The gymnasium was quiet after yesterday's events.
Students laughed in the background, their conversations casual, like the day before hadn't been a full-scale war of aesthetics.
Seraphina Falcor sat alone on a bench at the edge of the hall, her posture poised as always—but something was off.
She wasn't giving out dramatic lines. No flick of the wrist, no tilt of the chin. Just a small smile when someone greeted her. Courteous. Gentle. Distant.
When a girl from the Literature Club complimented her "dazzling performance," Seraphina nodded and replied, "Thank you," without looking up.
Miya was the first to notice. She narrowed her eyes slightly. " Is she okay?"
Ayaka followed her gaze. "Not even a sigh or a hair flip. That's… unusual."
Standing nearby, arms crossed, Ayaka muttered, "She's been like this since yesterday. Is Something bothering her?"
Before anyone could answer, a familiar voice cut in.
"Aaah, finally," Eiji said, stepping into view with a stretch, his tone light and tired. "That ridiculous festival thing is Finally over.
He scratched his head and looked around lazily. "Oh? Were you Two saying something just now?"
The girls glanced at him, then at each other. And Sighed
"…Nothing," Ayaka replied with a flat tone.
Eiji blinked. "Right. Not like it had anything to do with me anyway," he said with a shrug, as if brushing off dust from his thoughts.
He walked past them, but just as he did—he paused.
A quiet weight tugged at the edge of his awareness. That faint feeling, like someone's eyes were tracing the outline of his back.
Seraphina was looking at him.
But it wasn't her usual playful glance. It wasn't the smirk of a noblewoman enjoying her favorite chess piece move across the board. It was quieter, almost like solemn.
Eiji Turned Slowly and looked around his surroundings
Their eyes met for a brief second.
Seraphina didn't flinch. She didn't look away immediately. But when she did, it was with a gentleness that didn't feel like retreat… more like withdrawal. Like someone stepping away from a memory they couldn't share.
Eiji frowned a little but said nothing. He moved on.
Miya observed.
"She's thinking about something," she murmured. "And I bet it's something of concern."
Ayaka, quieter than usual, added, "It might be from a long time ago."
12:37 PM At School Cafeteria
The cafeteria buzzed with its usual lunchtime chaos—half a dozen conversations collided like shopping carts in a discount sale.
"Okay, but seriously," Amane insisted, pointing a chopstick at Eiji, "you can't just say no to this. You know vegetables are as important as meat for mach 'it's edible.'"
"I mean… it's not like I am avoiding vegetables. It's just that I am in the mood for meat today," Eiji replied dryly, making an excuse.
Riku smirked and said, "It wouldn't kill you to have a bite." Eiji Replied, "Man, no one is asking for your opinion here." Riku replied, "Well, whatever; I have finished my meal, so I will leave first."
Eiji made an angry face and thought, " I hate this guy who is always playing cool."
" let it go, Pervert," Miya muttered, flipping through her book without looking up.
Laughter circled the table. Amane grinned triumphantly. Eiji, as always, accepted the teasing like a monk enduring spiritual training. Everything felt typical: lively, Messy, and Joyful.
Except one thing.
Seraphina was sitting two tables away, not with them.
Her tray was untouched, except for a cup of steaming tea she hadn't sipped.
She didn't speak. She didn't make a snide remark or roll her eyes at their noise. I just sat there—composed, distant, eyes calm but unreadable.
From her seat, she could see the group. She watched Eiji laugh, mouth open, eyes crinkling as Amane elbowed him for teasing about her height again.
Her fingers gently cradled the warm teacup.
"So carefree…" she thought, eyes narrowing just slightly.
"Like an idiot. Just like him."
Yet her gaze didn't leave him.
Eiji, mid-sentence, suddenly slowed. The hairs on his neck stood up—not from fear, but… something else. That feeling again.
He turned his head.
Their eyes met.
Seraphina's expression froze—not startled, but… caught. Like a dancer mid-step, realizing the music had stopped.
In a smooth motion, she lifted her cup and took a sip, though her lips barely touched the rim.
Eiji blinked, his chopsticks hovering awkwardly over his plate.
She was pretending.
Why?
He almost spoke. His mouth opened just slightly, the start of a question forming at the edge of his mind.
But he didn't.
Instead, he glanced back down at his lunch and poked at the rice like it held the answer.
"…Is it just me, or is the president staring at me a lot today?"
He didn't say it out loud. I just thought about it—a quiet ripple of curiosity under the surface of his otherwise noisy mind.
Across the table, Amane tilted her head. "Something wrong?"
"Huh? No, nothing," he replied quickly
16:48 At School
The sun had begun its slow descent, casting long shadows through the empty Research Club room's windows.
Seraphina stood near her desk, still in her uniform, the soft rustle of papers the only sound. She'd finished the reports an hour ago but hadn't moved since.
