71 – Wings (2)

“Quiet. Everyone, please be quiet. Is this how I can conduct the class?”

When Professor Claretta put her index finger to her mouth, the students who saw the action instantly became quiet.

“It looks like the atmosphere for learning has finally been established. Now then, shall we begin?”

Professor Clarita nodded with satisfaction, then looked around the audience and continued speaking.

“The world has become a much better place these days, right? In the past, it would have been unimaginable that male and female students would receive this type of education together in the same place. However, no matter how much the world has changed, basic etiquette has always existed. It’s the law. Today we’re talking about such etiquette…”

Not long after starting the lecture, I feel sleepy. Her quiet voice mixed with the lukewarm afternoon air is literally like a sleeping pill.

Looking around, I noticed that the students were not making any noise other than occasionally swallowing their saliva. Their gaze is only directed straight ahead.

Honestly, I wonder if this is something we need to focus on.

As I was trying my best to keep from drowsiness, something suddenly caught my ear during Claretta’s boring lecture.

“…Proposing to meet outside of the academy, especially during holidays, can be seen as essentially the same as asking for a relationship. It is something you cannot do without your heart. Therefore, you must always maintain a cautious attitude toward such proposals. And if someone you don’t have a deep relationship with approaches you that way, you will firmly refuse…”

My head, which had been drooping from fatigue, began to work furiously again when I heard her words.

“…Although we live in an age where men and women can be friends, unnecessary physical contact can be seen as an act that must be absolutely avoided…”

“For example, sitting next to me or touching my body part…”

“When you need to say something that others cannot hear, rather than whispering, summarize the content briefly and send it in a note…”

I suddenly realized why I could hear the professor so well. These are all things Ellie did. Apparently Ellie said she doesn’t care that much these days.

I turned my head towards where Ellie was sitting. Although I couldn’t see her expression, I could clearly see her earlobes, which were bright red like ripe apples.

“It’s the same no matter how close you are. If you recklessly play with your body and do something like this, people around you may raise suspicions about your relationship. In particular, having a secret meeting alone in the middle of the night is something you should absolutely refrain from…”

Claretta continued the lecture without interruption, and this time, something particularly annoying caught her ear.

When I look to the other side, I see Eugenia with her head down and wriggling her fingers.

Professor Claretta’s lecture passed exceptionally quickly, and before we knew it, it was time to answer questions from the students. An amazing sight unfolds before my eyes, with more than 90% of the students in the class raising their hands.

Although it may be inconvenient, a patient smile never leaves Claretta’s face. She continued to answer the questions of each student with sincerity.

“Oh my… I guess that was a date request last time…! What should I do…”

“Oh my god…then then…”

Students who hear the professor’s answer experience their own joys and sorrows. And sometimes mischievous questions popped up in between.

“Professor. Are the unwritten rules of the Academy actually accepted? Even if I officially debut later, will everything that happened at the Academy really be overlooked?”

“It is true that there is such a tendency, but there are degrees. Otherwise, why would I have just said that?”

“Professor. Is it true that the rumor that first-year Professor Cedric followed you around during his time at the Academy?”

“It’s true. It was really annoying back then. I thought it was a little better now, but that bad habit was still the same. Ugh…”

When Claretta pretends to place her hand on her forehead, the classroom instantly erupts into laughter. Although it was a slightly insincere answer, the rumor that she and Cedric were having a secret affair had already spread throughout the academy.

“Okay, quietly. Now, I’ll end today with one important announcement. It will be posted in the newsletter soon, but it wouldn’t hurt to know in advance.”

After the laughter passed, Professor Claretta clapped his hands a couple of times to brighten the mood.

“Starting from the second semester, there will be a reorganization of the undergraduate curriculum. Demonology, which was abolished, will be offered again as a regular subject, and because the curriculum needs to be created, the first semester has been decided to close early. Instead, the second semester will be a little longer. “

As the words came out of Claretta’s mouth, confusion began to spread among the students. I can feel a few eyes glancing in my direction.

However, the words that followed had enough destructive power to make us forget the somewhat gloomy story that had come before.

“So, it has been decided that the final ball will be held two weeks later. There will be a special class on ballroom etiquette soon, so until then, please find a partner that suits you.”

“No…prom…”

“Oh my… oh my…”

“Of course, attendance is not mandatory, but if you want to properly learn etiquette, it would be better to experience it in practice, right? Of course, it doesn’t matter if you come with friends, but if you can’t find a partner, please come to me. Then I will find a suitable partner. Find…”

When the topic of prom comes up, the atmosphere in the classroom changes in an instant. Something thick and sticky begins to fill the entire space.

As soon as Claretta left the classroom, the students looked around and began a furious search. Looking around, I see Eugene already talking to a few people.

Some people approach Eugenia sitting next to her, but she just bows her head with a red face.

And the number of people reaching out to Ellie seems to be significant. Do you think you are now free from my magical grip? Actually, Ellie was quite sociable to begin with. Not only the number of men, but also the number of female students is equally high.

However, looking at Ellie smiling lightly and shaking her head, it seems like she is rejecting most of their recommendations.

“Hey, Edwin. Do you have someone in mind…? If not, with me…”

“Edwin. You know me…? I saw you at a regular exchange meeting a few years ago…”

And it seems I am no exception. A few girls from the group who had taken my side earlier approached me and started talking to me.

