He paused for a moment before replying, “Yeah, I’m in the Biology Club.”
“The Biology Club!” I didn’t expect Mister Eugene to be in such a cute-sounding club. He didn’t give off that impression. Since we’re in a fantasy world, I wonder if he takes care of fairies or unicorns? Out loud, I asked, “May I go check it out later?”
“Well, you can, but...”
I blinked in confusion at Mister Eugene’s reluctance. Did he not want me to watch him go about his club duties? As I wondered about that, Mister Eugene entered the building the Student Affairs Division was in, and I followed him. Inside, the receptionist gave us my student ID and handbook. It was only after I held them in my hands that I noticed a problem.
“Mister Eugene, the student handbook is pretty big, isn’t it?”
I’d been under the impression that, as a handbook, it would be rather small. However, it was closer in size to a hardcover book and so heavy that I had to hold it with both hands. Man, I do not want to lug this everywhere!
“Miss Sumire, try holding the handbook and saying, ‘Close Book.’”
“Um, C-Close Book?” The next instant, the handbook disappeared without a sound. “Whaaat?! Mister Eugene, the handbook just vanished!”
“Next, try saying, ‘Open Book.’”
“Open Book?” This time, the handbook popped into existence in my hands! “Whoa!”
“See? You can take it out and put it away at any time with those words.”
A-Amazing! This makes it much easier to carry around.
“The student ID and handbook double as your actual ID for Lykeion Magic Academy, Miss Sumire,” Mister Eugene continued. “They’re important documents full of personal information, like your skills and status, so don’t walk around with them out. Always put them away with Close Book.”
“I-I understand. Close Book!”
“All right. Now, let’s go over to where the student council is.”
After saying that, he walked over to the giant three-story building right next to the Student Affairs Division. Is the student council room in there?
“Mister Eugene, what is this place?” I asked.
“This is the student council room,” he replied.
It took a second for the words to sink in. “Huh?” Th-This? It’s less a room and more an entire building...
“Our school takes extracurriculars really seriously. A club with actual achievements can be assigned a building as their room. The student council is one of the biggest clubs in the academy; that’s why they get so much space.”
I made a noise of understanding. Now that I think about it, schools in the world I came from gave the bigger rooms to popular clubs with lots of members. But an entire building! That’s pretty crazy. This world operates on a whole other level.
“Students are free to visit the first floor of the student council room,” Eugene said. “They offer a consulting service if you have any problems with classes or your club. I doubt you’ll need to make use of it, though, since you can go to Miss Rin.”
“I have you too, right?”
At my words, Mister Eugene gave me a slightly embarrassed smile. “Ah, right. I suppose you do.”
I planned on asking Mister Eugene for advice if I ever needed it. He was really easy to talk to, after all. But... I wonder if he has a girlfriend? If he did, then she might get mad that I was monopolizing his time. From our conversations, I didn’t get the impression that he had a special lady in his life. Or at least, I hoped he didn’t. Er, wait, not that I mean anything weird with that!
“Oh? If it isn’t Eugene. I almost never see you here,” a female student said when we walked into the first floor of the student council room. She must have been a member of the club, since she was wearing an armband.
“Hello,” Mister Eugene said. “Am I interrupting anything?”
“Of course not. You’re welcome to visit at any time. Who’s that girl next to you?”
“This is Miss Sumire Sashiougi. She’s a transfer student.”
“Wait, is she the one said to have come from another world?! Wow, I’m honored to meet you! My name is Teresia, and I’m part of the student council’s General Affairs team. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“I-I’m Sumire Sashiougi, and the pleasure is all mine.” Considering her reaction, gossip about me had obviously already spread throughout the academy. It was a little embarrassing.
“Miss Teresia also acts as the consulting service I mentioned earlier,” Mister Eugene said. “Don’t hesitate to reach out to her if you have any questions or problems.”
“Heh heh heh, come by any time! I’ll break out the delicious tea and snacks.”
