Vol 1 Chapter 4 (2/2)
“Just now I learned oneabout Roxche, Mr Maxwell”
She addressed Seron by na a smile
“Er… I… thanks” Seron replied without soHe exhaled and desperately calmed himself down
Then with his right hand he gestured at the girl sitting next to Meg
“Natalia’s parents are Roxche’s most famous musician couple”
“Oh? Er… could it possibly be? Five years ago, in Sfrestus the capital of Sou Be-Il! The musician fa and royal family?”
Meg’s Roxchean began degenerating, but sheacross Seron nodded
“That’s how it is I guess you could sayto you too, Larry You listening?”
She cast Larry a dirty look Larry was still frozen
“No, well… Feels like I’ve heard soht again
“Blondie here and hbors Our ht next to each other’s We used to walk to kindergarten and school holding hands every day until second year of primary school”
“Oh oodness How lovely!”
“Larry used to be a tiny kid back then Still is, compared to me For acrybaby I orried Not for him—for Roxche”
“Sh-shut up! That was years ago!” Larry finally burst out
“Ah, you’re still alive” Natalia chuckled “Who’d have thought we’d ain in secondary school? Anyway, I just wish you’d at least remembered the name of the world-classup?”
Larry was silent His an to finish the rest of his fries
“Then I see that you play the violin in the orchestra
“You and the president didn’t seem to be on very friendly ter if he shouldn’t have said anything, but Natalia did not seem offended in the least
“Well, yeah Actually, it’s all my fault”
“Why?” Said Meg
Seron was also surprised His hand stopped with the rip
“H off the rest of her sandwich “It’s not like I don’t like music, but I don’t want to have a career in it I’d rather dothan run around like uitar—I’m only in the orchestra club to keep my folks happy But SC Port my best And that’s how it’s been ever since SC Portot an eye for talent She practices every single day to stay sharp It’s people like her that should be pro musicians”
“Wow…”
“I see”
Natalia waited for Meg and Seron’s reactions and added, “Don’t tell her, all right?” Then she looked straight ahead
“You too, Shortie It’s our little secret”
“As if I’d tell! And who’re you calling ‘Shortie’?”
“Don’t sweat the details You’re short, but you’re still aover to Larry’s plate and taking his untouched fish She brought it straight to her own mouth
“Hey! What the heck?!”
“Sorry Go get sory”
“Daet fat if you stuff yourself!” Larry threatened, taking to his feet with fists tre But Natalia was unfazed
“Don’t worry For soht nothe violin takes a lot of energy”
“My goodness That rinned
“Anyway, good choice with the song back there”
Meg was surprised, but she quickly smiled
“Thank you very much! And your accompaniment was splendid as well I am not very skilled at musical instruments, so I was moved very much”
“What do you ood choice, Natalia Steinbeck?” Larry asked, taking a seat Seron looked at her and waited for an answer
Natalia cast Larry a glance and answered his question
“The lyrics to ‘Memories of the Four Seasons’ ritten for pronunciation practice”
“What’s that now?”
“The song’s famous, but not a lot of people know this When Roxchean was first developed over a hundred years ago, the linguists who created it got together to write these lyrics to help practice The lyrics to ‘Memories of the Four Seasons’ ritten for non-speakers in the first place”
“H”
The boys nodded in understanding Meg clasped her hands together
“That is right! A senior-classraduated last year fro to start with’, so I sang this song many, many tis… my Roxchean pronunciation is unskilled still But when everyone in the chorus club sings together with e I will have no problems, I think”
“I see That makes a lot of sense” Larry nodded enthusiastically
“SC Port about vocals You put her in her place good”
“Do you think that perhaps I offended her?”
“Nope Don’t sweat it”
“Then I will not sweat anything” Meg smiled “I had no choice but to come to the cafeteria by myself, and I wondered what I should do at all But I ah very ood care of me from now on, everyone” She said with a bow
“You got it We’re friends now”
“Me too And Seron too, right?”
“Er… yeah Me too” Seron smiled aardly
“Thank you very ulped nervously
“I’ll go get sorab a pot for all of us —Let’s go, Natalia”
Natalia was still eating her fish Larry was stretching the li her, but he decided to take the risk
“Hm? —Sure”
Natalia sed the rest of her fish, licked her fingertips, and elegantly stood from her seat
It was just two people at the table now
“…”
Seron silently focused on his sandwich—
—and finished it before he knew it
Seron found hiaze and returned it, waiting for hi
They looked into each other’s eyes
“…”
For thole seconds his mind went completely blank But he quickly recovered—
“Err… how’d you do in art class?”
He sounded as ed to at least say so
“Yes, well… My grade was not very good, but it was not as bad as I had expected it would be Lillia—er, my friend—helped me very much”
In contrast, Meg had war up more than before
“What about your grade, Mr Maxwell?”
“Huh? Er… I… yeah It wasn’t bad Top marks”
“Oh oodness! That is marvelous!”
“I—no, sorry I wasn’t trying to show off—”
“That is not a problem, Mr Maxwell! You are—”
“Erm…”
“Yes?”
“Could you… maybe not call me ‘Mr Maxwell’? I mean, we’re in the same year and all…”
“I understand! So… er…”
“Just Seron is fine”
“I… I a to boys without honorifics yet… But I will do my best, Seron!”
“Yeah Please” Seron replied
“Then that is what I will do” Meg nodded “And… well, I was really born one year before you When we came to Roxche, I did not come to school for some time If I were in Sou Be-Il, I would be like a fourth-year student But no, this is not very important! I only wanted to inform you”
Seron put his brain into full throttle to continue the conversation
“…I have a little sister named Leena She’s a smart kid” He finally said
“Hm?”
For awas confused
“Ah!”
Then she realized that Seron was looking for a common conversation topic
“I have two little brothers! My brothers are both in primary school, and they are both very popular people!”
“H real nice over there”
“Don’t get in their way”
On their way back fro and Seron engage in a conversation about their respective siblings
“Don’t bother theive you if you do”
Larry was dead serious Natalia made an amused face
“Oh? It’s been a long time since you called me that”
“Who cares? Just don’t get in their way”
“…Don’t worry That’s not my style”
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