Just Friends
By its very nature, the Academy trained its students ruthlessly. Fundamentally, all supernatural ability users were superhumans who had transcended human limits—and these still-maturing children were no exception. Since they were the kind of superhumans who could get shot and brush it off with a mere "Ow, that stings!", the Academy's curriculum was Spartan to a degree that outsiders would deem downright excessive.
Perhaps that was why the cafeteria was always packed to the brim during lunchtime. All food provided by the Academy was completely free, and eating wasn't mandatory. If you didn't want to eat, you didn't have to. Yet, students who skipped lunch were exceedingly rare. While the cafeteria food was indeed delicious, the main reason was that surviving the grueling afternoon classes was impossible without a full stomach.
"...Why does it feel like everyone is staring?" Yujin muttered, setting his tray down. He frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the surrounding attention.
"You'll just have to bear with it for a while, even if it's tough. Word has gotten around, after all," I replied to Yujin's muttering with a wry smile.
What Class 1-A had gone through had spread so far that there wasn't a single soul in the Academy who hadn't heard of it. First-years on a field training exercise thrown into a genuine, life-or-death battle. Class 1-A, returning safely after a series of harrowing twists and turns. As fellow students of the Academy, it was only natural for their curiosity to be piqued.
It wasn't just the other first-years whose field training had been canceled; even the upperclassmen were showing interest in Class 1-A. Normally, Academy students didn't deploy to a true, proper 'combat zone' until their third year. Even then, only those with outstanding grades were selected. Sending students who weren't ready yet was a recipe for a catastrophic disaster.
For most students, their first taste of the brutal reality of the front lines came only after graduation, once they joined Cheonmyeongdae. Under such circumstances, it was only natural that a group of fresh-faced freshmen who had fought monsters and lived to tell the tale would draw immense attention.
And among them, the one standing squarely in the spotlight was Yujin, who had shown an unparalleled performance. Defeating dozens of monsters in a single blow was astonishing enough, but he had actually fought a high-tier monster. Considering the sheer terror and prestige associated with high-tier monsters, the attention Yujin received was so overwhelming that the other Class 1-A students were practically treated as mere background extras.
"I might have fought a high-tier monster, but I didn't actually beat it..."
"The fact that you fought it at all is what matters. You weren't just unilaterally toyed with; you went toe-to-toe with it, didn't you?"
"That was only possible because Ms. Siul was there. Without her, let alone fighting on equal footing, I doubt I could have even bought us any time."
"Other students wouldn't have even been able to buy time," Arin said with a sigh. To Captain-level or Vice-Captain-level heroes, a high-tier monster might not be much different from any other beast, but to anyone else, they were absurdly formidable foes. It was telling enough that the standard rules of engagement explicitly stated to avoid one-on-one combat with them at all costs.
Yet, a mere student had stood against such a monster. A first-year, no less. If he was already doing this now, what would he be capable of by his second or third year?
Yujin knit his brows, clearly burdened by the surrounding scrutiny. But for some reason, a smile tugged at my lips. That is the destiny of a protagonist, my boy. Accept it gracefully. You can't be getting cold feet already. At this point, he was merely a promising prospect with a bright future. But before long, he would be hailed as the second coming of the Commander-in-Chief, receiving an incomparable level of attention and spotlight.
He would have to fight monsters that made high-tier beasts look like jokes, bearing the weight of the entire world's expectations on his shoulders. If he was already feeling sick to his stomach from this little bit of attention, he might end up with a stomach ulcer later on. Supporting him so he wouldn't break was the role of a heroine. Yes, in other words, Aris's role! I was a heroine too, and so were Arin and Anastasia, but none of us could compare to the main heroine.
I need to hook him up with Aris as soon as possible. Look at how overwhelmed he already was. He could barely even eat his food just because the surrounding students were stealing glances at him. Once he had someone he could completely lean on, things would get a little better.
By the way, our table had gotten quite lively. Before, it had just been Aris and me, and since neither of us was the talkative type, it had always been quiet. But at some point, our numbers had multiplied. The turning point was the field training. Perhaps surviving a near-death experience together had forged a bond, because we naturally ended up sitting together. There were nine of us at the table: Anastasia, Arin, Anastasia, Yujin, Anastasia, Lucia, Anastasia, Aris, and Anastasia. Yes, exactly nine. Excluding the hospitalized Leo, the entire Golden Generation was gathered here. Originally, this group wasn't supposed to form until after the summer break. I had planned to get close to everyone else starting from the second semester... but I suppose there was no point in nitpicking the 'original novel' at this stage, right? Lucia is not a loner anymore!
