Chapter 212

Clael left the staff room and walked down the hallway alongside Reina.

Since today was a holiday, there were hardly any students walking the halls.

Occasionally, there were students involved in committee or club activities.

"Still... was it really okay, Reina?"

"What are you referring to?"

Reina looked up at Clael's face, tilting her head in curiosity.

Her silvery-white hair swayed gently with the motion of her head.

"Well... the academy is closed today, right? And yet, you came all the way here just to bring me lunch. Wasn't that a hassle?"

Today, the academy was on break.

Clael had come in for work, but of course, Reina had the day off.

The reason Reina had come to the academy on her day off... was to bring Clael lunch. She had come all the way from the Grand Shrine just to deliver the lunchbox.

"I'm not a kid, you know... I could've just bought something from a decent shop for lunch."

"It's fine. I wanted to see you too, Clael."

Reina answered Clael's question with a smile as radiant as a blooming flower.

"I made lunch again today. There aren't many students around the academy... so how about we eat in the courtyard, since it's a nice opportunity?"

"...Yes, of course, I don't mind."

While Clael and Reina usually ate lunch together, they typically did so in the theology prep room to avoid being seen.

Though they were family... their relationship was still that of teacher and student.

Rumors had already begun spreading throughout the academy, suggesting that there might be something improper between them, and they couldn't afford to fuel those suspicions further.

(Well, the fact that I'm Reina's guardian is fairly well known, and as long as I don't let the gossip bother me, I suppose it's not a big deal.)

"Hehe... the pansies in the courtyard are blooming beautifully. Shall we eat while admiring them together?"

Smiling wryly at the cheerful Reina, Clael turned and headed toward the courtyard.

Just as Reina had said, the flowerbeds in the courtyard were filled with beautifully blooming pansies.

In addition to pansies, there were also violas, cyclamens, and daffodils in bloom.

(As usual, there's no consistency with region or country...)

"Ah, that bench over there is open."

"Yes. In that case, shall we eat there?"

Clael and Reina sat on the bench and began eating their meal side by side.

Since it was a holiday, the normally crowded courtyard during lunch was sparsely populated.

Perhaps the students were at the martial arts tournament, or simply enjoying their day off.

Thanks to that, they could eat lunch without worrying about being seen.

"Oh... today's lunch is especially extravagant."

Clael opened the lunchbox... and blinked in surprise.

Packed inside the large lunchbox were pilaf, roast beef, tempura, roast chicken... a strange mix of Japanese and Western dishes, each of which must have taken considerable effort to prepare.

"It looks delicious... truly a feast."

"I had time today since it's a day off. Do you like it?"

"Of course I do."

"It's just as good as food from a high-end restaurant, right?"

"...Huh?"

He felt like she'd asked something strange... but Reina was all smiles.

The sharp edge in her words was probably just Clael's imagination.

"Of course. It's not inferior to any high-end restaurant."

"I'm glad! I made dessert too, so please eat a lot, okay?"

"That makes me happy."

"Don't worry... I would never take dessert away from you, Clael."

"............"

Something still felt like it pierced his chest... but Clael shook his head, deciding it was just his imagination.

Just as it looked, Reina's lunch was delicious, but he couldn't shake the awkwardness brought on by the intense gaze he felt for some reason.

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