Chapter 65 - That Man is Suspicious (1)

The plan to prepare for this 『A Star in the Shadows』 was proceeding smoothly. I had succeeded in creating a meeting with Arien to periodically monitor her movements.

‘Even if it wasn't for that, teaching Arien about humanity is a good direction.’

Anyway, while the overall direction was going smoothly, I realized there was one more thing to prepare for.

As I said before, the stage for this story, 『A Star in the Shadows』, was not the academy.

The story takes place in the abandoned factory district on the outskirts of Endinium, which had become a slum.

What did that mean? It meant I couldn't wear the academy uniform in this story.

‘Who knows what would happen if I went there wearing my uniform.’

Primarily, if I moved around in my uniform and someone spotted me, things could get complicated if they traced me back…

Also, since I had to move around in a crime-ridden area, if I wore the posh-looking academy uniform… I had no idea what kind of trouble I might get into.

If, by any chance, the story got back to the academic affairs office, it would be troublesome in many ways.

I also heard there were quite a few gangs in that area, and in the worst-case scenario, they might recognize me as an academy student and attack me for ransom.

Thus, this preparation element was quite simple. I just needed to go out for a bit and buy some clothes.

Since the weekend was coming up, I could just slip out and buy them before nightfall.

But thinking about it, there was an unexpected problem.

‘…What are 'plain clothes' in this world?’

Yes, I knew nothing about the fashion culture of this world.

I had no intention of following trends, but my ability to distinguish between what was plain and what was flashy was somewhat lacking.

‘It would be a bit of a problem if I just bought something and it ended up standing out…’

I mulled it over for a moment, and then decided.

Well, I could just ask someone to help me.

With that thought, I first scouted for candidates. Who would be the best at picking out plain clothes without any fuss?

I thought about it within my circle of acquaintances.

Serene… she's a nobleman's daughter, so that would probably be difficult.

Khan has spent too much time outside of civilization, and considering his clumsiness, I had no idea what he would pick. So, pass.

I've gotten to know Elwin recently, but it's still a bit awkward to go out together.

Arien, no need to even mention it.

Regina, are you crazy? Going out to pick clothes with a princess?

It's a bit of a sudden realization, but my list of candidates was truly despairing. This damn noble academy.

‘In the end, there's only one left.’

Following that thought process, the chosen target was Yuna.

‘Hmm, Yuna is definitely down-to-earth. She probably wouldn't feel burdened going out together.’

To make the invitation, I asked Yuna during lunch after a class we took together.

“Miss Yuna, are you free this weekend? I was thinking of going to buy some clothes, and I thought it would be nice if we went together.”

And at my words, instead of answering, Yuna…

Clink.

Dropped her fork.

“…What did you say?”

Hmm, maybe she didn't hear me properly because she was eating. This girl really loves her food.

“I invited you to go out together this weekend. I wanted to get some help with buying clothes.”

“……”

Yuna's reaction was subtle. It looked like she was spacing out…

“…I'll buy you a meal. Something delicious. Of course, I'm not asking for free.”

“……”

Why is this food-loving girl not reacting?

…Could it be that she doesn't want to? Did it feel like I was being too forward?

“Ah, if it's inconvenient…”

“I-I'll go-!!”

Just as I was about to tell her to forget it if it was inconvenient, she shouted.

If you're going, just say you're going. Why shout?

What a strange girl.

***

Recently, Yuna's social life was quite good. Unlike in the original work, her skills had improved rapidly, earning her a good reputation, which in turn drew people to her.

However, that didn't mean Yuna's circle was filled with opportunists or people trying to get a piece of the pie from her.

Yuna was simple and tended to trust her instincts, but those instincts were hundreds of times sharper than others.

She recognized and kept her distance from those who seemed to want to use her, and she cherished those with whom she could have sincere conversations.

There were three such friends that Yuna considered her real friends: Shasha, Kaylee, and Michel.

Shasha was the daughter of a reformist noble, Kaylee was the heir to a large merchant guild, Michel was the only daughter of a local influential figure, and Yuna was… a commoner with no background. For now.

The four of them, with such different births and statuses, being close friends was a rare sight within the academy.

One might wonder. What do students of such diverse statuses talk about when they gather?

The most important thing in a relationship is a common topic that can be shared, and besides being academy students, the four of them didn't have much of an intersection.

But in this friendship, there was one conversation topic that had been heating up recently.

Though it was a topic Yuna didn't particularly welcome.

It was on a certain weekday, just before the final exams.

Shasha, Kaylee, and Michel had gathered at a campus cafeteria under the pretext of studying for finals.

The reason only Yuna was absent was that she was currently in class.

In fact, the stated purpose of studying was just a formality; the real purpose was to chat and relieve stress.

