Became a Childhood Friend of an Academy Genius

35 – A Woman’s Perception

Even on a weekend I couldn’t spend leisurely, I gained a lot.

In particular, enlisting Aden on my side was probably the biggest thing I gained after entering this academy.

Thanks to that, on the morning of my return to school, I was able to leave the Aslet Hall with a lighter step than usual.

Perhaps thanks to the cold spring that completely receded from the weekend, the clothes of the nearby cadets were a bit shallower.

Indeed. Until last week, a chilly wind still blew at this time of day, but today there is no sign of it, so it may be natural.

“Damn it, herbalism class.”

Arriving at the classroom and checking the timetable, I had to sigh in regret when I saw the phrase written in the first period class.

Of course, it’s a herbal medicine class.

Rather, there is some fun in getting to know magic theory in combination with actual combat, but this guy’s herbal medicine feels like hitting only the theory into the head, so it’s hard to get close to him.

In particular, even the professor in charge is a strict old lady, so it’s easy to get bruised if you look a little distracted during class.

“Oops! Today is first class herbalism class!”

On the other hand, unlike me, who was stained with despair, Tina, who also checked the contents of the class, raised both hands and shouted cheers.

It’s amazing how people can react so differently to the same scene in the same space.

As for me, I don’t know what I like about the class, which seems to be an example of intrusive education.

“Are you interested in herbalism?”

“Sure! Besides, the professor is very nice.”

“Uh…. Um.”

When I saw the guy who responded without thinking for a second, the words I was about to say went back into my throat.

Well, that’s not wrong. Even if Ms. Fene Linne has a strict side, it is true that she is kind to students who work hard in class.

Besides, unlike me, who seemed to hate me for falling asleep from the start of class, this guy participated in class diligently and answered well whenever I asked a question, so it seemed like he was in a good way.

Anyway, I’m just envious.

This side is tired from the first class on Monday morning because it’s herbal medicine, but the other side is running around the classroom excitedly like a squirrel looking for an acorn.

‘Come to think of it, it’s a joint class with Class C.’

Suddenly, looking at the footnote engraved in small letters under the timetable, I inadvertently recalled Lone’s face.

That guy didn’t go out with me on the weekend, so he looked like he was really upset.

* * * *

When we arrived at the spacious lecture hall where the joint class was held, the professor had not yet appeared in front of the podium.

As Class C and Class E gathered together, the classroom quickly became noisy as people who were close to each other met and talked.

“Ha ha.”

Meanwhile, a deep sigh escaped my mouth as I sat in a position as far away from the professor as possible.

It’s not because I don’t like herbalism classes, it’s because someone sitting next to me gave off an atmosphere of ‘don’t touch me’.

“Hey, Lone. Are you going to keep talking?”

“… ….”

I touched his shoulder and tried to talk to him, but there was no answer.

The way she turned her head away from me with her arms folded and her puffy cheeks seemed to show the essence of a pouting heroine.

Unfortunately, she’s not a heroine to me, just a childhood friend I’ve known for a long time.

“You’re not some kind of kid, are you getting mad because I didn’t play with you on the weekend?”

“… Joy. I’m not mad at you for not playing.”

Lorne’s lips, which he had expected to remain closed during class, opened and an unexpected answer came out.

If you’re not mad at me for not playing with me, then what is it?

In the first place, other than that, did this guy have a corner for me to get upset about?

“You said you were busy with something…. You were only in the dormitory on the weekend.”

Lorne pouting her lips as she glared at me with a sullen voice.

I reflexively flinched at that sight.

‘How did you know?’

Of course, I was busy recruiting Aden on Saturday, and I sparred with him the next day, but it’s true that I spent the rest of the time lying in bed.

But there’s no way Lorne, another dormitory student, would know that.

Did you put a surveillance crystal ball somewhere? Or even spying….

“Bell, Lorne. Both of you are here.”

Scary to think, the most powerful person as a suspect has appeared.

Today, as always, Arden approaches us with a handsome smile on his face.

Other women’s hearts might have raced at that sight, but I felt like my blood vessels were running out of control.

“Aden. Is it you?”

“Huh? What?”

Without revealing the circumstances, Aden put on a bewildered expression as he spat out the accusations.

“Are you the one who reported to Lone that I stayed in the dormitory over the weekend?”

“Ah, yes. I ran into Lorne by chance on my way to school today, and she suddenly asked me, so I told her…. Be, Bell!?”

At the culprit’s confession, I jumped up from my seat saying there was nothing more to see.

