Tuesday, October 25, 807
8:00 AM
Leya and I went to Mary's office.
"So, you would be Azka Ban's sister... Azka Leya."
I feel a slight sense of guilt for the strange name I gave her. But it fits this world, so it's okay.
Leya nods. Seeing her disrespectful gesture, I give her a small elbow nudge.
"It's-It's a pleasure to meet you! Instructor Mar- Instructor Ross!"
Mary starts scrutinizing her.
Feeling slightly threatened, Leya clings to the sleeve of my uniform.
After a few minutes in complete silence, Mary starts looking at me.
"I'll assign her to class B; I assume you want to be with her."
I nod.
She writes something on papers and then shifts her attention to us.
"As for her rank, it will be decided with next Monday's written test, despite not attending classes. If I were you, I'd explain everything to her, because if she ends up among the last positions..."
"Okay, I'm already taking care of it." I interrupt, understanding what she meant.
Lately, I've been giving her extra lessons on what we learn in class, or more precisely, what I think I know, which I consider more reliable than what they teach.
"Alright then, I'll give you the week off... Azka Leya, before you go, take this phone." After that, she dismisses us immediately, evidently having nothing else to ask, 'fortunately,' I would add.
....
8:35 AM
"Leya, do you want to go to class already? That way, you can take your seat."
I see her hesitating.
"Don't be afraid, okay? If something bothers you, tell me after the lesson."
She nods.
We descend the stairs and arrive in front of the classroom.
"Once inside, sit wherever you like."
I don't think her presence will cause a stir. There are a hundred cadets in this class, and only the protagonists have a special presence. The rest are just extras, including me.
Once inside, she points to Seyun.
"Can I sit next to her?"
"Yes, go ahead, you can even make friends with her. I'll go to my seat; see you after the lesson."
I've told her about Seyun, as well as Koto, Kairi, and Toki.
Perhaps Seyun's future has truly changed after joining the protagonist's group. I've never seen her depressed, and during practices, she has always been proactive. I think she won't die... at least not as she did in the original story.
I go sit down, pondering this.
She won't die in the near future... What if someone else dies?
What if that demon ends up killing Leya?
His presence has been confirmed in the last days of November. But halfway through the month, he started killing cadets.
Right now, Instructor York enters the classroom. Looking at the phone, I notice it's already 9:00.
I think I will sleep...
....
12:30 PM
The lesson is over, and we're heading to the refectory.
Along with me and Leya, the other guys from the group are also there.
"I didn't know you had a sister!" Koto says, speaking quietly in my ear.
Well, neither did I.
"You didn't ask... " I replied with a slightly disappointed tone.
Leya has already made friends with them. To think she was so shy when I first met her, and now she's already made new friends.
I feel a slight heaviness in my chest. What is it... Am I jealous? No, impossible.
"Are you really siblings? You don't look alike at all!" Toki's voice echoes in the air.
Leya snorts at him and pouts.
"Well, we have different mothers..." I try to justify before Leya unleashes a retort.
I told them Leya had health problems, so she couldn't attend classes in the first month. Technically, it wouldn't even be a lie.
This is the first time we're eating together in the refectory. I'd prefer to eat in my room, not liking the noise here, but now that Leya is "free", I want her to socialize more. My intention is to gradually let her go until she becomes completely independent, hoping she has forgotten about wanting to die.
....
1:25 PM
We're sitting at a table. Everyone is looking at me and Leya because neither of us took food... Poor fools.
"Don't you guys eat?" Kairi asks with a puzzled expression.
I look at the phone; it shouldn't be much longer.
Just a few more seconds...
And then two plates of spaghetti with sauce materialize in front of us.
"Oh, you bought something. But isn't the refectory food more cost-effective since it's free?" Kairi seems incredulous and starts looking at us with anticipation.
"I don't appreciate the food at this place much. Plus, I can afford it."
Toki looks at me skeptically, and in a spirit of competition, he also orders something, returning what he had taken earlier. Afterward, we start eating and discussing the topics covered in class.
....
5:00 PM
I helped Leya organize her things in her new room.
"3000 East Wings."
A round figure, I'm slightly envious.
"Okay, see you tomorrow... " She says smiling.
Before leaving, I show her a notebook and hand it to her.
"Here are all the summaries on demons and how to best deal with them, considering all circumstances. Study them well, I insist. Then... remember to take one pill a day, before breakfast.
I also sent you 500.000 stark to your phone; you can spend them as you like. But don't overdo it, okay?"
She nods.
"Oh, and you can enter my room using your phone; this is because the door recognizes our kinship level. So feel free to come whenever you want."
She remains stunned a few meters away from me.
"Did you hear me?"
"Okay."
She says it with a somewhat bitter expression, so I give her a couple of pats on the shoulder.
"Don't make that face. Oh, take this."
I give her a black bracelet; I bought it earlier on the Black Market. I have an identical one.
She looks at it with amazement.
"Is it for me?"
"Yeah, it's a gift. Wear it whenever you go out; it will bring you luck."
"Thank you..." She immediately puts it on her left wrist.
I wave goodbye and walk away.
The bracelet's color reflects the wearer's mood. Although our bracelets are similar, they have different functions: The bracelet I gave Leya is to capture her mood, which will then be shared with me. On the other hand, mine will only be the "receiver," so while I can know her state, she won't know mine.
The more the color tends toward white, the more her life is at risk, up to shattering if she were to die. I paid a whopping one million stark each for them because they are artifacts designed with the flesh of the Future demon.
So, the mood indicated by the bracelet refers to what she will feel in the next few minutes. If someone were to harm her, I would know and could intervene in time.
As I return to my room, I start bombarding myself with questions.
But why do I care so much about protecting her? Have I become so attached to her? Yet she is a fictional character, not real... right?
Or am I behaving this way because she saved me?
After asking myself this question, I feel my chest lighter. So, this must be the reason.
She saved me, so I must save her. It's a debt I owe her, and I have to repay it.