'Aren't they into each other?'
Mari gazed blankly at Emil, lost in thought.
What came to mind was the answer she'd heard from Malcolm yesterday.
"Alright, first, I'll demonstrate. I need an opponent…"
The Swordsmanship Professor-nim's voice reached her ears, but Mari wasn't focused on the class at all.
After all, freshmen didn't have practical combat as part of their mid-term evaluations.
As Mari was in the same class as Emil for this joint class, she relaxed and gazed blankly at Emil across the room.
'…Is it really like that with Sierra?'
Then she subtly shifted her gaze to Sierra, who was elsewhere.
It was ironic that just as she was struggling with Emil and Sierra's relationship, Mari, Emil, and Sierra's classes happened to have a joint practical session.
Sierra, unlike Mari, was fully focused on the class.
Emil, similarly, was looking at the Professor-nim, not Sierra.
The two people in the same space weren't conscious of each other at all.
'But I'm so bothered by it.'
That's why she was curious.
If Malcolm's words were true, then why could those two be so calm?
She, who was so bothered by Emil, would look at him the moment her mind wandered.
'Because they already know they like each other…?'
A dull ache…
There it was again. She felt that stinging pain in one part of her chest once more.
This was the chest pain she'd frequently felt ever since hearing Malcolm's answer yesterday.
What on earth was this feeling?
She'd never felt this way, not even after growing distant from Damien.
"Ah, Emil. Would you mind being my opponent? You just need to hold a wooden sword lightly."
At that moment, Emil's name came from the Professor-nim, who was leading the class.
Mari, who had been zoning out, was startled and looked back at Emil.
"Yes."
Emil, with an indifferent expression, rose from his seat and picked up the training wooden sword he had been given.
'Emil…'
Even though she hadn't been called, just Emil being called out made her heart tense and her cheeks flush.
And Mari naturally looked towards Sierra.
She still had an unconcerned expression.
She looked at Emil with her usual, unchanging face.
Then, the Professor-nim and Emil's swordsmanship demonstration continued.
At the end, after explaining several techniques.
Whoosh!
"Like this!"
The Professor-nim performed a final grand movement, forcefully swinging the wooden sword against Emil's.
Thwack!
The wooden sword in Emil's hand naturally fell away.
And.
Thud!
"…"
"This is self-defense, so the finishing move is to subdue them like this. However, if subduing is difficult, finish them decisively with your sword."
With the Professor-nim's flashy hand movements, Emil was flipped upside down and forcibly pinned to the ground.
Laughter and exclamations of awe continuously erupted from the students watching.
At the center of their gaze.
Emil, pinned to the ground, maintained his indifferent expression.
'…He's cute.'
At his amusing appearance, something she didn't usually see, Mari smiled faintly and secretly blushed.
"Alright, from now on, each class will divide into male and female, form partners, and begin practice. Start!"
After that, with the Professor-nim's loud voice, the students rose from their seats and began to mingle in a commotion.
***
'My shoulder hurts.'
I rubbed my shoulder, which had just been slammed during the demonstration spar.
I feel it every round, but that practical training Professor-nim never does anything half-heartedly.
He's the textbook example of 'practice like it's real, fight like it's practice.'
Of course, being slammed to the ground didn't particularly embarrass me.
Because I'd already experienced plenty of embarrassing moments in previous rounds, like getting thoroughly beaten in front of my ex-girlfriend.
Of course, showing a clumsy side in front of Mari bothered me a little.
Fortunately, Mari's expression didn't seem disappointed.
Though she was smiling, as if she found it amusing.
Anyway.
'Then, a practice partner…'
I looked around amidst the bustling students, searching for a suitable partner.
Joint practical class.
This class was unique, with three classes participating together, all in the spirit of practicing practical combat with diverse opponents.
'Thanks to this, even I, who doesn't have many friends, can find a partner easily…'
Just as I was looking around, searching for someone without a partner.
"Emil."
"Huh?"
A familiar voice called me from behind.
"…Malcolm."
"If you don't have an opponent, want to go with me?"
"…"
At his question, I briefly observed his expression.
…He wants to be my sparring partner. What's his intention?
Thinking that, I searched Malcolm's expression for his emotions.
Recently, Malcolm had clearly shown wariness regarding Mari and my relationship.
And just as I thought, he wore a refreshing smile, while on the other hand, a familiar hostility lurked in his eyes.
'I see.'
I realized his simple, childish reason.
'So you're starting too, huh.'
He probably thinks this is a chance to show my disgraceful side in front of Mari.
It was like this in the 1st round too.
You absolutely can't tolerate Mari harboring feelings for anyone else.
"Good. I was just having trouble finding someone."
I willingly played into his obvious scheme.
And a moment later.
After all students had found their partners.
In the training ground, the shouts of various students began to be heard.
Clack!
Clack!
And Malcolm and I also began to practice the swordsmanship techniques the Professor-nim had just demonstrated, taking turns.
Whoosh!
Malcolm's wooden sword connected with mine, quickly rotating on its axis and bringing the blade down towards my head.
Clack!
I skillfully parried the wooden sword.
"Wow, as expected of the top student in our year. You're good at swordsmanship too?"
"Well, I just do what I've learned."
When his surprise attack was blocked, Malcolm genuinely admired it.
Of course, saying I 'just do what I've learned' was a slight lie.
After all, I'd taken this class countless times over five rounds.
And ever since I got beaten up in the 1st round, I'd been more passionate about practical combat than anyone else.
Ding!
