Preparations

"We need to handle the disciplinary committee from three angles."

"First, secure superiority in authority. Our side needs enough power. We must secure professors and officials."

"Second is logical superiority. The more favorable evidence and circumstances we have, the better. But keep in mind, logic doesn't guarantee everything."

"Third is public opinion. That's exactly why I wanted you to make a splash, Ian. And you've done well. I also found a decent card yesterday... I'll tell you about that later."

The day after the rank assessment.

After Sylvia contacted him, Ian had been unceremoniously dragged to a café.

— Meeting other people outside your house is something you can do with two people! Now you come to *my* place!

Sylvia had been inexplicably irritated. The moment he was dragged out, she sat him in a secluded café booth and launched straight into a briefing on the disciplinary committee.

The committee was just a day away, so Ian focused immediately...

But despite her calm affectation, Sylvia's face had turned faintly red.

"I'll continue this a bit later. There's something else I want to say first."

Flutter, flutter. She fanned herself elegantly, then snapped at him.

"You shouldn't just invite any woman into your house like that! Hmph!"

Still angry, Sylvia thrust a paper bag across the table before Ian could even reply.

"I wasn't going to give this to you... but it'd be a waste if it melted, so I'm giving it to you anyway."

A pout. From Sylvia's perspective, she had tried twice to deliver it at his house and failed—and instead had only seen annoying rivals. That only made it worse.

Meanwhile, Ian gazed at the paper bag with curiosity. Cold vapor continuously seeped from it.

"It's a specialty from the northern territories."

"Can I take it out?"

"Of course."

Rustle.

Inside the bag was a cluster of fruit. But Ian was taken aback.

"Ice grape. A top-grade specialty found only in the northern reaches of the continent."

The fruit looked exactly like a Shine Muscat tanghulu, except the outer coating was ice, not sugar.

Seeing Ian's fascination, Sylvia's pique melted clean away. An involuntary grin even kept breaking through.

'Ahem. At this rate my dignity...'

Fighting the corners of her mouth that wanted to rise, Sylvia said,

"What are you gaping at? Eat it quickly. It won't taste good once it melts."

"Thank you, I will."

Ian bit into a grape.

The ice, infused with sweetness, crunched apart, and the juicy, sweet-tart flesh of the green grape burst over his tongue.

"...Wow."

"How is it? Is it good?"

"I've never tasted fruit this delicious in my life."

Grinning. Sylvia couldn't hide the corners of her mouth curling upward, and finally she turned her head away sharply.

"Hmph. Well. Since you're eating it so well, maybe I'll let it slide this once?"

"Let what slide?"

"Never mind."

Looking pleased, Sylvia popped an iced grape into her own mouth and smiled with a contented hum.

"So good... Ahem. Anyway, back to the main point."

Smoothly, Sylvia pulled a sheet of paper and a fountain pen from her bag with practiced elegance.

Scratch, scratch.

She focused intently on the paper, her hand drawing two precise vertical lines that divided the page into three equal columns.

At times like this, she really looked like a professional, a proper noble lady.

Ian's admiring gaze made the tips of Sylvia's ears redden with embarrassment.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and leaned forward.

"First, securing the faculty. Professor Violet, whom you've won over, Professor Rowen from the Reconnaissance Department, and Professor Susie Dismal of Clinical Magic will be significant assets. It's really something, though. When did you manage to seduce professors like that? And all of them women."

"...I didn't seduce anyone. Don't say such dangerous things."

Ian shuddered. Professors who saw him as research material. They were spinning their webs, targeting him.

"Oh, now that I think of it, there's also Dean Jan Bommell."

After the rank assessment, the dean had heartily apologized for overlooking Ian and asked what he needed. Ian had requested support at the disciplinary committee.

— Hmm. I've heard about the disciplinary committee. However, because our department's student Sharon Pierce is involved, I can't openly support you. Instead, I can guarantee my neutrality.

When Ian conveyed this, Sylvia was surprised.

