21 Lavender Perfume

Just as I was thinking of this distant memory that I had suddenly remembered, I felt a force suddenly pull me back into a warm embrace.

Who…?

It can't be THAT idiot, could it?

S-She… She already abandoned me… didn't she?

If she was following me this entire time… then why didn't she reach out to me earlier?

Was she… W-WAS SHE HAVING FUN, WATCHING ME BEHAVE LIKE A FOOL IN FRONT OF HER?

I was about to forcefully push the person away, but before I could do so, the person's arms tightened around me, rendering me unable to move.

"Asu… be careful…" The girl's voice was soft yet hoarse.

My eyes narrowed.

What did she mean?

I furrowed my delicate eyebrows in annoyance, planning to shed all the pretense I typically showed and cuss out at her, but as if she had seen through me, that person buried my head into her chest, not allowing me to say a word.

T-T-This!

A waft of lavender perfume entered my nose, and against my will, my ears turned a striking shade of crimson.

Damn it!

I was sure that she could immediately see the change from her view. You see, she was a little bit taller than me—just a little bit, though, but nonetheless, she had that to her advantage.

But just because I blushed didn't mean that I was automatically stunned into a daze by her sudden attack.

"Mmph! Hm-Hm-Hmph-mpfth…"

(Translates to: Hey! Stop it! Let me go, you f*cker!)

T-T-This! Why is she so strong?!

Does she practice combat or something?! B-But… our school doesn't offer any swordsmanship studies or anything like that!

Even as my cheeks turned red from rubbing against the rough material of her low-quality uniform, I couldn't make any comprehendible speech.

Suddenly, the force pressing onto me loosened, but before I could examine myself or my surroundings, I was once again pulled away.

Despite this, though, it was impossible not to notice the vast clearing filled with lavishly dressed students lounging around nearby, with all the laughter and the low chatter.

Eh?

A clearing full of people?

For a second, my mind turned blank.

It was only when the stupid brat and I ran to a point where the clearing was no longer in sight that I realized something.

A clearing full of people!

A CLEARING FULL OF PEOPLE!

Ffhginfnfhjuhuhuiejnjugbhbydsffeuhuhehjhkbkuy ifihjitiqgi hcitbioyrhpmrhn!

FERKGIEUEOGHRUIGNEUYGHEUIOFREIOGPMIOJEUIGE!!!!

(VA note: Forgive me, holy readers, for I'm not adept at speaking in gibberish.)

OH GOD…

HOW CAN I BE SO STUPID?!

HOW COULD FORGET THAT I'M STILL AT THE PERHIPERHAL FORESTS OF THE ACADEMY AND RUN AROUND WITH SNOT, BOOGERS, AND TEARS ON MY FACE?!

And on top of that, I had unnoticingly arrived at such a crowded place...

NOT TO MENTION MY RAGGED LOOK! I MUST LOOK HORRIFYING!

I snuck a peek at the girl with long ebony hair before me, and suddenly, she didn't seem so sore to the eye anymore.

Indeed. If it weren't for Lancera, perhaps I would've lost a lot of face today—and a lot is an understatement. I bet I wouldn't be able to recover my reputation as the school goddess after that.

I involuntarily shuddered at the thought.

It didn't matter what Lancera's actual motives were; she still helped me.

So… S-S-Should I… should I say t-t-t-t-t-thank you?

Just then, the girl with breathtaking violet eyes turned around and faced me with a smile void of impurities.

But…

Hic.

Why do I have the nagging feeling that that smile was of the devil's?!