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Classes at the Magic Academy often require students to move between classrooms.

For practical sessions in magic control, dance, music, art, martial arts (boys only), and sewing (girls only), students must move to outdoor training grounds or specialized classrooms. Since the academy is designed for the nobility, with every room and building being exceptionally large, moving from place to place takes time.

Perhaps because of this, the breaks between classes are longer than they were in Ekaterina’s previous life. Incidentally, lunch break is also long. Because the breaks are so long, the number of class periods is fewer compared to a 21st-century Japanese high school.
Four hundred years ago, when the Magic Academy was founded, accurate clocks were hardly widespread. That is likely why the schedule for everything was so leisurely. Even now, to Ekaterina’s sensibilities, the academy’s curriculum feels quite relaxed.

.

On her way back from moving between classrooms, Ekaterina ran into Aleksei.

“Onii-sama!”
“Ekaterina.”

Aleksei held out one hand to his sister, who had called out to him. Of course, Ekaterina excused herself to Flora, who was sitting next to her, and eagerly walked over to her brother.
And she didn’t just take the hand he offered—she threw her arms around his waist and clung to him. It was the “koala pose” she’d done before.

“What’s the matter?”
“I was feeling a little lonely.”

She hadn’t been able to shake off that nagging feeling and had been carrying it around, feeling all muddled up. Things that were normal in this world felt hard to accept because of her memories from her past life. I think that made me feel like a foreign object in this world, and that’s why I was lonely.

But once I got to see you, Onii-sama, all that loneliness just flew away!
Hooray for a life where I get to be your little sister!

Smiling softly, Aleksei used his free hand—the one not holding Ekaterina—to pull his sister even closer.

“Are you still lonely?”

Kyaaah!

“Kyaah!”
“No, not at all. I’m right here by your side, Onii-sama, so there’s no room for loneliness.”

Even as she said this, Ekaterina couldn’t help but wonder inwardly, did someone actually shriek “kyaah”? Glancing in the direction where the sound seemed to have come from, she saw several female students hurrying away. They were likely Aleksei’s classmates.
What the what?

Just then, a voice called out.

“Heya, you two are still as close as ever.”
“Lord Nikolai.”

Looking up at Nikolai Krymov—a muscular young man with fiery red hair who was even taller than her tall older brother—Ekaterina smiled. She stepped away from Aleksei’s arm and curtsied lightly.

“It’s been a long time. I’m delighted to see you.”
“Yeah, it’s been ages.”

Nikolai, grinning broadly, was a different kind of handsome than Aleksei—the type who gave off the impression of a reliable older brother.
Unlike his sister Marina, Aleksei had said that Nikolai was likely aware of the feud between the Jurnova and Krymov families. But he had never mentioned it or even hinted at it.

Even now, Nikolai simply returned a smile to Ekaterina, who was looking up at him.

“It seems my little monkey’s whim has caused you some trouble. I apologize.”
“Not at all. It’s a wonderful idea; I’m quite excited about it. If you have the time, please do come and listen to Lady Marina’s singing, Lord Nikolai.”

Marina apparently doesn’t play any instruments, so she says she’ll participate by singing. Judging from the choir performances in music class, she has a rich, resonant voice. Her pitch seems a bit unstable, but Ekaterina saw it as part of her charm.

As for whether Aleksei would come to listen, that goes without saying. In fact, even his staff wanted to come with, and she had to gently discourage them, as it would be inappropriate for people from outside the school to attend a school event.

“With a voice like hers, I could practically hear it anywhere in the campus without seeing her.”

Nikolai laughed, “Ha ha ha.”

“Hey! Give it back!”

A shout rang out, followed by the sound of footsteps running down the hallway.

Two boys from Ekaterina’s class came running. The one in front was grinning wide, a notebook in his hand. The one chasing him looked desperate. Easy to tell that the former had snatched the latter’s notebook.
Just as the fleeing boy tried to dash past him, Nikolai reached out and deftly grabbed him by the collar.
What incredible reflexes and strength.

