When I entered the classroom, Camilleās figure couldnāt be seen just like he said yesterday.
I spontaneously met eyes with Rafael, and when I only returned a smile at him, he was disappointed. Although we went out together, I still didnāt have the courage to talk to him.
I face the desk so as to escape Raphaelās line of sight, I arrange the writing utensils.
When I took out the pen Rafael gave me, Welmina sharply noticed it.
[Wow, you have a really nice pen. Did you buy it yesterday?]
[Yup. To be precise, it was given to me as a gift.]
[Ohoh~ itās His Highness, right?]
Please stop peeking at me from the neighboring seat with a snicker on your face.
But I think itās such a beautiful pen Ā the more I look at it.
On the black shiny surface, gold is finely decorated in the borderline.
It seems to be heavy at first sight, āItāll be lighterā according to the shopkeeper, but itās lighter than I expected, I move my hand up and down unconsciously to ascertain the weight.
[It even has your initials included on it?]
[Good job noticing it. Itās so I donāt return itā¦ huh?]
I clearly thought itās my initials that were written in it, but it was Rafaelās.
[Are you supposed to put your initials to gifts youāre about to give?] (SHERYL)
[I think itās supposed to be the other personās initials, thoughā¦ā¦ Isnāt that His Highnessā? Was it perhaps mistakenly wrapped?] (Welmina)
[Eehh!?]
Since he bought two at the same time, I canāt really tell.
What to do, is it better to confirm it with him? But I feel like itās rude to point out that he made a mistakeā¦.
[Is it bad to keep quiet even though I noticed itā¦?]
[Letās see, it will be His Highnessā mistake in Ā this case, so I think itās better to be quiet about it. Doesnāt His Highness have the same one?]
[Yeah, because he bought it together with this one.]
[Then hold your tongue until His Highness notices?]
[Yeahā¦.]
On the other hand, it will be easier to say it if the one I got from was either Welmina or Big Brother.
If only weāre of the same statusā¦. Thinking up to there, I remember something strange.
Now then, will that storeās social status, will the store owner make such a mistake? Even if the purchase is more than one, thereāre only two of them. And he wouldāve confirmed it before handing it over to Rafael, right?
Was it perhaps on purpose? But why?
Being unable to understand, I casually look at Rafael.
When I did, Rafael seemed to be watching me also so our eyes once again met. This time, itās Rafael who smiles at me.
As I listen to the sneaky voice that came out from somewhere in the classroom, I had a bad feeling about his smile.
On purpose? Did he do it on purpose?
According to our conversation so far, Rafael doesnāt like it when I humble myself in front of him.
[Ifā¦ we were of the same status, Iād be able to confirm it, huh.]
[Sheryl-kun?]
[Haa~ā¦ Iāll go over for a bit.]
I cleared up my mind and stood up, bringing the pen with me.
Because it might be a hindrance to move inside the classroom in a wheelchair, Iām leaving it behind.
[Will you be okay?]
[Itās fine, look after it, Welmina.]
If the distance is only from the front of the classroom to the back, there should be no problem.
However, as I was holding on the desk to steady myself, Rafael came to me.
[Sheryl.]
[I can walk, okay?]
[I know that, but I see you wobbling.]
As he spoke, he held my hand and his other hand wrapped around my waist just like the time at the courtyard.
Just what was he talking about to not stand out in the classroom?
While complaining inside, I sit on the seat next to Rafael where Camille was using.
After sitting on the chair, Rafael quickly lets go of me and his body heat left me. It looks like heās still being careful.
[Donāt you have something you want to talk about?]
[Yeah, uhmā¦. itās about the pen you gave me.]
[So you noticed?]
[So it really was intentional?]
As if answering my question, Rafael smilingly stroked my head.
[I just thought that youāll immediately come talk to me if I did that.]
[What if I didnāt notice? Or if I pretended that I didnāt notice?]
[At that timeā¦. I wonder?]
