episode_0087

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“Just about done, so just sit and wait a bit. Oh right! Can you carry this plate over there?”

Watching Yura, or rather Yukal, continue to ask if there was anything she could assist with, I found myself involuntarily smiling.

After confirming that the stew had finished cooking by lifting the lid of the pot, I turned off the heat, visually located Yukal, and carefully carried the whole pot towards the table where Yukal was waiting.

“When we first cooked together, and I was transferring things, she suddenly offered to untie my apron from behind. I was genuinely surprised.”

While Yukal’s intentions were good in trying to help, at that moment, I was so shocked that I ended up dropping everything with a yelp.

Since then, although Yukal seemed to reflect on her actions and approach me cautiously, perhaps to prevent any unforeseen accidents, it became a habit for me to finish cooking, then thoroughly confirm Yukal’s location.

“Ta-da! Today’s menu is a special tomato stew with vegetables. I felt like we’ve been lacking in veggies lately, so I prepared this. I tried to make it as tasty as possible, and it’s good for you, so don’t refuse the carrots or broccoli, okay?”

“…I’ll give it a try.”

Once again, trying to discreetly cover the carrots and broccoli on one side, as if avoiding something sharp, I started eating the vegetables in the stew little by little after seeing her sneak glances at me.

“Yukal does have some adorable traits like this from time to time.”

Although we spent quite a bit of time together, I never knew about this side of Yukal before we actually lived together.

Always by my side, leaping to protect me in dangerous situations, the cool Yukal didn’t seem to particularly enjoy vegetables, sighing at my nagging but still imagining herself diligently eating them. Would last year’s me have been too embarrassed just hearing the word ‘cohabitation’ to look Yukal directly in the eyes for a while? It’s certain.

Since Yukal came looking for me in the form of Yura, we hadn’t skipped meals at the academy’s cafeteria, but due to the excessive attention from others and students attempting to join us, we eventually decided to buy ingredients and cook in my room.

Was Yukal as uncomfortable with the stares around her as I was? She readily accepted my proposal, but when faced with the fact that cooking was necessary, she hesitated again, fearing the burden.

However, after convincing her that it wouldn’t be too burdensome, we ended up in our current situation.

As Yukal made a face while tentatively eating the soup, possibly because there was a piece of broccoli, I quietly smiled, reminiscing about the day Yukal first came to me naturally.

“I’m sorry, but let’s stick together for a while.”

“Let’s sleep together, Claire.”

“Claire, if I can resolve the issues we discussed within a day or two, can we stay together in your room?”

Since returning from the Astraea Duchy, during the move, I was greatly surprised when Yukal, uncharacteristically, took my hand and led me down a rough alleyway.

Realizing I was about to speak out of surprise, she covered my mouth with one hand, pushed me against the wall, shielding us from prying eyes, making my heart race audibly, even to Yukal’s ears.

As her face drew closer, perhaps my first kiss… or even more might happen now, I involuntarily closed my eyes despite protesting outside that I didn’t want it, but that wasn’t what Yukal had in mind.

“How embarrassing that was back then.”

Even now, thinking about that moment made my face flush, wanting to bury it in the sheets.

In a situation where only the two of us were present, I had to do it in order to communicate properly.

Maintaining my buffs without interruption, I was told to keep my weakened state hidden from others for a while.

Upon hearing that we would be sharing a momentary space, various thoughts crossed my mind, but I firmly decided, “It’s okay if it’s Yukal,” and accepted it.

After a hasty dinner, I hurriedly returned to my dorm room and started cleaning, not that I usually kept my room dirty, but with Yukal coming…I meticulously inspected for any oddities and neatly arranged my undergarments in the closet.

Although they said they would come today or tomorrow, just in case they came today, I quickly prepared a simple lunchbox and was finishing up the dishes when a knock at the door made me think it was Yukal, causing me to forget the plate I was holding as I opened the door wide.

To my surprise, instead of Yukal, a strange female student I had never seen at the academy stood there. I cautiously asked for her identity, but upon hearing, “I’m Claire, Yukal,” I realized who the person in front of me was and ended up dropping the plate.

