A Strategy for Making Friends
Orca's daily routine was simple to a fault. Sitting through mind-numbingly boring classes that had absolutely nothing to do with her, letting the lectures drift in one ear and out the other, and then spending the rest of her time lounging on the plush bed in the Counseling Room—that was her typical day.
Occasionally, some teachers would get annoyed and tell her to pay attention, but Orca just ignored them. What did they expect her to do? None of it was of any use to her anyway. Lectures about the nature of mana or the structure of society meant absolutely nothing to her.
The devil parasitizing her body devoured all her mana anyway, so she didn't even know how to use it, and she couldn't care less about social structures. She only showed up to class to keep her promise to the counselor.
...She had expected today to be just another dreadfully boring day.
"What on earth is that woman doing over there?"
The stares of the surrounding students were relentless. Of course, Orca was used to people looking at her with disgust or scowling in her direction. But the gazes directed at her right now were different. They weren't expressions of annoyance or revulsion, but rather of sheer, bewildered curiosity.
While their novel reactions were somewhat distracting, they weren't what was truly bothering her.
"..."
Rustle. The moment Orca turned her head, that arrogant woman she had met before scurried out of sight, moving with the frantic agility of a startled cockroach.
...If the woman ever found out Orca had compared her to a cockroach, she would probably fly into a rage, but who cared? The way she kept hovering around, impossible to catch yet constantly lurking in the shadows, was a perfect match.
Orca had noticed her face popping up unusually often since this morning, and for some reason, the woman had grown even bolder after lunch. If she had a grudge and wanted to pick a fight, she wouldn't be acting like this. What was her deal?
"...Ah, I knew you'd be here. Hello."
"Huh? Kid, it's you."
Orca looked down at the tiny boy who had approached her without a shred of fear. Despite his small stature, he was absurdly strong and ate like a black hole. He had been visiting the Counseling Room quite often lately, making him a familiar face.
"Excuse me, but could you please stop calling me a kid? We're the same age."
"Whatever, kiddo. Do you have any idea what the height difference between us is?"
"..."
Leo shut his mouth, clearly defeated. In Orca's eyes, Leo was practically a toddler. With a height difference of over twenty centimeters, it was hard to believe they were the same age. Realizing that arguing further was pointless, Leo let out a sigh.
"Haa..."
"So? What do you want?"
"Oh, nothing in particular. I just noticed everyone staring over here and wondered if you'd caused another scene."
"...I don't go around causing trouble every day, you know."
"Maybe not every day, but certainly often enough."
"..."
This time, it was Orca's turn to shut her mouth. It was hard to deny when she did, in fact, get into trouble quite frequently.
"Let's see... Just last time, during combat practice, you lost your temper and beat up a student..."
"That bastard picked a fight with me first!"
"Even so, you were the one who apologized first."
"T-That's because..."
She hadn't had a choice. When the counselor heard the news and rushed over, she had bowed her head and apologized to everyone as if it were her own fault. Seeing Ophelia bow and scrape when she hadn't even done anything wrong made Orca feel incredibly guilty.
"This time is different. I really didn't do anything."
"Then why is everyone..."
"Look behind you."
"Behind me? ...Oh my goodness, what on earth is that?"
Leo turned his head, trying his best to look like he was just having a casual conversation.
"See her?"
"...Yes. What is the Princess doing over there?"
"I have no idea. She suddenly started stalking me."
For some inexplicable reason, she had started following Orca around despite Orca doing absolutely nothing to prompt it. Clad in dark sunglasses and a brown trench coat, she looked like she had walked straight out of a spy movie. Wearing an outfit like that inside the Academy only made her stand out more. It was even worse because she was already a highly prominent figure. There was no way she didn't feel the weight of all those staring eyes.
"Well, alright. I'll go ask her!"
"Huh?! Hey, wait! Hold on—"
"Hello, Princess! The weather is lovely today, isn't it?"
"Y-Yes. It is indeed a fine day."
Before Orca could stop him, Leo marched right up to the Princess. The onlookers, who had been watching the spectacle with mild amusement, gasped in shock. No matter the circumstances, boldly approaching Princess Stella while she was so awkwardly trying to hide was a daring move. Most assumed he would be severely reprimanded.
"Aren't you hot? You seem to be sweating quite a bit. Here, let me hold your coat for you."
"...Thank you. I was actually getting quite warm."
Contrary to the crowd's expectations, however, no such disaster occurred. Far from being angry, Stella eagerly shed her coat and sunglasses as if she had been desperately waiting for someone to offer, handing them over to Leo in a hurry.
