Grandfather's Sudden Visit
The Chairman's sudden plan to visit. Shandroy also seemed caught completely off guard, looking deeply flustered.
"D-Did you just..."
"Good for you, Jeff. Grandfather is coming in person."
"Yay!"
As I spun around in excitement, Shandroy quickly regained her composure. She wiped her face as if troubled, then stood up abruptly.
"For now, let us all head out. Since the Chairman didn't say much, we won't need any grand preparations."
We followed Shandroy out of the staff room. I took the hand of Appleton, who was walking beside me. Her hand was trembling nonstop. Why was she like this? Even though I had fed her plenty of healthy things, her health didn't seem to improve easily.
Shine, seeing what I was doing, stood on Appleton's other side and held her other hand just like me.
"I'm really looking forward to it. Aren't you?"
"Yeah."
Shine answered my question. But Appleton couldn't. She merely swallowed hard and nodded with great difficulty.
"This is the first time I'm introducing a friend to Grandfather. Do you think he'll like Appleton?"
"She's Jeff's friend. He'll definitely like her."
Shandroy led us to an incredibly spacious helipad. While I was marveling at the fact that the school had such a place, I sensed a faint current in the distance. It was a sensation I was familiar with by now.
Following the unique radio waves emitted by the helicopter, I shifted my gaze to see a tiny dot flying toward us from the distant sky. It grew larger at an extremely rapid pace, and by the time it hovered directly above our heads, it boasted an incomparably massive presence.
On the side of the helicopter was a silver beast emblem. The crest representing Grandfather Ferman. I silently clutched the ring on my finger.
Just as the helicopter began its slow descent, its door suddenly burst open. Startled, I opened my mouth to shout something, but a long rope ladder dropped from the wide-open door, swaying wildly in the wind.
The ladder wasn't the only thing that appeared. Just like in the videos, Grandfather Ferman, dressed in a sharp suit, stepped out of the helicopter. He leaned out, spotted Shine and me, and waved with a delighted smile.
"Jeff! Shine!"
"Grandfather!"
His voice was drowned out by the roar of the helicopter and the distance, but he was clearly calling out to us. While I hopped up and down with my arms wide open in sheer delight, Shine merely raised a single hand and gave a light wave.
Even so, Grandfather Ferman was overjoyed as he began climbing down the ladder. Though his swaying figure in the wind looked precarious, Grandfather Ferman skillfully made his way down and hooked his foot at the very end.
However, the distance to the ground was still too great. The ladder was a bit too short. Although the helicopter was slowly descending to lower the ladder further, Grandfather Ferman, as if finding even that brief wait a waste of time, leaped into the air.
For someone jumping from a height of easily over fifteen meters, his face looked incredibly serene.
Thud! The heavy impact of his dress shoes echoed as a gust of wind dispersed in all directions. Making an entrance with a landing that could hardly be called safe, Grandfather Ferman adjusted his collar and walked toward us.
Standing beside me, Appleton looked like she was about to faint, holding her breath entirely. I hurriedly patted her back gently to help her relax. Sending a tiny current of electricity to loosen her muscles was a bonus.
"Ah..." With a soft groan, Appleton's body went limp and began to sway. I quickly caught her so she wouldn't fall, letting her lean against me.
Grandfather Ferman didn't even spare a glance at Shandroy standing nearby as he approached us and knelt down. Shandroy gasped at the sight.
"It has been a while."
He reached out and gently patted my head and Shine's. Shine, seemingly in a good mood, silently accepted his touch. Sometimes Victor would mistake me for Shine and place his hand on her head, and every single time, Shine would glare at him as if she wanted to murder him. Shine, so you don't actually hate having your head patted.
I felt like I had so much to say to Grandfather when we met again, but now that he was actually right in front of me, my mouth wouldn't work properly. In the end, as I stood there mumbling, I chose to express myself through action. I threw my arms wide open and hugged him.
His eyes, which usually held a sharp gaze, softened gently. His lips, which always seemed so stern, curved up slightly, melting the cold atmosphere.
After staying wrapped in Grandfather Ferman's embrace for a long while in silence, I gently stepped back. Suddenly embarrassed by my own actions, I hung my head low. I couldn't understand why I had done that. It wasn't like I was an actual child.
Grandfather Ferman looked at Shine next. His eyes were filled with anticipation; there wasn't a single person here who didn't know what he was hoping for.
Shine glanced around, seemingly self-conscious of the others watching, before letting out a small sigh and stepping into Grandfather's arms. However, she didn't open her arms. It was as if she was saying, I will come to you, so you must hug me.
