Chapter 3

And so, the days of the cat, the villainous young lady, and the heroine went on.

Despite the constant stomachaches, I finally made it to just three months before graduation.

However, at this point, I received the most difficult bullying directive yet.

I read the usual paper given to me by Ruruna and broke out in a cold sweat.

To summarize, it read as follows:

"Push me down the stairs and make me sprain my ankle lightly."

It was simply impossible.

It even specified, "Severe injuries are not allowed."

How was I supposed to control the extent of the victim's injury when I was the one pushing?

I could only hope that my defensive skills would somehow manage.

I wanted to say as much, but the last sentence made me clutch my head.

"If you fail, you will have to witness the pitiful state of the cute cat."

I slumped into my desk in the dorm room and groaned.

(What should I do... Causing an injury is crossing a line... This is no longer harassment but a criminal act... Even pushing someone into a pond was a close call... Stairs are out of the question...)

She must be desperate, with graduation approaching.

After all, Sebastian and I are still engaged.

This is probably due to his procrastinating nature.

Sebastian has a habit of leaving things until the last minute.

He's the type who finishes his holiday homework on the final day.

Even when Ruruna pressured him to break off our engagement and propose to her, he probably just dodged the issue.

When she handed me the directive, she muttered under her breath,

"One last push, a big event is needed."

She probably wants to clearly place me in a criminal position to justify breaking off the engagement and, by getting injured herself, spark Sebastian's protective instincts.

As I read the directive, I thought,

(A light sprain... Maybe I could manage if I push her down three steps? No, but an injury is still an injury...)

No matter how much I agonized, I couldn't come up with a good answer.

In the end, I couldn't decide what to do and ended up facing the day of the operation.

■

The day of the stair push.

The location was the central staircase in the hall.

It's the widest and has the most steps, making it a very visible spot.

From the second floor of the atrium, I searched for Ruruna and Sebastian.

The bright blonde with a pinkish tint and the neatly styled brown hair...

(There they are... Wait, what? They're there...?)

They were at the landing of the central staircase, where the large stained glass window shone.

If I push her from the landing, Ruruna will fall from a considerable height.

(No, I can't...! This is too much! Is she really going to do it?)

As I watched them from above, I suddenly made eye contact with Ruruna.

She gave me a cold smile, as if to say, "Hurry up."

This smile has become my trauma.

I pressed my hand to my racing heart and walked towards her.

I descended the stairs and headed for the landing.

The light from the stained glass was beautiful, casting a lively shadow on the landing.

I was about to cause an incident in such a beautiful place...

I was just ten steps away from her.

If I tackled her as usual, she would roll down the stairs.

Just three more steps.

"..."

I stopped there.

(I can't... I can't do this... This is wrong...)

I hesitated and then decided to back down.

Sebastian noticed my approach and showed a displeased expression.

"What do you want, Melisha? Are you bothering Ruruna again with that gloomy face? Go away. Your presence makes the air heavy."

Sebastian's insults are nothing new.

I'm used to them and they no longer hurt.

I greeted him with a ladylike smile.

"Good day. I was just passing by. Could you please let me through?"

With that, I left the scene.

I thought I heard Ruruna's voice from behind but didn't turn around.

--- No, I couldn't turn around.

Her face, as I passed by, was too terrifying.

I ran down the stairs and out of the hall.

For the first time, I fled from the bullying.

Even though graduation was just three months away.

(But it can't be helped! This is too much! Besides, the cat, the cat... What should I do? Ah, what if it gets burned...!)

Ruruna, in her current desperate state, would probably really hurt the cat.

In the two years I've been here, I've come to understand her character well.

With that look on her face, she will do it. Absolutely.

I panicked and thought about my next move.

I didn't care if I got suspended or fined.

I had to hide the cat in my dorm room.

Without hesitation, I rushed to the dorm, grabbed a large cloth bag, and ran to the temple.

I had to put the cat in the bag and bring it to my room.

Breathless, I approached the elderly priest at the entrance.

"Excuse me! Is there a black-and-white cat? I'm looking for it! I need to find it before she comes... Hurry!"

The elderly priest, trying to calm me down, replied in a gentle voice.

"Settle down. I saw a cat in the chapel. It might have gone somewhere else, but..."

"Thank you! Excuse me!"

I hurried to the back of the temple.

As I burst into the chapel, a young priest slightly widened his eyes.

