Chapter 7. Field Trip on a Clear Day (5)

“No matter how powerful a mage is, I guess it’s all useless once they get old.”

“Ah…”

Come to think of it, there was only about a year or two left until Aren became the next Tower Master. That meant the current Tower Master probably only had that much time left to live. In the Tower, when the current master dies, the successor becomes the new master. Somehow, that thought suddenly felt bittersweet…

“That’s why I try to spend time with him while I still can. Well then, I should get going now.”

“Hurry up, just go already.”

Kyle sent a hostile glare toward Aren, urging him to leave. Aren returned Kyle’s look with a sharp one of his own. Ugh, how long has it even been since I made them make up? Are they seriously about to start fighting again?

“…Don’t do anything weird to Radel while I’m gone.”

“She’s safer with me than with you, so don’t worry.”

“Okay, enough, enough!”

Worried they’d start another brawl, I quickly stepped between them. I didn’t want to witness another war-like clash again, so I hurried Aren along.

“Ah, Aren. You should get going now.”

“…Okay. I’ll see you later, Radel.”

Aren looked a little reluctant as he waved at me and disappeared with a swoosh. I stared at the spot where he vanished for a moment before turning toward Kyle. Come to think of it, I hadn’t even realized how awkward it was between us because I’d been so focused on stopping their fight.

“……”

Now that it was just the two of us, Kyle kept glancing at me nervously. His slumped shoulders looked pitiful. He had been circling around me all this time because of the ‘no-approach’ order, and now that he was finally in front of me, he didn’t know what to do. He was close enough to touch, and his hand twitched as if he wanted to reach out but hesitated.

“Kyle.”

At the sound of my voice, Kyle flinched. I felt sorry for avoiding him and a bit ashamed for acting so selfishly, so I reached out and gently patted his head. The soft sensation I hadn’t felt in a while made me smile automatically.

“I’m sorry.”

Having apologized too, I felt thoroughly satisfied. Kyle accepted my touch and closed his eyes, looking pleased. I couldn’t help but think how beautiful his long eyelashes were.

“Um… It’s just that I was too embarrassed, that’s why I avoided you. I didn’t do it because I hate you or anything like that, I… Ack?”

Being this close and talking to him after so long made me flustered, so I bowed my head and started babbling excuses—when suddenly, Kyle pulled me tightly into his arms.

‘W-What is this guy doing!‘

I froze in surprise at the sudden hug. While gently smoothing down my hair, Kyle spoke in a deep, quiet voice.

“Don’t avoid me again.”

His voice rang softly in my ear—it was incredibly seductive. Smooth but strong and firm, and I couldn’t help but nod in response.

“I won’t make you uncomfortable anymore, either.”

“Ah, so you were really bothered by what Dia said.”

Kyle usually heard Dia’s words in one ear and let them out the other, but now that it involved me, he was being this serious—it made me feel a little happy. Wow, so being treated as someone special felt this good… I never knew.

“But… you still kind of seem a lot like a burden… though.”

Here’s what was happening: I was currently being held tightly in Kyle’s arms. A grown man and woman alone together in a room, hugging—if anyone saw this, it’d be a disaster. I wriggled and struggled to finally free myself from his embrace. Kyle’s overly familiar behavior had put me in a tough spot, so I decided I needed to lay down the law.

“Kyle, starting now—no more skinship!”

“……”

Kyle pouted in discontent. That face of his was so incredibly adorable and lovable that I ended up bursting into laughter without meaning to. Ugh, how could he be this cute? When I grinned brightly, Kyle stared at me in a daze. Wondering if he had something to say, I tilted my head—and then he leaned his face in really close.

“Can I do it just once?”

“Do what?”

“What I did before.”

Kyle pointed at his lips with his finger.

At that, my cheeks flushed red and I smacked his arm. Of course not, you rascal! It hadn’t even been five minutes since he said he wouldn’t do anything burdensome—and here he was, already doing exactly that.

“Then how about head pats?”

“Hmm, okay. I think I’m fine with that much.”

It felt like a weird compromise, but at least this meant there wouldn’t be another incident like the one on the first snowfall. Feeling relieved, I smiled contentedly—then Kyle lowered his head a little. His dark, beautiful hair swayed softly.

“Will you… pat my head?”

