“You woke up early.”

“…You too.”

The conversation didn’t continue after that perfunctory greeting.

What should I say next?

Facing Beselion was always difficult.

Especially when thinking about times we were alone together.

1. Met Noah at the academy, who I was supposed to train in the knights’ order and save in the future.

2. Got distracted by Sid and exposed my holy power.

3. Got caught secretly treating Noah’s magic deficiency and ended up in a dogfight.

‘…Nothing but unpleasant memories.’

Being next to Noah felt like he was draining not just my magic, but all my luck too.

Thanks to that, our teamwork at the auction house wasn’t bad. Without Nigel’s misfortune and Noah’s luck, we wouldn’t have even dreamed of rescuing Knox.

Whoosh. Whoosh.

The refreshing sound of waves filled the silence for a while.

“Actually…”

“You know…”

Our lips that had finally opened ended up overlapping at the same time.

“You go ahead and talk first.”

Nigel said gruffly.

“No, you go first, Nigel.”

Although I opened my mouth, I didn’t really have much to say.

If we followed the original plan of treating Noah’s magic deficiency, it would make sense for Nigel to apologize first.

Nigel wasn’t in a position to be picky, and there was nothing to gain from antagonizing him.

So logically, I should try to persuade him to help treat Noah’s magic deficiency somehow, using relationships or Meriel or whatever means necessary.

But for some reason, I didn’t feel like it.

“…”

In the end, Nigel couldn’t say a word and just bit her lip hard.

“…Nigel?”

Noah expressed his doubt, but waited silently for Nigel to speak without pressing further.

“Yaaaawn.”

Just then, an exhausted voice came from behind.

“You two sure are energetic. What are you doing out here at the crack of dawn?”

Allen approached Nigel and Noah, rubbing his eyes, wearing a white long robe over light green pajamas.

“Allen. You look tired, why are you up?”

“That’s right, Allen. You overdid it yesterday. Are you feeling okay?”

Allen’s puffy face, which had suddenly drawn closer, looked back and forth between the two before curving into a smile.

“How could I sleep comfortably? My two best friends are fighting from the break of dawn. I bet you couldn’t say a word to each other properly, right?”

Noah and Nigel answered with silence.

“What, r-really? Sheesh, you two overthink things too much. Think simply like me, simply. By the way, I got tired of being your messenger in the second semester, so I came early.”

As soon as Allen finished speaking, he grabbed Nigel and Noah’s hands.

“Now, let’s not run away or avoid it, and talk slowly! We have plenty of time.”

Allen’s eyes, reflecting the moonlight, sparkled innocently.

“First, do you both want to make up?”

“Yes.”

Noah answered without hesitation.

Nigel also nodded after a moment’s hesitation.

Nothing would change if they kept avoiding it like this.

“Then that’s settled! Congratulations, you passed stage 1.”

Clap clap clap clap clap.

Allen let go of Nigel and Noah’s hands and suddenly started clapping.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh?”

“Pardon?”

“You should clap too, what are you doing?”

Noah and Nigel looked at each other hesitantly before reluctantly clapping their hands together.

“Great! Now we move on to stage 2.”

Allen, having finished clapping, took hold of both their hands again.

“In stage 2, you’ll each say why you were hurt by the other. But when the other person is speaking, no aggressive words allowed except for empathy! Got it?”

“Then what about you, Allen?”

“Me? I’m the mediator of course, so I’m an exception. Instead, I’ll represent your positions well. No one knows you two better than me, right?”

“…Fine.”

Nigel answered grudgingly, seeing no other option.

“Noah?”

“I understand.”

“Then shall we start with Noah? Noah, why were you hurt by Nigel?”

“Well…”

Noah’s mouth opened.

‘Let’s see what nonsense he spouts.’

Nigel crossed her arms and stared intently at that mouth.

“Hey!”

Just then, Allen’s index finger blocked Nigel’s line of sight.

“Warning, Nigel Ars.”

And he said firmly.

“What did I do? I didn’t say anything!”

Nigel’s voice was full of indignation.

“Your eyes were impure. Your attitude wasn’t about listening to the other person with an open mind, but more like ‘let’s see how you explain this’ as if you were judging. Am I wrong?”

“…!”

‘So this is what he meant by representing. His sharp instincts are quite troublesome.’

Nigel bit her lip hard.

“Come on, relax your eyes, lift the corners of your mouth. That’s right, uncross your arms too.”

Allen manipulated Nigel’s face and arms himself.

“Good, now Nigel is finally ready to listen. Noah, you can speak comfortably now.”

Noah, looking more at ease, opened his mouth.

“I was upset that Nigel did something I didn’t ask for.”

“No, that’s not… mmph!”

Nigel’s forcibly softened face instantly contorted. And her mouth was quickly covered.

“Now, now! I said I’d represent you, right? Nigel, just stay quiet and listen for now.”

