A Full Day

I shot upright in bed.

The Hospital Wing was bright and spotless. Daylight fell gently across the head of my bed, and just sitting there, I could faintly hear sounds from far away—the voices and footsteps of students walking and talking.

Peaceful, relaxed, and unhurried.

I sat there in a daze for quite a while before I came to my senses and let out a long breath.

I had dreamed about those scenes again.

The system could erase my negative emotions, but it couldn't erase my memories of the past. The chaos in the dream had nearly driven me to collapse, but once I woke up, everything quickly faded away, as if it really had only been a dream.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

As I sat there in a daze, hurried footsteps came from outside the door. Then James pushed his way in, his exuberant voice reaching the Hospital Wing before he did.

"Sirius! It's such a shame you missed Flying Class!" He ran a hand through his hair, which looked as though it had been ravaged by a tornado, making his poor fringe sway as if blown by the wind. "Missing my three flips in the air was the greatest loss of the century!"

Although Sirius, who had argued with me earlier, had already looked much like his future self, now he wore a frustrated expression like a little kid. Then he gave me another [Sirius favorability -1].

I would bear it, I would permit it, I would shoulder this world!

"Didn't Madam Pomfrey say you'd be better in about a class period? Why didn't either of you come to Flying Class?" Lily looked me up and down worriedly and quickly noticed the different bed. "And I remember you weren't here before. Did you move?"

[Lily romance event triggered. Normal options temporarily hidden]

[Lily asked me a question...]

[1. Tell her what happened]

[2. Confess to Lily]

[3. Hug Lily and cry, "Sirius bullied me"]

I'd figured it out: this system really wanted me to confess to anyone and everyone. It might as well change its name to "The System Wants Me to Confess: The Hogwarts Geniuses' Love and Brain Battles."

Even though things had gotten very unpleasant between Sirius and me, I had no intention of telling anyone else about it. I wasn't sure where the system drew the line when it said "achieve the option's result, but the process is up to you." In the end, I chose [Tell her what happened] and spoke carefully.

"You know Sirius and I have never gotten along. We had a bit of an argument, so Madam Pomfrey separated us."

Good, the system didn't react. Apparently, telling Lily part of the truth counted as telling her "what happened."

"I knew those boys were all awful." Even though I'd left out a lot, Lily was still angry. She looked up and glared at James. Based on my previous experience in Slytherin, I could guess that James had surely criticized Snape from head to toe again in Flying Class. "Friends of someone who enjoys bullying people can't be any good either!"

"Even if I'm no good, I'm still a lot better than Snivellus." James looked indignant. "That fellow can't even stay on a broom. I reckon rolling around in a mud pit would suit him best."

"Potter!"

Seeing that Lily was about to charge at him, I hurriedly reached out and grabbed her. She really was angry—she pulled so hard she nearly dragged me off the bed. Lily gasped and rushed back to steady me, then suddenly stopped.

"That's just how he is. Don't take what he says to heart." I patted her hand, and for some reason, the words He's just a child; he doesn't know any better and was only joking popped into my head. A chill ran through me.

Lily said nothing, only stared at me. Actually, it wasn't just her. Even Remus, standing behind her, looked over. His brows knitted tightly, and after hesitating for a moment, he walked over to me.

"What happened to your neck?" he asked.

Only then did I belatedly remember that Madam Pomfrey hadn't treated my neck after Sirius had strangled me. Perhaps the marks hadn't been obvious when Sirius let go. I'd thought he hadn't left any marks at all.

"I remember clearly that you were fine when we left." Lily's expression grew serious, and even James's smile faded. "What on earth happened?"

How was I supposed to explain this? I had no idea where to begin. Just as I was trying to change the subject, Sirius spoke up.

"I did it."

He sat there calmly, his expression utterly unruffled.

"Sirius?" Even James's eyes widened. He looked at me, then at Sirius. "No matter how much you hate Merlin, you can't..."

"She's just a freak. So what if I hurt her?" Sirius laughed casually, but there was no emotion in his eyes when he looked at me. It was rather frightening. "James, are you going to take her side?"

