After finishing the incident related to the Agail family, I returned to the Academy.
Having wrapped up a short but significant home visit, I was back to my role as a professor teaching multiple kids.
Hoo…!
Time flew by quickly as I spent my days as an academy professor after returning.
The warm spring air began to fade away, and the weather started getting stifling.
As everyone pulled out their summer clothes, it was time for the academy’s annual event and a new activity to arrive.
“As you all probably know, we have a group exchange trip planned in three days.”
“Professor, where is the destination this time?”
“…We’re going to the Southern Laos Academy.”
“The Laos Academy is famous for being close to a resort, right?”
“Yay! This year’s trip is to the beach!”
“I need to buy a swimsuit right after class!”
Everyone in the Special Class was excited about going to the southern beach.
Though they were mischievous kids, they still displayed their youthful exuberance.
“Kids, I understand your excitement, but let’s calm down for now.”
“How about a bet? The loser jumps into the sea as soon as we arrive!”
“Why do we need to bet? We can just throw the loser into the sea!”
“The sea is nice, but the sunlight is a problem! I hate getting sunburned on my fair skin.”
“I heard there are portable magic tools in the southern country that block the sunlight. We could buy one and share it!”
“Oh! So smart!”
Since the duel incident, the kids in the Special Class had stopped picking fights like before.
However, their attitude of ignoring me remained the same.
Usually, I could just say a few words and call Professor Pernelson to handle things, but recently something had changed.
“Everyone quiet down!”
“…….”
When Rynelle shouted loudly enough to echo in the hallway, the lively atmosphere in the classroom fell silent in an instant.
The students glanced at her, avoiding eye contact when their eyes met.
No one would dare to oppose the Agail Duke’s daughter, who could even stop a crying child.
“I’ve silenced everyone! You can continue speaking!”
“Th-thank you, Rynelle.”
Since realizing the truth, Rynelle had often used her family’s reputation and started living decisively.
Although she still teased me as always, she did nothing to make me uncomfortable.
She had completely turned over a new leaf, and nowadays, she even looked pretty to me.
Maybe I was just smitten after being conscious of Rynelle’s feelings that I heard from the Agail Duke.
“I’ll provide a list of mandatory items to bring and prohibited items, so make sure to memorize and follow them. By the way, any student who breaks the rules will be sent back to the academy immediately. You’ll be having a wonderful character education time with Professor Pernelson, so only participate if you’re confident.”
The students’ faces turned pale in unison.
They all knew what it was like to attend the lectures of the notorious Professor Pernelson at least once.
The horror of being stuck listening to Professor Pernelson’s class while everyone else was having fun.
Thanks to Professor Pernelson’s infamous reputation, even this much warning was enough for everyone to follow the rules.
“The same goes for those who don’t participate in the trip; they’ll stay at the academy and attend Professor Pernelson’s class.”
“Ugh…!”
Who wouldn’t want to go to the world’s best resort? Surprisingly, there was one student.
A girl who had her face buried in her pillow, making whimpering noises.
It was Ailey, who was famous for only coming to the academy to maintain her attendance.
“If you don’t want that, you have to participate in the trip.”
“I’m too lazy! But wouldn’t it be better than Professor Pernelson’s class?”
She was a prodigy known as a genius, so the professors never criticized her for her class attitude.
Except for one person.
Professor Pernelson, who was also called a genius during his school days, would not allow her to nap.
That’s why Ailey was making such a disgusted face.
“I’ll post any additional information about the group trip on the class bulletin board, so make sure to check it. That’s all for the morning assembly!”
After finishing the morning assembly and stepping into the hallway, I felt footsteps following me.
Generally, after the assembly, everyone prepares for the next class, but someone was unusually closing in from behind.
“Professor!”
“Rynelle, I told you it could lead to misunderstandings if you did that, right?”
“Come on! It’s just ordinary skinship between teacher and student! Skinship!”
“The problem is that not everyone may see it that way.”
“So what? We might become a married couple in the not-so-distant future!”
Rynelle, smiling broadly, casually wrapped her arms around mine.
In the past, I would have been disgusted and pulled away, but nowadays, it was harder to do so.
“We are professor and student here, and we aren’t even engaged, let alone married, so what do you mean, married?”
“Do you not like me, Professor?”
“Th-that’s not it, but….”
