After school ended for the day, Elysia walked alongside Durandal.
She had been observing the other girl all day and noticed one thing—it really seemed like Durandal had come here to study.
But was that even possible?
If she wanted to go to school, did she really need to travel all the way from Siberia to the Far East?
And specifically request to attend Chiba Academy?
Still, Elysia hadn't noticed Durandal paying any particular attention to anyone.
What to do when you just couldn't figure it out?
Elysia's answer was simple: just ask directly~
"Durandal~?"
Elysia quickened her pace, stepping in front of Durandal, then walked backward to keep pace as she asked, "Can I ask you…"
Before Elysia could finish her sentence, she suddenly felt a tight grip around her waist. The next moment, Durandal's face was unusually close to hers.
With a firm motion from her arms and waist, Durandal pulled Elysia sideways and pressed her against the wall lining Chiba Academy's campus.
Back when they'd ridden together on horseback, Elysia hadn't noticed it, but now she detected a faint scent clinging to Durandal—different from the incense used in Shenzhou, yet it carried the same soothing quality.
Elysia: ?
Was she… being pinned against the wall by Durandal?
But… why?
Elysia's head spun a little.
After all, as far as she could tell, whether Durandal was genuinely oblivious or just pretending, she always seemed blind to Elysia's charms.
So why would she do something like this, out in the open…
Well, her confusion vanished when she spotted a figure whizzing past behind Durandal, followed by a flustered boy's apology carried on the wind.
It turned out that, while Elysia had been walking backward, a bicycle had rushed around the corner, too fast to brake in time.
Durandal had noticed and pulled her out of the way.
Elysia fell silent, unsure whether she felt more relief at having the mystery solved, or a faint, inexplicable sense of loss now that Durandal had already let go.
Durandal gave her a puzzled look.
"What's wrong? Weren't you about to ask me something?"
After a pause, as if struck by a thought, she added, "Were you frightened by what just happened? But… even if I hadn't moved you, it wouldn't have been a problem, right?"
"With your physique, you wouldn't get a scratch even if a Honkai Beast slammed right into you."
Hearing this, Elysia seized the chance to ask, "Then why did you bother? It's not like a mere bicycle could hurt me! Even if a sports car hit me at full speed, the one in trouble would be the car and its driver."
Durandal: ?
Huh? Since when did saving someone require a reason?
Durandal didn't get it.
To her, it was instinct—something etched into her bones!
She hadn't thought at all in that moment. She saw something she could help with, and she acted.
What Durandal didn't realize was that it was precisely this natural, almost unconscious kindness—the kind anyone might extend—that had Elysia feeling so unsettled.
"Then just consider it me saving the boy on the bicycle," Durandal shrugged.
Elysia: "…"
Soon, though, Elysia pulled herself together.
She tapped her forehead lightly. "Sorry, maybe I'm just not used to suddenly being a student. I'll adjust in a little while."
"Oh."
Durandal saw no reason to doubt her.
After all, what other explanation could there be?
And becoming a student probably was a brand-new experience for Elysia—it made sense she'd need time to adapt.
After a 'long' stretch of silence, the two returned to the temporary residence Connie had purchased.
It wasn't far from Chiba Academy—just a fifteen-minute walk—but as a result, the property prices were, well, impressive.
Still, it was all Connie's money, and the lady herself didn't mind.
Making things convenient for Durandal and Elysia, two founding members of the Flame-Chaser organization?
Wasn't that exactly what she, as the group's coordinator, ought to do?
But today, when Connie saw Durandal and Elysia returning together after school, she blinked, sensing something subtly off between them.
Connie, being more experienced, caught the vibe right away.
So, just as both were about to head upstairs to drop off their bookbags in their rooms, Connie called out, "Lady Durandal, could I have a moment?"
Hearing this, Durandal thought for a second, then handed her bookbag to Elysia. "Could you take this to my room? Thanks."
"Mm."
Elysia gave a brief acknowledgment, took the bag, and went upstairs.
"Did you find a lead on a headquarters for the Flame-Chasers?" Durandal asked after a moment's thought. That seemed the only reason Connie would stop her.
But Connie shook her head. "It's not easy to find a place that's both spacious and discreet. Most such spots are either already taken or way beyond our current budget. But I do have a plan—we can put it into action once you and Miss Elysia are on break."
Without going into detail, she shifted the subject to Elysia, who had gone to Durandal's room to drop off the bookbag and then returned to her own, shutting the door.
"Lady Durandal, did you two have a fight?"
Durandal: ?
"Why would you think that?" she asked, half amused and half exasperated.
What would she and Elysia even fight about?
Connie's frown deepened at her reaction.
This situation seemed worse than a simple argument.
If they had really fought, Durandal wouldn't be reacting like this.
Right now, Durandal was acting like the classic clueless straight guy—no, straight girl—who had no idea what she'd done wrong.
Seems I picked the wrong person to ask, Connie thought to herself. She waved a hand. "Must've been my mistake."
With that, she decided to ask Elysia what happened when she had the chance.
Honestly, sometimes it felt like she wasn't just managing an organization, but also the personal relationships of its members.
Maybe she should just change her name to Mama Connie…
Back in her room, Elysia had no idea about the conversation downstairs. She simply took out a notebook from her drawer and began jotting something down.
This wasn't a diary—who even keeps a diary, really?
Inside were the names of every human being Elysia had encountered since she came into this world.
--+--