Chapter 156: Academy IF Side Story – The False Family (3)

Chapter 156: Academy IF Side Story – The False Family (3)

“S-sorry..”

“Sorry..”

“Louder.”

“S-sorry!!”

I said coldly to the two female students kneeling with their heads bowed.

They looked at Meichen with shame in their eyes.

But then, when I glared at them, their attitude became extremely polite.

There were still some burn marks and bruises on their faces.

Meichen swallowed, witnessing this unbelievable sight.

This is the neglected garden behind the Academy, a place with few people.

It hasn’t been managed for a while, and the natural scenery is quite beautiful, so it’s been left unattended.

“What, what is this..”

“This is the list of the bitches who made you cry. It’s them, right?”

After hearing from Lucy, I immediately went to find those bitches under the pretext of a ‘performance evaluation.’

The scores had all been distributed, but calling the group members again meant there was a possibility of acquiring additional points.

Those two, not knowing their situation, followed me enthusiastically.

With resentment in my heart, I beat them up with gusto.

Of course, I didn’t beat them savagely with my fists.

As befits a magic academy, I summoned two fire elementals.

I made them do the work.

I just watched them get beaten, and they were getting beaten for about 10 minutes, still not understanding why.

Is this what pure evil is like?

Seeing them crying with genuine regret was truly disgusting.

Some people can’t even tell anyone and cry alone.

I thought this was enough to repay some personal grudges.

The rest would depend on Meichen’s attitude.

“They’re bad people who enjoyed tearing you down. Don’t feel guilty, and if you’re still angry, you can do more.”

I didn’t explicitly say what to do.

At my words, the two of them, with extremely pathetic faces, clasped their hands together and begged.

“Sorry.. Mei, Meichen. I’m really sorry.. About bad-mouthing you before.. and about only becoming runner-up by selling myself.. I apologize for everything..”

If they had said that behind my back, there would be no need to say it to my face like this.

They wouldn’t say such bullshit just to make me extremely angry.

Therefore, they were saying that directly to Meichen’s face.

I felt like blood was rushing backwards again, but I managed to hold it in.

The more I see them, the more I realize they’re capable of anything.

Did all this happen in less than a month?

I can’t believe it.

Meichen listened to their apologies silently.

At first, she had a bewildered expression.

But then, she raised the corners of her eyes and returned to her usual demeanor.

“Ha! Did you think I, Meichen Brown, would be intimidated by something like that?”

Even though she was so intimidated just moments ago.

She raised the corners of her eyes and proudly straightened her chest.

It was cute that her chest wasn’t very prominent.

“Listen carefully. I’m not swayed by such foolish nonsense. That’s something for third-raters. Understand?”

She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.

To others, it might look like she was mocking them.

But from her slightly trembling hands, I realized Meichen was showing some consideration.

“Uh, uh..?”

“Th-that’s..”

The bad-mouthing duo seemed quite bewildered by Meichen’s reaction.

They stared blankly and scratched their heads.

Yes. This is the true nature of the person you were bad-mouthing.

I judged that it was enough since I had beaten them up thoroughly.

If I had found it truly disgusting and infuriating, I would have just accepted their apology and sent them away.

She’s such a thoughtful child.

“I need to teach you nobles a lesson. First-raters like me look at things further than that. Haha! Unfortunately, you fall short as my rivals.”

“Uh, uh.. Sorry..”

The bad-mouthing trio lowered their heads with extremely bewildered expressions.

Their trembling pupils indicated that Meichen’s reaction was vastly different from what they expected.

Thus, they seemed to have received a great shock.

“..So, don’t bow your heads unnecessarily. It’s not noble.”

Meichen said that and then smiled at the bad-mouthing trio.

“I’ll accept your pathetic apologies, at least in spirit. I’m so.. broad-minded.”

“Really..?”

“Th-thank you.. We..”

The bad-mouthing trio, so bewildered, couldn’t even speak properly.

They moved their lips slightly, looked at my face once.

Then, as if realizing something, they got up from their seats.

“..We’ll be going now. We were truly sorry for everything.”

And then, limping, they slowly disappeared.

