“Johann, are you okay?”
Whomp!
My body feels heavy.
“Johann~ wake up!”
Spin!
I’m dizzy.
“Stop shaking your head!”
“Did you wake up?”
For some reason, I said my body felt heavy, and Millia was shaking me while sitting on my stomach and grabbing my collar.
Isn’t that a bit too aggressive for waking someone up?
“Yeah. So just get off.”
At my words, Millia obediently got off me. Since I fell asleep on the floor, I stretched my stiff body and tried to loosen up. It still feels a bit stiff on my back, but at least the fatigue isn’t lingering, so that’s a relief.
“By the way, why are you sleeping here, Johann?”
“Don’t you remember what happened yesterday?”
“Um… I slept, right?”
“In my room, you know.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Did she mix up my room with hers? No way, the decor is way too different for that to happen.
My room is a desolate place with just a table and armor in the corner, while Millia’s room is a lovely pink wallpapered space that screams ‘girl’s room.’ Unless you’re colorblind, you couldn’t possibly mix them up.
But Millia looked genuinely confused, making it hard to tell if she was lying or really didn’t know.
“So that’s why it smelled so nice…”
“What?”
“Nothing! Yup! Johann! Can you leave? I need to wash up!”
Under the blatant eviction notice, I forced myself off the ground. The birds are chirping and the sun is shining on the bed, so I need to start getting ready. I opened the door and peeked into the quiet corridor.
…Coming out of Millia’s room might look a bit weird, right?
It would look like I just finished something with Millia. There’s no need to stir up unnecessary misunderstandings. Even if I got caught, would they really think that?
“Johann? What are you doing?”
“I was just checking if anyone was around.”
“Why?”
“If I get caught, it’ll be awkward.”
“Is that so?”
I turned my head to look at Millia. She was giving me a mysterious look. What could she be thinking? I can’t read her mind, but for some reason, I felt a sense of crisis.
“…Let’s meet at meal time, then.”
“Johann?!”
I swiftly opened the door and dashed into the corridor. Luckily, there was no one around…
“…Johann?”
“Good morning, Elisa.”
Now that I think about it, Millia and Elisa’s rooms are close together. I pondered how to explain the awkward situation to Elisa, but I couldn’t come up with anything decent. What could I do but act aloof?
“T-that’s Millia’s r-room…”
Ah. Seeing Elisa’s face turn as red as a tomato, it seemed she had completely misunderstood. I placed my hand on her shoulder and shook my head.
“You’re misunderstanding something. Millia just slept in my room, and I brought her back.”
“Is…is that so…?”
She looked like she didn’t believe me at all.
Still, I had to somehow shut Elisa up. Misunderstandings lead to more misunderstandings, and if I let Elisa go with this, both Millia and I would probably end up in trouble. Although Elisa isn’t the type to spread rumors…
“Elisa, do you not trust me?”
I looked straight at her. The intensity of my gaze made her suddenly look me in the eye instead of staring off into space. I could faintly read emotions in Elisa’s eyes—
Embarrassment, surprise, sadness, disappointment.
My A-rank Insight caught a whirlwind of emotions in an instant. I spoke again.
“I’m sorry. I got a bit too excited.”
“A, it’s fine…”
I removed my hand from Elisa’s shoulder. No matter how I looked at it, the situation didn’t paint a good picture. Damn, my appearance might make it seem like I’m intimidating just by talking to a girl. When I pulled my hand away, Elisa hesitated, fidgeting with her hands.
“I, I understand since you’re a guy, Johann… I, I understand…”
“I didn’t do anything.”
Really, I didn’t.
“Y-you don’t have to lie…”
This is driving me insane.
“Do I look like someone who would do something with Millia?”
“U-um, even if you wouldn’t, Millia might… I-I might…”
I doubt Millia would want to do something like that with me. I’m not even sure if she has that kind of knowledge. From what I’ve seen, it just looks like a puppy wanting attention.
“It’s not what you think, so don’t worry. It just happened that I got caught and slept on the floor.”
Only then did Elisa seem to realize she misunderstood, and with a small voice, she started to apologize.
“I’m s-sorry…”
“There’s no need to apologize. It’s my fault for acting in a way that could be misunderstood. Let’s end this conversation here.”
Continuing to talk would only make things messier. I turned my body toward my room. It was already too late, and if I didn’t hurry up, I wouldn’t even get a decent meal.
“J-Johann! If you can’t handle your emotions… um… No, goodbye!”
With a voice louder than usual, I looked back at Elisa. She was moving away from me with cat-like agility.
“…I’m already tired.”
—————
“Fool! Idiot! Half-wit!”
“Is something wrong, Elisa?”
“Oh, it’s nothing!”
Martina Raymond looked at Elisa, who hadn’t even filled half her notes today. She usually had her hair neatly tied and her face was as white as the moon, but today it was a bright red.
It was clear to anyone that something had happened. Martina smiled gently. Some students called that smile “motherly” while others referred to it as the signal that “Martina is about to meddle.”
So much so that her classmates could distinguish these expressions, Martina wielded considerable influence among the first-year students in the Magic Department.
Especially since there were couples who formed thanks to her help.
Martina slowly observed Elisa’s state and cautiously ventured a guess.
“Could it be… that day?”
“Oh, no…”
“Or is there something bad going on?”
‘It doesn’t seem like it’s because she’s sick…’
“Th-that’s not it either…”
Martina calmly assessed Elisa’s condition. It’s not a day for magic, and she doesn’t seem well. Martina scrutinized Elisa’s face carefully again.
On closer inspection, a strange sense of déjà vu hit her. Martina stared blankly at her face, lost in thought.
‘Déjà vu, déjà vu…’
Ah.
She recalled something from her first year.
“…Could it be… romance?”
“Ah, ah, ah, ah, no!”
‘Got it.’
Martina smiled warmly at Elisa’s sudden outburst.
Romance stories are very intriguing for girls at this age. Naturally, students who had been listening in on the conversation between Martina and Elisa perked up their ears at the mention of romance.
A romance story is delightful gossip. After all, it was even better than a gloomy girl in the corner of the classroom morphing into a romantic consultation. How could anyone not be interested?
“Elisa, if you don’t mind… would you share with me?”
“B-but…”
Elisa’s eyes flitted around, unable to find focus. Martina’s suggestion took her by surprise. Talking to people wasn’t second nature for her, and having a conversation about worries was too daunting. It would be easier to walk into a dungeon and blast monsters with level-two magic.
Martina quietly waited for Elisa to gather her thoughts before speaking. She glanced around at the students who were eavesdropping on this unexpected love story to encourage Elisa to share freely. Students who made eye contact with Martina either coughed awkwardly or turned their heads shyly.
“If it’s hard to talk here, why not find a quiet place?”
“W-well, you don’t have to…”
“I’m worried about you. Aren’t we in the same group? I can’t just let you suffer alone. Please, spill your thoughts. I may have experience from when I helped a couple form in my first semester.”
At the mention of ‘couple,’ Elisa’s eyes darted around again. Martina didn’t miss that tiny signal, just like a predator catching its prey.
‘Who could have stolen Elisa’s heart?’
“U-uh, talking here is a bit…”
Martina’s answer was met with quiet sighs from around the classroom.
What a pity that the chance to witness an exhilarating romance consultation was slipping away because of Martina’s suggestion. However, Martina had no intention of making Elisa a spectacle, so she put her books and notes into her bag and stood up.
“Come on, Elisa. Follow me. I know a wonderful place.”
“Y-yes…”
Elisa quietly got up and followed her like a baby duck following its mother.
Trying hard to ignore the numerous eyes boring into her.
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