at Becky without a word.
Trying to obtain a copy of the notes, she'd found she had no alternatives.
She hated the idea of asking Louis about Plan, and questioning the person himself had become an even more impossible task.
She'd first asked Jenny and the others around her... but naturally, they couldn't have succeeded in taking notes either.
"...What? What's the matter?"
Becky asked, cautiously.
"...."
Yet Hailey simply continued to stare at Becky.
She'd sought out the easiest, most painless route and come to Becky, but now that she had to open her mouth, it was far from easy.
...Just a few days ago, she hadn't even had a reason to exchange words with Becky.
"Hey, if you don't have any business with me, can I just go to the carriage?"
"Ah, it's nothing like that."
In the end, Hailey changed the subject. Asking Becky to lend her the notebook was simply too difficult for her to do.
"I was just wondering if you'd seen Louis. I'm supposed to ride the carriage with him, but I don't see him."
"Louis?"
Becky pointed with the tip of her index finger toward one of the carriages. There, Louis was seated by himself.
After giving a light, simple nod, Hailey immediately moved toward Louis.
"Louis!"
Hailey called out to him. Their eyes met across the open air.
"Ah, Hailey."
"There you were. I was thinking maybe I should reserve us a different carriage."
But the moment Hailey placed her foot onto the carriage step—
"Sorry. It's all full in here."
"...?"
A brief silence passed.
Hailey carefully asked again.
"...What's that supposed to mean?"
"I've got a lot of things to ask Plan, so I'd already asked him to ride in the same carriage."
"Then there are two seats left. Wouldn't it be okay if I came too?"
Louis scratched the back of his head as if troubled.
"That's, well... ah, here he comes."
Hailey's gaze followed where Louis's eyes had gone.
Behind Plan, Becky and Yushia were trailing along. Louis gave her an apologetic smile.
"Those two also asked Plan for the same thing, so the four of us agreed to ride together."
"Then what about me...."
"Sorry, but hey, there'll be other chances like this. Let's sit together next time."
"...."
Brushing past Hailey, who had stiffened as if struck on the back of the head, the other three climbed aboard the carriage.
"Plan, it's okay if I sit next to you, right? Like we talked about earlier."
"Is there no room in the luggage compartment."
"Exhibition~ Exhibition~."
With a *thud*, the carriage door slammed shut.
"Ah, Lord Plan! I've selected the theses for you!"
"Becky."
"Aaaargh! Yushia! Why did you have to bring that up!"
Voices leaked from the open-roofed carriage.
"Now that you mention it, four people makes it perfect for the glow-in-the-dark puzzle!"
"Right. So, shall we all have a go at it?"
"Wow.... Louis, you're the best. You're lending us this?"
"Move it."
They kept spilling out.
Among them, Hailey's voice was nowhere to be found.
"What's this. Hey! None of these pieces fit?"
"Miss Becky... you're holding it upside down...."
"Oh? I am?"
"Ahaha.... Take it easy, you guys."
"Move it, would you."
Endlessly, they spilled out.
Hailey's expression sank into darkness.
Had she ever watched someone else's 'everyday life' and felt so envious, so desperate?
Despite the voices sounding so close by, they felt as distant as the horizon at the end of the world.
It was a space that Hailey, at this moment, could never enter.
"But, is this really glow-in-the-dark? Seriously?"
"It is! Everyone, gather around close!"
"If I cover it like this... will it work?"
"I'm telling you for the third time, move it."
She couldn't make a sound, and she couldn't squeeze her way in.
"Whoa! What is this! It's so pretty glowing neon?"
"That's right! This is the glow-in-the-dark puzzle!"
"Oh.... Seems like it'd be nice if Plan looked at it too."
*Crash—!*
"Aaah! My glow-in-the-dark puzzle!"
"Hey, Plan! What's the big idea!"
"Hahahaha.... This is hilarious."
"Get out."
Through every single moment of it.
Hailey simply stared down at the tips of her own shoes.
◈
"...Whoa, what's your deal?"
After arriving at Sapour, that was the first thing the Society Head said to me.