I Choose The Heroine's Route

38 Mana And Water Balloons

"Well, start looking for your partner now then get a balloon here."

I blinked before panicking. I... absolutely don't like a task that requires me to form a group, whether is only with 1 or 2 people. I looked around, and my gaze stayed longer on Anastasia and the others.

Just when I was thinking, a male student spoke, "Teacher, there is an odd number of students." He said, making me realize it as well. Other than the student who dropped out, Anakin and another student is absent from the class.

"Oh, well... I guess three people would need to group together, my apologies about this. The only difference is that instead of two, there will be three people who will have to be on the same length. You can decide who that group will be." the teacher said, and I unconsciously look at Anastasia again, and somehow, I met her cold, emerald eyes that's also looking at me.

Can I take this as I sign that she's okay with partnering with me?

While I was hesitating, it was Percival who spoke first, "Since we already have a group, the group of 3 will just be me, Deor, and Franco. Anastasia and Aksia can group together. Is that alright?" He asked, and everyone nodded. I felt relieved as well. I thanked Percival silently.

With that confirmed, Percival immediately let the others know that they will have a group of 3, and I stood still, facing Anastasia.

"Should we change position?" I asked, voice, hesitant.

"Yes, we should." She simply answered, glancing at the other students who have also already found a partner and scattering around the large training area to find their own position. After moving and getting a balloon from the cart, we ended up at the corner, slightly far from everyone else.

"Let's start then." Anastasia said, holding the balloon in front of us. We stood quite close, facing each other with only the balloon separating us.

When I nodded as a reply, Anastasia immediately poured Mana on the water balloon and I followed. Like what the teacher did earlier, the balloon floated, and when it was finally above our head, I decreased the Mana I'm pouring before maintaining it, the balloon then floated still.

"I'm wearing a wristwatch, lady Clovis can leave the timer to me." I said, glancing at the watch on my wrist that reads 8:46.

Then it was silence, and I pressed my lip in a thin line. If there was something I want to be desperate good at... it's being good at thinking of a topic to talk about when I really want or need it – not just when I planned it ahead of time or when I'm not being that sincere. I glance at my wristwatch again. 8:47. Looking at Anastasia who's silently looking down with a poker face, I thought of an idea.

Shaking away the nervousness, I spoke, "Should we play a game while waiting to make this more interesting?" Anastasia looked up, directly meeting my eyes.

"... What game?"

"We will take a turn in asking each other any question." I said and she blinked before asking, "Can that be considered as a game?" I paused before smiling a little – so little that it's almost not visible.

"I am not sure either, but this will make the challenge more interesting, I think." I'll also take this as a chance to know more about her. Anastasia then looked away again as if thinking before nodding.

"You may ask first." I nodded.

"Then, may I ask what is lady Clovis favorite color?"

"... Scarlet." She answered, "What about lady Euridice's?"

"It's Black."

"Do you have a favorite food?"

"... I do not, do you?"

"I think I do not have one as well." I paused, "Is lady Clovis just copying whatever it is that I am asking?" I asked with curiosity. Anastasia tilted her head to the side a little before shaking it.

"No. I simply would like to know your answer to those questions as well." I blinked. I guess I didn't expect that answer. I thought she would either say yes or say that she simply couldn't think of any other questions to ask me. Before I could speak again, Anastasia spoke.

"It should be my turn now, right?" Thinking about how what I just asked should also be counted, I nodded.

"Aside from spider lily... does lady Euridice like flowers in general?" I didn't expect that question either. I couldn't help but think and remember our meeting in RA's garden.

"I do like them, I guess." Before asking my question, I hesitated a little, but decided to shake it away, "What is lady Clovis first impression of me and our other groupmates?" This is probably the most important question that I needed for her to answer right now so that I could know what are her current thoughts regarding me. Even if Anastasia somehow doesn't give me a long or honest answer, I can still observe her expression to find clues.

Well, I mostly just want to hear her first impression about me, but I also included the others to not make it seems like I'm being too close or eager or something.

Anastasia paused at my question, staring at me blankly. Feeling slightly uncomfortable under her gaze, I looked down, waiting for her answer. Strangely, I also felt the balloon that's floating above us shake a little, but before I could even think deeply about it, the water inside the balloon stabilize again. It ended so soon that I could almost mistake it as a mere illusion.

"... Should I be blunt and honest?" She asked back and I look up again, nodding.

"No part of this conversation will spread or be known to others." – in case that's what she's worried about.

"... I don't hate them." I blinked, "And lady Euridice... is not what I expected her to be." If this was an anime or a cartoon, a question mark would already be drawn and appeared above my head. I guess this vagueness is what I should have already expected from Anastasia, but seeing and hearing that what she said about me is quite different from the others, It's nice.

But... "How exactly does lady Clovis expect me to be?" I asked with curiosity. Just as she was about to answer, a voice interrupted us.

"You two should already be done, no?" I turned my head quickly, seeing the male teacher there standing as he look at us. Repeating what he said in my mind, I glanced at my wristwatch. 8:56. My conversation with Anastasia didn't feel like 10 minutes long... perhaps I got distracted. I even failed to notice our teacher's presence.

"Well, seeing as how you two easily did that, I'll have you do it for our whole class next time – exactly 1 hour. You two can go now." Then he walked away, leaving the two of us again. Anastasia and I then both looked at each other, and with a silent or tacit understanding, we both turned around and walked to leave the public training area, and once we reached its entrance, we both almost stopped at the same time.

"I guess this is where we say goodbye for now." I awkwardly said, not looking in her direction.

"Yes... do take care, lady Euridice. I'll... go first." When I heard her footsteps, I looked at her only see her walking towards the direction where the private training rooms are located. I guess she plans to still practice and do Magic on her own. Lost in thought as I stare at particularly nothing, I mentally noted to myself that I should also train again in my private training room tomorrow after all the classes.

For now, I'll go back to the dorm.