Early the next morning, when Loko woke up and glanced at the clock on the wall, it was only eight.

But when she went downstairs, Shilufei was already gone.

Looking at the missing pair of shoes by the door, Loko understood at once. Shilufei had gone out.

Could it be that losing to her yesterday had hit her that hard?

But Shilufei was ninth, and she herself was second. It would've been stranger if Shilufei had actually won.

Loko still didn't quite understand her, but the moment she stepped into the kitchen and caught the aroma drifting from the pot, all her earlier thoughts were swept away.

Shilufei really was a good roommate. She knew Loko liked to sleep in, so she'd specially left breakfast for her instead of waking her up.

Yesterday, she could still use the excuse that she'd made too much. But she couldn't possibly use that same excuse again today, right?

Loko reheated the breakfast in the pot, then happily returned to the living room and started eating.

Compared to yesterday's training class, today's schedule was much more ordinary.

One class on Imperial History, one on Basic Alchemy, and one on Introduction to Magic.

Loko didn't like any of those three subjects, but she knew Shilufei was very interested in alchemy and magic.

"At this hour... what is Shilufei doing right now?"

After eating her fill, Loko lay on the sofa and murmured Shilufei's name.

As the protagonist, she was probably working hard and training diligently right now, wasn't she?

Just as Loko was thinking that, the dorm door was pushed open.

Shilufei appeared in the doorway in a set of loose clothes. When she saw Loko sitting in the living room, a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.

"Ah, Shilufei, you're back?"

Seeing her return, Loko waved at her.

"Sorry. I don't really like that morning class, so I probably can't go with you."

Hearing that, Shilufei was a little surprised inside.

Wasn't Loko supposed to be here to keep an eye on her? So why wasn't she even going to class with her now?

Was this some kind of playing hard to get?

Still, none of those thoughts showed on Shilufei's face.

"Ah, well, you're a noble young lady, after all, Loko. You've probably already studied something as boring as Imperial History long ago."

As she spoke, she changed out of her shoes. When she walked into the living room, she casually glanced toward the kitchen. Only after seeing that the pot she'd left on the stove had already been washed clean did she turn back.

Loko noticed that little movement and smiled as she thanked her.

"Thanks, Shilufei. The breakfast was really to my taste."

"Hm?"

Shilufei tilted her head.

"But that was what I prepared for myself to eat after morning training."

"Eh?"

Loko froze on the spot.

So... so it wasn't for her?

She'd gotten carried away on her own!?

A trace of shame flashed through her golden eyes.

"Um... s-sorry. I didn't mean to. It's just that when I didn't see you, I thought it was like yesterday..."

"Pfft."

Seeing Loko panic and try to explain herself like that, looking so adorably flustered, Shilufei immediately laughed.

"I was teasing you. I already ate earlier. That breakfast was for you. Think of it as thanks for helping me out yesterday."

After saying that, Shilufei mischievously stuck out her tongue at Loko, then turned and went upstairs.

Loko stared blankly at Shilufei's back. Only after a long moment did she finally react.

She... she had actually tricked her!

For a moment, an indescribable mix of embarrassment and indignation welled up in her heart.

What a jerk!

Not long after, Shilufei came back downstairs again. The loose clothes she'd worn for morning training had been changed into a pretty dress.

Even though Loko deliberately tried not to look at her, she still couldn't help sneaking a few more glances.

Such an obvious little action naturally didn't escape Shilufei's notice.

"I'm heading to class. Are you really not coming with me, Loko?"

"No. If I went to that kind of class, I'd just sleep through it anyway."

Loko lay on the sofa with a book in hand. Because she'd just been teased by Shilufei, her tone carried a deliberately stiff edge.

After being refused, Shilufei looked at Loko with a face full of regret.

"Then I'm off. Do you want me to bring lunch back for you?"

"Mm..."

At those words, Loko's mouth, which had still wanted to sulk, instantly lost all backbone.

"T-then... I'll trouble you. Thanks, Shilufei."

Even her voice softened.

After all, no one could really pick a fight with their own stomach.

Only after Shilufei had left did Loko pull the book over her face.

For some reason, she had the distinct feeling that, at least in daily life, Shilufei had her completely wrapped around her finger.

It was as if Shilufei knew her personality and preferences perfectly, and handled all sorts of things with just the right touch.

She could make Loko feel embarrassed and annoyed, yet also grateful at the same time.

That feeling made Loko's heart itch with discomfort.

She tried to think of a countermeasure, but after thinking and thinking, all she could do was let out a cute little wail.

"Ugh, there's just nothing I can do..."

...

The morning classes ended quickly. After class, Shilufei passed by the entrance of the teaching building.

Along the way, students walked in twos and threes. Not many people came to classes like this in the first place. There was no assessment, no credit, and no help at all for actual combat.

Many students would rather spend that class period honing their battle experience in the training grounds than listen to a bunch of old people talk about stories from hundreds or thousands of years ago.

Shilufei walked out of the building and immediately saw, on the notice board by the entrance, the announcement for the new student council election, along with the campaign posters posted beneath it.

Student council elections usually began one week after the start of term. During the first week, student council members would sign up and form three-person campaign teams. After that came a two-week election battle.

The so-called election battle meant using every possible method to win over enough students so they would vote for them in the anonymous election two weeks later.

Putting up posters, making private contact, giving public speeches—these were all valid strategies. But under the watch of the academy leadership, corruption in any form would be strictly stamped out.

At least in past elections, even Haya's two consecutive terms had been won fair and square through her own ability and her family's prestige.

At this moment, right beneath the student council election notice, was the campaign poster from Haya's side.

"Stable, efficient, experienced... huh?"

Standing before the notice board, Shilufei carefully read the poster's contents.

There weren't many words on it, but it neatly laid out every advantage of Haya's team.

This world revered strength above all else, and that was even more true at Saint Stephen Academy. For a certain group of students who lacked firm opinions of their own, Haya was undoubtedly the very image of the strong.

"Loko, Teresa... looks like you two have run into a troublesome opponent."

Shilufei spoke softly, unconsciously saying Loko's name before Teresa's.

She was also a member of the campaign team, but to her, it didn't matter whether they ultimately won or lost the election.

After all, in her previous life, she'd never joined the student council, nor had she ever worked together with Teresa. She didn't care about any of this, and even less about saving the face of someone who wanted her dead.