Week Two Evaluation (5)
The man who had insulted her senior was dragged away, screeching at the top of his lungs.
Though he may have acted out of momentary temper, the testimony of everyone present in the hall could hardly be ignored. Only after receiving firm confirmation from the tournament officials that Junon bore no culpability whatsoever did Renias finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Ugh..."
With her tension snapping all at once, dizziness washed over her, and the world spun. Right on cue, her attentive senior carefully supported her back once more.
"Are you alright?"
Though he asked if she was fine, his hand betrayed him. It was stiff with nervous tension, trembling faintly. She knew exactly what that tremor meant—the anxious flutter of a man terrified that his touch might make her uncomfortable or offend her.
Don't tremble like that, Sunbae. It's only your hand on my waist. And it's you, of all people.
Renias deliberately let the strength drain from her limbs, throwing her balance off. Leaning her weight against him as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she let out a pitiful murmur.
"I'm not alright... I drank, and then I shouted so loud my head is spinning like crazy."
Resigned, as if he had no other choice, her senior wound his arm around her waist to steady her. Warmth radiated from his palm against her waist, and the trembling gradually subsided. For a fleeting second, Renias nearly let a satisfied smile curve her lips.
"Then why push yourself? It would've sorted itself out soon enough anyway."
"...Still, I couldn't just stand by. He was badmouthing you, Sunbae..."
Renias trailed off, unable to bring herself to finish the sentence.
Once we reach the bottom of these stairs... will my time with him be over?
Her endlessly considerate senior would surely point out that she had had too much to drink and tell her to head back to rest. Then, just as he always did, he would wave goodbye with that slightly awkward, endearing gesture.
That would be... such a pity.
Renias had never felt this way before. In the past, parting today merely meant seeing each other tomorrow. Even if she felt a pang of reluctance, tomorrow was waiting, and the day after that as well. Yet tonight, a lingering reluctance gripped her, distinct from anything she had ever known.
"Thank you."
The words gently reached Renias as she kept her head lowered.
Does he mean... thank you for helping him?
It was what he always said. Whenever she helped him, he would invariably thank her and gently ruffle her hair. Her routine was to bask in that delightful warmth, letting out an affectionate giggle. Yet that always ended with a brief pat on the head. A few dozen seconds at most? The time his hand rested against her hair was fleetingly brief. And because of that, Renias realized exactly how to soothe this longing.
"Ah..."
"Careful."
"Heheh. My head is still spinning so much..."
Yes. Just like this. Whenever she stumbled or showed a moment of weakness, he would never hesitate to catch her. He might find it a little awkward or burdensome... but right now, she wanted this.
"There's your family's maid over there. Hurry on back."
"..."
Junon's attention was momentarily fixed on Maria. Seizing the opening, Renias locked eyes with Maria and sent her a quick, unmistakable signal. Maria's face registered sheer astonishment for a split second, but the message had landed loud and clear.
"Renias?"
When Renias clung tightly to his arm and refused to let go, her senior blinked in bewilderment. A moment later, Maria cleared her throat with an exaggerated ahem, feigning innocence before casually dropping a remark in their direction.
"It goes without saying that a true gentleman ought to escort a lady all the way back to her estate."
Maria had hit the nail on the head, divining Renias's exact desires. I simply must prepare a wonderful present for Maria once we return to the mansion...!
"Though, if a lady who has taken a drink cannot steady her feet, resting in the cool night air wouldn't be remiss either."
She even tossed in an artful extra piece of advice. Now that Renias thought about it, she was officially an intoxicated maiden. If she pretended she could barely support herself, someone would naturally have to look after her.
Milady!
Crossing her arms at an angle hidden from Junon's sightline, Maria flashed a discrete thumbs-up. But the look she directed at Junon? A silent, pointed glare practically demanding to know why he hadn't swept her away yet—subtly gesturing toward the terrace.
Thank you, Maria!
Renias mentally applauded her maid's brilliant cunning and promptly closed her eyes.
"H-Hey, Renias!"
"Oh my, heavens. Look at her collapsing like that... She is wearing a dress, so giving her a piggyback ride is out of the question. You'll just have to carry her in your arms, bridal-style."
Junon appeared to agonize over the dilemma for a brief moment before letting out an exasperated sigh and shifting his stance.
"...I'll be out on the terrace. Once her head clears a bit, you're coming to pick her up, understood?"
"Of course, naturally. Though there are a few more things you really ought to keep in mind, wouldn't you say? Fufu."
And just like that, their evening grew a little longer.
