23 – Exam Period (2)
Like pitiful puppy eyes, she gazed at me. Though I had never raised a dog, I was sure that if I ever did, I would see that expression at least once. Looking at me with a pitiful expression, Yuna seemed a bit embarrassed and clapped her hands.
“No, I misspoke. I meant to ask… when are you going to lend me money today? You have a lot saved up, right? So…”
“Talking about money?”
“Huh? Yeah. Uh, right. Money talk. That’s what I wanted to ask. Yeah…”
After a relentless torrent of words, a sigh escaped as if everything was about to crumble. It seemed like the urgency from the morning was catching up with her belatedly.
“Yuna, did you happen to sleep at what time yesterday?”
“I don’t remember well. The last time I checked the clock, it was 4 AM.”
“What time did you wake up today?”
“Around 8 AM.”
“Well, you only slept for four hours then. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Well… it’s not the first time. It’s usual during exam periods.”
Is that how it is? As someone who would fall asleep as soon as I entered the dormitory after finishing, this lifestyle pattern was completely incomprehensible to me.
But what bothered me even more was the fact that this wasn’t the first night I had stayed up. No matter how much Yun-ah claimed to be an iron lady, it’s impossible for her to attend classes, torment Elise, pester the Crown Prince, and even study all night long. If that were the case, no matter how expensive the nobles’ cosmetics were, they wouldn’t be able to hide her tired, worn-out skin.
In fact, during her villainess days, Yun-ah didn’t show such an outstanding aptitude for studying. The more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Could it be that everything, from her personality to her past memories, had changed because of the shock of switching places?
Could a person really go through something like that?
“Um… so, what’s the answer? When are we doing it today?”
While I was deeply pondering, Yun-ah asked another question. I hesitated for a moment, but the answer was already decided. Even though I wasn’t lacking money, I couldn’t keep holding onto that busy girl while lying and making things up. There was no reason to obstruct her path and disturb her, even if she claimed to be bored.
“It’s okay today. There’s no need to worry for no reason.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I’m not completely broke either. And there’s still quite a bit of time left before the deadline. So, don’t mind me and focus on studying today. I won’t disturb you.”
“Uh…”
I thought it was a pretty considerate answer. Moreover, I felt a little proud that she overcame her boredom and made a difficult decision.
But the moment Yun-ah heard those words, instead of being grateful, she was extremely startled and asked.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Why… why? Did you already pay off all the money? So, it’s not necessary anymore?”
“Well, it’s not to the point of being unnecessary.”
“Then it’s okay even if you do it. It’s just for a moment. It’s only 30 seconds, right? No, since we didn’t do it yesterday and didn’t do it this morning either, it’s 1 minute and 30 seconds. It’s just a short time, isn’t it?”
“But it takes quite a bit of time to prepare. We have to go to a secluded place… and we have to avoid being seen… and we have to sneak back in…”
“That’s true, but…”
Yun-ah intentionally dragged out her words. Could it be that she was still tired and her mind wasn’t functioning properly? In order to provide some help, I asked her questions one by one.
“But there’s less than a week left until the exam.”
“That’s right.”
“So, you avoided being disturbed too.”
“Yeah.”
“And it’s because of staying up all night studying until yesterday, right? Is it my fault that you fell behind a bit in the progress? That’s why.”
“All of that… is true.”
As I pointed out each detail, Yuna nodded without hesitation. Perhaps she felt regretful. I briefly entertained an absurd possibility but quickly erased it from my memory. Then, with a bright smile, I spoke.
“So, don’t worry about me and focus on studying. I won’t disturb you.”
“Yeah… thanks.”
However, the response that came back, though accompanied by a refreshing laugh, felt somewhat uneasy. But with no room to continue the conversation, we both turned our attention back to the front and immersed ourselves in the dull class.
…
Tick. Tick.
…
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Once again, as silence settled in, familiar sounds emerged. The tapping of pencils on the desk. The sound of graphite nibbling at paper. And YunA’s quiet breathing.
But those sounds didn’t last long. Yuna, who seemed to be concentrating on studying, occasionally glanced in my direction. Yes, our virtuous Ms. Yuna must be concerned about me. However, I deliberately closed my eyes and clenched my fist. It was my own way of signaling that I wouldn’t be a distraction.
