“Want to go to the Spree River?”

Heike seemed fine with anything. She nodded vigorously.

Since Heike suddenly tried to go back to the dormitory saying she needs to find warp coordinates, I pulled her and walked out.

What’s the fun if we warp there. Depending on the entrance, usually from school to the river, it takes 10 minutes walking.

We went out through the back gate closest to the school corps dormitory, and slowly walked toward the river.

The sun hadn’t set yet. Due to the snow from last night melting, the water on the roadside and bushes sparkled in the sunlight.

From January, walking out of school wasn’t allowed, but since the school corps had to go out often, the restriction rule now had no meaning.

As we got farther from school, Heike looked around the narrowing residential alley and murmured.

“It’s good to walk.”

“Right?”

“But it feels like we’re going around.”

“You know well.”

On purpose, not going straight to the river, but detouring to where there are pubs. As soon as the words ended, a small pub with a wooden sign appeared.

I bought beer in a small glass bottle from the pub and put it in her hand. Perhaps because Heike is a noble bastard—like me now—she just fidgeted until I entered the store. She seemed not familiar with commoners’ pubs.

While having trivial conversations without topic, we sat on the grassy bank with good sunlight. When I held out the beer bottle, Heike tilted her head and looked at me. She seemed not to notice what I intended.

“Cheers.”

“Ah.”

Heike tightly closed her mouth and clinked the bottle. To others, it might look blunt and angry, but having seen her for a month, to me, she was slightly embarrassed and holding back laughter.

I drank beer while watching the sunlight on the river and small wooden boats.

“Local kids often swim here.”

At the casual remark, Heike’s eyes started to shine.

As she tried to take off her robe, I grabbed her shoulder.

“Ah, no…. Wait. We can’t.”

“Ah. Usually commoners do that?”

“That’s true, but that’s not why I said we can’t. We have to be careful with private life now.”

“Right…. Too bad.”

“Next time, when we find a place just for us, shall we try? Preferably in summer.”

“Good.”

After that, as silence continued, Heike glanced and murmured.

“You usually play a lot with Elias or Narce. Isn’t it awkward coming out only with me today?”

“Hm? No way.”

I was rather enjoying the silence, but Heike seems the type who can’t endure silence.

I tried to end the words as per usual personality, but for Heike, I felt I should say a bit longer.

I sat up and smiled.

“Even if awkward, so what. I suggested to play like this because I want to get closer now.”

It’s because of favorability, but since we’re teammates anyway, it’s true I want to get closer.

Since 5 points remain to achieve the proposal, I hope she gives as much as possible. She’s a friend who hardly gave me favorability so far, so I don’t expect much.

‘Even 2 points from Heike would be good….’

Of course, since I can also have time to know Heike more in this opportunity, I don’t think time is wasted. She’s the least close among the team members now, and also the friend with the personality most likely to be outsider among our seven.

Heike, who was lost in thought, smiled.

“I see.”

“Don’t feel burdened and enjoy this time. Once we get close, we won’t even remember we were like this.”

I smiled and winked.

If the opponent was another friend, words that would never come from me. I pointed to the floor and continued without rest.

“Do you know our robes are all wet where we’re sitting now?”

“Oh, really?”

“Shall I dry with magic power?”

“No…. That’s really not fire.”

It wasn’t said to laugh, but thanks to the useless words, the atmosphere loosened a bit, and Heike let out a hollow laugh.

I looked around and said.

“Where to go now? If we keep sitting, clothes will get wet from melted snow.”

“Booze.”

“Like you. Drink booze next time. Any place you want to go?”

Whether none in particular, or doesn’t know where to play well, she was just looking at the river.

“Heike. How about kegling or billiards. Of course, everyone will be surprised if we go in. Or want to play tennis?”

Kegling is the prototype game of bowling.

Anyway, if these are truly the only choices, really only these.

Or horse riding, shooting, golf, theater, opera….

Horse riding, shooting, golf are usually done on separate days at estates. After excluding some choices like that, light approachable fun isn’t that many. To play really simply, like now, take booze bottles and a deck of cards, a few books, spread on the riverbank or field and lie down.

‘But to do card games, we did a lot at school or dormitory now.’

Today, I wanted to let Heike experience what she hasn’t done often. For example, outside school, just playing with friends not tied to family.

