8. Where the Cherry Blossoms Fell (1)
8. Where the Cherry Blossoms Fell (1)
Well after afternoon classes had already ended, the white buildings of the academy were dyed in a dark vermilion glow.
"Kuaaaak... My entire body feels stiff."
I collapsed flat on my back spread-eagled onto the lawn.
I didn't even have the energy left to walk to the dormitory. Beside me, the male students who had taken the swordsmanship class with me today were also sprawled out.
Those three had swung only half as much as I did, but the time it took them was similar to mine.
This body definitely has talent, huh. At this rate, even if I have to do a thousand swings of gratitude later, I'll be able to make it back right on schedule.
"Should I just change classes...?"
"If you were going to do that, you should have done it today. Now even if you want to change, you can't."
"Hey, how the hell do you swing this a thousand times?"
The three sprawled next to me were a senior from the Magic Department, a senior from the Divinity Department, and a freshman from the Astrology Department.
We had only met today, but strangely enough, I felt something like comradeship.
As the four of us lay side by side catching our breath, the Astrology Department freshman, Roji, turned his head toward me.
"By the way, what's your relationship with Lucia Lowen?"
"... Huh?"
Flustered, I sat halfway up.
"You came looking for her from day one, right? You go to pick her up, she waits for you... Are you guys dating?"
Rumors sure spread fast.
"Ooh, really? Tell us more."
"How long has it even been since the semester started, and you're already dating?"
The two seniors beside me also pushed themselves up with excited expressions.
Embarrassed, I scratched the back of my neck vigorously and answered.
"... We're just childhood friends."
"Eyy, how boring."
The Divinity Department senior flopped back down with a disappointed voice.
"I see. You stand out quite a bit, and Lucia Lowen also stands out in a different sense, so everyone was talking about that all day yesterday."
If Roji meant a 'different sense', did he mean because Lucia seemed so timid, quiet, and gloomy?
"... She is a bit like that."
She can still converse decently with me, but to others, she appears to be that difficult of a person to approach.
Just like that, two weeks flew by in an instant.
I had also gotten used to academy life to some degree, and the relationship between Lucia and Estel felt somewhat settled as well.
Lucia was still gloomy and stuttered quite a bit, but conversations flowed much better than at first. Of course, that was only relatively better.
Estel didn't cross the line as much as she did in the beginning either. Though she still often did troublesome things like linking arms or suddenly appearing from behind to cling to me.
Most unexpectedly of all, Lucia and Estel slowly grew closer to each other. Since the three of us often ate together or hung around together, it seemed to have happened naturally.
Although Estel led most of the conversation and Lucia just gave short replies.
It was truly a relief that Estel was a good girl.
Of course, since she kept trying to initiate physical contact right in front of Lucia, I had firmly instructed her that friends shouldn't cling to each other like this.
The swordsmanship class had also become second nature before I knew it, and compared to two weeks ago, the time it took to do a thousand swings was noticeably shorter. Now I even finished faster than Roji, who only did five hundred swings.
That didn't mean my physical fatigue vanished, so unintentionally, over the past weekend, I slept for 38 out of 48 hours like a newborn baby.
It was right around the time I was gradually forgetting my original goal.
[Additional Achievement: Cherry Blossoms]
Viewed the cherry blossoms with a heroine.
Upon achievement: ???
Suddenly, a window like this popped up in front of my eyes. Just like before, it was an achievement that didn't exist in the game.
No, wait, if I just look around right now, the cherry blossoms inside the academy grounds are in full bloom. I'm literally viewing them right now.
Telling me this with such fuss, I thought the status window was really behind the times.
But that question mark under 'Upon achievement' made me wonder if the status window was finally giving out rewards.
"... W-What are you looking at?"
Lucia asked from beside me.
"No, nothing. What about you, why are you spacing out like that?"
"I-I'm also just..."
When I asked back, Lucia turned her gaze away without saying much.
After the general elective class that had just ended, Lucia and I were sitting together on the lawn as usual.
Since the first time we did it, this had quietly established itself like a routine. Even without me explicitly asking, we would sit together in a corner of the lawn for a bit before parting ways.
But even though we hung around each other like this, there was still no feeling that Lucia was aggressively hitting on me or making moves.
I couldn't even grasp whether her affection level was going up or not.
You're really difficult, Lucia Lowen.
Taking another look around at the cherry blossoms in full bloom, I suddenly opened my mouth.
If the achievement wasn't completed, it probably meant that instead of just seeing them in passing like this, we had to view them with a clear purpose.
"The cherry blossoms are so full like this. Want to go on a picnic to the hill behind the academy this weekend?"
Having said it, a belated surge of nervousness hit me. Because this was completely asking her out on a date.
