"This… this kind of thing, how could I possibly agree to it…"
Embarrassment was one thing, silence was another.
But what Kurono had just said was something Stella absolutely couldn't pretend she hadn't heard.
If she stayed quiet now, wouldn't that mean she was tacitly agreeing and making this arrangement a settled fact?
"Now, now, don't be so hasty. The reason I'm doing this, I do have one."
Kurono lit another cigarette, dangling it casually from her lips, speaking with the air of someone explaining things at ease.
"It's true, that in the past, Hagun Academy never had male and female students sharing a dormitory. But as you also know, our results in the past few years have been poor. Even though our students' basic qualities aren't much worse than those of the other six academies, our grades keep falling year after year. That's why the board appointed me as the Director, sent me here, to turn things around."
She glanced at Stella and Makoto, and, seeing they didn't immediately object, continued smoothly.
"So from the moment I took office, I established my own guiding policy. To revive the academy, to make students develop a sense of crisis through competition, I don't care about class numbers, gender, or even background. As long as two students are close in strength, they'll be placed in the same dormitory."
Makoto fell silent instantly. That phrase "regardless of background" had been aimed straight at him.
Kurono was clearly satisfied with the effect, and now her full attention turned toward Stella.
"Putting aside everything else, Stella, you have to admit this much. A worthy rival can push you further than anything else. To be frank, if it hadn't been for that insufferable bastard back then, I might not have grown to where I am now.
Of course, I'm not completely heartless—when possible, I'll still arrange for students of the same sex to room together.
But as the academy's only two A-rank knights, you two are without doubt the best match. Think carefully, Stella. What did you come here for?"
Her words pierced directly to the core. At least, that question made Stella fall into deep thought.
That's right. I came here to become stronger.
Stella Vermillion.
Her very surname revealed it—she was a princess of the Vermillion Kingdom.
Normally, that should have been a shining start in life, a flawless beginning with no worries, a blissful youth guaranteed.
But reality had been otherwise.
Because Stella had been born with immense magical power, when her abilities first awakened, she couldn't control them properly.
As a child, her power constantly leaked out unconsciously, scorching her surroundings, even burning herself at times.
Back then, many doubted she could ever become a Mage-Knight.
After all, the greater the power, the harder it was to control.
But through sheer effort, she managed to master it—and once she did, she realized all the more clearly.
Her kingdom of Vermillion was far too weak.
It didn't even have a single powerful, reliable Mage-Knight.
If such a person had existed, perhaps young Stella wouldn't have suffered so much to control her strength.
So she had resolved—she herself would become that power.
She would turn her talent into true strength, and become, like Japan's War God or Ryouma Kurogane, the guardian deity of Vermillion.
And the woman before her was one of the top three strongest in the entire League.
Perhaps… her proposal really was worth considering.
"Then it's settled. Starting today, you two will live together as roommates."
Kurono suddenly smiled, declaring the arrangement official.
One glance at the silent Stella, and she knew—the princess had already made her choice in her heart.
So she moved to finalize things, to seal the matter.
"Wait a second… You said competition—sharing the same class with Stella should be enough, right? There's no need to go this far."
Makoto hurriedly cut in, interrupting Kurono.
He had stayed quiet earlier only because of her veiled threats, but he had been hoping Stella would speak up and refuse.
After all, only Stella's objection could overturn this.
But she had fallen silent. How could he accept that?
"Forget it. Clearly Stella doesn't mind anymore, so what are you fussing about like some old woman?"
Kurono spat dismissively, though her lips curved into a playful smile.
"Let's be honest—you're just thinking it's troublesome, aren't you?"
"…"
Makoto froze, struck silent as if his thoughts had been laid bare.
But Kurono wasn't about to let him off.
"You must be thinking Stella will be nothing but trouble for you."
And she was right.
From the start, Makoto's hesitation had been nothing more than seeing it as a hassle. What others might call winning the lottery, to him was only endless complications.
First of all, he had no intention of growing too close with a girl he'd just met.
Not to brag, but he seemed to attract female attention easily, without meaning to. But he wasn't some lust-driven fool who threw himself at every pretty girl.
If he were, then not a single one of the girls in Leo who admired him would have escaped his grasp.
His progress with Misaki too was because she truly had qualities that drew him in.
Secondly, what if the Vermillion royal family really made an issue of this?
Kurono would certainly bear responsibility as director, but would he, the one actually living in the same room as their princess, escape blame?
Of course not.
So, given that he had no special feelings for Stella, no benefit at all—why should he invite such unnecessary trouble?
The answer was obvious—he shouldn't.
Boom!
Suddenly, the office temperature shot up. The searing heat instantly soaked Makoto's back with sweat.
And then came a voice, furious beyond measure—
"You think I'm a burden?"