Chapter 41: Chapter 41 – String (6)
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From the next day, when I started showing off to the students in my class that I was dragging Ellie around, my image began to decline, as I had originally intended.
Ellie was surprisingly good at acting. For example, she showed people how she couldn't look me in the eye or how she would tremble and feel anxious when I got close. The acting was so realistic that even I sometimes wondered if Ellie was really feeling that way.
Could it be that her crying at the cafe was also acting? No, right? I don't think anyone would go that far…
In any case, as time went on, my past misdeeds were also widely known within Class-D, through the mouth of a student who had learned about my actions through the student council.
Now, the many students who had tried to talk to me were nowhere to be seen, and only looks of contempt remained.
Some female students even clicked their tongues as if disappointed…
The unexpected thing was that Ellie, who must have heard the rumors, didn't treat me much differently than before.
Sometimes, she even seemed happier.
And there was one thing that Ellie lied to me about. Contrary to her previous statement that she had no friends, Ellie actually had quite a few…no, a lot of friends who were close to her.
Seeing Ellie's dejected appearance, they hated me every time they saw me, and eventually someone must have filed a complaint with the student council, because people from the student council came to investigate three or four times.
But since Ellie would never reveal my wrongdoings with her own mouth, the investigation was all wrapped up, and her friends now just stared at her with pity from afar.
As I continued my daily life at the academy, one day, an unexpected encounter found its way to me.
* * * * *
After Edwin's suspension, Iris spent her days trying to find other pursuits to distract herself, as the two months without him were merely a sequence of peaceful moments.
While the last meeting with him remained gloomy enough to occasionally cross her mind, at least the engagement was annulled, giving her a chance to sever ties with him and live a new life.
When news about her circulated in social circles, matchmakers from influential families flocked like clouds, and even male students personally sought her out, proposing to her daily. However, Iris, not wanting to disturb this peace, rejected all these proposals outright.
After those noisy days, Iris finally felt that she had regained some peace of mind. However, recently, she wasn't feeling quite as good.
This is because his name began to be heard again from all over the place as soon as Edwin returned to school.
Again.
And this time, there were rumors that he had targeted a girl.
Choosing a commoner girl from the same class, he seemed to have her follow him around like she was on a leash, and despite the efforts of the disciplinary committee, the girl, acting like a victim, refused to speak up, making it challenging to gather evidence.
How despicable must his character be? Iris briefly wondered if he had changed a bit during his suspension, but people, unlike anything else, aren't that easy to change. Compared to him… No, let's stop there. No one could dare to be a comparison to Edwin.
Anyway, it was really a coincidence that she met Edwin in the academy park while trying to soothe such confusion.
At first, she didn't recognize him at all, but she realized that he was Edwin when she saw the reactions of the people passing by and the female student who was following him around like a shadow.
Iris was momentarily taken aback by his changed appearance, but thinking that inside, he was still the rotten Edwin she knew, she barely managed to compose herself.
"… Edwin."
"Iris."
The first to speak was herself.
And when she greeted him, Edwin also reluctantly nodded his head and accepted it superficially.
As soon as the formal greetings were over, Iris poured out her business to Edwin.
"Edwin, looking at you now, it seems you haven't reflected on anything at all. Isn't the girl behind you pitiful? If there's even a trace of remorse left, do it right away…"
"Oh, shut up. Iris, I thought you had something important to talk about, but it was just to nag me, wasn't it? I told you when we broke up. Talkative women are unpopular."
"Edwin!! You really!"
"Fine. That's enough, that's enough."
Cutting off her own words abruptly, Edwin waved his hand as if annoyed.
"And I told you. I like submissive women. Unlike you, she'll do anything I say."
"Haa?!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Edwin suddenly reached out and placed his hand on the female student standing behind him.
Then, as if putting his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her towards him. In an instant, the girl's posture changed as if she fit perfectly into Edwin's embrace.
