Ch.128Chapter 128

Ouro loves to eat. But since the start of the semester, she’s gained another favorite thing.

“Professor, Professor.”

That would be the Professor herself. While I like the Professor too, seeing Ouro act this way made it awkward for me to say anything.

Until now, Ouro hadn’t shown much interest in anything except food, so watching her behave this way made me hesitate to tell her not to cling to the Professor so much. It felt like interfering in something private, so I just quietly observed.

Well, I suppose it’s better than her just sitting still all day.

Still, watching from a distance like this gave me an uncomfortable feeling.

Ouro, dressed in the same uniform as mine that we wear to the Academy, asked the Professor again if she was doing it right. The Professor smiled and bent down.

“Yes, this is what you wanted, right?”

“Thank you.”

Ouro had approached the Professor, saying she didn’t know how to button her uniform, and asked for help.

“Would you like me to teach you how?”

“No.”

After fastening the buttons, the Professor looked at Ouro and casually asked. But Ouro seemed satisfied just having her buttons done, her eyes sparkling.

Though her face was expressionless, I could see the happiness radiating from her. A face without expression yet somehow full of emotion. That was Ouro’s face right there.

I lowered my head.

Since I could already do it myself, I hesitated to ask the Professor to button my uniform. We needed to hurry in the morning to get to the Academy, and I didn’t want to burden the Professor with such small requests.

I guess it can’t be helped today. I’ll ask for something else when there’s time later.

I felt embarrassed wanting the Professor to do something for me that I could do myself, just because I envied Ouro. So I silently fixed my clothes and turned away.

Before I knew it, the morning of September 1st had arrived.

It was the start of the semester. Also the day to face our new schedules.

Monday had first and second-year lectures, Wednesday had third-year and second-year graduate courses, and Thursday had first-year graduate courses.

Looking at the schedule, Tuesday and Friday were completely free days. I wasn’t sure how the schedule ended up this way, but it explained why the Professor had been so happy lately.

After entering the Academy, I went to the Professor’s research lab and stared blankly at her schedule. I had thought professors typically had one class per day, but I realized that wasn’t the case. I nodded absently as I looked at it.

Since my Academy experience consisted of just one semester, I realized it was foolish to make assumptions based on that limited knowledge, so I decided to change my thinking.

Ouro, who was sitting in a chair swinging her legs, stared at me.

“What are you looking at?”

“The schedule.”

Ouro’s way of speaking had changed slightly. It seemed like she was trying to get closer to me in her own way.

“What schedule?”

“I follow the Professor’s lectures. I’m checking when and what classes she’s teaching this semester.”

I handed the schedule to Ouro. She seemed interested in the Professor’s schedule and reached out for it. After taking it, she awkwardly stared at the paper.

“You know what?”

“What?”

“You’re holding it upside down.”

“…You should have given it to me right-side up from the start.”

Since she had only recently started studying letters, it seemed she still couldn’t distinguish top from bottom.

I figured it was understandable—she could recognize letters if she concentrated, but she wasn’t yet at the point where she could identify them at a glance.

Ouro grumbled at my comment and turned the paper around. She flipped it halfway to look at the schedule properly. Seeing her furrowed brow and narrowed eyes, it was clear she still had difficulty distinguishing the letters.

She still had a long way to go with her studies. It was natural for her to react that way when seeing complex words after only learning simple ones. I hadn’t taught her phrases like “On Demon Gods 2” or “Magical Structure of Demon Gods” yet.

While Ouro was struggling, the research lab door opened. It was a signal that the Professor, who had said she’d be out briefly, had returned. Hearing the door open, Ouro realized the Professor was back, dropped the schedule on the desk, and jumped up from her chair.

“Professor.”

Though expressionless, she wasn’t emotionless. I’d realized many times that even an expressionless face can harbor feelings. She seemed so happy to see the Professor again, even though they hadn’t been apart for long.

“Oh, did you wait well?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Ourr waited well too, right?”

“Yeees.”

With Ouro being so clingy, I felt like I was losing my place.

Despite claiming to have lived longer than me and being born from my personality, Ouro was the one acting like a child. I wasn’t sure what to do about it.