His surprised expression was rare, but I didn't have time to dwell on it.

I asked the young priest, who was using magic to clean the statue of the goddess,

"Is there a black-and-white cat?"

"It was here a moment ago, but it's gone now."

I was disappointed.

(Maybe I should skip classes today and search for it...)

As I was about to run out of the chapel, the priest stopped me.

"What's the matter? Is something wrong with the cat?"

"Well, um..."

I hesitated.

But then I reconsidered.

--- This priest would probably understand and help me without making a face.

I had a feeling.

He had shown concern for the cat before and even reported that it was doing well.

Most importantly, he loves cats.

I took the paper from my jacket pocket and hesitantly showed it to him.

"Um... A friend who hates cats might hurt the black-and-white cat... I received a letter..."

The paper was Ruruna's directive.

I tried to hide the parts about the bullying and only show the part about the cat.

--- But he snatched it away.

Well, even if he read it, it would probably be meaningless to him, so he wouldn't question it.

He read the paper with a serious expression.

"I see. Then I'll search for the cat and put up a protective barrier. I'm quite skilled with that kind of magic."

I widened my eyes and clung to him.

"Really!? Can the barrier withstand strong fire magic?"

"Yes. It can withstand a red dragon's breath. Student magic is nothing to worry about."

Hearing the priest's calm response, I slumped to the floor.

I was so relieved that I almost cried.

Maybe I should have consulted him from the start.

The priest extended his hand to help me up and said in a cool voice,

"Class is about to end. I'll search for the cat, so you should go to class."

He added, "If you skip, you might have to repeat the year," and sent me running to the classroom building.

He seemed to be a serious person.

In the classroom, I met Ruruna's smiling eyes.

She mouthed to me,

"Give up already."

I ignored her and opened my notebook.

Everything was fine now. I had nothing to worry about.

■

From then on, Ruruna completely ignored me.

Even if I was right in front of her, she treated me as if I didn't exist.

Of course, there were no more greetings or bullying directives.

The days without being forced to bully were surprisingly easy and comfortable.

My studies progressed well.

Too well, in fact.

After all, I had no friends left...

The few friends I had before the villainous young lady designation were now gone.

Well, it was to be expected.

I would run away too if there was a woman laughing maniacally and acting strangely nearby.

Not only did I lose my friends, but I also lost Sebastian, leaving me completely alone in the classroom.

With no one to play with or talk to, I naturally spent more time studying.

It was lonely, but I wasn't the type to seek a flashy social life.

So, it was fortunate that I didn't suffer a fatal blow.

The thing that troubled me the most now was Ruruna and Sebastian's behavior.

As soon as she started ignoring me, Ruruna began openly pursuing Sebastian.

I haven't seen anything decisive, but they often displayed a very intimate atmosphere.

I suspect they were showing off to me.

How much they loved each other.

They embraced, kissed, and called each other by name in public...

(But he is still my fiancé... It's strange.)

My feelings for Sebastian had cooled over the two years.

But I am still his fiancée.

Considering the family ties, I have to marry him.

Noble children mostly have arranged marriages.

If they get along, love and affection may develop later, but often they don't.

That's why the academy years are a time when they can let loose and be free.

Even if they face hardships as adults, they can live with the memory of their shining youth.

This is the aesthetic of the nobility in this world.

(...My youth is already in tatters...)

I sat on a bench in the courtyard, staring into the distance as I chewed on a sandwich.

I could see Ruruna and Sebastian in the distance, as close as ever...

Next to me was the usual black-and-white cat.

The priest had cast a spell, so the cat could now be petted even in Ruruna's presence.

This cat, it seems, can now withstand a dragon's fire. It might be the strongest cat in the world.

I pulled the ham out of my sandwich, placed it on my palm, and offered it to the cat.

The cat looked around and quickly ate it.

It was probably wary of birds. Despite its usually composed demeanor, it was unusually nervous, which was quite adorable.

I laughed and stroked the cat's back.

"The best thing about coming to this academy was meeting you. Thank you for being by my side for five years, since I was thirteen."

When I was tired from studying, when I failed a magic exam and was disheartened, when my fiancé cheated and I was hurt, when I was forced to bully and my stomach ached, this cat always accepted me.

It would stay by my side, sharing its warmth and kindness.

"I love you from the bottom of my heart. Even after graduation, I will cherish our memories and keep going."

The cat meowed in response.