75 – Wings (6)

“…Iris.”

Since I was just about to leave the door, I couldn’t avoid it.

Come to think of it, I ran into Iris on my way out of the library last time too.

Perhaps Iris also liked reading books? Or did he come to ask me something again? I don’t want to make something like what happened last time with Eugene.

Still, looking at her eyes that widen as if surprised, it seems like this was an unexpected meeting for both of them.

Because of the various emotions mixed together, it always takes a lot of mental energy when facing Iris. All I can think about right now is how quickly I want to escape this situation.

But the moment I was about to pass her. Iris moves her feet at the same time as me. We end up facing each other again just like before.

I tried to pass by again, thinking that they may have coincidentally overlapped, but Iris moved her body in the same way as expected.

“…”

So this time, I quietly waited for her to dodge, but Iris didn’t move either.

I suddenly thought that she was intentionally starting a fight, but considering her personality, I don’t think that would be the case.

No, maybe my personality has gotten a little worse because of me…

When I look back, which I had been trying to avoid, I see two eyes still looking straight at me.

From noble mtl dot com

“…what are you doing now…”

“…Edwin. Are you doing well…?”

My question, which was difficult to ask, was interrupted by the unexpected words that came out of Iris’s mouth.

“…what?”

“…I asked…how are you doing?”

I asked back to see if I had heard something wrong, but the same thing came back.

I wondered if she was really mocking me, but Iris’s tone was just calm.

So you really just asked how I was doing? To the person who treated him like that… ?

On the first day when my memories came back, Iris was immersed in grief the whole time.

The day we ran into each other in the hallway with Ellie, she glared at us with her characteristic cold face.

But today’s Iris is neither immersed in grief nor has a cold expression.

It may be an illusion, but the expression on his face that looks at me seems filled with something similar to pity, sorrow, or nostalgia.

“…Tsk. I’m fine. If I don’t have anything else to do, I’d like you to clear the way for me.”

“…lie.”

“…what?”

There is no answer to my question, and only then does Iris move aside to clear the way.

“…and it’s a lie…”

Hearing Iris’s incomprehensible words from behind me, I intuited a certain truth.

I didn’t sleep well today either.

***

The music that was flowing from the gramophone gradually crackles and the sound decreases. And when the music disappears completely, the light green girl steps back, increasing the distance between me and her.

As we face each other, we bow slightly together and say hello.

And when I raise my body again, Eugenia and my gaze lightly collide at the same time.

Seeing the lines drawn around her mouth, I naturally burst into laughter too.

Eugenia, drenched in sweat after practicing a few dances, flops down on the spot as if she has lost all strength.

“…Time flies so fast…I can’t believe tomorrow is already prom…”

“You like it that much? The smile won’t leave your face.”

“hehehe… it’s good. Honestly, I’m looking forward to it… but I’m a little worried…”

“You don’t have to worry too much. You’re really good now, right? I was a little worried at first, but this is it…”

“Well… what we were talking about back then was foul…!”

When I started practicing for the first time and started talking, Eugenia quickly got up and tried to cover my mouth.

“I can’t even hold hands, I can’t make eye contact, and every time I put my hand on my waist, I keep falling down…”

“Eye…eee!”

As I tried to avoid the hand that was trying to cover my mouth, Eugenia stamped her feet in her seat as if she was intoxicated.

“Well, Edwin kept stepping on my toes…! He was so proud to tell me that he was a good dancer…!”

“When did I get flattered? I said I could only do the basics. And it only happened on the first day, but it didn’t happen at all on the second day, right? But you did it the next day, and the day after that…”

“Ha…don’t do it…!”

Now Eugenia’s face is full of tears. Even his earlobes are bright red, and he is on the verge of shedding tears as he looks at me.

“It was bad… It was really bad…”

“I’m sorry. I’ll stop. But what I said earlier is true. Compared to how long I practiced, my dancing skills were really good.”

“…I don’t know…Idiot…”

At last, the real Eugenia glances at me from the corner of her eye.

“It’s so unfair…Why do I always have to be so embarrassed…”

Eugenia muttered something to herself and came very close to me and stood face to face. And he begins to look at me with eyes full of energy. Her eyes are full of something like a firm determination.

“why?”

But that resolve crumbles in less than five seconds. Eugenia, who had quietly withdrawn her gaze, squatted down on the spot.

Her ears are still red.

“It’s not fair…it’s really unfair…”

“I’m sorry. Let’s stop now and get some rest.”

