episode_0033

The Academy bid farewell to the festival after a grand fireworks display.

At the Academy, where daily life has returned, it would have been normal for there to be a small sense of loneliness, missing the calm atmosphere and vitality that goes with daily life, but in reality, the current atmosphere of the Academy was not so lonely.

On the contrary, it was even lively.

The reason for the strange phenomenon was clear.

That’s because vacation is just around the corner.

vacation.

A time to take a break from the busy academy life and meet the faces you miss when you get home.

Most students naturally welcomed the vacation, which naturally created an excited atmosphere at the academy.

At the academy, where the atmosphere was quite different from that festival, I… I was living a peaceful life in my own way.

“Phew. It’s finally all packed.”

Jack, who had been wrestling with his luggage for a while, sighed lightly and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

“… Why do you have so much baggage?”

Jack’s bag was too bulky for someone temporarily returning home. So much so that I thought it would at least be a standard ship.

“Gift.”

“That’s it?”

“I ended up like this when I picked up everything I could see. You know. There are a lot of things to buy here.”

Due to its location and characteristics, Perdion gathers various items from each country and region.

Since the power generation there is also excellent, they sell things that are not available in regular cities.

So, it was clear that it wouldn’t be that difficult to find a gift for those who would be waiting at home or in their hometown, even if they worked a little harder.

… Anyway, that seems like too much.

“Oh my. I’m already tired just thinking about all the nagging.”

After finishing packing up his things, Jack threw himself on the bed with a sigh.

They say it like that, but I can’t really see any signs of dislike on their faces.

Maybe, deep down, I don’t hate it that much.

Returning to my hometown and meeting my parents.

“What are you going to do when you go?”

“Well, what do you do? It just comes after resting for a while.”

The answer was as expected.

His enthusiastic and sincere appearance does not suit Jack at all.

If Jack looks like that, it’s probably one of two things.

Either he was acting, or he had turned around.

“What are you going to do?”

This time Jack asked me.

I thought about those words for a moment.

“Hmm… Well, I’m not much different from you.”

I thought about it, but it didn’t seem like there would be anything particularly busy.

Perhaps, it will be a close to normal vacation.

The reason why I said ‘close to normal’ instead of ‘normal’ was because there was already something bothering me at this point.

‘Alexis and Cedric will definitely follow.’

Alexis and Cedric, who have fallen in love with Mary, will follow her this vacation.

Because it was like that in the original.

Although there was already a major departure from the original story while saving Estelle, it would not have affected that part, so it is probably certain that the two will follow Mary.

Of course, I’m in a position where I have to go back with Mary, and since we actually live in the same place, I’ll be in a position where I’ll have to face those guys, even if I don’t like them.

But whatever, it’s okay.

To begin with, those two guys aren’t interested in me either, and although it’s frustrating, they’re not the type of guys that will cause any trouble.

I remember that there were definitely no major problems in the original version.

It’s not that there weren’t minor incidents, but it was probably at a level that could be said to be peaceful enough.

So, I don’t have to worry too much.

All I need to do is rest comfortably in my hometown, where I am returning after a long time.

… Well, it’s not like there’s nothing to do at all.

“Hmm… Is that so?”

“… What is that reaction?”

Jack, who would normally have passed over my words without much interest, showed a subtle reaction.

I couldn’t help but ask about that unexpected reaction.

“No. It’s something I’ve been thinking about lately.”

Jack looked at me blankly.

“You seem to be trying to avoid annoying things, but you often get caught up in them, and in that regard, it always feels like things don’t go as you expect, so this time too─”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

I glared at Jack with cold eyes.

Since ancient times, words have become seeds.

What is this guy talking about?

“… Why are you looking at me like that? It’s just a joke.”

Jack avoided my gaze with a stinging look, but I didn’t stop giving Jack that stinging look.

‘It’s not just vacation.’

Life at the academy, which I did not want, was more difficult and difficult than I expected.

Now I wanted to rest too.

And there is no better time than vacation to relax.

So, this incident should not happen this time.

never.

***

Time passed, and the academy finally reached the last day of the first semester.

Starting tomorrow, students will begin leaving the academy one by one.

However, not all students leave at once, and some leave after a few days for their own reasons or because they are waiting to be picked up.

However, it is true that many people will leave the academy tomorrow.

And in a few days, most of the students will leave the academy, and the academy will become quiet.

Of course, not all students returned home.

Some people do not return home due to their own circumstances, and others stay at the academy.

The academy doesn’t worry too much as long as you apply properly in advance.

Well, those people are still a minority.

‘Let’s finish packing.’

It will be the day after tomorrow when Mary and I leave the academy.

And Jack goes home tomorrow.

I was heading back to the dormitory, thinking that I should rest alone until then.

“Seeing you again, Mr. Wade.”

“… Hello.”

Someone recognized me and said hello.

It was none other than Rachel.

“Are you on your way back to the dormitory?”

“Yes.”

