3. We're Not Even Friends
3. We're Not Even Friends
After afternoon classes ended, the sky began to slowly dye itself red.
The academy had various department buildings, a headquarters building, and two dorms clustered together, with a wide lawn in the center and a gentle hill stretching out behind it.
It was an atmosphere that felt like I'd seen it somewhere before—exactly like a college campus.
In front of the Astrology department building, Lucia was standing there, having actually listened to what I said.
... Oh, I was honestly surprised she actually waited for me.
I approached her, feeling a bit surprised inside.
"Lucia, let's go get dinner."
"... Yeah."
Lucia nodded, then suddenly glanced behind me and narrowed her eyes.
"... By the way, who is that person?"
I knew even without turning around. A distinct, sweet scent was wafting over.
It was Estel.
"Edmon, can't I have dinner with you?"
"... No, I have prior plans today, so I don't have time."
I pointed at Lucia, but Estel shrugged as if it didn't matter.
"Then we can just eat together, right? It's good for new students to get close like this. Edmon's friend is my friend!"
What kind of absurd logic is that? We haven't even known each other for a full day.
As long as I'm Edmon Blake, it's natural for Estel to have a favorable impression of me, but is it really necessary to stick to me like this?
No matter how many times I refused, Estel pushed through with her signature bright smile. In the end, the picture of the three of us going to eat dinner was painted.
... At this point, it's completely different from the game's progression. There shouldn't have been any scenes where the heroines gather together.
I swallowed a sigh internally.
And the problem right now was Lucia's expression.
That expressionless face watching Estel chatter away—I couldn't guess at all what kind of thoughts were contained within it.
It felt like she might pull a kitchen knife out of her pocket and stab Estel's stomach at any moment, yet her eyes looked completely devoid of thought.
I couldn't watch it anymore. I steeled my resolve.
Shaking off Estel, who kept sneakily tapping my arm and shoulder from behind, I grabbed Lucia's small wrist firmly.
"Hey, I'm hungry, let's go quickly."
"Uh, uhhh...?"
Lucia followed behind me, her wrist caught in a daze.
Estel's voice, saying "Wait for me too," could be heard from behind.
The student cafeteria had a quite different atmosphere at night compared to the day. They were even selling beer, though it was limited to one glass per person. The menu was also much more diverse than lunch.
I wanted to try it to see how the alcohol tasted, but after glancing around at the people nearby, I eventually held back. It didn't seem right to be seen drinking on the first day.
Instead, I ordered the venison dish, which I'd wanted to try because it was constantly mentioned as delicious in the game.
"Oh, what's that? I want to try that too."
Estel, curious, immediately followed suit.
"... I'll just have the stir-fried vegetables."
Lucia ordered something quite modest.
"Oh? Lucia, you eat vegetables well now?"
It was a question that popped out reflexively. In Edmon's memories, Lucia was a child who hated vegetables and would pick them out.
"...... Yeah, I eat them well now."
Lucia answered briefly.
We each received our food and took our seats. Lucia sat across from me.
I stopped her from trying to sit next to me and made Estel sit in the seat next to Lucia.
I couldn't let Lucia see her bumping her shoulder against mine or whispering in my ear like before.
I was cutting the meat and taking a bite when Estel asked, as if curious.
"By the way, what's your relationship? Did you know each other before?"
"We were close childhood friends when we were young. Lucia's parents moved away, so we were separated, but we met again here."
"Ah, I see!"
Estel nodded with a face that seemed to understand.
"... Th-then what's your relationship?"
This time, Lucia asked. Her gaze went back and forth between me and Estel.
... Shit, the moment has come.
Loud alarm bells rang in my head.
I have to answer this well. This is a danger on a completely different level than Estel following us to dinner. If I say it wrong, it's going to be a disaster.
Even if she looks indifferent now, I shouldn't give Lucia a reason to act violently.
That fork in Lucia's hand—it could end up stuck in my neck instead of the bell peppers and onions. I chose my words to be as plain and indifferent as possible.
"She's someone I met for the first time today. Just someone in the same department taking the same class. Is that obvious? Since today is the first day of the semester."
For a moment, something cold flashed across Estel's expression before disappearing immediately.
"Right! But we decided to be friends starting today! If I had to be specific, I'd have to say I'm the first friend you made after coming to the academy, right?"
... Why is she so aggressive, seriously.
I looked at Lucia next to me, but she was eating with her face buried in her bowl, so her face was hidden by her hair and I couldn't see her expression.
