Usual stuff, Mana Khemia does not belong to me and be prepared for some or a lot grammar miss etc etc.

"Uuu…"

Ulrika walks as she stretch her hand upward and yawn. Uryu adorably mimicking her movement from the stretch to the wide yawn beside her.

"You're early."

Ulrika just realized that she already reached girl's dorm front lobby while she yawn. On the sofa, Lily already drinking her morning tea, Whim with her. To be honest, Ulrika is a bit surprised that Lily is the one who strike a conversation to her… properly. No insult, no wild imagination. She must admit that Lily do looks like a proper noble woman if she keep acting like this.

"Yeah… Something keeping me from actually sleeping. I don't know what though."

Ulrika lazily dropped to sofa across Lily. Actually expecting Lily to scold her about country bumpkins and manners. But Lily just sigh.

"Actually, me too. It feels like I'm going to die if I completely fell asleep."

Lily let out a slight yawn, elegantly covered with one of her hand. Whim place another set of cup and pour a tea for Ulrika and Uryu.

"Ulrika-san, please drink this. It will help to keep you awake."

Ulrika take the cup and sipped at the tea.

"It's so good. Thank you, uhh… Whim... san?"

"Your welcome. And please just call me Whim."

Ulrika and Lily (and Uryu) sipped their tea in comfortable silence. Even though Ulrika keep stealing glance at Lily.

"What is it, Ulrika-san?"

Lily finally feeling uncomfortable or curious enough of Ulrika's glance.

"Um, no. Please don't be mad, I think you're going to yell at me or making fun of me."

"Actually, I do have the urge."

Lily make a pause. Ulrika brace herself just in case.

"But you see, soon after we graduate I told a lot of thing to my father about my days here. I didn't tell him a thing with Reicher and Mana kings of course, but I do tell him about you."

Ulrika paled.

"He laugh it off. He said it's just so like me. He didn't scold me, but he did said that I should not act too high just because of my lineage. This world is not made only with be honest, I was a bit angry at him for making me sounds like a fool. But your words yesterday, even if everyone knows it's just a mere excuse..."

One vein popped.

"... actually has a point. We're already a full-fledged alchemist now. We can't keep quarrelling for no reason like a little kid."

Lily sipped her tea calmly. Ulrika did think she's really cool… for a second.

"But the story will be different if you try to have a go with MY Raze."

Ulrika really regretted that she think Lily is cool even for a second. Blazing (imaginary) fire of rage can be seen behind her.

"Me? With that je… with him!? No way!"

Ulrika slammed the table with both of her hand. Hard enough to send her cup fly for a few millimeter and startle Uryu who still peacefully sipping his tea. No damage is done, much to Whim's relieve.

"Then, you should explain this to me."

Lily pull out a piece of paper and show it to Ulrika.

"This is our graduation photo. What of it?"

"You stand too close to Raze. You even lean to his side."

Lily's voice raised by a pitch in panic.

"Well, that's… Chloe! She has something in her hand! I won't risk it on my graduation day!"

"Don't make an excuse! What can she actually do in that position anyway!?"

They progressed into more yelling.

"SHE SWITCHED MY BODY WITH URYU ONCE!"

"THAT'S… what? She can even do that? With human and mana?"

Lily softened a bit.

"Well, yes.. she can."

Ulrika calmed down in confusion of Lily's sudden change.

"I do know that she's good at charm or something like that, but to that extend... I wonder if she has something else…"

Lily mumbling by herself. Ulrika frozen at her place. Uryu still sipping his tea while Whim keep pouring more for him.

"Oooi why are you mumbling to yourself?"

"Ulrika-san!"

Lily suddenly snapped at Ulrika

"Yes!?"

"Do you think she has something to finally make Raze become honest with himself!?"

"I think she has! But please stop! I feel sorry for him!"

"Why!? As I though… you…"

"It's not! There's not a single good thing I get from being her experiment subject! Wrong move and he may turned into a puni you know!?"

