On Her Love -7- Another Happy Day at the Academy
"Do you really have to do this?"
Hiding behind a pillar, I looked down at her purple hair and spoke to Shuen. No matter how important prior research was, this seemed excessive.
"Even if you're a lifelong singleton who's never so much as held a guy's hand, this is a bit much..."
"Shh, be quiet, commoner."
"Sigh..."
"What I, a total solo, need is prior investi...! This young lady is currently researching how to capture a man's heart!"
"People call that stalking."
—Flustered...! Shuen flinched, her shoulders twitching as she mumbled an excuse.
"It's observation!"
"Doesn't look like observation to me."
"Don't overthink it! If I say it's right, it's right!"
With a one-on-one date with Mihail coming up, Shuen was steeling herself to confess. She was stalking him to figure out trivial things like the perfect confession time or the expressions he'd be most receptive in—stuff she didn't need to overanalyze.
—Yup, total singleton confirmed...!
—Figured as much.
—Urk... Then help me out!
—Gotta watch the convenience store.
—Wha...! Didn't you say you were looking for part-time help?
—Hanna said she'd cover for a while.
—Hanna's too popular; she's booked! If a lowlife like me, with worse grades and a dumpster-fire life, steps up next, even a commoner might be fine, right?
—So you want to hog all the rejects, huh.
—Eek!
—Way too obvious, Shuen.
—Anyway, help me!
A few days ago, she'd haughtily refused any help from a mere commoner like me. Now she was begging, claiming nobles always spoke with forked tongues. And so...
—Hmm... Faced with her surprisingly tempting offer, I caved. I needed a sub anyway, and Shuen being somewhat familiar with the convenience store made it a decent deal. After getting Malik's okay, here I was, stalking Mihail with her—and wasting time in the process.
"By the way, Shuen."
"What?"
"What's the point of us doing this? What changes?"
"Huh?"
"His routine's just classes and training hall. Spying on it won't reveal anything new."
"Eek?"
Hit right in the gut twice in a row, Shuen awkwardly looked up at me.
"Yeah, huh?"
"What do you mean, 'yeah, huh'?"
"Beats me."
"Innovative."
Shuen scratched her head, then refocused on Mihail. It was 6 p.m. now. With summer approaching, the days stretched longer, keeping the sky bright. And there was Mihail, abusing the training dummy as usual.
—Haaaaah!!!!
—Damn...! Damn...!
—...Gotta show something different...!
'He's improved a lot.'
Maybe encountering that Apostle lit a fire under him. Mihail's swings were short, concise horizontals now. He'd even switched swords. The experience didn't seem entirely negative.
As I watched his thrusts and mentally listed ten things to fix, a gasp rose from below.
"Oho..."
"Impressive, right?"
"Huh?"
Shuen, scribbling furiously in her notebook, looked up at me.
"What's impressive?"
"Mihail. His focus is incredible."
"Oh?! Ah, right!"
"Hold on, Shuen. What've you been writing all this time? Wasn't it about Mihail?"
Shuen beamed innocently and showed me her notebook.
Tonight's dinner menu.
1. Bento
2. Meat
3. Canned goods
I was the fool for expecting more. After blankly watching him swing for an hour, we exchanged awkward glances as Mihail, done early, headed to the dorms.
"So, any gains?"
Nod.
"What?"
Shuen nodded gravely.
"No clue."
"..."
I genuinely wanted to flick her forehead. With a deep sigh, I hooked her neck under my arm—a headlock from my past life. Since I couldn't smack this frustrating girl, it was the best punishment I could manage.
"Gaaah! Commoner, what're you doing?! Daring to choke a noble's neck?!"
"I'll buy you dinner, so shut it."
"Commoner!"
Shuen thrashed free and glared. About to scold me for the unasked headlock, she huffed through her nose and bellowed.
"I like meat!"
"Huh..."
"Heehee!"
"Say that again."
"Cheeky! Aaaah! Sorry!"
