Chapter 34: Last Year
I didn’t know what to say as I could feel Tomoe’s aura becoming darker. ’This guy is really insensitive!’ I stood up from the floor and followed him without saying anything despite the way he called up to . What am I? His pet? That will always follow him wherever he goes? Whenever he calls for ?
Night walked towards his room, and I followed him with my forehead creased. "What do you want, young master?" I said as soon as we arrived in his room, and he imdiately turned to , which caught
off-guard. His eyes were looking directly at mine, making
back away. "W-What? I didn’t do anything."
He raised an eyebrow. "So pretending to be drowning just to catch my attention isn’t sothing you did?"
"Sorry, what?"
Night scoffed. "Don’t act like you don’t know." He sat on his chair and crossed his legs. "You’re a professional swimr. You can’t drown like that. Did you think I’ll save you? That’s why you caused a scene?" I don’t think I’m comprehending what this guy is saying. So basically, he thinks I purposively drowned to make him notice ? ’Oh my god.’
"I can’t believe I used to like this guy," I muttered. "Excuse , young master, but you’re mistaken. Even professional athletes can get cramps, and there’s no way I will try to drown myself just to be saved by a petty jerk— I an by you." I smiled.
"If that’s all, I’ll take my leave." Little jerk! Does he think the world revolves around him? No. Does he think my world still revolves around him?! Then he thought wrong. "That bastard!" I shouted as I threw a pillow to the floor and started punching it nonstop. ’Who does he think he is?! I hate him so much!!!’
"Y-Young miss, you’ll hurt your fists if you keep punching that—"I punched my pillow with the strongest one I got. "—pillow," Rika said with fear in her eyes. Now that my aggression subsided a little, I should go and study.
I took a deep breath as I stood up from the floor. "I’m going to study now," I told Rika as I sat on my chair and opened my books. I’m getting good at ti managent. Sotis, I surprise even myself.
"But young miss, what about a warm bath before starting?" I turned to Rika. "I shall prepare it." She said without waiting for my answer. Is that the right decision, though? Wouldn’t it make
sleepy if I took a warm bath and started studying after?
I shook my head. I’ll let Rika handle that. Tonight I’ll be studying my most hated subject, mathematics. I tried to ignore it the best I could because of what happened with Night. Rember? He keeps calling
an idiot because I don’t get the equation he’s been teaching . Maybe I am an idiot, but could he at least be kind? I’m trying my best.
That’s what I thought, but just doing my best isn’t enough. "I don’t get any of this," I said as I leaned my forehead on my desk. "It’s too hard." I’m going to sob any minute by now if Rika didn’t call .
"Aren’t you pushing yourself too much, young miss?" Rika said while scrubbing my arms. I’m having a relaxing bubble bath today; it’s so calming. "I know the miss is working hard, but you’ll get sick at this point." She said.
It’s been so long since I felt soone worrying about , or maybe not, but it just feels like that. "Thanks for worrying about ." I smiled. "But I’m doing fine. It won’t be long until I take the special examination anyway."
Rika, who’s sitting beside the bathtub, went silent after that. Did I say sothing weird? "Is there sothing wrong?" Rika’s looking down while shaking her head. Why does it feel like there’s sothing she wants to say?
"It’s the first ti I saw the young miss smile genuinely and brightly like that." She said. "It makes
happy but also sad." I blinked lots of tis after hearing that. What’s with Rika? She doesn’t sound like a 16-year-old girl when she speaks like that.
"It’s just since the miss ca here in this household; you’ve been smiling less unlike before." Wait, how did she know that? "Sir Kenji described the miss as soone cheerful and bubbly. That’s why I thought of that."
So it was Kenji. I sighed. Rika’s worrying too much. Of course, I’ll be serious about things now since my life is in danger, and I need to keep moving forward. "Don’t worry, I’m just busy nowadays. That’s why I can’t smile a lot." I’m also getting lots of stress because of the bridal lessons. No, it’s not really from the bridal lessons, but from the one teaching
the bridal lessons.
"Say, you also notice how Tomoe’s attendants always glare at , right?" I have decided to drop the formalities with Tomoe because I’m not used to it.
Rika nodded. "Yes, they’ve been doing that since the first ti they arrived here." She said as she started scrubbing my back. "I also heard them talking one ti. They’re saying our miss stole lady Tomoe’s position in the group. That must be the reason why they’re wary of the miss."
I took Tomoe’s position? "Is she supposed to beco Night’s wife?" I looked up at Rika’s face, and she nodded. Oh, right. I rember her telling
that cousins can get married in Japan. "I understand their feelings since this is a forced marriage. It’s not like Night wanted this, and neither did I." It’s all grandpa Kenta’s decisions, and Night can’t refuse his orders.
"Maybe things will be better for the two of them if I’m out of the picture." Maybe, Night’s pretending to push Tomoe away to stop hurting her. I feel bad for their relationship; I really do. But this weird feeling in my chest tries to comfort
from all the things going on.
The next day, we prepared for the sports festival. Even though I said I didn’t want to join, Andy told
that joining the relay would help
gain extra grades. I an, that’s if I win, so I’ll be joining the solo race and the relay race. I’ll be good to go if I win just one of the races. I can study my butt off again.
"Ellie, why don’t you join the cosplay relay too?" Andy asked while we ate in the classroom. I wonder why they put all sorts of relays for the third years. "It’ll be good to put our best player in every race they have."
Ace clicked her tongue. "Didn’t you know that she almost drowned yesterday?"
"What? It’s not like she’ll drown in the field. What do you an?"
Ace shook her head. "I an, her foot is still recovering. What if she gets injured again for running too much this ti?" She said as she gave
the fried egg that she loves. "Here, eat this." It made
smile as I gave her one of my sausages.
"Wow, you two are lovey-dovey again today," Andy said, grimacing. "It’ll be good for us to win all the races. It’s a secret, but the races have the most points, and it can help us win overall. And what’s more? The races are on the first day. So even if Ellie wants to skip the remaining days, it’ll be fine."
Ace glared at Andy. "Stop forcing her."
"I’ll do it."
"Really? / What?" Andy and Ace said in chorus.
"Are you sure?" Ace gently touched my arm. "It’ll be dangerous if you get injured."
"What’s with Candace, really?" Andy said as he sipped on his orange juice. "You’re worse than Tita Alia." He said, ntioning my mom’s na. That’s true. What happened to Ace, and why is she worrying too much about ?
"I’m always worried about Noelle." She sighed. "She’s clumsy. Despite being the best on her team, she still drowned. Do you see the point here?" Ace added, making
cover my face due to embarrassnt. Why does Ericka have to tell them what happened? Now they won’t stop talking about how I drowned yesterday.
"W-What about Kaoru? What ga will you join?" I tried to change the topic, and our attention went to Kaoru, who was unusually keeping quiet. "Kaoru?" I called his na again, and that’s when I learned he was not paying attention. What got his mind flying away like that?
"He’s joining the dodge ball," Andy answered for Kaoru. "To be honest, it’s our last sports festival, so I want to enjoy it with you two and win, of course." He said with fiery determination in his eyes.
That’s right, it’s our last year in high school, and after this, we’ll be taking different paths. Andy and Ace are smart enough to get into state universities, but I’m not like them, so I’ll probably be left behind. "Enjoy it without getting hurt." Ace said while patting my head. She’s weirdly touchy today. Did sothing happen to her?
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