Ch.13I’m the Top Student? (3)

Even after the freshman representative’s speech ended, the entrance ceremony continued a bit longer.

There wasn’t anything particularly special about it.

Simple announcements, introductions of professors, facility guidance… typical first-day school information.

If there was anything worth paying attention to, it might have been the dormitory assignments.

The news that students could move in starting today was quite useful.

It meant I no longer needed to stay at an inn and could settle into the academy.

This really feels like the original story is beginning.

It was a moment that made it all feel real.

“With this, we conclude the entrance ceremony for Gallimar Academy.”

“I wish you all the best of luck.”

With the chancellor’s encouragement, the event concluded.

Students began to exit the auditorium little by little.

I also let myself go with their flow.

As I was walking, my head suddenly turned at a voice calling out.

“Young Master Snakus!”

“Over here.”

A pilot with pink hair, and a fox with scarlet hair.

They were Lezia and Irene, respectively.

The two seemed to have been waiting for me, lingering around the auditorium.

I waved my hand with a bright smile.

“Both of you waited for me. I’m so touched…!”

The sudden title of valedictorian.

I had been slightly annoyed by the unexpected situation, but seeing these two washed away my irritation.

My favorite characters from the game were actually welcoming me.

Isn’t this what a successful fan dreams of?

“What are you talking about? You told us to wait.”

“I didn’t know you’d cherish me so specially! Are we all friends after all?”

“No, just earlier you…”

“Of course, Miss Irene! I’m so grateful.”

“…Never mind.”

There was a somewhat impure attempt to break my emotional moment, but I ignored it.

“Shall we head back now?”

The dormitories were now open.

I wanted to check out my assigned room. If there were any issues, I needed to know in advance.

Since the academy itself was as large as a small city, it was good to familiarize myself with the path to the dormitories.

The distance was far enough that it would be inconvenient without taking a carriage.

The three of us walked toward the nearby carriage stop.

Lezia and Irene. Since they had just met today, there was still an awkward feeling flowing between them.

I tried to break the atmosphere with small talk.

“So… what did you all think of my speech?”

A simple question casually thrown out.

I thought it was a good speech that could have appeared in a youth drama, but I was curious about others’ impressions.

“Eh, eh? What?”

“Why are you so surprised? I asked with no ulterior motive, so feel free to answer comfortably.”

“Ah, yes, yes. Y-your, um, sp-speech…”

Lezia’s reaction was somewhat strange.

As soon as she received the question, she started malfunctioning like a broken person, even stumbling over her words.

What’s this? Is there some problem?

“Miss Lezia? What’s wrong?”

“Uh, umm… it was g-great! Your speech c-completely m-moved my heart!”

“Haha~! I’m honored by such an evaluation!”

They say praise makes whales dance.

I don’t know about whales, but it seems it can make a snake dance. I felt like I could break into tap dancing at any moment.

As I hummed a cheerful tune, Irene looked at me with disgusted eyes.

“You really…”

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Miss Irene?”

“…Nothing.”

“Hmm?”

“Just watch where you’re going. What if you trip?”

“My goodness, you’re worried about me. Are you finally opening your heart to me?”

“Absolutely not.”

“How cold…!”

Childish banter continued between us.

As we walked while exchanging such trivial conversation, I suddenly felt someone’s gaze.

“…?”

Someone was standing in our path, blocking the way.

What’s this all of a sudden? With that thought, I raised my gaze to see none other than a brilliantly shining girl.

I let out a stunned noise.

“…Oh.”

It was quite a familiar appearance.

Platinum blonde hair reaching her shoulders. Clear blue eyes transparently reflecting the world.

“Hello.”

A greeting that seemed to flutter down.

Even her voice carried a mysterious atmosphere. It was as calm as the seashore at dawn.

I knew this girl.

Another protagonist from the original game “The World as Seen by the Little Prince.”

The highest-rated playable character chosen by users, a character modeled after the Little Prince.

‘Charlotte.’

The First Imperial Princess, Sharlotte Little von Staufen.

In the original story, she entered the academy as the valedictorian, but because of me, she was pushed to second place.

I immediately knelt down.

“I am honored to meet the Star of the Empire.”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

Charlotte nodded.

Her somewhat free-spirited way of speaking. This was a characteristic point of her being described as a four-dimensional girl.

I quietly pondered.

Charlotte is not the type to show much interest in others.

It was rare for her to approach someone first like this.

Is something wrong? Could she be trying to pressure me because I took the valedictorian position?

‘…That can’t be it.’

Charlotte doesn’t particularly care about grades.

No, to be precise, she doesn’t care about anything in the world. Except for her precious “rose.”

‘Then why?’

Since she was so unpredictable, it was difficult to guess her reasons.

As I remained frozen…

“I just came. Out of curiosity.”

Charlotte spoke first.

She tapped my head a few times, then casually stroked my hair as if it were nothing.

Everyone was puzzled by her unexpected action.

“Hair. Soft.”

“Pardon?”

“Well, goodbye. See you later.”

“…?”

Immediately after, she turned her back as if her business was done.

A girl who suddenly approached, just greeted me, and then left again. My thoughts froze at this flow of conversation I had never experienced before.

