Chapter 4 Part 4
Translator : PolterGlast
Proofreader : John4891
Iris'
POV
"So
Lisa, what business do you have with me?"
Just
as Tima and I were about to have our lunch break, Lisa told us to meet her on
the rooftop.
There
was no one on the rooftop. The warm spring breeze stroked my cheeks, and I
could only hear the chirping of birds and the voices of the students coming and
passing during the lunch break.
"I'm
sorry to call you so suddenly..........Irisdina-san, I hear that you've been
with him a lot lately. Is that true?"
As
I thought. Lisa wanted to know about my relationship with him after all.
I
knew who she was.
Lisa
Hounds.
A
woman with fiery red pony tail, and beautiful eyes that carried a hint of
mischief.
She
was an attractive girl even to me of the same sex, and she was so beautiful
that boys would want to flock around her.
She
was a student who had also reached A rank, a feat which 5 students in the 3rd
year achieved, and she was one of the few students who could compete with me
even in practical classes by skillfully manipulating two sabers, one long and
one short, with outstanding physical ability. It was a well-known fact that she
was dating A-ranked Ken Notis, who was the same year as us, and many other
girls wept because of that...
She
looked at me with a serious look. Her mischievous eyes lurked, and her eyes
seemed to swirl with indescribably strong emotions.
"Ah,
it's because he is my friend. Is it that strange?"
The
moment I called him a friend, her face was distorted as if she had bitten a
worm.
It
was a look full of hatred that wasn’t like the usual her. That alone showed how
much she hated and detested Nozomu.
".........Irisdina-san,
it’s better if you stay away from him."
My
eyebrows twitched at the words she spoke, and Tima had a surprised expression
on her face.
Tima
had never seen her emanate so much anger before. I also saw her with such an
expression for the first time.
Lisa
was a talented person who was one of the top 5 students in the third year, but
she didn’t boast her abilities and treated everyone equally.
Earlier,
when I was helping Anri-sensei carry the tools used for class at the request of
Anri-sensei, a lower-class female student of the same year was picking a fight
with upperclassmen under the window.
After
I finished, I talked to the female student who was involved. It seemed that the
upperclassman was at a guild and was looking for a member to enter the forest
with, but couldn't find anyone. The upperclassman wasn’t allowed to enter the
forest. It seemed that he was trying to take her by force.
At
that time, I told Anri-sensei and immediately went to the scene, but it took me
a while because I was on the upper floor.
However,
when I arrived at the scene, Lisa, who had already rushed to the scene, managed
to subdue the place.
She
mediated between the students, who were in a quarrel with upperclassmen. It
seemed the upperclassmen had been dealt with accordingly without any force.
"E,
erm Lisa-san ..."
Perhaps
worried about Lisa, the female student seemed to have called her name. The
upperclassman, who heard Lisa's name, tried to invite her, ignoring the female
student earlier.
However,
she rejected the upperclassman’s invitation. The enraged upperclassmen tried to
pull out his sword, but it seemed that Lisa had a saber blade stuck pointed at
his throat the moment the upperclassman touched his sword.
In
the end, the upperclassman was threatened by her overwhelming ability and
escaped in the process.
She
was a woman who could face problems head-on, even if her opponent was an
upperclassman.
At
least that was what I thought of her.
"Do
Irisdina and the others know what he did? I won't say bad things, but you’d
better stop hanging out with him right away."
At
that time, Lisa, who faced the upperclassman with her resolute attitude, told
me to dissolve my relationship with Nozomu in words that I never thought would
come out of her mouth.
I
listened to Lisa's words about Nozomu and asked her questions that never
disappeared in my mind.
".........Is
that....because of what happened between you and Nozomu?"
Neither
I nor Tima knew what really happened between him and her. It was rumored that
Lisa dumped Nozomu because he betrayed her, but when I actually met him, he was
very different from what I heard in the rumors.
The
question I have been feeling since I met Nozomu. The difference between him
that I hear from rumors and him when I actually see, talk, and touch him.
