The Research Competition soon finishes around 5:30 pm once 100 participants have come to present theirs, recess, and judges' time to decide which leads to the award receiving ceremony, where the top 10 contenders received the Honorary Research Advancement certificate.
"Well, congratulation"
"Likewise"
Clinking their glass of water together, Callum and Rualan smiled after the long hours of listening to other competitors as they are very interesting to him, while Rualan stayed there due to being a contestant.
"I heard some people talking about your research with excitement while we were in there"
"Really? Who were they?"
"I have no idea, I just heard them that's all"
"That's a shame, what a bad assistant you are~" she whispered at a volume that only he can hear.
"....."
"That's a shame Assistant, you should do a better job next time" Rualan then said this next part audible to the surrounding, making it seem like her words from before isn't there.
"....."
(Wow, she's so cool playing that off)
"Oh, right, talking about assistant, since we're done with the competition, I guess I should stop calling you head researcher now right?"
"I have no problem with you calling me that actually"
"Really?"
"Yes. It has a nice ring to it"
"Maybe, I should address you differently since we're not in the Academy though" Callum ponder for a moment while looking at Rualan and the crowd outside the restaurant.
"....You can call me Rualan"
"Well...I guess?"
Rualan's gaze softened as she brought her hands together, intertwining them and resting her chin atop them, a soft smile opened and said.
"Can I hear it?"
"Why?"
"So I can know if you know how to pronounce my name correctly, it would be embarrassing if the assistant to this person here doesn't know how to say her name"
"Oh, that's true. Well, then...Ru--Senior Rualan"
".....", her expression stiffened instantly upon hearing that.
".....Senior Rualan?"
"? Why did you call me that?"
"Because you're my senior in the Academy?"
"But we're outside of the Academy"
"Oh, right....Then....." he hesitates.
"Then....?"
"Rualan" he said quietly.
"....."
"....."
"Yes?" she asked, her expression in that moment made him stops thinking about the surrounding and focused on her gaze, expression, eyes and the smile that seems to made him turn soft.
(....Wow)
"....."
"Oh, it's you" said Alaine.
Alaine Gear appeared out of nowhere, interrupting the atmosphere that is going on.
"...."
"..."
The two silently turned to look at her, one in surprise and one hidden by the hood.
"What? I interrupted your date or something?"
"..What a surprise to see you Alaine, congratulation again on the award"
Unlike her, Alaine and a few others receive a Distinction Award in the Research Advancement due to her spell being well-received and revolutionary in the field of magic research.
"Thank you. I was just passing and saw you two so I thought I should come and say hello to one of my competitors"
"Are you heading off to dinner as well?" asked Rualan.
"Yeah, Shin and the others are going to celebrate with me at this restaurant down the road over there"
"Well, I wish you a fine evening then"
"Yeah, thanks" Alaine then turns to look at Callum who is unusually silent in this conversation, quietly listening and looking at the passing pedestrians while not touching his food.
"Got anything to say this time?" asked Alaine with a smug grin.
"Congratulation, you really prove how great you are"
"...."
"...? O_O" Rualan's inside thought.
"....What is this?"
"Congratulatory words"
"...Just that?"
"Well, I don't have an award so, yes that's all"
"....", feeling unnerved by his words and lack of taunts, Alaine slowly walks away.
"Well, I have other things to do, so catch you two later"
"Bye"
"Have a nice evening" said Callum, his words nice and polite scaring her.
(Creepy~!)
Rualan look at Callum with worry and ask.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine, I can't ruin this date with you after all"
Feeling touched Rualan smiled and the two continue their dinner.
_________
(She really made something of that size and versatile?) thought Laura, walking down the streets to a particular restaurant in mind along with Aerina.
The two shared an interest in the Research Competition much to their surprise, but that's to be expected at the same time as they soon realized it.
(Right. Aerina does work in magic technology after all)
(Laura does magic after all, how could I not realize that?! Is she gonna think I'm dense?!)
After the competition ended, the two decided without saying it out loud that they would spend the late afternoon together, with Laura suggesting a restaurant that isn't too fancy and comfortable for the two of them.
(She accepts, yes!)
(She invited me, yay!)
"So, do you wear that hood all the time?" asked Rualan, her voice audible to the two as they walk pass a restaurant with open space with fences surrounding the tables placed outside.
"Yes, just a personal reason of mine"
"Then how can you tell if you have something on your face?"
"Well, that's part of the reason why I have it, so I can just clean it off back at my place"
(Isn't that going to be a stain that's hard to remove?) thought anyone who heard that.
"Maybe you have some now and you don't know it"
"True, guess I'll find out"
"Like, right now?"
"No, when I get back"
"?" Laura then notice a familiar figure.
(Is that...him?)
She was sure there is only one person in the Academy with a hood over their head all the time.
Aerina notice Laura's silence and checks on her, only to end up not looking where she looks.
"Ugh~"
"? Aerina, are you alright?"
"Ugh, I...think so"
The sound attract the attention of passerby as they watch the two girls.
".....?" Callum noticed the two as well but continue eating in silence.
"Here, let me heal you"
"Thank you"
Placing her hand on her shoulder, Laura hovers her wand close to Aerina's forehead and cast a Healing spell.
A soft glow appeared healing Aerina.