I walked with Noa while looking at the lake.
The weather was nice, and so was the view. The lake was beautiful. There were boats floating on the lake, and it looked like you could take a ride on them. It seems like a fun city. Many people were looking at the lake just like us. I was walking among them, but no one paid any attention to me.
As expected, no one would look at me if I wasn’t dressed as a bear. No one even bothered to look at my shoes or hands. Well, unless you look at me up close, I look like I’m wearing black and white gloves. No one would even notice my bear-feet shoes or my bear-faced gloves.
“What’s wrong, Yuna-san? Hurry up.” (Noa)
As I was walking, while being mindful of my surroundings, Noa, who was walking in front of me, turned around and called out to me.
“Noa, that’s dangerous. You need to look forward while walking.” (Yuna)
“It’s okay… u wa~a.” (Noa)
At the moment I warned her, Noah, who was walking backward, stumbled.
Noa stepped forward and tried to adjust her position. I hurriedly tried to reach out to her, but she continued to fall backward, away from my hand.
“Watch out!”
There’s a girl in a school uniform where Noa was about to fall. Just as she thought she was about to bump into the girl, the girl stopped Noa in her arms. Thankfully, Noa didn’t fall down.
“You have to watch where you’re going, or you’ll get hurt.” (Girl)
“I’m sorry.” (Noa)
Noa apologized as she moved away from the girl’s arms.
The girl who caught Noa was about the same age as Shia and me. The girl was wearing a different uniform from the one in the royal capital. Perhaps she was a student at Euphalia Academy.
“It’s all well and good to be cheerful, but girls are supposed to be graceful.” (Girl)
“I’m sorry.” (Noa)
Noa was visibly dejected.
The girl in uniform stared at Noa.
“…tell me, have we met somewhere before?” (Girl)
When asked, Noa looked at the girl in uniform.
Their faces came close to each other, and they stared at each other for a few seconds. Noa opened her mouth first.
“Are you Cereille-sama?” (Noa) (セレイユ)
“Noire, is it?” (Cereille)
They said each other’s names simultaneously.
It seems like they knew each other.
“It’s been a long time. Cereille-sama.” (Noa)
“Indeed, what’s Noire doing here? Oh, are you here to support Shia?” (Cereille)
The girl Noa called Cereille asked and gave her own guess.
“Yes, I’m here to support Oneesama who is participating in the magic exchange meet at the school. Yuna-san, let me introduce you. This is Cereille-sama, the daughter of the Forinz family that governs this city.” (Noa)
Noa introduced me to the girl. She’s the daughter of the lord of this city, apparently.
In other words, it looks like they knew each other through noble connections.
“It’s Cereille.”
“I’m Yuna.”
We said our names to each other.
“You’re a student from the royal capital who came for the magic exchange, right? You should be practicing at the academy by now, so why are you here? And why are you with Noire?” (Cereille)
“Etto, that is…” (Yuna)
I’m fumbling for words.
She seemed to think that I was a participant in this magical exchange meet because I was wearing a royal capital academy student uniform. I’m not a participant though, much less a student. However, since I was wearing a uniform, I couldn’t deny nor affirm, so I was at a loss for a response. Noa then followed up with me.
“Yuna-san is a friend of mine and Oneesama’s. We are not attending the event, but she said she was going to support Oneesama, so I asked her to take me along with her.” (Noa)
“Did you come separately from Shia’s group or did you arrive here with Eleanora-sama?” (Cereille)
“No, I didn’t come here with my mother. I came with Yuna-san this time. Yuna-san is strong, so she is also my escort.” (Noa)
In response to Noa, Cereille looked at me astonishingly.
“Excuse me, but how old are you? 13? 14?” (Cereille)
“I am 15 years old.” (Yuna)
“15 years old!?” (Cereille)
Cereille was surprised at my words.
I’m smaller than the average 15 years old, but I am indeed 15 years old.
“Let me confirm. You’re not a participant of this magical exchange, right?” (Cereille)
“Etto, yeah.” (Yuna)