Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

He's just simply recounting Musashi's experiences, since he seems to like Musashi quite a bit... probably.

"Ah, so that's why I've only run into Ilya two or three times in the mornings these past few days. Could it be that she goes to school with Ivia? And after school in the afternoon, she either goes to the bathroom or disappears for a while. I see. Ryuko, Mina-kun, we've been ruthlessly abandoned by Ilya."

"what?"

I was simply helping him process the love letters.

Faced with her three friends' wild speculations, Ilya could only sigh and then say to them with a serious expression:

"Don't panic—"

However, before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the three of them saying the same thing at the same time.

"Has Ilya already won over Ivia?"

"He's not some game I'm playing! There's no 'playing' or 'strategy' involved! He's just a classmate!"

Ilya denied it while waving her hand forcefully.

"Besides, didn't you all say that students sitting in front of and behind you should get along well...?"

"Well, let's just assume that's how it is, but it really is suspicious."

The three of them didn't ask any more questions, so Ilya sighed, quickly finished eating, closed the lunchbox, and kept looking out the window.

Her behavior was quite suspicious, and she knew it herself, but the girl didn't know how to hide it and could only keep trying to find reasons to refute it.

Thinking about it carefully, ever since that day at the animal park, Ilya had been unconsciously trying to get closer to Ivia, which meant finding topics to talk about.

However, it's the kind of question that doesn't involve personal information or privacy at all, such as 'what's your birthday?' 'do you have any interests?' 'how did you spend your time abroad?' 'what are your future goals?'

Instead, the conversation revolved around Illya's favorite magical girl, Bushido Musashi, with comments like, "Yesterday, Musashi...?" "Musashi was a good girl from the start, which is why she became a magical girl..." "Thank goodness she got a new form, otherwise it would have been dangerous..." "That outfit is so pretty..."

It basically started by recounting the plot he had watched, then speculating on how the plot would develop, along with comments and ideas about the new costumes and villains. It gave the impression that he wanted others to like what he was interested in.

After all, it's always Ilya who initiates the conversation, so this is normal. It's also possible that Ilya simply wants to talk, so she talks so much without any rhyme or reason.

Come to think of it, boys shouldn't be very interested in magical girls, or rather, it's hard to imagine that Ivia would be interested in magical girls. But her behavior at the amusement park that day... maybe it was because she was worried about me. But why hasn't she mentioned the magic wand yet? Did she lose it after I left?

It shouldn't be that bad... Maybe we should find an opportunity to ask my brother what he likes at his age. Besides, he's so gentle, he should know what people his age who aren't gentle like like, right?

However, regarding my brother asking me questions about boys... I've decided, I'll just tell him I have a friend.

Thinking it over, Ilya nodded vigorously to show her affirmation, as if she were affirming herself.

"Ilya, you look like you're really working hard."

Suddenly, Yuejian Zelongzi, who had finished eating and walked out of the classroom, said.

"I knew it, didn't I?"

Kurihara Suzaku nodded in agreement.

Sure enough, they've noticed Ilya's recent behavior.

"Let's work together to help Ilya win over Ivia starting next semester. After all, today is the last day of fourth grade. Let's agree on this first: we need to close Ms. Karen's infirmary so she won't come to see Ivia every lunchtime."

"okay."

"Ilya is really something, she can't do without us. Her sudden change of whereabouts is suspicious. We had to ask the security guard to find out that the two of them actually left school together this afternoon. Luckily, we covered for her with Sera, saying that she'd been hanging out with us lately. Doesn't she ever think about her family before she does anything? So tiring..."

Nanako Moriyama sighed.

"That's true, but you seem pretty happy."

"Really? But aren't you two the same?"

"is it?"

"Yes."

"Because we're friends."

……

On the stairs of the elementary school section after school in the afternoon.

"It's so annoying. I didn't expect that we would only have three days off. We didn't even get the day off voluntarily when there was heavy snow at the beginning of next year."

"I imagine you were very happy those few days."

"No way! It's not good at all. You can't just say things without evidence."

"If time could be reversed... never mind, never mind."

"You don't mean to say reverse time? How is that possible? It's not like it's a game."

Ilya and Ivia were on their way home after returning the love letter, which was the end of their 'daily task'.

Since it was the last day of fourth grade, Ilya didn't hide from the three of them anymore. After all, parents would take photos with their children at the school gate, so she told the three of them to wait for their families and let them go first.

However, it's highly likely that they'll return the love letters together with Ivia.

For the other three, Ilya's thoughts were basically written all over her face, so they were easy to guess.

"Thank you for today, Ilya."

"!"

Instantly, Ilya's eyes widened slightly. Although she had asked Ivia to call her 'Ilya' that day at the amusement park, she had always referred to her as 'you' since then, but now the way she was addressed had changed.

"Okay, see you next semester."

"Thank you for helping me return the love letter to its rightful owner. Although it was easy and you delayed me, since I had to tell you my seat number, thank you anyway."

"...It's alright. By the way, did you just call me Ilya?"

"Didn't you say you'd call me that from now on?"

"No, no, it's just that this is the first time you've been called that."

Ilya tilted her head. "Um, is Ms. Karen coming to take pictures with you today?"

"will not."

Ivia said without hesitation.

Because Karen will most likely be waiting for him in the park, basically just relentlessly pursuing him.

