After class, I asked Sachi out for a meal and made sure to invite Lucy too. On the way to the cafeteria, I stopped by Class B to invite Alice as well.
The four of us headed to one of the academy's most popular food stalls. The aroma of fried dishes and steaming soups made everyone's stomach growl.
When it was my turn, I turned to the staff behind the counter.
"I'll have the fried rice and crispy shrimp. Oh, and extra spicy sauce, please."
Sachi paused, her eyes lighting up.
"Eh… how did you know I like shrimp with spicy sauce?"
I froze for a second, then smiled.
"You told me once… when we talked about favorite foods."
Actually, I remembered it from a scene in the original novel, where she liked shrimp so much she fought over it with Dan during a party.
"Really? I don't even remember that!" Sachi laughed cheerfully. "Yuto, you've got a great memory!"
I nodded quietly, but I could feel the shift in the air.
When I glanced to the side, I saw Lucy standing still, her eyes locked on me,silent, unreadable. Not angry or glaring, but that quiet gaze made me uneasy.
"Lucy, what would you like? I'll order for you."
"No need," she replied softly, still looking straight ahead. "I can do it myself."
Her voice was cooler than usual, not exactly cold but distant. And as she turned away, I saw her hand clutching the edge of her uniform tightly.
Just then, Alice—no, Arisu spoke, breaking the brief silence.
"I'll take the grilled fish and salad. Feels lighter."
Sachi, still upbeat, turned to me.
"You'll order for me again next time too, okay, Yuto?"
Before I could answer, Lucy looked back at me. She didn't say a word, but the look in her eyes made me glance down at my tray.
I understood.
Lucy didn't say anything… and that made the weight even heavier.
---
We chose a quiet table in a back corner of the cafeteria. Lucy sat to my left, Sachi to my right. The two girls were beside each other, while Arisu and I sat across from them.
The food trays were placed before us, the delicious scent filling the air. Everyone seemed pretty hungry.
Sachi eagerly took a bite of shrimp, her eyes sparkling.
"So good! The shell's crispy but the inside is still juicy!"
Arisu nodded, her tone calm as always.
"This stall is famous for a reason."
Sachi and Arisu quickly got into a lively chat—talking about the day's classes, magic practice, and even school rumors. Meanwhile, I glanced at Lucy. She was quietly eating, occasionally casting a glance at Sachi, her eyes reflecting an emotion I couldn't quite describe.
Then I noticed a small spot of sauce near the corner of Lucy's lips. While the others were distracted, I took out a handkerchief and leaned over to gently wipe it away.
Lucy froze, looking up at me, eyes slightly widened.
"What are you… doing?" she asked in a quiet voice, as if trying to keep calm.
I smiled.
"Just wiping it off. There was a little sauce on your mouth."
She turned her head away, her ears visibly red.
"I can do it myself…"
But this time, there were no complaints, no glares. Instead, I caught the faintest smile tug at the corner of her lips.
She didn't say anything but I could tell she was happy. Maybe because of that small gesture… or maybe because I was paying attention to her, and not someone else.
---
After lunch, Arisu and Sachi decided to visit the nearby bookstore for study materials. Lucy and I trailed behind, walking a bit slower.
"That was fun," I said, watching the two disappear around a corner.
Lucy gave a small nod. "It wasn't bad…"
I looked at her. "I thought you didn't like crowded places."
"It's not that…" she looked a little unsure. "It's just… it was my first time eating with a group like that, so… it felt a bit strange."
I smiled. "I'm glad you came."
She glanced at me, hesitation flickering in her eyes. "Didn't you kind of force me to come?"
"Well, I did ask," I laughed.
"But you agreed, didn't you?"
Lucy looked away, her voice lowering.
"I just didn't want you to… have too much fun eating with another girl."
I stared at her, then laughed.
"What?"
She frowned.
"What's so funny?"
"I just thought… Lucy knows how to get jealous too, huh?"
Her face turned red, but she tried to act indifferent.
"I'm not! I was talking about you! If you keep doing those caring little things for everyone, of course people will misunderstand!"
I tilted my head, pretending to think.
"Then what if I only want to care for one person?"
Lucy stiffened, silent for a moment, then quickly walked ahead.
"You're talking nonsense. Let's go already."
I watched her for a second, then followed with a smile. Even if her words were vague, her reaction and that look in her eyes… warmed something deep inside me.
---
After class ended, I wandered around the academy, letting my feet take me aimlessly. Eventually, I made my way to the training grounds—only to find Lucy already there, standing alone in the middle of the field, her body glowing with intense flames. Her breathing was heavy, and bursts of fire erupted uncontrollably from her hands.
I walked up slowly.
"Lucy, are you learning a new spell?"
She didn't turn around. "Yeah. I need to master it as soon as possible."
I could tell she was pushing herself too hard. In the original novel, I remembered how she always forced herself to be strong because of her family's expectations, the judging eyes, and the loneliness no one ever saw. I wanted to tell her to take a break, but—
Boom!
A sudden blast of fire exploded. Lucy staggered and collapsed, unable to hold herself up. I rushed forward and caught her before she hit the ground.
"Lucy!"
"…I'm fine…" her voice was weak, but her pale face said otherwise.
I carried her in my arms. Her body felt lighter than I expected. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her breathing grew heavier. Without a second thought, I ran straight to the infirmary, ignoring the stares around me.
---
Infirmary – a few minutes later.
Lucy lay quietly on the bed, her brows furrowed slightly. I wet a towel and placed it on her forehead. Then, I sat down beside her, watching her sleep. A dull ache settled in my chest—the kind you get when someone you care about keeps suffering alone.
After a while, Lucy stirred and slowly opened her eyes. Her crimson gaze met mine, a little dazed.
"You… brought me here?"
"Yeah. I couldn't just leave you there."
She turned her face away, her voice soft.
"I hate feeling like this… so weak… But with you, it doesn't feel so bad."
I was caught off guard. For a moment, the world felt still. I gently held her hand, letting a bit of my mana flow into her to help stabilize her condition.
"You don't have to be strong all the time, Lucy. Sometimes, leaning on someone… is also a form of strength."
She didn't answer. But her cheeks were tinged pink… and in her eyes, I saw something soften a little trust, a quiet warmth that hadn't been there before.