Half a year had passed since enrollment. One month left until the Stardust Festival.

  On this day, at that secret spot, I was conducting the final joint training with Argus before the festival.

  "Well, let's leave it at this."

  "Yeah."

  And now, the training just finished. Argus and I released our stances almost simultaneously.

  "Haaa~"

  I collapsed onto the ground with momentum.

  Lying on my back and taking a deep breath through my nose, the scent of damp earth and trees soaked into my exhausted body. It gave me a pleasant sense of accomplishment that I had done my best until the end.

  Looking down at me like that, Argus was frowning slightly for some reason. Scratching the back of his head, he said exasperatedly.

  "You know... aren't you a little too unguarded?"

  "You think?"

  "Yeah. What's with that inviting posture?"

  Inviting? I don't intend to do anything like that.

  A mini-skirt that looks like it might show my underwear. My whole body is damp with sweat, my face is flushed, and my clothes are slightly disheveled, drifting with sex appeal.

  Lying defenselessly on my back right in front of him, looking up at a man with upturned eyes.

  Probably, I looked like that. I realized later when I became a man at night and looked back that I was doing something quite poisonous to the eyes, but at this time, I didn't think about it at all.

  "I'm not inviting you."

  "No way... Besides, if you move your eyes a little, your panties will definitely show."

  "Don't look. If you look, I'll kill you."

  Even I have some maiden's heart. I have no intention of showing my underwear to a man easily.

  Thinking so honestly was a little strange. If I were a man, I would think it's fine to show a girl's underwear. But why does my heart change so much just by transforming? I don't know.

  But anyway, I won't show it. Holding down the edge of my skirt firmly with both hands and glaring at him, he smiled bitterly and shrugged.

  "Scary, hey. Good grief. Be careful. I won't be responsible if you get attacked someday."

  Attacked.

  When Argus's casual words echoed in my brain, my head suddenly throbbed with pain. Instantly, the memory of being violated violently by Will flashed back.

  『See? You can't put any strength into your body, can you?』

  『While I interfere with your transformation ability, your body loses its freedom.』

  『Cry, scream all you want. You can never defy me.』

  『Yu. I want to see you break. I want to see you wear out. Come now, what will you show me?』

  His words. The sensation of his repulsive hands. Those eyes, colder than anything, capturing me and not letting go.

  A freezing chill ran through my whole body.

  My body trembled and wouldn't stop. Involuntarily, I covered my vision with my left arm.

  —He will surely appear again someday.

  I couldn't even resist him. This transformation ability becomes a fatal weakness against his [Interference]. At that time, I was so terrified that I even thought about offering everything to him. Thinking back now, I had no choice but to take the option I absolutely didn't want to take.

  But, if things stay like this.

  If I remain powerless and unable to resist him.

  Surely I'll have to do that again...

  I hate it. I'm scared. I'm not his toy. To be done as he pleases by such a terrifying guy— What on earth should I do? What kind of power should I get to...

  E S C A P E ?

  ...No, no. What am I thinking.

  The reason I want to become strong is to live properly in another world, right? Not for such a passive, pathetic, and sad reason... But... I almost died in distress, yes—finding such a convenient excuse, aren't I just looking away?

  Alice, Milia, Inea-sensei, Argus. Those without the ability to cross stars. Those who are not FabLs, won't save me from him.

  Somewhere in my heart, I think I have to fight his terror alone forever. That's why I've been desperate all along, trying to be able to do anything alone—

  Thinking that far, I fell into severe self-loathing.

  No good. No good! What am I thinking!

  Everyone cares about me in their own way, and they support my heart. They are all precious people I made for the first time in this world, aren't they!

  Just because they are not directly involved with him, just because we will part ways eventually, there's no way it's okay to cut them off somewhere in my heart like that!?

  Thinking it doesn't change anything whether they are there or not, there's no way it's okay to think such a terrible thing even in a corner of my mind!?

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  And yet, why...

  Why can't I say anything to anyone? Why can't I rely on anyone from the bottom of my heart?