When I slightly asked while running the training ground with Heike earlier today, Heike said she wandered Berlin alone but has no experience wandering with friends.

Heike kept pouring beer down her throat and blinked. How she drinks without rest for a moment, I don’t know. Soon, as if she finished thinking, she said in a slightly smaller voice.

“I’ve never done kegling with friends. Billiards too.”

“Then all the more, you need to try with me today. If not sports, it’s fine to join a club around here with me. Theater isn’t bad either.”

Heike emptied the bottle to the end and nodded.

“No, good. If okay with you, let’s go kegling.”

She decided more neatly than thought.

The moment I tried to stand, Heike slightly grabbed my hem.

“Before that, Lukas. There’s something I wanted to try, can you come with?”

‘Something she wanted to try?’

I could feel subtle tension in Heike’s expressionless face.

Need to be tense? I welcome it.

I smiled and extended my hand to pull Heike up.

“Ah, of course. What?”

“Want to go take photos together?”

“…….”

Is there Insta-cut in the 19th century too.

That was the first thought.

“…Huh? Photos?”

It was completely unexpected.

In this era, are there people who usually say let’s play by doing that? In modern times, understandable but….

“You seem to like taking photos. Why?”

“What remains is records.”

I slowly nodded.

Since everything remains in my memory, I can’t particularly empathize, but most think that way, so nothing strange.

“Good. Do you know a place?”

“Yeah.”

Heike instantly emptied one beer bottle and led me around Berlin city for about 15 minutes.

The moment I tried to ask where the store is, Heike stopped in front of a single-story building on a sparsely populated road. No sign, so couldn’t even tell if it’s a photo studio, but through the dusty window, the screen and camera visible barely allowed inferring the place’s purpose.

“…How did you know here? Didn’t know, but you’re familiar with Berlin geography.”

“No. I only know here. If not here, forest, park. I don’t know where billiard halls or… places where current friends play are.”

Heike casually grabbed the doorknob almost rusted and knocked three times.

Even after waiting a while, no answer. Heike shrugged and just turned the handle and entered.

From outside, it looked very worn, but inside, rather than worn, a store with antique atmosphere appeared.

All furniture was mahogany, feeling a bit stuffy inside, and while looking at antiques scattered everywhere, an old Old Human came out opening the inner door.

“Oh, came today too.”

The Old Human smiled seeing Heike. Heike just grinned without answer. From what I’ve seen so far, it’s clear that her acting like this to others isn’t common.

‘She came alone often, I guess.’

Unexpected.

Did she have a hobby of taking—or being taken—photos? If I knew, I would have bought a camera and searched for good photo spots.

The store owner glanced at me and asked Heike.

“Came with a friend today?”

“Yes.”

Heike’s answer was strangely fast.

The owner, staring at my eyes while lifting glasses, said in a voice less prejudiced than thought.

“The student is Lukas Askanian, huh.”

“Yes. Hello.”

The owner grinned, lifted his hat to greet, and spoke to Heike again.

She seemed already close to the photo studio owner. For that blunt girl to be close to the store owner, how often did she come, I don’t know.

After finishing conversation with the owner, Heike stood at attention next to the chair in front of the camera and gestured to the chair. Meaning now we’ll take photos, so sit there. From when she said let’s take photos in the 19th century, I expected, but quite orthodox atmosphere.

Now, after one internal hesitation that has no meaning, I plopped next to Heike and smiled.

The photographer adjusted our positions a few times and stood in front of the camera again.

“Taking. One, two, three!”

‘I came to play, but why am I taking profile photos….’

Is it rehearsal for Eszett profile shooting….

Shutter sound came two or three times, and the photographer clapped once.

“Now, you can come out~”

Heike nodded and led me to another chair.

Serious expression, but since she achieved what she wanted, she looked quite happy.

The store owner looked at me and said loudly.

“It’s a magic-powered camera, so photos will come out soon. Wait a bit.”

“Yes, understood.”

It’s clear what picture will come out.

Just like ordinary 19th century black-and-white photos. Of course, in this era, not everyone stands at attention for photos, but naturally, when coming to a studio, usually stand with hands behind back.

‘That vibe is good too but….’

Since taking anyway, and since came to satisfy Heike anyway, going a bit different might be good.

I pointed to the small camera by the window and asked.

“Can I borrow that? We want to take ourselves.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep