The afternoon sunlight streamed through the large classroom windows, casting warm patches of light on the desks.
On the podium, an old professor with graying hair was lecturing in a calm tone about Lahai-Roi History.
“In the early days when the Spacetrek Collective entered Lahai-Roi, we received strong support from the Roy people, as well as selfless aid from the international community, especially from Huanglong and the New Federation…”
His voice echoed through the spacious lecture hall like a gentle lullaby.
“Later, due to differing development philosophies and survival needs, we chose the path of autonomy and independence.
It was a time filled with both courage and controversy…”
Noah rested his chin on one hand, his eyelids growing heavier by the second.
Last night he had fought an unexpected night raid battle with Camellya, then spent the rest of the night cleaning up his room.
Now drowsiness washed over him like a tide.
The old professor’s voice on the podium gradually faded into background noise.
The words on the pages in front of him began to dance.
He forced his eyes open and glanced at Rover sitting beside him.
She sat perfectly straight.
Her white academy uniform made the lines of her side profile look clean and sharp.
Her golden eyes focused on the projection screen ahead while her slender fingers moved lightly across the keyboard of her portable terminal, occasionally taking notes.
She was so serious, like a model student.
Noah grumbled inwardly.
His last bit of willpower finally collapsed.
He adjusted the hand supporting his chin to make it more stable, then closed his eyes completely.
“…The Roya people are a great nation and the cornerstone of Lahai-Roi.”
Someone’s breathing gradually evened out while the old professor on the podium had already become completely absorbed in his own world.
“But they are better suited to contributing through technology.
Complex political and international affairs should be handled by more experienced immigrant elites.
This is the responsible choice for Lahai-Roi’s future.”
Rover typed the final keyword.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed that the person beside her had not turned a page for a long time.
She turned her head and saw Noah with one hand propping up his cheek, his head slightly tilted.
A few strands of hair had fallen over his forehead, covering part of his eyebrows and eyes.
Sunlight fell across his face, casting faint shadows beneath his eyelashes.
He had fallen asleep.
Rover raised an eyebrow slightly.
Shorekeeper’s report from this morning flashed through her mind.
Looking at Noah’s clearly sleep-deprived state now…
A trace of understanding, mixed with helplessness, flashed through her golden eyes.
She reached out with her left hand and gently poked Noah’s arm with her index finger.
The moment her fingertip touched him, Noah’s body trembled slightly.
Like a startled small animal, he suddenly opened his eyes.
His still-sleepy black eyes met her gaze.
He looked dazed for two seconds before his focus sharpened abruptly.
“Rov—…”
The words slipped out before he could stop them, his voice still thick with sleep.
But the moment he spoke, he froze.
His pupils shrank slightly as most of the drowsiness vanished in an instant.
Shit, I was too out of it!
This is a classroom!
It’s full of classmates!
Almost instinctively, within half a second after the word “Rov” left his mouth, Noah forced himself to twist the syllable and tone.
He turned the sentence into an exaggerated mumble:
“…Raeliana, did you need something?”
After he finished speaking, he broke into a cold sweat in his heart.
Close call.
I almost blew Rover’s cover. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Rover had clearly heard the “Rov” at the beginning.
Her golden eyes widened slightly.
Then a faint smile appeared in her gaze.
Of course she knew what he had wanted to call her.
But she only leaned in a little closer and lowered her voice.
There was a hint of teasing in her tone, but it was soft enough that only the two of them could hear.
“I know I’m very pretty, Noah.”
She paused, looking at his still somewhat confused expression, then continued in a quiet voice:
“But why were you sleeping in class?
Last night… were you busy with something?”
Noah blinked and woke up completely.
He kept his chin resting on his hand and even let out a lazy yawn before speaking slowly:
“Last night, huh…”
He recalled Camellya’s face turning red with anger yet having to compromise before she left, and the mess in his room.
The corner of his mouth unconsciously curved upward.
“A wild cat came from somewhere last night.”
His eyes were still a bit unfocused, and his voice was low and hoarse from just waking up, carrying a casual teasing tone.