Like an animal trainer soothing an angry beast, Allen patted Nigel’s shoulders with empty hands to calm her down.

“Noah, when you say something you didn’t ask for, do you mean Nigel secretly treating you?”

“…Yes.”

Noah answered weakly.

‘Of course he’d hate it terribly. Absorbing my magic instead of Meriel’s, whom he loves so much. Well, who told him to enter the academy and collapse after taking Amolio?’

Nigel’s eyes sank coldly.

“Hmm… I fully sympathize with your feelings and understand your sense of betrayal towards us, but Noah, you should have considered our position too.

You see, that night you looked like you were about to die any moment. So both Nigel and I desperately tried to save you. You always said absolutely no to healing magic, right? If it weren’t for Nigel, you would have had to rely on the healing magic you hate so much, you know?”

I stand corrected. Allen is the best representative.

“Moreover, Nigel, who hates getting demerits, risked expulsion to act. For over three weeks, no less.”

“…!”

Noah’s gaze on Nigel became burdensome.

‘It wasn’t that serious…’

It was more for my own sake rather than purely for Noah’s.

That gaze, sparkling with various emotions, felt heavy, so Nigel turned her head away abruptly.

However, Allen didn’t miss that movement and straightened Nigel’s head to face Noah again.

“Noah, can you see how embarrassed she is, unable to meet your eyes and blushing? How about it, do you feel like forgiving Nigel?”

…Nod nod.

Noah nodded as if entranced.

“Great! Now it’s Nigel’s turn. Why were you hurt by Noah?”

“Well, that bastard…!”

Nigel’s mouth was covered again.

“Nigel~ Even if it’s your turn, an aggressive attitude won’t do. We’re trying to make up, not fight. Understood?”

Nigel’s head didn’t move an inch.

“Understood, Nigel?”

Allen grinned while staring intently at Nigel.

It was clearly the usual smiling face, but somehow it was scary.

Feeling a fundamental fear, Nigel quickly nodded.

“Good, now I’ll let you go.”

Finally free, Nigel chose her words carefully and opened her mouth.

“Beselion said he’d keep my secret, but he was too careless. Plus, I think he told my secret to another gu…”

“Nigel.”

“…to another person.”

“What? That’s not…”

Noah muttered that it made no sense.

“Don’t lie. Who else could have done it but you?”

“Um… this is a deeper problem than I thought. First, Nigel. You must have suffered a lot, holding onto the possibility of being betrayed by a close friend, and none other than Noah, all by yourself.”

Ah, so that’s why I hesitated to speak.

Because I didn’t want to admit being betrayed by Noah.

“But in times like this, you should have asked the person directly. Don’t suffer alone with your anxiety. And why were you so sure it was Noah?”

“…Well, the only people in this world who knew that secret were him and one other person.”

“But Noah doesn’t seem to be lying. Don’t you see that too?”

“…”

Allen was right. At the auction house, Beselion couldn’t tell a single lie and was at a loss for what to do.

“Then there’s only one answer. Someone who knew your secret was at the scene. …Or, was watching that scene.”

“…!”

Why didn’t I think of this?

That while the academy can be closed off to some, it can be very open to others.

“Remember, as long as you’re in Sienia, every single one of your actions is under my surveillance.” @italics

‘…Why else, it’s because I was dismissing Widrun’s nonsense.’

Forgetting that even nonsense can be useful somewhere, Nigel berated herself for her stupidity.

“So, has the mystery been solved?”

“…Yeah, thanks to you.”

“Then do you feel like making up with Noah?!”

“Only if he stops taking that damn medicine.”

“Hey! Then Noah should get to set a condition too, right?”

Nigel reluctantly nodded.

“Then Noah, what’s your condition?”

“…I’d like you to call me by my name instead of my last name from now on.”

“A-ahem. What do you think, Nigel? Will you negotiate?”

“…If that’s all, then fine.”

Grin.

Sensing that bucket list item #15 was about to be fulfilled, Allen smiled with certainty.

“Then it’s the final stage 3. Shake hands to make up.”

Nigel and Noah hesitated before grasping each other’s hands.

“…!”

Clearly, magic flowed out.

Raising my head in surprise, I saw shy blue eyes.

Those eyes reminded me of how little kids make up after fighting over a toy. That brave gesture of putting aside their own desires and quietly pushing the toy into the other’s arms.

‘…Then I should be brave and not lose either.’

“I’m counting on you… Noah.”

The moment those words came out, a silly laugh burst forth. And the weight in my chest lifted.

Allen smiled contentedly watching the two, then pointed at the sea.

“…Huh? The sun! The sun is rising!!”

Indeed, a fiery red sun began to appear on the horizon.

“It’s beautiful.”

“…It sure is.”

Despite getting caught up in all sorts of strange things, isn’t this a pretty successful summer vacation?

Nigel smiled happily, looking at the sea dyed red.