“Sure.”

A bit dazed, I placed my hand on his head and began gently stroking it. Hmm, it’s soft. I murmured my thoughts about the texture of his hair while continuing to stroke it diligently. Since Kyle liked it so much, I couldn’t bring myself to stop… and for some reason, I had a feeling I’d be patting his hair a lot from now on.

***

Not long after Kyle and I smoothed things over, the chime signaling lunchtime rang out. Surprised that it was already that time, I walked toward the dining hall with Kyle.

“What’s this, you two look all chummy now.”

At the entrance of the dining hall, we ran into Dia, who frowned in discontent as she looked at Kyle and me.

“Move it, move it. Kailon, step aside.”

Casually wedging herself between us, Dia cheerfully linked her arm with mine. Then she stuck her tongue out at Kyle and began provoking him. Normally Kyle would’ve ignored her, but this time, I could see he was visibly riled up—which made it all the more awkward.

Please stop it, you two…

At the academy, if the infamous ‘Destruction Queen’ Dia and the swordsman prodigy Kyle were to fight, the magic tower would probably be left in ruins. For the sake of the tower’s safety, I hurried to stop the two of them.

‘How many times have I had to break up fights today…’

Feeling more exhausted than ever, I opened the dining hall doors—only to be greeted by a racket that made me feel even more drained.

“How could you do this?!”

A shrill woman’s voice echoed through the dining hall. Wondering what was going on, I looked around and saw a large crowd gathered in the middle. Dia, standing next to me, said this was going to be fun and immediately dragged me into the crowd.

After pushing our way through, I saw a man I didn’t recognize, Lady Kerti with her signature roll-bun hairstyle, and—of course—Seria. Ugh, Seria again?

“I trusted you!”

“Calm down, Kerti.”

Lady Kerti, her face a mess of tears and snot, glared at what looked to be her boyfriend—or possibly fiancé—while the man stood in front of Seria protectively, trying to calm Kerti down.

Hmm… Judging by the scene, it seems like that man and Seria were having some kind of fling, got caught by Lady Kerti, and now here we are. Honestly, how many times has this happened… I’d witnessed this sort of drama several times while passing through the academy halls. And always at the center of it was Seria, saying her usual line: ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

‘There it is again!’

‘Gasp… Creepy.’

I shivered. She said exactly what I thought she would. The same old line in the same old situation—hearing it in real time made my skin crawl.

Dia, watching the tired repetition of it all, let out a huge yawn and dragged Kyle off to place their food orders. Kyle, looking annoyed, yawned too as he was pulled along. I watched them go before turning my attention back to the scene.

“Kerti, you’ve got it all wrong.”

“Oh, really? And hugging each other like lovers is a misunderstanding now?”

Gasp—did she say they hugged? Then I totally get why Lady Kerti’s furious. Who wouldn’t lose it if their boyfriend was hugging another woman? I kept watching the drama unfold like I was watching a soap opera.

As the enraged Lady Kerti trembled with fury, Seria opened her mouth with her usual grace.

“It was a mistake.”

“Ha! A mistake?”

“He was only helping me because I almost fell.”

“Right?” she said, turning to the man for agreement with that infuriating smile of hers. Anyone who knew her would immediately recognize it as her ‘acting’ face.

Oh-ho, so Seria’s plan this time is to break up this couple and add another follower to her collection, huh?

“Wow, unbelievable! So you’re telling me that when you tripped, you accidentally kissed too?”

Wait—kissed?

Lady Kerti’s shocking revelation sent a ripple through the surrounding students. Everyone started murmuring, and I, too, gaped in shock.

Unbelievable. Seria’s a problem, yes, but I was just as annoyed by the guy who fell for her little act and went so far as to kiss her. Ugh, frustrating.

The guy stared at Lady Kerti, his pupils trembling. Looks like he genuinely thought he could keep this whole cheating thing under wraps.

“H-How did you…!”

“You really thought I wouldn’t find out? I’m so disappointed in you!”

The fight was reaching its climax. Students surrounding them had started pointing fingers and cursing at the man. Strangely enough, no one said anything to Seria. Even though she shared the blame, all the criticism was aimed solely at the man.

Based on Seria’s usual behavior patterns, I was pretty sure she was the one who approached him first this time too.