Chapter 85

The young lady waiting for the closing ceremony had a sullen expression on her face.

The cuteness of her unawareness of this look made Yumina feel somewhat uneasy, though she couldn’t quite grasp why her mood was so low.

Was it because nap time had ended just as the club activity was finishing?

Or perhaps because she had lashed out in her sleep?

Yumina flicked on her smartphone screen hesitantly. Though asking directly would be straightforward, she hesitated, wondering if it might be better not to stir up trouble. Although Miss Cha Hanul wouldn’t likely raise her voice, the subtle tone of mockery would be draining.

Yumina could feel a growing sense of dissatisfaction welling up within her. If she had said something after being caught messing with someone asleep, it would have been her own fault—not the other person’s—to be annoyed afterward.

Yumina’s lips jutted out in a pout. If Cha Hanul weren’t from a wealthy family, they probably wouldn’t be friends. Thinking about this, Yumina remembered the money she had received and bit her lips; it had been a good decision to become friends.

“… What are you thinking about?”

White Calf spoke to Cha Hanul. Thanks to the productive Club Activity of the Deep Sleep Research Club, her white hair was a little tangled. Yumina took out a comb and gently fixed it. Despite her gentle appearance, White Calf had a strong heart but often neglected her own well-being.

The young lady gave a quick glance at White Calf who had spoken and maintained her sullen expression, seemingly trying to ignore her. Yumina felt the urge to retort in her usual way but refrained as the situation was uncomfortable.

After blinking several times, the young lady glanced sideways at Yumina’s expression and then quietly spoke.

“I was thinking about who the idiot sleeping during club time was.”

– That would be you.

Yumina stopped combing and gave her an incredulous look.

“Why did you do that?”

Cha Hanul suddenly interrogated White Calf.

“Huh? Uh…?”

White Calf looked at her as if her head was spinning from the sudden nonsense.

“Because you were sleepy?”

“That’s not acceptable. Clubs occupy an official class period, and it’s crucial. It’s a bad idea to want to sleep.”

Yumina tilted her head, a sense of déjà vu striking her. She then realized the lecture was identical to what she had given Cha Hanul. She wasn’t sure whether to admire or sigh at the young lady using such a good memory on trivial matters.

So, Yumina decided to sigh first. “Ah…”

“Mm.”

White Calf accepted the reprimand with a glum expression.

Unable to bear it anymore, Yumina poked the young lady’s forehead.

“Don’t take it out on others. It was because you suggested it, Miss.”

“But that person provided the idea. You were the one who pushed it forward.”

That was true.

“The idea was thrown out at the brainstorming session, but you’re the one who seized it and pushed it forward.”

Cha Hanul grew even more sullen and fell silent.

White Calf checked the expressions of both sides before hesitantly raising her hand. Once the attention was on her, she timidly spoke.

“I did say it seriously…”

White Calf wasn’t perceptive in the slightest.

Cha Hanul apparently decided to ignore her, pretending not to hear and changing the subject.

“In any case, it seems the Deep Sleep Research Club is a mistake. After waking up, I don’t feel refreshed, only more tired.”

The young lady’s melancholy mood until now seemed due to sleeping poorly, and Yumina inwardly sighed in relief.

“Though it might be too early to evaluate the club from just the first activity, I somewhat agree that it might not be going well.”

“I didn’t exactly say that, though. You snoozed off just fine, didn’t you?”

That was true, so Yumna laughed awkwardly and averted her gaze. Magical Girls often faced urgent matters at night, so their sleep schedules were often insufficient.

“The club period is an awkward time for sleeping anyway. Sleep routines are in 90-minute cycles and the duration here doesn’t fit neatly. It’s too long for a quick nap but too short for proper rest. And besides…”

Cha Hanul waved her hand to indicate the classroom as a whole.

“The environment here is too noisy.”

Though her voice was soft, the content attracted some sharp gazes. Yumina broke into a cold sweat, using eye contact and body language to apologize to the nearby students. No one wanted to clash with the president’s daughter, so the attention quickly dissipated.

“During the break in the middle of club time, the hallways suddenly get noisier. That interrupts deep sleep and puts you in a lighter sleep state. And because it happens exactly in the middle, it ruins the experience.”

The person who created the brief silence seemed unaware of the gazes as she lost herself in thought and continued her explanations. Yumina found this somewhat perplexing.

Yumina turned to White Calf for approval, but White Calf was nodding along with Cha Hanul’s comments as if they were nothing unusual.

Yumina briefly wondered if the abnormal one was herself.

“…So, it’s futile to expect soundproofing at school, so we should try putting up blackout curtains at the very least. Study how to use them by the next session.”

White Calf, who had mechanically nodded, paused. One eyebrow rose in apparent dissatisfaction.

Yumina was curious; though Cha Hanul’s comment had been rude, there was nothing particularly unusual in the content. If the Deep Sleep Research Club was to maintain its strange name, blackout curtains were essential.

Though the logic held no flaw, Yumina still questioned Cha Hanul. Most such situations carried a trace of the young lady’s responsibility.

“What did you do during club time when I wasn’t there?”

“…This?”

Cha Hanul pointed at her cheek, where faint black ink marks from the marker could be seen. They were mouse-like whiskers. She had hurriedly washed her face in the restroom after club but hadn’t managed to entirely remove the marks.

White Calf’s cheeks were similarly marked, but her marks were deeper since no one had informed her during her sleep. Cha Hanul remained oblivious, but Yumina found it too adorable to ruin by mentioning it to White Calf.

“I mean besides that.”

