"So, Professor Negi actually did that..."
Chizuru let out a long, weary sigh as I finished recounting the details of Negi's ill-fated ambush on Chachamaru.
At the moment, it was just the two of us in the room. Ayaka had left for some family business, and Natsumi was off at her usual drama club rehearsal. In the quiet lull of the afternoon, Chizuru—who had no volunteer work or Astronomy Club meetings today—had decided to focus on her magic training. She was using a beginner's wand Evangeline had given her, struggling through the basics.
"Practe, Bigi... Nalu... O Wind!"
She swept the wand through the air, chanting the incantation. For a moment, nothing happened. Then—
"Oh?"
A faint, almost imperceptible ripple of air stirred, swirling through the room just enough to ruffle the curtains.
"Did... did I do it?" she asked, tilting her head.
The gesture was charmingly youthful, creating a striking contrast with her otherwise mature, refined features. It was the kind of effortless allure that drew the eye without even trying.
"Yeah. I felt the mana shift," I confirmed. "You definitely succeeded."
"Hehe. I'm quite a bit behind Ayaka, but I suppose this officially makes me a mage-in-training."
Despite her composure, Chizuru was still a middle schooler at heart. The genuine, unbridled joy on her face as she celebrated her first successful spell was a reminder of her age. Her moment of triumph was interrupted, however, by a sharp knock at the door. She moved with practiced grace to tuck the wand and her beginner's grimoire out of sight before calling out.
"Yes, come in."
"Pardon the intrusion!"
The newcomers were Misa Kakizaki and Madoka Kugimiya—familiar faces by now. The only one missing from their usual trio was Sakurako Shiina.
"Welcome," I said.
"Hey, Chizuru, want to head down to the station for a bit? You too, Axel," Misa chirped, leaning against the doorframe.
"Yeah, come on," Madoka added. "It's a beautiful day. It's a waste to stay cooped up in here."
The two of them were dressed in bright, stylish spring outfits, radiating a vibrant energy that matched the weather outside.
"I don't mind," Chizuru said, looking over at me. "Axel?"
I gave a small nod. "I'm in. I don't have anything better to do."
"It's settled then," Chizuru said with a smile. "Give me a moment to get ready. Misa is right—we shouldn't let a day like this go to waste."
She turned toward her bedroom, but paused when she saw me standing still.
"Chizuru?" I asked, wondering why she was lingering.
She looked back at me with a playful, knowing smirk. "We're going to the station, Axel. If we're going out, we should dress the part, shouldn't we? Go on, change into those clothes Ayaka picked out for you. The spring collection, remember?"
"Oh. Right."
"Oho? The 'Ayaka Yukihiro Spring Collection'?" Misa teased, her eyes lighting up. "Now this I have to see."
Madoka looked equally curious, her gaze lingering on me. I caught Misa's grin and realized there was no winning this.
"...Fine. Give me a minute."
Personally, I couldn't care less about fashion; the whole process felt like a chore. That said, I didn't mind seeing girls like Lemon and the others dressed up. I headed toward my room—or rather, the corner of Ayaka's room where my things were kept. Since my bed was too large to fit properly, the door couldn't close all the way, which led to an immediate problem.
"Hey. Stop peeking."
Because the door was propped open, I was perfectly visible from the hallway. I looked up mid-change to find Misa and Madoka shamelessly staring through the gap. Misa looked fascinated, while Madoka had a faint, embarrassed flush creeping up her cheeks despite her refusal to look away.
"Ah, sorry! Instinct!" Misa laughed.
"..." Madoka remained silent but didn't move.
I sighed and pulled out the outfit Ayaka had prepared. It was a simple, tasteful ensemble: a pair of well-fitted jeans and a light green jacket that captured the essence of the season. I caught sight of a pair of short-shorts tucked in the back of the drawer—likely another of Ayaka's 'gifts'—and pushed them aside. Maybe I'll give those to Negi later, I thought.
I did a quick check in the mirror. With the new clothes, I looked exactly like what I was: a precocious, slightly bratty-looking kid. I shoved my wallet into my pocket and stepped back into the common area. The whole process had taken maybe three minutes—roughly the time it takes to prep a cup of noodles. Actually, with the five-minute wait for premium noodles these days, I was practically ahead of schedule.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Misa and Madoka were sitting at the table, idly flipping through a magazine. Chizuru was still in her room; women and their preparation time was a universal constant, after all.
"Wow, you went with a really clean look," Misa noted.
"I'm surprised," Madoka added, her eyes scanning the outfit. "Knowing the Representative, I thought she'd have forced you into those tiny shorts she's always buying."
I ignored the sharp accuracy of her deduction and took a moment to look at them. Misa was wearing a short skirt paired with a pale blue cardigan, while Madoka had opted for a more practical, sleek pantsuit. Both looked excellent in their respective styles.
"Hehe. Look at him staring," Misa teased. "I'll take that as a sign our outfits are a success. Though, Madoka, I still think you should be more adventurous. Don't you think she'd look great in something more feminine, Axel?"
"Cut it out, Misa," Madoka sighed, looking away. "You know I don't pull off 'cute' very well."
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"