“Hey… Ellen.”
Even so, Yuna still spoke to me. I tried to maintain composure, casually raising my eyes without showing much interest. However, with just one question, Yuna shattered my composure.
“But, aren’t you studying?”
“…Huh?”
“It’s exam season. Can you afford to slack off like this?”
“Uh…”
I lost my words at the unexpected question. No, in fact, I couldn’t have said anything from the beginning. I pondered and eventually gave an unreasonable answer.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Why?”
“Well…”
There was no reason for the thoughtless response I blurted out. Of course, I had my own logic of not doing it just because it wasn’t fun, but that ridiculous reasoning couldn’t possibly apply to Yuna. Eventually, I blurted out a crumbling remark.
“Well… I guess I should…”
“Really?”
Then Yuna’s eyes lit up, and she turned towards me. And with a very cheerful voice, she made a suggestion.
“Then should I teach you?”
“Huh?”
Once again, I was taken aback by the unexpected comment. But Yuna continued pouring out words with a satisfied expression.
“I’ve noticed that you never seem to study at all. I’ll teach you a bit. How about it? Is it okay?”
“But…”
“There’s learning while teaching, so it’s not a bad idea. How about it? You don’t have anything to do during lunch anyway.”
“Well…”
“Great. How about this? Every time you solve a problem, I’ll pat your head once. Is that enough?”
“Isn’t that the opposite of normal?”
I timidly pointed out, but soon shut my mouth. It felt like our positions had suddenly switched. Maybe it was because I was tired. Today’s Yuna felt somewhat strange.
But in reality, the proposition itself didn’t disadvantage me. It would be nice for me to learn studying from someone like Yuna too. The problem was that compared to Yuna, my level was despairingly low. Could I really teach this foolish me? Concern overshadowed gratitude. And above all, if I wanted to study properly, I would have to go to the library or something…
…Tock.
While pondering my thoughts, Yuna’s hand suddenly gently held mine. It wasn’t the first time our hands touched, yet I was startled and looked at her. Once again, her unique puppy-like eyes collided with mine.
“Do you dislike it…?”
“Uh…”
I had to say I disliked it. Studying there wouldn’t lead to proper learning in various ways. However, looking into those eyes, it was almost impossible to say I didn’t like it. In the end, I answered as if crumbling.
“Alright…”
“…So, let’s start from here. The establishment of the empire and the birth of imperial law.”
“Uh… okay.”
“Honestly, learning imperial history is not that difficult if you just memorize it. Do you find memorization challenging?”
“Yeah. It’s difficult.”
“Then, are you good at solving equations? Or understanding principles? Is memorization easier for you, or understanding?”
“If I say both are difficult, will you get angry?”
A foolish answer followed, making me feel pathetic. Yuna seemed a bit surprised, and eventually, her true feelings came out.
“No, I won’t get angry… but you’ve neglected studying for too long.”
“Is that so? If it’s tough, we can start now…”
“No, it’s okay. Let’s go through it step by step from the beginning.”
Her response felt more like determination than kindness. Perhaps it was a resolve to somehow turn this fool into a person. Even this fool felt a sense of regret at this moment. Yet, Yuna’s patience was remarkable.
“Since you seem to know a bit about magic studies, let’s start with that. Based on what you said last time, it seems you have a basic understanding. Is that right?”
“Yeah. I found it interesting, so I paid attention.”
“Found it interesting…? Anyway, that’s good. Can you solve problems of this level?”
“Uh… wait a moment. I remember. Is this related to that Luca test?”
“Lucard Testa. And it’s not solved like that…”
Yuna raised her pencil and bowed towards me. I was a bit surprised, trying to create some distance, but Yuna, on the contrary, grabbed my shoulders and leaned in closer.
“Now, look. This is about the correlation between blessing and curse. So, you need to use something other than the anti-magic formula.”
“But, Yuna, it feels a bit close.”
“What’s the big deal? Just look quickly. You don’t know this, right? Don’t worry about unnecessary things, focus.”
“Yeah.”
Unnecessary things. It wasn’t me who paid attention to such things, but rather your side. However, today’s Yuna was unusually devoid of any distance. Despite concentrating on studying, her actions even conveyed a slight sense of intimacy.
