I’m Just an Ordinary Clown at the Academy

23 – Lunch 2

“Roki, a girl has come looking for you!”

Because Kuran’s voice was so loud, all the students in the special class heard what Kuran said. The students who heard either looked at me or glanced in Kuran’s direction.

Although I hadn’t seen or heard who came, I could guess who it was.

Except for the students in the special class, there weren’t many people who would come looking for me. If the person who came was a professor, Kuran would have mentioned that a professor came.

Moreover, Kuran said a girl had come. Then, there was only one possibility left.

Someone peeked their face into the classroom. Platinum hair was neatly tied up, and the blue eyes looked around the classroom until they found me.

“Senior Johanna!”

I spotted Johanna and ran towards her.

She raised her hand slightly and greeted me.

“Hello.”

“Hello, senior. But why did you come here?”

“Lunch, we agreed to have it together, didn’t we?”

As Yo-hanna suggested, we did agree to have lunch together earlier. However, I didn’t expect her to come looking for me in the cafeteria.

“Princess Freya?”

Among the students in the special class, apart from me, there were only three people who recognized Yo-hanna.

Duke Lucas Leonhart.

Viscountess Clara Adellian.

Marquess Sephia Leivaiden.

All three of them were high-ranking nobles, so it was natural for them to recognize Yo-hanna. Sephia was the first among the three to speak up.

“Hohoo, what’s this? You’ve already made plans to have lunch with Princess Freya?”

Sephia was suddenly by my side. She tried to sound nonchalant, but her expression and tone couldn’t hide the disappointment.

Even the spirits that usually didn’t stick close to me as if warning them not to follow, clung to me and acted coy.

“Spirits…”

Yo-hanna, as if seeing spirits for the first time, stared intently at the spirits clinging to me.

Even if there were spirit users among the second and third years, it wouldn’t be easy to see spirits.

Most spirits only lent their power from the spirit realm. Spirits like Sephia’s, who had been in the real world for a long time, were unusual.

If you were to say the spirit realm was like a rural house with good air, then this place could be considered a suffocating city full of factories.

Yet, the reason Sephia’s spirits were here must be because they liked Sephia enough to endure such suffocation.

The reason they didn’t attack Professor Elysia earlier was because it was their first time seeing a dragon. Given a little time, they would attack Professor Elysia as per Sephia’s command.

If a second or third-year spirit user were to command their spirit to attack Professor Elysia, there was a high chance that the spirit would instead attack the user and terminate the contract.

“Senior, what are you doing?”

Yohanna stood still, reaching out her hand to me.

No, upon closer inspection, she was moving very slowly.

“Could it be because you want to touch the spirits?”

Upon hearing my words, Yohanna flinched as if pricked, and the spirits, perhaps hearing me too, hid behind me. When the spirits quickly became invisible, she looked at me as if blaming me.

“Senior? It doesn’t seem like it’s my fault at all, though?”

Yohanna, unable to touch the spirits, was upset, and Sepia, suggesting we have lunch together, became upset when she found out I already had plans.

While pondering what to do, a good idea popped into my head.

“How about we all eat together?”

This way, I could have lunch with Sepia, and Yohanna could also look at the spirits.

“That’s not possible.”

Before Sepia could respond, Yohanna quickly spoke up. Sepia, hearing that, left the classroom as if her feelings were hurt.

“I find it easier to eat alone!”

The spirits, glancing at me for the last time, followed Sepia. Yohanna continued to stare into the distance where the spirits disappeared.

As the figures of the spirits became invisible, Yohanna looked at me and said.

“Shall we go now?”

I was momentarily surprised by Yohanna’s firm rejection, but I didn’t show it.

“Yes!”

Before leaving the classroom with Yohanna, I said to the remaining students.

“Enjoy your lunch, everyone!”

The other students, unaware of Yohanna’s identity, just stared blankly.

Johanna’s revelation brought different reactions from Lucas and Clara.

Lucas, with an intrigued expression, gazed at her, while Clara, seemingly disinterested, lay back down as if nothing had happened.