"Ah, that's true, but."
Instead, I naturally continued Estel's words.
"Lucia and I have been friends since we were five. If you add up the time we were apart, we've been friends for over 15 years already. It's embarrassing to even call a one-day friendship a friendship. Right?"
It was a remark thrown out half as a joke. It was also a signal to Lucia not to worry about Estel because you and I are closer.
"......."
For a moment, I saw Estel's blue eyes widen, and then that shadowed expression flashed across her face again.
But that was only for a moment.
"Haha, th-that's true! Wow, you two have really known each other for a long time. I'm envious, really."
Estel soon forced a smile and moved on.
I'm sorry. That kind of joke isn't my taste, but please understand if you want me to live.
As for Lucia, who had asked the question first, she was just silently shoveling in her stir-fried vegetables without saying anything.
... Thank goodness, I guess she doesn't think much of it.
I let out a sigh of relief internally.
That night, Estel, who had returned to the dormitory, threw her body onto the bed and buried her face in the pillow.
"I'm a friend too, I'm a friend too, I'm a friend too, I'm a friend too, I'm a friend too, I'm a friend too, I'm a friend too, I'm a friend too, I'm a friend too...."
The small, repeating voice was filled with resentment.
Thump, thump.
She hit the bed with her small fists.
'Why, why won't you just call me a friend properly.'
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't figure out what she was lacking compared to that girl. So why, why wouldn't he just say the word 'friend' first?
"... That can't be."
She stayed like that with her face buried in the pillow for a while, then suddenly let out a deep sigh and sat up.
As the eldest daughter of a Count, someone who would eventually take over her father's work, she couldn't afford to be this emotional. Estel smoothed out her disheveled hair and put on a determined expression.
'... Fine, whatever. I can just make other friends. Are you the only person in the world? Hmph.'
With that, Estel steeled her heart and stepped out into the dormitory hallway.
She decided to visit the neighboring rooms and the room across the hall to greet them.
"Hi, I'm Estel Lorencia. Nice to meet you! Let's be friends!"
"Oh my, you're Lady Lorencia?!"
"You're Estel-nim from the Count Lorencia family, right?! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Hello, Estel-nim!! I met you with my father last time, do you remember? Ah, when was it? About ten years ago? But you see, my father is starting a new business this time, and..."
The neighbors were all the same; their attitudes changed the moment they heard her surname.
Beyond just being glad to see her, there was a somewhat fawning attitude, or flattery asking her to put in a good word with her father.
"Let's just be friends comfortably. The academy is that kind of place, right? Here, I'm just a student too."
She said that several times, but everyone just answered that they understood, yet no one actually called her by her name comfortably.
"Yes, Lady Lorencia."
"Of course, Estel-nim."
"Of course, Lady Lorencia. And continuing from earlier, if your father considers a plan where the Count buys the spices imported from the East..."
"......."
Estel, left alone in the hallway after closing the door, stood blankly leaning against her own door.
Suddenly, the voice that had comfortably called her Estel when they first met in the lecture hall earlier that day came to mind.
"Bad guy, if I ask you to be friends, you should just do it..."
Estel felt once again that the only person who could be her true friend was Edmon.
The stubbornness she thought she had erased from her heart just moments ago gnawed at Estel even more clearly.
"Never again, really never again."
Estel swallowed her words.
There was no one in the hallway.
"Ughhhhhhh."
A faint groan came out reflexively as I lay down. It's only been a day, but it feels like it's been incredibly long.
Maybe it's because I was so tense. It was so hard trying to read Lucia's mood.
I feel sorry for being a bit harsh to Estel, but she's a kind and strong child, so she'll be fine.
In the original game, if you don't go down the Estel route, Estel and the protagonist remain close classmates and only appear when helping with exam studies.
... I hope it stays that way.
Conversely, I'm worried that Lucia doesn't seem interested in me at all, but it's only been a day.
If we spend a little more time together, she'll obsess over me soon. Yanderes are usually like that.
Knock, knock.
Who is it?
Is there someone who would visit at this hour? Don't tell me, Lucia? This is the men's dormitory.
... Has it finally begun, the yandere behavior?
I carefully opened the door, and the person I saw for a moment through the gap wasn't the black-haired woman I had expected.
—Bang!!
I closed the door immediately.
"... Estel? It's you, right?"
"Yeah, it's me. Open the door, Edmon. Okay?"
No, why is she here?
