Hey, Cecily you did ask me to join the attack team, didn't you?
　He points to his own face.

'Oh, me?'
Yes it's you, Blackie.

　Cecily lowered her eyebrows in an awkward manner.

''Only, now that you've been revealed as a forbidden user I have to admit that it was hard for me to ask you out.
..........

　I hadn't expected to get an invitation from Cecily.
　I can only imagine how many times she would be asked out.
　Cecily-san wouldn't be able to pull it off without inviting someone else.
　There's no merit in daring to ask me out............I see.
　But the way Cecily-san just said it........
　Looking awkward, Cecily-san continues.

''Well, you see........the truth is, as soon as the combat class is over, I'm going to make you--''

　When I cut off my words there, Cecily-san shook her head.

Therefore, what do you think?　Would you be willing to team up with me for an attack team?　Of course, if you want some kind of compensation, I'm going to give you a reasonable amount of thanks. Well........if there is anything I can do for you--
Can you give us a moment?

　I hear a man's voice from above the classroom.
　I look at the owner of the voice.

'Ah.'

　Mr. Cecily's words were interrupted by Mr. Zeke.
　I cut down the steps and Mr. Zeke came up in front of me.

"...Zeke?

　Cecily-san gives me a questioning look.
　Sieg-san took one look at Cecily-san and then turned to me.

''Today, before the combat class started.......Cecily-sama asked me and Hyrgis to discuss with her, 'Perhaps we could invite one more person to join the attack team.
"Zeke.
"Let me tell you something, Lady Cecily,

　Cecily's words, which were thrown in a somewhat reproachful tone, were pinched by Zeke.
　Cecily was stopped in her speech by the wordlessness of her words, and she gulped and held her tongue.

　Zeke continued.

He said, "Originally, I, Hyrgis and Master Cecily were supposed to form an attack team of just me, Hyrgis and Cecily. When you were not yet here, that is to say, at the time of the entrance ceremony, I made that clear to everyone around me.

　Ah, I see.
　So you've already declared when I wasn't around that you won't form an attack team with students other than the ones I just mentioned?

　Come to think of it........there were always people gathered around Cecily-san, but I had never seen her being invited to join an attack team.
　Even after class, people were gathered around me, who turned out to be a Forbidden Spell user, but none of them went to invite Cecily-san, who is a very capable person, to join the team, which was more than a wonder.
　.........By the way, speaking of talented people, Ira-san is not here right now because she left the classroom with the upperclassmen who had apparently decided to form an attack team right after the class ended.

'Me and Hyrgis didn't know who he was talking about at first, but during battle class, I somehow figured he was talking about you.
During combat class?
Yeah.

　I remember when I was in combat class.
　When I was defeated by a female instructor with a single blow, Cecily-san covered for me, and while many students laughed, Zeke-san and Hyrgis-san weren't laughing.
　...........
　Hmm, but hey.
　There were some people who praised me a bit, but I wonder if they would think of inviting me to join the attack team with that?
　...well, that's more than I can say for myself.

"And after combat class, Lady Cecily confided in us that she intended to invite you to join her attack team.
..........

　So that means that Cecily was trying to get me to join the attack team even before she found out I was a forbidden spell user, right?
　But why do I have to be the one........

From your reaction, you seem to be perplexed by the evaluation of yourself, but I also think that you have something that shines through. That strike in battle class, the power of the blow, I confess, was overwhelming to me. It's hard to put into words, but there's something about you.

　That blow, huh.........
　It's true that when I delivered that blow, I had a different feeling than before, but........

But oh well.

　Sieg's mouth tightened.

I have to admit, I think it's a delicate point for me and Hyrgis to ask you to join the attack team just because of that. In other words, I and Hirgis only value you as a 'forbidden spell user'. Unlike Cecily-sama.
..........

　Mr. Zeke, you're a nice guy.
　So he's trying to say this.

