Ren Isana scratched his head, a little sheepish. "What was I supposed to do? We haven't had a spare minute since we started university. The one time we did get some free time, I got dumped into another world. It's been nonstop."
Think about how busy everyone had been since enrolling. It started with Miori Shiba's world, and not long after that the two of them had run off to the Re:Zero world, and then there was school on top of the trip to the Type-Moon world, and barely after getting back Ren Isana had been thrown into yet another world.
Last term alone, nobody had gotten a moment's rest. So it really wasn't his fault — he genuinely hadn't had the time. If he'd had it, there would have been no problem at all.
"All right, all right. I've made plans with them, let's go." How could Asuna not understand? Their class was extraordinarily busy. For all they knew they would be heading to another world in a few days.
That was exactly why coursework had been so tight since term started. Fortunately, the school taught a lot that everyone picked up quickly, and most of their real learning came from Natsuki Minamiya or Yor Forger anyway.
As for the general magic courses, hardly anyone had bothered attending this term, since most of the spells taught were either useless to them or already known. After that many worlds, a great many of their classmates had long since learned all of it.
Ren Isana and Asuna made their way to the meeting spot they had agreed on with Emilia's group — a coffee shop not far outside the girls' school.
The two of them arrived just as the others did. Spotting Ren Isana and Asuna, Emilia's face lit up and she hurried forward. "Ren Isana! Asuna! It's been so long!"
She was genuinely happy to see them again. Ram and Rem came up to greet the pair as well, all three of them smiling.
Ren Isana couldn't help smiling back. "Looks like you've settled into life here. Have you run into any trouble?"
All three wore outfits with their own distinct flair, and all of them looked good. Ren Isana approved wholeheartedly.
"Not at all. Everyone around us is very friendly, and we've made a lot of new friends." Emilia answered him with a smile.
Life in this world was easy for her. She didn't have to worry about how people looked at her — if anything, she had to worry about being too popular, since so many people wanted to be her friend that it had become a genuine source of stress.
While Ren Isana was talking with the three of them, Miori Shiba and Kisara Tendo walked up. Miori Shiba fixed him with a distinctly aggrieved look. "So you finally found the time to come see us?"
When she first arrived in this world she had forgotten to get his contact information here, which had left her completely cut off from Ren Isana and the others.
It had been endlessly frustrating. She had gone looking for him at the university several times and never found him — always out on some mission or other. Time after time. Thankfully she had run into Emilia's group a while back and gotten everyone else's contact information.
"I've been busy, I'll have you know." Ren Isana spread his hands. She was making him sound like some faithless cad — they weren't nearly close enough for that.
Miori Shiba shot him a look and continued, "Our world has fully integrated with this one now, and I've finished learning most of what there is to know about this place. So I wanted to ask — can I join your university, and your class?"
There was a note of nervousness in her voice. From what she understood, Ren Isana's class already included people from other worlds, which meant there was an opening.
Joining that class would give her access to far more cutting-edge information. Ren Isana's class had been assembled specifically to explore other worlds — everything they got was firsthand.
"No. You're out. You're far too weak. Emilia, maybe. The average strength in our class is above Tier 5. You? You're barely Tier 3." Ren Isana glanced at Miori Shiba and turned her down without a shred of mercy.
The special class wasn't accepting new members anymore. Even if someone wanted in, Ren Isana wouldn't take them unless they were exceptional. Someone like Emilia, on the other hand, he would welcome with open arms.
In fact, Ren Isana was actively hoping Emilia would join and take over his position. His strength had reached Tier 9, and if new worlds needed exploring down the line, he probably wouldn't be going along with the others.
That made it critical to have someone who could fill his slot. Ren Isana's pick was Emilia — a born warrior. If she joined, she could cover his position without question.
Miori Shiba felt a pang of regret at his answer. It seemed she had underestimated the situation. She was also thoroughly shaken. The average strength of that group was Tier 5? That was a demoralizing gap.
