The eventful vacation was over, and I went to school with Jane as usual. “Jane.”
“Huh?”
I was about to ask if he knew any high-ranking nobles with silver hair and blue eyes, but I closed my mouth.
“Nothing.”
“It’s bland. Let’s go quickly. It’s my first day and I’ll be late.” Jane smiled and guided my hand.
She might have known the man’s identity.
It is true that I am curious about the identity of the man. So I was going to ask Jane if she knew.
But the moment I tried to ask, I felt like I was prying for no reason, so I stopped.
In fact, even without asking Jane, if the uncle was really a high-ranking noble, it would have been easy to find out.
Well, finding out your identity won’t change anything between you and me.
I decided to think it was a good idea.
“Oh right. There’s something I forgot to tell you, Lien.” “What?”
Jane looked around and began to lower her voice.
“This time, there is a girl going back to school like me. If he tries to approach you, give him some taffy and run away from me. You have to be
careful.”
“I don’t know this guy, so why should I be careful?”
He tilted his head and said as if he were puzzled. Then Jane’s voice became more cautious.
“I think that girl likes Carsion a little crazy.” “Aha.”
…Anyway, it’s extremely popular.
I lightly shrugged my shoulders as if nothing had happened.
“But since the previous expulsion incident, no kids have challenged me.” “Don’t be surprised, just listen. He’s the kid who took a leave of absence
from school to go to the same grade as Carsion.” “What?”
You gave up a year just to attend the same grade? Holy crap.
After all, the world is wide and there are many crazy people. It was time to promise myself to be careful, as Jane said.
“By the way, Lien.”
“Huh?”
Jane shook her head as if she didn’t understand.
“Is it true that one of the academy buildings collapsed?”
“Huh. Kaon restored the half-ruined building on the spot.”
I thought it was a joke that buildings could be restored, but he proved it right before my eyes.
The scene where the remains of the broken buildings were put together piece by piece, as if time had been turned back, was truly amazing.
It even looked like God was using power, not magic. That means it was spectacular.
Jane furrowed her brows and looked surprised. “Is that possible?”
“I knew that Kaon’s magic skills were excellent, but I didn’t know it was
to that extent.”
It should be called post-human level, not genius level.
In fact, just by looking at the mana materialized around Carsion’s body, you could see how much mana he was born with.
Since he had good brains on top of that, it would have been even weirder if his magic skills were poor.
Rather than feeling distant from his amazing ability, I was filled with pride.
“What on earth is Kaon lacking?”
I said this in hopes that Jane would respond, but she glanced away and looked away.
“Well….”
“As expected, you don’t think there is either, right?” Then Jane was shocked and shuddered.
“Lien. Honestly, except for your family, I think you are much better than Carsion.”
“…I appreciate the compliment, but I think you need to be more objective about me.”
She spoke with a serious expression as if explaining.
“No, it’s true. Moreover, Carsion is missing the most important thing for humans.”
“The most important thing?” “Toughness.”
I narrowed my eyes and refuted her words.
“What’s wrong with our Kaon’s personality? … It’s a bit insensitive to other people to say that.”
As I was talking, I ended up admitting this because I felt like it wasn’t what I thought it was.
“I think there is some ambiguity in the word ‘A little.’” I secretly pursed my lips at Jane’s strictness.
I’ll look at that much.
* * *
The first day ended quickly because there were no classes.
Since the class once assigned continues until graduation, there was no need for additional time to adapt.
There was no need to attend the club since it was an application and change period for the time being.
But is it because it has become a habit to stamp my attendance every day, even during vacation? As a habit, I stopped by the club room before going to the dormitory.
“Uh? Everyone was here.”
There were both Carsion and Fjord in the club room. Their eyes were focused on me.
“Is Lien here?”
Carsion smiled brightly and welcomed me. I lightly raised my hand in greeting and went inside.
“Carsion and I met every day in the club room, so what’s going on with you, Fior?”
“Well, you didn’t come to a place I couldn’t come to, right?” “That’s right.”
Fjord chuckled as he lowered his head and said that was correct.
“Actually, I was worried about what would happen if you didn’t come, but I’m glad. I had something to tell you.”
Fjord looked somewhat bitter as he said that. Now that I think about it, his face has also become very gaunt while I haven’t seen it.
I asked as I roughly threw down my bag and sat down on the sofa. “What do you have to say?”
“I want to apply for a grade skip.” “Skipping a grade?”
I opened my eyes wide in surprise. It was an unexpected and unconventional move.
But I couldn’t say anything about his choice.
“Can I ask why you suddenly want to make that choice?”
Arena Academy’s grade skipping system was somewhat unusual.
When a student applies for a grade skip, he or she is immediately eligible to take classes in any grade.
You can go to the class you want, whenever you want.
