Noon, in front of the City Fountain.

In front of the fountain adorned with a unicorn statue, Elise checked her bangs with a hand mirror while waiting for Siegfried.

She then glanced at Ken, who was sitting at an outdoor table of a cafe in the distance, as if seeking confirmation.

Ken gave her an ‘Okay Sign’ with a raised thumb.

Reassured by the sign, Elise took a deep breath.

She recalled the moment a few days ago when Siegfried had asked her out on a date.

"A flower viewing?"

"Yes, there are beautiful flowers that only bloom this season."

"I-I like it, but...

Haha, you should ask a girl you like to something like this, silly."

"That's why I'm asking you."

"Uh...

What?" Recalling his earnest and confident gaze, Elise felt a flush heat up her face.

She tried to calm herself by patting her cheeks with both hands, but she couldn't control her expression.

"Oh no, what if I look weird!" She waved her hands to cool her face and stomped her feet in an attempt to calm down.

"I'm sorry, am I late?"

"Kyaaah!" Suddenly hearing Siegfried's greeting, Elise was startled and let out a strange scream.

"It's off to a messed-up start..." Watching them, Ken slightly lowered his sunglasses and sighed quietly.

He knew those two would end up together, but seeing Elise so nervous, he understood why she had sought his help so desperately.

"Elise, what's wrong?

Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine.

I just got here, too."

"Your face is red.

Are you feeling unwell?

Excuse me for a moment." Siegfried carefully placed his hand on her forehead, and she became unusually flustered.

"This is bad, Elise!

Your forehead is burning up!"

"It's your fault, you idiot!" Elise, flustered and angry, kicked Siegfried's leg to hide her embarrassment.

However, his leg, as solid as a rock, didn't feel a thing.

Ignoring the familiar sensation of Elise’s kicks, Siegfried spoke with relief.

"At least it's not an illness...

That's a relief."

"Ugh." Seeing his smiling face, Elise became even more flustered.

She turned around abruptly.

"I need to go to the restroom!"

She hurriedly ran towards Ken's location.

"Oh no, what do I do?!

Did I act weird just now?!"

"Yes, very much."

"Ah!

What should I do?

I can't behave normally because I'm so conscious of it!"

Ken, who had been waiting in the back alley of the cafe, began a covert strategy meeting.

"I anticipated this, so I have something prepared."

"Wh-What is it?" Intrigued by Ken, who rummaged through his pocket as if he had expected this situation, Elise’s eyes lit up with curiosity.

Elise knew well that Ken had crafted Siegfried's sword.

Hence, anything Ken had prepared was certainly going to be something useful for her current predicament.

Elise felt a surge of anticipation.

Finally, Ken pulled out a small bottle that looked like a potion.

"...What is this?"

"It's a potion that will help calm your nerves.

Once you drink it, your tension will ease."

"Really?

If I drink this, I can act normally?"

"Of course.

I guarantee it." Seeing Ken so confident, Elise carefully took the bottle and drank it all in one go.

The taste was that of a sweet strawberry cream drink.

It was a flavour Elise loved.

“Wow, I really feel like my mind is at ease!”

“I’ve used special ingredients.

You should be fine now, right?”

“Yes!

Totally!

Thanks, Ken!

I’m so glad I asked you!”

“As long as you’re not nervous, the date will go smoothly.

Enjoy yourself.”

“Thanks so much!

I’ll make sure to repay this kindness!” Smiling brightly, Elise immediately headed back towards the fountain.

‘She drank it without any hesitation.’ Of course, the potion was just a ruse.

It was actually Raphne's special strawberry cream drink.

Ken, who hadn’t yet greatly improved his alchemy skills, couldn’t possibly create a potion to calm nerves.

But he knew that Elise’s character in the game was trusting and easily deceived.

That's why he relied on the placebo effect.

Besides, sweetness itself helps reduce tension and improve mood.

Thus, after drinking her favourite strawberry drink, Elise confidently approached Siegfried.

"Let's go, Sieg!

I've been really looking forward to seeing the flowers today!"

"Yes, I'm sure you'll love it, Elise." Elise took Siegfried’s hand.

Though sometimes they held hands casually, this time she didn’t let go and continued walking hand in hand.

Just like lovers would.

‘Ken's potion is amazing!

I can't believe I can do something so embarrassing and feel fine about it!’

Feeling deeply thankful to the junior who helped her, Elise moved closer to Siegfried with enthusiasm.

She was naturally the type to be easily deceived.

"Huh?

Elise is walking with Siegfried?"

"Ken is just watching from outside."

"No way!" Three women hiding inside the same cafe as Ken.

Raphne, suddenly having a realization, lowered her sunglasses with a shocked expression.

"…Could it be that Ken gets excited seeing his girl with another guy…" There are some people in this world who enjoy watching their partner with another man.

Emily, not knowing about such sexual preferences, blushed and denied it vigorously.

"No, there's no way someone like that exists!"

"That's not it! I read it in a novel!

There are men who get excited by that!”

“No way, there's no chance Ken has such a preference…”

“Exactly!

Just yesterday, he said he likes a reliable woman….” Mary and Emily seemed doubtful of Raphne’s opinion, but Raphne remained steadfast in her belief.

‘I knew it… I knew something was off!’ Things seemed to be falling into place in her head.

After all, no matter how much she tempted Ken at the Tower, he didn't easily fall for it.

