It was my mistake.

This time, it was undeniably, unmistakably my mistake.

Crowds forming in the academy city.

Of course people would assume it’s because of an S-Rank.

And if it’s an S-Rank seriously scouting the Cultural Grand Festival in advance, that narrows the list even further.

“…Rokuhara.”

“Hey now, it’s been a while since we’ve met like this. Show a little more excitement, will ya?”

Right, we last met during the territory battle with Kisou Academy—when you were Sorciera.

It has been a while since we met as Narou Kei.

Yeah… no, it hasn’t.

This feels like running into a hungry lion while out on a walk!

“L-Leader, g-give, I give…”

“Shut it. Stay quiet.”

Eina-chan desperately trying to escape from Rokuhara-san’s iron claw reaches out when she sees us.

“H-Help meee! Sorci—owowowowow!”

“Don’t just casually call out names like that.”

If I could, I’d teleport away right now with some random excuse—but there are way too many people here.

I can’t become Sorciera in a place like this…!

『Tch…!』

『You’re enforcing a self-imposed limitation? Why?』

Right now, I’m a wanted fugitive by S-Rank standards.

Meeting like this wasn’t in the plans.

And of all people—Rokuhara-san is the worst one to run into!

I should’ve come dressed like a girl.

“You want something from me? I’ve got no time to entertain a Enforcer like you.”

“I told you, I came to see you.”

Rokuhara-san grinned as he said that.

And then, the surroundings erupted into noise.

“Rokuhara-sama came to see someone!?” “Who is that guy?” “Not my type…” “That uniform—he’s from Fectom Academy!” “Wait, the elite school the Chairman secretly founded!?”

This is bad—rumors are spiraling.

My supposed preferences are getting twisted into something outrageous.

“So that boy is Rokuhara-sama’s ■■■…!?”

Who the hell just said something weird like that!?

I looked around.

I was definitely drawing the worst kind of attention.

This is not mysterious at all!

『Roku×Sor is the classic route, I suppose.』

Even the inside has turned against me…

“Tch… Hey, it’s too noisy here. Let’s change locations.”

“A-All right.”

Rokuhara-san agreed with a scowl.

Eina-chan was still caught in his iron claw like a poor snack.

What did you even do, girl…?

■

I was basically dragged away by Rokuhara-san to a quiet little café.

It seemed he’d reserved the place in advance—there wasn’t a single other customer.

Soft BGM was the only sound in the café.

Now this is a high mysterious-points location.

“I’ve rented this place out. So drop the dumb act already.”

“…Very well. If you insist.”

My outfit stayed the same, but I smiled as Sorciera.

Still, what a lovely café.

Surely there’s an event where you run into a casually dressed Sorciera reading here.

『It’d be great if she wore fake glasses for disguise＾＾』

Sorciera disguised as a bookish girl.

Not bad.

『Glasses? Wouldn’t that halve Sorciera’s charm?』

『…Excuse me?』

Excuse me?

Did you just call glasses a debuff?

『W-What? I just stated the obvious. It’s a tool for humans to compensate their poor vision.』

『But there’s a certain shine that only beautiful girls in glasses have! I’ll show you later, a calm, quiet, bespectacled loli Sorciera.』

That means I’d have to become a loli!?

…But if it’s to help comrades understand the charm of glasses, then I suppose I must.

“Ah, Leader, look at this parfait! It was trending online recently. Let’s order it!”

“No. You won’t eat dinner if you eat that. Get that smaller cake instead.”

A moment ago she was in an iron claw, but Eina-chan was now happily browsing the menu.

But even Hikari-chan looks equally excited, you know!

『Why are you competing…?』

“Kei, would you like to share this parfait with me? If we split it, that’s half the calories. And half the cost, too…!”

“I don’t mind… but are you sure?”

“Yes. That way we’ll still have room for the next place.”

Smart.

Back when I was with Toa-chan, it was basically a food fight, so this never crossed my mind.

Wait… what?

We’re sharing!?

Sharing with a cute girl!?

『That’s definitely guilty behavior.』

『Even I get that. A purge is necessary.』

W-Wait! I’m also a cute girl right now!

What’s wrong with a cute girl sharing parfait with another cute girl!?

『Foolish humans…』

Why do you sound more angelic all of a sudden?

『Your first parfait-sharing should’ve been with Clam or Rinka! That’d be much better for the plot!』

Shut up already!

Why should I listen to a shipping nerd!?