Students who skipped a grade could take the class and take the graduation exam whenever they wanted.
It was even possible to take the graduation exam right away without attending classes.
However, the graduation exam through grade skipping application was incomparably more difficult than the regular graduation exam.
Moreover, once you apply, you have to be a student who skipped a grade for at least a year.
This means that you either graduate or repeat the grade for a year.
Therefore, even students who were good at studying mostly followed the normal educational process and did not take risks like Fjord.
“There is no particular reason.”
Fjord raised the corners of his mouth. The corners of his raised mouth trembled.
It was a smile that clearly seemed forced.
Looking at Fjord’s face, I could guess the situation to some extent.
If you look at the fact that they are trying to graduate early by skipping a grade, it means they are in a situation where they have to graduate quickly.
You said you don’t have a good relationship with your brother. I guess something happened with him.
“Fjord. Do you know that saying something like that with a face that has a story behind it is not persuasive? I don’t want you to make impulsive choices.”
“It’s not an impulsive choice. I just thought it was a waste of time to waste it like this.”
I was silent.
He was getting anxious. No matter what I said, they wouldn’t listen. “Then what about the club?”
For students who skip a grade, after-school activities are not reflected in
their grades. It was possible to participate if one wanted to, but usually one did not participate.
There was no need to spend time on it since it was not reflected in the score.
But I secretly thought that Fjord would remain in the club.
Because our club didn’t actually do anything. You don’t have to go out…. “That’s why I wanted to tell you when you two were together. I’m sorry,
but I think I need to join the club to focus on my graduation exam.”
It was a complete rejection.
“I won’t burden you. Can’t we just remain in the club in name?” “I’m sorry I couldn’t give you the answer you wanted.”
Fjord smiled a bitter smile.
I squinted at Carsion. He was staring at Fjord with a more calm expression than expected.
“Don’t just make decisions you’ll regret.”
Fjord laughed weakly at the short, simple words. “I have no regrets about the club.”
It was a lie. His eyes were full of regret.
“Not that, but early graduation. Make a choice you won’t regret.” “…Huh.”
With those words, Fior walked out of the club room as if he had said
everything he wanted to say.
I spoke quietly in the remaining club room with Carsion.
“If Fjord falls out, I’ll have to save one more person. The minimum number of people in the club is three.”
“The club name should also be changed.” Ah….
My eyes shook at those words.
Since Fjor is no longer our club, we shouldn’t use a club name that includes his name.
“I guess so.”
My mouth was sore.
* * *
I met Kun on the way out of the club room and back to the dormitory.
When I asked him what he was going to do with the club, he said he already had a club he had decided to join.
When asked what kind of club it was, he blushed uncharacteristically and said it was a secret.
I heard it’s a newly opened club.
Seeing that they wanted to hide it, it seemed like it wasn’t an honorable club.
As I entered the dormitory with a sinking feeling, Dobby came running in from inside, panting.
I suddenly caught Dobby in my arms and let out a small laugh. “I didn’t know you were waiting inside.”
As I was petting Dobby, Jane’s explanation came to me.
“Dobby flew in and scratched the window, so I opened it. You don’t feel bad, do you?”
“You can’t feel bad. Still, we need to educate them so they don’t fly this way before they become adults.”
Dobby was someone who should not be discovered by others. Only when it was so small could it be mistaken for a large bird.
But now, even from a distance, you could tell that it was no ordinary bird.
I needed to be careful.
As I went inside holding Dobby, Jane, who was embroidering clothes, looked up and looked at me.
“…Lien, what happened to you?”
To my surprise, she immediately understood how I felt. How did you know that?
I quickly traced my face. I was definitely smiling. Jane chuckled and waved her hand.
“You shine not in your face, but in your mood. What’s going on?” “Actually….”
I told him how Fjord had declared that he would skip a grade.
After talking to Jane, I felt a little relieved.
I felt comforted just by having a friend I could confide in.
“I see. It got complicated. We also need to find new club members.”
“I’m more worried about the fjord than the survival of the club. I’m worried about whether I should stop him or not.”
“Why? Did you feel like you were forced by someone to do it?”
“It seemed like a choice I made impulsively rather than under pressure.” “Then shouldn’t I stop you?”
Jane narrowed her brows and looked worried.
“No matter how much I tried to stop him with words, I felt like he wouldn’t listen.”
“Hmm. It’s difficult.”
As I was talking with Jane, I once again felt grateful that Jane was my friend.
“I’m glad I have you.” “Suddenly?”
Jane blinked rapidly, as if embarrassed.
“I’m so happy to have you as a friend again.” “…Don’t you trust me too much?”
“Then who do I trust?”
When I tilted my head as if I was saying something strange, she made an awkward expression.
“Lien, actually….”
