That potion, is it real?

I don’t think Eivind and Anita believed me, but… I made an authentic potion?

Even as we talked, the school festival was fast approaching.  It would be here tomorrow.

Classes were cancelled today so we could prepare.

With the fireworks entrusted to Mark of the Magic Analysis Club, I had Drama Club rehersal.

The dress I wore was a bit nostalgic, and on the stage before no audience, I was laughing my head off. …I wasn’t actually this kind of character. The student in charge of the script told me, “You can show more passion!” and this was what I ended up doing.

But, as expected… the acting and singing of the leading role were masterful.

It was Hana. A character with a fake and loud laugh couldn’t possibly compare.  Her lines were genuine and delicate delivery, while her singing was powerful. Honestly, her acting was so profound that it was difficult to believe she was a mere teenage girl. Something resembling admiration had even taken root in my heart. My juniors spoke backstage.

“I saw Hana-senpai’s voice training this morning.”

“Wow, does she really practice every day?”

Hmm, I see. It’s the result of practice.

I had no doubt this performance was our last chance to become friends. I liked people who worked hard. I quickly went to the store and bought some tea. I’d give it to Hana after her rehearsal, saying, “Good job!”

With that in mind, I was about to wait for Hana in a remote place—backstage.

What’s this?! Rehearsal is over already?!

[Nora was too picky with the tea…]

I mean, I want her to drink tea that’s good for her throat!

In order not let the tea go to waste, I decided to look for Hana, and somehow ended up going towards the back of the school building. Then, Cecily asked with a puzzled look on her face.

[Shouldn’t she be in the waiting room after the rehearsal?]

Logically speaking, yes.

For some reason, I could sense Hana’s magic flowing from here.

I was no dog, so I didn’t have the special ability to sniff out other people’s magic. The story would be different if I was in a body from 800 years ago, but right now I was in Cecily’s body. If anything, my soul might have started to change after possessing someone else for so long.

[Oh, it seems that you’re right.]

Hana was having a secret rendezvous with a second-year club member behind the school building.

As I thought to myself once again how scary own talent was, I listened carefully in the shadows.

“I-if you don’t mind, would you like to climb the clock tower with me on the last day of the cultural festival?”

“I’m not particularly interested in you.”

…Uhm, is it just me, or did I just feel a chill go down my spine?

[Hana sure is merciless…]

I’m not one to speak, but… just a bit more… yeah?

I mean, this is THAT, right?

A junior mustered up the courage to try and create a situation where he could confess, right? And then she flatly replied, “I’m not interested.”

…How unfortunate for you, Junior. May your youth be blessed.

As I was about to shed tears for him…

“Don’t you think eavesdropping is in poor taste?”

Apparently, Hana was on her way back.

I was caught red handed. The light reflected at me from her glasses were also at absolute zero.

It was time to show the spirit of a woman who had lived for 800 years! So, I offered her tea with both hands.

“Please climb the clock tower with me tomorrow!”

“Are you stupid?”

With that sub-zero reply, Hana briskly left.

As I shed real tears, Cecily encouraged me from within my heart.

[I don’t think you’d have gotten a positive response the way things were going.]

…I’m being encouraged.

After all, Cecily was a kind girl. She had to be encouraging me.

[You don’t have to force yourself to be friends with Hana. You already have Anita… and me…]

Cecily was sulking for some reason. But she was still encouraging me, right?

…

“Why does Hana hate me so much?”

According to Anita, it was because when we first met, I said, “Let’s study fashion together!” As a result, Hana’s impression of me hit rock bottom. Even so, it had been about half a year since then. Should a slip of the tongue really create such a lasting grudge?

“Well, why wouldn’t she be wary if she were invited to the holy land of love by another girl?”

The place where I retreated to when I felt depressed was, of course, Eivind’s lab.

If I come here, I can get ice cream for free.

Even now, he wasn’t surprised by my having teleported here without permission. As soon as he saw my face, he asked, “Do you want some ice cream?” after getting some from the freezer.

To Eivind Dahl, a lady-killer of a man who got a perfect score in being considerate, I pouted while licking my ice cream

“What do you mean? Why would she be wary?”

“Right… 800 years ago, weren’t there people who pursued a romantic relationship with the same sex?”

“There were, biologically speaking though, it’s completely useless.”

“That’s one way of phrasing it.”

“I’m not denying it. I’m just saying that romantic feelings are a function for promoting the reproduction of offspring, so biologically, it’s a malfunction.”

“…That’s something you should never say in front of other people, alright?”

“In other words, what I’m trying to say is that I, neither now nor in the past, ever had any personal interest in that sort of thing.”

I was about to take a bite of the ice cream when…

I felt my chin gently being touched. Then, the face of a handsome young man appeared before my eyes. His narrow, cat-like eyes were tinged with a hint of melancholy as they appealed to me.

“How about going with the opposite sex?”

The suggestion, spun with a sweet sigh, almost felt like a caress to my ear.

“On the last day, climb the clock tower with me.”

“No way, the fireworks are that day.”

“The juniors made the ignition device, so shouldn’t we seniors observe from the best spot?”

As expected of Eivind Dahl, he was a smooth talker. He said something convincing, and wanted me to go there with him no matter what. But I hadn’t lived 800 years for nothing.

I raised a finger between our faces and smiled.

“In that case, don’t you think there is someone more suitable to be my partner?”

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