I am currently carrying Renias bridal-style, heading toward the terrace.
"..."
I honestly questioned whether any of this made sense, but the maid's glaring stare had been so scorching that I had practically fled with Renias in my arms. The gazes drilling into the back of my head as I carried her down to the lower floor had stung plenty, but what truly pounded was inside my skull.
'The evening air is rather chilly, and wearing a dress only makes it colder. Especially one exposing so much delicate skin... A gentleman's coat would surely be quite warm, wouldn't it?'
'To sober up, one needs plenty of fresh breeze, so keeping a conversation going would be best, yes?'
'If you head over by the wide lounge chairs on the terrace, you can rest much more comfortably. It's truly ideal for settling an intoxicated lady.'
'And best of all──'
...Just how many special requests did she tack on? What in the world does that maid have against me?
It was this barrage of demands that made my head throb.
No matter how drunk she is, if you're worried about your lady, shouldn't you, her personal maid, be the one taking care of her?
Even as I grumbled inwardly, I hadn't been able to refuse. Her expression had practically screamed: If you don't sweep Milady away this instant, you'll regret it! Having caught a glimpse of the murderous glare lurking behind her polite smile, I hadn't dared argue.
"Hup."
Leaving all those piercing glares behind, I finally arrived at the terrace. Setting her down, I spoke softly.
"Renias."
"..."
"I know you're awake. You can open your eyes now."
The moment the words left my mouth, Renias's eyelids twitched, and she promptly buried her face in both hands out of sheer mortification. Yet feeling obliged to answer, she parted her fingers just a sliver, peeking up at me timidly to gauge my reaction.
"Since when... did you know...?"
"Since we reached the lower floor and you suddenly collapsed all unnaturally."
Compared to when I had been supporting her, her body had grown noticeably stiff, so I had caught on right around then. Ah, she's pretending to be out of it.
"Uuu... I didn't mean anything bad by it...! N-No, that's not it, first of all... I'm so sorry..."
Without fail, the gap between her fingers snapped shut again. She really must be mortified. Though I had to admit, seeing her like that was undeniably endearing.
"There's nothing to apologize for. Let's sit down first. It's awkward just standing here."
"Y-Yes..."
Though she sat down meekly, she kept sneaking glances at me. I hadn't originally planned on it, but starting a conversation seemed the only natural course.
"Did you drink because you actually like alcohol?"
"Pardon? Ah... no, not at all."
"Then why? Do you usually drink like that...?"
"I-I never drink like this normally! At most, I'll accept a single celebratory toast now and then... Today was just..."
"Hmm. So something upset you."
"..."
Her silence told me I had hit the mark. Considering her age, eighteen was on the cusp of adulthood, so having a drink wasn't a crime. I too used to drink when life weighed too heavily on me—if only to forget reality for a fleeting moment and fall asleep. Despite tasting awful when you actually drank it, alcohol was what people turned to whenever suffering mounted or memories begged to be forgotten. And occasionally, it pulled buried emotions right up to the surface.
"Actually... to be completely honest, it's because of you, Sunbae."
"Me? Uh... did I do something wrong today...?"
I had only participated in the Faction War matches, so I couldn't imagine how I could have wronged Renias. At that point, I had no clue.
"You forfeited on purpose. Even though you could have won every single match."
"...You can't know that for sure."
"I do know, Sunbae."
I had forgotten that beneath this soft, gentle girl lay a sharp, unyielding blade.
"You always erase your own footprints. You hide what you've done so no one ever knows who accomplished it."
"..."
"It's always like that. If the world only knew, everyone would acknowledge and praise you, but you overturn the board so they never find out. And by the time someone else uncovers the truth much later, it's already far too late for you to receive the credit you deserve."
Before I realized it, the hands that had been fidgeting in embarrassment were gripping the hem of her dress.
"I... really hate that. I want you to be recognized, Sunbae. Because I know the kind of person you are, yet all I can do is watch from the sidelines."
Our eyes met. And then:
"Sunbae... are you afraid of other people's expectations?"
She struck straight into my rawest, most tender wound. It was a piercing question, truly and utterly sharp. In the end, I was the one who broke eye contact first.
On the terrace table sat glasses, liquor, and non-alcoholic refresher drinks prepared in advance. Instinctively, I poured myself a glass and drank. Gulp, gulp. Only after emptying the glass clean did my lips part.
"Afraid of expectations, huh... Maybe I am."
"Why?"
"Expectations are a razor's edge. Stray even a fraction of an inch, and they turn into a crushing weight on your chest. Don't you have at least one experience like that? Being showered with immense expectations, only to completely fail to meet them."
