Chapter 18

Perjena-senpai strode towards us with her fangs on full display.

“What are you staring at? Buzz off!”

As she reached right in front of us and raised her fist, Kerg took a step back, spreading his hands wide.

“Whoa, whoa, calm down, wildcat.”

He sounded scared, but there was still a cheeky grin on his face.

Perjena-senpai slipped her arm around me and glared at Kerg with fierce eyes.

“Hey, you little troublemaker. Why are you bullying my junior?”

“Junior? Pfft.”

Kerg laughed like it was the funniest joke ever.

“Are we playing teacher-student games here?”

“Shut it, I’m taking her away.”

“Sure, be my guest.”

Kerg waved his hand as if he were a waiter guiding a guest to a table.

Perjena-senpai clicked her tongue and pulled me along with her.

“Let’s go.”

“Uh, okay…”

When we reached the stairs leading to the rooftop, Kerg’s voice drifted back to us, mixed with laughter.

It was like he was watching us from the shadows, ready to pounce.

“Yeah, have fun getting cozy with that guy, wildcat. Hehe.”

“…”

Perjena-senpai shot him a death glare for a moment before dragging me up the stairs.

Creek—bang!

After reaching the roof and closing the door, I finally felt calm in the spacious quiet.

“Senpai, do you know that guy?”

Once she let go of me, she frowned and shook her head.

“Not really, just a classmate. But I know he’s the kind of filthy scumbag who picks on other juniors.”

“Is that so…?”

It seemed like Kerg knew her better than she thought.

But that wasn’t the pressing issue. I needed to confirm something with her.

“Did you hear what he said?”

Kerg had mentioned something that should not be known within the Academy.

That he had taken Tirisia away from me.

Maybe he didn’t want to make it public, but since I was the victim here, he didn’t hold back.

If Perjena-senpai had heard that… it would surely cause a headache.

“Huh?”

Luckily, she tilted her head with a squint.

“What are you talking about? I just saw that idiot picking a fight with you and decided to say something.”

“Oh… is that it?”

That was a relief.

It seemed she hadn’t caught Kerg’s words before we reached the stairs.

For now, at least, I avoided the ticking time bomb.

Perjena-senpai leaned against the rooftop railing and spoke.

“Actually, it’s me who wants to ask now. What was that jerk bothering you about?”

“It was nothing much. No particular reason, just that he didn’t like my actions, I guess?”

“Ugh, he really isn’t a normal guy…”

With a displeased expression, she looked down at the ground and asked again.

“Was there… anything else?”

Her blue eyes flickered with a hint of anxiety, but I nodded without hesitation.

“Yeah, that’s all. Is there something bothering you?”

“No, that’s fine then.”

She dismissed it with a wave of her hand, as if it was no big deal.

For now, let’s keep the talk about Kerg short.

Even though I didn’t know what was worrying her, discussing that guy any further wouldn’t do us any good.

“So, what brings you up here after a long while?”

Perjena-senpai seemed eager to switch topics, sitting down comfortably on the rooftop floor as she asked me.

I sat down next to her and leaned against the railing in response.

“I thought it’s been a while since I last showed my face, so I came to check in on you.”

“Oh come on, when did you become so friendly? Since when have you cared about me?”

“Haha… well, it’s just that you seem to prefer being alone…”

“Hey, I do like my solitude, but that doesn’t mean I’m some miserable hermit waiting for someone to come pity me or anything! Come on!”

“I’ll try to show my face more often…”

Seeing my awkward smile, Perjena-senpai also couldn’t help but snicker at me.

“So, how have you been lately? Doing okay?”

“Like you said last time, after telling my other friends that I’m having lunch separately with Tirisia, surprisingly, some of them have been looking out for me.”

“Oh yeah? Who are we talking about?”

“Rusika, Haidiera, and Seldienne.”

“Oh?!”

Perjena-senpai’s eyes widened, and she frowned as she took in the names I mentioned.

“I get that little Raphael and the giantess from Iceidel are by your side, but Elconja— that conceited girl is actually looking out for you? What the hell.”

“To be exact, it’s more like we’re in a little competition to avoid feeling indebted to each other with our lunches…”

“For crying out loud, I just can’t wrap my head around the mind of a noble, you know?”

She smirked and playfully poked me in the chest.

“Dude, don’t let that girl take advantage of you too much. If you’re nice to her, she’ll actually start believing you worship her.”

“Oh come on… why would I do that?”

Then she tugged at my collar, leaning in close to press her fist against my cheek.

“Ow, come on! You’ve got this habit of treating your girlfriend nicely, and now you’re doing the same with other girls without realizing it. Got it? Stop it already!”

“Huh? No way…”

There’s no way I’d treat anyone else like I treat Tirisia.

I didn’t really understand what she meant.

She rolled her fist on my cheek, her expression showing disbelief.

