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    Chapter 278

     

    Today was the anniversary of the school.

    Even though there was no business at school Kizen held supplementary classes as though saying that even holidays can’t be skipped.

    They were supplementary classes taught by assistant teachers without a professor. The students who were underperforming were required to attend and the rest of the students were free to choose.

    “Kizen and the students alike… They’re all out of their minds.”

    Grumbled Rick as he sat in front of his desk scribbling down another invention.

    “Curses and Poisonous Alchemy are already full. Honestly you gotta rest when it’s the school’s anniversary.”

    Simon let out a small laugh and asked

    “Do you have any classes you’re required to take?”

    “I pretty much only need to take Curses.”

    “Too bad.”

    Simon had no required classes having dropped his weakest subject of Necromancy. In both relief and exhaustion Simon began to stretch his tired fingers

    “Other than that I’m excited about the dispatch evaluation.”

    “Me too!”

    While he was at it Simon also brought up his own suggestion.

    “Don’t you think we need some essential goods if we’re going to the neutral area? Why don’t we go shopping in Rochest with Meilyn and Cami?”

    At that Rick froze.

    “What’s wrong?”

    “Ahh y-you see…”

    Rick always sly and relaxed scratched his head in embarrassment and had a sheepish look on face.

    “I don’t think I’ll be able to go with you guys on this dispatch evaluation.”

    Simon paused.

    “Oh really?”

    “I’m sorry. I made plans ahead with the guys in Class G so I’m going to be with them.”

    “Oh… That’s a shame.”

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    “Sorry sorry. You should go see Meilyn. She said she’ll be in the library all day today.”

    They had until tomorrow to report their groups.

    It would be a group of four so the vacant spot would have to be filled quickly.

    Simon nodded and immediately changed into his uniform.

     

    * * *

     

    He arrived at the library.

    Meilyn was easy to spot her light-blue hair standing out anywhere. It seemed that she had taken a break from her studies as she was chatting with another student outside the reading room.

    Simon walked over and called out

    “Meilyn!”

    Meilyn also noticed Simon and turned around. Simon continued in a hurry

    “Meilyn. Did you hear already? Rick is—!”

    “Hold on Simon. I’m talking about something important.”

    “Ah okay.”

    He was in such a hurry that had barged in on an ongoing conversation. Simon nodded in understanding and took a step back to wait.

    Soon the two girls started chatting again.

    He absentmindedly listened in but they were just talking about other people’s love lives. Well it was just the same stories over and over again like how this person started dating this person but the boy cheated yet he shamelessly showed no sign of remorse while the girl was left in tears.

    Listening to the story Meilyn was outraged.

    “Isn’t he crazy?”

    “I know right!?”

    The two girls’ conversation went on endlessly. Simon had never before felt further from Meilyn and he just awkwardly kept his distance.

    20 minutes later the student Meilyn was chatting with waved goodbye and disappeared.

    Only then did Meilyn face Simon.

    “What’s up?”

    “Oh it’s about the dispatch evaluation.”

    Finally he was able to proceed to the main issue.

    “Rick said he would go on the dispatch evaluation with people from another class. Shouldn’t our group quickly replace the vacant spot?

    “Our group?”

    Hearing that Meilyn burst out laughing.

    “What do you mean by ‘our’?”

    “Hm?”

    “Were you planning to go with me?”

    “…A-Are you not?”

    Since they spent all day yesterday talking about the neutral area together Simon came to the simple conclusion that they were going together.

    “Oh gosh. Who the hell goes to dispatch evaluations with their classmates? We’ll be the laughing stock of the class.

    She had to take a moment to catch her breath. Trying to talk while laughing didn’t leave her much room to breathe.

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    “Plus we’ve been hanging out together all this time. You should try to get to know people in other classes and use this as an opportunity. I’m going with that girl you saw earlier and two people from Class H.”

    “I-Is that so?”

    Was it the trend to take dispatch evaluations with people from other classes?

    Simon was a little dumbfounded but Rick and Meilyn were acting as if this was the obvious conclusion.

    “You haven’t gone to Cami yet have you?”

    Asked Meilyn.

    “I’m about to. Do you know where she is?”

    “Don’t you remember? She signed up for a supplementary class in Hemomancy. She’s probably in the magical bullet shooting range.”