"I... do."
Renias answered in a trembling voice.
"The moment you deviate slightly from what they want, they clamor in outrage. They want something perfect, safe, and absolute—even while knowing full well how difficult that is to achieve. But what if you fail? What if you can't bear the weight and set it down? In other words, what if you don't live up to their hopes? From that moment on, expectation morphs into condemnation."
It was much like a plague. An epidemic you had to detect and quarantine before it spread. At first, it was just ill will; then factions of dissent arose. They would hurl stones of blame in unison at the person they once pinned their hopes on, until suddenly, everyone turned their backs. That was why the burden on one's shoulders grew so heavy. Especially when human lives hung in the balance.
"That's why I gave up from the start. Because I never wanted anyone's expectations in the first place."
It could happen all over again. This life wouldn't necessarily be any different. From familiar neighbors and classmates to comrades fighting by my side, watching them turn their backs one after another had been an agonizing torment. I never wanted to carry such a burden ever again.
"...No matter what outcome you produce, Sunbae... I will never doubt you. Just like today..."
As I reached to pour myself another drink, Renias gently covered my hand, stopping me.
"Having watched you all this time, I know... That's why... I want to see it. You, doing your very best to win..."
Her voice began to slur and trail off.
"Because I'm... certain I will never... become a burden to you, Sunbae..."
A soft weight settled against my shoulder. After that, Renias spoke no more. When I turned my head, she was resting against my shoulder with her eyes closed. This time, it wasn't an act; she had genuinely fallen asleep. She must have been utterly exhausted, so it wasn't surprising in the least.
"Somehow... it ended up like this."
I thought I would avoid following that maid's suggestions at all costs. Yet I carefully slipped off my coat, brushed the dust from it, and draped it over my sleeping junior.
'And best of all, wrapping an arm around the lady so she doesn't catch a chill. Nothing is quite as warm as body heat, after all.'
Just as I was wondering whether I was really about to follow that advice too, the timing proved uncanny. Perhaps the evening breeze had grown too chilly, because Renias curled up slightly, shivering.
"...Whatever. I don't even know anymore."
Slipping my right hand free from Renias's gentle grasp, I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and drew her close. Surely this was better than letting her catch a cold.
Doing my best, huh...
Could I really be guaranteed that Renias would never turn on me...? Yet looking down at this girl, who looked like an angel even in her sleep, it felt impossible to imagine. It wasn't mere intuition or wishful thinking; it was simply who Renias was.
Gazing up into the night sky, I let myself drift into thought until the maid arrived.
SLAM!
A heavy fist slammed down onto the table.
"This isn't what we agreed upon! Just how are you people handling things? I told you specifically to pick your targets with discretion!"
"Haa, my apologies. One of our fellows went completely wild, you see."
Erika had instructed them to suppress the Shirakh faction, but to selectively crush only the students belonging to specific instructors. Yet because Demian had run rampant without restraint, the schedule for tomorrow was now in jeopardy.
Hah... at this rate, Aris will end up falling behind Junon! Having that bastard assigned to Class A again is...
Her original scheme had been to elevate Aris's class while spreading rumors that Junon had only been a hindrance. But in their bid to crush Junon, Aris was now on the verge of being demoted to a lower class instead. This was completely unacceptable.
"I'm warning you, get your act together. Any more of this, and it's a breach of contract!"
"Naturally, of course. I shall reprimand him thoroughly."
Erika stormed out of the Mirpark Headmaster's office, fuming. Shortly thereafter, the headmaster summoned Demian's clique once more.
"I assume you know what I'm about to say?"
"..."
"I don't know what possessed you to pull such nonsense and earn penalty points, but if you blemish the flawless Mirpark faction one more time... there will be no next time."
Thoroughly incensed, the headmaster jabbed an unpleasant finger toward Demian's head. Demian snatched the finger in a vice-like grip, his eyes flashing viciously.
"Shut the fuck up with the nagging. I'll slaughter them all myself, so back off."
The headmaster stumbled back, flustered and shocked.
"T-That insolent bastard...! What is wrong with him?!"
"We aren't really sure either..."
Demian kicked open the door and strode out on his own terms. His mind was consumed entirely with tearing one man apart.
How dare he... lay his filthy hands on my Lady Renias...!
She wasn't someone who belonged clinging to the arm of a wretch like him. Yet that piece of trash had dared to touch her!
Junon... I'm going to make damn sure you're buried today.
A repulsive, sinister mana coiled around his trembling fist.