What…?

What just happened to me? Not a bell-and-run, but a greeting-and-run?

Perhaps because it happened so suddenly, there wasn’t even time to feel bewildered. Is this what they call the Little Prince’s way of communication?

I remained frozen in the awkward situation, but Charlotte was already walking far away.

“Maybe… am I too stupid to follow the flow?”

“Eh? Th-then, I-I must be stupid too…”

It seemed the fox and the pilot were equally confused.

Still kneeling, I soon burst into hollow laughter.

It was supposed to be a historic moment meeting a new character, but she left before I could even feel the emotion.

“Well… I suppose that’s part of her charm.”

I dusted myself off and stood up.

I could feel glances from around us, but I decided to ignore them.

“Shall we go now?”

I quietly took a step forward.

The two who had been lost in thought also came to their senses and followed behind.

‘By the way.’

What was Charlotte trying to say?

She said she was curious about something… but I didn’t hear exactly what it was. I wish she had finished her thought.

I walked while pondering this empty question.

***

The dormitory building we arrived at after taking the academy carriage.

What awaited us was an array of buildings comparable to decent mansions… no, perhaps even larger.

Facilities of incomparable quality to ordinary schools.

Everyone seemed amazed since it was their first time at Gallimar.

Lezia was openly staring blankly out the window, and though Irene pretended not to care, she seemed very interested in the surroundings.

Yes, such a spectacular scene is hard to find anywhere else.

After all, it’s a school-sized small city that can accommodate up to 5,000 people.

‘My heart feels grand.’

Of course, I was no different.

Although I had seen the background many times in the game, experiencing it in person was on a completely different level.

It was naturally overwhelming.

Clatter, clatter-

After traveling a bit longer, we finally arrived at our assigned dormitory.

To be precise, it was where Irene and I would be staying.

The building assigned to Lezia was located somewhat farther away.

So we got off the carriage first. I raised my hand lightly in greeting.

“I enjoyed today, Miss Lezia.”

“I would have been lonely at the entrance ceremony if it weren’t for you, Young Master. Thank you so much.”

“Hehe… I look forward to our continued relationship.”

I casually tell a lie.

“Let’s meet again. My friend.”

“Fr-friend…?”

“Yes. Friend.”

We’ve been together since the entrance exam, so we’re close friends, right?

As I whispered those words leisurely, Lezia’s initially blank expression gradually brightened.

It was a line meant to gain favor, and fortunately, it seemed to work.

Lezia nodded while trying to hide her rising smile.

“Yes! See you next time…!”

With the girl’s farewell, the carriage departed again.

As I watched her receding figure for a moment, I felt a probing gaze from beside me.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Miss Irene?”

“No… I just thought you were smiling particularly ominously. I wondered if you were plotting something.”

“What exactly do you take me for?”

“An untrustworthy person.”

“My goodness. Tears cloud my vision from such hurtfulness.”

I pretended to cry, wiping my eyes, but of course, the act didn’t work at all.

“Anyway… what did you think?”

“About what?”

“About Miss Lezia. Isn’t she quite a nice person?”

“She seemed naive to me.”

“That’s because she’s still young. She hasn’t learned how to hide her true feelings, so her innocence shows transparently…”

“You’re young too.”

Irene threw out a blunt remark. I answered the fox.

“I may be young… but I don’t seem innocent, do I?”

A twisted smile of malice rested on my lips.

The girl looked at my face for a moment, then turned her head slightly as if convinced.

“…You certainly don’t.”

What’s this? That actually hurts a bit.

Of course, I expected such an answer when I asked, but it still pained my heart when the reply came.

How can someone judge a person by their appearance?

This dirty lookist world.

I’ll overthrow it all someday.

As I was dwelling on my sadness for a moment, a sudden realization came to me.

“I just remembered something.”

“What is it?”

“The room I’ve been assigned is probably the largest in the academy.”

Gallimar Academy basically operates on a rank-based distribution system.

The higher your rank, the more benefits you can enjoy, and the quality of life also improves.

The dormitories are no exception.

“As the top student’s room, it must be incredibly spacious. So there’s an advantage!”

“Advantage?”

“There will be a lot to clean from now on! All of which Miss Irene will have to handle, alone, with enthusiasm.”

“…How exactly is that a good thing?”

“It doesn’t matter to me. I’m not the one cleaning.”

“…”

Teasing without even blinking an eye.

I could see Irene’s expression souring. We continued walking while bickering for a while.

***

After the bustling entrance ceremony ended, we had a week of free time.

All academy schedules would begin after the class assignment test. In other words, there were no particular schedules for several days.

New students not yet familiar with the academy.

It was the academy’s consideration to allow a period of light adjustment.

I welcomed it with open arms.

I had been itching to explore the academy anyway.

The space I had longed for most during the past three years.

Excitement rushed through me at the thought of finally fulfilling my wish.

So with the heart of someone going on a picnic, I was wandering around various parts of the academy when…

“You! Did you understand what I said?”

“…”

“I don’t know how someone like you became the valedictorian, but I’m telling you not to be arrogant!”

What’s with this one now?