10 Chapter 1.9

The development is so entirely in context that I can only apologize, apparently ever since Persia left, I had been standing near the glass door— without moving an inch for more than 30 seconds already.

And Kuroyuki ignored my existence completely by reading her book silently, not even bothering to take up her guard towards me.

Yet, she does not have any openings.

…Scary.

Is this the confidence of the strongest student?

Unlike Persia Silverlight— Kuroyuki Shiroha doesn't seem to be the interactive type. Awkwardness and tension has no meaning to her, because she's the one who created them instead. I would be feeling a whole lot less stressed if they had just left me by myself. Being in an isolated environment as I usually am, would make me feel more at ease.

…The sound of a page of her book flipping was so dreadfully slow that I could hear it flapping loudly.

The blanket of tension in this very classroom is truly and extremely suffocating. Even though I had my complaints about this situation, such was already anticipated right even before from the start, so anything related to my complaints were now all turned to nothingness.

…So awkward.

Not even having myself interviewed by Restia`s school teacher gives me this sort of feeling…

Anyways…

Kuroyuki Shiroha.

The very legendary celebrity of the Imperial Knights Academy is right in front of my eyes.

I originally thought I was going to scream excitedly like an extremist fan who saw his favourite idol. But things definitely do not turn out to how I expected to be. I guess any random schoolmate who got the chance to sight her might try to get an autograph, but I guess it will be futile till the very bitter end. The ‘stay away from me’ aura she`s emitting is too freakishly strong.

…That's why I was forced to stay on edge, near the door.

I doubt there`s any student in this school here other than Persia is able to get hers. How could she even manage that?

At any rate, I never thought that through this turn of events, I could be acquainted with her. What's more, it turns out I`m the only one in this school who had such a privilege to be sharing the same classroom with the school`s legend.

Ever since I`ve known about the achievements she`d made, which the information was sent to me by ‘that guy’, also known as the principal of the Imperial Knights Academy (I had some grudge with him, so whenever I mentioned ‘that guy’ or ‘that person’ or ‘that bastard’, all of it meant him)— my interest was piqued.

Because she had such amazing talent, I`d never thought she could be this stunningly beautiful.

Normally talented people were usually average looking... or worse, perhaps. Though beauty is not something that can be decided about oneself subjectively… But anyways, I judged based on my opinion… If I say my little sis is cute, then you`d have no choice but to think she's cute.

In other words, she's talented and beautiful— exactly what Persia had told me. And the word ‘unfair’ had crossed my mind for a moment.

The thought of the God of Creation to be ‘unfair’, crossed my mind— until I saw her expression.

A pained expression that I could never forget— that etched deep into my heart.

The God of Creation was too fair, in fact.

I know she suffered through hell once. Such a thing was not supposed to happen to a young teenage human girl like her. That's why, as who she is now… I had no complaints.

Now then, back to where I started…

“…………”

How awkward. Nothing has changed.

Should I approach and talk to her? But then again, I think I shouldn't be hasty. I don't even know what to talk about. If I approach carelessly, I might end up being dead, at worst case— or so I was told by Persia. Okay… I might be exaggerating about this life and death matter. Let's just assume this as something like ‘near death’.

…I`d rather choose to end up dead than being near death.

At any rate, I had been trying to read her for quite a while, but there's nothing I could read at all.

I sort of understood Persia`s feelings now.

You can't blame me for acting like a chicken. I had never been through such an awkward situation in my life. If I were to explain our current situation, it`d be…

One boy and one girl, locked in a room.

A déjà vu.

If there`s the slightest misunderstanding, my reputation will be gone for good.

When I was with Persia— I don't even have the time to think about our situation. Both of us are guiding our conversations and we are having our little chat the whole way. Why does everything turn out to be this different when I was with Kuroyuki Shiroha?

I need an SOS— Hmm…? An email icon suddenly popped up.

Could it be Persia…?

I pressed the icon. My screen immediately shifts and expands to an A4 letter size.

‘From: The Principal of the Imperial Knights Academy’

“…………”

Speak of the devil.

Such perfect timing. Is he stalking me?

If there's a choice, I`d like to delete or ignore his email— and he knew I was going to do so, so he spammed another three times afterwards.

Fine then. Let's see what you wrote…

‘Dear special student number 2,’

…Now he didn't even bother to put my name. But come to think of it, at least it's better than the nickname he gave me.

