Five days had already passed since the end of the temblorum. During that time there was a girl in a room alone, silently training to break contact.
　The creepy stick in her hand was now a thing of the past, and she didn't even think twice about it. On the contrary, it looked like she was arranging it a little bit for her own use.

　But no matter how much time you spend on training, you're not going to get into it.

　It's still early in the day when the sun has set, but Alice went back to her room alone early and continued her training days. There was no way she could achieve anything at all with this mindset.
　Still, to distract herself, she grabbed a stick in her room as soon as class was over every day. And when I'm at my limit, I sleep like mud.

　Otherwise, he couldn't fall asleep thinking about his roommates Tesfia, Ars and Loki.

　The everyday life that should be there is now a week old, and the sense of inadequacy thickens. Why did Alice stay at the academy alone?

　Why did she send Tesfaye off alone at that time, why couldn't she express her feelings in her heart as they were?
　She understood the cause of it better than anyone else and swallowed it without regret. She kept her distance, as if she wanted to be alone.

　Alice collapsed into bed early in the laziness that had been going on for the past few days and covered her forehead with her arms.

'It's tight.'

　She didn't know what she meant by the words that poured out of her mouth, but she didn't intend to. Still, there was not the slightest hint of the usual brightness, and the afterglow coming in through the closed windows brought a chill to the room.

　For once, she felt that it was difficult for her to help Tesfia, and Tesfia had also told Alice that she would have to miss days of classes.
　But that was the biggest lump in my throat.

　I know in my head. If you're a friend, that's a trivial matter, and Alice herself would normally have no hesitation.
　But even so, did he bite back enough to not let Tesfia argue with him?

　No. She took a step back.

　You are going to be able to find out who is making the excuses. Therefore, you should not feel alone in this situation. Alice told herself this inwardly, and she was deceived.



　The next morning, Alice came to school with large circles in her eyes. Even though she had gone to bed so early, she couldn't get rid of her physical laziness, and she still didn't have enough sleep.
　I've washed my face many times to get rid of the shadows, but I know that it never gets rid of them. Still, I had to expose my face to this kind of concern.

　I'm worried about and trust Tesfia. As for Ars and Loki, he knew that even though he was worried about them, he was sure they would be fine.

　If so, what was the problem?
　That's because Alice couldn't give any answers to the topics about Ars that continue every day. It was Ars, who often had to keep it a secret, and she couldn't talk to anyone, but that was on the assumption that Alice herself knew about it.

　Yes, Alice didn't know anything. She hadn't been told anything. No one told her, she should have been contacted by Tesfia, but she didn't even have that, and she was alone and out of the mosquito net.
　I feel as if I know nothing and have been cut off from all involvement. As if the painful yet fulfilling days were a bubble dream.

　Alice turned her empty smile to her schoolmates today, which was truly ridiculous, since she was the one who had distanced herself from them so that it would happen.

　Once you walked down the corridor, the topic that would inevitably pop into your ears.

''It seems that the nations have officially declared Ars Reagin a wanted target for capture. As expected, they're trying to keep the populace from finding out, but with this much of a ripple effect around the world, there's no point in restricting information.
More than that, I'm surprised it's number one, but when you cause terrorism...
'Oh, why, of all things, would Alpha...'

　There was a flurry of abusive language, as if it were palpable, and Alice, who had been the closest friend of his a few days ago, was bombarded with questions.

　She didn't want to hear such things from her friends, even though she knew in her head that it was not unreasonable to do so. Ars was also creeped out at the academy all the time, so it must be the right reaction.
　A student he didn't know well had betrayed his country and turned the world against him.

　The only reason I can say absolutely not is because Alice has spent no small amount of time with him. But what Alice actually said to her friends was different.

　I don't know anything," was all she could say. More than anything else, it was painful for her to say that.
　So Alice held her ears with her hands and moved around the classroom as if to escape.

　She didn't want to hear anything.

'Alice?　Alice?

　It wasn't until he shook my shoulder that I listened to the voice of concern next to me, as if I was in a daze.

'What?　Oh, Ciel....
Are you okay?　You don't look so good, you should go to the infirmary.
Yeah, thanks. But I'll be fine.

