Vol 1 Chapter 4 (1/2)
Chapter 4: Natalia
Seron and Larry stayed in their dorm room until lunchtime
For about two hours, Seron lost hi
Larry sat next to him and borrowed the books he had finished—
‘The Frozen Waters -Life in the North Sea-’
‘Impacts of the Advent of Electricity’
‘Chronicles of the Kingdodom-’
‘Secrets of the National asse’
‘The Rose Manor Serial Murders’
‘Roxche’s Inclines’
“Hmm… They all look like a pain to read”
Larry surrendered, resorting to sit-ups instead
“Four! Five! Six! Army!”
Then he went on to finish back exercises Afterwards—
“Here Soized”
He grabbed tea froave some to Seron Then—
“Maybe if I tried this… No, that’ll leave it open”
He pored over the chessboard alone and tried out all sorts of moves Finally—
“It’s about time, Seron”
“Huh? …Ah Thanks, Larry Let’s get going”
It was lunchtime They headed over to the cafeteria
The cafeteria was a little late to open The drama club and the orchestra club members were already lined up
Soht their own lunches Empress Portman of the orchestra was nowhere to be seen, and nor was Natalia
Finally, at the very end of the line was one member of the chorus club
“Huh? Are you by yourself?”
Larry was first to speak to Meg He had been waiting for Seron to make the first ht of her and had no choice but to act
Meg turned nervously But she nodded the nized them
“Yes, I aht their own lunch boxes with thevery below the weather thismy own lunch I am saved that there is a cafeteria in the dormitory”
Again, Larry waited for Seron Again, Seron said absolutely nothing
“Miss Strauski, right? Would you like to have lunch with us? We’re not with the draood idea to stick together”
“Thank you I a food at the dormitory cafeteria So I do not kno it is that I am supposed to buy the food here”
“Then we’d be happy to help you out Right, Seron?”
“Huh? Er… right”
Larry was internally desperate to hear Seron give a more enthusiastic answer, but he could not make a show of it
Meg, oblivious to their plight, lined up right behind Larry
Larry thought to switch places with Seron, but at that an to move They followed the drama club and the orchestra towards the counter
Today, students had a choice between steaetables and ar and tartar sauce They could also get a side of salad Students could choose to have both menus if they wished
Seron chose the sandwich, and Larry chose both
“Hm… Which menu shall I eat for lunch?”
Meg thought long and hard before finally settling on the sandwich
The ’s tray, Seron’s expressionless face lit up Larry understood a second later
“Aha…”
Seron was happy to be eating the sairl he liked Larry s would ever be able to talk to one another on their own
After that, they filled their ar and honey Then they finally reached the record sheet
“Then you write your student nuo! They’ll total up your bill for you later It won’t be that expensive—about the same as or a little cheaper than the main cafeteria”
Larry signed the sheet and handed the pen to Seron Seron signed the sheet
“Here you are”
“Thank you”
He handed the pen to Meg That was the extent of their interaction
The dra close to the counters The orchestra sat beside them
“Let’s get a bit of distance, eh?”
Larry and the others sat apart from the others—in fact, they were ale cafeteria
Meg sat near the onally from her and practically forced Seron to sit directly across from her
“All right Let’s eat up and get soy for the afternoon!” Larry said, and lifted up a silent prayer
It was Hepburn faardless of affiliation As usual, Seron took his time and waited for Larry to finish
Meg also clasped her hands before her chest
“May peace be upon the royal fa sun” She recited quietly in Bezelese
Their an And about ten seconds later,
“Mind if I join you guys?”
They heard a feirl’s, the voice was brusque and blunt The student al turned
Standing there was the incredible violinist from earlier, Natalia Steinbeck On her tray was both a sandwich and a plate of fish and chips
Natalia aze and smiled
“Hey there, Vocal Star —May I?”
“Yes! Of course youher hands on a napkin Then she pulled out the chair next to hers for Natalia, whose hands were full “Please sit down right here”
“Thanks”
Natalia took a seat and first turned to Meg on her left
“Leain The name’s Natalia Steinbeck I’m a third-year FYI, you can just call me ‘Nat’”
“My namica I am a person from Sou Be-Il, and so mica I am also a third-year student like you It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Steinbeck”
“C’mica You don’t need to sound so formal”
“I do not have very ”
“I see Sorry you gotta listen to my lazy-ass Roxchean It’s just how I roll Anyway, let’s dig in”
Natalia grabbed her sandwich and finally turned her attention to the boys across the table
“Hey, what’re you waiting for? You can feast your eyes after you feast on lunch”
“Back there, you were really aweso, Natalia”
“You think so? I see you’ve grown into quite the outgoing young man since the last time I saw you, Larry Hepburn”
Larry’s jaw dropped
Seron stopped mid-bite and looked at Larry
“Huh? Wait… er… have we met before?”
Natalia dipped several fries into her tartar sauce and stuffed them into her mouth Then—
“You got it”
“Err… e in the same class last year?”
“So you did forget arten, and ere in the same class in primary school until third year”
“Oh oodness! You two people were childhood friends with each other?”
Meg see the situation, but Larry’s face had frozen A tomato slice slowly slid from the sandwich in his hands and finally fell to his plate
Looking like a new recruit who had just been dropped in the middle of a minefield, Larry stammered
“No way… Lia…? You’re Lia?”
“S’right It’s been one heck of a long time since the last time anyone called me that —So you never knew my full name?”
“…?”
Seron finally turned his gaze from the frozen Larry to Natalia
“I’m Seron Maxwell Yes, from the Maxwell family I’ve been friends with Larry since first year It’s a pleasure to meet you, Natalia from the Steinbeck family”
“Ah, so you’re almost a celeb too”
“Er… What does this s of the naht with you till you tell s?”
Natalia grinned
“Megent across from you is the son of the woman who runs Maxwell Frozen Foods”
“Maxwell… Frozen Foods?”
“Yeah Ever see those red frozen food packages in the foodstuffs corner at the department store?”
“Ah! Yes, I have seen thees and warms them up in our oven for us to eat foris very convenient in Roxche’ I understand it now!” Meg exclaiht ahead
There sat Seron, looking co to hide his elation