I plopped down next to Eugenia, who was squatting. The night breeze passes through the clearing where we are, cooling our sweat.

As I sit still, all kinds of thoughts start moving in my head. The first thing that came to mind was Iris. The incomprehensible situation from the last time we encountered it continues to stick to us like sticky oil.

Now that I think about it, the last dance I danced with was also with Iris. I wasn’t very good at dancing at the time, and I practiced hard separately, but in the end, I ended up like this with no other opportunities after that.

Now that I think about it, will Iris attend this prom? Now that I’ve gotten to know him faster, maybe I can come with him and other heroines.

I don’t really want to see that happen. If you see it right in front of you, your stomach will probably turn. I can only hope that we don’t encounter each other as much as possible.

“Um…where are we meeting tomorrow then…?”

As I was about to fall into deep imagination, Eugenia’s voice pulled me back to sleep.

“Edwin…?”

“Sorry. I was thinking about something else for a moment… Just wait in front of the dormitory and I’ll go there. If you think you can move around a little more leisurely… I think it would be best to see you around 7 o’clock. What do you think?”

“Then it’s not too much of a hassle for you…?”

“Normally, all escorts do this, so you don’t have to worry about it. And I’ll take the lead. I’ll be wearing those glasses last time, so you probably won’t recognize me first. Is it okay if I do that?”

“Yeah… I’m looking forward to it… heh… I don’t think I can sleep today…”

Eugenia’s light green hair was flowing beautifully in the breeze.

***

“I’d like to take a moment to verify your identity. Could you please tell me your names?”

“This is Edwin Reed.”

“U…I’m Eugenia.”

When the guard asks for her identity, Eugenia answers with a strong voice.

“Wait a minute… Confirmation has been completed. Just put this bracelet on your wrist and then go in. Then, have a good time.”

After confirming our identities, the guard handed Eugenia and I a bracelet each. When you hang the bracelet on your wrist, it tightens to a perfect fit on your wrist and does not fall off.

Eugenia, who was putting back on the glasses she had taken off when entering the president’s garden, touched her wrist and asked.

“What is this bracelet…?”

“To temporarily suppress the flow of mana. This is to prevent something unpleasant happening inside. At an event like this, it will be used up, and it will fall off on its own over time, so you don’t have to worry.”

“I see…there are all these things…it’s amazing…”

As you pass through the garden and get closer to the venue, the number of people coming and going nearby also increases.

It is not uncommon for male students to be mesmerized by Eugenia, and for female students to scold or criticize such male students.

Eugenia, who was receiving such attention, spoke in a shy whisper.

“Well… I’m a little embarrassed… Huh…”

“It’s a shame. You dressed up so well. Have some confidence.”

The dress she wore last time was definitely unconventional, but today’s Eugenia is even more so. The outfit, with makeup and hair tied up, naturally exudes an adult beauty.

From noble mtl dot com

“…Thank you…you look really good on me too…you’re cool…”

Eugenia continues to fan her face, trying to alleviate her shyness.

“But what do you do when you enter the banquet hall…? ‘Eugenia is entering!’ Are you shouting this loudly…? I really think I’d be so embarrassed if you did that…”

“We don’t do that to just anyone, but we usually do it when organizers or influential people come. We’re not in that position yet…”

“…I see…Phew…”

Eugenia hears what I say and lets out a big sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness…I was…worried for no reason…Then are there people like that today too…?”

“I didn’t know before, but I think the crown prince came and gave a congratulatory speech last year. The relationship between the royal family and the academy is not bad. He even took on the job of student council president this year, so wouldn’t the crown prince come this time too?”

“I’m a little curious…I’ve never seen such a high-ranking person before. Then…”

“Are you…Eugenia?”

Eugenia’s questions, which she was curious about, were interrupted by someone speaking from behind.

A clear, pure male voice that resonates pleasantly. But to me it was a terrible sound, like a scream from hell.

When I turned around, the person standing there was undoubtedly a young man with blond hair and blue eyes.

And accompanying him are three female students.

Patricia Austin with pure white hair. Claudia Acelus, bright red as a flame. Leta with orange-yellow hair.

Although they each have their own unique characteristics, they also have something in common: they all show off their unique colors.

However, even though he is accompanying such people, Eugene looks truly dumbfounded when he sees Eugenia.

It’s as if he can’t accept the current situation as it is.

He didn’t recognize me, but regardless, he focused his attention completely on Eugenia.

And as I watch Eugene and his companions, a question naturally arises in my mind.

There is one person missing in this position right now.

Where is Iris?

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

You'll Also Like