Two Teacups (4)
I only slipped into the classroom as lunchtime was drawing to a close. I'd headed out at dawn again today and worked straight through till now.
Belica spotted me and waved enthusiastically. "Hey! Why're you so late! Not that it's anything new for you!"
Just like she said, it wasn't rare for me to show up around this time, but for some reason, eyes were gathering on me. I ignored it and headed to my seat. Of course, there was a problem sitting there that I couldn't ignore.
"Move. I wanna sit."
I said it to Belica, who was planted firmly in my spot. But she didn't even pretend to hear me. She just patted her thigh.
"You can sit right here."
"What if I actually sit? You trying to get crushed?"
"You'd actually sit!? I'm seriously offended for real!"
"I'm seriously sorry for real. But I'm dead tired, so think about how I feel having to listen to this crap from you."
"Why're you so wiped out~? What've you been up to till now?"
Belica looked up at me with sparkling eyes. What's with her now? She'd been quiet lately, or so I'd thought.
"…"
I let out a deep sigh and casually scanned the room, pretending otherwise. A few people were still sneaking glances my way. Ronari Sharino was among them.
I just turned away from the stares. Belica's loud voice hammered at my back.
"Hey! Where you going!"
"Out. If anyone asks why I bailed, tell 'em you were harassing me."
"I'll give you your seat back!"
"Too late. Enjoy the demerits for bullying."
And with that, I left the lecture hall. Maybe head back to the dorm and catch some sleep. As I trudged toward the dormitory lost in that thought, someone suddenly hugged me from behind, arms around my waist.
"Let go."
"Why're you sulking again, dummy?"
"Who's sulking?"
"Hmm~ Who could it be?"
Belica's head popped up from under my left armpit.
"Maybe that guy who's had a funeral face since Friday lunch?"
"This is all your fault. I'm gonna tattle to Ruda that you were messing with me."
"Eek… Please spare me that, at least…"
"Anyway, head in. I'm off to crash."
"You finally show up and now you're bailing? 'Cause the class vibe's weird?"
"You know, so spill why. Why's everyone sneaking peeks at me all of a sudden?"
Belica released the back hug and circled around to face me. She struck a detective-like pose, chin in hand, feigning seriousness.
"Ahem, well… probably…"
"No beating around the bush."
"Rumor has it last year's rabid dog is back?"
Figures. It'd only been a day, but word was already spreading like that.
…At least it's not some weird rumor tying it to Ronari. Small mercies.
"Just 55th place. What's the big deal?"
"Telling me won't change a thing. Your gossip queen Belica will school you, so listen up. Gossip is supposed to be a big deal."
You know that and still spread it?
"And 'just' 55th? That's top 20% of the year. In an academy full of elites. Pretty impressive, right?"
Coming from you, it loses some punch. Anyway, I brushed past Belica and kept walking.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm impressive. So I deserve to go nap. Quit bugging me."
She still trailed after me like a puppy.
"Aww, c'mon. Just sleep in class."
"With that vibe? Fat chance. Plus, guys like Gideon'll come sniffing around once a day now. No peace in class."
"Pfft~ So you skip every class from now on?"
It wasn't wrong, but…
"Dunno… I'll rest today and think it over."
"When you coming back? Want me to wake you for dinner? Sparring tonight?"
"Gonna skip it all. Sorry."
A light smack hit my back right away.
"Dummy!"
I flinched at that. Hated how right she was.
"Don't say sorry. Between us. It's embarrassing."
"…Yeah. Thanks."
"Don't thank me either!"
Then what can I say?
"Alright, I'm out? I won't cover for you if Ruda asks where you are!"
Belica scampered back toward the lecture hall. But this time, I called her back.
"Hey."
"?"
"You're doing remedial this weekend too."
"Ugh… Why bring up the dark side of my life all sudden…"
"Figured I'd grab something from outside instead."
"…Huh? Since when does thick-headed Ilsea get girls' feelings? Not even a fingernail's worth?"
"Whatever. Tell me if you need anything. I'm really going."
I left her tilting her head in confusion. So sleepy. Gotta head out for work tonight too. But for weekend time off, no choice.
……
Splash—
"Why so gung-ho lately? Looks like you took my advice for last week's ranking tournament too."
Saturday morning light filtered into the sewer entrance. Teresa doused me with water as usual on my way out from the night shift and asked.
I dumped my gear on the ground and replied.
"Not like I suddenly felt motivated or anything."
"Then why'd you win? Trying to impress the girls?"
Normally I'd laugh it off as nonsense, but… this time I couldn't. Her joke was 2% true.
"…Just felt like the kids these days have no manners."
"What're you saying? You're a kid too. Did the guy trash-talk you or something?"