"That… may not be so bad… if it's him not me..."

"Huh?"

"Nothing! But I see your point and I'll believe in you for now."

"Okay… I don't know what just happened but I'm glad we solve the misunderstanding. And just call me Ulrika. Don't be so polite at me. By the way can I call you Lily? I already call you that yesterday though..."

"Of course, I usually called by that name. Very well then. Nice to meet you again, Ulrika."

"Likewise, Lily."

They finally fell into a comfortable silence again. But of course it will never last.

"LILY-CHAN! ULRIKA-CHAN! LET'S PLAY!"

A pink personification of storm descend from the stairs straight into lobby.

"ET!"

"You're… Ena's big sister!"

Lily and Ulrika stand up from their comfortable seat and take a defensive position against Et.

"It's Et~! Hey, hey Lily-chan, Ulrika-chan~ Let's play~!"

"No. Please spare me. I'm tired."

Lily drop back into the soft sofa.

"Me too. Why won't you go bother Pepperon? You two get along well, right?"

Ulrika following Lily's example and getting comfortable with the sofa again.

"Pepperon… okay! I'll go bug Pepperon and Goto then!"

Et dash out from girl's dorm.

"I should bug Ena too!"

Ulrika pray for her youngest atelier member.

"And Raze!"

"Ah."

Ulrika may not be familiar with the other atelier's antic, but she knows what's coming.

"WAIT UP!"

Lily sprint out with energy she didn't has 5 seconds ago.

"There she goes."

Ulrika just stare at the entrance.

"Milady sure has a lot of energy for someone who claims to be lacking sleep."

Ulrika get up from her seat.

"I'm still tired, but my instinct tell me that it's better for me to follow them."

"I'll accompany you then. I need to chase after milady after all."

"Okay then, let's go. Come on, Uryu."

And so the three of them also head towards boy's dorm by walking… leisurely. By the time they arrived at boy's dorm lobby, the screaming session already started.

"GET OUT FROM MY ROOM!"

"WHY!? I COME TO HELP YOU CHANGE SO WE CAN PLAY IMMEDIATELY!"

"I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP AND I DON'T WANT TO PLAY WITH YOU, STUPID SIS!"

Ulrika walk towards Lily who simply shake her head at the sibling's antics. It seems she already cooled down enough to realize that chasing after Et thoughtlessly is meaningless.

The door to Ena's room slammed down. Really hard.

"He shut me off."

Et (not so) sadly said in front of the door.

"Cheer up. Big bro is just embarrassed to show his scrawny body to his big sis."

Pepperon pat Et's back.

"That young boy is considerably weak without his machines after all."

Goto added. Not helping Ena at all.

"I heard you! Just remember this!"

Ena shouted from inside his room.

"Awww don't be so embarrassed. You know your big sister will always love you no matter how scrawny you are."

"I'm not!"

Another door opened as they keep bickering, or rather, bullying Ena. Raze step out from his room, already fully clothed. Lily decide to leave the four and greet him.

"Raze, you're early."

"Milady, why are you here?"

"To stop her as she plan to bug you too."

Lily point at Et who still having a yelling duel with Ena.

"So I heard. Fuaaahhh…"

Raze let out a big yawn.

"You look tired."

"I can't sleep well the whole night. Something keeping me up."

"Strange, me too. So is she."

Lily gesturing towards Ulrika who watch the whole bickering.

"What? What~? Lily-chan, Ulrika-chan, and Raze are not sleeping well. That's not good."

Et decide that bothering Ena is not as fun anymore and get into the other conversation.

"You looks so energic. Did you sleep well?"

Ulrika ask Et.

"Nope! In fact, I didn't sleep at all yesterday because I was so excited!"

Et cheerfully said.

"What a coincidence! In fact, me too!"

Pepperon proudly admit. And the two of them laugh together.

