A Gift and a Farewell
Yohan tilted his head at Zeno’s question. He had already returned to the dormitory and was organizing his belongings.
‘Right… how exactly am I supposed to give this to her?’
Come to think of it, if he went to see the assistant professor in his current state… something was bound to happen.
‘Something will happen, won’t it?’
[I cannot guarantee that nothing will. There are quite a few things one could point out, starting with your current condition.]
Yohan nodded.
…That was true.
After all, the assistant professor already knew about this incident. And from the looks of the stares he had received on his way back to the dormitory, rumors seemed to have already begun spreading in quiet corners.
Yohan had noticed many eyes following him. Everyone moved as if trying to avoid him, and it wasn’t difficult to guess why.
‘Three students were expelled. It’s only natural.’
It was a natural reaction. In an unprecedented move, the academy had expelled three noble students—personally, by the chancellor himself.
‘The whole place must be in an uproar.’
The other noble students had probably already figured out the situation. The commoner students would catch on soon enough through sheer intuition.
After finishing with his luggage, Yohan sat down on the edge of the bed.
‘Last time it was because of the chocolate. This time it’s for an entirely different reason.’
He let out a long sigh.
He could deliver the gift to the assistant professor in person. But if he did, would she be able to handle everything that would come after?
‘After all, I’ve already decided to drop out.’
What happened after his withdrawal was impossible to predict. In the worst case, it could become a burden for her.
Then what should he do?
‘…Is there no place where we could meet in secret? No way to call her out without anyone noticing?’
After thinking for a while, Yohan came up with one idea.
Ah.
There was one.
The next day, Yohan headed for the chancellor’s office.
He remembered the chancellor telling him during their previous conversation that he could visit anytime.
[You intend to deliver the gift through the chancellor?]
‘Yes. There’s no other way right now.’
That was true. Moreover, whenever Professor Aria was absent, her direct assistant, Serafina, was often summoned to the chancellor. No one would find it strange.
From Yohan’s perspective, it was a relief.
Knock. Knock.
“Come in, Student Yohan.”
[He already knew.]
‘He really did. I’ve thought this since last time, but he’s no ordinary person.’
Then why, in all those past loops, had the academy been unable to exert any real power despite having someone like him?
Yohan suppressed his doubts and stepped into the chancellor’s office. For now, he had something he needed to do.
“You only have one day left. Are your preparations for departure going well?”
In response to the chancellor’s question, Yohan wrote in the notebook he had brought with him.
— Yes. It went faster than I expected.
“That’s good to hear. So, what brings you to see me?”
— There is something I would like help with. After all, it would be fair to say I’m only alive now because the assistant professor found me.
Kassian nodded. It was a reasonable point. If he had been left unattended for long, his life could not have been guaranteed.
“I suppose one cannot say that isn’t true. So you wish to express your gratitude to Assistant Serafina?”
— Yes. But if I go see her directly, it will likely cause a commotion later.
“You want to meet her without anyone knowing. Understood. I will summon her right away. Take a seat over there.”
— Thank you.
Yohan bowed his head. Fortunately, the chancellor listened to him just as he had promised before. Not long after, Yohan was able to meet Assistant Serafina.
Knock. Knock.
“You may enter.”
“Yes, Chancellor, you called for me…”
Serafina’s words trailed off. Her eyes widened the moment she saw Yohan. Kassian rose from his seat.
“I’ll step out for a moment. Speak freely.”
Kassian left the chancellor’s office, leaving Yohan and Serafina alone.
— Hello, Assistant Professor.
When she saw Yohan communicating by writing on paper, Serafina’s eyes grew red.
“…Ah. I’m sorry, Student Yohan. If only I had gone sooner…”
Yohan hurriedly wrote again upon seeing her expression.
‘This isn’t what I wanted to see…’
Serafina carried far more guilt than Yohan had anticipated. He quickly showed her the notebook.
— No, Assistant Professor. Thanks to you, I was able to survive. I came today to thank you. Please don’t make that face.
Serafina slowly nodded after reading the words that poured out like a waterfall. She swallowed her tears and asked,
“Are you hurting anywhere else?”
— No, I received good treatment and I’m fine now. I’m taking the medicine properly too. Thank you for worrying about me.
“I’m glad.”
To the softly smiling Serafina, Yohan handed over the gift he had brought.
“…This is…”
— A gift I prepared in my own way. Would you like to open it now?
After a moment of hesitation, Serafina carefully opened the box at Yohan’s gentle urging. Inside was a hairpin adorned with a flower made of blue gemstones.