　I haven't heard from Tesfia and I've missed classes. Alice has to do the copying in the meantime.
　As if on a mission, I looked at the virtual LCD, but it had already switched to a slide I didn't recognize.

'Don't worry, I'm copying everything,'

　Ciel smiles as if she cares and shows Alice her own LCD.
　She was the only one who didn't ask Alice insensitively. She couldn't be more grateful for that.

'So, hey. You have to leave early today and get some rest. If you see Alice like this, Fia and Ars-kun will be worried when they come back.

　It wasn't that Ciel was pressured by Ciel, who was beginning to tear up, but Alice couldn't refuse the name that was quoted.
　It must mean that in just a few days, Alice was more exhausted than she could understand.
　Alice knew that nothing would change when she returned to her dormitory, but right now, nothing she did would work. The more she thought about it, the worse it would be.
　She gritted her teeth and grabbed her bag at her inability to break the vicious cycle, her own weakness, and her surprising vulnerability in her cheerfulness, which was the only thing she could do.

　He decided to live strong, but this would worry his parents. So I decided to leave early today, knowing that my body and mind would not be rested today - praying like a stranger that something would be different tomorrow.


　When I returned to my dormitory, the room that was supposed to feel spacious was nothing but uncomfortable. As I recall, I felt like there was an animal that would die if I was alone, and that's exactly what Alice was doing now.
　But it wasn't just loneliness, it wasn't loneliness either, a bit different from loneliness.

　As if frightened by something, Alice wrapped herself up in the futon in her uniform.
　Surely tomorrow she would be back to her usual self, so she didn't want to think about anything right now. When Tesfia, who I can call my best friend, comes back, I'll apologize first.
　If I had been able to utter a single word at that time, I'm sure this wouldn't have happened. At the very least, you wouldn't have had to deal with it all by yourself.

　''Is there anything I can do to help?'' And I should have stood by and watched, even if it wasn't helpful. It was frustrating that I didn't get that one word out, and yet I felt like a sly person for thinking I was my best friend.
　That's why I was afraid and scared.


　That's when it happened. After leaving early at lunchtime, Alice's room chimed a few times to announce her visit. All the students are supposed to be in class, it's a bit puzzling that someone would come to visit at this time of day.
　More than anything else, Alice didn't want to see anyone right now, so she ignored it as a matter of course.

　But the continuous chimes echoed noisily through the room.
　Irresistibly, just as Alice stretched her legs out of the bed and onto the floor, she heard the sound of an unlocking door and her wide-eyed eyes focused on the door.

'I'm coming in,'

　The door was opened without hesitation, and Alice raised her voice with a question in her mind as she looked at the person who was entering as if they were known to be using a residence hall.

''Feri-senpai!''
　It's pretty caged in.

　Saying this, he opens the window himself. Cold air flows in as if to renew the air inside the room.

''What is it?''
How can you say that? What are you doing?
I haven't been feeling very well today...
'Not just today!　I'll hear you on campus as well. Are you eating?
No, he's not hungry.
"It's more subtle than it looks.

　Alice looked up at the somewhat thorny tone of voice, revealing her grumpiness.

''What do you want? 'I don't think it's any of my senior's business, sir.'

　Felinella's cool dismay at the childish octopus.

'I'm here to tell you that there's been progress, but it doesn't matter, does it?

　There was a lonely nuance to her voice.

　The word "progress" made Alice's eyes widen, forgetting the meaning of "what", and she opened her mouth without hesitation. Then, without even a hint of hesitation, she opens her mouth.

Are you all okay with this?　Al, Fia, Loki....
Hola, it doesn't matter. Stop caving in.

　The cooling spirits begin to bring Alice's insides into sharp relief. What she had been pretending not to see was revealed with guilt.

''I wouldn't be in this role either if Alice-san wasn't receiving guidance from Ars-san. But neither Fia nor Alice-san would be the only one. Above all, you're my lovely junior, let me meddle a little.

　Felinella sat down next to Alice and began stroking her with her hand on the back of Alice's head.

'It's hard not to know something, isn't it? Even I'm sure there's something I can do to help. It's frustrating to be in class so long without being able to do anything.

