Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Could you not stare too much?”

To anyone else, it would’ve sounded like a complaint. But Anon caught the hint of embarrassment in Soyo’s tone and couldn’t help but giggle. She knew it would probably annoy her more, but she couldn’t stop herself. She wanted to keep staring.

Ever since admitting her feelings, Anon had been more expressive. Maybe a little too expressive. Sometimes Soyo even wondered if she’d taken another dose of a confidence booster potion.  

“Eh~ but aren’t I here to learn more about potion making from you?” Anon teased, tilting her head.

That was her excuse, at least, for visiting Soyo in the lab. She knew exactly where Soyo would be during their free time. Tucked away in the lab, brewing. Their charms class had been cancelled that morning. Their professor was summoned to a ministry meeting. So, they had a self-study session instead.

“Look at what I’m doing, not my face,” Soyo said firmly, eyes on her beaker. “And where’s Tomori-chan? Why isn’t she with you?”

“Tomorin told me to go ahead. She said she will return a book.”

Soyo hummed, distracted by the careful drop of silvery liquid she mixed in. Anon leaned closer to study the ingredients laid out.

Sunter’s blood? She blinked. Sunters are bird-like beasts with silver feathers. They are known for their agility. Any part of it were known to be expensive. No surprise Soyo could afford it, though. Her mother’s position in the ministry supported them well. Anon admired her for that, raising Soyo alone yet never holding her back.

“Soyorin, are you brewing a strengthening potion?”

At that, Soyo glanced up with an amused look before returning to her work. “You’ve been reading ahead, Anon-chan?”

“W-Well…” Anon fidgeted, eyes darting anywhere but Soyo. “A little. Since we’re taking the re-evaluation exam, I thought I should study a bit more.”

Not entirely a lie. Anon usually excelled in charms and swordsmanship, but after the recent potion mishap, she’d made a point to learn more, partly for safety, mostly to help Soyo.

Soyo’s soft hum lingered in the air. “Evaluation exam, huh…”

“Are you worried about it?”

Anon studied her expression, worried she might be drifting back into old thoughts. But Soyo finally said, “Not really. We’re ranked E now, likely going for D this time. We were reckless before, but our teamwork’s better now compared to last year.”

She remembered the process well. It would be the same as their party licensing exam the year before. First is the written test, consisting of magical theories, artifacts, laws, charms, all the things that they’d been cramming in class.

Then the practical, split into two. A solo evaluation to measure individual skill, followed by the team test that revealed whether they can stand together instead of falling apart.

“Hmm… You’re right,” Anon said, nodding. “And we have plenty of time to prepare for it.”

“Yes,” Soyo murmured, then looked up at her for longer this time, lips curving. “It’s admirable of you to start reading now.”

Her knowing smirk cut straight through Anon. She’d expected Soyo to see through her, but not to tease. Heat rushed to her cheeks.  

What’s with Soyorin? She’s dangerous!

Spinning her chair away to hide her face was pointless. Her blush was obvious.

Silence fell, broken only by the gentle boil of the potion and the clink of glass. Anon let it soothe her racing thoughts until Soyo’s voice slipped in, soft and almost hesitant.

“If you ever want to practice, you should be supervised by a professor. Or… you could ask me.” The last bit was almost a whisper, more like a shy suggestion.

Anon turned wide-eyed, just in time to catch the faint pink on Soyo’s cheeks as she switched off the boiler.

Did I hear that right? Her mouth dropped open, and her mind short-circuited right then.

“You’ll learn faster that way than from any book. And soon I’ll have my appraisal artifact here. We can test things safely.”

Anon’s heart skipped. “I’d like that! Thank you, Soyorin!”

The door creaked open. Tomori entered, nearly hidden behind a stack of books. Anon rushed to help, Soyo carefully setting her beaker aside.  

“I thought you were returning books? Did you also borrow new ones, Tomorin?” Anon asked, taking half the load.

Soyo followed suit, taking the other half.

“It’s fine, Anon-chan,” Tomori said, lifting her sleeves to reveal rune-engraved silver bangles. “Raana-chan lent me these artifacts. They boost arm strength, so carrying books is easy.”

Soyo’s sharp eyes flicked from Tomori’s cuffs to the books. A smile tugged at her lips before soft laughter spilled out.

“Tomori-chan… Are you also preparing for the evaluation exam?”

Tomori flushed. “Y-Yes. I thought I should widen my knowledge. Taki-chan even offered to spar with me if I need practice.”

It wasn’t unusual for Tomori to test new artifacts with Raana, but the way Soyo pieced everything together from a glance made Anon chuckle inwardly. She really was sharp.

“I see,” Soyo said, still giggling. “I guess we’re all the same.”

Anon’s heart skipped again. Watching Soyo laugh so freely, face relaxed, voice warm… almost too much for her. She didn’t need to ask what she meant by that last statement. She already knew.

And that made it even harder not to squeal.

Tiny sparkles of happiness slipped in anyway, stubborn and bright, no matter how hard she tried to hold them back.

***

“Soyo-san… I know we just met, but will you form a party with me?”

That was a year ago. Anon had been impulsive then, blurting the invitation to someone she’d only just met. But she had been desperate for a fresh start, determined to shine again in her new school.

Being in a party as a second-year meant standing out, being noticed. To Anon, that was her chance to shine again, like she once had back in middle school. At the time, she was just beginning to master defense charms, but she believed being in a party would set her apart.

Most first-years studied only fundamentals. Actual fieldwork and practical application of magic didn’t begin until the second year. So, for someone her age to already belong to a party? That meant talent, knowledge, and potential. Anon had a slight advantage. Her first year was spent abroad in a British school with an advanced curriculum. So, she already had classes for the practical application of magic. She just hasn’t mastered her potential yet.

Her first choice was Tomori. Inviting the mysterious classmate who collected strange artifacts and rocks seemed like the quickest way to get noticed. But Tomori turned her down. That rejection caused her first clash with Taki, who lashed out at her for even asking why it was a bad idea to invite Tomori.

Anon hadn’t known the details, but she could sense something broken behind their reactions. A wound from the past. She was ready to abandon the idea of asking Tomori again until she met Soyo.

And Soyo, surprisingly, had agreed almost too easily. Anon never questioned why. She only thought, She’s kind. That’s enough. For someone who had been turned away, who longed so desperately to belong, that simple yes was everything.

Before she even met her, Anon had already heard about Soyo. She’s the prodigy potioneer under the age of twenty, licensed before most graduates. A student praised by the academy board and even acknowledged by the headmistress. A role model. Meeting her in person confirmed it all. It had taken Anon some time to drop the honorifics, even when Soyo gently asked her to.

Only later did she learn about the past Soyo shared with Tomori and Taki. The three had been friends since middle school, vowing to form a party together with two others when they entered the academy. Their first year had been full of training and shared dreams. But after the first part of their practical exam, which they successfully passed, their unity collapsed.

Sakiko, the one who voiced wanting to quit first, vanished after filing a leave of absence. No reason given, no contact kept, except with Mutsumi, who soon followed her in spirit, withdrawing into herself until she, too, left the party.

The five never reached their final exam. They never got to prove themselves.

Over time, Anon pieced the story together from fragments. It explained Taki’s protectiveness for Tomori, Tomori’s avoidance, and Soyo’s lingering sorrow. Soyo had said yes to her party invitation, but part of her was still waiting, still tied to those who had left.

“Until now, I haven’t met Saki-chan again. Mutsumi-chan is in my class, but she wouldn’t tell me where she is…” Soyo told her one evening as they were eating their dinner.

They settled into the almost empty dining hall, as most students had already had dinner by then. Anon slowed down her pace, digging into her memories as to why the Togawa Sakiko name seemed familiar to her. Meanwhile, Soyo only picked at her food, her gaze lost somewhere far beyond the window.

“Soyo-san,” Anon spoke after chewing her food. “Saki-chan, is that girl with twin pigtails in the picture earlier, right? Togawa Sakiko?”

“Yes?”

Anon’s eyes lit up as the pieces clicked together. “Wait… I think I met her a few weeks ago. She had this composed aura of a rich lady, and spoke very politely.”

Soyo’s chopstick stopped midair.

Anon hesitated, her voice dropping, “Was that… Sakiko-chan?”  

“What? Where?” Soyo’s eyes widened, focused on her, as if waiting for the answer she had been seeking for so long.

“She’s still here as a second-year student like us.” Anon put down her chopsticks as she recalled her first day in the academy. “Sakiko-chan guided me when I just transferred here. She showed me around and told me about the ranking and party system.”

“When you transferred… that was just a little after the opening of the academic year, wasn’t it?”

“That’s right. Sakiko-chan said she’s a student assistant, so I suppose she has irregular class schedules. I think that’s why you still haven’t seen her again.”

“Student assistant…Saki-chan is…? I see.”

Anon watched as Soyo drifted into her thoughts. She let the silence sit in with them until they finished eating. She could tell that it must have shocked Soyo, so she wanted to let her process her thoughts.

From what little she knew, student assistants are students who work for the academy in exchange for their tuition fees. Others do it to work at the academy after graduation. Anon hadn’t seen her since that first day. It was just a brief encounter.

However, as if fate was playing with her, Anon had seen Sakiko again, the very next day after that talk with Soyo. It felt strange to her when she heard her name being called by a voice from her distant memory.

“Have you found members for the party you wanted to form?”

Anon had expressed her interest in forming a party to her. She was surprised that she remembered.

“Yes… It’s,” Anon began, a bit hesitant to continue, but at the same time, curiosity was getting the better of her, wanting to see how Sakiko would react. “Nagasaki… Soyo-chan. And…”

She trailed off towards the end, stopping herself from saying more as she saw Sakiko clutching her bag, her friendly expression turning into a serious, pained one.

“I see,” was all she said as she turned to leave.

Anon only watched her, realizing all of them must have been wounded by what happened in the past. It was just a brief encounter again.

Eventually, Anon convinced Tomori to join. Taki followed, unwilling to leave Tomori unprotected. Raana came last, drawn first by Tomori’s artifact collection and knowledge, and later by the strange promise Tomori asked them to swear. Stay together for the rest of our lives.  

With five members, they began to function as a true party. They trained, studied, and revealed their strengths and weaknesses.

Anon’s came quickly to light. Her defensive charms faltered when cast in succession. She avoided sparring, making excuses, and even suggesting they delay their licensure exam.

“Aren’t you just running away from your wand?” Taki snapped.

“I’m not running away! I’m not!” Anon shouted back and then fled, proving the accusation right.

It was Tomori who found her, who coaxed her story out of her beneath the quiet of the dormitories.

“I couldn’t keep up at my old school,” Anon admitted, with a faltering, bitter smile. “I barely passed first year. So, I ran back here. I’ve been running away my whole life.”

