---

A few days before Stella and Nova’s meeting

As evening approached, Shia began to worry about Stella, who still hadn’t arrived.

“She must be busy again today…”

Stella’s role as a temporary teaching assistant during the midterm exams didn’t end on exam day. She had to write an evaluation list for each student in Class A that she had assessed. For Stella, it would have been a hundred times better to run around physically than to do this.

“Well, I guess I have no choice… I should whip up some late-night snacks since she’s probably hungry… huh?”

Just then, she heard the click of the front door, and after a moment, it creaked open.

“Oh! You’re here! Stella, just wait a moment and I’ll bring out the late-night snacks…”

“Ugh…”

Shia was left speechless upon seeing Stella’s state as she closed the door. With her pale, sickly skin and dark circles under her eyes, it was clear that sleep was far more of a priority than late-night snacks at this moment.

“How about you rest early today…? Why are you at the desk instead of your bed?”

Instead of diving straight into her bed, Stella had settled down at her desk, pulling out a massive pile of papers. She muttered in a voice filled with despair.

“Those damn professors… They dump this kind of crap on me? Do they think my eyes are just for decoration after seeing magical tools? They say evaluations on site are important… they talk a good game… the wretched jerks…”

“… I’ll make some late-night snacks.”

Feeling like it wasn’t the right time to engage, Shia quietly went to the kitchen to cook. She thought it would be best to offer tribute for now to avoid any unnecessary flare-ups.

*

After spending a considerable amount of time on paperwork, Stella stretched and looked at the clock.

“Yikes~ finally somewhat organized! It’s already 1 AM, isn’t it? Shia… are you sleeping?”

When she called out to Shia, who was lying on the bed, Shia replied in a dazed manner.

“Ah… are you done? Thanks for your hard work…”

“Oh yeah, I really appreciated those late-night snacks, that fried chicken was delicious.”

“We call it karaage in our country, but it’s the same… but what are you doing?”

Despite the work looking mostly finished, Stella was still perched on her desk, absentmindedly twirling her pen, prompting Shia to raise an eyebrow.

“Ah… I’m done with work! Actually… soon it’ll be Nova’s birthday, and I don’t know what to get him…”

Shia’s expression changed completely upon hearing this.

“Wait…?! It’s Nova’s birthday?”

She jumped up and shook Stella by the shoulders wildly.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Ugh… I’m feeling dizzy… What does Nova’s birthday have to do with you…”

“I’m friends with Nova too, so of course I need to know!”

With a frown, Stella shot a glare at her.

“Friends…? That’s as a female friend, right?”

“Of course, as a female friend… ugh!”

Feeling speechless at Stella’s blatant guard, Shia couldn’t help but think about how she wanted to tease this irritating girl in her heart.

“Well… here’s how you should handle the gift, Stella!”

“What is it?”

Suddenly, Shia rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a certain item.

“What’s that… it’s a string for making ribbons, isn’t it? What do you plan to do with that… huh?”

Bringing the ribbon string close to her, Shia began to wrap it around Stella’s body. After wrapping it for a bit and finishing with a bow, Shia smiled and said.

“Perfect! Just go to Nova and tell him this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Tell him the birthday gift is me.”

“…Huh?”

Stella stood there, seemingly not understanding the meaning of those words for a few seconds before her face turned bright red as understanding finally dawned.

“W-What are you talking about! Shia, you… are you serious?”

“I-I was just kidding… ahem, but a gift indeed needs to come from the heart, right?”

“The heart?”

“Exactly! Danseongmui (단성무이), it’s about giving your sincerity rather than some expensive gift.”

“Sincerity… so that’s what this is… but it’s been a while since you mentioned a four-character idiom?”

Propping her chin thoughtfully, Stella seemed to have made a decision and headed into the kitchen.

“Umm… Stella? Why are you going to the kitchen…”

“Of course! If it’s from the heart, then it’s home-cooked meals!”

“W-Wait a minute… do you mean tasting it…?”

“Yes, since you’re the only one here, I’m asking you for assistance.”

Shia’s face turned pale as she desperately shouted.

