| Author: Shizuku | Original Source: Syosetu | Word Count: 2983 characters |
| Translator: Nomad | English Source: Re:Library | Word Count: 1510 words |
| Editor(s): Robinxen | ||
In my past life this would’ve been called the season of sakura flowers, but sadly they don’t exist in this world, or at least not in the region I’m living in. Instead there’s Geminus Cherries, which produce both yellow and white flowers in a single tree and are the icon of spring.
I only grew up knowing about common cherry trees, but somehow these flowers still fill me with a weird emotion.
There’s no graduation ceremonies in this world like I’m used to, and instead students gather in their own classrooms where their homeroom teachers give out some sort of memorabilia to students which counts as their diploma. It’s a cape and staff in the case of Ingralowe’s Magic Academy.
I gather up all our things from the dorm, then head out with Clarissa to wait at the Academy gates, where a large crowd has already formed.
“Maid. Lots of people.”
“Yes, they’re probably the families of the students graduating. Stay still so you don’t bother them.”
“Woof…”
Clarissa does as told, sitting on the ground and wagging her tail while looking around.
“I’m here too!”
Ruri arrived too, carrying a cloth bundle on her back. I can easily stuff things into my large magic storage for transportation, but Ruri doesn’t have anything like that, so she has to carry everything back to Reibana manually, which made her take a bit longer to pack up.
“So our time at the Academy is finally coming to an end, huh. It felt like such a long time, but also like it was cut too short.”
“I know what you mean.”
Ruri mutters in a low voice and I agree with her. We weren’t students here, but we can still relate with the students thanks to our past life’s experiences.
“I was always looking forward to your monthly moans though, I’m gonna miss them a lot.”
“Wha-?! Wait, you could hear that?”
I’m so mortified I feel like I’m about to faint hearing that.
“It’s true that there aren’t many students in the dorms at noon on weekdays, but you shouldn’t underestimate a rabbit’s ears, you know? Don’t worry though, I was able to thoroughly enjoy it every time.”
“It was just routine maintenance! I was just cleaning my Sorcery Core, it was nothing dirty!”
“Sure…let’s go with that.”
She’s looking at me like she doesn’t trust a word I say but will go along with it, she just doesn’t get it!
“Mheh, you’re as lively as ever.”
And then Annabelle came, her perpetual faint smile present like always, and with Plum next to her.
“Miss Anabelle, shouldn’t you be at the Academy as well?”
“I’m not really in charge of any class, and all active students are staying home for today, so I came here since I had nothing better to do.”
She’s also done a lot for me. She studied under Ophelia in the past, so she passed on some of that knowledge down to me, and also taught me about alchemy and magic devices. She also helped repair my body in the past.
I probably would’ve died when I drained my Sorcery Core or after the Rufu attack if it wasn’t for her. I owe her a lot, just like I owe Ophelia.
“I’m in your debt, Miss Annabelle, you really did a lot for me.”
“Mheheh, I’m just paying back what I owe to my master. Not to mention that I got to conduct a lot of interesting research thanks to you, so don’t worry about it. Though if you really want to do something in return, I’ve been meaning to go pay my respects to her grave, would you mind guiding me there when I have the chance?”
“Of course, I’m sure she would be happy as well.”
That’s all I had to talk with Annabelle, so after that I turned to look at Plum.
“Sister.”
She’s my little sister, Plum. I feel like her face has started to soften over time, becoming less stiff and more human-like.
“I still don’t fully understand these emotions Master and Sister always talk about, but I hope one day I can feel emotion and be able to understand what it means to be me.”
“Yes, I’m looking forward to that day as well.”
Saying that I pat my sister’s emotionless head.
I feel like having a desire and a goal of what to be already counts as an emotion, but it doesn’t really mean anything if Plum herself doesn’t accept it. So I shouldn’t mention it for now.
All I can really do is cheer her on as her big sister.
“Here’s some parting gifts from me.”
I take out two vials from my magic storage and give one to Plum.
“Is this…Sister’s mana?”
“Yes, it’s the leftover mana dust left behind by my Sorcery Core as a byproduct. It might help you with some of your research.”
“Thank you very much, Sister.”
Saying that, Plum carefully takes the vial and hugs it dearly.
She’s so cute.
“Mheheh, it’s always nice watching watching a doting sister.”
“You can take one as well if you want, Miss Annabelle.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to, but I’ll gladly take one.”
Annabelle also takes one of the vials with mana dust.
“Nataliaaa.”
“I’m not giving you anything, Ruri.”
“That’s not what I meant-”
Ruri points behind us, and when I look there I see many of the first and second year students from the dorm holding flowers.
Ah, I guess they came to see Olivia off.
“Umm, Natalia, thank you for everything you’ve done for us.”
Saying that, Lola steps forward and gives me a bouquet of flowers.
Huh, for me?
“You’ve always been cleaning and cooking at the dorm, even when the dorm mother would have free days, so we’ve really been in your debt for a while. We all chimed in to get these for you.”
“B-But I was only cooking because I had to prepare something for the Young Lady, and the ingredients were all freely available. I only cleaned because I enjoy doing it too…”
“Just take it, that’s also part of good etiquette.”
I try to brush it away since it’s all part of my regular chores anyway, but then Ruri mutters next to me, and I get embarrassed at the realization.
“Okay, I’ll take it then.”
I take the bouquet and look at it. There’s all sorts of flowers in it, but the one in the center stands out the most. It looks like a white lily with a soft blue hue in the center.
“You even got a Spica Lily, my favorite.”
It’s the same flower that Olivia went out to get for me in the past. It held a special place in my heart since then. I hadn’t expected I’d receive one at a time like this.
“Thank you so much, everyone.”
I’m so happy right now. My body doesn’t have the function to cry so I can’t shed tears, but I know I’d be crying of joy if I wasn’t a magic automaton.
Eventually I see Olivia and her friends walking our way. They’re all holding their capes and staves, showing they graduated. It’ll be a while before we see some of them again, so hopefully Olivia is talking to them enough while she can.
Then I realize something and turn to look at Ruri. She’s the first person I’ve met here who reincarnated like me1, not to mention that she also happens to be a maid like me, so we have a lot in common.
Though I also end up struggling to maintain my sanity around her, and she’s always trying to grope my chest or a̲s̲s̲, so she’s caused me plenty of trouble already. But…
“Ruri.”
“Hm?”
While being careful of our surroundings, I talk to her in a low voice.
“How do I put this…being around you was pretty fun, thanks.”
She’s always messing with me, but there are times when her advice is actually useful like just earlier. I really appreciate those moments, and I feel like she’s the only friend I have who lets me be myself comfortably.
But in response she looks overcome with emotion, before quickly shutting her nose.
“Y-You just went dere mode.”
“Like hell I- I didn’t do that!”
I almost break out of character again, so I quickly amend my words.
“Hahah, sorry sorry.”
She’d really be such a sweet girl if she could only act like a normal human being though.
“I also had a blast, see you then.”
“Yeah, see you.”
While I talked to Ruri, Olivia also finished talking with her friends.
Ruri and Plum leave and go talk to Ryuka and Christina.
“I’m back.”
“Woof.”
“Will that be everything then?”
“Yeah. Though it’s not like this is the end of the road.”
Graduating closes a chapter in one’s life, but it’s not the final chapter.
“That’s true. I’m sure you’ll be seeing each other soon enough.”
Olivia’s life is barely getting started. Though for now…
“Mhm, but let’s go back home now.”