She pressed her palms together, trembling. “I worked so hard to get into this academy. I thought I could leave that failure behind, but maybe… this is it. Maybe I can’t. It’s over for me.”

Tomori shook her head, her words careful but steady. “You once told me, it’s okay as long as you keep trying. That even if we hit a dead end, we can still move forward.” Tomori faced her and clasped their hands together.

Looking her directly in the eyes, she continued, “Anon-chan, you’re not running away now. You even pulled me along to start this party. You’re not at the end.”

Tomori’s clear and earnest eyes seemed to burn through Anon’s despair. “I also… want to move forward, even if I’m lost.”

“Lost, huh…” Anon murmured, letting the word settle in her heart. Then, she reached out. “Should we move forward together? Even if we keep getting lost?”

Hand in hand, they returned to Soyo and Taki. With renewed determination, they declared their intent. They would take the licensure exam.

From then on, Anon dedicated herself for real, not for show. She studied harder, trained longer, and pushed herself past every excuse. Together, the party grew stronger.  

The written exam was nothing. Even Raana breezed through despite being their only first-year member. She was drilled since childhood by her grandmother, a retired S-rank adventurer. The true trial was the teamwork test.

Originally, the individual practical was supposed to come first. But due to facility issues, the teamwork test was pushed ahead.

“W-What should we do? We haven’t even strategized yet!” Anon panicked.

Raana shrugged. “I’ll do what I do. You do what you do. That’s enough.”

Taki facepalmed. “It’s not that simple, stray cat. We need to coordinate. We still have today to form a plan and see how we can work together.”

“But… what if everything ends again after we pass the exam?” Tomori whispered.

The words stunned them. Anon caught the flash of pain on Taki and Soyo’s faces. Wounds they carried differently. Taki by forging forward, Tomori by avoidance, and Soyo by holding on.

This time, Soyo reached out, brave smile masking the tremor in her eyes. “Thank you, Tomori-chan. We’ll share our feelings openly, so it won’t fail again. This time, we’ll be okay.”

Anon had admired her even more then. Even if it had not completely reassured Tomori, she could tell that Soyo, too, was trying to be strong for them. For Anon, that was enough to believe that they would be just fine.

The next day, they faced the trial. Puzzles, traps, monsters. One room after another. Raana struck fast and sharp, Taki shielded Tomori, Anon’s charms wavered under pressure, and Soyo’s aim faltered. Only Tomori kept perfect control, her runes and artifacts steady as stone.

And yet, they made it. Battered, drained but standing, they reached the final level, an open arena, with the student body and academy boards as audience.

The clay golem towered over them, each roar shaking the ground. Their mana was almost gone. Still, they didn’t give up easily. Anon shielding, Taki and Raana striking, Soyo and Tomori gathering what little power they could.

Then Raana darted to Tomori’s side, whispering, “Let’s use that.”

Anon blinked. That?

Tomori pulled a shining chalice from her storage artifact. It had five handles, engraved with cherry blossoms. Anon gasped, then she noticed Soyo’s shock.

“Everyone, come here,” Tomori urged, voice breaking into song. Sparks of power lit the air, not just from the written runes but also from her voice.

One by one, they reached for the chalice. Raana. Taki. Soyo hesitated until Anon grasped her trembling hand.

“Soyo-san.” She smiled gently, urging her forward.

Together, they poured their mana in. The chalice blazed with colors, Tomori’s song weaving it all into harmony. Rain burst from the sky, dousing the golem, melting its stone away. When the storm ended, a rainbow arced into the chalice, dazzling the crowd.

“We did it, Tomori!” Taki was the first one to say something.

Raana wore a smug smile, her expression almost saying I knew it would work.

Anon found herself filled with happiness as well as pride for what they just did. To her, it felt like they had just overcome one big obstacle, which was also true. She shortly glanced at Soyo, but she couldn’t see her expression as the girl seemed to be looking for someone in the audience.

They may not have gotten the highest score, but they passed the exam. The headmistress was impressed by them, especially when they used the chalice.

“I can expect more great things from this party in the future,” was the headmistress’s last remark.

Anon was already on cloud nine, thinking of how they should celebrate. As they exited to the backstage, she even cheered with Taki.

“We did it, Rikki! It was a success, wasn’t it?”

“No. It was a success!”

“That’s what I just said!”

Raana walked past them, but Anon didn’t miss the proud smile on her face. Tomori came after her, which Taki immediately attended to as she noticed her almost stumbling on her feet.

“Tomori, that was great!”

“Thank you, everyone.” Tomori smiled in between catching her breath.

But their celebration was cut short. Anon noticed her first. Soyo was dragging her feet, her face pale beneath the arena lights. She opened her mouth to cheer, but held herself as she noticed Soyo’s fist clenched.

“Why did you use the Auroral Chalice?!” Soyo’s voice broke into frustration and pain.

Taki stepped between her and Tomori. “What’s the problem? We succeeded.”

“Didn’t you say we won’t use it?”

“We never said that. It might have been a risk that we used it, but Tomori knew we could activate it successfully.”

Tomori nodded timidly.

“Saki-chan was crying.”

The name dropped like a stone. Tomori gasped.

Saki-chan? Togawa Sakiko? Anon figured she must have been the reason Soyo was looking at the audience. “She was there?”

“Do you know how much she was hurt by that?” Soyo pressed.

“So, what if she cries? It has nothing to do with us.” Taki shot back, voice sharp as a blade.

Soyo flinched, “That’s so cruel!”

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she turned and fled.

“Soyo-san!” Anon called after her, reaching out helplessly. But she was already gone.

Later, Anon learned the truth. The Auroral Chalice wasn’t just any artifact. It was something Sakiko and Tomori had crafted together from its broken pieces that they found, a relic of their first year and the bond they once shared. They’ve only ever used it during their practices. They never got to use it in the exam, as they did not participate in the team evaluation.

***

The lab table was crowded in a way that reminded Anon of old cafeteria lunches, only warmer, quieter. Potion flasks had been pushed to the far end, leaving just enough space for plates, bread, and tea cups. The faint scent of herbs clung to the air, mixing with the steam rising from their food.

Taki was offering Tomori one of her sausages, to which Tomori was about to accept when Raana bit it off her chopsticks before Tomori could react.

“Hmm~ that was delicious, Rikki. More.” Raana insisted, sitting beside Tomori.

“This stray cat…” Taki’s hand trembled shortly. “That was for Tomori.”

“It’s okay, Taki-chan. I’m already full anyway. But still, thank you.”

Anon giggled, watching their usual exchange. Sitting right beside her, Soyo had her chopsticks poised neatly, but her gaze drifted now and then toward the messier spread.

It wasn’t grand or ceremonial. Just a meal shared in the middle of the day. Yet somehow, here in the quiet hum of Soyo’s lab, it felt more like home than anywhere else on campus. Her lips curved upwards in quiet contentment, the quiet chaos of lunch reminding her of something warm and familiar. Only when Soyo shifted beside her did she realize she’d been staring.

“W-what is it, Anon-chan?”

Anon blinked, caught, and fumbled for her words. “Eh? N-no, it’s nothing! Just… food’s really good, you know?” She tried to laugh it off, but her ears burned.

Soyo tilted her head, suspicious, but a faint smile tugged at her lips as she went back to her meal.

Anon, meanwhile, shoved a piece of bread in her mouth, hoping no one noticed how hard her heart was beating.

“By the way, we will practice until evening after classes,” Taki announced loudly, catching everyone’s attention.

“Sorry, Rikki,” Anon slightly raised her hand. “I’m not available later.”

“Ha?”

Everyone, except for Raana, turned towards her, surprised.

“Oh, I'm doing a solo mission.” She added before they could ask.

“Solo mission? Again?” Soyo asked sharply, leaning closer.

“What again? It’s the first time in a while. What’s wrong with that?” Anon countered, confused.

Soyo glared at her before leaning back on her chair. “You'd better have a good reason for taking a solo mission when you have us, your party members.”

“Soyorin!” Anon’s eyes lit up, unable to stop herself from grinning widely. “Us, you said. Hehe~”

“Don’t get carried away with yourself. I just don’t get why you’d still go for a solo mission when we can take a party mission instead… If it’s materials you’re after, wouldn’t you gain more from a party mission?”

“That’s right. And it could also serve as part of our training,” Taki added.

“Ano-chan, was something bothering your mind again?” Tomori chimed in with a hint of concern in her eyes.

Raana, who had finished eating her lunch, finally joined in. “Anon still needs to distract her mind after her confess—”

“AHH! Raana-chan!” Anon stood up, reaching across the table to cover Raana’s mouth. “That’s not it! Okay?”

“Matcha parfait. Treat me.”

“Uhh… Okay.”

Anon went back to her seat, face still flushed. It even got worse when she noticed that Soyo’s face was not any better than hers. She definitely caught on to what Raana was going to say. Meanwhile, Tomori and Taki were confused.

“A-Anyway… It was just a simple collecting mission. It’s more like an errand than a mission. Plus, it can’t serve as part of our training. There will be no combat involved,” she finally explained.

“Are you sure, Ano-chan?”

“Yep. That’s why you all can focus on the training without me. I promise to make up for it tomorrow.”

“Okay. If you say so.” Taki said, proceeding to eat again.

Tomori nodded, content with Anon’s explanation as well. Soyo, however, was still staring at her.

“S-Soyorin? Do you still have any—”

“You said you would make up for it, right?”

“Yes.” She put up both of her hands, almost shielding herself from Soyo, who leaned in so close again.

“Okay, good,” Soyo said, slowly backing away. Anon almost heaved a sigh of relief, but then, Soyo whispered, “Make sure to involve me if you meant to make a potion from the material you’re going to get.”

Anon just nodded, biting her lip to keep herself from smiling widely again. She planned to tell Soyo about it anyway.

“But you know,” Soyo spoke again as she finished her lunch. “Even if it’s just a simple collection mission…”

Anon glanced her way, noticing Soyo taking a while to finish her sentence, only to see her back turned.

“Soyorin?”

“It’s nothing. You'd better tell us next time. We’re in this party together. For the rest of our lives…”

Anon understood what she was trying to say. She felt a gentle glow inside, seeing how much Soyo had warmed up to the group. They’d all changed. Soyo, herself, everyone. The bond they shared was stronger than ever, and the recklessness that had marked last year seemed like a distant memory.

***

Soyo had distanced herself from everyone after that heated argument. She stopped coming to meetings and practices. She seemed to be taking some time off. They didn’t see her in class or anywhere else.

“Soyo-san is kind. I’m sure she will forgive us,” was what Anon told Tomori when they stopped hearing from her.

That’s what she believed. But over time, she started thinking that Soyo must be really upset with them. The chalice might have been really important to her and their former party.

