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[ Lexus ] “Hello, Miss Valentia.”
As always, the man sitting next to her was Lexus. She turned her head forward, giving a vague nod.
[ Lexus ] “Isn’t it about time she started saying hello back?”
That was when she noticed something strange. He was talking like he was speaking to himself.
He spoke casually to her freely and openly up until yesterday, so it was a little confusing why he was suddenly acting like this. Moreover, she’d never once heard him speak formally before now.
She wanted to ask him why he was doing this, but Valentia quickly shoved that useless interest aside and pretended not to notice.
[ Lexus ] “You won’t even answer me anymore?”
[ Valentia ] “Lexus.”
[ Lexus ] “Yes?”
She just called his name, but he smiled so brightly. Now she felt like she could understand why people suddenly became absentminded in his presence when he smiled. Obviously if someone smiled with such a handsome face, one would be rendered fascinated.
But Valentia said what she needed to right to his face.
[ Valentia ] “Shouldn’t you stop sneaking into my lectures now just to follow me?”
[ Lexus ] “What makes you think I’m sneaking in just for you?”
[ Valentia ] “Sorry? That’s…..”
Well, she thought that because he would always sit next to her and talk. So the natural progression of thought was to think she was his goal.
And right then, Valentia’s face turned beet red. She could even feel her cheeks burning up.
[ Valentia ] “I’m sorry for misunderstanding you. Please, study.”
Her expression was still cold and calm, but Valentia seemed entirely unaware of how her reddened cheeks seemed to please him.
Seeing them all red like that, Lexus was suddenly filled with this strange urge to poke her cheeks. It was such a strong urge that he almost did it, akin to a thirst in how intense it was.
But not only would it be horribly impolite to do that, she’d also get very angry with him, no doubt. So rather than deprive himself of the joy entirely, he decided to just point out how red they were.
[ Lexus ] “Your cheeks are red.”
[ Valentia ] “You don’t need to tell me that.”
Valentia turned her head and glared at him, but he had this cheeky expression on his face like he hadn’t done anything wrong.
Had Lexus known how badly Valentia wanted to slap him again, he would’ve gladly offered up his cheek. But luckily for his poor face, Valentia did not know that.
Even though he knew nothing good would come from saying this, his words reflexively popped out.
[ Lexus ] “Actually that was a lie. I came here because I wanted to talk to you, Valentia.”
[ Valentia ] “Lexus!”
[ Lexus ] “It feels nice that you answered.”
But even as Valentia was fuming, Lexus only ever answered in a very relaxed manner. It was honestly hard to tell if he was trying to act good-natured, or if he really had a naturally calm personality.
And with such an amiable personality, it was clear he was a person worthy of being loved by people now, even without that appearance of his—his face was just one of his many advantages.
[ Lexus ] “Do you want to have lunch with me today? I want to treat you this time.”
[ Valentia ] “I, that…..”
[ Lexus ] And once the lectures are done, we can take a walk with Goldie.”
[ Valentia ] “. . .”
[ Lexus ] “Then I’ll take that as a yes. Anyway, I’ve gotta go.”
Taking advantage of how Valentia was struck speechless by him, Lexus gave a firm response and stood up from his seat.
[ Valentia ] “You’re leaving?”
[ Lexus ] “I told you. I came here to talk to you, but I have my own lecture I need to attend. You’re done after this, right? I’ll pick you up once it’s over.”
She really hated this part of him that just said whatever he wanted, dropping bombs however he pleased, and then just leaving when he was done, but Valentia couldn’t say anything.
Eventually the professor entered the room, taking his usual position at the front. He took a look around the room, but once Lexus was gone, the students who followed him in had also made their escape.
[ Professor ] “Our most amicable student, Mister Lexus, appears to have left today, taking with him much of our classroom population.”
The professor joked out loud, and the remaining students in the lecture gave boisterous laughs. However, Valentia’s reddened cheeks did not fade for a very long time.
*
* * *
*
Just as he said he would, Lexus came once her lecture was over.
Things progressed so smoothly, she wasn’t quite sure how all this ended up happening. He was a man skilled at everything and this was no different. It was like she was possessed by something, quietly following along with his whims.
[ Lexus ] “I can escort you….”
[ Valentia ] “It’s fine.”
But she still had enough sense right now to shut down that kind of behavior real fast. As soon as Lexus reached for her, she cut him off, leaving him to casually pull his hand back.
He shrugged his shoulders, and walked alongside her. He had much longer legs than her, so he relaxed his step as he walked in line with her.
The cafe Lexus was leading her was a place different from the one yesterday.
[ Valentia ] “This isn’t the same place as before.”
[ Lexus ] “We’ve been there once, so we have to go somewhere else. There are so many places available. Unless you liked the one from yesterday? Should we go there again?”
[ Valentia ] “It doesn’t matter to me.”
The food there was delicious, but not delicious enough to insist.
[ Valentia ] “Here is fine, too.”
She pushed the menu back to him, and Lexus asked her a few questions about her preferences and ordered for her, just like before. And just as he said, it was very delicious.
The taste of the food from the last place was also good, but this place was good not only in taste, but its atmosphere was impeccable, as was the overall appearance of the food.
