Life at the academy was flowing smoothly, if I dare say so. The only tough part was when May called me, seemingly at any time.
“Wow, isn’t it nice to enjoy the view from the rooftop like this?”
Leaning against the railing with a candy in her mouth, May was wearing a smile that perfectly matched the setting sun. I found myself staring blankly at her.
“It’s pretty.”
“Right? The scenery here is so nice, it feels like being a secretary without leaving the academy.”
“No, not that.”
“Hmm?”
I honestly replied to May, who casually glanced at me.
“I mean, you’re pretty.”
“…Wh-what’s with you all of a sudden?”
Her face, already red from the sunset, turned even more crimson as she covered her mouth with her hand. It was a stark contrast to her previously domineering demeanor.
I slowly turned my gaze back.
Beyond the academy, over the high walls, Elgrid was still vibrant and lively, even as evening approached.
Students, finished with their lectures, were happily chattering as they headed out to shop or dine in the city. Merchants welcomed these students.
There were unique souvenirs being sold by someone who had crossed over from another country, and some people performing on the streets.
As I watched all this, I realized I surprisingly liked the city of Elgrid even more than I thought.
Just then, May nudged me with her shoulder, pouting as she asked,
“Why’d you stop talking? What’s up with you all of a sudden?”
“…Just.”
To be honest, ever since I came back to life, I’ve been living in a daze.
It’s not an exaggeration to say I’ve been swept along by the current of life. Because of that, I seem to have forgotten to say what I truly needed to say. Or rather, I feel like I’ve just been clinging to them, content in the comfort.
“Because you’re pretty.”
Let’s not hide it.
To not offend those who are being honest with me.
To prevent any anxiety to those who have chosen me.
And so that those who even rescued me from death won’t feel lonely.
I gently placed my hand over May’s hand that was gripping the railing.
“…Really.”
Slightly, the corners of May’s eyes glistened with moisture. I already knew she was a woman who masked her emotions with a strong front but had a lot of tears.
“I want to do it here, but I’ll hold back.”
“Yeah, this isn’t really the vibe.”
Honestly, despite having done everything that could be done before, I realized this was the first time we were expressing natural affection in such a cozy atmosphere.
It seemed May had the same thought, as she glanced at me while slightly bowing her head.
The sinking sunlight carried a warmth that made my body languid, and Elgrid was now stepping softly into a fragrant spring, having passed through the tumultuous winter.
The back of my hand could feel that May’s skin was softer than I expected, and I couldn’t help but hold it for a long time.
*
“Hah…”
Surely things felt good.
Like caramel melting into something sweet was honestly the vibe I was envisioning for an ideal romance.
May liked it too.
But who was she again?
The Empress who ruled the academy with a fist, overshadowing everything with her sheer power. Our Empress even dared to take it a step further and said she wanted to sleep with me tonight.
Of course, with conditions.
Just sleeping. We firmly agreed not to do anything else at all, so I gave my permission.
“Hehe.”
In a good mood, May skipped down the male dormitory corridor. She changed into pajamas in her room and was now heading to mine.
“This almost feels like being in a relationship as a student.”
“…”
I didn’t deny it.
I was really thinking something similar.
It was already bedtime, so the corridor was dark, and all the students were in their rooms. Our footsteps probably just sounded like a patrolling dorm supervisor.
Creeak.
At that moment, a door opened behind us, and a male student peeked his head out. He looked like he just woke up with messy hair and half-closed eyes, staring at us.
“Uh…”
The guy, staring blankly at us, quickly closed the door and shouted,
“S-sorry! I didn’t see anything!”
BANG!
“…”
“…”
May and I momentarily exchanged glances, lost for words. I was about to call out to him seriously, but May chuckled and stopped me.
“Hey, did he just mistake me for a student?”
“Yeah?”
“No, he spoke casually! He apologized. I think he mistook me for a student because I just woke up and am in my pajamas?”
Hearing that, I realized she did look like a student. After all, she had just graduated recently.
“Also, I’m the Dean’s secretary, you know? The students almost never get to see my face.”