‘First and foremost, I`d like to congratulate you for finally enrolling in my academy. It seems you scored second in the entrance exams— second. Haha, I laughed for quite a while. Is the confidence you boasted so proudly about was nothing but a farce? If you'd like, I could send you my laughing recording.’

On vague impulse, I deleted the email.

YOU SHITTY OLD MAN!!! WHAT DID I EVER DID TO YOU!? IT'S NOT EVEN MY FAULT!!!

…Curse the other me. He's the one who simply made a deal to him!

The second email expands afterwards.

‘I`d assume you already deleted my email once at this point. Why such a hurry? Did something good happen? Well… of course you were. After all, you were arranged to the same class with the school's number one flower. And I'm sure you'd realize by now, but I will remind you just in case.

One boy, one girl. Inside a locked room. And will be living under the same roof.’

On another impulse, I deleted the email.

Damn. I hate it when he's right.

The third email pops up.

‘I assumed you deleted my email again. At any rate, I don`t think you`ve the guts nor power to assault her, and thanks to that— I`m now rest assured. I will leave this troublesome student under your care, and it will last till you graduate.’

…From his words, it seems like he just threw a troublesome job to me.

‘Anyways, do you like to know why I have sent you an email? Because you were now standing at the edge of the classroom, with nothing to do but to struggle inside your mind— trying to start a conversation to the girl in front of you. And you were unable to do so because you were such a useless brat. So I sent you an email because you clearly needed help.’

I deleted the email.

...the fourth and last email pops up.

‘Be careful now. This is the last email. You sure don't know how to appreciate my help, don`t you? But I'm a nice guy, so I will let this slide through. Remember, I'm a nice guy, so here's a present for you to kill time as well. If you look at the file below, it contains the plans about the building you currently stand. And I suggest you should check the classroom first.’

I breathed heavily as I tried to forget his sarcasm.

…Maybe not. The next time I see him, I'm definitely going to punch him with all I`ve got.

Putting that aside, I selected the file below. Another screen appeared and expanded to an A3 size— displaying the whole structure of the special building with a 3D view.

Huh… this building has a name, known as ‘The White Mansion’. Hmm… I guess it`s copying the name like ‘The White House’.

I selected the first floor.

The screen then zooms in to the first floor, with the first floor`s structure placed on top view.

By the way, the first floor contains three rooms.

My classroom, Kuroyuki`s room, and my room.

Our bedrooms are one-sixth of the whole first floor each.

The path at both sides when you walk outside the lift was actually an entrance towards our room. Kuroyuki`s room was at the right while mine was at the left.

I then selected the classroom.

It then zooms in again to the classroom, still at top view. It's like we were inside a box.

If you look in from the main entrance, the left side— one third of the area was covered by the kitchen and dining section. In that one third area, the kitchen section is twice the size of the dining section.

Since we were allowed to cook, I selected the kitchen`s three dimensional model.

Wow. I will skip the details here— this kitchen is something like a dream kitchen for chefs. It contains the most advanced and best kitchenware as well as a 100% guarantee of ingredients with great quality and freshness. This means I can cook anything as long as I know how to. Sweet.

Now, the dining section. It consists of two tables for dining— one big and one small. The large table is suitable for around 18 persons while the small one is suitable for 4 persons. There are several other sofas and tea tables. From the look of it, it seems we are allowed to invite some friends to come over— but it's not like I have a friend or something…

Next, the centre. Ignoring the door from the entrance as well as both of the doors connected to our rooms, the centre was limited to a square space. The square space contains our personal chairs, freely movable and some highly advanced function— like some sort of butler serving drinks or massages.

Since the teachers aren't allowed to enter The White Mansion, they will be teaching from their own simulation room. It seems the classroom will be projected by a three dimensional hologram; the teachers can interact with us through the hologram.

At the right side of the upper half corner of the classroom— is the arts and crafts section.

Starting from traditional arts such as drawing, painting, ceramics, sculptures, etc… And there`s modern arts such as digital drawing, printmaking, and so on. A variety of choices. I`m the art person type, but it seems I won't ever get bored with this.

Lastly, the bottom right corner— the meeting room.

It is specifically requested from the principal. Any meeting between us and the principal will be held inside that room, protected by an isolating system to make sure not a single byte of the data we discussed leaked out.

Huh… this is quite convenient. But it doesn't seem to be designed by that bastard.

Let's just finish what he has first.