"...Wow. Sir Jan Bommell said that? That's impressive."

Sylvia was genuinely amazed.

Full support from three professors, plus the attention of a dean from another faculty.

Was there any other student who had started from rock bottom and captured so many professors' eyes in such a short time?

At least, none that she knew of.

'He really is more remarkable than I thought.'

Sylvia's gaze toward Ian deepened.

"We've defended well enough, but Emilia Raymond still moves the academy's real power players. I expect she'll have the upper hand."

Sylvia's fountain pen moved to the second column.

[ Securing Evidence ]

"This, honestly, could be called our trump card. The appraisal results you requested will probably be out this evening."

And the last column.

[ Securing Public Opinion ]

"I had my subordinates do a quick investigation. Public opinion about you isn't bad."

"Hmm."

"In the past, words associated with Ian were things like 'rake' and 'pervert.' Now they've shifted to 'madman,' 'fun,' and 'curious.' That's a fairly positive change. Right now, you're indisputably the hottest topic at Lichten Academy."

"...This is pretty systematic. Almost on the level of my home country... I mean, my homeland."

Ian looked impressed. Sylvia lifted her chin.

"Hehe. These things need to be done properly. Based on this, we can formulate a more meticulous plan, but..."

"But?"

"Actually, I have one good idea."

Sylvia's expression grew even more serious.

"There's someone who could be a huge help."

Her voice was cautious, as if she were about to broach something very difficult.

"What do you think about Rina Rosewell?"

"I don't particularly think anything."

He still felt uneasy about not having confirmed whether she was a virgin or not, but at this point it was reasonable to assume she was unlikely to be the culprit.

Therefore, Rina had already receded far from Ian's attention.

"...Is that so. Excuse me for a moment."

Sylvia rose from her seat. The click of her heels sounded as she walked out of the booth.

Then a familiar voice reached Ian.

"I-Ian."

The ever-confident, cheerful heroine of Fanta X Aca.

"H...hi?"

Rina Rosewell was looking up at him with a haggard, tense face.

◆

Rina's expression was complicated. She looked nervous at a glance, and her timid posture leaked regret. Yet there ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was also a blooming smile, as if she were happy.

Ian didn't know how to describe that face.

"Don't just stand there. Come and sit."

"C-can I?"

"...Do you want to keep standing?"

"N-no! Thanks."

Rina walked over, but then collapsed onto the seat as though her legs had lost all strength.

"Wh-what's wrong with me? My legs suddenly gave out. Sorry. I'll be fine in a second..."

Ian let out a sigh, took hold of her, and seated her in the chair.

"S-sorry. Thanks."

Rina hung her head low.

She glanced up at him once, then bowed her head again.

"I-I'm so glad we finally met. Hehe..."

She muttered. Through her lowered gaze, her eyes were full of hope, like a person who had discovered an oasis in the desert.

In what part of Ian was she finding hope? The stray curiosity soon evaporated like a drop of water on sand.

Right now, Ian's interest didn't lie with Rina.

Ian glanced at his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠watch, then let out a small sigh.

Rina flinched at his reaction. Ignoring it, Ian asked,

"So. What's your business?"

"Ah... w-well. Um. I-I-I have something I want to say."

"Can you keep it as brief as possible?"

"B-brief?"

"Yeah."

Where had her hopeful expression from a moment ago gone? In an instant, Rina's face became that of a frightened puppy.

"I-I didn't prepare to say it briefly. S-sorry, just a moment..."

Muttering, Rina began to stammer.

"I-it's just, you know? I wanted to tell you I'm s-sorry. Yeah. I thought a lot about it. R-right. You asked me. If I pushed you? So I wondered if you were being framed. Th-there were kids trying to gang up on you. I-I-I felt something was off... but I'm so sorry. Hic... I messed up. I'm sorry. I wish you'd punish me for..."

"Rina."

"Hic... yes?"

"My disciplinary committee is tomorrow. I'm very busy. So can you give me just the core point, in one sentence?"

