Ever since Altair's warning, I feel like things have gone on like usual. Especially after the warning, it felt weird to return to everyday life but it was the best.
Sure, at first, the thought of fighting like characters in novels was cool but it gets tiring after a while.
A few days passed and Akane had returned from her 'family emergency.' She hugged me tightly as soon as she saw me.
"Shoya!"
I also got a haircut since tying up my hair was no longer doing it for me. Akane seemed to notice that and happily fiddled with a few strands of my hair.
"Would you stop flirting?"
As well as Akane on the table, Kana and Tatsuya sat opposite us. Anastasia was dealing with some student council problems. Ah, when Akane left, and Anastasia recovered, she offered to fill in for Akane.
"There's something I've been wanting to ask you, Shoya..."
Tatsuya mumbled.
Yup. I knew it, he was mad!
"When were you going to tell me that you were dating both Anastasia and Kabura?! It's almost like you're some good-for-nothing noble!"
"Hey, I never tried to hide it from you."
It's true. I never did. I mean, we occasionally sat here in the lunch hall, openly, just talking to each other.
"Don't give me that bullshit!"
He's crying...
"In middle school, you weren't any sort of womaniser, but, somehow, when you entered high school, you somehow became a girl magnet! You upgraded!"
"Then, in your case, I guess you downgraded."
Once upon a time, I was in Tatsuya's position. He would get a girlfriend and never tell me anything about it until I would eventually come across the subject. In a way, this is payback.
"I noticed too. What's with that ring on Anastasia's finger? I mean, you must've given it to her, right?"
Kana noticed and I'm sure others did too.
I just gave her that ring as a gift, thinking it would cheer her up. Honestly, getting beaten wasn't worth it, but in the end, she did accept it and got better. However, it was only after that I found out that it was special.
[That's your fault.]
Erebus suddenly spoke in my mind.
(Shut up, you should've told me that it had mana and that it was something special. I would've kept it if I was truly in danger.)
[It was a gift from an Emperor. I don't know what went through your mind.]
I stayed silent. He is right.
I wonder what that ring does. Well, I should stop thinking about it now since I gave it to Anastasia. Hopefully, she'll be able to use it right when needed.
"Here you are, I've been looking for you."
Out of nowhere, Vienna appeared with a smile on her face.
"M-me? Me?"
Tatsuya pointed at himself and asked, nervously.
I'm not going to say anything.
"Hm? No, not you."
She sat down next to Kana.
"I've been looking for my friend, Shoya."
Vienna told them with a gleaming smile. For some reason, she's so bright. It hurts my eyes.
"Don't ignore me, Vienna."
Akane intervened.
"Oh, you were here too? I'm going to be honest, with how you were clinging onto Shoya, I thought it was someone else."
They seem like they know each other. I want to be surprised but I'm not really. I mean, Anastasia seemed like she knew Queen's Voyage. I think.
"Are you after Shoya? I'm sorry, he's already reserved, Vienny."
That's... a ridiculous surname. I don't know how Vienna allows herself to be called that. It's worse than how Yuki-nee calls me 'Shou-kun.'
Ugh! I cringe whenever I think about it.
"No, I have no romantic interest. I mean, he's just a friend. A true friend, like you."
I thought I was a true fan but being her friend is fine too. Ah, knowing that one of my favourite idols is my friend just makes me want to hear her next song already.
"A true friend? Then, that's epic, since you haven't had one since Anastasia and I."
"Yes, yes, exactly!"
You know, when I first met Vienna, I sort of got Akane vibes from her and I truly understand now. It's like they're on the same wavelength.
"Shoya."
"Yeah?"
"Come with me."
Tatsuya stood up and began slowly walking away. As I watched him, he returned, to grab me by the collar, and drag me along to the male toilet.
He pushed me onto the wall and slammed his hand near my face.
This is wrong! So wrong! You're supposed to do this with a girl, not with your friend!
"Be honest with me."
He said, looking down at the ground while holding my shoulders tightly.
"How many girls do you want?"
"Hah?! What do you mean?! I already have two girl—"
"Yet, excluding our friend group, you hang out with girls."
Ah... he's right.
"Why don't you hang out with other guys?"
"Well, it's kind of too late now because it would just be awkward to talk to them like they were my friends."
Tatsuya has lost it now. I mean, I knew he would react in some sort of otherworldly way but this was unexpected. He wall-slammed me before interrogating me. He's a closet pervert and so am I. Though, I'm not really a pervert... I'm just trying to be kind because I called my best friend a closet pervert.
"Does it matter that much?"
"Listen, I'm going to let you off this time."
Space! Space! I need personal space! His face is so close to mine!
"If you make any more female friends, then..."
He made a gesture that he would kill me. Of course, he wouldn't kill me. The last time he did that, I got ice-cold water poured all over me on a freezing winter day. Yes, that was absolute hell.
"Oh, I'm sorry for interrupting you guys..."
A boy walked in. A first-year. He was blushing as he stared at both Tatsuya and I.
"Well, then, I'll go to the toilets upstairs."
"WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!"
"IT'S A MISUNDERSTANDING!"