The Misfit Generation (3)
If I were to summarize the current situation: Sia Stella. She demoted herself from Class A to Class C. This alone isn't enough to confirm she remembers the previous timeline. Since the regression, she hasn't come looking for me like Shirai has. She’s the type of heroine who, if I offered her a 4th-dimensional item, would probably taste it, say "What is this, yuck," and spit it right back out. If she hasn't forgotten her memories, that’s actually a good thing. I won't have to worry about her falling into ruin without me touching her, and it means one less thing for me to do. She is the only heroine I hope doesn't forget her memories.
Judith is getting along swimmingly with Yuren. Memory or not, all I need to do is attend the banquet in two years. Intimacy levels and all that nonsense don't matter; it’s just one hidden route completion. The real source of my headache is someone else. Muse Fairfield. She is one of the most serious problems. She is the heroine I desperately hope has forgotten her memories. Think about it. She is an ambitious woman who wants to make the empire her own. She’s been given a chance to attempt her revolution all over again. And if she hasn't forgotten, she even knows the flow of the future. She is a woman who has already experienced failure in the previous timeline. She must have chewed over the reasons for that failure, what she lacked, and what she needed to compensate for, hundreds of times in her mind. Failure can never bring an empress to her knees. If anything, it only makes her blood and competitive spirit boil. It’s merely a stepping stone for the victory she will eventually savor. The fall of the Solaris royal family due to one woman’s revolution—others might think it’s impossible, but the fact that there’s even a one-percent chance of it happening is what’s truly terrifying.
'When should I tell Shirai?' That I haven't lost my memories. The social gathering is starting to wind down. Many students have already left the banquet hall, and there’s much more space than before. I was leaning my back against the wall next to the entrance. Just then, my vision was blocked by golden hair fluttering in the warm spring breeze.
"Ah, hello...?"
Hm? A black-haired student with a languid expression. Her amber eyes, filled with hesitation, aren't looking at me, but are busy greeting my shoes. It’s hard to say this myself, but she feels like a mini-Judith. Unlike Judith, who is heavily weighted toward being sexy, she looks small and cute. If the name tag is black, it’s a first-year; purple is second-year; blue is third-year; white is fourth-year. The student in front of me has a purple name tag. A second-year, just like Princess Nipia. Her face is bright red. Her voice is trembling, too. Seeing as she can't even meet my eyes, it’s exactly what I think it is.
"If, if you don't mind..."
"Mate!"
A clear, elegant voice. A maternal vibe that no one else could ever imitate. I didn't even need to turn my head to know who it was. 'Weren't you in the banquet hall the whole time?' Shirai was running toward me from the opposite side of the hall. I wasn't the only one looking at Shirai. Men and women alike were unconsciously turning their heads at her beauty. And soon, their expressions were filled with astonishment. The fact that the noble Saintess Shirai was running toward someone first made their eyes widen in shock.
"Where did you go without a word? Do you know how worried I was?"
Shirai gasped for air, her hands on her knees. She must have been wandering around quite a bit, as sweat was even trickling down from her hair.
"Have you been looking for me this whole time?"
"I couldn't feel Mate’s scent anymore, so I came outside. I’ve been following that scent ever since."
Is she a dog? Finding people by scent.
Shirai wiped the sweat from her head with her shirt sleeve and asked, "Do you know this person?"
"She’s a second-year senior, and we were just exchanging light greetings. We aren't particularly close."
Mini-Judith, please go away. Since Shirai couldn't see, I waved my hand dismissively. I was going to refuse whatever she had to say anyway. It would be better for her to listen to me than to get on Shirai’s bad side. Mini-Judith nodded and quickly stepped away. Good thing she’s quick-witted. She’s not a student here for nothing.
"She left already, even though I couldn't greet her?"
"It’s almost time for class."
"That’s a shame. I wanted to at least know her name..."
