Chapter 110
Translator: Cyrus
I’ve decided to follow along quietly, on the condition that Freesia doesn’t come with us .
Freesia and Mariwa aren’t acquainted with each other, but I would never think of introducing Freesia to Mariwa . There would only be chaos . And so I felt compelled to take responsibility .
Not bringing Freesia along had a great effect on getting me to calm down .
I gulp as we arrive on the doorstep of the reception room in the school .
Once we open the door, we will see Mariwa inside . I can’t help but get nervous .
Besides today’s debate, it’s been three years since Mariwa and I have seen each other face to face . I still have a bad impression of her pounding her teachings into me as a private tutor . I can’t help but get nervous .
“What’s wrong? Hurry up and go in . Otherwise I’ll kick you inside .
“Well, I mean…… Hm?”
Ignoring her violent remarks, something she said caught my attention .
“Surfania, are you not coming in with me?”
“What? You want me to go in with you?”
I was under the impression that we were going in together, but Surfania looks surprised .
“I know better than to spoil the mood, you know? And just the idea of seeing you cry in tears while being reprimanded…… Well I guess it’s a fine opportunity for me to intrude . ”
“Stop right there . ”
More unnecessary remarks . She’s hopelessly rude .
I was about to tell her to stay where she is as she had originally planned, but she seems to have understood my intention . She takes a step forward .
“No way . Now that it’s come to this, no matter what–”
“Leon, stop her . ”
“Aight . ”
“Wha-?! You traitor! Let go of me, Leon!”
“Come on, let’s not spoil the mood . You won’t make new friends if you keep going on like that . Control your desires a little more . You like to hurl abuse at the slightest incident . That’s why ordinary people stay away from you . ”
“Mind your own business!”
Leon holds Surfania back just as she suddenly starts getting excited . I take a deep breath and let it out as I knock on the door .
It’s alright . Mariwa may be a demon, but she’s a reasonable one . So I should be able to salvage the situation if I come up with an excuse . I just have to prove the validity of my reason for being a delinquent since enrolling in the Academy .
Telling that to myself, I enter the room . It feels like I’m a condemned criminal walking up to the gallows on my own free will .
“I-I’m coming in . ”
I enter the room where Mariwa is in .
She was probably there when I knocked earlier . She stands up from the sofa and gives me a graceful bow .
“Good day to you, Miss Noir . ”
She straightens her back as if she’s glad to see me . Even though we’ve known each other for so long, she’s still speaking so formally with me .
I feel lost because of the unexpected greeting .
It was as if she was greeting a stranger .
That’s only natural . Mariwa is no longer my private tutor . From her point of view, it’s only natural for her to treat me with respect .
That said, I still didn’t expect her to behave this way .
“It has been some time . Is something wrong? Or did you need something, perhaps?”
Mariwa asks me as I’m standing speechless .
Another unexpected response . It’s like she’s greeting a customer . I wonder if something is related to her current attitude .
Maybe Surfania said something to Mariwa .
“Um, did Surfania say anything to you?”
“No, she has not . Miss Calibrachoa merely invited me to be the judge of the debate, that is all . ”
So she hasn’t said anything . To a certain degree, I was convinced that was what happened, but what Mariwa told me blew all my expectations away .
“I have fulfilled my role as the judge for the debate, so it is time I should be going home . I was just thinking about proceeding with the formalities to take my leave from the office–”
“W-wait a minute!”
I’m still confused because I thought Mariwa and Surfania spoke to each other prior to this . I call for her to stop in order to calm myself down .
If Surfania said nothing to Mariwa, then why the hell did she drag me here? I feel like crying right now .
“What is wrong, Miss Noir? My deepest apologies, but I am a busy person, you know . Would you care to tell me what it is you wish?”
“Oh, well, um……”
With my thoughts all jumbled up, all I could do was lower my head .
“I-I’m sorry . ”
In response to my abrupt and awkward apology, Mariwa tilts her head slightly .
“Why are you apologizing all of a sudden? You may be a student, but someone of your status should not be lowering your head as you please . ”
“W-what do you mean……”
Confused by her question, I look within myself and come to a sudden realization .