  Ah. I see.

  I'm scared.

  That if I tell everything and expose my true identity, I might be hated by everyone. That I might truly become alone. And that I won't be able to lie even to my own heart anymore. I'm scared.

  When I clearly became aware of the emotions I had pushed into the depths of my heart, it was too painful to think any further. I averted my thoughts as if escaping.

  Ah! Geez. Don't think. It's bad because I think about a guy like that. Even though half a year has passed already. Pathetic.

  "What's wrong?"

  Reacting to the voice and moving my arm, Argus's face looking into mine worriedly was reflected.

  "Nothing... Argus, you wouldn't do something like that, right?"

  "I won't. But let me tell you, I'm a man too. If you get too carried away inviting me, I don't know what might happen."

  Those teasing words seemed to contain an implication to reassure me. Receiving that, I regained some composure.

  "As long as you're saying things like that, there's no problem."

  "Good grief. Well, it's fine. You're not my type anyway."

  Mmn. Honestly, I'd be troubled if told I'm your type or you like me. With such a half-hearted body. But being told I'm not his type is a little sad too.

  "Is that so."

  "I prefer girls who are a little more feminine."

  "This is my natural state, so it can't be helped."

  "Well, it's better than wearing a cat (acting), though."

  Since the sweat settled down, I stood up and dusted off the dirt on my clothes. Although these are Inea-sensei's handmade clothes that automatically clean themselves even if left alone, I dislike having dirt on them for a while.

  "Come to think of it, in the end, you never used proper Gravity Magic on me even once."

  In the end, Argus never fought me seriously during training. Except for the one he taught me, he didn't use any Gravity Magic either.

  "Obviously. That's not something to use lightly. If you want to make this me use it, become a little better."

  "Understood. I'll do my best."

  I thought I'd like to make him use it during the Magic Combat.

  "Yeah. Just, well, I intend to have shown you all the minimum basics. Prepare yourself and face the real thing."

  "Yeah. I can't match you in ability yet, but I don't intend to lose to you, Argus."

  "That's the spirit. Though, you have to win until you face me first."

  Regarding that, I'm not entirely unconfident. Thanks to this half-year of training, I pride myself on becoming reasonably able to use magic. I think I can go a good distance. Let's be bullish here.

  "I'm sure it'll be fine. You too, Argus, don't lose carelessly."

  "Heh. There's no way this me would make such a blunder."

  He laughed refreshingly and patted my shoulder ban-ban.

  At the moment of parting, I decided to express my gratitude for his care until now.

  "Thanks for everything during training. Argus."

  "Ou."

  He scratched his head a little shyly. He didn't seem displeased. After showing a gesture of being a little lost for words, he said.

  "It's not like me to say this, but. Well, it was fun. After the Magic Combat is over, I don't mind keeping you company again."

  I feel like he was the one who first said "keep me company because I'm bored." Well, this must be his way of hiding embarrassment.

  "Yeah. I'm looking forward to it."

  For the next month, we proceeded with preparations for the Magic Combat without meeting each other.

  The Stardust Festival is a major event in Sacris held over three days every year. The Magic Combat (Tournament) is held at the Coliseum located in the center of the town. Tag Matches are on the first day, and Individual Matches are on the second and third days.

  Tag Matches are smaller in scale compared to Individual Matches, having a strong implication as an appetizer for the Individual Matches. For Individual Matches, preliminaries are held on the second day, and the finals tournament on the third day. The preliminaries are survival-style, and one winner emerges from each of the eight blocks. Those eight fight for the championship.

  So, why did I talk about Tag Matches?

  Apparently, because I said I'd participate in the Individual Matches, Alice got strangely motivated. It seems she's entering the Tag Match with Milia. Furthermore, according to rumors, Karla-senpai and Ketty-senpai are also teaming up to participate. I know well that all four are considerable powerhouses. I thought this might become an excitement that eats the main dish, far from being an appetizer.

  By the way, Magic Combat is held only during the day, so the night is free. I planned to enjoy the festival with Alice and Milia during that time.

