Episode 25
“From now on, I’ll handle this personally. You’re all dismissed.”
I needed to identify the source of this strange feeling.
Ever since my encounter with Yurius de Elliot yesterday, I’ve been feeling… different.
My mind, once consumed by thoughts of Dustin, is now preoccupied with her.
The feeling of her hand on my waist…
“Aah!”
“What, what’s wrong, Lady Greenton?!”
My face flushes, and my heart races. I can’t help but scream.
The noblewomen before me look at me with concern, but their words are lost on me.
What’s wrong with me?!
“You’re all dismissed!”
I abruptly stand up, ready to leave, but I hesitate.
I suddenly remember that I need to lock the student council room door.
If I leave it unlocked, there will be chaos tomorrow.
“Why aren’t you leaving?”
“Ah, yes, yes…”
They quickly scurry out, and as I’m about to lock the door…
“You seem a bit high-strung, considering our encounter this morning.”
The catalyst, the root of all my problems.
Yurius de Elliot appears.
“Y-you… what are you doing here…?”
“Ah, I was looking for Dus… I mean, the Student Council President, but it seems he’s not here.”
In the past, I would have been furious that she dared to address Dustin so casually and even seek him out.
But why, why aren’t those thoughts even crossing my mind?
All I can think about is whether I look strange right now.
Did she hear me say anything weird?
“Do you know where Dus… ahem! The Student Council President is? You seem to be on the student council too.”
“I’m not sure. He’s a busy man… And I’m Aroa de Greenton.”
“Oh, uh? Ah, yes. I’m Yurius de Elliot. A freshman.”
Her smile is strangely gentlemanly.
Well, this might sound rude to say to a girl, but…
Her actions and demeanor are very, very masculine.
“Th-then, I’ll be g-going… Eek…!”
I instinctively step back, afraid of the strange thoughts swirling in my head, and once again, I trip over my dress.
“Are you alright?!”
And history repeats itself.
She catches me as I fall backwards, pulling me close and supporting me almost like an embrace…
“You should wear the academy uniform. The skirt is shorter, so you’re less likely to trip. Don’t you find that long dress uncomfortable?”
She helps me stand up and speaks with a concerned tone.
What are you doing?
Why are you saying these things?
Why are you worried about me?!
“What if you fell and hurt that pretty face of yours?”
Before I can even process her words, her hand reaches out and brushes a stray strand of hair from my face.
“Uh, uh…!”
Is my burning face a result of embarrassment from making a fool of myself twice in front of my rival?
Or is it because she’s been occupying my thoughts since earlier…?
“No, no, no!”
“Huh?!”
I can’t accept this.
I can’t acknowledge these feelings.
I scream and run away.
***
It’s strange that Dustin hasn’t been around all day.
I hope he stays away, but I’m also worried something might have happened, so I came to the student council room, only to find…
“Why aren’t you leaving?”
“Ah, yes, yes…”
I encounter the stunning beauty from earlier, the one I met when I got lost before class.
She seemed haughty, but she definitely has a temper.
Just listen to that sharp tone.
“You seem a bit high-strung, considering our encounter this morning.”
“Y-you… what are you doing here…?”
She looks flustered and stumbles over her words. Were they having some kind of secret meeting?
I saw a bunch of girls leaving earlier.
Girls love to gather, so maybe they were having a private social gathering, something they couldn’t do openly at the academy.
I never understood the appeal of those boring events, but they seemed to be enjoying themselves.
“Ah, I was looking for Dus… I mean, the Student Council President, but it seems he’s not here.”
I almost called him by his name out of habit and quickly correct myself.
It would be rude for a freshman to address the President so casually, especially in front of another council member.
“Do you know where Dus… ahem! The Student Council President is? You seem to be on the student council too.”
“I’m not sure. He’s a busy man… And I’m Aroa de Greenton.”
“Oh, uh? Ah, yes. I’m Yurius de Elliot. A freshman.”
Why is she suddenly introducing herself…?
I find her perplexing and simply observe her. And just like our first encounter, she trips over her dress and nearly falls backwards.
Well, she didn’t actually fall.
Because I caught her.
“You should wear the academy uniform. The skirt is shorter, so you’re less likely to trip. Don’t you find that long dress uncomfortable?”
The first time I saw her, she was wearing such an extravagant dress that I couldn’t even tell if she was a student.
I used to wear similar dresses before entering the academy, so I know how uncomfortable they can be.
I don’t understand why she would choose to wear such a restrictive garment when she could be wearing a comfortable uniform.
“What if you fell and hurt that pretty face of yours?”
She’s bound to get hurt if she keeps tripping like this.
And there won’t always be a prince charming around to catch her.
Well, maybe I’m being nosy.
But what can I do?
I have a weakness for beautiful women.
And if I were a man, I wouldn’t dare say such things.
I could get slapped for making comments about her appearance.
But I’m a girl now.
Well, a guy…
Anyway, that’s why I can say these things.
“Uh, uh…! No, no, no!”
“Huh?!”
While I’m lost in my thoughts, the girl suddenly screams and runs away.
“Uh, hmm…”
Is she embarrassed about making a fool of herself twice?
…Well, I guess that’s understandable.
I should tell her it’s okay next time we meet, that she looked cute even when she tripped.