“All right, thank you,” I said. That was a pretty enticing offer. Miss Teresia felt like someone who would be easy to get along with.
“We should get going, Miss Sumire,” Mister Eugene said.
“Okay! Miss Teresia, I’m sorry for taking up your time.”
Mister Eugene and I bowed before turning to leave. However, Miss Teresia’s expression clouded, like she had something she wanted to say.
“Eugene, you won’t meet the president?” she asked.
“I’d only cause her trouble if I did,” he replied.
“That’s not...” Miss Teresia hesitated before finishing, “That’s not true.”
“Please tell her I said hello.”
It felt like something had happened between Mister Eugene and this student council president. Though I had many questions about that, this didn’t feel like the right place or time to ask them. I should wait until later.
That was when some male students entered through the door, chatting all the while. All of them, with their muscular physiques and weapons hanging from their belts, looked like the warrior type.
Oh, wow! This really feels like a fantasy world now! They just carry around weapons like it’s a normal thing here!
When they noticed us, they stopped talking and their expressions changed. They narrowed their eyes and stalked toward us. Wh-What do they want?
“Hey, Eugene. What business does the Biology Club’s little errand boy have with the student council?”
“Are you here to bother the prez again?”
“She’s got no business with you, Eugene!”
“Hey, cut it out!” Teresia said in an attempt to stop the students from jeering at Eugene.
“Miss Sumire, let’s go,” Mister Eugene said.
“O-Okay.”
Though Mister Eugene ignored their words, the male students stood in our path, refusing to let us leave.
“Hey, don’t ignore us, Eugene.”
“What’s this? You’ve got a real cutie with you.”
“Hey, sweetheart. Stop wasting your time with this geek and come hang out with us.” One of the students raised his arm to wrap it around my shoulders.
Huh?! I froze up, unable to move or defend myself. But Mister Eugene grabbed the boy’s arm before he could do anything.
“Stop it. She’s not interested,” he said.
“Huh?! You think you’re cool or something? Let me go!” He tried to rip his hand out of Mister Eugene’s grip, but it didn’t budge at all. “D-Dammit! I can’t get myself free!” The student finally backed away from me after Mister Eugene released him. “Asshole! If it’s a fight you want, you’ve got one!”
How did you come to that conclusion?! You guys were the ones itching for a fight! Nonetheless, the students had us surrounded.
“Mister Eugene, what should we do?” I stammered.
“Things sure have taken a turn for the troublesome,” he said.
Despite his words, his expression was... Huh? He doesn’t look troubled. I could instinctively tell that Mister Eugene was as calm as ever. He’s not panicking at all, so I guess I don’t have to either? In fact, the male students in front of us were the ones who’d lost their cool.
“What if you’d injured him, huh?!” yelled the student next to the one whose arm Mister Eugene had grabbed, as if to justify this fight.
“Do you want me to cast some healing magic on it?” Mister Eugene asked.
“That’s not what I meant!”
Um, wait, is Mister Eugene a bit of an airhead?
Just then, a beautiful and slender female student descended the stairs. “What’s with all the commotion?”
“Madam President!” I heard Miss Teresia say.
At the same moment, the male students, who’d been lowering their stances in preparation for battle, jumped away to put distance between us. The girl who came down the stairs resembled a flower with lovely white petals. She had glossy black hair and eyes that shone like sapphires. Everything about her exuded elegance—the way she talked, walked, and even stood. Judging by everyone’s reactions, she was the president of the academy’s student council.
“What’s going on here?” she asked.
At her question, the boys who’d been bothering Mister Eugene with such confidence earlier fell silent and awkwardly averted their eyes.
What’s with that attitude?! They’re acting like completely different people! The president turned her attention to us and her expression changed in a heartbeat. For a moment, she looked surprised, but then a grin spread across her face.
“Eugene?! You came to see me!” And with that, she leaped forward and threw herself into his arms.
H-Huuuuh?!