Hal rushed to the door and flung it open, greeted by the familiar sight of scarlet hair and a face he hadn't seen in nearly two months.
"E-Ennya! How the hell did you get here?!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with shock and disbelief. "Weren't you supposed to be training with your master or something?"
Ennya Kasai, his childhood friend and now a Flame Magna Prospect, had come to visit.
"Well, I asked for a day off, but that ruthless old hag didn't give me one… so I snuck out," Ennya confessed.
"D-Dumbass! You've got the opportunity of a lifetime and you're throwing it away?! If Aunty Lynn finds out about this…"
"Don't! Don't you dare tell Mom, got it?! I'll go back later anyway. What's so wrong about going out for a little fun, huh? A-Also… I was kinda worried you were getting bullied, so I came to check on you…"
Hal's expression softened the moment he heard what was likely the only honest reason Ennya had left her training.
She might not have been the brightest, but her heart was probably the purest of them all. That last sentence told him everything—she hadn't come to have fun.
She came because she was worried about him.
"Well… thanks for checking up on me, I guess. The first day was rough, but I've found my groove and things are going pretty well now. Hmph! I even beat a three-star student in a wizardry duel a few weeks ago!" Hal boasted, slipping into the confident tone he always used to calm her down.
"A wizardry duel?!" Ennya exclaimed questioningly in disbelief, fury rising within her. "Tell me, who the hell tried to bully you?! If I get my hands on that bastard…he'll be nothing but ashes…"
Her rage was short-lived, however, as a knock on the back of her head calmed her down.
"Didn't I say I won? Why do you keep saying I'm bullied? You dare not believe me?"
"Aihh…why are you so violent?! Of course, how could I believe you when your mana affinity is one percent, and as per the deputy headmaster, all you got was a home decoration as a mana-bound artifact! How would I not worry, huh?!"
"Hmph! This isn't the place to talk. Since you only sneaked out, wouldn't they easily catch you like this? How bout we eat somewhere nice, huh? My treat."
"Hahahaha! Silly Hal, we're both as poor as a sewer rat. How would we pay for a meal in Aeloria City? Let's just eat in the academy canteen."
"You talk too much, midget, just follow me!"
Hal wore a displeased expression as he grabbed Ennya's hands and led her out of the dormitory room, but deep down, he was genuinely glad.
He had missed their playful arguments.
As time went on, it became clear she was the only true friend he'd ever had, and their sudden separation always left a bitter taste whenever he thought of her.
He wished he'd at least been able to say a proper goodbye and wish her luck with her training.
And so, since Ennya had already snuck out anyway, why not enjoy themselves for a bit?
He had earned quite a lot from his previous missions and would earn more if he didn't die on his first E-ranked mission tomorrow.
He could spend a few silver coins for a nice meal.
Unbeknownst to Hal, the red-haired young lady behind him was slightly blushing, partly in embarrassment and partly in disbelief.
They were already of legal age.
Yet, Hal still dared to hold her hands so casually!
Only after a few minutes of walking towards the southern gate of the Grand Magic Academy did Ennya protest.
"H-Hey, let go of me! What if somebody sees us?!"
Hal only realized that he had been holding Ennya's hands the entire time when the midget protested, and he quickly let go without a change in expression, effectively masking his embarrassment.
After a few moments of awkward silence, the two began conversing again.
Hal asked Ennya about her progress, which she gladly shared.
The red-haired midget beamed with excitement as she dove into the details.
She talked about her master, who was strict and ruthless but also unexpectedly caring. She boasted about how her fireball had already reached four diameters the first time she cast it. She listed the spells she could now perform, described how powerful they had become, and explained the focus of her current training with a spark of pride in her voice.
She even almost shot a fireball skywards to demonstrate how strong she was, if not for Hal quickly stopping her with the reminder that doing so would give away their location.
The two soon arrived at the seafood restaurant.
Despite her future now brighter than ever and riches likely just a few months or years away, Ennya had actually experienced the city far less than Hal, so she was awe-struck by the interior of the restaurant.
Tall glass windows, generously spaced and elegant tables and chairs, and the luxurious chandelier suspended from the ceiling that cast a warm golden glow throughout the interior made her jaw drop in amazement.
But then she realized something that snapped her out of her awe-induced stupor.
Turning to the young man beside her, Ennya pinched Hal's arm, shrieking in a whisper:
"Hal! What the hell are we doing here?! I may be a Magna Prospect now, but I'm still as broke as before! Do you think I'm rich or something?! Quickly! Think of something so we can leave! You've always been smart, no?!"
Hal was naturally amused and chuckled at the red-haired midget's evident desperation.
"Hahaha, you silly midget. Didn't I already tell you it's my treat?"
"Y-You're serious? How the hell did you even get the money for this?"
Ennya then gasped, suddenly struck by a thought that sent her into an even greater panic.
"Don't tell me you're engaging in something illegal?! I swear… I'll tell Aunty Helena…" she warned, earning her another soft knock on the head.
"I'm telling you, I'm not as helpless as I appear!"
Hal then began recounting his experiences, choosing to leave out the existence of the system for now, though he still credited everything to his Clown Box.
The red-haired midget, of course, remained skeptical.
She found Hal's story incredibly hard to believe, especially the part about him winning a wizardry duel against a three-star student.
A one-star mana affinity student wasn't supposed to be able to fire more than two spells within a month of training—her own lessons with her master had made that much clear.
But Hal's confidence, along with his repeated insistence that she could ask around the academy and confirm it herself since it was no secret, made her waver.
She decided she would ask the deputy headmaster about it another day to find out the truth.
The food soon arrived, and a subtle, savory aroma assaulted their senses, making them swallow in anticipation.
They couldn't even wait for the waiter to fully leave before digging in, savoring what turned out to be the best meal they'd ever had in their lives.
Unfortunately, the moment was destined to be brief.
As soon as Hal and Ennya stepped out of the restaurant—eight silver coins poorer but richer in experience—they were met by a stern old man and his two assistants.
Deputy Headmaster Korvus had come to retrieve Ennya and return her to her enraged master.
Hal didn't face any punishment, but the night didn't end as joyfully as he had hoped.
But what could he do?
Ennya was now a celebrated prodigy.
He, on the other hand, still had everything to prove, and he wasn't in any position to keep bothering someone of her growing importance.
So he simply returned to his dormitory and turned in for the night, still quietly content that he had at least gotten to talk with her and give her a proper goodbye this time.
It would probably be a long time before they saw each other again.
But one day, when they were both prominent wizards, who could stop them from doing whatever they wanted?
They could go and eat wherever they want.
For now, they just had to keep moving forward, even if their present felt gray and monotonous.