Grey and Olivia continued their leisurely stroll through the campus grounds.
The sun had begun its descent.
There was a warm golden glow on everything it touched.
It was a reminder that Grey had already killed a lot of time as it was.
If he acknowledged his welcome party, he'd have already been settled in his dorm or talking with Anna by now.
Aside from that, he had the chance to have returned and accepted their greeting.
Or, he could've navigated the grand academy complex himself.
But one obstacle made all these things seem impossible.
Olivia Lethargia.
'Jeez, so much time wasted...' Grey thought.
They walked side by side.
And then, Grey couldn't help but shift uncomfortably.
Finally, he made up his mind not only to speak, but to also break the silence.
He looked at the silver-haired girl.
"Olivia, I have to say, I'm not entirely comfortable with this arrangement. Walking in front of you feels... strange."
But that wasn't the only reason.
As they made their way to the headmaster's office, they passed numerous large structures and buildings. Olivia remained silent, not commenting on anything they saw. However, Grey wanted her to engage in conversation and share a few observations about the sights they had encountered thus far.
Olivia's voice remained cool and collected as she responded, "Oh? And why's that?" She titled her head. "What makes you so uncomfortable...? The fact you don't get to see my backside?"
Grey ran his hand through his hair in frustration before turning to face her.
"What's with you and talking about your ass?!"
Olivia seemed unfazed by his inquiry.
She simply returned his gaze with a calm expression.
"Perhaps you should be the one asking yourself that question."
The exasperation became too much for Grey to handle, and he exploded with frustration.
"I don't want to ogle at your ass, alright?" he shouted.
His voice spread out like an echo throughout the spacious courtyard.
"Oh, how I wish that were true," Olivia responded.
She gently rested her hand on one palm and wore an expression just a little touch of looking damsel in distress-y.
The young man had never seen such an unorthodox female specimen.
He covered his face with his hand in defeat.
Then, he began muttering to himself.
"I really need to work on not letting this lady get under my skin so easily. It's not good for my image."
He made up his mind.
'Alright, it's time to use my gentlemanly charms.'
Taking a deep breath, Grey composed himself, brushing his tousled hair back with a calm elegance. With a charming smile, he gazed deeply into Olivia's eyes, his icy blue orbs captivating and sincere.
"Miss Olivia, shall we move on?" he asked calmly.
Olivia's lids drooped halfway over her eyes as she regarded him with an unimpressed expression.
Without saying a word, she walked past him.
"Weirdo," she muttered under her breath.
Though it irritated him, Grey managed to restrain himself from further retort. They resumed their walk, gradually approaching a more populated area of the academy, where students hurriedly traversed the pathways.
Grey retrieved a lollipop from his pocket, unwrapping it before placing it between his lips.
"Damn, I bought an extra one again..."
He had a habit of buying two of everything, knowing fully well he didn't have any use for the extra one.
Grey savored the sweetness of his lollipop, relishing in its sugary taste before suddenly pulling it out of his mouth.
He gazed at Olivia with a slightly annoyed expression.
"Can you at least tell me where we are now?"
Olivia met his gaze with a glare of her own.
"Why on earth would I do that?" she retorted. "I was merely instructed to guide you to the headmaster's office, not to be your personal tour guide."
Grey's eyebrows twitched in frustration as he chewed on the thought.
"Look," he began, "if you just tell me where everything is, I won't need someone else's help to navigate this place."
He emphasized the last word, making it clear that he was referring to her as well.
Olivia tapped her chin with her finger, contemplating his words.
"I suppose you do make a valid point," she finally admitted. "Alright, I'll tell you."
But before Olivia could reveal their current location, a shrill voice interrupted them.
"Doesn't he look like the transfer student?!" a girl exclaimed.
She pointed directly at Grey, causing the attention of the other students nearby to be drawn towards him.
"Eh?" said Grey.
Suddenly, a male student chimed in, pointing at Grey with even more enthusiasm.
