9. Where the Cherry Blossoms Fell (2)
9. Where the Cherry Blossoms Fell (2)
It was close to noon.
Near the academy's back gate, which led to the hill, I had arrived a bit early and was waiting for Lucia.
When we first talked about it, I felt a little nervous thinking it might be something like a date, but thinking back on it now, it didn't seem like such a big deal.
...After all, how different could it really be from us basking in the sun together on the grass like usual?
Lucia would obviously react indifferently anyway.
While waiting for Lucia, I kept my eyes on the path leading from the female dormitory to this spot, but there was still no sign of her coming.
Only a few female students passed through the back gate for their own outings, just like me.
...She's late.
Then, one female student didn't pass by me, but stopped in front of me and lightly tapped my arm.
Focusing my eyes and looking at her properly, it was Lucia.
A thin, form-fitting brown sweater, a black skirt worn on bare legs without the black tights she always wore, and matching colored boots reaching just below her knees.
I didn't know how Lucia usually dressed, but I could guarantee this fashion was definitely not something that belonged in her wardrobe.
I naturally assumed she would come wearing her uniform or a super ordinary t-shirt.
Did she borrow it from someone?
Her messy curly hair was the same as always, but except for that, she looked like a completely different person.
Damn, even just dressing like that makes her look pretty darn cute.
It struck me anew. No matter how much she was a gloomy yandere-positioned heroine who wasn't my type, a heroine really was a heroine after all.
Since I just stood there blankly admiring her appearance without saying a word, Lucia tapped my arm again and spoke bluntly.
"...W-What are you doing not moving? Did you leave something behind?"
"Uh, no. Let's go."
...Figures.
In a situation like this, shouldn't she usually say things like, 'How do I look today?' or 'Is what I'm wearing pretty today?' or 'Do you notice anything different?'
If she asked like that, I would respond accordingly and compliment her on how pretty she looked dressing up like that.
Even when I'm about to think she's really cute or give her a compliment, she has a knack for instantly pouring cold water on it.
Sighing softly to myself, I followed Lucia as she started walking ahead.
Lucia and I stepped onto the path leading to the hill side by side. It was a path located behind the academy, and several groups heading in the same direction could be seen ahead and behind us.
This time, carrying a picnic mat under my arm that I had bought in advance from a shop outside the academy, I walked alongside Lucia.
...And silence.
There was no real conversation while climbing the hill. When climbing the slightly steep slope, Lucia puffed and panted for breath, but didn't say much.
The hill overlooked the entire academy, with small patches of lawn and cherry blossom trees scattered here and there, under which people were gathered and sitting.
We wove our way between couples and groups of visitors who had taken spots here and there, barely managing to find an open spot under a cherry blossom tree.
We spread out the mat and sat side by side.
And still, the silence persisted.
...Come to think of it, the topics Lucia and I discussed every day until now were all related to school.
Since Lucia wasn't exactly good with words.
How class was, how the food was, whether the assignment was hard.
Occasionally, Lucia would be the first to bring up old stories that were hazy in my memory, but it always ended with a simple "ah, those were the days."
But right now, since there wasn't really any topic like that, I couldn't think of anything to say at all.
Did I even know anything about Lucia in the first place—not just information as a game character, but truly about this person?
Ever since that day when I brought up her parents and she avoided the conversation, I hadn't asked many personal questions.
It seemed I wasn't the only one feeling this awkwardness; Lucia also looked like she was hesitating, hovering over whether to say something or not.
As I rummaged through my head trying to start any conversation, I remembered the horror novel I had borrowed last time.
"Ah, right. The novel I borrowed last time—"
"...!!"
No sooner had the word "novel" left my mouth than Lucia opened hers.
"Y-You finished it, right? It was good, right? That author actually originally planned four parts, but after writing up to Part 2, he suddenly went back to his hometown to farm. But the ending of Part 2 was a total open ending, so everyone was freaking out over when Part 3 would come out. He still has no intention of writing it, though."
Uh.
"A-And that twist where the protagonist of Part 1 was actually dead from the very beginning, did you notice that at first? I read a lot of novels like that so I noticed it, but after seeing the full conclusion, I read it again from the beginning and the foreshadowing was really solid, so I think it'd be great if you read it from the beginning one more time too—or wait, do you want to read Part 2 first?"
Words pouring out without even taking a breath, along with spoilers I felt like I shouldn't have heard.
"...I was about to say I haven't read it yet."
"Heeeeek!"
Lucia's face turned bright red in an instant.
"I-I said it w-without knowing.... S-Sorry, I really didn't mean to spoil the plot."
