Chapter 48
Actually, I was quite worried about Lian Qi at first. As the fated rival of “That Person,” high hopes were placed on her from the very beginning, to the point that Sister Aijieliya demanded she take first place in the Graduation Festival ranking tournament. Perhaps Sister Aijieliya feels that what “That Person” could do, Lian Qi should be able to do as well?
But, from her enrollment to the start of the Graduation Festival, the time left for Lian Qi is too short.
Lian Qi definitely feels the pressure, so it’s fine if she bullies me a little. As long as she’s happy. Although I’m just a ‘study partner,’ my duty is exceptionally important. To ensure Lian Qi is in top form every day, I can’t be an ounce less than perfect, whether it’s taking care of her daily life or supervising her studies. I will do my absolute best in anything I can do for her.
Ahem. Of course, helping her bathe last time was definitely not part of “doing my absolute best.”
Time passes quickly. Two days went by in the blink of an eye. During these two days, I accompanied Lian Qi to class during the day, and at night, she would go to Sister Aijieliya’s for special training. It would be nice if Qifeng were here, too. I can’t get enough of this peaceful school life.
But the Graduation Festival has arrived as scheduled. It’s today.
I helped Lian Qi straighten her tie. Every time I do this, I feel a little shy. I just feel like this isn’t something a boy should be doing… But every time I see her tie all messy, hanging around her neck like it’s for an imminent hanging, I can’t just look and do nothing.
If it weren’t for the sense of transgression I still have as a male, I’d really suspect my gender identity is hopelessly misplaced.
“I’ve never worn a boy’s uniform, so I’m always bad at tying the tie,” Lian Qi said, looking at me.
I heard her tone, a little hesitant. I wonder what she’s nervous about. Is there something special about the act of me tying her tie in her eyes?
I said softly, “I’ve never worn a boy’s uniform either, and I still know how to tie one, don’t I?”
But I guess knowing how to tie a tie has nothing to do with being male or female. It’s mainly that I have this kind of OCD where I feel uncomfortable all over if I see something that isn’t neat.
“All done.”
I patted her and said, taking a step back to look her up and down.
“Mhm…”
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing~” I smiled slightly. She’s clearly a girl but is wearing boy’s clothes. I’m clearly a boy but am wearing girl’s clothes. The two of us are really just spectacularly wrong.
“I suddenly want to see you in a girl’s uniform. I wonder what you’d look like,” I said with a smile.
“Ha…?”
She was slightly stunned.
“I am a girl. What’s the big deal about me wearing a girl’s uniform?”
“That’s true…”
A girl can wear girl’s clothes openly and without shame, unlike me, who would feel ashamed…
Lian Qi squinted and stared at me— “Fei’er, you haven’t started thinking of me as a boy, have you? And so you’ve awakened a strange new hobby of wanting to see boys in girl’s clothes?”
“N-No, it’s not like that! It’s because you’re a girl that I want to see you in a girl’s uniform,” I said quickly. Speaking of boys in girl’s clothes, Lian Qi, oh, Lian Qi… there’s one standing right in front of you. You really haven’t noticed?
To think I’m actually feeling smug about not being discovered while cross-dressing as a boy. I’m truly hopeless.
“Huh…?”
I noticed her hair… it’s turned white!? She’s grown a lot of white hairs!?
“Have you been thinking about Explosion Magic so hard that your hair turned white?”
I felt a pang of distress and pushed her down to sit on the sofa.
“Sit tight. I’ll help you pull them out.”
“Eh? Are the white hairs really obvious?” Lian Qi looked blank.
“It’s fine, it’s not at the ‘hair turned white overnight’ level. As expected, creating your own inherent magic isn’t such an easy thing.”
“Haha, if all my hair really turned white, wouldn’t I be just like you?”
“But my white hair is natural.”
I knelt on the sofa, leaned in close to her, separated her hair, found a white strand, and gave it a gentle tug—
“Ow, that hurts!”
“It… hurts? Please endure it for just a little…”
“You’re not taking this opportunity to get revenge on me, are you?”
“Eh? Of course not. I’m already being very gentle.”
“Then be even gentler.”
”…”
From my perspective, it’s Lian Qi’s scalp that’s too sensitive, right? Last time, just helping her wash her hair made her unable to stop letting out cute little moans.
Everyone’s sensitive spots really are different.
“Do your best in today’s Graduation Festival ranking tournament.” I smiled, cheering her on.
“Will you watch my match?” Lian Qi asked me softly.
“Of course I will. I’ll be in the audience cheering for you the whole time,” I replied. Isn’t that obvious? Why would Lian Qi even ask?
“Don’t worry, I won’t lose to the Demon King. I will definitely take first place.”
“As long as you’re this motivated, I’m relieved.” I smiled and plucked out another white hair.
“That really hurts—!”
Her whole body shuddered, and even her ahoge stood on end.
There are no white hairs in that little ahoge. I must protect it.
…
…
…
The Graduation Festival ranking tournament is about to begin.
Lian Qi and I walked out of the castle. On the training grounds, the area around the newly built tournament stage was packed with people. Professor Meilin from the Enchantment school faced the sky and enchanted text in front of all the students. Lian Qi and I looked up— amid the students’ cries of surprise, a huge, densely-packed tournament tree diagram appeared above our heads.
Lian Qi, Lian Qi, Lian Qi… huh…? Where is Lian Qi’s name? I searched the tree diagram for her name.
Finally, I managed to find it, and I was shocked. What was presented so clearly before my eyes was—
Lian Qi vs. Wood Li Steel
No way? They’re actually facing each other in the very first match? Isn’t this too much of a coincidence!?
“You brat, you’re done for!” —The son of the Royal Capital’s guard captain, one of the student council officers, Wood Li Steel, surrounded by a crowd of followers, ran straight into Lian Qi and me.