Chapter 98 - Social Distancing (4)

After the end of the semester, that is, on the fifth day after the start of the break at Archenia Academy.

While eating lunch, Khan asked me.

“The matter of keeping your distance from your female acquaintances, how does that seem to be going, Rain-ssi?”

Ah, that.

I tilted my head and fell into thought for a moment.

Although I was keeping my distance, I was still doing all the regularly scheduled meetings.

Arien had a tendency to be a bit forward, but…… I was managing to smooth things over somehow.

Yuna too…… hmm. I seemed to be handling her with a passing grade.

Even so, it was a bit unnatural when I brushed off her suggestion to go out last time…… but since she hasn’t said anything since then, wasn't it a success?

Since Yuna was naturally cheerful, she would probably go around telling such stories to her various friends, and it was unlikely she would fall into despair just because I refused.

‘For some reason, I feel like I’ve been running into Serene a lot lately.’

Like when leaving the training ground, or when I went to the library.

I would occasionally run into Serene, so I would chat with her each time.

Thanks to that, our relationship didn't become awkward.

‘What a stroke of luck.’

I'm lucky to be running into Serene frequently. Well…… my overall impression was as follows.

Doesn’t seem to be any problem, does there?

Since I had judged it that way, I voiced that impression as it was.

“There don’t seem to be any problems.”

“Is that so……”

With that answer, Khan let out a deep sigh. I didn't know what he was suddenly sighing about.

And when I showed a puzzled look at his sigh, Elwin supported Khan from the side.

“Well. Whether it’s Yuna-ssi, Serene-ssi, or Arien-ssi, they all have a very close relationship with you, Rain-ssi. He seems to be worried if there are any side effects from your sudden change in attitude.”

“I suppose……”

Well, I understood.

“Still, contrary to such worries, it seems to be going well.”

“Is that so……?”

Khan looked at me with a strange look of suspicion.

……He wasn't the type to look at me with such eyes when we had just met.

My goodness.

What did I do, man.

***

Contrary to Rain's thoughts, the pot was not only leaking on Yuna's side.

Rain's decision, that is, the decision not to tell the parties involved that he had to reduce his interaction with the female cast, caused another trouble.

And the protagonist of that trouble was none other than Arien.

“Rain. Are you free this weekend?”

“Rain. I don't quite understand this part, could you explain a little more even after the study session is over?”

“Rain. Is there anything else you’re curious about regarding protection magic?”

“Rain.”

Rain could feel it. Perhaps as a rebound from all the excuses he had made to refuse before, Arien was charging at him more and more aggressively every time they met for their study session.

They had only met three times since the end of the semester, but he could tell for sure.

As with Yuna and Serene, Rain tried to refrain from getting involved with Arien beyond the scheduled appointments or plans as much as possible.

As a result, Rain ended up evasively dodging most of Arien’s suggestions, who had become more proactive since the 『Where the Stars Sleep』 scenario, by saying he had other commitments.

But the problem arose here.

Arien fundamentally lacked an understanding of social interactions, especially 'implicit' interactions.

Although she was strict about observing explicitly established social interactions that were principles to be followed.

This was a problem that stemmed from the fact that Arien had extremely little experience in social exchanges with others, and that she had not gone through the growth process that a normal person should have.

Anyway, for that reason, Arien didn't know when to back down once she bit into a topic, and as a result…….

“Ah, I have plans this weekend……”

“Then what about the weekend after that?”

“Umm. I’ll have to see when the time comes for that too.”

“Weekdays are fine too.”

“……”

It was a bit different, but it was a situation similar to replying 'When specifically? Should we set a date now?' to 'Let's grab a meal sometime'.

If Arien had the social skills of Yuna, she might have understood that Rain was intentionally avoiding her, just like Yuna.

But since she didn't, Arien was relentlessly continuing to seek interaction with Rain.

That was good for Arien personally as she wasn't hurt…… but it gave rise to another problem.

‘Is this right……?’

Rain had made a bad move after a long consideration, but he was no fool.

No matter what, when faced with such a situation, it was natural for him to reconsider his actions.

‘Should I just confess now…….’

Rain had come to have such a commendable thought, but he did not immediately put it into practice.

The cautious personality formed through hundreds of regressions had created a habit of not confirming a policy until a conclusion of 'perfectly right' was drawn.

It was because, due to the nature of his strange skill, 『Overcoming Ten Thousand Deaths』, where hundreds of deaths came and went with a single judgment, he had to be cautious in his decisions.

