The following Monday.
The first weekend of academy life had come to an end, and another week of classes had begun.
I woke up at 4 in the morning, got ready, and went to the dormitory, commuting to school together with Frank and Cedric. Once in the classroom, I sat in my usual seat at the back, and before class began, we chatted idly amongst ourselves.
Then Yukika entered the classroom.
Yukika scanned the room, walked straight to our group, and sat down in the seat in front of me.
“Noel is okay. It’s been explained as my confusion from being ill…”
Yukika turned around and told me about yesterday’s events.
“Isn’t that excessive?”
“In the first place, we didn’t need that report,”
“Don’t get us involved.”
Indeed, the reason had something to do with inappropriate touching, which was not an ideal topic to discuss.
“Hmm…”
Yukika tilted her head slightly and stared at me.
“What? Don’t expect money from me.”
“Can I have a moment?”
Yukika stood up and began pulling my uniform, leading me toward the corner of the classroom.
“What is this about?”
“Just a moment…”
Reluctantly standing up, Yukika walked me to the corner of the classroom. Once there, she glanced around the room while moving closer.
Of course, Frank and Cedric noticed, as did Ilmera and Noel near the front, who all looked our way. Even Toko, who appeared puzzled, caught my eye.
“What exactly…?”
Thinking it was a secret conversation, I lowered my voice.
“…Hey, what’s the deal between you and Toko?”
Yukika also lowered her voice.
“Why?”
“Same face, right?”
That’s something I’d rather not hear…
“Coincidence in looks, probably?”
“No, it’s not that level. Not to mention, the smell is also the same.”
Absolutely something I didn’t want to be told…
“I’m Japanese from the Nagase family. She’s La Folle – a French national. We’re entirely different.”
“It’s taboo to ridicule race and nationality, so no one would say it, but Toko, doesn’t she clearly appear to be Asian? More specifically, Japanese.”
Indeed, she does.
Her last name, La Folle, is hardly what one would expect from a French surname.
I took out a 100-yen coin from my wallet and handed it to Yukika.
“We’re twins. Don’t tell anyone.”
At this point, there’s no denying it.
“I won’t say anything, but why hide it?”
Yukika also took her wallet out and pocketed the coin.
“Twins are usually in the same grade and end up having similar friend groups. It can get pretty annoying.”
“Is that so? I doubt they’d tease you this much at this age…”
“Ilmera would laugh. She’d try to hold it in but then burst out.”
That’s because, for better or worse, she’s brutally honest.
“Hmm…”
“Imagine the struggles of a poor older brother with a brilliant younger twin sister.”
“Mmm… Yeah, that’s true. Tsukasa really is an idiot, isn’t he? She fell for my ‘slight blindness’ strategy.”
Typically, people who refer to themselves as smart tend to be the opposite.
“I’m not an idiot, but that’s why I’m keeping quiet.”
“Even from Noel?”
Noel…
She might be okay with it, but…
“Keep it quiet. We can’t risk it getting out through anyone.”
“Got it.”
After Yukika nodded, Jenny entered the classroom, stood at the front, looked at us with a puzzled expression, and we returned to our seats.
“Good morning, everyone. Let’s begin the Foundation Studies class.”
After the teacher said this, Yukika in front of me immediately fell asleep.
“Already sleeping, huh…”
Despite my exasperation, I continued listening to the lecture without taking notes, as there’s always someone to lend them later.
Strangely enough, I understood the teacher’s lecture better than last week, probably thanks to Sharl.
The lessons continued without any practical sessions scheduled until noon.
When lunch finally came, the teacher and students left the classroom.
“Finally, it’s over.”
Yukika woke up, stretching her arms.
“Why were you sleeping?”
“I couldn’t understand what the teacher was saying.”
“Then why did you come to this academy?”
Surprisingly, I ended up saying that line.
“It’s fine, though. Thanks to this, I’ve learned spatial magic.”
Well, that much is true, but…
“Hey, hey, you two seem close. When did you meet?”
Ilmera, along with Noel, approached from the front and asked.
“Yesterday in the training ground. I got a gut punch.”
I sound like a terrible guy, don’t I?
“I lost my arm to you,” I replied.
“Ah, so you fought? Who won?”
Ilmera asked with a cheerful expression. As I’ve thought before, she’s pretty warlike.
“Me.”
“The strategic part was won by me. You can lose the fight and still win the match.”
Sheesh… This girl insists on claiming superiority with her ridiculous ‘slight blindness’ plan…
“What’s going on?”
Apparently lost, Ilmera asked Frank.
“Don’t know. But it’s certain that Yukika went down with a nasty palm strike that makes you want to vomit.”
“That’s awful. It’s hard to breathe. Ilmera should experience it too.”
“Absolutely not. I don’t fight people without common sense like you.”
Crazy people…
“Without common sense…”
Yukika and I both sagged a bit.
“Ah, uhm, what were you two talking about before class?”
Noel tried to change the subject, reading the atmosphere. But I wish she hadn’t chosen that topic.
“Nothing much…”
“Er, it’s a secret?”
It’s something we shouldn’t say…
“Suspicious… I did see some money exchange hands…”
Ilmera gave us an accusing glare.
“I got 100 yen.”
“I gave her 100 yen.”
“Hmm? Why?”
Wait… why…?
“Why?”
“I don’t know?”
“Talking to both of you at the same time gives me a headache…”
Ilmera clutched her head in frustration.
“Maybe there’s something going on? You’re both from Japan, after all.”
Noel attempted to cover for us.
“Yeah, Noel is kind.”
“Don’t anger such a kind Noel with nonsense.”
More importantly, it’s over trivial matters.
“Get angry? What are you talking about?”
Noel smiled and asked innocently.
“Nothing, it’s nothing.”
Scary…
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