The Friend’s Friend’s Story – A Delicate Gift and the Seria’s Day Tension
Philia fidgeted noticeably as she opened her mouth, her voice low and hesitant. “This… it’s basically my friend’s story. So, my friend has someone she’s worried about, but…”
Cesset’s eyes sparkled with delight as she watched Philia struggle, and she couldn’t hold back a bright, mischievous smile in the privacy of her own heart.
“A friend? Who? You know everyone I know, Philia.”
“U-um… yeah. It’s… my friend’s friend. Cesset doesn’t know the guy at all.”
“Oh? Go on, then. I’m listening.”
Cesset nodded generously, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Though she found Philia’s tone strangely off, she let the story continue without interruption.
“So, my friend’s friend has someone she’s worried about. Their first meeting wasn’t great, and she still doesn’t like him that way anymore. Or… well, not exactly. But somehow, the more time she spends with him, the more she can’t stop thinking about him.”
Cesset listened without changing her expression, yet her mind raced through every timeline she knew—every moment Rai and Philia had crossed paths.
“The friend’s friend feels bad about the guy, but the more she learns about him, the more she wants to help. The guy is really capable, though. My friend’s friend doesn’t have to worry about him at all. But the friend’s friend…”
“Hey, hold on. To make it easier, can we just call her Philia instead of ‘my friend’s friend’?”
“I’m not Philia!”
Philia protested sharply, and Cesset rolled onto her side, laughing hysterically.
She was wearing a cute pajama set, but the way she scratched her belly while giggling was pure middle-aged-man energy.
“Okay, okay. Fine. Then let’s just use ‘Rai’ as the guy’s name.”
“Instructor Rai isn’t the guy either.”
Philia’s petulant tone made Cesset finally relent.
“Fine. How about using Zeroa and Mia instead?”
“Huh? Did you notice those two are weird too, Cesset?”
“If I hadn’t noticed, I’d be the weird one. Mia keeps clinging to Zeroa like she’s glued to him even during festivals. Anyway, let’s hear the rest of the story.”
Philia kept talking under Cesset’s gentle push.
“My friend… anyway, she wants to help Zeroa, but she doesn’t know how. Mia’s already struggling with her own studies and work.”
Cesset, ears tuned to hear “Philia” and “Rai” instead, licked her lips. The girl’s feelings were way too sweet and fluffy. She wished she could enjoy a thick cup of black tea while listening.
“First, Mia needs to figure out exactly what she feels, right? Sympathy, respect… or maybe…”
“Love? No way.”
Philia’s firm denial made Cesset press her lips together to keep from laughing out loud.
“Then what is it?”
“…It’s complicated. Mixed emotions. Good ones and bad ones mixed together…”
Cesset smiled warmly at the dazed, conflicted look in Philia’s eyes.
“Alright, emotions aside. Do you want to help him?”
“Yeah, I do. But I can’t, so I feel powerless.”
Philia spilled everything once she realized she couldn’t dodge anymore.
Cesset hugged the shy, fidgeting girl tightly around the waist, her own face breaking into a joyful smile.
“Then it’s simple. Just being there for him is enough.”
“…Even for someone like you?”
“Yeah. Like me. Even the Iron Man philosophy guy will need a warm embrace someday.”
Philia’s hand gently stroked the pink hair on her waist, and the warmth finally calmed her racing heart. She smiled back and nuzzled against Cesset’s stomach.
* * *
Seria’s Day had arrived, and the male academy students in the classroom were on edge.
They sat up straight in their best clothes, trying to look calm, but their hands kept fiddling or fiddling with small objects in nervous repetition. Whether they received Seria’s Gift or not would decide their entire self-worth that day.
Some, like Seiban, had already stockpiled enough sweets and were lounging comfortably, savoring them.
“Oh man, this tastes amazing. Want a bite?”
“If I eat someone else’s Gift without permission, I’m terrified of the consequences.”
Aslan firmly refused the sweets Seiban offered.
Eating someone else’s Gift carelessly would earn him a year of pure hate from the girl who gave it to him.
“It’s delicious, though! I made it myself.”
“Go brag somewhere else.”
“I’m not bragging! I just want to share something tasty. It really is good. Maybe because her face is pretty, she can cook too.”
Seiban was still munching on the cookie when a bone-chilling chill froze him solid.
