"Advanced Applications of Mana Circuits" looked difficult just from the title. Given the advanced year level, I figured they'd be learning such complex topics, so I slightly raised my head.
"Those who've taken related courses in previous years will understand quickly. Just like a wristwatch needs intricate components to function, with all essential elements meshing together..."
I recalled Sera's finger lecture. The way she spun her finger and then suddenly grabbed it, explaining how magic circles wouldn't work if blocked—it was the same concept.
As I sat quietly, the professor's explanation seemed endless.
The professor suddenly moved the blackboard and, grabbing a white chalk, began drawing a perfect circle.
"'Circulation.' The most basic element of magic circles. We'll place our magic circle inside this. How many circulations should we create? And how can we inscribe them sufficiently without excess? We will draw the world through geometric forms."
"...Wow, I thought we'd just do orientation and finish."
When the professor began lecturing in earnest, Sera let out a sigh. Someone sitting in front seemed to agree, nodding to themselves.
Everyone's listening, I guess.
As I watched, Aria grabbed her pen and quickly wrote something in her notebook. Just as I thought she was taking notes from the professor, she tore out the page and handed it to me.
"I wrote my name and number."
Seeing how she whispered while passing the note, it seemed Aria wasn't really paying attention to the lecture either. I stared at it blankly before carefully folding it and putting it in my pocket.
I should get back to what I was doing.
Urr, Urr, Urr. The white paper was covered with my name. I desperately tried to memorize it, thinking I should at least be able to write and read my own name.
I memorized the two characters quickly. Somehow, thinking of it as a name made it easier to remember. So I diligently practiced writing Sera's and Aria's names too.
Each time I wrote someone's name, they reacted beside me.
When I wrote Sera's name, she chimed in with "That's right." When I wrote Aria's name, she nodded and gently stroked my head.
Hey, who said you could touch me without asking?
"...Sorry for touching without asking."
When I glared at her, Aria withdrew her hand and apologized. But I hadn't glared because I didn't want to be touched.
"It's fine, just let me touch you too."
"My hair? Sure."
"No, your ears... I've been wanting to touch them."
Speaking quietly so as not to disturb others during the lecture, I noticed Aria hesitate. She seemed reluctant about having her ears touched.
After pressing her lips together, she gave a barely perceptible nod. I wouldn't have caught it if I hadn't been staring intently.
"...Just don't touch too much. They're sensitive."
I paused at her whispered words. I wasn't that insensitive, so I just wiggled my fingers.
Pretending not to hear, I went back to writing. The professor's voice seemed to fill the lecture hall, and my paper became filled with names.
The lecture ended. After the professor left, groans erupted from all around. Students seemed mentally drained, having expected a brief session only to be hit with a full lecture.
I felt proud of what I'd accomplished during class.
Toward the end of the lecture, I'd even practiced writing the professor's name to show off later.
As I was tapping my papers into a neat stack, Aria, without even putting away her books, glanced at me. We exchanged awkward looks before she voiced her question.
"Aren't you going to touch my ears?"
"You said they were sensitive..."
"It's okay."
Aria's pale hand gently grabbed my sleeve. I relaxed my arm, letting her guide my hand toward her ear.
I moved closer. Long, pointed ears. I'd wanted to touch them. This was completely different from fake costume ears, so my gaze remained fixed.
"Oh..."
"Mmh."
As I touched her ear with wonder, a small moan escaped Aria's lips.
It was soft and warm. Being an ear, it wasn't that warm, but the feeling of warm cartilage was strange. Ears are generally like that, but maybe because she was an Elf, it felt more delicate toward the tip.
It was a fascinating experience. Since coming to this world, I've had many new experiences, but who would have thought I'd get to touch an Elf's ear?
As I was marveling and wiggling my left hand, Sera, who had finished packing up, grabbed my shoulder from behind.
"What?! Aria, you told me you'd blast me with Elven secrets if I touched your ears! What's going on...!"