‘Yeah, yeah. I know what you are thinking. As if I had time to design this stupid mansion that burned so much of my finance. Obviously, the girl in front of you was the one who designed it— from the structure till the interior systems. If you need the administration system as well as the specific details about this mansion— just ask her. I gave you an opportunity to talk, so cherish it.’

Fine, I appreciate it. But no matter how much you helped— I still hate you.

‘Lastly, here`s a warning. Persia Silverlight was just a first year`s student council president, and I'm sure you already know that your authority is higher than her and even the executives, just below me— any information you have been doing as a special student needs to be kept a secret. DO NOT RUN YOUR MOUTH AND EXPOSE ANY UNNECESSARY CLASSIFIED SECRETS TO ANYONE, GOT IT?

But of course, there are two students who are exceptional. Obviously, your partner, Kuroyuki Shiroha. As for the second one— I will tell you some other time. Try to deal with your partner first— although I may have told her about your arrival, but who knows what she will do to you? I can't wait to see how you were going to surrender. I will definitely record your face when you beg me to expel you.’

After finishing the last sentence, something inside my brain seems to have snapped.

GOD, I HATE HIM!!!

Just as I was about to delete the email, I noticed there was still something written below.

‘If by chance you didn't delete the email and saw this— Though I hate to say this to you, good luck and enjoy your school-life here. We will meet soon, very soon.’

Hmm… Maybe he's not that bad of a person after all. He just likes to tease me…

‘P.S. I`m short of funds lately, when will you resupply the funds for the academy?’

…or not.

What do you take me for? An Automated Teller Machine (ATM)?

Let's reply to something I'd learnt from social media.

‘FUCK YOU OLD MAN.’

And send.

“Ah…”

Satisfying.

“…how about you stop standing there, making that disgusting look and sit down already?”

…A cold muttering.

Her chilling voice made my spine shivered.

Ugh. She was really displeased. Her eyes are glaring at me as if to say ‘You are annoying, why are you even alive?’ She's probably the only person who could glare at me with perfectly unwavering, shudderingly cold eyes.

Really. Do you need to go that far? And you`d even told me to sit next to you, too. With that glare, anyone who sat just next to you would`ve felt pressurized.

So… Maybe until I could get used to it.

“Yeah… no thanks.”

“…do I need to repeat myself…?”

A soulless, cold, and scary glare topped with a chillingly cold voice.

I couldn't help but flinch.

A reflex, if you will.

It seems I don't have any other choice.

“...Don't even think about it.”

“Erk…!”

I intended to move my chair further away from her. She completely saw through it and shut me down before I could do so.

With nothing left, I completely obeyed her and sat on my seat.

Uncomfortably.

Just when I realized it, she's been messing with her screen while keeping me in check. It seems she was messing with the system even before she told me to sit.

“Whoa?!”

My floating chair suddenly moves— no, our chairs are moving. It seems Kuroyuki is moving us to the window… Huh?

From the floor plan earlier, aren't we like, inside a box? The window is installed right next to the door to Kuroyuki`s room. If there's a window, aren`t I`m supposed to see Kuroyuki`s room instead of the outside scenery…?

“…this is a monitor connected to all of the views of the windows within this building.” Kuroyuki said. “I`m merely connecting it to the window in my room.”

That said, she activated another screen. Shifting the views from each window that was displayed on the monitor.

“…I`m giving you the administrative system of this mansion now.” She murmured.

‘Kuroyuki Shiroha is sending multiple files to you. Accept?’

“A-Ah…”

Accept.

It completed after a few seconds.

…She even gave me the details about the mansion`s control system.

‘…That was sudden.’ I thought.

Seeing that I'm being unresponsive due to the sudden change of atmosphere, Kuroyuki took me back to reality by shooting me with her deadly glare.

“…what is it that you want to ask?”

An angel-like voice, followed by a cold smile.

…the fact that even that kind of combination could look good on Kuroyuki was a mystery.

“Erm… I think I will understand how this building works after I play around with the administrative system.” I replied as I gave her a sceptical look.

Kuroyuki said nothing. Not even demanding any thanks or whatsoever.

She tilted her head slightly to her right with her unchanging, cold smile— implying that I should spit out what's inside of my mind before she got annoyed.

“……” She noticed.

This girl… is crazily scary, sharp, and forceful.

Before I'm going to say what's on my mind, I took a deep breath.

“Why did you choose me?” I said, “Even though you`d agreed I`m not good enough for you…”

Directly, straight to the point.

