The Newly-issued Robes

'An Advancement Ball...'

I already sent a letter to my brother about it, together with the invitation itself, carefully giving it secretly to his trusted aid while passing by them in the school corridor, but...

It doesn't make sense. I was passed out when the results came, but it was already set in stone. I failed the Test of Waning. Hence, I won't be advancing a ring at all. So, what is this invitation about? Do all the test takers get invited to it, and if so, why bother with its name?

'I hope brother sends for me soon,' I thought. 'He's the only one I can trust to tell this to...'

Groaning and lost in thought, I almost bumped into someone while walking back to my room after finally being discharged from the infirmary. The boy, also seemingly distracted in his own way, managed to jump away in the last moment before our collision.

"Woah!" Charles said as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

Halting, I turned towards him, my face transforming from surprise to shame to awkwardness. "Charles. Hi. Sorry, didn't see you there."

He gulped, the action visible from where I stood. "Well, it didn't seem like you were able to see anything around you, much less anyone..."

For a long moment, we were stuck in an uncomfortable silence, the other party not knowing what to say or what to do. It seemed like he had been standing around the door to my room, waiting for me, but he still didn't say anything. I was reprimanding myself, thinking that an adult should know better than to brood in silence, and I was about to strike a conversation when...

I caught sight of the item on his hands.

It wasn't much. Just a clear parcel of what looked to be an article of clothing, neatly folded. But, well, I instinctively knew what it was.

And quite suddenly, all thoughts of becoming the adult in the pair shattered away, and a momentary feeling of hurt passed through me, and quite obviously through my face too. Charles realized what had hurt my feelings, and even tried to hide the robes behind him, but it was too late.

I sighed after the silence grew on. "... I see they've issued your new robes now."

"... I didn't... I swear I'm not here to boast or..."

Then, probably realizing he had only made it worse, he hung his head. "I'm sorry."

Fortunately, my bout of childishness had only been temporary. In truth, I wasn't angry at him at all. I wasn't exactly happy either that he had successfully advanced to Mare Frigoris, but that might just simply be because I felt it was unfair on our team's part. But to place the blame on Charles, who was also a victim, but with different circumstances...

"Hey," I said, an easy and sincere smile forming on my face. I watched as he slowly looked up to glance at me. "What are you so sad about, huh? You almost look like a naughty kid caught stealing the baker's juiciest pie."

The corner of his lips lifted up for a bit before he frowned. "Well, I'm way worse than a common child in the aftermath of a trivial crime, aren't I? You almost died because of me."

Despite the gravity of his tone, my mood never dampened. Instead, I imagined what could've happened if I hadn't stepped in. Would he have been injured worse than I had been? Maybe he could have protected himself before it struck? Perhaps he would have even perfectly dodged that silly, makeshift knife, but...

What if he hadn't?

So, I was glad. Seeing him standing there without a scratch.

He looked utterly flabbergasted at my joyous demeanor. So I told him, "I'm happy you're okay, Charles."

He frowned even deeper. "I didn't ask you to protect me. You're not even my subject! You-"

"I would do it again," I said firmly, and when his mouth still opened to complain once more, I added, "And again and again and again."

That promptly shut him up.

Grinning, and then grabbing him up on both shoulders, I said, "Listen. I'm glad you're okay, and I'm very glad that I'm okay as well. You should be too! Come and congratulate me for healing really spectacularly!"

His frown turned into a painful grimace, and finally he turned his face away from me. "Don't... Don't do that again. Not for me."

I snorted. "Don't go flattering yourself, Prince. I'd do the same for all of my bestest friends, not that I've got too many... But, well, I always have your backs, that's all I want to say- Wha?!"

Before I could finish, he had engulfed me in a tight hug, and with my hands initially on his shoulders, I had no choice but to link it around his neck while his own gloved hands wound around my waist and his head on my neck. I blushed, knowing how dangerously intimate this would have been had we not been outwardly children and outwardly male.

"I'm so, so sorry," he whispered, his breath warm against my skin. "I'm so happy you're alright. I got angry, and... I might have ridiculed our friendship that way, but..."

Forgetting my brazen flustering, I sighed in defeat. Comfortingly, I gently patted him on his head, my fingers soon playing around with his gentle curls. I muttered, "I know. I wouldn't want to place you in that position either. I promise to be more careful in the future."

He nodded, his hair tickling my cheeks. "Me too. I promise too..."

Giggling from the sweet moment just as much as from the unintentional tickling, I pulled away first, sporting a wide grin. He too slowly started to smile.

"See you around, Charles," I said, already backing away and fixing my key to my room's door. When it clicked open, I tilted my head at the silent boy. "That's if we still get to have the same classes next cycle."

He smiled lopsidedly. "Knowing you, you'll still have loads of advanced classes, so yes, we'll see each other still."

Giving him another smile and a hasty goodnight, I turned the knob and entered the room before my foolishly reddening cheeks could be noticed.

~~

It turns out that the Academy holds a two week break between cycles. Although there were several cases when longer cycles allowed longer breaks, this time they didn't grant one. After all, this cycle was notably short, barely five months really. So, two weeks seemed like a long enough time for rest.

Of course, many nobles still complained about it, claiming they needed more time to visit their home fiefs and kingdoms, but their words held no power and substance to the Academy. With that, noble children and teenagers left the school grounds one by one, parading out in fancy carriages. Surprisingly, Albert also left even before I had woken up from my wounds, leaving behind a five page letter of apology. Only Joren, Charles, and I were left in the Academy. Charles, of course, still had to attend the Advancement Ball, which was always held during the break, and Joren said that the expenditure for going back and forth to Saule Kingdom would be enormous and wouldn't be worth it. Giving out the same excuse as Joren's, no one really batted an eye about my stay in the Academy. Only my brother really knew about the letter of invitation I had received.

Now, I was finally going to speak with him.