New Encounter (4)
May Blair was already swinging her sword in the early morning light that day, just as she had every day lately.
Ever since she entered the Academy and first took up the blade, her days had begun this way. She had started late—far later than most—but from the moment she first gripped a hilt, not a single day had passed without her sword carving clean arcs through the air.
Plenty of students in the swordsmanship department insisted her body was unsuited to the art. They had a point. Her limbs were slender and delicate, while her hips and breasts looked like nothing so much as heavy burdens she was forced to carry.
Yet May never quit. Even in an Academy packed with prodigies who seemed born for greatness, few students trained with her raw, relentless passion.
“Haa… haa…”
She wiped the sweat from her brow and drank from her water bottle.
“Ugh… not again?”
Heat suddenly flooded her body; her lower belly burned with a restless ache. Ever since she had been forced to swallow Professor Dufresne’s aphrodisiac, these irregular, unbearable urges would strike without warning—like a beast’s heat cycle seizing her without mercy.
When it happened, the only thing to do was rest. She sat on the bench and tried to quiet her racing pulse.
“Miss Blair!”
A plump male student came jogging toward her from a distance.
“I’m so sorry. I overslept…”
“It’s fine. I haven’t been at this long myself.”
“Yes… hehe.”
I really want to punch Crane right in his round face.
What time did he think it was? He was the one who suggested morning practice in the first place, and now he showed up this late?
But image mattered. Even though she wasn’t officially a swordsmanship student, she had become something like the department’s flower. She had to remain a graceful young lady at all times.
She held out the lunch basket she had packed.
He had probably left without breakfast too. He would need fuel if he was going to swing a sword.
“Crane, eat this first, then we’ll start.”
“Huh? What is it?”
His eyes locked onto the sandwiches nestled inside the basket.
She had bought bread from the bakery, split each loaf, and filled it with chopped cheese, ham, pickles, boiled egg, onion, and a few other vegetables. After more than ten years of living alone, she was quietly proud of how well she could put together simple, tasty food.
“I made sandwiches so we could eat together this morning. Taste is guaranteed—don’t worry.”
“Sand…wich? What’s that?”
Crane’s puzzled gaze lifted to her face.
Ah… so this world doesn’t have sandwiches.
Some foods existed here under the same names, so she had never considered the possibility.
“It’s bread with all sorts of things stuffed inside. A dish I invented myself.”
She glossed over the details. Claiming it was common back home would only create more trouble if the lie ever unraveled.
She handed him one of the paper-wrapped sandwiches while he still looked uncertain.
“Thank you, Miss Blair. This is the first time a woman has ever made something for me.”
He seemed genuinely moved. Over a sandwich? Really?
Hungry herself, she started eating while watching his reaction. Crane carefully peeled back the paper and took a bite.
“Ooooh… this is…”
A bright smile spread across his chubby face. He demolished the sandwich in seconds.
“It’s familiar and completely new at the same time! I’ve eaten every single ingredient before, but just mashing them together and putting them in bread turns it into something entirely different!”
He was as excited as a child who had just received a new toy.
“Haha… that good, huh?”
“If you’re still hungry, have another.”
She had packed two each anyway. He polished off the second one just as quickly, then looked at her with open longing.
“Then take this one too. I’m on a diet.”
A complete lie. With all the training she was doing lately, she could eat as much as she wanted without gaining a single pound.
“Ah—shouldn’t you eat it, Miss Blair? I’m fine, really…”
His round face flushed with embarrassment even as his hand closed around the sandwich and he began devouring it with gusto. Watching someone enjoy her cooking that much felt good. He reminded her of a junior from the military or a younger schoolmate—someone easy to feel fond of.
Compared to the swaggering male students of the swordsmanship department or the overly coy girls, Crane was simply easier to be around. He seemed kind, and he didn’t look like the type who would suddenly jump her.
“Alright. Finished? Let’s get started.”
“Yes!”
She cleared the space and began correcting his stance. It had been a disaster at first, but he had clearly been working hard; little by little, he was improving.
After roughly two hours of swinging steel, they took a short break.
“Haa… haa…”
Crane, still breathing hard, looked at her.
“Thank you, Miss Blair. Because of you, sword practice has actually become fun lately.”
“Really? Then I’m glad.”