“Okay. Got it?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re not listening well. Look quickly.”
“Yeah…”
Yuna came even closer to me. Now the distance was so close that our cheeks were about to touch. I couldn’t do this or that and struggled to focus on the content, lowering my gaze.
But even so, I couldn’t concentrate. Every time Yuna opened her mouth to explain, our cheeks eventually touched, and each time, a warm, baby-like scent filled my mouth. The strands of hair flowing down tickled my neck, and I found myself wanting to laugh unintentionally. In such a situation, it was impossible to focus only on studying.
‘…’
Moreover, on the other side of the bookshelf, I sensed a suspicious presence.
The identity of that presence was clear, so there was no need to wonder who it was. And she, too, seemed to be aware of that fact, making no effort to conceal her identity. Instead, she pulled out a few books, creating space on the shelf, and sent a message from beyond.
‘s*x. Do it.’
“…”
‘Now’s the perfect time. Start with a kiss. And touch.’
“…”
“Where are you looking right now? Look at the book.”
“Sorry.”
‘s*x. s*x. s*x. s*x.’
It had been a while since I tried to study, but there were so many distractions. This was how Yuna felt when she studied in the classroom. Only now did it feel like I understood her feelings.
Already with a troubled mind, and now with an environment like this, there was no way studying could go well. Eventually, progress became uncertain, and Yuna, who was already tired, began to get even more exhausted.
“…Do you understand now? Does it make sense…?”
“Yuna, aren’t you tired right now?”
“No… I’m fine. Don’t worry, just focus.”
“Yeah. Sorry.”
In the end, I apologized and slouched my shoulders. By this point, I was starting to feel a bit sorry. I should have studied earlier. Of course, it was a belated regret. Even if I could go back to the past, I wouldn’t have had any intention of studying.
The environment wasn’t conducive to it, either.
Suddenly, forgotten memories from the past began to resurface. One by one, various memories floated to the surface, and something that had been lying beneath them slowly started to emerge. Memories with the feel of aged dust, left untouched for too long. After being buried for so long, they surfaced, revealing traces of memories like bubbles.
…
But now, the memories were too blurred to recall clearly, so I shook my head to push them away. Then, I turned my head towards Yuna.
“Hey, Yuna. Now…”
“…”
“Yuna?”
I called her name again, but Yuna didn’t respond. She just nodded slightly. And at some point, she leaned her head on my shoulder.
Thud.
“…”.
In the end, she fell asleep, unable to overcome her fatigue. It was understandable. In fact, it was even more surprising that she managed to fall asleep at this point. I only moved my head to rest it against the back of the chair, making sure she wouldn’t wake up. And then, I let out a deep sigh.
“Haah…”
“Mmm…”
A faint breath escaped from her rested head. Youngae-nim, who would usually make a fuss at the slightest touch, had a peaceful and well-behaved sleeping face. It was almost disorienting to think about how she used to be the villainous Youngae from before.
Come to think of it, this is the first time Yuna has fallen asleep at school. Even during classes that were so difficult that more than half the class fell asleep, Yuna always managed to stay focused until break time. Thinking about it, she practically spent the whole day concentrating on her studies without losing focus.
Sometimes, because of her appearance, people mistakenly thought she was not human but an ironclad noble. But seeing her asleep like this, Yuna is just like any other person, just like me. The feeling of guilt deepened when I thought about how I had tormented her all this time.
“…”
“Mmm… Hmm…”
“…”
Should I stroke her head now?
With that thought in mind, I slowly reached out my hand. She would be angry if she woke up, but I thought it would be better to finish everything right now. I focused all my attention on ensuring she wouldn’t wake up and gently stroked her head with my other hand.
“…”
“Mmm…”
“…”
“Hmm… Mmm…”
[…]
However, no matter how much I stroked her head, there was no response in her mind. It seemed that it wouldn’t work unless Yuna was conscious. Well, now that I think about it, it was obvious. After all, the sponsor wants us to become closer, so if one of us is unconscious, no matter how much skinship there is, it would be useless.
In the midst of thinking such thoughts, I heard a noise from the other side of the bookshelf. I looked up and saw Iriya staring at me with a dissatisfied expression. She shook her head and gestured as if she was frustrated.
