The Academy’s Doomed Young Lord Dies Ten Thousand Times

Chapter 42 - Judgement for Judgement (3)

“You, you…… just now, what did you…….”

……A very awkward situation had unfolded. A very, very awkward one.

‘……Should I just die?’

Yuna had overheard the words I had muttered with a completely different meaning.

No, that's right. The meaning was correct. Whether I died to regress or not, the result of dying was the same.

But it was clearly a different meaning. It wasn't about quitting life. But how could I explain this?

Ah, I have the ability to regress. It's not that I'm depressed and thinking of committing suicide, but I think the situation is messed up, so I'm thinking of dying and starting over.

Could I say that?

“…….”

“…….”

An awkward standoff continued. Yuna seemed to have lost her words, just standing there blankly.

I couldn't stand it anymore and broke the silence first.

“……Let’s sit down first.”

“Uh, uh…….”

Yuna left the drink she had dropped and sat down next to me. And…….

“…….”

“…….”

Another awkward silence flowed. What should I really say? The timing was just too bad.

“……Have you been having a hard time lately?”

The one who broke the second silence was Yuna.

“Well…… yes, it’s been tough. But I didn't mean what I said just now seriously. Really.”

“Huh? Oh. Right, of course! Yes…….”

Yuna's tone was still flustered. She was a straightforward person, but fundamentally kind, so I expected this.

“…….”

“…….”

But the conversation quickly died down, and eventually, a third silence fell.

I had no idea what to say, and Yuna probably felt the same.

“Sorry.”

And what broke the silence again… was a rather out-of-place apology from Yuna.

Why are you apologizing? That was all I could think.

“What is there for you to apologize for, Miss Yuna? Did you slander me too?”

“No, no! Of course not!!”

At my joke, Yuna flinched and waved her hands. I raised the corners of my mouth slightly and smiled at her reaction, but Yuna still had a serious expression.

“It’s just, when I heard the bad stories about you……”

“When you heard them?”

“……I couldn't confidently say that you’re not that kind of person, that it couldn't be true.”

At those words, I crossed my arms and thought.

‘Hmm, honestly, I am incredibly suspicious.’

From Yuna’s perspective, wasn’t I just a guy who suddenly appeared and shoveled help at her?

From my side, there was a clear reason, but from Yuna's side, who didn't know the circumstances, it was natural to think of it as an inexplicable act of kindness.

“Well, even I thought I was suspicious. Me.”

“So you were aware……”

“It’s hard not to know.”

At my words, ahem, Yuna cleared her throat once and continued.

“Anyway, it might sound like it’s your fault if I say it like that… but that’s not what I wanted to say.”

“Then?”

“You know. I realized I don’t know anything about you. Literally nothing. Even though… we’re friends.”

“……Are you angry that I didn’t talk about myself?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“……?”

“What I mean is, I’m sorry that I didn’t try to get to know you.”

Because she didn't know me, she couldn't refute the slander about me. So, she's sorry for not trying to get to know me, huh…….

……I couldn't help but think that she was a hopelessly kind person.

I was the one who hid information about myself. Of course, I didn't hide the information that could be known through rumors, such as being an illegitimate son, but I couldn't help but hide my true nature.

So, it was natural that Yuna only knew my surface. It couldn't be helped.

But, this girl was sitting here apologizing to me instead.

It was dumbfounding.

“……Being that kind is a sickness. Do you know that?”

“Ugh……”

I let out a small sigh. It was a good thing that Yuna was approaching me favorably. It was a good thing, but…….

Before considering Rain Enlight or the transmigrator, I felt like I had to say this as a human being.

“How long have we known each other?”

“About a month.”

“Right, a month. A very short time.”

But.

“But why on earth do you trust me so much? To the point of saying you’re sorry for not knowing me.”

“…….”

“The kindness I’ve shown you so far could have been to use you, couldn’t it?”

It was because I thought that if left alone, she would really get taken for a sucker by someone one day.

At those words, Yuna put her hand on her forehead. She was scowling as if in thought.

Tap, tap, tap.

After contemplating to the point of stamping her feet, the answer that came out was-.

“……I don't know.”

It was ‘I don't know’.

“……Pardon?”

At Yuna’s answer, I asked back in a deflated voice. And to my question…….

“I don’t know-!!”

Yuna answered by shouting as if her frustration had exploded. She was the very model of a sudden outburst.

“I don’t know, just! I’m doing it because I want to! Got a problem with that!!”

“That’s not it, but…….”

“Then just say thank you! Or what, maybe I’m just pretending to believe in you to use you too!”

