Rebecca and Naomi
Contrary to their expectations, Cross just remained on his seat. He glanced around and noticed that everyone was looking at him.
He wondered if there was something on his face. But looking at their expressions, it looked like he was wrong.
W-What? What's the matter? Why was everyone looking at me in their serious faces? He was slightly confused. His brows arched upward.
He didn't hear what they were talking about just now because his mind was wandering somewhere. So, it confused him when he noticed that everyone was actually looking at him.
Honestly, he was thinking how or why the cutie beside him never ever sent a glance at him. Could it be that he's not attractive? That's impossible. He made sure to follow the manual on how to become attractive. He even had a new haircut.
"Gregor is right. We still have a chance!" A student with red hair said that, agreeing to Gregor, the guy with short blonde hair.
Cross was more puzzled hearing that. 'What are they talking about?' Cross thought.
Noticing that Cross hadn't looked provoked by his words, "Tsk!" Gregor clicked his tongue and exited the classroom with his hand inside his trouser's pockets.
After Gregor's silhouette disappeared, the other students sighed in relief and also started moving out with their company. The girl beside Cross also left without saying a word.
"….."
Cross looked at her and thought, 'Maybe she's a shy type?' Her figure disappeared on the door a moment later.
"Naomi, let's go to the cafeteria."
"O-okay. But I need to go to the faculty first."
"Let's go."
He heard those words from the other two students. When he glanced at them, 'They were also pretty', Cross thought inwardly.
While mulling, he suddenly heard Adam's words saying,
"Indeed," Cross nodded.
Cross was left alone. So, he decided to go to the cafeteria as well. While walking the hallway, "This is weird," he mumbled.
"No one seems attracted to me. Am I that ugly?"
"….."
"Really?"
"Then please tell me?"
Cross knitted his brows. "I see. So I just need more time and effort, eh," he said while rubbing his chin.
In the cafeteria, Cross was calmly drinking strawberry juice as if the whispers around him didn't bother him a little bit, even though some eyes were glancing at him from time to time.
"He's that freak," said someone as he pointed at Cross.
"Yeah. There are more freaks in the world and he's one of a kind. Well, let's not talk about him. We're just wasting our time."
Somewhere in the cafeteria, two girls also noticed Cross' presence.
"Look, Naomi, it's him. The transferee who came from the H.P. Institute." A girl with shoulder length purple hair and a yellow turban said as she pointed in Cross' direction.
Naomi wiped the tears in her eyes, then said, "I am very envious of your carefree behavior, Rebecca", said Naomi, the girl in front of Rebecca.
From Naomi's words, "Aha-ha…" Rebecca smiled wryly. Naomi looked at the transferee that Rebecca mentioned.
Her mouth opened again after a sigh. "I heard the teachers in the faculty mentioning about him
having no mana. Not only that, but he also got the lowest academic score", Naomi said to Rebecca.
"What? Really?" Rebecca asked with indication of surprise. "That's right. Well, that's what they said, so that might be true", said Naomi.
Rebecca looked at Cross as if pitying him. How could someone without mana also have the lowest academic score? He was even worse than she expected.
She noticed that even with such results, that guy looks unbothered by it. Rebecca let out a chuckle before saying something. "Hehe. Look at him, Naomi. He seems to be so relaxed even though his future is certainly in the dark. Contrary to him, here you are, weeping in tears in front of me", Rebecca said, grinning at the end of her words.
Rebecca wasn't mocking that person and Naomi, she was just trying to console her friend. Also, it helps to motivate Naomi, who at the moment still couldn't get over with her low results in academic subjects. She studied till morning before the exam and yet, most of the pointers she studied did not appear in the exam. That's why Naomi was so upset with her exam results. Also, with her family background, it was normal for Naomi to be upset about having low scores in academic exams. Rebecca meant that it would be strange if Naomi would not feel bad about it.
Still, she needed to console her because that was her role as a friend, right?
Rebecca herself got a low score in the academic exam. That's why both of them were appointed in the lowest class like that person.
Their results in both academic subjects and mana evaluation exams were very important to them as it would reflect on their family status. But Rebecca just cared less about it. More important to her was her mana score. As long as she could pilot a mech in the future and become a military mech pilot, she was fine with that.
Naomi glanced at Cross and said, "Perhaps he was just showing a calm face. We can't be sure what he truly feels deep inside." She pouted slightly.
"W-well, I can't disagree with you on that", Rebecca said, sounding slightly exasperated.
Naomi's brows knitted as she peered at Rebecca. "I am more surprised at you Rebecca. Even with your result and your family background, you still look like you're not bothered by it," Naomi in her honest feeling said that to Rebecca while frowning.
Hearing that, a bead of sweat appeared at the side of Rebecca's face, wondering what she could do to appease her friend's heavy feelings.
Rebecca's eyes landed on Cross again.
"Aha-ha…" she laughed wryly. "Maybe I'm just like him, someone who didn't care about the results. Also, I only cared about my mana score," she said, pointing at the lone boy again. "Regardless, let's talk to him," Rebecca suddenly suggested and dragged Naomi with her. In Rebecca's mind, maybe talking to that person would help in calming Naomi.
Sometimes finding someone beneath you makes you grow a little confident. This is what Rebecca thought.
"Eh?!!"
Naomi was taken aback, however she could not refuse. Rebecca was already pulling her with her.
"W-w-wait Rebecca!" Her slight shrill got the other students' attention. The students around looked at the two girls out of curiosity. But soon they returned their attention back to their previous interest.
At the corner of his eyes, Cross noticed two figures heading towards his direction.
W-what?
"Ehh? Wait! They're the pretty girls in the classroom earlier. Is this what it is?" He wondered if spring had finally arrived.
Cross acted as if he didn't notice their approach. He continued bringing up a piece of chocolate cake into his mouth. Then, he took a tissue and wiped his mouth.