“Hey there, Miss Ain.”
“…………”
Ah, I saw this guy earlier.
Flashy, stylish… oh right, the flirty classmate.
What’s he doing here?
More importantly—why is he talking to me?
Wouldn’t talking to a wall be more productive?
…Wait, he said my name. Maybe I misheard.
Yeah, can’t rule that out.
Best move here is to ignore him.
Alright.
“Miss Ain. You can hear me, right? You’re just ignoring me, aren’t you?”
“…………”
Don’t circle around me. I’ve got nowhere to go.
What is this, a confession?
You think I look easy or something?
“Hey, Miss Ain! Come on, listen to me!”
“…………”
“I’m lonely! At this rate, I’m gonna die of loneliness!”
He even grabbed my shoulder.
Should I just grab his arm and collar and throw him?
If he’s at least somewhat capable, he’ll manage a breakfall.
Eh, I’ll just act first and think later—
Ah, he pulled his hand back right as I moved.
Annoyingly sharp instincts…
Whatever. I’ll just ignore him and go back to the classroom.
Lunch break won’t last forever anyway.
“You guys went to the cafeteria, so I thought I’d follow your example and try getting friendly with Lady Lilia… but she just looked at me like I was trash! What did I even do?!”
“…………”
“And when I kept trying, she suddenly blasted me with magic! If I hadn’t dodged, I’d be dead! I mean, I could dodge it—but it was definitely lethal!”
Not my problem.
Also, stop pestering people.
If someone’s clearly annoyed, back off.
Man, I could roast this guy endlessly.
Is he socially awkward or something?
The type who talks to anyone but never considers how they feel?
Yeah… I totally get why that prickly girl reacted like that.
“I just wanna get along with everyone!”
“…………”
“Especially the girls!”
Okay, now you’re just annoying.
What’s with the fake crying? It’s just irritating.
I’ll kill you.
Stop following me, you stalker.
…Well, technically we’re classmates, so I can’t even say that.
“By the way, your black hair is really beautiful, Miss Ain.”
“…………”
“How do you take care of it? Oh, and your skin’s super smooth too.”
Are you a girl or something?
Is that really how you hit on people?
I don’t know standard pickup lines, but does that actually work?
Also, this guy just does. Not. Stop. Talking.
Was he born from a mouth or something?
Every gesture, every expression—so loud.
Ignoring him only makes him louder.
“Hey, hey!”
"I'm ignoring you, so take the hint."
Whoa.
That grin is seriously unpleasant.
Why do you look like you just trapped your prey?
You just wanted a reaction, didn’t you?
Attention-seeking idiot.
“Hehe. Strong-willed girls are charming, you know?”
“Persistent guys are disgusting.”
“Don’t say that~”
Annoying.
Stop winking.
I’m not falling for you.
I lost any sense of sexual desire when I was ten.
It’s been ages since I threw away all three basic human desires.
“…State your business. Then leave.”
“So cold.”
“That’s your business? Got it. My attitude won’t change. Bye.”
“Wait, wait! That’s not it!”
I told you.
If someone clearly doesn’t want you around, pushing harder just pisses them off.
What were you expecting?
You literally got rejected the same way earlier.
Want me to crush you?
“If you want to talk, go talk to him.”
“Him? Oh, Chrono? But he’s a guy.”
Womanizing, sleazy, horny little brat.
Seriously, just drop dead.
You’re way too precocious.
“Ah—just kidding! Don’t look at me like I’m trash!”
“Don’t talk to me. I’m not interested in kids.”
“That’s harsh! We’re not even that far apart in age!”
Actually, we’re over 300 years apart.
Well, he wouldn’t know.
I stopped aging at fifteen.
No one’s going to assume “hundreds of years old.”
“Anyway, I’m more interested in you than Chrono.”
“Huh?”
“Sure, Chrono’s interesting. A commoner with that much strength and knowledge, yet lacking basic sense. Unbalanced… fun to watch.”
…Fine. I’ll listen a bit more.
At least he’s being serious now.
“But right now, Lady Iris is in the middle of ‘marking her territory’ on him. Once that’s done, I’ll talk to him. He looks easy, so it won’t be hard to get close.”
“…………”
“But right now, I’m interested in you.”
He’s got that aristocratic mindset, but there’s something else.
Not like Miss Unlucky, who’s a natural politician.
He prioritizes his own curiosity.
Which is strange—there’s no benefit in approaching me first.
“Scary, you know. Your eyes are different.”
“…What?”
“The same kind as mine—and Lady Lilia’s. The eyes of someone used to violence.”
“…………”
How do people like this even tell?
I’m not good at reading people.
I can analyze behavior logically, but instinct like his? Impossible.
I’ve got a few centuries of generational gap, so I have no idea.
…Wait.
“Kids these days”… wow, that sounds like such an old man thing to say.
That kinda hurt.
When did I become the type to say that?
“I want to get along with you. People like you.”
“…………”
“The other three? They’re harmless. On the side of ‘good.’ They can’t cross the line. So wouldn’t it be more meaningful if people like us stuck together?”
…Yeah, I get what he’s saying.
But wow.
That’s pretty twisted for someone his age.
“…I’m not interested in bonding. Leave me alone.”
“Come on, don’t be like that—”
“Don’t make me say it twice.”
Just for a moment.
Just a little—
I thought about killing him.
Not in some dramatic, obvious way.
Showing killing intent is amateurish.
I was perfectly calm.
And yet, the moment I thought it—
He changed.
Still smiling, but his eyes were never smiling to begin with.
Now even the smile cracked.
Seems like his danger sense works just fine.
“…………”
“If you’re that curious, I can tell you a little about myself.”
“…No thanks.”
“I’ll kindly explain the kind of person I am—the kind that makes you beg never to come near me again.”
“Alright, alright! I give up!”
Good.
It’s better if we don’t get involved with each other.
“Man, what a shame. Thought we could’ve been friends.”
“Die.”
I won’t lose in a fight.
Don’t underestimate someone who thinks violence solves everything.
At worst, you’ll witness something you’ll regret forever.
So if you understand, then hurry up and—
Ah, wait.
“Fine, fine. I’ll go cry alone in the corner like you want.”
“Hey.”
I just got an idea.
I said not to get involved, and honestly I don’t want to deal with anyone…
But if it’s him, maybe it’s manageable.
I do have obligations.
Can’t exactly refuse them.
What a pain.
I’m basically a salaryman—duty comes before personal feelings.
“What now? I’ll leave you alone like you wanted.”
“You remember the practical training class?”
Don’t sulk over something so small.
If you won’t listen, I’ll make you.
“Oh, the survival exercise in the western forest outskirts? What about it?”
“I’ve got a little favor to ask.”
Work should be done efficiently, after all.