r turning around, a surprised Layfon stood there with his mouth hanging open.

"What are you doing?"

"....I'm not doing anything."

She had already thought of an excuse, but Felli still replied like that.

Layfon entered the pavilion, sitting down on the other side from Felli.

The backpack he placed on the table bulged from the many things placed inside it.

"What's that?'

"The material that Leerin gave to me to read."

Layfon put his hand on the bag with a wry smile.

"Speaking of which, you didn't go to the training hall, Felli?"

"My body isn't well today."

Felli said this, and Layfon replied vaguely. Maybe he was thinking about what was wrong with her?

"But, Layfon didn't go to the training hall either."

As he was waiting for the reply, Layfon had put on an intrigued expression. That kind of attitude left an impression. Had he been thinking of saying that she was strange?

But, Layfon hadn't noticed anything.

"Leerin doesn't want me to continue training until the makeup exam, didn't she say that yesterday?"

"Really? How incredible!"

Maybe that had been so! Felli couldn't remember.

"Really. In the end, Captain was convinced."

Nina liked rigorous training. Wasn't it very incredible to have convinced Nina? Felli thought so in her heart, but she didn't say so.

"Then, are you going to Leerin's study session?"

"That's right."

Layfon's face lost its vitality for a moment, and it could be described as an incredibly tired expression. Layfon, who basically possessed the strongest Military Arts power, had this kind of expression after just one night.

Felli's eyes widened.

"It seems very strict!"

"It's not a problem of being strict or not. She's a devil, once it comes to studying! Aah...."

Layfon held his head and moaned.

"Reading till I've memorized it completely, and writing as well.... Isn't it just about a one hour exam! It's hell! She thinks that if she can remember it then other people can remember it too, and even if I say I can't do it she still makes me work till the end.

Then, what did Layfon want to say?

Of course, he didn't say it.

Layfon's complaints continued.

"Aah, that hell's about to begin again now. Have mercy on me! I discussed how to escape yesterday with Mifi, but Naruki and Mei both encouraged me, and didn't want me to escape...."

Hearing the names that appeared one after another, Felli felt her eyebrows quiver.

It wasn't funny.

It wasn't funny at all.

Hearing those complaints, Felli forgot about her own matters, coldly looking at Layfon.

"That's how things were for the admissions test to the Academy City. At the time, I already thought I had already learned everything that I would learn in life...."

"I changed my mind."

Felli's voice interrupted Layfon's words.

"Eh?"

"Can I also participate in that kind of tutoring session?"

"Hah?"

"At this time, most teaching staff are in class, and Naruki's also in the training hall, right? What would people thing if they saw someone alone here?"

"Huhhhhhh?"

A mournful expression crept up on Layfon's face, and Felli felt slightly happier.

Layfon who didn't really consent brought Felli to the library that acted as the meeting location. This store had many self-study rooms, and the round tables could be used for meetings if they were somewhat tidied up a little. Of course, this was a library, and they couldn't hold festivities or anything.

The space in the self-study room that Leerin had temporarily borrowed was just right for about five people. There wasn't anything in the room other than tables and chairs, in order to keep from impairing mental focus. In order to give a quiet environment to other people who came to study, sound-canceling equipment was also installed, and they couldn't hear any sound from next door.

Leerin who had already arrived was a bit surprised when she saw Felli who had come over as well.

"Felli-san?"

"Sorry to disturb."

"Ah, it's alright. Come in."

Leerin who seemed a bit scared lowered her head, and Felli let Layfon into the room.

"Then, Felli-san is also....?"

"I've come to help."

"Th, thank you."

Leerin's expression was confused, like she didn't know how to deal with things. Felli didn't know why she was being treated with that kind of attitude. Why, was it only because she was soft-spoken?

"Uh -- well...."

Leerin grabbed the collar of Layfon who was seen as the opposition.

Her displeased expression was as if he were trying to resist. Leerin forced Layfon into a chair, and smiled lightly towards him.

"First, let's review yesterday!"

"Lighten your hand a bit."

"No!"

His request was immediately refused, and Layfon's expression quickly twitched. But, Leerin ignored all of this, continuously asking questions.

She didn't look at the textbook, nor did she have problem booklets. Even so, she could continuously dictate problems as if she were looking at a problem booklet.

Soon after, Layfon's forehead began sweating, and he replied while holding his head, depressed.

They were mostly correct, though there were still mistakes.

"Layfon...."

