Chapter 3: Academy Life (2)

“You’re early again today.”

“…Yeah.”

‘I thought this would happen. Whenever I come early, I always run into him.’

“Aren’t you eating breakfast?”

“…Yeah. I’m not. It’s a bother.”

‘He’s talking to me again today. It doesn’t seem like he made Lust his s*ave. Maybe he’s not a player after all. He did say some meaningful things, but he isn’t trying to capture the other girls. At first, I hoped he would only go for the heroines with charm. But if he stays this quiet, it won’t become an adult game, which is a good thing.’

‘No, having his attention only on me isn’t a good thing.’

‘Huh, he disappeared while I was lost in thought.’

‘He was talking about breakfast, where could he have gone?’

‘……Let’s sleep.’

Rustle.

‘What’s that sound? It sounds like a bag….’

“Here.”

“…”

“I know you’re not sleeping. You sleep through lunch too, you know.”

“I don’t want to, it’s fine if I don’t eat breakfast….”

‘What a pain…. It’s always been this way since middle school. If I suddenly eat breakfast when I haven’t been, I’ll throw it all up.’

“Eat.”

“Okay…”

As I tear open the bread wrapper, Osian snatches it away.

“……Why give it to me just to take it back?”

“If you lie on your side and face me. I’ll feed you.”

“Okay….”

Osian moved his chair closer to mine and sat down.

Then he tore off small pieces of bread and brought them to my mouth.

Munch, munch.

‘The bread is torn into easy-to-eat pieces. Why is he doing this? It’s convenient for me, so it’s good, but. Is he not eating?’

It was chilly because of the wind, but it was blocked by the classroom window, and the sunlight streamed in just right.

It’s warm.

Time passed, and the bread that was constantly coming to my mouth stopped.

And as he spoke, Osian placed his hand on my head and stroked it.

“You eat well. Good girl.”

‘This feels like shit. I used to like dogs, but I think I’m starting to hate them.’

The memory of the nurse’s office flashes by.

“…Please don’t stroke me.”

“Okay. Was it good?”

“Yeah, it was good….”

‘He listens well when I tell him not to do something. …Is he really not a player? Just an ordinary… boy… no, he isn’t. Come to think of it, it must be an act. He’s infiltrated, after all.’

‘…That’s that.’

‘Still, I’m grateful he fed me….’

I open my eyes and look at Osian, who was still looking at me.

He didn’t eat himself, but bought me bread and fed me.

So I thought I should at least say thank you.

Just as I was about to say thank you.

“…Thank you.”
“…”

“Then, you feed me too.”

I close my eyes again and try to sleep.

‘Feed you, my ass. You should be thanking me for thanking you.’

Bang-.

The door was thrown open.

“Seri has arrived! Oh, top student~, Yun! What’s this, what’s this~ are you two dating? Uhuhu.”

As one person entered the classroom.

It became chaotic.

I’ve been bothered by her calling me Yun since yesterday.

“You two, if you want to have a different kind of experience, just say the word~? I’ll do it for you anytime~. Huhuhu~!”

I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and said.

“It’s not like that. Please be quiet….”

‘I absolutely don’t want to. What is she saying, barging in like that? We’re not even that close.’

“By the way, I almost didn’t recognize you! I only knew it was you when I heard your name! Yun!”

“Do we… know each other…?”

“Yeah! We’re childhood friends!”

‘Me…? With you…?’

At the keyword ‘childhood friend’, a familiar sensation of memories flooding in, which I haven’t felt in a long time.

This sensation confuses my identity.

Like the memories of my former body are disappearing….

‘No, it could be that my memories are disappearing because I’m always sleeping and getting dumber.’

“…I didn’t recognize you either. Your personality has changed a lot. …Seri.”

She was definitely a timid kid.

If she changed that much, most people wouldn’t recognize her….

From this, I could tell.

Abilities affect personality.

“You remembered~! Do you know you’ve changed a lot too?”

“…Haa, aam. …I guess so.”

“Yeah! In elementary school, you had a total leadership personality, and you always helped me when I was being bullied~?”

‘Ah, right. I did.’

Osian speaks to me.

“…You?”

‘……It’s definitely not about me, but about Nayun before the possession, but it feels dirty.’

‘Let’s not have this kind of worthless conversation.’

“Good night.”

“Huh? Suddenly!? It’s been a while since we’ve talked…”

‘Not me, you. I’m telling you to go to sleep…. If you keep chattering, I can’t sleep either. Ah, what a pain….’

“…Osian, put her in her seat.”

“Pfft… Okay….”

Osian smiles faintly and turns his head.

‘…He was scary when I first met him. But looking at him now, he’s not that scary. He has a pretty smile.’

“Huh?”

“…It’s nothing.”

I get ready to sleep again.

Osian speaks to me as I do.

“Sleep well.”

“…Yeah, you too.”

---

One day,

“What do you think a hero is?”

“…Haa.”

‘This is a bathroom. Here.’

“A sigh? Some people admire heroes like this and work hard to improve their skills. Why are you sleeping when others are working hard? Huh?”

Three women I’ve never seen before started talking to me.

What they said is right.

When others are working hard, I always postpone, and postpone, and fall asleep.

But.

“…What does me sleeping when you’re working hard have to do with anything?”

“You…!”

“It’s true. You could just think, ‘I guess that’s how it is,’ and move on. It has nothing to do with you. Right.”

“…That’s.”

‘Should I add another fact here?’

“Aren’t you embarrassed to be so consumed by your inferiority complex? Is it okay for a hero to be like this?”

“…Hmph.”

