[Summer Break Approaching]
This year’s school ball.
On the surface, it had ended peacefully with no troubles of note.
It had been well received not only by the students but also by the faculty, staff, and knights—who had been in charge of security, and talks were underway regarding increasing the number of guests for next year’s ball and restoring its scale as before.
…But in my case, the ball had ended on anything but a peaceful note.
《The One Who Knows the Truth of This World》— she had expressed that she was taking the stance of a bystander.
If only I could take that at face value… I didn’t feel any kind of hostility from her, yes, but that she didn’t show herself made her statement doubtful.
Also… she had left parting words implying we would be meeting again in the near future.
Just what did she mean by that?
Now that I was looking back on all these, I suppose I’d best put up more guard against her.
After the school ball, the next big thing that awaited the students was the finals.
After that, the school would be closed for a long period of time; it would be the final moment of truth for us students.
That said, members of the student council and the Knights of the Academy all had pretty good grades, so I didn’t need to worry about them receiving remedial.
There was just one matter… before the finals, we were summoned to the principal’s office.
“What may be the matter, I wonder? The ball has just ended too.”
“Hmm… nothing comes to mind. Jarvis?”
“Me neither. Raul, did you hear anything?”
“I haven’t the slightest clue about the details either.”
It seemed that Raul, Andrei, Kleine, and Eureka hadn’t been informed of the reason we had been summoned, either.
Honestly, I had a really bad feeling about it… but anyway, we all went to the principal’s office to hear the details.
“Oh, you are all here. Perfect,” after seeing us all gathered, Principal Abigail—standing by the window—cleared her throat and began to speak, “I summoned you today was to ask about your plans for the summer break.”
“Our plans for the summer break?”
We looked at each other.
Our summer break plans… whatever for did she need to know?
“Um, pardon me, but why would you ask?”
“Well… this came earlier this morning.”
Saying that, the principal handed me a piece of paper. Everyone gathered around me to read the contents.
And they were–
“Exchange meeting?”
It was a proposal to hold an exchange meeting between Astor Academy and another school.
The person who made this offer was the principal of the Randolph Royal Academy in the neighboring Salencia Kingdom.
“Randolph Academy.”
“I’ve been there a few times; it’s a good school. The overall atmosphere isn’t that different from ours.”
So Principal Abigail knew it well?
–But…
“Why would they propose an exchange meeting now of all times?”
I’d expect no less of Tayte.
She seemed to have the exact same doubts as me.
The Kingdoms of Bramshal and Salencia—where Randolph Academy was located—didn’t have a bad relationship; we went along pretty well, in fact. But we had never had an exchange of students.
Attached to the letter, there was a guide explaining what we would be doing during our study abroad at Randolph Academy, which was over the summer break.
“It seems there won’t be actual lessons; the main focus of this exchange will be on interaction between students. From our school, I wanted to recommend you all, so I summoned you today to ask if you are willing.”
“O-okaay.”
“This will be an experimental program, and if things go well, thereafter we will discuss whether to officially implement it in our curriculum starting next year,” after explaining, the principal added, “Some of you may already know this, but the Salencia Kingdom is a coastal kingdom, famous for its resorts and tourist attractions. I heard the place where you will be staying—if you accept—while you are there is well-reputed among tourists, you know?”
…I see.
Getting the principal’s hint, we looked at each other.
After everyone nodded, I told the principal.
“That student exchange program—we accept it.”
Looked like the summer break this year would be more lively than the last one.
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