The dorm common room was warm and lively that evening, the soft glow of the lamps casting a cozy ambiance. Laura, Fie, Millium, and Alisa sat around the table, chatting after dinner. Millium, as usual, brought her energetic flair to the conversation, leaning forward on her elbows with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Alright, guys, let's settle this!" Millium declared. "Rank Altina, Alfin, Towa, and Elise in terms of cuteness!"

The sudden topic shift caught everyone off guard. Alisa nearly choked on her tea. "W-What kind of question is that, Millium?!"

Millium grinned. "A fun one! Come on, everyone's got opinions. I'll go first." She sat up straighter, counting off on her fingers. "Altina is obviously first place. She's got that adorable little sister vibe with the serious face and monotone voice. She's so cute, I can't even!"

Fie chuckled, leaning back in her chair. "Alright, fair start."

"Then it's Elise," Millium continued. "She's so sweet and polite. And, I mean, that look she gets when she's trying to be all proper but is secretly worried about Rean? So adorable!"

Laura raised an eyebrow but said nothing, clearly intrigued by Millium's rankings so far.

"Next is Towa. She has the sweetest voice and I love that giggle. There's a reason Angie's over the moon for her!" Millium went on.

Fie gave a thoughtful nod.

"And Alfin comes in fourth," Millium concluded. "She's cute too, don't get me wrong, but she's more... I don't know, elegant? Like, she's a princess, so she's got that whole refined beauty thing going on, which is great, but not as 'aww' inducing as the others."

Alisa rolled her eyes. "I can't believe we're doing this, but fine. I'll go next." She crossed her arms, thinking it over. "I'd probably put Elise first. She's just so genuine, and that makes her super endearing. Then Alfin—she's got this playful charm that's impossible to ignore. Third is Altina. Something about that blank look on her face just makes me want to hug her more, but…I think she'd get really surprised and confused by it," Alisa said, letting out a sigh. "Lastly, Towa. Don't get me wrong, she's seriously cute, but she faces stiff competition."

"Huh, interesting," Millium said, nodding thoughtfully. "Alright, Fie, your turn!"

Fie smirked. "Alright, let's see... I'd say Altina first, same as you, Millium. I don't care about her rabbit moniker, she's a little kitty to me. Then Elise, because she's got that wholesome little sister energy. Towa's third. I feel bad she doesn't seem to be topping anyone's rankings, but she gets major points for the way she'd say 'full speed ahead' back when she was Captain of the Courageous. And Alfin's last—she's pretty and clever, but not quite 'cute' in the same way as the others."

Millium fist-pumped. "Yes! Team Altina for the win!"

Finally, all eyes turned to Laura, who had been listening quietly. She sighed, setting her cup down with an air of resignation. "I suppose I'll humor you."

Fie smirked. "This should be good."

Laura cleared her throat. "I would rank them... Alfin first. She has a certain charisma and lighthearted nature that I find charming. Then Elise—she has a soft-spoken kindness that's very appealing. Towa would be third. She works quite hard, yet maintains a cheerful energy. And Altina last, though I'll admit she has a unique charm of her own."

Millium gasped dramatically. "Altina last?! Oh, no, Laura, we're gonna have to fight now!"

Laura chuckled softly, amused by Millium's antics. "To each their own, Millium."

Alisa smiled, shaking her head. "I can't believe we just spent time ranking our friends' cuteness. If they ever find out about this, we're doomed."

"Agreed," Fie said, smirking. "Let's make a pact—what's said here stays here."

"Deal!" Millium said, holding out her hand for an exaggerated handshake with everyone.

The four of them laughed, their differing opinions sparking a friendly debate that carried on into the evening.