She sighed, wearing an expression of regret. To a degree that felt excessive. 'Why does that sound so ominous?' It’s just a junior’s charm, wanting to get close to a senior. Maybe I’m not in my right mind because my head has been so cluttered lately.
"That’s right! We have to go to the orientation, too! The orientation!"
The first class of the academy that freshmen must attend. The swordsmanship department with their own, the magic department with theirs. It’s held as a joint class for Classes A through C.
"Let’s go, to the Ether Hall."
"But there’s a problem."
Shirai shyly held out her right hand. Her face was even redder than that senior’s from before.
"I used up all my mana looking for Mate..."
The silence felt as if time had stopped. Breaking the silence, what washed over me and Shirai wasn't just the warmth of the spring breeze, but a heat a little more intense than that. Seeing Shirai, who seemed to be glowing with light, acting shyly, felt like watching a scene from a dating sim. If it were in the past. Or if Shirai were an extra instead of a heroine. If I had even a grain of sand’s worth of room in my heart, could I have felt a little flutter? It’s hard to say, as I don't want to define Shirai’s feelings for her, but liking someone isn't that complicated a feeling. Love is wanting to see them for even one more second, feeling a flutter when you see them, wanting to be with them for even one more second, and feeling a flutter when you are together. You want to accept everything the other person likes. Even in fields you had no interest in, if the other person likes them, you want to study them and fit in.
"Is it not possible?"
It’s like looking at my past self. I know how great the sorrow of losing one's sight was. That’s why I went through all that hell to create the panacea, and...
"If it’s a bother, it’s fine! Don't worry about it too much."
That she still has mana left. I know what kind of feelings Shirai harbors for me. Because human emotions are like a complex maze, yet also a simple straight path.
- Judith and Yuren are having an affair. She looks at me for now, but the moment things come to fruition, I feel like she’ll be stolen by that guy. There are no more chances to reverse my life. If Shirai weren't a heroine...
I shook my head. "What if" is just self-consolation to make one's heart feel at ease. Such a reality does not exist in this world.
"Eek."
At the bird-like shriek, I stopped all my thoughts and laughed.
"What kind of scream is that?"
She was already as red as a tomato. She was so red that I could almost hear a kettle whistling from her head. It even looked like there was a strange heat rising above her hair.
"We have three minutes left. Let’s go quickly."
"...You’re too much."
"I’ll take that as a compliment."
Even though there were only three minutes left until class, many people were still outside. This part is no different from a regular high school. Over a hundred eyes were turned toward us, and the rumors would spread in no time. They’d say the Saintess held hands with some weirdo. They’d add a little MSG and say we were playing tag. There’s no way Shirai doesn't know that. I’ve been linked with Yuren through similar experiences before.
"You won't leave me behind, will you?"
Even so, Shirai never tries to let go of my hand. Instead, every time my grip loosens, she tries to hold on even tighter.
"I am now... a body that can't move without Mate."
*
Orientation. All magic department freshmen, from Class A to Class C, gathered in one place. The reason the orientation is in the Class C lecture hall is that it’s much larger than the Class A and B halls. Most students are in Class C, with only a very small number in Class B. The lecture hall in the Ether Hall has a wider fan-shaped area than the Delta Hall, which is the facility for swordsmanship students. Swordsmanship ends with simply swinging a blade unless you’re an advanced student, but mages use magic with a wide attack range starting from the beginner-intermediate level. Basic magic that comes to mind immediately includes Orbital Flame, Energy Bolt, and Cold Beam.
In the front row of the left corner, brown hair scattered in various directions on the desk. A yellow blanket covering her knees. Erpin von Herta, sleeping with her head bowed low. In the back row of the right corner, Sia Stella. She looks as if she’s staring blankly into space without a single thought. And Shirai, sitting next to me.
"When are you going to let go of my hand?"
"If Mate just keeps his mouth shut, no one will know."
