Chapter 8: Academy Heroine’s Right Diagonal Back Seat

After the sparring class, it was lunchtime.

I intended to eat alone in a corner like yesterday, but an unwelcome guest showed up.

"Wow, that sparring earlier was amazing. Dodging all those attacks and then countering in the brief openings? I couldn't help but cheer."

Yoon Si-woo was chattering excitedly in front of me.

While it was nice to have Sylvia sitting next to him, she was eating her food with a disgruntled look, which made my heart ache.

...I sat in the corner to avoid disturbing the two of you eating together, but Yoon Si-woo had to come find me?

I glared at Yoon Si-woo, but this oblivious guy kept smiling and talking to me.

I was too annoyed to respond properly, so I just nodded along.

"Did you learn that martial art since you were young?"

Nod.

"It must have been tough to train to that level."

Nod.

"...Do you want to be friends?"

"No."

At my blunt rejection, Yoon Si-woo's spirits deflated.

Sylvia started glaring at me even more fiercely.

Why?!

Sylvia, having finished her meal, placed her tray down with a clatter.

She looked at me and muttered to herself,

"Oh, I feel like having something sweet after sparring."

Her gaze activated my friend sensor.

This is... time to pay the friendship fee!

"W-Would macarons be okay?"

"Oh, you're going to buy them for me? Is that alright?"

Seeing Sylvia's sweet smile, I knew I had answered correctly.

Of course, it's alright!

I starved myself this morning and evening for this!

"B-because we're friends!"

"Since it's a friend's favor, I won't refuse."

Sylvia replied with a smile.

Yoon Si-woo's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Sylvia.

Sure, Sylvia is incredibly pretty.

But who's Sylvia's friend right now?

Name?

Scarlet Evande.

Heh... and the job?

'Sylvia's friend.'

That made me invincible, as Sylvia was my god.

Yoon Si-woo watched me with a complex expression, but I didn't care.

I excitedly ran to the cafeteria.

*

"Hey, Lucy, do I look that unpleasant?"

[Si-woo, you have no conscience. Apologize to all the other guys.]

Lucy, the spirit residing in the Sword of Humility, responded, exasperated.

Honestly, even Yoon Si-woo himself knew.

Though it was embarrassing to say, he was aware that his appearance attracted the opposite sex.

That's why he was puzzled.

The red-haired, red-eyed, expressionless girl who had fiercely rejected his offer for a ride.

With his Sword of Truth's ability, he knew her refusal was genuine.

Having never experienced a girl being so dismissive without reason, Yoon Si-woo was naturally intrigued.

Wearing the same school uniform, he hoped he might see her again.

With those thoughts, he pedaled his bike, realizing he had taken the wrong turn 30 minutes after the school had started.

Arriving late, he opened the classroom door and saw the girl again.

Unlike the noisy surroundings, she sat quietly, almost like a doll.

Seeing the empty seat in front of her, he quickly took it and learned her name was Scarlet Evande.

Despite his friendly attempts, she didn't even bother to respond.

Unlike the other girls in class, her demeanor piqued his curiosity even more.

Troubled...

Seeing Scarlet deliberately sit in the most isolated corner for lunch, Yoon Si-woo sighed.

After the ability measurement class, where she ended up naked under illusion magic and punched him, she had been avoiding him.

She seemed convinced that he had seen her embarrassing state.

Feeling embarrassed that she might have caught his thoughts about her being beautiful, he finished his meal and washed his face with cold water.

Returning to the classroom, he was talking to Sylvia when someone approached and handed Sylvia what looked like macarons from the cafeteria.

Yoon Si-woo was shocked to see Scarlet smiling and talking to Sylvia.

She can smile like that too.

Mesmerized by her smile, he wished she would smile at him that way too.

It seemed Scarlet gave the macarons to Sylvia as a token of friendship.

Would she smile like that to anyone she became friends with?

Wanting to see that smile, he asked if there was one for him too, but Scarlet immediately reverted to her expressionless face, which pained him a bit.

Lying in bed at home, Scarlet's smiling face kept flashing in his mind, making it hard to sleep.

[Not just the smile, right? Her skin was nice, and she had a beautiful body.]

Ugh... Lucy, I told you not to read my thoughts.

[Haha, even you're a typical teenage boy. Why be embarrassed? It's natural to be attracted to a girl you saw for the first time.]

I'm not attracted!

I just want to be friends, that's all.

[If you say so.]

Lucy's amused voice made Yoon Si-woo try to justify himself.

Yeah, I just want to be friends.

Ignoring the newfound fluttering feeling, he repeated this to himself.

*

At the cafeteria, I picked up a macaron.

This tiny cookie cost ten times my daily allowance, but it was worth it for Sylvia!

I quickly pulled out my student ID to pay, then remembered yesterday's incident.

Should I buy another macaron?

I recalled Sylvia's intense stare when I didn't give Yoon Si-woo a macaron yesterday.

Considering that, I decided to buy another one, but my hand trembled as I reached for it.

After all, this one macaron cost ten times my daily allowance!

And this wasn't for friendship dues; it was out of my own pocket.

Buying this would reduce my daily allowance from 300 Gold to 230 Gold!

Damn... it's such a waste.

Thinking about buying this for Yoon Si-woo made the macaron feel like gold, but I gritted my teeth and bought two macarons to avoid Sylvia's wrath.

"Hey, wait!"

Just as I was leaving the cafeteria, a voice called out. It was the class rep.

She seemed nervous.

"I'm sorry!"

She bowed her head and apologized.

What is this? The YouTube apology method, starting with "I'm sorry"?

Seeing my confusion, she continued.

"About yesterday... I didn't know anything and talked about a sensitive topic, and today I scolded you for not using a weapon. I wanted to apologize."

Oh my.

"As someone aspiring to be a hero, I shouldn't have spoken so recklessly... I'm really sorry."

My inner self was screaming, 'How can someone be this honest and kind?!'

Moved by her sincerity, I grabbed her hands with both of mine and said,

"Thank you for apologizing."

She trembled at my touch.

Oh no, was it too sudden for someone we barely knew each other?

Embarrassed, I let go, and she quickly turned away, her face bright red.

"If you ever need help, let me know..."

The class rep said this and ran off as if she had urgent business.

Wait! I need to fulfill my friend's duty!

Remembering my original mission, I returned to the classroom.

"Thank you, Scarlet."

Seeing Sylvia smile while receiving the macaron moved me.

Ah, how wonderful to buy this smile for 3,000 Gold.

As I basked in happiness, I noticed Yoon Si-woo staring at the macaron I gave Sylvia.

Ugh... I really don't want to do this.

With trembling hands, I pulled out the other macaron and handed it to Yoon Si-woo.

"Is this for me?"

Yoon Si-woo asked, and I glanced at Sylvia.

Is this right? Sylvia?

Sylvia glared at me even more intensely than yesterday.

I realized giving Yoon Si-woo the macaron was a choice that made things worse.

Can I take it back?

I quickly shook my head and stuffed the macaron back into my pocket.

"Haha... alright, if you ever feel like giving it to me, then do so."

Yoon Si-woo awkwardly smiled, pulling his hand back.

Well, I don't know if I'll ever want to give you a macaron.

I nodded, thinking that.

"I'll be waiting."

Yoon Si-woo said with a longing smile.

This guy is really pressuring me.

If you want macarons that badly, buy them yourself!

I thought to myself, fiddling with the macaron in my pocket.

...If I eat this sparingly, it might last ten days.