"I don't get anything in return from you. Touching people is boring, but touching a Demon God is a rare opportunity."
Despite Sera's loud voice, Aria responded calmly in a low voice.
To Aria's rebuttal,
"Then how about my chest? I'll let you touch it!"
"...Not interested. It's smaller than mine."
"Ugh..."
Despite being in a lecture hall with people still present, Sera's comment was quite explicit. For a moment, I wondered if we were really in a classroom, but Aria casually dismissed it and focused all her attention on my hand.
Sera pressed against me with a groan, and I felt the sudden added weight while still fiddling with Aria's ear.
"So, how is it?"
I let out a small moan at Aria's question.
"It's different from my ears, so it's fascinating and... soft..."
"Is that so? As long as you're satisfied."
Aria's face was slightly redder than before, making me feel awkward. As soon as I removed my hand, Sera clung to me, trying to touch my ear.
"Then I'll touch Urr's ears."
"Huh? Wait... eek?!"
The sudden touch sent shivers down my spine. My body trembled with goosebumps rising from my lower body. Even so, Sera didn't stop touching my ear.
My waist involuntarily flinched each time her finger traced my earlobe. I tried to escape with a groan, but there seemed to be no way to escape from Sera, who was hugging me from behind.
As I frowned and moaned, Aria reached out her hand. I thought she was going to help me, but she started touching my other ear.
I couldn't understand why they were so curious about touching ears, whether they belonged to a Demon God or a human.
After spending quite some time like that, I took out my phone from my inner pocket. Time had flown by while I was studying hard and then being tormented between Aria and Sera.
Having somewhat gotten used to their touch, I narrowed my eyes and shook my head. They weren't holding me tightly, so I could shake off their hands with a slight head movement.
"It seems like it's time to head back."
I gathered the scattered papers on the desk. Seeing the evident disappointment on their faces, I declared this, and Sera nodded as if she understood despite her reluctance.
"Alright, can't be helped. I wanted to play more."
"...Shouldn't we not be doing this during lecture time?"
"It's just a review lecture like orientation, covering what we learned in first and second year, so I already know most of it."
Sera shrugged as if it was no big deal. The way she spoke about not needing to focus on what was already in her head made her seem far from being a good student, let alone an honor student or model student.
Anyway, our conversation was over. I headed to the professor's lab with Sera's guidance. There, I found the professor working.
"I'm back."
As I bowed my head in greeting, the professor waved.
"Welcome back. How was the lecture?"
"It was kind of difficult. So I studied writing."
I tried to show the papers I was holding. Having forgotten that I had rolled up my sleeves for comfort, the papers slipped from my grasp and scattered across the floor.
"Ah...!"
Alarmed by the papers fluttering in all directions, I immediately crouched down and started picking them up.
My constantly drooping sleeves kept covering my hands. As I struggled to roll them up again, Sera, who was watching from behind, started helping me gather the papers.
"Th-thanks..."
"This is nothing."
For every one sheet I picked up, Sera swiftly gathered four and handed them to me. I fidgeted with them before showing them to the professor again.
Then I slowly pointed to the characters and explained.
"This is my name... this is Sera, and this is Aria."
"Aria?"
The professor tilted his head at the unfamiliar name.
"Ah, she's a classmate in the same department. An Elf."
As I hesitated slightly on how to explain, Sera behind me offered help. Nodding, I turned my head slightly.
Seeing the glass board and marker attached to the lab wall, I uncapped it and started writing in black. After writing, I felt a bit embarrassed by my poor handwriting.
"I memorized it diligently."
"My goodness, you really did work hard."
The professor smiled warmly, rose from his seat, and gave me a gentle hug while reciting what I had written.
"That's right. She even stood on her tiptoes to write, so she really worked hard."
Sera chuckled. I pouted and glared at her. The professor, not noticing my expression, just kept patting my head, saying how impressed he was.
My head felt like it was spinning.