Vol 5 Chapter 7 (1/2)
Chapter 7: Cana
The 28th day of the ninth month
It was lunchtime at the cafeteria
“Is so the matter…?” Stella asked Larry
Spread between theround beef—Larry’s favorite—along with boiled broccoli salad, bread, and chocolate chip cookies for dessert
“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing,” Larry replied But Stella was not fooled
“No You’re…acting strange, SC Hepburn Yesterday too,” she said, “you look…tired And a little sad”
Larry’s eyes narrowed “Maybe,” he paused, then opened his mouth, “Stella”
“Yes?”
“About the 31st The first day back after the weekend”
“What is it?”
“I have so to take care of at lunchtiether”
“I see”
“So you don’t need toDon’t push yourself, okay?”
“All right”
“But in exchange, could you give me some time after school that day?”
“…I…have to go straight home”
“Just for a little while It won’t take longer than one of those days when classes end a little late And if your farandfather a call and apologize Or we can go apologize to hiether How’s that?”
“That…sounds fine,” Stella said with a nod
“Thanks Then let’s meet after class on the 31st, under the same tree as before”
Seron watched as Larry scratched his right ear, then the back of his head
“All right Depending on tomorrow’s results, we’ll take action on the 31st,” he said to Natalia, Meg, and Nick, ere sitting with him
“Do you think it ork?” Asked Nick Natalia and Meg looked at Seron
“I believe in SC Linus”
The next day Very early in theof the 29th
Because it was the weekend, the school was deserted that day Seron walked out the quiet gates and left the campus empty-handed
About an hour later, he returned through the quiet gates, entering the campus with a newspaper in hand
He stepped into a telephone booth in the dor lobby and called Jenny Jones
<well?>
“We’re good to go, Jenny SC Linus really did it”
In a corner of the newspaper in Seron’s hand was a small article
‘3305 Whitfield Competition Winner Announced: Linus F’
His family name had been shortened to an initial, but Linus had indeed made it
The na wristwatch was also featured in the article
The 31st day of the ninth month
It was lunchtime on the first day of school that week
Seron quickly finished his lunch alone and headed to the newspaper club office
“Hey there!”
“Come on in”
Larry and Jenny were sitting in side A large piece of paper was spread on the table before the on the wall
Seron stood over the paper with his hands on the table and read its contents in one go
Then, he looked up
“Perfect”
“Thanks I got so pumped up I decided to print 50 copies this time I can’t wait for class to end”
Breaktime, before the last class of the day In the hallway
“Sorry, got soood ith SC Portman for me,” Natalia said to her orchestra club friends
“Put in a good word…” “…with SC Portman?!” Her friends complained as Natalia set off for class
At around the same time, in a different hallway
“I am very sorry There is a job that can never bepleaded, bowing to her chorus club senior-classmen
“We understand Don’t worry about it,” they replied
At the same time, in another hallway
“President,” Nick called, stopping Arthur Sears in the hall He and Sophia Ulericks both turned
“Hey there, Nick What is it?”
“I’m afraid I will have to miss practice today I have business to attend to at the newspaper club”
After school It was clear
Students swarates
But a certain part of the campus was separated from the massive flow
The grounds behind the school building were grassy with flower beds dotting the area And standing proreen branches
Jenny had once called it a legendary tree, which guaranteed that any confession made under its branches would be reciprocated
A student walked over to the tree
Sixth-year Linus Francis, his frae that his tie looked unnaturally thin, and his face so gentle it did not fit the rest of his body
He was carrying his bag, which also looked disproportionately se of clothes On this right wrist was a watch
He looked as powerless as a allows
When he found no one under the tree, he looked around
Then he leaned against the trunk and waited nervously
“He’s here”
Larry Hepburn was keeping a watchful eye on Linus as the latter leaned against the tree
He atching from very close by
“He is there…”
Meg, Seron, Jenny, Natalia, and Nick were also watching as Linus leaned against the tree
They atching hih their binoculars
“Irather used to this kind of activity,” Nick re binoculars, pressed against the officeas they watched Linus
This ti under the ith their elbows on the sill Seron and Nick stood behind them
Mounted on a tripod to Jenny’s right was a ca at the tree Jenny was holding the cable release
She took a shot and wound the film
“We didn’t give Larry a script,” Natalia said, “is he gonna be all right? He’s not gonna run off at the big moment?”
