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Chapter 45
I tried to smile casually as I looked up at Johan.
Unlike the benevolent, almost reverent expression on his face—one that seemed capable of embracing everything—the dignity contained in his golden eyes had the power to render a person completely immobile.
Fortunately, the unfamiliar pressure vanished as soon as his eyes curved into crescents.
He slowly glanced around and began to speak.
“It’s truly admirable to plan such a meaningful charity event. It’s an effective way to bring about real, practical relief.”
At the gentle praise that followed, my face grew warm on its own.
After all, being sincerely complimented by a respected senior—and someone who happened to be my ideal type—was both embarrassing and gratifying.
As proof, Johan not only participated in the event himself but even encouraged other students to join.
“Thank you.”
I lowered my eyes shyly, then cautiously shifted my gaze.
The question of whether he knew Izael rose all the way to the tip of my tongue.
To avoid creating a situation that might seem suspicious, I swallowed the impulse and chose to ask indirectly.
“Johan, do you happen to know anyone among the student council executives?”
Why was I so nervous over something so trivial?
It felt ridiculous that I was trying to find meaning even in the light, natural silence that should exist between a question and its answer.
“Well…”
Johan stared somewhere into the air before turning his gaze directly to me.
Then he reached out his hand…
“They introduced the student council executives during the general assembly, so if that counts, I suppose I could say I know them.”
He gently smoothed out the tension that had been etched between my brows.
“Is it important?”
At the sight of him tilting his head with a faint smile, I blankly shook my head.
“No.”
Whether Johan was a hypocrite or not didn’t matter.
What happens between people is something only the parties involved truly know.
It wasn’t my place to comment recklessly, and besides, no one maintains a good reputation with everyone.
There was also the possibility that Izael knew Johan unilaterally.
To someone who wasn’t on the student council, I might just be the tacky, low-born student council president dragging down Judea’s dignity.
Still… the look in Izael’s eyes when he murmured Johan’s name stuck in my mind…
The way his eyes had flared like blue flames in an instant—that intensity lingered, and it bothered me.
With the bell signaling the start of class ringing in the background, I waved to Johan.
In the end, I couldn’t give him the handkerchief.
Students in gym uniforms bustled energetically around the academy.
Long lines formed in classrooms, the gymnasium, and the infirmary to measure physical stats.
“190 cm. Next.”
“Ooooooh!”
“As expected of Kassel.”
It seemed that, regardless of status, everyone cared about height.
The students stared intently at the nurse, displaying a level of concentration never seen before.
“183 cm. Next.”
“As expected of His Imperial Highness!”
Sneaking a glance at the teacher who casually wrote down the numbers on the scale, I tiptoed toward Rihart.
When he raised an eyebrow at me, I grinned.
“You lost.”
“What?”
Without a word, I looked him up and down from head to toe, then glanced at Kassel.
Only then did Rihart understand my meaning, and he crooked his lips instead.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t forget I’m still growing.”
Huh? That wasn’t the reaction I expected.
Rihart looked at me and smiled leisurely.
“Rather than that, you should worry about the fitness test. I’ve finished making thorough preparations.”
What an infuriatingly smug face.
[Boys’ Division]
Standing long jump
Beep!
“Kassel Zenda breaks the highest record!”
Grip strength
Beep!
“Daniel Fernandie breaks the highest record!”
Flexibility
Beep!
“Izael Lunacliff breaks the highest record!”
Sprint
Beep!
“Aven Reuters breaks the highest record!”
With my arms crossed, I said,
“Well, Rihart. I’m not sure what exactly you prepared so thoroughly.”
“…Says the one whose records are pathetic.”
[Girls’ Division]
Standing long jump
Beep!
“Lena Dicliffe breaks the highest record!”
Grip strength
Beep!
“Lena Dicliffe breaks the highest record!”
Flexibility
Beep!
“Lena Dicliffe breaks the highest record!”
Sprint
Beep!
“Lena Dicliffe breaks the highest record!”
Arms still crossed and eyes half-lidded, I calmly stated the obvious.
“It’s not that I did badly. Lena’s just that good.”
“You didn’t even make the rankings, yet you sure talk big.”
“….”
I forced one corner of my lips upward. How was I supposed to know Lena’s physical abilities were this outstanding?
The way she accomplished everything flawlessly with an indifferent expression was astonishing.
And just like the saying that beauties live on dew alone, despite running at full speed, Lena didn’t shed a single drop of sweat.
Is she even human?
I shoved Rihart aside and scampered over to Lena, holding out a water bottle.