"Oh, I see... Well... you know what? Sera is supposed to take my picture today, since my parents are always overseas and rarely come back. Anyway, Sera shouldn't mind, or rather, she shouldn't ask too many questions..."

Ilya felt like she was talking nonsense, her words were incoherent.

"Is that the person at the door?"

Upon hearing this, Ilya turned to look at the entrance of the elementary school. Sure enough, there was someone standing there, but it wasn't Sera as she had expected; it was—

"elder brother!"

Illya, who could tell from the distinctive red hair that it was her older brother Shirou Emiya, immediately went from walking slowly to jogging, looking very happy. In the sunlight behind him, a long shadow was cast.

"Hey, Ilya, since Sera is still grocery shopping, she asked me to take pictures for you. I didn't expect you to be so late. I've already finished my club class."

"Because, because I just finished playing with Longzi and the others..."

"Is this Ilya, your new classmate?"

"The transfer student, Ivia, who sits behind me, is a good person. Her older sister is Karen, the nurse in the infirmary. She's also a good student and good at everything."

Ilya fidgeted with her fingers, somewhat unable to meet her brother's gaze. She had never imagined that the usually punctual Sera would send her brother. What was she supposed to do now…?

"So you were good friends."

"No, no! It's just a simple relationship between desks in front of and behind each other, and... just desks in front of and behind each other!"

"is it?"

Emiya smiled gently and said, "I think so too."

Since Ivia had already arrived at the school gate, Shirou extended his hand to her and continued smiling as he spoke:

"Hello, Ivy, I am Shirou Emiya, Illya's older brother."

Ivia extended her hand in response, offering a similar smile:

"You're a wonderful person, Shirou Emiya." ? ? ?

What's going on? That expression is so similar to the one at the animal park the other day? Is it still towards her brother? This must be their first meeting...

Could it be that Ivia saw her brother during those two years in Fuyuki? No, that can't be...

Just as Ilya was thinking this, she suddenly heard Emiya's voice again, which brought her back to her senses.

"Let's take our fourth-year graduation photo, Ilya."

Ilya glanced at the 'Graduation Ceremony' sign standing at the school gate. The cherry blossom trees at the gate were in full bloom, after all, spring had arrived. But she felt a little depressed. She hadn't expected it to be her brother... How could she ask him to stay and take pictures together? This made her too shy to ask.

He could only take photos alone at first, and then take photos with his older brother Emiya.

"..."

Soon, looking at Illya with her head drooping, Shirou said as if he knew nothing:

"Ilya, you seem a bit listless lately. What's wrong?"

"nothing……"

For the time being, I thought that if Karen, Ivia's older sister, didn't come, I would ask Sera to take a picture of him. That was what I was thinking, but it was my brother. No, even Sera herself would probably do the same. She would be scared, and her lips would become slightly chapped as a result.

If you worry that what you say or do might not be a good thing, you might think it's better to remain silent as before.

Today, when I was leaving the school gate, my name was called. I was very happy and wanted to express my gratitude in this way, but I didn't know what kind of expression to make, what angle to use, how many seconds to look at you, or how to say it appropriately.

Therefore, without realizing it, as if she hadn't heard at all, she turned her face to the side.

The 'final ceremony' in fifth grade, the 'graduation ceremony' in sixth grade, and then there's junior high and high school... Will I be able to do well in the future?

Will the same thing happen again?

As Ilya was troubled, a spring breeze blew past the doorway where cherry blossoms were in full bloom. In that instant, Ilya felt that there was more than just pink cherry blossoms before her eyes; many colors were overflowing, and the world was being constantly stained with these colors. What kind of emotion was this...?

Even though I'm not worried about anything, I just can't seem to calm down. I was just feeling pretty happy, but there's still a little bit of lingering emotion. Suddenly, I remembered rolling around in bed with my magic wand after coming back from the zoo, and how I finally succeeded before going to sleep.

Finally, it's the last time. Throw the magic wand high into the air.

So high, so high... Just like in front of the theater, the magic wand representing the magical girl, depicting a beautiful circle, was spinning. It was the most glorious moment I had ever seen.

The entanglements that had been troubling me for so long have somehow dissolved into a clear and transparent state of mind.

And in this blank space, there has always been a feeling of wanting to fill it with something new.

So, Ilya thought of it unintentionally.

You must say it.

A person should speak earnestly and sincerely.

It's so wonderful to be able to study at Suiqunyuan Elementary School.

It's so great to be able to be your friend.

Also, I must thank them for the magic wand.

In an instant, Ilya took a deep breath and revealed a determined expression.

"Brother, I have something to do. Can you give me the camera?"

Hearing Illya say this, Emiya didn't say anything more. After handing it over to Illya, he smiled as he looked in the direction she ran off to, and then headed home.

At the same time, watching Ivia's retreating figure, Ilya shouted this out.

"Wait a moment!"

She called out to him, then tugged at Ivia's clothes and muttered, "For the sake of all the times I've helped you, come back for a second," before returning to the school gate. At the same time, she noticed that her brother, who had just been there, was gone. Now was the perfect opportunity!

"Anything else?"

“Ivia, reach out your hand.”

"Hands? Like this?"

"Higher!"

"Is that so?"

The girl gazed at the not-so-large hand, casting aside all her emotions, and shouted with delight:

"Yeah!"