"Could it be? Is that Grey NewGate?" he exclaimed.
Within moments, more than fifteen students had rushed towards Olivia and Grey, forming a chaotic circle around them. The tide of bodies overwhelmed Olivia's vision, her sight blocked by a sea of faces and flailing arms.
Grey's voice struggled to be heard over the commotion.
"Aren't you going to do something?" he called out to Olivia.
Realizing the need to take action, Olivia sighed and contemplated her next move.
"You do make a valid point," she nodded slowly.
Grey anticipated her doing something extraordinary, yet to his surprise, she simply plopped down onto the bare floor. She wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees, seemingly unfazed by the chaos surrounding them.
"I suppose I should do something," she mused with a casual tone.
It was hard for him to tell if she'd given up or she was thinking of the next step.
Grey's was disappointed.
He just watched her nonchalant posture in annoyance.
With a heavy sigh, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
In an instant, Grey disappeared in a blue light, reappearing twenty meters away.
Safe.
He was hidden in the shadows of a towering building.
Grey struggled to catch his breath.
His heart pounded in his chest.
Peeking cautiously around the corner, his eyes widened in alarm as he realized the crowd was already searching for him.
"These guys won't give me a break..."
Quickly retreating back into the safety of hiding, he continued to gasp for air.
As Grey tried to compose himself, his ears caught a faint muttering in the distance.
"Huh?"
Curious, he turned his head and found himself staring at a young girl.
A raised eyebrow was the only response he could muster when he saw the crazed look on her face.
Furiously scribbling in a small hardcover jotter, the girl seemed lost in a world of her own.
Grey hesitated, unsure of what to say, and simply observed her.
She wrote.
[ He looked so dashing with his black hair. A seductive smile danced across my face as I extended a delicate hand from the building's shadows, just inches away from his shoulder. My heart raced as our fingers brushed accidentally. Hand-holding... so scandalous. ]
The girl's wild thoughts continued to spiral into uncharted territories.
[ I couldn't help but notice his enchanting scent—a mixture of sweat and adorable obliviousness. Oh, how I longed to bury my face in his chest and inhale the essence of my beloved. Or even his armpits if he wanted me to...! But, alas, my darling Grey remained oblivious to my proximity, lost in his own celebrity world. ]
She wrote even more.
[ My inner woman raged with jealousy at the hoard of suitors vying for my beloved Greyʼs attention. Oh, how I wished I could lure them into a trap, one by one, and dispose of them so that I could have him all to myself. But alas, my love for him was too strong to resort to such violent measures... for now. ]
But just as quickly as her fantasy unfolded, the girl snapped back to reality.
She knew that she had to restrain herself, for the safety of Grey and for her own sanity.
She couldn't let her love for him consume her completely.
No matter how tempting it was.
Finally finding his voice, he approached the girl tentatively, asking her, "Excuse me, who are you?"
The girl's sudden pause caught him off guard; her body trembling like a humming generator, her fragile hand struggling to hold the pen in place.
A terrifying grin crept upon her face, murmuring to herself, "He... spoke to me... first."
Confusion clouded Grey's mind as he strained to understand her incomprehensible words.
Desperate for her attention, he waved at her and called out, "Hello? Earth to girl, you there?"
Unbeknownst to him, the girl's mind was racing, overwhelmed by his repeated attempts at communication.
In a hushed yet slightly audible voice, she whispered, "He spoke to me again, twice! It's not me who's desperate, it's him!"
Exasperated, Grey pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing deeply.
"This is all so confusing," he muttered aloud.
Before any further action could unfold, the girl lunged at him with surprising speed, toppling him to the ground.
Smothering him with tight embraces, her shapely breasts pressed against his face.
The girl exclaimed. "I'm so glad you're here, my beloved Grey!"
Struggling for breath, Grey managed to ask, "Who... who are you?"
With a beaming smile, she released her grip and introduced herself.
"I'm Elsinia... Elsinia Verdigris."