Why indeed?
What exactly am I apologizing about? There are a few superficial things I should apologize about, but most of all, it’s my unladylike behavior in the Academy since I enrolled . I’ve soiled Mariwa’s teachings and failed her as a student .
But even before that, I’ve always felt like I could never look her straight in the face, that I’ve felt guilty about something .
Why is that?
“W-well……”
Most likely…
I think I’ve found the reason .
I’ve always been deceiving myself . Because of that, I clung to Mariwa’s words .
It’s because I want to believe that I can definitely save Michelie .
“I’m sorry . For many things . ”
I can’t express it well in words . I’m not a person who believes that fate is something that has already been determined, yet I convinced myself otherwise . I have no excuse whatsoever for changing my beliefs and slacking off in my efforts . That’s why I couldn’t help but say such vague words .
She’s going to hit me .
She’s going to get angry over my immaturity because I’ve defied her teachings completely .
Surfania was right when she said I haven’t matured at all . Having relied on Destiny to guide me to Michelie’s future, I’m probably no different from the Christina in my past life .
I hear her sighing .
Just as she sighed, I could feel her mood changing .
“Please, calm down . ”
She places her palms, which I have feared all my life, on my head .
It’s been so long since Mariwa last patted my head .
The palms seem to be smaller than it was long ago . Now I wonder if she wasn’t using all her strength to discipline me . But now I can feel the warmth .
I look up and make eye contact with her without having to go above eye level .
I noticed that we’re looking at each other straight in the eyes . For the first time, I realized how much I’ve grown .
“I think I know why you are apologizing . However, there is no need for an apology at all . It was most likely my fault . ”
Her hands really are warm .
Even though they’re a little dry and clumsy, it’s enough to make me cry . I look down to hold back the tears from overflowing .
“I’m sorry……”
“Like I said, there is no need to apologize . Even then, you were still a little brat . ”
Her evaluation of me is a little unbelievable for a person of noble status .
“……Did you just call me a little brat?”
“Yes, that I did . ”
My tears dried up from her immediate affirmation .
“And even now, you still are an impertinent little brat .
“I see . Is that really what I am?”
“Yes . That is what you are . ”
She’s affirming herself again .
“And I was a fool as well for making a slip of the tongue . When I heard your pet theory at the debate, I had to refrain from hitting you in front of the public . ”
“D-don’t do that . ”
“No, I will now . ”
It was probably no more than a joke, but it was scary nonetheless .
“I suppose you are already regretting your current situation . And so, I will not tell you what you should do . It would be unbecoming for me to ingrain reason and logic to a carefree one such as you . ”
She adds that she’s failed in doing that in the past .
“However, allow me to say this one thing . ”
Mariwa brings my head to her chest as if consoling a young child . I close my eyes and put up no resistance .
Her warmth and heartbeat feel so pleasant . I feel secure .
“I like you the way you are when you act as you please, without a script . ”
Tears are blurring my vision just slightly .
I feel no remorse or guilt, only overwhelming happiness .
“Hey, Mariwa . ”
“What is it, Chris?”
This will most likely be the only time .
She called me Chris .
“I’ve done horrible things to Michelie . ”
“You have, haven’t you? Shall we go to her later, where you can offer your apologies?”
“I wonder if she’ll forgive such a useless sister like me . ”
“Your worries are unfounded . ”
“……I wonder if I can redo the future . ”
“But of course . ”
She listens to my regrets and reassures me .
“Everyone fails once or twice . We do not know what will happen in the next second, but a day must mean much more to you than a month means to me . And you have three hundred and sixty-five of those days in a year . What do you have to fear?”
I wonder why her words resound so well within me .
“Mariwa . ”
“What is it?”
“Is it okay for me to be myself?”
“Please do not be mistaken . You are you, no matter what happens . ”
Hearing her reassure me fills me with confidence, and my face turns into a smile .
We break off from our embrace and look straight at each other again .
“Thank you, Mariwa . ”
As if thanking her with a broad smile is a rare occasion, Mariwa smiles slightly herself .
“You are very welcome, milady . ”
Her smile seems to widen a little as she says it .
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