When the sunlight shines, the shimmering silver hair dances like the waves.
And depending on her emotions, her slightly pointy ears occasionally perk up, distinguishing her from ordinary people.
While sitting in my seat and listening to class, I would sometimes find myself unknowingly gazing at Sylvia’s back in the front left seat, entranced.
After growing a bit closer to her, it became a usual occurrence that if she felt my gaze, she would occasionally turn and give me a wink.
But today, for some reason…
“…Ugh.”
Whether it was just my imagination or not, it seemed she would shrink away and react strongly every time I glanced in her direction.
Now that I think about it, we didn’t even greet each other this morning.
Such a completely different reaction from the usual.
I couldn’t help but chuckle, pondering why Sylvia was acting like this.
The day I moved from Sylvia’s mansion to Yoo Si-woo’s house came to mind.
I remembered Sylvia tearfully opposing the move, adamant about staying at the mansion.
From my perspective, I thought it was the best decision for both of us, but to her, my lack of proper explanation might have seemed cruel.
Yet, it wasn’t something I could honestly disclose to her.
If it were Sylvia, she would surely go out of her way to help me, and I didn’t want to witness that.
Lost in thought about how to apologize to her for the pain I might have caused, I bit my lip.
I figured that if I apologized, the kind-hearted Sylvia would definitely accept it, but perhaps staying quiet might create a little bit of distance between us, which I thought might be better.
Recalling the emotional turmoil she showed when I left the mansion, it pained my heart, but I thought it was best to keep some distance.
After all, considering the shock she might receive due to me in the future.
So when class ended and lunchtime arrived, I gathered my resolve and stood up.
Leaving Sylvia behind, who always ate lunch with me.
However, my plan to have lunch alone was thwarted when Sylvia suddenly stood up and grabbed the hem of my clothes.
“…Excuse me, Scarlet…”
A wave of apology flooded over me, but I turned around with the most neutral expression I could manage and responded.
“…What is it?”
“I have something to say, please come out for a moment…”
Not knowing what she wanted to say, but seeing her desperate expression made it impossible for me to refuse, so I nodded.
Could she be asking me to return to the mansion?
As those thoughts drifted through my mind, when I followed Sylvia to a secluded part of the courtyard, she did something I never expected.
“I’m sorry… Really, I’m sorry, Scarlet…”
Sylvia, who called me out, wore a very sad expression that seemed on the verge of tears as she bowed her head and apologized.
…Why was Sylvia apologizing when the mistake was mine?
I was momentarily flustered and tried to stop her, but her apologies came out before I could say anything.
“…You see, actually, the time you were evicted from your house was all because I asked my guardian to arrange it. I thought it would be better for you to stay in the mansion… I’m really sorry…”
It took a moment to process her words, and I tilted my head, only to be hit by a wave of surprise.
“…Huh? So that eviction notice and being told to clear out was…”
“…Yeah, that was me. I wanted you to stay in the mansion…”
…That unexpected confession left me dizzy.
Now that I think about it, Sylvia had visited me the day before I moved.
I remembered her shocked expression when she realized where I had been living all along.
Living in such a lavish mansion would make my previous home look like a doghouse, so it was no wonder she was concerned…
But still, the suddenness of my move was too well-prepared for her!
Never did I suspect such an arrangement was behind it.
But was that really a valid reason to be bowing her head and apologizing like this?
She had just shown me kindness.
However, Sylvia kept bowing deeply, as if she had committed some unforgivable sin, constantly spilling apologies.
“I-I didn’t know anything, and I did that… I realized only after you left the mansion how severe my actions were. I’m truly sorry. I sincerely apologize…”
“No, it didn’t have to be that much…”
“No… I know now how much you must have suffered because of me…”
As I tried to stop her from repeatedly apologizing, I realized she was relentlessly weighed down by her guilt and wouldn’t relent.
At this point, I found myself feeling more flustered than anything else.
I was the one who felt guilty, so why was she acting like this?