Soyo’s absence started taking a toll on Tomori. She became unable to decide on things regarding their party, their practices. They had three weeks left before the final practical exam, but they haven’t been able to meet up properly as a party again since the last exam. And then suddenly…

“Boring girl,” Raana told Tomori all of a sudden when she appeared to be so lost during their meeting. Then she left.

It made it even worse for Tomori. Anon watched her fidget by herself.

“Soyo-chan might never come back. Raana-chan too…” Tomori’s shoulders slumped, her words heavy with resignation.

“What if everyone goes their separate ways again? Everyone was hurt because of me.” She glanced down, words spilling out as if meant only for herself. “…It must be a mistake for me to be part of the party.”

Taki, who couldn’t bear to see Tomori’s self-loathing, exclaimed, “You don’t have to worry about anything, Tomori!”

Anon saw her with her determined face, focused only on Tomori. Taki’s expression was resolved as if saying Leave it to me. It made her hope that maybe, finally, they are going to do something to get Soyo back to them. However, she was wrong.

The next day, Anon and Tomori were summoned to the faculty office by the professor in charge of the practical exams. The professor was Professor Kawashima, a sixth-year charms professor who had been managing the party practical exams for the last five years.

The professor summoned them to offer them a special mission as permitted by the headmistress, due to their impactful performance in the previous exam. She said it would give them a 50% plus points for the individual evaluation, which would mean, even if only three of them pass, their part would still pass as a whole.

It wasn’t unheard of for academy professors to assign missions to their students for extra credit or special evaluations. Still, it came off as a surprise for her and Tomori.

Since Tomori couldn’t make a decision on the spot, Anon spoke up. “It seems like a good opportunity for us, Miss.”

“It IS a good opportunity,” the professor reiterated, a sharp eagerness in her tone.

“Y-Yes. But could we talk it over with our members first?” Anon added, “We’d like to talk it over first. One of our members is still sick.”

“Don’t worry.” The professor’s smile never wavered. “You have three weeks to decide, as long as it’s before the next exam. Just be sure to set aside a full day for the mission. It could take hours to clear that dungeon.”

She then took a piece of paper from her desk and handed it to them.

“Here. The dungeon details and clear conditions are written there. You don’t need to kill every monsters. Just retrieve sapphires from the deepest level of the dungeon and bring them back to me as proof. I hope to hear your decision soon, alright?”

Anon accepted the paper and gave a polite nod. “Yes, miss. Thank you for this chance.”

At the time, Anon felt something was off with the professor but she couldn’t tell what. For the time being, she didn’t think much about it, putting her focus back on the special mission.

They planned to discuss the mission with Taki later that afternoon, but before they could, they received a text from her that she was going to meet Soyo and bring her back. With nothing else to do, Anon headed to Tomori’s dorm so they could review the dungeon details together.

The dungeon was a dungeon supervised by the academy. It is sometimes used for student exams, but mostly for mining the sapphire it produces due to the dungeon being connected to an active volcano, about two hours away from the academy.

“It says here that the dungeon would have stone and magma golems. So maybe we could walk past them in stealth mode with Raana-chan’s help,” Anon suggested when she finished reading through the details. “We would just need to watch out for the possible traps and the heat inside.”

“But Raana-chan left…” Tomori whispered, eyes fixed on the two glasses of milk she had set down for them.

Anon picked hers up with a small nod of thanks and took a sip. “Ah~ It’s been a while since I last had milk. Anyway, we don’t know that for sure yet. We should also try to reach her, like what Rikki is doing right now for Soyo-san.”

“What if we can’t convince her to come back? Soyo-chan, too, we don’t know if she will come back.”

“Let’s believe in Rikki a bit more! And if she failed, then let’s train harder! Let’s show them we are serious about this and make them return! Soyo-san would want to be with everyone. And we won’t let Raana-chan say you are a boring girl again!”

Tomori only hummed in response, but her expression seemed to have lightened up a bit because of what she said.

Anon was determined not to give up then. She swore that she won’t run away anymore after all. But then, the next day came, and she was shaken.

“I already found a new member to replace Soyo. She is an all-rounder. She will be coming any time now.”

It was the afternoon the next day, and they met up at their usual spot, an open field in the academy near the west entrance of the academy. She and Tomori were sitting by the nearby bench when Taki arrived.

A part of them were a bit hopeful that Taki would either have Soyo with her or at least bring some news about Soyo’s return.  But instead, the first thing Taki told them was about replacing Soyo.

“Hang on,” Anon stood up, almost shouted, but tried to keep calm. “What about Soyo-san? I thought you were bringing her back?”

“She’s no good anymore,” was all Taki said, earning a pained expression from Tomori.

“What do you mean by that? You’re not making any sense. I know she’s been ignoring us, but it may have been some kind of misunderstanding.”

Anon couldn’t believe it. She refused to believe it. She couldn’t understand why Taki would say those things as if it wasn’t just the other day when she was full of determination and told Tomori not to worry about anything.

“Why?” Tomori finally spoke, so soft, yet so pained as if she stepped on shards of glass. “Why can’t it be her?”

She felt it too. Why can’t it be her? After all, it was Soyo who had agreed to form the party with her first.

Anon may have started it with an ulterior motive, but she started dedicating herself more to the party they formed. She had come to respect her more, especially when she noticed how Soyo wanted to have everyone together when they practiced.

“She…” Taki began, hesitant, with her expression softening as she looked at Tomori. But then, she was cut off by the footsteps coming from behind them.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” A girl with medium-length black hair approached them. The lines on her necktie suggested she was a second year like them.

The girl looked from Taki to her and Tomori, as if assessing the situation. “Should I come back later?”

“Let’s start,” Taki said, already walking towards the open field and preparing the barrier artifact.

The girl nodded and followed suit.

Anon and Tomori looked at each other before hesitantly following them as well.

“Oh, right. I haven’t introduced myself. The name’s Yahata Umiri. Taki-san’s classmate,” the girl said, slightly bowing her head. “I’m usually a filler member for about 30 parties, but only 10 of them are active. I hope you don’t mind that. If you contact me one week in advance, I can adjust my schedule when you need me.”

“I, umm… I’m Chihaya Anon,” she responded, still taken aback by the current situation. She followed up with, “And, she’s Tomori-chan,” glancing over Tomori, who was not meeting anyone’s eyes.

Umiri had already taken out her wand by then and nodded to them. “Nice to meet you.”

“Well then, let’s begin,” Taki interjected with her business-as-usual demeanor. “Could you tell us about the special mission you mentioned yesterday?”

“Already? Hang on!”

Anon protested, seeing that Tomori obviously had questions, and not grasping the situation too. And her as well. She wants answers as to why Soyo was no good anymore. Did something happen to her? She seemed to be absent from her classes because of her sickness… Could it be a serious illness? Or could it be that she’s been injured?

But despite her protest, Taki activated the soundproof barrier as well. “That should do it. Now, tell us. Or shall we spar first so you both can see what Umiri can do?”

She shook her head, then reluctantly handed Taki the mission details given by the professor. “It’s a dungeon clearing mission.”

Taki began reading it, while she noticed Umiri seemed to be observing them, especially, Tomori. And then she suddenly picked up her bag, and hid her wand, catching Taki’s attention.

“Umiri.”

“It seems like they’re not ready to forget about the previous member.”

“Hey!”

Umiri turned to Taki, getting ready to leave. “You can call me again once you’re finished sorting on your end.”

As she left, she glanced at Tomori one last time and said, “I’ll be cheering for you.” Those words got Tomori to finally look at Umiri properly. Anon was also surprised by this, earning her respect. 

Taki’s eyes followed Umiri as she disappeared into the academy buildings.

With Umiri gone, Tomori finally asked again, “Why?”

“We can’t continue our party without a ranged attacker.”

“What about Soyo-chan?”

“She’s not coming back.”

Anon, who was quietly watching their exchange, felt her chest tighten. The air was getting heavier and harder to breathe in as the tension rose from Tomori.

“She promised we will do this for the rest of our life!”

It was the first time she saw Tomori get mad. But Taki was not flustered. Instead, her fists clenched, with her teeth gritted in frustration.

“She lied about her promise!”

“Explain that properly.” In contrast to the two, she was able to remain calm. All she wanted at that moment was to hear the truth. “What do you mean, lied? Did Soyo-san say that herself?”

“She did.”

“Did she say she’s quitting the party?”

“She didn’t say that.”

That hit a nerve in her, making her step closer to Taki. “What’s with that? So, you just went ahead and looked for her replacement on your own?”

It doesn’t sound right. Rikki is still hiding something. “That’s not right! You should discuss it with—”

As she was starting to lose her calm, too, Taki dropped the bomb on her.

“She never intended to join a new party! Everything she did was to revive our previous party.” Taki glanced away from her.

She and Tomori gasped at the same time.

“She said that she didn’t need you and Raana,” Taki briefly met her eyes, only look away again. She was visibly ashamed as she said, “You’re just being used to make sure Tomori and I join.”

Her breath hitched as the memories that hinted at it came rushing into her mind.

“By Tomori-chan, did you mean Takamatsu Tomori? I’m her friend.”

“I’m forming a party with Anon-chan. Would you join as well, Taki-chan?”

“I finally get to talk with Tomori-chan again thanks to you.”

“Can we redo things once more? Redo our party. With me, Tomori-chan, and Taki-chan.”

“Ah…”

Soyo-san never included me in the first place…

She felt like her face had been splashed with ice-cold water. For some reason, even with her good perception of people, she was not able to read beyond Soyo’s smile or the way she fiddled with her fingertips from time to time.

Soyo had been so kind to her. And yet, it was all for a reason.

“That’s not true! Soyo-chan told me to keep the party going even after we pass our first practical exam! That we would finish the second exam and get our license this time around! So…”

“What do you mean, it’s not true? Do you prefer our former party, Tomori? Is that how it is? If you’re going to side with Soyo, that means you don’t need her.”

“No. I want to be with everyone,” Tomori insisted.

Everyone… Thinking back on it, Soyo must have meant their former party when she said, everyone. She never meant to include her or Raana.

“It’s impossible.”

“It’s not impossible!”

“So, will it be Soyo? Or Anon and Raana? Pick one!”

For once, Taki wasn’t being soft with Tomori. And Tomori was letting out all of her thoughts freely. Looking at them, Anon felt her chest tighten. Her presence only hinders them. She thought that maybe, after all, it was not the place where she could belong.

My being here only makes it hard for Tomori to decide. Rikki would probably be happy enough as long as she’s with Tomori-chan. As for Soyo-san…

She doesn’t need me. She needs them.

And so, Anon turned to leave.

“What are you doing?” Taki called out to her.  

