“El?”
“Hmm…?”
The atmosphere in the room had grown as chilly as Selian’s frosty expression. Selian’s unfocused eyes were truly frightening.
“El, what do you think your life means?”
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
“You can just run away when your life is in danger, you know!”
Ah, so that’s what she meant. Selian was currently worried about me, and she was getting angry for my sake. I felt sorry for causing her anxiety, but there really was nothing I could do back then.
“But President Presia was using magic. There was no way to escape.”
“But you’re the one in danger! Even if one of the two has to be in danger, just run away!”
True, there was a possibility that if I had abandoned Presia, I could have managed to escape alive. But how could I possibly do that to someone I know, someone like Presia? Even if I were given the chance to go back in time, I would make the same choice.
“No, you’re not that kind of person.”
Selian sighed deeply. Her eyes had regained their focus. So, the crisis was over, right?
“Haa, I get it. If you can’t do it, then you should work hard enough to be able to. I was too casual in my thinking. When you’re fully recovered, we’ll train together, got it?”
Selian and I were already in training. We often sparred to refine our swordsmanship. Of course, since Selian’s skills were superior to mine, she sometimes held back, but I didn’t consider the gap to be unbridgeable.
“But my body’s already fully recovered, so…”
“No! Even if your wound has healed, you’re still a patient, so just lie down!”
Selian made me lie down and stood there staring at me for a moment. Then she frowned, looked toward the door, and couldn’t stay still—getting up and sitting down again repeatedly.
“Selian? Is something wrong?”
“Hmm, never mind. The others were worried too, so I shouldn’t just indulge my own desires. Please wait here a moment.”
After answering my question, Selian got up from her seat and disappeared outside. Anyway, the hospital room was quite luxurious, probably because it was a private room. I briefly worried about the costs, but since this was the academy’s infirmary, and I got injured while doing academy work, I couldn’t imagine they would ask me to pay. If they do…
I should pray that our boss will negotiate harder for more money. Anyway,
President Presia, fighting spirit!
While I momentarily thought about pointless things, visitors came back to the hospital room.
Of course, it was the same faces I saw earlier: Selian, Anne, and Yuli. It seemed Selian had retrieved Anne and Yuli, who had stepped out for a moment. As soon as I sat up to greet them,
“Ah, welcome.”
Though I spoke as if naturally hosting them in my room, it felt more or less the same since it was mine temporarily anyway.
Yuli was holding a basket of fruits as she entered. Why did you bring something like this?
“Are you really okay?”
Anne’s question wasn’t directed at me but at Selian.
“Yes, I’ve already checked. There’s no need to worry.”
“Is that so?”
What exactly had they been discussing? After hearing Selian’s answer, Anne approached me with short but determined steps. As she came near, I smiled at her lightly, then…
Gaaak
“A-a?”
Anne pinched my cheeks.
“A-a? A-what? Oh, really what?”
I tried to plead with her by holding the hands pinching my cheeks, but there was no sign that Anne would let go. The pressure on my cheeks gradually increased, and it began to hurt. Just when it really started to hurt, she finally released me.
“Anne?”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I wiped my cheeks, ready to complain, but I had to close my mouth when I saw the tears streaming down Anne’s eyes.
“You idiot! Do you know how much we worried about you?”
Contrary to her loud outburst, Anne’s voice was filled with worry rather than anger—not just Presia and Selian but also Anne and Yuli had been worried about me much more than I realized.
“Anne…”
“I really… wanted to yell at you more, but I can’t when you look at me like that.”
Anne, who was still sniffing, wiped her tears as I reached out to pat her eyes.
“Why are you crying? If this is the Anne I know, you should be laughing at me here.”
“Si-… what does this idiot think he’s saying?”
“Hmm? If you look at the midterm results…”
My words were cut off as Anne glared at me, so I closed my mouth without finishing. Anyway, the message was conveyed well enough. I have no intention of opening my mouth and asking for more punishment.