“If it were me, I would just do it now.”
…”
“I’ll at least touch your heart.”
“…”
From Noble mtl dot com
Those were empty words. It was absurd to expect personal desires in return for kindness. It made no sense. Of course, I too couldn’t help but be conscious of my racing heart at the sound of your breath. And even though I could catch a glimpse of your fair thighs just by lowering my head, and feel a strange emotion from the breath on my neck, I couldn’t bring myself to do such a thing. Even if it were me, I wouldn’t want to be subjected to such acts while asleep. If it were to happen, I would rather it be done properly while awake…
…
…
What am I saying?
The more I thought about it, the more it bothered me. But I couldn’t just sit still. In the end, I continued to stroke Yuna’s hair. They say dogs sleep better when they’re petted. With that in mind, I meticulously ran my fingers through her hair. And before I knew it, I blurted out a single phrase.
“You’re a good girl, Yuna.”
“…”
“Yeah… You’re a good girl…”
“…”
Maybe it was because I thought of her as a dog. Such words kept popping out unintentionally. It was just an action without much thought. But then, suddenly, a message rang in my head.
“[Yuna has donated 1000 won.]”
…?
What is this all of a sudden?
While continuously stroking her hair, I tilted my head and focused on the voice. What is it? Could it be that a new mission has been opened? Perhaps that mission marked with a question mark was actually “praise and pet the head.” I didn’t know. I kept praising her while stroking her hair.
“You’re good, so good. Beautiful Yuna.”
“…”
“You have a pretty face and a good personality. Your figure is kind too, Yuna.”
“…Mmm.”
As she did so, Yuna once again puffed her face and took a deep breath. However, unlike before, a remarkably clear voice emerged. Only then did I realize. It was the voice that woke me up from sleep.
But perhaps embarrassed by what was happening in this situation, Yuna desperately pretended to be asleep, tightly closing her eyes. And that was enough to stimulate my hidden mischief.
“But the more I think about it, the more annoying it gets.”
“…?”
“How can you be so pretty and excel in studies like this?”
“Uh… um…”
“But above all, what’s most charming is that chest of yours.”
“…!”
“A considerate heart that warmly embraces even an ordinary person like me.”
“…Um…!”
“But still, there’s one flaw that overshadows everything.”
“…?”
“The flaw of being too perfect.”
“Uh… um…”
[Yuna has donated 1000 won.]
“hahahaha…”
By this point, it might have been time for her to realize. However, Yuna, pretending not to know, desperately kept her eyes closed. Seeing her awkward acting, my true feelings unintentionally surfaced.
“Really cute.”
“…”
“That’s why, naturally, I…”
In that moment, without even realizing it, my true feelings almost burst out again. I was taken aback and my lips trembled, causing my words to fade away. But I was curious about what she would say next, and after a long silence, Yuna’s lips slowly parted.
“What do you…mean by saying that?”
“…”
When I turned my head, Yuna was already looking at me with wide-open eyes. Even though I already knew she was awake, my heart fluttered for no reason.
“I mean…that…”
I started to explain, but then I closed my mouth again. I didn’t even know what I was trying to say. Yuna suddenly moved away from my shoulder and stared at me intently. Soon, a current heavier than silence and lighter than stillness began to flow between us.
And as if it were destiny, the sound of rain started to echo through the locked silence.
Shhh…
…
…
…
The refreshing sound of rain was so strong that it seemed to sweep away everything in the library. Our gaze, which had been locked onto each other, naturally turned towards the window. The unexpectedly pouring rain conveyed a lot of meaning to me. I put all that meaning into words and slowly let them escape my lips.
“It’s raining.”
“It’s the first time I’ve seen rain here.”
“Is it your first time seeing rain?”
“…No. So, what were you going to say?”
“Don’t worry about it. But, more importantly, I left the window open. It’s a big problem.”
I replied half-seriously. Upon hearing my somewhat mumbled words, Yuna chuckled and said,
“Well, then the room will get a little wet.”
“No. It’s not that level.”
In response to my somewhat serious answer, Yuna looked at me with a tilted head, her gaze coming from below. It was too cute to resist pushing up the corners of my mouth, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so. In the end, I spoke calmly with a face devoid of any trace of laughter.
“My dorm is in the basement.”