Hagun Academy, at the school gate.
Today, everyone had agreed to meet here again and go out together.
This time, however, the people present were not just Ikki and Shizuku. The entire student council was here as well.
That was hardly surprising.
After all, it had been the student council who suggested celebrating together in the first place, which was why they had invited Ikki, Stella, Shizuku, and the others.
"Thank you very much for inviting us today, Touka-senpai."
Ikki bowed his head to Todo Touka in thanks.
"Don't mention it. We're all student knights of Hagun Academy, and we're preparing to fight together in the 'Seven Star Sword Festival.' As comrades and as the student council president, this is only natural."
Todo Touka responded to Ikki with a gentle smile.
"Well, even though we aren't representative candidates, we came along too."
"Thank you for including us."
Usamaru Koko and Suiro Rai spoke from behind Todo Touka.
"Touka already said it. Since we're schoolmates who'll soon be fighting together, it's a good idea to let the representative candidates get to know each other better before the 'Seven Star Sword Festival.'"
"In the end, as soon as the vice president, Usamaru, and Suiro heard that, they simply tagged along."
Mibarai Izuru said this cheerfully, prompting Kudohara Kanata, who was holding an umbrella nearby, to speak with an elegant laugh.
Everyone from the student council had come along as well, joining Ikki and Shizuku.
Besides them, there was one other person present.
He was a tall, slender, handsome man wearing a bowler hat. He had a very gentlemanly air and wore an elegant smile on his face the entire time.
At first glance, he looked like a refined noble gentleman. Yet for some reason, everyone present subtly kept their distance from him,