While I was struggling to answer the words pouring out at once, I suddenly felt a stinging gaze from far away. Ellie had already defeated everyone around her and was just silently looking in my direction. Her eyes are full of a coldness I’ve never felt before.

Ellie, who had been quietly glaring in this direction, silently opened the front door of the classroom and left, giving me a desperate look.

“Let’s talk next time. Wait…”

I barely defeated the people and followed Ellie with some time to spare. As I headed to the thornbush garden where I always went, I saw Ellie sitting on a rocking chair there.

“Sorry, Ellie. Did you wait long? It took a while to leave the people behind…”

“…I can’t do it.”

“uh?”

“I can’t do it…”

“What can’t I do…?”

In response to my question, Ellie holds out her hand and waves it around as if she is frustrated.

“Ed. Can’t I just sit next to you again?”

“Ellie. It’s only been a few hours since I said it earlier…”

“still…”

“And if you stay next to me, it might be a bit difficult to interact with other people… From what I saw earlier, it seemed like there were quite a few people who wanted to become friends with you. I guess I’m a bit divided, but you are still…”

“…I just need to hang out with you…I’m about to get angry again…Why, really…”

“Let’s wait a little while. And Ellie, what are you going to do about the prom?”

“…What are you going to do Ed…?”

After hearing my question, Ellie asked back.

“Me? I meant to go with you. Of course, that’s only if you want to go.”

“Well… shouldn’t we get caught…?”

“You know, I have my glasses. Just take them off for a moment to check your identity, and keep them on the rest of the time. You won’t know who is in them anyway, right?”

As Professor Claretta said, you don’t necessarily have to take someone you’re dating. Several close friends go together, or same-s*x friends go together and find partners separately.

Ellie pauses for a moment after hearing what I say, and suddenly tries to rip out her hair.

“Ah…uh…really…!!”

“Ellie! What’s wrong with you all of a sudden?”

As I forcefully pull down her hand, Ellie looks at me with regretful eyes.

“…I can’t go to the prom…there’s a family event that day…it was originally where my brother was going, but something suddenly happened and it changed to where I’m going…I really hate my brother…”

Ellie wasn’t just talking, she was really spewing out hatred with such intensity. Even though I’ve never seen her, I feel pity for her brother who is on the receiving end of Ellie’s anger.

The one that pops into my head right now is Adele. Will our cute Adele end up hurting me like that when she gets older? ? Just thinking about it is a very depressing thought.

“Then there’s nothing we can do about it. Ellie. I thought you were free-spirited, but you’re surprisingly good at things like that, aren’t you?”

“…I can’t help it…I got scolded so hard last time…I have to attend things like this regularly…”

From noble mtl dot com

Ellie sighs.

“…What are you going to do then Ed…? Go alone…? Or…maybe…someone else…”

“That’s right. If you said you wanted to go, I was going to go with you. Why don’t I just go too?”

“uh…?”

Ellie’s face, who had been looking at her with anxious eyes the whole time, suddenly starts to turn bright red.

Although the end-of-semester prom is an important event in its own way, it is an event with a strong event nature. So that’s what Professor Claretta said.

Of course, celebrities from outside the school are invited and you can get to know many people, so almost all students attend, but there is no disadvantage to missing out.

I don’t know if Ellie is going, but it doesn’t seem necessary to attend. There is no one else I can go with other than her. Wouldn’t Eugenia go with Eugene? I think we went together with other heroines in the original as well.

The rest are seniors like Estelle and Efania, but it feels a bit burdensome to make such a request to them.

It’s my request, so I’ll grant it, but Estelle doesn’t like mixing with other people, so she probably won’t like it. I don’t feel like I’m that close with Efania yet.

“Well…if you’re not going because of me…there’s no need to…?”

Ellie glances sideways at me and elongates her speech.

“It’s okay. I don’t usually like events like that. I was just thinking of following you if you wanted to go, but it’s nothing like that…”

“I really wanted to go… ha… brother, really…”

Ellie muttered to herself in a tone full of regret, and then spouted out her hatred for her brother again.

“It happens every semester anyway, so we can go together later. Surely we won’t have housework every time?”

“…Yes! Of course! If you tell me to go for you again, I won’t let you go then!”

When I look at Ellie jumping up and down in place, something suddenly comes to mind. According to what Professor Claretta said earlier, the things we have done together so far…

“By the way, Ellie, what the professor said earlier, isn’t it a bit different from what you said before? If we’re mistaken…”

“No? That’s what I know. Ed. Professor, you’re from the past. It’s natural that you’re a little behind! Wow, what kind of world is this these days?”

It was a question I asked carefully, but Ellie accepted my words very steadfastly. The majesty soars through the sky, and it almost feels shameless.

“Professor Claretta, isn’t she young enough…? It’s a bit old to say she’s old…”

“What does young mean? How old is the age difference between us…”

“Is that so? Well, that culture changes drastically even after a few years. Still…”

“Ed. You don’t believe me…? I told you not to worry…?”

“I believe it. Of course I believe it, but maybe…”

“It’s okay. Ed doesn’t have to worry about that. I’ll take care of that…”

Ellie responds by pounding her chest.

***

“Well… then come with me…!”

“uh?”

A clearing in the forest where the moon shines brightly.

A girl with grass-colored hair, with her head down, shouts at me with strong force.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like