32. Between Friends
32. Between Friends
My week had been spent a little differently than before.
Weekdays were spent as usual, and weekends were spent leaving work early to help Noah with his studies.
It wasn't that busy, but at the same time, it wasn't boring either.
"Hmm.... Literature is fucking boring."
Since I'd been reading his textbooks bit by bit in between watching the convenience store to help Noah study.
Maybe I'd developed a sort of reading hobby.
Even if it was a boring book.
Still, since I had something to do in between working, it felt better than before.
"Noble literature is boring, then and now...."
Honestly, I bet even the nobles only read this kind of stuff on the surface, and read the novels commoners read in their daily lives.
I'm pretty sure that's the case.
I remember there being quite a few of those novels in the Academy library, too.
Anyway.
Preparing to teach Noah in my spare time, and running the shop.
It wasn't boring, but I had more work to do.
Not that it was anything too difficult, though?
"Yawn...."
Since I kept reading boring books while looking for important parts, it was inevitable that I'd get a bit tired.
I'm twenty-eight; studying at this age is surprisingly difficult.
Is it true that you have to study when you're young and your brain is still soft?
I think I was good at studying when I was 17, too.
Compared to back then, I was really lacking now.
Noah, on the other hand, is younger than me, so why is he so bad at studying? Is he only good at swordsmanship?
"Sigh."
Really, how is that kid going to graduate....
I just stared at the textbook while thinking things like that to myself.
"...Why are you reading the textbook?"
"Ah, what the."
"What's with that look you're giving me?"
"Well, I didn't expect a Young-ae-nim like you to come in during break time, did I?"
"......."
It was the middle of break time.
Even when she visited, Katrina usually came during quiet times.
Because it was better when it was quiet to ask this and that about Noah.
"I just came to visit. Not to say anything weird."
"Aha, is that so? Want to buy a drink?"
"Not really."
"Hmm...."
Since a wealthy Young-ae-nim had come all this way, I'd tried to sell her something to make some money.
Unfortunately, I failed.
"So, what's with the textbook?"
"Ah, I was just bored. Reading it a bit. There's not much difference between boring literature and this."
"...Is that so?"
"Yeah. Want to read it too? It's no different from the textbook you read."
"Forget it."
Anyway, I wondered why she'd actually come.
I couldn't help but find it a bit fascinating that a noble Young-ae-nim would visit at a different time than usual.
Even if she did feel quieter and more reserved than before.
I was curious, but it didn't seem like there was any huge reason.
"...Sajang-nim, when does Noah come by?"
"Noah?"
"He comes to the convenience store often. I'm just... curious when he comes."
"...Aha?"
The reason she was looking for Noah.
The reason she was curious about when he visited.
It was because, unlike his childhood friend, the noble girl in front of me wasn't in the same class as Noah.
She couldn't be with him all the time, even if she wanted to.
So that must be why she was asking questions like this.
"Probably soon? He came by in the morning, but he hasn't been back since."
"...Is that so?"
"Right. Of course, if he's busy or has something else to do, he might not come."
"Hmm...."
Noah comes to the convenience store so often, after all.
I don't even know when he'll show up.
Honestly, he'll just come whenever it's convenient for him.
If she just waits here, she'll be able to meet him.
I don't know if it's because she has nothing else to do, even though she's a precious Young-ae-nim from a high-ranking family... but the blonde, stuck-up Young-ae-nim started waiting quietly in the convenience store.
She didn't just barge into the break room like some kid.
She sat in a normal seat in the convenience store.
Eating ramen or other food.
Just a normal seat where customers can sit.
Even though she wasn't buying any food or anything else, just waiting.
"Hehe...."
If she keeps following Noah around with such devotion, won't he eventually realize how this Young-ae-nim feels?
Then, naturally, he'll become interested in a young girl other than me.
And I'll be free, too.
It's not that I dislike the kid, but having someone 11 years younger constantly approaching me is uncomfortable in many ways.
"Perfect."
When that kid Noah comes in a little later, I'll even tell him that the young lady was waiting for him.
It was true, and anyone could see she was doing nothing but waiting for someone.
It was a good plan.
"Noona, good morning. What are you doing?"
"Just hanging out. More importantly, Noah, turn your head back for a second."
"?"
Noah, who had arrived at the convenience store just as expected.
It was funny how his pattern was really no different from usual.
But today, there was something to do besides just greeting him.
"Katrina?"
"...Why did you come to the convenience store?"
"I just had things to buy. And I came to see Noona, too."
"......Ah, really? Then buy your things, and do you want to talk for a bit until the next class?"
"Uh.... Next class? Isn't there only about 5 minutes left?"
"......."
