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“Yummy! It tastes like sweet-and-tangy strawberries!”

Seated side by side on a bench beside the Dragon Temple, Alfe took a bite of the cotton candy the shopkeeper had given us and happily swung her legs.

The cotton candy—vivid to the eye in strawberry pink, grape purple, lemon yellow, and melon green—released a soft, sweet fragrance of fresh fruit the moment it was brought near the mouth.

“This lemon one is delicious as well. The flavor is similar to the yuzu we had this morning.”
“They’re both citrus fruits. Yuzu has a bitterness to it, so it’s mainly used for its aroma,” Estea added in response to Leafa’s reply towards Alfe.

We had just eaten ozōni that morning, which made Estea’s explanation all the more interesting. She savored the melon-flavored cotton candy, skillfully working her way through it so as not to smear any on her face.

I followed Estea’s lead and took a bite of the grape cotton candy. I had always thought I wasn’t fond of sweets, but the added tartness and refreshing aroma of the grapes completely changed my impression of cotton candy.

Though it was still a sugar confection, it was different from ordinary hard candy. Being heated and spun into fine threads made it feel light on the tongue. I used to wonder why children would line up for cotton candy bigger than their own faces, but now I felt I finally understood the urge to wait in line just to eat it.

And the fact that this existed because someone had picked up on my offhand muttering made it all the more moving. That shopkeeper must have truly devoted himself to developing this cotton candy. He hadn’t laughed it off as a child’s idle talk—he had taken it seriously. Tasting it now, I felt that conviction strongly.

“…Leafa, what’s wrong?”

While I’d been lost in thought, it seemed my hand had stopped moving. Alfe, who had already finished her strawberry cotton candy in no time at all, peered into my face, and I gave a wry smile.

“No, I was just thinking how interesting it is that something I casually muttered could take shape like this—”
“It wasn’t just a casual mutter,” Alfe said, objecting earnestly to my words. “That was a perfectly good idea, Leafa! That uncle thought it would be wonderful if it really existed too—that’s why he went and made it like this. Right? Hom!”
“Yes. As expected of you, Master.”

Asked for her agreement by Alfe, Hom nodded emphatically as well. Since Hom synchronized her memories as information, she should have been able to recall what had happened back then in an objective way.

Good grief—if even Hom was saying that, then Alfe’s point was probably spot-on. This was one of those moments when I should just accept it and be happy.

“…Come to think of it, isn’t it the same with alchemy?”

Estea asked curiously, and I felt like I finally understood why I had reacted the way I had.

“I’m always the one who turns it into reality myself.”
“There’s nothing wrong with entrusting it to someone else, is there?”

In the end, that was what it came down to. Influenced by my previous life, I tended not to trust other people. That was why I couldn’t quite believe that I had left such an impression on that stall owner—someone I’d only interacted with for a fleeting moment.

But things were different now. Thanks to Alfe, Hom, and Estea, I had started to think that it was okay to place some expectations in others.

The way Estea could offer advice like this so casually showed how closely she observed people. Maybe I could afford to step a little further into other people’s lives myself. That said, since I did some of that unconsciously, I’d probably need to make a conscious effort from here on out.

“…Looks like you’re feeling better, Estea.”
“When I eat something sweet, I feel like it gives me a bit of energy,” Estea replied with a light smile, as if joking.

She did seem to have recovered her spirits somewhat. Still, there was no denying that she looked like she was forcing herself a little—likely a result of her tendency not to show her weaknesses.

She had already confided that she had worries, so rather than pressing her now, I decided I would wait until she was ready to talk on her own.

After finishing the cotton candy, we returned to that shop at Alfe’s request and bought cotton candy for each of us to offer to the Black Dragon God before paying our respects.

The Dragon Temple overflowed with offerings to the Black Dragon God, piled high in a vivid, colorful display.

“Here, you put your hands together and make a wish. I’m sure it’ll come true.”

As she explained the proper way to do it to Estea, Alfe demonstrated. After making sure Estea followed her lead, Hom and I also offered our New Year’s wishes to the Black Dragon God.

“Alright, let’s go back.”

Lifting her face, Alfe spun around and urged us on. As we stepped aside from the Dragon Temple to make room for the next worshippers, a smiling Alfe reached out and took my hand.