“Lena, were you always this healthy? Weren’t you sent away to recuperate because you were sick? What kind of recuperation did you even do there…?”
I subtly begged her to share her secret, and Lena finally opened her tightly sealed lips.
“Just.”
Just?
As I stared blankly, waiting for her to continue, she spoke again.
“I didn’t like seeing you ranked the same as Rihart, so I tried harder.”
My eyes widened at the unexpected answer.
Is this jealousy right now? Since when did she get close enough to Rihart to be jealous because of me?
It took everything I had not to open the status window on the spot.
Meanwhile, Lena shot Rihart a cold glare and said icily,
“Though I didn’t expect him to be that bad.”
Though he was some distance away, Rihart must have heard her. He pushed up his straight brows and declared confidently,
“Just wait for the long-distance run.”
Isn’t long-distance running the embodiment of effort, perseverance, and diligence?
Watching Rihart burn with determination to maintain a top ranking out of sheer stubbornness, I steeled my resolve too.
At least for long-distance, I’ll endure with stamina somehow.
Long-distance run
Beep!
“Kassel Zenda breaks the boys’ highest record!”
“Lena Dicliffe breaks the girls’ highest record!”
“…….”
“…….”
Rihart and I locked eyes midair.
Without a word, we silently agreed to pretend none of this had happened.
“I’m telling you, betting on a fitness test in the first place was weird.”
Aven’s voice, shaking his head as if we were hopeless, was swept away by the wind.
“Student Council President, could you bring the physical measurement records from the infirmary?”
“Yes, of course.”
The building, now emptied of everyone, was utterly quiet.
A cool breeze, the orange sunset dyeing Judea, faint distant sounds.
As my footsteps echoed down the hallway, I closed my eyes.
It felt strange—like I had returned to my school days in a previous life.
Overwhelming yet peaceful, and at the same time strangely lonely. As if I were the only one left in a ruined world.
“…It’s peaceful enough to be scary.”
After standing alone in the corridor for a moment, admiring the sunset, I resumed walking.
Thinking about heading to the café after finishing up already made me tired, but my mood wasn’t bad.
At least I’ll get a little time to rest.
Excited at the thought of zoning out for a while, I opened the infirmary door.
“Ah….”
Bang!
I shut it.
…What did I just see?
Oh my god, what did I just see?
Though every instinct screamed at me to turn around and leave immediately, my hand betrayed me and twisted the doorknob again.
Bang!
“What do you think you’re doing right now?!”
They say when someone is extremely shocked, they become calm instead.
Contrary to my expectation that my voice would tremble, it sounded so steady it was almost icy.
I widened my eyes and glared at Lena and Izael, tangled together on the infirmary bed.
On second thought, maybe “tangled” wasn’t the right word.
But to someone like me, who had lived her entire life within all-ages ratings, it was shocking enough.
A man and a woman lying close together on the same bed, gazing into each other’s eyes!
And it’s Lena of all people!
Lena, her face flushed red, was leaning back against the headrest almost as if she were lying down. With wide eyes, she called my name.
“Archel.”
The rare panic in her voice made my heart even more unsettled.
But that lasted only a moment—because when I saw Izael straddling her, unbuttoning her shirt, my brain short-circuited.
The curse words poured out without passing through my head.
“You crazy bastard, get off her right now?!”
I pointed furiously, but Izael didn’t look flustered at all.
Not only did he not remove his hand from Lena, he leisurely licked his lips.
You, you, you…!
I’ll pry that guy off her no matter what.
Like an enraged gorilla charging through the jungle, I strode forward—though my momentum didn’t last long.
“It’s a misunderstanding, Archel.”
Because Lena hurriedly grabbed Izael’s hand, which had been wandering near her collarbone, and tried to explain.
“A misunderstanding? What do you mean? Don’t tell me you were willingly trying to do something like that with Izael here at the academy?”
“What do you mean, ‘something like that’? What exactly are you thinking?”
“Listen carefully, Lena. First of all, you’re still students, and there are things you absolutely cannot do in public places. This counts as public indecency! And more than that, Izael is…!”
My mind went blank.
I didn’t even know what I was saying.
Disjointed words spilled out in a ramble.
“Izael is….”
I bit my lip hard over the secret I could never reveal.
So hard I tasted blood.
Of all the students in the world, why did it have to be Izael?
“Izael is…!”
Frustrated that I couldn’t tell the truth, and hurt on Lena’s behalf, I squeezed my eyes shut and shouted,
“He’s not good enough for you, you idiot!!”