　I felt my guard fade, as if I could see through it. Such a sensation of gently opening up the things she didn't want to say and the things she kept hidden.
　Alice knows that Felinella has a fondness for Ars.

　Alice and Tesfia are important students to Ars. If that's the case, Felinella can't disrespect them either.
　A kindness above the odds. While Alice feels that it's just a top-notch concern, tears like toxins ooze out of her eyes every time a hand goes to stroke her head in a gentle embrace.

'There's nothing we can do it's frustrating for me too. But hey, there's a difference between not being able to do anything and not doing anything.

　Felinella pulled Alice's head to her chest, and Felinella felt a hint of regret drop on her face.
　Felinella hugged her admonishingly, though she couldn't decide how much she knew.

''I'm.....
Yes.
I hope it helps Fia, and I hope Al and the others come back.

　Alice bites down on a sob in her chest and starts spinning.
　Nodding quietly, Felinella says, "Just as I have things to do, Alice, there are things you need to do. Maybe it's a trivial matter and I can't be of direct help. But, you know, there's nothing wrong with at least trying to make life normal again. Don't you think?

　In her chest, Alice pulled her chin back a little and just replied, "Yes.

'I like everyone...'
Yeah.
And Mr. Ars.
..........

　Felinella gently pressed her fingers against Alice's chest, pointing to what lay behind it.

'Your worries and anxieties stem from here, don't they?　I don't mind if you continue to pretend not to notice it. But, you know, if that's what causes you pain in this place, it will be painful to endure. You shouldn't give up your feelings to anyone, they are your own.

　After deciding to be quiet, Felinella decided to give Alice a little more help. She is probably not very good at facing herself honestly. That's something you can notice if you watch Alice on a regular basis.
　She puts a good face on everyone and always stands for peace in her friendships. At worst, she stifles her will and doesn't assert it.

　So, if the prevailing emotions inside her are structured to be at odds with her friends, she pretends not to notice.

　--that's what it means to be a good person and lose money.

　Felinella was in the mood to talk to Alice, who has an inwardly lossy personality, about how to live well. Fights are trivial events that are not worth delaying. A smooth relationship can sometimes be replaced by a superficial one.

'I'm sure your concern for Fia and Loki is different from your concern for Ars-san, right?　Not as a matter of which is higher or lower, but as a matter of your own.

　Although she didn't say it aloud, Felinella took Alice's cocooning nod with a smile, as if she'd expected it.
　That was probably why she kept her distance from Tesfia.
　That's why, Felinella told her.

''Then you don't have to shy away from anyone!
But my seniors...
Yeah, well, you know.

　He scratched his cheeks in embarrassment, but his expression quickly became crisp and dignified.

''That's why I understand some things. It's useless to think about it in your head.

　Then pulling away, Felinella smiled and gently placed her hand on Alice's chest.

'It's the only thing that's different here ... because it's a thing that can't be helped.

　She knew that she would bring salt to her enemies, and yet she would still reach out to them. Felinella had never thought that the position of matron would suit her so well.
　I can't leave her alone. She understands because she is a woman to a woman.

　Alice wiped the tears away repeatedly with her fingers.
　After waiting until she regained her composure, Felinella cut to the chase.

''It's okay, everyone is safe. It's just that Ars-san has all the countries in the world bleeding for her even now. As it's rumored in the university, how long this can be regulated for, or at least not for so long, is not likely to last. Before that happens....
"....!　Before it happens?
Countries are going to do something about it. Don't worry, Ars is number one, he will take care of it. And as your father said, the Alpha Army is already working behind the scenes. Unfortunately, we're not strong enough, we know that.

　Felinella, more acutely aware of this than anyone else, asked, restraining herself. And relieved at the nod of agreement.
　They can't be of any use to her.

　Not only is their status as students, but they are overwhelmingly lacking in power. That much we must understand and accept at all costs.
　You have to swallow your inexperience even if you have to grit your teeth.

''In the meantime, I have one favor to ask of you, Alice-san.

　By this time, Alice's expression had changed to one without hesitation, as if she had made up her mind to do something. This was really evident in her crystal-clear, straightforward words.

''Anything I can do to help!