Chapter 20 - Volume 3 (1/2)

School Arc – Chapter 1

The waiting room for the imperial matches, which doubles as the welcome party for the new students, was brimming with excitement.

Particularly for the students aspiring to be knights, who were now rejoicing at the results of their matches.

Nonetheless, maybe the reason the tension in the air feels somewhat weak was because, at the end of the day, it was for the sake of a school function. Or, since the champion and the runner-up champion was almost decided, it could be that taking it easy was the manifestation of the sentiment.

「Wolf. Shade.」

Calling out to the two who were in an area far back, my fiance was the first to look over his shoulder.

「Lycoris」

Those purple eyes smiled gently.

Having remarkably matured in these last few years, not only had Wolf’s body structure become taller, he became tougher as a whole, even when compared to the the muscular students gathered in this place, his difference from the rest was striking.

Since I had to look up at him when talking even though I was fairly tall for a girl, I understood the value of the time we’d first met, when I could look down just a little at him.

Though he had quite well-organized features, ever since growing up, people often talked about a sharp, discerning image when talking about him. Since Wolf’s almond pupils had an impressively vivid color, with his hair and even his clothes centered around black, I believe, owing to that, a misunderstanding of some sort occurred. Because matters where he omitted his facial expressions when appearing in public and the like were many, his handsome face ended up giving a sagacious impression to others.

「Elder sister. Even at a place like this, are you planning to give your encouragement by slapping this cute little brother of yours on the butt?」

Pleasantly and light-heartedly smiling while saying uncute things, this little brother through mysterious circumstances, nowadays really resembled Father in my opinion. Rather than saying it was his features, it was more of his behavior that resembled him. Well, even though it wasn’t his real father, since they had a blood relation, it wasn’t really that strange though.

Nevertheless, speaking about this smiling face. This was the sort of expression which, when I squint slightly at it, could probably pass exactly for my father’s.（Father was a bit baby-faced）

Though the hair color that settled in could no longer be branded as gold as compared to when he was a child, part of his quirky hair, when exposed to light, still sparkled and glimmered. Coupled with the whiteness of his skin as the center of a glamorous impression and his deep reddish-brown eyes being of a prominent dark color, he was hugely popular with charming young ladies who had commented, 「I end up wanting to take a look」, or「it’s mysteriously dreamy, for some reason」.

Although when standing next to Wolf, he had a sense of slenderness, Shade also winded up having a solidly-built, manly physique. That is to say, he wasn’t cute.

「Since I probably can’t watch the outcome of the game, I thought to give my support right now」

Because my seat was in a conspicuous location, I’d probably be exposed anyway, so I came here to tell them in advance.

「Did something happen?」

Since Wolf immediately let out a concerned voice, I shook my head in denial.

「I just wanted to check something for a bit. I’m already used to seeing Wolf’s and Shade’s bouts, so in that time, I’ll finish the errand」

「Despite trying to raise the men’s morale for their battle, your words seem to douse cold water. Elder sister」

「”Because of that, since I was caught off guard, I couldn’t participate in the finals at all”, if you used such an excuse, you’ll be laughed at, you know. Shade」

Having fiercely and deliberately scowled at him, Shade faked an exaggerated expression of fright.

「I’m sorry, Wolf. In the box seat, I really wanted to watch you beat Shade in the overall championship, but…」

“You all treat me harshly”, though Shade wedged in that remark, it was ignored.

It’s not like a section of the female graduates threw a fit at the end because they didn’t want to part with Shade at the previous year-end; the riots which lasted until just before the start of the school term didn’t necessarily mean they were angry about it. Yeah, not at all.

「I’m okay with it. But, are you sure there aren’t any problems?」

「Yeah. I’ll go see how the underclassmen are doing, that’s all」

「But, your face… isn’t it a bit pale?」

「…yeah. As expected, I grew tired of sitting at that seat. It’s way too close to the direction of the royals, you know. Since the leaders of the school were with them, they weren’t concerned with doing things such as starting a conversation with me, but somehow, I ended up strangely tensed」

When I conveyed the excuse I had prepared without hesitation, Wolf, at last, nodded his head consenting.