Outside, the school grounds had quieted. The noise of students had faded into the distance like a fading orchestra, leaving only silence—and the occasional chirp of distant birds.
Her eyes wandered to the stack of documents neatly aligned at the edge of her desk. Routine work. Effortless.
But her mind was somewhere else entirely.
Her fingers rested lightly on the corner of the desk.
And then—
A flicker.
The light shifted.
The room rippled.
And time peeled back.
Flashback
Falcor Manor – Years Ago
A wide corridor of crystal glass and white marble. The air held the sterile chill of nobility, yet within that space—two figures stood apart from its grandeur.
A young girl—no older than six—sat upright on a velvet bench, tiny legs swinging. Her silver-blonde hair was tied in precise loops. Her posture was stiff—perfect for a child.
Before her, a tall man knelt, one hand resting on her knee. His features were indistinct—blurry in memory—but his presence lingered like the scent in old books. Regal, measured, gentle.
"Remember, Seraphina," he said, voice deep but calm, "never bow unless it's your choice. Not even to kings."
The girl blinked up at him, confused.
"But you said bowing shows respect."
"It can," he nodded, "but not when demanded. Nobility isn't in the blood. It's in the decision to rise above it."
He reached out, placing a firm but warm hand on her head.
She wrinkled her nose and tried to squirm away.
"Hmph. I'm not a child."
"No?" he chuckled. "Then why are you clinging to my hand like that?"
She glanced down. Her small fingers were wrapped tightly around his wrist.
She let go immediately, pouting.
"I wasn't."
His hand rested on her head a moment longer. Then, he rose, brushing her cheek with the side of his thumb.
And for a moment, time stood still in the glass halls of Falcor Manor.
Back to Present
The clubroom returned—faint echoes of laughter from the far courtyard filtered in through the closed windows.
Seraphina stood still, back straight, her arms folded behind her. But her eyes… her eyes were somewhere far from this school.
Outside, the sky was a mix of pale gold and melancholy blue. The wind barely stirred the trees.
She stared at the window—not at the view, but at the reflection.
At herself.
Older. Sharper. Tired.
"Father…" she whispered. Her voice barely disturbed the air as if afraid to break the quiet.
"…What would you have said if you were the heir?"
Dusk had fallen gently over the school grounds. The lanterns lining the garden paths flickered to life, casting long, warm shadows over trimmed hedges and stone walkways. The last birds had settled, and most students were already gone.
But Seraphina walked alone.
Her heels clicked softly against the cobblestone, the sound barely louder than the rustle of wind brushing through flowerbeds. Her arms were folded, not in defiance—but to contain something stirring. Thoughts, memories… things better left unspoken.
A few passing students waved to her with polite cheer. She returned their greetings with a quiet nod but didn't stop.
Then—
A breeze.
Faint, but not cold. Not entirely.
She stopped. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
There was someone nearby.
"…You're still here?" she asked without turning.
Footsteps approached from behind. Familiar.
Eiji scratched his head, looking like he'd been caught stealing extra dessert. "I could say the same to you."
Seraphina turned halfway toward him; one brow lifted in a mock challenge. "Unlike you, I have club responsibilities. Reports don't write themselves."
"Wow," Eiji said with a half-laugh. "You are working hard, huh?"
She looked away, almost dismissively. "It's not something to be proud of. Just part of my duties as president."
Still, her pace slowed as he fell in step beside her.
"Well, even so," Eiji said, hands tucked in his pockets, "you deserve a little credit. That's more than most people would do."
A slight pink flush touched her cheeks, but she didn't reply immediately.
"…You think so?" she asked softly.
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't," he replied, smiling. "You're strict, but you carry everything without complaint. I think that's pretty admirable."
There was a long pause.
The wind shifted again.
And then, without looking at him, she asked quietly, "Eiji… what do you think about marriage?"
Eiji blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Huh? What's with the sudden question?"
Her gaze turned sharp, almost challenging. "Just answer it."
He scratched his cheek awkwardly but didn't look away. "…Well, I'm a teenage guy, so I've considered it. Marriage is… when two people decide to stay together, no matter what. For life. Ideally, with someone you love."
She glanced at him now.
Eiji continued more honestly, "If I am talking about Myself, I'd want it to be with someone who understands me. Someone who cares about how I feel. That matters more than… status.
Well, It's better than marrying someone who doesn't even love you."
Seraphina's expression shifted—just slightly. The corners of her lips curved into the faintest smile. It wasn't theatrical. It was real. Quiet.
"…I see," she murmured. "I understand."
She stopped walking.
"Well then," she said, stepping back with her usual grace, "I'll see you tomorrow."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked into the misty orange glow of the garden lights.
Eiji watched her go, rubbing his neck again.
