Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Cut Losses
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"What kept you so late?"
"Oh, just some weird guys outside."
"Weird guys?"
"It's nothing."
Tana and Eve looked like they didn't quite follow, but they didn't need to. I had no intention of dragging them into resolving the violence.
They've already helped me out plenty.
The fact that May's crew had been so brazen meant they had solid backing—probably the Dean.
I didn't want to risk getting on the Dean's bad side and dragging Tana and Eve into the fallout.
"Whoa, that smells amazing."
"Right? Eve's cooking is out of this world!"
The delicious aroma tickled my nose. Even though it had just been a warm-up workout, my stomach suddenly growled with hunger. I sat down, and our little celebration kicked off.
We clinked our soda cups and dug in.
"This is good."
"Seriously delicious."
"Hehe."
Now I knew why Eve had that perfect housewife vibe. Whoever snagged her would be one lucky guy.
"Chapheni ended up getting expelled, right?"
"Yeah, they found all the evidence of potion-making in his room. And get this—he'd even collected your hair, Eve. Ugh, gives me chills. What was he planning to do with it?"
"Try to turn into you?"
"Eww!"
"That's so gross."
Chapheni Kraush hadn't just been expelled—he was under investigation for sexual harassment too. Eve had even given a statement about it.
"Still, glad you pulled through."
"It's because you two were there."
Eve smiled at me and Tana. In the awkward, ticklish atmosphere, Tana changed the subject.
"So why are you still wearing those glasses all the time? Kids went nuts when you dolled up last time."
"Hmm, doing my makeup is tough."
"I'll show you. It's not that hard."
"Hmm."
Eve glanced at me subtly.
She seemed to want me to say something, but I had no idea what she was hoping for, so I just went with the honest truth.
"You only need to doll up when it's necessary. I like how you look now—it suits you, Eve. Feels more like your true self?"
"......You're right."
Was that the right answer?
Eve nodded with a smile, and though Tana looked a bit disappointed, she respected Eve's choice.
As we chatted about this and that, a knock came from outside. Had we been too loud? I stood up to answer and warned them.
"Get up on the bed and hide so no one sees you."
"Why? Other guys would just be jealous."
"Just hide."
Tana could be so bold—or clueless—sometimes, but anyway, Eve pulled her up onto the bed and they pressed against the wall.
I didn't want rumors about just me—I didn't want Tana and Eve caught up in weird gossip either.
Who could it be? Ares?
The only one who'd come to my room was Ares, so I opened the door. There stood my childhood friend with long black hair—Rin.
"Rin?"
Just being in the boys' dorm drew stares from the surrounding students. I could already hear the guys whispering.
Rin scratched the back of her head awkwardly, probably aware of the eyes on her.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Huh?"
"I heard some weird seniors were looking for you. Thought you might've gotten hurt."
"Oh! Where are those seniors now?"
I'd been planning to go give them a quick hand, but Rin waved it off.
"They all left. Guess it wasn't that important."
"Eh? No stamina, huh."
They'd made such a fuss about their seniors coming, but in the end, the seniors must've gotten annoyed and bailed.
"Smells like you're eating something good in here..."
Rin peeked inside at the food, and her expression hardened. The friendly, gentle smile she'd had moments ago slowly faded from her lips.
"Smells like girls too?"
"Huh?"
Rin shoved my chest lightly and barged in, locking the door behind her. I could hear the guys outside peeking and making a racket, but Rin ignored them completely.
"Move."
"W-Wait. This is a guy's room. If you come in like this, rumors will fly."
"We're childhood friends. Basically family. Who cares what other people think."
"Still..."
I planted my hands on both walls, barricading her, but she deftly brushed my arms aside and stepped in. She spotted the two girls huddled on my bed.
"H-Hi?"
"H-Hello."
"On the...... bed?"
"Wait! Don't misunderstand! We were just partying, and when someone knocked, they hid up there!"
"......"
Rin locked eyes with me, as if verifying if I was telling the truth. I held her gaze without backing down, and after a moment, she took a deep breath and nodded.
