Just an ordinary schoolgirl

While the smell of a terrible incident happening was coming off strong, Francesca left the school building as always.

(To try and not let my premonitions become reality as well, I need to avoid that problem from happening in the first place. That’s why……..)

The gentle breeze of the fallen leaves that had become warm from staying under the sun blew in the air. As the sensation of Fall having truly arrived grew stronger, Francesca turned her focus entirely towards the events of the third arc from the game.

(I think soon, [everyone] will be at the gates as well.)

As the students slowly left the school building, they waved at each other as they bid goodbyes and ‘see you tomorrows’ for the day. To someone who didn’t have many friends, it was truly an envious scene.

(uugh, I want to be involved in such things as well…..!! But even if I raise my courage and try to mingle suddenly, all I’d get is very stiff replies at best. Am I really that scary……..?)

And because she was in such deep deliberation, she was unable to notice how the expressions on the faces of the students began to change as they reached closer and closer to the main gates.

“o,oi, in front of the gate, is that…..”

(I wonder if I did something rude that made them all uncomfortable? Oh god what if I did!? What do I do now?! I can tolerate never being able to become friends, but at least I’d like to not be a problem to others……..)

Francesca became more and more dejected, but soon, her face became bright again.

“Ah!”

In front of the gates, the people Francesca was hoping to meet were waiting for her.

“Hey, everyone!!”

“!?!”

Seeing Francesca happily wave her hand at those people, the students around her were in complete shock. On the other hand, the said group in front of them very calmly all welcomed Francesca.

“Hey, young miss.”

In front of the carriage stood Graziano, who had been getting surrounded by more and more girls these days it seemed. Apparently he got involved with some incident involving third year girls where he saved them from some men who were acting roughly towards them, and beat the absolute shit out of them and had now become popular as a gallant warrior among the girls.

“Weren’t you in charge of cleaning duty today? Did you skip it and run?”

“Of course not! I simply finished it all up very quickly! Even the windows are sparkling clean okay!”

“Ohh, even though your own room is always a mess, how incredible.”

Francesca pouted and complained against Graziano’s teasing, showing her disapproval. Upon which, another young man standing beside them finally spoke up with his arms folded in front of his chest.

“Francesca.”

“Hyaa!? Wh,what is it Ricardo-san!?”

For some reason she ended up speaking in a formal tone just from hearing his stern voice because she could sense that he wasn’t very happy.

As she quickly straightened herself in a panic, the young heir and successor of the Serranova family spoke with his brow furrowed and a serious tone.

“Your dishevelled clothes show the disorder in your own morals. And the disorder in your room is a sign of disorder in your life. Are you the type that keeps things lying around instead of properly storing them away when not needed? You should be paying attention to whether the things in your room really need to be there and rearrange it all.”

“Y-you are indeed on the mark so I’m afraid I cannot even refute…….!”

“However..”

The object of every student’s fear, Ricardo truly lived up to his title as the head of public morals committee but, even he finally showed a gentle smile before continuing.

“To spend an utmost effort into cleaning up the classroom is indeed worthy of praise. Truly wonderful.”

“…..!”

Getting praised by Ricardo who was always insistent in living life in a proper and orderly manner, was something that everyone hoped to experience some day in her opinion.

Seeing Francesca’s eyes shine with happiness, the last member of the group who had simply been observing until now finally walked forward.

“What are you even talking about Ricardo.”

“Hrm…..?”

The man that took Francesca hand into his own and chuckled teasingly was of course, Leonardo.

He touched her hand almost as if he was about to plant a kiss upon the top of her hand but, he stopped at simply clasping hands with her and no more. His moonlit golden eyes narrowed, and gazed  preciously at Francesca.

“Francesca is always wonderful. She’s a hard worker, energetic and an adorable girl.”

“S-sudden barrage of cliché compliments…..!? What happened Leonardo? Are you sulking again?”

“Ahahaha, as expected of my Francesca, you always see through everything.”

 While they were all having such conversations, she felt the students behind them on their way back home were all whispering to each other in secret.

“Ah……aren’t the people talking over there Leonardo-sama and Ricardo-sama, and also Graziano, right….??”

“All them are handsome beyond belief. Just seeing them standing together holds immense destructive power, making it really hard to even get close, and yet…….”

“To be able to talk with all of them in such a close and friendly manner, just who the hell is that girl…..!?!”

“?”

Feeling a little strange, Francesca turned to look back only to have all the students avert their looks with incredible speed.

(uwaah, I really am getting avoided aren’t I……..!!)

Of Francesca had no realization of just how odd of a situation she was currently standing in and that too, without showing any worry whatsoever. Leonardo started to snicker upon noticing all that, and then questioned Francesca again.

“So Francesca? The reason you made it back in such a hurry, is it because you have some business with your father who’s supposed to arrive soon?”

“SHHH! At school I’m not [Calvino’s daughter] okay? I’m a [Trovato]. Even when the head of the Calvino family arrives, I am going to act like I don’t know him!”

“I have a feeling you’re going to make the boss cry by doing that though………”

She didn’t even try to deny what Graziano had muttered. Francesca then took a peek around the three boys before asking them quietly.

“Leonardo, and Ricardo, you two are going to head to the unveiling of the [Augite of Mystreal] right?”

“——-…..”

Leonardo continued to smile as always, meanwhile Ricardo beside him couldn’t help but brace himself upon hearing that

(I suppose it’s natural for even Ricardo to be a little nervous. The [Augite of Mystreal] was a treasure of all the countries of the land……….A tool that purifies the land itself and as such, from the olden days of when the ten countries were once one, they have all cooperated and worked together to keep it safe and protected.) [T/N:Augite could also be written as Pyroxene, or more simply Shining stone. Furthermore, the word is pronounced as “Kiseki” which can also mean “miracle” with different kanji which I assume is an intentional wordplay.]

It was a treasure that would [travel] across all the countries. The power of such a Augite was important to every single country, and was thus the proof of a common bond between them all.

“Umm, you see….”

And so Francesca spoke, to Leonardo and the rest.

“I wanna come too. To the unveiling party, that is.”

“——you want to as well? Francesca?”

The one who looked the most surprised was in fact, Leonardo.

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