—The next day.
"..."
The classroom was hushed.
Just like the day before, the atmosphere felt heavy, bound by a suffocating sense of discipline.
At the front of the room, the instructor spoke in a dispassionate drone, but—
"..."
To be honest, none of it was sinking in.
I mean, really... after what went down yesterday, asking me to concentrate was a tall order.
How was I supposed to process the fact that I’d been casually eating lunch with the Saint?
Though, regardless of that, it was just as likely that my base concentration skills were simply pathetic.
I stole a glance to my side.
"..."
Cedric was sitting there.
Damn. This was the downside of picking a seat at random...
"..."
...Wait, isn't he acting a bit strange?
Usually, he’s either posturing with misplaced pride or being incredibly prickly.
But today—
"...Sigh."
He looked completely drained. Did you get your heart broken or something, man?
He was resting his chin on his hand, staring blankly into space. It was rare to see him being this obvious about his mood.
After a moment's thought, I spoke to him in a low voice.
"...Hey."
"Cedric."
"..."
His reaction was delayed.
"...Huh?"
Eventually, he turned toward me.
"What do you want?"
There was no fire in his voice. Wow, he’s really got it bad.
"It’s not about what I want. Are you okay? You’re not acting like yourself."
"..."
For a fleeting second, his gaze wavered.
"...It’s nothing."
He looked away.
"It’s really nothing."
"There’s clearly something."
He had such a fragile, tragic look on his face; if it weren't me he was talking to, someone would have probably punched him by now.
"It’s written all over your face: 'I am currently deeply troubled.'"
"It is not."
He snapped back like usual, but the retort lacked bite. It was just words.
"..."
He was weak—incredibly weak!
Ah, this is definitely one of those "something serious actually happened" situations.
I lowered my voice a bit more.
"...You were acting weird when we first arrived, too. Did something happen?"
He flinched.
The reaction was painfully easy to read.
"..."
After a long silence, Cedric muttered under his breath.
"...Don't you..."
"Don't you feel anything?"
"About what?"
"...About this country."
A sharp edge entered his voice.
"About how the Hero is this, or the Saint is that..."
"How everything is already decided."
"..."
"They all walk around with faces that say they can’t resist it."
...Ah.
"...Well," I said honestly. "I do feel a sense of dissonance."
"Right?"
He responded instantly.
But—
"But you know," I shrugged lightly. "For the people who live here, that’s just 'normal,' isn't it?"
"..."
"We just happen to be outsiders."
"Whether it’s right or wrong is a different story entirely, don't you think?"
Cedric stared intently at me.
"...You’ve really detached yourself from it, haven't you?"
"It’s not so much detachment as..." I gave a small smile. "I’m just setting aside the things I can’t solve for now."
"..."
Silence followed.
And then—
"...I just," Cedric whispered lowly. "I just can't stand it. That's all."
It was just a single sentence.
But it didn't sound like simple teenage rebellion.
"..."
Somehow... it looked like he was harboring a deep, bitter sense of frustration.
"...Did something really happen?" I asked, a bit more seriously this time. "Yesterday, when you got separated from the group."
"..."
A few seconds of silence passed.
"...Nothing."
We're back to that, huh?
"Hey."
"I told you, it’s nothing!"
This time he rejected me with a bit more force.
...Man, he is terrible at hiding his feelings.
I let out a small sigh.
"...I see."
I didn't push any further. I had my own concerns about this nation, though they were moving in a different direction than Cedric's.
I’d probably pushed him a bit too hard already.
"..."
Cedric didn't say anything else.
However—
"..."
Just for an instant, he had a look in his eyes as if he were staring at something far, far away.
...Yeah, definitely.
He’s definitely seen something he can't forget.
"..."
But I felt like forcing it out of him now would be a mistake.
"...Want to grab some food after class?"
"..."
There was a short pause.
"...If I feel like it."
"I’ll take that as a yes."
I decided for him.
"Don't just decide things on your own."
"Too late, I already did. You’re technically my benefactor, so let me treat you."
Cedric’s eyes widened as if he’d just remembered our past encounter. For a moment, I thought I saw the corners of his mouth soften.
◇◇◇
Ding-dong-dang-dong—
"...It’s finally over."
I reflexively slumped onto my desk the moment the bell rang.
"I’m exhausted... I didn't even do anything, and I’m exhausted..."
"Good grief..." Cedric said, sounding exasperated. "You were just sitting there listening to a lecture."
"Listening seriously is hard work, okay?"
In reality, my mind had been drifting elsewhere for at least half the period.
"Come on, let’s go eat."
"...You’re seriously going through with this?"
"I told you, didn't I?" I stood up. "Treating your benefactor to a meal is a solemn obligation."
"There is no such obligation."
Checkmate. (Wait, I’m the one who got checkmated.)
At that exact moment—
BAM!!!
"Luka-samaaaa!!"
The classroom door swung open with enough force to rattle the walls.
"...Whoa!"
I turned around on reflex.
Standing there was—
"I found you!"
Lene, charging toward me with a beaming, high-tension smile.
"Wait—"
Thud!
"Whoops!?"
She tackled me into a hug with her full momentum.
Just as the back of my head was about to crack against the desk, Lene’s hand moved to cushion the impact.
To pull that off without a word... could her Handsome Guy Aptitude be that high? (Even though I’m the one being pinned down here.)
"Luka-sama!"
"Too close, too close, too close!!"
Her sense of personal space was completely bugged!
"I wanted to see you so badly!"
"Didn't we just part ways a few hours ago!?"
It’s only been half a morning, and I saw her all day yesterday too.
"It doesn't matter!"
"I guess not! (Caught up in her energy.)"
Man, she has way too much spirit!
"..."
Suddenly, I felt the collective weight of the room's gaze.
"...Hey."
Cedric was looking at me with absolute deadpan eyes.
"You..."
"It’s not—it’s not what it looks like, okay!?"
I didn't specify what "it" was, but I knew it wasn't that!
"...Sigh."
Cedric let out a heavy sigh and looked away.
"I’m going on ahead."
"Eh!? Wait—"
Cedric walked out with brisk, purposeful steps.
He said he's going on ahead... does that mean he’s actually going to wait for us at the cafeteria?!
Just as I was about to clutch my head in distress.
"Luka-sama!"
My face was forcibly turned back toward Lene.
Too close!!
"What’s wrong?! You look like you've lost all your energy!"
"It might be because of you, Lene..."
I was mentally drained.
"Eh, really...?"
"Just kidding~ I’m full of life! In fact, I suddenly feel like doing a hundred squats(!?)"
This girl, solving everything with that perfect face of hers...!
"You seem energetic, I'm so glad!"
Her expression brightened instantly.
"This is perfect timing!"
"For what?"
"Let’s go eat together!"
...Ah.
"..."
The image of Cedric’s retreating back flashed through my mind.
(Ah...)
The timing couldn't be worse.
"Luka-sama?"
"..."
What should I do?
- I already have a promise with Cedric.
- Lene is the type to get incredibly depressed if I turn her down.
Is this what they call a total stalemate?
"..."
After thinking for a few seconds.
"...Alright."
...Well, there's no law saying we can't all just go together.
"Alright, let's go!"
"Yes!"
Lene nodded happily.
"I’m really looking forward to it."
"Yeah, me too, I guess?"
The stares from the other students were getting intense, so I figured we’d better leave before I died of social embarrassment.
At that moment.
"..."
Lene narrowed her eyes for just a fraction of a second.
"...Yes!"
But she immediately returned to her usual, brilliant smile.
"I'm very much looking forward to it!"
Seeing that smile, I felt like I was saved, if only just a little bit.