The
difference between the rumors I was hearing and the actual truths. The incident
between Lisa and Nozomu became the foundation of this difference.
The
moment she heard my question, her face was even more distorted.
Lisa
was desperately trying to hide her swirling emotions within herself, but she
couldn't. She clenched her fist and appeared to clench her teeth.
"I'd
like to hear it because it's a good opportunity. What exactly did he do to
you?"
"We've
been with him for a while now, but he doesn’t seem like the person in the
rumors"
".........I
don't care. Anyway, I gave you some advice. You should get rid of him before
things get bad..."
After
saying so, she turned her heels back and left through the roof door.
Her
back, which left quickly, clearly said, "I can't speak anymore," and
she seemed to say, "I don't want to be asked anymore."
========================================
"Ah,
I arrived"
"I'm
late"
After
their conversation with Lisa on the roof ended, Irisdina and Tima came to the
infirmary where Nozomu and others were.
It
was late, but the lunch boxes of Nozomu and the others hadn't been opened yet,
and it seemed that they waited until Irisdina and Tima came.
"Ah.
I'm sorry I'm late."
"S-Sorry
..."
"Don't
mind it. you must have a sudden errand. We have a little time for lunch left,
so let's eat."
"Then~,
bon appétit!"
When
Nozomu said so, Anri said, "I've been waiting!", she opened her lunch
box and started eating.
After
the two who were prompted by Nozomu also sat down on the chairs, they started
eating their lunch boxes.
Everyone
was devoting themselves to their meals for a while, but Irisdina glanced at
Nozomu sideways. She was worried about Nozomu.
Nozomu
also noticed Irisdina's gaze and asked her.
"Hmm,
Iris, do you need something?"
"N-No
it's nothing..."
"???"
Nozomu
tilted his head to Irisdina's behavior because it was different from the usual,
but when she returned to her meal, Nozomu also resumed eating his own meal.
"...Hey,
doesn't Irisdina look a little strange?"
Mars
whispered to Tima, so that Nozomu and others couldn't hear him.
Tima
quivered at Mars' words, and she replied in a whisper, just like Mars.
"Do
you think so?"
"Yeah,
it seems that Nozomu also felt something that was wrong. Did something
happen?"
"U,
un"
Tima
recalled the interaction between her best friend and her classmate. That event
was still shocking. Tima was completely swallowed by Lisa's hostile atmosphere.
At
the same time, she thought, "Maybe Mars knows something", and she
decided to ask him.
“………..Mars,
can we talk after school today?”
"...Ah,
Nozomu said he had something to do today, so it's okay. Is it okay for the
place to be Ushitotei?"
Mars
sensed Tima's serious atmosphere and answered Tima's question with a stiff
expression.
Irisdina
also had the same atmosphere. He also felt that it would be difficult for
Nozomu to talk about it.
"Yeah,
please. I'll talk to Ai later..."
The
two made a promise so that Nozomu and the others would not notice it. Anri and
Norn were staring at them.
========================================
Anri’s
POV
After
Nozomu and his friends heard the bell and returned to the classroom, Anri and
Norn, who remained in the infirmary, talked about Mars and others earlier.
"...Is
it okay? If we don't talk about it?"
"About
what~~?"
"It's
about Nozomu, you know. During his first year, there was only one person who
could spread that rumor, and who do you think that is?"
"…I
don't think we should talk about it yet~. I think Nozomu-kun is getting better,
but it looks like he's still not ready to talk yet~~."
Anri
remembered when she saw Nozomu in the city before. Nozomu's appearance seemed
dead and he had no spirit.
At
least for the current Nozomu, talking about this was akin to ripping a bandage
off an unhealed wound.
Maybe
Nozomu himself was unconsciously trying to avoid the topic.
"...Maybe
Nozomu has too many things to think about~. He hasn't been able to organize
himself yet. But the same is true with Irisdina and the others. Even if we go
to talk to Nozomu now, I don't think he can tell us a thing ~~. "
(Let's
talk to Irisdina and others. It's the best way to help the current Nozomu. They
are now a little impatient. Their impatience may further drive Nozomu to the
wall.)
