Day 22 Month 7.
I woke up so early in the morning, before the sun even rose. Or would it be suffice to say that I could hardly fall asleep last night?
Today, my entrance exams result should be delivered!!
Since I couldnât sleep anyway, I decided to wake up and walked down only to find that Chloe was already awake as well, and she seemed to be in the middle of doing a morning clean-up.
âAra? Lyra-sama? Why are you up so early in the morning?â
âChloe? Youâre already awake, too?â
I was being so rude! Not only did I not answer her question, but I even returned her question with another question! Where are my manners? Where have they gone to?
âAhaha, yeah, Iâm used to wake up so early even without the help of any alarm. I guess itâs my biological clock. I usually do minor chores in the morning before itâs time to prepare for breakfast,â Chloe didnât seem to mind my earlier rudeness at all and answered my questions first.
âI see⦠Ah, uhm, I canât really sleep because today, I should be getting my entrance exams result. So, I decided to wake up early.â
âIs that so? Do you want to eat something or take a bath first?â
âI-itâs okay, I will just walk around or read something while waiting for my parents to wake upâ¦â
âRead something? Then, Iâll be making a hot cocoa for you! Wait a bit, Lyra-sama.â
Before I could even refuse her delicious offer, Chloe quickly dashed over to the kitchen to make the hot cocoa.
â¦Well, then I will be bringing some books to enjoy with the hot cocoa⦠Letâs see what books are available!
***
âEh, Lyra? Youâre up already?â Mom was so surprised when she saw me reading a book and drinking the hot cocoa leisurely.
âWha, Lyra, whatâs wrong? Did you have a nightmare? A fever?â Dad quickly examined me up-close.
âNo, I canât really sleep well, soâ¦â
âYou canât sleep well? You should have knocked our rooms, Mommy and Daddy will accompany you to sleep,â Mom added.
â¦oh, right. Itâs normal for a six-year-old kid to do that! It didnât cross my mind, with my mental age and how I had no recollection of doing that in my past life.
âI can?â
âYes, of course!â
âT-thank you, I will do that next time!â
Hearing their quick and positive answers, I resigned myself to the warmth I felt growing inside my chest and a genuine smile quickly formed on my face.
***
âUuu, where is it?â
After taking a bath and having a nice breakfast, I went on stand-by in front of the house, waiting for the sign of a letter arriving, or anything of the sortâ¦
âLyra, you can actually access it on Proviceâ¦â
Dad murmured something, but Mom stopped him before I could even understand what he was talking about.
âDonât kill the joy of waiting for the manual result to Lyra!â Mom quickly warned Dadâand I was wondering⦠manual result?
âLyra, letâs play some games first,â Alt-nii tried to tempt me, but I was in no mood to play!
When I squinted into the distance, I saw a figure approaching in a simple bike⦠that person⦠could he be the long-awaited postman?!
When the figure of a young boy on his bike approached, I decided to walk even further to the gate. Obviously, my parents and Alt-nii who were standing next to me quickly followed.
The boy descended from his bike, repositioned his hat, and took out several mails from his bag.
Among the letters, I saw one familiar-looking envelope with a familiar-looking wax seal. Thatâsâ¦!!
âIâve been waiting for you!!â I impatiently held my hands up to the letters he was holding, and he looked back at me in confusion.
âUhm⦠yes?â
âHurry, hurry!â I shook my hands which were floating in the air, impatiently gesturing him to give me the letters.
âAhâ¦?â The young postman showed a confused expression instead, and that grated my nerves!
âNow, please!â
ââ¦I understand.â
My eyes sparkled when the young postman said that he understoodâbut then, he put away the letters back and⦠positioned himself to carry meâ¦?!
Wait⦠No!! Nooo, youâve misunderstood my words!!
As I closed my eyes to the approaching figure of a dazzling young postman seemingly in his 15-17 of age, resigning my fate to whatever came, I noticed that I was snatched away and was flying on the air, in the familiar arms.
Familiar⦠arms?
I opened my eyes to see what was going on and saw the young postman standing dumbfoundedly in front of me, and noticed that he wasnât the one who carried me.
I turned over and looked up at my savior.
The one who saved me from such an awkward situation was none other than⦠Dad.
âCan you explain what did you just try to do to my daughter?â Dad smiled, but cold air emanated from within his smile.
âEh? Ah, n-no, Duke Hartmann, I wasnât⦠The little miss seemed like she wanted me to carry her out of a sudden, and to answer her impatient request, Iâ¦â
â¦Whaaaaat? How did you perceive my gesture as that?!