Anon glanced at them and said, “You don’t need me, right?” Then she continued walking away. She could feel their gaze following her.  

“Anon-chan…” Tomori’s voice sounded painful, as if she were being strangled.

But Anon stayed firm with the decision she had made. She turned to them one last time. With a brittle smile, she said, “You should redo your former party with Soyo-san.”

She was just doing it for show, or so she told herself. But deep down, she knew she wasn’t fooling anyone… not even herself. The ache in her chest gave her away.

But for Soyo, Tomori, and Taki… their former party had meant everything to them. Anon couldn’t see herself belonging to their side. Not even to her side at all.

That night, she couldn’t help but keep recalling everything that had happened since she met them… since she met Soyo. Deep in her heart, she knew that she put Soyo on some kind of pedestal, someone who had nothing but goodness in her heart. Not the perfect kind of perfect, just someone with hardly any flaws at all.

But she was wrong. Soyo lied a lot, has a hidden side, and could actually be mean.

Ah… Soyo-san is also human after all.

It was quite funny… or maybe ironic for her to realize that now. Even if she was paying attention to her, she never saw through her at all. At the same time that the truth was pissing her off, it was also frustrating for her.

The next few days, Anon spent her free time training on her own in the forest. She poured all her frustrations into every charm she cast and every swing of her wooden sword. She trained until her mana was depleted, until there was barely any strength left in her body.

“What am I even doing…”

Her mind drifted to the morning that day. Tomori approached her when their first period had finished. She didn’t speak for the first few moments. Anon stared at her blankly.

“Anon-chan,” Tomori finally said. “Please train with me. Let’s take on that special mission together.”

She almost felt sorry for Tomori, who worked up her courage to approach her. But steeled her heart and didn’t give in.

“Then what about Soyo-san?” She said flatly, then walked out, not daring to look back at how Tomori reacted. Even so, she could tell that she had left Tomori motionless with that.

She looked at the growing calluses on her palms, then at her worn-out wooden sword. 

“To think I even reached the limit of the reinforcement charm. Soyo-san would be interested in this data…”

Gritting her teeth, she punched the ground she was lying on. If there was a moment when Soyo had not been lying, it was probably her interest in charms. They both enjoyed learning different charms and testing their capabilities and limits.

About five days in, Anon happened to bump into Professor Kawashima in the hallway.

“I wish you all good luck,” the professor said, her smile practiced, almost too bright. “I’m certain your party will manage just fine. Even if it’s only the five of you.”

“T-thank you, Miss.” Anon forced a polite bow before continuing on her way.  

Her chest tightened with every step. She knew Tomori would not decide something like that on her own. Which meant… she must have the others with her.

Anon’s thumbs rubbed absently over the calluses on her palms, a habit that had been growing on her.

“See… I’m not needed.” Her whisper was swallowed by the crowd, meant for no one but herself.

Still, she kept training alone, staying busy to distract herself. She even took on some solo missions, which are usually for failing students trying to make up for their classes or for students seeking extra grade credits or wanting to earn money from the materials they collect during the mission. Anon wasn’t one of those. She wanted to face slimes, wild beasts, traps, and anything else that came her way just to test her defensive charms effectively. She was usually afraid of the wild beasts in the forest, but over time, she grew accustomed to fighting them.

But even with her defensive charms, it didn’t mean that she didn’t leave unscathed. The academy nurse, Nurse Mariam, as she learned her name was, had already become her friend because of her regular visits for treatment.

“Are you aiming to rank up to A? If not, you can take a break,” Nurse Mariam said, putting a bandage on her hand.

“I’m currently ranked D myself. There’s no way I would reach rank A in just a matter of one week.”

Mariam sighed, then flicked her hand as she finished with the bandage.

“Ouch! Miss, why? Did you want it to bleed again?” Anon complained, pulling back her hand.

“If that hurts, then take care of yourself a bit more.”

Anon looked at her bandaged hand, then at her other hand, which was also full of calluses. She didn’t mean to push herself. She just wanted to keep her mind busy and improve herself for her own good. So, maybe if she ever joined a new party, she wouldn’t be seen as a dispensable member again.

But Nurse Mariam was right. She shouldn’t push herself too hard. She initially focused on defensive charms because she wanted to be someone who could protect everyone. Maybe a hero who could earn praise from people. But it will all be for nothing if she works herself beyond the point of recovery. Her passion for learning charms, especially defensive ones, might turn into a nightmare if she keeps pushing herself with relentless training.

Anon nodded and quietly agreed with Nurse Mariam. “Okay. I will give myself a break from time to time. You won’t have to treat me daily, that much I can promise.”

“You'd better. Because the next time you get sent here wounded, or passed out due to mana depletion or whatever condition from a solo mission, I will ask the headmistress to ban you from taking solo missions for the rest of the semester.”

“Y-Yes. I promise.”

She kept her word. From then on, she lessened her solo training and missions. Anon let herself rest and let her body heal from time to time. When she felt like her mind would drift into endless thoughts again, she would grab a book and read about basic world knowledge.

Two weeks have passed since she left the party, and Tomori was waiting for her again in the classroom and approached her as soon as she entered it.

“Anon-chan.” Tomori’s voice sounded more determined this time around.

Anon ignored her and tried to go to her seat, but Tomori took her wrist.

“Let’s go on the special mission together. Give us your protection like you used to.”

Anon dropped her bag on her desk while Tomori held her by the wrist. “You don’t need me,” she said bitterly, almost a whisper.

“I do. I need you, Anon-chan!” Tomori yelled, desperation growing in her expression. She held her wrist tighter.

Her eyes widened in surprise at Tomori’s outburst.

“Without you, I—”

“Don’t say it out loud!”

And yet, Tomori still raised her voice, “Please be our defense… please come back to us!”

Tomori’s breathing became ragged from all the yelling. Anon gritted her teeth and took the chance to break free from Tomori’s grip and run away.

She heard her call out, “Anon-chan!” as she continued to get away.

But then, frantic footsteps came after her.

“Stop following me!”

“Anon-chan!” Tomori called out again.

“Why are you so persistent?!” She yelled back as she quickened her pace, only to be slowed down by the stairs.

Both were panting as they reached the rooftop of their building, finally putting a stop to their run and chase. Tomori was breathing heavier than Anon, and yet, she continued walking towards her.

Anon turned away, glancing down as Tomori stopped just an arm's length away from her.

“Weren’t you going to take the special mission with your former party…”

“You said we’ll do it together!” Tomori still yelled, in between catching her breath. “With our party! You promised!”

Biting her lip, she turned her back to Tomori. At this point, she might have to say what she never wanted to admit to them. “It’s not like I really wanted to be part of a party.”

“Then, why did you invite me?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“Anon-chan!”

Couldn’t take it anymore, she clenched her fists and finally turned to face Tomori. “I only wanted to make myself look good! I wanted to be recognized by everyone and be praised for how great I am!”

She felt shame in admitting her half-heartedness towards forming the party and inviting Tomori. Tomori, who had only been honest and understanding of her. But there was no point hiding it now. She knew she had to tell her, even if that had already changed.

“That can’t be the only truth. You gave it your all and struggled.”

The memory flashed in her mind as she recalled that one time Tomori went to fetch her. That time when she became more determined to be stronger for their party.

“Soyo-chan and I are both lost,” Tomori took a few steps towards her, hands clenched together, before looking directly into her eyes. “Let’s be lost together.”

“Should we move forward together? Even if we keep getting lost?” Her own voice resounded in her mind as she stared back at Tomori’s unwavering, genuine eyes.

The academy bell rang throughout the campus, signaling the beginning of the next period.

Anon looked up at the sky, inhaling. She closed her eyes as she released the air in her lungs, making up her mind to a decision she didn’t think she would make.

“Aah… Whatever happens from here on will be your fault, Tomori-chan.”

“Anon-chan?”

With a helpless smile, she glanced at Tomori again.

“Leave it to me, Tomori-chan.”

***

A wave of fire surged across the sparring field, heat rippling the air like molten glass. Anon stood rooted, eyes fixed on it as though it were something far away, not a deadly wall of flame rushing straight toward her.

“Anon-chan! Snap out of it!”

Soyo’s voice tore through her trance. Blinking, Anon jerked her arm up and cast an elemental shield charm just as the blaze crashed down. The impact bloomed against the barrier, licking dangerously close before breaking apart into sparks.

She exhaled, heart pounding, and forced a grin. “Phew. That was close.”

“Don’t you ‘that was close’ me!” Soyo’s voice was sharp, furious. She strode across the field, the flame still crackling faintly in her wake. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Her glare wavered, just enough for Anon to see the worry she tried so hard to bury.

Like the usual, their group had turned one of the academy’s wide training grounds into a battlefield, a barrier artifact sealing off their duel from the rest of the campus. Taki and Tomori sparred a little distance away, trading blows through their artifacts. Raana darted in at intervals, striking without mercy to force Taki to fight seriously against Tomori.

Anon and Soyo had chosen charms. Soyo attacked with a relentless rhythm, elemental strikes flaring like a storm, while Anon met each one with her shield. For a time, she’d kept pace perfectly. But the rhythm lulled her, dragged her into the memory lane, until she forgot herself, forgot the flames.

“Even with healing potions, burns still hurt!” Soyo snapped. “Or are you secretly a masochist?”

“I’m sorry, Soyorin,” Anon immediately apologized, guilty for her actions. “I was kinda spaced out.”

Wrong answer.

Soyo’s eyes narrowed. Her lips pulled into a thin line. “Ah. I see. You got bored sparring with me that you spaced out.”

“No, wait. Soyorin. That’s not what I—”

Her words drowned in the roar of magic as Soyo flung her wand skyward. Fire blossomed, a storm of orbs igniting high above. She snapped her wrist, and the barrage fell.

“Then, get burned for real.”

“Wha?! Soyorin?!”

The sky rained fire. Anon’s body moved before thought, blade flashing, shield shimmering, cutting and parrying each blazing orb. Smoke scorched her throat, sweat trickled down her temple, but she kept deflecting, step after step, until the last ember dissolved into the air.

When the smoke cleared, Soyo was standing before her, face shadowed, glare unflinching.

“If you’re just going to space out, then don’t call me for a spar in the first place.” Her tone softened by a thread, barely. “But… good job deflecting them all.” 

Breath ragged, Anon straightened her posture, clasped her hands together in mock penitence. “I’m really sorry, Soyorin! I just… remembered something. Fighting you was fun. And then I thought about last year…”

About how that wave of flames was the very charm that saved us.

A smile softened her lips, warm and unguarded. She looked at Soyo, at the gleam of her brown hair under the barrier’s light.

“Thank you, Soyorin.” For staying. For carrying us through. For everything.

