I want to change the Academy. That wish was too much for me to accomplish alone.
If that was the case, I needed someone who could hear the truth and offer help.
Would Orca be enough? She was the only one I'd been friendly with and talked to regularly.
That's why I wanted to see Orca's reaction when I asked her about wanting to change the Academy and how I planned to do it.
Kanna used to have a bright personality. But since coming to the Academy, that part of her had completely died.
When she showed me a genuine smile for the first time—instead of the bitter smile I'd always seen—my heart ached.
That's why I wanted to let her know that even if her memories returned and she became depressed or struggled again, she would definitely have a place to come back to.
Well, preparing a good environment for Kanna's return was fine, but she needed to get better first to see that environment.
I figured I should listen to the doctor's advice or try various treatments.
The problem was what I needed to tell Orca.
When she asked to know where Kanna's house was and wanted to see her, I was at a loss for words.
Kanna's house? I could just pretend I didn't know. Orca would understand.
But if I lied now and then had to talk about it later, wouldn't that be strange?
Even if I lied to avoid the immediate problem, I wondered if I could handle the consequences when it snowballed and came back to me later.
In the end, I gave up on lying and had no choice but to trust Orca and bring her to my home.
"...Huh, seriously, Yoon Ha-min, Kanna is at your house?"
"I had no choice. I would have sent her home normally... but you'll understand when you see Kanna's condition."
I didn't tell her everything honestly.
I mixed in some lies.
It was a lie she wouldn't catch unless Mrs. Lucia suddenly barged in and declared, "These two have been living together all along!"
She needed to be discharged but I couldn't send her home.
Saying it that way naturally made it sound like Kanna had come to my house at the time of discharge.
Orca made a slightly ambiguous expression at my words.
The voice that was about to demand what I was doing disappeared, and instead, I felt the gravity of the situation hit her—wondering what could have possibly happened.
So I continued speaking as if telling her to prepare herself.
"Don't be too surprised. It's just that she doesn't remember any of our conversations at the Academy... and her personality is a bit different, I guess."
"...You mean her personality from before attending the Academy?"
"Yes."
"I don't think a person's personality changes that easily, but if that's the case, it really is a problem."
Orca gulped as if steeling herself after hearing my words.
"I think I understand why you told me this."
I opened the door with a bitter smile.
I thought maybe I should have warned Kanna beforehand, but it was too late now.
"I'm home."
As I greeted and took off my shoes to enter, I heard the patter of footsteps.
"You're back?"
Kanna approached with a bright smile.
Then she tilted her head.
She seemed to be looking at Orca behind me.
"Who's this?"
But there was no wariness or anything like that.
"..."
The problem was that she didn't recognize Orca at all.
Orca stood still in shock after hearing Kanna's single question.
She just stood in the entryway, staring blankly at Kanna as if she'd forgotten to come in.
I whispered to Kanna.
"Kanna, this is Orca. She's a friend of ours."
"Oh, Orca...! Hello! Nice to meet you! You're so pretty!"
Kanna clasped her hands together in delight, then welcomed Orca inside with enthusiasm.
I had expected her to be troubled, saying she didn't know this person, but her reaction was different from what I'd anticipated, which left me perplexed.
Caught off guard by Kanna's unpredictable reaction, Orca stammered "Uh, um" and awkwardly entered.
Orca looked at me. Her gaze seemed to be asking for help, but unfortunately, I was just as clueless.
I had brought her here because she wanted to meet Kanna, but I hadn't expected Kanna to react this way, so I didn't know what to do.
Her memories seemed to be from around the time of Academy enrollment or slightly before, but strangely, Kanna already knew a lot about me.
And it seemed Orca was no exception.
As soon as Kanna heard the name Orca, she was delighted and happy.
She was even humming, so it seemed her desire to become friends was genuine.
Since it was before the exam, there was no ulterior motive at all.
"Um, I... Kanna, are you okay?"
"Hm? Me? Why...? Do I seem strange?"
