NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2
Wearing the school uniform felt nostalgic as I put it on myself again.
I hadn’t thought much of it since I wore it yesterday, but putting on the cardigan like this truly made me feel like I had returned to my younger self.
‘What if all this was just a dream when I woke up?’
Honestly, I had such worries before falling asleep, but seeing the dormitory ceiling when I woke up confirmed it for me.
I was back again.
For reasons unknown, I had returned to my 18-year-old self, and I had an opportunity.
Preventing the apocalypse was a grand goal for someone like me, and honestly, it didn’t really resonate with me.
After all, since I was expelled from the academy, I had lived in the demon forest where people don’t reside, so apart from occasionally going to buy supplies, I had rarely seen anyone.
But as I mentioned yesterday, I had questions about why Rin had changed so much. And solving that would naturally help in saving the world.
‘For now, I need to think a bit.’
First, I needed to avoid expulsion.
I warmed up and headed towards the academy.
Fortunately, I remembered where my class was back then, so I could arrive on time.
Class E.
The last of the five classes.
Of course, just because a student was good didn’t mean they went to Class A, but from what I remembered, Class A had many talented and skilled students.
Because of that, in competitions or tests, the other four classes were always trying to beat Class A.
I entered the classroom and sat wherever, casually observing my surroundings.
The students were gathered in little groups chatting, and seeing them like this brought back memories one by one.
‘Wow, it really was a decent memory.’
Personally, I thought my time at the academy was short but a dark period in my life, but seeing it like this, I couldn’t help but smile.
They say memories get exaggerated over time, and I guess my memories of the academy were exaggerated in a negative direction.
‘Oh, she was there too.’
A blonde female student entered through the classroom door.
The girl who asked me about Ares’ relationship with me came and stood right in front of me.
“Hey! Take back what you said yesterday!”
Ares’ fish flopped wildly in my mind.
I casually turned my gaze out the window and asked, “What are you talking about?” as she clenched her fists and slammed them on the desk.
“You said Ares is ‘that kind of guy.’ Take it back! No matter how you look at it, he’s way better and way more handsome than you!”
“Take it back.”
“Don’t joke around!”
Since I didn’t want to deal with her, I gave a vague response, but not satisfied with my reply, she lunged at me more aggressively.
“Class is starting.”
The professor entered, starting the lecture, and the girl flustered, hastily sat down next to me.
‘Wow, that professor looks just like I remember.’
Professor Amanda exuded a mature woman’s vibe. She was notably popular among male students, and I remembered she was our homeroom teacher.
Though I listened to the lecture, it wasn’t particularly interesting, and I blankly stared at the chalkboard when suddenly a piece of paper nudged my elbow that was propped up on my chin.
– Apologize!
“……”
I sighed, finding it annoying, and looked at her only to see a small tear glimmering in her eyes.
– Why are you crying?
Flustered, she scribbled something on the paper and quickly wiped her eyes, glaring at me.
– I’m not crying.
Right, if she said she’s not crying, then she’s not crying.
Thinking I didn’t need to care more than that, I turned my attention back to the chalkboard, and she began scribbling various notes out of panic.
– Do you know how great Ares is? Who do you think you are to say that about him?
A few more notes came my way, but I ignored them. After all, she was clearly infatuated, and any response would probably just sound like insults.
After the lecture, during break time.
I stepped out thinking of going to the bathroom, only to hear her huffing and puffing behind me.
“What’s your problem? Why are you ignoring me?”
I was about to snap back in annoyance when a black-haired female student walked by in the corridor.
Rin, walking with her friends, stopped in her tracks upon seeing me and cautiously approached.
“Hey, Daniel.”
“Sorry, I really need to go to the bathroom.”
I had to avoid contact with Rin for now.
I was justifying it to myself, stating that I couldn’t predict how things might change if I intervened.
To be honest, seeing her face, the one that pierced my heart, just made me feel uncomfortable.
As I walked past Rin and her friends, the blonde girl sneaked a glance at Rin and followed me.
“That one’s not worth it.”
“Hey, could you be quiet for a second?”
Again, the same symptoms.
Rin’s face overlapped with memories of the army, making my breathing difficult as I leaned against the wall to catch my breath and the fish stuck to me again.
“What’s wrong with you? You’re sweating cold!”
“I’m fine, really…”
“What do you mean fine! Let’s go to the infirmary!”
Since when did she become so concerned?
But having someone fussing over me didn’t feel bad at all.
‘Eris used to do that too.’
Even with minor injuries, she would fuss, wrapping bandages with skills that weren’t particularly great. I would’ve done it much cleaner, but somehow, back then, it felt like that was more effective.
We weren’t just a mere client-Sherpa relationship back then, I could finally say that now.
Once my breathing calmed and I returned to a peaceful expression, I pointed at a guy with my hand.
“Look, Ares is passing by.”
“Huh? Where?”
“I’m fine, so go check. If you’re late, other girls will snatch him away.”
“……I know that!”
I bluntly replied, and she seemed hurt, quickly turning to run after Ares.
“Huh.”
She’s cute for being so young.
Even compared to all the beautiful female students around Ares, she didn’t fall behind in looks.
“If you polished up a bit more, you’d look prettier.”
She acted silly and playful, but still…
Without her beside me, I muttered honestly and walked into the bathroom.
*
Last night, I was probably on edge due to the expulsion matter.
I had heard she was sharp with Ares too, which I took as a consolation.
She probably kicked her blankets in regret this morning, I thought, causing Rin to smile slightly.
‘Daniel’s always been a bit timid since long ago.’
She probably wouldn’t be able to come apologize in person.
It was how she felt.
When I see Daniel today, I’ll act as if nothing happened, I thought, as Rin subtly walked towards Class E with her friends for the moving lesson.
And then, she spotted Daniel, the black-haired boy who was exiting Class E.
Seeing the blonde girl following him, she wondered if he made new friends, but she didn’t concern herself with it and approached him directly.
“Sorry, I really need to go to the bathroom.”
With such a response, Daniel dodged Rin.
“Rin, don’t get too close to him.”
“That’s that guy from the rumor, right? Ugh, how did she end up close to him?”
Her two friends flanking her worriedly said a word each, but she didn’t really hear what they were saying.
Just a bit shocking, and as she walked in thought, suddenly, she wanted to talk to him again.
“Hey guys, sorry, I left something in the classroom, so I’ll be right back. You go ahead.”
Saying this, Rin turned her body back towards Daniel. She stood tall, watching the back of the boy and girl playfully teasing each other.
‘What’s that?’
At first, the blonde girl worried about Daniel and later began playfully poking and teasing him.
Daniel seemed fine, softly chuckling before quietly mumbling.
“I think you’d look prettier if you styled up a bit more.”
That resonated so clearly in Rin’s ears.
As she looked at the spot where Daniel had been, Rin felt nothing but confusion.
‘What did he just say?’
Did he just say I’d look prettier if I dressed up a bit more?
Why did he say that?
To me…
To his childhood friend, who had always been with him, he’d never said anything like that before.
She had been thinking it was just his timid nature and had let it go, but why could he say that to that girl?
In the first place.
‘Why is he being so cold to me?’
Why suddenly?
Rin stood there silently for a while.
Then slowly, she turned her body.