In Dubai’s seven-star hotel suite, the room is a duplex with an open balcony, from where one can see the azure sea, the modern cityscape, and even the distant smoky desert.

Feeling the morning air, I participate in a remote meeting streamed from the PC across the deck sofa near the window. It’s 10 am in Japan and early dawn here.

An Arab man dressed in oriental clothing with a cloth headgear enters the room. He places a red vine-patterned oriental glass bottle on the glass table, along with morning tea.

Zinon turns off his camera in the remote meeting. He then embraces and kisses the Arab man. Last night, feeling the strong muscles beneath the man’s simple white robe, Zinon had given in to his desires and shared his bed. The man was well-endowed but lacked stamina, leaving Zinon unsatisfied after their brief encounter. But it couldn’t be helped.

Once the meeting was over, they would make love again, and once he returned to Japan, he would let loose with his lover. Zinon, who didn’t acknowledge his infidelity, moved away from the man’s arms, returned to the deck sofa, and sipped his hot tea. It was a fragrant Assam tea.

To wake himself up, he orders a hookah from room service, takes a bubbling puff of the fruit-flavoured Arabian Night, and exhales the smoke as if his soul were departing. He watches the mystic and refreshing sight of the orange sun slowly rising.

The smoke is like magic. It spills and flows like sparkling light from his palms and fingertips, and when it reaches its destination, it disappears like smoke.

“…Tomorrow at the Dubai Expo, we’re expecting influencer Shirahana Zinon to participate and make a post on Instagram. Today, a new additional scenario is being released on Magic Eyes, and we’re expecting millions of downloads, matching the increase in Magic Eyes downloads from Shirahana’s post last year…”

Hearing his name from the microphone, Zinon brushes the hookah smoke away with his palm and turns his camera back on.

“However, Shirahana has already surpassed 1.5 million followers from last year and is about to reach 3 million. We’re grateful for the tremendous support from Shirahana, a travel Instagrammer who jumps around overseas for our advertising and promotional activities. We’re excited and thrilled with the anticipation of increasing new customers and more downloads…”

In the end, the conference facilitator, Elrand, a friendly-looking man with thin eyes and streaks of white hair, lightens his tone, and likes and applause flow across the LCD screen.

Zinon turns his microphone on.

“I understand. I’m excited, too. I’ll upload a play video of the new scenario for Magic Eyes, intertwined with the excitement of participating in this Expo and my trip to Dubai so that the excitement can be conveyed.”

“Thank you, I’m counting on you. But it’s great that we could get to know Shirahana…”

“When you say that, it makes me feel it was worthwhile.”

“Shirahana, you haven’t actually played Magic Eyes, right? But you took an interest in it?”

“My sister and friends like it. As I watched them play it daily, I found it strange and interesting how it changed like magic, becoming suddenly difficult to conquer or taking a different turn. I felt potential when this surprise buzzed on the Internet like urban legends. I thought, why not convey the charm of this otome game to more people?”

At Zinon’s words, the microphones turn on one after another, and the participants in the meeting start talking.

“The programmer who developed Magic Eyes has already passed away. The remaining team members completed it, but we still don’t understand a lot. If a choice or play operation changes slightly, a hidden scenario may emerge. It’s really like magic.”

“Thanks to Shirahana intertwining that with his Instagram, the user base has expanded globally. He said that otome games, love, and life are similar to traveling the world.”

“Exactly. At first, I thought it was just a posting about playing Magic Eyes during idle travel times on a private jet around the world, making us believe that a huge celebrity was hooked on our game. But the images and videos of the trip are truly unique. The lighting makes it look like you’re flying over a cityscape, and the editing of colour and light is excellent. How do you take those?”

“I’m actually flying when I take the shots.”

“You’re kidding!”

Laughter bursts from the microphone.

“Shirahana, you’re uploading to Instagram as if you’re playing the game yourself, but are you not playing it?”

“That’s right, I’m sorry.”

“The new scenario is really interesting! I want you to try it.”

“I’m still a university student, so I don’t have time. And…”

Zinon briefly raises his brown eyes. He gazes at the endlessly expanding, deep blue sea reflecting the sparkling, distant light. Zinon laughs softly.

“I have someone who will play it for me.”

***

Early in the morning.

When Mira opened the balcony filled with her favourite white lilies, the pages of Richeli’s open diary fluttered in the slightly strong wind.

“Lady, were you reading your diary last night?”

“Yes, after a long time.”

When I say that, Mira tilts her head slightly puzzledly.

“Lady, it’s okay to read diaries, but they are also for writing, right? I’ve never seen you write in your diary. Do you write it at night?”

“Well, you’re right. I haven’t written in it, have I?”

“Goodness, my lady. It’s just perfect. You’re starting magic school today, right? Why don’t you start keeping a diary again to record learning magic?”

“Hmm, I guess…”

I’m okay with writing, but I wonder if it’s okay to write on the following pages of Richeli’s diary? As I’m hesitating,

“Lady, have you finished changing? From today, please have breakfast in your room. From today, you are enrolling in the magic academy, so your morning time will not match with the master and the ladies.”

While saying this, Wanda brings in breakfast. At that time, Zinon enters from the window. His outfit, adorned with the royal family’s black and dark navy emblem and his dark grey cloak, is dazzlingly handsome.

“What, are you having breakfast now?”

He tilts his head with a lazy morning expression and looks down at me. His blonde hair sparkles as if it’s transparent in the morning sun, and his eyes are a beautiful clear blue, sweetly twisting my freshly awakened heart.

“Are we going together?”

To hide my excitement, I purse my lips as if to deceive him and sit on the chair Wanda has set at the table.

Wow, there’s strawberry mousse today. I’m so happy.

“Let’s eat.”

“Please enjoy. Today at the academy, please spend time with His Highness. Lunch will be prepared in a private room. Well, um…”

“?”

“The lectures themselves will probably be in a different class from His Highness…”

Wanda’s words dampen my spirits. I’ve felt deeply over these two years that the meaning of not being able to take the same lecture due to the large difference in magical power is included in her words.

Finally.

The inevitable time has come, it seems.

//Main Story starts! Zinon’s perspective will soon make a rare appearance. Break next month. You can still read ahead for free on Patreon.