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chapter 3
Crash—bang!
As he tried to put some distance between us, he bumped into the desk behind him with a loud thud.
…Wow, that must’ve hurt.
“Ar-are you crazy?!”
“Pink hair, are you okay?”
“Would you be okay?!”
With his face flushed bright red, he covered the ear I had just blown on.
I was asking if he was okay from hitting the desk, not his ear.
Well, judging by that reaction, everything else seemed fine.
Tilting my head slightly, I asked him in a teasing tone,
“If it hurts, want me to blow on it for you?”
“Please, just shut that mouth…!”
Karsion rushed over and covered my mouth with his hand.
Unable to speak, I blinked and stared straight at him.
“I’ll take my hand off if you promise to behave.”
I didn’t think I was being that loud.
I felt a bit annoyed, but didn’t bother arguing. Besides, even without using my hands, I could free my mouth.
Smiling like a cat, I slightly parted my lips and licked his hand.
As expected, he flinched and quickly backed away from me.
“You really…!”
Watching him, I casually muttered,
“Salty.”
Hearing me loud and clear, his face went beyond red—it looked like it might explode with just a poke.
Haah.
He’s seriously cute.
I think I just discovered a new preference of mine.
I should tease him often just to see that embarrassed face.
The “Arena Academy” I’m currently attending is the only school in the Empire without class distinctions, founded by a noble named Arena.
In other words, regardless of being noble or commoner, anyone who passes the entrance exam can attend.
Of course, the exam itself is disadvantageous for commoners who lack access to education.
But aside from that, this academy is so perfect it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a dream school.
It’s true that Arena Academy receives full support from the Empire.
Not only are the buildings massive and spacious, but the food, dormitories, quality of classes, and scholarship systems are unmatched.
Among all that, there was one thing I liked the most.
Based on the founding principle of the first founder—“All are equal before learning”—the academy strictly prohibits revealing one’s social status.
For commoners like me, it wasn’t a bad rule.
But after actually enrolling, it didn’t seem like the rule was being followed very well.
I didn’t even need much time to notice.
Just seeing how people subtly formed groups of nobles and commoners made that obvious.
And even right now…
“Pink hair.”
When I called Karsion that, he frowned slightly as if he didn’t like it.
“…What.”
“What’s this?”
“Can’t you see? It’s a sofa.”
That’s not what I meant.
Why is there a sofa—
And not just any sofa, but one with the crest of the Lysianthus Ducal House—
sitting right in our club room?
Did he seriously bring this from home?
Putting aside how he managed to move something this big in a day, isn’t this basically announcing his status?
“I mean, why is this in the club room?”
“A sofa’s more comfortable than hard chairs.”
“Is it okay to put something this luxurious here? What if someone steals it?”
“What kind of crazy bastard would steal a sofa—”
He stopped mid-sentence, glanced around, then rephrased himself.
“What kind of person could take something that big? Besides, this is our designated club room, so no one else can enter.”
I already heard what he said, so why bother softening it?
“This is a designated club room? Wow. I didn’t think they’d give a room to a club that barely meets the minimum member requirement.”
“You’ve only been here a short time, so you probably don’t know, but this isn’t even surprising.”
Seems like the rumors about Arena Academy being rich are true.
“That’s impressive.”
“Are you actually impressed, or making fun of it?”
Karsion raised one eyebrow at my reaction.
Look at him raising an eyebrow over something like that.
He’s seriously handsome.
I shrugged.
“I was genuinely impressed.”
“…I thought this when we first met, but I really want to see inside your head. I’m curious what you’re thinking when you say things.”
What am I thinking?
That your face is handsome. That your behavior is cute. That I want to see you blush again.
“Would I find out if I split your head in half?”
For a brief moment, something chilling flashed in Karsion’s eyes. But I just thought he was good at acting and played along.
“Want to try splitting it?”
At my joking words, his slightly sunken blue eyes stared into my black ones for a moment. Then he quietly closed them.
“No.”
How boring.
He should’ve kept acting like he was really going to do it.
A little disappointed in his lack of flair, I pulled a chair next to him and sat down.
Originally, I was going to sleep through club time like yesterday, but seeing that soft-looking sofa made sitting on a hard chair feel kind of sad.