“…I didn't choose. You are the one who chose to stay.”

“What…?”

I was dumbfounded.

I`m the one who chose to stay…?

Kuroyuki then appeared to be slightly miffed. For some reason, her gaze directed away from me, and she had a distant look in her eyes. Thanks to that, I found myself realizing that the gentle curve of the outline of her chin to her neck was beautiful.

“…You are the only one who stayed from my glare…”

A glare that could kill ten peoples— but that was only the surface of it. It's as if she killed several thousand before. But despite that, there's still something deep within— something else… as if she's the one who's asking me to stay here instead.

“…and the second strongest…” She whispered.

It's extremely quiet. It was so quiet that it wasn't meant to be heard. But I hear it. A remark that can't be ignored.

“If I`m the second strongest you`ve met so far, why didn't you choose the strongest?”

Though she appeared to have flinched for a slight moment— but Kuroyuki did not say anything. She merely responded with a self-deprecating smile as she looked away from the monitor.

Afterwards, she took a small breath.

A small breath that sounds extremely tired, painful and chillingly cold— as it echoed throughout the silent classroom.

…Even an idiot would know how to respond towards that.

It's too late to pretend I did not hear anything. All I can do is to apologize.

“……sorry—”

“No, it's my fault for not being considerate…”

Yet, Kuroyuki apologized to me before I could do so. She looked at me with an unwavering look.

“…it's alright.”

“………………”

This is the first time she'd shown me her actual smile.

As she smiled, I learned whether or not she had dimples or a double tooth peeking out.

In other words, she was really cute.

…Such a foul play.

“…I'm quite astonished.” She suddenly murmurs.

“Astonished?”

It'd probably be about me. Well, it was just a guess. I couldn't tell what she's thinking at all.

“……………”

Somehow, she leaned forward and stared at me with a serious gaze— as if she's trying to take a closer look, as if she's trying to see through me.

Her gaze reminds me of Persia.

“………Erm…?”

She'd been staring at me for five whole seconds already. It made me all tensed up.

There seems to be many things on her mind, but it seems she`s sorting her questions by order.

Here comes…

“…are you a stalker?”

“What!? That's what you were thinking!?”

Her first question totally blew off my mind. I was expecting something way more than that. Is this a joke?

“…answer honestly. Your life and death depends on it.” She uttered.

She's totally serious!

So… Persia`s joke can't even be considered as a joke at all.

“I'm not.” I protested. “Why would I even stalk you for…?”

“…because I'm too beautiful.”

“…………”

Kuroyuki said it naturally without being particularly embarrassed nor prideful. Rather, she wore her usual, unchanging cold expression.

“…you already knew why I set up a force field.” She added.

Kuroyuki then puffed her cheeks a little and looked away. She looks somewhat irritated as if she recalled some unpleasant memories.

“Well yeah… that may be so…”

There's no room for me to disagree at all. Her beauty is truly something… troubling.

“…You have no idea how hard it is for me. 96% of the boys and 73% of the girls in this academy confessed to me.”

“How extreme! That's nearly three quarters of the academy?!” I inadvertently blurted out.

I didn't expect her to record this.

…Now I see her reason. With this sort of number, it's definitely necessary to take her guard up against perverts and stalkers.

You could say she's probably the type to say ‘being beautiful is a sin’.

It is.

I can't even look at her in the eye for more than 10 seconds. Any much more than that my mind would start to turn blank and something within me would start to run wild.

“……So, you are here to stalk me, aren't you?”

Such ear-piercing words.

“No way! He! Didn't we just finish that already!?”

“…Then, the next one. I can tell you are itching to confess, prepare yourself.”

Kuroyuki leaned back on her chair and glared at me with intent to kill.

The classroom`s atmosphere— I mean it, turned cold. My lungs hurt every time I breathe.

This is bad. I need to stop her before I`d actually die for real.

“Just calm down! Why are you assuming that I`ve got a thing for you!?”

“…You are here to amend what you`ve failed. There's no better reason for you to make an excuse for getting lost all the way up there.”

She nonchalantly cocked her head in puzzlement and made a confused face.

…So she would have acted cute whenever she wanted. I`ll admit— you got a ten out of ten there.

So all of those she said we're just to guide our conversation to clear her doubts. Her doubts on my appearance at the ‘Pink Drop’ tree.

She`d guide it so naturally too. This girl is cunning as usual.