  So, since Argus isn't here, Alice, Milia, and I decided to do special magic training every day for a month. About the place for that special training...

  "Helloooo! Good afternoon! Inea-san."

  Alice enters cheerfully as usual. It's the Dojo... this is.

  Since this place was discovered that day, both of them started coming frequently. Before I knew it, they became completely friendly with Inea-sensei too.

  『Hoh. To use my place for special training.』

  『I couldn't refuse.』

  『I have extra space so it's fine, but you're the one who will be troubled by spending more time with those two here.』

  『That's true...』

  Since then, I had them believe that "Ore" (me) and female "Watashi" are different people. Borrowing the power of Inea-sensei's Teleportation Magic, I've been managing by deceiving them while transforming occasionally.

  "Huh, where's Yu?"

  "One of them... is always missing... isn't it?"

  Gradually, that deception is becoming suspicious too. But well, since they probably won't think a man and a woman are the same person, I figure it hasn't become fatal yet. As I was smiling bitterly, Inea-sensei whispered to me.

  『Why don't you just reveal it to these two?』

  『That's a bit... Because both of them think I'm a pure girl. We took baths together and did various things.』

  『Isn't that something that would be settled with one punch?』

  『If it would be settled with that, it would be fine though...』

  『Still anxious?』

  『Yes.』

  『I don't think there's much to worry about, though.』

  With one month every day, I can't stay silent forever. Even in my male state, I was forced to talk with Alice and Milia. I had to talk as if I didn't know them even though I knew them well, which was a strange feeling.

  Alice asked me for my name endlessly. At first, I stubbornly didn't answer, but doing so forever made her eyes pursuing me stricter. She was so persistent that I couldn't bear it and finally said it.

  "Isn't it about time you told me your name?"

  "It's Yu. Yu Hoshimi. It's a coincidence, but exactly the same name as that girl."

  I worried a lot, but in the end, I couldn't lie about my name. I think I'm clumsy. Even though suspiciousness only increases, I couldn't say a fake name.

  I hated it. Because this name is something precious I received from my parents, and one of the few connections to Earth. Distorting it felt like neglecting myself. I can't return to Earth anymore. That's why I don't want to forget various things about that hometown, and I want to cherish the connection. Jeans and such still remain, but eventually they will be gone too, and surely only the name will remain in the end.

  Still, while I name myself like this, I can still feel the connection. I feel like that.

  "Yu... Hoshimi..."

  Alice mutters my name with a dumbfounded face. Is it over? Just as I prepared myself, she clapped her hands and shouted happily.

  "Aah, I see! She didn't say it because she was embarrassed about having the same name, that girl!"

  "Heh?"

  "That's right. That child gets embarrassed at weird points~. I finally understand! You were asked not to say it, right? By the girl Yu."

  Apparently, the fact that female "Watashi" seemed embarrassed a lot worked in my favor. I went along with the story instantly.

  "Ah, yeah. That's right. She said 'Alice will tease me so don't say it'."

  "I see, I see."

  Nodding as if convinced, Alice extended two fingers of her right hand to me, just like she did for "Watashi."

  "You finally told me your name. Once again. I am Alice Luckin. Nice to meet you."

  "Nice to meet you."

  I finger-shook with Alice. I felt her fingers were smaller than when I was a woman. Glancing at Milia who was next to us, she seemed to be pondering something. Eventually, she muttered while looking at me.

  "It bothers me... quite a lot."

  "W-what does?"

  Unable to kill my inner agitation completely, I ask fearfully. As if seeing through my agitation, she floated a devilish smile and dodged the pursuit lightly.

  "No. I cannot be... certain yet. However..."

  Wrinkles gather between Milia's eyebrows. She seems to have an idea.

  Ah. Scary. Judging from this, she might already be close to the correct answer. Because her observation skills are considerable.

  Like that, while being quite thrilled, somehow without my identity being exposed (I want to believe), days of special magic training with the three of us continued.

  One month passed in the blink of an eye—

  Finally, the Stardust Festival began.