Soyo blinked, startled. “…For what? I didn’t do anything worth thanking me for.”

Anon didn’t answer right away. She only looked at Soyo with a meaningful smile.

“Well,” she began seriously. Then suddenly, she winked to hide her growing blush. She slid into her stance again, “That’s something I will leave for you to think about.”

Soyo huffed, cheeks faintly flushed, and pulled her naginata free from her storage artifact, sliding into position.

Anon grinned, lifting her blade. This time, no more drifting. The fight had become something else, an unspoken rhythm between them. And in her heart, Anon thought, the Soyo-san from last year would never have stood this firm, this close.

But… Soyorin did.

***

Anon finished their last-period activity as quickly as possible. It was a report on the magical landmarks she had visited for Magical History, and she wrote carefully, focusing on the important details. She knew exactly what mattered, enough to finish efficiently and get out of class early.

Making her way through the hallways and down the stairs, she headed toward the first floor, trying to find Soyo’s classroom. She didn’t know the exact location, but remembered Soyo saying all her last-period classes were on that floor.

That couldn’t have been part of her lie, right?

Surely enough, she found her shortly after arriving on the first floor. There were about fifteen minutes left before the last period ended. Anon waited there, not taking her eyes off Soyo.

Anon decided to push forward and continue with the party. This time, she would try to face Soyo head-on, no matter what she might say.

As the bell rang across the campus, Anon braced herself. As soon as Soyo stepped out of the classroom, she called out.

“Soyo-san.”

Soyo looked at her with surprise. It was evident on her face that she totally did not expect the encounter. It was their first time seeing each other after almost a month, and their first time to meet without Soyo’s mask.

Their eyes met briefly before Soyo continued on her way.

“We need to talk.” Anon said, but Soyo ignored her.

“Wait.” With Soyo still ignoring her, she walked after her. “Soyo-san!”

“Don’t follow me.”

“I will keep following you until we talk.” I won’t just let you go this time.

Soyo sighs, not saying anything more. Anon continued to follow her. First, they arrived at the dormitory building. They live in the same dorm, but on different floors. Her room was on the third floor, whereas Soyo’s was on the fifteenth. Anon still followed her up to outside her room.

Her expression stayed firm, even though Soyo hadn’t invited her inside. She waited outside, listening to faint sounds from within. Ten minutes later, Soyo emerged again, carrying even more bags, irritation etched on her face.  

“Why are you still here…” she asked as she walked away.

“Like I said, I will keep following you.”

She wondered what it would feel like to face Soyo again after everything that had happened. Now that she was actually here, it felt strangely calming. She still respected her, despite everything, yet there was no pedestal this time. Just Nagasaki Soyo.

They exited the dormitory, and Anon fell into step behind her, matching her rhythm. Soyo no longer seemed to be trying to outwalk her. Their distance stayed the same until they reached a building near the boundary of southern buildings and west entrance, one Anon hadn’t visited before, since it wasn’t for classes. The building was filled with laboratories rented privately by potioneers and craftsmen.

Anon was in awe, looking around. The inside of the building was mostly white and grey, with rooms that seemed spacious enough. She counted about only five rooms on the first floor. She counted the same when they went to the second floor.

Just as Anon started to wonder if Soyo plans to tire her out by climbing using the stairs instead of the elevator, Soyo stopped at the fifth door on the second floor.

Soyo sighed again and finally said, “Fine… Why don’t you just come in?”

And so, Anon did. She felt like she was finally able to take a closer step.

Once inside the laboratory, she was again in awe. Her eyes first landed on the curtains, which must be covering the huge windows. A sala set occupied the center, with two tables nearby, one stacked with potion-making equipment, the other cluttered with miscellaneous items where Soyo had set down her bags. In the corner by the potion table stood a glass cabinet filled with capped flasks and vials of various colored liquids. Near the entrance, a door hinted at a bathroom.

As she sat on the sofa, she was still looking around and noticed that there was even a kitchen area, a loft where she could almost make out a bed, and a small table on it.

“This is too much like a luxurious hotel. It barely has a sense of being a lab. You’re renting this?”

“Yes. My mother had it set for me. I’m a licensed potioneer, after all.”

Anon realized that it might have been the first time she was learning more about Soyo’s personal life.

Soyo had set the tea on the table. Only then did Anon noticed the scent of the newly brewed tea. It was actually quite a familiar scent.

“Oh, thanks,” Anon said as Soyo poured her a cup.

This smell… She briefly closed her eyes as the memory flashed in her mind. It’s the same tea that we first drank together.

It felt like a distant memory to her, even if it wasn’t that long ago. And now, they were having the same tea as they met each other’s true selves for the first time.

“I’m surprised you still want to talk to me.”

Anon glanced at Soyo, noting the flicker of wariness behind her words.

“You already knew everything, didn’t you?”

“I did. It pissed me off, but it makes me realize that you’re also just human.” She responded, bringing the cup of tea to her lips, to take a sip.

“What?”

Anon, relieved from the tea, continued, “You have one heck of a hidden side to you, and you lie a whole lot. In fact, you’re actually pretty mean and nasty, right?”

In contrast to her sharp words, her lips curved with a light teasing smile, eyes soft with a quiet amusement that dulled the edge of her words. She almost made her honesty feel less like a sting and more like gentle mischief.

Soyo, on the other hand, had her brows furrowed with the faintest crease of irritation, tightening her expression.

“Are you looking for a fight?” The words left her lips flat and restrained, carrying a quiet warning, as if daring Anon to push her patience any further.

Unaffected, Anon set her cup back on the table and met Soyo’s gaze.

“She said you’re lost.”

“Ha?” Soyo flinched at the sudden shift.

“That’s what Tomori-chan said. Soyo-chan, and I are all just lost.”

“What’s with that? I don’t understand.”

“She’s waiting for you.” And I am waiting for you too.

Soyo's eyes flicked away, briefly, before she returned her gaze to Anon as she rose.

“Even if you say that you don’t need me, I’ll still do my part,” she said, a quiet sting beneath her firm determination.

“Even though you started this thing just to look good,” Soyo shot back, frustration lacing her tone.

“That’s right. It’s the party you and I started, after all.”

Soyo’s teeth clenched, and she slammed her cup down, the sound echoing through the room. “In that case,” she said, standing fully, eyes flashing. “I will put an end to it for you.” 

They locked into a fierce gaze for a moment. Anon wouldn’t admit it then, but she strangely felt a sense of satisfaction at being able to confront Soyo that way. Not as someone she unconsciously set so high, but as someone she could stand on equal grounds, someone as human as her.

She smiled, which might have seemed odd for Soyo to see given their situation. The girl might have thought that she was being full of herself with Anon’s next words being, “Well, let’s see then.”

Anon sat back, pulled a copy of the special mission details from her bag, and put it on the table.

“What’s that?”

“That’s the details of the special mission offered by Miss Kawashima. She said that the headmistress also supported it. If we complete the mission, we will get a 50% plus score for the upcoming individual evaluation.”

Soyo had already sat down by then, but only glanced at the paper.

“This may come as short notice, but Tomori-chan had already accepted it. We’re planning to do the mission in two days.”

“I won’t come. I would tell her I’m backing—”

“Shh,” she held up her hand in front of Soyo, cutting her off.

“All I ask of you is to give it a day to decide. You can join us and try to work with us one more time, and decide for real after that. Or if you really decide not to come, then…” Anon trailed off, then forced a smile. “It’s fine. But at least give it a day to decide.”

Anon finished the rest of her tea, while Soyo only stared at her with furrowed brows. She stood up and got ready to leave.

“Thank you for your time, and for the tea.”

Soyo stayed silent, glancing away. She took it as her cue to leave for real. And so, she walked towards the door. She doesn’t know if she could hope, but she wanted to hope that it won’t be the last time they talk to each other like that.

Much to her surprise, just as she reached the door, Soyo spoke again.

“Don’t get your hopes up.”

She opened the door, fingers tightening around the knob.

“I won’t… not yet,” she said, her voice low but steady, a tremor betraying the thought she pushed down. “But, if I start wanting to, you can’t stop me.”

With that, she turned and left.  

The next day, Anon joined Tomori, Raana, and Taki to train with them for the first time in a while. They only had lunchtime and after class to do it, so they even trained until evening. After dinner, they also discussed their dungeon-clearing strategy.

The dungeon has three levels based on the details provided by their professor. Having Raana back with them, they considered the idea of going in full stealth mode once again to avoid wasting mana fighting the golems.

However, it wasn’t that easy. Raana’s stealth charm had been deactivated when they stepped into the dungeon. But they have anticipated that much. The professor and everyone who watched the team evaluation had seen Raana use stealth charms. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they prepared something against it for the special mission.

“It must be a wide range disabling artifact,” Raana said excitedly. “I want to see it.”

“Me too,” Tomori seconded.

Anon and Taki smiled, watching the two. It was good that they could remain calm despite their plan A being scrapped just like that.

There was no reason to panic after all. They were prepared for that situation.

Taki put on her gauntlets, Raana wore what she called Threadcaster Gloves, Tomori summoned an iron warrior with her written runes, and Anon equipped her wrists with enchanted cuffs that functioned similarly to a wand. That way, she was still able to use her sword.

The first few minutes of walking into the dungeon were filled with silence, save for the occasional droplets of water from a distance and their footsteps. Raana and Taki were continuously detecting for any traps when Tomori suddenly spoke.

“Do you think Soyo-chan will come after us?”

“Tomori…”

For a moment, Taki’s face was filled with anger and pain. Anger, probably for Soyo, and pain for Tomori, who still didn’t lose hope in Soyo.

Anon, for someone who said she won’t, she still wanted to hope in the end, waiting… At the same time, she was steeling herself for the possible outcome. She didn’t hear anything from Professor Kawashima when they checked in with her just before coming to the dungeon. If Soyo had ever decided to really leave them, she would’ve notified the professor already. The fact that she hadn’t, gave her some hope.

“Here it comes.”

Raana’s voice cut through first, alerting them. The ground trembled, rocks falling around them. Anon immediately shielded them from the debris, and two stone golems emerged from the earth.

Once the trembling stopped, they went into stance. Tomori commanded her iron warrior to charge, with the others following. Raana shot a thread into the wall to lift herself, using her other hand to bind a golem’s arm, stopping it from smashing the iron warrior.

Meanwhile, Taki exchanged blows with the second golem, while Anon continuously provided shields for every attack. When Taki knocked it back, Anon thrust into its left arm, following with an explosive charm that severed it.

“Rikki, smash its head!” she yelled, but Taki was already midair, smashing the golem’s head. Its body crumbled into pieces.

“I was already on it before you told me,” Taki said.

Anon sighed in defeat, turning to help Tomori and Raana. Tomori’s iron warrior delivered one final blow to their golem’s head, which also shattered.

