Chapter 8: Investigation
It seemed that classes were held at fairly consistent times for everyone, and this week followed the same schedule as before.
Although I haven’t been working much, I’ll make up for it by conducting research and submitting results to the academy. It would be a shame not to use the research lab I’ve been assigned. However, to return to Japan, I need to gain new knowledge and experiment, so that will have to wait for another opportunity.
With these thoughts in mind, I check my weekly schedule.
If the noble society is reflected within the academy, wouldn’t one need to have not only a high noble status but also a high position within the academy?
If so, the suspicious ones would be those like Rocks, royalty who perform well even in the high school division.
However, Rocks probably won’t do it again. According to Strauss and Eliza, he’s been diligently attending classes as if he’s become a changed person.
The problem is that I still don’t have much information about the students, so gathering clues is the first challenge.
Now, how should I investigate?
With this in mind, I decided to approach someone who might be knowledgeable about such matters.
As I walked down the hallway, looking around, I spotted the red hair I was looking for.
“Rocks-kun.”
When I called out, Rocks, who was unusually walking alone, widened his eyes in surprise.
“Wha!? Oh, uh, Aoi… teacher… W-what do you want…?”
Rocks was flustered beyond belief.
Suspicious. Very suspicious. Could Rocks be the mastermind, as unlikely as it seems?
Perhaps it’s because I’m looking at him with that thought, but Rocks, sweating from his forehead and averting his gaze, looks abnormally suspicious. His furtive glances, seemingly trying to gauge my expression, make me wonder if there’s indeed something he’s hiding.
“…Rocks-kun. If there’s anything you’re hiding…”
“There isn’t! Nothing at all! Why are you looking at me with such suspicious eyes!?”
I observe the panicking Rocks for a while, but it seems he’s not lying.
If he were the type to secretly cause trouble, he probably wouldn’t show such obvious agitation.
“…No, it seems I was mistaken.”
“I-is that so? Well, that’s good. Really good.”
Rocks visibly relaxes.
Seeing this, I smile and ask what I wanted to know.
“By the way, Rocks-kun. I think you would know about the various people in this academy… Are there any other royalty or those of similar status besides you?”
When I asked, Rocks furrowed his brows quizzically.
“Royalty…? Let me tell you, if you’re planning to summon a king like you did with me, you’d better not. The king of this country, my father, has a rough personality. He might not mind minor things, but kings of other countries are different.”
“Ah, no, no. You’re the only problem child so far who required calling in parents for a lecture.”
“…I see.”
Rocks’s shoulders slump at my words. Glancing at him, I return to the main topic.
“So, about the royalty and related individuals?”
“…Well, let’s start from the elementary division…”
“Ah, if possible, please focus on the high school division.”
“Hmm…? In that case, you know Barrel-Black from the Carvan Kingdom’s ducal family, right? Like Shenley, he advanced to the high school division a step ahead. Then there’s Prince Hiram of Maple Leaf, Duke Clagan of Gransanz. Also… Balvenie-dono from Bushmills, who already has the skills and knowledge to graduate but is staying for research. Oh, and Court from Court-Highland is of the same rank in that sense.”
“…Court-kun?”
Come to think of it, he was also said to be a high-ranking noble. Because of his gentle demeanor and polite way of speaking, I had completely forgotten he was a nobleman.
He had been chatting with me occasionally in the hallways and cafeteria since the first class, but surely, it couldn’t be him.
However, should I inquire about him?
“Hm, are we done here?”
Lost in thought, I heard Rocks ask with a slightly disgruntled tone.
“Yes. Thank you very much.”
Thanking him and signaling the end of our conversation, Rocks made a pouty face, said “I see,” and left.
His behavior was suspicious.
“…His ears were red, is he feeling unwell?”
I tilted my head in confusion as I left the scene.
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After searching everywhere, I still couldn’t find Court.
As Tuesday’s class approached, I reluctantly headed towards the classroom. Suddenly, I spotted Court talking with Felter.
Seeing the two engaged in what looked like an intense conversation, I quickly approached them.
“…You shouldn’t be fighting, you know?”
As I called out to them, they both turned to face me, then looked at each other. They nodded meaningfully, and Court turned back to me first to answer.
