◇ ◇ ◇
Several days had passed since we arrived in the Hitia Duchy.
We were currently handling various procedures to enroll in the academy while learning the basics of magic tools at the Downing Company.
Every day was filled with new discoveries, and at this point, I truly felt glad that I had come here.
The reason I came was to become stronger—to create my own custom magic tools.
Until I arrived, it had been vague, but I was starting to see, albeit faintly, the shape of a new combat style that combined my special ability, Psychokinesis, with magic tools.
I was taking it one step at a time, but I felt like I was definitely moving forward.
"Fufufu~n♪"
As I was thinking about that, Carol, who was walking beside me, hummed a cheerful tune with steps so light she looked like she might start skipping at any moment.
"Carol, you look really happy."
"Huh~? Does it show~?"
Carol always smiles and seems cheerful, but ever since we came here, she looks even happier.
Well, that's only natural. Her older sister and brother are here.
"Yeah. You look so happy being with your sister and brother."
"Hehe~ I've been able to talk about so many things with them, and I'm really enjoying it right now! Oh, and guess what! It seems Shion made fake profiles not just for us, but also for Ruera and Fred, so now we're officially siblings again in this country~♪"
"That's great!"
"Yeah!"
I've been with Carol for a long time, so I know how much she suffered.
Seeing her smile so happily now makes me really glad.
But…
"…Hey, Carol. Are you planning to stay in the Hitia Duchy from now on?"
"Hmm? Why are you asking that?"
"Just a feeling… You look so happy here, so I thought maybe…"
"Hmm, yeah. I've been thinking it might be nice to become a citizen of the Hitia Duchy~"
"I see. So that's what you were thinking."
Hearing Carol's answer made my heart sink. I understood that staying here would make her happy.
Even so, it still felt lonely.
I can't wholeheartedly celebrate my best friend's happiness… Maybe I have a narrow heart…
"—But I'm still Caroline Ingarott of the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky!"
"…Huh?"
"Even if I become a citizen of the Hitia Duchy, that won't change!"
Carol declared it with a completely carefree face.
"It's not like you have to be a citizen of the Nohitant Kingdom to stay in the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky, right? Rain is a citizen of the Hitia Duchy too, so it would be the same for us! —Wait, Sophia, did you think I was going to leave the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky?"
"Yeah, actually…"
"There's no way~! I'm happy they recognized us as siblings in the Hitia Duchy, but even without that, we're still siblings!"
"I-I see… I'm glad…"
I placed a hand on my chest in relief.
Knowing that Carol had no intention of leaving the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky made the unease in my heart clear up all at once.
"Sophia, you really are such a worrier~"
Carol giggled and lightly tapped my shoulder.
"Because you looked so happy… After everything that happened before, I thought maybe that would be better for you…"
"I see. But you know, being with the comrades I love so much also makes me really happy!"
Seeing Carol's bright smile, I let out a small sigh.
She really is just Carol, after all.
And being able to stay with her like this makes me happy too—I felt that again.
"Then, let's keep going together, Carol."
"Yeah! Let's keep going, Sophia! —Still, a physical measurement, huh? I don't think I've ever had one before!"
The moment of relief was short-lived as Carol cheerfully changed the subject.
That's right.
We were on our way to get measured for our school uniforms.
◇
After chatting about this and that with Carol, we arrived at the tailor shop to order our school uniforms.
"All right, we'll start with you. Arms out, please."
The tailor skillfully took measurements. Shoulder width, arm length, waist, hips—she recorded each one in turn.
"Hmm, I see. Next is you."
"Yes~!"
While it was Carol's turn, I watched from the side.
Every time the measuring tape touched Carol's body, the tailor's voice took on a slightly impressed tone, and a murky feeling began to grow in my chest.
"Hmm, for someone still growing, that's quite…"
The tailor murmured, and Carol smiled proudly with an "Ehehe~."
Glancing sideways, I looked at the recorded measurements.
And my eyes widened.
"Eh… Is the difference really this big…?"
Comparing my numbers with Carol's, I couldn't help but look shocked.
"S-Sophia?"
Carol hurriedly peeked at my face.
"I knew it, but seeing it as actual numbers…"
I slumped my shoulders a little.
(Numbers can be so cruel…)
Seeing my reaction, Carol desperately tried to cheer me up.
"U-um! But look! Sophia's lighter and more agile! For an explorer, just having a good size doesn't necessarily mean it's better!"
"But Carol can move more nimbly…"
"Ah, um… And besides! Sophia is cute, so that's what matters! Numbers don't mean anything!"
Carol tried her best to encourage me, but the more she tried, the more it seemed to backfire.
"Carol… You don't have to force yourself to cheer me up…"
"It's not forced at all!"
Carol grabbed my hands with a serious expression.
"Sophia is perfectly wonderful just the way she is!"
Her earnestness almost made me laugh, but I blushed a little and smiled.
"…Thank you, Carol. I might have been worrying too much."
"Yeah, yeah, you don't need to worry about something like this!"
With that, Carol flashed a big smile, and the murky feeling in my heart cleared up a little.
…Well, there's no point in lamenting over something like this anyway.
After that, the fitting session ended, and we tried on the school uniforms.
The uniform of the Stromelia Magic Academy had a neat and elegant design.
The white blazer had a clean silhouette with subtle decorations on the cuffs and collar, giving it a refined impression.
The skirt and vest were based on a bright blue, creating a refreshing and light atmosphere.
Additionally, a deep blue ribbon was tied at the neck, combining a clean color scheme with just the right touch of cuteness—it was a wonderful design.
"Sophia, that uniform looks really good on you!"
"…Thank you. But Carol still looks more vibrant…"
"That's not true at all! Yeah, yeah! You look super cute!"
Carol's words made me feel a little embarrassed, but I looked at myself in the mirror.
I had been so caught up in the numerical difference with her, but when I looked at my reflection again, I felt like I had grown a bit compared to before.
I had grown a little taller too. Maybe I had become a bit more adult-like?