“No, that’s a bit much.”

“Eek…… Anyway, shut up!! It’s my business! Whether I believe you without reason or want to know you! I can’t explain it logically, but that’s just how it is!”

I couldn't answer anymore. I was stunned by Yuna’s barrage of words and could only stare.

“If you’re a bad guy, then screw me over or take advantage of me, do whatever you want! It’s my choice, so don’t worry about it-!!”

Hoo, hoo.

After letting it all out, Yuna caught her breath. And I, who had been dazed…….

“……Haha.”

Yes, I could only let out a hearty laugh. I had no idea anymore just how honest and pure she was.

“……Is it funny?”

“My apologies. I didn't mean it in a negative way.”

“…….”

I leaned back on the bench and continued to speak in that comfortable position.

“As you might have noticed, I have a lot of secrets.”

“You’re telling me now.”

“……Secrets have reasons for being secrets. You said you wanted to know me, but I can’t tell you that.”

At my words, Yuna shrugged. She seemed to have calmed down to some extent.

“I don’t care. I can just find out on my own.”

I looked Yuna in the eyes.

“Well, I can tell you what’s possible. Like…… about how I’ve lived.”

That was all I could say. The life of Rain Enlight as I knew it.

“……Then at least tell me that. It’s better than not hearing anything.”

“It’ll be boring, but if you insist.”

“When were you ever an interesting person?”

“That’s harsh.”

After such a trivial conversation, I began my story. Of course, it wasn't the story of the real ‘me’, but it was all I could tell her.

It was a story about the life of Rain Enlight. I could only speak of it in fragments, but I thought it was appropriate to express the identity of the person named Rain.

Yuna’s reaction after hearing the story was…….

“……That must have been tough.”

The pause she took just before saying that one phrase made it clear how carefully Yuna had chosen her words. She must have been considerate.

“It was tough.”

I could only reply to Yuna's words like that. Though I didn't know what the actual person involved thought.

Anyway, as we exchanged stories of the past… quite some time had passed. It was time to go to the next lecture.

We decided to slowly get up and walked out of the garden.

“I’ll be going then.”

With that simple greeting, just as I was about to leave-.

“……Hey.”

“Yes?”

Yuna stopped me. As if she had something to say.

“Well…… I thought about it a little. Why I…… well, trust you.”

She was dragging her words out as if she was embarrassed.

“ ……Because you… recognized me… I think that’s what it is.”

What is she talking about.

“What do you mean?”

“……You said it yourself, that you saw my potential.”

Ah.

-I just saw your potential. I thought you could stand at the top of the academy.

She meant that.

“I did say that.”

“I think I’m the same.”

The same, huh. Yuna met my eyes and finished her sentence.

“I also… saw the possibility… that you might be a good person……”

She dragged the end of her sentence as if she was too embarrassed.

And, at those words, I.

“Haha.”

I just grinned.

“……Anyway, I’m leaving!! It was nonsense, so you can forget it!!”

“Yes, well, get back safe.”

“Eat well and live well-! And don't say you want to die!!”

“I told you I won't die.”

After that, Yuna shrieked and ran off again. I could see her ears had turned bright red.

Serene is like that too, is that the trend among academy kids these days?

Saying something and then getting embarrassed about it, kids these days are so emotional.

“Hoo……”

I let out a sigh. It was more of a sigh of relief than one filled with worry and concern.

“She says she trusts someone like me.”

And I let out a hollow laugh. It was the most effective emotional expression to convey the small comfort I had gained in my heart, and the release of stress.

***

After that, Yuna couldn't concentrate on her classes. Not for any other reason, but because she was practically out of her mind.

‘……Is she okay?’

Yuna’s friend and roommate, Kaylee, couldn't help but think that as she looked at Yuna.

She had been in this state once before, and on that day…….

“Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy……!”

She had been doing this crap at night with the blanket over her head, and sure enough, it was the same today. To think she was doing this at 2 in the morning…….

“You’re the crazy one.”

Thwack-!

“Ouch!!”

Kaylee had prepared a switch for punishment, specifically for this kind of situation. Seeing Kaylee, the other roommates in the 4-person room gave her a thumbs-up.

‘……Ah…… Why did I say that? Ugh, ahh. Ahh……!’

But Yuna did not have a peaceful night's sleep. She was too busy recalling the events with Rain during the day, regretting the embarrassing things she had said.

Yuna couldn't stop her silent blanket kicks until 5 in the morning.

And as a result, she was late for her morning lecture the next day…….