But where the hell is Dustin?
“Oh, Master Yuri!”
“Lia? What brings you here?”
“I came to see Dustin! Today’s the day I confess my feelings! Wahaha!”
Ah, right, she likes Dustin.
I completely forgot because it seemed so unlikely.
“Hey, Lia, now that it’s just the two of us…”
“Hmm?”
“Why do you always change the subject whenever I try to set you up with Dustin?”
I’ve always wondered about that.
I understand her initial reluctance after first acquiring her status window, but she did the same thing when I suggested she style Dustin’s hair.
“Huh? Was I doing that?! Wahaha! I guess I’m a bit oblivious!”
Yes, you’re incredibly oblivious.
“But Dustin’s not here today.”
“He must be busy. Hmm? What’s this?”
Lia picks up a brooch from the floor.
A gold rose brooch with a reddish hue.
It looks like it belongs to that Aroa girl who just ran out after her solo performance.
“This looks like it belongs to Aroa something…”
“Aroa something? That’s a unique name! Do you know her?”
“Well, I guess you could say I know her.”
We did exchange names, so I guess we’re acquaintances.
But if you ask if we’re close, the answer is a definite no.
“Then you should return it to her, Master!”
I examine the brooch and confirm it’s a high-quality piece that suits that Aroa girl perfectly.
She probably dropped it when she tripped.
“By the way, are you close with Aroa something? If she’s your friend, I want to meet her too!”
“No, we’re not close, but I kind of want to be friends with her.”
“Ooh? What kind of person is she?”
“She has… huge boobs and a really pretty face.”
“Hmm, so you have that kind of taste, Master?”
“Well, no, I didn’t realize it until now, but she’s incredibly beautiful, even with those thick waves.”
This conversation is getting weird.
Why am I even saying these things?!
And why is she just accepting it so casually?!
I’m a girl!
Well, a guy…
“Ah, well, I don’t mean it in a weird way. I just want to be friends with her. You know how you admire beautiful people? It’s like that.”
I try to salvage the situation with an awkward laugh.
“Then I should be friends with her too!”
Lia doesn’t seem to mind at all.
Well, this is actually quite convenient.
If I said this in front of others, they would definitely find it strange for a girl to be gushing over another girl’s looks…
This girl is such a good conversational partner…!
“Hehe, Lia… let’s stay friends forever.”
“What are you talking about?! We’re master and disciple, forever! The bond between master and disciple is unbreakable! Wahaha!”
You’re the best, Lia!
You’re definitely the most understanding and fun person to talk to!
“Master, Miss Basilia. Are you here?”
And just as we’re indulging in our shared silliness, Dustin finally appears.
***
I spent the entire day interrogating the girls I had apprehended, barely getting a glimpse of Master.
“Dustin… we only did what Lady Aroa told us to do…”
“Sob, it’s true… Please believe us…”
The same excuse, over and over again.
I already knew that. I questioned them about their future plans, but to no avail.
After issuing a stern warning, I sent them back to their dormitories and was contemplating how to deal with Aroa when…
“Hehe, Lia… let’s stay friends forever.”
“What are you talking about?! We’re master and disciple, forever! The bond between master and disciple is unbreakable! Wahaha!”
Basilia’s hearty laughter and Master’s voice, the voice I yearned to hear all day, reached my ears.
Ah, Master… I wish you would say those words to me…
To me, and not to someone else…
“Master, Miss Basilia. Are you here?”
Despite the longing in my heart, I try to maintain a composed exterior.
I don’t want Master to feel burdened by my feelings.
“Oh, Dustin! I was just looking for you!”
“I haven’t seen you all day, so I came to check if something was wrong. Lia has something to tell you, so I’ll be going.”
I don’t want her to leave.
I wish she would show me a little more concern.
“Please excuse me, Master. I’ll visit you tomorrow morning…”
“Okay, you two shouldn’t stay out too late either. See you tomorrow.”
“Master Yuri! Be careful on your way back!”
I watch Master’s retreating figure with longing.
As she turns around and waves, I force myself to look away.
“Miss Basilia, what did you want to tell me?”
“I like you, Dustin.”
“Not this again. I told you before, Miss Basilia. You’re simply mistaking admiration for romantic feelings.”
“No, I’ve thought about it, and I really like you!”
This confession feels different from the previous one.
Her sincere gaze and the deep blush on her face seem to confirm her feelings.
But even now, why am I worried that Master might have overheard Basilia’s confession?
“…I’m sorry, Miss Basilia, but I can’t reciprocate your feelings.”
I have someone I like.
Someone I’ve admired and loved since childhood.
“I know. You like Master Yuri, right?”
Was it that obvious?
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I can’t promise to be as great as Master, but I’ll continue to like you, Dustin, and I’ll strive to be someone worthy of your expectations.”
I almost chuckle.
She’s so similar to my younger self.
Looking at Basilia is like looking into a mirror reflecting my past.
A time of innocence, naivety, and passion.
“You’re going to get hurt. I’ll always love Master.”
“It’s okay! I like Yuri too! Wahaha!”
She’s truly an extraordinary person.
“I see. Of course, Master is someone everyone can’t help but love.”
Someone like me is unworthy of expressing my feelings for such a radiant star.
I’ll always cherish you, Master.