“Tomori, Raana, watch out!” Taki shouted as debris flew from the iron warrior’s punch, only to be deflected by Anon’s shield.

“I was already on it too,” Anon said smirking.

Taki turned, surprised. “You’ve gotten better, didn’t you?”

“You can praise me more, Rikki~”

“Don’t get carried away. You'd better have more in store for a surprise.”  

“You bet.”

They rested for about fifteen minutes to check on each other for any fatal wounds and to eat snacks and hydrate for a quick recharge. Fortunately, there weren’t any serious wounds that their healing potion couldn’t help them with.

Once they were all good to go, they found the stairs going down to the second level of the dungeon. Taki deactivated a few traps they encountered as they went.

The heat was already noticeable when they entered the dungeon, but it grew harsher by the time they reached the second level. The best Anon could do was weave an ice barrier, cooling the air around them to keep their bodies from overheating and to ease the strain of breathing in the heavy, stifling heat.

“Won’t you get tired more easily if you keep that on?” Taki whispered as they walked.

“It’s fine. It doesn’t use that much mana to maintain it.”

“Mm, if you say so.”

“You’re worried about me, Rikki?” Anon teased.

Taki shot her a sharp glare. “Shut up.”

With that, Taki stepped away from her and moved closer to Tomori, who was helping Raana with tracking traps.

Deeper into the second level, after more than half an hour of walking, the air shifted violently. It got hotter, as if the source of heat itself was approaching. They stopped and focused on their surroundings.

The heat surged closer. Anon immediately strengthened the ice barrier, pouring her mana into it until it held against the collision. Fireballs rained down as massive footsteps drew near. Tomori summoned an ice golem, which charged forward and momentarily halted the fire, revealing the magma golem.

Twice as tall as the stone golems they had fought, its body burned fiercely. The ice golem held it off as Tomori focused on controlling its movements.  

Nodding to each other, the team attacked. Raana reinforced her threads with ice charms to resist the heat. Taki set traps in rhythm with the golem’s stride. A ridge made it stumble, a shallow pit clamped at its foot, and Raana’s icy threads darted in the gaps those stumbles created.

Anon watched as they moved as one. Taki guided its missteps, Raana wove her bindings, and Tomori maintained control of the ice golem. Anon stayed close, continuously casting her ice barrier for all of them.

“Tomori, Rikki, now!” Raana shouted.

The threads wrapped tightly around the magma golem, securing its arms and legs. Raana poured mana into her Threadcaster as it thrashed against the bindings.  

Tomori commanded her ice golem to deliver consecutive punches on the magma golem, while Taki launched forward and jumped through Raana’s threads, aiming for its flame-covered head.

But then, Anon felt a surge of mana coming from the golem, at the same time as another was closing in from behind them.

This is bad! “Rikki! Raana-chan! Back away!”

Anon kept her full focus on strengthening each of their ice barrier. Even still, Taki and Raana were both knocked away as the golem released flames from its body, breaking free from the binds and destroying the Tomori’s ice golem.

Tomori dropped to one knee, panting, with her mana nearly spent. The fall damage on Raana and Taki was lessened thanks to Anon’s shield, but they were still wounded from it.

Meanwhile, Anon’s barrier flickered as blood slid from her nose. She was reaching her limit too.

The magma golem was still standing and enraged, preparing itself for another wave of attack.  

Why does it seem stronger for a rank D dungeon?

Anon gritted her teeth, barely standing still, but forcing herself to keep her shield strong. Taki had joined their side, aiding Tomori.

“This was more than we expected. Maybe we should retreat,” Taki hesitantly suggested, clenching her fist.

“But, Taki-chan…” Tomori tried to protest, voice weak.

Before they could decide, fireballs came raining again just as Raana had regrouped with them. Anon held her shield, trembling under the barrage. The taste of iron filled her mouth.

“Anon, that’s enough! We should just retreat. You’re bleeding!”

“No. I’ll hold until everyone is ready to attack again!” And until she gets here.

Raana shoved healing potions into Taki and Tomori’s hands. “We can try one more time, Rikki.” She then pressed one vial to Anon’s lips.

“Thank you, Raana-chan,” Anon breathed before returning her focus to the barrier. The healing potion only helped with the bleeding temporarily. But it didn’t replenish her mana.

Maybe I should have asked Soyo-san if she had any mana potion to spare…

Soyo-san…

As her thoughts almost drifted, she felt the mana surge coming from behind them, again. This time, it was stronger and closer.

Hmm?

Her eyes widened at the sharp familiarity of the mana. And then…

“Dock!!!”

The call tore through the chaos. A voice usually gentle surged with a crisp edge, steady yet laced with urgency. It had a sharp clarity, so unlike the usual calm she carried. Even breathless, it commanded with no hesitation. Anon knew at once whose voice it was.

As they all dropped to the ground, a wave of heat passed through above them. Anon turned to have a look and saw another wave of flame pass above them, pushing back the explosion of the fireballs to the magma golem.

Soyo-san! It’s really her!

“Soyo-chan!” Tomori cried.

Through the haze, Soyo advanced, wand raised, flames surging from her in relentless waves.  

Anon noticed something familiar about her expression. It was like the expression she wore backstage after the team evaluation, except this time, there was something different in it. Back then, Soyo was mad with anxiety and sadness. But now, she was only furious, filled with rage towards the magma golem, or perhaps something deeper.

“Don’t get the wrong idea,” she snapped. “I came here to end things properly! And yet…” Another violent burst left her wand, fueled by frustration.  

“Anon-chan, can you still stand?”

“O-Of course,” Anon stuttered, surprised by the sudden gentle shift in Soyo’s tone. She ignored the sore all over her body and gathered all her strength to stand up again.

“Buy us some time again. Take one vial from my right pocket and drink it.”

Anon didn’t hesitate. She uncorked the bluish-silver liquid and downed it. A jolt rippled through her veins, her mana flooding back in a rush.

“Ready, Anon-chan?”

She only nodded.

Soyo unleashed one last powerful, fiery wave before stepping back. Anon switched with her, immediately putting up her ice barrier once again, but much stronger and more stable this time. The fireballs came raining on them again, but now, she wasn’t struggling to sustain the damage.

From the corners of her vision, she could see Raana smirking at her, then said, “Whoa, interesting,” before glancing at Soyo.

“I’ll give you one too. Give me a moment.” Soyo said, passing the vials to the others.

“What was it, Soyo?” Taki asked.

“Was it a mana potion?” Tomori followed.

“Yes, I needed Anon to take it first so she can shield us while we prepare to counter.”

How ironic to hear her say she needed me. Oddly enough, it made her smile. Thankfully, her back was facing Soyo, so she didn’t see.

When everyone’s mana was replenished, they regrouped. Anon held the front, barrier steady, while Soyo and Tomori stood behind her for each of their own preparations. Tomori summoned another ice golem, working in tandem with Taki’s traps. Raana reinforced with her threads, binding the creature’s limbs once more.

It was the same formation as before, but now Soyo was with them. The air grew colder. Anon eased her ice barrier into a lighter shield as the oppressive heat ebbed away, replaced by the chill radiating from behind her.

“Anon-chan,” Soyo called, stepping up beside her. “I’m almost done. Draw your sword.”

“Got it!” Anon unsheathed her sword from her storage artifact, coating it with an ice charm.

Soyo’s eyes flicked to Tomori, and they nodded in sync.

With one wave of the hand from Soyo, Anon took off, running to the side. For the first time, their defense was left unguarded, and yet, Raana had completely restrained the magma golem by then. Taki had jumped away when she saw Anon start moving.

“Glacius!”

As Soyo’s voice rang out, a trail of ice quickly erupted from the ground, racing across the floor and climbing the magma golem’s body. In seconds, the towering creature was encased, frozen solid. Raana pulled her threads free just in time

Anon leapt, slashing her sword in a sweeping arc. Ice particles burst from the blade, sealing the golem further, locking it against explosion. She couldn’t have managed it earlier, not with her mana drained and her team unprotected. But now, with Soyo holding it down, it was possible.  

“Now!” Taki shouted, signaling for everyone to charge forward.

Tomori’s ice golem lunged first, its fist crashing into the magma beast’s chest with a thunderous crack. Fractures spread like spiderwebs across the frozen shell.

Taki leapt from Raana’s threads, gauntlet blazing with mana. She slammed down on the golem’s shoulder, shattering it into jagged shards.

Raana followed through, her threads slicing in gleaming arcs, severing chunks of molten rock like glass.

And then Anon moved.

Her blade flashed, thrust after thrust in a storm, icy strikes, each impact driving deeper until the cracks tore wide open.  

The frozen giant screamed one last guttural sound that ended in silence.

Its body split apart, collapsing into the heap of shattered stone and cooling embers. The floor’s heat faded with it, leaving only the lingering frost of Soyo’s Glacius charm.

For a moment, they only stared at the remains until it finally sank in. They had defeated the magma golem. Tomori released her control of the ice golem, letting herself slump to the floor. Taki quietly cheered, while Raana smiled proudly. Anon cheered the loudest.

“We did it!” She yelled, raising her sword, only to freeze a heartbeat later, noticing how Soyo remained still, keeping herself alert.

And then, Anon felt it, a surge of multiple sources of mana coming from beneath the ground. It was as if whatever lurked on the dungeon’s final level was now rising to meet them. She sensed that it was far more dangerous than the magma golem.

In that short moment, Anon made a decision and shouted, “Everyone! Run back!”

No question was asked. The panic and terror in her voice were enough to serve as a warning. And, they already know about Anon’s mana detection ability.

Taki and Raana exchanged glances and nodded at each other.

Raana weaved her threads and suspended herself in the air as she swung with her threads, leaping and running continuously.

Taki leapt towards Tomori, and with mana poured into her gauntlet, she carried her as she ran, not before saying, “Take Anon” to Soyo.

“Anon-chan!” Soyo called for her.

Anon ran as fast as she could towards Soyo. She grabbed her stretched-out hand while wondering what she could be planning.

“Get on my back!”

“Ha?”

Anon hesitated, worried that Soyo was already exhausted.

“Quick!” Soyo urged.

But Soyo’s tone was firm. And the flows of mana that were getting closer to them were no joke,

Reluctantly, Anon climbed onto her back. Then, without warning, Soyo started running with air charm on her feet. It was as if they were flying. Good thing she had cast a shield around them before taking off.  

It didn’t take long for them to catch on to the others. Taki cast earth charms to smooth the ground ahead as they ran.  

Anon felt the mana that came from the final level surging after them. Then, she sensed more mana, this time ahead of their path.

“Soyo-san, there’s more outside.”

She heard Soyo exhale, a short sound caught between a laugh and a sigh, before her voice turned firm again.

