Chapter 13

“Foster Father!” The assistant principal merrily chuckles and continues to speak. “I wasn’t always able to laugh like this, you know. Sherry and I have been through a lot. I hope you two can get along. It’s all a father could wish for.” Lutheran’s face is stern as Sherry stands beside him with an uncomfortable smile. I only befriend side characters…but there’s no way I can say that. “…Sounds great.” “Well, I’ll leave the rest up to you youngsters.” The assistant principal pats my shoulder and leaves. “Um, it’s nice to officially meet you.” “Nice to meet you, too.” “So what do you want to do?” She tilts her head. “Oh, right. We have to get you to a doctor before anything else. I’m sorry for getting carried away.” She smiles uneasily. “No, don’t worry about me. I’m fine.” “That may be true, but…” “I don’t need to see a doctor. I’ll go later. Seriously, I will. Okay? Yeah, so let’s go out for tea or something.” “Um, are you sure you’re okay?” “Positive.” “Dark knights are incredible.” “Yep.” This stunner flashes me a smile. She’s the furthest thing imaginable from a background character. After that, the two of us eat her cookies and talk over tea. We go our separate ways when we finish. Though a perfectly average girl in conversation, she seems to be flooded with requests from the Knight Order, currently conducting research on a sacred artifact. I went the extra mile and told her I was impressed. Oh, by the way, her cookies were simple but downright delicious. She can never be a normie’s friend. But she goes to the Academy of Science, so we probably won’t meet again anyway. The next day, I notify the school that I’ll be taking five days off for medical treatment to ease their suspicions. My classmates are a little nicer to me when I finally come back. Ever since Sherry befriended Cid, she feels like she’s floating on air. Cid has been absent from school due to the injuries he sustained at the preliminaries. He said he felt fine after the tournament and even joined her for tea, but he seems to have overdone it after all. She’s worried about his condition. She thinks about visiting him but doesn’t want to be a bother. But something is gnawing at her, and she needs to talk. “Whew…” Sherry stops analyzing the artifact and lets out a sigh. She can’t focus on her work. Her head is too far in the clouds. The afternoon sunlight flows into the study room. No matter what she does, he’s all she can think about. She thinks back to the moment he gave her the chocolate, about his unrelenting stance during preliminaries, about their conversation over tea—over and over again. She thinks about him during class and as she conducts her research, right until she goes to bed. “I wonder what’s wrong with me…?” She retrieves the empty box of chocolate from a drawer in her desk. Even though she had already eaten the contents, she could not find it in herself to throw away the beautifully decorated box. The sweet aroma of chocolate still clings to it. Sherry is also curious about a certain rumor. From what she’s heard, Cid and Princess Alexia are in love. She doesn’t know the specifics, but she imagines the rumor holds up for it to make its way from the Academy for Dark Knights to the Academy of Science. “Mm!” Sherry stretches as she watches the curtain billow with the wind. “Okay. I’ll do it.” She can’t concentrate on anything. Sherry decides she has to talk it out in person. Knock, knock. Sherry gives a few quick raps on a door in the dormitory for girls. That’s where the student in question is supposedly under house arrest. “It’s me, Sherry Barnett, the second-year student at the Academy of Science.” She introduces herself through the door and waits for a response. “Hello,” replies a voice at the same time the door swings open. “Is there anything I can do for you, Sherry?” “Yes. Apologies for the sudden visit.” “Come on in,” suggests the room’s resident, Alexia. Her place is spacious and serene, much larger than the average dorm lodgings. Sherry is told to make herself at home and perches on the couch. “Would you like black tea? I’ve also got coffee. Seems to be really popular recently.” “Oh, I don’t need anything.” “It’s no trouble.” “O-okay. I’ll take a coffee.” “All right.” Alexia begins gracefully brewing a pot. Sherry starts getting nervous. I’m in my second year, and she’s only in her first. No need to get worked up, she reassures herself with nonsensical logic, thinking it’s all good because she’s Alexia’s senior. But on second thought, Alexia is royalty. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. No, no—she’s the upperclassman here. She has to be confident. “I can guess why you’re here, Sherry.” Sherry jolts at those words. “U-umm…” “This is about the artifact, right?” “Well, not exactly.” There’s the clink of a coffee cup. Alexia places it on the table in the midst of an awkward lull in the conversation. “Here you go.” “Th-thank you very much.” Alexia takes a seat opposite Sherry. “Whoa, that’s bitter…,” Sherry whispers after taking a sip. “It’s easier to drink if you add milk and sugar.” “O-okay.” Sherry didn’t mean for Alexia to hear that comment, but it looks like she did. Sherry’s automatic reflex is to add tons of milk and sugar and chug it. “Oh, it’s so good.” “G-great… Those are the finest coffee beans from Mitsugoshi. I’m glad you like it.” “Mitsugoshi… Oh, the place that sells chocolate. You know, that place really is something. This coffee is so sweet and creamy.” “Uh, yeah, it sure is…,” Alexia comments, looking as if she wants to say, Because you’re basically drinking sugar and milk. “So what can I do for you?” “Oh, right. Yes.” Sherry puts down her cup, looking slightly pained as she mumbles, “Actually, I’d like to ask you something.” “Okay.” “Um, like…if you’ve had a boyfriend recently and stuff.” “I’m sorry…?” “A-and if you went out with Cid Kagenou and whether you’re still together and stuff.” “U-um…” Alexia scrutinizes her face to find out if she’s being serious. Sherry’s eyes are darting around the room, and there’s obvious tension in her shoulders. Alexia guesses she may not be good at conversation in general. She’s picked up that Sherry is nervous, but Alexia can’t figure out the reason behind her question. “We broke up.” Alexia speaks as calmly as possible. “Really? Phew…” Sherry sounds elated, as if she feels relieved from the bottom of her heart. Alexia’s cup clinks as she sets it down. “Oh, but…but does that mean you actually dated…?” Her tone changes drastically and sounds uneasy. “It wasn’t a real relationship. There were some circumstances that required us to pretend.” “Oh, I see. That’s great.” Sherry giggles cheerfully. Alexia’s cup clangs. “I just befriended Cid the other day.” “What? Y-you don’t say…” “Yes. I couldn’t stop thinking about your relationship.” “Um, was that the only reason for your visit?” “Yep! It distracted me so much, I couldn’t focus on my research. I’m just so happy to know you two aren’t dating!” “Y-yeah, great.” Alexia brings the cup to her mouth with a trembling hand. It’s empty. “Thank you so much! Oh, and thanks for the coffee!” Sherry takes her leave with a bright smile—the exact opposite of the expression she wore when she came in. The moment she steps out of the room, there’s a sound of something breaking, but Sherry is too ecstatic to hear it.