"Got it. But wasn't it a bit reckless letting two girls into your room?"
"Yeah, fair point."
It was true, so I didn't argue. But then Eve and Tana spoke up from their side.
"We suggested it first! We said it'd be low-key, so no need to book a spot—just do it in the room."
"Right. We were gonna do it in our room, but the other girls are such gossips."
"Your room?"
That seemed to irk her too—Rin's eyes twitched—but she slowly regained her smile and asked.
"Mind if I join?"
"Um, well..."
"No."
Eve hesitated, but Tana drew a firm line.
"This is a private party celebrating Daniel's expulsion getting revoked. Don't want any outsiders crashing."
"I'm his childhood friend. I deserve to celebrate too."
"What'd you do? We planned strategies with him and wrecked the trap."
"I did too...!"
Rin started to say something but clenched her fist and shut her mouth. She'd asked her sister for help on my behalf, but it hadn't amounted to much.
"Nothing, right? So..."
Knock knock knock
"Daniel? Rin!"
"Ares?"
Wondering what was up, I opened the door. There stood Ares, sweating bullets and looking flustered.
"I-I heard Rin went into your room. Just checking..."
"Yeah, she did. But she'll probably head out soon."
My words must've hit hard.
Rin stared at me with her mouth agape, but I ignored her gaze.
But then the girl who'd been on my side moments ago betrayed me.
"Ares? Come on in! We're partying—wanna join?"
It was Tana, who'd just been grilling Rin. I kept forgetting she was the one chasing after Ares.
"Party? What kind?"
"Celebrating Daniel's expulsion getting canceled."
"Oh. But I didn't really do anything..."
"You're his childhood friend! Just come in!"
"Is she seriously insane?"
I pointed at Tana, baffled by how she was contradicting everything she'd just said to Rin. Eve looked equally exasperated as she stared at her.
"Still, let's all celebrate. It's a good thing, and you're Daniel's friends."
"Haa."
I scratched the back of my head, sighed, and nodded. I could handle the queasiness from having Rin around by now.
"Not too long, though. Let's wrap it up in about an hour."
I leaned against the bed and sat. Tana and Eve immediately took the spots on either side of me. Tana seemed to aim for the seat next to Ares naturally enough.
Rin looked flustered at Eve but sat down with a sour expression since Eve wasn't budging.
After that, things flowed decently enough.
I'd figured Rin's dramatic entrance and Ares joining would kill the vibe, but those two were social butterflies with tons of friends—they loosened up quick and started chatting away.
I caught glimpses of petty sniping, like them emphasizing their childhood friend status, but I ignored it.
"Right? Isn't it hilarious?"
"......Yeah."
I eyed Tana warily as she nudged my side and leaned in. She'd been trying to hook Ares—why was she clinging to me?
Now that the party's actually happening, she's getting cold feet?
Could be.
With Ares right there partying along, she couldn't make moves, so she was leaning on comfy old me.
An hour passed like that, and I exercised my room-owner privileges to end the party sharp.
"Tana, Eve—sorry, can you head out first? Got stuff to talk about with these two."
"Hmm?"
"Okay."
Tana and Eve left, and the two waiting behind asked what was up. I sighed and spoke.
"Think we need to redefine our relationship."
I was the younger one here, so in modern kid terms...
Cut losses.
*
Back in her room, Tana let out a sigh.
Ares showing up, of all people.
She hadn't expected Rin, but Ares? No way.
"He really is so handsome."
She giggled and kicked her feet against the bed. From the soft, flowing golden hair down to his sharp nose and pale skin.
He looked just like a prince from a fairy tale—a living painting. And hanging out in the same room, no less.
Things had been a bit awkward since she turned down his date invite, but now that was gone.
Hyaa, he's so cool.
Like that, Tana's eyes slowly drifted shut, and she fell asleep without realizing it. Even in her dreams, one guy appeared.
The black-haired boy who'd saved her from being bullied on the rooftop.
The one who'd stylishly sent May's crew packing.