"Axel-kun, why don't we go shopping for the school trip after class today?"
The invitation came the morning after I had mastered the Dark Magic. Chizuru brought it up over breakfast, her tone casual as if the harrowing events of the previous night had never happened.
"...Why so sudden?" I asked, pausing with my chopsticks.
She'd given me quite the earful about the risks I'd taken with the Dark Magic scroll, but looking at her now, she didn't seem to be nursing a grudge. Was she really just interested in shopping?
"Ayaka took care of your daily necessities," Chizuru explained, tilting her head slightly, "but we haven't bought anything specific for the trip yet, have we?"
"I was just going to use what I already have," I replied.
"Oh, come on! It's a field trip!" Natsumi chimed in from across the table, crunching loudly on a pickled cucumber. "Don't you want to make it feel special? New trip, new vibe?"
I suppose I couldn't argue with that. I had plenty of funds to spare, so a bit of shopping wouldn't hurt.
"It's not just for your sake," Chizuru added, her voice softening. "I have some things I'd like to pick up, too... and I'd love for you to come with me. Unless you're busy?"
"No, I'm free. But what about Ayaka and Natsumi?"
"Sorry! I've got drama club," Natsumi said with an apologetic wave. "With the trip coming up, we're cramming in every rehearsal we can."
"I would have loved to join you as well," Ayaka said, though her expression was uncharacteristically guarded. "But I have some matters to attend to. I suppose I'll have to leave Axel-kun in Chizuru-san's hands today."
Both of them were busy? Or were they intentionally clearing the way?
"So?" Chizuru asked, her eyes searching mine.
I let out a small sigh and nodded. "Alright. You do a lot for me, so the least I can do is carry some bags for you."
Chizuru beamed, but for a fleeting second, I caught a glint of steel in her eyes—a flash of hidden resolve that made my intuition prickle.
As soon as the final bell rang, Chizuru was at my desk, her bag already packed.
"Ready, Axel-kun?"
She didn't wait for an answer, taking my hand and leading me out of the classroom. I could hear Asakura stirring up a fuss behind us—no doubt spinning some new rumor for the school paper—but Chizuru didn't even look back. We made a quick stop at the dorms to change into casual clothes before heading toward the station.
"So, what's on the list?" I asked as we reached the shopping district.
"Let's see... let's start with bags. That shop over there always has a lovely selection."
She led me to a store dominated by duffel bags, suitcases, and backpacks—clearly catering to the mass of Mahora students preparing for the Kyoto trip. Chizuru gravitated toward a pale blue Boston bag. It was modest in size, perfectly suited for a girl of her height.
"What do you think of this one, Axel-kun?"
"Looks fine to me," I offered. I knew I was useless when it came to fashion, so I stuck to the safest answer possible. Truthfully, picturing her carrying it, it did suit her gentle aura.
"What about you?" she asked.
"I'm using the one Ayaka got me when I moved into your room. It's more than enough."
"Is that so? I thought you might want something of your own choosing."
Despite her earlier insistence, Chizuru didn't actually buy the bag. Instead, she moved on to a shoe store.
"Oh, don't you think these would look wonderful on Natsumi-chan?" She pointed to a pair of vibrant red and blue sneakers.
She was right; Natsumi spent half her life running between rehearsals, and sporty shoes suited her far better than pumps. But...
"Weren't we here to get your supplies, Chizuru?"
She laughed softly. "Oh, you're right. I just saw those and thought they were perfect for her."
The afternoon continued like that—less of a shopping spree and more of a leisurely stroll. We looked at window displays, chatted about nothing in particular, and shared a strawberry crepe from a street stall. To anyone watching, we probably looked like an older sister out with her younger brother, though the comfort between us felt like something more.
"Axel-kun," Chizuru said as the sun began to dip toward the horizon. "Let's walk over toward the World Tree."
"Wow..."
Chizuru let out a breath of pure wonder, and I found myself agreeing in silence.
The World Tree was bathed in the deep, madder-red glow of the sunset. From this angle, the giant tree looked as though it were wreathed in spiritual flame, yet the light it cast felt nostalgic and peaceful rather than destructive.
We stood there for a few minutes, simply taking in the view. Then, Chizuru turned to me, her expression turning uncharacteristically solemn.
"Axel-kun, did you have fun today?"
"Yeah. It was a good day."
"...But if you keep doing reckless things like you did yesterday," she said, her voice dropping an octave, "days like this might disappear forever. You realize that, don't you?"
"Maybe."
"And you'll keep doing it anyway?"
I didn't need to ask what she meant. She was asking if I'd continue to throw myself into the fire alone.
"Probably," I admitted.
"...Is it just because the Headmaster asked you to?"
"That's part of it. But mostly... I've grown fond of Class 3-A. I don't want to see anything happen to it."
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