“Gah!?”

The boy’s neck tightened instantly, his feet left the ground, and he let out a cry that was far from the image of a nobleman before plopping down on his butt.
Ekaterina immediately walked over to him and swiftly snatched the notebook away.

“By golly, you’re such a bad boy. Doing things that make people uncomfortable is not the behavior of a gentleman. Besides, you shouldn’t be running in the hallway.”

She crouched down, clutching the notebook to her chest, and pretended to tap his forehead with her palm. It would be rude to actually hit him, so she only pretended.
Then, standing up, she handed the notebook to the boy who had chased after her with a smile.

“Here you go. I’m giving it back to you.”
“Th… thank you.”

The boy, who was in the same class but whom she had never spoken to before, stammered as he took the notebook from Ekaterina.
Meanwhile, the boy who had fallen on his butt was staggering to his feet.

“My apologies…”

He bowed deeply, as one should, and hurried away—escaping.
The boy who had received the notebook also left, as if chasing after him.

“I know they’re still first years, but they’re such brats.”

Nikolai gave a wry smile. Aleksei grimaced.

“To think there are such rowdy students in your class. Shall I have them transferred elsewhere?”
“Please don’t do that. I’m sure they’ve just returned from their family home and have simply reverted to their childhood ways. They’ll soon become proper students of this academy.”

Please don’t go changing the class assignments now that the second semester has started. It’ll make the teachers cry.

Besides, boys around fifteen are just like that. It’s just that you, the prince, and Nikolai are special cases, Onii-sama.
…No, actually, even for high schoolers, that might be a bit childish. Elementary school level? Hmm, I wonder.

“Lady Ekaterina, it’s about time.”

Flora spoke softly, and Ekaterina snapped back to reality.

“I’m terribly sorry to have kept you waiting, Lady Flora. It was a pleasure meeting you, Onii-sama, Lord Nikolai.”

Then, walking lightly alongside Flora, Ekaterina returned to the classroom.

.

The two boys who had been chasing each other returned to the classroom, sat down next to each other, and both buried their faces in their desks.

The boy who had just received his notebook back was clutching it to his chest. This was actually something he’d brought back from his parents’ house over summer break. It contained spells and magic circles (nothing but nonsense meant to look the part) that he’d painstakingly devised long ago in preparation for the day his special magical powers would awaken.
It’s the kind of embarrassing past that’s pretty common among the second or third sons of unremarkable noble families. After all, “middle school syndrome” is very much alive and well in this world, too.

He’d brought it back from his parents’ house, worried about what would happen if his older siblings found it, but he’d accidentally brought it to class. Trying to hide it furtively only drew the attention of the guy next to him—with whom he didn’t get along—who snatched it away. While I was chasing after him, I had resolved, “I’m definitely going to burn this thing!” but…

*“Here you go. I’m giving it back to you.”*

The daughter of Jurnova handed it to him..
It was the first time she had spoken to him directly. She gave him a gentle smile. Up close, she was even more beautiful. Her purplish-blue eyes were truly stunning.
And… and…

*(Lady Jurnova held this in her chest—HER CHEST…!)*

The Blue Rose he always admired.
Even as he paid homage to her noble name, his mind is filled with nothing but the image of her bosom. If no one were watching, he’d desperately want to bury his face in that notebook and inhale its scent.

“Wish she’d actually hit me…”

He caught the boy next to him muttering that, and raised his head.
Perhaps sensing his gaze, the other boy also looked up, and upon realizing he’d been overheard, his expression flinched.

He gave him a big thumbs-up.

*(I get you!)*

A little smack with that white hand—what’s that if not a reward!
“You’re such a bad boy,” is a good line too. Really good. He wished she’d spat those words while glaring at him, just a little. Even better if she said it while blushing, wouldn’t that be absolutely amazing?

It seemed his inner thoughts came across clearly, because the person next to him slowly broke into a smile.
And so, this silly friendship was born—and surprisingly, it would last a lifetime.