Zoemi considered following after Teo, but ended up staying and finishing preparing the meal – he set out a portion for the brown-haired girl and even delivered it to her, but she asked him to leave it under her door without showing him her face.

"Just remember to go see Burushi for healing and consult a teacher about the earing.

"

The black-haired boy said instead of goodbye and went to Miriette's room as he always would, carrying the tray with breakfast.

Although, once he arrived in front of the dark-haired girl's room something out of the norm happened.

"Oh? Are you alone today?

"

"Yes, Teo isn't feeling well so she asked for a day off.

"

"I see.

"

Miriette opened the door after the black-haired attendant knocked on it and closed it after he entered after a brief conversation…

"My lady is there something…?

"

Slightly confused Zoemi turned to her with a question.

"Nnn~!

"

"?!?!?!?!?!

"

And was suddenly hugged in response!

And not a friendly, hello, kind of hug either!

It was a full-on I-missed-you-and-I-wanted-to-see-you-so-much!-kind of hug!

Zoemi was speechless!

"My lady, what…?

"

Zoemi didn't know what to do with his hands, should he hug her back? Should he firmly push her away?

He was still carrying the tray so he couldn't really do either – and didn't want to, to begin with…

"How is that… today is special, you know? Since the two of us are going shopping, I thought that we should try to not stand out that much, so you shouldn't call me master or my lady.

"

To make things even more confusing, Miriette declared and proudly looked up at the boy's face while resting her chin on his chest.

"I… my lady, this is a good idea, but we are still in the academy – not to mention in your own room…

"

"Hmhmhm~!

"

Zoemi became flustered and Miriette shuddered from joy at his reaction.

|It's working…! I barely did anything and it's already working~! Yesterday really was a blessing!|

The dark-haired girl's eyes sparkled seeing the bashful expression on her attendant's face.

"Not listening!

"

Miriette laughed and snuggled against his chest.

"…can I at least put the tray down…?

"

"…!

"

Zoemi asked in a defeated voice – which made Miriette's eyes widen.

|Does…! Does that mean he wants to hug me back?! Oh my goodness…! Is it happening…?! IS IT HAPPENING?!|

Miriette froze momentarily while her brain was overloaded due to Zoemi's response – and especially because the black-haired boy has said those very words while looking away and blushing!

ZOEMI WAS BLUSHING!

The girl's surprise allowed Zoemi to sneak away from her embrace and leave the meal at the desk.

"…

"

Then the boy turned back to the girl, not really sure what he should do and…

*knock* *knock* *knock*

"!!!

"

"!!!

"

…both of them jolted when someone knocked on the door.

"Student Espine? Are you awake?

"

Even more shocking was that the voice that called, undeniably belonged to none other but the blue-haired young teacher Rokiana Grea Perserios!

"…?

"

"…

"

Zoemi and Miriette looked at each other before turning to the door.

"Yes, teacher, I'm already awake – did something happen?

"

Even though they were in the academy, while in the student's dormitory Miriette as the daughter of a duke didn't need to actually open the door to answer.

"I have a sort of personal business with you, if you don't mind, it's just a small request, but I would be really glad if we could discuss it without me standing in the hallway…

"

"Teacher, it's still early in the morning, can't we discuss it before or after your lecture?

"

Miriette complained while eyeing Zoemi out.

"Alright, I understand…

"

Rokiana sounded defeated and Miriette spread her arms and was about to approach Zoemi again…

"I know I'm being pushy, but the thing is…!

"

But Rokiana wasn't actually going to give up that easily.

"It's about charging the communication crystal with wind mana, it will take just a minute!

"

"…haa…

"

Rokiana declared and Miriette sighed.

"Teacher… If it's just that can't you ask some other teachers with wind attribute, there are at least four of them…!

"

"…my lady…

"

The dark-haired girl complained – but after Zoemi looked at her and whispered with a timid expression, she already knew that she will help the woman out.

After all, Rokiana needed to charge the communication crystal to continue calling Zoemi's father – and the black-haired boy supported the direction of that relationship full-heartedly.

"The thing is I can't…

"

Rokiana started explaining.

"I already asked them a lot of times and they all got angry at me…

"

She confessed sounding abundantly embarrassed about the fact…

"Then how about other students?

"

Miriette still tried to keep up the act but even so, she was already walking towards the door with a defeated expression…

"I'm certain that you know a lot of students with wind attributes who could help.

"

She pointed out with her hand on the door handle.

"But the crystal actually takes a lot of wind mana, for a normal wind magician charging the crystal once would already cause symptoms of mana depletion, but if it's you, well, you won't even feel anything.

"

Rokiana said in a kind of apologetic manner and Miriette sighed even deeper.

"Teacher…

"

"I-I know I'm being annoying alright? But…!

"

Rokiana lovered her voice.

"Alright, listen. There's that guy I fell for, alright? It's Zoemi's father, actually, and he's handsome and charismatic and so cool and sometimes goofy and cute…! The thing is, he's super dense but I feel like we are getting closer thanks to talking through the crystal, right?

"

"…!

"

"…!

"

Now not only Rokiana was embarrassed but the master-attendant pair in the room too.

"Student Espine, you have a fiance so you don't know how hard it is to find a decent man and since you're young and beautiful you have no idea that it's so much harder to find someone at my age. Come on, please, help the fellow woman out…!

"

Rokiana sounded just a bit desperate but Miriette fully could easily relate to her – after all when it came to denseness Mizoe and Zoemi were about the same.

"Alright.

"

Miriette breathed out and opened the door, revealing the blue-haired woman.

"Thank you! You won't regre…! Hiah…!?

"

Flustered Rokiana busted into the room while holding the dim greenish crystal in front of her, at first she sounded grateful and happy but then she saw Zoemi standing by the desk and she let out a weird sound and froze with her eyes wide open.

"I just have to fill it with mana, right?

"

Miriette asked and took the magic device from the petrified blue-haired teacher.

"…ah…! Y-yes, that is correct…

"

Only after the crystal left her hands Rokiana react – her face and ears became bright red making a stark contrast with her hair – and she nodded her head.

"Good morning teacher.

"

"M-morning…!

"

Zoemi bowed and greeted the blue-haired woman calmly but even that made her flinch and instantly look down at her feet and clenched her hands together.

Even though she knew that Zoemi was on her side in this situation, she couldn't help feeling embarrassed over her choice of words.

The charging sequence was actually extremely easy and fast.

The control of mana inside one's body was a skilled natural for most of the magicians and the crystals made it very easy to push it out from the magician's body without turning it into a spell.

After thirty or so seconds the crystal was glowing with almost blinding green light.

"Done.

"

Said Miriette and gave the communication crystal back to the woman.

"Thank you…!

"

Rokiana nodded towards them and then evacuated as soon as she could.

"I think that I should practice calling her mother soon, or mom – she seems like a good person, don't you agree?

"

Zoemi said while looking at the door that the blue-haired teacher shut behind her.

"…

"

Miriette looked at his cheerful expression and the corners of her lips raised in a soft smile.

"Yes, she does, do you know what your dad thinks about her though?

"

She decided to delay her cuddling plans a little bit – after all, they had the whole day to themselves…

…and, it would look more natural if she stayed in her room together with Zoemi AFTER the shopping trip than it would do if the two of them just stayed in the room for the whole day…

Not to mention that while in the nearby town the two of them could pose as a couple and cuddle up while on a date!