I was just doing office work in the Dean’s office or quietly standing behind him during his speeches. Unlike other professors, I didn’t give lectures daily or speak in front of all the students like the Dean did.
Thinking about it, it was very likely the male student had simply mistook May as just another girl from the upper floors.
“Girls often come visit the male dormitory, right?”
“Yeah, I know all too well.”
Because of that, I had quite a few bad rumors following me during my academy days. They would barge into my room at every chance they got.
“Oh, it really brings back memories from my school days.”
May, lost in reminiscence, wrapped her arms around mine.
“If you were going to accept that, you could have done so earlier, right?”
“That time… I just couldn’t accept this situation at all.”
How could I maintain relationships with multiple women? It was like spitting on myself for having called Ares out.
“Right. We conquered the impregnable rationality of Daniel McLean.”
Not that she was wrong, so I just sealed my lips.
Satisfied with my silence, May pressed her body closer, and we headed toward my room.
“It’s no different than before.”
It wasn’t much different from the room I used back in my third year, just that the furniture was still left as it was without any decoration.
“Shouldn’t you at least have a picture of your girlfriend on the desk?”
Complaining as I looked at the bare desk. Though I had no intention of hanging any pictures.
Besides, whoever I put up would surely bring a aftermath of trouble, and I’d end up hating myself if I displayed them all.
“I’m going to wash first.”
“Huh? Really?”
“……”
May wore a playful expression. I knew she was half-joking to tease me, so I ignored her and headed to the bathroom.
While washing my hair with bubbles, the bathroom door suddenly burst open, and a naked May walked in, grinning widely.
“Let’s wash together.”
“B-but I locked the door?!”
“Hmm? That’s nothing to worry about.”
A quick check revealed she hadn’t just opened the lock; she had smashed it. Since she was skilled at coating her body with mana, she often acted recklessly like this.
“If I say something about property damage, will you fix it?”
“Sigh.”
May, who immediately clung to me, chuckled.
“I told you I wouldn’t do anything today, right? I really won’t.”
“……”
“Be sure to hold back.”
My soapy body felt surprisingly slippery.
It was during this time I thought.
Anyway, after managing to handle it in the bath, we lay down on the bed together. Turning off the light, May made a childish request for me to be her pillow, which I obliged.
That was no big deal.
“It really feels like a dream.”
May, turning her body to look at me. Even though we used the same shampoo, there was something mysteriously pleasant about her. Was it mixed with something like the scent of skin?
Poke.
May poked my cheek with her finger.
It was an act I had experienced several times before, so I didn’t react much.
Just another way for them to remind me that I was really back.
“I honestly never thought this day would come.”
“……”
May delved into my embrace and wrapped her arms around my waist. The soft warmth and feel soothed my body’s tension.
“I really thought this day would never come.”
Her voice trembled slightly. As I said earlier, she was usually confident, assertive, and tough, but she had a surprisingly high amount of tears.
“It’s so nice.”
May whispered, pressing her forehead against my chest.
With a sigh, I lifted the blanket.
“W-what’s that? All of a sudden?”
May shrank back, surprised. I blocked her escape with my arms.
“I give up.”
“……Huh?”
“I can’t hold back.”
With that, I reached out to her pajamas. May, genuinely startled, tried to resist me, but her strength couldn’t stop me.
“W-wait a moment! I didn’t seduce you?! I just wanted to sleep like this today?!”
“That itself was the most seductive.”
“No, wait! Just a moment!”
As May’s face turned crimson like a ripe peach, she attempted to push me away.
THUD!
The wall reverberated.
It seemed the student in the adjacent room woke up because of us. Now that I think about it, this dormitory had no soundproofing whatsoever. Occasionally, I could even hear singing from the next room.
“See, see? I told you it wouldn’t work out.”
“Mm.”
I nodded in agreement as May tried to calm me down.
“We really have to keep it down.”
“Uh? Huh? Wait… Huh!”
“Do you want to chew on something?”
“Y-you, seriously! Stop…! O-ow! The blanket! The blanket!”