"Yeah, it's good." "No, it's mediocre." "I think so too." "It's bland." "The sauce is too salty."
The silver-haired quintuplets, who looked identical down to the last detail, spoke in turn. Their hairstyles, their school uniforms, and even the food they were eating were exactly the same. They were picking at their food, getting tonkatsu sauce all over their mouths. They were the clones she had created during the mock battle. As for why she hadn't dispelled them and was eating with them... well, only Anastasia knew. Nobody pointed it out, though. It wasn't like Anastasia's eccentricities were anything new. Once, she had filled the entire cafeteria with her clones, only for Ms. Angelica to smack every single one of them on the head to make them vanish.
"..."
Aris looked slightly uncomfortable. Sharing a table with so many people still seemed difficult for her. Even so, she was doing much better than at first. Aris was extremely shy, but that only applied to strangers. Once she got comfortable, she became surprisingly composed. She had grown used to Arin and Anastasia over the past few days, but the addition of a new face seemed to have triggered her shyness all over again.
While quietly eating her meal, Aris stole a glance at Yujin. It wasn't exactly a warm look. As expected, she doesn't have any particular feelings for Yujin yet. Hehe, don't worry. I know exactly how compatible you two are. You might be awkward now, but later on, you'll be a couple that can't live without each other. I'll be pushing you two together from behind, so make sure to repay the favor once you make it work, okay?
But was our dear protagonist eating properly? This was his first time being the center of attention. To the still-inexperienced Yujin, it must be incredibly uncomfortable and awkward. Out of worry, I rested my chin on my hand and watched him. He was trying not to show it, but he definitely seemed restless. ...Huh? Did we just make eye contact? Was it my imagination? Well, probably. At any rate, Yujin was eating with an expression that said he didn't even know what he was putting in his mouth. I was worried he might get indigestion at this rate.
After lunch, I paid a visit to the infirmary. Naturally, it wasn't because I was hurt. Lucia had no need for medicine or treatment. Why would someone who could reattach severed limbs ever need medical care? But that wasn't the case for others. Super Regeneration wasn't a common supernatural ability, and there was no way everyone possessed the same regenerative powers as me.
"How do you feel after taking the medicine? Are you okay?"
Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy. I had worried he might get indigestion from eating so stiflingly, and lo and behold, he actually did. Even a supernatural ability user who could fight high-tier monsters was no different from an ordinary human when it came to getting indigestion from swallowing food wrong.
"Yeah, don't worry. It's nothing major."
"What do you mean, nothing major? Your face is completely red."
I patted Yujin on the back while constantly checking his face. Just a moment ago, his complexion had been pale. Now, after taking the digestive medicine, it had turned completely red instead. Indigestion made you feel nauseous, clogged up, and bloated. Usually, throwing up everything in your stomach made you feel better instantly, but Yujin didn't seem to have any intention of doing that. Well, throwing up everything you just ate right after lunch was a bit unpleasant, after all.
We had arrived at the infirmary about five minutes ago. I had brought Yujin here after he ended up with indigestion from eating without even knowing whether the food was going into his mouth or his nose. There was no one else in the room. The school nurse seemed to have gone out for lunch, and Arin had dragged Aris and Anastasia away, claiming they had things to prepare for the next class. I had offered to help, but Arin rejected me, telling me to take Yujin to the infirmary instead. Honestly, it wasn't like Yujin was a child; there was no way he couldn't find the infirmary on his own. But on the other hand, I think I understood Arin's intentions. When you're feeling sick, being left all alone just makes you feel miserable. Even if they can't do much, having someone by your side brings comfort. Yep, as expected of our class president.
"When you have indigestion, pricking your finger usually helps... Is there a needle around here? If not, I can use my sword..."
"Yujin, that's just an unverified folk remedy. It's probably just a placebo effect."
"...Is that so?"