"... Okay."
Lucia, whether she knew what I was thinking or not, answered with a voice lacking any particular excitement.
Lucia was flustered as she rummaged through her wardrobe.
'... What should I wear?'
The only clothes Lucia owned were her academy formal uniform and her pajamas.
Since she had never even considered going out to play somewhere, she had brought no casual clothes from home. In fact, in the first place, she didn't really have any going-out clothes at home either.
Lucia stomped her feet in anxiety in front of the wardrobe for a long time, then suddenly felt that her own behavior was unfamiliar.
Why was she worrying and flustered like this?
It was just going flower viewing with Edmon, like when they were young. Why was that such a big deal?
Didn't they sit together today as well, blankly watching the cherry blossom petals scatter?
Even the trees right in front of the dormitory were covered in full cherry blossoms. Through the window, the shrill squeals of joy from girls could still be heard right now.
'Sigh, should I have just said it was bothersome? Going out to play like that doesn't suit me at all.'
Holding up each of her five identical sets of gray pajama tops and bottoms to her body, Lucia let out a low groan, "Umm."
Although they looked like identical pajamas to others, to Lucia, they were each meant for slightly different uses in her own way.
Lucia stood there for a long time, ruffling her hair.
'Still, going out wearing pajamas or a formal uniform would be a bit...'
Among the gray pajamas, Lucia put on the set intended for stepping out near the dormitory.
Estel was sitting at her desk wearing a frilled white slip pajama dress, reviewing this week's Magic class.
Tok, tok.
At the sound of the knock, Estel draped a shawl over her shoulders and headed toward the door.
"Who is it?"
Opening the door, standing there was Lucia, wearing quite tacky gray pajamas and a thoroughly awkward expression.
"Huh? Lucia?"
"......"
Lucia hesitated for a moment, then hesitantly opened her mouth.
"E-Estel-yang. At this late hour, I-I know it's really a nuisance, but... could I ask you for a favor?"
Lucia Lowen. Estel didn't particularly like her. Not that she hated her, but she found her somewhat annoying.
Compared to herself, who woke up early every morning to fix her hair, apply makeup, and wipe away every speck of dust from the collar of her formal uniform, Lucia always walked around looking unkempt in heavily creased clothes.
Even so, Edmon's eyes always followed Lucia. That was the part that bothered her.
... Still, looking at her felt like watching a scruffy small animal, so she had grown a little fond of her, though.
"Oh my, Lucia. If it's something I can fulfill, of course I should. We're both Edmon's friends, after all."
"T-Then, could you by any chance l-lend me some of your clothes, Estel-yang? I know it's a difficult request, but..."
After learning Estel's family name, Lucia used honorifics with Estel, and even when Edmon told her it was fine, she couldn't stop.
"I-I'm not very close with the people in my department, and the only person whose body type is somewhat similar to mine is Estel-yang..."
"Ah, if it's a request like that, it's easy. Here, come inside for a second."
Estel gestured with a bright smile.
Unlike Lucia's room, which was filled with books, one entire side of Estel's room was a closet.
"Mmm, if you look closely, Lucia, you have a nice figure, so maybe a style like this would be cute? It'd be great if you walked with your shoulders and waist straight, though."
Holding clothes up against Lucia, who was hesitantly inspecting them, Estel suddenly asked.
"By the way, why clothes all of a sudden?"
"T-That's because I have plans over the weekend... but I don't have any clothes to wear..."
Estel clapped her hands and gasped softly in admiration.
"No way, could it be a date?"
"It's nothing like that. I-It's just—"
Lucia paused for a moment before continuing.
"Just a friend."
"Fufu, then I'll have to pick something even cuter."
With an 'I know even if you don't say it' expression, Estel shoved her head into the wardrobe even more actively than before and rummaged through the clothes.
"Lucia, how about something like this? I think this one would look good on you too. Do you want to just try it on here?"
"N-No. It's fine."
Lucia looked at the clothes Estel had pulled out with zero confidence, then picked up a baggy sweater.
"T-This one looks good, I think..."
"Lucia, girls with figures like ours should never wear baggy clothes like that. Why of all things did you pick that?"
Instead, Estel held up a similar sweater against Lucia, then smiled satisfiedly.
"I think this will be perfect. I also have a skirt to match with it below. I'll lend you that as well. Ah, right, boots too!"
"A-Ah, thank you. Estel-yang, really thanks to you... I will definitely repay this favor later."
You don't really need to repay me.
If things go well with that guy and you can stay away from Edmon's side, I'd be the one who's thankful instead.
Estel smiled brightly as she placed the clothes into Lucia's arms.
"Have a nice date!"
"I-I told you it's not a date."