“I forgot to close the window, so she snuck in.”
Rover listened quietly without interrupting.
“That little thing was really noisy.”
Noah continued, his gaze drifting toward the window as if he were actually reminiscing.
“She jumped around everywhere, knocked things over, and made a complete mess of my room.
I spent half the night trying to catch her.
I finally managed to grab her.”
He turned back to look at Rover and smiled.
“I gave her a small lesson and then let her go.
After that I had to clean up the room… I was busy until the middle of the night.”
He spoke lightly, even with a hint of helpless amusement, as if he were really just complaining about a troublesome stray cat.
Rover listened to the end in silence.
Her eyes widened slightly at first.
Then she raised her hand and lightly covered her lips.
But the slightly curved corners of her eyes and her gently trembling shoulders still gave her away.
She couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
The laugh was very light, like a feather brushing past the ear.
“It seems our Noah has quite a lot of charm.”
She lowered her hand.
The smile in her eyes had not yet faded.
“Even wild cats… can’t resist sneaking into your room in the middle of the night.
From now on, remember to close your doors and windows before going to sleep.”
Noah heard the teasing in her words and smiled as well, but didn’t explain further.
He simply closed his eyes again and muttered, “She really is quite troublesome… I’m not talking about it anymore, Raeliana.
I’m going to nap a bit longer.”
That part wasn’t a lie.
He really was sleepy.
While dozing off, Noah called up the system interface in his mind.
[Current Quest: Enrollment Test (Main Quest)]
[Main Quest Status Update: Target character Rover’s favorability has increased.
Current status: Stranger (30/100)]
[Phase Objective: Establish a classmate relationship with target character Rover (1/1) and gain her trust (0/1)]
[Note: Classmate relationship confirmed.
Favorability is under continuous evaluation…]
Not bad, not bad.
These past two days his progress with Rover had been fast.
Just chatting casually could raise her favorability.
This main quest wasn’t difficult at all.
Rover had no idea what he was thinking.
Seeing that he had closed his eyes again to rest, she didn’t ask any more questions.
She turned her head back, her gaze returning to the front of the classroom.
Her fingers tapped lightly on the keyboard as she continued taking notes on the important points from the professor’s lecture.
Only the slight upward curve of her lips remained for a long time.
A wild cat?
She shook her head inwardly.
That girl Camellya… really went and acted on her own again.
Looks like I need to prepare properly for my talk with her this afternoon.
…
The bell rang at the end of class just as Noah was startled awake.
He rubbed his eyes and saw that Rover beside him had already started packing her things.
She neatly closed the thick history book and put it together with her portable terminal into her leather bag.
Her movements were smooth and natural, carrying the student-like air of her “Raeliana” identity.
Noah quickly stuffed the history textbook he hadn’t even opened into his own bag and zipped it up.
“Heading out?”
he asked, his voice still carrying a sleepy nasal tone.
“Yeah.
I have some things to do later, so I won’t be eating with you today.”
Rover picked up her bag and looked at him.
“You can arrange your own lunch, Noah.”
Noah paused for a moment.
She has things to do?
But he quickly nodded, his expression natural.
“Got it.
You go ahead and take care of it.
See you tomorrow.”
He didn’t ask what she was doing, nor did he show any curiosity.
He picked up his bag, gave her a small wave, then turned and merged into the flow of students leaving the classroom.
Noah’s figure quickly disappeared through the doorway.
Rover stood in place, looking at the now empty classroom entrance.
A few seconds later, she raised her hand and lightly tapped the miniature earpiece on her right ear.
“Shorekeeper.”
“I’m here.”
“Where is Camellya right now?”
“She left class one period early and is waiting on the D Building rooftop of the teaching building as you instructed.”
Rover let out a silent sigh.
Camellya was surprisingly eager about meeting her.
She had even skipped class.
“Alright.
I understand.”
The communication ended.
She picked up her bag, gave one last glance in the direction Noah had disappeared, then walked out of the classroom and headed toward the stairs in the opposite direction from the crowd.
Her footsteps echoed clearly in the empty corridor.
Step by step, she walked upstairs.