“Really… because you’re a patient, I’ll let it slide. But you need to endure even pain like what I did earlier! We were much more distressed than that.”
When I looked at Selian and Yuli, they both nodded.
I had no allies in this room.
“Selian and Anne are such… Ah! You brought fruit, right? Do you want some?”
After finishing the conversation with Anne, Yuli lifted the fruit basket slightly and asked. The basket of fruit was so lavish that it almost felt extravagant given my condition.
“Sure. I woke up and feel kind of hungry, so it’s good timing.”
As I responded, my friends made themselves comfortable, each taking a seat. Yuli sat closest to me and took an apple out of the basket.
“I’ll peel it and cut it quickly, so wait just a moment.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Yuli deftly cut the apple’s skin with a knife and started slicing it into small pieces, placing them on the tray. Anne handed the first pieces of apple to the others with a fork, but both Selian and Anne only ate one piece before setting down their forks.
Then the fork with an apple piece was offered to me, so I reached out to take it—
Whoosh
?
At the same time I reached out, Yuli’s hand holding the fork pulled away. I tried to grab it again, but her hand retreated once more.
“Just relax; you’re ill, so I’ll feed you.”
As I looked at her questioningly, Yuli gently extended the fork with the apple toward my mouth.
It felt a bit awkward, but thinking this was a rare opportunity to be cared for by such a beauty, I obediently opened my mouth and took the piece of apple.
Nom nom nom
I was able to eat my piece after three bites. It was undoubtedly a sweet apple, just as it had appeared to be. As I savored the sweetness filling my mouth,
Whoosh
There it was, another piece of apple coming toward me.
Although I still had some in my mouth, I couldn’t refuse Yuli’s offer. I swallowed what was left in my mouth and took the next piece.
Nom nom nom
Again, after taking three bites of the apple piece. As I was savoring the sweetness—
Whoosh
?
“Um, Yuli? I still have apple…”
Goochik
Before I could finish my sentence, Yuli slipped the apple in my slightly opened mouth.
“Um, Yuli? Is this enough…”
I was going to accept it quickly and say it was good enough, but—
Whoosh
The piece of apple was still being extended toward my mouth.
Something inside me triggered a warning. When I glanced toward Selian and Anne, they were both ignoring me and pretending not to notice.
Turning my attention back to Yuli, she smiled lightly.
That… she smiled lightly…
Goochik
Since I didn’t open my mouth, she pushed the apple piece against my closed lips.
I quickly swallowed the apple inside my mouth and began biting it again due to her silent insistence.
Finally, Yuli retrieved the fork and pierced another piece of apple to feed me again.
Goochik
The piece of apple was once again against my lips. Beads of sweat trickled down my back.
I could tell that saying anything now would not end well for me. Alright, just eat and endure. One apple won’t make me sick no matter how quickly it’s eaten.
Chomp chomp chomp chomp
So every time the apple was offered, I obediently took bites and hastily chewed and swallowed.
Chomp chomp
Finally, the last piece of apple. I ate it in a rush without savoring the taste, but since it was the last piece, I took my time chewing and enjoying its sweetness.
Whoosh
And once more, another piece of apple was extended toward me.
Huh?
Looking at the tray, I noticed more apple slices neatly carved and arranged, even though I thought this was the last one.
I clearly thought it was the last piece.
I stared questioningly at Yuli, but all she did was smile at me and didn’t respond. It didn’t seem like Selian and Anne had peeled more, so how did…
Goochik
Before I could dwell on it any longer, Yuli pushed the apple piece toward my lips.
Chomp chomp
Knowing I might be in serious trouble if I continued, I reluctantly accepted the piece. As I chewed and swallowed, I glanced at the fruit basket.
The basket was indeed filled with fruits that looked expensive and remained stacked mountainously high.
Hehe, there’s no way she’ll make me eat all of those here, right? Right, Yuli?
I darted my eyes between the fruit basket and Yuli, but she just smiled at me silently and extended the apple piece once again.
…Maybe not?
