"Miss Scarlett, just sit there! I'll take care of it!"
During lunchtime, as I was putting food on my plate, Sylvia fidgeted and shouted.
The academy's meals are served buffet-style, and there's a place to put your plate, so I could do it on my own...
But ever since she saw my arm, Sylvia has been sticking to me like glue at school.
Whenever I try to do something that might be a bit difficult for me, she offers to do it for me.
Of course, I refused all the things I could do on my own.
I understand that she wants to help, but still, it feels a bit awkward to receive help from Sylvia.
"I can do this much on my own, so it's fine."
"At least let me carry it for you..."
"It's really fine, I promise."
I said this while easily lifting the plate filled with food with one hand.
If my arm had been this strong before, it would have been convenient when I was working part-time as a server.
While thinking this, I walked to find an empty seat, and Sylvia quickly went ahead and sat down, pulling out the chair on her right for me to sit.
It's a bit burdensome that you keep trying to do something for me...
I gave a wry smile inwardly but nodded to Sylvia to show my gratitude.
The lunchtime with Sylvia was unusually quiet today.
We usually chatted while eating, but today Sylvia seemed to have no intention of speaking to me first, and she quietly moved her utensils in sync with my eating speed.
Though she didn't speak, she was staring at me intensely.
During the meal, I could feel a passionate gaze coming from my left, as if it could bore a hole in my cheek.
I glanced sideways to see where the gaze was coming from and saw Sylvia's pouting face.
It was a face that clearly said, "I'm upset," to anyone who looked at her.
You didn't used to show your emotions so openly...
"Um, Sylvia, are you angry?"
"...I'm not angry."
Despite her usual tendency to hide her emotions, Sylvia, who looked clearly upset, answered me.
Then why are you acting like this?
I gave her a long, meaningful look, and she seemed to realize what she had been doing, blushing slightly in embarrassment.
After a moment, Sylvia hesitated and spoke.
"Why do you insist on doing everything on your own... I want to help Miss Scarlett, but you keep acting like you don't need my help..."
She looked at me with her big, pleading eyes.
"I want you to rely on me a bit more... We're friends, after all."
Despite being taller than me, Sylvia looked like a small animal looking up at me from below.
My heart raced at her adorable appearance.
...Actually, more than half of it was due to her words, which strongly triggered my guilt.
I tried to keep my expression from faltering and explained to Sylvia.
"It's just that I don't like receiving help from others... I have that kind of personality..."
"Still..."
Why do you want to do so much for me...
My inner self was already screaming that it couldn't take any more guilt and debt, but seeing her eyes that clearly said, "I want to do something for you!" I had no choice but to compromise.
"Then, when I encounter something I really can't handle on my own, I'll ask for your help. I'll tell you when that happens..."
I said this, thinking that I wouldn't create any more emotional debt with her unless absolutely necessary.
"Miss Scarlett is really stubborn..."
Sylvia shook her head, saying I was quite stubborn, but then her eyes lit up as she spoke to me.
"Alright. I'll do my best to help Miss Scarlett when you need it."
Sylvia looked determined as she said this.
No, why are you getting so worked up over something I said without much thought?
I shook my head inwardly.
Still, Sylvia's face seemed much brighter than before, probably because her mood had improved and she was more relaxed.
I could see her ears perking up.
I should give her a macaron.
After finishing my meal, I took out a somewhat clumsily wrapped macaron from my pocket and handed it to Sylvia.
"Did you... make this?"
Sylvia, who had taken the macaron by surprise, looked flustered.
Did she not think I could make homemade macarons with my arm like this?
Actually, I was unsure if I could make them, but it was a bit troublesome, yet doable.
The hardest part of making macarons is making the meringue, but I could do it with one arm while holding the bowl with my foot.
When Sylvia unwrapped it, the appearance of the macaron inside was revealed.
She gasped.
The macaron, even considering it was homemade, was quite deformed.