Yukal swiftly dealt with the broken shards, ushered them inside, and we both entered, closing the door to avoid drawing attention. Frankly, I was extremely flustered.

Certainly, there were peculiar resemblances between Yukal and this woman with black hair and dark eyes like Yukal, but she was so slender and beautiful, unlike myself, slightly shorter than me.

Initially skeptical, I had no choice but to believe after sharing things only Yukal and I knew…

Since entering my room, Yukal felt the need to conceal their true identity, so with the help of the headmaster, they created a disguise and changed genders through some means to hide their true self effectively.

Moreover, feeling that it would be uncomfortable living together as a male, Yukal mentioned transforming into a female to alleviate some of the discomfort.

“Oh, and I’ve been granted permission to do everything with you, including classes, until I return to my original form. So, please call me Yura until then.”

Yukal warned that a dark mage would target Ardent Academy students soon, and when Yukal gives the signal, Lady Rachel, Victor, and the somewhat reluctant Lady Helena Yeongae should join forces to fight.

After all conversations, I ensured Yukal’s buffs remained active continuously.

Focusing on maximizing the duration of non-combative effects.

At night, I calculated the buff duration approximately and used an alarm spell to cast buffs while getting some sleep.

If there weren’t any hardships, it would be a lie, but when Yukal looked worried about me, holding onto him tightly felt like a relief.

No matter how much their appearance had changed, because Yukal was still Yukal inside, I felt quite embarrassed for the first few days.

When changing clothes or taking a shower, Yukal, out of consideration, turned away or left the room to give me privacy.

Honestly, even though it was embarrassing to be in the same room, when I expressed that it was okay due to Yukal’s consideration, things changed a bit.

While it was likely out of consideration for me, it felt a bit awkward that apart from eating together, sleeping, and having casual conversations, there was no other physical contact.

“Yukal isn’t interested in me romantically at all, is he?”

That thought crossed my mind.

Nevertheless, even though his name and appearance had changed to Yura instead of Yukal, he was happy with his life spent with Yukal.

Due to his weakened state from his own buff, Yukal worried about the possibility of getting hurt or encountering issues, feeling a lump in his throat as he stayed together with him, taking care of him.

“It feels like I’ve gained a younger sister-like younger sister.”

Lost in thought about having finished all the vegetables in the soup without hiding any, Yukal said to me.

“The tomato soup was really delicious today. I’ll do the dishes.”

“I can do the dishes. I’d be satisfied if Yura eats well.”

“No, I feel too guilty just sitting still.”

Watching Yukal get up with plates and pots in hand, I quietly sighed inwardly.

Sitting down and then standing up, her skirt slightly rising to reveal her underwear unknowingly, showing such a vulnerable sight.

Although Yukal himself wasn’t fully aware, the chaos around him due to his transformed appearance into Yura was so intense that even he, who wasn’t particularly interested in rumors, was hearing various kinds of news.

It was natural for someone to confess their feelings to Yura and for information about the classes she took and her approximate whereabouts at certain times to circulate.

“Seems like she didn’t want to tell me, but confessions and love letters are far more than what I know.”

Many male students came to me asking to introduce them to Yura or to tell them about her hobbies or preferences, the majority likely being acquaintances, but there were also female students asking similar questions.

After rumors spread that Yura shared a dorm room with me, precautionary measures were taken in the room, including alarm spells and other security measures, just in case.

To prevent any untoward incidents, some professors took turns residing in the dormitory to raise the level of vigilance.

Since his buff was activated, seeing him struggling with even those pots and plates and appearing fragile made me very worried.

If Yukal carried around his usual sword for self-defense, I could relax a bit, but he vehemently refused any suspicion, wanting to eliminate any doubt.

“I’ll do my best to protect Yura from any danger or malicious touch by staying close to her.”

It was Claire who approached behind Yukal doing the dishes, lowering her skirt to smooth out the wrinkles, helping from the side while preparing herself firmly.