They really stand out, don’t they?
––After school, in the faculty room.
“Don’t worry, I already made sure his parents understood.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. So quit thinking about doing anything reckless.”
“Tch.”
“Don’t click your tongue. You’re a noble lady, remember?”
“Ah, and I’ve already reported it to your side too.”
“Huh? My side?”
“Your parents.”
“What? Seriously? So what did they say?”
“‘……’”
“Mr. Brian? Mr. Hector?”
“Ah… apparently when they tried to rush out of the house, the Gray unit—no, the butler and the head maid—restrained them. Then they told us not to report to them directly anymore. If we have updates, we’re to send them to him first.”
“To who?”
“To the butler.”
“Ahaha, I can totally picture it. Ahahaha.”
“I haven’t been scolded that hard by Captain Gray in ages.”
“Ahahaha.”
“It’s not funny, really…”
“Well, since you both look worn out… here, have these.”
I took out some lemon madeleines and tea-flavored cookies from my Storage and handed them over.
“Are you sure? Didn’t you bring those for yourself to eat?”
“It’s fine, I can make them anytime.”
“Oh? You made these yourself, Joan?”
“Yes! Ah, but if you prefer something savory over sweet, I’ve got cheese cookies too.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep. It’s a bribe.”
“You’re not supposed to say that.”
“Ahaha, but I said it anyway! Oh, and if any of the other teachers would like some too, please go ahead!”
““““““““Really!?””””””””
“Then I’ll throw in some potato chips too—salted and spiced. They go well with drinks.”
I pulled out a bunch more snacks from Storage and left the faculty room.
““““““““““Delicious!!””””””””””
“This stuff makes me crave a drink.”
“The sweetness really helps with fatigue.”
“...…”
“What’s wrong, Hector?”
“Just thinking… if Vince or Prince Fred find out we got these, won’t that be bad?”
““““““““Ah.””””””””
The teachers remembered that welcome dinner.
“All right! Too risky to stay here—let’s move this to the staff dorm before someone finds out.”
At someone’s suggestion, they quickly packed up, had the teacher with a Storage put everything away, and sprinted for the dorm.
＊＊＊＊＊
“Ah, I’m starving! Wonder what’s for dinner today.”
“They said it’s sautéed jet bull for the meat dish and herb-grilled fish for the seafood.”
Incidentally, Pearl was eating omelet rice with tonkatsu, and Rosso had a katsu sandwich back in their rooms.
“Hmm, what to do… I’m feeling like something hearty today, so I’ll go with meat.”
“I think I’ll go with fish today”
They got their food from the cafeteria ladies and headed to where the first-year group was sitting.
“Hey hey hey, Souya, scoot over.”
“Eh? Hey, don’t push me! You’ll spill my soup.”
“Ahaha, then drink it before it spills!”
“That’s not how that works!”
“Oh, Joan, you got meat too? This stuff’s amazing.”
“Lucky! Munch munch… Mm, delicious!”
“Right?”
“No, but the fish is great too, huh, Belle?”
“Yeah, the herbs give it such a nice flavor. Joan, want a bite?”
“Sure? Thanks! Then here, you can have some meat. Trade!”
“Thanks.”
““““““……”””””””
“… You know, you two really stand out.”
“What are you talking about, Souya? It’s just because we’re girls, right?”
“No, it’s not just that…”
“Souya, don’t bother. They’re hopelessly unaware.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, Dagger?”
“It’s, uh… your clothes, your behavior…”
“Huh? But we’re in uniform! I only put on a sweater ‘cause it’s cold without the jacket. Right, Belle?”
“Right.”
The two were wearing spring sweaters they’d gotten as gifts from Nikki.
Joan’s was cherry-blossom pink, Belle’s was fresh leaf green—perfect for the chilly early-spring weather.
“That’s exactly it. In a place full of guys, wearing something that cute makes you stand out.”
“Brad, you say that like it’s strange. We’re girls, you know?”
“Ahh, no good. How do I even explain this…”
“Ahaha, he’s struggling.”
“Ahaha, totally.”
Before anyone noticed, Senior Elena and Senior Chloe had taken seats behind them.
“”Senior Elena, Senior Chloe, good work!””
“””””””Good work!”””””””
Souya and the others greeted them too.
“Hey there, good work today. Now listen, Joan, Belle—you two are among the very few female students here. That alone draws attention. But when you dress adorably and laugh like that, of course all the boys are going to stare.”
“Exactly. Especially since you’re both smaller and younger than most of them—too cute not to notice.”
“… Small.”
I was 153 cm at my 14-year-old physical before entering the Knight Department.
(Belle, for the record, was 162 cm.)
“D-don’t worry about it, Joan. You’ll grow more, I’m sure.”
Sitting beside her, Souya noticed me slump and hastily tried to cheer me up, patting me on the head—
—and instantly, the entire cafeteria began buzzing. Waves of pressure emanated from all directions.
“Ah.”
““““““Ahh…””””””
“… Souya. You really had to do that here, huh.”
Ricky spoke with exasperation.
“I-I just wanted to cheer her up…”
“Thank you, Souya.”
“O-oh.”
“Well, Joan, Belle—you’re both fine as you are. It’s everyone else that’s getting worked up for no reason.”
“You’re right. I’ll try not to let it bother me! Oh, seniors, want to come to my room later? Let’s have a girls’ night!”
“Sounds fun We’ll come by later.”
With that, Elena and Chloe left.
“We’ll be waiting! All right, Belle, hurry up and finish so we can hit the bath. Tonight’s pajama party night!”
“It’s been ages since we had one~! Pajama party!”
While the two giggled and chatted away, Souya and the others focused on their trays, studiously avoiding looking around.
“This is bad, this is bad…”
“They’re drawing even more attention now.”
“Let’s just finish and get out of here.”
“Why’d she have to say something like that…”
“‘Pajama party,’ she says…”
“D-don’t even think about it, man. You lose if you imagine it.”
They mumbled under their breath, stuffing food into their mouths as fast as they could.
At that point, the only thing they understood was this—if they stayed in the cafeteria any longer, they were doomed.
What do you think about this chapter?
