10.

Crack, crack.

The creepy sound of bones cracking tore through the air. Todd twisted his neck and stretched out his body, looking finally refreshed. It’s not like I’ve been using a sword for a year or two, but I don’t know why I’m always tired.

“Todd.”

“Yes?”

Todd, who was stretching all sides of his body diligently, leaned his back against the bedhead and stopped moving. I don’t know what’s going on, but my friend, who had been pensive with a serious expression since the morning breeze, finally decided to open his mouth. Todd looked at Johann with an understanding look, “…What? Just say it.”

“Hey, you know how warm my heart is?”

“Cut it out.”

“What’s the matter, dear?”

If people found out that Johann Pertan, who smiles like the gentle spring breeze, acts like this, they’d be terribly surprised. Normally, you wouldn’t feel bad for him in such a situation, but Todd had a gut feeling that he should listen to Johann’s story.

“Well, someone I can’t name confided in me. He said that he’s worried if he has a problem due to how strange he’s been acting lately.”

“What kind? Is it a health problem?”

“It’s similar.”

If it’s right, it’s right. If wrong, then just say it. What’s ‘similar’? Todd pouted his mouth and groaned when Johann glared.

“Anyway, so? What are the symptoms?”

“I find it strange, too. He keeps thinking about someone, unconsciously stares at them, and when their eyes meet, his heart…”

“His heart?”

“…feels like it stopped.”

“Hmm.”

Todd, who bent his head pretending to be worried, bit the soft flesh inside his mouth tightly. Also, witnessing Johann pinching his thighs inconspicuously was an added bonus.

‘Amazing!’

Finally, spring has come to my friend who looked as if he’d only play his role like a marionette for the rest of his life. Moreover, she’s the first person that came in his way. This is gonna be hella fun!

“Oh, no. That’s serious. I think I’ve heard of it before.”

“You did?”

Todd, barely holding back his laughter, raised his head with a serious expression and touched his chin. Now, Johann, who had already turned his chair around, urged him with his eyes to speak quickly.

“Like when you see them, your stomach feels tingly and you feel stuffy for no apparent reason. Isn’t that right?”

“I think so.”

“Like I thought.” Todd nodded as if he knew it all. Todd said when Johann crumpled his forehead at his relaxed expression, “That’s rivalry.”

“What?”

“They feel enraged.”

“Why?”

“Well, maybe he’s been pushed back by that person or something?”

Johann, who was listening quietly, frowned. Todd continued with a grin, “Or, he might have heart disease. Shall I introduce him to a doctor? Just tell me.”

“Nevermind.”

“How cold. You can’t find a friend who’d listen so attentively like me.”

Johann shook his head without replying. He can’t be serious when his face is screaming that he’s dying having fun. Johann swiveled his seat back. I’m getting sick of his games.

‘Rivalry or heart disease…’

Clenching his poor hand, Johann recalled Todd’s words. Both words seemed far from Johann.

Rivalry. Johann thought he’s not so narrow-minded as to get angry just because he lost the top position just once. Having heart disease is even more far-fetched. My body is so healthy that I never even got minor colds. Also, I’ve never heard of randomly occurring pains.

‘But I’d be relieved if it’s one of the two.’

If it’s rivalry, I can just beat her next time, and if it’s heart disease, I can treat it. Johann had a fairly adequate ability to accomplish that.

Rivalry. Johann mumbled the word and changed his mind. I hate to admit it, but on second thought, Todd might have a point. Otherwise, there’s nothing there to justify this interest in Elena Evoy.

I’m not enraged, although it did bother me. If the cause is competitiveness, then it’s a good reason. Heart disease is still unlikely, but rivalry is worth considering.

However, it’d be a serious problem if it isn’t either of those. If it wasn’t either and his feelings for Elena Evoy were not just rivalry, or even a heart disease…

What then?

Johann sighed deeply.

***

Students whispered quietly as the class ended. Johann did not miss meeting Elena’s eyes, who was about to leave the classroom.

‘I’ll come to the library later.’

‘…?’

‘Lib, ra, ry.’

‘Why?’

‘As, sign, ment.’

Oh. Elena nodded her head a couple of times when she understood. Phew. Johann exhaled lightly as he succeeded in delivering the message quietly.

Just then, someone tapped Johann on the shoulder from behind.

“Johann, we need to choose a club by this week. Have you decided yet?”

It was Bellissa, who enlarged her eyes like a doll’s, and asked him in a bubbly voice.

“Well, I’ve had a few in mind. I just joined one.”

“Really? Which one? I want to join, too.”

“The Potion-Making Club. Are you also interested, Bellissa?”

“Oh, there? Oh, come on, Johann. Why that one?!”

Bellissa, who was ready for any club, pouted her lips with a rare embarrassed expression. Potion-making club? A club where professors give exams to club members is really the worst one to join.

“I’ve been a little interested in potions lately. That’s why I joined it.”

“Uh-huh. I’ll have to think about it. But do tell me if you join another club.”

“Sure. I promise.”

Bellissa, who was pouting because she was feeling down, quickly relaxed her expression at his friendly tone. He promised! How kind of him. Bellissa looked at Johann with hearts in her eyes. I really look forward to my future with this sweet and beautiful man.

“What do you think of the afternoon reading club?”

“I didn’t know you liked reading.”

“Johann!”

“Haha, I’m just kidding.”

Bellissa looked up at Johan, feigning anger. Every time he laughed, she saw petals floating around him. She had been imagining that since childhood. Bellissa hoped that one day, those petals would only scatter beside her.