Therefore, after a bit of formal studying, when the atmosphere ripened, idle chatter began under the reason of taking a break.

And the one who threw out the first topic and opened the door to conversation was Kaylee.

“…Yuna has started kicking her blankets before bed again.”

At first glance, it might seem like a simple complaint about Yuna's sleeping habits, but the three sitting there knew well what it meant.

There was only one reason why Yuna would kick her blankets.

“So… something related to that man happened again.”

“That's right.”

Shasha explained the interpretation that everyone knew with a serious expression, and Kaylee affirmed.

Yes, the previously mentioned 'recently heating up topic' was that kind of story. The story about the relationship between Yuna and Rain Enlight.

Of course, the three of them knew. It wasn't good to consume a friend's love life simply for entertainment.

Because of this, Kaylee, Shasha, and Michel were not just consuming Yuna's personal business as a topic of conversation, but were seriously prepared to assist her in that business.

But, but… a friend's love life, you want to support them but… on the other hand, it's so entertaining…!

Kaylee, Shasha, and Michel had gotten to know Yuna over the semester and could tell for sure.

That Yuna harbored unusual feelings for Rain.

-It's, it's not like that with him!! We're just friends, friends. Yeah…

She vehemently denied it, but judging from the nuance of her words and her usual behavior, it was a rather unconvincing claim.

When Rain was in a coma and unconscious for a while, didn't she act like she was out of her mind too?

Add to that her intense reaction in the hospital room, and how she always brought up stories with Rain while pretending to complain…

It would be foolish not to be certain.

“Does anyone know why she's suddenly acting like that?”

Anyway, as Kaylee continued the topic, a girl quietly raised her hand. It was the girl with glasses, Michel.

“…I heard a little from Yuna earlier, it seems he invited her to go clothes shopping together this weekend.”

Swoosh. As Michel pushed up her glasses with her finger and said that, Shasha muttered as if sighing.

“This is…”

“A date. From Yuna's perspective.”

A sighing Shasha, and Kaylee's affirmation, looking equally complicated.

There was a good reason for this reaction. And that reason was the suspicion that Rain Enlight might be a fickle man.

Of course, the three of them didn't know much about Rain, so they didn't rule out the possibility that it was a groundless guess.

But there were too many circumstances that made it reasonable to be suspicious…!

First, the things Yuna had experienced so far were the basis.

When Yuna was isolated, when she was an underachiever, he approached her, boosted her self-esteem, helped her improve her skills, and treated her kindly. With that face…

They could tell. This guy was a player. Though Yuna vehemently denied he was that kind of guy.

Also, there were too many women around Rain.

From the freshman representative, the daughter of the Stellia family… to the heir of the Magic Tower, and even the princess.

Seeing him being unusually close with girls of such astonishing connections, it was impossible not to be suspicious.

And recently, he was even spotted sticking to the heir of the Magic Tower like glue in the central library.

Yet, he had almost no interaction with boys his age, which only doubled the suspicion.

Of course, this was because Rain was trying to get close to the playable characters as part of his work to change the story of .

The fact that three of the main characters in the academy part of were female, and that his connection, Regina, was also female, played a part… but there was no way the girls could consider such meta-knowledge.

Yes, he was suspicious. Suspicious to a fault.

“What if that bear really got hooked by a weird guy…?”

As Kaylee said, they couldn't help but worry.

What kind of girl was Yuna? Her looks were impeccable, but in terms of love life, she was a novice no different from an elementary schooler.

Moreover, she was a bit too pure… the type to be in big trouble if she got hooked once.

She would probably give him her liver and gall bladder. It was a reasonable suspicion.

Shasha and Michel nodded slightly in agreement.

“This won't do. We need to take some action. To see if that man really has no ulterior motives as Yuna says.”

“Actually, it's a problem even if he has no ulterior motives after doing all that…”

“I think it's fine as long as he's not a bad person!”

Shasha replied boldly to Michel's retort.

“What kind of action?”

And, to Kaylee's question…

“Let's tail them.”

She answered so.

***

Although I had set up an outing with Yuna, I actually had regular training sessions with Khan on weekend afternoons.

It would be really rude not to show up on the day, so I should let him know in advance.

“Khan-ssi, I have an appointment this weekend, so I don't think I can make it to training.”

“Since you told me, it doesn't really matter. But that appointment is…?”

When Khan asked back, I answered calmly.

“I'm going out to buy clothes with Yuna-ssi.”

And Khan's reaction to my words was-.

“…Again.”

He muttered, pressing his forehead.

Huh? I've never gone shopping for clothes with Yuna before.

“This is the first time I'm going to buy clothes with Yuna-ssi.”

“Right, of course…”

His reaction was strange, but whatever. I just assumed he was having an off day and let it go.

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