"Eh!? Eve has the "Devil Wing"!?"
I practically lunged across the desk. "I'm so jealous…! Can I touch it just once—pretty please!?"
"It's locked in the storeroom at home right now."
"Then if I visit your house—"
"Absolutely not."
"...I see. How tragic."
Break time, unused classroom, just the two of us as usual.
No other instructors, no interruptions, perfect for nerding out over magic tools.
(Yes, we're squatting here without permission. Ardi will probably forgive us.)
"Speaking of which—"
I slumped dramatically. "The 'Ei's Birthday Celebration' is almost here."
"Have you applied for the "Ancient Artifact Exhibition" again this year?"
"I apply every single year and never win… Why do the gods hate me…?"
Eve just stared blankly.
The Birthday Festival turns the whole city red-haired for a day.
Food stalls everywhere, 20% off if you wear a red wig, total chaos.
I don't care about the festival itself.
I only care about that exhibition.
Entry is lottery only.
Tickets self-destruct if resold or given to the wrong person.
Pair tickets exist, but the odds are brutal.
I was busy cursing the organizers in my head when—
Eve's lips curved, the rarest 0.3-millimeter smile known to mankind.
She pulled two beautiful golden tickets from her cute handbag.
"Y-You're joking…!?"
Pair tickets.
Real pair tickets.
To the "Ancient Artifact Exhibition".
My soul left my body and ascended.
"Wh-where did you get these!?"
I was already on my knees, voice cracking.
"I know the organizer. They gave them to me."
"Connections!? Nepotism!? This is heresy against all true enthusiasts!"
My mouth screamed betrayal while my body performed a flawless dogeza.
Eve looked down coldly.
"Your words and actions are complete opposites."
"But if you know the organizer, can't you sneak one more person in—"
"I already told them I didn't need the tickets this year."
"Please, Eve-sama! I'll do anything!"
I was ready to sell my soul for a year, maybe two.
"I can't ask them for favors," she said,
"but I can give you one of these tickets instead."
"God exists…!"
From this day forward, Eve became my personal goddess.
I tried to call her Eve-sama; she threatened to tear the ticket in half.
"But… it's a pair ticket. Weren't you going with someone?"
Eve's gaze dropped, the tiniest shadow crossing her face.
"I was. But I don't think I can go this year."
Someone stood her up? My goddess sense tingled.
Before I could ask, she thrust one ticket forward and pulled it back.
"I'll give it to you—on one condition."
"Name it. Anything short of murder."
Foot licking? One year of slavery? I was mentally prepared.
"Come shopping with me."
"...Huh?"
"I need new clothes."
"Clothes…?"
I stared openly.
Her current outfit was actually really cute, accessories on point.
"I'm a girl. I do care about fashion."
She looked mildly annoyed.
"And… I want to show the results to Ray."
"Ray?"
"The person I like."
"Oh… I see…"
A thousand emotions crashed inside me, but the ticket won.
"Fine! I'll be your fashion advisor for a whole day!"
Eve nodded, satisfied.
Meanwhile, outside in the hallway near Charlet Sweets—
Two girls were making a huge racket.
One tiny blonde loli.
One taller girl with deep green hair.
They were hoisting the tiny one onto their shoulders,
trying to sneak her through a slightly-too-high window.
Super suspicious.
I squinted at the scene.
"…What the heck are those two doing?"