Yujin blinked, looking slightly bewildered. He muttered quietly to himself, "Then what I did for Yui back then was..." I, too, had pricked my finger to draw blood when I had indigestion in the past. Back then, it had been so terrifying, but now, I could probably do it with a smile. How did I, who used to be terrified of even syringe needles, end up like this? Not that I particularly minded, though.
"Here, sit down."
As expected of the Academy, the mattress on the infirmary bed was incredibly plush. Yujin awkwardly let his body sink into the bed. Since he had taken the digestive medicine and it wasn't a severe case of indigestion, a supernatural ability user of Yujin's caliber would probably recover within thirty minutes. Still, since I had decided to look after him, should I help him out a little more?
"Yujin, give me your hand."
"Huh?"
"Your hand. Give it to me."
Yujin blinked blankly, as if he had misheard. When I repeated myself, he finally seemed to understand and extended his hand. For some reason, he avoided my gaze and looked down. This brought back memories of what happened last time. Back then, I had licked his finger like a lollipop. It had been so hot that it completely blistered the inside of my mouth. It wasn't a bad taste, though.
"They say massaging the web between your thumb and index finger is good for indigestion."
I took Yujin's right hand and firmly pressed the space between his thumb and index finger. Perhaps because he wielded a sword, the skin there was exceptionally tough with calluses. It barely felt like I was pressing anything at all.
"Isn't that a folk remedy too?"
"My dear child Yujin, it is not. This is pressing an acupressure point. I can guarantee it's much more effective than simply drawing blood."
Laughing mischievously, I diligently massaged his hand. I couldn't remember clearly, but I believed it was called the Hegu point or something. It was a type of acupressure. It was just some sketchy knowledge I had picked up from the internet in my past life, so I didn't know the exact details.
By the way, his palm was remarkably large whenever I looked at it. It was incredibly sturdy. It was a hand that bore the weight of his past efforts. Not just his hands, but his forearms were also thick with muscle. Perhaps because they had been singed by fire, they were slightly tanned. It felt somewhat unbalanced since his face was so pale, but his hands were like this. Looking closely, I could see faint burn scars here and there. They were probably wounds from back when he was still unskilled with his ability.
"You're a really hard worker, Yujin."
"...Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"
"Just because. Holding your hand somehow makes me realize it."
It wasn't the kind of hand a boy who was just about to enter high school should have. Calluses. Blisters. Burns. The traces of five years of relentless training since awakening his supernatural ability during the Great Disaster were vividly etched into his skin.
"Every time I massage your fingers and palm, I can feel the sweat you've poured into this. There's no way a hand like this could be made without an immense amount of effort. You've been working hard all this time, haven't you? Yes, you really are amazing, Yujin. You should hold your head high. Don't worry about the stares of those around you. It's all the result of your hard work."
"..."
Yujin had grand dreams, but his inner self was surprisingly ordinary. He had the ambition to one day become a Captain of Cheonmyeongdae and eradicate all monsters, yet he felt burdened by the expectations of those around him.
"But I'm a little worried. I wonder if you might push yourself too hard and collapse."
In the novel, Yujin had actually done exactly that. Obsessed with the compulsion to grow stronger, he would push himself to the point of utter exhaustion and collapse. A fanatical obsession with power had made Yujin who he was today, and it would shape who he would become. I had no intention of denying that. In fact, I supported it. Even so, humans needed rest.
"Sometimes, you seem so anxious, Yujin. Like someone being chased by something. When things get tough, won't you stop and rest for a bit? If you only push yourself, you won't be able to endure it. Proper rest is essential. Okay? You aren't alone. So you don't have to shoulder everything by yourself. Whenever you feel miserable, look around you. There will surely be people who will help you. People who will support you so you don't collapse. You won't have to look far. They might already be right by your side."
For example, Aris. Or Frey. Are they the same person, you ask? They're split personalities (wink).
But what on earth was I blabbering about all of a sudden? I had just blurted out something completely random while massaging his hand. This was all because Yujin's hand was so needlessly robust. The masochistic nature inside me was squirming. I wanted to say more, but I stopped myself, worried that something even weirder might slip out. Even I thought it was incredibly out of the blue.
"..."
