I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 102

 

🍃

 

“You’re referring to me?”

 

“Yes. Chairman of the Board of the Arena Academy, to be exact.”

 

Sylvia looked up from her paperwork and glanced at her aide.

 

“Why me?”

 

“Because you’re the one who made Arena Academy what it is today, so the award should go to you…”

 

“Oh, my goodness?”

 

Sylvia chuckled, covering her mouth.

 

“That’s flattering. Or was there something they wanted to gain by looking good to me, the chairman?”

 

The aide shrugged.

 

“Maybe they just wanted to catch a glimpse of your face.”

 

“Well. In that case, I feel sorry for the kid. I can’t go out to collect the award myself.”

 

The Duchess of Lysianthus serving as the President of the Imperial-supported Arena Academy was the perfect opportunity for a little badgering.

 

Sylvia rolled the pen in her hand.

 

“I don’t know what kind of plan they had in mind, but it’s cute.”

 

‘It made me want to do something for no reason.’

 

She paused, wondering if it was too much to offer in private, then asked.

 

“What’s the kid’s name?”

 

“Her name is Leen.”

 

The smile on Sylvia’s face vanished at the name.

 

“…What?”

 

“Leen.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

At her repeated question, the aide blinked in disbelief. It was obvious that the chairman knew Leen.

 

After all, she was so famous, it would be strange not to know.

 

“Is there a problem?”

 

“There is. A huge problem.”

 

Sylvia’s expression was very serious. The aide, who had grown increasingly worried, opened his mouth.

 

“What is it?”

 

Hopefully, it wasn’t just more work. Sylvia silently placed her hands on her chest and furrowed her eyebrows.

 

“I think my daughter-in-law is trying to take my heart.”

 

“…What?”

 

She slammed her fist down on the desk in an excited tone, unseen by the dumbfounded aide.

 

“Eh, Chairman?”

 

“No. I’m going to make sure she gets a taste of her own medicine!”

 

When Sylvia finally stomped to her feet, the horrified aide grabbed her.

 

“What do those words mean, she’s not even a graduate yet, calm down!”

 

“Calm down? Do I look calm right now, she’s so cute!”

 

“What, what?!”

 

“I’ll feed her this and that so she’ll grow up. I’ll let her know the sweetness of wealth and power!”

 

“Yeah, yeah…?”

 

The aide slowly backed away, looking at Sylvia. The Chairwoman felt strange.

 

🍃

 

Winter vacation has ended. There was really only a week left until graduation.

 

Carson headed to Leen herbology’s classroom on the first morning of classes.

 

Perhaps he was too shy to look at her face. He had visited her every day during the vacation, but she had never shown her face. He wondered if she was even in the dormitory.

 

Carson’s excitement at the prospect of finally seeing Leen was almost palpable.

 

He stepped lightly around the corner of the hallway. When he spotted Leen and Jane standing together, he smiled broadly and started to walk toward them.

 

But he quickly ducked back as if to run away. He realized that something very strange was going on between them.

 

Jane smirked and poked Leen on the side.

 

“So, did you see it?”

 

“Yep. It was all white. I think there’s a hint of pink in there, too. Speed, just my kind of thing.”

 

“Really? I’m glad. You liked it?”

 

“It’s kind of exciting and a little scary to see something that I’ve only imagined in my mind in front of me…”

 

Jane tilted her head in confusion at Leen’s answer.

 

“Were you scared? Why?”

 

“Because I thought everything was mine, and it made me feel kind of responsible.”

 

“Well, you don’t really have much left to support yourself, do you?”

 

“I think it’s because it’s the first time I’ve seen it, so I’ll get used to it the more I come.”

 

Carson’s face flushed bright red as he listened to their conversation. He wobbled to his feet and sat down.

 

“Hmm? Jane, didn’t you hear something just now?”

 

“Do you want me to take a look?”

 

The words startled Carson, who teleported away in a flash.

 

Leen, who had no way of knowing that Carson had heard the conversation, shook her head.

 

“Never mind, don’t bother.”

 

Jane shrugged and resumed the conversation.

 

“By the way, it’s a shame I had to use up the rest of my winter vacation to go see your pretty house.”

 

“I couldn’t help it. It’s the house I’m going to buy, and I have to see it for myself.”

 

“How far out in the middle of nowhere is it that it takes weeks to get there, round trip, even through the warp gate?”

 

“I’m glad we made it, because I barely made it to my dorm last night.”

 

“When are you going to move in?”

 

“Right after graduation.”

 

Jane paused and stared at Leen.

 

“…Is this really something we have to lose touch with?”

 

Leen laughed quietly, not saying a word. It wasn’t a question she could answer quickly.

 

She changed the subject to break the awkwardness.

 

“That’s right. Jane, I’ve been experiencing a strange phenomenon lately.”