If his sexual preference was watching his partner with another man, then everything would make sense.

Thus, Raphne continued to insist.

“We could be mishearing things from a distance!

…In reality, he probably likes watching that Elise girl on dates with other men!”

“….”

“….” The three were silent after Raphne's comment.

The silence was finally broken by Emily.

“No, come on, that's not it.” After thinking about it carefully, Emily concluded that Raphne was overthinking it.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, anyone can tell that Elise and Siegfried are on a date.”

“Then why is Ken sitting over there?!

Why is he watching them?!

Does he have feelings for Elise or…?” Emily, who had regained her composure, answered Raphne’s confused question.

“Maybe yesterday Elise was asking Ken for relationship advice?”

“…Ah, I see.” Raphne, whose suspicions had been growing, felt relieved by Emily’s calm explanation.

‘Thank goodness…’ She had been worried about how to handle things if Ken really had such preferences.

Feeling reassured, Raphne sipped her smoothie through the straw.

Then Mary suddenly spoke up again.

"But…

What exactly is your relationship with Ken, Raphne?" Mary asked the question that had been on her mind for a while.

Now that it was clear Ken and Elise were not on a date, she voiced her biggest curiosity.

Emily also tensed up, watching Raphne's reaction.

She, too, had been curious about Raphne and Ken's relationship.

After all, Raphne had suddenly appeared at the last Survival Tournament after a year, crying and looking for Ken.

Soon after, she returned to the Academy and stuck close to Ken.

"Ah, that…" Feeling the intense gazes from the two, Raphne started to recount the story.

"So, you couldn't talk to anyone for a whole year?!

Were you alone all that time?!"

“…That must have been… really tough."

Raphne shared the story of being cursed and trapped in the Tower for a year and how Ken found and took care of her afterward.

She also mentioned how Ken had crafted a Pendant that eventually freed her from the curse.

When Mary heard about the final part with the Pendant, she gently touched her own raincoat.

‘…So, Raphne was also saved by Ken.’ Recalling her own fear of rain that left her trembling in her room due to trauma, Mary deeply sympathized with Raphne.

Emily, remembering her own experience of being trapped in a death Loop for a week, held Raphne's hand.

“…You must have had such a hard time, didn't you?"

“Uh… yes?"

“…And to think I didn't know…

During the Survival, I thought Raphne was threatening Ken… ugh.”

“I apologize for that time as well.

I attacked you suddenly.”

“Sniffle, sniffle… huh?” Emily, with tears in her eyes, and Mary, looking at her with a sad expression.

When both of them held her hand together, Raphne blushed, feeling flustered.

‘It’s been a long time since I felt this way…’ Warm human kindness that she hadn’t felt from anyone except Ken.

It was the warmth they could share due to the grace they had received from Ken.

“In the future, I’ll help you if anything happens.

…Oh, would you like some cake?”

“I’ll help too.

Ken’s friend is my friend as well.” Emily offered her cake, and Mary patted Raphne’s head.

‘They’re so kind!’ Raphne was touched by their reactions.

“…I feel like I’ll get along well with both of you.” Taking a bite of the cake Emily had given her, Raphne smiled brightly, enjoying their gentle care.

Thus, the three of them bonded and found common ground.

As the atmosphere grew warm and fuzzy.

“Ah, Ken’s coming in.” Raphne said, seeing Ken stand up from the outside table with a drink in his hand.

“What, w-wait!

Shouldn’t we hide?”

“Huh?

Why?”

"Just say hello."

"No matter how you look at it, it's suspicious!

It would be troublesome if we get caught!" At Emily's urgent urging, the three of them quickly hid their faces behind the cafe's menu.

'This looks fine.' Elise and Siegfried walking slowly along the flower path.

Watching the two create a happy atmosphere while holding hands from the outdoor table, it seemed like the date was going smoothly.

'...Should I have brought Raphne too?' Watching them, Raphne, who must be in the tower, came to mind.

Honestly, if I told her about Elise's consultation, she probably wouldn't think it's strange.

Today happens to be the day when the beautiful flowers that bloom only this time of year are in full bloom.

Raphne, who is always trapped in the tower, has just managed to come outside, and I want to show her these flowers.

'Should I invite her now?' With that thought, I stood up.

It's still noon.

Raphne just finished lunch not too long ago, so she would surely enjoy a brief walk to see these flowers.

Imagining Raphne, who I've only ever seen in the tower, smiling and walking through the flower fields brought a smile to my face.

As I went inside the cafe to return my drink cup.

"...Huh?" I noticed a familiar silhouette.

Yellow, red, and blue.

The trio, with hair colours reminiscent of a traffic light, were each hiding their faces behind the menu, eerily still.

There was no doubt; it was Emily, Raphne, and Mary.

As I stared at them blankly, the one with the red traffic light colour hair slightly raised her head.

We were all wearing sunglasses suggestingn their purpose here..

When our eyes met over the lowered sunglasses, Raphne gave a gentle smile and waved slightly.

"What, what are you doing!

Stay still!" At that moment, the one with the yellow traffic light colour hair hurriedly grabbed Raphne’s hand and pulled it down.

Raphne then buried her face back into the menu.

"What...

are you all doing?" Surprised by the unexpected appearance of the trio, I spoke out loud to them.

At the sound of my voice, two of them flinched, their shoulders trembling.

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