“H-How about asking someone else for help? Like Anubis! I heard he’s good at cooking; it’s late night already…!”

“Is that how you’re going to save yourself from me…?”

The next day, driven by her bold request to Anubis, Stella found him, and Anubis was visibly troubled by it.

“Why go to such lengths to give him homemade food as a birthday gift…? Just get him something else.”

“Just teach me.”

“…Fine.”

Shia, who was left feeling anxious from the duel in the hallway with Anubis, was cut off by Lucid’s remark, prompting Anubis to sigh.

“Alright. Then let’s go to the kitchen for a bit.”

“Thank you! Hey, I’m borrowing your underling for a moment?”

As Stella and Anubis headed off to the kitchen, Lucid muttered quietly to herself.

“The birthday of that black-haired commoner, huh…?”

While debating whether to give him a gift or not, she soon stopped herself.

“Maybe I should let Siel know.”

That mage especially disliked Siel, making for an entertaining setup.

*

After grueling training with Anubis, I was walking around recruiting people for the birthday party.

I ended up at the magical workshop within the academy, bursting through the door while shouting.

“Serena! I’m throwing a birthday party for Nova tomorrow, and you’re specially invited…”

When I opened the door, I saw Serena hunched over, scribbling something intensely.

It looked just like me a few days ago.

“This isn’t right… should I put this here…?”

Deep, dark circles were clearly visible even from afar; she looked utterly exhausted.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah… welcome! Stella.”

“Were you working on a new potion? Make sure to take breaks.”

“I’m fine… I just need to push through for one more day to get the stock right.”

Looking around, I spotted a neatly arranged set of potions wrapped in various decorations.

“You made all of these alone? Are you planning to sell them for money?”

“Yeah… support from the council has dried up, so if I don’t work like this, I can’t even afford living expenses.”

“Doesn’t your family support you?”

“Well… it’s a tough situation to lean on the family right now…”

Noticing she didn’t want to disclose further, I quickly changed the subject.

“Oh my… with this much, you could serve hundreds of people… when did you start making all of this?”

“About… two days ago…”

Has she really been going without sleep for that long?

I wanted to tell her to go sleep right away, but she was doing this to make a living.

Still, she seemed like she was on the brink of collapsing during class…

“Well… if you can just get through this work, you can rest for a while. But what’s going on?”

“Oh, since it’s Nova’s birthday tomorrow, we’re gathering in my room for a party.”

“Nova has a birthday, this noble guy?”

“Yeah, but if you’re too tired, you really don’t have to come.”

Serena waved her hands dismissively as she answered.

“No, no, I’ll go! I owe him, so I’ll bring some freshly made drinks.”

“Be careful not to overdo it, and take a break afterward!”

“Thanks…”

Leaving Serena, who looked ready to collapse at any moment, I resumed my search for people to gather for the surprise party.

“Nova doesn’t have many friends for someone who looks like that…”

Had I not been around, he would have spent his birthday all alone.

He’d better be grateful, honestly, it’s out of my hands!

*

On the day of Nova’s birthday, a guest unexpectedly appeared in my room.

“Anubis? What brings you here…?”

Anubis showed up with bundles in both hands, awkwardly smiling.

“I heard you’re having a birthday party. A single dish made by Stella won’t be enough.”

As he handed Shaia a bundle, Anubis whispered softly,

“I’m sorry. There was no way to rectify her miraculous hands in just one day…”

“Ah… yeah…”

“You really didn’t need to bring food. Thank you, but do you want to join the party?”

My invitation seemed to give Anubis pause as he asked hesitantly.

“I don’t think I particularly liked that boy, though, is that alright?”

“Who cares? You went to the trouble of bringing food; why not take the chance to get to know him?”

After pondering a bit, he nodded.

“Okay, then. I would also like to have a drink with him.”

“I hope Nova matures like you at some point…”

Finishing that sentence, I turned to see the other unexpected guest.

“So, what about you?”

I had shot out the question without meaning to, but her calm response was just two words.

“I came to celebrate Nova’s birthday.”

The girl with an unreadable expression—she was Siel Gruwein, known for being the strongest of some ancient something or other.

 

---