"Kyah! Kyah!"
As soon as I returned to the classroom, I was suddenly surrounded by the girls in my class. They were all saying something at once, but to be honest, with everyone talking over each other, I couldn't make out a word of it.
I've gotten somewhat used to talking with girls now, but being ambushed like this, with everyone talking at once, is overwhelming.
Yuri, who had walked in holding my hand, seemed just as flustered. She quietly let go of my hand and slowly, hesitantly, edged away from me bit by bit.
Don't run away by yourself!
But my cry for help only echoed inside my mind, and soon Yuri disappeared behind the wall of girls around me.
Tsk, is this some kind of barrier?
Just then, a girl standing right in front of me grabbed my hand and spoke up.
"Elysia! What you said to that guy from Class 2 earlier! Can you say it again, just one more time?"
"Huh? Uh..."
"You know, that thing you said!"
Then she suddenly lowered her voice and said,
"'If you've got a problem, bring it on, you piece of trash.'"
Gyaaaaah!
Did I really say something like that?
Well, maybe I did... but did it sound that cringy? Seriously?
Please, someone tell me this is a lie...
But there was no one here to call her out. In fact, everyone was staring at my mouth, making me feel more uncomfortable than scared.
"...If you've got a problem, bring it on, you piece of trash."
I barely managed to squeak out the words with a dying voice. But—
"That's not it! You said it way cooler before!"
Please, just let me live. If I die here, the cause of death will definitely be embarrassment.
"If you've got a problem, bring it on, you piece of trash."
"Kyahhh!"
Mortified, I was ready to run away from this mob at any moment, but another hand grabbed onto me.
"I liked that thing! The way you flipped your hair back!"
Why are you all doing this to me?
There was no escape in sight. In the end, I only managed to break free from the group of girls after flipping my hair three more times and calling someone a piece of trash twice more.
* * * *
"...Yuri, I can't believe you abandoned me too."
"Haha... Sorry. But you don't have to be embarrassed! Elysia smiling at me back then was really cool! Just like a prince—"
Yuri cut herself off and covered her face with both hands, bowing her head. Maybe she was recalling how cringeworthy my actions were, as I noticed her ears turn a deep red. Her unseen face was probably laughing too.
Geez, why did I even say something I didn't mean...
Well, in any case, helping Yuri out by adding one more embarrassing moment to my history might be a gain.
Maybe even the warm sunlight shining down is commending me for what I did.
If I don't find some comfort in this, I might just jump into the river out of embarrassment.
Hmm?
There, in the spot where the sunlight was the warmest, a black cat was curled up, napping.
Pets are strictly forbidden on campus, so it's probably just a stray cat wandering around. It looks pretty fancy for a stray, though.
Leaving Yuri, who was still wallowing in her embarrassment, behind, I quietly approached the cat.
I slowly reached out and stroked it. Feeling my touch, the cat woke up and lazily lifted its head to look at me. However, it didn't shy away from my hand.
As I continued petting it, I was reminded of the time when the assassin's guild I belonged to had a cat. It wasn't a refined cat like this one, just a common stray you'd find anywhere.
Our guild was always poor, and during a particularly rough patch, our hideout was practically uninhabitable. Master, furious about the number of rats living there, eventually picked up a stray cat off the streets as a solution. Thanks to that cat, the rats disappeared, though the roaches remained. Ugh, thinking back on it now, it makes me feel itchy all over.
Come to think of it, that cat would do the same thing—reacting with a meow when stroked while it was sleeping, before falling back asleep.
This cat is so calm. It doesn't reject my touch, and judging by its glossy fur and healthy condition, it must be looked after by someone. Perhaps some students, enchanted by the cat just like I am now, secretly feed it.
Didn't cats enjoy being patted on their behinds?
Pat, pat!
When I moved my hand and gave its butt a light tap, the cat instantly sprang up and jumped a few steps away, hissing at me.
Why! I thought cats liked it when you patted them like that! Why!
As I stood there with a bewildered look on my face, the cat stopped hissing and cautiously approached me again, rubbing its head against my hand.