"I'm sorry... I couldn't make it look pretty today. I'll make a better one next time."
I felt a bit embarrassed and apologized to Sylvia.
I had forgotten that I used up all the piping bags after going to the hospital.
By the time I realized it, I had already finished the batter, so I had no choice but to shape it with a spoon, which resulted in this.
Next time, I can use a piping bag and make it look better.
While thinking this, I looked at Sylvia,
"..."
Was the shape of the macaron that shocking? Sylvia's face...
looked like a macaron.
*
"Here's our company!"
Jesse shouted cheerfully.
I looked up at the building with "Lutenia" written on it, marveling at its size.
Lutenia Co.
Originally famous for construction and material distribution, the company had recently succeeded in developing combat exoskeletons using strong materials for construction, gaining a reputation in that field as well.
When Jesse asked if I could spare some time for custom prosthetic fitting, I came here right after school.
"To make a prosthetic that can be used in combat, we need detailed ability measurements. Since Miss Scarlett's ability is fire-based, it's especially important."
Jesse led me to the measurement room in the basement of the building.
"Normally, we need an expert for ability measurements, but fortunately, someone who used to do this is loafing around at home, so I called them to help today. Let me introduce you. This is my older brother."
The person Jesse introduced was someone I had met before.
"Ah? The person coming for measurement today is a young lady?"
A stout man with a bit of a receding hairline looked at me in surprise.
He was the uncle I had met when I went to demonstrate my superpowers.
I didn't expect him to be the older brother of a classmate.
I bowed slightly in greeting, feeling a bit surprised.
"Ah? Miss Scarlett, do you know my older brother? He's been jobless since losing his job and spends almost the whole day at home. How do you know him?"
Jesse's sharp comment made the uncle's face fall.
I smiled wryly and explained that we had met by chance.
Even if it was a decent part-time job, if I mentioned it and accidentally said something like, "I had a great time with your brother at a motel," my reputation at school would be ruined.
Fortunately, it passed without much comment, but then the uncle asked a question.
"Young lady, why the sudden ability measurement? I don't see any obvious need for an exoskeleton."
I glanced at Jesse, who nodded.
I guess, being family, he must have some idea of what's going on.
When I removed the gem from my left arm's armband, he let out a low whistle and started the measurement without further questions.
The measurement involved laying out various materials and holding them one by one while emitting the maximum fire power to see which material was suitable.
When I asked why we couldn't just choose the one that best withstood fire, I was told that there weren't many materials that balanced fire resistance, weight, and strength.
Hearing about the maximum fire power, I recalled the moment I inserted my left arm into the body of Nata's hand and ignited flames, but I instinctively knew that spewing flames like that would be dangerous.
I subconsciously set a limit to protect my body, but if I unleashed the maximum power without restraint, I felt my entire body might burn up like my left arm did.
So, I finished the measurement with the maximum flame that didn't harm my body.
"Measurement is roughly done. Do you have any specific functions you want for the prosthetic? If you compromise on weight, we could add something like a magic cannon, as I mentioned before..."
I broke out in a cold sweat at Jesse's obsession with the magic cannon and thought about what functions I needed for the prosthetic.
Honestly, a man's dream is something like a rocket punch, but it's not very practical in reality...
With my current condition, a prosthetic would just be a sturdy arm,
but then an idea struck me to make the prosthetic emit flames.
The black fragment I always carried in my school uniform pocket.
If I embedded it in the prosthetic, I could use a fire punch with the prosthetic.
I remembered the guardian uncle's warning not to show it to anyone, but not showing it would make the prosthetic less effective.
After some thought, I took out the fragment and showed it to the two of them.
The uncle, who realized it could emit flames even when separated from my body, lit up and asked if he could study it, but I refused.
He looked very disappointed.
"Anyway, I'd like to use this to make the prosthetic emit flames... and if possible, I'd like to have a long-range attack option. It's been difficult only being able