Behind him, Seraphina whispered under her breath—so softly the wind nearly stole the words: "What a Weird boy…"
"Marrying someone you loved…"
The lamps at the school gate flickered gently in the dusk breeze.
And there, standing quietly by the old iron arch, was a maid.
She didn't wear the academy's themed uniform. Her outfit was regal—fitted black and silver lace, with old noble crest patterns sewn into her sleeves. Her long gloves were the same deep charcoal as the veil pinned to her head. Her posture is perfect. Elegant. Still.
Her eyes were closed.
As if listening for something no one else could hear.
From across the garden path, Seraphina stopped.
Her voice dropped, almost caught in her throat. "…No. It can't be…"
But the maid did not speak.
She only slightly turned and gave the smallest, almost imperceptible bow in Seraphina's direction.
And then she vanished behind the iron gate.
Meanwhile, at Eiji's apartment…
The dim glow of his phone lit the room. Eiji lay sprawled across his futon in casual homewear, thumbs tapping rhythmically as he played some cheap idol-raising game he swore he'd uninstall weekly.
"Ugh. Why do I keep pulling SSRs for this one girl with the glasses and scythe…?"
He sighed, tossing the phone onto the floor.
But her face slipped into his thoughts again as he closed his eyes.
Not the idol.
Seraphina.
That moment in the garden.
Her sudden, serious expression.
Her voice—soft but demanding—when she asked him about marriage.
"What do you think of marriage?"
"…That was weird," he muttered, staring at the ceiling. "Why'd she ask something like that out of nowhere?"
He turned to his side, burying half his face in the pillow. "She's been acting strange lately… quieter like she's thinking about something she doesn't want to say."
Then, just as sleep was starting to claim him—
A faint hum filled the air.
Lines of blue light formed slowly in the center of the room—arcane symbols rotating within a perfect circle. The air grew still and cold.
And then—
She appeared.
Seraphina stepped through the circle, her uniform slightly wrinkled, her lengthy hair falling around her face. She looked pale. Tired. A faint sadness clung to her like perfume that wouldn't wash off.
Eiji sat up instantly, startled. "Wha—!? You can't just teleport into a guy's room like that!"
She looked at him blankly. "Why not? You never locked the barrier."
"That's… not the point!"
But then he saw her face.
She wasn't teasing. She wasn't smirking.
She looked… lost.
"Seraphina?" he asked, voice softening. "What's wrong?"
She didn't answer right away. She stepped forward and sat on the edge of his futon, facing away from him. Her fingers gripped the fabric of her skirt.
And then, quietly, she asked, "Eiji… what do you think of me?"
His eyes widened. "H-Huh?"
"Wha—what kind of question is that?!
She turned to face him, her voice firmer now. "I asked you what you think of me. Honestly. Am I… pretty?"
His face flushed instantly. Of course, you're… I mean—yeah. You're beautiful. And, uh… y'know. Y-you have a good body and boobs."
He covered his face. "Ah, Please forget I said anything about the boobs part."
She didn't laugh. She just looked at him thoughtfully, almost painfully.
"Do you like me?"
Silence.
His breath caught. "Y-You're now going too far if it's just teasing …"
She didn't say anything, But she waited.
So he answered.
"…Yeah. I do. I like you."
She nodded slowly.
"Then," she said, barely a whisper now, "there's no problem, is there?"
She rose to her knees on the futon, facing him. Her hands reached for the hem of her jacket.
Eiji's eyes widened. "Wait—what are you doing?!"
"I want you to take my virginity," she said clearly.
"What?!"
"I mean exactly what I said." Her voice trembled faintly. You are also a virgin, aren't you, and it's perfect? You said… marriage should be with someone who understands how you feel and cares. We don't know each other yet, but… maybe this could be a start."
She stripped her clothes and leaned on Eiji's chest, saying, "I know it's a little sudden, but please be gentle with me.
Eiji was listening to her before he saw her body trembling.
"She's shaking… this isn't what she wants. She doesn't want to do this."
And just as she leaned in—
He reached out.
Not to grab her.
But to stop her.
He pulled his jacket off the chair and wrapped it around her.
"…First, calm down."
She froze.
"I don't know what happened," he said gently, "but this isn't the right way."
She didn't move. Her breath shook slightly.
Eiji's voice was low but clear. "If you do this right now, you'll regret it. Not because of me. But because it's not really what you want."
For a long moment, the silence was heavy.
And then she lowered her head.
"…You're right," she whispered. "I wasn't in my right mind."
She stood, wrapping the jacket tighter around herself.
She put back her clothes, Apologizes to Eiji, and said
"I am sorry, eiji. And please Forget this happened."
Before he could say anything else, she activated the teleportation spell again.
And then she was gone.
Leaving behind nothing but the scent of her perfume… and silence.
Eiji sat there, stunned.
He glanced at the spot where she had been.
"…What the hell just happened?"
End of The Chapter