“Don’t worry. They must be the academy security. I called for help before coming here.”

Help?

As they were about to reach outside the dungeon, Soyo cast a flare charm. Anon read about it in their academy rule book before. For security-related issues, there would be a signal agreed upon between the involved and the security personnel aiding them. She guessed that it must be what Soyo did.

When they emerged, academy security mages were already arriving at the entrance. Most rushed past them into the dungeon, while the healers stayed behind to tend to them.  

“We’re safe now, Anon-chan,” Soyo said in the gentlest voice she heard from her.

Her lips curved into a faint smile. “Thank you, Soyo-san…”

The words left her softly, almost breaking apart in the air. With that gentle voice still lingering in her ears, her body yielded at last, as if it had only been waiting for this reassurance to let go. Her strength ebbed, her vision dimmed, yet all she could register in those final moments was the warmth at her back, the steady presence carrying her as everything else faded away.

“Anon-chan?”

“I’m glad you ca—”

“Anon-chan?!”

The last thing she remembered was her eyes shutting down while still clinging to Soyo, her fading grip a desperate attempt to hold on to that warmth a moment longer.

***

Anon woke up to a familiar ceiling. It was not her dorm room, but the infirmary she’d visited far too often lately. Her body still ached, but the exhaustion was not as bad anymore.

“Anon-chan?”

She stirred at the sound of her name being called by such a gentle voice.

“Wait, take it easy.” The girl rushed to her side and helped her as she tried to sit up.

“Thanks, Soyo-san.”

“J-Just stay there,” Soyo said, holding both hands in front of her. “I will just call the nurse.”

“Mm… okay.”

Anon watched Soyo sprint towards the nurse’s office.

Soyo-san… she seemed a bit… panicked? A smile played across her face, warmth spreading inside her chest. It was a rare sight for her, but oddly comforting to see that side.

Noticing the silence in the room, she looked around. She half expected her party members to be lying on the other beds too. However, as she let her eyes wander the room, there was no sign of them.

The sound of the door swinging open, followed by multiple footsteps, snapped her attention back to the nurse’s office.

“Taki-chan and Tomori-chan are currently in the academy security office. As for Raana-chan… I don’t know.”

“That girl really sneaked out on me. I will have to scold her later.”

She turned to her direction, seeing Soyo come back, followed by Nurse Mariam.

“You were the last one to wake up, Chihaya-san,” Nurse Mariam said, walking to her side. “Also, Nagasaki-san, weren’t you supposed to stay in bed? You just woke up not too long ago.”

Soyo sighed heavily, murmuring, “Got it… I already said I’m fine,” as she sat on the bed beside Anon’s. They locked eyes for a moment before Soyo looked away as if the window had suddenly become fascinating.

Anon was about to giggle, but instead felt pain around her abdomen. Then… bonk… Nurse Mariam tapped a pen on her head.  

“Wha—? Please be careful of your patient.”

Nurse Mariam glared at her, still holding the pen inches from her head.

“Please be careful of yourself. How many times do I have to tell you that?”

“I was careful.”

“Careful? You were passed out for nearly 15 hours, completely beaten and exhausted. What did I tell you about the next time you get sent here in that condition?”

“P-Please spare me,” she pleaded, clasping both hands.

But then, Nurse Mariam’s expression softened, smiling. “That would apply if it were another solo mission. But this time it was a special party mission, wasn’t it?”

“Y-Yes.”

“Not to mention, it was even a trap.” Nurse Mariam pulled back her pen, sighing in frustration.

“A trap?”

From the corners of her eyes, she noticed the way Soyo’s jaw tightened, her eyes sharper than usual, while still fixated outside.

“Do not worry yourself about that right now. I will check on you first, and require you and your party members to take some time off. Understand?”

“But the exam—”

“Shh! That’s taken care of.”

“Hmm. O-Okay.” She hesitantly let it go.

“I’m glad you’re back safe. Good job,” Nurse Mariam gently patted her head, then turned to Soyo. “And you too, Nagasaki-san.”

Anon smiled, almost felt like tears could well up in her eyes, but she held herself back. Instead, she just nodded and mouthed her thanks.

Nurse Mariam went to check on her. She began with questions and the basics, like checking her pulse, temperature, and so on. Then she used a health appraisal device to get a clearer view of her parameters, such as mana reserves, internal wounds, magical traces, and all things that couldn’t be seen physically.

“Okay, all good for now. I will leave you two here. I need to get some of the medicines I prescribed from my stockroom upstairs.”

They both just nodded as the nurse left the room. Then everything went silent, leaving only the noise of the students outside and the cool air brushing on their skin. That was until Anon couldn’t hold herself anymore.

“Soyo-san… what did Nurse Mariam mean about the special mission being a trap?”

Gaze still on the window, Soyo clenched onto the bedsheet. “It was exactly as she said. It was a trap meant to either let us die or capture us.”

“B-But Miss Kawashima won’t do—”

Her tone rose with her shock, but with her throat dry, she was cut off by the pits of her cough. Soyo stood and quietly poured her a glass of water.

Anon took it as Soyo went to sit on the chair by her bedside. When the water finally touched her throat, it felt as if she hadn’t drunk water for a whole day. She just realized then that the last liquid she drank was Soyo’s mana potion.

The memory of them almost getting wiped out in the dungeon flashed in her mind. Soyo’s arrival changed everything. Soyo saved them.

“The professor we met this semester was an impostor. Even if I’d already known her from last year, I didn’t even notice. They…”

An impostor? Then what happened to the real one?

As the question surfaced in her mind, she sensed a familiar rage coming from Soyo. It was the same rage she saw from her when she arrived at the dungeon.

“…killed her,” Soyo finally said, clenching her fists on her lap. “And the impostor… he set us up to die or to be captured.”

The real professor was killed? The special mission was a setup? Her eyes widened, trying to process the information.

“If I were too late…”

The last part came out almost as a whisper. Soyo was looking down at her clenched fists, gritting her teeth.

Taking notice of her knuckles turning white, Anon decided to reach out for her hands. She held them despite Soyo flinching at the contact.

“But you weren’t too late. You were on time. You saved us.”

Her tone was firm and gentle, hoping to bring even just a little comfort to Soyo.

She rubbed her thumb playfully on her hands and said, “Thank you. If not for you, I wouldn’t be here today.”

The anger on her face was replaced with a pained expression. Soyo’s lips trembled, averting her eyes.

“I… I do not deserve that.”

She couldn’t see her expression, and couldn’t read it as Soyo didn’t shake her hand off. Before she could wonder what Soyo could be thinking, the sound of a window being opened took their attention.

“I brought food.”

Raana announced happily, entering from the window two beds away from Anon.

“This is the second floor, you know,” Anon said, amused, retracting her hand away from Soyo’s.

Soyo, on the other hand, seemed amused and worried for a moment before sighing in exasperation. 

Raana waved her hands, showing her threads. “Easy for me,”

“You’re really like a cat…” Soyo commented.

Anon put her glass down on the side table. “What do you have there, Raana-chan?”

Raana walked towards them with her plastic bags. One by one, she revealed breads and snacks, plus matcha milks she bought from the cafeteria. Soyo looked like she was going to scold her, but downgraded it to a warning that the nurse would scold her instead for sure.  

As Soyo began talking about what food she should have gotten, the door swung open with surprised gasps, revealing Taki and Tomori carrying plastic bags with food as well.

“You’re finally awake.”

“Anon-chan! Soyo-chan!”

Tomori dropped her bags and hurried to their side.

“Tomori!” Taki worriedly followed, limping as she walked.

“Anon-chan! I’m glad you’re safe,” she said, then turned to Soyo. “Soyo-chan, you too! I’m glad.”

Tomori slumped on the floor and rested her head on her knees.

“Tomori?” Taki dropped to her knees to check on her. “Are you okay?”

As if to answer, they heard sobs coming from her. “I’m glad everyone is safe,” her voice came, muffled and shaking as she cried in between.

Hearing Tomori cry, Anon couldn’t hold her tears back anymore. They went through a dangerous situation and survived it together.

Anon watched Taki help Tomori stand up, who, upon seeing Tomori’s crying face, also couldn’t help crying anymore.

Then, Anon heard it. It started faintly, as if still trying to stop herself, until Soyo finally let herself burst into tears. They were all sobbing uncontrollably, except for Raana, who was already eating the snacks she bought, just watching them.

“What is this? This makes no sense!” Anon said, helplessly wiping her tears with her hands.

“Look, I’m just as confused as you are!” Taki answered, covering her face.

They were already calming down from crying when Soyo finally spoke.

“I was supposed to come there and end it all!” She yelled, getting Anon, Taki, and Tomori to turn to her.

“When I found out about the trap, I knew I couldn’t leave you all alone. And still, I swore I… after getting out of there…” Her lips quivered. “But, why? I don’t get it anymore! I was using all of you!”

Anon could almost hear what Soyo left unsaid. There was no doubt Soyo meant it when she said she didn’t need them. But it wasn’t the whole truth. Something else held her back, or still holds her back… something Anon couldn’t name yet.

“Even so, we’re doing this, for life.” Tomori told her. Not a demand. Rather, a promise they all once made together and wanted to uphold.

“For life?” Soyo cried harder. “That’s so stupid,” she said in between her sobs.

Tomori cries again in acknowledgment.

“Soyo-san…” Her voice called out to her, gently.

She burned the image of Soyo crying in her mind as she accepted Tomori’s words. She felt like something was lifted off Soyo’s chest, even just a tiniest bit of that something.

Anon cried harder, a mix of all the things that had happened.

“Stop crying, will you?”

She heard Taki say, crying as hard too, after saying that. And then, she almost laughed in between her cries when she saw Raana offering her matcha milk to Soyo, while patting her back.

“For life~” Raana said with a smile.

She let out a giggle when Soyo accepted it, only to grunt in pain from her abdomen again. She quickly held her hand up, mouthing I’m fine when worry filled their faces.

It took them a few more minutes to calm down and stop crying. Later, Nurse Mariam scolded them for exhausting themselves further and Raana for sneaking out to buy snacks when they were all supposed to eat soft foods for now.

Anon, on the other hand, couldn’t help but feel like everything would be fine with their party from then on.

After everyone had rested, Soyo finally recounted what had happened while they were in the dungeon.  

As she already mentioned, the whole special mission was a trap set by the impostor Professor Kawashima. The impostor was actually a man. He had been using an artifact that let him mimic her appearance and voice. He belonged to an illegal organization known to target the academy and its students.

Soyo did not share the details of how, but she was the one who found out about his plan and alerted the academy. She left him tied up outside the academy security office, along with a recording of his confession. After that, she took off immediately to come after them.

The case was then handed over to the ministry, with Soyo’s mother helping with the investigation.

