“Hey, is that…”
“No way…?”
“What’s happening…?”
Afternoon.
I was attracting strange attention.
Because…
“You didn’t have to come wake me up…”
“It’s okay if it’s just observation practice, right? Then, I need to increase the time I can watch.”
With that, Yukina naturally sat down next to me.
If I remember correctly.
Yukina is not supposed to be next to me.
She must have made some arrangements in the morning.
“I thought it was only when I’m holding a sword…”
“A master is different even in their daily behavior.”
“That’s why you’re overestimating me…”
I can only sigh.
Yukina believes by intuition that I am a master, and she believes she can learn something from me.
That’s why Yukina is always watching me.
Being stared at and followed by a beauty like Yukina isn’t a bad feeling for a man.
But Yukina, said to be the most beautiful in the Magic Sword department, is a notable figure. Moreover, she’s the third seat among the academy’s powerhouses, the Sword Demon Ten Elites.
If she pays attention to someone like me, I’ll stand out too.
That kind of attention is uncomfortable.
“Could you… not watch me, if possible?”
“Why?”
“It bothers me and I can’t sleep.”
“It’s fine since you’re going to sleep, right?”
Yukina tilted her head in confusion.
Trouble is, I can’t argue back.
While thinking to myself, “let it be,” I lay my head down on the desk.
Feeling Yukina’s gaze, I turn my face away from her, but I can still feel her eyes on me. Seriously. Why does this happen…
“Tired…”
It’s not something someone who just came out in the afternoon would say, but it’s understandable to be tired when things are different than usual.
In history class, Yukina, for some reason, took notes for me as well.
The reason seems to be that she’s causing me trouble.
It’s appreciated, but the “what’s with that guy?” stares from my classmates got stronger.
Moreover, Yukina, who usually leaves quickly, stayed in the classroom for a while today.
She was waiting for me to wake up.
“Hah… Did you learn anything?”
“No, I might need a little more time.”
Yukina answered my question indifferently.
It seems she still intends to stick around.
“I’m going back to my room, are you coming?”
“Yes, you might be secretly training.”
“I’m not doing that.”
Saying that, I head to the dormitory with Yukina.
At least, that’s how it must look to others.
Yukina follows me to my room without saying anything.
I try to close the door, thinking she surely won’t enter my room.
“I haven’t entered yet.”
“Why are you trying to come in!?”
As I try to close the door, Yukina forces it open and enters.
I let Yukina in, not trying to hide my displeasure.
But Yukina sits down on a chair, seemingly unconcerned.
“So? What are you going to do in my room?”
“Surveillance, perhaps?”
“Can you stop with the question form? I’m not secretly training, I’m just going to laze around, okay?”
“Then, I’ll enjoy my own time.”
With that, Yukina takes out a book.
It’s an old book.
I’ve seen Yukina reading it several times in the academy.
“You always read that… is it your favorite?”
“Oh? So Luvell-kun has been watching me too.”
“…”
“It’s written by my grandmother, who was a Sword Saint. It’s about the mindset of a Sword Saint and her own swordsmanship. It’s my favorite book.”
“I see… So does it say there to stick to a dropout?”
“Of course not. But it does say to always challenge new things. Never be satisfied with the status quo.”
“Huh, it does say good things.”
“My grandmother was an amazing person… my idol. A Sword Saint is the aspiration of all swordsmen. And the guardian deity of the Albios Kingdom. It has to be someone who makes people feel safe when they arrive. That’s why… I aim to be such a Sword Saint. I’ll do whatever it takes for that. People might laugh at me for sticking to you, and you might think I’m peculiar… but if it makes me stronger, I can be serious about anything.”
With that, Yukina turned her blue eyes towards me.
They were certainly serious eyes.
She’s not following me around as a joke.
That makes sense. As a member of the Sword Demon Ten Elites, Yukina is one of the academy’s top practitioners. She wouldn’t be keen on following someone called a failing noble like me.
After all, I clearly lack the will to improve. Yet, Yukina foolishly sticks to me, thinking there might be a hint to become stronger.
She’s a bit odd, but probably serious.
But…
“It’s noble, but following me around is a waste of time. For the sake of your dreams… you’d be better off practicing on your own.”
“I appreciate it, but… I’ll decide that for myself. I’m aware that I’m a nuisance. But I’ll observe until I’m satisfied. That was the promise, right?”
“I didn’t think you were that serious…”
Astonished, I lay down on the bed.
And close my eyes.
I couldn’t sleep well at the academy because of Yukina.
I need to sleep here or I won’t have time to rest.
And after some time passed.
When I opened my eyes, Yukina was gone.
Instead, there was a note on the desk.
“You seem tired, so I’m going home, huh?”
Despite her unreasonable way of following me around, she’s considerate where it counts, perhaps due to her upbringing.
A blanket was placed over me, which I hadn’t had when I fell asleep, so she’s essentially a caretaker.
“I’m in trouble…”
She’s a good kid. And dangerous.
Surely.
Yukina would accept even strange requests from me. She’d convince herself it’s for the sake of becoming stronger.
Becoming stronger is her first priority, everything else is secondary.
That’s how desperate she is to become a Sword Saint, but that desperation is also Yukina’s weakness. Those who don’t look after themselves tend to take their lives lightly. That’s probably why Yukina doesn’t focus on defense.
My heart wavers a little.
Because I’ve seen it so many times. Such people losing their lives on the battlefield.
So, maybe it’s okay to give her a hint? Maybe she’ll be a good successor?
But.
Those who take themselves lightly don’t make it far as swordsmen. At least, that’s what I believe.
It’s going to be difficult until that changes.
“What a waste of talent.”
