La Faust Academy Arc: 49 Wavering Thoughts and Time Limit

La Faust Academy Arc
49 Wavering Thoughts and Time Limit

“Umm…Kotokura-san.”

During lunchtime, Meru and Seiya were eating in the academy’s garden. Though really, it was just Seiya watching Meru eat her bento.

“What?”
“It’s hard to eat while being watched…”
“Then I have ta watch ya properly.”

Meru narrowed her eyes at his words while Seiya smiled gleefully. Then, he took some of the kinpira gobou¹ from her bento.

“Can I hire ya as my personal chef in tha future?”
“No, thank you.”

Meru didn’t say anything in response to Seiya’s food snatching and continued to work on the rest of her bento.
Seiya gazed at her with gentle eyes.

“I wonder if…commoners always have this kinda feelin’.”
“Eh?”

Meru looked up at Seiya.

“People say they’re jealous of me, but I’m extremely jealous of tha way commoners live.”

Seiya rested his chin in his hands and cast his eyes down, looking lonesome.

“They can let down their guard whenever they want and as much as they want. It’s an unthinkably easy way of life.”

Seiya took a drink from his teacup. Looking at him, Meru sighed and put her chopsticks down.

“Humans often compare themselves to others and think that others live a happier life than themselves. The world you live in is certainly empty, but it doesn’t restrict your freedom to that extent, does it?”

Meru poured black tea into Seiya’s emptied teacup.

“They say that people’s happiness and sorrow are the same. If that’s so, we should just look at our own happiness,shouldn’t we? You have plenty of happiness without being jealous of anyone, Kotokura-san.”

Meru said and once again picked up her chopsticks.
Seiya looked at Meru and grinned.

“Really, bein’ with you is relaxin’.”
“Thanks for that.”

Seiya gazed at Meru’s face for a while, then stood up.

“I have a call. Wait fer me.”
“Gotcha.”

Seiya took out his phone and walked a ways from Meru.

Meru turned her eyes to her bento.
As she did, a shadow fell across her body.

“Kusuhara-san. May I have a moment of your time?”

Looking over her shoulder, Meru remained composed as though she had expected this.

 

 

 

 

“What?”

Seiya went to a place a little ways from the garden and returned the call from before.

“Uwah. You’re in a bad mood.”

On the other side of the call, Shin cackled like usual. Seiya said, “Hurry up and tell me what ya want,” in a cold voice.

“There’s an intruder.”

Seiya flinched in response to those words.

“I’m gonna intercept him, but more’re probably gonna come after him. And if that president comes, it’s game over. Ok? Until then, have fun with that girl until you’re satisfied.”
“You good?”
“Hah?”

Shin let out a crazy sound. Even Seiya rarely heard that kind of voice from him.

“Ye were tha one who took an interest in her first.”
“…You thinking about me, I wonder if hell’s gonna freeze over today?”

Seiya could hear Shin’s quiet laughter.

“Don’t worry. I already said it, didn’t I? I’m not interested in that girl. So until the time limit…stay with her.”

Shin said before hanging up. Shin’s way of speaking always reflected his understanding of Seiya’s feelings. He couldn’t go against Seiya. Shin never spoke the truth. He was unreadable.

But this time, Seiya understood.

“Who’s thinking of who, idiot.”

Seiya murmured. Nevertheless, Seiya laughed mockingly at himself who was only ever spoiled by Shin.

 

 

 

 

While gazing at his phone, Shin smiled bitterly.

For Seiya, Shin was just a chess piece. However, he was a chess piece far more valuable than any other.
That Seiya had been concerned about him. Why was that? The answer was obvious.

“Kusuhara-chan’s influence, huh.”

Leaning his back against the school gate Shin took a deep breath.

“You were later than I expected, weren’t you?”

Shin looked at the person who had appeared in front of the gate and grinned.

“Perfect timing. Before I take Meru-chan back, I wanted to talk to you.”

Arriving at La Faust Academy alone, Fuuga glared at Shin.
On the receiving end of that gaze, Shin led Fuuga into the academy.

“Me too, I thought I’d have a chat with you.”

 

 

 

 

In front of Meru was the female student named Haruka who was often by Shin’s side, as well as two hanger-ons.
Without making any particularly surprised face, Meru smiled faintly.

“What’s up?”

Haruka had an extremely cold expression at Meru’s questioning.

“Why did a commoner like you come to this academy, and why are you by Seiya-sama’s side?”
“Commoner…”

Haruka’s voice was the same as the one she had heard the other day in the girls’ toilet.

Meru smiled and scratched her cheek without making a big deal about that.

“Kotokura-san invited me to be a specially admitted student.”
“Is that the truth?”

Haruka glared disdainfully at the foolishly smiling Meru and laughed scornfully.

“There is no way that Seiya-sama would bother himself with a vulgar person like you. Taking an interest in a commoner is just him killing time. It’s the end once he abandons you after he uses you as he likes and gets tired of you. Especially someone lowly like you.”

Haruka spoke and drew closer to Meru.

“Hurry up and leave the academy. That is for Seiya-sama’s sake, and above all your own sake. It’s a good opportunity to learn your place.”