The incident prompted the headmistress to change the academy rules. All special missions should be given directly by her, Headmistress Tsurumaki. Solo and party missions from the guild were to remain the same as they went through the academy guild process. But the professors cannot give special missions anymore. They have to ask the headmistress about it.

As for their final practical exam for their party licensure, they were allowed to take it later as a special exam. It also doubled as their finals, since the two weeks of mandatory rest coincided with finals. The headmistress said this exception was appropriate given the circumstances.

During the two weeks of their rest, Anon didn’t get to meet her party members, save for the infirmary visits they were required to do every 3 to 4 days. Their meals were brought to each of their dorm rooms, and they were forbidden to do any physical activities except for what the nurse allowed them to, which was morning jogs.

It was so boring for Anon that she kept on pestering them in their group chat, with mostly only Tomori replying to her. She just added Soyo back in, but she had never sent any message yet. She also noticed how Soyo, as much as possible, doesn’t look them in the eye and hadn’t said much since.

In the meantime, she buried herself in reading to make up for the classes she was missing. It helped her a little with the itch to grow stronger because of the incident. At the same time, it was the real rest she had had in a long time after taking one solo mission after another in the past month.

The rainy season had started by the time the two weeks of their rest were over. They were back to attending their classes at the same time, and they were also back to preparing for their special exam. They were given one week to prepare for it.

They met up at their usual training spot, the open field by the west entrance. Anon and Tomori arrived together, coming straight from their class. Taki and Raana were already setting up their barriers when they arrived.

“Where’s Soyo-san?” She asked, noticing Soyo’s absence.

“She hasn’t come yet,” Taki responded as she came to take Tomori’s bag to the bench.  

“I see. I think she did see my message…” Well, it should be fine. Let’s give her some time.

Once everything was set, they got started. Raana and Tomori were testing out artifacts together, while Taki sparred with her. A little after thirty minutes, Soyo finally arrived, quietly putting her things down on the bench.

“You’re late! And you didn’t reply to my messages either,” Anon complained, noticing her arrival first.

“Anon, focus!”

She felt Taki’s gauntlet coming for her face in that moment she looked away. Acting on reflex, she used a shield charm to deflect the attack.

“Waah! Rikki! Take it easy, we just recovered.”

“What’s the point of sparring if we’re going to take it easy? We barely have time left for the special exam.”

Anon could only laugh it off, knowing what Taki said was right. They need to get back in shape before the special exam.

“Are we sure we’re taking the special exam? We only have one week.” Soyo cut in as she approached them. “We can consider taking the next round of licensure exam for the summer batch.”

We… hehe~ Anon bit her lower lip, trying not to get ahead of herself.

They all stopped what they were doing and gathered around. Everyone, except Raana, shared a look of worry, thinking about their options.

“Do you think it would be hard for us to pass the individual evaluation?” Taki asked, looking at everyone’s expression.

“I’ll do it,” Raana answered immediately.

“You don’t really falter, do you?”

Raana wore a smug grin with confidence, the same as ever. 

Tomori nodded, as if agreeing with her, and said, “I think we will be fine. The five of us can do it.”

Hearing that, Anon felt a swell of pride. Looking back on how they started, the uncertainty and clashes, it amazed her how far they had come. Tomori’s assurance was enough to erase the last bit of doubt in her, and she nodded with a smile.

“I guess… I don’t mind doing it,” Soyo said at last, finally letting her gaze sweep over all of them. “We’ve already come this far. It wouldn’t hurt to try... with you.”

“I think,” Taki began, hesitant at first. “Our party can do it. We’ll be fine. We survived together, so this should be nothing to us.”

They all stared at her in awe, the words ringing warmer than any of them expected. The realization of what she had just said hit Taki a beat later, and her face burned. She quickly looked away, fiddling with the strap of her gauntlet as if it could hide her embarrassment.

“A-Anyway! We don’t have much time! Let’s take a quick break, then get back as soon as we can.”

At the mention of break, Raana cheered and dashed away in the direction of the cafeteria. Taki could only utter This stray cat… under her breath before following her.

“How about you two? Aren’t you coming?” Anon asked as she saw Tomori and Soyo remain motionless.

“I just got here, so I won’t be taking a break,” Soyo responded, already taking out her wand.

She then glanced at Tomori, who answered with, “M-Me too. I won’t be taking a break,” while pointing at the paper she was writing runes with.  

“Okay! Just send me a text if you want me to get you anything!” She said before finally running after Taki and Raana.

Taki had not gone that far yet, so she was able to catch up to her quickly.

“How could you run so fast?” Taki said in annoyance.

Anon fake coughed and proudly declared, “I am the anchor runner in our class for three years back in middle school~”

Taki only clicked her tongue in response. Anon had already gotten used to it by then that she could only laugh it off, seeing as she could feel victorious from her statement.

The late afternoon breeze passed by them as they walked with only the noise of the other students surrounding them. It wasn’t an awkward silence, but a comfortable one.

“Soyo-san came.” Anon suddenly blurted out.

It was just a sudden thought that immediately came out of her mouth, but it also felt like something she wanted to say.

“Why even come…” was Taki’s snarky remark.

Anon pouted, “That’s mean. There’s no problem if she comes, is there?”

“I’m talking about you,” Taki said, stopping in her tracks. “I could tell that you’ve been practicing your charms a lot, even when you weren’t coming to the field.”

Wanting to dodge the subject, Anon muttered, “W-Well, I did. Just a bit whenever I felt like it.” She averted her gaze as she also stopped walking, feeling shy all of a sudden for getting noticed.

“You’re really bad at lying,” Taki said, holding her laughter.

“Ha?”

“You did so well protecting and fighting alongside us last time. I’m sure Tomori and Raana noticed it too. Maybe even Soyo.”

Taki trailed off and started walking again.

Anon followed suit. She watched as Taki seemed to be thinking about her words carefully, until she finally spoke again.

“The fact that you’re continuing with the party even after hearing all that is amazing.”

Hmm? Anon turned to her direction, but Taki continued to look the other way. Still, it was enough for Anon to see the light tint of pink on her cheeks. She didn’t expect to hear Taki praise her. It was probably the first time since the girl had always been strict and sharp with her.

Warmth spread across her chest. She doesn’t exactly like being exposed to working hard, but it felt nice being recognized. And to her, it was quite a sight to see Taki being shy and guilty around her, so she couldn’t help her giggles upon realizing it.

“Back at you. You’re really bad at saying sorry.”

“What? S-Shut up!” Taki yelled, then quickened her pace. “I’m leaving you behind!” 

“Eh?! Rikki? Wait up!” She, too, quickened her pace, trying to catch up to her.

The rest of the afternoon went on smoothly. They practiced together until it was time for dinner. Raana first as usual, rushed to beat the closing of the academy gates as she lives outside. Taki walked Tomori back to her dorm, which was near their practice field.

Only Anon and Soyo live in the same dorm building in the southern part of the academy. The two bid them goodbye and went on their way.

Their path was lit up with lampposts, the glow just enough to guide their way.  The grounds were quiet except for a few stragglers like them, hurrying to return before dinner.

How long has it been since I last walked home with her…

She thought back to the night before their team evaluation exam, when the air between them felt completely different. Back then, Soyo seemed someone she could only admire from afar, someone she was meant to follow rather than walk beside. But now… even trailing behind her as always, Anon felt the distance shift. It wasn’t the same anymore.  

“Tomori-chan is quite stubborn, isn’t she?”

Hearing Soyo’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

“You just realized it now?”

“All five of us…” Soyo trailed off, then asked, “What would she do if I said no?”

Anon slowed to a stop as they entered the dorm building.

“I doubt she even thought about it,” she said, her tone firm but gentle. “If she’s not stubborn, she wouldn’t fight us to get you back in.”

“Eh?”

Soyo froze too, turning toward her. For a heartbeat, her eyes widened, lips parting in a quiet breath. Anon could only guess at the rush of thoughts flashing through her mind. She caught a glimpse of the fragile tremor behind her gaze, the way she seemed to waver between speaking and swallowing her feelings whole.

Anon held that gaze, steady and certain.

“She never gave up on the party, or you. Not even when she’s all alone.”

Soyo glanced down, thoughtful, as if weighing Anon’s words against her own buried feelings.

“We’re all here because of her, aren’t we?” Anon said, her eyes lowering in a quiet reflection.

Anon’s lips curved in a faint smile. That distance I put between us… It was never real.

“You know,” she said, lifting her eyes to Soyo’s again. “I won’t call you Soyo-san anymore.”

“Eh?”

Anon stepped past her, then turned back with a playful grin.

“I won’t give up on this, so make sure you don’t either, Soyorin!” she yelled, loud enough for nearby students to hear.

Soyo’s face flushed pink in shock. “What? Soyorin?”

“Don’t stop, okay?” Anon laughed, already sprinting toward the stairs.

“Stop that!” Soyo’s voice chased after her, flustered and embarrassed.

But Anon kept running, carried by her racing heart. Excitement filled her because… for the first time, she felt she’d truly stepped beside Soyo. To her, this was the beginning of their real friendship.

***

“Soyorin~”

Anon called, her voice sweeter than she intended.

“Hmm?” Soyo only hummed, not even looking up from the book she was reading.

It was late in the night, and they both had just finished dinner. Anon was hanging out at Soyo’s dorm room, after her persistent plea to let her study with her for the upcoming written part of their party re-evaluation exam.

She’d gotten used to it by now.  

Anon rested her chin on her palm, smiling at her fond memory of calling the brunette that nickname for the first time.

“Soyorin~” She tried again, calling her in an even playful manner.

That seemed to have struck a nerve, or maybe a heartstring, as she saw heat come up to Soyo’s cheeks.

“What is it, Anon-chan?”

Soyo was now looking at her, annoyance evident on her face, but was quickly turned back to a flushed one when Anon curled her lips into a gentle smile.

“Nothing~ just wanted to call you.”

She knew she was being annoying, but she couldn’t help herself wanting to catch her attention.

Soyo grunted, turning her attention back to her book. “You suggested this study session, please focus.”

“Yes, ma’am. We’ll sweep our exam easily. Don’t worry.”

Anon grinned, forcing herself to look back at her notes.

Soyo hummed softly in response. From the corner of her eyes, Anon could see her still faintly pink cheeks.

The special exam went smoothly for them last year. They finally got their party license, granting them an E rank. Since then, their party took on several missions together, and the academy provided them with training fitting their rank. And since then, their party’s teamwork, as well as their individual strengths, continued to improve.

Now, with their re-evaluation exam coming, they were hoping to rank up and get more opportunities to better themselves.

And while all of that mattered, of course. But to Anon, moments like this, side by side with Soyo, felt like the real victory.