"It's fine. Your pronunciation wasn't great and you were mumbling so much anyway that I couldn't really hear well."
I brushed it off with a half-joking laugh.
Just like during that written conversation last time, whenever a topic she liked came up, she clearly looked noticeably lively.
Maybe I should read some books Lucia likes.
"...I-I'm really sorry."
"I told you it's fine. Like you said, knowing it beforehand makes you see things you wouldn't have, so that's fun in its own way too."
"T-That may be true, but..."
With her face still flushed, Lucia dejectedly pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them.
Wheeeew, a gust of wind blew past.
Cherry blossom petals scattered in all directions. It felt like a cloud of cherry blossom petals was being formed in the sky where a few stray clouds hung.
...Wait, is someone actually controlling this with magic? The cherry blossom petals gathered together floated softly up into the sky.
"Waaa...!"
"Uwa, so pretty!"
Exclamations of awe erupted from all around as people looked at the cloud made of petals.
I suddenly turned to look at Lucia. She gently tucked a strand of hair blown by the wind behind her ear with her fingertips.
Her pale skin, which wouldn't have been an exaggeration to call ghost-like before, now had a healthy glow, perhaps from sunbathing with me lately. Maybe because she was warm, her thick hair clung slightly to the back of her neck extending toward her ear.
Was it because I saw her so lively and chattering just now, or was it a sudden impulse?
I wanted to quickly make some progress in this slow, sluggish relationship. The same pattern day after day for several days was getting tiresome.
Wouldn't everything just work out smoothly if I just made a direct move fast?
"Hey, Lucia. Do you not date anyone? Someone you like—"
"Edmon!"
Before I could finish speaking, a raspy voice interrupted.
"...Huh?"
It was Roji. It seemed he had come to the hill to hang out with several classmates from the Department of Astrology.
Seeing him approach while waving in this direction, I stood up from my seat and exchanged a brief greeting.
"Did you come to hang out too?"
"Yeah, with the guys. What about you—"
Roji's gaze naturally drifted toward Lucia sitting behind me, then returned to me.
"—You came with her."
I could hear several students from the Department of Astrology standing behind Roji whispering to each other.
"Isn't that girl Lucia Lowen? Wow, she actually comes to places like this? I thought she'd just stay in the dorm."
"By the way, who's the guy next to her?"
"You know, that guy who's been coming since the first day."
"Ah, his taste is really weird. When he looks so decent, too."
"Still, he's handsome. Ask to introduce him. It's not like they're dating, right?"
...It's not like I particularly enjoyed Lucia acting all gloomy like that either, but.
Still, talking trash behind her back just because she came outside like this—then what the hell is she supposed to do? Is she supposed to just live stuck in the corner of her room forever?
"Right. Roji, see you next week then."
"Uh-huh, yeah."
Trying my best to manage my expression, I wrapped up the brief greeting to Roji. Roji seemed to have noticed something off as well, hastily taking his group and leaving the area.
I flopped back down onto the mat.
"H-How do you know the students from our department? They're from my department, right...?"
"Ah, I only know Roji. I told you last time, we take Basic Swordsmanship together."
"...Ah, I see."
Lucia only said those few words before burying her face in her knees. What the department students said earlier kept bothering me.
"By the way, aren't you close with the kids in your department?"
Come to think of it, I've never seen Lucia hanging around anyone other than me or Estel.
"J-Just... because I'm not really sociable or anything."
Lucia lowered her eyes and continued.
"Y-You know it too. It was like that when I was young, too, but you became my friend."
"......"
"So, I was really grateful back then. I... I feel like I've never said this even once until now. Even after coming to the academy."
It did seem like I had helped her out back when she couldn't fit in well with the neighborhood kids.
"E-Even back then, you helped me, but more than ten years have passed and I'm still the same, hehe..."
Lucia's mumbling voice gradually trailed off.
"...I'm sorry, Edmon."
Did she overhear what those students whispered earlier?
"H-Hey, you don't need to listen to what they—"
I hurriedly tried to say something, but Lucia ignored my words and abruptly stood up.
"...T-Thanks for bringing me today. I've been outside too much lately. Being out with you on weekdays and now doing this on the weekend too, it's so t-tiring. I'm exhausted... I'll be going back now..."
And looking down at me, Lucia's face was stained wet and red along with an awkward smile.
"See you next week."
Leaving behind a low, mumbled voice, Lucia spun around and marched down the path all by herself.
As always, walking briskly a few steps ahead of me.
"Whoa! Someone made a cloud again!!"
Unable to even say anything, I could only look down at the few cherry blossom petals that had settled where Lucia had been sitting.