Chapter 8: A shy teaser (edited)

The first day of school ended unexpectedly swiftly. To be more accurate, this wasn't the actual first day of school. We just introduced ourselves and left it at that. Nothing notably better, but nothing worse. Aside from their eyes narrowing when it was my turn to speak up, everything else hit normal.

Also, aside from Dio (and our homeroom teacher's shapely ass), I decided to remember one of my classmates. The girl with the glasses earlier. Apparently, she's an ability holder from France. And what surprised me was her ability rank. She's an S class ability possessor.

Cadet Info;

[(Varvara Gauthier: 16)

(Ability: Forest Hymn)

(Ability type: Seraphim)]

I've heard that her abilities allow her to converse with animals and plants. An amazing ability, really. It was as if she were a fairy or a dryad. I understand I'm being a bit stereotypical here, but her kindness and shyness seem to fit her ability perfectly. If utilized properly, she may become an invaluable ally in warfare. After all, communication and support persist an army on the winning side. She's not the frail girl I imagined she was. She's just very shy.

As I was deep in thought, I heard a voice from behind.

"Uh, uhm… E-excuse me…" Oh, speak of the devil.

I'm on my way to see Reina's father when she, Varvara, calls out to me. I'm currently in the corridor and have just exited the classroom, so someone could catch up to me if they were to walk a little quicker. Although it turns that this was not the case for her. She seemed out of breath.

"Ah, miss Varvara. What's up? Do you need something? Also, did you run just to catch up to me?"

"Y-you remembered m-my name? T-thank you very much. huff, huff."

Ah, she's having a hard time. She's panting like crazy.

"First let's calm down a little, shall we? Relax and take a breath."

"O-okay. T-thank you very much. huff… haaa… phew," Her breathing returned to normal when she had relaxed a little. Just how frail is her endurance anyway? It was just a short distance, you know. Anyhow, let's get on to the main topic. Also, is using her first name sound too familiar? I'd stick with her surname from now on, just to be safe.

"Uhm, so what's wrong miss Gauthier? Did you need anything from me?"

"Ah, oh… uhm s-sorry." She looked a little disappointed, am I imagining it? "I-I don't need anything. I-its just… e-earlier, you saved me… s-so, thank you very much…"

Ah, so that's what it is. I feel bad for her thanking me like this when she was just inconveniently bugged by those morons. It's my fault she got caught in any of that nonsense. But, wow, she's a straight-laced shy girl. Her words kept floundering, and I could barely hear her. But her message is forthright. This makes me kind of delighted.

"You don't have to thank me, you know. If ever, I should be the one to apologize to you. I involved you in something so scary. I'm sorry," bowed my head a little.

"N-no! I-I was… standing on their way… s-so they've pushed me down. It was not y-your fault…"

I'm surprised. She may be shy but she's quite stubborn. She's a good girl. I'm glad that I decided to get to know her. And for now, accepting her gratitude is the only thing that I can do here.

"Well, if you say it like that then I will gladly accept your gratitude. You're welcome."

"R-really?! Thank you very much."

Whoa… that's a very bright smile you've got there. She was beaming as she says that. That's the brightest smile I've seen today.

"I-I'll be sure to thank you properly next time."

"Ah, you don't have to go that far.'

"I-I insist… I won't be satisfied otherwise!"

"I-I see… okay," she's quite forceful too. Well, this kind of things don't hurt once in a while.

"I-I'll do my best… s-so please when I do so… a-accept it…"

Her face is red, she was clearly blushing. She really steeled herself just to say all this, huh. Then I've got no other choice but to indulge her on her request.

"Yes, I will gladly accept." I replied to her with a smile. "Ah, before that can I also request one thing from you?"

"Y-yes?" Her bewildered face is quite fascinating.

"I want you to relax next time when we talk. I'd be happy if we could have a good conversation. I want to talk to you more. But I feel like I'd be troubling you if you act restless with me. I want you to relax at least when it was just the two of us. Will you be able to do that?"

Her eyes went wide for a moment and she fell into silence. I can tell since her glasses moved a little. Her face flushed a little redder than before. But after taking a deep breath, three or four times… she smiled at me, "yes, if that's what you want." …beautifully.

Ah, bomb! Somewhere in me felt like exploding.

"…"

"Ah, please call me Varvara. I don't mind."

"Okay, miss Varvara."

"No. Varvara. Just Varvara." Heh. She's more than what I thought she was.

"Okay, then Varvara. Please take care of me from now on." I stretched my hand for a handshake and she took it. Her hand is so smooth, soft. As expected of a girl's.

"By the way, you… make girls cry, don't you?" Huh?

She grinned from ear to ear and then turned around without waiting for an answer. She was giggling as she went her way back to the classroom…

"What… was that all about."

Varvara Gauthier; ability holder from France. Her appearance left a strong impression on me. Her chestnut colored hair tied into braided twin-tail. Her brown mysterious eyes hidden behind her thick-round glasses. For others she looked like a plain old side character, and her boobs like plains, too. But strangely I find her cute… And in our last conversation… with her smile and with her impish grin, at that last moment… I was left hanging.

Clearly, that one slip of a moment... she was teasing me.

With my mind racing with my thoughts of that conversation, I decided to make my way to my prior engagement...