"Ahem... I-It is a pleasure to meet you. Have you been well?"
Orca stared blankly at the Princess, who was now trying to act natural and nonchalant after shedding her disguise. ...Wait, was this girl stalking me just because she wanted to talk but didn't know how to start a conversation? No way. A princess wouldn't do something so incredibly clumsy over something so trivial... But looking at the circumstances, that seemed to be exactly what was happening. As Orca narrowed her eyes in suspicion, Stella's face began to flush red. This girl...
"..."
"A-Ahem! Have you been well?!"
"Yeah, sure. I've been fine. ...Why?"
"Pardon?"
"Don't 'pardon' me. You clearly came here because you have something to say, didn't you? Why else would you wear such a bizarre disguise?"
"N-No... I was just trying to set the right mood..."
"..."
"What is with that look on your face?!"
What do you think? It's the face of utter despair realizing I actually lost to someone like you. She wanted to "set the mood" and somehow ended up like this? For a princess, she was remarkably clumsy.
"So? You said you had something to say."
"Ah, yes... Very well. Since you likely despise beating around the bush, I shall speak plainly."
"I'd prefer that."
"Would you care to become my friend?"
"...What?"
Everyone's minds ground to a halt. The onlookers, who had assumed the Princess's bizarre behavior and stalking had some grand, calculated purpose, were left utterly speechless by this absurd turn of events. Become friends? It was a proposal absolutely no one could have anticipated.
"Ahem, what do you say? If you accept now, you will even be treated to a special royal dessert course."
"R-Really?! I'm so jealous..."
"Would you care to join us as well? Opportunities to gain both a princess's favor and free delicacies do not come often."
"Really? I'm in!"
"You... You..."
Orca was dumbfounded. She had been convinced the Princess had some hidden agenda, but this? An offer of friendship? Sure, anyone could ask to be friends. But she was a princess. Had she really paraded around in that ridiculous disguise and made a scene in front of everyone just to ask for friendship? And of all people, to a Devil Possessed?
"...Why me?"
"Hmm?"
"It's a bit awkward to say it myself, but my reputation is terrible, you know?"
"That is simple. Because I was curious about you."
"...Curious about me?"
"Is that not reason enough? I believe it is more than sufficient."
Of course it wasn't. Even Orca, who had zero interest in the Academy's politics or the affairs of the Imperial Family, could tell this would cause a massive stir. Rumors would spread like wildfire, and her life was bound to become infinitely more troublesome than it already was.
"I'm sorry, but—"
Just as she was about to flatly refuse, Orca suddenly recalled the words the counselor always nagged her with. Go make some friends. I don't want to see my dear Orca spending all her days fighting without a single friend by her side... or something along those lines. She had dismissed it as mere nagging at the time, but... perhaps this was a good opportunity.
"Fine."
"Oh, excellent. A wise choice, Orca. What do you say? If you wish, we could share some desserts right now and get to know—"
"No, let's do that later. There are too many people around right now, and it's annoying."
"...That is true. Very well, we shall meet again next time."
Watching the Princess turn on her heel and walk away without a moment's hesitation—as if she truly had no other motive than to ask for her friendship—Orca let out a deep sigh. She was a far stranger woman than Orca had ever imagined.
"Phew, a resounding success."
Stella fanned her face with her hand, trying to cool down her burning cheeks. Although she had anticipated this outcome, the sheer embarrassment had still been incredibly difficult to endure.
"Do jesters truly endure such humiliation for a living? ...Once I become Emperor, I must ensure they are paid a handsomer wage."
Everything was going exactly according to plan. Counselor Ophelia had told her that Orca would accept a straightforward request for friendship if she just asked. The plan was to wear highly conspicuous clothing to draw the attention of Orca and the other students, and then propose friendship right when all eyes were on them. It was an immensely embarrassing stunt, but it was the only way to quickly spread rumors that two people with absolutely no common ground had suddenly become friends. As a bonus, it would also lower Orca's hostility. Even if Orca had refused, that would have been fine in its own way—Stella would have simply kept pursuing her, which would have spread the rumors even further.
Before long, news of this would reach the Imperial Family. They would be utterly baffled, unable to fathom what she was plotting. They might even think she had lost her mind after being exiled. Let them watch in silence, completely blind to my intentions. For this is merely the precursor to the tidal wave that will soon sweep the Imperial Family away.
"Ah, Princess. What should I do with this coat and sunglasses...?"
"You may keep them."
"Pardon? B-But..."
"Just take them!"
But no amount of planning could suppress her embarrassment. Stella's face remained bright red, showing no signs of cooling down.