5. Course Registration Change
5. Course Registration Change
I changed into my academy uniform and chewed over last night's events.
In the original game settings, Estel's affection level only starts building up to the point of a full-blown romance once I get good grades in the Magic Department.
And even if affection did build up, she wouldn't act that aggressively.
Actually, "aggressive" is an understatement. Sneaking into the men's dormitory at night isn't exactly normal behavior.
...Though I'd understand if it were Lucia.
Anyway, I was worried that the actions I took toward Lucia and Estel might have completely derailed the game's progression, so I nervously scoured the academy's academic calendar.
Fortunately, the major events were still the same.
The nearest event is the midterm exam. Since nothing major has changed in the flow of the game, I feel a bit relieved.
And just as Estel said, the dorm supervisor didn't even remember collapsing yesterday. That was a relief, if nothing else.
...And I should avoid using the word "friend" in front of Estel as much as possible.
Even if it's a joke, I should never say, "We're not friends."
Just thinking about Estel's expression yesterday gave me the chills. Still, she must have been joking.
"It's only been 24 hours, and this is seriously not easy."
I thought about heading out a bit early today to see if I could run into Lucia first. It's important to keep staging these "coincidental" meetings.
The moment I stepped out of the dormitory building, I froze.
Estel was standing in front of the men's dormitory.
Male students who had just come out of the dorm were buzzing and glancing in her direction.
While I was panicking, unable to even gather my thoughts, Estel spotted me and came running over with a bright smile.
"Edmon! Good morning!"
Then, she naturally grabbed my arm, pressed her body tightly against me, and smiled.
"Let's go, hurry!"
On top of the embarrassing situation, the sensation of her chest against my arm made my mind go blank.
There are so many people watching, so I should pull Estel away immediately, but ironically, I didn't want to.
I can't make a rational judgment over something as trivial as this?
I looked down at Estel's chest, which was being squashed against my arm.
Ugh, just a little, just a little longer... seriously, just a little longer....
I barely managed to pull myself together and stopped Estel, who was dragging me along. I forcibly pried her arms off mine.
"Estel, what on earth are you doing here this early in the morning? Your dormitory is on the complete opposite side."
"I came to pick you up because we're friends!! And we have classes together anyway."
No, why does she feel so much dumber than usual?
"Today, we don't have any major classes, just electives. Do you even have an elective class with me?"
I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
"Eh?!"
Estel's eyes widened.
"We don't have any electives together...?"
"You didn't even ask me what I was taking in the first place."
When I scolded her, Estel's shoulders trembled, and her hand, which was trying to grab my arm again, dropped limply.
"Really? Then you're not taking Social Dance? Or Classical Music in Daily Life? What about Understanding Art Appraisal?"
"...Do I look like the type to take those?"
They were certainly elective classes befitting a noble lady, but they were definitely not ones I would ever choose.
Seeing her pout and hang her head in disappointment at my words made me feel a bit sorry for her, on the other hand.
"...Still, we have major classes three days a week, so we can just take those together. Anyway, we'll see each other then whether we like it or not."
At those words, Estel's expression brightened up in an instant.
"Yeah!! Then I'll come pick you up again tomorrow morning!!"
"...There's really no need for that, so please, just let's meet in the classroom."
Watching Estel head toward her class, I started walking and thought about the elective class I was supposed to take today.
According to the original plan, it was Basic Swordsmanship.
This guy Edmon had filled all four available elective slots with that swordsmanship class.
If it's for reasons outside the game, it's probably because he meets another heroine there.
But I'm already getting a headache just thinking about the super clingy Estel, and if I go there, I'll definitely get entangled with a new heroine, which isn't exactly welcome in my current situation.
...Let's just skip it.
If I can change the classes later, I'll go to the department office and change them.
Isn't it the golden rule to sign up for various electives at the beginning of the semester and then drop or change them?
Instead, I decided to follow the elective class that Lucia was taking. It was Understanding Literature.
Still, it's more to my taste than the electives Estel is taking.
I intentionally found the lecture hall about 5 minutes after the class started and quietly slipped in through the back door.
Looking around for a seat, I spotted Lucia sitting alone in the corner of the back row.
"......."
My steps faltered without me realizing it.
She looked quite different from yesterday. She was wearing large glasses, and her frizzy, curly hair was tied back into a ponytail.
Her hand was busy taking notes, and she had a serious expression as she stared at the professor.
It was the face of someone completely absorbed in something they loved.