“Pretty face, huh~ Who is she?”
“S-Senior Jona…”
Seiban turned around at the sweet voice coming from behind—only to freeze again.
Blue bob haircut, adorable face, but the eyes burned with murderous intent.
In her grip was a tightly wrapped packet of Seria’s Gift, now crushed like a pathetic toy.
“Want to talk for a second?”
“No, Senior Jona, this—”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go somewhere and talk.”
Seiban’s cheerful smile turned awkward as Jona dragged him away by the collar.
Every male student watching from the sidelines secretly cheered for her.
“I always knew something like this would happen to you. Having a pretty girlfriend like Jona but still getting caught by other girls… that’s your karma, Seiban.”
Aslan nodded in agreement. Cause and effect never lied.
The moment the pair left, the classroom fell quiet again.
- Creak.
The classroom door opened, and every male student’s head snapped toward it in unison—the same nervous habit they’d been doing all morning.
“Everyone, hello! Academy Public Relations’s Sexy Cutie Cesset is here~!”
Cesset burst in with a bright smile, followed by Philia. Behind them came her bodyguard Rin, carrying a long table.
Having a servant or bodyguard walk into a classroom with the student was unusual, but the students’ eyes were glued to the table strapped to her back.
Rin casually placed the desk beside the podium and draped a white cloth over it.
- Thud.
Rin set down a huge basket the size of a person. Cesset dragged a chair to the center and sat, beaming.
“Alright, everyone. Don’t miss this chance! This is the last chance to save your pride!”
Cesset pulled out the sweets and lined them up on the table. The careful wrapping made every muffin look delicious and tempting.
“If you leave here without a single Gift in your hands, how will you look your family in the eye?! When you get home, your family, your servants, your maids, your knights, your helpers, your dogs, your cats—none of them will be able to look you in the face! They’ll only see what’s in your hands!!!”
The students stared blankly at the dramatic speech.
“Can you bear the pitying stares from those empty hands? Why has the world turned into this?! Why should your pride be crushed just because you did or didn’t receive a Gift?!”
Cesset slammed her hand on the table. The muffins wobbled.
She stood up so suddenly that her chair toppled with a loud crash.
“I, Cesset Eliza, will stop this unfair world! You who didn’t receive a Gift! Come to me! I, Cesset, will protect your pride! Fill out the name list on the right and come get your Gift!”
Her speech was powerful, but the last line sounded suspiciously like salesmanship.
Philia turned her head in embarrassment. She had memorized every line with Cesset that morning, but seeing it in person made her even more mortified. She couldn’t bear to watch.
Alone in the tense classroom, Rin clapped once with an emotionless face and left coolly.
She probably wouldn’t have been here if not for Cesset’s orders.
“Hey, what are you doing? It’s still morning. If you take one now, your pride will only get damaged.”
A male student was about to approach the table when his friend tried to stop him.
“Let go! I’m gonna fail this anyway!”
“But…”
“But what? Do you remember when I went home empty-handed last year and how the maids at home looked at me? Do you know how it feels to smile through gritted teeth while being comforted that ‘the girls were too shy to give’?!”
The student shook off his friend’s hand and sprinted toward Cesset’s table, accepting a Gift.
His expression looked serious, but the truth was simply the heartbreak of a hopeless guy.
Once one person broke the ice, the other students who had realized there was no hope this year also flocked to the table in droves.
“Oh my, there’s still plenty left. Line up properly, don’t push, and make sure you write your name on the list. Remember to thank the Cesset who loves you! I’ll tell other classes too! It doesn’t matter which class or year you’re from! Cesset Eliza is open to everyone!”
Cesset grinned ear to ear, already imagining the Return Gifts she would receive.
“Not going?”
Volin, who had been pretending to lounge by the window, turned to Cuthbert, who was posing like a model looking far away.
“No. A real man knows how to wait.”
“You’ll end up empty-handed, right? Last year you bragged about Julia giving you one, but I know she’s dating Zillette now.”
“There are plenty of girls besides Julia.”
“The only ones who would even give you friendship are Julia and Cesset.”
Volin watched Cuthbert sweat despite his calm act and sighed helplessly.
“Zeroa, a junior came to find you.”
“Ah— no, no. I’m Zeroa-senpai, Philia-senpai, and…”
A female student led a flustered Mia inside.
