Preparing a Gift for Appleton
"Ughhh!" After confirming that the teacher of the final class had finished and left the classroom, I stretched my arms out wide.
Rain, apparently unable to endure the boring class, had fallen asleep yet again. Watching her chick bag get progressively damper with drool in real-time, I reached out and poked her cheek to wake her up.
"Wake up, Rain."
"Mmmgh..." Poked in the cheek, Rain squirmed and slowly began to open her eyes.
"Is class over?"
"Yeah. It's time to go home." I answered Rain's question as I stood up from my seat.
The other students in the classroom still weren't moving. Shouldn't they be heading home now that the final period was over? Since we didn't have a homeroom teacher, I had heard that most students went straight home after the last class.
"Isn't anyone going home?" I tossed the question to the motionless kids. I wasn't particularly expecting an answer, but the students exchanged glances before suddenly rising in unison and rushing out of the classroom. Seeing how frantic they looked, they must have been incredibly eager to go home.
"Hmm..." Were they really staying put just because of us? I let out a soft sigh and slung my dinosaur backpack over my shoulders. Shine and Rain also grabbed their bags and stood up.
"Appleton still hasn't come back."
"Yeah." I looked around and walked over to Appleton's desk. Sitting on her chair was a luxurious-looking bag. It had to be Appleton's, right? With that thought, I picked it up.
"Why are you taking that?"
"To return it to Appleton."
"Is there any need to go that far?"
"Yeah. Because we're friends."
"Friends..." Shine grimaced at my reply, clearly displeased. But that was as far as she went; she didn't try to stop me.
"Fine. I'll carry it instead."
"Why?"
"Just because." Shine said, snatching Appleton's bag from my hands.
Perhaps because the final class had just ended, the hallway was packed with students heading home with their backpacks. However, the moment we stepped into the corridor, everyone froze. They were walking on eggshells around us to an absurd degree. I let out a sigh, annoyed by their staring. At that, the kids nearby flinched violently. Seeing them react like this to a single breath, they seemed incredibly faint-hearted.
We headed straight to the infirmary. Appleton was lying quietly in the same bed as before, her eyes closed as if she still hadn't regained consciousness. I sat on the edge of her bed and tucked her in.
"Appleton's body must be really weak."
"We should feed her more green juice."
"Good idea." As Shine and I began talking about her, Appleton's face contorted in pain. Was she having a nightmare? Seeing her break out in a cold sweat, it really looked like she was trapped in a terrible dream.
"I think Appleton is having a nightmare." I reached out and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "I'll leave her bag here. Let's go."
"Okay..." I replied to Shine, taking one last look down at Appleton. I didn't know what kind of dream she was having, but I hoped she wouldn't suffer anymore.
"See you next time, Appleton. Next time, I'll bring you even more things that are good for your health."
"Ughhh..." Appleton groaned, still lost in her nightmare. Leaving behind our unanswered farewell, we stepped out of the infirmary and headed to the staff room. Arriving in front of the massive door, I reached out and knocked softly. *Knock, knock.*
"Who is it?"
"Shandroi, it's us."
"Please come in."
Once Shandroi gave us permission to enter, I opened the door and stepped inside the staff room. Shandroi was sitting on a plush sofa, sipping coffee.
"It seems your classes have finished."
"Yes."
"How was your day?" Shandroi asked, seemingly curious about our school life. Leading Shine and Rain, I walked over and sat on the sofa opposite her.
"It was... manageable. But the atmosphere was definitely uncomfortable."
"The atmosphere... That is something beyond our control."
"Yes. I heard about it earlier, so I know. It's something we'll have to change ourselves."
"Indeed."
"Aside from that, everything was fine. Though I did think the lessons were moving a bit fast for what kids our age usually learn."
Shandroi nodded and set down her coffee cup. I grabbed a small chocolate from the table and slipped it into my pocket.
"Lord Ferman has contacted us. He requested that I show you this screen once you ladies returned from class..."
"Grandpa?" Shandroi nodded at my question and pointed to a large screen mounted on one wall. Right after turning on the screen with a remote, she sent a message somewhere. Moments later, Grandpa Ferman's face appeared on the massive display.
Grandpa looked exactly the same as always. Dashing in his sharp suit. He checked the watch on his wrist and nodded.
"Grandpa!" I jumped up from my seat and shouted, and Grandpa Ferman on the screen reacted.
"Can you see me? Can you see us?" It had been so long since I last saw him, and I was absolutely thrilled. I pulled Shine and Rain up from their seats and waved them around vigorously so Grandpa could see them clearly on the screen.
Was there a camera hidden somewhere? I immediately sent out a faint electrical signal to check the functions of all the electronic devices nearby. A weak signal pinged back in my mind. The cameras were installed on all four sides of the large wall.
"Yes!"
Perhaps because it had been so long since I received praise, a wide grin spread across my face and refused to budge. I rubbed my cheeks and nodded.
"It was fine," Shine answered shortly, and Grandpa Ferman nodded with a satisfied expression.
At Grandpa Ferman's question, Shine shook her head. "It wasn't me. Jeff did it."
"Yeah."
"Jeff knew subconsciously. She knew how to use the power she holds, and how others would perceive her when she used it. You know too, right, Grandpa? How the students at school think of us right now."
"What...? I didn't mean it like—" I tried to argue against Shine's words, but her small hand poked my side, cutting me off. I shut my mouth, pouting in dissatisfaction. Yet, contrary to my expression, Grandpa Ferman let out a soft chuckle, a warm smile gracing his face.
"Yeah. Jeff and I are doing great."
"Your influence?"
"Then, is your power not ours, Grandpa?"
"Are you not going to give us power, Grandpa?"
Grandpa Ferman looked flustered at Shine's sharp question. I grabbed Shine's hand and pulled her back slightly, but she wouldn't stop.
"Jeff. Grandpa says he's not going to give us anything."
Was that really true? I looked up at Grandpa on the screen with trembling eyes. Even though he denied it, he might have been thinking that deep down.
"Really...?"
Maybe Grandpa was disappointed in Shine and me today. He had sent us to school to make friends, but we hadn't made any proper ones. Although we had Appleton, whom we could barely call a friend, just one person was far too few.
Seeing my reaction, Grandpa Ferman took a deep breath to compose himself.
Grandpa Ferman adjusted his tie as he spoke.
"Yeees..." I nodded at Grandpa Ferman's words.
"Y-Yes?!" Rain, who had been squirming beside me, squeaked in surprise.
"W-Well, that is..."
Grandpa Ferman really must have been short on time, as he abruptly cut the connection right after saying his piece. Immediately afterward, we headed to the warp room to return to headquarters.
Just before we stepped through the massive warp gate, Shandroi asked us, "Please let me know the date of your next attendance. I will adjust the class schedule to accommodate you as much as possible."
At her words, I pulled out my notebook and began checking my schedule. Today was Monday. Since we already attended class today, Monday was out. Next, Tuesday—that was the day I planned to binge-watch the theatrical cut of *Little Witch's Grand Adventure*. Excluded. What about Wednesday? No, Wednesday wouldn't work either. That was the day the headquarters cafeteria served a delicious special menu. Then Thursday? Thursday was a day of grueling training. Specifically, training with Victor. *This is perfect.* I took my ballpoint pen and scribbled a big cross over Thursday in my notebook.
"Thursday would be best."
"Understood." With those final words, we stepped through the warp gate.