 

Jane knew a lot about a lot of things, so she might know the cause of what I was experiencing.

 

“Strange phenomenon?”

 

“This is a little hard to explain, but ever since the prom, I’ve suddenly felt Caon’s presence…”

 

Jane’s face contorted as if she had misunderstood something.

 

“That filthy bastard has been watching you twenty-four hours a day?”

 

‘Why did she sound so sure…?’

 

I hastily shook my head and answered, “No, not that, more like, I feel like I know where Caon is.”

 

“What does that mean…”

 

“Sometimes I hear Caon’s voice calling my name.”

 

As Jane pondered Leen’s words, she clapped her hands as if suddenly realizing something.

 

“Oh, I see.”

 

“What is it?”

 

Jane repeated, squeezing Leen’s shoulders as if to make sure she was listening.

 

“You’re lovesick, Leen.”

 

“Eh?”

 

“Oh, seriously?”

 

Jane was convinced, but Leen could have sworn it wasn’t because of that.

 

Because, “If that’s really the reason, it should have happened three years ago.”

 

She’d had a crush on him ever since.

 

Meanwhile, the missing Carson was found at…

 

He stood alone near the summit of the mountain behind the Arena Academy.

 

Various fiends were drooling all around him, but he was deep in thought, his eyes, and ears blinded.

 

“Just my kind of thing… all mine… and more to come…”

 

He covered his completely red face with his hands and mumbled something under his breath.

 

“…That’s what Leen was thinking?”

 

And as he came to a conclusion, Carson could no longer keep his wits about him.

 

Bang—

 

No, it was a quagmire. On that day, the monster habitat that existed before the Arena Academy was even founded disappeared from the Empire.

 

🍃

 

The first few days back to school were a blur.

 

I turned down Professor George’s request to work with him on research after graduation.

 

Or searching for Dobby in a monster habitat that had been ravaged by an unexplained explosion.

 

Luckily, Dobby was safe and Carson helped him find a new home elsewhere.

 

Or soothing the members of the Leli-Club, who are now so upset that they no longer see me every day.

 

And the hardest of all…

 

Carson held out his hand shyly, his long lashes fluttering. His eyes were expectant.

 

For a moment, I was mesmerized by his kind face. I stared at his hand for a moment, then nonchalantly went on my way.

 

Then Carson sneakily grabbed my hand. I sighed and twisted my hand out of his grasp.

 

“This isn’t what friends do.”

 

“Are you shaming me for barely holding your hand, Leen?”

 

“…?”

 

No matter how much I think about it, that doesn’t sound like something Carson would say to someone who’s blushing all over from ‘barely holding hands’.

 

“I can do more than that with Leen.”

 

The words stuttered, but the blue pupils of his lost eyes didn’t meet mine. I mean, you don’t sound convincing with that sheepish face. 

 

‘You bastard.’

 

Lately, Carson had been spending all his time with me. He clung to me like the world would fall apart if I disappeared before his eyes.

 

Yes, just now…

 

Carson’s eyes reddened. He stares at me with the pity of an abandoned puppy.

 

“Are you sick of me, Leen, and that’s why you’re rejecting me like this?”

 

My pupils quivered at the sight of Carson’s sobbing.

 

My pupils quaked as I watched Carson sob.

 

“Ca, Caon. It’s not like that, so just calm down and…”

 

“I’ll do better. I’ll do anything, please don’t abandon me…”

 

I couldn’t help but hold his hand as he fought back tears.

 

Academy graduation was just around the corner.

 

🍃

 

Leen, who came to the dormitory with Carson, quickly let go of his hand upon arrival.

 

He looks at her hand with regret in his eyes.

 

She hastily hid her hand behind her back and said goodbye.

 

“You didn’t have to do that, but thanks for taking me. Goodbye.”

 

But Carson hesitated, as if he still had something to say. Leen had no intention of waiting for him.

 

“If you have nothing else to say, I’ll go inside.”

 

“Leen, if you don’t mind, can I pick you up tomorrow morning?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then we can have dinner together later…”

 

“No.”

 

“Before we say goodbye, I don’t need to kiss you, do I?”

 

“No.”

 

For a moment, the corners of Carson’s mouth twisted upward.

 

“…Really?”

 

Leen panicked, realizing she had fallen for his trick.

 

Oops!

 

She wondered how she should handle this situation, and then her eyes widened, and she pointed behind Carson.

 

“Uh, there!”

 

“What?”

 

Carson raised one eyebrow and looked behind him.

 

Leen took the opportunity to dart into the dormitory.

 

Seconds later, Carson turned around slowly and began to chuckle softly as he stared at the empty room in front of him.

 

Leen didn’t notice. When Carson turned around, he did so to see through her trick.

 

“Oh, that’s so lovely,” he crooned.