But there's no way for me to clear her doubts. I`m sure the answer I said was definitely not the answer she wanted to hear.

Guess I will just answer honestly.

“Believe me, I don`t know it either.” I said with an awkward smile.

“…Okay. I believe you.”

“What!? You really do!?”

I was completely caught off guard. I didn't expect her to believe me…!

“…But…” Kuroyuki hesitated for a moment. “...nearly every male organism that approached me confessed… Unless— you are…”

She had a disgusted look on her face. A belittling look, as if she's staring at a germ. She'd word it as ‘male organism’ too.

If I don`t refute her claim, then there`s no point in living as a man anymore. Accepting myself to be gay is something I`d choose to die instead.

“I`m not gay! Why do you even have such a conclusion!?”

“…Even a married scum is willing to throw away his family.”

Kuroyuki`s eyes flashed as if it`s shooting daggers at me, with a scowl deadly enough to make a sound. Only a girl cursed by beauty was capable of such an expression so alarmingly powerful that it would unwillingly draw you in and completely overwhelm you.

…that is to say, it was seriously scary.

Though it may sound romantic for a moment— but I couldn't agree more to her ‘scum’ remark. Throwing away your family just like that… is nothing but the works of scum. If you don`t love your wife, then don`t marry her right from the start!

Such stupidity. She must`ve felt terrified when she heard about this. It's my fault for reminding her of such a tragedy— I better apologize.

“Kuroyuki, I—”

PAK!

She snaps her fingers.

“—WHOA HEY!!?”

In that very instant, an ice spear suddenly came flying to me— aiming my neck. Luckily my reflexes are fast enough to catch it in time— with my right hand, just a few centimetres away from my neck.

“(Huff… Huff…) WHY DID YOU DO THAT FOR!!?” I glared at her.

Because it was so abruptly sudden, I yelled to her out of a burst of anger— without sparing a single thought on who she was. And before I'd realize it— her spear was snapped into two by my grip.

However, our Kuroyuki Shiroha did not feel the least bit afraid, and instead she reacted by returning a dead-serious glare as she voiced out her thoughts.

“…You are going to CONFESS, aren't you?”

Dang. She`s being dead serious on something stupid.

…Now I don't really give a damn.

“I was going to apologize for reminding you of something unpleasant! I know you are sensitive to things like these, shouldn`t you at least let me finish my sentence before you are going to attack!?”

When I came to realize it, I was standing. Naturally, I was looking down to her.

…And Kuroyuki was completely surprised.

Perhaps this is the first time someone at her same age scolded her.

Honestly, a part of me was thinking— I'm dead for good. And another part of me was thinking to finish my sentence before I`m going to die.

…Both parts are saying that my chance of survival was zero. So I would die either way…

“Sigh… I`m your partner. Can`t you give me the slightest bit of trust?”

I hung my head low and placed my hand on my temple as I sat back on my chair naturally.

“…I`m sorry...”

Kuroyuki`s expression became despondent after she reflected on her actions.

Thank goodness. I survived.

“You really are different...” She murmured, with a bitter smile.

“Nah… I forgive you. It's not your fault to begin with.”

“…you have no idea how hard it is for me to deal with them…”

She's extremely annoyed by it. To mean it, she deliberately huffs out a small sigh to enhance her irritation.

I inadvertently remembered her words from earlier.

96% of the boys… And yet—

“Not a single one caught your eye…? Aren't there at least someone out there you are interested in?”

“…Ngh…” Kuroyuki pouted, “I'm giving you a chance…” then she furrowed her brows and glared at me.

Is this a warning…? It seems like it.

To be honest, her grumble was so cute that I doubted it for a moment. All my attention was focused on the ‘ngh…’ part that hit on me so unexpectedly.

“No, no, no. I'm not going to hit on you.” I quickly denied. “It was just pure curiosity.”

“…Have you ever heard? Curiosity kills the cat.”

She`s warning me not to pry any deeper… But if I turned her words on the other way…

“You could actually rest assured of that. I`m not a cat.”

“…………”

Not good. Her eyes narrowed. She's thinking I'm taking her as a fool.

“Look here, it's not that I have friends to talk to.”

Admitting I don't have any friends doesn't hurt one bit. But when she's on the verge of actually laughing, it actually succeeded to do some damage to me.

“I-It's not like you have friends either!” I remarked.

I`m quite certain she had a situation similar to me.

Alone. Lonely.

