4.20.

"Congratulations on your win!!" Schwii jumped towards him, and he accepted her embrace.

"Congratulations," Leticia said with a dazzling smile.

"You did well man. Good job," Daizo went up to nudge his shoulders.

"I knew you could do it. Now all we need to do is open up ten bottles of champagne to celebrate!" Nynim shouted.

"Seriously.." Quora looked at the alcohol-crazed elf with a raised brow.

The award ceremony was going to be held on the same date as the one for the New Dawn Series. So starting next week, the real tournaments will officially begin.

BAamm!!

A cloud of dust forced Schwii and Sequencee to part.

"Oh my gawd! Congratulations on your win, I'm so proud of you!!" Judy the mage grabbed both Sequencee's hands and shook it up and down.

"Y-Yeah."

"That's a great performance. Especially the last part. I had the same thought that the weakness of the barrier is in its inability to handle a large sample of attacks coming at it from different points."

"Rather. I think it's because they already ran out of mana? We just got lucky, I think.."

"No such thing. Don't demean yourself, you did well," Judy tapped her staff on Sequencee's shoulders. "Are you not celebrating with the rest of the ensemble?"

"I had a couple slices of cake earlier. But I have these people waiting for me, so I left early," Sequencee swept a gaze over everyone.

"Is that so?" Judy showed a smirk.

"If you'd like, you can join us for our celebration, Instructor Judy," Nynim said with a smile.

"Thank you for the invitation, I think I'll pass. I was heading over to find the conductor to wish him congratulations when I saw Sequencee. Well then, since you're going to be celebrating together, I'll be headed off first. Enjoy the rest of your evening," saying so, Judy left the scene.

"Why does she always have to appear from the sky?" Schwii muttered a question, gazing upwards.

"Who knows.." Sequencee drawled.

"Where should we celebrate? Mochi Corner?"

"How about the cafeteria instead?"

"Or could we grab something and celebrate it in our dorm? I don't have my champagne on me."

"Then you go grab your champagne then."

"We could always order a new one," Dorry said.

"Good idea!"

"Then Mochi Corner or cafeteria?"

"Sequencee, what do you think?"

"Let's go to Mochi Corner."

They chatted as they went. As they made their way back to the academy, many pedestrians that saw Sequencee would show acknowledgement by expressing a light nod, wave or trying to talk to him. Fortunately, Sequencee was in a large group, and that itself deterred most of those that wished to converse with him.

'So this is what it's like to be known. It's kind of scary actually.'

The attention he was getting was quite excessive. He came to sympathize with the two heroes a bit.

===

"OPEN SESAME!!"

Pop!

A fountain of wine exploded from the cork. The liquid swirled in the air before landing into the glass.

"Cheers to Riestallia's ensemble!" Nynim said.

""CHEERS!""

The rowdy ones in Mochi Corner. Though, the waiters here didn't seem to mind the celebratory mood. Those students that came to simply enjoy the food were also drawn by the atmosphere. It would be soon that they learned Riestallia Academy had clinched the top prize for the New Dawn Magic Showdown.

A feast of hero-culture inspired food fusion– mountainous desert that was as high as a foot they would have to share to complete. Two bottles of wine which had been mostly drunk by Nynim.

And as routine would have it, Sequencee had to sober her up everytime she got drunk.

"What are you going to do about your brother?" Schwii asked Leticia.

"Why are you still on this topic.." Leticia groaned.

"Your behavior now is nothing like your usual. Call it curious. Otherwise, I'm simply concerned about your relationship with your family."

"So? You wish for my brother and I to make up?"

"Not necessarily. I had the thought that perhaps you could at least tell him how you feel in earnest?"

"I did try to do that. It only led to a mess."

".. Hm.."

"Why do you ask? Because Sequencee told you a lot about my problems?"

"He's concerned. Of course I would be too."

".. really now?" Leticia forced a tiny spoon of the ice cream cake into her mouth.

Schwii nodded.

"Topics like these are best discussed some other time. We're having a celebration here," Quora interjected.

Schwii titled her head.

Leticia heaved a sigh.

She looked towards Sequencee who was attending to the students that just happened to know him as one of the mages that won.

'Some day.. I have to stand on my own..'

Leticia swept a glance over the entire interior of the bar. The bright mood had only become sullen thanks to Schwii's arbitrary question.

'I'm I doing the right thing? Will things be better if I never met him anymore?'

Given a choice to run away or confront her problems, she chose to run. Was it an honorable decision? Would facing her past directly be a better option?

Was she concerned about her brother? What else could her brother want from her? Why was it that he wanted her to come back?

"I won't force you to one or the other. Just pick one that's best for you. While I may not be familiar with the politics here, I do know that family is the most important part of one's life."

"Only because you still have one."

"..."

'Right. Because of the demons, I lost my family.. how silly is it that I'm talking to the demon race that started it all.'

"Come on now.." Quora prodded the two girls.

"I shouldn't have asked, sorry," Schwii got up and walked towards Sequencee.

