Chapter 52

〈 Chapter 52 〉 A Chance Encounter (4)

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#7

After eating dinner, I returned to the dormitory and packed my things.

My "things" were just a notebook and some writing utensils. I was only receiving tutoring from a classmate to catch up on the day's missed lessons, so there was no need for elaborate preparation.

I had only recently showered, so the ends of my hair were still slightly damp.

I don't think I have a noticeable body odor, but just in case, I took a quick shower.

I wonder if I'm overthinking this.

Still, we'll be in the same space, and I think it's a minimum courtesy to the other person.

Most importantly, who knows if the high-born lady is sensitive to smells. I just want to avoid any unnecessary trouble, so I made thorough preparations.

Stella said she would be in her dorm room when the agreed time came.

So.

I had to go into the girls' dormitory and find Stella's room on my own.

...But is this really right?

Is this okay, me?

I heard that several male seniors visit Building 2 every day, so they probably won't have any strong suspicions about my presence.

However, the one thing that bothers me is that I'm a new student who has only been here for a short time.

Moreover, I've unintentionally become a celebrity. Elio Crani seems to have already become a topic of conversation within the Epic Class.

A male freshman entering the girls' dormitory in the first week of school... If you think about it, it does look a bit suspicious. I realized just how bold a choice Stella had offered.

Of course, I asked several times if it was really okay, but in the end, it was finalized. There was no way to cancel it now.

Don't be scared. In situations like this, you need to be even more confident. If you go in looking tense, it will only raise unnecessary suspicions.

I changed into comfortable clothes and slung my bag over my shoulder. I put the key in my pocket and pushed the door open.

I headed towards the lobby.

There, I met someone.

"Hey, Elio."

It was Gabriel, sitting on the sofa with a towel around his neck, drinking a beverage.

He asked, seeing me about to head out.

"Where are you going? You've packed your bag."

"..."

I pondered how to respond.

If I tell the truth, Gabriel, with his personality, will definitely not leave me alone. For various reasons.

...Let's just gloss over it here.

"To study."

It was the truth.

"...Huh? Study? Not exercise? You've been out for three days. Aren't you worried about muscle loss?"

"Not really. I'll do it after I finish studying."

As Gabriel said, I experienced significant muscle loss during the three days I was unconscious.

Even just two days without using my muscles can be a big deal, and I had been lying in bed for three days, receiving only minimal nutrition.

The routine I had maintained without a single break now had a gap, and a sense of deep frustration washed over me. Still, what can I do? I just have to work hard from now on...

For that reason, while exercise is important, my appointment with Stella came first.

"That's unusual... Where are you going to study?"

"...Why are you so curious?"

"It's just a question. If you're studying notes, you could do it in your room. I thought you were going to the library or something since you're going out at this hour."

"Normally, I can't concentrate in my room. Some people need to go outside to focus and study more efficiently."

"Is that so? I wouldn't know. I've built a wall with books for life."

Gabriel shrugged.

"Anyway, study hard. Work hard and help me with my assignments later. I can't understand what the professors are saying at all."

"Get lost, man. You chose the Epic Class. Tough it out."

"...It's true, but it feels weird. Instead of that, help me a bit, you bastard. What's the point of being friends?"

"I need to teach you how to fish, not just give you fish. You can't keep relying on others for your studies. Besides, it looks like you just want to copy, and if you get caught, I'll get a zero too. I have to live, Gabriel."

"......Damn, that's too much. You're so selfish."

Seeing Gabriel's sour expression, I chuckled and was about to head out of the dormitory again.

"Ah, right. Elio, wait."

"Huh?"

Gabriel stopped me.

"Just now, someone was looking for you."

"......Me? Who?"

Who could be looking for me?

Stella?

Gabriel, with his indifferent face, said:

"You know, your classmate. The one with pink hair. The cute, soft-looking girl."

"......Rubya?"

Gabriel snapped his fingers.

"Yeah, her. She asked me where Elio was before dinner. When I said I didn't know, she said 'I see' and left. I thought she might have something to pass on, but it doesn't seem like it."

"......"

I stopped at the door and thought for a moment.

Why was Rubya looking for me?

Only she would know.

