# Study Group
Anyone could form one, but most people didn't bother, thinking it wasn't really necessary.
Initially, it had been an alternative suggested for Karen who wanted to study more, but now it was becoming a group that would suit everyone.
It would give Karen, who truly wanted to study more, the opportunity to do so.
I thought it would be a good chance for her to learn what to study and how to study properly—if she really wanted to do it, where else would she find such an opportunity?
For Sera, who was concerned about the Institute, it was practically a chance to set her goals. Being close to our Professor would give her the opportunity to decide whether to focus on creating an Original or concentrate on magic formula research.
And since Aria said graduating from the Academy was her priority, she could get advice from the Professor about her graduation thesis.
So we decided to meet on Friday afternoon, when Academy students would likely be free.
Karen said her afternoons were free anyway because of the students attending the welcome party, while Sera and Aria said they'd go along with whatever I did.
"...D-do we really have to go like this?"
That was the plan, but as we headed to the Professor's laboratory, something felt off about our posture.
I was squeezed between Sera and Aria, struggling to match their stride, which had its limits. With them linking arms with me on both sides, I felt like I was being escorted somewhere against my will.
"Aria won't give way."
"...Sera won't give way."
They exchanged words suggesting the other should yield. I felt dazed, wondering if this was what they meant by small shrimp getting crushed in a whale fight.
As we stumbled down the corridor, my skirt became a critical situation.
"Uh, uhh..."
"Hmm?"
When I froze in horror, the two holding me also stopped and looked at me. Feeling their gazes from both sides, I squeezed my eyes shut.
"M-my skirt is about to fall down..."
It had somehow come loose and was slipping. I barely managed to stop it by lifting one leg, but once we started walking again, that would be the end of it, so I had to remain in an awkward posture.
As I whimpered, Sera immediately released my arm.
Aria followed suit, albeit a bit late, freeing both my hands. Without even having time to roll up my sleeves, I grabbed my skirt along with the belt.
"...Should I help you?"
"No... I'm fine."
At Aria's voice, I shook my head vigorously. Sera then gave me a look that said, "Should I help you?"
Since this wasn't something I wanted anyone's help with, I quickly turned my head away.
The one good thing was that I was no longer being half-dragged along. With Sera carrying my bag, I just needed to hold my skirt slightly.
When we arrived at the laboratory side by side, the Professor glanced our way.
"Professor!"
As I waved my hand and revealed myself from between them, the Professor stood up and approached.
"You're back? Sera and Aria, right?"
"Yes, hello."
"Hello."
The Professor welcomed me back by placing me in her arms and vigorously patting my head. I stayed still, wondering if she was trying to smooth down my disheveled hair.
I hadn't realized it before, but whether it was because my hair was very long or because the Professor always washed my hair, feeling her touch like this made me sleepy.
If hypnosis existed, it might feel like this. I felt drowsy.
"Huaaaaaawn."
My mouth opened wide. The involuntary yawn brought tears to my eyes. After blinking several times to show my moist eyes, Sera gently touched them.
"So cute."
"Like a cat."
Aria added to Sera's comment.
I opened my eyes again and looked up. Sera was shorter than the Professor, who was shorter than Aria, but all three were quite a bit taller than me, making me feel surrounded by walls.
With Sera standing close and touching my face, and Aria carefully examining the ends of my hair, that might be why.
"I got your message. You said you'd start today, right? Did you contact Karen? You should look after your junior."
"...Ah, I did."
I raised my hand at the Professor's words. The Professor gasped and then, as if unable to resist, began vigorously rubbing my cheeks.
"Well done. Our Urr is doing better than her seniors!"
"Ueeee."
As my soft cheeks were being pressed in all directions, Sera gave a bitter smile.
"I was busy bringing Urr..."
"If Sera had just given way..."
"No, Urr is closer to me, you know?"
Sera's voice flared up at Aria's comment. The Professor watched this and burst into laughter. Then, pinching my cheek slightly, she said:
"Our Urr is quite popular."
"I guesssh sho."
I answered with one cheek still being held.
After lunch, the Professor returned from giving a lecture to the first-year Institute students.
In the Professor's laboratory—which could also be called a professor's office—four people were seated at the large table. The Professor, who had left me with the others, quickly scanned each face.
An unusual combination: Sera and Aria from the third year, and Karen from the first year. If there was anything in common, it was probably just that they were all friends with me.
The Professor looked at me sitting blankly in the chair and smiled. Then she began writing on the glass hanging on one wall with a marker.
"...Ahem, the reason we've gathered here is for the Study Group."
The Professor erased the friendly atmosphere from earlier and adopted a businesslike expression and voice.
"For now, rather than doing something serious, the goal is to gather like this, get to know what seniors and juniors are in the group, and build close friendships. We need to become comfortable with each other first, as that will make it faster when teaching each other things later."
Black lines smoothly formed letters on the glass.
"Later, even if we can't all meet like this, it will be better than being awkward when a few gather to study briefly."
"So there's no set time?"
"No, there should be a set time."
The Professor shrugged at Sera's question.
"...Friday afternoon? Since Institute students only need to set their direction, there's no need to stay long, so I can come back early like this and supervise the group. The first goal of the group is also for you to manage on your own."
Everyone nodded at that.
It seemed like she would just provide guidance, and the students would handle the rest. She was simply acting as a guardian.
Karen glanced at me and then smiled broadly. Perhaps because she was so focused on studying, she seemed pleased with the situation.
After the explanation, the Professor handed out papers to each of us. I watched carefully and quietly took out my pen.
The Professor was saying something, but I wasn't here to study with the group—I was just tagging along because my friends had gathered. So I ignored everything else and started scribbling letters to practice writing.
Person? It was the most impressive word I'd heard in Sera and Aria's advanced Mana Circuit application class. Since I had been a person, it was a word that resonated with me.
The nameplate in my arms had the word "Urr" on it, but rather than something so personal, I completed a word that gave a sense of belonging.
Come to think of it, it didn't seem to apply to me now. It was just something I alone had been, so I quickly shook my head.
I recalled what I had learned today. Tilting my head, I thought about drawing a magic circle again. Maybe I should try copying a fire magic circle. As I absentmindedly scribbled with my pen, I felt the atmosphere grow cold throughout my body.
I looked up with a start and found the remaining four people staring at me.
"...Eh?"
What had they been talking about to look at me like this? As I wondered, the Professor looked at me with sympathetic eyes and stroked my head.
In the somewhat sad atmosphere, I ended up being embraced by the Professor.
"Why is everyone acting like this?" The words rose to my throat, but the atmosphere was so strange that I didn't feel like breaking it.
"Well then, please submit your papers to me... shall we end here for today?"
"Yes."
My expectation that things would get lively once everyone became more comfortable seemed to have been wrong. The Professor collected the papers and set them aside.
"But since you've taken time out of your precious Friday to come here, it seems a shame to just send you off... Would you like something to eat? What do you like? Pizza?"
"...Oh, I'd like pizza!"
Sera raised her hand high. Being a third-year and the most energetic, she was the first to respond. Aria followed suit.
"Pizza is fine with me too."
"Ah, me too..."
Karen's voice completed the unanimous decision.
Through all this, I remained quietly in the Professor's arms.
"Pizza..."