"But
we can't stay like this forever. Irisdina and the others haven't noticed
Nozomu’s true nature yet, but if they do, they'll notice that someone
intentionally put false rumours there eventually."
"Well
yeah~~. I think, if it's Irisdina-san, she will notice it soon~~. The same goes
for Nozomu."
Aside
from that, Nozomu, who used to hide behind a shell, his world was expanding
now. Then he would realize the truth. Or, perhaps, he was already aware of it.
"If
so, then....."
"But
we are teachers~. We need to watch over them~~."
"......Well,
that's right. We will intervene in the event of an emergency..."
Anri
smiled and said to Norn, "We still have time to watch from the
sidelines."
They
were worried that Irisdina and others would run too far ahead, but the
situation wasn’t so bad right now.
(Then
we will believe in them. When they don't know what to do anymore, we’ll act at
that time.)
Norn
also listens to Anri's opinion and shrugs her shoulders.
(We
are teachers. They are the leading actors)
Anri
felt a little dejected, but at the same time, she was happy to know that Nozomu
had friends who were so worried about him.
(Nozomu-kun,
do your best~~. You have friends who are so worried about you~~. I don't know
what's binding you, but...don't lose)
=========================================
After
school, Mars, Irisdina, and the others met at Ushitotei. Beside Irisdina, there
was also Somia in her Ecross uniform, who joined along the way.
"Sorry,
I’m late"
"No,
don't worry. I just got here too."
"Then,
please go to this table."
Ena
guided the four to the table at the back of the store. It was shaded and
invisible from the outside.
"So
what do you want to hear?"
"Mars
knows about Nozomu rumors right."
"Is
there anyone who doesn't know about the rumors at school?"
"Seems
like it. Actually, it's about that... "
Irisdina
started talking to Mars about what happened on the roof during the lunch break.
She
was called by Lisa and was told that she had to cut ties with Nozomu. When
Irisdina asked about what happened between them, Lisa’s appearance conveyed
rage.
Mars
also had a serious look and was listening to Irisdina's story.
When
Irisdina finished talking, Mars opened his mouth.
“………..Is
that really what you want to hear?”
"Yeah,
we already know that the rumor is off the mark, but I don't know why it
happened."
"...It
seems so. I was worried about it too, but...too bad. I don't even know
anything."
Mars
didn’t know what happened to Nozomu at that time. He thought the quickest way
was to ask the person in question...
"…………I
see……"
Irisdina
said that disappointedly in response to Mars's words.
(But
it's weird, something is stuck. The rumored him and the real him. What the hell
happened... not good, there's too little information!)
After
the encounter with Lisa, an unfamiliar impatience started swirling in her
chest.
(I
don't know anything about Nozomu)
That
fact gradually eroded her mind.
It
was the same with Mars. Even for him, Nozomu was the friend who forgave him.
He
was unaware of himself, but the fact that he invited Nozomu to Ushitotei, which
his entourage had never approached, showed that Mars trusted Nozomu.
(…………
As I thought, we should ask him and clear up Nozomu's suspicion at school)
Irisdina
didn’t think Nozomu should’ve stayed as he was in the school. Ever since she
invited Nozomu to lunch, the people around had spoken to her. Not only the
students, but even the teachers told her to stay away from him.
"You
shouldn't be with that lowest"
"That
guy isn’t suitable for you, Irisdina-san."
"I'm
only saying this for your own good. I won't say bad things. Just stop being
involved with that inferior student."
Every
time she heard those words, her chest seemed to tighten.
"No!
He's not that kind of person!" She wanted to shout out loud.
But
every time, Nozomu's face flickered.
She
was a smart girl. She was here now, and said "it's not true", and
soon realized she didn't trust her surroundings. When she saw them, she quickly
realized that they completely believed in the rumor and had no doubt about it.
Their
thoughts on Nozomu had been completely established, and no matter what she
said, it wouldn’t help.
Irisdina's
chest felt even more pain.