There was no light in Haruka’s eyes. Looking at her, Meru answered clearly.

“Thank you for your advice. However, I will make my own decisions, so don’t worry.”

Meru returned her gaze to her bento, signaling that the conversation was done.
Looking at her, Haruka bit her lips violently and flung Meru’s bento to the ground.

“…How impertinent. Why is it that I was abandoned, yet someone dirty like you can be by Seiya-sama’s side? And you weren’t satisfied with just that, you also stole that person from me… Just how shameful and ugly a woman are you, I wonder.”

Haruka continued to speak while looking down upon Meru.

“It’s because you are by Seiya-sama’s side… Originally, would you be in a position to be able to speak to me, the daughter of the president of Haruka Pharmaceutical, like that? And yet you…”
“So what?”

Meru raised her head. Her twinkling eyes were beautiful.

“I already predicted that Kotokura-san will get tired and abandon me, and I’m actually hoping for that. But Kotokura-san is the one who decides who stands with him, not you, Haruka-san.”
“…!”

Meru didn’t avert her gaze from Haruka. Haruka’s face grew bright red in front of Meru’s dignified eyes.

“I simply won’t allow vulgar people to be near Seiya-sama.”
“According to what you are saying, Haruka-san, Kotokura-san is someone without a discerning eye who can’t even decently choose who is by his side.”
“That is not what I am saying!”

Haruka flew into a rage and picked up the nearby teacup.

And then, she flung its contents toward Meru’s head.

Lukewarm tea dripped down from Meru’s face, staining her clothes.

“See, this appearance suits you more.”

Haruka laughed loudly.

“It isn’t a case of Seiya-sama choosing or not choosing. At any rate, it’s just that you follow him around obstinately, so he reluctantly keeps you by his side!”

Meru stared at Haruka.
Even as she was criticized by Haruka, those eyes didn’t shake even once.
Haruka raised her hand.

“So I’ll save Seiya-sama…!”

Haruka’s hand that was about to swing downward was caught.

Having been restrained, Haruka glared at that person, but her face immediately paled.

“What are ya doin’? You.”
“Sei-Seiya-sama!”

Seiya’s face was extremely cold as he held Haruka’s hand.

“It-It’s a misunderstanding. This person made a strange accusation against me…!”

Before Haruka could finish giving her excuse, Seiya was pressing her head against the ground.

“Kotokura-san!”
“Don’t move!”
Seiya prevented Meru from intervening.

“If ya move, I won’t go easy on ye, either.”

Being glared at like that, Meru wasn’t able to move.

“Who gave ya permission ta raise yer hand against her?”
“Seiya-sama…! That’s not…!”
“What’s not? What happened fer her ta be covered in tea?”

Seiya fixed his grip on Haruka’s head.

“I seem to know ya? Haruka.”

Seiya grinned. That was the smile Seiya had always used to despise others up until the other day.

“Ya would do anythin’ I told ya to.”
“Seiya…sama.”
“How many girls have ya bullied? Tell me how many guys ye’ve played with ta get ahold of their weaknesses.”

Haruka burst into tears at Seiya’s words.

“That…was for Seiya-sama’s…your sake…”
“Despite that, ya still put on airs as a proper young lady? It’s comical, ya know?”

Seiya said before shifting his attention to Meru’s spilled bento. Seeing that, his brow grew increasingly wrinkled.

“Chess pieces I can’t use shouldn’t butt in.”

Spitting out those words, Seiya raised his hand. This time, Meru caught him.

“Let me go.”
“No. Haven’t you gone far enough?”

Meru narrowed her eyes.

“Yer too lenient.”
“I’m fine being lenient. Guys who hit girls are the worst. Please stop with this attempt.”

Meru glared at Seiya.
Looking at her, Seiya clicked his tongue and pushed Haruka aside.

“Get lost.”

At Seiya’s cold voice, Haruka left quivering, her followers in tow.

Meru turned her back toward Seiya.

Seiya stared at her.

Her hair and clothes were both soaked with tea.

“Come here.”

Seiya forcibly grabbed Meru’s hand.

“I’m dirty, so it’s better if you don’t touch…”
“It’s fine, so come.”

Seiya didn’t look at Meru.
His voice was unusually serious, and despite that, somehow tender.

Meru was pulled along by Seiya as they headed toward the special affairs room.

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1 Kinpira gobou (gobo) is a dish of chopped burdock root usually cooked in sugar, soy sauce, and some other seasonings. It often has carrot in it, too. You can find pictures/recipes super easily if you google it because it’s a super common dish!

<TLN>

No, Hot Cocoa, no matter how much you try to make Shin seem like less of an asshole, he’s still an asshole. >> Seiya is growing on me a tiny bit tho.

This was the bonus chapter for June! It got up late because I didn’t have time to post it before work since the donation came in while I was sleeping, and then my boss dragged us out drinking after work, but it’s here! The next regular chapter will be released on Friday at the usual time JST. ❤ Thank you so much again to the two regular donors!

4 chapters left in the La Faust Academy Arc!

Ko-fi link here.
July bonus chapters funded: 0/3 ($0/$30 to the first one!)