"You probably can't join our class, but there's a new one being formed — maybe you could get into that?" Asuna said, glancing at Ren Isana.
Miori Shiba and Kisara Tendo both turned to look at her, and so did Ren Isana. A new one? He gave Asuna a puzzled look. How had he not heard about this?
"Rina-sensei never disbanded the special class program. Apparently they're putting together a new class, since the Awakening Season is about to start again. If you two want in, maybe look into that?" Asuna laid it out.
Ren Isana understood at once, and said in some surprise, "So you're telling me that after we graduated high school, they kept the special class going?"
Since his own class had produced good results, the school was sticking with the elite track and planning to carry the model forward as a tradition?
"That's right. It was Director Ken's decision. Rina-sensei told me about it a while back. She originally wanted to find you, but she couldn't." Asuna smiled as she filled in the details.
Ren Isana finally understood. He looked up at Miori Shiba. "You heard her. Forget our class, but you might have a shot at the next intake. Use this time to build up your strength."
So long as they were strong enough, their school would certainly put both their names forward. All the two of them had to do was get stronger.
The pair exchanged a glance and nodded, visibly excited. A chance was a chance. It wasn't Ren Isana's class, but it was still good — and the timing for starting university suited them perfectly.
"Emilia, do you want to join our class?" Ren Isana turned to Emilia with a grin and extended the invitation. Emilia blinked, and beside her, Asuna froze.
Where had that come from? Then again, if it was Emilia, there was no issue at all. That near-infinite Magic Power was far too good to pass up — the kind of Magic Power that would make Kumo weep with envy.
If there were a way to transfer Magic Power, Emilia could probably serve as a walking power bank. The thought was entertaining. Emilia joining was obviously fine.
"I... can I?" Emilia hesitated. It would be a lie to say she wasn't tempted, but she had only just arrived in this world. Was joining this soon really all right?
"Of course it's fine. And with you joining, Bell Cranel and Haruhime can come in as well — that gives the five of you a full squad." Ren Isana didn't mention the part about her replacing him.
There was no need to say it yet. The five of them forming a squad and joining was a clean fit; the rest could wait.
"True. Haruhime and Bell, plus Emilia and Ram and Rem, makes five — that's a squad. It's actually a good excuse to reshuffle the teams and put someone experienced in charge of them." A moment's thought and Asuna had grasped Ren Isana's intent.
"If that's all right... then we'll be in your care!" Emilia agreed without hesitation. She had been studying hard this whole time, and while there might be a gap at first, she was confident she could close it.
Ren Isana nodded. "Good. I'll have Natsuki make the arrangements. Just wait for word — she'll message you."
That would bring the class to sixty people, and there would be no need to add anyone after that. Bell and Haruhime should be about done with their remedial work; he hadn't been paying close attention, but neither of them had fallen behind.
Emilia nodded, unable to keep the anticipation off her face. Ren Isana's class stood at the very front of the world, with access to far more worlds — deeply appealing to someone like her.
Miori Shiba and Kisara Tendo could only look on with envy. Their strength simply wasn't there. If it had been, they would have had a shot too. Their talent was good, but they had only just started.
They still had a long road ahead. Slowly did it. Joining the next intake wouldn't be the end of the world. After a moment of envy the two let it go, sat down with everyone, and joined the conversation.
Emilia was thoroughly curious about what Ren Isana and the others had been doing over the summer, so she launched into question after question like an inquisitive child. Partway through, Beatrice came out as well.
She hadn't seen her brother or Emilia in some time either, and the moment she spotted Ren Isana sitting with Emilia she couldn't hold back and came right out.
Ren Isana and the others spent the rest of the day with Emilia's group. It wasn't until evening that everyone parted ways and headed back to their own dorms. On the walk back, Asuna couldn't help asking, "Why did you suddenly bring Emilia in?"
It puzzled her. It wasn't that she objected — it was just so abrupt, as though he had decided on the spur of the moment. As his girlfriend, she knew him well. If there hadn't been another motive, Ren Isana wouldn't have done it.