“Leafa, what did you wish for?”
“I wished that your and Hom’s wishes would come true.”
“Then I’m sure they will!”

Beaming, Alfe intertwined her fingers with mine again.

“I wished that I could stay with you, Leafa.”
“I, too, prayed that I may remain together with Master,” Hom added, moving closer to me.

With the conversation flowing like this, I might be able to hear Estea’s wish as well. Now then—how should I bring it up?

“What did you wish for, Estea?”

Before I could decide, Hom asked her directly.

“…Me?”

Estea looked surprised, but she didn’t seem displeased. Come to think of it, ever since the two of them had gone out together last night, it felt like the distance between Estea and Hom had closed. Hom used to address her as “Lady Estea,” but now she spoke to her without an honorific.

“…That there would be no confusion or conflict at the academy, and that things would move in a better direction.”

Rather than a personal wish, it was one befitting the student council president. The fact that she hadn’t wished for herself was very like Estea. Still, why had she made such a wish?

“…Confusion and conflict… that doesn’t sound very peaceful. Do you have something in mind?”

Thinking that now was my only chance, I worked up the courage to ask.

“Yes…”

Nodding, Estea glanced around and stepped back slightly, putting some distance between herself and the crowd gathered at the Dragon Temple before lowering her voice.

“Actually, I’ve been worrying about the student council general election being held in mid-February. This time, I might not receive as many votes as I did last time…”

She avoided stating it outright, but losing to us at the Zersteller—Canalford Cup was probably the main reason. In the first place, Estea had been appointed student council president because of her victory at last year’s Canalford Cup, so it was easy to understand why she was troubled. If that was the case, then the hesitation in her sword might also have stemmed from her defeat at Hom’s hands.

That being so, the only one who could be tied to unrest and conflict at the academy was Ignis. Having lost to Estea in the previous election, Ignis would surely seize this opportunity to reclaim the position of student council president. And if that happened, the academy would head in the exact opposite direction of the discrimination-free school Estea was striving for. Major confusion and strife would be inevitable.

“You’ve got plenty of allies, and I don’t think you’d lose to Ignis.”
“…Thank you. A strong helper will be returning as well. But that, in its own way, is also a source of worry…”

As Estea began explaining, she said that a young lady named Marianne von Versailles of the Count of Versailles’ family—currently on leave from the academy—would be returning in time for the third term.

Marianne, known by the nickname Marie, was Estea’s childhood friend. However, she apparently lacked common sense and composure, and as a form of training, she had gone to serve in the Imperial Army.

“Marie was originally a secretary on the student council too. But she and Ignis clashed so badly that, if things had gone on like that, the academy might have turned into an all-out war between noble factions, with Marie and Ignis at the center…”

Perhaps recalling those days, Estea’s expression stiffened. That look alone spoke volumes about why this person was both a powerful ally and a cause for concern.

“Ignis did lose at the Zersteller, but…”
“That’s exactly why. I’m sure he’ll resort to any dirty trick he can. I can’t afford to lose to someone like that. But I’ve lost as well, so…”

Estea had been deliberately trying to avoid the topic of the Zersteller, but once Hom brought it up in connection with Ignis, she couldn’t very well ignore it. Even so, after saying that much, she fell silent.

“…If the Zersteller is the reason, then that means we—who won the tournament—have quite a bit of influence, right? Couldn’t we help you somehow, Estea?”

It was Alfe who broke the silence. I agreed with her, and the way she chose such a gentle phrasing that wouldn’t hurt either Estea or Hom really showed her thoughtfulness.

“…In terms of influence, that might be true. Discrimination against demi-humans directly affects us in Class 1-F as well, so it’s not something we can just ignore.”

Still, what exactly could we do? There was no way I could do something as conspicuous as running as a candidate—and I had no desire to, either.

As I thought that far, it dawned on me again that the student council was chosen through a general election. And if there was an election, there had to be a campaign period before the voting.

“Hey, Estea. If you’re okay with it, how about letting us help with your campaign?”
“…You’d help me?”

Caught off guard, Estea looked surprised. In response, Alfe and Hom raised their hands almost simultaneously.

“Of course! I’ll support you, Estea!”
“I will give you my full support as well, Estea!”