However, as Kuroyuki shifted her gaze back at me and stared at me with a tender gaze yet a sombre smile— I understood something.

That person— her friend, saved her.

Like how a certain someone saved me.

“…True. I don't have friends here.” She said. “…Even you of all the other people here… could only stare into my eyes for ten seconds at most.”

Urk.

She realized…!

“May… maybe I will get used to it someday.”

I laughed awkwardly.

“…perhaps.” She murmured softly— with a smile.

A sombre smile that froze on her face.

I might've said something wrong… it seems she remembered something unpleasant.

Though anyone would`ve pretended nothing had happened to her… but I had a feeling inside me— I just can't leave her alone no matter what.

If that's the case… let's start with something obvious. She could`ve already known but… I guess I will go with it.

“Ah, right. I forgot to introduce myself… my name is…”

“…Special Student Number Two?” Kuroyuki interrupted.

“That's not a freaking name!”

I yelled at her.

“…I know. But the principal told me to call you that…”

“Just ignore him!”

That stinking bastard… My name isn't something to mess with!

“…Fine then, Lucifer Nightwalker von Nightmare.”

Ugh… She really knows my name.

Someone high and almighty like her knew my name.

I actually felt a little honoured… or even proud.

But that tone— if I`m not mistaken… Persia called me by my full name with such a tone earlier— when she questioned me.

“Go on.” I told her.

“…Why did you come all the way here? What is your purpose? Your goal…?”

I wondered why, but there's a bit of sadness masked behind Kuroyuki`s usual cold expression.

Of course, I don't know the reason why she acted like that. There`s no way I would`ve asked.

All I can do— is to answer her question like how I answered Persia.

“I came here to enjoy school life.” I said.

Kuroyuki immediately let out a short scorning sigh.

“…It's fine. We had a secret or two.”

As expected… she could tell it's a lie right away.

“…But you need a less obvious lie other than that.” She remarked.

…Is it really that obvious?

“Like what?” I said.

“…I came here for the 100% employment rate.” She said flatly.

“If someone other than you who takes this as a reason, I might believe it.”

Kuroyuki rubbed the right side of her forehead with her forefinger, it's as if she seemed to have a headache.

“…What makes you think so?” She refuted.

I think anyone would have answered her easily. She's an overwhelmingly talented person. She's already well-suited enough to be the top-tier elite at the society's market. But obviously, she knew that herself. That's why her question actually meant ‘there's nothing wrong with it, so come and expose me if you can.’

Well… it's not like I could easily win against you in an argument… I need a piece of solid evidence.

I stood up and went to the arts and craft section, taking a finished painting from the wooden rack stand.

It's A painting that caught my eye when I was looking around the classroom.

It's A simple painting of the ‘Pink Drop’ tree.

But yet— the clouds moved;

The grass fields swayed by the wind;

The leaves of the trees rustles;

The pink light sparkles;

As if the painting itself was alive. It was truly a masterpiece.

I took a quick glance at her, confirming that it was her work— I placed the painting back on the rack, walked back and sat down on my chair.

So… here comes.

“That painting, is it your work?”

“…Yes.”

“You are truly amazing.”

“…N.”

Kuroyuki doesn't look the least bit prideful. It's as if she thinks this is something normal.

“How long have you practiced till you achieve this kind of level…?”

“…three months.”

I was shocked when she replied three months so casually. Damn, is this even the work of a genius? She's even surpassing a genius.

“You are scary...”

“…………”

Kuroyuki`s forehead popped a vein.

Her glaring eyes are warning me— ‘continue to spin around in circles again, and you are dead.’

“Alright, it's my bad. Not even a genius is able to achieve this level in just three months! What's driving you so far to this extent?”

“…What makes you say that?”

She murmured in a monotone voice. It actually means ‘so what’?

“It's fine if you consider being a painter as your future dream but— obviously you aren't. This painting may be perfect— but the impression you gave me feels like you are trying to make everyone amazed till they are completely speechless. That itself already proves you aren't here for something as simple as a 100% employment rate.”

Hearing my argument— Kuroyuki then heaved a sigh, as if to cover up her irritation.

“…I underestimated you. You understood so much in just a piece of painting…”

“Just how trashy do you think I am?!”

I quickly protested against her remark. I can't let this slide through it all young lady!

“…dumping you into a fire pit…”

“I don't even get a chance to stay in a dustbin?!”

In response to my remark, Kuroyuki gently placed her hand on her temple as though she had a headache, and hung her head low.