Yet Sylvia looked at me with full-blown guilt.
“I… won’t seek your forgiveness. I won’t bother you by asking to be friends or anything like that. I just don’t want to remind you of bad memories… So please, you don’t need to be nice to me anymore. I’m really sorry for what happened…”
With those words, Sylvia tore off in the opposite direction.
…What was that all about?
It seemed my plan to create some distance was successful, though it left a strange feeling in my chest.
*
After finishing my conversation with Sylvia, I headed up to the cafeteria where Jessie and Mei waved me over and I sat down between the two of them.
I shoved some food into my mouth, but thoughts of Sylvia’s recently apologized face kept surfacing, leaving me unable to enjoy my meal.
No matter how I thought about it, she didn’t seem to have done anything terribly wrong.
…Maybe I should bring some macarons later and tell her it’s okay?
Even as I thought about keeping my distance, the struggle of being apart from someone I had grown close to weighed heavily on me when suddenly a loud voice rang out from afar.
“AAAAAH! There it is!”
I turned toward a voice reminiscent of a high-pitched girl and saw Florene Dolos, with her pink twin tails swaying, running toward me excitedly.
Though she looked small, she was born with physical abilities beyond even many heroes, a daughter of the Dolos family.
Getting knocked over by her charge might be more dangerous than getting hit by a dump truck.
As I pondered whether I should just jump out of the way, Florene skidded to a stop right in front of me.
She bent her waist at a 180-degree angle and shouted loudly in my direction.
“Sorryyyyyy!!!”
It was the loudest apology I’d ever heard, leaving everyone dazed.
Another apology?
For a moment, I entertained a silly thought that there might be a trend of people apologizing to me without me realizing it.
From afar, Marin rushed over and smacked Florene on the head, raising her brow.
“Florene! Didn’t I tell you not to shout so loudly in front of people?”
“Oh, right! Hehe, I completely forgot because I was in a rush.”
“Sorry, Scarlet! Did that surprise you? Florene has been looking for you to apologize since lunchtime!”
Nodding in response to Marin’s explanation, I asked Florene.
“…Is this about the interrogation?”
“Yep! I was supposed to apologize last week, but you weren’t around!”
Florene bent down again and gave a hearty apology.
“I’m sorry! My daddy is a bit strict, so if something doesn’t go his way, he doesn’t let it go! Plus, if I hadn’t suggested that we go to the frontline, none of this would have happened, right? So I came to apologize!”
I noticed Marin give Florene a peculiar look.
Having known Florene for a while, it must have seemed weird for her to apologize with such a bright demeanor.
Of course, if it were someone else, they might have been upset by her nonchalant attitude, but knowing the original story, I could just let it slide.
…But how is it that one person is excessively apologetic over something minor, while another doesn’t seem sorry at all?
If only Sylvia and Florene had a little bit of each other’s qualities, it would be perfect…
I thought as I lifted Florene’s head.
“…I’m fine, so you don’t need to apologize.”
“Really?! Yay! Thank you! Here, these are cosmetics I brought as a gift for you! Girls should be pretty!”
“…No thanks. I’m not into makeup.”
“Aha, no refusals! Take it! It’s a special present!”
Despite my persistent refusals, Florene didn’t back down, ultimately forcing the shopping bag into my hands.
“Since I gave it to you, I gotta go now! Sorry!”
Sighing as Florene dashed away, I felt utterly drained.
Really, how chaotic…
But on one hand, I felt a tinge of envy at how carefree Florene seemed.
I wish I could live without a worry like that.
As I sighed, I noticed Jessie’s eyes sparkling as she murmured.
“…Scarlet, that’s something really hard to find.”
“…Do you want it?”
“N-No! I can’t take something given to you as a gift…”
Seeing Jessie show considerable interest in the cosmetics, I pondered handing them over, but her refusal meant I had no choice but to keep them.
I’d definitely never use them, so I’d better save them for a rainy day!
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