"I'm Lala! I'll be your roommate in the dormitory. Nice to meet you!"
A cheerful voice pierced the clear air, and when I turned around, I saw a girl with green skin smiling brightly, her hand extended toward me. She was a half-lizardman, and her large golden eyes sparkled like stars. Her body shimmered with a faint green glow under the sunlight, with hints of scales here and there, but her expression was more human than most and warm with friendliness.
I hesitated for a moment before taking her hand. Despite her appearance, her hand was surprisingly soft, with a cool touch, like the freshness of new grass. A subtle, pleasant scent wafted from her fingertips.
"So, I heard you're the daughter of Akira Suzuki?"
Startled by her sudden question, I glanced around the dormitory entrance hall. The soft afternoon sunlight streamed in through the windows, filling the space with a warm glow. The creamy walls and wooden floors created a comfortable atmosphere, while Lala's voice echoed clearly.
"Uh, yes. But could you keep your voice down?"
I whispered in response, worried that others might overhear. Lala's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at me with fascination, as though I were something rare.
"Oh, I see! I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. It's just that Akira Suzuki is a legend for all the girls here!"
Her words rippled through me like waves on water. Akira Suzuki, the inventor of instrumental magic. In the past, vocal magic was dominant, with male vocal magic users at the center of society, while female users were relegated to support roles. But Akira had invented instrumental magic, allowing both men and women to cast all kinds of spells. Thanks to him, women could step into roles traditionally reserved for men, greatly advancing their position in society. Whether or not he consciously intended it, Akira had become a hero to women everywhere.
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"Akira really is amazing," I murmured softly, as though to process the emotions welling up inside me.
Elise, his wife, had further developed Akira’s work, arranging countless vocal spells for instrumental use and freely sharing the vast intellectual property she created. Because of this, everyone who had gone through basic education knew the name Elise Suzuki. However, the fact that she lived in this small town was not widely known, and Forte had often warned me that if people found out about our parents' identities, we might attract unwanted attention.
As Lala and I strolled through the dormitory garden, the lush green grass felt soft beneath my feet. Vibrant flowers bloomed in every corner, while butterflies and small birds fluttered about. Some students were sitting in the shade of trees, reading books. Amid this peaceful scene, Lala suddenly pointed at something.
"Hey, look! There's someone wandering around over there. What are they doing?"
She was pointing at a red-haired girl struggling to lift a heavy chest of drawers. Sweat dotted her forehead, and her posture showed clear signs of fatigue. At first, I couldn’t understand what was happening, but Lala’s comment made me realize.
"Hey, where are you trying to take that?" Lala asked in a casual tone. The red-haired girl noticed us, her face showing a mix of surprise and relief. Her red hair shone brightly in the setting sun.
"I'm trying to get it to room 503, but I can’t do it alone. We can't have guys helping in the girls' dorm, and I really wish I had a man’s strength or male vocal magic."
Her words hit me hard, and the phrase "no men allowed" stirred something in me, causing a slight twinge of pain. But I worked hard to keep that off my face.
"Male vocal magic, huh? Got it. Let me give it a try."
I pulled out my tenor saxophone from the pocket dimension. Its golden gleam caught the sunlight, and I took a deep breath as I prepared to play. I played a calm melody in G major, full of whole and half notes. The sound waves gently resonated through the air, and soon enough, magic spread into the space.
"Wow! You can use instrumental magic? That's awesome!"
"Yeah, really cool!"
Both the red-haired girl and Lala stared at me in awe. Meanwhile, the chest of drawers lifted smoothly into the air and floated up the stairs, step by step. I focused intently, ensuring the magic held strong, and soon enough, it reached room 503. The red-haired girl smiled with relief.
"Thank you! That was such a big help!"
She offered me a handshake, and I returned it. Her hand was cool to the touch, but it warmed my heart. For the first time, I felt that life in this dormitory might actually be enjoyable.