Egisia Academy, Dean’s Office.

“Whew! Finally wrapped today’s work. I’m beat.”

She set the files down; Melusa leaned back like a reed in wind and stretched, spine arcing like a bow.

“The first day of term always drains me. Forget it—I’m heading home for a hot soak.”

She kneaded her sore shoulders, like trying to ease knots in damp rope, and walked toward the door.

Just as Melusa reached the threshold—

“Dean Melusa, pardon me. I’m here to intrude again.”

The door pushed open with a soft scrape, and a man in a purple-gold imperial robe and crown stepped in like a storm in velvet.

“Your Majesty, I was just going to rest. Don’t tell me you came to pile more work on me?”

Melusa looked at him and sighed, weary as late rain on slate.

“Er—sorry. I did come to add to your workload.”

Eastern Moon Aotian smiled, an apologetic curve like sunlight dodging clouds.

“All right—what is it this time?”

Melusa sank back into her chair and pointed at the seat opposite, inviting Aotian to sit like placing a piece in a quiet game.

“It’s nothing big.”

Aotian took the seat and spoke, awkward as a student caught out: “I need you to process an enrollment. Just one more favor.”

“Please. Term’s started—why any enrollment now? Who is it?”

Since Aotian had come himself, Melusa didn’t cut him off; her tone hovered like a swallow under eaves.

“This time, it’s also from the Mizumi Clan.”

“What?!”

He’d barely finished when Melusa shot to her feet, surprise flaring like a struck match.

“For centuries, people of the Mizumi Clan rarely left the Central Continent. Why are so many out at once this year?”

Her brows knotted like twined threads.

“It’s simple.”

Aotian rubbed his nose with a rueful smile, boyish as spring wind: “Yumigawa-kun went traveling. His sister and elder sister couldn’t stand being apart and went to find him.”

“Er… that simple?”

“Mm. Just that simple.”

His shrug was light, like a leaf letting go.

“Fine then.”

Others she could refuse, but the Mizumi Clan? That gate stayed open like a lantern on a festival night.

“Your Majesty, the uniforms will be delivered to your Proud Moon Palace tomorrow. Have them come the day after.”

Melusa yielded, breaking precedent like frost cracking underfoot.

“All right, I’ll take my leave.”

“Take care—no need to see you out.”

Time slid by like water; the next day rose on silent feet.

At seven in the morning, Proud Moon Palace.

“Miss Yumigawa, your enrollment’s complete. Here are your uniforms.”

Eastern Moon Aotian carried a paper bag, rustling like dry leaves, into the manor hall where Yumigawa Senki and the others stayed.

“Thanks. So we can go to Egisia Academy today?”

Senki took the bag, eyes steady like moonlight on steel.

“No, prepare today. Tomorrow you can go. If that’s all, I’ll be off.”

His words fell neat, like stones across a stream.

“Sure. Go on.”

Senki nodded; Aotian turned and left, robe flowing like a quiet tide.

“Qianji Sister, what were you talking about?”

A minute after he left, Yumigawa Nozomi stepped out, freshly awake, hair mussed like soft clouds after rain.

“Nothing much—enrollment’s done. Tomorrow we’ll go to Egisia Academy to find the Emperor. Here, the uniforms arrived.”

Qianji Sister lifted the bag, the gesture clean as a drawn line.

“Really?! Great—tomorrow I’ll see my big brother.”

Nozomi’s smile burst like spring blossoms; she dashed to Senki, feet light as sparrows.

“Oh! So this is Egisia’s uniform? It’s gorgeous.”

She pulled out a set, silk whispering like water, then looked at Senki. “Qianji Sister, want to try it? You’d look stunning.”

“I’ll pass.”

Senki shook her head, firm as a locked scabbard. “I’m not used to those floaty skirts.”

“What a pity. You’re so beautiful, but you rarely wear skirts.”

Nozomi sighed, eyes tracing Senki’s blue-and-white women’s knight gear and thigh-high boots—an elegant blade sheathed in sea and sky.

“What’s there to pity?”

Senki’s smile was cool as dawn. “Skirts get in the way.”

“Fair enough. This look suits you too.”

Nozomi eyed her up close, admiration blooming like lantern-light. Knight’s cloth with high boots made a sharp pairing—and Senki herself was a rare beauty.

“It’s early—why the ruckus?!”

Elyar walked out rubbing her eyes, a yawn unspooling like mist.

“Ah, Elyar, you’re up.”

Nozomi hugged the uniform and scampered to her, feet pattering like rain. “Elyar, this is Egisia’s uniform. Pretty, right?”

“Mm, pretty. So what?”

Elyar glanced at it, calm as a pond, and tilted her head.

“Want to try it?”

Nozomi offered the set, both hands like a small altar.

Elyar shook her head, gentle as falling snow. “White doesn’t suit me. So Littlesky, you wear it. White loves you.”

“Oh, got it. Then fine.”

Seeing Qianji Sister and Elyar decline, Nozomi slid the uniform back into the bag, paper sighing like reeds.

“I’m hungry. Let’s grab breakfast.”

“Okay.”

“Let me wash up before we eat.”

“No problem.”

Meanwhile, Egisia Academy—Dorms, Moonchase Tower. Our room.

“I’ve said it a hundred times, but Yumigawa-kun’s cooking is too good.”

We were eating breakfast. The tower had a cafeteria, but after Eastern Moon Aixue and Faya tasted my food, they started dropping by like birds to warm eaves.

“Of course! Boss is premium housewife material!”

Hill puffed her flat little chest, proud as a sparrow on a fence, as if the plates were her handiwork.

“Hill, you’re still running that bit?!”

I tapped her cute head with my chopsticks, the clack like bamboo, and scolded, “Quit it. Eat.”

“Yessir! Your humble servant obeys!”

Her salute was comic, fluttering like a paper flag.

“Honestly, breakfast is noisy every time.”

I sighed, the sound thin as steam, then kept eating, rhythm steady as a metronome.

“Don’t say that, Yumigawa-kun. A lively table beats eating alone in cold air.”

Eastern Moon Aixue smiled, warm as tea, words curling like incense.

“True—but too much noise isn’t great either.”

Xinuo spoke, voice clear and cool, like glass touched by rain.

“Mm. Fair point.”

I nodded beside Xinuo; bustle is good, but let it not turn into thunder.

“Wuu… I’ll be careful next time!”

Hill’s face fell, a wilted leaf look, like a kid fearing a scolding.

“It’s not that serious. Just mind it, Hill.”

My tone eased, soft as shade.

“Of course! I’ll watch it for sure!”

Her reply sprang back like a bent branch released.