Rachel nodded lightly at my concise answer.

“What about Rachel?”

“I was just leaving too.”

Even today, with her striking rosy hair gently blowing in the wind, she smiled slightly.

It was an insignificant conversation, and the other person was a beautiful woman who could not help but laugh at the mere conversation with her, but I felt uncharacteristically nervous.

It’s because I’ve noticed that she’s been feeling a bit uncomfortable lately.

No, rather than feeling uncomfortable, it would be closer to feeling a little sharper.

And it wasn’t just limited to her.

Ira was like that too.

It’s been a while since they started like that.

Probably, it was after Estelle started participating in the club every time as an auditor.

Given that exquisite timing, it wasn’t that difficult to guess that the changes in Rachel and Aira had something to do with Estelle.

From the beginning, it felt like the two were not very welcoming of Estelle, so in a way, it was a natural trend.

Actually, it’s not that I don’t understand it.

From an outside perspective, Estelle might be the type of person who doesn’t have good things to say about her, and perhaps it’s natural to be reluctant.

I know it’s different in reality, but unless you have a proper conversation, you don’t really know.

‘It would be nice if we could become friends.’

Rachel and Ira have very flawless personalities, and although Estelle appears to be somewhat prickly, she is actually not a very sharp person.

So, I think that if we talk to each other with an open mind, we can become close enough.

If that happens, I will no longer feel suffocated in the club.

… Well, I just think about it and don’t say it directly.

Because human relationships are formed due to external intervention, so there is nothing good about them.

All I can do is just wait and hope that time will solve the problem.

“Did you say you would go back to your hometown during vacation?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“I see. I hope you have a fun and comfortable vacation.”

“Thank you.”

I nodded calmly at Rachel’s words.

Conversations are all about going back and forth.

Then I also asked Rachel.

“Rachel, what are you going to do?”

“Ah, I… I think I will stay at the academy.”

Although his tone was light, his expression was subtly dark.

“… … .”

I don’t know the details of her situation.

Judging from the description in the original work and what she said on the terrace the day we first met, I can only guess that there might be some kind of problem with the family.

Unlike the original work, it was left at the Academy, but that does not mean that the problem has been completely resolved.

Maybe the fact that I don’t go back to my family during vacation has something to do with it.

Judging by the expression and atmosphere, it didn’t seem like it was a serious situation right away, but that didn’t mean it didn’t bother me.

If things continue like this, she will end up spending a long time alone in an empty academy.

Is it because I imagined it on my own?

“If it’s okay, why don’t you go back to your hometown together?”

My mouth was spewing out words like that at will.

“… Yes?”

Rachel opened her eyes wide.

She is always calm and composed, a face rarely seen.

Was it such a surprising proposal?

Facing that face, I continued speaking.

“I thought it would be too boring to spend time alone at the academy.”

Anyway, no matter what I do, it is a given that Cedric and Alexis will follow.

Then, it would be okay if there were one more customer there.

Of course, the cases where Mary, the landlady, invites us are different from the cases where I invite her, but that’s something you just have to explain to Mary.

Mary, who has a warm heart, is sure to nod her head straight away, and her parents will gladly welcome the guest.

“That, that, that… It’s so sudden… Maybe not… ?”

It was a light-hearted suggestion for me, but I guess it was different from the perspective of accepting it.

Rachel showed a rare look of embarrassment and a not-so-positive reaction.

Maybe it’s because of my mood, but my cheeks seem red.

Why is she reacting so strongly?

I thought about the reason for a while.

“Ah.”

I soon found the answer.

‘That’s what it was.’

“You don’t have to worry too much. I have my childhood friend Mary and other companions. The place where Rachel stays will also be Mary’s mansion.”

It’s quite possible that Rachel would react that way.

It must have sounded like a man from outside the country was trying to lure you into going home with him.

“… Ah, I see.”

Rachel’s reaction was somewhat subtle.

No, it went beyond that and seemed downright disappointed.

… hmm. Maybe it’s my mood?

“… great. If it doesn’t bother you, I’d like to go with you.”

However, that state did not last long.

Rachel eventually accepted my offer with a determined look on her face.

In this way, the number of people in the group increased by one.

Even though this wasn’t planned, I didn’t think of it as a bad thing.

I was the one who suggested it in the first place, and if Rachel had just left me behind, I would have been worried the whole time.

Adding one more person will not make a big difference.

Since I’m the guest I personally invited, I’ll have to pay a certain amount of attention, but Rachel isn’t the picky type, so it’ll be okay.

As I organized my thoughts, I changed the direction of my steps.

I needed to tell Mary that I invited Rachel.

That way, I went to Mary’s dormitory and explained the situation, and as expected, Mary nodded without the slightest hesitation.

With that, the situation was resolved, and time passed again.

And finally, the day of leaving the academy came.

“Hmm. It’s a trip to another country. I feel quite excited.”

“Well, well, thank you… … .”

I realized something was wrong.