I recalled the incident during the magic class today, but I don't think it's related. Her behavior was a bit strange, but it probably wasn't related. She must have something to say to me.

Just then, Gabriel asked:

"By the way, if she asks again, what should I tell her? You said you were going to study, right? At the library?"

"......"

I didn't specify exactly where.

As I took a step forward, the dormitory door, sensing my movement, slid open.

"Just say you don't know, like before."

"......Huh?"

With my back turned, I couldn't see Gabriel's expression, but I imagined he had a bewildered look.

—Whoosh.

I quickly walked out through the open door.

"Phew."

The cool night air pierced deep into my lungs, and I could see the girls' dormitory, Building 2, in the distance.

I didn't tell Gabriel about going to Stella's room to avoid unnecessary curiosity. It had nothing to do with Rubya.

...I don't know how Gabriel will take my response, but he has always seemed to suspect the relationship between me, Rubya, and Miu. This will probably deepen his suspicions.

It's fine.

It doesn't matter.

...Because we really have no relationship at all.

#8

The Epic Class dormitory has no curfew.

This is partly to create a free and unoppressive environment, but more importantly, it's to make students, who are almost adults, take responsibility for their own actions.

Most dormitories within the Frontier, not just the Epic Class, follow this approach.

Thus, the dormitory rules are quite relaxed, and the Epic Class even encourages healthy relationships among students, making it natural for Epic Class students to see members of the opposite sex entering their dormitories.

Of course, that's for the seniors.

As a freshman, I'm different.

There's no curfew, but there is a dormitory supervisor.

They are there to handle emergencies or urgent situations within the dormitory and also to manage various tasks.

I arrived at the entrance of Building 2 discreetly and quickly, checked through the glass that no one was in the lobby, and carefully entered.

—Whoosh.

The person at the desk glanced at me. It was the dormitory supervisor, a young woman with her black hair tied up.

I couldn't meet her eyes and just swallowed.

Stella said she had already gotten permission.

The supervisor, or the caretaker, glanced at my face and then looked away.

I was relieved by her cool attitude. If she had stared at me, it would have been awkward...

Fortunately, no one was visible in the first-floor lobby, which is the first-year floor. I had confirmed it was empty before entering, so it was natural. I hoped no one would appear.

The overall atmosphere of the girls' dormitory was not much different from the boys' dormitory. Perhaps because it was built in the same style and structure as Building 1. However, there was a different scent in the air, probably due to the presence of female students.

Thud, thud...

Stella's room is in the middle of the right corridor.

I walked down the quiet corridor, trying to look as if nothing was out of the ordinary. I wanted to walk confidently, but once inside, I naturally felt a bit nervous. After all, it's a bit tense.

...What does Stella really want to talk to me about?

If she were shy and easily embarrassed, she wouldn't have made such a bold suggestion. What important matter could have made her overcome her shyness?

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and focused on my goal.

I'm here to study. If I can't concentrate here, my grades will suffer. As the last student with number 15, if my grades plummet, it will look very bad...

How long did I walk down the corridor?

"......Is this it?"

I stopped in front of the door marked 103. I remembered the number clearly, so it must be the right one.

Stella should be inside.

I raised my finger and knocked lightly.

—Knock, knock.

"Stel——"

At that moment.

—Whoosh.

"......?"

Very close by.

The sound of the lobby door opening was heard.

Thud, thud.

—Look, it's different from magic.

—Really? You don't use circuits at all?

—Yeah. Isn't it amazing? I find it amazing too. But I can't use magic while using superpowers, so I'm focusing on superpower training for now.

Two familiar voices.

"......Could it be?"

A chill ran down my spine.

A sense of unease made my pupils tremble, and in a hurry, I knocked on Stella's door again.

Knock, knock.

...No response. Damn.

—Rubya, you're already at the 5th tier? That's impressive. I find magic really boring... The calculations and formulas give me a headache...

—Yeah, I understand... I feel the same way when I see complex formulas.

It was definitely them.

...Rubya and Yui.

Why are you here?

Since they just entered the lobby, if they walk a bit forward and turn their heads, they will see me in the middle of the corridor.

...Damn.

I could have explained it perfectly, but that wasn't important. The mere sight of me in this situation was regrettable.