She offered him an awkward smile.
“Um… if it isn’t too rude, there’s something I’ve been curious about…”
“Hm? What is it?”
He hesitated, then closed his eyes tightly as if steeling himself before opening them again.
“What exactly is the relationship between you and Professor Anton?”
His innocent eyes searched her startled face. She blinked at him, mildly confused.
“Huh? Professor Anton is a teacher I respect. Why do you ask?”
“Ah… is that so? I’m sorry. I just suddenly wondered. I thought maybe the two of you were… dating.”
“What? No way. The professor is the benefactor who helped me when I was at my lowest. I’ve never once thought of him that way. Of course I admire his skill and character.”
“Right. I admire him deeply as well.”
“He’s handsome, so plenty of the girls like him, but I’ve never seen him that way.”
No matter how good-looking a man is, the idea of dating one is still unthinkable.
This kid must have been spinning all sorts of fantasies just because she looked like a girl. Cute, in a way.
She wanted to tell him there would never be anything like that, so he should drop the useless daydreams—but misconceptions were free.
“Alright, time for running. Up you get.”
She stood first and offered him her hand.
“Ah… Miss Blair…”
He suddenly stammered, face turning red, cold sweat beading on his skin.
“What? Are you hurt?”
“N-no.”
After a moment’s hesitation he took her hand and rose. His palm was damp with sweat.
“Other than my mother and the maids, this is the first time I’ve ever held a girl’s hand.”
“What?”
Is he serious? Even I, who never had much luck with women, wasn’t that bad…
Crane scratched his cheek sheepishly and spoke carefully.
“Strange, right? I was raised so overprotected that I ended up passive… But after meeting you, Miss Blair, I started wanting to change.”
A snort of laughter escaped her. What was he talking about? Why would meeting her make him want to change?
“Oh… is that so?”
“Yes!”
His answer was bright and firm. Something warm stirred in her chest. It seemed her own efforts had inspired him.
Then as his senior in swordsmanship, she would have to set an even better example and drag this clumsy fool along properly.
“That’s good to hear. I’ve found goals I want to chase since coming to the Academy, and I’m working hard for them. Let’s do well together. You can definitely do this.”
She smiled and gave his shoulder a couple of light pats, hoping the encouragement would stick.
In that same instant, the wind carried the sharp scent of sweat straight into her nose.
“Ugh…”
It was starting again. Heat bloomed low in her belly, pulsing hard. She staggered badly, unable to stay upright.
“Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
Crane caught her before she could fall, worry plain on his face.
“I’m fine. It’s nothing like that…”
Her breasts, swollen from the sudden heat, and her stiff nipples pressed firmly against his arm.
“….”
Their eyes met.
“Th-that’s… I only grabbed you so you wouldn’t fall and get hurt.”
“Yeah. Don’t worry about it. Thanks for catching me.”
“I’m sorry.”
He squeezed his eyes shut and bowed at the waist in a formal apology. From what she had heard, the Brunner family was old, powerful, and influential—yet Crane never swaggered about his status. He was polite, earnest, and hardworking.
A soft flush rose across her milky skin, probably from the heat still simmering inside her. After a short while the worst of it subsided.
“Let’s stop here for today and head back to Professor Anton.”
Most of the students were already gathered in the wide practice yard beside the swordsmanship building. Practicing with Crane had made them a little late.
Fortunately not too late. Professor Anton noted their arrival with a nod and marked them present, then raised his voice so every student would hear.
“Listen up, everyone! Today we will be supporting a goblin subjugation in the village near the Academy!”
Goblin subjugation support?
Her heart began to race. It felt exactly like something out of a fantasy novel. She was actually going to fight goblins herself?
“It could be dangerous, so May and Crane should remain at the school.”
What?
“Please wait, Professor! I really want to go too.”
“W-wait! I’ll go as well!”
Crane raised his voice right after her.
“With your current skill, it may be too much…”
The professor shook his head.
“I’ve trained so hard. I promise I won’t get in anyone’s way. Please—I’m begging you.”
She poured every ounce of earnestness into her voice.
“Hmm… Very well. You may come. But you will act with the utmost caution.”
“Yes! Understood!”
Her chest swelled with pure anticipation—completely unaware of what awaited her afterward.