Chapter 16

16. Please Be My Friend (2)

But it's impossible to give up without even trying.

I headed towards Raimon.

"Hehe, Raimon-kun. Is your injury feeling any better?"

"Ah... Yes. I, it's much better now."

"That's a relief."

I shuffled my feet.

The conversation didn't flow easily.

He seemed to want to talk to me, but he kept opening and closing his mouth without saying anything.

He really is shy.

I decided to get straight to the point.

Even if I get rejected, if I keep trying, maybe he'll eventually become my friend.

"Hehe, Raimon-kun. Would you like to be my friend?"

"Y-Yes... Yes? Y-You want to be friends... with me?"

Huh? I just asked, and he agreed right away?

Moreover, this is a condition that requires him to genuinely think of me as a friend to clear.

Raimon has accepted me as a real friend.

The system has made that judgment, so it's certain.

Turns out he's a pretty good guy, doesn't he?

From now on, you're not just Raimon, but our Raimon!

"Hehe, maybe I was the one with the prejudice."

"Me? I don't have any prejudices. A-Although it's true that Zero-kun's face is a bit strange...!"

"...?"

"Cheer up! You can still live a good life with that face!"

"..."

"Fight!!"

Raimon, clenching his fists with both hands, cheered me on sincerely.

Seeing that, my eyes couldn't help but twinkle.

Forget what I said before.

This.

You, Raimon.

* * *

Lunchtime had arrived.

After a light review of what I learned today, I headed to the cafeteria for a slightly late lunch.

By now, most students would have left, so there should be plenty of seats.

'I don't need to rush. There are no classes this afternoon anyway.'

The class schedule at Andwood Academy was different from typical middle and high schools.

In the morning, all the top students gather for classes, but in the afternoon, they choose what they want to study.

It was a system that pursued such autonomy.

Almost like a university system, you could say.

'Well, it was a necessary choice for the game's progression.'

The protagonists are already busy saving the world.

If both morning and afternoon were packed with classes, there wouldn't be time for growth or even opportunities to encounter the forces of evil.

So, I didn't sign up for any afternoon classes.

Except for the morning and the occasional afternoon class for the top students, my schedule was as relaxed as a fourth-year university student's.

'Today, it's an omelet. Excellent.'

The golden egg perfectly enveloping the fried rice.

The homemade demi-glace sauce.

I couldn't help but marvel at the omelet's perfect appearance.

Just as I was about to take a bite with my spoon, someone sat down in front of me.

The person, who had chosen the same omelet as me, turned out to be...

None other than Luna.

"Wasn't today's class fun? To think a class could be fun... Is Andwood Academy really that different?"

"..."

"Show me your schedule. Let's compare. I'm not trying to match classes, but maybe there are some I wanted to take."

Luna chattered away, pulling out her schedule.

She sure can talk, even without a response.

"Luna."

"Yes?"

Luna, with her innocent face, looked at me.

I dug deep into the center of the omelet with my spoon.

If this were a living being, this area would probably be the heart.

"Hehe, haven't you made any friends yet?"

"Wh-What!?"

Luna jumped up as if I had stabbed her heart.

From her reaction, it was clear that Luna hadn't made a single friend today.

'Tsk, tsk. Is there anyone who can accept her prickly personality?'

Luna, who seems to have a soft heart and a tsundere personality.

But the others are just fifteen-year-olds.

No one would become friends with Luna, who has been grumpy since the first meeting.

"You! You don't have any friends either!"

"Hehe, I've been friends with Raimon-kun for a long time. We even became best friends in just one day."

"B-Best friends...? That's just your imagination!"

"Well, it could be. But Luna, you don't have any friends, do you? Hehe, in that case, I'm better off."

Luna trembled.

One friend is still a friend. There was no way to refute my statement.

'If only you had said yes when I asked to be friends this morning.'

Especially since she even pretended to sleep while waiting for me to start reviewing before lunch.

'When I headed to the cafeteria, she followed me stealthily.'

If she showed this cute side externally, making friends would be easy.

"Our family values friendship so much that we'd give everything to a friend! I-I'm just testing the waters!"

"Hmm, I see."

"I can become friends with everyone as easily as eating cold porridge!"

"Is that so?"

"No! I really can!"

"Yes, you keep saying that. I understand, so just keep eating. Luna, you'll have a lot of friends."

"Hey! I really will!!"

Luna's eyes welled up.

It's going according to plan. After the scolding, it's time for the carrot.

'Actually, I wanted to be friends with you before Raimon. If I gently persuade you... '

Huh, hah! This time, I'll be your friend! Consider it an honor!

If I say the same thing, will you become my friend?

In this urgent situation, you'll have no choice but to accept me as a friend deep down.

Just as I was about to execute my final plan,

Beep! Beep!

"Improper interaction between genders is a penalty point!"

Someone blew a whistle fiercely and approached.

The prefect badge on her left arm.

Her ponytail, perfectly neat, and her well-pressed uniform.

Vice President Rodelin was as perfect as ever.

"Zero-kun, it's a pleasure to see you here."

"Hehe, it's a pleasure to see you too."

"As a welcome to your enrollment, I'll give you 1 point and 1 penalty point."