　We finally admitted that we were worthy of including Sagara Kurohiko in the attack team after we found out that we were forbidden spell users.
　However, even before Cecily-san was found to be a forbidden spell user, she had planned to ask Sagura Kurohiko to join the attack team.
　That's why Cecily-san's earlier statement of 'I'm inviting him because he's a forbidden spell user' isn't true...that's what I'm saying.

　It's not the same as us, but Cecily had a high opinion of you even before she realized you were a master of forbidden spells, and she could see that you had it in you.
　Perhaps that was Zeke-san's way of saying that to protect Cecily-san's honor.
　I know it's a bit of a roundabout way to go about it, but I could tell that Zeke-san was thinking of Cecily-san.

It's just that if you're willing to join my attack team, you're welcome to do so. That's all I'm going to say. Sorry to bother you.

　Zeke steps back.

'You're still being nosy, Zeke.

　After smiling with a huff, Cecily-san turned to me again.

''Now, Zeke has just said that, but it is true that I am attracted to you not only for your qualities as a warrior, but also as a forbidden spell user.
"Mr. Cecily, I don't...

　Miss Cecily looked straight at me with her clear, sky-blue eyes.

'I'm going to make it clear--I want you.
.....

　A murmur spreads throughout the classroom.

''..........''

　
　I suppressed my heart, which had begun to beat wildly.
　He told me that he wanted to have it.
　No, I know that's not what I meant........but I want......I want.......

　Cecily gently places her hand on her chest as if she were making an oath.

''In return, I will do my best to make your wishes come true as much as possible. Also, the Arkwright family will arrange for equipment and other equipment for the attack on the Holy Ruins.

　Mr. Cecily holds out her hand to me as if to entice me.

'What do you think?　Would you be willing to work with me?

　...................
　I'm glad that you buy me that much.
　Even if it's because of the forbidden spell, I'm still glad.
　And if you're with Cecily and the others, the difficulty of capturing the Holy Ruins will be greatly reduced.
　This is a good thing.
　There's nothing wrong with that.　

''..........''

　But...

Excuse me, Miss Cecily!

　I bowed my head deeply.

'I'm really glad you asked me out but I have someone else I want to team up with!

　Turn your body around.

"Ku, Kurohiko?

　I could hear the faintest hint of confusion in Cecily's voice.

'I'm really, really sorry!'

　After saying that, I opened the classroom door and ran out of the classroom as it was.

''...........''

　I'm tempted to team up with Cecily.
　Very much so.

"But...

　I started to run to find her - Currier-san.

　　　　　　　　　　*

　As I run down the hallway, I carefully look around me.
　Currier-san, where did he go?

　The students in the corridor look at me curiously, but I don't care.
　.........I shouldn't run in the corridor, after all.
　So I switch to a brisk walk that feels like it's on the edge, and begin to move my feet.

　That's right, I'll start out around the first floor - I see.
　She said she was going back to her quarters, so if I head that way, she might be there.

　I went down to the first floor and started running out of the main building and down the road that leads to the girls' quarters.

　Haha, I think, exhaling briefly.

　But I didn't know Cecily had bought me that much....

''If there's anything I can do to help--''

　..................
　I wonder if they would have been OK with a kneeling pillow or something.........
　Or maybe they'd let me touch their hands for five minutes, or smell their hair for three minutes as much as I wanted.......
　Ha!
　No, no!
　The latter two are totally just hentai!
　And besides ... there is no if in history!
　I mean, now is not the time to be thinking about something stupid!

　I shake off my manly fantasies and keep running.
　And after a while.

Oh, there you are.

　The figure behind her walking on the cobblestones between the manicured trees, with her long silver hair swaying--.
　And..........those long legs stretching out of that skirt, no doubt about it.
　It's Currier-san.

"Huh, huh...................Kyuurier-san!　Excuse me, wait, can I have a minute?!

　Currier-san stopped.
　Then she slowly turned around to look at me.

　As she does so, her long silver hair dances softly, reflecting the setting sun, or perhaps it's because of the sparkle.
　.....................
　I can't help but lose my words and fall in love with her.

　Currier-san looked at me with a slightly dumbfounded face.

''.........What is it, you?