Leticia watched as her presence became the new limelight. A conflicted feeling swelled in her heart. Who was she to act so brazen in front of others? What right did she have to whine even if she had family issues?

She was once of the noble society, so things like being mistreated, verbally abused, and family feuds should be expected. Would she have liked to be part of the lesser percentage of the population who had to suffer through hunger, physical abuse and poverty?

===

"You know. Perhaps it would be best to leave Leticia's issue aside. She isn't keen on opening up about the matter," Schwii said.

"She isn't. I've already decided to not bring it up to her, so don't worry about it."

"That's good to know."

They had split from Leticia's group to return first. There was still class tomorrow, so they couldn't stay up too late.. well, that was Schwii's justification. Sequencee would train as usual every other night.

"I wonder if there are topics like that between us?"

"Hm? What do you mean by that?"

"Taboo topics, the kinds that we won't be able to come to terms with no matter how we try."

".. perhaps," Schwii said.

There were certains things that shouldn't be said between two individuals. The same was true for lovers. As much as Schwii would like to be completely honest with Sequencee, one of the more dangerous topics to talk about would be his mother. Another which she had been annoyed by was how Sequencee doesn't sleep enough.

"Like how you don't sleep. It's going to hurt your body."

"Yeah, definitely a landmine.."

"You're not going to listen to me, are you?"

"Likely not.."

"Once we've crossed the first line, I'll make sure to do you good in bed every night. Since you're so adamant on moving your body at these sorts of times," Schwi huffed.

"..Really.."

"Yes really.."

"Your ears are red now."

"You should look in the mirror yourself."

"So, what's going to be for breakfast tomorrow?"

"Dodging the topic I see.. we just had dinner and you're thinking about Iona's food already? Really.." Schwii showed a wry smile.

"What would you like to have tomorrow?" Iona asked.

"Maybe the cutlet with gravy on rice? The one you did a couple days ago."

"I'm starting to miss Ro and Lilian's presence," Schwii said.

"It's been a while.. right. They should be back in another two weeks, probably."

"Speaking of which, besides Leticia, were you ever close to anyone else?"

Light conversation topics like these filled their attention. Moving into a sparse area of garden plants, the darkness of night shrouding the world–

"Ara, we meet.."

"Milady!"

Swoosh–

The saccharine voice faded as the figure melted back into the darkness.

Iona, who had her black dagger out, stood in between them.

Everyone stopped moving.

"Jeez. What did I ever do to you guys?!" the sweet voice echoed.

"What's going on..?" Schwii asked. Sequencee had covered her eyes with his hands, he himself was looking down at the ground, avoiding her eyes.

"Reese."

"So you remember me? What a privilege. Congratulation on your win Sequencee," she giggled.

"Reese? Who?"

"The cardinal."

"Do I need to bring you more offerings? Should I present some of my follower's lives to celebrate your.."

"Can you stop with all that? What do you want?" Sequencee interrupted her.

"Why are you being so harsh with your senior? I only came to say hello to an idol of mine," Reese smiled.

'I seriously don't get how her brain works.'

"Permission to neutralize threat," Iona's bloodlust leaked.

"No. Don't."

"I'm not here to brainwash anyone! I'm just a normal student, I'm a normal student. Why not just lift your head and take a peek?"

"Leave at once," Iona demanded.

"Why..? Because I'm a threat? Trust me, I don't mean any harm."

"If people knew you could brainwash them, people would just avoid you," Sequencee said.

"Only very few people know this. It's not like I use it at random, otherwise everyone would treat me how you treat me. Open your eyes, trust me," she pleaded.

"Don't do it," Iona's voice resounded.

"I'm sorry to be rude, but we'll leave first. Thanks for the congratulations.. you're joining the tournament, right?"

"Yup. So cheer me on just I did for you alright?"

".. right."

"What a boring answer. I'll look forward to seeing you cheer for me then."

".. right.."

Despite not looking up, Sequencee could see her shoes and black socks from his angle.

'I wonder how she looks like in her school uniform?'

The urge to peek once seized him.

"You know, I should've asked you this question much earlier. Is the hero handsome? You must've seen him a couple times more than I have. Does he look good? Should I have a child with him?"

'What the hell..? I need to warn Shiro about this.. don't I?'

Schwii tightened her grip around Sequencee's arm.

"Permission to neutralize the threat," Iona demanded again.

"Reese, if there's nothing else, we'll be leaving."

"Won't you at least raise your head to look at me once? You've never seen me as a normal human."

"..."

One Step. Two step.

She approached.

"If you don't trust me, then I shall allow your maid to cover my eyes? You look really great holding the body of your girlfriend like that. Makes me wonder how her body feels, must be nice, caressing her like that.."

Schwii flinched.

Sequencee slowly raised his head.

Black shoes, black stockings, black pleated skirt, black blazer, white collared shirt underneath with a black tie fixing things in place. Her loosely flowing black hair swayed to the night wind, golden eyes curled. She wasn't wearing a veil, revealing her actual face to him.

He glared at her.

She parted her pink lips.