"Ah, no. I was just wondering if you were hurt anywhere since you were in the hospital."
"I'm all better now."
Kanna answered nonchalantly, but it was a scene no one except Kanna could consider "okay."
Orca was flustered. Even though I had given her some warning, she clearly hadn't expected the Kanna she knew to be this different.
"W-well, that's good then."
"Yeah, yeah. Orca?"
"Yes?"
"Orca needs to learn magic."
"Magic...? Why suddenly?"
Orca wasn't the only one surprised by Kanna's words.
I found myself watching carefully, thinking it seemed too inefficient for someone with already outstanding abilities to learn magic.
Magic was something people with insufficient abilities but some mana learned to supplement their power.
Although it was formalized enough to be considered academic, it ultimately lacked individuality and was considered inferior to the outstanding abilities individuals possessed.
The main reason was the difference in activation time, even before output or versatility.
Therefore, telling Orca—an ability user strong enough to be ranked second—such a thing was absurd.
It was almost offensive.
But somehow, as if I were already enchanted by Kanna, I found myself asking why she thought so.
"...Kanna, why do you think that?"
When I asked gently, as if inquiring about a child's reasoning, Orca glanced at me briefly and then closed her mouth.
Kanna shifted her gaze from Orca to me and answered.
"Well, if you don't have an ability, you need to use magic, right?"
"Kanna, I already have excellent abilities, so that's not necessary."
"No!"
Kanna suddenly shouted.
Startled, Orca stared at Kanna with wide eyes.
Kanna continued speaking, undeterred by such a gaze.
"...Orca needs to learn magic."
She was like a stubborn child.
Like someone making judgments on their own terms.
She seemed like someone giving unsolicited advice, so her words didn't inspire the thought, "Ah, I should learn magic."
But Kanna didn't reveal any more information beyond that.
I wanted to probe further, but it seemed like information that wouldn't come out even from this version of Kanna.
I was curious about what she knew and what she was hiding.
Not knowing made it difficult to understand why she was saying such things.
"Kanna."
"..."
"I understand you're confused. Later, when you regain your memories, I'll come back. I have so many things I want to say to you."
Orca spoke to her kindly.
Kanna pouted as if she hadn't said anything strange.
After briefly observing Kanna's condition, Orca eventually left, saying she had something to do.
Left alone again, I glanced at Kanna.
Sitting on the sofa with a sullen expression, she was pouting.
I looked at her with a bitter smile and carefully asked.
"...Why did you want Orca to learn magic?"
I asked respectfully.
If she didn't want to tell me, I wasn't going to press further.
But Kanna readily gave me an answer, as if she just hadn't wanted to share more information in front of Orca.
"Because, because then Ha-min won't cry."
"Me...?"
"Yes, if Orca is in danger, you'll cry, right?"
A chill ran down my spine.
"Why do you think Orca would be in danger...?"
"Well, some-sometimes people lose their abilities, you know?"
"..."
Could it be that Kanna knew about the mysterious person who had devoured my ability?
Was she referring to the situation I was currently experiencing when she mentioned losing abilities?
"Is it because of the mysterious person who devours abilities?"
"H-how did you know?"
"...I think that mysterious person took my power."
"Oh."
Kanna's face showed disbelief.
Her expression, accompanied by a sigh, contained a certain desperation.
"H-Ha-min. W-what should we do? Why, why did this happen? This shouldn't be possible..."
Her words struck me as if she was saying I had suffered what was meant for Orca.
She was acting like someone who knew the future.
Not like someone who could see the future, but like someone who had experienced it.
If that was the case, it made some sense.
It could explain how she knew me despite returning to a past point in time.
"It's okay. We'll do as you say."
"Ah..."
Kanna seemed relieved at my somewhat evasive response and closed her mouth.
Then she erased her bewildered expression and raised the corners of her lips.
"That's good then."
"...Yeah."
"By the way, you two look good together!"
But in contrast, I felt the corners of my mouth turning downward.