Marion was standing at the back of the venue for the party before the upcoming rookie exam, looking slightly out of place.

(Ah, I'm feeling nervous........ So many of the other examiners were accompanied by their attendants. (There aren't many people coming alone.)

　Moreover, just a few moments ago, Marion had been surprised that such a thing could happen, having just escaped a flashpoint between the Shitenji and Huang families.
　The reason the hall was now calm is because of the boy who tried to intervene and intercede before anyone else.

(That guy........he was so brave. Even though this is a quarrel between one of the most famous families in the world of gifted people...)

　Marion remembers the boy's face at the time.

(He didn't look too dependable...)

　At that thought, Marion couldn't help but chuckle.

(Don't!　(I'm thinking of something rude...)

The people who seemed to be the organizers appeared on the stage in front of them, and the head of this year's rookie test, Hisae Omine, stood in front of the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming from so far away today. ........."

　The atmosphere in the hall was softened by their cheerful vocalizations, and Marion was somewhat heartened by them.
　As the party began, people started to move freely, some getting drinks and others going to get their favorite dishes.
Marion, too, went to get her food after the others and avoided the main course where everyone was gathered, returning to her original place with only a little salad and marinated salmon on her plate.

(Ugh, I can't wait to get home... I don't know what to do if they talk to me...)

　Shy Marion is not very good at parties. That's why she's a little frightened and pays attention to her surroundings, only moving her eyes.
　This is because she unconsciously takes precautions to prevent anyone from talking to her.
　And then........I saw a boy at the same table as me with a plate full of food and a mouth full of it.
His bottomless appetite was like a boy in the prime of his upbringing, and unlike my own reserved self, it even made me feel refreshed.

(Fufufu, that's a lot of food...........you really do look like a good eater. Hm?　This guy..... oh!　(Earlier!)

　The boy in plainclothes who repeatedly brought the food to his mouth and repeated his jeaning and biting attitude... Marion realized that he was the boy who had interceded in the quarrel between the Shitennji and Huang families earlier.

(They're all dressed formally, so only one of them stands out in plain clothes. Isn't that embarrassing?　(I just wish I could talk to you...)

　When the boy ran out of food, he went to get his food again, as if he still hadn't eaten enough.
However, upon closer inspection, the boy clearly moved discreetly to the edge of the hall and quickly took his food and quickly returned to this table to avoid people's eyes.

(Haha........I'm embarrassed, after all. Ah........come to think of it, this person is also here alone)

　For a moment, Marion is curious about this boy.
　But it's hard to talk to Marion, who is shy.
But for some reason, Marion's eyes are naturally drawn to this boy.
　After a while, a briefing on the exam began on the front stage.
The content seemed to say something that had already been confirmed by the people in the hall, so as Marion listened comfortably, she noticed a boy beside her who was trembling with fullness.
　That boy has his head in his hands, and he's not listening!　The appearance of the boy.
　Marion thought that perhaps this boy was the only one who was this surprised among the candidates.

''........pfft.

　Marion couldn't help but blurt out at the boy's bare reaction.
　The boy seemed to notice Marion suddenly erupting beside him and blushed.
Seeing him, Marion hurriedly lowered her head.

''Oh, I'm sorry.''

Oh, no!　Not at all!　Don't worry about it!

　Rather, the boy was more flustered than his shy self.
Marion spoke to the boy with a calmness of mind that was strange even to herself.

''The content of the exam, if you don't mind if I tell you the extent of what I've heard?''

Oh, really?　By all means!

　It's funny to see a desperate boy.

'Oh, my name is Marion. I'm Marion Mia Shrean. You're also a candidate for the rookie exam, aren't you?

'Yes!　I'm Yuto Du Du. Uh........Mr. Shulian?

Marion is fine.

Oh, well, I'm fine with Yuto, too. Marion-san.

Yes, Eugene.

　Marion felt strange now.
Because, for the first time, she wasn't nervous about exchanging words with this boy.
This had rarely happened before....

(Why is that?)　(Strange...)

　The two men then talk to each other.
　It's clear that Yuto is seriously trying to remember what Marion says.
　In the course of the conversation, Yuto also tells him that he is a natural gifted person and that he didn't know much about the agency.
　It was as if he was casually telling Marion that he was not a suspicious person and that Marion didn't need to pay attention to him, as he casually shared his information with her.
Perhaps, since Marion, being a girl, was here alone, he was trying not to cause her any unnecessary alarm or stress.
I'm not a good talker.
I just feel that he's giving me that kind of consideration.

.........this person)

　Marion noticed those little considerations and for some reason it made her happy.

'May I have a moment?'

　Then Alfred the Swordsman appeared and Marion said to Yuto, "Also........" and left the scene.
　Marion is unconsciously smiling now.
She wondered when it was the last time she was able to talk to someone so naturally.



　With that in mind, Marion walked back to her room early with a mindlessly light step.