After getting up and leaving the dorm, Hayashi Maki found everyone bustling about.
Attendants were hurrying back and forth, cleaning and sprucing up the grounds. The academy's instructors and guards were wide awake and patrolling to tighten security. The second-years—including Louise—were all preparing for the Familiar Exhibition in three days, bonding with their familiars and rehearsing what they'd show.
Kirche was directing her salamander to crossfire into the sky. A chubby blond noble was whistling instructions to his owl familiar. Guiche, as flamboyant as ever, declared he would win the princess's favor by showcasing his mole familiar's "melancholy aura" to match his own.
Montmorency, meanwhile, was unintentionally comedic: her familiar was a yellow frog, and she'd tied a matching bow on its head—who knew what she planned to present?
Truth be told, the Exhibition was really an opportunity for nobles to demonstrate their own capability. Based on a familiar's nature, you could envision how they'd serve in war.
Tabitha, by contrast, was unhurried, sitting quietly on the lawn with a book—as she did nearly every day. She didn't need to practice; she and her familiar already had plenty of rapport.
With Louise not at his side, Hayashi Maki plopped down next to Tabitha, close enough that their shoulders nearly touched, and glanced at her book. Tabitha flicked him a look but didn't object—after all, they'd already kissed; things were hardly "distant" anymore.
"Not practicing?" she asked softly, sensing his gaze on her pages.
Hayashi Maki smiled, relaxed. "No need. You're not practicing either, are you?"
She nodded once. "No need."
They sat reading in silence. She held a treatise on wind magic. "The Snowstorm" was no idle title—she excelled at it. So young, and she'd completed who knew how many state missions—yet the king of that country was also her father's murderer. Even with all she'd done, she'd earned only a knighthood—no true title.
Watching the quiet girl, Hayashi Maki couldn't help patting her head. She flinched at the intimacy, then—oddly—felt calmer.
"Ah! Tabitha, Darling—what's going on here?" Kirche, catching sight of them, forgot all about practice and rushed over, latching onto Hayashi Maki's arm and shooting her best friend a probing look.
Tabitha said nothing, giving her a blank blink, then glanced back at Hayashi Maki. He said matter-of-factly, "Exactly what it looks like—I'm getting closer with Tabitha."
"Really? Tabitha—is that true?" Kirche gaped.
Tabitha gave a slight nod. She didn't mind being close to him—he'd saved her mother, after all.
Kirche deflated, pouting up at Hayashi Maki with wounded eyes. "How could you? I've been working so hard, and you sneak off to cozy up to my best friend! And you, Tabitha—going off with him without a word? Vallière has no objections?"
After a plaintive grumble, she flung herself against Hayashi Maki and nuzzled hard.
"Heehee—if Tabitha's allowed, then I can join too, right?"
"No." The word snapped across the lawn—Louise, letter in hand, had arrived and shot it down at once.
"Ugh, Vallière—you always show up just in time to ruin everything! Can't you come a little later?" Kirche huffed, but didn't let go of Hayashi Maki's arm. As the one being cuddled, Hayashi Maki couldn't exactly refuse; he could only passively accept.
Louise's temper flared; she grabbed Hayashi Maki's hand. "Back to the room, you lecher!"
"Er—why lecher?" he protested weakly.
"Hmph. You call yourself a demon and you're this shameless—what else would you be? Let's go. I told you—stop getting lured so easily. Zerbst is the queen of putting on an act!"
Hayashi Maki could only follow Louise. Kirche watched them go, more fixated than ever—she wouldn't give up. She had a fair idea why Louise wouldn't accept her: the fault lay with their houses. The Vallières and the Zerbests were hereditary enemies. Old grudges lingered—but maybe they could end in this generation? Hayashi Maki was extraordinary, after all—even Tabitha had accepted being close to him.
Kirche glanced at Tabitha. "When did you and Darling get that cozy?"
Remembering last night, Tabitha touched her lips and murmured, "Last night."
Kirche stared, speechless—then squared her shoulders. "So you're my biggest rival, huh? I won't give up!"
Then she smiled, genuinely pleased. "As expected of my friend—your taste is as good as mine. But… why? Were you, like me, smitten by Darling's gallant victory over Guiche?"
Tabitha gave only two words: "Repaying kindness."
"Repaying…? What did he do?" Kirche sighed. Seeing Tabitha return to her book, she let it dropped and didn't pry further.
—Back to Hayashi Maki—
Louise had dragged him to their room. Sitting on the bed, she said nothing, lost in thought. He slipped an arm around her waist. "What's wrong? My Louise looks out of sorts."
"And whose fault is that?" she shot back, batting away his "thieving" hand. He rubbed his nose, then shamelessly put his arm around her again.
"What can I do? You weren't around. I don't know anyone else—so I talked with Tabitha and Kirche."
"Talked? That was 'talking' to you?" She looked at him with even deeper disdain.
~~~
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