AND out of the blue, I decided to revive this series as well.
5 AM.
I head towards the gardening club and first water the flowers and plants there. In addition, I also replace the chemicals and fertilizers. I carry out these diligent tasks, as they are said to be the most important, with a calm demeanor.
The reason I’m doing this is that I volunteered for the watering duty.
Most of the members of the gardening club are upper-class nobles, so they seem to be busy with greeting rounds and other activities during the summer vacation.
As for me, it’s fine to go back to my family home later, so I’ve taken on this responsibility. Today, like usual, I water the plants while basking in the morning sun.
Seeing the plants and flowers grow little by little brings me a great sense of peace.
“Next, it’s time to go outside.”
I head outside toward the spot I set up myself when I first enrolled. There are many flowers blooming there, and soon it will be the season for my favorite marguerites.
I’m really looking forward to them blooming.
“Alright then.”
Once I finish all the tasks, I start getting ready to head into town.
Today’s plan is to visit the bookstore in town with Elisa.
Originally, there was talk of going with everyone, but we couldn’t find a time that worked for all of us, so we gave up. Especially Amelia and Clarice seem to have many gatherings among the nobles, which keeps them busy.
Evi, on the other hand, lives quite far from the academy, making it difficult for him to gather with us.
So, it ended up being just Elisa and me, as she can relatively easily come to town from her home.
Elisa and I share a lot of interests in books and academics, so I’m really looking forward to it.
“I might be a bit too early.”
Since it’s the peak of summer, I simply chose a plain white shirt and jeans.
I also wear a simple silver bracelet given to me by my Master. She said, “No matter who you’re with, pay attention to your appearance,” so I make an effort with my clothing and hairstyle.
Moreover, I’m sure Elisa is taking her time to prepare.
While my Master and Abby are rather laid-back, I’ve held a certain admiration for women ever since Carol passionately explained to me how much effort goes into their preparations when we were younger.
Apparently, makeup can take over an hour, and choosing an outfit also takes quite a bit of time.
Shoes are often chosen more for design than practicality, leading to blisters and foot pain quite frequently.
Because women face struggles that men can hardly imagine, I always try to compliment them.
I’ve learned from both Carol and my Master that just that effort is rewarding.
Well… my Master really gets angry if you don’t compliment her, though…
I’m waiting in front of the fountain in the town center for our meeting, standing there.
However, it seems I might be a bit too early. The meeting time is 11 AM, but it’s only 10:30 now. I arrived thirty minutes early, but well… it’s better than being late.
As I wait alone, I’m approached by a pair of women.
“Um, excuse me—”
“Yes? What is it?”
I wonder if they’re lost.
Many people come to this kingdom for tourism, so it’s not uncommon for someone to ask for directions in town.
I was prepared for someone to ask for directions, but it seems that’s not the case.
“Are you by yourself…?”
“I am alone right now.”
“Kyaaa You’re all by yourself!”
“C-Could you keep it down a bit?”
“…?”
The two of them are whispering about something, but I can’t quite catch on.
What could it be that they want?
I don’t know either of these two.
Moreover, they seem unusually mature, so the woman is probably over twenty years old.
What would they want with a student like me?
“…Um, would you like to go shopping with us?”
“I see. So that’s what it was. I’m sorry, but I actually have prior engagement.”
“Oh… I-I see. Someone like you couldn’t possibly be free, right…?”
As I say this, the other woman next to her speaks up. She gives off a lively impression and talks to me in a clear voice.
“Um! Just your name, please!”
“I’m Ray White. I’m a first-year student at Arnold Magic Academy.”
“Eh!? A student from that magic academy!? And a first-year! Amazing! Really!?”
“Yes. By the way… In late September, there will be a cultural festival at the academy. My class will probably have an event, so I hope we can meet again then.”
“I see! Well, see you then!”
With that, the two women walk away.
“Bye-bye! See you later!”
About ten minutes later, for some reason, I’ve been approached by women a lot, but I catch a glimpse of Elisa out of the corner of my eye.
She peeks out just around the corner of the street, seemingly checking on me.
“Elisa! Over here!”
“I-I’m sorry for being late…”
“No, I just got here a little while ago too. It’s fine.”
“R-Really?”
“Yeah.”
