The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

I don’t have particularly fond memories of my school days.

But then again, I don’t have any particularly bad memories either. I just went to school like everyone else, got through it, and graduated without much fuss. My grades were neither outstanding nor terrible, and I’d like to think I managed to make a few friends along the way.

Though, I never did manage to get a girlfriend.

I was an otaku, and my friends were otaku as well. We didn’t travel anywhere far together, but we did attend related events as a group, pooled money to buy manga, or headed to PC rooms after exams.

Looking back, those memories seem insignificant compared to the things I’ve experienced here at the Academy. None of those memories were vivid enough to remember the exact dates, and out of those friends I once hung out with, I could count the ones I kept in touch with on one hand. I even struggled to recall some of their faces or names.

Still, perhaps because this is a school for teenagers as well, I sometimes found myself reminiscing about those days.

“We’ll be parting ways for a little while,” said Charlotte, the first to break the silence.

Just like in my old world, the school closed early for exams. Taking advantage of the free time, we all decided to hang out and wander around.

We strolled through the streets outside the Academy, not doing much, then spent some time in a café, sipping tea and eating parfaits. We chatted about trivial things and shared laughter over mundane topics that I barely remember now.

It hadn’t seemed like long, but before we knew it, the sun was setting, painting the sky with a warm red glow.

“You’re going back to Lutetia?” Alice asked.

“Yes, I am. After all, I’m the princess of Velbur,” Charlotte replied, with a faint smile as if feeling a bit wistful.

“But we’ll see each other again soon, right? Summer break isn’t that long,” she added.

The break was just over a month, so barring any unforeseen events, we would all reunite for the second semester.

However, on further thought, it also meant that after graduation, meeting up wouldn’t be so simple.

If Charlotte were merely one of Velbur’s nobility and not the princess, she might have been able to visit Rondarium for a few days each year, reconnecting with Alice over tea, catching up, and parting ways again.

But, both Alice and Charlotte were important figures in their respective imperial and royal families. Although not yet officially announced, Alice was a strong candidate for the throne, and Charlotte had no siblings to share her royal responsibilities.

“...”

Alice’s expression darkened as if the same thoughts had crossed her mind.

...If events followed the original storyline, these two would become enemies. Though Alice, in her efforts to end the war, would reconcile with Charlotte, the peace wouldn’t last long.

Charlotte noticed Alice’s expression and suddenly extended her hand.

“Then, I’ll see you after the break. And if you ever come to visit Lutetia again... I’ll make sure you get a taste of Velbur’s cuisine, which is far more diverse and flavorful than that of the Empire,” she teased, as if daring her.

Alice finally broke into a smile.

Holding Charlotte’s hand, she replied, “The Empire’s cuisine is improving a lot. Come back in about ten years, and even a Velburian won’t be able to look down on it.”

Charlotte shrugged playfully.

“Lena, you’re returning to the Autonomous Region, right?” I asked.

“That’s correct. My belongings are already packed,” Lena replied, standing at attention. Even in this weather, she wasn’t wearing short sleeves. It was as if she thought wearing lighter clothing might somehow diminish her military spirit.

Not that Lena was immune to the heat.

In fact, coming from a cooler region, this weather likely wasn’t easy for her. I noticed a slight sheen of sweat on the back of her neck.

“I’ll make sure to train hard so that by the second semester, I won’t be a burden to Your Highness.”

It seemed Lena hadn’t fully gotten over the fact that we went to another dungeon without her in June. She hadn’t openly shown any resentment, but she must have felt that her lack of skill was to blame.

Lena’s grades weren’t low by any means, though.

“...Um...”

When Lena hesitated, speaking with a cautious tone, I was a bit surprised. She rarely displayed such hesitation, especially not in front of others.

After fidgeting for a moment, she looked at me and asked timidly, “Would it be all right... if I wrote to you?”

I nearly laughed.

Honestly, I hadn’t done anything particularly deserving of Lena’s admiration. If anything, the only time I had interacted with her in that way was running through the training grounds in her presence, yet that one moment seemed to have left a strong impression on her.

She’d already held me in high regard after hearing about my exploits on the battlefield, and seeing me in action had likely solidified that view.

“Of course.”

At my response, Lena’s lips curled up slightly in a rare smile.

---

We didn’t accompany them to the train station. With so many students leaving for the Academy break, the place would already be packed, and the appearance of two princesses would have practically shut it down.

Charlotte would be in a private compartment, and Lena would be on a train heading north, but they would depart from the same station. Normally, if they were leaving the relatively secure Academy grounds for a busy, anonymous public area, they’d need a retinue of guards.

Airships weren’t yet used for civilian travel, and while passenger planes were being developed, they hadn’t been commercialized yet. So, we said our goodbyes within the Academy grounds.

“Well... I’ll be on my way, then,” Mia Crowfield said in her soft, slightly timid voice.

“You did well. We really appreciated your help,” Alice told her.

“Oh, no... it was nothing...”

Mia blushed and bowed her head at Alice’s words.

Then—

“...”

She looked over at me with a somewhat complicated expression.

“Thank you... for everything,” she said, bowing her head.

She wasn’t holding her staff. It was the last day, after all, and students weren’t allowed to carry weapons around campus.

But the blue gemstone that would normally be shining at the tip of her staff was still something I had given her.

It occurred to me that this gemstone was something she likely wouldn’t have been able to acquire even at this point.

Given that, I suppose her expression made sense.

“You worked hard, too,” I replied, bowing my head slightly to Mia. She looked at me, a bit taken aback, before hastily turning and hurrying off.

“You don’t need to say goodbye to me,” came a lighthearted voice from behind me.

I turned to see Jake, with his ever-loyal maid by his side.

“We’ll be staying an extra day before heading out.”

Even with two princesses present, Jake’s casual attitude didn’t change. His maid, Lottie, gave him a disapproving look, but he seemed completely unaffected.

“Still, a farewell is a farewell,” Alice said. “We’re planning to leave today as well.”

“Oh, really?”

Jake seemed unfazed, as if wondering why they were in such a hurry since they were all staying in the same city.

“It’s better to get things done early since we’re already here. And even if we leave first, our belongings can stay for a while longer, can’t they?”

After all, it’s not like we’ll be the ones moving them ourselves.

“Is that so?”

Jake likely wanted to stay back for a day to spend more time with Lottie.

“Well then, let’s say our goodbyes now. See you in the second semester,” I said.

“Come back as a slightly more grounded man next time,” Alice added with a smirk, to which Jake just laughed heartily.

---

“Th-then...” Leo stammered, looking rather nervous.

“As the future head of the Grace family, I would like to formally invite both princesses to our estate.”

“...”

Alice looked at him with an amused, slightly exasperated expression.

“There’s no need to be so formal, Leo. Even among nobles, friends can keep things casual.”

“Oh, r-right...” 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

“Actually, you don’t even need to be so polite—never mind,” Alice sighed, while Claire rubbed her forehead.

“Well, since you’ve extended such a formal invitation,” Alice said, a mischievous glint in her eye, moving toward Leo and lightly holding the edges of her skirt.

“I will be happy to accept it.”

She offered a graceful, yet playful, curtsy by placing one leg slightly behind and bending her knees just enough, all while keeping her head high.

It was no surprise that Leo’s face turned an even deeper shade of red.