Ch.91Chasing After You (1)

While Sonia opened the dormitory door to ventilate, I changed my clothes. The cold wind blowing in from outside made me shiver.

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

“Would you like to wrap a scarf around your neck before going out?”

“That would be good.”

When I nodded, Sonia handed me a black scarf.

“Was something like this in my closet?”

“I knitted it myself.”

“Oh.”

“Oh?”

Sonia’s expression turned sulky.

“No, it’s just unexpected. I’ve never received a gift from my parents or siblings. Oh my, my fate. What kind of family would give me such a heartfelt gift?”

“Then why don’t you marry me?”

“Who would bear the children?”

“Since I have this body, you should bear them, young master.”

“That’s quite an extraordinary method.”

Sonia wrapped my neck with her arms. Her face was close. With a rustling sound, the area around my neck began to warm up.

“The weather today is clear.”

“Uneventful.”

In ‘foreign novels,’ there are always descriptions of weather disasters like storms before major events occur.

Since the weather is clear, nothing dangerous should happen for a while.

“Soon we’ll be saying goodbye to this planet too, right?”

“Nothing’s confirmed yet. But since we don’t know how long we’ll be here, I should take in as much as I can.”

Living in prison had made waking up at six in the morning a routine.

I left the dormitory early. I planned to leisurely enjoy my recently regained daily life in the empty classroom.

But that thought was soon shattered.

“Are you student Eidel Rheinland?”

“I’m from the Southern Public Broadcasting. Excuse me, but I’d like to request an interview about the paper you wrote!”

“Could you briefly explain the content of the paper you wrote while attending the Academia?”

“What is your relationship with Professor Feynman!”

As soon as I stepped out of the entrance, reporters who had been hiding quietly pounced on me.

The determination of those wanting to interview me was stronger than my resistance. When I tried to close the door, one reporter blocked it with his hand. His eyes were full of passion and madness.

Coming without even contacting me by email, how terrible.

“Young master, you’ve made it big.”

“If this is making it big, I’d rather be unemployed for life.”

While saying this, I estimated the number of reporters by eye.

Roughly 50 people. If I answered all their questions, I would inevitably be late. People who show up without sending emails wouldn’t give up interviewing for my convenience, so I had to make a decision.

“Sigh.”

I took out my calipers.

***

I moved quickly. I covered my nose and mouth with the scarf Sonia had given me, and shielded my eyes with a paper that happened to be in my pocket.

Good. This disguise is perfect.

As I was walking slowly to the classroom, someone placed their arm on my shoulder.

It was too bold to be Rustila, and a bit too heavy to be Seti.

Could it be.

“Professor, how are you?”

“Oh, it’s Welton…”

“Who did you think it was?”

“A reporter.”

Welton Yusoford.

One of my classmates who wears sporty sunglasses all year round. He patted my shoulder and handed me his sunglasses.

“What on earth happened during the break to cause this? The reporters seem desperate to get to you.”

“Ah, that.”

“It’s fine, no need to explain in detail. What kind of person could possibly understand what foreigners do!”

He’s teasing me about having been to Alcatraz.

“Just so you know, I was declared sane when I left.”

“An Academia student who covers his face with his own paper and thinks ‘hehe, my disguise is perfect’ is sane? Even ordinary geniuses don’t do such bizarre things, mister. And you know what? If you’re normal, then everyone else here is abnormal, absolutely abnormal.”

Welton joked as he released his arm from my shoulder. I put on the sunglasses he gave me.

“Now, look around while wearing those.”

There were quite a few outsiders wandering around the campus.

“That person is a reporter from outside, and that kid is from the Academy newspaper club. And that person is…”

“A professor.”

“A professor? Why would a professor be at the Academia?”

“I wouldn’t know that.”

It’s not just the entrance. The campus is dangerous too. If I get caught, things will quickly become annoying.

I parted ways with Welton, who was going to get breakfast, and headed to the classroom.

“Excuse me, are you student Eidel…!”

And there was an ambush waiting.

***

“Cough, cough.”

On the first day of the second semester, Zernya arrived at the classroom before anyone else. Having arrived first, she felt confident that she would also rank first this semester.

At that moment, someone entered.

“Excuse me, is Eidel here? Is student Eidel here?”

“Who?”

“Oh, there’s a student here! Hello! I’m Sophia, a reporter from the Interstellar Daily!”

Strange. Why would an outside reporter be here?

“What’s the matter?”

“Actually, I came to interview a student named Eidel von Rheinland who attends this school.”

“…Eidel, that guy?”

“Oh. Are you perhaps in the same class?”

“Yes. Well…”

Zernya replied curtly. Then she belatedly realized her slip of tongue.

“That’s great! I wasn’t sure if this was the right place. Finally, I can do my interview! Hehehe!”

And so began Sophia’s praise of Eidel.

“Everyone must know what great achievements Eidel has accomplished. The originator of the theory that could indirectly repair the Southern Aether Belt!”

“…”

“No wonder the preference for physics departments in college courses has increased significantly this year! It might be a difficult path for me, one that only geniuses can take… but isn’t that what makes it romantic? Right?!”

Eidel, Eidel, Eidel.

It was all the same talk, making this time pure torture for Zernya.

Clearly, until the end of the first semester, the gap between him and herself had been minimal. It was at a level she could catch up to.

But Eidel, that guy, by writing just one paper, and from prison no less, completely tipped the balance.

“So, from what I understand about that paper…!”

Creak.

Zernya stood up, grinding her teeth.

