Elena had been with me during the fight against Clarisse, so she understood the situation better than anyone. Still, being the responsible student she was, she couldn't ignore the mountain of work waiting for her.

"Then you'll be pretty busy for a while," I said.

"That's right. So… I don't think I'll be able to study with you. I'm sorry."

"No, no, it's fine! Really."

Lisa waved her hands quickly, not wanting to make things harder for Elena.

"Well, we'll get going now."

The moment her eyes drifted toward the towering pile of documents stacked beside the desk, she grabbed my arm and practically pulled me out of the room before she could start feeling guilty.

"Sigh…"

We ended up in a quiet park—just a small stretch of greenery tucked away between dorm buildings, with barely anyone passing by. Lisa dropped onto a bench and exhaled deeply, shoulders drooping.

"At this rate… am I really going to get kicked out of the Academy?"

Her voice trembled just a little, though she tried to hide it with a laugh.

To be honest, she wasn't wrong to worry. Studying all the exam material alone in just three days was nearly impossible. Even I couldn't think of a realistic solution that didn't involve some sort of miracle.

So if we wanted a chance, we needed help.

Not just anyone's help—

someone smart, efficient, and reliable.

Someone who actually had good grades.

And among the people I knew…

There was only one person who matched that description.

----

"So what you're asking me is…"

I found Viola in the library—the same one Lisa and I had been wandering around earlier—and approached her directly.

"My friend here failed her exam. I was wondering if you could help her."

Viola's quiet gaze shifted to Lisa, who was awkwardly scratching her cheek like a student caught doing something embarrassing. I gestured toward her, and Viola studied her with that unreadable expression she always wore.

"If it's Louis's request, I'll accept."

After a brief moment of silence, Viola finally nodded. Lisa let out a visible sigh of relief, almost sagging in place from the tension.

"Well then, good luck, you two. I'm leaving," I said, brushing my hands off like my part in this was finished.

As far as I was concerned, it was finished. Viola agreed, Lisa would get help, and now I could return to my quiet dorm and rest.

Or so I thought.

"Wait…!!"

Lisa grabbed my sleeve sharply. I stopped and turned around.

"What?"

"Um… could you stay with us?"

She kept sneaking glances at Viola—like a nervous rabbit checking if the predator had noticed. It didn't take a genius to understand. Viola's calm, almost emotionless demeanor could feel intimidating to someone meeting her properly for the first time.

Lisa was practically begging me with her eyes.

"…Really? You want me to stay?"

Lisa nodded so fast it looked like her head might come off.

But I didn't hesitate.

"I don't want to."

I had no reason to stay here and study with them. Before she could cling to me again, I brushed off her hand and turned around, ready to leave without looking back.

But then—

"I'll grant you one wish later…!!"

My footsteps stopped.

"…A wish?"

"Yes! One wish. Anything you want. So stay and study with us."

She puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms as if her offer was the most natural thing in the world.

Her words hit a nerve.

A wish.

Anything.

My mind wandered back to what had happened not long ago—the moment I used that strange ability during the fight with Clarisse. A power I still didn't understand. A power that felt like something out of a nightmare… or a blessing. The power of the devil.

It was undeniably strong. Dangerous, but strong.

If I could control it—no, if I could reliably use it—it would be an incredible advantage when diving into dungeons to retrieve items later.

And Lisa…

Lisa was the one who awakened that power inside me in the first place.

If anyone could grant me another opportunity to access that ability—

It would be her.

My fingers twitched slightly as I looked back at her.

She watched me with expectant eyes, nervous but hopeful, like a puppy waiting for approval.

A wish.

One wish I could ask for anything.

Suddenly, staying didn't sound so pointless anymore.

After doing some quick calculations, I sat down at the desk.

"Alright. Let's start studying."

"…You're such a materialist, Louis."

"I'm not a materialist," I muttered. "I just make rational decisions."

Lisa shot me an annoyed look but opened her book anyway.

As the two of us bickered, Viola—who had been silently observing from the side—finally spoke.

"You two speak so casually to each other."

"Because we're friends…?" I replied.

"Then Lisa, you must be close with Louis."

"Y-yeah? I guess? W-well… we're the same age too, so you could speak comfortably with me as well," Lisa said, sounding strangely nervous.

"No. I'm comfortable talking this way," Viola answered calmly.

"R-really? Then…"

"Lisa, you can speak informally to me if you want. It's just that I'm not used to speaking that way."

"Th-then I'll talk informally…"

"…Alright."

And that was it.

The conversation died off in the most awkward way possible.

Lisa awkwardly opened her book again, following Viola's lead. The room fell silent, broken only by the soft sound of pages turning. I swallowed quietly, feeling the heaviness in the air.

The atmosphere was so stiff it felt like we were suffocating in it.

Fortunately, it didn't last forever.

"You can solve this formula like this," Viola said, pointing at Lisa's book.

"Oh! I see. Then… what about this part?"

"That one works like this…"

As the two of them leaned closer, their conversation gradually grew more natural. The tension slowly melted away, replaced by the rhythm of explanations, questions, and the occasional small laugh.

And just like that, our study session carried on—

until late into the night.

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