There are so many people here, and she thinks hiding it under the chair will work? There are plenty of seats, but it’s packed with people on the left, right, and front. It would be different if it were a corner, but this is dead center. But the moment I try to force my hand away, she’ll probably do something even worse.
"Look, that’s the top student, the top student."
"Why are you talking like you’re looking at a legendary Pokémon?"
"She wasn't at the social gathering either. She’s still got her head bowed down now."
Most students are looking at Erpin, who is fast asleep, with envious eyes, but—'I’m going crazy.' My gaze had been fixed on only one woman since I entered the lecture hall. In the seat in front of me, she’s having a pleasant conversation with the girls on either side. Showing me the back of her bright red hair. I can only see the back of her head now, but if I make eye contact with her even once, everyone will realize. That in those amethyst-like purple eyes, you can see a scene from the night sky. Shirai doesn't seem to have noticed yet since she doesn't use her resonance when I’m nearby, but... the elegance flowing from her body, the fact that she took off her jacket and draped a cape over her shoulders, and the immense pressure felt even from the back of her head. The owner of the Frey Merchant Guild. It’s undoubtedly Muse Fairfield.
Clunk—
The students are already overflowing. The break time is over, and there’s no crazy person who would be late for the first class. The person who opened the door and walked in was the professor.
"My joints are aching."
Survival is living proof of the word "strong." The middle-aged, handsome Professor Cheren Dragunov. A sturdy physique that looks like it was tempered by being beaten with steel bars. Even though he’s over fifty, he looks full of strength rather than rusted. His stylish, wavy, slicked-back hair, and his neat mustache and beard are all white. He has a lanky height and broad shoulders, but his face is gaunt, as if he’s been starving for days. Professor Cheren closed the book he was reading and scanned the students.
"Look at this?"
The place his footsteps reached was the front row on the left side of the lecture hall. It was where Erpin von Herta was sitting. Professor Cheren tapped the desk where Erpin’s head was resting with his book.
"Hey, let me see your face."
Erpin, awakened from her sleep, slowly lifted her head and quickly tidied her messy hair.
"Ah..."
"Ah, what ah, you damn kid. Why is your hair so long again?"
She must have swept her bangs to one side, covering her right eye. It’s no wonder Professor Cheren would say that. Professor Cheren stared intently at Erpin’s chest. He seems to be checking the name written on her name tag.
"Huh, geez. Aren't you the top student here? How can you be sleeping from the very first class?"
"So, sorry..."
"There are two people in Class A for this year's freshmen. Two. Shouldn't you be doing better because of that?"
Cheren’s nagging continued. In front of the entire first-year magic department with over a hundred students. "You have to do well so the first-years' morale doesn't die, right? It’s not for an old man like me to interfere, but I’m worried. I’m worried. If you’re the top student, is it okay to sleep confidently in the front row like this?"
"I’m sorr..."
"Snoooooore—"
She was snoring like crazy.
"Wh, why are you suddenly doing that? Mate, you don't snore when you sleep!"
Ignoring Shirai, who was interfering with my brilliant plan.
"Snoooooore—"
Won't you come now? Won't you? "Look at that guy."
I hear footsteps coming down the stairs. Proof that Professor Cheren took the bait. Only then did I feel relieved and could snore even louder.
"Snoooore— Snoooooore—"
"Wake up, you damn kid."
Professor Cheren, who reached in front of me, pinched my ear hard. Because of the PTSD from my school days, I almost forgot my persona.
"Haaaaaam!"
Operation: Protect Erpin’s Mentality. The role of being the bait and acting like an attention seeker? That’s me.
"Slept well."
"What kind of crazy guy is this?"
Cheren didn't give any more warnings and walked down the stairs, muttering. Many students looked at me as if I were a crazy person. Not only Shirai, who was flustered, but Sia Stella and Muse Fairfield, too. Ah, and.
"..."
Erpin von Herta, looking at me as if she were surprised. 'Hmm.' It’s going to be a bit tiring for a while.