"Idiots. We got two idiots."

Ena got out from his room, properly clothed with his usual garment.

"Ena, you're lacking sleep too?"

Ulrika worriedly ask.

"Yeah. Is this place haunted or something? I just can't feel secure enough to sleep."

"No way. We stayed in this place just a few months ago."

"Someone died tragically within that few months and now they're seeking revenge to whoever killed them."

All of them snapped their head at the source of voice to found Chloe walking slowly towards them.

"Chloe! Don't suddenly appears and say scary things! What are you doing here anyway?"

Ulrika step back a bit.

"I heard scream, so I think I could see something interesting here. Looks like I'm too late. tch."

Chloe sigh, looking so disappointed. Another door opened and Yun come out from his room.

"Can you please keep your voice down? Corona is still sleeping."

Yun already back to his usual cool self, even with that mother hen attitude.

"Yeah, right. That girl. We should keep this somewhere else."

Ulrika paled a bit.

"How about cafetaria? We still not eaten any breakfast."

Lily suggested.

"Good idea. I'm so hungry…"

Ulrika hug Uryu walk away with Lily. Whim following close behind them with a bright smile.

Raze lean closer to Et and whisper to her.

"Since when they get along that well?"

"Dunno. They're already that buddy-buddy when I got down this morning."

"I see."

Raze followed them without asking another question. Ena hastily tag along with him in hope to not walk with his sister. Eventually everyone catch up to Lily and Ulrika to see them chat… properly.

"And then, that person give me some nice white puni-shaped food from his homeland. I think it was called manjuu or something. It was really good."

"Manjuu huh… I heard it's a food originated from east countries. I never had any myself though. Speaking of eastern, Anna-san seems like an eastern. Maybe we should try to ask her. I'm quite interested in that puni-shape. I wonder if it's as soft as puni."

"You really do like puni that much."

"Of course. You should try to touch one sometimes too, Ulrika."

"No, I'm good…"

They do wonder how two girls who act like archenemy for a whole year suddenly capable to have a civil conversation about… food. And puni. When someone attempt to pull back the story into their usual comedic streak, Whim will glare at them with her rarely shown intensity. She's just that happy that her mistress finally make a proper friend inside the school.

… the time inside that never ending spirals

"Do you hear that?"

Ena suddenly alerting the whole group. Ulrika and Lily stop chatting.

… still can believe your voice now, our separated fingers leave only hesitation

"A song?"

Lily look around try to locate the source of voice.

"Ummm… I think I know this voice, but it seems kinda different."

Et trying hard to spin the gear inside her head.

"It comes from cafeteria."

Raze declared. They walk faster towards cafeteria as the song continues.

… trapped in this almost forgotten promise

They barge into the cafeteria to find no one there.

… rules of world start to change

"There's no one here?"

Pepperon fold his hands while the rest still searching where the song come from.

"It's from kitchen!"

Goto declared and pointed to kitchen… dramatically.

… like an ark swayed by waves

They slowly approach the door to kitchen and open it as silent as they can. The only one they can see is a woman, or beastwoman, judging from the tail that sway behind her. She continues to sing as she turn off the stove.

"... only memories in that word… whoops. That should be world, not word. I really should not practice while cooking. I'll finish this real quick and practice again."

Golden hair and white dress sway as she lift the pot, fully revealing a pair of big ears with equally golden fur. Et push the door (and everyone else in front of her) and get closer to the beastwoman.

"As I thought! It's Nikki!"

The said beastwoman, Nikki, turn her head to reveal her beautiful face and bright blue eyes. She smile as she lift the pot she's holding.

"Yes?"

A/N Yes, Ulrika and Lily is cool. For now. And the song is a somewhat translation of Atelier Violet's ED Theme (or one of it actually) Celestial Ark which sung by the provider of Nikki's singing voice, Marie. I can't find the lyrics so it's just a guess. And there will be more MK character next.