[Ding-ding~ Good morning~ Ding-ding~ Pa-pa-pa pa-pa pa-]
I buried my face in the pillow and stretched my arm to turn off the alarm.
No matter when I hear it, it's music that's specialized in making people angry.
Every time I hear it, I feel stressed, so I've thought about changing it many times, but I'm afraid that if I change even that, I might forget the world I originally lived in, so I've been forcing myself to leave it as it is.
...I don't want to go to school.
I felt like I just wanted to stay in bed, not think about anything, and space out.
But I had to go to school.
Ignoring the bed, which was desperately telling me not to leave, I forced myself to get up.
I have to buy macarons for Sylvia.
*
“Hey, if you're feeling tired, you can just sit down.”
While holding a broom and spacing out for a moment, the class president hesitantly said to me.
“Did you stay up late? You look tired.”
“...It's nothing. I just had a bit of trouble sleeping.”
I went to bed early last night, but I didn't actually fall asleep until the early morning.
To be honest, I feel more like my head is fuzzy rather than tired.
Did I hit my head too hard...?
When I slightly frowned because the spot where I hit my head still felt a bit tingly, the class president, who was looking at me with a sympathetic gaze, took something out of her pocket and offered it to me.
It was chocolate.
“Eat it if you're feeling tired. Sweet things are the best when you're like that.”
...It felt strange to be in a position where I was receiving something after always giving.
Maybe because I wasn't used to it, my hand trembled as I took the chocolate.
“...Yeah, I'll eat it later.”
“If you need help, let me know.”
I didn't answer her words and just gave her a slight smile.
Sorry, I don't think I can tell you, class president.
I quietly put the chocolate in my pocket.
*
Sylvia, although she has shown me various expressions recently, is originally a child skilled at hiding her emotions.
Perhaps because she was raised with the family's teaching that she must always maintain composure, it's really hard to tell what she's thinking unless it's something extraordinary, but there was one exception.
Sometimes, when I look at Sylvia, her ears perk up slightly on both sides.
It's only noticeable if you look closely, but since I always observe Sylvia carefully, I can notice it.
That's the signal that she's thinking about wanting to eat macarons.
Thanks to the efforts I've made at school over the past few days, I can now feel Sylvia's gaze unconsciously turning towards me when she wants to eat macarons.
I felt happy, thinking that the progress of my plan to corrupt Sylvia as a friend was advancing, even if just a little.
I suppressed the urge for flames to burst out of my body.
I thought that if I kept looking at Sylvia, I might burn my clothes again.
Then I'd become that debtor!
I quickly ran out of the classroom.
To calm my mind, I headed to the school rooftop to catch some wind.
Speaking of which, there's a perception that the rooftop is a place you shouldn't easily go to.
Maybe it's because in manga and novels, it's a place where the protagonist skips class to take a nap or has a secret rendezvous with a girl they like, a place only for the cool kids.
While thinking about this, I opened the rooftop door and found someone already there.
As soon as I saw the person, I tried to close the door and leave, but it was already too late.
“You can come up, I don't mind.”
There was a sense of authority in her voice that made me feel I couldn't refuse.
Unable to resist her words, I gently opened the door and stepped onto the rooftop.
“Looks like you're a freshman. I don't like formalities, so just be comfortable, okay?”
The person who said this had an appearance that made it impossible to be comfortable around her.
A skirt shortened to the brink of decency.
A school uniform top tied at the top to expose her navel.
Because of this, her chest was emphasized, and her legs, which were fully exposed, exuded a femininity that made anyone who saw her gasp.
Her brown skin, which seemed to have been tanned, was shining in the sunlight.
Her hair, which was tied in a ponytail, was blonde, whether dyed or natural, and she didn't look like a model student at all.
She was different from the simple thugs who just dressed up to look decent.
She had an aura that made her stand out, as if she had always been that way.
The natural charisma that radiated from her body told me that she was at the top of the school caste system.
I trembled and imagined.
Her sitting at the back of the classroom by the window, not caring about the class, resting her chin on her hand, and just looking outside.
When the third-rate thugs were loudly bullying other students, she would lie on her desk and say, “Be quiet,” making them behave!