[The effect of 'Blooming Talent' is activated! Additional points are applied to your swordsmanship comprehension and proficiency!]
More than anything, thanks to the Easy Mode perk, I absorbed and understood swordsmanship with my whole body, like a dry sponge soaking up water.
"You're better than I thought, shall we get serious now?"
"…Sounds like what we just did was child's play for you."
"Haha, well, by my standards, yes."
Malcolm replied with a refreshing smile.
Well, realistically, the exchanges we just had were probably like child's play to Malcolm.
After all, he was the scion of a knight family.
Having practiced swordsmanship since childhood, his skill was something I, who had been beaten by him in the 1st round, knew best.
And.
Malcolm subtly shifted his gaze to look somewhere.
"…Tch."
Then he erased his cheerful smile and, for a brief moment, clicked his tongue with a displeased expression.
As I subtly moved my eyes to follow his gaze.
Mari, whose eyes met mine, was startled and looked at her own opponent.
'Looks like he's quite bothered.'
His intention was to show my disgraceful self, conscious of Mari.
But I wasn't easily defeated, and Mari was also looking at me.
That's probably why Malcolm momentarily made a sour face.
And realizing that, I felt a pleasant sense of amusement I hadn't felt in a long time.
"Emil… Are you getting distracted in front of me right now?"
At that moment.
Whoosh—!!
Clack—!
"K-ugh…!"
"I just said it, now we're going to get serious."
Malcolm's wooden sword flew towards me, who had been momentarily looking at Mari.
And I blocked that sword with reflexes that were hard even for me to believe.
An unexpected surprise attack.
When I blocked that surprise attack, Malcolm momentarily showed a flustered expression, but soon, he put on a relaxed smile and began to swing his wooden sword vigorously.
Clack!
Clack!
Clack—!
'Then… what should I do about this?'
I struggled to block Malcolm's sword, lost in thought for a moment.
Fortunately, while his swordsmanship was difficult, I became more accustomed to it with each exchange.
It was probably thanks to the [Blooming Talent] trait.
I predict that if things continue like this, I'll be the one to win in the end.
"Hmph…!"
Whoosh—!!
Thwack—!!
"K-ugh…"
But I deliberately continued to maintain a struggling expression.
The reason was the two options in my mind.
Truthfully, I wanted to passionately beat the guy with a wooden sword right now, using practice as an excuse.
There was no better way to beat Malcolm without breaking school rules.
But.
My revenge isn't like that.
Deep in my heart.
A voice whispered that the despair Malcolm had caused me wasn't about that.
'…What had I despaired over?'
As I received Malcolm's sword, I traced back to the root of it.
Whoosh!
Clack—!
━The moment I realized Mari had chosen Malcolm over me when she broke up with me.
The despair from that time flashed through my mind once again.
As a result, I chose one of the two options in my mind.
And.
"You're pretty good…"
"…"
I pushed Malcolm's sword away and smirked.
***
Clack!
Thwack!
"…"
Mari half-heartedly went through her swordsmanship practice, her gaze drifting whenever she had a moment.
Her gaze instinctively moved to look at a certain spot.
There, Emil was diligently practicing swordsmanship, sweating.
'…He's really diligent in practical lessons too.'
An unexpected side of Emil.
She had always thought of him as a young master strong only in academics.
Seeing his unexpectedly masculine side, Mari felt her heart pound and her gaze kept returning to him.
At that moment.
"Mari."
"Huh, wh-what?"
"I… if we're going to do practical combat class, I want to do it properly."
"Ah, s-sorry…!"
Her partner, Sierra, whom she had asked to team up with, admonished Mari with a sullen face for constantly getting distracted.
Realizing her mistake, Mari hastily gripped her wooden sword properly and looked at Sierra.
Sierra gazed blankly at Mari like that, then smiled faintly.
"Are you concerned?"
"Huh…?"
"No, it's just you keep looking somewhere."
Of course, Sierra knew it was Emil, but she pretended not to, wanting to tease Mari.
Then.
Flush….
Mari's cheeks instantly flushed, and her eyes trembled.
'Was I found out…?'
In fact, Mari had a reason for asking Sierra to be her partner.
It was to carefully ask her something she was curious about.
Of course, what she wanted to ask was about Emil.
'What if I get caught before I even ask, seriously…!'
Because of that, Mari couldn't meet Sierra's eyes out of embarrassment.
If she asked about Emil now, it would essentially be confessing that she was concerned about him.
'Oh, oh no, what should I do…?'
Lost in confusion, Mari exchanged blows with Sierra while deep in thought.
Should I just ask now? Or is there another way?
Not asking wasn't an option.
Mari desperately wanted to resolve what was bothering her at this very moment.
"Uh, um—! Sierra—!"
Just as Mari, who had suddenly composed herself, lifted her head and loudly called out to Sierra.
Crash—!!
A loud noise echoed from behind Mari.
"Eh…"
"What the…"
Then Sierra, who was in front of her, wore a bewildered expression, unlike her usual self.
Her gaze was directed behind Mari's shoulder.
━The very direction Mari had been secretly glancing at Emil just moments before.
"…Huh?"
Mari also slowly turned her head, following that gaze.
And there was.
"E-Emil! Are you alright?"
Emil, sprawled on the ground and limp, Malcolm holding his wooden sword, and the Professor-nim rushing towards Emil.
"Emil—!!"
Facing that sight, Mari.
Thud!
Unconsciously, she threw down her wooden sword and ran towards the fallen Emil.