Especially since it was Yui, who had become a bit awkward after the last incident, and Rubya.

I won't look good.

Stella, what are you doing in there?

Please open the door...

I was ready to run to the end of the corridor, and with all my nerves focused, I knocked again.

Knock, knock, knock, knock.

A desperate signal to please open the door.

Then.

...Creak.

As if by a miracle, the door slid open.

"Ah, Mr. Elio——"

The moment I saw Stella's face through the gap.

Whoosh.

Stella's eyes widened.

—Is magic also like solving a difficult problem and feeling a sense of achievement...?

Thud.

It took about 0.5 seconds.

Just as I saw the tips of Rubya and Yui's shoes from the center of the lobby with my peripheral vision— I quickly opened the door, rushed in, and closed it again.

"......Mr. E, E, Elio, sir...?"

Thump, thump.

My heart, which had been racing like a wild beast, gradually calmed down.

...Did it work?

...Did they not notice?

They must have heard the door closing, but there was no sound from outside yet.

"Phew..."

I pressed my palms against the door and sighed in relief. Why did I have to be so nervous? Well, it was natural to be nervous. Anyway, it seemed I had successfully entered without being noticed by anyone.

...And.

When I finally had the chance to look around after the crisis, I lowered my head to face Stella.

"Ah, u..."

Her shining silver eyes. Her cheeks, flushed like ripe peaches. She was wearing only her uniform shirt and skirt, with the top buttons undone.

Between the exposed collarbones, Stella was nervously clasping her hands.

Because I had rushed in so quickly.

...I ended up pinning Stella against the door.

In the strange atmosphere, Stella lifted her head and looked up at me cautiously. We were so close that I quickly stepped back from the frozen Stella.

"Sorry. I didn't realize people were coming outside..."

It was a purely instinctive reaction.

Stella, who had been standing still as if time had stopped, finally managed to speak in a small voice.

"...No, no... I'm sorry for not opening the door sooner... I didn't hear the first knock..."

Then she covered her red cheeks with her palms and passed me, heading into the room.

She turned to me and awkwardly gestured for me to come in.

"Um, would you like to come in?"

#9

"Is magic also like solving a difficult problem and feeling a sense of achievement...?"

Thud.

"Whoa!"

"......"

In the center of the lobby, Yui let out a shrill scream.

It was quite loud. At first, I thought something heavy had fallen, but upon closer listening, it was the sound of a door closing, and it was very loud.

"...What, what was that just now?"

Yui and Rubya turned to look down the right corridor, where the sound seemed to have come from.

"Someone closed a door and went into a room."

"That loud...? It really startled me."

While Yui, who was looking up at Rubya, didn't notice, Rubya had seen something fleeting in the right corridor while talking to Yui. It was probably a silhouette of a person.

But it seemed a bit large. Was there a female student in our class that tall? What was it...

It was such a brief moment that Rubya couldn't be sure, so she just tilted her head in doubt. It was probably just a mistake. She thought it was nothing and said goodbye to Yui.

"Go in and rest, Yui. Good job today."

"Thanks, Rubya. Good night."

"Thanks, good night."

Yui's room was in the middle of the left corridor.

Thud, thud...

After waving goodbye, they headed to their respective rooms. Since Rubya's room was at the end of the right corridor where the loud noise had come from, she glanced around as she walked.

[103]

There were few female students in the first year of the Epic Class. The class size was only fifteen, so it was easy to remember which room each classmate lived in. Especially for those who were close friends.

103 was Stella de Feltre's room.

"......Isn't it a bit suspicious?"

In the empty corridor, Rubya muttered to herself, even letting out an awkward laugh as she shook her head and headed to her room.

It can't be.

No way. It's impossible. Well, it's not entirely impossible, but... It's still a bit suspicious. Stella is shy. I think she could bring up tutoring, but this is a different level, right?

I must have seen it wrong, so there's no need to go to Stella to confirm anything.

Thud, thud.

Having convinced herself, Rubya walked past Stella's room with a strange smile, but—

Creak. Thud.

"......It can't be."

...Click.

By the time she used her key to open the door and step inside, she was unconsciously biting her nails with a somber look.