I’m Not Doing This With A Friend

When Fjord glanced at Carson, he only nodded as if confirming that what Leen said was right.

"It's just a picture. Anyone could take a picture if they have money."

"Huh?" (Fjord)

"Carson and I took a picture together during the vacation." (Leen)

Fjord's face, which had been imagining fifty thousand thoughts from the word ‘picture', turned red.

He was tricked again…

"…Then, was it possible that what Carson was looking at earlier was that picture?"

When Fjord got the right answer, Carson made a triumphant expression and pulled out the picture from his jacket.

Carson arrogantly waves the picture on his hand.

He seemed to make fun of Fjord, acting as if telling him that, ‘You don't have this, do you?'

As Fjord's eyes followed the picture on Carson's hand, Leen came up with an idea, perhaps she felt like they were going to fight again.

"Then next time the three of us could go and take a picture together." (Leen)

It was like a bolt from the clear blue sky for Carson. With a slightly trembling tone, he persuaded Leen to take back what she said.

"Leen. Why don't you think about it again? Taking a photo wasn't cheap either." (Carson)

However, Fjord, who had already heard Leen's words, became excited and clapped his hands next to Carson like a mean ‘sister-in-law'.  As if he wouldn't let his words be left unheard.

"Wow, that's such a great idea. Oh no! I'm already looking forward to it." (Fjord)

He seemed more excited about being able to tease Carson than taking pictures.

In rare cases, Carson, who lost the fight against Fjord, clenched his fist in anger.

Leen, who was watching them, briefly clicked her tongue.

"Why are you jealous of that, Caon. Wasn't it better to have one more picture?"

"…!"

She was right. It would have been nice to have one more picture added.

‘Once the three of us took pictures together, I could simply cut out Fjord from the picture later.' (Carson)

It would be perfect after Fjord was gone. Carson smiled slyly.

"After listening to Leen, I don’t think taking pictures was a bad thing."

✤

After Leen's misunderstanding and the fight between Carson and Fjord came to an end, they began to engage in club activities as usual.

That's right. Club activity means ‘playing around'.

Leen was lying on the sofa reading a book about medicinal herbs, while Carson sat on the floor, with his back leaning on the sofa, and playing chess with the Fjord.

There were desks and chairs in the club room. But the two of them sat on the floor and played chess as if it was natural.

It was because Carsonn did not want to fall off from the sofa where Leen was living all the time during club activity.

So Fjord was always forced to sit on the floor.

At first he tried to persuade Carson, but in the end it was Fjord who eventually raised the white flag.

A familiar and peaceful club time that came after vacation.

Knock, knock- There was a knock that interrupted that time.

As if it was natural to hear a knock at club time, Leen and Carson's eyes turned to Fjord. But Fjord raised himself and spoke proudly.

"If anyone comes to see me, I'll become Leen's slave for a month."

That's how confident Fjord was that he was sure that he's not the cause of the knock. But Cason listened to his words with a serious expression.

"It's not a punishment, it's a reward. Where do you think of sneaking around? I only need your wrist to catch you."

When Fjord tried to argue whether it was only a reward for Carson, a man's voice was heard from the club room door.

"It's me. Open the door."

When he said "It's me," the three exchanged glances and asked if they knew the person speaking from the door. But no one knew the owner of the voice.

"I'm going in."

It was a very short moment, but the person outside the door opened the door without consent, probably being impatient.

"…Professor?"

"Uh, Leen…"

The person who opened the door without permission was Walter, Leen's homeroom professor. Leen put aside the book she was reading and stood up.

"Oh professor, what makes you come visit our club room?"

It was surprising that he came to see Leen in person, not calling her through anyone else, and he always says that he's lazy.

"I'd like to ask you a favor."

"Please?" Professor Walter begged loudly and answered Leen's words slowly.

"Yes, please. So, could you spare me some time?"

"I would, if I have time…"

Professor Walter waited for her answer, but Leen spat out the words that she would if she had ‘time'.

‘I didn't know what he would ask from me, so I made an excuse.'(Leen)

If it were Professor Walter's personality, he would have been more than capable of overcoming troublesome tasks.

I don't know why he went to find me among so many students.

"Then I'll go with Professor Walter first. I don't know how long it would take, so when the club hours are over, both of you could leave first." Leen followed Professor Walter, telling them not to wait for her

That's how Carson and Fjord were left inside the club room.

Carson stared at the place where Leen had left. It was a face full of lingering regret. After a while, Carson spoke.

"Fjord."

"What?"

"Do you think Leen's too kind?"

"…objectively?"

"In everything…"

Fjord answered without hesitation.

"She's a devil." (Fjord)

Then, deep anger shone in Carson's eyes, who usually had no other emotion shown on his face. 

He looked like he was talking about something.