As the bad-mouthing duo disappeared into the distance.

Thump-

“Haaah..”

Meichen’s legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground.

She’s so full of herself, even though she’d end up like this.

I chuckled and offered her my hand.

“Are you okay?”

“I-I’m fine. Do you really think I was scared? No way. I, Meichen Brown..”

Meichen, who was speaking with a small laugh, put on a slightly weakened expression.

That face looked a bit weak.

I stared at Meichen’s face silently.

Meichen, who had been speaking with great momentum, lowered her head.

Then, with a slightly choked voice, she continued.

“…Weren’t they your friends?”

“They’re not. I don’t even know their names properly?”

“Y-you were in the same group. And you’ve been hanging out together lately..”

“I only glanced at their names once when writing the report. Why? Did you want us to be friends?”

“No, that’s…”

She couldn’t finish her sentence when I asked a bit teasingly.

Her true feelings were obvious, but she couldn’t say it because she was embarrassed.

I smiled at her cute reaction and held out my hand.

“Get up. We have to go to class. I skipped class because of you, you know.”

“Class? Come to think of it.. it’s time for Class A to be in session now..”

“The professor must be crying. It’s the first day of elemental magic class, and the top student and runner-up are skipping.”

“Ahaha.. It must be really absurd. Skipping class..”

Meichen looked at me with a weak smile.

And then, she smiled brightly.

She seems to have a lot she wants to say.

“…Why did you do that?”

“Did you not like it?”

“Un. It’s not a scolding. It would have been easier if you had just stayed put..”

“Even so.. how can I just watch someone bad-mouthing my friend?”

At the word ‘friend,’ Meichen’s eyes widened.

What is it? Did I make a slip of the tongue?

Could it be that only I thought of her as a friend?

Was I the only one who was sincere?

In the awkward silence, I felt a little anxious and stared intently at Meichen.

Drip, drop-

Meichen suddenly shed tears like a chicken’s droppings.

“Why, why are you like this?! Uh.. Did I do something wrong?”

“Because you’re foolish. What if they hurt you?”

“Hurt me.. I’m the top student.”

“Ahaha.. You really don’t think before you act.. Y-you’re not like a top student..”

Even while shedding tears, Meichen laughed.

Unlike the time she cried as if something was missing, this was different.

Her face was covered in tears, but she looked brighter than ever.

Meichen, who burst into laughter and cried profusely on a chilly afternoon.

It was the first time I had truly faced her inner feelings.

****

“Cecil Constantine. Are you eating alone again? I guess you can’t do without me.”

“Good morning. You’re wearing your hair in a ponytail today.”

“Yeah? Uh.. D-does it show? I tried to change my image a bit..”

“It’s neat and nice. You really look like the runner-up when you’re like this.”

“Are you saying I didn’t look like the runner-up until now?”

Meichen made a resentful face at my joke.

Yet, she sat next to me and initiated physical contact.

Her gentle touch conveyed affection.

After that incident, Meichen’s surroundings underwent many changes.

First of all, the people who used to bad-mouth her behind her back completely disappeared.

Among them, rumors like ‘Cecil is unleashing elementals and slaughtering the anti-Meichen faction!’ circulated.

Strangely, the image was so strongly fixed that there was nothing I could do about it.

Other students also stopped avoiding her and began to treat her normally.

Of course, this wasn’t solely because I beat up the bad-mouthing trio.

Those two also seemed to have learned something.

However, despite these changes, Meichen remained largely the same.

She always stuck to me, saying, “Cecil Constantine!”

But her expressions, gestures, and tone of voice conveyed a much warmer atmosphere than before.

She couldn’t hide the affection that flowed from her, even while acting arrogant on the outside.

That aspect was incredibly cute, so I didn’t pay much attention and enjoyed my Academy life with her.

“Oh, right. Meichen. Can you come to my dorm room later?”

“Huh? Why to your room?”

“You know that thing you gave me last time? The aroma thing? I’m using it really well. I wanted to give you a gift in return.”

“A gift, really.. I didn’t give it to you expecting something like that.”

Even though she said that, her mouth twitched, clearly pleased.

