171 – Doubt
That night, I had dinner with Trisha for the first time in a long time. She was constantly moving her fork with tears in her eyes despite the simple table setting, wondering what she had been eating while I was away.
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“Have you been starving all this time?”
“No!”
“But why do you eat so pitifully?”
“When I cook, it doesn’t taste like this. And I hated eating dinner alone every day.”
Trisha had to stay alone in this dormitory for nearly a month. Given her personality, it was clear that she was very lonely.
“There are a lot of cookbooks. You can just look at that… Is there any problem?”
“I cooked it as is, but it didn’t taste good. “I think the cooking fairy is jealous of me.”
How can it not be delicious if you do it the same way? Blame it on your dexterity. I also read books and cook.
Even though I pretended like nothing was wrong, I couldn’t help but feel teary-eyed. When I saw that, I also felt uneasy.
“Shall I teach you how to cook?”
“… “I can do it on my own.”
“If I leave for a long time, will it be like that again?”
“… No.”
“Then you should learn it and use it.”
“You can do it if you don’t leave. All you have to do is stick next to me like a cicada and make stew every day.”
“Of course I will do it when we are together, but I am not relaxed enough to always be your housekeeper.”
One of Trisha’s cheeks bulged as if she was upset.
“Why are you so serious? “How great it would be if you just said yes!”
“Because it is not a promise that can be kept. “Now I have to take another day off even when classes are closed.”
“Why suddenly that day? “What are you doing?”
“I have an appointment, so I’m thinking of going back to the professor’s mansion and resting for a day.”
“What? “Then I want to go too!”
It had nothing to do with me, but since this is strictly an event only Luna is invited to, it is a matter of getting Luna’s permission, not mine.
“I’ll ask once and see.”
“Who needs permission? “The professor is very far away. Do I have to ask for permission?”
“Yes, I decided to treat Luna to a meal. “I was originally going to do it after the circulatory system class, but it got delayed a lot longer than I thought.”
“Luna? Why am I not invited? “I want to go with you!”
“Luna got a lot of help from the circulatory system class. Since then, the number of times we have had a proper conversation with her can be counted on one hand. And I treated you to dinner today too. “It will always be like that.”
“But… no…. “
It looks like Trisha has nothing else to say. You probably know that being together more than that is just greed.
I understand the feeling of wanting to catch up with him because he gets lonely a lot, but I couldn’t be with him in everything.
Trisha feebly used her fork as if she had become discouraged. Seeing her eyes drooping and gnawing helplessly made her feel weak again.
I also think it would be good if Luna and Trisha became friends. Anyway, isn’t it a motivation to share our daily lives?
I’ll have to ask Luna.
***
After class, I headed back to the library and devoted myself to collecting information about the princess’s illness. I put a lot of time into it, but I really couldn’t find any significant information. While I was wondering if I should go and ask the professors, I returned to the place Luna had promised.
After that, I stopped investigating for a while and talked to Luna.
It was a bit too much to ask Trisha, so I asked Luna what happened while I was gone and what her future schedule was.
“Everyone is busy because the sparring evaluation is coming up soon. “The seniors, in particular, are training hard to set an example by giving their all to the first-year students.”
“Evaluation of Dalian… ?”
Luna spoke carefully over the bookshelf.
“… Huh. All grades are mixed and sparred by lottery. The Ministry of Magic is among the Ministry of Magic… The combat department is among the combat departments… A first grader may be stuck with a fourth grader… So everyone is taking it seriously.”
“Um…. “I thought the campus atmosphere had changed strangely. Is that because of that?”
How can I say that everyone’s eyes are full of anticipation? He seemed excited, like someone about to celebrate a big festival. Are you excited to scold the arrogant first graders?
Luna covered her mouth with her hand and laughed quietly.
“That’s… “It must be because of the Eternia Ball.”
“There’s still a month left until the prom, right?”
“Yes… It’s common to prepare a month in advance….”
“Luna, are you ready?”
Luna nodded her head.
“Evaluation of Dalian… “I’m confident.”
Luna, well, her skills were so great that even Sion couldn’t move her. Moreover, since she is the head of the Ministry of Magic, I think she may be an object of fear to her seniors.