“But… um, you were talking to a lot of people, right?”
“Hmm? Well, yeah. But I was really looking forward to spending time with you today. I turned them all down.”
“There were a lot of beautiful girls, though…?”
“I think you’re the cutest, Elisa. You really suit it.” [TNL: Behold the RIZZMASTER]
“Oh… Thank you!”
A slight blush spreads across her face.
Elisa is wearing a pure white short-sleeved blouse with frills, and a bright blue flared skirt. The skirt flares out like a morning glory, beautifully undulating and very artistic.
Also, her hair is styled differently today, giving her a fresh impression. The small bag she carries seems to be made of good leather. It’s undoubtedly a high-quality item.
She seems to have put on a bit of makeup too, making her face look brighter than usual.
As I expected, she must have taken quite a bit of time to get ready. So, the words I should say are nothing but compliments for Elisa.
“Ray-kun looks great too, and um… you look cool!”
“Thanks, Elisa. Now, shall we go?”
“Yeah!”
We start walking side by side.
Matching my pace with Elisa, I walk more slowly than usual.
“How long did it take you to get here?”
“Hmm… about forty minutes, I guess. My home is to the west from here.”
“I see. So, in the western district.”
“Yeah. But I wish everyone could have come along.”
“It can’t be helped. It seems everyone has their own plans. Besides, I’m happy to be here with just you, Elisa.”
“Oh… I-I’m happy to be with you too, Ray-kun! You’re really easy to talk to compared to all the boys I’ve met so far…!”
“Really?”
“Yeah! I didn’t have any friends before, and I was especially bad at talking to boys… but Ray-kun is a bit different.”
“I see. I guess it’s because I grew up around women. That might be why.”
“Um… like Lydia-san?”
“Yeah. My Master, Abby-san, and Carol have taken care of me a lot.”
“Now that I think about it… all of them are Seven Great Sorcerers, right? That’s amazing…”
“Yeah. Looking back, I had quite a luxurious group.”
I chat with Elisa about trivial things. Initially, I felt a bit of distance between us when we first met, but now, as we embrace summer vacation, it feels like we’ve closed that gap considerably.
She has started to smile a lot more too. We walk along, blooming with conversation.
Just then, I brought up something I had been thinking about.
“Elisa, how about we grab lunch before heading to the bookstore?”
“Yeah, that sounds good. But where are we going?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve made a reservation.”
“Eh… a reservation?”
The place I brought the dazed Elisa is one of the top restaurants in the kingdom. It is said to be a three-star restaurant recognized as the pinnacle by the kingdom.
I was introduced to this place by Abby, but since Elisa had helped me a lot during the Magic Swordsman Tournament(Magic Chevalier), I wanted to show my gratitude to her.
I really wanted to come here with everyone, but today was the only day available during the summer vacation, so it ended up being just the two of us, me and Elisa.
“Ah, um… ah, um…”
“What’s wrong? Let’s go in, Elisa.”
“But this is the best restaurant in the kingdom, isn’t it…?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“I don’t have any money…! What should I do…?”
Elisa looked pale and flustered. However, I had no intention of making her pay. This was all on me.
“Of course, it’s my treat. Don’t worry. I received a lump sum of money during my time as a soldier, and I still haven’t used most of it. Paying for two people at this restaurant is nothing.”
“Eh…? You’re treating me, Rey-kun!?”
“I made the reservation and brought you here without asking. Besides, you’ve really helped me out. You prepared for the Amelia cheering squad during the Magic Swordsman Tournament, and… back then, you pushed me forward. I really wanted to invite everyone, but it just didn’t work out this time. So today, I want to express my gratitude to you, but… is that okay?”
“Um… if that’s the case, I’ll take you up on your offer… I’ll accept your treat.”
“Ah, then let’s go.”
I gently took Elisa’s hesitant hand and led her inside…
“Hm?”
“Is something wrong, Rey-kun?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
As we entered, I felt like someone was watching us, but… it was probably just my imagination. With so many people around, it wouldn’t be strange for someone to catch a glimpse of us.
Forgetting about that feeling of being watched, we continued to walk forward.[TN: Theory theory no mi- It must be His Master getting jealous towards Ray going on a date with Elisa while she wasn’t able to]
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