“I didn’t do anything else.”

The young lady awkwardly rubbed her cheek, seemingly embarrassed by the ink marks despite trying to forget them.

“It’s okay! It’s cute!”

“I know that.”

White Calf complimented with gleaming eyes. It was a commendation only someone unaware of their own state could make. Yumina hid her rising smile with her hand. Living with someone ill-tempered and experiencing such innocent friendship felt purifying.

“Um! Anyway, really, nothing happened while I was gone?”

“Of course. Absolutely nothing happened.”

Though Yumina looked suspiciously, Cha Hanul appeared entirely calm. Since the young lady’s lies were usually obvious, this indicated truth—if not some minor secret. Had nothing really happened?

Yumina turned her eyes to White Calf for confirmation. White Calf glanced briefly at Cha Hanul, and her eyes sparkled.

Yumina sensed a hint of revenge there. There’s something going on.

“Right! Absolutely nothing happened!”

“…?”

“Wow.”

The young lady let out a brief exclamation as White Calf vigorously nodded and reiterated.

“Nothing!”

“Nothing…?”

“Mm-hmm!”

It appeared nothing happened.

Yumina was embarrassed for having pressed the issue unnecessarily.

The feeling of vengeance she had sensed must’ve been a misunderstanding.

“Is that right? That’s good news!”

“Mm-hmm! That’s rig…?”

White Calf froze mid-sentence. Yumina could sense betrayal through her dilated eyes. But just like before, it was probably a misunderstanding.

The front door opened, and a teacher entered, ready to start the closing ceremony.

White Calf turned her pained expression back to face the front as the ceremony began. Yumina wondered if she had inadvertently done something wrong. The smirking young lady beside her heightened that feeling. However, the brief doubt dissipated amidst the awkwardness and displeasure that arose when receiving the communication slip.

The closing ceremony ended, and the young lady took the lead walking ahead. Cha Hanul approached the slightly open door of Doyugeon’s classroom and tilted her head to peek inside. It seemed uncomfortable for her to barge into a classroom filled with only male students after the gender-segregated class setup.

“Is he inside?”

Though Yumina asked, the young lady stepped inside without responding, assuming he must be.

Doyugeon, chatting with friends, startled upon seeing Cha Hanul, and shifted his gaze to Yumina.

“Because of plans today, you go ahead. Let’s go!”

Given that it was after club activities, it seemed like a reasonable arrangement for them to have met. With a group of friends who often say they don’t care about others’ thoughts if the girl has other prior obligations, Doyugeon dragged them along and disappeared through the front door.

In the silence, Yumina swallowed dryly. The silence and rigid stance of her back were intimidating.

Cha Hanul spun around, her gaze piercing.

“Doesn’t it feel like I’m the only one avoiding this?”

“That’s…”

“Yup! You’re right!”

Yumina could explain this situation effortlessly even if it made her somewhat embarrassed. Of course, she’d need to silence some people beforehand, whether they lacked perception or were just adding fuel to the fire.

Yumina swiftly covered White Calf’s mouth and whispered in her ear.

“Right now, you have whiskers drawn on your cheek.”

White Calf’s eyes widened, and then her gaze shifted to Cha Hanul’s cheek, as if doubting her own condition. Once released, she rushed to the classroom mirror, shrieked “Ahhh?!,” and dashed out of the room, likely heading straight to the restroom.

“Hmph!”

Yumina wiped away some cold sweat. It wasn’t real sweat, but rather an attempt to emphasize her innocence to the young lady sitting casually with her legs crossed atop the desk.

“Seemed like you wanted to say something. Go ahead.”

“First off, I’m not in a relationship right now! I’m also incredibly busy with work.”

“Hmm. Though I’m slightly displeased right now, even if you two were dating, I wouldn’t mind. In fact, I’d support it.”

Though the calm voice was often repeated by the young lady, Yumina didn’t believe a word of it. This girl was prone to nonsense.

“Anyway, no!”

“Then, okay…”

“Then, I’ll explain and trust you.”

Instead of responding, the young lady tapped her foot.

“Love has…”

As Yumina began explaining, Cha Hanul raised her hand to silence her and scanned the entire classroom.

“Observers, leave.”

The remaining male students left under her authoritative voice, and the classroom door closed. Yumina wished she could have slipped out with them.

“Explain it again.”

“L, love has…”

Yumina paused mid-sentence, coughing as if choking on saliva.

“Do you want water?”

The young lady calmly picked up a bottle from someone else’s desk.

“No…”

Yumina took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. It was the fear of being misunderstood, though the actual situation was nothing serious.

“Hmph, alright. Love has two types—when limited to romance.”

“Biologically there might be more than two if we look at hormonal actions, but traditionally that’s right.”

“One is Platonic Love, a spiritual kind of love…”

“Hold on. I just had two weird thoughts, one was like some dramatic nonsense, so I’ll discard it.”

“W, what did you imagine?”

Yumina was wary of the young lady’s excessive imagination.

“Nothing significant. Besides, you don’t need to further explain. I think I understand what you’re saying. That I became like this because you kissed me?”

Since the young lady had reached the conclusion without any unnecessary misunderstandings, Yumina nodded brightly.

“So…”

Cha Hanul paused and sighed. Then she put her hand on her thigh and slid it down.

“So you’re saying that Doyugeon has sexual feelings toward me?”

“Too blatant of a statement, you know…”

Yumina’s face turned red.

Cha Hanul smiled lightly at Yumina’s reaction and murmured.

“What should I do? It’s unpleasant…”

…

…

…

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