     

    * * *

     

    Simon immediately went to the shooting range.

    There he saw an assistant teacher giving a lecture with such passion that flecks of saliva kept flying out of her mouth.

    Simon could also easily spot Camibarez notably being the only student there with bat wings.

    Her wings fluttered as she took notes and her ears perked up every time an important statement was made. It was strangely addictive to watch.

    “Well that concludes the supplementary lecture. For the students who signed up for the afternoon lecture as well I’ll see you in two hours from now on.”

    “Thank you!”

    The hemomancy assistant teacher left and the students rushed out of the lecture room.

    Simon leaned against the wall to let the other students pass quickly.

    Near the end he spotted Camibarez leaving the room holding her textbook close to her chest.

    “Cami!”

    “Ah Simon!!”

    She ran up to Simon with a broad smile. Seemingly in a good mood her wings flapped rapidly.

    “What brings you all the way here?”

    “Oh you see…”

    Simon was about to say that Rick and Meilyn are going with other people for dispatch evaluation and that we’d have to get two more people…

    But he broached the subject carefully this time.

    “Cami are you perhaps going with anyone else already for the dispatch evaluation?”

    “…Ah.”

    Camibarez’ eyes shook at the question. Her face turned pale and her mouth twitched as if she didn’t know what to do. Finally she stared at her feet and remained still.

    Simon tried his best to smile and reassured her

    “It’s okay it’s no big deal either way.”

    “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry! Actually I promised the Saddam club members I’d go together so…”

    “Is that so? I guess it can’t be helped then.”

    Simon belatedly realized that a fire was lit under his butt.

    He had to find a complete group by tomorrow.

     

     

    After that Simon frantically went around looking for group mates.

    “Ah I appreciate your offer but we originally planned to stick as the same group from the start. Sorry.”

    He first went to his classmate Toto but apparently he already had a group.

    “What? You’re looking for a groupmate?”

    Next he went to Jamie Victoria the president of Class A.

    Hearing that Simon was left alone she shook him by the shoulders.

    “Did you guys fight or something? What’s going on? I was never worried about Group 7 because you guys get along so well!”

    “No we didn’t fight.”

    Simon explained and she was full of confusion.

    “What do you mean by that?! Of course you’re supposed to do the dispatch evaluation with your group members!”

    “I-Is that so?”

    “Do you think the dispatch evaluation is some kind of relaxing picnic? The professors have clearly designed it for you to be with the same group of people you’ve gotten along with and have been working with for half a year! How will you work in harmony plan tactics and coordinate with the people from other classes?”

    “…”

    Simon looked dumbfounded. He hadn’t thought that far.

    “That’s why I asked if you guys got into a fight.”

    Jame sighed heavily and continued

    “Unless there’s been a serious fight everyone tends to go with the same group The same is true for my group.”

    “…I see. Thanks for telling me.”

    “I’m not going to pry on it but I need you to tell me if something happens to Group 7 okay?”

    “We really didn’t fight.”

    Who’s telling the truth?

    Simon wondered as he walked away. This time he headed to Claudia after hearing where she was from Jamie. He’d gotten pretty close with her lately after everything that had happened.

    “No that’s just not right! Aren’t they being too much?”

    Hearing Simon’s story Claudia was as angry as if she was the one being abandoned.

    “Just like the class president said you’re supposed to go with your groupmates. And! If they’re going to go with someone from another class the least they can do is to tell you! Meilyn that bitch… I didn’t expect this from Cami either!”

    “I appreciate that you’re getting angry for my sake but…”

    Simon continued with a smile.

    “I don’t really like it that you’re badmouthing my group mates in front of me.”

    “Ah i-is that so? Sorry…!”

    Claudia immediately bowed her head to apologize. However as soon as she lifted her head once more a fire was lit in her eyes.

    “But still what’s not right is not right! This is a matter that you’ll definitely need to get an apology for in the future!”

     “…”

    No matter how hard he looked Simon still couldn’t find a groupmate. They were all more or less in the same group.

    Walking down the hall he spotted a group of four sitting in an empty lecture room talking raucously.

    ‘…Looks like they’re having fun.’

    He felt a little lonely.

    This was the first time he had felt that way since coming to Kizen.