"Ah... w-well! Uhm... I-I'll say it. Yeah. Just the core. Just one thing. Even though I want to say so much... because I'm the one who's wrong."

Drip, drip.

Suddenly, tears poured from her eyes.

"If I can only say one thing, I'll apologize. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Ian. I really messed up. You were the only one who really saw me. You took care of me, and afterward you still looked at me coldly. But I couldn't even recognize that. I-I-I, like an idiot. I ignored you and got jealous and attacked you. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry..."

Tears dripped steadily from Rina's lowered head.

Her trembling lips glistened, wet with tears, and the spot on her leg she had been scratching with her fingers to hold back her sobs was flaring red.

Ian watched Rina shiver like a leaf.

'...What should I say.'

It didn't resonate.

After a moment of hesitation, Ian decided to be honest.

"Hey, Rina."

"Sob. Sniffle... yeah."

"I think this is better for both of us, so I'll be straightforward."

"Sniffle... y-yes."

"Your apology doesn't really reach me. The only thought I'm left with is, 'Oh, Rina feels sorry.' Your saying sorry isn't going to change my life."

"Sniffle!"

"So I'm sorry, but I can't accept it. If you have nothing else to say..."

Ian rose from his seat. There were still too many crises ahead to be emotional.

If he couldn't resolve the disciplinary committee tomorrow, he'd be expelled from the academy. Then how was he supposed to handle the main scenario that would unfold afterward?

He'd be cut off from every future event. A future of doing nothing but staring at a bad ending stretched clearly before him.

That was probably why Rina's apology didn't land. He didn't have the luxury of getting emotional.

So Ian walked out of the booth. Or rather, he tried to.

A leg hooked around him.

"I-Ian..."

Looking down, he saw Rina clutching his trouser leg.

"...Rina. I don't have time to spend on you right now."

Rina shook her head desperately.

"S-sorry. That's not what I meant. It's not about me. Yeah. I know now. No matter how much a worm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like me apologizes, it'll only get on your nerves. I won't bother you. Instead, I-I'll help you. There's something I can do to help. Sylvia said so."

Ian silently looked down at Rina. She urgently continued.

"I-I can testify at the disciplinary committee. Give me a chance to prove that I'm useful. In-in exchange."

"...In exchange?"

"I'll do my best at the disciplinary committee. So after that... could you talk with me, even just once?"

Ian gazed down at her for a moment. Her eyes were endlessly earnest and sincere.

An expression he had never seen on the universally beloved, cheerful Rina of Fanta X Aca.

Ian quietly nodded.

"Th-thank you, really. Sob... thank you."

Drip, drip. Tears fell from Rina's eyes again.

◆

A dormitory room so barren it felt bleak.

Kneeling before a low desk, Sharon slowly read through a letter from her family.

Summarized, its content was as follows:

— As with all heirs, excessive financial support was not permitted. The lax results at the rank assessment are regrettable.

— However, continue to observe the son ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the Blackangus family. There is even an acquaintance who has taken an interest in him. See to it that he faces the full weight of his crimes. The deeper he falls into despair, the better. He is a man who bears that much sin. We will send someone to the disciplinary committee. They should arrive the morning of, so receive them properly.

"......"

Sharon gritted her teeth.

The letter contained more about Ian Blackangus than it did about Sharon herself.

"Why... how come."

Why was more interest directed at Ian than at her, his own blood relation? Did the sender know that this man had placed a curse upon Sharon herself?

It couldn't be helped. To claim that person's attention, she had no choice but to prove herself.

The disciplinary committee was approaching.

This might be her last chance to earn the family head's favor.

Sharon clenched her fist so hard it felt like her hand would break.

◆

Disciplinary Committee Day.

Lichten Academy Main Building, Underground.

A solemn atmosphere hung over the chamber where the committee was to be held.

The interior was designed to impose a sense of intimidation on the accused.

'Is this finally the last of this tiresome disciplinary committee?'

In front of the cold iron door, the corners of Ian's mouth slowly crept upward.