Meichen looked expectant and turned her head slightly.

And then, crossing her arms, she continued.

“Hmm.. but.. considering your feelings and sincerity, I’ll make time for you. Shall we go right after we eat?”

“Then let’s do that. We have a free period this afternoon anyway. Shall we stop by the library?”

“Let’s stop by the convenience store before we go. They say new items have arrived at the convenience store.”

“Oh.. Is it the fruit juice-filled fruit jelly? Great.”

I nodded and smiled brightly.

Then we finished our meal and headed to the dorm, arriving at my room.

“Sniff sniff..”

“What are you doing? Come in quickly.”

“Huh? Uh, yeah. Your room is cleaner than I expected.”

At my words, Meichen, with a perverted expression, looked startled.

Didn’t she just sniff the air?

I always keep an air freshener in my room, so there shouldn’t be any bad smells.

I feel like something lewd happened.

“I’m quite meticulous. Anyway, wait here for a moment.”

I sat Meichen on my bed and rummaged through the drawers.

It must have been around here.

After a brief search, I found a pretty glass case.

Inside was a hairpin.

However, it wasn’t an ordinary hairpin.

It was a hairpin with a blue gem attached.

Adela once disposed of some unused accessories, calling them ‘leftovers.’

But I don’t particularly like wearing such things.

I didn’t know it would be so useful to keep it stored away.

It’s practically new since it’s barely been used.

“What is that?”

“A gift.”

I slowly sat next to Meichen, opened the glass case, and showed her the item inside.

It felt a bit strange, like a virgin proposing.

As soon as she saw the hairpin, Meichen’s eyes widened.

“Wow.. Is this expensive? It’s so pretty..”

“Actually, I don’t know the price. I thought it would suit you.”

For some reason, Meichen blushed at my words.

Since her skin is so fair, her flushed cheeks stood out even more.

“…Ah, flattery won’t get you anything.”

“It’s the truth. Want to try it on? I’ll put it in for you.”

“Ah, I can do it myself..”

“It’s okay. I’ve always wanted to try something like this.”

Meichen seemed embarrassed and refused to let me put in the hairpin.

But still, it’s a gift for my first friend.

I wanted to put it in for her myself.

“Here.. Stay still..”

I gently held Meichen’s soft hair and then brought my hand to her head.

At the same time, Meichen gasped.

If someone saw this, they’d think we were kissing.

I chuckled at her cute reaction and made eye contact with her.

“Why are you so nervous?”

“I-I’m not nervous..”

Even though she said that, her hands couldn’t stay still.

They fidgeted and lost their place.

Her fidgeting hands looked a bit pathetic, so I placed my hand on the back of hers.

“Stay still. It’s hard to put it in otherwise.”

Although my intention was to calm her down.

The unfortunate result was that her fair skin turned even redder.

The atmosphere is getting a bit strange and alluring.

Feeling my heart pound strangely, I slowly put in the hairpin.

This was my first time, so there were a few trial and error attempts.

And then, I gently patted her head to show her the beautifully placed hairpin.

“All done. Want to see in the mirror?”

“Yeah.. H-hand mirror please..”

Even with the hairpin in, the strange atmosphere didn’t dissipate.

No, the atmosphere intensified.

Then, looking at the hand mirror I handed her, Meichen smiled faintly.

Her appearance was breathtakingly beautiful.

I found myself staring blankly.

“…Is there.. something on my face?”

“Uh.. No. It suits you well.”

“Hmph. Of course. Who am I? The only daughter of the Brown family, and the supreme authority of elemental magic with radiant beauty.”

Meichen puffed out her chest, pleased with my compliment.

Her expression made me want to tease her even more.

I gently held her hand and smiled slyly.

“If you’re not careful, I might fall for you. You’re the prettiest person I’ve seen so far.”

I expected her to say something like, “Haha! Of course!”

But.

“..Is.. is that so..?”

Contrary to my expectations, Meichen’s face turned completely red, and she lowered her head.

Then, she shyly intertwined her fingers with mine.

What is this?

This wasn’t what I had in mind.

The atmosphere gradually heated up.

Meichen’s trembling lips slowly parted.