10. A Smart Kid
10. A Smart Kid
"Noah? Didn't you sleep well last night?"
"...Ah, I was studying a bit."
"I heard you've been having a hard time because of Master-nim lately, right? There's a limit to how much she should push you, especially during [Exam Period]. It feels like she's being too harsh."
"......I suppose so."
Iris was quite surprised to see Noah looking so sleep-deprived.
Usually, Noah looked like such a healthy student, so seeing him look visibly exhausted was rare.
Naturally, she couldn't help but worry.
Especially since Iris was a childhood friend who had grown up with Noah since before the Academy, this appearance felt even more awkward.
"Still, the exams are almost over. Let's hang in there a little longer!"
"Yeah, we have to."
"After the exams, we have to go home and brag to our parents, right? You did great on everything besides the [Final Exams], didn't you? Even though I'm in the magic department, rumors keep reaching me that Noah is incredibly good at the [Swordsmanship Department]?"
"I need to do even better."
"Heh, that's right. You have to do better."
But the exams continued today.
Naturally, since they had to work hard for the exams, Iris said that with a smile.
The two of them walked to class together again today.
Even though the male and female [Dormitory]s were clearly separated.
Since they usually met in front of the [Dormitory] to go to the Academy together, it wasn't particularly strange, and the other students in the class weren't surprised either.
"It's the [Final Exams] season again, isn't it? I trust you've all prepared hard, and I hope you continue to do your best on the remaining exams. In just a few days, it'll be vacation time. Do your best until the very end."
Since it was [Exam Period], it was only natural for the Homeroom Instructor to offer such encouragement from the morning.
Students who were close with the Homeroom Instructor chatted about this and that.
Students focused on the exams were continuing their preparations for the tests that would take place in a few dozen minutes, but....
'...The scent was amazing.'
Noah, who had spent the night in the bed used by the Snow Woman, was just stuck on that thought.
It wasn't that he didn't think about Skadi usually.
But even taking that into account, he was thinking about it quite a lot.
"Ugh... Ugh, haa.... My back hurts...."
Maybe because it's [Exam Period], there are so many kids visiting the convenience store regardless of the time.
Usually, there were many customers during the morning and lunch hours.
But today, every time there was a break, the convenience store was packed with customers.
"Heh...."
Naturally, money piled up in the register.
Of course, since cards weren't accepted, it would be more accurate to call it a makeshift safe.
Anyway, the fact that sales were naturally jumping up was quite pleasing.
The harder it is, the more money you make, right?
In fact, during [Exam Period], many kids even abandon meals and focus solely on studying, so the only things flying off the shelves are items packed with caffeine.
Those kids don't necessarily drink the beverages inside the convenience store; they hold a notebook in the hallway, read it while drinking, or take it to places like the library to drink.
So, there wasn't that much trash generated either.
"During vacation, I could probably go on a trip for a few days."
Although it's called vacation, there are graduate students or kids who stay behind to study.
So, I couldn't go on vacation for the entire break.
But for a few days, well, I barely have any days off in a year, so everyone usually understands if I take about a week off during vacation.
If they don't understand, well.
I wonder what they could even do about it.
Of course, I think this, but I might not even go on vacation.
Going on vacation and doing something is actually work, too.
Now, I'm getting a bit tired no matter what I do.
"...My back hurts."
Still, since customers keep coming.
I couldn't even find time to rest in the break room, so it was inevitable that I was getting a bit tired.
It's true that the workload was a bit more intense than usual, as I had just left it to that Noah kid after managing the convenience store until late last night.
I just wanted the exams to be over, sales or whatever.
Once vacation starts... then I could lie down in the break room and waste time more comfortably.
I've already made enough sales for the first half of the year, so it would be fine to rest.
"...Still, I can't close this place during [Exam Period]."
In many ways, it couldn't be helped.
After watching the counter alone, about 5 minutes after the bell rang outside.
"Huu... So comfortable...."
I naturally entered the break room and threw my body onto the bed.
The exam had already started anyway.
If they were the type to come out in 5 minutes....
...Wouldn't they not even drink coffee?
They'd probably just go back to the [Dormitory] and sleep again.
Of course, among the students attending the Academy, there aren't any kids that much of a failure, so there probably aren't any like that.
"Since he's a high school boy. I thought he'd use the bed messily and leave it a mess."
He cleaned up the break room much more neatly than I thought.
Lying on the bed, I was reminded that the Noah kid slept here yesterday.
