Time flew by, and before I knew it, Monday had arrived – the morning of the Academy Festival.

Before the festival began, I was busy helping out here and there as a Student Council officer, but once the festival started, I found myself with relatively little to do.

‘Well, to be precise, it’s more accurate to say that no one has given me any tasks.’

Of course, not all members of the Student Council became idle like me simply because the festival had commenced.

As I could imagine, at this moment, the Student Council President Kaya and Vice President Serika were probably frantically managing the festival schedule, taking care of other students during the festival, and welcoming the influx of outside guests while the school was open.

However, both Kaya and Serika were adamant in refusing my offers to help.

“I appreciate it, but honestly, having you buzzing around me would only make me more frantic,” Kaya said, her tone implying something different from her words.

[I could never impose such trivial tasks on you, my Master. Please leave those to me, your servant, and just enjoy the festival.]

Serika expressed her refusal clearly, while Kaya pulled me to a quieter spot away from prying eyes to tell me:

“Senpai, to be honest, I don’t really want your help.”

“…Why? I know I’m not the most reliable, but even someone like me could offer you some assistance—”

“No, that’s not it. I dislike the idea of you needing to work during the Academy Festival like I do.”

“…?”

I couldn’t understand Kaya’s words at all. How many people in this world actually enjoyed working to say such a thing?

Work was inherently taxing and annoying, which was exactly why one would delegate tasks to others, right?

Unfortunately, it seemed that Kaya’s intention was not what I had assumed.

“Do you know? Students currently enrolled in Nineveh, unlike you who transferred this year, have been receiving education here since they were very young.”

“Well, yes, I’m aware of that.”

Education is most effective when started from a young age, and I knew that students like Kaya and Altina had been attending this place since their early years.

“That means they have experienced festivals countless times. In fact, to some extent, it can feel a bit dull. No matter how fun or novel it is, once you reach double digits in experiences, it starts to feel a bit stale, doesn’t it?”

As Kaya chuckled while speaking, she soon turned her gaze and fixed it on my face.

“But your situation is a bit different.”

“…Why?”

“For you, this Academy Festival is your very first one.”

With that, Kaya extended her hands and held onto mine tightly.

“I know. You’ve totally thought of me and joined the Student Council. I realize that you were trying to lessen my burdens by offering your help.”

But then, Kaya smiled softly, though with a hint of melancholy.

“I personally don’t care much about enjoying the festival because I’ve already experienced it countless times. But for you, this is your first. Just like the fact that it’s our first time standing here together right now.”
“I hope you find a bit more fun and enjoyment in this life we share, Senpai. I wish for your days to shine brightly and sparkle. My hope is that someday, when you look back on this moment, it will bring you genuine smiles.”

Of course, I want to spend this time with you, but that is just my selfish desire.

And I will not commit an act that would ruin your happiness by letting my selfishness dictate your life.

So, I—

“Please enjoy this festival on my behalf. May the time you’re spending now one day become your cherished memories.”

“…..”

As she said this, Kaya nudged me, urging me to have fun at the Academy Festival. She even mentioned giving Shura and Midir special leave so that no one would think it strange if I wasn’t working.

In the end, I received an unexpected favor from Kaya, finding myself lounging about like an idle person while everyone else was busily working hard.

Well, that’s fine. To be honest, it’s not a bad deal. I’m not really the diligent type, so idly enjoying myself isn’t such a bad thing.

However, there was just one unfortunate circumstance that even Kaya hadn’t anticipated.

– No matter how much free time I have, I’ve got no friends to enjoy the festival with.

Indeed. Ever since my first day at Nineveh, I’d faced hostility from everyone, and having no intention of mingling with the darker types, I hadn’t made any friends by the end of my first semester. As a result, here I was, sitting alone on a bench, a lonely loser during the festival.

“It’s not that I can just go find Altina or Claire out of the blue…”

Normally, I could hang out with them under the pretense of ‘friendship’ or share meals, but during a festival, if a boy and girl were seen sticking together, rumors could spread once the Academy Festival concluded.