"No, well, I worked hard, for sure."

At Leerin's cold words, Layfon explained in a panic.

"Then...."

"Wait, wait, it's true! I definitely read all the materials following Leerin's instructions."

"Did you remember them all properly? Did you quiz yourself?"

"....Ah? No, well.... Of course."

"Don't lie!"

His bold words were interrupted.

"If you quizzed yourself, you wouldn't have these kinds of results!"

If soundproofing measures weren't in place, that voice would already have made the librarian come over.

"No, I really did.... It's just-"

"What? You couldn't be trying to pretend, right? Knowing what I'm going to do if you do that kind of thing, are you still going to try?"

"Uh--"

"That's enough!"

Leerin's anger filled the entire room.

Then, the hell began.

It was already strict enough to seem like torture. No one who had seen Layfon fighting before could have imagined Layfon's current appearance.

"Uhh, can I rest a bit...."

"There are still ten problems to answer, that should be simple."

"Umm...."

"Hey, your hand stopped. If you can't think of it, then take notes. Both your head and your body need to remember this information."

"Urgh...."

"If you can't get a hundred percent on this quiz, then you have to copy the book as many times as you miss points."

"Uuuuuuu...."

Quiz problems flowed from Leerin's mouth. Felli watched from the side with complex feelings. Though she had said she wanted to help, Felli still hadn't done anything. But, right now she lacked confidence, and actually she would be a bit hesitant about helping, but....

It was still her first time seeing Layfon backed this far into a corner.

No, she had seen Layfon backed into a corner before. But, this time was different. The Military Artist Layfon would fight back with all of his might if he were being taught like this, wouldn't he? No, maybe that wasn't the case, but he didn't have to comply this obediently.

Of course, Felli and Nina couldn't do that kind of thing. They would be a bit concerned. It wasn't the kind of concern of being hated by a person they liked. Rather, Felli couldn't do anything if she was truly hated, and she did indeed feel that some hated her.

Of course, after all, Felli didn't know what the people who hated her thought.

However, Leerin had done this. But maybe Layfon didn’t hate her.

She had wanted to let Leerin look over her own exam situation, and for this had taken out her exam paper from her bag. But that opportunity never appeared.

The quiz ended.

"Fifty points."

Facing that kind of result, Leerin wrinkled her face, and Layfon's face went green.

"Copy the section that was just quizzed fifty times. ....Understood?"

"Uhh.... I don't want to!"

Suddenly, Layfon exploded. Knocking over the chair, Layfon stood up. The pressure pushed Felli back.

"What are you doing?"

Leerin didn't move. She confronted him with her chest out, scorning on Layfon's attitude.

But Layfon didn't truly confront Leerin. He rushed past Felli behind him, opened the door, and walked out. They could hear the angry voice of the librarian saying 'Quiet down!'.

A strong wind blew through the room, even messing up her hair.

"Really...."

After being taken aback, Leerin quickly returned to her senses and pressed down on her messed-up hair. Righting the fallen chair, she sorted the fallen materials on the table.

The fatigue on that face seemed like a reflection.

Come to think of it, she had prepared these materials for Layfon, and been with him while he studied. When had these materials been made? The examination results had been released yesterday morning, and the materials had been completed when they were in the Military Arts hall in the afternoon. She had her own classes, so she must have ignored her classes to make these materials.

The girl who had come to Zuellni for Layfon. That was Leerin Marfes.

"........"

"........Ah?"

Thinking that, the words in Felli's mouth spilled out. Leerin noticed those small fragments of speech, turning towards her.

Felli was currently facing her back.

"I'll go bring him back."

Saying that, Felli walked out of the library.

She definitely couldn't lose! Felli had said that.

Layfon hadn't come to Zuellni to be a Military Artist. He had come here to find a way of living other than as a Military Artist. But his Military Arts ability had been shown, and things had become like this, become this outcome where he had to accept the regular makeup exams.

Layfon's personality was probably like that. He preferred using his body, compared to using his brain. Did he have the nature of a Military Artist? It couldn't be said, but it couldn't be denied.

Wasn't it a bit discouraging to be a Military Artist every day? But Layfon had stood out as a Military Artist when Zuellni was in a crisis, and the pain accompanying that kind of thing had gradually become unnoticeable.

That was definitely not a good omen.

And also, didn't Leerin also think that? Wasn't she trying to make sure Layfon passed his makeups and worked hard for it?