So you just want me to stick to petting your head, huh?
As if in agreement, the cat began to purr and close its eyes again as I stroked its head.
"Elysia~ I'm back!"
While I was stroking the cat, Annie and Cilly, who had gone to the restroom, spotted us and came running over.
I've gotten used to going to the restroom alone now, but I'm still too embarrassed to go with them, so I stayed behind and let the two go by themselves.
"Why is Yuri like that?"
Cilly glanced at Yuri, who was still slumped over next to me, and asked.
Yuri was still in her sunken state. Did what I do embarrass her that much? But the other girls seemed to like it.
"...It's nothing."
Of course, even so, I wasn't going to bring up my embarrassing history myself.
"Yeah. It's nothing."
Just in time, Yuri lifted her head. Her face, which had been bright red, was back to its usual pale color.
"Hmm~?"
Annie's voice was full of suspicion, but if we say it's nothing, then it's nothing. Right?
"Well, if you say so! Let's hurry to the cafeteria before it fills up."
Thankfully, Annie, who had dropped her suspicion, took the lead and headed towards the cafeteria.
Oh, right, the cat...
When I turned my head, the cat had already slipped away. No matter how much I looked around, it was nowhere to be found. Well, maybe I'll see it again someday.
Luckily, the cafeteria was still relatively empty, so the waiting line was minimal.
Annie was at the front, and Cilly followed her, pulling out her meal ticket and dropping it into the box.
Trailing behind them, I also pulled out five meal tickets from my wallet and put them in.
With trays of food in our hands, the four of us headed to an empty table in the corner.
Annie sat next to Cilly, I took the seat directly across from Cilly, and Yuri sat next to me.
"Let's eat~"
Today's menu was fish steak. Carefully, I cut the fish so it wouldn't crumble.
I placed the piece on my fork, dipped it in sauce, and brought it to my mouth.
Then came the softness and savory taste that spread through my mouth.
Hmm, the sauce is a bit sweeter than last time. Did the chef change?
Still, it's delicious as always. This is definitely worth the five tickets.
?
Wait, what? I feel like I'm forgetting something...
?
!
* * * *
Emergency! This is an emergency!
One month into the academy.
Graduation date: unknown.
Three months left until summer break.
Current meal tickets left: exactly ten.
One meal ticket costs ten silver coins. However, the money I have left?
Only three gold coins. I'm already short on cash, especially since I bought those gloves to look cool for a duel.
This is bad. Even if I scrounge up all my money, I'll only have enough for thirty meal tickets. I skip breakfast every day, but even with just lunch and dinner, that's two meals a day.
Even with the cheapest menu, that's only enough for twenty days.
If I keep eating the five-ticket menu like I have been, that's only four days' worth.
What have you been doing, past me, to end up like this!
Annie, Cilly, and Yuri are all nobles, so naturally, they go for the five-ticket menu, and it was only natural for me to follow.
At first, I thought I should save money. But back then, I didn't consider the cost of snacks I buy on outings, regular consumables I need to purchase, or the gloves I bought this time. I also didn't realize I'd get used to savoring the expensive meals.
Until just a moment ago, I had completely forgotten about my financial situation.
Phew, calm down. What's done is done. I just need to plan ahead from now on.
I need to find a way to make money, but in the meantime, I should think about saving the meal tickets I have left.
First, I need to avoid the five-ticket menu. But Annie, Yuri, and Cilly would never go for a one-ticket menu. And I can't just buy a one-ticket meal and sit with them.
It might be better to temporarily join a group that eats the one-ticket menu and eat with them instead.
So I suggested to the three of them that I'd eat with other friends—
"Fufu, Elys?"
"Y-Yes?"
"Let's eat together tomorrow too, okay?"
Cilly smiled at me. She's definitely smiling, but why is there a cold sweat running down my neck? And why did she go back to the previous formal address!?
"Elys? Your answer?"
"Y-Yes! Got it!"
It's over. I can never escape Cilly.
I need to do something. If things go on like this, I won't be able to avoid going broke. I need to find a way to make money by tomorrow.
Oh, this dessert is delicious.