"Oh, look at that tone," Theresa's eyes narrowed with intrigue.
She had clung to Helmut with an air of vulnerability, but now that he was gone, she revealed her true colors. The gaze she fixed on Alea was sharp.
'That look... it feels familiar somehow.'
Though she couldn't place it, Theresa had no intention of backing down without an answer.
"What does it matter? So, are you saying you are or aren't a student here at our academy?"
This unknown girl clinging to Helmut was a puzzle. Given Helmut's commoner status, she certainly wasn't nobility.
Frustrated, Alea didn't bother with a response.
Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have hesitated to confront even a third-year senior from the magic department, but not now. Using magic would risk blowing her cover.
"It's none of your business."
Alea turned to leave, but Theresa's hand shot out, gripping her shoulder firmly.
"Why don't you show me your face? I'm just curious if I know you."
The tone suggested she wasn't about to let this go easily. It was an unwarranted confrontation, but Theresa's eyes gleamed with a kind of indifference to Alea's discomfort.
"Let go."
"Why? Is there a reason you can't show me your face? Are you wanted or something? Too bad. I really do need to see your face."
Power began to gather in Theresa's hand, a simple spell that didn't require chanting, just a show of force.
Alea shook off her grasp and defended against the directed magic with a similar technique. Theresa's expression changed.
"Oh, a magician, then?"
She sensed some magical aura about Alea, though it was faint. Clearly, the skills weren't noteworthy.
'Daring to use a defense spell against me, the third-year senior of the magic department?'
Pathetic. Though not as pronounced as in the swordsmanship department, hierarchies of power existed within the magic department too.
Theresa stood at the pinnacle among the third-year students. If Alea was indeed a magician, she felt even less compunction about crushing her.
'Now that it's come to this, I'll burn that mask off if I have to, just to see the face of the one seducing Helmut!'
Her expression darkened with venom, nearly murderous. But then, someone intervened.
"What's going on here?"
It was Helmut. Noticing Alea hadn't followed, he'd come back. He saw Theresa using magic, too. Though not a lethal attack, it was far too aggressive for a mere joke.
Helmut's gaze turned icy, chillingly so.
"Oh, Helmut. It's been a while."
Theresa's flustered demeanor vanished as quickly as it appeared. She winked coquettishly, greeting him as if nothing was amiss.
Helmut, about to speak, frowned and turned towards Alea.
Naturally, Alea was furious. Even behind the mask, her expression was frosty.
'She pushes it too far if she thinks she can cling to anyone close to me.'
Theresa seemed determined not to let any girl near Helmut go unchallenged. Probably out of instinct, Alea felt the need to be wary too.
Yet, Theresa couldn't openly confront Alea, aware of her own inferior position. A lesson was due, but not today. Alea tersely said, "Let's go."
Further confrontation would serve no good, especially with the risk of attracting the High Priestess's attention if the dispute escalated.
Helmut hesitated for the same reason. Despite the crowd having mostly dispersed, making a scene here was out of the question.
His thoughts toward the girl haranguing him were grim.
'Seems like the obsessed one is over there.'
Helmut was aware Theresa wasn't exactly stable. It was hard to tell if her feelings were of fondness or enmity, but the latter seemed more accurate.
"Okay."
Ignoring Theresa, Helmut and Alea turned to leave, ready to counter if she attacked again.
However, Theresa, with Helmut present, dared not proceed. Instead, her voice followed sharply.
"Wait! Helmut, what's your relationship with her? She's not your girlfriend, so why stick so close?"
The tone was almost accusatory, as if demanding him to deny any romantic connection.
Helmut replied, clearly annoyed, "That's right."
Alea flinched in surprise, but Theresa was even more taken aback.
"A girlfriend? How did you suddenly...? Don't tell me you hit it off over the holidays?"
The voice was filled with betrayal. Helmut remained silent, as did Alea.
Leaving a shocked Theresa behind, they quickly exited the scene. Once they were alone, Alea broke the silence.
"Looks like you've caught a nasty one too."
A smile played on her lips, the irritation caused by Theresa now dissipated.
Helmut glanced back towards the puppet show venue and asked, "What happens when a student from the swordsmanship department fights one from the magic department?"
"If they fight, they fight."
"Suspension?"
"…Maybe? Depends on who instigated it. But she doesn't seem like she'd attack you."
"Right."
Helmut's fleeting look of annoyance passed. Dealing with those who only targeted his surroundings but became meek in his presence was vexing.