‘Let’s just think about it until today.’

On the fifth day after the end of the semester, Rain had come to think that.

But that brief grace period produced a result that was not very pleasant for Rain.

***

As mentioned before, the story structure of Arien and Rain was roughly like this.

Arien kept asking to make plans, and Rain kept politely refusing.

However, this conversation did not take place in a space blocked from the eyes of others.

The purpose of their meeting was to study. Therefore, the two always met in a reading room where people frequently came and went.

Then, let's think about how the previous conversation between Rain and Arien would appear to others.

-Arien-ssi is so aggressive…….

-He keeps refusing, though? Is he playing hard to get?

-Right now…… is Arien-ssi clinging to him?

……Yes, it was impossible for such a perception not to arise.

To others, it was clear that Rain was politely refusing to meet with Arien.

Well, most of the other cadets were also from noble society, or even if they were commoners, they were from the upper class, so they were in many ways skilled in social life among their peers.

It meant that they could grasp that much.

Now let's look at this situation again without any background knowledge.

Arien kept asking to make plans, and Rain kept politely refusing…….

That was how it was.

Although many cadets had returned to their hometowns for the break at Archenia Academy, their characteristics wouldn't just disappear.

Such a rumor spread among the cadets in an instant, and…….

-Did you hear? They say Arien-ssi is clinging to that Rain Enlight?

-Another rumor like that……?

Such conversations among the cadets eventually reached Khan's ears around the afternoon of the sixth day after the end of the semester.

It was possible because Khan's five senses were remarkably sharp, but…… in fact, even if they weren't, it would have been no trouble for Khan to hear about the rumor.

And Khan, who had heard the rumor, might have screamed inwardly.

‘What on earth is that man doing……!!’

***

Meanwhile, on the morning of the sixth day, before the rumor had completely spread through the academy, Elwin met a girl who had come to visit him at his dormitory.

“Shasha-ssi?”

As Elwin's words suggested, the one who had come to see him was Yuna's friend, Shasha Cristy.

It wasn't a completely random encounter. Basically, Shasha was the daughter of a noble family, and a family that was quite close to the Cardenas family to which Elwin belonged, so they were somewhat acquainted.

“Good morning, Elwin-ssi.”

Shasha smiled familiarly and greeted him, and Elwin asked Shasha back.

“Um…… may I ask what brings you here so early in the morning?”

Although it wasn't completely random, it was by no means common for Shasha to come see Elwin in the morning.

Even the expression 'not common' didn't fit, as this was the first time she had ever come to see him on purpose.

But Shasha had come with a certain resolve.

‘I can’t just stand by and watch Yuna be so down.’

Shasha liked Yuna's cheerfulness and easy-going nature. And within that, she liked her pure and clear heart, which had no hidden intentions.

But since the end of the semester, she had been nothing but down…… so she had come to think that she had to create a breakthrough somehow.

‘I heard that he’s been hanging out with Elwin-ssi and Khan-ssi a lot since the end of the semester…….’

Thanks to her informal personality, Shasha got along well with the lower classes, such as commoners, but that didn't mean her ties with the nobles were weak.

And it was not difficult at all to hear information about the person of interest in the academy recently, Rain Enlight, from those nobles.

Yes, that's right. Shasha had come to see Elwin for that reason.

To ask if he knew anything about the recent awkwardness between Yuna and Rain.

She had to know that first to have a basis for either helping Yuna or making her give up.

“Um. About Yuna, or should I say…… I have something to ask about Rain-ssi.”

“About Rain-ssi……?”

In fact, Shasha didn't have a very bad impression of Rain.

She had caught a glimpse of his character while fighting the Joint Grade Mock Battle together.

That's why Shasha told Elwin about Yuna's situation without holding anything back.

And what was Elwin's reaction to that?

“……Pardon?”

Elwin was utterly dumbfounded.

From what he heard, it sounded as if Yuna didn't know that Rain had decided to intentionally keep his distance.

“Wait, no way……”

Once that thought crossed his mind, only one other thought came to him.

“……Wait a minute, could it be that Yuna-ssi doesn't know about Rain-ssi's situation……?”

No, it can't be.

Elwin tried to think that way.

“Situation?”

Shasha just tilted her head as if she had never heard of it.

That means…….

“……”

Thwack-

Elwin couldn't help but slap his forehead with his palm without realizing it.

And he had no choice but to shout, restraining himself as much as possible.

“Why on earth didn’t you tell her……!”

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