Afterwards, I gradually became used to school (once more). The key difference was that, this time, school seemed to be more enjoyable than before. If I constantly had some books to read at school back when I was Reinst, this time—I'm not really carrying any book to read. Even if I were to carry some books around, the time I have to read them is basically… none?
During the break time—no, let alone break time, even during the class, I sometimes talk with Carbuncle, Iris, Luca, or even Kiri. But it's not that I hate it at all. It was rather fun. After I was reincarnated, I managed to find another kind of "fun", and it made me feel some kind of warmth I've never truly had before.
Obviously, we weren't only playing around to pass our time. Being in special class, I really felt that our lessons were hastened. The contents of Basic Level 1 and 2 were basically cramped into our first year. So, guess what?
Naturally, we are screwed!—no, that's not right. We were forced to study, even if we disliked studying. If not, we won't be able to keep up. Each special class student had the risk of being "kicked" from special class and "reverted" back to regular class. And any regular class student had the chance of enrolling into special class, although I bet their age would be older than those who directly enrolled into special class at the age of 6.
To put it in a positive way, we might get new classmates in the future!
It's not like I'm in my denial state of the negative possibility of getting kicked from special class. I just think that there will be no problem to keep up with everything during Basic Level. I might need to sneakily "store some knowledge" in preparation for my future… My previous life's knowledge stopped when I was 13, which covered every Basic Level only.
I don't feel like I'm a genius who could immediately comprehend everything, so this little "reincarnation cheat" of mine has an expiry date, it seems.
--insert a long pause with a long sigh mixed—
The lessons were really packed with frequent exams being held. Whenever it was near exam period, we'd either go home later than usual or go to the academy's dorm to study together with Iris. Carbuncle was a good distractor from our studies, though…
"Haaaaah…," Dad heaved another long sigh. At first, I was surprised, but at this point, I was already used to it.
"Lyra's time at home is becoming less and less…," Dad muttered.
"Well, that's inevitable. Children will grow up, and that's part of them growing up," Mom only chuckled.
"But… haaah…," Dad sighed again.
"Be happy that Lyra's not home to study with her friends," Mom reminded.
"I know, but…"
"…Dad, it's not like you're always at home, so…," I couldn't help but remind him.
"Lyra's right. It's not like we're at home 24/7, too," Mom agreed to my point. Sometimes, it was Dad who went home later or even stayed outside due to work, and sometimes it was Mom's turn, rarely it was for the two of them to get busy with their work at the same time.
"But, it just feels different," Dad continued to grumble.
"You're just not used to it yet," Mom said.
"But Daddy only laughed and said it couldn't be helped, and that I should gain more experience outside when I first started to spend more time outside," Alt-nii chimed in.
…what's with this different treatment, Dad?! Though one is a son and the other is a daughter, we're still your children!
But well, hehe~ How do I put it?
Despite getting different treatments, I feel perfectly fine and happy. At least, Dad and Mom cared for both of us—it's just that they showed the care differently.
Different care…
I wonder if my mother back then considered that she cared for me, too, but in another way? But to me, it wasn't enough…?
Could it be that her preferential treatment to Domi was all due to my perception muddled with my jealousy?
I'm not sure. I don't know. Since I don't know and since I have so many doubts of it, it feels excruciating to think about it.
…So, let's evade this thought for the moment and live in the present. I want to indulge myself with the warmth I've found.
But why is it that the more I came to understand of this warmth, the more uncomfortable I was when I began to ponder of my past?
In the end, time passed by so fast and we just passed the final exams of the semester. I've thought several times to have Iris and Carbuncle come over to play, but in the end, our plan remained as a plan.... or not.
"Hey, we'll have semester break and end-of-year break. What are your plans for the holidays, Iris, Carbuncle?"
After taking the last final exam, I asked.
"Hmm? Well, I'll just continue my Non-Draconis observation as usual, only it would be somewhere else," Carbuncle began to ponder.
"You're not going back to your hometown?" I asked.
"...Once I go back, it will be hard to come out again, so nah," Carbuncle shrugged her shoulders.
"Eh? Why?" Iris asked.
"Obviously, since many opposed my intention to observe the other races. They said that I might catch their bad influence or something… ah, sorry, I didn't mean to be offensive," Carbuncle quickly realized that her words might sound offensive, as we're exactly "the other races" she talked about.
"No, it's okay, it's not like you're the one who said it," I reassured her.
"What? What negative influence? Really, they are so prejudiced!" Luca—as the future leader of this country—protested.
"L-Luca…," Kiri was startled at Luca's sudden anger.
"Well, most of the dragons are prejudiced against the other races. That was why we secluded ourselves to begin with. But the number of dragons who are interested in the other races are growing. Though most of the old bunches are still keen on their former mindset," Carbuncle explained.
"The old bunches…?" I leaned forward to listen more. How old is categorized as old in dragon race?
"Yup, mainly those whose age has reached 4 digits—or a thousand years."
"Whoa, a thousand years!!"
All of us exclaimed one by one. I guess dragons have the most gap in terms of power and also age.
What caused us to wake up from our awe was Carbuncle's next words.
"So, it's better for me not to go back there if I still want to observe you guys."
"Eh? But won't your family be worried?" Kiri asked.
"Hm? Even if I were gone for a decade, it'd feel like a very short moment for us dragons, like how you feel the end-of-year break? Anyway, I think it will still be fine even if I were to return only after a century has passed by!"
…Oh, oh right.
Then, I guess it's fine. But in other words… she'd have to see the other people around her dying, huh? Especially the humans… How sad would that be, I wonder? Could the dragons perhaps not want to associate with the other races in order to avoid this sad fate, too?
Out of curiosity, I suddenly asked, "Now that you mention it... Carbuncle, how old are you this year?"
"...Ah, little sheep, what about you, what do you plan on doing during the winter holiday?"
"..."
She just evaded my question, right? It's not just my imagination, right?
Could it be that Carbuncle doesn't really want to talk about her age in front of us? Is she afraid we're going to call her 'grandma'? It is imaginable, though!
It can't be helped. Let's just give her a break and postpone that question for now...
"Eh? Ah, I… Maybe I will stay here… or do anything else. If I have to return, maybe I will return for a short moment…," Iris answered.
…What kind of family circumstances does she have, I wonder?
I totally didn't feel any joy or expectation to return home from her.
But now, it's time to execute my plan!
"Then, how about staying over at my place?"