I didn't pay much attention while working, but the blanket in the break room was folded neatly.
Of course, as much as I was considerate.
I never thought he would use my room however he wanted, but still, he had used it quite well.
...As expected, aside from his usual lighthearted appearance, he's a pretty smart kid.
I still didn't understand why such a kid kept flirting with me, an 11-year age gap, and thinking about the black-haired girl from last time, it made even less sense.
She looked interested, too.
There's no way a girl would take care of a boy like that if she wasn't interested....
"...The kid is a bit stupid, after all."
Maybe that's why he comes to an "old lady" with an 11-year age gap.
28 isn't quite an "old lady" yet... but.
From the perspective of a 17-year-old, I suppose it's old enough.
"Sigh...."
Anyway, after some time passes, he'll naturally start getting interested in kids his own age.
It has to be that way.
.
.
.
"Noona, thank you for yesterday."
"...What is this?"
After today's exam ended, some students stayed in the library or Academy buildings to study.
Some students went back to the [Dormitory] to relieve their fatigue.
But....
"It's a cake, right?"
"......Suddenly?"
"Because you helped me yesterday. I bought one."
Noah entered the convenience store and placed an unknown box on the counter.
Cake.
Suddenly... cake?
It was so sudden that I was a bit flustered.
"I went to a cafe with a friend to study for History class tomorrow. I thought of Noona, so I bought one."
"Ah...."
"I was so tired yesterday. Thanks to you... I slept well. For now."
"Hmm, well. I didn't help you expecting something like this, though."
Still, buying a cake like this is quite thoughtful.
As expected, he's a much smarter kid compared to his usual behavior.
I wasn't a huge fan of cakes or desserts, but I didn't hate them either.
Actually, when working, sometimes my blood sugar drops, right?
When that happens, eating something sweet like chocolate... is nice.
"Still, since you're giving it to me. I shouldn't refuse, right?"
"If you refuse... you'll have to take it to the [Dormitory] and eat it alone."
"A male student taking a cake to the [Dormitory] alone is... a bit funny."
And a kid over 180cm tall carrying a slice of cake the size of his fist... honestly, that would be a bit funny.
It's not like men can't eat cake.
I, who was a man in my past life, eat cake too, but....
Considering Noah's physique, honestly, it had to be a bit funny.
"Pfft...."
"Haha, anyway. This... it's a strawberry cake, right? I ate it with a friend, and it was delicious. I thought of Noona, so I just bought one. If you say it's delicious, I'll buy you another one next time."
"I'm not so destitute that a mere 17-year-old has to buy me cake all the time, you know?"
"I want to buy it for you, Noona. You've secretly taken care of me with coffee and food a lot, haven't you?"
"That's just because the expiration date was coming up, so I was going to throw it away anyway."
"Still."
Anyway, he really is... a frustrating kid.
What's so good about an 11-year age gap?
Why is he trying so hard?
"Ah, but the friend you went to the cafe with. Is it that black-haired girl who came to pick you up last time?"
"Iris?"
"Was that her name?"
"Yes, Iris. She's a friend who came from my hometown to the Academy together. We're also neighbors."
"Aha...?"
So they're childhood friends?
She was a fresh-faced beautiful girl at first glance.
A childhood friend who grew up together from their hometown.
...I could definitely feel that her "main heroine" potential was considerable.
He's approaching me now, but if I keep rejecting him... he'll naturally pour his heart out to his childhood friend.
After having this and that conversation with his childhood friend.......
'If it were me, I would never have ignored you like that....'
Saying things like that.
Just because they've been together since they were much younger, they've become too used to each other, but he realizes that his childhood friend is incredibly pretty, and he realizes the girl's heart that he hadn't noticed before.......
"......Hmm."
"Why?"
"No, just thinking that you go to places like cafes too. That's what I thought."
"Aha?"
...I feel like I've been fantasizing like an old lady.
I'm not some old lady who gets all worked up over love stories, or gets worked up watching dramas.
Of course, I'm getting to that age, though.
"Ah, but it wasn't Iris I went to the cafe with."
"...Then?"
"I just have one more friend I know. She asked me to study at a cafe together and said she'd teach me."
"......."
Noah didn't specifically mention that friend's gender.
But I could guess that it was a girl.
What kind of male student asks another male student to study at a cafe and eat cake together?
"Ugh...."
"...Why are you sighing?"
"It's nothing."
Truly... I thought they were also quite frustrating.