Chapter 137

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Eugene, having accepted Arin’s advice, hurriedly returned to the classroom.

Since he had spent time talking, Lucia might have already arrived at school by now.

However, Eugene’s steps gradually slowed down before he could get far.

He had just encountered a new problem.

What on earth should he say when he meets Lucia?

On the way to school, he had planned to ask if she had time over the weekend.

But she already had prior plans.

Eugene stopped his slowed steps and placed a hand on his chest.

What do I want to do right now?

What do I want?

He wished she wouldn’t meet someone else.

He wanted to be by her side this weekend, not Carlos.

But Lucia had already made plans, and given her personality, she would value her commitments.

He had neither the right nor the means to interfere with her meeting.

Who Lucia meets is her freedom.

He was just a friend, he couldn’t tell her not to meet someone.

Such interference in her private life shouldn’t be done lightly, even by a lover.

Especially if the reason was something childish like his own dislike.

Eugene let out a deep sigh. Should he just watch as Lucia meets another man? Although it definitely wouldn’t be a date, he didn’t want more people to discover her charm. 

Lucia is too defenseless. Eugene knew this from experience. Actions that meant nothing to her could be interpreted completely differently by the recipient.

“If only Lucia was a bit more selective with people…”

She was always kind to everyone.

Aside from her close friend Alice, she was gentle with everyone.

He didn’t want to blame her thoughtfulness, but sometimes he wished she was more reserved.

For example, keeping a distance from those she wasn’t close to…

Or at least not smiling at just anyone…

‘What am I saying?!’

Eugene was startled by his own thoughts.

He couldn’t believe he was thinking this.

Good grief, wishing she was more reserved? What does that even mean?

It wasn’t for some sincere reason like guarding against scoundrels taking advantage of her kindness.

It was a much more vulgar and base desire.

He wished Lucia would only smile at him.

It was an embarrassing desire for exclusivity that he couldn’t even bring himself to say it out loud.

Eugene’s face burned with shame.

Even without looking in a mirror, he could guess the expression he was making right now.

He covered his face with both hands and let out a short sigh.

Even though it was just a thought in his mind, his heart pounded as if someone had heard it.

He must have been really flustered.

To be thinking of such trivial thoughts.

His anxiety had led him to think such terrible things.

Eugene crouched down for a moment, trying to calm his mind.

A few passing students gave him strange looks, but Eugene didn’t care. Or rather, he couldn’t. 

After taking a few deep breaths for about ten seconds, Eugene shakily stood up. His ears were still hot. But he had managed to compose himself somewhat.

“…Let’s go.”

He’d worry about it later. For now, he should return to the classroom.

Eugene staggered and resumed his steps.

◈

“Ah, Eugene!”

As he entered the classroom, a familiar face greeted him.

Lucia waved her hand cheerfully as she approached.

Her usual bright smile.

Her sparkling cherry-blossom-colored eyes curved beautifully.

Her golden hair bloomed like flower petals.

Her sunny smile, like a sunflower facing the sun, made Eugene feel like a thief caught in the act.

“I heard you were discharged. Seriously, refusing all visits was too much. I was really worried.”

“…Sorry for making you worry. I just wanted to be alone for a while.”

Eugene had refused all visits while he was hospitalized.

The reason was none other than the girl standing before him.

Lucia would undoubtedly have come to visit.

If he saw her, he wouldn’t be able to focus on his meditation at all that day.

He wanted to see her desperately.

But Eugene sincerely lamented his own clumsiness and his tendency to let his words run ahead of his actions.

It was clear that without becoming stronger, the same thing would just repeat itself.

So, with a heart full of tears, Eugene decided to refuse all visits.

Since he had informed everyone in advance, Lucia and others didn’t make unnecessary trips.

“…Hel, lo.”

“Good morning, Alice.”

Alice, who was holding the end of Lucia’s left sleeve, greeted him in a small voice.

Until now, she had mostly just waved her hand or nodded slightly.

Seeing that Alice had opened her heart a little, Eugene smiled faintly.

By the way, the powerful side she occasionally showed and the current Alice were like two different people.

Thinking back to when she had attacked him in the hospital due to a misunderstanding, her tone and personality had changed rapidly.