I couldn’t just say I didn’t like her since she was so openly showing affection.
As I awkwardly denied it, Rynelle narrowed her eyes and smiled.
“Then that means there could be a future where we get married! In that sense, what kind of swimsuit would you like your future wife to wear?”
“It’s too early for that!”
“A flowing one-piece? Or maybe a bikini? What about a swimsuit that covers less?”
“Are you doing this on purpose…?”
Ahem!
Just as I was about to say something in response, I heard a cough from behind.
Turning my head, I saw a blonde princess glaring sharply at us.
“Could you take your love quarrels somewhere else? It’s hard for people like me to get through the hallway.”
“Oh, sorry….”
“Hmph!”
I pushed Rynelle away from me to clear the path.
Then Yuer turned her head sharply and passed right between us.
Rynelle’s expressions of affection seemed to be acts of scorning others.
“The princess is still as prickly as ever.”
“I think the princess has become much more approachable than before.”
“Really?”
“Well, someone sacrificed their life to save the princess, right?”
“Ugh! What if someone hears that!”
“I whispered it, didn’t I?”
Rynelle grinned with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
If it were just the two of us, I would have given her a playful smack like before.
But doing that within the academy was a very risky venture.
“Still, it’s fun.”
“Do you enjoy teasing me like this?”
“No! I mean, No! I’m talking about Princess Yuer. She treats you coldly, not knowing you’re her benefactor. I’m curious about what her reaction will be when she finds out the truth!”
“Then don’t tell her the truth.”
“Don’t worry. Unless it’s something significant, I won’t be the one to spill it first.”
“That’s a relief.”
“I don’t particularly want to increase my romantic rivals either….”
“What did you just mumble?”
“I was just thinking about how to explain myself if someone asks!”
For a moment, it seemed like Rynelle’s expression had soured.
Perhaps it was just my imagination since Rynelle was showing a cheerful smile.
As I let it go and looked ahead, I saw a girl running toward us from the opposite direction.
“Professor Daniel!”
“Oh, Nina.”
“Good morning!”
“Good morning.”
“Ugh!”
Just from exchanging greetings, Rynelle openly clicked her tongue.
Nina glanced at Rynelle sideways before returning to speak to me.
“I heard you’ll be leading our F class on this group trip, is that true?”
“Oh, I guess Professor Pernelson already told you.”
“Wait! What do you mean? You’re our special class professor! You have to lead us, right?”
“As you know, Professor Pernelson is staying behind at the academy this trip. So, since there’s a vacancy for leading the F class, I volunteered.”
“There must be other professors with free time, right?”
“Actually, the timing is quite coincidentally overlapping with the professor’s training period, so there’s not a single person available.”
In the original story, Daniel, who was the F class supervisor, ended up leading the Special class.
Though the roles were reversed this time, there was still a future where I’d end up taking care of two classes.
Of course, I could have passed it on to Professor Masker from Class C, but I simply accepted it.
After all, some incidents could only occur if the F class and the Special class were together during this trip.
“I can’t believe it…!”
“Really, Professor Daniel is going to guide us! Thanks in advance!”
“Sure.”
“Oh! Can I bring lunch for you while we travel to the south?”
“Hmm? Is that alright?”
“Of course! I said I’d show you my cooking skills, remember?”
“Now that you mention it, it has been a while since I had your cooking.”
“I’ll show you this time!”
“No way!”
As Nina tightened her fist, Rynelle’s shout burst out from the side.
Surprised, I turned to look at Rynelle, who was puffing her cheeks in annoyance.
“What do you mean, no way?”
“Professor, you promised to eat the lunch I prepared!”
“This is the first I’m hearing of this promise.”
“You forgot! Anyway, you already have plans, so your lunch isn’t needed.”
“Professor….”
Nina looked at me with a pitiful expression.
Seeing her look like a drenched little kitten made my focus shift.
If I refuse her right here, I could end up being the worst guy in the world.
“Since I have to lead two classes, I guess I’ll need at least two meals to keep my energy up. I’ll be looking forward to both Nina’s and Rynelle’s lunches.”
After saying that, I suddenly felt like I had made a blunder.
Declaring that I’d eat two lunches sparked a deadly glare from Nina and Rynelle.
I started getting worried about the reality of what kinds of lunchboxes they would produce.
It might have been better to just tell my grandma I was hungry instead……
