"The deadline is two days from now on. I want you to write a letter of apology on this piece of paper along with Akabane Hina".


    Teacher Lee''s ultimatum descended upon the office where he used to work. Two pieces of nk paper appeared from thin air as Teacher Lee took it from his storage.


    The paper was nk with a vertical line that asked Soma and Hina to write the letter using their respectivenguage.


    Soma took the papers sprawled on the table, and its smooth and stic material made Soma raise his brows in amazement because this was the first time he found such a good quality paper.


    "But teacher Lee, why must Soma and Red Hair be punished?".


    Xiao Lian, who saw Soma ept the paper as if it were normal, opened her mouth and interjected from the side, attracting the other gaze to her.


    "Xiao Lian, that''s enough. It''s okay. I don''t mind it. This punishment was rather softpared to what I had done".


    Soma starts to state his opinion regarding his punishment to calm Xiao Lian''s outburst. He grabbed Xiao Lian''s upper palm, making her body jolt in surprise. But because of that, Soma noticed the slight tense expression she got loosened slightly.


    "Yes, It was like Soma had to say. I implore him to do this punishment because in one of the academy guides. ''A student should not use magic outside teacher supervision unless it were urgent''".


    "Mm, this case was beyond urgent, though?".


    Xiao Lian, who still seemed not to get it, tilted her head, making Soma smile wryly.


    "Xiao Lian. Listen, what if the other students, especially a first year, heard that demons had infiltrated the academy? They would create chaos without a doubt, and the punishment is simply for camouge to cover the whole picture".


    "...I see".


    Soma nodded his head and loosened his facial muscles to see Xiao Lian, who also began to see the bigger picture of the incident.


    "I see. Then I also want to take one of the papers".


    The room turned silent as Xiao Lian''s remarks entered their ears. Soma was beside her, his face stiff, spreading his lips to the side. He showed his broad smile with closed eyes, shocked by Xiao Lian''s sudden outburst. Soma opened his eyes and spoke.


    "What are you doing, Xiao Lian? This has nothing to do with you".


    "...No, the spear I lent you is enough proof of my crime in helping you use magic outside the teacher''s supervision".


    "Xiao Lian, you…".


    "...".


    "Don''t worry, Soma. Let''s write it together!".


    Xiao Lian suddenly pumped up, clenched her free hand and let the other stare helplessly, seeing her stance. Soma is the one who feels bewildered here about her choice despite only bing a spectator on the corner, but she is willing to risk it with her friend.


    "Thank you, Xiao Lian".


    "Then, I also…".


    "So, where is my paper?!".


    From the side, Leon, who stood on his toes, raised his right hand and tried to express his mind but got interrupted as Xiao Lian crashed his resolve, making Leon take back his seat and sip the lukewarm tea while hiding his embarrassment.


    "Bhahahahaha,,, Good, Xiao Lian, you have some guts. I am truly d I teach you guys in ss A. Here you go!".


    Teacher Lee took another nk piece of paper with vertical lines as he nodded his head and saw Xiao Lian receive the paper before storing it away inside her storage. The same also applied to Soma.


    "All of you, thanks for apanying me and the information you gave me. This will be a good medicine for the ce that hascked security for the past years because of the moment of peace. Don''t forget that I will collect it in two days. Come to my office if you guys have finished".


    "Yes, teacher".


    "Mm".


    "Good, all of you go ahead and rest your body. Dismiss!".


    ***


    After finishing their business in teacher Lee''s office, the four of them walked in the hallways onward to the medical room, where Lucy and Hina are currently.


    Usually, at this time, the students must have no authority to enter the academy building. Still, only today, Teacher Lee permitted them because of the incident that happened earlier.


    As they stood in front of a brown wooden door with simple decorations that greeted them, Soma, who was in front, twisted the door handle before pushing it forward, and with a creaked sound, the door opened a big enough gap, letting him enter inside followed by the other.


    The room''s interior features abination of white and soothing colors to create a calm atmosphere. Multiplefortable beds are ced near the wall with enough gaps and covered with white linens. In the corner of the room, there is a sturdy desk and chair for the nurse or medical staff, who is nowhere to be seen.


    There are many tools on the desk, such as aputer, medical forms, and a phone, for emergencies.


    Shelves and cabs along the opposite walls are stocked with medical supplies. First aid kits are also readily essible for quick response to minor injuries. The other corner room has a small sink with soap and hand sanitizer avable for maintaining hygiene, and a waste disposal bin, including a separate container.


    Soma stood dumbfounded upon witnessing the room as a thought emerged from his mind. "As expected from the prestigious academy. The medical room is already like a mini hospital itself".


    "Who is it?".


    A melodious voice echoed inside the room, apanied by sliding linen and appeared behind the linens. Lucy and Hina sat upright, having a st in their time together.


    "Hina! Are you okay?".


    "Soma, thanks to senior Lucy, I have been healed".


    "Don''t push yourself".


    "Yeah, thanks".