Considering that Lucia had called her by the unfamiliar name “Frey”.

Perhaps Alice was…

“Yo, your, arm, is it, okay?”

Alice asked cautiously.

Her gaze kept shifting to Eugene’s arm and palm.

It was the area where he had been burned while blocking the heat ray.

Since his skin had melted, it was by no means a light injury.

“Yeah, it’s fine. The wounds have healed, so don’t worry about it.”

Eugene spread both hands and showed his palms.

They weren’t clean. His hands were marked with scattered burn scars.

Most were from failures in controlling his abilities during his inexperienced days.

Some of the scars from Alice’s attack were added to them, but since his hands were already like this, they didn’t stand out much.

“…I’m, sorry.”

Alice’s red and blue eyes wavered.

She seemed to have mistaken all the burn scars as being caused by her.

Eugene quickly corrected the misunderstanding.

“Most of them are from my abilities, so don’t worry about it. I couldn’t control my powers properly back in the day.”

“…”

Despite his sincere comfort, Alice’s expression didn’t improve.

Most meant that some were indeed caused by her.

Eugene also realized this after speaking.

Should he have said all in this situation?

It seemed his clumsy attempt at comfort had backfired.

Seeing Alice visibly sulk, Eugene fell into thought.

How could he ease her guilt?

He didn’t want to see the little girl in front of him looking so down.

“Hey, you know.”

Lucia, who had been watching their conversation, smiled slyly.

She hugged Alice from behind and patted her head while looking at Eugene.

“It’s a bit of a sudden question, but do you like books, Eugene?”

“Books? Hmm, I don’t dislike them. If I had to choose, I’d say I like them.”

Since awakening his supernatural abilities five years ago, he had distanced himself from books.

It wasn’t that he disliked them. He just didn’t have time to read.

Every day was packed with training his abilities, leaving him no room to breathe.

If he ever did read, it was mostly books related to his training.

“Hehe, I see.”

Lucia clapped her hands with a loud sound and spoke in an excited voice.

“Eugene, are you free this weekend?”

“I do have time, but…?”

Why is she asking that all of a sudden?

Didn’t she have prior plans this weekend?

Did her appointment with Carlos from Class D fall through?

Eugene looked at Lucia with a strange sense of anticipation.

“Great! Then how about spending some time reading with Alice this weekend?”

“W-what? Lu, Lucia?”

Alice, flustered, raised her head.

Lucia then pinched Alice’s soft cheeks and said,

“Our Alice is the smallest and cutest library in the world. She knows tons of interesting books. I’m sure she knows some that suit your taste, Eugene.”

It’s true that Alice loves books.

Eugene knew that fact too.

Although it’s been less frequent lately, she used to live with stacks of books on her desk.

“Obviously, Eugene is probably planning to overwork himself again after being discharged, right? It’s good to train hard, but it’s also important to take it easy sometimes. You’ve been through a lot of tough things recently. How about soothing your mind by reading a book or two?”

Listening to her, Eugene quickly understood her intentions.

Lucia had come up with a way to ease Alice’s guilt.

By recommending books and reading together, she hoped to lighten Alice’s burden.

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea…”

Eugene had been wanting to get closer to Alice too.

There was no reason to refuse Lucia’s suggestion.

But Alice’s opinion was the most important.

If she felt burdened, Lucia’s thoughtful plan wouldn’t work.

“…”

Alice alternated her gaze between Lucia and Eugene.

Hesitating as she chewed her lip, Alice grabbed Lucia’s sleeve with her small hand and said,

“Th-then, Lu, Lucia, what about you…?”

“Sorry. I’d love to be there too, but as you know, Alice, I have plans.”

“…”

That was something Eugene had been concerned about too.

Alice made eye contact with Eugene.

Her gaze slowly drifted downward and settled near his wrist.

The area where the burn scars she had caused were.

“Being alone with Eugene might still be…a bit difficult…?”

“…Oh, no. I, I’m, okay…too.”

Alice nodded slightly, showing her agreement.

But her transparent eyes seemed filled with worry.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Lucia must be secretly proud.

What an idiot.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
This chapter and the 7 in front are all edited during new years! So uh…

Yeah, no clue what you are supposed to do with that information. 

Kill kat.