[ Lexus ] “Goldie will be back in a bit. It’s a bit hard to bring animals into a restaurant.”
[ Valentia ] “Yes.”
[ Lexus ] “Eat up, and we’ll take a walk together.”
[ Valentia ] “…..Yes.”
[ Lexus ] “Goldie must really like you. Whenever he sees you, I keep thinking his tail might fall off. Hugo takes him out for walks sometimes, but he must feel good being able to take a walk with his owner.”
[ Valentia ] “I see.”
Valentia pretended to be uninterested, but she was listening very carefully to Lexus’ every word.
He used the word ‘temporary’ to describe his protection over Goldie, but in the end, he was still Goldie’s guardian. She thought it was very fortunate that he would be able to live a comfortable and happy life.
He had no reason to bring Goldie all this way just for them to take a walk with him. But even though it must have been a big pain to do it, he did not seem to mind the trouble.
And Valentia didn’t dislike this time. That’s why a part of her thought she was being selfish for not being able to refuse when she really should have.
After they finished their meal and left the Academy, Goldie was waiting for them. No, waiting might not be a very good way of putting it.
As soon as he saw Valentia, Goldie started bounding towards her. The man who was holding onto Goldie’s leash was being dragged along by him before handing the leash over to Lexus, who then handed it to Valentia.
Then, they started taking their walk with Goldie. As they walked along the streets of the capital, she caught sight of something. A child, only around six or seven years old, walking alone in an alleyway with tears streaming down his face.
[ Child ] “Sniff, m, mom…”
The child cried out, calling out for his mother, but the people passing by paid him no mind. Occasionally, someone would spare him a glance, but they all ended up passing through without doing anything to help the child.
Perhaps it was because of his shabby appearance. He was clearly a poor child, and so there was no benefit to helping him.
With Goldie at her side, Valentia approached the boy, and Goldie did not hesitate to wag his tail happily in front of him. Though he was a dog and not a human, he was still a child too, but he acted like he was trying to comfort the kid.
[ Valentia ] “Why are you crying?”
[ Child ] “Ah, I lost my mom.”
[ Valentia ] “Don’t cry. See? This little dog doesn’t want to see you cry, either.”
The child looked at Valentia and Goldie, his eyes full of tears. With a hesitant hand, he reached out to Goldie, before stopping in midair. He glanced at Valentia. It seemed like he was unsure if he could touch this dog because he was so well-taken care of.
[ Valentia ] “It’s alright. You can touch him.”
Hearing her permission, he gently stroked Goldie’s head, when Goldie suddenly turned his head up and started licking the boy’s hand. It seemed ticklish, since the boy burst into a fit of laughter.
[ Child ] “He’s so cute. What is his name?”
[ Valentia ] “Goldie.”
[ Child ] “Goldie…”
When the child called out his name, Goldie shook his tail even stronger as he kept licking the child’s hand.
[ Valentia ] “If you keep crying, your mom will be sad to know how many tears you’ve shed. So let’s be brave, alright?”
[ Child ] “Yes, sister.”
The boy nodded, wiping away his tears with his sleeve.
From behind, Valentia could feel Lexus approaching, and once he was within his sights, the child’s eyes widened at the sudden appearance of such a brilliant looking man.
But he was also a large man, and the boy was clearly nervous, almost like he was afraid.
[ Valentia ] “Don’t do that. You’re scaring him. Say something.”
[ Lexus ] “Uh……Do you like candy? You want any?”
Is this his idea of soothing?
She was starting to get the feeling that he’d not been around many children before. It was already awkward seeing him try and interact with the boy, but he seemed especially awkward with how he was fumbling with his words.
He was so skilled at everything, but now he was acting all clumsy. It was enough to make Valentia want to laugh at him.
Immediately, there was a sense of caution in the boy’s eyes. It was clear he’d been warned by his mother to be wary of people who made offers like that.
[ Valentia ] “Oh, don’t say that. It makes you look like a very suspicious character.”
[ Lexus ] “What? What are you talking about?”
[ Valentia ] “What’s so confusing? You sound like you’re trying to lure him somewhere. Don’t worry, he’s not a bad person. I know him.”
[ Child ] “You know him, sister?”
[ Valentia ] “Yes. Let’s go and look for your mom. Big sister, brother, and the puppy will all accompany you, okay?”
Valentia held Goldie’s leash in one hand and the child’s hand in the other while Lexus followed from behind.
[ Valentia ] “Do you remember where you lost your mom?”
[ Child ] “…….In front of the candy store.”
[ Valentia ] “Ah, so you were separated from your mother because you were distracted by the candy?”
[ Child ] “I’m sorry.”
She wasn’t sure if the boy’s mother would be wandering the streets looking for her son or if she’d be waiting at the police station for news. But for lack of any better options, heading straight for the station seemed like the better choice in comparison to aimless wandering.
[ Valentia ] “Do you have time, Lexus?”
[ Lexus ] “Huh? Ah, yeah.”
When she suddenly called out to him, Lexus answered reflexively.
[ Valentia ] “I will go to the police station, so please go into the candy store and buy something. I will give you money.”
[ Lexus ] “Why would I…….No, I’ll go. I have money.”
Met with Valentia’s unconscious frown, Lexus sighed and nodded in defeat.