The next day, Justin, already fully recovered and back in male form, attended the lectures as always.
"..."
Rotsard did find it suspicious, but since he wasn't approached first, he definitely wasn't going to go out of his way to initiate the conversation.
After all, by the end of the 1st volume, which corresponds to the current timeline, the character of Rotsard should start distancing himself and not approach the future hero so much after noticing the growing difference in their strength and skill.
Not to mention that right after lectures, Justin will come find him by himself, disguised as a petite maid. Eat the meal provided by the kitchen hand, and then they will have the time to talk during training.
*rustle*
"EH?!"
"...?"
Suddenly, after being talked to by a boy sitting behind him, Justin caused a commotion loud enough for Rotsard to turn to him with a scolding look in his beastly yellow eyes.
"..."
"?"
But for some reason, once their eyes met, the future hero could only stare with pure disbelief at the increasingly confused bleached-blond-haired boy.
The future hero even turned to the side, to Amelia Edemsworth, and asked her something, leaning so much towards her that he almost lay down on her desk.
"..."
"...!?"
While they were whispering to each other, the future hero, at least, was so animated in his shock that it was almost comical.
Watching the performance made Rotsard think that maybe he would get confronted about something, but... that never happened.
Not right then. Not after the lecture. Not even after all the lectures for the day.
Even so, after waiting almost an hour in the cafeteria for the maid who never showed up, Rotsard did feel slightly irked.
"Make a fresh portion and send it to that commoner's room."
Once the future hero was late for a full hour, Rotsard grabbed the plate with food meant for him and called to the kitchen hand waiting by the kitchen's door.
"Mmh."
The boy looked to the side and shrugged his shoulders while letting out a dismissive sound. He didn't bother with responding properly, nor did he watch the bleached-blond-haired boy leave with the food.
"...!"
And he was already turning around to get back to the kitchen when he froze up.
"...wait… does he think that as a commoner I naturally know other commoners, or… or does he know that…?"
The boy muttered to himself, now staring after the student who had already left.
"...does that little carnivore have senses THAT keen…? No… no, he must just be discriminating."
He questioned himself, making a bewildered face before shaking his head and entering the kitchen to do what Rotsard asked him anyway.
Meanwhile, the bleached-blond-haired boy made his way to the training ground and sat down on one of the benches closest to their usual spot.
And as he waited there too, he slowly ate the food without looking bothered in the slightest.
With the wind gently brushing against his face, one could even say that it was a pleasant experience.
…once the sun set, Rotsard ate the last piece he was holding on for, stood up, and returned to the building.
The same situation repeated for a week straight.
Rotsard didn't approach Justin, and wasn't approached either.
Forget about the time...
Just like that, so much of his good will was wasted just like that!
"..."
Rotsard placed the empty plate next to him and leaned forward, resting his forearms against his knees.
He breathed out.
He breathed in.
And out again.
"This is the last time I'm waiting for you, Commoner."
He announced loudly, even though there was no one around to hear his words.
But also, no one had to hear it either.
Rotsard was simply speaking his mind, hoping that somehow voicing them would have some sort of effect on the world.
Like… that Justin was waiting somewhere, observing him from behind the corner of the building or something, wishing to be called out.
"Until it's dark. That's your time limit."
Rotsard said and then leaned back, sprawling himself on the bench in the most nonchalant manner he could pull off, given the circumstances.
It was only a week until the exams that the Royal Academy introduced for the very first time, and although Rotsard was ahead with the materials thanks to being tutored by Mira, he should be following the example of her, as well as his classmates, and study more…
…but this certainly wasn't a day when he would do that…
The sun has set, the sky turned dark…
…and Rotsard's beastly yellow eyes were reflecting the stars and the moon as he still waited…
Even the pleasant wind that usually brushed against his face stopped as if nature itself was telling him that it's time to keep his word and leave.
"..."
And so, the bleached-blond-haired boy stood up, fighting the bitter expression trying to take over his face.
That's when the wind picked up again, only that it was blowing from the opposite direction than usual.
Just as if it was giving the boy a push to move forward…
"...?!"
But it also carried a certain smell.
Distorted and putrid, but even so, unmistakable…!
"!!!"
As if pulled back by his nose, Rotsard turned around so fast that he almost broke his own neck.
With his eyes widened in shock and his mouth half-open, he stared in the direction the wind blew from.
There was nothing in the way of his sight until the wall surrounding the Academy grounds.
While there was something by that wall, it seemed that parts of it were being renovated.
But neither the plaster nor the bricks could explain THAT scent.
Rotsard approached the wall and materials for renovating it, and inspected them anyway, just to be sure.
He wanted to be sure. After all, two crushing disappointments in such a short span of time would be a bit too much even for him.
"!"
But then, just as he was leaning down, THAT scent wafted through the cracks in the wall, leaving no doubt that it was something coming from the outside.
"..."
The bleached-blond-haired boy had to make a decision.
Leave and ask for permission to go beyond the wall officially.
Or, alternatively…