Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Drunken Sincerity
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"Is this really being mischievous?"
He brazenly asked her back, and Sarah looked at Aren with eyes that said she couldn't believe he was asking.
...
Hmm.
Maybe I was too brazen.
In fact, they'd run into a few other first-year students along the way, and the looks they gave him weren't exactly normal.
Like they were staring at some lunatic.
He'd already drawn some odd looks—like he was some weirdo—ever since the entrance ceremony fiasco that wasn't quite a fiasco. But after midterms, it had gotten even worse.
"Maybe try holding back a little, junior? This is advice for your own good."
"Hmm... why's that?"
"For smooth relationships with your peers and better studies... does that make sense?"
"Yeah."
Aren knew it too.
That this kind of behavior wasn't exactly ideal.
Luckily, his skills were top-notch, or he'd have been branded a problem child and kicked out of the Academy by now. Ostracized at minimum.
But he got away with it because he was just that exceptional.
Besides, Aren had no intention of doing proper school life anyway. He'd enrolled purely to find his "familiars."
"All I need is you, senior."
"...Oh my."
Sarah covered her mouth.
"Does that mean you want to have me?"
"Didn't you ask if I'd just sit still?"
"True, I did."
She giggled.
"Well... anyway, since you're here, no need to go picking fights. Your behavior isn't that bad... but isn't it better to keep things friendly?"
"Fair point."
Maybe it was because she was a second-year.
"You're so thoughtful, senior."
"Hehe... why say that while staring at my chest?"
"Oops, my bad."
"...Is it?"
"Yeah."
My bad, totally my bad.
But any guy would do it.
Who could keep their eyes off breasts that big right in front of them? Any man who could was either impotent or gay, no question.
Mm-hmm.
Definitely not because Aren was crazy about women.
Nope.
"Ahem...? Fine, I'll let the 'mistake' slide. But junior..."
Sarah stepped closer and poked Aren's chest with her finger.
"You call it a mistake, but you're still staring... is this one a mistake too?"
"Yeah. I make mistakes a lot."
"Oh my."
Sarah let out a soft laugh.
Her eyes curved like crescent moons.
"If you wanna look, just say so and stare all you want... who knows? I might show you even more."
Straightening out a junior's mistakes was a senior's duty, after all.
She let out a tiny, excited breath.
"Keep tempting me like that, and I really won't hold back."
"Doesn't look like you have that kind of restraint anyway, junior."
"You read me well."
Aren chuckled and grabbed Sarah's wrist, pulling her onto his lap.
Sarah's eyes shook for a moment as she suddenly ended up straddling him face-to-face.
"This okay to look at?"
Breasts. He wanted to see them.
Aren's signature red eyes stared straight at her. Any other girl might have looked away in embarrassment, but she didn't.
Instead, she undid the top button of her shirt.
—Pop.
"...Better view now, right?"
...
Definitely a better view.
The faint silhouette of black lingerie visible through her shirt, her full, bulging volume.
And the glimpse of skin between the loosened button... it stirred all sorts of imaginations.
"...Since you're undoing one, mind doing another?"
"Hmng..."
She let out a strange moan and shifted her hips slightly.
Her bare thighs rubbed against Aren's legs since she was wearing a skirt.
...Too bad. Should've worn shorts.
"If I undo another, you won't go staring at other girls' chests recklessly, right, junior?"
Couldn't promise that.
Sarah frowned a bit at his silence and flicked his forehead with her index finger.
"...See? No answer. You're such a naughty junior."
"Man's instinct and all."
"Hmmm... whatever."
Sarah knew what kind of guy he was.
That's why she was doing this anyway.
Even knowing he ogled other girls—especially Veronica, practically like a little sister—and that he was a commoner, not a noble.
Nothing good for her position, really...
"They say bad boys are popular these days. This qualifies as safe, right?"
"...You're not a bad boy, junior. Just a playboy."
"Then I'll be a bad boy starting today. Whatever."
She was just drawn to him.
To how he acted on his desires.
Always so confident.
Chasing what he wanted.
Including her in those wants.
She felt a satisfaction and thrill she'd never known before.
Aren placed his hand on the waist of Sarah, who was pouting up at him, and pulled her closer into his embrace. Her breasts pressed against his chest, deforming softly.
Feeling that squishy, tender sensation, Aren whispered quietly into her ear.
"So... do you hate it?"
"...No. Not at all."
Before, and now.
Her answer was always the same.
He hoped it stayed that way.
After getting thoroughly pampered by Senior Sarah in the clubroom, Aren went to find Veronica.
And then.
'Wanna head back to the dorms together?'
'...What're you on about all of a sudden?'
Veronica tensed up, thinking he was finally making a blatant move.
Of course, she was wrong.
'Oh, poor choice of words. Adelia wants to thank us and invited everyone to her room. Said she wants to treat us to some food. So, wanna come along, Veronica?'
'...What about Lydia?'
'She accepted.'
'......'
She hesitated at the news that Lydia had accepted.
And then.
'Fine, I'll go too. Gotta keep an eye on you so you don't try anything with other girls.'
For some reason, it sounded eerily like something Sarah would say. Hearing it right to his face, Aren thought to himself, Guess they really are like sisters.
At this point, they could pass for actual siblings.
'Sister bowl's a guy's dream.'
Hoping that day would come someday.
...Anyway.
And so, Aren, Lydia, and Veronica ended up gathered in Adelia's room.
Knock knock knock—
Gathered in front of Adelia's door, Aren knocked as the representative.
There was a brief rustling inside, like she was tidying something up, then the door opened and Adelia peeked out.
The moment her eyes met Aren's, she broke into a beaming smile.
"You came?"
"Yeah. We all did."
"Come on in."
Stepping into Adelia's room, a sweet, feminine fragrance wafted over them.
And the decor...
'Pretty tidy.'
He'd expected something cute and frilly, but it was surprisingly plain.
The only standout was the bedroom visible just beyond that door.
A bear plush sat on the bed.
'She sleeps hugging that?'
Somehow adorable. Girl power or whatever it's called?
Anyway, moving on.
"Did you make all this food yourself, Adelia?"
"Ahaha. That obvious?"
"Yeah."
It looked a bit sloppy to be store-bought or maid-made.
Of course, saying that outright would hurt her feelings. Looking closer, she even had a bandage on her finger.
'Cut herself chopping.'
Probably didn't handle kitchen knives much as a noble lady.
Aren nodded vaguely and gave her a nice compliment.
"I could tell from the heartfelt touch in the cooking."
"Thanks, Aren."
Adelia smiled faintly and hurried the standing group to the desk.
Aren sat between Lydia and Veronica, with Adelia across from them. Then she pulled out a bottle from the side...
"Booze?"
"Can't have snacks without drinks, right?"
She giggled and uncorked it.
She looked so innocent, but she drank too?
'And this food's the snacks?'
...Didn't know that.
Meanwhile, Veronica and Lydia panicked at the alcohol.
They'd thought it'd be a light meal, but homemade food appeared, followed by booze.
No way around feeling thrown off when they'd come so casually. Maybe sensing it, Adelia glanced at them and asked carefully.
"...I brought it out to thank you all and wipe the slate clean for a fresh, energetic start... was booze a mistake?"
"N-No, Adelia! I just... have a low tolerance, but I like drinking!"
"...I'm fine too. Just surprised it came out."
Lydia had low tolerance, huh.
Hmm.
Memo noted.
"What about you, Aren?"
Aren chuckled at Adelia's question.
"Of course I'm good. Actually, I love it."
Might as well see them drunk.
"Phew... glad to hear it."
And so, the drinking session began.