Even though it probably wouldn't be like that in reality!
Eek! My body is trembling!
My inner commoner screamed, but I stood a little away from her, holding the railing without showing it.
I could feel her staring at me intently.
Please don't...
“Since I'm bored, let's chat for a bit. Come over here.”
I obediently stood next to her.
In the school caste system, you can't refuse an order from someone of a higher rank...
“Let's introduce ourselves. I'm Leonoir from 2-B. What about you?”
“I'm Scarlett Evandé... from 1-A.”
Actually, I already knew who she was.
Leonoir Lionel, the secondary heroine in the original work.
Despite her appearance, she's a kind person.
I know that, but the intimidation from her appearance is too strong...
“You're in Mr. Eve's class. It must be tough. That teacher is very strict, despite his appearance.”
I nodded.
Eve cares about his students, but his classes are quite tough.
Especially since he's our homeroom teacher, he probably pays even more attention to our class.
It would be helpful in real life, but it's still tough.
When I closed my eyes and shook my head to avoid thinking about yesterday's training, Leonoir laughed.
She took out something from her pocket and put it in her mouth, looking quite confident.
I was a bit surprised.
Or maybe not?
Maybe it would be strange if she didn't?
When I looked at her with wide eyes, she seemed to notice and stared at what she was holding for a moment before taking it out of her mouth and shaking it.
“Just so you know, this isn't a cigarette. It's a magic herb, which is good for the body. It has a calming effect too. Just don't smoke too much.”
While saying this, she took out a lighter from her pocket with her free hand.
She tried to light the magic herb with it, but it only made a clicking sound, probably because the gas had run out.
She clicked her tongue and put the lighter back in her pocket.
I let a little of the suppressed flames flow to my hand and lit the magic herb for her.
Wow, human lighter!
“Oh, thanks. You're a fire user, huh?”
She looked at me with slightly surprised eyes, put the magic herb in her mouth, and inhaled deeply, then exhaled the smoke at me.
What a way to repay a favor!
I was startled and closed my eyes, but I felt a completely different aroma from what I expected.
Not like a cigarette at all, more like a refreshing herb scent?
I blinked and stared at Leonoir with a dazed look, and she burst out laughing.
“Hahaha, how is it? The smell is good, right? It's quite expensive, you know.”
I became interested when she said it was expensive.
What does it taste like?
When I stared at her, Leonoir offered me the magic herb she was smoking.
“Want to try it?”
I nodded and took the magic herb she offered.
The magic herb that Leonoir had just been smoking.
...Is this indirect kissing?
I felt a bit embarrassed thinking about it but didn't show it as I put it in my mouth.
But how do you smoke this?
I've never smoked anything like a cigarette before.
Not knowing what to do, I just inhaled hard.
“Hey! If you're a first-timer, don't inhale it all at once!”
“...Huuuuh?”
My head felt light and floaty.
What's happening?
“Senior... Senior, you're becoming two...”
“Oh dear... I'll take you to the infirmary, just stay still.”
It seemed that becoming two made her twice as strong, as she picked me up like a princess.
Senior, you're so strong.
It feels like flying.
“Senior... Higher, higher...”
“Sigh... I'm sorry.”
Despite sighing, she lifted and lowered me.
My body moved up and down.
Wow, so fun!
Heehee! Heeheehee!
While struggling, I found myself lying on something soft.
A bed, it's a bed.
So soft.
I rested my head on the pillow and crawled under the blanket.
I curled up like a caterpillar.
Warm...
It's warm, so I'm sleepy...
“Just now, when I heard your name, I remembered. You're the one who delivers bread to that Astra lady, right?”
“Mmm, I'm not doing that. It's for a friend.”
“I could tell her to stop if you don't like it. What do you think?”
“I don't want to... I do it because I like it... If I don't, I won't have any friends...”
“...Is that so?”
I heard someone running past the door...
I don't know, I'm sleepy... I need to sleep...
Author's Note
Aww, Scarlett is such a dear. I love her.
Describing her being high in the first person... It's not easy.
Fan art by Yanggangking has been added to the fan art board. It's really beautiful, so please take a look!