“…you really do consider yourself as trash…” She muttered.

“No, no, no it was just a joke.” I quickly replied. “By the way, why did you come here?”

It was meant to make her forget what I`ve said. I don't want to leave any bad impressions on her. But then again, her reason to come here might not be as ridiculous as mine.

Kuroyuki went silent. It seems she`s deciding whether to tell me.

“…Fine then.” She said, staring at me with a cold look. “I will tell you since you want to know so much.”

“Then, what was the reason?”

“…I was told to come here.”

At first, I thought she was telling a lie just like what I did. But if you`d think about it, it actually suits more to be the truth rather than a lie.

“Told to come…? By who?”

“…My parents. They were the executives of this academy.”

…I`m not familiar with the executives. Her parents are executives…?

But for what reason she came here?

“…I won't answer your question. Everyone had a secret or two.”

If it wasn't for my tolerance that built up when I was with Persia— I would`ve told her to stop reading me.

At any rate, she`s clearly telling me to stop prying any further.

Then don`t worry, I won`t. I`m not the type to pry into others' business. It's not like I had time to pry in someone's else matter.

So… after the talk we had— I guess it's time for the greeting.

I stood up and took a step forward.

“Kuroyuki Shiroha. From today onwards, I will be counting on you.” I said, and reached out my right hand.

It was meant for her to shake it as an agreement.

Yet— she`s not buying it at all. Kuroyuki stared at my right hand like it was some sort of deadly disease that`d kill her in one simple touch— till the point that she'd gotten annoyed afterwards.

…What happened? Isn't it just an extremely simple handshake that everyone does it normally?

“…That's how it is.” She uttered.

“Huh?” I was stunned by the shock.

“…You are here to harass me like those scums… you should die after all…!”

The moment her eyes narrowed— the atmosphere immediately turned cold and dense.

I had difficulties breathing again.

“Hold it! How am I even harassing you!?” I quickly retorted.

“…You are trying to feel pleasure from my hand…!”

Her remark was so true and ridiculous that my mind went blank for three seconds.

Something inside my brain seems to have snapped afterwards. I`d realize that the corner of my mouth is twitching upwards.

“Am I THAT untrustworthy!? You told me I was different and you said you'd believe me…!”

Kuroyuki immediately looks away.

This implies that she remembers.

However—

“…It's A precaution.”

—she didn`t admit her faults. It seems she will never admit even if I remind her over and over again.

…Not like I had lots of free time to do so.

“Just shut up and shake my hand already.” I uttered.

With such a rude tone— naturally, our high and almighty Kuroyuki Shiroha felt extremely displeased.

“…My, my… Aren't you getting cocky…?”

She stood up and glared at me. But for some reason— she's grinning.

“You can't blame me for that. You are being too insecure with yourself. I know, it's normal for you— but you aren't alone now. Im your partner, so can't you trust me— even a little?”

“………………” Kuroyuki hesitated.

She looks— puzzled, confused.

But eventually…

“…Fine.”

She`d reach out her hand— trying to touch me. She`d poke it with her forefinger, and retreats— then tries again.

Is it really that hard to do so? It's as if she had never touched a person before…

After she'd try to poke my palm again— I'd grab it from my side…

A soft, squishy and smooth hand— as if I'm touching a cat's paw.

Kuroyuki jumped for a moment, and I'd grab her hand tighter for her to get used to it. But…

“C-C-C-C-COLD—”

I was so surprised that even my voice turned strange.

But yet— it's so cold that it pricks— and even froze my right palm.

“…I-It's not my fault. You surprised me…”

Her strong character suddenly feels like a princess that was freed from secular affairs.

Cute…

“Sorry.” I apologized.

I poured strength into my frozen hand— and crushed her ice to pieces with a grip.

“…Listen, Lucifer Nightwalker von Nightmare. Though I can accept you to be my classmate, but I can`t accept you as my partner.”

Her character suddenly changed back to her usual cold self.

“What? Why?”

“………Hehe.”

Kuroyuki did not say anything but an evil laugh.

From that evil laugh, I immediately understood what she wanted. Something I wanted to avoid, something I wanted to stop it from happening as much as possible.

“Look here, Kuroyuki— I don't want to fight you, I don't want to fight you, I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT YOU!!!”

She`d made me shout the same lines three times. I even shouted like a madman at the last part.

After she shot me a horrifying glare, she said…

“…I'm afraid you don't have a choice.”