In the direction I pointed, there was the blonde young lady, and Katrina approached the counter as she made eye contact with Noah.
But this dense kid.
He was answering without a single thought.
A high-ranking, proud Young-ae-nim was speaking to him with a rather timid attitude, and I don't know how he could be so oblivious.
She asked to talk for a bit.
And he answered that he didn't have time.
"...Then talk after the next class."
"What is it about? Is it about the assignment from last time?"
"......Something like that."
Still, Katrina's attitude was quite honest.
I don't know how they talked in the past.
But from what I could see now, it was at least decent.
It was just frustrating that the kid was on the receiving end of such words.
Katrina was being more direct and intuitive with Noah, based on the promise I'd made earlier, so I suppose that was fortunate.
"Then see you after the next class."
"...Yeah."
The shy appearance, the indifferent appearance.
Watching that youth, what I felt was....
"...If you're not going to pay, can you move from the counter?"
"Ah."
"...Hmm, then I'll go back. Wait for me in class later."
"Yeah, Katrina. Do well in the next class."
"......You too."
I was dumbfounded.
I don't know what they were talking about in front of my convenience store, in front of my counter.
"Sigh."
"Noona, by the way, is that a textbook?"
"I have to study because of you, you know."
"Aha...."
Anyway, after Katrina, who had spoken shyly, left, the remaining Noah asked that question naturally.
It hadn't even been a minute since Katrina left.
I was surprised at how natural it was.
"You must be busy because of me...."
"Not really? I'm just using spare time like now anyway."
"Is that so?"
"Sort of. I'm not doing anything difficult, and aside from running around and inventory, there's not much to do anyway. It's fine in between."
Of course, Noah was secretly a polite person.
Even if he was quite conscious of things and worried, he wasn't the type to make a fuss about it in a strange way.
"Because of me...."
"It's not like that."
"Is that so? Still, I don't want to be a nuisance to Noona."
"It's not a nuisance. Just study hard. I taught you, so review it a bit, too."
"......Yes."
He looked like he was about to do just that.
It didn't matter.
Because I didn't really feel like helping Noah was difficult?
It wasn't really a nuisance.
Rather, I liked that my daily routine had changed a little.
Actually, right now, I was more curious about how Noah and Katrina would talk during the next break.
It definitely wouldn't be a confession or anything.
But they'd still talk about this and that, right?
Even if it was just the talk of 17-year-old kids, it seemed like it would be fun enough.
If there was a problem, it was that one side was too dense, even if they were dense?
Usually, you're indifferent like that, then one day you start caring, get interested, and realize everything.
Especially since Noah had a childhood friend by his side, Katrina would have to make many such attempts.
I've never dated before... but that's roughly the vibe, right?
##
"Katrina, what's up?"
"How about we go outside and talk?"
"Yeah, that's fine."
After class ended, Katrina came to Noah's classroom.
She didn't hesitate.
She immediately suggested going outside.
It was understandable, as too many eyes were on them, and talking in such a situation was uncomfortable for her as well.
She took Noah and started walking out of the classroom and down the hallway.
Iris had gone to the bathroom for a moment, so it was perfectly fine.
"But what do you want to talk about? Is something wrong?"
Noah asked while they were walking.
He wasn't just asking what the topic was, but his words were mixed with worry.
The reason was that Katrina's expression was different from usual.
"You look a bit upset."
"......."
It was true.
Usually, Katrina Valerance was confident and dignified.
But now, she had an expression that looked like she had a lot on her mind.
She was showing a frustrated expression.
Noah ended up saying that.
It was understandable, as Katrina was a 'friend'.
"There are a lot of things to worry about. So I'm a little~ frustrated?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, that's right. There are too many things to think about."
Katrina was speaking in a very abbreviated way to Noah's words.
Things she could talk about, things she couldn't.
She was a noble Young-ae-nim who had quite a lot of both, and there were things she couldn't say, at least not to the person in front of her.
There was definitely the question of what her relationship was with the convenience store owner, the Snow Woman.
There were definitely questions related to her family, too.
Aside from that, the Valerance Young-ae-nim had a lot more to think about.
At first, she had planned to call Noah out, talk to him, spend time together normally, and try a little skinship.
Or if not that, at least make an appointment.
"Is there anything I can help with?"
"......."
But that plan had become quite useless because of a guy who was suddenly worried about her.
Katrina had no choice but to discard her ruined plan.
Of course, she couldn't make the situation of being alone like this a waste, and Noah had brought it up himself, after all.
"Noah? Then, can you help me a little?"
"Yeah."
She asked from a place of many thoughts.
And Noah accepted it without a second thought.
Well, it was natural to help each other like that between friends.