    Simon trudged along. There seemed to be a group of four students everywhere he went. Watching them all happy made him only feel even more empty.

    ‘Still. It’s too early to give up.’

    He planned to ask around a few more people from Class A then if it didn’t work Kajann Lorain Fitzgerald and even Serene. He feared what odd requests she’d make but beggars can’t be choosers.

    ‘I don’t have much time left.’

    Simon went up to the third floor as Claudia had told him that Cindy Vivace—also from Class A—was studying in an empty lecture room on that floor. Room 302.

    ‘I bet she’s going with the same group though…’

    Still trying wouldn’t hurt. Even if Cindy was taken already he might be able to get some other information there.

    Arriving at the door of room 302 lecture room Simon knocked lightly.

    “Who’s there?”

    Cindy’s voice was heard from the other side of the door.

    “It’s me Simon. Do you mind if I come in for a minute?”

    “Sure come in!”

    Simon pushed the door open.

    Pop!

    Pop!

    Out of nowhere confetti was fired from everywhere.

    “Happy birthday Simon!!”

    Wooooooo!!

    Enthusiastic cheers erupted throughout the room. Confetti and flower petals fell from the ceiling. In front of him was a huge cake.

    ‘…??’

    Simon looked around in a daze.

    Inside the lecture room he saw Rick with a party hat holding confetti Meilyn smiling and clapping her hands and Camibarez beaming as she held the cake.

    Behind them were Jamie Claudia and Cindy.

    What is this all about?

    Birthday?

    My birthday?

    “Don’t tell me then it was all…”

    “What do you think it was? It’s all a surprise!!”

    Exclaimed Meilyn while laughing.

    Holding the cake with both hands Camibarez approached and said

    “Blow out the candles Simon!”

    Cheers erupted once more as Simon blew out the candles with a dumbfounded face.

    Rick popped all the remaining confetti.

    “…Ahaha.”

    His disheartened emotions melted away like snow leaving only a warm feeling in his heart.

    Covered in confetti and flower petals Simon put a hand to his chest and finally smiled letting out a sigh.

    “…You guys really got me there.”

    Rick giggled and wrapped his arm around Simon’s neck.

    “Man you shouldn’t’ve doubted us! Do you really think we’d ditch you and go to another group!”

    “I’m sorry we tricked you Simon!”

    It was a surprise from the start. Jamie Claudia and Cindy had been bribed with cake as well.

    Simon the main character of the day cut the cake and put a slice on a plate. The cake was so big that even though everyone took a slice more than half of it remained.

    “By the way guys I have a confession…”

    At Simon’s words it was the other three members of Group 7’s turn to flinch.

    “Wh-What is it?”

    Asked Camibarez.

    “Hey! Don’t tell me you ditched us in that short time and got another group!!”

    Said Meilyn anxiously.

    Simon shook his head and continued in embarrassment

    “It’s not my birthday today.”

    “…”

    There was an awkward silence filling in the lecture room.

    Soon all eyes were on Rick.

    “You dumbass! You said it’s Simon’s birthday today!!”

    Shouted Meilyn.

    Rick looked at Simon in confusion stammering out

    “You marked it with a circle on your dorm room calendar! You wrote the word birthday on there…!”

    “Oh that’s my mom’s birthday.”

    Another silence ensued.

    Then Meilyn and Simon exchanged a furtive glance. Meilyn lunged with the half-finished cake and…

    Pooow!

    She slammed it right into Rick’s face.

    “Hahahahahaha!”

    “Serves you right!”

    Everyone cheered and laughed along. Rick whose face was covered in cake also laughed merrily.

    “Ah… Ahh! I can’t see!”

    Rick lunged at Meilyn to wipe his face on her school uniform.

    “Waaah! Hey! Don’t come near me!”

    “Revenge!!”

    While everyone was laughing chatting and enjoying themselves Camibarez came to Simon’s side and said

    “I’m counting on you on this dispatch evaluation Simon!”

    Simon smiled back.

    “I’m counting on you as well.”

    His heart warmed up.

    Even though it wasn’t his actual birthday he felt like he would never forget the party everyone had thrown for him today.

    “Ah… I’m kind of jealous. I wish my group was like this as well.”

    Muttered Claudia as Meilyn ran over and smeared cake on her cheek. The two of them started to fight.

     

    ——

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