In the hallway after the entrance ceremony
After the solemn opening ceremony, Sachi and I blended into the flow of students heading toward the classroom wing. The hallway was paved with polished white stone, and the gentle glow of magical lights above cast a warm, dreamy ambiance.
"This school is huge…"
Sachi muttered as she stared at the glowing map in her hand.
I only gave a small nod, my mind still looping around the cold but powerful speech from Kiana. But just as I was lost in thought—
Thud!
I bumped into someone.
"Ah, sorry—" I began to apologize, but my words caught in my throat.
Standing before me was a girl with her blonde hair tied to the side, a few delicate strands framing her pale cheeks. Her crimson eyes gleamed like rubies, filled with distant pride. She knelt to pick up the magic notebook she had dropped — her hands were slender and smooth.
I recognized her instantly.
Lucy Cindralis.
One of the heroines from the novel I had read — a girl who had grown up without love in a noble family, learning to hide her feelings behind a strong front and sharp words.
Lucy stood up and stared directly at me.
"Watch where you're going. Eyes stuck to the wall or something?"
Her voice was cold, proud, and defensive. But I didn't feel angry—just oddly familiar.
I bowed slightly. "I'm really sorry. It wasn't on purpose."
She frowned, gave a short hmph, and turned to leave. Her golden hair swayed softly behind her.
But then… she stopped.
She turned her head slightly, her ruby eyes slicing toward me.
"…Be more careful next time."
Without waiting for a reply, she walked briskly and melted into the crowd of students ahead.
Sachi jogged up beside me, whispering, "Who was that? She's kinda scary…"
I watched her retreating figure, a strange feeling stirring in my chest.
Lucy… we finally meet. But this time, I won't let you carry everything alone.
---
Class A – Arcanum Academy
Sachi and I arrived at our classroom by following the glowing magical signs lining the hallway. In front of each classroom door, a floating light panel displayed the list of students and their assigned seats.
"Class A… here!"
Sachi exclaimed, peering closely at the display.
I scanned the list for my name. Bottom row, window side.
"Yuto, bottom row, right seat."
I took a deep breath and stepped into the classroom.
It was spacious, with high ceilings and large glass windows that bathed the room in natural light. The desks were carved from fine ebony wood, each fitted with a faintly glowing rune stone — individual magic support devices.
I sat down at my assigned seat. When I looked up, I saw Sachi sitting right in front of me. She waved quickly and then returned to flipping through a set of papers.
As I was taking in the surroundings—
Clack.
The sound of a chair sliding beside me.
I turned my head.
It was her.
Lucy Cindralis.
She entered like a cold breeze, eyes sweeping around the room with detached indifference. Without glancing my way, she pulled out her chair and sat down, her tied blonde hair gently swaying.
She's sitting next to me…?
I looked again at the name list. It was true. Her name was right beside mine.
I felt a slight twinge of surprise… and curiosity. But I turned to her, trying to keep my voice calm.
"…Hey."
Lucy didn't look at me. Her eyes just shifted slightly, like she was reluctantly acknowledging me.
"I just wanted to apologize again… for earlier. I really didn't mean it."
Silence.
I thought she'd ignore me.
But then—
"…How many times are you planning to apologize?"
Her voice was cold, but not particularly harsh.
I smiled. "Until I feel like you're not mad anymore."
She paused. Her red eyes widened — just a fraction — then she quickly turned away, arms crossed.
"Hmph. As if I care that much…"
But I saw it.
Her ears were slightly red.
I knew it. She wasn't used to being treated gently… to being cared about. I didn't know how much I could change — but at the very least, I could start with this.
The classroom door swung open.
A slightly chubby, bald man walked in, his heavy boots thudding against the wooden floor. He wore a deep blue robe with silver trims, carrying a thick stack of papers. His face was stern, but his eyes sparkled with humor.
"I'm Baldric Hammerfell, your homeroom teacher for Class A. You can call me Mr. Baldric. But don't call me 'the bald guy' behind my back I can hear it."
The class chuckled, and the atmosphere instantly lightened. But I was still half-distracted by the person sitting next to me.
Lucy Cindralis.
Her tied blonde hair shimmered faintly in the light. Her crimson eyes were sharp, proud — yet behind them lingered a silent sorrow that only I, someone who had read the original story, could recognize.
The youngest daughter of the Cindralis family — a powerful noble house known for their mastery of fire magic. Yet despite her noble blood, she was never pampered.
Growing up with two older brothers and a sister, Lucy was constantly overshadowed. She learned to suppress her emotions early on, hiding her fragility behind a cold, independent front so that no one could hurt her again.
But beneath that shell… was a fragile heart, yearning for warmth.
She was the kind of person who, once in love, would silently worry and care for the one she loved — even if her words were always sharp and distant. A true tsundere — not the cutesy kind, but one molded by pride, pain, and deep emotion.
I glanced sideways.
She sat perfectly straight, eyes fixed ahead at Mr. Baldric. Not a single glance in my direction — as if the earlier encounter never happened.
But…
Her fingers were gently tapping against the desk in a strange rhythm, as if trying to hide her unease.
Interesting.
I smiled quietly to myself.
This was the beginning of something. And if I wanted to change Lucy's fate and the fate of the other heroines I once only saw on the page I had to start acting now.