“Actually, he gave me a telephone call yesterday afternoon,” Nick answered, “he asked ave him an answer”
“What did you answer hi
“‘You must be bold’”
“Oh oodness”
“Nick, you’re the one who lied to get SC Gorilla out there, right?” Asked Natalia
“Indeed I am”
“What’d you tell hiet him to skip technical school? He looks like he’s about to faint”
Nick flashed an elegant smile
“I’m afraid I cannot say It would be a shame if our friendshi+p were to be ruined over such a trivial matter”
“Scary,” Natalia said with a grin, “so now the rest is up to Larry”
“It’s gonna be all right,” said Seron, “Larry’s not going to run”
Just as Jenny smiled at Seron’s remark—
<what’s going=”” on…?=””>
Linus’s anxious voice filled the newspaper club members’ ears He had a deep but frail voice
The voice was co from the speakers on the table behind the club members The speakers were hooked up to a tube ae
A long cable was connected to the amp It ran out the office ards the tree, before it disappeared into the ground
At the end of the cable was a microphone sealed in a buried box
“Sounds great The marvels of civilization, eh” Natalia commented
“Obviously,” Jenny replied, “it was tough planting the cable and the microphone over lunch break”
“And thanks to your efforts, ill be privy to the truth of the situation Thank you, Jenny Your efforts are much—”
Nick stopped
“There! Our star has arrived!” He cried
Everyone stared hard into their binoculars
Through their lenses they saw Stella’s petite for behind Linus and the tree Linus was facing away from her
Stella did not seem to have noticed Linus She walked briskly to the tree
Larry heard her footsteps
“Whew…all right”
With leather gloves on his hands, he tightened his grip on the rope
Stella’s voice filled the office
Stella had drawn close to the tree and noticed the boy leaning against it
<huh…? whoa!=””>
Linus’s cry of shock followed
Jenny smirked “Now let’s see what you’re made of, Sir Hepburn”
“Huh…? Whoa!”
“Wh-what are you doing here?!” Stella demanded as Linus flinched
“…Er…I…” Linus could not htly and held his bag in front of hi hands
Stella quickly looked around
“Y-you have to go, now!”
“B-but…I…”
“Please, you have to leave!” Stella said, and reached into her bag
She pulled out her wristwatch
As Linus watched, she put the watch around her left wrist
“Please, you have to do as I say! You can’t be here!”
“But I—”
Then came a third voice
“Whoa there, calm down!”
The voice had come from above
“Hm?” “Huh?”
Stella and Linus looked up in unison The first thing they saere the branches of the oak tree and its splendid foliage
Larry had been hiding inside A rope caround
“Hah!”
Larry rappelled down the rope
“Whoa!” “Ah…”
Larry appeared before the surprised couple, dressed in caear
He earing a Confederation Army uniform with a pair of coe scarf over his face
The rope rapped around his waist and thighs, fixed to h the carabiners and slowed his descent
Pulling the scarf off his face and unclipping the rope, Larry greeted Stella and Linus
“Hey there! The name’s Larry Larry Hepburn”
Larry landed safely between the large boy and the tiny girl
<hey there!=”” the=”” name’s=”” larry=”” larry=”” hepburn=””>
And he threw out a line straight from a radio drama
Natalia could not keep her composure, her hand over her stohter
Jenny continued to take ood so far”
“He will do a fine job, so long as he remembers my advice,” Nick said with a smile
“Do your best, Larry!” Meg cheered
“Wh-what are you—”
“SC Hepburn?”
Larry looked at both Linus and Stella
“You want to knohy I’ this? Obviously, I’m dressed for combat!”
“PFFFFT! AHAHAHAHA!”
Back in the office, Natalia finally burst out laughing But as Larry could not hear her, he continued
“Stella!” He cried without warning
Stella flinched
“I’ to save you!”
“What…?”
“From him!”
With his gloved hand, Larry pointed an accusing finger at Linus It was bad ardless
“I started hearing these weird ru out”
As Stella and Linus stood in silence, Larry continued his ue
“I heard that a senior-classood friends of ate, and it turned out the rumors were true We have eyewitness accounts frouy in deserted places on campus”
“Er…I…” Linus sta
“You were stalking Stella!” Larry accused, finally lowering his hand
Linus flinched But Larry’s onslaught was not yet finished
“Granted, Stella is really cute! But SC Linus! You took advantage of how shy she was and followed her around when people weren’t nearby! The reason she askedout with her as much as possible on campus was because she wanted to avoid you! Not because she was in love with me!”
“Can’t breathe…someone save me…” Natalia wheezed, almost in tears, but because Larry could not see her he continued without stopping
“This is unforgivable! A real irls!”
“I…erm…”
“Have I ain! I’ll deal with you personally if you get near her! I realize it’s wrong ofto hurt a civilian, but I’ainst so to say for yourself, SC Linus?”
Larry was firing on all cylinders Linus was struck dued to speak up
“Er…SC Hepburn”
“What is it, Stella?”
“Er…I—”
But Larry intentionally cut her off
“Don’t worry, Stella I’ll protect you”
“What? But I—”
Stella was beginning to panic But Larry—
“I’llme”
Larry narrowed his eyes, for once telling the truth Then he suddenly raised his voice
“That’s all I have to say, SC Linus! Leave Stella alone, and don’t get near her on cauards off-caet that!”