"I... no, it's not that. I just think..." James raked a hand through his hair in frustration, leaving his already messy hair looking even worse. He looked unusually conflicted, his eyes darting back and forth between us. That was rare. I'd thought he'd take his best mate's side without hesitation.

But James didn't stay conflicted for long, because Lily had already rolled up her sleeves in a rage.

[Sirius/Lily romance event triggered. Normal options temporarily hidden]

[They're fighting...]

[1. Help Lily]

[2. Help Sirius]

...Wasn't there an option to break up the fight?

I tried to choose [Help Lily], but the system informed me: [Fractured, unable to get up].

Then what was the point of these two options?!

By the time Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall arrived, a crowd had gathered around the entrance to the Hospital Wing. Even the perpetually gloomy Snape was peering inside with wide eyes. The Hospital Wing itself was a complete mess. Sirius lay in a heap of bedding, looking thoroughly disheveled. James was desperately holding Lily back, while Remus, looking like he had a headache, was gathering up the pillows flying around everywhere. Apart from all that, I, the cause of the whole affair, lay off to the side with nothing left to live for.

Thank Merlin, every one of them still knew to hold back.

By the time we returned to the Gryffindor Common Room, we were all exhausted. The only good news for me was probably that Sirius had lost twenty points for attacking a fellow student. Now no one paid any attention to the ten points I'd lost, and they were sympathetic toward me instead.

Damn it, how had things turned out like this?

After Lily told me what the Charms homework was, I set to work writing furiously. James and the others sat at the table farthest from us, and the entire common room was terribly quiet. I didn't know if it was my imagination, but the other Gryffindors coming and going were all speaking in lowered voices, as if afraid of disturbing us.

That made me afraid to speak loudly too. I tapped on the table, and when Lily looked up, I pointed my wand at the little paper person on the table. It jumped up, ran over to Lily's hand, and rubbed against it. Lily dodged it several times, then glared at me when she realized she couldn't get away from it.

"You were actually planning to keep it from me." She sounded rather disappointed in me. "Aren't we friends?"

It's because we're friends that I didn't want you to know. I grumbled inwardly, but I didn't dare say it out loud.

"Even though we don't get along, there are other things involved. Those things are Black's private business, so it's his choice whether to tell anyone." I wrote the last word on my paper. The little person ran out of magic and fell, landing lightly in Lily's palm. Lily held out her hand to return it to me, but I put my chin straight into her palm.

"Will you forgive me, Lily?"

Lily could never say no to me. No matter which me it was.

-This time was no different.

She had meant to keep a stern face, but her expression softened in the end.

"If something like this happens again, I won't pry if you can't tell me the details, but..." She pinched my cheek. "You have to tell me if you're hurt."

I nuzzled Lily's palm, and her face visibly reddened. First-year Lily still couldn't be so open about accepting my affection. After pulling her hand away, she took her finished homework and hurried off with Mary, who had just returned from outside. I stayed where I was, lying on the table and watching until they disappeared from sight. When I raised my head, I discovered that James had somehow taken a seat on the sofa beside us and was looking at me strangely.

What? I asked him with a look.

"Ahem." James coughed and looked around, seeming a little agitated. At last, he leaned close and spoke to me in a very low voice. "About what Sirius did, I'd like to... on his behalf..." He got stuck on the last few words for a long time, then steeled himself and sprang to his feet. "Apologize." As he finished, he quickly glanced up at the marks still on my neck, then lowered his head just as quickly, trying to act as though nothing had happened.

"You can apologize on someone else's behalf?" My eyes nearly popped out. Since I'd never been in Gryffindor before, I didn't know whether James had ever apologized to Lily, but being apologized to by first-year James-even on Sirius's behalf—was enough to leave me stunned.

My shock must have been too obvious, because James, who was already uncomfortable, became even more so. Seeing that he wanted to leave, I quickly grabbed his hand and forcibly pulled him back.

"Thank you, but this is between Sirius and me." Seeing that he was still trying to leave despite my grip, I simply forced his head around so he'd listen to me. "James, what Sirius does won't affect how I see you. Even if you're friends, he's him and you're you. I've always considered you a friend. It has nothing to do with him."

