Chapter 179: Proof
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 179: Proof
‘Senior, should we head down now?’
‘...Why? Are you meeting someone?’
‘Not really. I was originally planning to sleep in the classroom during lunch break.’
‘...You have my lap. Sleep here.’
‘Huh? You want me to sleep right here, with my head on your lap?’
‘Do you hate the idea?’
‘No! Of course not! It’s not that, but wouldn’t you be bored all by yourself if I just fall asleep, Senior Johanna?’
‘I’m fine. So take off your mask and sleep comfortably.’
I woke up when there were about twenty minutes left of the lunch break.
“...Loki?”
A mellow, slightly dazed voice drifted down from above me.
It felt so good that I wanted to close my eyes and drift back to sleep, but since Johanna had to prepare for her next class, I forced my eyes open.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. I slept like a log.”
If she looks this beautiful even from this angle, what am I supposed to do with myself?
Usually, when I push a few desks together in the Special Class for a nap, it’s uncomfortable enough that I wake up midway through. Today, however, I had slept straight through without stirring once.
“I loved sleeping on your lap, but what about you, Senior? You wasted your whole lunch break.”
Johanna must have been bored just sitting still while I slept. If I’d known I’d fall into such a deep sleep, I should have pulled a book out of my Pocket Dimension for her.
Johanna shook her head at my words.
“I liked it too.”
“Well, that’s a relief then.”
Johanna and I left the rooftop.
Clack.
Johanna used a key to lock the door, just as she had when we first arrived.
‘What a waste.’
I didn’t know why the Academy kept the rooftop closed, but it was a shame we couldn’t come back to a place so spacious, clean, and breezy with such a beautiful view whenever we wanted.
As Johanna tucked the key into her pocket, I asked casually.
“Senior, should the two of us come back here again later?”
“...Technically, even I’m not supposed to enter the rooftop whenever I want.”
Those eyes weren't telling me to give up because it was impossible. They were eyes saying that since it’s technically not allowed, I should give her a good enough reason to justify it.
How did I know? Because whenever I suggested eating grilled skewers during our patrols before school, she made that exact same face.
“Ayy~ Who said anything about coming here to play?”
“...Then?”
Look at that. Those dazed eyes were full of anticipation while she pretended otherwise. She really is too cute.
“Senior, you’re the Disciplinary Committee President, right?”
Johanna nodded silently.
“And the reason you have the key is that the Academy entrusted the management of the rooftop to the Disciplinary Committee, right?”
Nod.
“Then don’t you need to come inside occasionally to check the condition of the rooftop? Or to see if any students have broken the rules and trespassed?”
“.........!!!”
Nod, nod.
Ah, she really is incredibly cute.
“But it’s too dangerous to come alone when you don’t know what might happen up here.”
“...True.”
“So, next time you patrol the rooftop, I’ll come along with you.”
“Okay.”
We immediately set a date to meet on the rooftop again next week. As we walked and chatted about various things, the time came for us to part ways.
Johanna had to head to her next class, and I had to stop by the Special Class to pick up the blanket and pillow I’d left behind before ditching the Academy.
“Goodbye, Loki.”
Johanna raised her hand slightly and waved. I was about to raise my hand high and wave back when I remembered something I’d forgotten until now.
“Senior Johanna? I just realized this, but why are you naturally calling me by my name? You should be calling me Oppa.”
Johanna’s hand, which had been waving slightly, froze.
“...You don’t call me Noona either.”
Judging by her reaction, it wasn't that she’d forgotten the wager and called me by my name out of habit; she was well aware of it but was intentionally avoiding calling me Oppa.
‘This is a bit cheeky, isn't it?’
“But wasn't the original condition of the wager that you’d call me Oppa? As I recall, me calling you Noona was just you threatening me that I had to call you that if I wanted to be called Oppa.”
“...I don’t remember.”
Johanna made an excuse and turned her head away, avoiding my gaze.
‘Is she playing hard to get? Even that looks cute to me.’
Avoiding my eyes, Johanna scurried away with quick, short steps.
‘Well, whatever. What does a title matter? What matters is that Johanna is cute.’
I watched her retreating back from behind my mask with a grin. Then, Johanna turned around and looked at me.
