Headmaster (part 2)

"I think… only time will tell, sir."

I gave him my honest answer, and he nodded firmly at it.

"That is correct. Eventually, you will be able to change the way you live. For better or worse, who knows? Either way, what is currently going on should not stay.

I hope you can continue to try your best to change it, Miss Elizabeth. Not just for the sake of the people you cared about, but for the people around you as well.

Doubling down and taking vengeance at an enemy is very easy. Giving back something wonderful and important that other people have done to you is much-much harder. Before you think about the 'Negatives' that come with being close to you, why don't you start with the 'Positives' that come with befriending you?"

The headmaster suggested, and I can't help but realize the truth in his words. I've always pushed people away because I was afraid of the negatives that come from being close to me. Yet, I've never once thought of the positives that can be obtained by befriending me.

In that case, what can I give? Let's use Emil as an example. What can I do for her to keep her as my friend?

Well, I helped her get her wallet back from that spirit. I saved her father from losing his job. If anything, Emil has already received the positive from me. She just needs to give it back by being my friend.

Now, what about other people? What can I do for them to make them want to befriend me?

Only time will tell. After all, I have plenty of talents and strengths within me. I'm sure those things will come in handy later when I meet new people.

Talents and strengths… huh?

"I… understand, sir. I will do my best to start with the positives first."

I said to the headmaster, and he nodded seeing the confidence in my eyes.

"Wonderful. Now, Nicolas Class."

The headmaster turned to Nico, and the guy got startled. He definitely wasn't expecting the headmaster to turn to him so suddenly, and he got startled hearing his name.

"Y-Yes, sir?"

"As her closest person, what will you do?"

The headmaster asked such a simple question, yet still holds a powerful meaning. Nico pondered really hard about that short question, and he finally got an answer after thinking for a while.

"I'll do my best to support her by her side."

"That's not good enough. 'By her side' is indeed wonderful, but it's not the best that you can do.

Stand in front of her. Fight for her. Protect her. Pull her forward. Show her the back of a reliable man. That is the best thing you can do for her."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

Wow… the headmaster is surely a hella-experienced old man. He just knows exactly what to say in a man to man conversation.

Hearing the answer, the headmaster formed one last grin.

"Great! I will be expecting to hear plenty from you two in the future. Continue to make this school interesting, okay?"

The headmaster said to the two of us, but I became quite confused at this whole thing. The whole conversation we had just now leans heavily towards us, and there has not been a single mention of us getting a punishment for causing a scene.

Well, my punishment. I'm surprised he isn't talking about it at all.

"Are we not… getting punished, sir?"

I asked, but Nico turned to me panicking.

"W-Why are you asking--"

"Would you like to be punished, Miss Elizabeth?"

The headmaster asked with a scary look, and I immediately understood Nico's panic.

"R-Right! No, sir! Sorry for asking…"

"Hahaha! In that case, off you go. Don't cause any more trouble to the Kenton family, okay? I will do my best fending off their anger, but I won't be able to contain it forever. In the meantime, enjoy your school days!"

The headmaster said while turning his chair to the side, and he began picking up a book from the table. As he opened the book, Nico and I stood up from our seats and bowed at him.

"Thank you sir."

I said to the headmaster while bowing, and he just waved at me. Nico headed towards the door first, and I followed behind him. As we exited the office, I could feel the warm air from the outside greeted me.

"What… the hell just happened?"

Nico asked as soon as we were outside, but I couldn't really answer that. The headmaster of this school is definitely someone special. He is not like the other teachers who are only doing their job as a teacher.

Even if his teaching ability sucks…

He is… the best kind of teacher to exist.

After all, he taught me the most important lesson of all.

While I was thinking of an answer, the bell rang marking the start of the second lesson. I turned to Nico and simply showed him a grin.

"Well, there goes our lunch break. I'll see you after school, like usual."

"O-Okay. But, before we go… are you all right, Elizabeth?"

Nico asked, and he must've noticed the awkward behavior I'm doing. I have so many emotions swarming up in my mind right now, and I am very confused with how I'm going to settle them.

"I'm fine. Just need some time to sort out my thoughts."

I said to Nico as I started walking, and Nico followed behind. We went back to our classrooms, and I bade farewell with Nico when we walked past his classroom. I saw a glimpse of class A students already wearing the regular uniform, and Nico was still wearing his exercising uniform.

He won't get punished for forgetting to change, will he?

I returned to my classroom and started enjoying the second lesson. The day continued, and it's just filled with more and more exams… Great.

What is it with me and studying…? At this rate, I might as well fail every single exam there is.

Well, exams are the least important problems I'm facing right now. I'm in the midst of finding out the meaning of being close to people, and I should solve algebra equations at the same time? Hell no. Though, it's probably much better for me if I only have to solve equations instead of solving my antisocial behavior.

But, at least now I have found the solution to that problem.

How I can become… a better person overall.

Man, just thinking about it sickens me.

.

.

.

The day ended, and I'm pretty sure I failed 3/3 of today's exams.

Whatever. There's more to life than just academic grades.

I met up with Nico at the school gate once school ended, and to my surprise, he is not alone. He is with his friends, as usual. But, there is someone else with him today.

Alica. What's more surprising, was that she was alone.

Usually she was crowded with her minions. She always had followers with her everywhere she went. But now, she is on her own talking with Nico.

Hopefully… it's nothing bad…

"Ah, Elizabeth! Come here for a sec!"

Nico shouted from afar when he saw me approaching, and I kept on walking while keeping an eye on Alica. But, as I got closer, I noticed a very different look to Alica today.

Her eyes looked… swollen.

Did she cry a ton today?

I arrived at the group, still keeping my eyes on Alica who was not even looking at me. Nico noticed the cold air and decided to break the ice.

"Elizabeth… can you do me a favor?"

He said, but I still haven't turned my eyes away from Alica. Right now, to me, the most important person to exist at this very moment is her.

Her expression… looks very disoriented from the Alica I knew.

"What the hell happened to you?"

I asked coldly to Alica, completely ignoring Nico's question just now. To my surprise, Alica still kept her eyes away from me.

"Does it matter to you…?"

"W-Wait, Alica. That's not how you--"

"I know. Let me speak."

Nico suddenly spoke out when Alica answered, which I assume is because of the conversation the two had just now. Alica is not done talking, and I'm not sure what she will say to me.

From how Nico is still talking with her, that means his anger towards her has subsided. It probably meant there is still a chance for Nico to fall for Alica, and I don't like it one bit.

However… something has been bothering me for a while. It's the three idiots.

Jeremy, Link, and Randy were just watching Alica in silence. They had such an apologetic expression worn on their faces, not wanting to disrupt the situation at all and simply waited as it unfolds. It was very different from the usual Jeremy and Link's rascal behavior, while Randy has always been silent so it was quite normal for him.

Seeing both Jeremy and Link being silent made me realize that something wrong is going on. And seeing how caring Nico is being towards Alica made me assume that it was probably related to me.

Did I… do something horribly bad to her?

Aside from scaring and traumatizing her… Did I cause something without me knowing?

Alica slowly turned her tired and teary eyes to me, and she finally gave the answer. One that… I might not like it since I've always hated her since we met.

I've always… always… hated her.

And yet…

"I'm sorry… for all the things I've done to you."

My heart still breaks when she says that.