After dinner, everyone returned to their academy dorms earlier than usual, knowing that classes awaited the next day.
Alicia was clearly disappointed, her so-called plan having gone off the rails and taken an unexpected direction. She sulked about it for a bit, muttering something about needing a better strategy next time. On the other hand, Eveline and Althea seemed to warm up to me. Sure, I'd been harsh, but in their eyes, I'd also been practical and helpful. Their attitudes toward me had definitely shifted for the better.
*****
A week passed since the academy's official start.
During this week, nothing particularly noteworthy happened—at least, not in the grand scheme of things.
In the game, this stretch of time would have been glossed over with time skips between major events. But in reality? Time flowed differently, forcing me to live through every moment. And honestly? It wasn't as dull as I expected.
