Unconsciously, time had already slipped into May.
And on May 10th, it was finally Sayaka's discharge day.
"Mibu-san, congratulations on your discharge."
"Thank you, Mahiro-kun… I really love it."
Sayaka, now changed out of her plain hospital gown into light casual clothes, beamed happily as she accepted the fresh bouquet of carnations from Yotsuba Mahiro's hands. The faint, refreshing fragrance of the flowers still lingered in the air.
Mahiro had gotten up early that morning and ordered them from a florist—especially to celebrate Sayaka's return to normal life.
Technically, it was school time, but the biggest advantage of online lectures without a teacher's constant presence was… flexibility.
That was the polite way to put it.
The less-polite way? He had shamelessly skipped class.
Just as he was inwardly justifying himself—
"Hey, Saya~ you can't be so obsessed with Mahiru-kun that you forget about your friends, you know! I also skipped school just to celebrate your discharge today!"
"Wha—?! E-Erika-chan, w-what are you saying all of a sudden?!"
Erika's teasing words instantly made Sayaka's face flush a deep pink, and her movements turned fidgety, betraying her embarrassment.
Ever since their fierce clash during the school disturbance, Sayaka and Erika had somehow become inseparable. Now they were more like best friends who could talk about anything under the sun. They had even promised to have a proper sword spar one of these days.
And in private… they had even started giving each other silly pet nicknames. One was "Chii-chan," the other was "Hot-Head."
Mahiro sighed inwardly. Girls' friendships are way too mysterious… I'll never understand.
Besides Erika, others had also gathered to celebrate. Shiba Tatsuya and Miyuki stood nearby, as well as Shibata Mizuki, Kitayama Shizuku, and Mitsui Honoka. All of them had willingly skipped class too, just to be part of Sayaka's special day.
During Sayaka's hospitalization, they had often come along with Mahiro to visit, so by now, everyone was already familiar with each other.
Among their little group, only Leo was missing. Strangely enough, the one who looked like he would be the first to ditch class was actually behaving like the most honest student at school.
But what really caught Mahiro off guard was another pair of unexpected guests.
"Eh? Senpai Mayumi… Senpai Watanabe? You two as well? Is everything alright at school?" Mahiro asked in surprise, noticing the two seniors in their crisp uniforms.
His words immediately drew Sayaka's attention too. The moment her eyes fell on Watanabe Mari, they widened slightly with surprise.
"No problem at all," Mari-senpai replied coolly, winking with one eye. "Mayumi and I both submitted leave applications properly. You don't have to worry about the school's operations."
Her tone was calm and composed, but Mahiro couldn't shake off the subtle sense that something felt… off. After all, while they said they went through leave procedures, wasn't that just them stamping their own approval forms? After all, within First High, student affairs like leave were handled entirely by the governing student organizations.
"That's right!" Mayumi-senpai chimed in with her signature playful smile. "Kurehito-senpai is overseeing things, and Azusa-chan together with Chiyoda-kun are maintaining the Student Council and Public Morals Committee. Everything's perfectly fine. And besides—Mari and I are already third-years. It's about time we start passing the torch. So, why not take this chance to let them gain some experience, hm?"
Only someone like Saegusa Mayumi-senpai could describe truancy in such a refined, almost poetic way. Even while teasing, she radiated grace.
After speaking, Mayumi-senpai stepped forward with elegance and handed the bouquet to Sayaka. "On behalf of the Student Council, I congratulate you on your recovery and discharge, Mibu-san."
"Ehh, how sneaky, Mayumi!"
Not to be outdone, Watanabe Mari-senpai strode forward, her strong presence filling the space. "Our Public Morals Committee feels the same. Congratulations on your discharge, Mibu."
"Th-thank you, Saegusa-senpai… and Watanabe-senpai."
Sayaka's voice trembled as her eyes grew moist. The warmth of their gestures touched her deeply. Despite everything—the conflicts, the betrayals, and the bitter memories—at this moment, it all seemed to melt away.
The culprit behind the chaos had already been exposed and punished. For Sayaka, who had been deceived and even had her memories tampered with, the others could not bear to hold a grudge. At the very least, not when Yotsuba Mahiro himself had chosen to stand by her.
"Mahiro-kun, could you come with me for a moment? There's something I'd like to speak to you about."
While the group continued laughing and chatting, a middle-aged man approached quietly. His build was solid, his presence commanding—like a warrior who had seen many battles.
Seeing him, Mahiro wasn't surprised in the slightest. He gave a small nod. "Of course."
They walked a short distance away, the sounds of cheerful chatter fading behind them. Then, with a solemn expression, the man turned and bowed deeply.
"Mahiro-kun… once again, thank you. Because of your support these past few days, my daughter has been able to recover."
"Uncle Mibu," Mahiro said with a faint, awkward smile, "I already told you, it's really nothing worth thanking me for. Besides, I said some harsh things to Mibu-san before… I only hope she won't resent me for them."
This was the first time Mahiro allowed a hint of bitterness to show on his face.
The man before him was Mibu Yozo—the section chief of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Foreign Affairs Department, and father of Mibu Sayaka. His name was well-known among those in the magic world, and his ties extended even to Kazama Genkuro, captain of the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion where Shiba Tatsuya served.
Looking at his sturdy frame, his upright bearing, and the aura of discipline about him, it was no wonder Sayaka's swordsmanship had such solid roots—it was inherited from this man.
"No," Mibu Yozo shook his head firmly. "If anything, I am the one who should be reprimanded."
He let out a heavy sigh. "I knew my daughter struggled with her slow progress in magic, but I dismissed it as unimportant. From my perspective, combat strength and magical aptitude were two separate matters. That narrow view blinded me to how much she truly suffered."
His voice grew thick with regret. "Worse, I used my work as an excuse. When she began associating with those shady people, I failed to stop her. I wasn't there for her… I am nothing but an incompetent father."
Mahiro listened silently. He had heard words like these before—expressions of regret from parents or comrades who failed to notice the burdens of those they loved. Yet Yozo's pain was genuine, carved into the lines of his face.
Still, his thoughts weren't wrong. In truth, there was a great difference between magic aptitude evaluation and actual combat ability. But in recent peaceful years, most magic universities had emphasized theoretical application and measurement over battlefield experience.
Just look at Shiba Tatsuya's pursuits—controllable nuclear fusion reactors, general-purpose flight magic, and the research into a perpetual motion system through infinite inertia amplification. Known as the "Three Great Problems of Heavy-Element Magic," they were fields of study with the potential to change the world.
Epoch-making research, yes. But utterly divorced from the realities of war.
"Mahiro-kun," Yozo continued, bowing deeply once more, "please, let me offer my gratitude regardless. Fate itself must have brought you and Sayaka together. No matter how much I thank you, it will never be enough."
He straightened for just a moment, then bent forward again, this time with the humility of a desperate father. "If it is possible… I sincerely hope that a man like you will continue to be Sayaka's pillar from here on. I beg this of you."
The words, filled with the weight of parental love and regret, struck heavily in the air between them.