…This was not something a commoner student could obtain.
Serafina recognized that fact at a glance.
“Student Yohan, this…”
— I remembered how you used to wear a hairpin in the past, so I chose this based on that memory. Now that I see it, I think it will suit you well.
Serafina looked back and forth between the hairpin and Yohan. No matter how she thought about it, this was far too expensive for him to have acquired. Then a thought crossed her mind.
“Student Yohan, could it be that you…”
Yohan placed a finger to his lips, signaling that he could not speak.
…It was a promise he had made with the chancellor.
He was sorry toward the assistant professor, but he could not say anything.
Fortunately, she seemed to understand what he meant.
This was the chancellor’s office, after all. Yohan placed greater importance on his promise with the chancellor. And Serafina, having understood, lowered her head and spoke carefully.
“So you knew that I used to wear a hairpin in the past.”
— Yes. I saw it often.
He had seen her many times before the incident and even after. It was something he couldn’t have missed. Yohan smiled.
“…Th-that’s not… Never mind.”
Serafina stammered for a moment.
‘…He saw it often.’
Repeating Yohan’s words to herself, Serafina gently lowered her head. The tips of her ears turned a faint red. Yohan did not notice.
[Oh dear.]
‘What is it, Sir Zeno?’
[It is nothing. Focus on the conversation.]
Zeno’s voice suddenly rang out. Yohan quietly asked again, but Zeno only left behind a cold tone.
…What was that about?
Yohan found it strange, but he quickly turned his attention back to Serafina. They were in the middle of a conversation, so that came first.
— Assistant Professor?
He had written in the notebook, but since Serafina had her head lowered, she couldn’t see it. In the end, Yohan had no choice but to move closer to her.
He gently placed the notebook in her hand so she could read it.
“…Hic!”
Serafina let out a startled sound when Yohan’s hand entered her field of vision. Yohan was startled too, but he regained his composure at her following words.
“Just a moment, Student Yohan. Please give me a little time.”
— Yes, of course.
Serafina slowly exhaled. Time passed. Soon the chancellor would return.
She took the hairpin out of the box. After staring at it for a moment, she moved her hands to put it on and then looked at Yohan.
“Does it suit me?”
— Yes, it suits you very well.
Yohan smiled as he lifted the notebook.
…As expected, this had been the right choice.
‘It really does suit her. All that time I spent observing before has come in handy.’
[…]
Zeno did not respond, but Yohan brushed it off. For some reason, Zeno had been silent since earlier.
After confirming Yohan’s smile, Serafina removed the hairpin and placed it back inside the box.
She was grateful for the gift, but she could not walk around the academy wearing something like this. People would talk if they saw a commoner carrying such an expensive item.
‘Her position as an assistant might make it a little better, but it would still be a burden.’
Yohan nodded in understanding.
“Thank you for the gift, Student Yohan. I’ll cherish it.”
— Yes. That’s enough for me.
“Will there be any days after today when we might see each other again?”
Serafina asked carefully, looking at Yohan.
Yohan slowly shook his head.
…That answer should be enough.
‘I didn’t say it out loud, so the chancellor should let it slide.’
He couldn’t avoid answering entirely. This was the most he could do.
“I see.”
Serafina nodded.
A brief silence followed.
Then, the one who had kept quiet finally spoke.
“I think you’re an amazing person, Student Yohan. After all, you caught the eye of the difficult Professor Aria. Just so you know, I’m saying this without paying any attention to the other rumors.”
— Yes, I know.
Since she was Professor Aria’s direct assistant, she would know her personality well. Yohan nodded.
“I’ll believe that you’ll do well wherever you go. Thank you for everything until now.”
— I’m the one who should be thanking you.
Serafina stood up. It was time to leave.
…Even if it was a shame, she could not stay here any longer.
Yohan also rose to see her off.
Serafina walked toward the door. Once she opened it, they would likely never see each other again.
‘If I leave like this…’
Their connection would end.
She grabbed the doorknob. Before turning it, she looked back. There was something she wanted to say.
“I’m sorry for saying something like this to someone who’s leaving.”
The sudden shift to informal speech made Yohan catch his breath.
“I know it’s selfish, but I still wanted to say it. …I liked you.”
Yohan froze on the spot in shock.
“I’ve sorted out my feelings now. I’m sorry for saying this to someone who’s leaving. Take care. I hope we can meet again someday.”
Having finished speaking, Serafina hurriedly opened the door and disappeared.
[You took quite a hit there.]
Yohan couldn’t say a word. Not until the chancellor returned.
Huh?
Huh?