The dinner table was filled with quiet chatter as we finished our meal. Violet handed me a neatly folded piece of paper, her expression calm yet expectant.
"Here, Senior Naozumi. This is the notice I received," she said.
I unfolded the paper and examined it closely. It was a placement notice officially confirming that Violet had been assigned to our dormitory.
"You're staying here?" I asked, still trying to process it. While it wasn't unusual for a student like Violet to be placed in a special dormitory, the fact that it was this dormitory puzzled me. Surely, there were other suitable dorms that didn't involve mixing boys and girls under one roof.
My curiosity deepened as I studied the paper again. Something about the handwriting and formatting seemed oddly familiar.
"Violet," I said carefully, "may I ask when and who gave this to you?"
She tilted her head slightly, confused by my tone. "After school, in my class. It was Ms. Koizumi who handed it to me."
Ah, that explained it. Ms. Koizumi Maya, one of the school's esteemed teachers, also happened to be Imelda's sister.
When I was young, I studied diligently, with help from Sister Lisa and Sister Maya, who guided me through material beyond my age. Their support sharpened my knowledge.
Sister Maya's playful and meddlesome nature was well-known, and I suspected her involvement in Imelda's situation. Despite doubts about her ability to arrange Violet's placement, I felt she played a role. I wished my sisters would stop their teasing—was it really that entertaining?
"Never mind, don't think about it, Big Brother. Besides, there's still room left, right?" Violet said calmly.
"Huh~... yeah, you're right." I sighed, realizing that protesting wouldn't change anything. "Then you two quickly change clothes, and we'll eat. I happened to cook too much earlier."
"Okay," Violet responded with a slight nod.
Alysha, on the other hand, looked at me with a big, mischievous smile, clearly amused by something.
"What's up, Alysha?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Nothing," she replied with a sly grin before turning to Violet. "Come on, Vi," she said, taking Violet's hand and leading her upstairs to the second floor.
I watched them leave, my worries about the dormitory resurfacing. I didn't mind Violet staying here, but sharing a roof with both boys and girls felt odd. Yet, the idea of sharing a dorm with a beautiful girl had its appeal. If a guy didn't feel at least a little happy about that, something might be off—unless she was his enemy or he was just plain weird.
As they went upstairs to change, I stayed in the kitchen, setting the table and replaying the recent events in my mind.
Sister Lisa and Sister Maaya were both at this school. Were all the teachers here uniquely special? Their ages weren't far from mine, either. Sister Imelda was only about three years older than Sister Lisa. The idea that they were all here felt strangely coincidental—or maybe it wasn't.
Lost in thought, I didn't notice I had finished arranging the food until I heard footsteps. Alysha appeared in her usual T-shirt and shorts, followed by Violet in a simple white dress. The dress suited her perfectly, highlighting her fair skin, and for a moment, I found myself distracted.
"How is it, Brother?" Alysha asked, her voice teasing as she held Violet's shoulders and gently pushed her forward like a prize.
Violet isn't yours, you know? I thought before shaking off my thoughts. "I think it suits her," I said honestly. There wasn't any point in denying it—she looked great. If ten men saw her, I was sure all ten would agree, unless they had an unusual taste.
"Th-thank you…" Violet stammered, her cheeks flushed, adding to her charm.
Alysha shot me a sly glance. "What?" I asked.
"Nothing," she grinned. "Let's eat!"
She strode to the table and plopped down, her glances continuing to linger. Violet and I followed, taking our seats.
"By the way," Alysha began as we settled in, "why did you cook so much, Brother? That's rare for you."
"I don't know," I admitted. "I realized it after I cooked, but now that Edina is joining us, it worked out."
Alysha burst into laughter, unable to contain herself. "It's a little funny," she said between giggles.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want," I replied, annoyed. "You're making Edina confused," I added.
Alysha glanced at Violet, who seemed bemused. "Sorry, Vio," she said, finally calming down.
"It's okay. I prefer a lively atmosphere," Violet replied with a gentle smile.
"Great! Let's eat!" Alysha said, sitting up straight.
"Bon appétit," we finally said together before digging in.
***
"Thank you for the meal," Alysha and Violet said nearly in unison.
"I'll take a bath," Alysha announced, getting up from the table.
"I want to go to my room for a bit," Violet added softly, following her.
"Okay," I replied, watching them leave.
Left alone, I began tidying up the table: plates to the sink, crumbs swept away, and the table wiped down. Once everything was in order, I rolled up my sleeves and started washing the dishes. The repetitive task allowed me to reflect on the day.
As I washed, I heard soft footsteps behind me.
"Let me help too," Violet offered.
I glanced at her, surprised. "Have you finished setting up your room?"
"I only unpacked the things I brought. The rest will be taken tomorrow.."
"I see," I said. "But you don't need to help. Let me handle this. It's your first day here—you should take it easy."
"Is that so?" she asked, her tone gentle but resolute. "But I still want to help."
I sighed, realizing she wouldn't take no for an answer. There was a quiet determination in her that reminded me of someone. "Alright, then. Please dry the dishes."
"Okay," she said with a small smile.