The male students all turned with stiff expressions, thinking the same thing.
“Um, Mia? What brings you here?”
‘I know exactly why I’m here, you bastards.’
While the students were thinking the same, Mia glanced around anxiously.
“It’s fine. Everyone here is nice.”
“Y-yes! This! This! It’s… Seria’s Gift! Thank you! This is my gratitude! Thank you so much!”
Mia bowed deeply at the waist and offered the Gift with both hands.
Zeroa was momentarily surprised but quickly relaxed and accepted it politely with both hands.
“Thank you for bringing it. I’ll eat it carefully.”
“Y-yes! I made it myself! Please enjoy it!”
Philia and Aslan both received Gifts from Mia as well.
“Thank you, Mia. This is what I made. Eat it while it’s still warm.”
“Whoa, thanks. It smells amazing.”
Both Philia and Aslan thanked her warmly and accepted the Gift.
After breathing in deeply, Mia moved on to Abigail.
“What are you looking at?”
Abigail glared at her. Mia squeaked and quickly shut her eyes, then handed over the Gift.
“Thank you for always helping me.”
“…”
Abigail stared silently at the Gift, then turned her head away.
“She’s shy. So shy.”
“Whoa… she’s so cute… why is she like this…?”
Cuthbert and Volin’s muttering made the surrounding male students nod in agreement.
When Abigail shot them a sharp glare, every head turned—exactly the moment her popularity began to rise.
Still scratching her head with a tired look, Abigail approached Cesset with a scowl.
“I’m taking one.”
“Pay me back with a Return Gift later~”
Abigail said nothing and snatched the Gift from the table, then quickly gave it to the still-frozen Mia and placed another one on her hand.
“Thank you.”
Mia looked at her with sparkling eyes. Abigail turned away, embarrassed, and stared out the window instead.
Mia finally noticed everyone was staring and gave quick bows to everyone before rushing out of the classroom.
“Mia is so kind, taking care of everyone.”
Zeroa smiled, but the male students’ gazes were cold. The box Mia was holding was far larger than the palm-sized Gifts given to Philia or Aslan, so anyone could tell her feelings were obvious.
Just as they were wondering who the secret admirer was, Aria entered.
Every eye turned. Aria flinched in surprise at the sudden attention.
She looked just as usual, but today her eyes were bloodshot, making her seem genuinely scary.
Aria placed the Gift she received on top of the mountain of unknown Gifts on her desk.
She ignored the unstable pile and brought her hands to her chest, taking a small breath.
“It’s cute.”
Every student in the room had the same thought.
Aria took one of her carefully wrapped Gifts and walked over to Zeroa first.
“I made this one myself this time.”
“Thank you. I’ll eat it.”
Zeroa, who had received it once before, accepted it more relaxedly than usual.
Despite the murderous stares from everyone around, Zeroa smiled and received the Gift. Aria then looked at the one in his hand.
“Um… this one was from Mia.”
“I see… I’d like to meet her too.”
Although Aria had heard many stories about Mia, she had never spoken to her. The wish made her voice sound a little sad.
Zeroa saw Aria’s effortless attitude and felt both relieved and envious. If jealousy wasn’t an option, he would have loved to know exactly what kind of gaze she was giving him.
After Aria finished giving Gifts to Cesset and others, she returned to her desk.
“…”
Cuthbert’s jaw dropped when Aria handed him the Gift.
He forgot how to move his mouth, eyes wide like an idiot.
“Thank you for fighting together with me during the small-scale cavalry event…”
The male students who had missed the event all shed tears of envy and glared at Cuthbert.
They were jealous, but the thought of how boastful he would become after receiving it made them seethe inside.
“Sob… sob…”
“U-um… why are you crying…?”
Cuthbert’s reaction was the opposite of what everyone expected.
He wept tears of joy and knelt on one knee to accept the Gift Aria offered.
“As a retainer… I… will pass this Gift to my grandson.”
“It will spoil if you don’t eat it soon.”
Aria worried, but Cuthbert didn’t hear her.
He wiped his tears roughly with his sleeve, stood up slowly, and climbed onto the desk.
- Flash.
It wasn’t actually glowing, but Cuthbert held the Gift high in the air as if it were shining. The male students who had been staring with hatred were moved and clapped despite themselves.
Of course, Aria was so embarrassed she lowered her head and fled the classroom.
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