.

.

,

“Senpai~.”

I called out to Johanna, who was walking towards the cafeteria after leaving the classroom before me. Upon hearing the voice calling her, Johanna turned around to look at me and furrowed her brows.

“The cloak?”

At the moment, I wasn’t wearing the red cloak that I had been wearing with the mask. Johanna must have found it somewhat lacking, hence the look.

“Ahahahaha, well, it seems there’s someone who needs it more than me right now. Come on, it’s not an important issue, let’s head to the cafeteria quickly!”

In reality, I covered Clara, who was lying down, with the cloak and then came out. The cloak was so light that you wouldn’t feel its weight, and it provided insulation, so it would be warm. Plus, it would conceal the body.

I covered Clara secretly, and she wouldn’t notice until she got up.

For some reason, Lucas’s eyes became more interesting when he saw that, but it wasn’t an important matter.

Thinking about the cloak made me constantly recall Clara’s body, so I hurriedly brushed off those thoughts and walked as fast as I could towards the cafeteria.

During our walk, a sudden curiosity arose, so I asked Johanna.

“Senpai, by the way, why did you reject the suggestion to eat together?”

Johanna still seemed saddened by not being able to touch the spirits. She explained why she declined the proposal to eat together.

“I was told to speak where no one else is around.”

“Huh? About what?”

Walking in front of me, Johanna turned around, looked at me, and said, “About what Jenai said to me in a place where no one is around.”

“Join the leadership team?”

I received the same proposal last time and declined.

So, although I intended to reject it right away this time too, I couldn’t easily say no while looking into Johanna’s blue eyes. Joining the leadership team would allow me to see Johanna more often, and my academy life would become more comfortable.

“I apologize, as I mentioned last time.”

Nevertheless, firm in my decision, I rejected the offer. To achieve the outcome I desire, I must not join any club, not just the leadership team.

“Would you really create a club?”

“Yes! Because I’m not the type to be under someone else!”

I mentioned that I would create a club when I rejected Johanna’s previous leadership team proposal, so I couldn’t join the leadership team.

“Do you know creating a club is challenging?”

“Yes! I’m well aware! Nevertheless, effort is necessary to live steadfastly.”

“I’ll help. In return, join the leadership team during the club experience.”

Perhaps Johanna knew from the beginning that I would reject the proposal to join the leadership team. Maybe this was what she intended to say from the start.

I understood why Jenna Suguro asked Johanna to speak in a secluded place.

The club experience period refers to the time when freshmen temporarily participate in club activities to learn about the club before making a choice.

However, prominent places like the leadership team or the student council don’t conduct separate club experiences because they already have many applicants.

It’s not necessarily wrong for me to participate in the leadership team’s club experience alone.

But if it becomes known that I, alone, am experiencing the club in the leadership team, it might become troublesome, which is likely why Jenna Suguro suggested talking in a secluded place.

“Yes. I’ll join the leadership team during the club experience.”

If the leadership team helps when creating a club, it will be easier than I thought.

“Okay.”

My response seemed to satisfy Johanna, as her expression brightened. As we continued our conversation and strolled, we unexpectedly arrived at the cafeteria in no time.

Upon reaching the cafeteria, I filled my tray with the meal of my choice. True to the reputation of the Empire’s premier educational institution, every dish looked delectable.

After receiving our meals, Johanna and I sat down to eat. However, I felt the gaze of everyone in the cafeteria directed at me.

“Johanna, senior, it’s rare for people to stare at me even though I’m handsome. Why is that happening?”

“The mask.”

Ah, now I understood why everyone was staring.

I thought I would have to remove my mask to eat, and that was the reason for their curiosity.

In response to their expectations, I spooned up some warm soup. Everyone in the cafeteria swallowed hard, their eyes fixed on me.

I brought the spoon to my lips. Perhaps everyone expected me to remove the mask here.

But the spoon passed through the mask, and I enjoyed the delicious soup.

“As expected, academy food is delicious!”

I couldn’t make it look this easy.