âWhat, thereâs no way she would do such a thing to a stranger!â
âStranger, me? But Iâve come here a few times to deliver the mails⦠yelp! N, no, I meanâ¦â
The young postmanâs sense of justice prompted him to correct my dadâs memory, but he was greeted by Dadâs fierce stare.
âD-dad, itâs okay, I was at fault, too! I didnât speak my intention well! This big brother here is not wrong!!â
In a panic, I put my hands on Dadâs chest to prevent him from getting angry at the innocent postman.
ââ¦Lyraâs defending him?!â Dadâs shaken voice resounded.
ââ¦Uuuh, what a kind little miss you are!â The young postmanâs overjoyed voice responded.
ââ¦â
Yes, please, please end this odd situation and just give me the letter already!!
In the end, Mom stepped between Dad and the young postman after she enjoyed the situation wholeheartedly and explained the circumstances, apologized to the young postman and took the deliveries from his hands.
The young postman smiled at me and gave me his good luck after hearing how I was impatiently waiting for the exam result.
Dad discreetly shoo-ed him away⦠Dad⦠please stop destroying your image as the duke⦠( ´â¢Ì¥Ì¥Ì¥Ïâ¢Ì¥Ì¥Ì¥` )
âQuick, quick!â
Gathering in the family room, I impatiently asked Mom to open the mail that she was holding.
Looking at my childish behavior, Alt-nii and my parents all laughed.
Uuu, itâs fine, isnât it?
Sometimes, adults want to return back to being children and act childish to their heartâs content. In my case, I literally got the chance to return back to be a child, so I shanât relinquish this chance⦠right?
âAlright, do you want to see the content, or do you want me to read it for you?â Mom asked once she held the content of the letter in her hands.
âRead it to me!â
For the sake of the best thriller. Ever!
Mom smiled at me, âOkay, then.â
âDear Alrescha Lyra Hartmann,â Mom began to read aloud, âWe are pleased to inform you the result of your entrance exams the other day.â
I held my breath unconsciously, waiting for the next words.
âCongratulations, youâve been accepted at Harmonia Academy!â
Dad and Alt-nii quickly clapped their hands while saying, âAs expected of Lyra!â
However, I was still waiting for the next words.
I may be quite arrogant to say that Iâm confident in my enrollment status, and Iâm also confident in entering the special class, but⦠well, to put it simply, my confidence in my getting enrolled to the academy is 150%, while my confidence in getting into the special class is only 100%.
â¦Stop sending me death glares!!
The drop in percentages illustrated my nervousness!
âIn regards to your application for the special class, we shall announce our verdictâ¦â
Am I guilty or not guilty?!
â¦wait, this isnât the courtroom!!
âWe are pleased to welcome you to the Special Class of the Year 976!â
Mom put down the papers and pulled me to her embrace.
âCongratulations, Lyra!â (Mom)
âCongrats, Lyra, I know you can do it!â (Dad)
âWoo-hoo, Lyra! Thatâs awesome!!â (Alt-nii)
Aaah, Iâm super excited to enter the special class!!
Though I more or less have the knowledge for Basic Level already, Iâm still hyped to know how the special class feels like. Especially, the magic classes. In addition, this is Harmonia Academy!!
Back then, I attended the normal class in my old school, as I was quite ordinary in terms of learning, and my mother would let me attend extra classes necessary to groom me as the queen.
I wonder if it will be hard? Seeing Alt-nii studying quite hard in his special class, I felt quite anxious even when I had basic knowledge in my head already, but who knows if itâs outdated?
And⦠wait, I remember Nicole was in the special class in my old school, but she seemed to be so relaxed! Wait, I never really recalled how she struggled in any lessons!!
Is my old schoolâs curriculum way easier than Harmonia Academyâsâ¦?
I-Iâm getting more nervous if I think of that possibilityâ¦
Taking that aside⦠Iris! I wonder if sheâs also accepted to the special class?
I sure hope so!
âOkay, then we should manage the administrative stuff to officially enroll Lyra there,â Momâs already thinking of what she should be doing next.
âOh, will Lyra be sent to the dormitory?â Alt-nii jokingly asked.
âW-what?â
âEh?â Dad looked up from the paper he was holding and looked at Alt-nii in confusion.
Sensing the chance, Mom smiled and replied, âOh? Seems like a good idea.â
âW, w, what, Cassie?â Dad was surprised to hear Momâs answer.
