Following the woman carrying the serving cart, Glenn, Shenley, and I walked down the hallway.

"It's strange we haven't run into anyone."

"Lectures for senior faculty often run from three to five, and not many students come this far into the academy before the end of classes."

"I see. That's true. Everyone does head outside the academy or back to the dormitories after lectures are over."

Carrying on this conversation, we once again stood before the room where Solare was staying. The woman naturally knocked on the door and spoke up.

"Good evening. I've brought your dinner."

After she called out, the door opened from the inside a moment later.

"Ah, thank y... !?"

Solare peeked out through the gap in the door, offering thanks while mostly looking down. Then, noticing me immediately, his eyes went wide.

"Solare-san, I've come to speak with you again."

When I said this, Solare quickly closed the door.

"H-hey, now, Solare."

Glenn sounded flustered as he chided Solare from our side of the door, but there was no reply. Reluctantly, I decided to use magic.

"Unlock."

As I cast the spell, I pushed the door open with one hand. Solare seemed to be resisting from the other side, but against my secretly enhanced physical strength, it was as good as no resistance at all.

The door swung open effortlessly.

"Eeh...!?"

I looked at Solare, who was gasping while clinging to the door, and offered a gentle smile.

"Let's talk again."

I made the suggestion as if pleading, and Solare began trembling, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Wh-why...?"

Solare looked frightened. I didn't understand why he was so scared, but I stepped forward with a nod, hoping to reassure him.

"Please, don't worry. I will do my best to help you enjoy your academy life. Please believe me."

He might not have found it easy to believe, but I told him this with the most earnest expression I could muster, trying to convey my sincerity. I didn't avert my gaze at all.

However, Solare gasped again and retreated, backing away into the depths of the room.

"...Sc... scary..."

It seemed I had frightened him. Perhaps he truly hated the idea of leaving his room. Maybe he saw anyone telling him to attend lectures as an enemy.

But if I backed down here, Solare would never leave his room.

I probably had to harden my heart and focus all my efforts on getting Solare to come out.

"You don't need to be afraid. We are on your side. Now, it's fine if it's just while you eat. We only hope you'll listen to us for a little while. May we come in?"

I said this to confirm once more. Then, perhaps having resigned himself, Solare, still curled up in the corner of the room, gave a slight nod.

"Thank you."

Expressing my gratitude, I entered the room. I suppose this meant I had finally reached the starting line. I felt a wave of relief.

As I was thinking this, I heard hushed voices from outside the room.

"...Is Aoi-sensei always so... direct in her approach?"

"...She always charges straight in, head-on."

"...I see."

Listening to their conversation behind me, I kept my gaze on Solare.

"You don't need to pay attention to what they're saying. It seems there's a bit of a misunderstanding..." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Solare glanced back and forth between the food placed on the table and my face several times, ultimately choosing not to eat. I wondered why. The woman who had brought the food had already left the room.

"You wouldn't want it to get cold. Please, go ahead and eat."

"Y-yes..."

When I prompted him, Solare hurriedly picked up a spoon and used his other hand to steady the bowl of soup, almost as if holding it down. After a quick glance at everyone sitting around, he began to eat.

"...It must be difficult to eat with everyone watching."

Shenley said this with a wry smile. I nodded in agreement, thinking we should talk amongst ourselves while Solare ate. There were things I wanted Solare to hear as well.

"Shenley-san. If it's alright, could you tell us about the hardships you faced at this academy?"

When I asked, Shenley narrowed her eyes and fell silent. She wore a sad expression, but I sensed a vitality in her that hadn't been there before.

Shenley should have already overcome her past. She was not the same Shenley she was back then.

"...Alright. Um, I'd prefer if you didn't take this as me bad-mouthing anyone..."

With that preface, Shenley began recounting past events.

How her academy life changed after skipping a grade. The discrimination based on status from arrogant children of royalty and high nobility. Magical attacks from seniors who outranked her in both status and ability.

Having her belongings thrown away or being physically hurt were daily occurrences.

As Shenley spoke of this past, on the verge of tears, Solare's gaze lifted. It seemed he was becoming concerned about this younger girl who had suffered similar hardships.

He should be able to open his heart to someone who had endured the same pain.

Feeling sorry for making Shenley recall such painful memories, I glanced at the person beside me.

"...Hearing it again, it's an outrageous story... I think I'll have a word with His Majesty..."

For some reason, Glenn was trembling with anger, recalling the bullying Shenley had endured.

"No, Headmaster Glenn, you have no right to complain, as you were hesitant to act against the royalty and nobility at that time."

When I pointed this out, Glenn slumped his shoulders dejectedly.

"...That's true. It was my fault... I truly am sorry..."

Glenn seemed to shrink with self-loathing. Watching this, Solare's eyes narrowed.

"I knew it..."

Solare muttered something softly and fell silent once more.