"Ugh…"
But even with Edwin's sudden mockery, the girl couldn't rebel in any way. Her face turned as red as a beet, and she emitted faint moans, surrendering her body to Edwin.
"Hah, huh, stop…that's…that's enough…"
Oh my…
How harsh he had been to her in the meantime, could she only show that level of reaction to such horrible harassment? The student was definitely a commoner, so did he threaten her based on his background?
"Edwin!! Stop it right now and put your hand away!"
Unable to endure any longer, she shouted, and only then did Edwin release the girl from his embrace. Edwin seemed momentarily dazed, but soon he snapped back to himself, wearing the same despicable grin I knew so well.
"…Anyway, you're still the same. I heard you're hanging out with that commoner named Eugene these days, but even a commoner will get bored of a woman who's too virtuous."
"Ha, Edwin. Do you really think everyone in the world is a scoundrel like you? Despite your noble facade…"
"…Enough. Boring. Ellie, come over here. Let's go."
In response to her last remark, Edwin made a disgusted face, then turned and left in the opposite direction.
'I can't do this…what should I do about that child…?'
Iris, intending to step away from that spot, was momentarily struck by a single thought that brushed through her mind. Edwin was heading towards the secluded garden in the park. The exit wasn't in that direction, so why did Edwin drag the student to that side?
Edwin mocked her, touching her body in front of everyone without hesitation. What dreadful things could he forcibly do to her in a deserted place, where no one could anticipate?
But right now, it was too late to go and get other people. In the meantime, Edwin might do something.
Even though she was not a disciplinary officer, she still had a duty to protect her fellow students as a member of the student council.
In the end, Iris decided that she had to move on her own, and she began to carefully follow the traces Edwin had left behind.
And after about 10 minutes, she finally managed to spot Edwin and the student from afar.
To prevent being noticed, Iris hid herself and, with caution, managed to get closer to the point where she could hear them talking.
And if Edwin was doing something heinous as she expected, Iris was determined to intervene, but at that moment…
'This is…what...?'
What was unfolding there was something Iris had never expected.
* * * * *
"I'm sorry…Ellie, I'm really sorry. I don't know why I did that either. I'm really sorry…"
And I was just repeating words full of apology with my mouth.
Ellie's face was still red, and she was just silent with her head bowed down.
'I'm really going crazy…Why did I do that all of a sudden?'
Running into Iris was really a coincidence.
One day, Ellie asked me to take a walk in the park with her after lunch, and since it wasn't a big deal, I readily accepted the request. And going for a walk in the park like that became our daily routine before I knew it.
However, amidst the vast park, why did I happen to encounter Iris of all people?
The academy's park, while called a park, was an expansive area with various mazes, traps, and even rumors of trees that devoured people, making it immeasurably vast.
But in that big place…
But Iris aside, the real problem was what happened after that.
As Iris began another round of scolding, an indiscernible sense of rebellion surged within me. Recalling her with Eugene intensified the turmoil within me. Captivated by this strange, whimsical emotion, I impulsively pulled Ellie towards me and… did the same thing again.
I was able to regain my senses only after hearing Iris' voice shouting at me, and I managed to clean up the situation and bring Ellie here.
I looked at Ellie again.
She still had her head down and was just maintaining silence.
This is clearly my fault. How on earth am I supposed to apologize? No, it's something that can be resolved with an apology… Should I stop hanging out with Ellie now…?
While I was desperately racking my brain, Ellie finally spoke after a long silence.
"…Was it good?"
"What? I'm sorry, Ellie. Can you say that again…?"
"…Was it good to hug like that… I did that when I first saw you…"
What? Did I mishear that? But luckily, she didn't seem angry by the sound of her voice…
"It's okay if you want to do it, but… I was a little surprised at first… That's why… Can we not do it without telling me next time…?"
"Uh, Huh? No, Ellie. I'll never do that again…"
"…Okay, you idiot… I'll just do it myself…"
"Huh?"
On that day, I pondered Ellie's cryptic words for a long time.
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