âThe dorm will need a good leader for the kids her age, Lyra fits the bill,â Mom continued.
âHey, does that mean I am not a good leader for kids my age?â Altaire protested.
âY, youâre kidding, right?â Dad couldnât really tell whether itâs a joke or not, as Momâs expression was totally serious and Alt-niiâs pouting seemed real, too.
Looking at the troubled Dad, Mom and Alt-niiâs expressions quickly changed.
âPfft⦠Ahaha! Itâs so fun to tease you and Lyra,â Mom said.
âMom! I didnât fall for this one!â I pouted.
âBut your expression was priceless when I brought the subject up!â Alt-nii quickly added.
ThatâI was still in the middle of digesting the whole situation!
The remaining days before my first day to school was spent by my parents managing all the necessary preparations for my enrollment, how they told me things such as my new school bag, my two sets of uniforms, etcâ¦
Oh yeah, my old school didnât have any uniform, so it basically turned into the noblesâ showcase of clothes!
I asked my parents whether I could modify the uniform, and they said the school allowed it⦠so long as the modification is not going too overboard and modifies the base uniform in a whole.
The uniform set consists of winter uniform and summer uniform⦠in other words, I will be wearing the winter-styled uniform for my first term at school!
While waiting for the administrative process to be completed, I paid some visits to Capicastle and as expected, both Luca and Kiri were also accepted to the same special class as me.
Having gained two friends right before the school even starts, how can I hide my happiness?
Though Iâm still curious about Iris⦠I sure hope she will be my classmate as well!
Our small group of friends will finally be balanced that way, with 2 boys and 2 girls.
As of now⦠without Iris, I feel like Iâm being surrounded by two malesâlike⦠a reverse harem situation? Yes, thereâs a dire need for a balance in this group!
When the uniform finally arrived along with my official letter of enrollment, I saw⦠how cute they are, especially the summer uniform! I havenât even started school yet, but I canât wait for the next term already.
From my parents and Alt-niiâs story, the uniform set in Harmonia Academy differs per level.
I stared at the uniform that Mom took out for me.
The winter uniform for Basic Level children is green-themed and they only provide the blazer⦠oh wait, so I can combine it with any inner shirt I want? Nice, school! To add more detailsâthe blazerâs base color is a light soft green with a pocket on each bottom side of the blazer, and the bottom of the blazer forms a reversed V shape. The collarâs color is of a dark green, and it has some soft golden stripes. The hem of the blazer is also embroidered in soft golden lines. The necktie is quite long with a golden color and Harmonia Academyâs emblem printed on it. The skirt is a checked skirt with dark green and white gradation.
When I observed Alt-niiâs uniform, the two shared the same characteristics, with the only differences being: the male uniformâs pocket is only oneâlocated on the upper left side of the blazer, and the collarâs also light green, just like the base shirtâs color.
Needless to say, the clothes are long-sleeved and the skirt or short length is comparatively longer than the summer uniform set. Plus⦠the cloth material seems like it can keep me warm.
As for the summer uniform⦠for Basic level, they are sailor uniform themed! The dominant color? Blue and white, with red bows!
The summer uniform for females⦠is basically like a normal sailor uniform with a few alterations, such as puffed sleeves, frilly hem of the skirt, and the skirtâs styled like an overall skirt! Itâs cute, Iâm telling you! And the cloth material should be different from the winter uniformâs material, this one feels like it will give the user a refreshing sensation.
The male counterpart for the summer uniform is basically about the same, except for the overall puffed short pants and the normal sleeves. The small buttons are golden-colored with the academyâs emblem on it.
âTry them on, Lyra!â
âOh, wait, Lyra, let me take some photos! Pose for Daddy!â
âAs expected, this is the hidden joy of having a daughter! The clothing set is just too cute!â
âExcuse me, Daddy, whattttt?!â Altaire pouted in protest.
âOh, Alt? You can wear your uniform and we will take some photos of you two together!â
--And so, it turned into a sudden photograph session.
âMom, my clothes⦠they are quite oversized?â
I asked Mom when Dad was busy preparing for his beloved camera and Alt-nii changing into his uniform.
âWell, since youâre in your growing period, so we didnât order for your current size, but we deliberately ordered a bigger size to accommodate your growth,â Mom explained.
âAh--.â
I have never been a parent before, so I didnât know.
But thatâs true, it will be such a waste to use the clothes for a short period of time before having to buy bigger ones.
