NOVEL NEXT Chapter 52
I’m at least someone with minimal awareness.
Well, I mean, there was a time when I brought up game stories in front of someone who didn’t care at all, mistaking their bored politeness for interest, thinking we had become close. Thankfully, that was back in high school, and since there were no girls around me, it ended with a rumor of me being a nerd, and from then on, I thought I should at least learn to read the room a little.
I don’t exactly have the looks that make people feel friendly when they see me, nor do I have the gift of gab. I lived online without giving it much thought, but that’s just because you can’t see the other person’s face, right? Since I can’t see their gestures or expressions, I wouldn’t even know how uncomfortable they might feel.
I’ve learned to navigate situations at work, figuring out how to act just enough to get by decently. At least now I can tell when someone makes an expression indicating they really don’t want to hear what I’m saying.
If not that, then there’s the expression of people who don’t know how to deal with me.
For example, at this very moment, Mia Crowfield, who is sitting across from me, had that expression.
People find it more burdensome to make eye contact with someone who has no expression than you might think. Especially when the expressionless person is someone higher up.
Of course, it’s a different story for those who, despite seeing such a blank stare, are confident enough to say, “I can read that expression,” or those who confidently claim to be that expressionless person’s sister, or those who are just overall assured and don’t mind having an extra emotionless girl among a bunch of girls around them.
Now that I think about it, I do seem to have a lot of strange people around me. But thinking back, all these people were once part of the protagonist’s party in the original story. Even if there are quirks, I could just roll with it.
The real problem is Mia Crowfield.
Just last week, every time I made eye contact with her, Mia would glare at me with all her might. She didn’t even try to hide her intent to kill me, to the point where I almost had to stifle a laugh.
Being a game heroine, she had quite a curvy body, but she was a bit short, and her hair often covered her eyes, so she looked quite timid. In fact, she usually remained in that timid state unless she was glaring at me.
So naturally, I couldn’t help but notice the change in Mia Crowfield.
She used to act like a scared rabbit in front of Charlotte and even Alice, the Emperor’s daughter, but these days, she often avoids my gaze.
Has her mindset changed?
If so, then why? What could have caused such a change?
“……”
“……”
Hmm.
Wait a minute.
Thinking about it, I don’t exactly have a reason not to ask her directly.
Right? I’m someone who can rewind time, after all. I could just ask her in front of me.
Also, I had said worse things than this before.
I glanced around. Alice and Charlotte were all present in the student council room. There were other committee members as well, including the student council president.
We had entered the student council, but we didn’t have any particular roles yet. It seemed like we were just valuable assets they wanted to keep around. I guess the student council president was quite aristocratic in the original story, but he was also someone who judged people based mainly on their abilities. He just gave significant bonus points for background.
And then there were the two Graces who had entered with Alice quite confidently.
I had offered milk tea to both of them, but they naturally didn’t welcome me, Alice, Charlotte, and Mia Crowfield nearly as warmly. It felt more like they were just passing it over.
Leo had a look as if he was sitting on a thorny cushion while Claire was completely unfazed.
Hmm.
I can ask. After all, even if people stare at me in surprise, I can just rewind time and it won’t matter.
But Mia Crowfield doesn’t know I can rewind time. So, she might hide the truth during the process of answering.
Would I really get a proper response if I asked here?
“……”
As I quietly observed Mia Crowfield, she glanced around nervously. Judging by her non-blushing face, it didn’t seem like she was particularly embarrassed.
What’s going on with her?
This uncertainty only made me more anxious.
“……”
Hmm.
Ah, I don’t get it.
“Mia Crowfield.”
As I quietly called her name, Mia jumped in her seat like a rabbit startled awake.
Thud! The sound of the chair and table scraping echoed, and I felt everyone’s gaze quickly shift to us.
…… This sensation feels familiar. Of course, it wasn’t as intense as last time. Mia’s reaction was quite different, and we hadn’t engaged in a serious conversation yet.
“Y-yes!?”
The response I got back was pure bewilderment.
Is it really that surprising?
I rarely call out someone else’s name first. I didn’t want to reveal any flaws by trying to extend the conversation too much. Of course, I could have adjusted the conversation while rewinding time, but finishing a conversation like that would leave me mentally drained. My mind feels like it has lived through hours of normal conversation in just a few minutes.
For someone who was born a social outcast, dragging out conversations with others like that was torture.
“I have something I want to discuss; do you mind if we have a moment?”