Maybe she would be hated by Layfon using that kind of method.

"I should just be a bystander!"

Felli who walked out of the library took out a Dite from her weapon belt. The Light Dite was quickly restored. The flower petal-like Psychokinesis flakes that flew from the staff separated, dancing through the air.

In order to find Layfon, the flakes flew off.

She acted without hesitation, and by this time the things she had worried about had already completely disappeared from her mind.

◇

The Psychokinesis flakes quickly discovered Layfon's location. The distance wasn't very far, and it was still in the region belonging to the library. Layfon sat in the backyard where there were no other people.

The entire backyard was covered by the library's shadow, and it was very cool.

"Fon Fon...."

Just as she let out a sound, a tremor went through Layfon's spine in surprise, and he turned his body.

"It, it's not like this! Actually I was kind of just.... coming outside for some fresh air. Uh, I'll go study properly now, don't worry."

At the same time as Layfon hastily made excuses, Felli sighed.

"First, you should go apologize properly to her."

"....Yes."

Felli held down Layfon who had tried to stand up immediately. Then, she sent a flake to where Leerin was, sending the information that she had found the slightly calmed-down Layfon.

"Felli....senpai?"

"Fon Fon...."

"Felli...."

Layfon hurriedly corrected himself as he was being glared at. Then, Felli showed a tiny smile.

"What is it?"

"Nothing, it's just that, could we talk normally like in the park before coming here? That's all I was thinking."

She thought of Layfon's strange expression at that time.

"Do you have anything else to say?"

Felli spoke while sitting next to Layfon.

From then on, Layfon continuously gazed at the scenery of the backyard, though there weren't any particularly interesting places. The backyard had a lawn along with trees that blocked the vision, and also other buildings in the distance. What were those buildings for?

"Leerin doesn't have any bad intentions!"

Thinking of that, Layfon spoke.

"Before I came to Zuellni, things were like this when I was studying for entrance exams."

"Huh...."

"Though it's very terrifying and very toilsome, it's not like that for only me."

Then, he had understood Leerin's point of view as a teacher? Thinking this, Felli was about to get upset again.

"It's just so harsh!"

Saying that, Layfon put his head between his knees.

"But, I can't do anything about Leerin getting mad, right? I clearly worked so hard in Grendan studying, but right now I've become like this...."

"Then, you're not upset?"

"That's right."

Layfon made a wry smile.

"But, what's troublesome is that I have no interest towards studying. I don't know what methods I can use...."

"True."

If he liked it, then maybe there would be something that could promote his progress, right? Maybe that were true. But if he had never thought that way, his life.... No, it would be the worst to compare it to the life of a normal person.

For a Military Artist, it was enough to just walk the road of a Military Artist from the time of birth. But normal people weren't the same. They had to accumulate a lot of experience, and find something that could support their own city life. Had everyone truly found that kind of thing? That definitely wasn't true, and it was very clear to her that it wasn't such an easy thing to do.

"....What would you do, if you don't find anything that you're good at?"

"Ah?"

"If there's nothing interesting other than Military Artists. What would you do, Fon Fon? Continue being a Military Artist?"

How would Layfon reply? When she had considered this yesterday night, it had been extremely frightening. Then, how would Layfon reply?

"....You're asking what I would do?"

"Please answer me."

"Yes, it would be very troublesome. It's true that I'm very good at Military Artists, and I've felt that a bit recently. But I've already begun thinking 'isn't that terrible?'. Well, uh, it's troublesome."

"Then, what does that mean?"

"Uh, but, thinking probably won't do anything about things ten or twenty years later! I'm not even clear on how things will be in a few years. That probably won't change, I have that kind of feeling even before thinking!"

Saying that, Layfon laid down on the grass.

"In that case, I'll have various experiences in these six years, and if I'm lucky then I'll notice something, and even if I don't notice something then at the worst I'll do some program and have a normal life."

"Is that enough?"

"For now. Of course, only for now. My target right now is to erase my failing mark!"

"You're so easygoing!"

He had really changed. When they had just met, she had been able to feel a much more urgent feeling. Dissatisfaction at being used as a Military Artist, and the feeling of being unable to escape from its shadow.

But, right now his expression was different.

What had happened?

Actually, she knew. The answer was before her.

He had come to Zuellni in order to find change. Though it wasn't easy to say he had been affected by something, the things here had caused Layfon to become like this. Perhaps, everything here had made Layfon like this.

