"I’m exhausted..."
I muttered the words under my breath as I slumped into my seat in the classroom.
"Did you not sleep well last night?" a voice immediately responded from beside me.
I turned my head to see who it was. "...Elysia."
"You’re sitting next to me like it’s the most natural thing in the world, aren't you?"
"Because it is natural," she replied matter-of-factly.
"I don't know... having you right next to me is a bit unsettling, or rather—"
The seating was technically free, but still.
"Why? Do you dislike me?"
"No, that’s not it. Definitely not. It’s just, uh..."
Cedric, get over here! I want to take a class with a guy for once! I want to whisper and giggle with a buddy about the teacher’s minor slip-ups! (I’m an idiot.)
"Luka!"
The energetic voice hit me like a physical wave. By reflex alone, I felt a sharp pang of dread.
"...And here she comes."
I turned around slowly. I’d expected Lene, but instead...
"Good morning!"
With a beaming, radiant smile, Nanalicia stood there as if it were the most obvious place for her to be.
"..."
Seriously, why?
"Morning," I managed to reply.
"Yes! Good morning to you!"
Her energy was off the charts. She was already at full throttle this early in the morning.
"So... what is it?" I asked, sensing nothing but trouble.
"What are your plans for today!?"
"I’m about to have class." Why did she even ask?
"What about after that!?"
"It's undecided, but... why?"
The pressure she exerted was immense. She had absolutely no sense of personal space. Nanalicia stared at me fixedly with sparkling, expectant eyes.
"..."
I didn't know what to say. If I were being honest, I thought she was undeniably cute.
"...Elysia," I whispered, pleading for backup.
"What is it?"
"Can you do something about this?"
"I'm afraid not. Even I can't lecture the Lady Saint..."
"Right. Figures."
"If anything, I'm quite envious," Elysia added.
"Envious of what?"
"It is rare to have such pure affection directed toward one’s self."
"Ah, is that how you see it?"
Nanalicia remained there, waiting for the conversation to resume. The pressure was staggering.
"Er... so," I said, trying to find a topic to break the tension. "Don't you have your own classes to attend, Nanalicia?"
"Yes! I'm taking the same ones as you, Luka!"
"Oh. I see." I hadn't realized that.
"So—" She smiled brilliantly. "Is it alright if I sit next to you?"
"I won't say no, but..."
She was already moving before I could finish the sentence.
"Pardon me!"
She took the seat instantly. Now, I had Nanalicia on my left and Elysia on my right.
"...What is this lineup? It’s the worst (best) thing ever."
"How rude," Elysia remarked.
"Sorry. It's not like I hate it, though."
"Luka, you have to be quiet during the lesson!" Nanalicia scolded.
"Your voice is the loud one, Nanalicia."
Yuka, please save me.
Suddenly, I realized Nanalicia was staring intently at my face again.
"...What?"
"Nothing." She gave another bright smile. "I just thought that being close to you really puts my heart at peace."
"...?"
I didn't quite get it. I mean, sure, I was a good-looking guy. I was grateful to my mother and father every time I looked in a mirror, but this was something else.
Then, a chill ran down my spine. For a fleeting second, a strange sense of wrongness prickled at the back of my neck.
"...Luka-kun?" Elysia peered into my face. "You look pale."
"...No," I said, shaking my head. "I'm fine."
Was it just my imagination? Nanalicia continued to smile at me, same as always. But that smile... I felt like I had seen it somewhere before.
『—Hey.』
A voice echoed inside my head.
"...What do you want, you?"
『—Mind your manners. More importantly, that woman...』
The voice’s tone was lower than usual.
『—Don't get too involved with her.』
"Give me a break, will you? It’s creepy when you say it like that."
『—I mean it. If you don't want to be miserable again, listen to me.』
That was a rare kind of response from the ring.
"What's with you? You're acting weird."
『—I am being serious. Do you understand?』
"I mean, even if I wanted to, she's the one coming to me..."
Just then, the teacher's voice cut through the air.
"We will begin the lesson."
The conversation was forcibly terminated. I turned my eyes to the front, but the sense of discord wouldn't fade. I stole a glance to the side. Nanalicia was looking ahead with a serious expression, the picture-perfect student.
And yet... What is this feeling?
『—I told you so, didn't I?』 the voice of the ring hissed. 『—Don't remember it. Not ever.』
I gripped my pen a little tighter. Nothing was actually happening. It was just a normal class. Just a conversation with a strange ring. Just... everyday life.
『Minato, I'm so happy right now!』
And yet.
"...Nana," I whispered.
『—Shut up. You are Luka.』
I know that... my name is Luka. I was reincarnated, and I've lived with this name for fourteen years.
"...Haah... haah..."
"Luka?"
My breathing had become ragged. Noticing my distress, Nanalicia—no, Nana—looked over at me.
『From today, your name is... Nana!』 『Wait, Minato, what about my opinion!?』 『Then let's just combine them. Nanalicia works.』 『That’s so lazy! This is the name this child will carry for the rest of her life!』
"Argh—!"
A sharp, grinding pain erupted deep within my skull.
"What... was that...?"
My vision blurred for an instant. The classroom seemed to warp and distort.
"Luka-kun?" Elysia’s voice sounded miles away.
There was a high-pitched ringing in my ears. My heartbeat was deafeningly loud.
『—Don't remember it!』 the ring’s voice screamed. 『—For you, that memory is—』
"...Nana," I gasped, the name spilling out of its own accord.
In that moment, Nanalicia froze.
"...Eh?" she whispered. "What did... you just say?"
I realized my mistake too late.
"...Nana...?"
Nanalicia slowly turned her gaze toward me. Her eyes... something flickered deep within them.
"Luka, that name just now..."
"No, that was—"
I tried to cover it up, but the words died in my throat.
"...Ah," Nanalicia let out a faint, frail sound. Her body swayed precariously.
"Wait—"
With a heavy thud, she pitched forward and collapsed onto her desk.
『—I told you, didn't I?』
"Luka? What’s happening? Luka!?"
『—You ask why? This is the second time! It’s because of you... again, it’s all our fault!』
Inside Noah’s pocket, the ring’s scream reached no one but me.