...Seeing her like this, she's actually kind of cute. It would be great if she didn't have those dead fish eyes all the time.
I tiptoed over and quietly sat in the seat next to her.
"...... ??"
Lucia glanced at me, looked back at the front, then turned to look at me again.
"Ppyak!!"
A small shriek escaped Lucia's lips, as if she were trying to say something.
"If you're late, sit down quietly."
The professor's low reprimand came from the front.
"Hehe, sorry."
I laughed awkwardly, pulled my chair, and sat right next to Lucia.
Lucia scribbled something in the corner of the notebook she had open, then slid it over to me along with her fountain pen.
'Why are you here?? Your name wasn't on the attendance sheet earlier'
It was neat, tidy handwriting, pressed down firmly. I wrote my reply underneath it.
'The elective I originally signed up for didn't seem fun, and I thought this would be more interesting'
The notebook came back to me.
'What was it originally?'
'Basic Swordsmanship'
'I see, so you're taking this because you like novels??'
I fell into thought for a moment. Actually, I've always liked reading novels and books. Of course, I don't know much about the books in this world yet.
'I like them'
Now that I've written it, it sounds like a love confession via letter.
The notebook came back again.
'I like them too'
I was inexplicably startled and looked over at Lucia. But Lucia, as if she didn't think much of it, continued our written conversation, alternating her gaze between the professor and the notebook with the same dull eyes as yesterday.
...Estel's affection seems to be rising to an absurd degree, but why is the one I actually need to target so indifferent?
'By any chance, can you recommend some fun novels??'
Upon seeing that, Lucia suddenly snatched the notebook and started scribbling something furiously for a long time.
When I got the notebook back after she finished writing, the things Lucia had written filled an entire page.
At the end, there was also a side note from Lucia.
'The relatively popular ones are the ones I wrote above, but actually, the really, really, really great masterpieces aren't very famous because they're niche, so if you find the ones above fun, I'll tell you about those too'
It was densely organized, from what she wrote as famous works in each genre to relatively recent ones.
There were even detailed notes on noir, mystery, and picaresque novels, which even I, who prided myself on having read quite a few novels, hadn't really looked into.
She really loves novels. I think I remember seeing a setting about her liking books.
I thought this would be the perfect way to build affection.
'Thanks, then which one of these do you like the best??'
When I wrote that and handed it over, Lucia moved her fingertips, reached out toward one of the novel titles she had written, and then hesitated.
She pointed her fingertip at a horror novel.
...What a unique taste.
Along with the thought that it was unexpected, I felt that communicating through writing like this was actually much more effective than talking out loud.
Anyway, I'm glad I came, since I can at least build some affection this way.
Should I push my luck a bit further?
'Do you happen to have this novel right now? Or do you think it's in the library?'
'I have it, I brought it from home.'
'Then lend it to me, I'll go get it after this class, let's go together'
Lucia glanced at me. Still the same listless, tired gaze.
Nod, nod.
Without a word, she just nodded her head twice, slightly.
...Geez, if you don't want to lend it, just say so. You're acting so annoyed.
I stayed up until 5 AM reading an adult novel where the male and female protagonists were intimately mingling their bodies, fell asleep, and then overslept.
Because of that, I couldn't wash properly, so I just tied my hair up roughly and put on my glasses.
I went to the elective class I was looking forward to, but everyone else was taking it with friends, and I was all alone.
What are the odds that a male childhood friend would suddenly appear next to me while I was staring blankly ahead in a tired state?
'It should be less than 0%, but why is it happening to me!!'
Lucia screamed internally, but she screamed even louder at her own subsequent actions.
When asked for a novel recommendation, I suddenly got excited all by myself and wrote a mountain-high list of novels.
When asked what my favorite novel was, I naturally tried to pick the adult novel I read yesterday.
If I hadn't come to my senses and moved my fingertip to the one next to it, it would have been a real disaster.
'...No, seriously, what was I thinking recommending an adult novel in the first place? Get a grip, Lucia Lowen!!'
Lucia tapped her head with her fist in her mind.
'......But honestly, it is a masterpiece. It's worth reading at least once.'
Nevertheless, Lucia was afraid that Edmon would think it was strange because of her unnecessary actions.
Should I not have written down minor genres like noir, mystery, or picaresque? I should have just recommended some popular, ordinary ones.
Making such regrets meaningless, when Edmon asked to borrow a novel that was a decent work, Lucia had a hard time suppressing the corners of her mouth that were rising vulgarly with joy.