Whoa, she's super cute. A transfer student?

The day after our after-school date where we roasted marshmallows, we headed straight to school.

We flashed our student IDs from inside the carriage to pass through the gate, hopped off at the bustling drop-off area, and made our way to the classroom.

Dea-kun hesitated when getting off the carriage, so I pulled him out a bit forcefully, and, well… just between us, I may have accidentally hugged him in my enthusiasm.

It's fine, Dea-kun! To everyone around us, it just looks like two girls having fun together!!

Anyway. So here we are in the classroom. Thanks to Dea-kun's reluctant, foot-dragging guidance, we barely squeaked in just before homeroom started. Not that arriving earlier would have helped us avoid the people we passed whispering things like "Whoa, she's super cute. A transfer student?" and "Was there always such a cute girl here?" and "Wow… I fell in love at first sight. I'm gonna confess," followed by "Idiot, there's no way she'd go for you." Adorable, right?

Well, it's pretty much the same inside the classroom. About half of the roughly twenty students were elves, the other half a mix of humans and beastkin. Ahh, matching uniforms. It really feels like school. More girls than boys, too.

"Hmm, so Onee-san is popular even here…"

"? What are you talking about, Dea-kun? They were obviously talking about you."

"Hahaha, there's no way… huh? Right? Um, I'm a boy, you know?"

It's fine, you're a beautiful girl! Ufufufu. Nothing lifts the spirits quite like hearing Dea-kun get complimented on how cute he is.

The classroom was the tiered, lecture-hall type with free seating. Dea-kun and I slipped into the very back corner. He claimed the window side. What, am I supposed to be your wall?

… Naturally, attention gravitated toward the unfamiliar student. But before the curious ones could approach us, homeroom began and Lakto-sensei strode in.

"Alright, take your seats… Ah. The one in the back is a transfer student. Please be nice to them, though I recommend not bothering them too much and just leaving them alone. Um, now for the other announcements…"

Hey now, Lakto-sensei. That introduction was practically a footnote.

Dea-kun visibly relaxed. Ah, I see. With that phrasing, Dea-kun would also sound like a transfer student. How considerate of him.

But no. That simply won't do. I want to see Dea-kun get embarrassed!

"Sensei! Can I introduce myself!!"

"… … … … … … … Go ahead."

"Yep! I'm Karina Shounin! As you can see, I'm just an ordinary human girl, and this is my first time studying magic, so please treat me well! Okay, your turn, Dea-kun."

"… … … … … … … I was originally a student in this class, so there's no need."

Oh right, I totally forgot, tee-hee! … Just kidding. At that declaration, every boy and girl who had been watching us went wide-eyed. Even an elf girl who had been staring disinterestedly forward whipped around.

Now, Dea-kun had two options right there.

One: follow Lakto-sensei's assist and pretend to be a female transfer student, introducing himself as a girl.

Two: come out and admit he was originally a student here. Which he just did.

Dea-kun chose the latter! Well, either way works out great for me. The Goddess is probably pleased too.

Ah, but the murmuring continues. "Huh? Was there always a girl like that?" and "No way, I'd definitely remember someone that cute." A few are sputtering "Huh, huh, huh?" like gears grinding as realization dawns.

"Alright, let's begin class. Turn to page 153 in your Incantation Studies 1 textbook."

Oh, class is starting. Page 153 right off the bat means nothing to me, but I'll open my textbook anyway.

… Huh. So spell incantations are a thing. I've never chanted one…!

Let's see, what does it say? Flipping through… there's normal incantation, shortened incantation, no incantation, and complete no incantation. No incantation is when you just say the spell name, and complete no incantation is when you don't even say that.

Huh. So my Spatial Magic has been almost entirely complete no incantation this whole time.

"Ahem, Karina-kun. Since you're here, could you show us an example of no incantation?"

"Huh? Ah, sure. What should I do?"

"Well, can you do something you're good at that isn't dangerous? Oh, if you can only do things that would destroy the classroom, you don't have to."

Since Lakto-sensei's putting me on the spot, might as well give them a show.

Hmm, what would be good? Something that won't wreck the classroom… ah, I know.

"Here goes… Stone! How's this?"

I pulled a stone out from Spatial Magic storage into my palm.

"… Didn't the stone appear before she said the spell name?"

"Wait, what even was that? That wasn't earth attribute?"

"Where's the support magic circle or staff? … Huh?"

"Yes! Thank you, Karina-kun! That was a wonderful no incantation. Everyone, give a round of applause."

At Lakto-sensei's cue, there was scattered, bewildered clapping. Thank you, thank you.

"… I see. Lakto-sensei used that to show everyone what happens if they mess with Onee-san, didn't he?"

"Hm? Did I do something weird? I thought I disguised it perfectly."

"I don't really get it myself, but apparently those who can tell, can tell?"

Is that so? Well, as long as I can enjoy school life with Dea-kun, that's all that matters. Everyone else is just background noise!

That's what I thought, but during the break after first period, an elf girl came barreling toward us with startling intensity.

Long, pale green hair with delicate braids woven through it. Absolutely adorable. I could just eat her up. In a sexual way, of course.

She skidded to a halt and looked at Dea-kun with a slightly cross expression, then at me, then back at Dea-kun.

"Can I help you?"

"… You're Deasalt-sama, aren't you?"

"I think you have the wrong person."

"That's a lie! There's no way I could mistake Deasalt-sama! Especially that voice!"

"Then this must be your first time being mistaken and mishearing."

Dea-kun delivered this while pointedly turning his face toward the window.

Wait, aren't you the same elf girl who whipped around when Dea-kun spoke earlier?

"Dea-kun, do you know her? Introduce me."

"… …"

Dea-kun turned back toward me, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"It's been a while, Flaretart-san."

"I knew it, Deasalt-sama! Why are you wearing such… lovely clothes? Ah. So you were actually a girl all along."

"No. I'm a boy."

"… But you're cuter than me? Please tell me you were actually a girl, otherwise something inside me as a woman is going to shatter!"

At this exchange, the boys in the classroom who had been eavesdropping went wide-eyed all over again.

Ahh, I can practically hear their fetishes warping in real time. Sorry about that?

"Onee-san, this is Flaretart-san."

"Huh, so you're Flaretart-chan. I'm Karina, nice to meet you!"

"Pleased to meet you, Karina-sama. I am Flaretart, Deasalt-sama's fiancée. Please treat me well."

With that, Flaretart-chan gave a graceful bow.

… Hm?