There was no reply from Yujin. The atmosphere had turned awkward because of my random speech. Laughing awkwardly, I diligently applied acupressure to Yujin's hand, pressing down on his veins. It had been several minutes, but there was no sign of Yujin's complexion returning to normal. It was still bright red. Is this really just indigestion? Is it a severe case? Just how uncomfortable was that seat for him to get this bad...
"Lucia."
Just as I was seriously contemplating whether I should rub his stomach, Yujin finally opened his tightly shut mouth. His voice was slightly cracked at the end.
"What is it?"
"About the wish coupon we talked about this morning."
Ah, that. I had been waiting for it. Hehe, as luck would have it, there's no one else around, and it's just the two of us. It was the perfect timing to use the wish coupon. Come on, tell me. Lucia is more than willing to accept any kind of desire, you know? I don't just give out wish coupons to anyone. This is a special service just for the protagonist. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so you'd better make good use of it. ...Though, knowing Yujin's personality, he wouldn't ask for anything weird.
Yujin took a moment to catch his breath. He covered his face with his left hand—the one I wasn't massaging—and let out steady breaths. Was it hard for him to say? Just what kind of wish was it? The faint smell of medicine filling the quiet infirmary was joined by his sweet breath. Yujin hesitated to speak. Uh, this is starting to look a bit suspicious. This morning in the classroom with other students was one thing, but we were completely alone here. What was stopping him from speaking... Wait, hold on. Could the wish he was about to ask for be... that? I mean, it's not like I'd mind, but... wait, is that bad? There's no way, but what if Yujin asks for that kind of thing... But Aris should be first... Ah, no! It's too early for Aris! Aris is still a kid! Even if we're the same age! Besides, Yujin is a dense, righteous protagonist, right? There's no way he'd use a wish coupon as an excuse to do something indecent. That's why I told him I'd grant anything... But Yujin is still a guy, and I understand the dark, damp desires of men better than anyone. All men are wolves. Even if they act like gentlemen, their heads are filled with all sorts of perverted delusions. So even if it's the pure-hearted Yujin... Heh, wait, am I in an extremely dangerous situation right now?
"You might find it unpleasant. Are you still okay with it?" Yujin said in a barely audible voice. His face was still covered by his left hand. The only thing visible was his trembling lips. His right hand, which I was holding for acupressure, grew damp with sweat. I couldn't tell whose sweat it was.
"...Of course. I told you, didn't I? I'll grant any request."
Having said it so many times, I had no intention of backing out now. To be honest, I had treated it half as a joke. Even though I said I'd grant anything, I figured Yujin would ask for something trivial. My heart began to thud wildly. Flinching slightly, I squeezed Yujin's right hand. This feeling was similar to back then. Just like when I visited him in the hospital, a sudden heat surged through my entire body. Back then, I had been out of my mind due to Regina's drugs. But right now...
"Lucia."
Yujin called my name. He lowered the hand covering his face and looked straight at me. In his deep blue eyes, which looked like they held the blue sky, I could see my own reflection, trying my best to maintain a smile.
"This is my wish."
"Y-Yeah..."
I think it's still a bit too early, but if Master wishes for it—ah, no, if the protagonist wishes for it, I'm ready. We were going to end up doing this eventually anyway. It's just happening a bit too early, but that's fine, right? Ah, ahhh... But I have Frey... But if Aris hooks up with Yujin, Frey will automatically... Ah, no. My thoughts are getting tangled. Should we do it? Should we just go for it? ...No. It's not my choice. I'm just granting a wish. So whatever happens from here on out, it's all the fault of Yujin for making such a weird wish. Lucia had no free will in this. Right? Suppressing my racing heart, I waited for Yujin's next words. I pressed my thighs tightly together and straightened my back. On the outside, I maintained as much composure as possible, channeling strength into my knees, which felt like they might buckle at any moment. Whew, okay. Ready. I'll grant any wish. Even if it's the dark, damp request of a teenager who has just awakened to his sexuality!
Perhaps my resolve reached him, because Yujin, with a look of firm determination, spoke up clearly.
"Please be my friend!"
...Huh? What? Excuse me? A friend? That's it? Seriously? Lucia herself offered to grant you a wish, you know? We're completely alone here, you know? The table was set, all you had to do was eat, and you're throwing cold water on it now? ...Is this guy seriously a lolicon? I should have known from the moment Aris was set as the main heroine.