"What're you gonna do about it? Spank him for me?"
"You already beat his ass, didn't you? Word's buzzing around the academy that last year's merciless Ilsea Alerzar is back."
Even kid stuff like that had reached Teresa's ears already? Or did she think like them?
Clothes changed, time to move. I'd been running myself ragged till now anyway.
I packed up and slunk toward my destination.
"Huh? Not heading to the dorm today? Got plans?"
Sharp as ever.
"Nah, nothing big. Got some errands outside."
"Date?"
"Like I'd have luck that good. See ya."
I waved vaguely without looking back at Teresa.
"Yeah, have fun."
……
And the place I'd headed to since morning was downtown, as expected. A shady alley, specifically.
Landscapes from last week zipped by on both sides. Shop windows gleaming pale in the morning sun, rundown stores stirring from sleep.
Early hour—or maybe not quite in the slums yet—kept the streets deserted.
…This the right way?
Almost there, but I scanned around the destination area. It was just a spot I'd passed returning last time, so memory was fuzzy.
But I soon spotted the street from before. In the corner of my vision, a familiar window display with items lined up.
The lady who looked like the owner was just about to open the shop door. I approached slowly and bowed my head.
"Hello."
"…Hm? A student?"
She glanced at my face, mildly surprised, then smiled warmly.
"What brings a student to a place like this so early? Got business?"
I carefully pulled the item in question from my bag. A small paper box. I opened it and showed her the broken teacup inside.
She covered her mouth gracefully at the sight.
"Oh my. This…"
"Got it as a gift, but I mishandled it and it broke. Hoping to get it repaired."
"Ah, repairs are no problem. Come on in."
I followed her inside. The interior differed slightly from what I'd imagined outside. Worn yet antique wooden structure, neat porcelain pieces on the shelves in tidy colors.
The flashy stuff, including the window display, seemed limited. Plenty of humble items didn't quite match too.
"Hang on, let me see the cup?"
I handed over the box obediently and closed my eyes for a bit. The shop smelled comforting. Varnished wood and a faint earthiness. The porcelain vibe, maybe.
Come to think of it, Ronari had said she liked this place. I could see why.
Soon the owner lady spoke.
"It broke so cleanly and pretty, should glue right up. Needs drying time though—about six hours. That okay for you, student?"
"Yes, perfect. A day is better than expected."
"You're lucky. Clean breaks like this are rare. It'll be stronger after. Come back this afternoon…"
I cut in as she checked her watch.
"Oh, and if it's not too much…"
……
I left the shop and wandered the streets. So early, not much to do.
After grabbing what Belica asked for, I was truly at a loss. Couldn't exactly browse teahouses like a girl.
Window-shopping? Broke as I was, even interesting stuff would just hurt.
Only spots my wallet could handle were… yeah, like that.
I spotted an old bookstore at the corner and headed there. The owner was just moving books to the outdoor rack.
Suddenly grateful for book lovers. They shared traits: pretending otherwise, but actually pretty diligent.
Holed up in the shop corner devouring books, my stomach suddenly grumbled. Checked the time—well past lunch, awkward hour for eating.
I stuffed the few old books I'd bought as courtesy into my bag and stepped out.
About time for the appointment, so waiting at the shop shouldn't be rude.
Blame sleep debt or the books, but rubbing my tired brow, I returned to the porcelain shop.
Ding-a-ling.
Door bell chime. From inside, a familiar voice.
—"It's not available…?"
—"Actually, it is, but someone reserved it this morning. They're picking it up soon. Sorry, miss."
The talk was at the counter, naturally. I approached.
The lady saw me. "There you are. Come on in. Repair's done."
Her conversation partner turned too.
"…Ilsea?"
I didn't act surprised. Just nodded to Ronari and stood beside her.
Soon the lady emerged from the back room with the item.
She opened the paper box and showed the contents. "Used plaster, dusted with gold powder for decoration. Repair's solid, but plaster needs time to set fully inside. Best not use it for three days—keep it out."
She smiled gently. "Handle it more preciously this time."
Directed at both of us, clearly. Ronari's shoulder twitched faintly.
"Thank you."
"……"
Then the lady pulled another same-sized box from under the counter.
"This is what that boy ordered earlier. Sorry to the young lady. Only one of its kind."
I paid and took the repaired teacup box.
"Thanks."
The owner vanished back inside. Ronari still stood blankly beside me, silent.
I held out the remaining box to her.
"Here."
"…?"
"Take it."
Ronari hesitated, but I held firm till she did—no rushing, no pulling back.
"…"
She took it reluctantly, staring blankly. I echoed back exactly what she'd said that day.
"Open it."