You bastard, you did well.

Why would you disturb other people’s peaceful Monday mornings by acting like that?

The moment he tried to thrust his face in with the momentum to give him a shot right away.

Kung. Thud. Thud.

The window of the classroom, which had been wide open, was closed with a loud sound even though no one had touched it.

As I reflexively turned my head at the bizarre sight, I saw an old woman entering through the door on the side of the church with her characteristic slow steps.

“Sit down and be quiet. These guys I will start class.”

The owner of an aquiline nose that seemed to replicate the appearance of an imaginary witch, Mrs. Fenneline opened her mouth in a sarcastic tone and tapped her church with her baton in her hand.

Silence soon fell in the terribly noisy lecture hall, and all the cadets quickly moved to their respective seats.

I was no different, so I stopped teaching Aden and quietly sat down and opened my textbook.

After all, I don’t get along with that old man.

* * * *

The joint class began, and only Professor Peneline’s clear voice resounded in the classroom, which was enveloped in silence.

More precisely, it added to the screeching noise from her eagerly tapping the chalk on her blackboard.

‘Oh, why did I do that?’

Even as he watched the blackboard being painted white, Lorne’s mind was elsewhere.

Regretting her questioning of her Belle just a moment ago, she hammered the head of little Rone Elua, a replica of herself, into her.

Even thinking about it again, it was an incomprehensible action.

Although it was a love affair that lasted for over 10 years, Lorne was neither Belle’s lover nor anything.

Just a long-time childhood friend. She knew that she was just that.

That’s why there’s no such thing as the right to arrest him, and why did he say that when he refused her invitation to play with him and there’s no reason to criticize him for anything he did?

‘But it felt strange….’

Recalling the conversation she had with Aden on the way to school, Lorne reminded her of her feelings at that time.

There was nothing strange about the conversation.

She asked Aden if she knew what her belle was up to over the weekend, and Aden only said that after sparring about it, she had a conversation with her in the dorm.

At first, Lorne was also a little sad about that answer, but she said Belle would also want to rest alone, and she went over.

However, the moment I saw the smile on Aden’s lips as she talked about Belle, a problem arose.

‘Something didn’t feel right.’

Along with the sensation of something creeping up in her heart, I felt a strange sense of difference in Aden’s smile.

I can’t put it into words, but if I had to put it that way, she was similar to the feeling she felt the other day when she first ran into Marie who was visiting Belle who was in the hospital.

Should I say hostility?

The moment her eyes met, the hairs all over her body stood up reflexively, and the loosely stretched nerve lines tightened.

At least, it was a sensation I hadn’t felt while talking to Aden until last week.

‘Suddenly why?’

She questioned herself, but she did not come back with the right answer.

At least, if her opponent had been Marie, she would have finished her convincing, thinking that Lone was just jealous.

But the opponent is Aden. She’s not her rival, she’s just a guy who’s a friend of Bell’s same s*x.

What does that mean? This feeling.

It feels like she’s not Bell’s best friend, she’s watching a woman who has a secret crush on him.

‘… Unrequited love?’

As soon as the thought reached that point, Lone dropped the pen she was holding in her hand onto her notebook.

Degur….

“Hey, Lone. What are you doing?”

As her pen, which rolled without strength, invaded the front of the bell, who was sitting next to her, he held out her pen and tapped her on the arm.

“Mi, I’m sorry. I was concentrating on my class….”

“Truly. Are you concentrating in class without holding a pen?”

Lorne responded with a very poor excuse.

Fortunately, Bell was in the mood to pass without any doubt.

Lorne, who handed over her pen with an effortless smile, stared at the blue-haired owner sitting in front of her.

I tried to shake off her thoughts, thinking that she was ridiculous, but I couldn’t easily erase the delusion that had risen in her.

Rather, the more she tried to erase it, the more it kept growing in size and eating into her head.

‘Couldn’t Arden ring the bell… ?’

At the thought that she couldn’t bear to imagine, Lorne covered her own mouth and looked with her quivering eyes at her bell, who was sitting next to her.

I heard that there are some people with such peculiar taste in the world, but I wonder if there is someone who is trying to extend that magical power to the man she has in mind.

‘I have to watch.’

As long as there is no physical evidence yet, I have no choice but to believe in the alarm bell that rings in my head and wait and see.

Recognizing her determination, Lorne stared at Bell’s profile.

‘Only trust me, Bell.’

Continuing the delusion that the person concerned would be frightened if they heard it.