(Dazai Crowley's POV)
Cerulean Academy, Present Day
"So, have you gotten used to our school life yet?"
"It's only been one day", Ester replies.
"....Ah, true."
Well, that failed miserably.
Perhaps realizing I made a mistake, I then heard something resembling a chuckle on the other side of the call. God, I hope she isn't mocking me….
She then corrects her manner of speech.
"To be honest though…—it's a little different from what me and you are already used to."
"Oh, really now?"
"Yeah."
"—Heh."
I chuckle lightly.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing. It's just, I told Gwein the exact same thing when she asked something like that to me."
To be truthful, ever since I arrived here earlier today, I've been feeling like a fish out of water.
So I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who feels the same way.
"Gwein, huh? What were you two talking about?
"Nothing. She was just showing me to my dorm."
"Your dorm? I guess that means you've already met your roommate then?"
"Yeah."
"What's he like?"
"Well, he…—seems like a quirky guy atleast."
That was the best way I could put it, really.
Of course, if you're hearing this Emmel, I hope you know I don't mean that in a bad way.
"Hmm…"
Perhaps noticing the unintentional pause in my sentence, Ester fell silent for a moment.
"In any case, what about you? What's your roommate like?", I asked, flipping the script.
Ester and I were about the same age. So similar to me, she too should have been living alongside other second years of Class D, except with girls.
"Don't know, my roommate hasn't arrived yet."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
Curious, I checked the time. It was almost a quarter to ten, which was curfew for all of the students.
For Ester to have yet met them, or rather, "her", while it was already this late outside however is something I find quite astonishing. It makes me wonder what that person could be up to…
Only one thought crossed my mind.
"—I highly doubt she's flirting with some boy."
As if reading my mind, Ester says exactly that.
"You don't know that though."
"...True."
If Ester has yet to meet them, nevertheless know who they were, then not even she could predict their actions. In that case, then there's no telling what that person could be up to right now.
For all we could know, that person could be out sneaking past curfew to hang out with her lover.
—Ooh, how risque.
"You're having lewd thoughts aren't you."
I flinch.
It wasn't even a question.
She knew exactly what I was thinking.
Another soft chuckle echoes from across the line.
For some reason, I'm getting a strong sense of deja vu. Ahem. I silently clear my throat.
"Seeing as how your roommate has yet to arrive, I assume you've been by yourself the whole time?"
"Yeah."
"You must be pretty bored then, huh."
"Not really. I have my books to keep me company."
"Oh? What are you reading?"
Although I asked as if I was interested, I'm pretty sure I already have a vague idea.
"Monsters and demons."
….Yep, I figured as much.
"The usual, huh."
"Yeah."
"That's about the only thing you ever think about."
She falls silent for a moment.
"Monsters".
For generations, magicians and adventurers alike have both used the word "monster" as an umbrella term to describe violent creatures.
Typically these "monsters" usually are animals and entities that have consumed too much magic and run amok. Of course, certain monsters like goblins are a special exception to this rule, and are only considered as such due to their violent and dangerous behavior.
"Demons", on the other hand, although follow the same principles and origins to a relative degree, are considered a different breed of "monster", and are by far the most dangerous of them all.
Even the strongest of modern day Bravados have a difficult time fighting them.
So why was an ordinary girl like Ester be so interested in such a topic?
The answer was simple.
"—It's my duty, after all."
"Duty", huh.
It was a word you wouldn't expect to hear from her at first. No, I don't think it was something you was supposed to understand.
Either way—
"—You really haven't changed at all."
"I know..."
Sigh.
This is getting nowhere.
So instead, I decided to change the subject.
"I hear our academy has a great library."
"Indeed. I intend to visit it when we get the chance."
"We?"
"You're interested too, right?"
"....Well, I would be lying if I said I wasn't."
As a school that trains Bravados on a daily basis, naturally they would possess certain books that wouldn't exist anywhere else in the world.
A taste of "forbidden knowledge", so to speak.
And now that I have the opportunity to experience such knowledge for myself, I'm sure I would have visited their library out of curiosity eventually. The question would be "when" though.
"Then let's go tomorrow after school."
"Tomorrow?"
"Oh, did you have other plans already?"
"N—No, it's not that. I'm definitely free."
Aside from going shopping, I can't really think of anything more important to do. In other words, I should have plenty of time to hang out with her.
No, in fact, I "want" to hang out with Ester.
"Cool."
With that, we made plans to visit the library.
Suddenly though, I yawned a little.
"Well, in any case, it's getting late and I don't want to keep you any longer, so I think I'm going to go on ahead and turn in for the night", I told Ester.
"Okay…—Oh, but before you go, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."
"Hmm?"
"Remember how you asked me if there was a reason as to why I came to this school?"
"Yeah?"
"You've never exactly told me yours."
"Huh, now that you mention it, I didn't…"
I stop and think for a moment.
My "reason" for coming here. It was something I never really addressed to anybody in particular.
The students of Cerulean Academy are generally here for one of two things. To become a certified Bravado. And to fulfill a certain wish.
But what is it that I want, huh. Well, if it's Ester, I suppose there's no real reason for me to hide it.
I open my mouth.
—And then I speak.