She
was indescribably frustrated and helpless.
Wanting
to sink the raging passion inside her chest, Irisdina suggested asking Nozomu
directly.
"...As
I thought, let's ask him directly."
"Right.
Then, will you go to Nozomu's dormitory tomorrow morning? He probably won't
come back until tomorrow morning."
Mars
agreed with Irisdina. They looked at each other and nodded. When they tried to
stand up...
".........
Wa-Wait, both of you"
Tima
asked the two of them to wait.
"What's
wrong Tima?"
"Is
there still something?"
".........I
think it's better to wait...to ask Nozomu-kun."
Surprised
by her words, Irisdina and Mars stared at Tima intently.
"But
Tima..."
Irisdina
tried to digest Tima's words, but the two girls who had been waiting
interrupted her.
"Ane-sama,
I know how bad it is, but...I also agree with Tima-chan's opinion."
"I
think so, too"
"Even
Somia too..."
"Why?"
It
was a natural question from Irisdina and Mars. If they didn’t know what
happened between Nozomu and Lisa in the past, they wouldn't be able to help
him.
"Maybe,
when Nozomu-kun is ready, I think he will talk… and Nozomu-kun has been alone
until now, isn't he? "
"That's
why…”
"Don't
be impatient...Ai and Mars. You're going to make Nozomu-kun tell you something
that might hurt him, right? Can both of you suddenly tell your friends
something like that? At least we weren't the parties involved. We should wait
until Nozomu-kun is ready to talk. "
".........Onīchan,
I think so too...When Nozomu-san came to the store before, he had a chance to
meet with Lisa."
Ena
started talking about Nozomu's previous meeting with Lisa at Ushitotei. Lisa
and a man came into the store together and shared a table with Nozomu. Lisa
left the store while screaming, and Nozomu just hung his head and looked down.
He left the money and walked out before Ena tried to say something.
"At
that time, Nozomu-san looked like he was in deep pain. I thought I should’ve
said something... but when I saw that face, I couldn't say anything..."
(At
that time, Nozomu-san was desperately trying to act as if nothing happened. He
apologized for making such a ruckus in the shop after that. I could tell by
looking closely at the incident that he was far from all right…)
"You
shouldn't ask Nozomu-san right now. Onīchan should wait a little longer."
Irisdina
and Mars didn’t know how to respond to Ena's words. Certainly, as long as
Nozomu didn’t speak, all they could do was wait until Nozomu decided to speak.
It was best for him to speak with his own will and with his own mouth.
"…………I
understand"
Irisdina
acknowledged with a sunken expression, and Mars nodded a little, but his
expression was still depressed.
".........By
the way, what happened to Nozomu? I heard he had something to do..."
"...Well,
it's him we're talking about. Maybe he's going to the forest. He sometimes
seems to go into the forest alone and train..."
"Ehh!!!!"
It
was not sane to enter the forest alone, where demon beasts roamed around
freely. Even Irisdina and others were obliged to form parties when entering the
forest.
Irisdina
and others didn't believe that Nozomu was in the forest alone.
"...Mars-kun,
is that true?"
"Yeah,
I've seen Nozomu go into the forest before. Well, that guy will be fine. He
says he's been in the forest since the first year. His judgment of the
situation in battle is accurate and fast, and his combat experience is probably
the highest in our school year. "
When
Irisdina heard that, the questions she had inside swelled further.
(Why
didn't you show that ability until now? Solminati is a complete meritocracy. If
you showed that ability, you wouldn't have been treated as badly as you are
now...)
"...Why
was he in the 10th class, despite having such capabilities?"
"...I
don't know. It was at the end of last year that I realized his strength. At
least before that, he was a gloomy rooted guy. He was always looking down, and
no matter what I said, he just turned his back on me..."
Mars
thought about Nozomu again.
(By
the way, it wasn't until the end of last year that he started to change...We
don't know anything about him...)
Irisdina
and others realized that they didn’t know anything about Nozomu.
In
the end, only time went by, without deciding what to do.