    The visitors began to approach the bed where Hina was sitting and began to speak about the discussion with Teacher Lee.


    "I see. So teacher Lee wants this case hidden from the other students. I think it was good enough. Thanks for the exnation, Sera".


    "It''s okay. Rather, this was a good experience for us to strengthen the security around the Academy so that another incident wouldn''t happen. We have the duty to protect this ce because of the absence of the other senior".


    "Fufu, you are right".


    The two seniors talked about things from the student council''s perspectives. Soma turned his gaze and saw Hina and Xiao Lian at a close distance. Each of their hand held a nk piece of paper while Xiao Lian exined what they should do for the past two days.


    "So, I must write a letter of apology for breaking the academy rules?".


    "Mm, it seems so".


    "This is ridiculous".


    "You are right. Ipletely agree with you".


    "So you also received one Soma? along with Silver hair?".


    Soma nodded his head with a wry smile on his face.


    "Don''t be mean like that, Hina. You know Xiao Lian spoke for me and volunteered herself to be punished the same as us".


    "Eh, you do that?".


    "Mm, with this, I can have a reason to be close with Soma".


    "Oh, so that is your true reason, huh? Since when have you be this shameless?".


    The two of them, as usual, began to enter their usual warm banter, which made Soma''s facial faces loosen, seeing their close interaction like sisters.


    While the quiet room began to regain its color with the appearance of women in ce, making the two males who stood side by side fade, submerging themselves into the background.


    Soma, who saw his close people, could smile like that. It was already a good reward for him. Then his body twitched as he felt a slight tug from his sleeves, and he found Leon urging him to separate from the girl for a moment.


    Without noticing the girl, Soma nodded his head and left the ce and Stood beside the wall near the selves. The smell of antiseptic and medicine flew around the ce, making his nose twitch in disturbances.


    "I''m sorry for the cowardly act I showed to you, and because of that, I made Miss Akabane almost lose her life".


    Leon bent his torso ny degrees before Soma with a heartfelt apology. Soma''s expressions turn grave. However, Leon shouldn''t be faulted because the one in the wrong is Mary, not him. Soma sighed, shifted his mindset, and then spoke.


    "Raise your body, Leon, you aren''t at fault. Let this incident be a lesson for you, and next time, have more confidence in yourself and the abilities you honed all those years. Because you have the strength to do what you want, and I guarantee it".


    Soma ced his right hand on Leon''s shoulder, squeezing it tight, and lifted Leon to meet Soma''s gaze.


    "...Soma".


    Leon looked Soma in the eyes, and his gaze turned blurry because of the words Soma had said to him. He clenched his right fist before cing it on his left chest and gave his respect toward soma.


    From the day he was still a child. Leon had never gained a word offort or encouragement from his parents, especially his father. The one who always gave him all the attention he wanted was histe grandpa, who had already passed away long ago.


    The current head of the Camelot, his father, who had a rigid personality, pressured Leon''s mental fortitude and thus became the first omen of his weakened mentality.


    "Haha, you truly are something, Soma. I genuinely respect you".


    "Thanks, I''ll dly ept it".


    "Excuse me".


    A gentle and melodious voice brought the attention of the two males, who had a serious talk. They jerked their heads simultaneously and saw Lucy and Serafina side by side approaching their ce, especially Soma''s side.


    "What''s the matter, seniors?".


    Soma''sposed tone made Lucy''s body twitch in shock. She nced to her side and found Serafina nodding her head to give her a slight push about the thing she wanted to say.


    "...Um, I apologize about the rude thing I said to you back then".


    "...Rude? Which one?".


    "?! It was when you rejected my offer, and I lost myposure for a bit because of how egotistically you are. You already forget that?".


    Lucy lifted her gaze slightly and met Soma''s in the eyes while bloating her brows in bewilderment.


    "Oh, About that? I don''t mind it too much. In fact, I already forgot it".


    Soma, who acts oblivious, waves his right hand and dismisses the conversation, prompting him to move his feet from the ce and approach Hina and Xiao Lian.


    "Well, thank you for that. Fufu, You seem to like what Hina had described".


    "Hina did?!".


    When Hina was called, Soma halted and turned his gaze at Hina, who seemed still bantering with Xiao Lian. He chuckled and spoke.


    "Hmph, well, I don''t care what sort of things you heard from her, but don''t be a bber mouth and spread my life to someone else, especially her!".


    "Fufu, I will take note of that".


    Soma pointed his index finger toward Serafina, who was dumbfounded by the situation.


    "Eh, what is this? I have been meaning to ask you this. But, Soma, why are you acting so cold toward me? I''m sad, you know!".


    Shocked at being mentioned, Serafina closed her distance from Soma, embraced his left hand, and pressed it against her bountiful chest, making Soma''s heart leap inbound.


    The soft and springy texture that squeezed his hand made blood gather at some point in his body.


    [Extra Skill Puppeteer activated]


    "Get off me!".


    "Why, tell me the reason? I want to know it!".