Though Linus had shrank back with his head bowed, and looked like he was on the verge of tears, he refused to run
“I…” he said, finally opening his mouth, “I…I can’t…”
Stella was looking at Linus Linus was looking down
And as a result, both missed the sad look in Larry’s eyes
“Good on you,” Jenny whispered, taking a photo of his face
“Which one are you talking to?” Asked Seron
“Is that even a question?” Jenny snapped, before , ‘both’
“Man, this is killing me…” Natalia snickered as she finally came back to life Five binoculars turned in the salimpse of Larry’s heroics
“What? Do you realize what you’re saying, SC Linus?!” Roared Larry, who knew exactly what he was doing He took one inti step after another towards Linus “Fine by me! I wanted to back down here for honor’s sake, but you leave me with no choice!”
Larry reached out Linus o heads taller than him and his arms were thicker, but Larry was not daunted in the least
“I’ you to the faculty office, stalker! Don’t blame me if I break an arm or two!”
“NOOOOO!” Stella shrieked, shoving Larry
<nooooo!>
“Whoa!” “Ah!” “Eek!” “Oh!” “Wow”
The club members in the office flinched
“Huh?”
Larry flew through the air and landed on his back
“Gurk!”
Creating a new Roxchean exclamation for pain, Larry rolled and hit the tree trunk back-first His hat went flying Finally, his head hit the tree with a resounding noise and his body slumped forward on reflex
He fell on the grass and stopped
“That an act too?” Natalia wondered Fro
“I don’t seeh I aht scene,” Nick remarked
“S-Stella…?”
Linus was first to break the silence
“Er…I…what do I do…?”
He was clearly bewildered at the sight of Stella shoving the belligerent boy
“Ow, that hurt…”
Larry slowly rose He rolled over to his side and leaned against the tree
“I…I…”
Stella sta her hands
Larry looked up
And he looked at Stella, his sky-blue eyes shi+ning
Several seconds later, he broke into a grin with blades of grass in his blond hair and dirt on his face
“Good job”
Stella did not understand
“Wh-what do you mean…?”
“Good job, Stella You win,” Larry replied
“Huh?”
“You’re a really strong person You beat me”
Meanwhile, in the office
“Why’s he still in that pose?” Natalia wondered
“It makes sense,” Seron replied, “you can’t look at a star unless you’re looking up”
“Wow! It is very ro exclaimed
Seron’s thoughts ca to a halt
Stella slowly stepped forward, towards Larry
Larry looked up at her
“I knew from the start”
“Knehat?”
“That you weren’t in love with me”
Stella was silent
“And I found out after doing so over there SC Linus And that he feels the same about you”
Stella and Linus’s eyes met They both looked away
“They’re trying to figure out who spilled the beans It’s written on their faces,” Natalia remarked
“We figured it out ourselves, though,” Jenny said proudly
<so all=”” that=”” stuff=”” i=”” said=”” was=”” a=”” lie!=””> Larry said, <specifically…er…nohere=”” did=”” i=”” start=”” lying?=””>
“C’et to shi+ne?” Natalia jeered
“Er…so…basically I was lying when I said you were stalking Stella, SC Linus I’m really sorry!”
Stella was silent, but Linus stepped forward to be next to her He gave Larry an aard look
Larry looked at the tristwatches before hiht
“You twoafter Stella started school here And you fell in love Probably because you both love watches Right?”
Stella nodded silently
“So I was right Yeah You love watches, Stella, and SC Linus, you like watches enough to make some of your own”
Shock spread over Linus’s face Larry answered the unspoken question
“I’m really sorry, SC Linus I tailed you after class and found out you were attending Balfour Technical School”
“I see…” Linus said, finally breaking his silence Larry continued
“You love each other enough to want to pledge your futures together But there weren’t many places you could see each other Off-campus is out of the question, and even on caether Which is what really happened And—”
Larry’s calm explanation filled the office
<your ancestry=””>
Nick, still holding his binoculars to his eyes, quietly repeated what he had told he others several days earlier
“The Francis family was founded by the brother of the current Whitfield CEO after the family feud split them apart In other words, the Francis fainally one”
“You tere second cousins Stella’s grandfather and SC Linus’s grandfather were brothers, but they had a such a bad falling-out that SC Linus’s grandfather even changed his name And they’re still on bad terms They don’t even contact each other, let alone ”
Larry looked at Stella, ore a coaze
Linus stood beside her, also looking at Larry
“You met by coincidence at this school And you were free to see each other in secret here But if your faine, but…er…it couldn’t be good I think”
“damn that Larry! Can’t you set up ahis delivery!” Natalia fumed