I wanted to be affectionate with the Professor too, but Ouro had already claimed that position. If I were completely ignorant of the situation, it might be different, but knowing Ouro’s circumstances and seeing her already acting that way, it felt like I’d be competing if I acted the same way, which made me hesitant.

Be mature. I decided to be generous and let it go, sitting calmly.

“Professor, hug me.”

“Oh my, Ouro wants a hug~”

The Professor indulged Ouro’s childishness. Perhaps because she was strong, she lifted Ouro up with ease. Ouro hugged the Professor tightly, as if she didn’t want to let go.

Even though there was a slight height difference, a height in the 140s wasn’t that small, yet seeing her act like a child created a sense of disconnect.

How could she act that way with that body? And her original body wasn’t even that size! She should be embarrassed.

I want to do that too, but she’s always taking up the space!

If only there were two Professors, but unfortunately, there was only one. With Ouro occupying her, it was difficult for me to go and get a hug too.

“Professor, Professor.”

“Yes, yes, what is it, Ouro~”

I’m so envious…

As I was staring, the Professor glanced at me. Then, with a wry smile, she told me:

“After Ouro, I’ll give Ourr a hug too.”

“Eh?”

The Professor seemed to have read my thoughts as she smiled and said she’d hug me next. Surprised that my inner feelings had been exposed, I flinched.

But I didn’t deny it.

I couldn’t bring myself to deny it out of embarrassment, fearing I’d miss the chance to be in the Professor’s arms.

I felt somewhat ashamed. It was as if she had read my mind while I was internally chanting “my turn, my turn,” and my face grew warm. I kept pursing and unpursing my lips.

As I waited for my turn while watching the Professor, she checked the time and gently put Ouro down.

“Professor.”

“I’ve hugged Ouro a lot already, right? What did we say when we were on the rides before?”

Ouro clung to the Professor, not wanting to be put down, but rather than forcibly removing her, the Professor patted Ouro’s back and reminded her.

“…After riding, you have to get off.”

“And?”

Ouro searched her memory at the Professor’s question.

While I sometimes forget things I’ve heard, Ouro seemed to have an excellent memory. I wondered if a body that lives for hundreds of years had a different capacity.

Though I had the same body, I wondered why we were different.

“So that when I wait, my turn will come too.”

“That’s right.”

The Professor stroked Ouro’s head as if praising her for answering correctly. Ouro slowly released her grip on the Professor’s clothes. The tightly held wrinkles gradually smoothed out.

“Now, Ourr, come here.”

“Wow, wow.”

Though hesitant, I was happy that my turn had come and trotted over. The Professor received me and straightened her bent legs to lift me up.

For a moment, a feeling of weightlessness filled my body. As I hugged her tightly, I could see Ouro looking up at me with envious eyes.

“Did Ourr want to be hugged by the Professor too?”

“Ah, well, that’s…”

“When I was hugging Ouro, your lips were sticking out a lot. Like a duck.”

The Professor whispered to me. Though Ouro probably couldn’t hear, I blushed deeply at the realization that the Professor had seen me pouting without my knowledge.

I felt the blood rush to my face. It became so hot that I lowered my head. I gently rested my head against the Professor’s and closed my eyes.

The Professor chuckled and bounced me up and down. Despite my embarrassment, it felt good.

My feet touched the ground. Ouro, who had been waiting for the Professor’s arms to be free, reached out.

“Professor, me next.”

“I’m sorry. I have to go to work now.”

“Work…”

I could feel the sudden shift in emotion. It was the moment of transition from expectation to disappointment.

Though we had come to her workplace, Ouro didn’t want to face the reality of work. For her, coming to the workplace was simply following the Professor.

Seeing Ouro’s disappointment, I maturely offered a word of comfort.

“It’s okay. Now we can go watch the Professor work!”

Just as I was grinning and suggesting we follow the Professor, she placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Actually, Ouro hasn’t received her Academy badge yet, so she can’t wander around freely. Until then, Ourr and Ouro need to stay here. Understand?”

The moment I realized that what I had confidently said wouldn’t happen felt a bit harsh.

“Ourr.”

“Ah, no! I really thought we could go! Last semester I…”

Ouro, disappointed after having her hopes raised, called my name in what sounded like an accusatory tone.