CH 73

“Chris, did you just say that you don’t want me to lose my hearing? No, I’m sorry. I know it’s rude of me to keep checking, but I can’t believe my ears.”

I was relieved to see that Claire didn’t seem to be reaching for her ears, and I calmly replied.

”That’s what I said.”

“I see. So, my ears are functioning properly, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

I answered curtly, annoyed.

“So I don’t need to rip my ears off?”

“Yes!!!!”

I affirmed with all my might.

Oh, man, you’re still thinking about tearing them off. You’re not just scaring me in a normal way, but also in a psycho way?

“And by that, he means not just name calling, but beautiful and…….Yah, I knew Chris was going to call me…….” (Claire mumbling, I tried to edit it but it confused me)

I ask her anxiously as she flushes again and starts mumbling to herself.

“Oh, um? Great….”

“Me too!”

Before I could say anything else, Claire said it clearly. It was out of line, but it answered the question I was asking.

I don’t want to get involved in this anymore. Let’s get out of here as soon as possible and go to Alice.

“……I see. Anyway, Lady Alcala, weren’t you here about the study group?”

“Chris is so mean.”

Claire said in a sweet voice.

“What?”

“Pretending to be dumb again. I’m just as embarrassed as you are. See?”

What is this feeling? I’m just annoyed.

“No, I really don’t know what you’re talking about…….”

“Really?”

Before I could finish all I had to say, I was silenced by a single word from Claire.

I gave up and responded to Claire’s request without knowing her intentions.

“……Claire.”

“That’s right! I’m Claire and Chris is Chris!”

In contrast to Claire’s happy face, I rephrase my earlier words in frustration.

“……I see. Anyway, Claire, I thought you were here about the study group.”

“Yes, that’s right. Shall we go then, Chris?”

“Yes. Let’s go quickly.”

Let’s get this over with quickly.

“Chris is very studious. I’m proud to say that I’m a studious person too, but I don’t think I’m ready to be on par with Chris. I’m looking forward to learning from Chris today.”

I may not have been thinking about you enough, but you’re so serious. What’s with the respectful look? I just want to get out of here, but you’re too serious….

“I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations.”

“That’s great! Oh, and later you don’t have to go all the way to my salon to study.”

I suddenly looked around as Claire told me to. We were the only two people in the classroom, with the light of the setting sun streaming in through the windows tinting the room orange and creating black shadows of motionless desks and chairs. Surely, this would seem to be a good place to concentrate on studying.

“Well, if Chris doesn’t want to, I don’t blame him, but it’s a long way to the salon, so I thought it would be a waste of time…….”

Claire said, her cheeks flushed.

Claire’s motivation is amazing. Do you really want to study that much? I’d rather go to the salon and study, since I can start late and finish early enough thanks to the travel time. Or is time so tight that she needs to take the travel time into account? If that’s the case, this is fortuitous.

“How much studying do you intend to do today, Miss Claire?”

“Until the start of classes tomorrow?”

Claire said, scowling at what she took for granted.

“What? You’re kidding, right?”

I asked, trying hard to smile at Claire.

“No, I didn’t mean it as a joke.”

“Again, please don’t tease me like that.”

:No, no, I’m not kidding. That’s why I’m wearing a dress today, to change clothes as well. I can’t wear the same uniform and shirt two days in a row.”

I couldn’t keep up with the thought of what Claire said, which was so ridiculous, but I understood from her serious look and tone that she meant it.

Ugh, no way……..I knew she was crazy. It’s a horror story! Besides, we’re going to be here until tomorrow morning!?

“So what do you think, why don’t we study in the classroom?”

No, I don’t care about the place anymore. I have to go to Alice’s by the end of the day, what should I do? I’ll just tell her that I can’t do it because I wasn’t prepared.

“Oh, um, Claire……it’s fine to study in the classroom, but I have to tell you something…….”

Claire nodded her head.

“What is it, Chris?”

“I didn’t know I was going to be studying so much today, and I don’t have a change of clothes or anything, so we’ll just have to do it another time……”

“Don’t worry about it. Chris lives in a dormitory, right? I’ll be waiting for you as long as you want.”

Claire ruined my escape route. I don’t know how I’m going to escape…….