Chapter 22 - Volume 3 (2/2)

「Eh?」

「You’re only a fourth year, you’re not a dorm prefect yet. Go stand in the students’ line!」

「I’m a quasi-prefect, you know!」

「I know, but… we’re fine without the quasi-prefects coming here today」

「Don’t wanna!　I wanna be here too!」

「I can’t give just you special treatment you know…」

「Why?」

See here.I was seized by exhaustion.

He didn’t understand the reason why he’s not being given special treatment.

He didn’t know why we’re ending a fun thing like this.

At such a time, Art faced us and asked『Why?』. The difference with those words compared to when a small child was asking because he wanted to know, was that there was irritation involved. 『Up till now I’ve been excused for everything I did, so why won’t you guys excuse me?』was the sort of irritation he had though.

Every time I heard this, I pondered. For three years, I’ve watched him from relatively up close. But I honestly couldn’t understand him even a little bit, could I? The belief that we’d become a little friendly as we talked – wasn’t that nothing more than just my delusion? I mean, as proof of that, didn’t he just go as far as to question my reasonable words with a『why』?

I was still stumped on how to reply, when Wolf and Shade drove the sulky Art off, sending him back to his seat. The group following him from behind was, as always, completely silent.

I heaved out a sigh.

And right then, I noticed the faint scent of drifting agarwood.

「Pardon the delay」

Politely saying it in that fashion and lowering his head in a beautiful gesture was Ru Xiang.(2) The owner of this agarwood scent.

Matching his movements, his straight, glossy black hair swayed. His unique hairstyle, which was cut in a way so as to put layers at the side of his face, suited him quite well. Just by him being there, it was like a one-of-a-kind world had been created. His white clothes of slightly unusual construct was delicately embroidered with a silver thread. A young boy with an exotic air around him.

Well, it’s troubling whether the term “young boy” that I ended up saying was enough. Wolf and Shade were already clearly endowed with physiques of young boys, in spite of this and in comparison, Ru Xiang was slender. Though, with a tall, slim figure and a perpetual serene smile, it was evident that he was transitioning from a young boy to a young man.

After Ru Xiang reported the students’ situation to Wolf, he very quietly entered into our circle.

He was another one of the dormitory prefects. And, another one of the game’s capturable characters as well.

His birthplace was unclear even within the school. A person of particular noble character had been the only explanation provided.

Inside the game, there was a scene where 『Ru Xiang』talked about his mother. Saying, she was a degenerate. An extreme woman. A person who concealed all her wants. A person who had been referred to as decline and destruction.

He had a strong complex towards women. He considered loving their womanhood, not just about sexual desire, but even as far as simple attachments, as vile. Having a partiality towards inorganic substances which didn’t have desires, when he became troubled with a fondness towards the heroine, immediately, he went as far as to consider killing her while she was still beautiful. However, with all his might, he never acted on it.

He had been the only character inside the game who truly didn’t give off a violent aura. The sick part of him – the quick aggressiveness – never did materialize. The only time his route turned bizarre, was when he made a remark to the heroine saying 『the things that you like, I want it gone』. Even with that, since his route was gentle even for a story, no matter what choices were picked, the heroine does not get killed nor does anyone else die for that matter. At least, none as far as I remember.

The Ru Xiang in front of me right now was an earnest student.

Enthusiastic to learn, well-mannered, and a firm protector of the law. Even though there were times his earnest side clashes with Shade when they don’t meet a compromise, there wasn’t a situation wherein he held a grudge against me, whom was that guy’s older sister.

Even now, he lightheartedly called me 「Lycoris-sempai」.

But then.I probably shouldn’t be off guard.

The heroine — 『Lily』 had appeared in school, which means, the time of the game had begun.

(1) BAKA + ARUTO + KARUTO = BAKARUTO.I thought of something to westernize it: Dolt + Alto + Cult = Dault. But let’s stick to Japanese so I don’t go off.(2) Ru Xiang(瑞香) : his name is taken from the flower of Daphne.