More than that, what I asked about was not the sparring evaluation.
“What about the prom?”
Luna slightly averted her gaze. Luna’s small face, visible between her piles of books, disappeared from my sight. She then spoke in a slightly quieter voice.
“Ready… “I will.”
“….”
“Damian… you?”
“Well, I haven’t thought about it yet. “I’d like to know how other kids prepare.”
Luna showed her brightened face through a gap in her bookshelf.
“Dinner… When will you do it?”
“I just wanted to talk about that… “Is it okay if I bring one more guest?”
“… Who… nine?”
“Have you heard of Trisha? “He wants to play with us.”
“….”
Luna just blinked quietly, but she showed no reaction.
She looks at me quietly with expressionless eyes. She couldn’t figure out what she was thinking. What can I say, it feels like I’m talking to a cat that can’t understand people.
My intuition told me that this was definitely not a positive emotion.
Luna slowly opens her mouth. The answer was different from what I expected.
“… Good.”
“Are you okay? “It doesn’t matter if you say no, and I won’t tell Trisha that you said no.”
Luna spoke with a face that seemed to have made up her mind.
“It’s okay. You can bring it….”
There was no expression, but looking at the atmosphere, Luna seemed a little angry. Although it was only a vague guess, she was certain that she was not feeling joy.
Then Luna pulled out a book in front of her.
“Then two days later, she’s finished all her classes and is waiting at the front door. “I’ll come pick you up.”
“Yes.”
Luna ended the conversation briefly and turned around to leave the library.
I also got out of there as a person who had nothing to do with her anymore.
I saw Luna on my way through the hallway of her library. She was hugging one of her books and talking to the librarian.
“Because that book contains recipes for making potions that are known to be dangerous, you cannot borrow it unless you are a fourth-year student in the Pension Department.”
The name of the book Luna was holding was ‘Murder Potion’. Was that what you pulled out and carried away in a fit of anger?
If you look closely, she is… She was uncharacteristically arguing with the librarian.
“I want to borrow it…” … !”
“As I said, unless you are a student of the Pension Department….”
She felt a prickly feeling when she saw that. I don’t think they actually borrowed it to kill people. She could vaguely sense how Luna was feeling.
Trisha’s story… She shouldn’t have taken it out.
***
When the class schedule was over and most of the students had returned to their dormitories, I boarded the carriage heading to Silverine’s mansion.
I was doubtful whether I would be able to get through the day with Trisha and Luna safely. It is unknown what happened to Luna and the ‘Murder Potion’ book. There will be no chance of Luna poisoning her cooking. Luna wouldn’t even know how to decipher alchemy formulas.
The carriage was approaching the promised location, the main gate of Eternia. A familiar blond head appeared not far away. Luna was holding a wooden basket as she stood in a deserted corner and waved her hand.
And Trisha was also standing about ten steps away from her. The sight made her sigh.
I knew that the two were from the same theater department, but they seemed to be so close that they had to keep their distance.
The carriage stopped and Luna got into it first.
“Welcome.”
“… Huh.”
Luna quietly sat down next to me without saying anything.
And then Trisha came running to her carriage, waving her arms.
“Wait!”
Trisha stood at the door of her carriage, glanced at Luna sitting next to me, and made a determined expression. She then came up and sat down opposite me.
An awkward air flows. How do I relieve this atmosphere?
Luckily, Trisha spoke nonsense as usual.
“I saw a really big crow while I was waiting!”
“Yeah, that’s great.”
Luna was not to be outdone and spoke to me.
“I brought the ingredients here in the basket…” .”
The basket Luna was carrying seemed quite large and heavy, as it was filled with a lot of things.
“It must have cost quite a bit, so you shouldn’t have asked me separately.”
Luna shook her head.
“To cook what I’m good at… “I’m sure you’ll like it too.”
“I called you to make you feel comfortable.”
“I’ll help you in the kitchen too…” .”
A proud smile slowly appeared on Luna’s face.
And when Trisha saw that, her expression became even more serious.
“I want to cook too!”
“No. It’s difficult when there are too many people in the kitchen. And you can’t cook.”