“Look at you! You’re just standing there dumbfounded as someone flirts with you. Your reactions are all based on how your girlfriend would react to things. You idiot.”

“Um… is that really what’s happening?”

It sounded like Perjena-senpai was saying that it wasn’t just how I treated others, but how I reacted to their actions that mattered.

With a scoff, she let go of my face, chuckling at my silly reaction.

“Hehe… well, if that cluelessness is one of your strengths, there’s no harm in that.”

“Really?”

“Anyway, is that all? A few kids are having lunch with you?”

“Yeah. Like you said, it’s been more fun. I get to mix with a lot of different people compared to before.”

“Hmm—”

Perjena-senpai squinted as if she was dissatisfied.

“What’s wrong?”

“It may be good, but it’s not quite what I meant. More like— um, never mind.”

“What is it? Go on, spill it.”

When I poked her arm, she waved her hand dismissively like I was annoying her.

“Ugh, forget it! You’ll find out soon enough. Just carry on with whatever you were doing.”

“Got it… Oh, senpai, speaking of which.”

“Huh?”

I was finally ready to bring up the most important reason for visiting Perjena-senpai today.

“Uh… I have something important to say soon, and I think it would be better to do it all at once in front of others, so I was thinking of setting up a gathering…Would you be able to attend then?”

“Oh come on, why are you bothering people with all these requests?”

She raised her palm, ready to smack me.

“If it’s too much of a bother, I could just tell you separately…”

“Who said I won’t go? Just quit whining.”

“Oh, okay…”

As I chuckled and nodded, she reclined against the railing, crossing her legs.

“So, where and when?”

“I don’t have the details yet, but once I know, I’ll let you know. For now, I just wanted to give you a heads-up.”

“Ugh, taking your sweet time, huh? Must be something important then?”

“Well… I’m not sure, it might not mean much to others. It won’t take long, either.”

“We’ll know once we hear it.”

Rolling her ankle, she pointed at the insulated bag I was holding.

“So, are we eating or what? I’m starving here.”

“Oh, are we gonna eat now?”

“Just to clarify, you’re not trying to scam me, right?”

“Of course not, I’m bringing offerings.”

“That sounds even worse—!”

Ignoring her as she shot up yelling, I laid out the lunch box on the rooftop floor.

Then it dawned on me that I had forgotten an important greeting.

“Oh, and Perjena-senpai.”

“Huh?”

“Thanks for saving me earlier.”

Upon hearing that, she grinned fiercely, showing off her fangs.

“Well, I said I’d keep an eye on your back, didn’t I? Isn’t that right?”

She had the most reassuring smile of anyone in the Academy.

*

After school, as usual, I walked alongside Tirisia and sensed that the moment of truth was drawing near.

The looks and thoughts of the people around us.

The form our future takes as we move forward.

All of it had to be based on one undeniable fact.

Perhaps all of these things would change irreversibly, but

there was no need to think too heavily about it.

This was a process we had to go through eventually, and

this was ultimately just a private matter between two people.

“Tirisia.”

I softly called her name.

The silver-haired beauty walking beside me turned to look at my face.

“Yeah, Erto?”

“Don’t you think it’s about time?”

I organized my thoughts.

Rusika told me she was endlessly cheering for our relationship.

She said I should be grateful that someone like me could receive Tirisia’s affection.

Regardless of how she said it, she was sincerely thinking about the future for Tirisia and me.

But now, I didn’t need that concern or advice any longer.

Rusika’s misguided sympathy would only mislead her further.

“What…do you mean?”

The azure eyes of the stunning girl regarded my expression closely.

Even though she asked, it seemed she vaguely grasped what I was implying.

“About us.”

I surveyed the hearts around us.

Haidiera said she saw something hollow in my eyes.

She said my gaze toward Tirisia didn’t seem to have any spirit behind it.

Something I hadn’t realized myself, for some reason, she sensed.

It was now unnecessary to further frustrate her with excuses and delays.

I wanted to candidly confess the truth and relieve her worries.

“Yeah…you’re right. It has to be done.”

My ex-girlfriend also hinted in agreement.

She probably sensed the time had come.

“Others need to know too.”

I considered the circumstances calmly.

Seldienne was watching our relationship with malicious intent.

But if even the hostile looks showed signs of distortion,

there was no need to continue to muddle things or come up with excuses.

She would likely show a pleased reaction, and that was fine.

All I needed was to convey the truth as it was.

“Yeah, if that’s how Erto feels.”

“Exactly.”

Perjena-senpai said she’d watch my back.

It was a little embarrassing, but for now, there was truth in that guy’s words.

Now, the boyfriend of Tirisia was none other than me, Kerg Durakal.

There was no longer any meaning in pretending to be Tirisia’s lover.

It was time to stop this silly little act.

I didn’t stop in my stride as I addressed the girl.

“Let’s just say, we broke up.”

“…Yeah.”

After a brief hesitation, the girl nodded.

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