Though Claire was a different story, if Count Seryas, still here under the guise of wanting to enjoy the festival with his daughter, were to hear such rumors—

“…That would be the worst.”

Just the thought of having to cross swords with that idiot daughter again made my head throb.

To sum it up, no matter how much free time I had, being an antisocial loser without a friend meant I was now stuck on a bench in the corner of the square, unable to enjoy the festival at all.

– I did warn myself beforehand, didn’t I? Even if I enrolled in Nineveh for academic reasons, it’s best to make friends around you. Yet instead of making friends, I’d been busy mingling with girls.

“…You’re in no position to talk. You don’t have any friends either, do you?”

– The situations are a bit different, though. I consciously avoid making friends, while you simply couldn’t.

While I sat on the bench sharing meaningless chatter with Erekaya, it happened.

“Excuse me…”

At that moment, a woman approached me, her face mostly obscured by a wide-brimmed hat and adorned in elegant attire.

“Are you busy? You seem to be a student at Nineveh; if it’s not too much trouble, may I ask you something?”

From her tone and appearance, she seemed like a noble, politely inquiring about something.

“Ah, yes. It’s fine. I was just resting here.”

As I nodded and replied, she clapped her hands together as if relieved.
“Oh my, oh my. How kind of you. Thank you so much. It’s been such a long time since I visited this place, and everything around feels so unfamiliar to me.”

With a graceful chuckle, she gently posed her question.

“Would you happen to know where the girls’ dormitory for first-year students in the High Department is? I was supposed to meet my daughter there but am having trouble finding my way…”

“Are you referring to the girls’ dormitory?”

It wasn’t difficult to inform her. Although I was currently in a leisurely state, I was still a member of the student council, responsible for guiding lost outsiders like her.

“If that is the case, I’ll guide you there. Please, follow me.”

“Oh no, there’s really no need for you to go through the trouble. Just telling me the location would be sufficient.”

“I wish I could do that, but the path to the girls’ dormitory can be quite complicated. I believe it would be best for me to personally show you the way.”

After all, helping lessen Kaya’s workload, even in a small way, isn’t such a bad thing, is it?

“…Hmm.”

However, there was something a bit strange about her gaze as she looked at me intently.

“It’s just as I’ve heard. Polite, considerate, and even kind. No wonder my daughter has been so interested in you.”

“…What?”

What was that supposed to mean? Wasn’t she just lost and happened to ask me a question while sitting on the bench? Why was she speaking as if she already knew me?

Having worn a subtle smile from the beginning, she finally removed the wide-brimmed hat she had been wearing—

“…Claire?”

The appearance hidden beneath the hat was, surprisingly, almost identical to Claire’s.

…No, wait. To be more accurate, while she bore a striking resemblance to Claire, there was a mature air about her that Claire hadn’t yet developed.

In other words, if Claire were a couple of years older, she might look like this woman.

The woman before me embodied both the warmth and gentleness that Claire inherently possesses, alongside a grace and maturity of her own.

“Could you possibly be Claire’s sister?”

“…Excuse me?”

From my observations, she appeared to be only two or three years older than Claire, and since Claire had mentioned having siblings before, I thought my deduction was reasonable.

Meanwhile, as she listened to my guess, she couldn’t help but chuckle softly at my response.

“Well, would you look at that! It seems our son-in-law has a talent for flattery, doesn’t he? To think he would be so skilled at bringing joy with just a few words.”

“Son-in-law…?”

Son-in-law? Whose son-in-law? Wait a moment, isn’t the term son-in-law used to refer to a daughter’s husband?

If that was the case, then it implied that the woman before me, despite her appearance, was indeed a mother with a daughter. More importantly, her striking resemblance to Claire meant—

“Pleased to meet you, son-in-law. Or shall I just refer to you as my prospective son-in-law for now?”

“I must thank you for becoming so ‘close’ with our daughter.”

It seemed that utterly unbeknownst to me, I had found myself in a situation akin to an unwitting meeting with my girlfriend’s parents without even having a girlfriend.