Then, had Layfon begun to adapt to Zuellni? Had he begun to adapt to the normal life of Felli and the others?

historical

"You're too easygoing."

Even saying that, Felli and Layfon were still lying on the same grass lawn.

"But, maybe that way is best."

Something that she excelled at, that wouldn't lose to her Psychokinesis ability.

Even if there wasn't such a thing, she could still live on.

Maybe she wouldn't excel, she wouldn't attract people's attention, and maybe she could have money problems. But, she also wouldn't frequently face danger where her life was at risk.

A meager, but stable life.

Maybe that kind of thing wouldn't be bad.

It definitely wouldn't be bad at all.

"....What are you doing lying down so leisurely?"

At the voice that seemed to come from underground, Layfon and Felli reflexively crawled back up.

When had she lied down? She thought of her sleepless night and fatigue as reasons, but she truly wasn't tired at all.

Leerin was mad.

Oh? When had she been staying at such a close distance to Layfon?

Meishen and the others were also behind Leerin's back. Mifi smiled soundlessly, Naruki made a speechless expression, and Meishen was confused.

"Uh, um, Leerin. I was resting a bit, and I don't know why I laid down."

Layfon knew his circumstances, and began explaining about his lying down.

At that time, he made a rare mistake.

Layfon's foot slipped as he was standing up, and he came in contact with Felli's leg in panic.

It was evidence that he completely hadn't noticed how close he was to Felli.

"Wah."

"Ah?"

Felli was transfixed at Layfon's approaching face. Though Layfon was surprised, he reflexively extended his hands to the ground and avoided a collision. But in order to stand up, Layfon supported himself with his arms. But it resulted in his arms that were placed on the lawn buckling for a moment, and Layfon's face came even closer.

................Ah?

A momentary contact. It had truly only been a moment, nothing else at all.

"What are you doing?" Leerin's surprised voice.

Had she not noticed?

"N-n-no....nothing." Layfon hurriedly replied.

Unlike the normal Layfon, his physical senses seemed a bit slow, and it seemed that he hadn't noticed what he had done.

(Then....?)

Just now, had that truly been..?

"Oh? You've rested completely already. Then, this time I won't hold back."

Right when Leerin finished speaking, Layfon began moaning. But Leerin didn't mind him, instead looking at Felli.

In that gaze, she could feel a pressure that didn't need to be explained.

"Felli-san too, come help this time. Everyone's come and you have such good scores."

"Ah?"

She naturally began a different topic, so had Leerin really not noticed? Knowing this, Felli tilted her head.

"This, isn't it quite amazing?"

Leerin had an answer sheet in her hand. That was the exam that Felli had taken out of her bag, the backup answer sheet that Felli had put her preliminary answers on. Felli had messed up, so she had taken out the paper she had written answers on.

"Isn't this full points? With such good scores, you definitely have to help properly!"

Leerin's voice was very loud, since there was no longer any concerns like inside the library.

But, right now, Felli didn't have that kind of thing in her mind.

When she saw the exam, the troublesome feelings from before had all emerged.

And then, full points.

Leerin had assured her.

That meant, Felli's brain didn't have any problems.

Felli lowered her head in relief, Ah, it's not a problem with me.

For now, it was enough to realize this.

Also, not one had noticed. No one, Leerin or the three people behind her, had noticed.

Then, this was very good. Because no one would hold any malice.

"In that case, I can."

Felli stood up. Her mood was joyous. Though she was a bit tired, she felt extremely joyous.

Of course, it wasn't just that.

Isn't shock therapy the best?

A simple fact.

But it was indeed a fact full of impact.

It had blown away all of her troubles.

(Ah, people are such simple beings.)

"F....Felli-senpai?"

Layfon looked over with an unstable expression. What kind of meaning was contained in that confused gaze?

"Nn, I'll come help. I really think that it's bad to fail."

"Huh?"

"You can't have a failing mark, right?"

Felli said this. Layfon lowered his head without saying anything else.

Felli felt extremely sorry for him.

Then, she decided it was unnecessary to be concerned.

◇

Afterwards, the day of makeups came. Layfon was ecstatic that he had survived the week of hell in order to erase his failing mark -- tears even came out. He and Mifi celebrated with hands clasped.

Of course, Felli had easily completed the makeups.

Incidentally, the reason behind her failing was that she had shifted the answers.

She hadn't had enough rest, and in her lack of focus she had erred in filling out the answer sheet.