“I’m sorry. We weren’t fighting, but I apologize for worrying you.”
Despite Court’s words, I instinctively looked at Felter.
“…Is that true? You shouldn’t bully others, you know?”
“…I’m not bullying anyone,”
I glanced at Felter with narrowed eyes before turning back to Court. Court’s smile twitched as he muttered, “Bullying…” For a moment, I wanted to pat Felter’s head, but talking to Court was the priority now.
“Court-kun,”
I called his name, intending to confirm various things, but Court suddenly exclaimed “Ah!” and clapped his hands together. With a surprisingly old-fashioned reaction, Court seemed to realize something and pointed towards the end of the hallway.
“Isn’t class about to start?”
“…We’ll talk later,”
I said after a moment’s hesitation. A teacher couldn’t skip class, after all. I left those words with Court, almost like a parting shot, and turned on my heel.
I barely made it in time, quickly opening the door and entering the classroom.
“Sorry I’m late,”
I said as I entered. The students who had been there since the first class, along with teachers like Strauss and Speyside who inexplicably attended every time, were seated and waiting.
“Geez, Aoi-sensei, you’re late~!”
“No, you’re just in time! Aile, come on!”
“Ah, Court-senpai!?”
The three energetic female students made a fuss, and I smiled wryly as I stood in front of the podium.
Then, I finally noticed that someone else had come along.
“Court-kun?”
As I turned around, I saw Court waving one hand from the doorway with a refreshing smile.
“Is it still okay to join?”
“Yes, it’s fine, but…”
As I showed him the attendance list, Court deepened his smile and smoothly wrote down his name.
There was no point in thinking too deeply about it now, as I couldn’t confirm anything anyway. I decided to start the class without further ado.
Just then, Court let out an “Oh?” Looking up, I saw Court tilting his head as he looked at Aile.
“Aile. What are you doing here? Have you been attending from the beginning?”
Court asked gently, but Aile turned away with an uncharacteristically haughty attitude.
I felt something odd about Aile’s unusual behavior. She seemed both sulky and angry.
However, Court didn’t seem to mind at all and found an empty seat to sit in.
I sensed something in their attitudes, but there was no use dwelling on it.
“…Let’s begin the class,”
I said, and started calling out everyone’s names.
The class ends. Once again, it felt productive, and some students even came up to ask questions, showing how attentively they had listened.
However, I regretfully had to turn them down.
“I’m very sorry. Please let me answer those questions another day. Today, I need to talk to Court-kun about something.”
As I apologized to the three female students, Aile visibly sulked.
Aile pouted, and Liz and Belle hurriedly pulled her back.
It seemed I should have another talk with them later. Keeping that in mind, I followed Court as he left the classroom.
“Do you have a moment?”
As I called out to stop him, Court turned around with his usual gentle smile.
“Yes, what can I do for you?”
His dazzling smile made me hesitate for a moment, but I had turned down Aile’s questions for this. I couldn’t back down now.
“I need to talk to you.”
After steeling my resolve and saying that, Court tilted his head.
“A talk? If it’s an invitation for a meal, I’d be delighted.”
“No, that’s not it,”
I denied, then looked straight at Court, who was now furrowing his brows, and asked:
“…Court-kun, are you hiding anything from me?”
I asked with implied meaning, but Court burst out laughing as if he couldn’t help it.
“Haha! Aoi-sensei, in my country, that phrase is famous as a line to get the attention of someone you’re interested in…”
“Someone you’re interested in? Why would you say it like that?”
When I questioned this, Court prefaced with “I’ll give you a cliché response,” and brought his hand to his chest.
“I’m not hiding anything. Perhaps you’ve misunderstood something?”
I didn’t know how to respond to Court’s answer.
“I…”
Just as I was about to reply, someone burst in like the wind and body-slammed Court in the stomach.
“Oof!”
The slender Court let out a muffled sound and staggered, while the intruder turned to face me.
“Excuse me, I have some business! I’m taking my brother with me!”
It was Aile who had appeared.
Aile shouted with flushed cheeks and dragged away the coughing Court.
Then, her two friends rushed past, apologizing.
“…W-What…?”
Faced with this whirlwind of events, all I could do was stand there dumbfounded, watching the Foar of them leave.
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