Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Teasing Ella During Study Time
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"Ella, is this too hard?"
"...This isn't first-year level."
"The toughest ones probably won't be this bad, right?"
I said that while snickering.
Ella looked annoyed at my words and muttered to herself... but it didn't seem threatening at all.
No matter how mad Ella got, how scary could it be? I had no reason to stop teasing her.
"You said it yourself, didn't you? That you'd get top scores this time."
"I did say that...."
"So, you have to try these tough problems too, right?"
"Tch."
"Come on, solve it. I even taught you how to approach problems like this."
"...Fine, I'll solve it."
With that, Ella started working on the problem again.
At first, I gave her a really brutal one just to tease her.
I'd studied so hard—how dare she downplay it.
"Pfft...."
But now, it wasn't about that. Ella was solving it better than expected.
She was handling the super tough problem way better than I thought, so I just kept her going.
"Sheesh...."
It was tricky, so she was taking her time, but she kept shooting me these sneaky annoyed glances. That was fun.
Clicking her tongue mid-problem, grumbling like she hated it—it was more entertaining than I'd imagined.
She probably didn't think much of it.
By the way, today it was just Ella and me studying in the club room.
Usually Karen or Ivana was around, but they had other stuff today, so no choice.
"Ella, want a cookie?"
"No thanks? I'll eat after I finish this."
"Then I'll just eat them myself."
"...Well, maybe once...."
"Pfft...."
Spending time alone with Ella like this after so long was surprisingly fun.
Of course, Ella solving problems looked more frustrated than amused.
Watching her expressions was fun too, so I kept pushing her.
If I let her keep going.... she'd whine to me about how hard they were. Obvious.
"Mm.... These are really good cookies."
"........"
"These are tastier than the ones you brought last time."
"So what...."
"If you eat this while working hard on problems.... you'd lose focus for sure. Guess I'll just eat them alone?"
I held a cookie, grinning at her as I said it.
Reason? Teasing her, obviously.
Her cheeks puffing slightly, her brow furrowing—it was all fun.
"Want one?"
"I don't want any."
"Hmm.... Really?"
"Really. I have to solve this—don't distract me."
"Hmm...."
Ella had some pride, subtly.
That was cute, though.
"Not even if I feed you?"
"...No."
I dangled the cookie near her mouth, but she stared back seriously.
Hm... Did I actually upset her?
She didn't look that mad.
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"I brought them because I wanted to eat with you.... Kinda hurts...."
"What...."
"I got them specially since it'd just be us today. Should've eaten with Lize in the dormitory if I'd known you'd hate it."
I dropped the grin and put on a pitiful face.
I'd always been good at this acting.
Even as a kid... that time I got caught gambling by Rozalin, I slipped out of it with this.
Sure, I gambled occasionally after, but I didn't get caught....
Anyway, point is, I'm pretty good at acting.
When I try, I can do it really well.
"...Can't be helped."
I tossed the cookie on the plate.
Then pulled the whole plate from the table center toward me.
I'd been sitting next to her with it between us, but now it was all mine.
She'd have to come over here to get any.
"........"
She poked at the empty spot on the table, sulking obviously.
Surprised by my reaction?
She stopped her pen mid-problem and glanced over.
It was acting, but her falling for it so easily was cute.
I didn't do this around others much, so she wouldn't suspect.
"...Hng."
"...Why take it so seriously? It was just a joke...."
"No, it's fine. If you don't want any, no need to force you...."
"No... you?"
She called me, but I kept my eyes on the plate.
"It's not that I really hate it...."
"No. If you don't want it, don't eat it. No need...."
"O-okay already! I'll eat it...!"
She stood from her chair and came over.
I'd pulled it to my side, and her arms wouldn't reach sitting.
So she got super close—her leg brushed my thigh.
"...Seriously, why sulk over something like this...."
She grumbled to herself while grabbing cookies eagerly.
I just watched quietly.
Inside, her reactions were cuter than expected, but I held back the laugh.
She'd always seemed nice, even as kids and now.
"...It's good."
"Really?"
"Why would I lie about this...? What are you even thinking?!"
The cookies were genuinely good, anyway.
Bought from a high-end central shop.
If these tasted bad, it'd be the eater's fault—taste buds or brain.
Anyone around—not just Ella—would say they're tasty.
"Haa...."
After a few, she sighed while still standing.
She'd eaten them happily, now acting tired—what?
"Tasty? Tasty?"
"Yeah, they're tasty...."
"Heh...."
"What's so funny...."
"Why? Don't like it?"
"That's not what I mean."
I dropped the act a bit and teased her outright.
Grumbling but admitting it was tasty—honest and fun.
*
We studied for the exam alone until evening.
She did better than expected and kept up, so it went longer....
"Yaaawn...."
But it got tiring.
Yeah.
"That tired?"
"Super tired.... Aren't you, Ella? Academy all day, then studying."
"Not really, but not super energetic either."
"Hnggg...."
After, I lay on the bed stretching, relaxing. Ella was still full of energy.
Somehow, me being the only tired one felt ridiculous.
We'd studied together, right?
She worked harder on problems; I just guided and taught.
Why was I the one sprawled out?
"Anyway.... You."
"Yeah, Ella? Need help with another one?"
"...No, just something I wanna ask."
"Something to ask?"
Hmm...?
Ella wanting to ask me something? Rare.
Couldn't guess easily.
"Lately.... You and Miss Ivana seem close."
"Yeah?"
"When did you get so friendly? You weren't that close before."
"Hmm... When did I get close to Ivana...."
Unexpected question—even I was surprised.
Never thought she'd ask about Ivana.
Not unanswerable, though.
"Just naturally. No reason not to—she's nice."
"...I see."
"Yeah. Plus, she asked me a favor once, and uh.... Hard to explain."
"...Got it."
Answered her, but nothing huge.
Not business-related—just happened to bond more.
Even without business talk, we'd have gotten closer.
"But why Ivana? Curious since she skipped today?"
"Oh, yeah... Sorta. She's quiet but always came to the club room. Weird she didn't today... Yeah."
True, Ivana attended more than expected.
No real need for the Nordal heir to show up so much, but she did, spending lots of time.
At first, I dragged her with wish voucher nonsense to fill numbers.
But she came way more than thought.
"Well, having a pretty girl like Ivana around often is a good thing."
"...Huh?"
"Right? Better than some stranger crashing our spot."
"That's how it works...?"
"Yeah, that's how it works."
I like pretty things.
Simple, but prettiness is always a plus.
Plus.
"You're pretty too, so we've hung out since kids. Same with Older Sister Karen and Grace."
Everyone around me was pretty.
Way prettier, cuter, more charming than average.
That's why I stuck close.
"...Ah?"
"What?"
"No, uh.... Surprised a bit."
"By what? Anything weird in what I said?"
Did something sound off?
Didn't think so....
"Nothing. Just... getting tired too, I guess. Yeah."
"Ah."
Sure, hours of studying—she had to be tired.
Her pretty face showed no fatigue; if anything, a bit uplifted.
But yeah, after all that, tired makes sense.
Probably?