"Was Leen a devil? What's wrong with our sweet Leen? Do you have booger in your eyes?" (Carson)

Fjord glanced at him with a puzzled look for a moment and corrected his words.

"…I think she's nice." (Fjord)

"What…? What did you just say? How dare you put Leen in your heart? You're a wretch, you son of a b-"

As if it wasn't a joke, Carsion created all kinds of magic circles around.

Feeling the strange atmosphere, Fjord picked up the blanket from the sofa and covered himself.

It was his poor shield.

"Hey, you-, you lunatic. If that's the case, why did you even ask me! And why does being nice lead to liking her!?"

But unfortunately, Carson had already heard Fjord's absurd cry.

So today, the ‘Fi-to-club' has always lived up to its name.

(N: Fjord-torture-club)

✤

Leen followed Professor Walter to the teacher's office, she looked at him with questioning eyes.

The professor shrugs his shoulders and points to the person next to her.

"I'm a transfer student."

Leen's face crumpled and stared at the transfer student that the professor introduced to her. 

It was the thief, the overly self-centered  student who stole my bright day today.

His eyebrows frown in dissatisfaction as if asking her why she was here.

Professor Walter didn't notice our exchange of cold gaze, so he talked casually.

"Leen, you also took the transfer exam, so you know how a transfer student feels. I thought it would be nice if you could introduce him to school since you're in a similar position."

After all, you came to me to take over the troublesome work…

Leen looked at Professor Walter with a look of betrayal.

"Did you come all the way to the club room for this?" (Leen)

"This guy… No, he's a transfer student, so he doesn't know much about the school yet." (Walter)

"I also don't know much about it…"

"You know better than him."(Walter)

"But…" (Leen)

"He's officially going to school starting tomorrow, so it'd be perfect if you help him familiarize around school today. Well, I look forward to your kind cooperation."

Before I could even refuse, Professor Walter patted me on the shoulder and quickly left.

It was such a fast movement that was unimaginable for a person who normally moved slowly.

‘He's only quick at times like this.'

Leen sighed as she glanced at the tightly closed door of the teacher's office. Then, with a resigned heart, she shifted her gaze to the self-centered bastard.

Come to think of it, I talked to Jane this morning about the transfer student. It was said that the prince of the Abascanthus Empire had transferred to Arena Academy.

So who's this self-centered kid?

However, there was no name written yet on his school uniform, so she could not identify him. 

And Leen was the first to ask for his name.

"What's your name?"

He answered the question without hiding his disgruntled expression.

"…I'm Kun."

Leen smirked inside.

‘Kun Edgar Abascantus.'

But I don't know why people who are as high as a prince speak formally.

Well it's not my thing

“Yeah, Kun. It looks like it's your first day at the academy today."

Leen smiled softly this time.

"I hope you never ask me anything and work hard on your own." (Leen)

"…What?" (Kun)

"When I just transferred, I got through it on my own without anyone's help. Oh, couldn't you do anything on your own because you're so precious?"

In fact, it was hard for me to get through it on my own, and I also suffered.

Kun looked at me stiffly on the spot, perhaps embarrassed by the word ‘precious'. Leaving him behind, I passed by him as if I had said all I wanted to say.

"It's funny. Apparently our academy doesn't discriminate against commoners and nobles."

Then Kun hurriedly grabbed my wrist as I was about to leave. It felt strange to grab me with his bare hands.

Looking down at my wrist, he was already rolling my hand with a handkerchief. His actions are admirable.

"Wow."

Are you saying you don't want to touch it? I've only heard of rumors that such a noble exists.

It’s kind of fascinating…

As I was about to speak while staring blankly at the handkerchief, his heavy voice fell.

"It's not like that." (Kun)

Leen looked up at him with curious eyes.

"What?" (Leen)

‘What? What do you mean?'

"Preferential treatment, no. I personally asked the professor."

"Oh that. I'm glad it's not about discrimination."

"Now if the misunderstanding was cleared up…"

"But what should I do? I fell to the floor because of someone during lunch today and my tailbone shattered. It's a bit difficult to walk." (Kun)

I wrung out my caught hand and waved it gently.

"Then do well by yourself." Leen said as she walked out of the room.

Maybe because I paid him back a little, I felt a little better after meeting Kun again.

Yeah, if you don't want to listen to me, I just don't have to deal with him from the start.

As I headed back to the club room, I stopped walking at the sudden thought.

Wait. Prince Abascanthus was famous for his frailness.

The Kun Edgar Abascanthus I saw today looked like he could chew up a stone. It means that there was no sign of a sick person at all.

It was impossible to know when the standards for the ‘sick people' were lowered.

If he's sick in the head, I think I could understand a little.

(N: Retard)

Leen nodded. That's why rumors couldn't be trusted.