I’ll just read a book today.
As I rummaged through my bag, I could still feel his gaze on me even after the conversation ended.
That’s a bit uncomfortable.
I stopped and looked up at him.
“Pink hair. Got something to say?”
“Why are you sitting there?”
So now I can’t even sit next to him?
“Well, there’s only a seat next to you, what else am I supposed to do?”
“There’s the sofa.”
“Isn’t that yours?”
“….”
He looked at me with a strange expression.
“I didn’t think you were the type to care about that.”
“I’m not shameless enough to use someone else’s stuff freely.”
“It’s for the club. Use it as much as you want.”
…That luxurious sofa is shared?
I thought he brought it just for himself.
After all, someone who doesn’t even like being called by name sharing something like that?
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Once again, you’re the best.”
After giving him a quick compliment, I immediately got up from the chair.
No reason to refuse. To someone who loves beds, a sofa is basically the same thing.
I placed my bag beside the chair and carefully sat down on the sofa.
Sunk.
Whoa—it really sinks in.
Let’s try that again.
Bounce.
Ahh, so nice. One more time.
Bounce.
Without realizing it, I kept bouncing slightly on the sofa, addicted to its softness.
After a while, I heard a “pfft” of laughter. I stopped and looked toward the sound.
“Why are you laughing?”
Karsion looked at me with a lazy smile.
“You like it that much?”
“It’s… decent.”
Even though I liked it, I answered nonchalantly. He smirked as if amused.
“It’s all over your face. You looked completely melted.”
Damn. My facial muscles slacked off because of the sofa.
You’re all getting punished tonight with a high-nutrition herbal face pack.
“…Oh. Your expression’s back.”
At his slightly disappointed tone, I looked at him.
Sure, I try to stay expressionless in front of his looks, but I didn’t think I seemed that emotionless.
“Want me to melt again?”
“No. What would I do seeing that again?”
Then fix that sulky voice and expression first.
“Stop talking and just sleep like yesterday.”
Snap.
With a light flick of his finger, a blanket fluttered down over me.
I looked at him curiously.
He acts prickly, but then does things like this. Honestly, I’m touched.
“You’re secretly kind.”
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not for you—it’s for my eyes.”
“Still, thanks. As a token of gratitude, if you get hurt next time, I’ll take responsibility and blow on it for you.”
“I don’t need that!”
“Sure, sure.”
Seeing his face turn red again, I thought how innocent he was.
Still, giving up a luxurious sofa and even bringing a blanket—doesn’t that make him kind?
After watching him a bit, his supposedly cold personality just felt like a wary kitten around strangers.
A pink kitten.
Yeah… the rumors about him must be exaggerated.
“Pink hair. Pink hair.”
“What now.”
“I heard some ridiculous rumors about you. Shouldn’t you clear them up?”
“Just go to sleep.”
“I don’t think I can sleep unless I tell you.”
“What rumors?”
“That someone as nice as you supposedly half-killed someone before entering the academy, or that you went on a rampage casting magic during a sword duel—stuff that makes no sense.”
“….”
“How do people turn someone like you into a near-murderer and a psycho? This is why you can’t trust rumors.”
“That rumor…”
“Right? Even you think it’s ridiculous.”
“That rumor… where did you hear it?”
“I overheard it in the hallway. I should’ve checked their name tags. But since I heard it in multiple places, I guess it spread quite a bit.”
Karsion was smiling as he listened.
But the eerie aura around him made it seem like he was suppressing his anger.
“Next time, check their names. No matter how many there are.”
“Okay. You should drink some water and calm down.”
At my words, he naturally picked up a glass of water from the desk and drank.
“By the way, pink hair.”
Since he was drinking, he just looked at me as if asking what now.
“The sofa’s big enough for two people. Want to lie down together?”
Pffft—!
“Just kidding.”
“You really…!”
I smirked as I watched Karsion, face flushed and fuming.
Such an innocent reaction.
This is fun.
After that day, for some reason, the rumors about Karsion that were constantly being talked about in the hallways completely disappeared.
As if he had erased the source of those rumors himself.
Nah… there’s no way that’s possible.
Must be my imagination.
