SIDE STORY 1 (Part 4)

In the evening, after eating tomato stew filled with seafood, the two of them walked out of the alley onto the main street. Among the students who came out to enjoy the festival, they met several classmates, exchanged greetings, and eventually ended up meeting some of Rienn’s close friends, who invited them to join them.

“Let’s go to the clock tower, Rienn! It’s the place to be.”

“Sure, sounds good!”

“Dian.”

Greta Boejel came up beside him.

“Congratulations, top student. You did amazing until the end.”

“Thank you, congratulations to you too.”

“Second place, right? Thanks.”

“Wow, is this a conversation between the top and second place?!”

Renee Hertz, who had been walking ahead, turned around. Rienn, who was walking alongside her, also turned around and burst into laughter.

“Hahaha, this is really funny.”

“Rienn, are you okay with graduating……?”

Renee asked cautiously, to which Rienn nodded with a suddenly serious expression.

“I can graduate. How about you, Renee?”

Lowering her voice to a whisper, she added,

“I can too. Barely made it through.”

“Phew, that’s a relief, Renee.”

As the two sighed in relief and congratulated each other, Dian watched silently. Amidst the silence that lingered behind the lively scene, Greta broke the silence.

“You won’t be taking the advanced courses, right?”

“Nope.”

He glanced at Rienn’s pretty profile. He had received brochures about the advanced courses in case he needed them and had consulted with advisors. But now it seemed pointless.

“I thought so. You might not be curious, but I plan to take the advanced courses.”

Dian looked down at Greta on his left.

He didn’t generally feel inclined to get close to anyone. The only exceptions were Yan and Rienn, with whom he had formed deep bonds. But Rienn had many friends, and during their three years at the academy, Dian had also formed a friendship-like bond with them.

“Are you thinking of going into research?”

“Uh, I’ll have to decide on a specific field when I get in.”

“I’m sure you’ll be good at it.”

“Thanks, I’ll try my best. Rienn, Renee, we need to go into the building next door.”

The two who had been laughing softly regained their composure and entered the clock tower. Inside the one-column tower, the four climbed the stairs that ran around the perimeter. As they reached the top observation deck, a cool night breeze blew in.

“It’s already dark.”

“It’ll start soon!”

In the center, there was a lounge area where they could sit and rest, and a corridor along the perimeter allowed a view of the city. People were already scattered sparsely along the corridor with large windows. Feeling anxious, Dian called out to Rienn.

“Rienn, come here.”

“Yes.”

Greta and Renee went in the other direction, and he led Rienn to a relatively secluded spot. The students who recognized him and Rienn didn’t come any closer, though they didn’t show any sign of it, nor did they intend to.

Beyond the window, the elegant city and the distant academy buildings were visible. In the dark air, countless lights sparkled, capturing Rienn’s heart as she gazed endlessly.

“Wow, the night view alone is beautiful.”

“Are you not cold?”

“No, not really.”

Dian also glanced at Rienn while facing the same scenery. She was as pretty and beautiful as she was every day. Her golden hair flowed in the wind, revealing her soft facial features and pretty ears.

“Huh?”

Seeming to catch his gaze, Rienn smiled and met his eyes. It was a common occurrence, so Dian didn’t feel flustered and exchanged smiles. However, he did feel flustered when she reached out and touched his chest.

“……Rienn?”

“Where’s the clock? It’s a clock tower, but I don’t know the time.”

“It’s inside.”

He immediately pulled a pocket watch from his inside pocket and handed it to her.

“5 minutes left!”

Like placing used items back in their place, Rienn tucked the watch into his pocket after checking the time. The slightest touch made Dian shiver with excitement. He relived the sensation, the temperature, the touch.

Ding-

As the clock struck, the bell in the clock tower rang out. Simultaneously, several fireworks shot up into the sky from the direction of the academy. With the sound of fireworks exploding, huge flames adorned the night sky.

“Wow……!”

Cheers erupted from various places. Fireworks of various colors lit up the sky one after another.

“It’s so pretty, Dian… look at that bright red color.”

“Yeah.”

He shifted his gaze to where her finger pointed. Perhaps because they were high up, the fireworks didn’t seem too far away. They felt close enough to touch.

Dian turned his head to look at Rienn. Her face was painted with the colors of the fireworks, her mouth agape in awe. Even as he looked at her, she didn’t seem to notice his gaze.

It was a beautiful and meaningful moment. Dian decided he wanted to confess his feelings at this moment. His heart raced as if it might burst, his lips trembling.

“Rienn.”

“Yeah?”

Rienn looked up at him with a smile on her face.

“Why? Wow…!”

A new firework exploded, causing her head to turn. Unable to take her eyes off the night sky filled with fireworks, Dian hesitated for a moment, but he couldn’t delay it any longer. Now was the time.

“Listen, Rienn.”

“Uh-huh, wait.”

As the fireworks momentarily subsided, Rienn looked at him again with a puzzled expression.

“Why, Dian?”

“…….”

“Why do you keep calling me?”

Seeing no response after calling out to him, Rienn shook him by the collar, her face showing confusion. She leaned in closer, shaking him lightly and asking, “Huh? Huh?” until their gazes met. Dian felt flustered as he looked down at her and tensed up.

I like you, Rienn.

This was the moment to say the words he had said countless times in his head, in his dreams.

But as he looked into her innocent blue eyes, his lips wouldn’t move.

He thought about what he would lose if his confession were rejected. Rienn, who wasn’t good at refusing, would feel sorry even as she rejected him. Afterward, she would come to understand his feelings, but the comfort they had shared would disappear, and she would feel awkward around him.

He would lose the most important thing in his life, his friendship with Rienn. And he might lose his place as her closest friend.

“You’re weird today, Dian.”

Rienn laughed brightly and then suddenly turned her body to the side.

“Oh – Cheers!”

Without thinking, he reflexively took off his coat and stood in the direction to shield Rienn from the wind.

“Thank you.”

Rienn meekly stood as he put it on her and cooperated by slipping her arms into the sleeves.

Meanwhile, a particularly large and colorful firework burst forth. Rienn turned her head in admiration. As she stood still in the glowy darkness, firework after firework filled the sky, flashing and sparkling, and then the fireworks came to an end.

“It’s over…….”

A voice filled with regret. Darkness fell around them, and white smoke rose in the moonlight. Rienn snorted and grabbed his hand.

“It’s cold up here, Dian. Let’s go downstairs.”

“Okay.”

“What were you trying to say a moment ago?”

“…It’s nothing.”

In the end, he failed again.

Dian felt pathetic and frustrated with himself.

He couldn’t take another step because he was afraid of the uncertainty.