Rodelin smiled.

1-1=0. A miraculous balance of points.

Well, for the harassment, this is a cheap price.

"Hehe, can't you just remove the penalty point? After all, I'm a junior."

"I hope you're grateful that I didn't give you additional penalty points. Improper interaction between genders is a sufficient reason for penalty points."

"B-But it's not improper! I'm not like that with him!"

Luna interjected, flaring up.

Hmm, something doesn't feel right?

"Hmm, weren't you a couple? I apologize. I mistook you because you seemed so close. I'll correct it to best friends."

"W-Who would be friends with this guy!!"

Bang!

Luna's punch sent the food on the tray flying.

After roughly cleaning up, Luna left the cafeteria, muttering to herself.

Damn, I didn't expect Rodelin to interfere.

Rodelin tilted her head, seeing this.

Just saying we were best friends, and she got so angry.

It must be a confusing situation for Rodelin.

"Hmm... Did I make a mistake?"

"Hehe, no. She's just a bit peculiar. Don't worry about it."

"But..."

Rodelin looked at where Luna had disappeared, ready to follow and clear up the misunderstanding.

But it would be problematic if they became friends.

She's mine... no, my party member.

'Clean.'

Holding a handkerchief, I used the [Clean] skill, and my body started moving automatically.

I wiped up the scattered food and gathered it on one side of the tray.

I dampened the handkerchief, wiped the table, and then flipped it to dry the table.

All these actions were done in one smooth motion.

'This is convenient.'

With the appropriate tool and the skill activated, my body moves automatically.

I experimented and found that it was possible even with bare hands, but it took more time and the results were not as good.

Anyway, the quickly cleaned table was enough to catch Rodelin's attention.

It even shone, reflecting our faces.

"Remarkable. Zero-kun, would you take charge of cleaning the cafeteria for a year? I'll give you 1 point."

"Hehe, just 1 point? That's quite stingy."

"If you do well, I might promote you to the head of the cleaning department. Utilizing individual talents to serve the academy. That's what a true student should do!"

Rodelin's eyes were on fire.

No, thank you. I already have a headache from forming my party.

Just then,

"Devil! Devil!"

"Ah!"

"What is it!"

The students in the cafeteria shrank back.

A parrot, the size of an adult's palm, had invaded the cafeteria.

What was unusual was that about half of its body was black, and even one of its eyes was black.

The parrot circled the ceiling, spouting strange words.

"Devil! Danger! Devil! Protect!"

"W-What is it saying?"

"Freshmen, ignore it and eat. You'll see it often."

"Hehe, greet and eat. We're seniors, after all."

Looking closely, only the freshmen had shrunk back.

The upperclassmen were eating as if nothing was wrong.

This must be a familiar situation for them.

"Zero-kun, aren't you surprised? This is the first time you've seen it."

"Hehe, actually, I was quite surprised. It's the first time I've seen a parrot praising the devil."

"Praising the devil... Now that you mention it, that's one way to see it."

Rodelin continued her explanation.

"It's a famous and sacred creature of our academy."

It has been in the academy since before she arrived, even before the seniors, and even before that.

"It has been here for at least 20 years, according to the seniors."

"Wow, that's amazing. It could fly away, you know."

"That's true. Moreover, the average lifespan of this species is 15 years. The fact that it's still alive makes it a sacred creature. Isn't it fascinating?"

A sacred creature?

Actually, I could tell from a distance that the parrot wasn't in good condition.

Rough breathing, a slightly broken beak, missing feathers, and one eye bulging out.

These were signs that its life was fading.

"There must be a reason. A reason to keep living."

Rodelin stared at me intently.

Why is she looking at me like that? It's making my heart race.

"...It's fascinating. I thought the same. Discovering the reason before graduation and freeing the sacred creature is one of my goals."

Actually, I know.

I know why the parrot is crying out, why it's struggling to stay alive, and what it wants.

I know it all.

'But I can't tell her.'

Actually, the parrot is a hidden piece.

A hidden piece that leads to one of the top three cheat skills in "Hero of the Academy."

'Should I call it a guide-bird?'

Anyway, it's a pitiful creature, but I can't do anything about it now.

It's a hidden piece that requires a high level of stats.

A hidden piece that can only be obtained after Episode 3.

So, for now, I have to be content with just keeping it in mind.

"The freshmen often harass it, saying it's noisy. It manages to avoid them, but if it gets into trouble, try to help it."

"Hehe, I understand."

"Thank you. I'll be going now. I have to patrol."

Huh? Wait, you're just leaving?

You chased away my prey... no, my friend?

That won't do. You have to be my friend.

"Hehe, I had something I wanted to consult... What a pity."

"Hmm? What is it? Listening to a junior's troubles is also a senior's duty. Go ahead and tell me."

"This isn't a place to talk... Follow me for a moment."

"Hmm! It sounds like an important consultation requiring secrecy. I'm an expert at that."

After returning the tray, we left the cafeteria.

I led Rodelin to a secluded spot.

The innocent Rodelin followed without realizing.

'This should do it.'

Behind the cafeteria. A secluded and shaded spot.

A perfect place for a consultation.

(?)