‘I’ll make that happen. Definitely.’

Things will be fine just the way they are going now. Especially since Johann doesn’t refuse my requests. That’s what Bellissa thought.

***

Elena, who was already seated, waved her hand. The library at night time was quiet and everybody was almost gone.

“You came just in time.”

“That’s because I know when you’re off.”

Sitting opposite her, Johann put the history book he brought on the desk. The thousand-page book boasted a hefty weight. The same book was placed in front of Elena.

‘A leaf?’

Johann, who was about to open his book, blinked. A dry leaf that was hardly seen in this season was on the desk. Why is there such a thing here? Thinking he should clean it up,  Johann reached out, but Elena’s hand reached before him.

“Oh, it’s my bookmark. It fell out.”

“Bookmark?”

Elena carefully picked up the bookmark in case it’d break, which was at best, a dry leaf. Johann asked back unwittingly, then bit his lip. It was hard not to judge Elena with the common sense of nobility.

Instead, Johann glanced at his bookmark. The bookmark was made with thin layers of pure gold by a craftsman at the workshop, and even the name ‘Johann Pertan’, engraved by him, was a glamorous and elegant piece of work. This was what Johann thought bookmarks looked like. Not that dry, compressed leaf.

“About the club…”

“Huh?”

“Thank you for joining. Rita was really happy about it.”

“…It’s no big deal.”

“I hoped it wouldn’t disband since it’s a good opportunity for me. Thanks to you, it all worked well.” After saying that, Elena lowered her head. She said all the thank yous she had to say, so she was set to do her work. Johann, who was briefly embarrassed by the unexpected gratitude, slightly shook his head.

With her eyes fixated on his book, Elena occasionally blew her bangs. Looks like a habit. They seem to be getting in the way of her reading, so I’m probably right.

Elena’s round forehead was revealed momentarily whenever she blew her bangs. Underneath it, she had neat eyebrows, big, wide eyes, and dense eyelashes. Such small features flashed together in an instant.

‘Pretty indeed…’

Tak! Johann punched his forehead. It was an unconscious act.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, that… Sorry. I disturbed you.”

“Not really.”

The amethyst-colored eyes that had turned to Johann for a moment quickly returned to their place. Johann bit his lips tightly.

“Usually, people are dying to see my face.”

It sounded absurd, but it was true. But that didn’t apply to Elena. Rather, it was Johann who’d sneak glances at her.

‘She has zero care for the world.’

Let’s just focus. Johann tried to force his eyes down when he suddenly recalled a scene. It was Elena entering the club room with Mark. I don’t know what they were talking about, but Elena certainly had a slight smile on her face.

‘You don’t even look at me.’

Johann forcibly crumpled up the random thoughts that kept coming to him. I have to keep my thoughts in check, else I might bite my own tail. He should stop thinking and focus on work.

Johann had been staring at his book for a long time. How long has it been? Johann raised his head to relieve his stiff neck, then suddenly looked at Elena.

She was reading her book in the same posture she started with. Her gaze was straight as if still not tired. Her level of concentration was simply phenomenal. However, it didn’t seem like she had read many sections of the book. On the contrary, Johann had gone over much more during the same time period.

‘Doesn’t seem like she has a trick. I guess she memorizes everything.’

Something tells me Elena could do that.

‘She’s a simpleton, after all.’

She was the difficult type to comprehend for Johann, who was always surrounded by those who wanted shortcuts. She’s weird, anyway. Johann, who was looking at Elena with a sullen face, read an emotion in her purple eyes. She looked fascinated. She found it fun, and was happy about something.

“…Looks like you’re enjoying it.”

“Of course.”

Of course? This is the history book that you wouldn’t dare call fun even as a joke. What is she enjoying in a weapon-like book that’s almost a thousand pages? You’d be stoned if you said that elsewhere.

But Elena, who still had her eyes fixed on the book, seemed so sincere. Amazed and weirded out, he was staring at her dumbfoundedly, while Elena said it as if just throwing it out.

“It’s interesting. I can learn things I haven’t experienced just by reading. Besides, you don’t have to read others’ faces and you don’t have to be good at it, you just have to read. I like that I can gain something just by sitting quietly in a comfortable space, and spend my time peacefully.”

“…….”

Johann was silent. Though apparently insignificant, Elena’s words strongly resonated with him. Suddenly, he remembered brushing Hanne’s hair. It was followed by the scene of her diligently wiping the statue with a rag. Elena’s image, always standing for her job as a librarian, also overlapped that.

Was she always worried about being evaluated?

Only then did Johann realize that Elena was burdened by her routine. It’s such a natural thought that he wondered how he realized it so late. On the other hand, he also wondered how long Elena had been suffering from her ‘work’.

“And I’m not as outstanding as you. You can memorize it by reading it just once, right?”

“How…”

“Because your eyes never trace back to the lines you’ve already read.”

So I thought that you could memorize it in one go. I can’t do that.

Elena added in a quiet, quiet tone as if nothing special.

“Still, I don’t mind because it’s fun. I’m glad I could make it to the academy.”

Johann’s surroundings were full of people who regarded studying as boring. Johann was also one of them. I had to read and study because I was obligated to. I never really thought for some it’d feel like an escape–even liberating.

“I see.”

Somehow, Johann was a little ashamed. A girl who he thought was not noble-like and even outrageous, looked so mature. At the same time, he could feel the bright energy surrounding her.

Johann bowed his head, pretending he saw nothing.