‘Just because it’s an academy full of hero aspirants, it doesn’t mean it’s full of only good kids. Well, a lazy person like me got in, so.’

“Still…!”

“Aight.”

The other girls have all quieted down.

But she doesn’t know when to give up.

How annoying….

I put her to sleep.

I think I’ve said everything I need to say.

Did she not understand?

“Wh-what did you do!”

“I just put her to sleep. She’ll wake up in less than 10 minutes… haam.”

‘Ah, it’s hard to keep my eyes open….’

“Take… her with you.”

‘She’s probably not a bad kid. Like she said herself, she’s working hard to become a hero. Unlike me, she’s not lazy.’

‘I don’t plan on fixing my laziness, but I hope other lazy kids see me and get some mirror therapy.’

“…You don’t have to follow me to the bathroom, you know.”

“When else can I talk to you! You know you put me to sleep every time I try to talk to you!”

“I’m sorry, but my ability doesn’t work on me….”

“What does that have to do with you putting me to sleep!?”

“…Well, I can sleep comfortably.”

“Ugh…!”

‘If I add that her reaction when she wakes up is funny… she’d get angry….’

“Let’s go…? I’m sleepy….”

I take Seri’s hand and head to the classroom.

This usually cheers her up.

“…Okay!”

‘If I don’t cheer her up, she might use her ability on me someday.’

‘By the way, this reminds me of elementary school. I often took care of her…. No, did I take care of her? It’s ambiguous.’

“But you know, is it okay to treat those girls in the bathroom like that?”

“Yeah…, I don’t think it’s okay…, but it’s a bother….”

‘She seemed to have a lot of pride…. Is she in the same class? Maybe I should have just dealt with her with words. Instead of my ability….’

“Did you enjoy your meal? Sprouts! Today, we’re deciding on clubs!”

‘Wow, just thinking about it is a pain. It’s an activity that happens every 6th and 7th period, so I’ve always skipped it and gone straight to the dorm to sleep….’

‘Ah, I have a good idea.’

“Excuse me, can we create clubs?”

“Mmm! Good question! The minimum number of members is 5, so you can create one freely! First, look for a club that develops your abilities, and if there isn’t one, come find me in the faculty office!”

‘Minimum 5 members….’

Osian, who was next to me, speaks.

“Are you trying to make a sleep club?”

“…”

‘He knows me too well. Suspiciously….’

“Unfortunately, you can’t. You have to join the student council with me.”

“….”

“You can’t, no matter how desperately you look.”

‘Damn it…. My good idea…. How can a lazy person like me join the student council.’

‘That’s ridiculous. It’s obvious it won’t work, so let’s just look for the reading club.’

It wasn’t that ridiculous.

“We welcome useful kids like you…. Not that you’re more useful than me. I’m Seo Hana. Nice to meet you?”

Blonde hair and shining amber eyes.

If the protagonist is a black panther, it would be fitting to call this one a lion.

Arrogance drips from her words.

But she doesn’t seem to have a bad personality.

I’m currently gagged.

She said I’d say I don’t want to do it.

Student council president.

Pride.

One of the heroines in this game.

I thought it was quiet, but did he come here aiming for the student council president?

‘…I tried to see her in a good light, but in the end… wait, but why is he leaving Seri alone? He’d need Seri to be able to capture all the heroines.’

‘I don’t know what he’s thinking…. I can’t ask either…. Let’s just stop thinking and do as I’m told. It’s a bother….’

“What are your names? Cute juniors.”

“This is Lee Nayun, and I’m Oh Osian.”

“Hmph~. Then Osian is in charge of coffee and miscellaneous tasks. As for Nayun….”

“…”

“There’s nothing to order. Her middle school grades are terrible, so it seems she can’t even do the basics….”

‘Mmm-hmm, you are correct, ma’am.’

“President, I heard you drink a lot of coffee and have insomnia…. Use her as a fast-acting sleeping pill with no side effects.”

……What? This bastard?

“That sounds good~. I tend to work at night. Do it now?”

‘Nocturnal….’

Poke, poke.

I gesture to Osian to let me speak.

“Aah…. Okay.”

‘Instead of gesturing, I wanted to make a fist and hit him, but I couldn’t. That… well, what is this feeling? My hand feels numb… haa. I’ll just roughly. Put her to sleep and go to sleep myself….’

“…How long, do you wish to sleep?”

“About 6 hours?”

The president lies down on the sofa and falls asleep with my ability.

“……There, isn’t this the picture you wanted.”

“What…”

“You’re going to make her a s*ave.”

“No, I’m just taking her ability.”

Osian places his hand on the president’s head and pulls it away.

‘Just taking her ability. What does that mean?’

I don’t remember Pride’s ability.

It was difficult, so I forgot.

‘I might not remember. It’s been over two years, right? My memories have been overwritten….’

‘Let’s ask.’

“What’s your purpose?”

‘My head hurts from curiosity, so I feel like I won’t be able to sleep. I think I have to ask.’

“…”

Osian’s expression suddenly darkens.

‘Scary.’

“You don’t need to know. It’s better for you not to be curious about me.”

A cold voice.

It was like he was making me understand the hierarchy.

That I am a s*ave.

No matter how well he treats me, I’m just a pet.

With his words, ‘you don’t need to know,’ I am unable to try to know.

My thoughts become short.

‘Even with such ambiguous words, if there’s will behind them, do I have to obey the command?’

‘To think he can block my thoughts…, this is why favorability is useless…. If he told me to like him, my favorability would become MAX. But, he doesn’t give me such a command.’

‘……Is he being… considerate? ……He’s kind.’

I answer.

“…Yeah, I’m sorry.”