Okay, Hikari-chan, let’s order, yeah＾＾

“Ah—Leader! Don’t you think that’s unfair!? I want that too! Let’s share! I’ll even feed you!”

“No thanks. And every time we do that, you end up eating most of it.”

Rokuhara-san quickly placed his order.

He only got coffee, by the way.

I, of course, got tea.

Cool… mysterious…

Sipping tea unshaken in front of an S-Rank Enforcer… strong character move…

『Your knees are trembling, though.』

That’s called warrior’s trembling, okay?

“…Well then, shall we get to the point? I’ll ask directly—Is the Sorciera causing trouble recently really you?”

With sharp eyes, Rokuhara-san asked.

I see. He’s been chasing down the fake Sorciera.

If even he is on their trail, the fake’s basically doomed.

“It’s not me.”

“That’s right. It isn’t. We’re here investigating that exact issue. …Wait, Kei, does Enforcer Rokuhara know your identity?”

Isn’t it a little late to ask that now?

Even if he doesn’t, it’s already too late…

“Know it? We once tried to kill each other. Good times, eh?”

“Fufu, it was fun for me too.”

It was fun for me too＾＾

Thanks for the debut of my second form＾＾

“So, do you believe me? We don’t have anything that can prove the one in Chroma is a fake.”

“Hah, I knew it was a fake from the start. If it were you, you’d have done it better. You wouldn’t let your image get caught in a video so sloppily.”

Rokuhara-san…!

You understand Sorciera so well…!

『Truly an honor, as Sorciera.』

“But, just in case, I came to confirm it myself.”

“And now that you’ve met the real one?”

“Yeah. That thing’s a fake. And bait. Maybe to lure you out, or maybe for the S-Ranks… or—”

He paused, then said:

“Sanctuary-user.”

“Sanctuary… the power inherited by Chroma’s student council president.”

—According to Hikari-chan.

“Yeah. There’s meaning in causing trouble in Chroma. If the goal was to lure S-Ranks or you out, the Central District would’ve been better. No reason to do it here.”

So they’re really targeting the Sanctuary-user…?

Wait, what is Sanctuary?

“Anyway, I’m going to see the student council president now. Their outfit aside, they’re still reasonable. What’ll you do?”

“Fufu, if the Enforcer’s going to act, then I may just sit back and watch.”

“…Heh. Saying that with eyes like those, huh.”

Seems my murderous intent toward the fake came through a bit.

Oops.

I’m supposed to be a mysterious beauty, remember★ Keep those emotions unreadable★

“Looks like we’ll both enjoy this festival.”

“Yeah, we will. …Though I might accidentally kill you, thinking you’re the fake.”

I know you wouldn’t do something that terrible＾＾

Still, let me respond as Sorciera＾＾

“Is that an invitation to dance? I wouldn’t mind starting now.”

“…Heh.”

We smiled at each other.

This is fun!

“Leader, you absolutely can’t! It’s the festival! Please behave!”

“Kei, no fighting! Fighting is bad!”

Maybe they thought we were serious—Eina-chan and Hikari-chan both rushed in to stop us.

Did it really look that intense?

“Sigh… let’s save it for another time.”

“Haha, yeah. Still too early for the main dish.”

This exchange between two strong characters… it’s too good.

Characters who fought seriously not long ago, now calmly talking in a café.

This relaxed vibe exists because they trust their own strength.

What a beautiful setup.

Are you watching, Touraku-kun? These top-tier characters you’re destined to fight are still shining bright out here…!

『A perfect example of a beauty who doesn’t drop her dignity even off-camera.』

『Who is this Touraku… And what is “a beauty’s dignity” supposed to mean…?』

“…Ah, ah! Kei, the parfait’s here! Let’s eat!”

Hikari-chan eagerly tried to draw my focus away from Rokuhara-san.

Eina-chan joined in, forcing cake into Rokuhara-san’s hands.

“No need to panic, I understand.”

Strong character mode complete. Now let’s eat parfait with pretty girls!

『Hikari-chan and parfait… Will this melt Clam’s brain? Hmm…?』

『My lord, don’t upset your stomach.』

Ughhh, these pervs in my head are ruining my sweet time＞＜

“Come on, Leader! Say ‘ahh’! Aahhhn!”

“No, I don’t want any. Eina, you eat it—hey, don’t force it on me.”

The tense atmosphere from earlier had completely vanished, replaced by a peaceful air.

And so, our parfait-sharing golden time passed in bliss.