âThough we will still need to prepare for bigger size once these uniforms fit your body perfectly.â
I nodded. Yup yup.
I will feel bad for accumulating 6 sets of the same uniforms with different sizes just to accommodate my growth.
Besides, they donât fit perfectly to my body, but they donât look that oversized.
So, itâs perfectly fine.
--This is what happens after some photographs taken--
âCass, do you still have your old uniform? Perhaps we might as well take some photos of our family in school uniformsâ¦â
ââ¦Cyan, are you nuts?!â
â¦Dad, youâre into cosplaying?
âOh, that would make a cute family photo!!â Alt-nii chimed in happily.
âItâs not like they donât fit anymore, right, Cass?â
ââ¦Can we not do this?â
--But in the end, we managed to take some cute family pictures. Mom and Dad still look pretty much, soâ¦
Niina was dumbfounded when we first asked her help to take the pictures, but she managed to take some great pictures after having her hands trembling in her attempts to hold her laughter a few times.
But but!! Their Master levelâs uniforms were so... cool!! I mean, unlike the typical school uniforms, the Master level's uniforms are used mainly for adults aged 18 and up, and there's this Internship program that they are supposed to do at Master level... In short, the Master level's uniforms look pretty much like a formal attire used in a work or a business!
I'm not sure how the uniforms for other schools' Master level, but Harmonia Academy's set of uniforms is just exquisite.
Thereâs nothing shameful from wearing them, Mom!!
Could it be that she was still ashamed since they were her past school uniforms anyway, regardless how cool the outfits were?
âThis is just⦠for our personal collection, okay? No boasting it to others!â Mom quickly warned Dad shortly after we all got changed.
âWorry not, Cass. Even I still have my sanity intact. I wonât ever divulge this matter to public. This is for our personal collection.â
âYour sanity is still intact? I would have believed it if I havenât discovered this side of you⦠Oh, Lyra. Remember to unveil your future husbandâs every layer of his personality. The Cyan that I knew from before we got marriedâwhere is he right now, I wonder?â
Mom tried to give me a precious advice in dating, but her troubled expression seemed to be full of love. Though she complained, she must still love this side of Dad, too. I can just sense it.
***
âFor your first day of school, you will go with Alt-nii and Clavis together in a carriage, is that okay, Lyra?â
âNo problem, Dad!â
âAltaire, make sure to watch your sister well!â
âGot it, Mom~!â
âLyra, be careful and watch your big brother, too.â
âOkay, Mom!â
ââ¦Hey, Mom, whatâs that supposed to mean?! Iâm the older one here!!â
Alt-nii pouted again, and Mom smiled as she patted Alt-niiâs head.
âSiblings must take care of each other.ââsuch was her explanation, and naturally, Dad agreed.
âBut itâs the job of a big brother to protect his little sister, not the other way around!â Alt-nii still protested.
âWell, okay, okay, youâre right. But itâs also a little sisterâs duty to look after her big brother, right? What I mean isâLyra, tell Altaire if you happen to see him acting naughty.â
âOf course!â I answered cheerfully.
âHey, Mom, come on!! Give me more credit! Arenât you trusting Lyra way too much?â
--Am I smelling a sibling discord here?!
âMom, I trust big bro Altaire! Alt-nii, please take care of me at school!â
Still anxious over the future where my own big brother will turn to hate me, I decided to meddle and restore his big brother pride.
âAww, only Lyra adores me as her big brother!â
âHaha, I know, I know. I was just teasing you.â
âMom, you meanieee!!â
âBut your mom is right. Watch over each otherâs back, okay?â Dad acted as the middleman to end the conversation with a precious advice.
ââOkay!!ââ Alt-nii and I answered simultaneously.
The night before my first day at school, I became restless and unable to sleep. So, I timidly knocked on my parentsâ bedroom and ended up sleeping there with Mom and Dad.
On special occasions, we would sleep togetherâme, Alt-nii, Mom, and Dad. But when was it that I requested to sleep together with Mom and Dad?
Yes, itâs my first time sleeping with my parents on my request after I slept in my own room. I was quite embarrassed, but perhaps the embarrassmentâs worth it, after all. It feels nice being spoiled by my parentsâif this can be categorized as spoiled.
It reassures me to know that Alt-nii sometimes went over to sleep with Mom and Dad, too, especially after he woke up from nightmares.
And thatâs how I managed to get a good nightâs sleep that day.
The morning after that, itâs my big day!
My first day at Harmonia Academy!
First mission: Find Iris!!