“Oh, where are you going?”

“Bathroom for a moment.”

Bang!

Zernya closed the door irritably and came out.

There was a boy in front of her.

“…Huh?”

A voice that escaped without her realizing. It was still a beautiful tone, except for being slightly cracked due to her cold.

Zernya’s gaze quickly scanned him.

Eyes, intelligent.

Hair, glossy.

Attire, black scarf.

Zernya glared sharply.

“Zernya, you came early.”

“Move.”

“You should at least greet me.”

“Who would greet someone like you.”

“Aren’t you glad to see me?”

Actually, she was a little glad. But not knowing why made her even angrier at herself.

Eidel shrugged and entered the classroom.

And immediately suffered the consequences.

“Hello!”

“Ah.”

He was caught by the reporter lying in wait in the classroom, resulting in a forced interview event.

Zernya turned her steps and glanced inside the classroom.

“Just answer a few questions. Then I’ll leave right away. First…!”

Despite everything, she was curious. What exactly had Eidel done during the break to accomplish such a feat? It was something that shouldn’t have been possible by common sense.

If she could steal that know-how and make it her own, she could do even better.

Then all the scolding she received from her family for being second would turn into praise. Zernya imagined such a wonderful future.

“A-achoo.”

Despite taking so much medicine, her mind was still foggy.

“…So, my third question. What are your academic plans going forward? For instance, when and which department of which school you plan to attend.”

“Well, I’m not sure since nothing is confirmed yet.”

Eidel scratched his chin awkwardly.

“Thoughts on early graduation?”

“I’m considering it.”

Considering it.

At those words, Zernya’s heart sank.

“I’ve heard that early graduation from Stellarium Academia is very difficult. Are you confident?”

“I’m going to try at least.”

Just try.

There was no certainty in Eidel’s words.

But the results from last semester showed it. If Eidel set his mind to it, he could certainly graduate early.

This can’t happen.

It shouldn’t be allowed.

From college onwards, everyone would choose their own majors and follow their paths, which means Zernya and Eidel wouldn’t be able to compete in the same subjects.

Her goal was pre-med.

And Eidel, at this rate-

“Your future career is obviously in that direction, right?”

“Yes. I’ll be going into physics.”

He’ll go into pure academics that don’t even make money.

But still.

No matter how good a paper he wrote, if she crushes him in exam scores, wouldn’t that prove she’s superior?

– You must rank first in the second semester.

– Zernya, the world only recognizes the first place.

Her parents’ words. Simultaneously, their reproach.

She ruminated on the advice she had heard endlessly during the break. She also swallowed the defeat from last semester.

With the prestige of her family and her personal pride at stake.

This time, she must win.

***

“Eidel, I baked cookies. In Western region planets, there’s a culture of giving white cookies to people who’ve been released from prison.”

“Thanks, Rustila.”

“You stupid brother. I told you not to leave without me yesterday, didn’t I?”

“Ah, I forgot.”

“Is writing papers what you do in Alcatraz? Don’t tell me you bribed the professor…!”

“I see you’ve recovered, Kristin.”

“Is Eidel corrupt?”

“No, little one.”

There were many people around him. Regardless of gender, most of the class members showed interest in him. Of course, there were suspicious glances questioning if he really wrote the paper himself, but that was also a form of interest.

Meanwhile, no one came near Zernya.

That was better.

She wouldn’t be disturbed in her studies.

“It’s been a while, everyone. Thanks for still being alive.”

“Teacher, is your arm okay?”

“Miraculously, they managed to reattach it. I almost had to live as a cyborg!”

During homeroom.

While homeroom teacher Kendra and the students were catching up, Zernya was scribbling with her pen.

“Cough, cough.”

She was coughing, but it was fine.

She had taken medicine, so she could hold out until she got home.

“Eidel, you’ve done so much. In my 10 years of teaching, I’ve never seen anyone like you.”

“No. It wasn’t me. The professor helped a lot.”

“Look at you being modest.”

Kendra grinned and stepped forward.

“Is that the kind of student who secretly reads papers during homeroom?”

“Pardon?”

“Bring it here.”

“Ah, no. I was playing a game.”

“Where did you learn to lie like that?”

The students laughed loudly. Only Zernya looked back with a stiff expression.

“Let me see. The title is… ‘On the Method of Graviton Detection Using Supersymmetric Pair Distribution Analysis’? The title alone is intimidating. Do you understand what you’re reading?”

“Actually, I’m not sure what it’s saying.”

“Still, it’s impressive. But you shouldn’t read secretly during homeroom or class time. During class, you should focus on the teacher’s lesson. No matter how much you’ve studied ahead, it’s important to build a solid foundation.”

Eidel nodded.

Zernya couldn’t help but wonder.

With skills that allow him to write papers as the first author in good journals, why would he agree with the advice of a mere Academia teacher?

“And Seti… what is this one doing? Stocks?”

“No?”

“I told you, you can’t fool teacher’s eyes. How is this possible? Wait. Teacher wants to know about that stock too!”

Zernya, who had been gripping her pen as if to break it, let out a groan.

She felt too dizzy. Maybe because of the cold.

Moreover, she had devoted herself to studying and fencing for two months without proper sleep. She should take a break at some point…

No. She must defeat Eidel. This semester, without fail.

Zernya’s eyes slowly closed. But she endured. She maintained her consciousness by supporting her forehead with her hand.

“Now, everyone. I have an announcement, so listen carefully.”

Kendra, returning to the podium, announced to the entire class.