The way youāre grinning is really scary, though.
[I have the pen with Sherylās initial, but can we leave it as it is?]
[Ehā¦.]
[You will remember that I was the one who gave you that pen, and I will also remember that I gave you a gift, right?]
Rafael kept insisting that itās such a good idea, but itās hard to forget accepting such an expensive gift in the first place.
Moreover, who would say they forgot that they received a present from the countryās Prince?
[Besides, when I think that this is originally your pen, it makes me take even good care of it.]Ā (TN: The prince making passes every chance he gets. Heh.)
Rafael took out the pen so I can see it, then gently stroked it.
Itās just thatā¦ā¦How should I say this, seeing him stroking it so gently makes me embarrassed as I stand from my seat.
[What wrong? Your face is red.]
[Nothing. Iām going back to my seat.]
[Iāll escort you back.]
[Itās fine!]
When I unconsciously refused with a strong tone, *SHIN*ā¦. the surrounding has turned quiet.
Aaah~ Just what am I doing?
[Iām sorry! That, if itās just that far then I can walk. Itās not enough to bother Rafael-sama with itā¦.!]
Iām sorry. I muttered again then returned to my seat quickly.
I hope he forgives me for being unable to call him by just his name in public..
Was I being rude for abruptly standing up from the chair? Or was I rude from the start? My head is spinning thinking about what the noblesā reactions are that Iām currently *stuffed by it. (TN: * ā like from eating kind Ā of āstuffedā.)
What is so embarrassing in the first place?
When I recall the presence of the pen in my hand, even I can tell that my face is heating up.
After sitting on the wheelchair that Welmina pulled over, I prostrated on the desk.
Welmina gently rubs my back.
[As I expected, you have matching pens with His Highness!]
[What were you expecting? What for?]Ā (TN: FOR THE YAOI!!!)
Iām begging you, please stop pursuing that matter already.
**********
Because itās time to switch classrooms, I headed towards the stairs with Welmina.
To go to the classroom on the second floor, I need to get off the wheelchair.
[Thank you for always carrying it.]
[Itās fine, itās fine, itās light thanks to the wind resistance magic stone, anyway.]
Iām only full of thanks to the high-performance wheelchair that Bellom-sensei gave me.
As Welmina watched over me trying to climb the stairs, a shadow approaches me.
[Hold on tight.]
[What?
I scream in my heart when I feel myself being carried.
Doing it so suddenly is bad for my heart, you know!? I still firmly put my arms around him, though.
[Serge! What are you doing!?[
[Yeah? Well, this way is faster, besides, wouldnāt it be easier for Sheryl as well?]
During the time weāre climbing up, wonāt we get in everybodyās way? Iām having that kind of feeling, though.
Rafael is stunned by Sergeās sudden action.
[Thatās not the problem!]
[Youāve carried him before, even Jule-senpai has done it.]
[Thatās because theyāre brothersā¦ wait, when was this ābeforeā youāre talking about?]
Did I not mention it? Or so Serge said while playing dumb, I would rather they move faster if theyāre going to climb up, though. That, or can he put me down?
Iām already done being carried by my brother a lot of times, I donāt want to use my friends as transportation, too.
[Serge, itās fine to let me down, you know?] (Sheryl)
[ā¦..So youāre completely casual with Serge, huh.] (Rafael)
[Now, now. Werenāt you getting along and out together with him, Rafael-sama? Isnāt it unavoidable where peopleās eyes are present?] (Serge)
[Is it fine to call you without honorifics?] (Rafael)
[I donāt think Iām on the same as Rafael, you know?]
Serge laughed cheerfully and began to climb the stairs.
[I will carry him next.]
[Wonāt Rafael-sama find him heavy? It will be bad for the both of you if you lose your balance.]
Although I understand that Serge is just worried, Rafael glared at him.
But he seems to have realized that itās impossible for two people to carry me, he let out a sigh.