219. Entrance Exam and Valentines Day [16]


    Exactly a week has passed since I was called by the president.


    Today is February 14th. The so-called『Valentine’s Day』.


    As a man, I am a little conscious of this day.


    The time is 8:30 in the morning.


    Afterpleting morning preparations, Ria and I were heading to the main academy building of Thousand de Academy.


    「Fuu, it’s still cold.」


    Wrapped in a wine-red muffler, Ria whispered, blowing a breath into her hands.


    Her gestures, behavior, the atmosphere surrounding her, everything was『normal』.


    (This doesn’t seem like I can be hopeful.)


    To be honest, deep down in my heart, I was expecting that maybe I could get chocte from Ria.


    However, it seems that I was too hopeful.


    (Well, it’s only natural I guess.)


    On one hand, a dropout swordsman from the countryside, on the other, the princess of Vesteria Kingdom. Our social positions are way too different.


    (But I’m still worried.)


    Will Ria give choctes to someone?


    In the first ce, is there a custom of Valentine’s Day in Vesteria Kingdom?


    With such distressed thoughts running through my mind,


    「Aa, today is cold too.」


    I replied, trying to sound as natural as possible.


    ■


    When we arrived at Year 1 ss A, we exchanged morning greetings with the whole ss as usual.


    Perhaps because it was Valentine’s Day, there was an indescribable tingling atmosphere hanging over the ssroom.


    When I got to my seat, I moved the textbooks in my bag onto the desk.


    「Allen-kun. Here you go!」


    「Rejoice. It’s chocte!」


    「Fufu, don’t expect too much of the taste though, okay?」


    Unbelievably, three girls gave me choctes wrapped in lovely packages.


    「T-Thank you.」


    Due to the unexpected development, I was a little choked for words.


    「I am afraid of what will happenter, so I will tell you now. This is just an obligatory-gift chocte, okay?」[1. TL Note:”obligatory chocte” is “chocte given by women to male acquaintances on Valentine’s day”.]


    「If we were to give it due to sentiments in our hearts, things might get ridiculously rough for us.」


    「You need to have that appropriate resolve to participate in the『Allen-kun race』after all.」


    They looked at Ria with a wry smile for some reason.


    「My race?」


    As I tilted my head hearing those words that made little sense,


    「Aha, we’re just talking amongst ourselves. Don’t worry about it.」


    「Please let me know what you think of the taste next time, okay?」


    「I’m looking forward to White Day.」


    They said, and quickly went back to their seats.


    「Ah, yes. Thank you, everyone.」


    And when I put three pretty packages of chocte in my bag,


    「Fu-Fuun… A-Aren’t you d to get a lot?」


    Ria said with a slightly trembling voice.


    「Aa. I never thought I’d get three.」


    「I-I see.」


    With aplex expression on her face, she sank into silence.


    「……」


    「……」


    After that, a subtle air flowed between us.


    (W-What happened all of a sudden?)


    Until a while ago, it was the normal Ria, but…


    Now she was frowning with a mixture of anxiety and restlessness.


    (Did I say something that hurt her feelings?)


    When I was worrying about that, the back door opened up vigorously, and Rose came in.


    (That’s rare…)


    She is extremely weak in the morning, and usuallyes to the academy in a half-sleepy state with artistic bed hair.


    But today, her appearance was very different.


    Her hair was well-prepared, her eyes were firmly open, and she had a dignified air.


    (Is Rose going to give chocte to someone?)


    As I was vaguely thinking about that, she walked straight here and stopped before me.


    「Allen, today is Valentine’s Day. I’d appreciate it if you could ept this.」


    She took out a beautiful package with sakura blossom petals drawn on them.


    「T-This is…?」


    「I don’t know if it will suit your taste, but… It’s my homemade chocte cookie that I got up early in the morning and made.」


    I never even imagined that Rose would give me chocte.


    「Thank you, I’m truly happy!」


    After I thanked her from the bottom of my heart and received the chocte,


    「…You’re a little thick-skinned. So I’ll say it clearly.」


    She looked me straight in the eyes with a serious expression, and


    「I, as a woman, have considerable affection for the man named Allen Rodore. Remember that.」


    While blushing slightly, Rose showed a pretty smile that she usually doesn’t show much.