I dragged the headlocked Shuen all the way to the restaurant.
A famous steakhouse in the capital.
—Gulp.
"N-No... Commoner."
"Yeah."
"You do like me. Bringing me to a fancy place like this!"
"Shut up and pick from the menu."
—Gulp...! Even if you ditch me with the bill, I got no money to cover it.
I let out a hollow laugh and said to Shuen, "You've always puzzled me."
"Ask away!"
"You really a noble?"
"...?"
—Nod.
"Of course! I'm the proud eldest daughter of House Tetra! Tetra Shuen...!"
"Then why... Never mind. No."
As I started then stopped, Shuen flushed and yelled.
"What?! Why stop mid-sentence?!"
"Nothing. Just thought you acted like a proper noble."
"Ohoho! Thanks!"
"...Your optimism is enviable."
"Ohoho... But commoner."
Shuen glanced around, then whispered.
"What should I order?! First time in a place like this—I don't know a thing. Can't even read the menu!"
She pointed to the cheapest item at the bottom.
"The 'Fairy's Tears' is the way to go, right?"
"Shuen."
"Yes."
"That's wine."
"Wha...!?"
"Drinks section."
Shuen mashed her face into the menu, alternating glances between it and me.
"Y-You really do...!"
"I'll pay, so pick anything and zip it."
"Eek...! You're richer than I thought!"
"Sigh..."
Shaking my head at her surprisingly impoverished life, I ordered the priciest items for the waiter.
"W-Wait! Can't bankrupt your wallet!"
"Shh! Quiet, please!"
—Pout... Shuen pursed her lips, peeked at me, and bowed her head.
"Fine! I'll chip in a bit."
—Clink.
"..."
I gave a wry smile at Shuen's trembling hand offering three gold coins.
"Oh dear..."
"Don't mock my wallet!"
"Then you pay..."
"Mock away!"
Classic Shuen pivot. With a breather, I eyed her and softly asked why I'd brought her here. Hard to chat over lunchboxes at the academy before big events.
"So, Shuen, you sure about this?"
"The menu?"
"No, something bigger."
"Hmm... Nothing's bigger than food!"
"The confession."
"Aha!"
Shuen stuffed the pre-meal bread into her bag and chimed in.
"Right! This time, I'll make Senior Mihail my man!"
Where to even start. Watching her pocket the refilled bread, I laid out precautions.
"First, no stealing bread in front of Mihail."
"Duh!"
"Why do it to me, then?"
"Huh?!"
Shuen grinned sheepishly, scratching her head.
"Dunno! Teehee!"
What to do with her. Smiling bitterly at her obvious doomed future, I offered no-regrets advice on her choice. The ending was set, novel or not. Knowing it couldn't be ethical, I took a deep breath.
"I'll tell you everything I can. I'll be nearby that day, but you have basics to handle."
"Ooh, commoner."
"Who am I?"
"Ladies' man!"
"...?"
—Nod nod.
Shuen gazed expectantly. Receiving the most absurd expectation of my life, I chuckled dryly and nodded reluctantly.
"Fine. As the infamous player, listen close."
"Yes!"
"First..."
......
"Got it!"
Shuen nodded vigorously. To check, I peered into her sparkling eyes.
"Confession where?"
"Somewhere alone!"
"Outfit?"
"Super plain!"
"Casual, not dressy. He hates flashy. Uniform's fine if nothing else."
"...Got it."
"Leftovers?"
"No takeout!"
I nodded, relieved at her solid answers.
"Perfect. Just do that."
"Got it."
"I'll note it down—memorize it."
—Nod nod.
And so dawned the bright morning of confession day. Shuen stood before her wardrobe, face serious.
"But too plain won't do."
She tossed Ricardo's picks onto the bed, rummaging and trying on pieces: huge pearl necklace, frilly dress—everything he'd forbidden. She grinned in satisfaction.
"Perfect...!"
Shuen didn't know. This choice would bring the most humiliating end of her life.
She had no idea.