‘What is it?’
Looking closely, I saw her mouth moving, silently forming words.
‘See you later, Oppa.’
“Gah!”
Taking a direct hit from the surprise attack, I clutched my heart and collapsed.
Too! Too! Cute!
Naturally, a person clutching their heart in the middle of an Academy hallway is bound to draw attention.
“Hey, you okay?”
Someone tapped the shoulder of my trembling, collapsed form. I lifted my head to see who it was. At first, I flinched, thinking it was one of the applicants for the Clown Union Club, but fortunately, it was someone I knew.
“What are you doing here like this?”
The person talking to me was a member of the Disciplinary Committee.
“Our Senior Johanna is just too cute!!”
“You’re just realizing that now? I’m leaving.”
“What? Isn't that Loki? Why is he on the floor like that? Has he finally lost his mind?”
“He collapsed because Lady Johanna was too cute.”
“Well, at least it sounds like he hasn't lost his mind.”
* * *
After pulling myself together and getting up, I walked toward the Special Class while still clutching my aching heart to retrieve my blanket and pillow. Checking the time, the afternoon classes were about to start.
‘Everyone’s probably gone to class by now, so it should be empty.’
Contrary to my expectations, however, every single student of the Special Class was still in the room.
“Why haven't you all gone to class yet?” I asked, startled.
Are these guys planning to ditch the Academy like me?
‘Damn, it’s hard to sneak out when there are so many people.’
But Lucas’s words proved my assumption wrong.
“We were worried because the guy who prepared a pillow and blanket and pushed desks together specifically to sleep in the classroom during lunch never showed up. We were waiting for you.”
“Oh! I’m a little touched.”
“Since you took so long, we were just about to head to our respective classes, but you arrived just in time. Did you get caught by the people wanting to join your club?”
“Ayy. No way. I’m not someone who gets caught that easily. I just found a decent spot and took a nap.”
“Well, that’s a relief then,” Lucas said. “Even if you managed to dodge everyone during lunch, what are you going to do this afternoon? Unlike the morning, you have to take classes with the other students.”
Lucas was worried about the exact same thing Johanna had been. Usually, it’s easier to escape when there are as few witnesses as possible, but considering the Special Class students had waited for me, I told them the plan I’d come up with.
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’m planning to ditch the Academy anyway.”
At my words, Lucas and the other Special Class students looked shocked. Granted, it was a bold solution that wasn't easy to think of.
“What if Professor Elicia catches you?”
“Mr. Lucas.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s fine as long as I don’t get caught.”
“Professor Elicia is going to find out you left without permission by tomorrow anyway, isn't she?”
“A-hem! Leaving without permission? I’m simply getting permission to leave a day late.”
* * *
The Special Class students watched with wide eyes as Loki actually picked up his blanket and pillow and walked out of the classroom.
“Do you truly think he will succeed? Even if he does, as far as I know, unexcused absences result in a significant point deduction.”
“If Loki cared about points, wouldn't he have studied for the written exam?”
Recalling Loki’s written exam scores after hearing Lucas’s remark, Gashurin understood immediately. If one cared about points even a little, it would be impossible to get a zero on a written exam. In fact, it was difficult to get a zero even if you didn't care about points.
“Anyway, let’s get going.”
If they stayed in the Special Class any longer, they really would be late for their next classes. Just as the students were getting up one by one to leave—someone entered the classroom.
At first, the Special Class students thought it was Loki and that his talk of ditching was just a joke, but they froze when they saw who it was.
The person who entered the classroom was not Loki. Well, Loki did enter, in a way.
It was Professor Elicia.
And in Professor Elicia’s hand was Loki, dangling limply as he was held by the scruff of his neck.
“..............”
Feeling the gaze of the Special Class students, Elicia spoke as she lightly lifted Loki with one hand.
“I caught this one trying to climb over the wall. By the way, aren't you all going to class? You’re about to be late.”
“We’re going!”
The quick-witted Special Class students hurried out of the classroom one by one, but Sepia stayed behind, pointing a finger at Loki.
“Um... Professor? Loki and I have the next class together. Should I take him with me?”
“This one is going to be a little late because he needs to have a talk with me. So, go to class first.”
“Understood.”