Grandfather Ferman simply smiled, delighted by her gesture, and pulled her into a tight embrace. A bit too tight, perhaps.
Grandfather Ferman lifted Shine right off the ground. Shine's eyebrows shot up. She looked highly displeased by the sudden action.
"Put me down."
Shine was set down immediately.
"Ahem..." Shandroy, who was standing nearby, cleared her throat to make her presence known. Only then did Grandfather Ferman turn his gaze to her and offer a greeting.
"It has been a while."
"Welcome, Chairman."
"Time is precious, so let us skip all the formalities. I did not come here as the Chairman today."
"Understood." Shandroy bowed and stepped back. Appleton stared blankly at the retreating Shandroy with trembling eyes. I held her hand tightly and approached Grandfather.
"Grandfather! This is my friend!"
This was the first time I had ever introduced a friend to my family. I looked up at Grandfather, my heart pounding with pure, unhidden excitement.
"A-A-A-A..." She needed to introduce herself, but was she too nervous? Once again, I sent a tiny jolt of electricity into Appleton's back. At that, her tense expression softened slightly, and she began to wobble. I quickly supported her side.
"I-I am Appleton. I'm... Jeff and Shine's... friend..."
"Hmm..." At Appleton's introduction, Grandfather Ferman returned to his usual stern expression and began to examine her. Every time his gaze swept over her, Appleton trembled like a leaf in the wind.
"Red Star."
"Y-Yes?"
"Red Star... Not bad." Grandfather Ferman muttered softly, nodding his head. At any rate, I was glad he seemed to approve of Appleton.
"Jeff made friends with her without knowing."
"You mean she didn't approach her knowing her background?"
"Yeah. Jeff said she just wanted to make a friend."
Shine and Grandfather Ferman began to converse. I watched them blankly for a moment, then shook my head and hugged Appleton.
"Hey, Appleton."
"Ah, yes?"
"What do they mean by Red Star?" I whispered softly into Appleton's ear so the other two couldn't hear. Naturally, I kept sending gentle electric signals to her back to help her relax.
Tickled by my whisper, Appleton flinched and squirmed restlessly. The breath escaping her lips gradually began to carry a sweet scent.
"Mnh... the company my dad runs... haah..." Unlike before, Appleton spoke without any tension. Only then did I pull my hand away from her back. A soft blush dusted Appleton's cheeks. She looked at my retreating hand with a hint of lingering regret before continuing.
"The name of the company my dad runs is Red Star..."
"Really? That cola company?"
"Yeah... It's probably the one you're thinking of."
I shook her hand wildly, completely thrilled by her answer. Red Star was the brand of my absolute favorite cola. To think my very first friend was the daughter of that company's president—it was truly mind-blowing.
"Then, then, can you let me drink cola every day?"
"That much... is no problem at all..."
"Then, then, then, can you turn all the water in the world into cola?"
Appleton replied with a troubled expression at my absurd question.
"Even so, that's a bit impossible..."
"Ah..." It was a bit of a shame, but I decided to be satisfied with being able to drink cola every day. I was starting to like Appleton even more.
"Jeff."
"Yes!" As I waited while holding Appleton in my arms, Grandfather Ferman, who had finished his conversation with Shine, spoke to me.
"Could you show Grandfather around the school you're attending?"
"But you're the Chairman here, Grandfather. Don't you know it better than I do?"
"It has been over three years since I last visited. I hear many things have changed since then, so wouldn't you know it better than me?"
I nodded at Grandfather Ferman's words. "Okay. I'll guide you. But keep in mind, I don't know every single detail either."
Imitating Rain, I placed my hands on my hips and spoke with a confident expression. At that, Grandfather's stern face instantly melted into a warm smile.
And so, the school tour began. Shine, Appleton, and I walked in front, with Grandfather Ferman following behind. I was so glad to have a friend like Appleton. Since she had been attending this school for a long time, she knew the layout much better than I did. Whenever I mumbled, unsure of how to answer, she would gently lean in and whisper in my ear.
"This is..."
'This is the drama club room.'
"This is the club room used by the drama club!"
"Ho..." Grandfather Ferman showed an interested reaction every time I introduced a place. His reactions made me even more excited and put me in a great mood.
"The drama club... They used to produce quite a few decent works back in the day..."
"Next is here!" I ran ahead, waving to Grandfather Ferman. I didn't care about the stares from the people around us. If I worried about every little thing like that, I wouldn't be able to fully enjoy this precious, happy time with Grandfather.