Alea prodded gently, "Since when have I been your girlfriend?"
She felt an odd flutter in her heart posing the question, as if just answering Theresa's persistent inquiries.
Alea waited, slightly tense, for Helmut's response.
'Could it be... he actually likes me now?'
Was his invitation essentially asking for a date?
Helmut replied lightly, "Girl, friend."
It took a moment for Alea to grasp the spacing's implication.
'Just a girl who is a friend.'
The realization hit her hard.
"You're something else."
Helmut changed the subject smoothly.
"What do you want to eat? For dinner."
How long were they supposed to stick together? With Theresa's situation, being around noticeable Helmut might invite more trouble.
Though parting now seemed logical, Alea found herself reluctant to say so.
'Maybe just until the cross-dressing contest Helmut mentioned.'
She compromised with herself, feeling somewhat hungry.
"Why not just go into the first place we see?"
"Sounds good."
The first place in sight was the academy's student cafeteria.
The cafeteria was known for its quality, far surpassing the makeshift eateries set up by students for the festival.
It was quieter than usual due to the outward-focused attention of the festival, allowing them to engage in natural conversation over dinner.
So natural, in fact, that Alea caught herself more than once having to remind herself not to reveal how well she knew him.
'Good thing Helmut's oblivious, or my casual attitude might've given me away. Can't be too careless.'
Alea looked up at Helmut, who seemed entirely relaxed, slicing through his hamburger steak without a hint of tension.
Appearing utterly unbothered by her presence, as if she was just another person he happened to share a meal with.
Not a particularly charming member of the opposite sex, just someone.
'Does he see my face and feel nothing?'
Alea knew her own appearance well enough to understand it could attract immediate interest, yet sitting here, she felt none of that from Helmut.
It was somewhat disconcerting.
Alea ventured, "About that weird girl earlier..."
"Yeah?"
"Isn't she pretty?"
Despite being an annoying senior, Theresa was known for her beauty as much as her magical prowess.
Even if both were inferior to Alea's standards, excluding her personality, Theresa could be considered appealing, objectively speaking.
Helmut finished chewing his steak before responding, "She's pretty."
It was a fact Helmut himself barely noticed, but since everyone said so, upon closer inspection, it seemed to hold true.
"Why reject her then? If she's pretty?"
Alea regretted her words instantly. It almost sounded like she was advocating for Theresa, as if saying, 'Everyone says she's pretty, so you should accept her advances.'
"It's none of my business with strangers."
Besides, she wasn't someone he wanted to get to know better. A face means nothing in the grand scheme of things.
Sometimes, sure, just looking at someone can brighten your view, but Theresa seemed more like a nuisance than anything beneficial. Approaching only when Helmut was busy was particularly irksome.
'So, Theresa is not an option.'
Personality aside, Alea felt a sense of relief and pondered Helmut's words.
In the swordsmanship department, it was almost a consensus that 'if she's pretty, nothing else matters.' Helmut was an outlier.
Not sure about Asuka. He might talk big about liking girls but is picky enough that a relationship begun today could end by tomorrow.
Alea asked without thinking, "What if it was a girl you knew?"
Helmut's reply came easily as before, "I don't know. Haven't thought about it. Guess I'll know when it happens."
Returning from the holidays, Helmut seemed more focused than ever. Books and the practice sword competed for his attention.
His worldview, expanded during the first semester, had once again narrowed to the sword.
The occasional unease. Helmut reassured himself that rushing yielded no benefits.
But there were few who could step into his world in such a state.
The festival was a rare break Helmut afforded himself, a chance for new experiences. The puppet show had been... different.
Alea observed him, leaning on her chin.
'Not interested, then.'
It wasn't time to relax just yet. Some people took longer to develop interest in others.
Though it seemed Helmut simply lacked a deep fascination with people in general.
'Why does it matter to me, anyway?'
She had dug too deep. Shaking off the thought, Alea asked, "So, what's most important to you right now?"
"…I have something I need to find. To do that, I need to become stronger."
Helmut's response was firm.
"…I see."
We're alike, Alea thought. Not just a childish wish for strength, but a necessity, a goal, a longing.
Talking with Helmut, despite their differences, there were moments they felt strikingly similar.
Helmut was the only one who gave her such a feeling, even though one was a swordsman and the other a magician, their lives, environments, and circumstances entirely different.
Those moments of alignment shone brightly, unmistakably indicating they were facing each other.