“I-I, I-I don’t want to!?”
Mia Crowfield immediately rejected my suggestion to talk privately.
But I thought I was suggesting a conversation just between us, away from the others.
For the record, the people around us looked completely dumbfounded.
…… Is this really that shocking of a thing? Even someone a bit reserved might want to have a one-on-one conversation sometimes.
…… Wait a minute. Could it be?
I thought I had built a cool beauty image pretty well, but had they actually just seen me as a total loser? Like someone who struggles to speak to others because of social anxiety?
Am I really seen as being similar to Mia Crowfield in that way?
“…… You don’t want to?”
“Absolutely not! What do you want to do to me!?”
I’m not going to do anything.
No, more than that, if you talk to me like that, I’ll come off as some kind of predator! Although, I get that Mia meant she would “kill” me, but it was a word that could easily lead to misunderstandings.
In reality, everyone except Alice, who looked serious after hearing that, just stared at me with their mouths hanging open.
…… Or not? Am I the only one overthinking it? Have I watched too many comics or animations in this genre?
I wanted to shake my head and clear my thoughts, but no matter how much I planned to rewind time in this situation, I still had to maintain some sense of character.
“I won’t do anything.”
“How can I trust you?”
That’s true.
From Mia Crowfield’s perspective, it makes sense to see me that way. I am the nemesis who killed her father.
The real question is why has that gaze towards that nemesis changed compared to a week ago?
“Then, I’ll ask you a question. Is that okay?”
“…… Ugh.”
However, when I said that, Mia Crowfield’s expression momentarily froze. Thinking about it, how would I know what she expected me to say here? She might not think I would bring up her father’s story, but if she sees me as an “assassin,” she should realize that any information I provide could be significant.
“Um, is that so…”
Yet, Mia Crowfield decided to act like it was no big deal.
“…….”
I quietly watched Mia Crowfield, narrowing my eyes, and slowly opened my mouth.
“Then, I won’t hesitate.”
After a brief pause, I continued, “Mia Crowfield, the feelings in your gaze when you looked at me last week and now have changed. May I ask why?”
A ping sounded above Mia Crowfield’s head as a question mark appeared.
Well, I didn’t mean literally; it was just how I imagined it. There aren’t any helpful functions like systems or status windows in this world.
“W-w-well…”
Mia Crowfield stumbled over her words at my question, “W-w-well, even if there’s a change! It doesn’t concern you at all!? Why would I have to tell you something like that?!”
Saying that, Mia immediately turned around and fled the student council room.
“…….”
Hmm.
In the brief silence of the student council room, I organized my fleeting thoughts.
Based on her reaction, even if I had called her over for a conversation, I doubt I would have gotten a proper answer.
…… Guess I’ll just have to wait for now.
“Sylvia?”
Seeing Claire still with a surprised expression talking to me made me realize it was time to restore the situation to normal again.
Once again.
*
I may not have the ability to distinguish tea leaves, but you can definitely tell when you’re drinking something really good and expensive, even if you’re not well-informed.
The milk tea we had in the student council was really good. It was smooth and fragrant. I’d want to dump a ton of sugar into it, but even adding just two cubes would make it sweet enough to tolerate.
After all, even a cool beauty shouldn’t let herself get chubby.
The rich aroma of high-quality tea infused the student council room. If we kept drinking good tea every day, the smell would permeate the room, making it so faint, you could sense it upon entering.
And while leisurely enjoying that high-quality tea, I kept an eye on Mia Crowfield.
Like before I rewound time, she was desperately avoiding my gaze.
…… So far, the only people I had ‘killed’ were the Count and his henchmen. The Emperor had asked about the world’s political situation in a ‘game’ context while I managed to provide some insights based on that, but as far as any rumors went about someone ‘killed’ by me, it had only been the Count.
Could she have heard a silly rumor somewhere else?
Is she scared of me now that she might think I’m a much more dangerous person?
Given her response a moment ago, that thought crossed my mind. She seemed terrified of being alone with me.
“……”
I gently sipped my milk tea, feeling the pleasant warmth fill my mouth.
…… Should I follow her?
After all, tomorrow is the weekend. Maybe I could properly observe Mia Crowfield’s whereabouts.
If I receive information from someone, I can figure out who it is. Unlike the original, this world has changed significantly due to my involvement in the characters’ backgrounds.
Sounds good.
The weekend schedule is set!