James finally stopped avoiding me. He met my gaze and gave an almost imperceptible nod.

James returned to the table to find the other two looking at him strangely.

"What, have you suddenly realized I'm the most handsome bloke in the world?" He whistled at Sirius. "Don't be discouraged, mate. You're only a little less handsome than me."

Remus looked as though he couldn't bear to watch, while Sirius tossed James a towel. "Wipe your face." He glanced in Merlin's direction with disgust. "Having someone like that touch your face is disgusting."

Only then did James realize what they meant. Recalling how she'd held his face just now, he felt his ears grow hot and coughed twice, making his attempt to cover it up even more obvious.

He had originally intended to say that he hadn't cared about Merlin's feelings and had simply been afraid Sirius was too angry. But after that, everything he'd meant to say had gotten stuck in his throat, and he'd come back in a daze. How strange. That wasn't like him.

"Don't worry, Sirius." Instead of taking the towel, he patted Sirius on the shoulder. "Don't worry, you're still the one I love most!"

"I really was worried I'd fallen out of favor." Sirius joked. "But what did you go over there for?"

Merlin probably hadn't expected James to approach her of his own accord. If Sirius knew James had gone over to apologize on his behalf, he would probably have jumped out of his chair already.

"To see Evans and find out whether they were talking behind your back while I was at it," James said readily. "But Merlin said, 'There are other things involved. Those things are Black's private business, so it's his choice whether to tell anyone'..." He looked Sirius up and down. "What did you two even argue about? How did your private business get involved?"

Sirius's hand paused on his quill.

Back in the Hospital Wing, he'd already wondered why Merlin had given Evans that excuse. He'd considered many possibilities, but the one he had never imagined was that she was "worried about revealing his private business."

Merlin was worried about revealing his private business?

His gaze unconsciously sought Merlin out, just in time to see her blow a paper crane over. The crane rode the air and landed on James. James looked at its contents with a strange expression, then strode over to her.

He saw James lean close to Merlin. They were too far away for him to hear what they said, so all he could see was the smile on James's face and James ruffling Merlin's hair.

"I can't believe Merlin invited me out for a nighttime stroll."

James was still marveling when he returned. "You two broke bones twice during the day, and you still can't settle down at night..." He leaned back in his chair, admiration appearing on his face. "I approve of her!"

Sirius coughed, and James immediately sat up straight and tucked the paper crane into his pocket. "Of course, I approved of you long ago, mate."

"Don't go getting any fondness for her." He looked over at Merlin. Even from this far away, he could clearly see the marks on her neck, which made him unconsciously rub his fingertips together. Strange, had he used that much force?

"Fondness?" James was startled by his words. After a moment of bewilderment, he burst out laughing. "I don't fancy anyone, mate. Term's only just started. Merlin's just my..." He hesitated, and in the end didn't say the word. "Classmate, that's all. We're not even friends yet."

As he spoke, he nudged Remus with his shoulder. "Is Sirius jealous?"

Remus looked helplessly at the homework on the table. "Do I need to remind you that we've been sitting here for nearly two hours, and neither of you has written even an inch of your homework?"

James and Sirius both let out a groan.

[Author's note]

★Notes★

In the Hospital Wing, the person present with the highest favorability would be the first to ask about the marks on the neck;

Apologizing to Lily was not among the options, but if the chance to apologize had been missed, Lily's favorability would have dropped sharply. Conversely, it would rise sharply;

The conditions for triggering the scene in which James apologizes on Sirius's behalf are extremely strict. James's favorability must reach a certain level and Sirius's [Love at first sight] achievement must be obtained at the same time. Even then, there is only a 3% chance of it appearing.

★Side quest reminder★

Obtained James's impression: [A classmate I get along with fairly well, but Sirius doesn't like her, so I shouldn't be too friendly with her either]

[Fragments of Merlin's story]

Merlin had previously transmigrated into characters from the original story, but she was still sorted into houses according to her own personality. When she became Peter, she went to Hufflepuff. The second time was also Hufflepuff; the third and fourth were Ravenclaw; and the fifth, sixth, and seventh were all Slytherin. This was her first time being sorted into Gryffindor.