"Understand your weakness, Lily. Then, overcome them. That necklace is only leveling the playing field. You still have to work really hard to truly beat them." Frisena said with a wide grin, and I smiled widely at her as well.
"Then, I'll do my best!" I said to her with utmost confidence, and Frisena clapped her hands.
"I have to say, though… you got one scary boyfriend." Frisena suddenly said, and I was surprised.
"Huh!?"
"Never mind. You probably weren't supposed to know."
"W-What is it!?"
"Nothing~, nothing~…"
After that, I tried my best to pry information out of my sister. I yelled at her, mocked her, and she just laughed while trying to keep everything a secret. My sister, who I've feared my whole life, has become someone so admirable in a single conversation we had.
And this gift she gave me… it has to be the best thing I've ever received.
I will use this to the best of my ability. I promise, Frisena.
"Lily!" A voice called out to me on my way back to the dormitory building, and I turned around to find a familiar face.
"Nathan…?" I muttered out of surprise because I wasn't expecting him. And as always, his bright face shined by the rising sunlight just looked dazzling as ever.
"I was waiting for you. I… heard from the vice headmaster that you're moving to class B…?" Nathan said after he came running at me, and I looked really surprised.
"Ah… about that, I changed my mind. I decided to stay with everyone. I hope no one else has heard about it…" I said while scratching my head, and Nathan looked really concerned.
"Lily… I'm sorry." He said with a concerned face, and I was surprised. "I knew what I asked everyone was difficult, and yet I selfishly dragged all of you into it. And the worst part was, I wasn't considering how you feel. I'm sorry."
"Nathan…" I was truly moved by how considerate he was, and it looks like he is really beating himself up after hearing I wanted to move to class B.
If I was in Nathan's position, and I heard that he wants to move to class B because he couldn't handle my request, then for sure I'd beat myself up. Now, I just feel horrible for even thinking about running away from him.
"Nathan. Would you want to go somewhere with me?" I asked him out of the blue, and he looked confused.
"W-Where?"
"Let's take a stroll in the city. Just like before!" I said with a devious smile, and Nathan looked really surprised.
"R-Really!? Wow, the goody two shoes Lily is really asking me to break the rules."
"Come on! I've been wanting to do that for so long--"
"Okay, okay! If you, of all people, want me to break the rules, then I will one million percent follow along!" Nathan said with a bright smile, and I can feel my chest burning in pain from how good he looks.
"All right! But, do you know how we can leave secretly?"
"We can just leave through the front gate. As it happens, I have something to buy outside." Nathan said while scratching the back of his head, and I just turned really surprised.
… What--!?
"The letter is valid. You have only one hour to go back. Any later, then a punishment will be given." The academy guard by the gate said to Nathan after he gave him a permission letter from the vice headmaster, and Nathan gave a salute to the guard.
"Yes, sir!" Nathan cheerfully saluted, and for whatever reason, the guard saluted as well. "Let's go, Lily!"
Nathan turned to me with a cheeky grin, and I ended up just giggling out of annoyance. This guy is just full of surprises…
The two of us went to a clothing store first to change into a different outfit. We didn't want to go around the city wearing academy uniforms, so we had to get changed. And while doing that, we gave each other ratings from one to ten on our fashion taste while changing to different sets of clothes. I gave Nathan multiple low ratings because his choices always looked so plain, so he ended up buying a fancy set that I gave a nine. Meanwhile, he gave me an eight right off the bat, so I didn't put too much effort.
We went on a similar stroll to what we did back on the day we first got to know each other. We visited places that we have not seen before, and thankfully, I have a list prepared on what might seem interesting. I created this list because that first trip we had reminded ourselves that having a list of things we wanted to see might help the next time around.
And thanks to the list, our date was much-much better.
"Do you think we should go back? It's been a little over an hour." Nathan asked me while walking around, and I just laughed.
"Why? We already broke the rules, anyway! What's eight more hours gonna do?" I said cheerfully, and Nathan looked really happy by that answer.
"You're right!"
Hearing him look so happy, I never thought that being this free will make such a difference. The past Lily can never make such a decision. She would make sure that we have not gone past an hour during our walk, and she will be the one to force us to get back so we don't get punished. But now, I truly feel that I'm the happiest I've ever been.
We really went out for another eight hours. By the time we realized that we'd been out for a while, it was already the afternoon. Sun is going to set soon, and we realized that it's about time we head back.
We went back to the same clothing store where we previously bought clothes at. Thankfully, the store owner allowed us to change back to our academy uniform because we spent a ton of money here. After getting changed back to our uniform, the two of us went back to the academy.
"Oh, well look who decided to come back." The guard at the front gate said while folding his hands at us, and Nathan stepped forward to face him.
"It's for your wife and daughter, sir!" Nathan said while giving the guard a bag filled with expensive clothes, and the guard immediately switched gears.
"Well, it looks like you guys came back just in time!" He said with a grin at us, and I was too shocked to understand everything. Nathan thanked the guard and walked inside the academy, and I just followed behind him silently.
"I know the guard cause I've been doing errands outside the academy… all thanks to that annoying vice headmaster." Nathan said to me while wearing a really annoyed expression, and I just chuckled.
"I was wondering why I never saw you recently."
"Yeah, sorry. I've been really busy." He let out a sigh, and I just patted him in the back.
The sun has now set, and we have arrived in front of the dormitory. There aren't a lot of students wandering around since everyone only comes out after it is dark. On this quiet afternoon, every student usually just rested in their rooms after a long day of classes.
"I'll be heading back." Nathan said to me while staring at the laboratory building in the distance. I knew right away that this might be the last time I'll be seeing him in a while, so I don't really have much choice.
"After this, I might get really busy again. If anything, it might be a lot longer." He said while scratching his hair, and I moved forward to grab his hand.
Now that I have grabbed his hand, he cannot leave me. I turned my stern gaze at him, and Nathan only looked at me very confused.
"Nathan." I called his name coldly, and the prince only looked the most confused.
"Yes?" From his voice, I can already tell that he is quite uncomfortable. However, this is my one and only chance.
"Let's start dating."