She stood by me, drying the plates and utensils in a calm silence. After a moment, Violet paused. "Would you mind waiting a moment?"
"Huh? Sure," I said, curious as she walked to her room. I continued washing the dishes until she returned, holding something out to me.
"I have something that was entrusted to Senior Naozumi," she said.
"For me?" I asked, taking the item from her. It was a letter, sealed with an unfamiliar logo—the crest of Lelore High School of Magic, a renowned institution I had only heard about in passing.
A wave of confusion washed over me. "Why would Lelore send me a letter?" I mumbled, having no connection to the school or ever visiting it. My questions multiplied as I broke the seal and began reading.
---
Dear Ishimaru Naozumi,
You have been cordially invited to visit Lelore. Although this letter bears the Lelore logo, it is a personal invitation from me.
While I understand if you are unable to accept, I sincerely hope that you will consider my invitation. Your presence is greatly anticipated, and I am flexible concerning scheduling the meeting. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss your potential transfer to Protea in person. I am available in the principal's office from 07:00 to 18:00. Once again, I eagerly await your visit.
Sincerely,
Elvira Tudor
Principal of Lelore High School of Magic
---
The letter left me with more questions than answers. Why was Lelore interested in me? And how did their principal even know about me? I wasn't exactly a high-profile student.
"This makes no sense," I muttered, rereading the letter. The delivery method puzzled me too; it was handed to Violet instead of mailed, which felt deliberate.
While I stood in the kitchen, pondering the letter in my hand, Alysha's voice interrupted my thoughts.
While I pondered in the kitchen, Alysha's voice broke my thoughts. "I'm done with my bath! Vio, want to take one next?" She stepped into the doorway, but her gaze shifted to Violet. With a teasing grin, she said, "Hmm? …Sorry to interrupt," before retreating slightly.
I sighed, already accustomed to her antics, but Violet's reaction was much more noticeable. She turned a deep shade of red, her unease almost palpable.
"Senior Alysha! That's not it! I was just helping, don't misunderstand!" Violet stammered, her voice panicked as she quickly set down the towel and hurried after Alysha, who was already leaving the room.
Watching them leave, I shook my head. "Huh~... I guess I'll have to stop Alysha from teasing people so much."
Returning my focus to the sink, I finished washing the last dish. A few minutes later, Violet went to take her bath, leaving Alysha and me to relax in the lounge.
I sat on the sofa, flipping through the channels, while Alysha lay sprawled on another sofa, engrossed in her phone. The quiet atmosphere gave me time to reflect, but one thought bubbled to the surface, and I finally spoke up.
"Alysha, don't tease people too much," I said, glancing in her direction.
She looked up with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "It's fun teasing you, Brother! Especially Vio—she's so cute!" she giggled, clearly enjoying herself.
"Don't trouble others too much," I warned, my tone a bit firmer.
"Okay~," she replied nonchalantly, her grin never fading.
As we continued chatting, Violet entered the room, her presence drawing both of our attention. She was dressed in a pair of shorts and an oversized T-shirt, her damp hair pulled into a simple ponytail that revealed the nape of her neck. The casual look suited her, and for a moment, I couldn't help but pause.
But something about the T-shirt caught my eye.
"Uh... Edina, that T-shirt?" I asked hesitantly, pointing at it.
"Oh, this? Senior Alysha lent it to me," Violet said, looking down at the shirt. "She said I should change into something more comfortable for sleep."
A sense of suspicion immediately hit me, and I turned to Alysha, raising an eyebrow. "Alysha, where did you get that T-shirt?"
"Huh? Over there," she replied, pointing lazily to a basket of folded clothes in the corner, her attention still half on her phone.
I frowned, piecing it together. "Isn't that my T-shirt? Didn't you put yours in the wardrobe?"
"Huh!?" Alysha froze, her phone slipping slightly from her hand. Her eyes darted between me and Violet before she sat upright, her expression one of realization and mild panic.
"Ah... Sorry, Vio, it seems that's Brother's shirt," Alysha said, offering Violet an apologetic smile.
Violet froze for a moment, her face flushing an even deeper red as she remembered her earlier attempt to smell her shirt. Feeling embarrassed, she instinctively gripped the hem of the shirt and lowered her head.
I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. "Sorry about that, Edina. Alysha, try to pay more attention next time."
Alysha laughed nervously. "Yeah, sorry, Brother."
"Huh~... What else can I do?" I sighed, shaking my head. "Never mind, Edina, you can wear it. It's fine."
"Umm... thank you," Violet replied softly, her voice barely audible as she nodded.
The situation felt unbearably awkward, and I could feel the heat creeping up my ears. I decided I'd had enough for one day.
"Oh right," I said, standing abruptly, "I just remembered I have something to do tomorrow. I'll head to bed now."
Without waiting for a response, I turned and headed straight to my room, not bothering to say anything else. The only thought in my head was to escape.
Once inside, I closed the door behind me and immediately flopped onto the bed, not even bothering to turn on the light.
"Huh~... I guess today's surprises really wore me out," I muttered to myself, staring at the ceiling.
Finally, I closed my eyes, letting the strange events of the day fade as I drifted off to sleep.
***
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