Chapter 38: Leonora, Invitation (Patreon)

"Huh?"

"Something up?"

Kazuko Minami froze for a moment. Then she asked, puzzled, "Ramsay, don't you want to warm up first and get used to it?"

"No need."

Ramsay answered calmly. "I've done tug-of-war before. I can just step right in."

"Okay, then." Kazuko didn't push. She looked at him hopefully. "I'll keep drilling everyone so we work well together. For tomorrow's Sports Festival match, I'm counting on you!"

"Leave it to me."

"I'll do my best tomorrow."

Ramsay nodded his agreement, said goodbye to everyone, and turned to leave the Local Cuisine Society.

*

He hadn't gone far when his phone lit up with a message. It was from Leonora: "Ramsay, are you up yet?"

Ramsay typed back: "I was just helping out at the Local Cuisine Society. I'm about to head back."

Leonora quickly followed up: "The Local Cuisine Society? Ramsay, have you already joined this society?"

"Mm, no. I haven't joined. I'm just helping out. Tomorrow's the Sports Festival, and the club is entering the tug-of-war. The president is a senior from my dorm, and she specifically asked me to come lend a hand."

Now that she knew the reason, even Leonora's typing seemed careful and hesitant: "Oh, I see. If you're busy, Ramsay, please don't worry about me."

Sensing her reserve, Ramsay asked her straight out: "I'm not busy. Is there something you wanted?"

*

On the other end of the screen, the girl hesitated for a very, very long time. At last she sent a soft, timid message:

"I... I wanted to invite you to lunch. You went back to the dorm early yesterday, so I didn't get the chance to ask. I wanted to see if you're free today."

"Lunch together?"

"Don't you have to go to the research institute and work today?" Ramsay asked in return.

"Ah! These past few days I've been buried in research at the institute, and I'm a little worn out, so I'm taking today off."

Her nervousness showed in every line. "Um... if you have something on, it's okay. We can make plans another time."

*

Ramsay knew she had very few friends at Totsuki. Most days she kept to herself, so loneliness was unavoidable.

His heart softened, and he replied at once: "I'm free. I'll come over now and wait outside your place. Is that okay?"

The instant the message went through, she answered, delighted: "Really? Then please wait for me! I'll change and come right out!"

A few minutes later, Ramsay arrived at Leonora's door, and then waited about ten minutes more.

The door swung gently open, and Leonora hurried out.

Today she had set aside her school uniform. A plain white camisole dress traced her slender, graceful figure, and her fair, delicate skin glowed in the sunlight.

Her slim, jade-pale feet were strapped into silver high heels with thin straps. She looked lithe and light on her feet, with more charm than any model on a stage.

Her long silver hair stirred in the breeze, and her delicate collarbones peeked out now and then. She was pure and gentle all at once.

Seeing Ramsay, Leonora blushed and quickly apologized in a small voice. "I'm sorry!"

"Ramsay, I kept you waiting... I took so long picking out my clothes, and that's why I made you wait."

*

Ramsay looked at the silver-haired girl beside him.

"I just got here a little while ago myself. I'm still not familiar with the different parts of Totsuki, so why don't we find somewhere to sit and talk?"

Leonora froze for a moment. Her slender fingertips tugged unconsciously at the hem of her dress. After a moment she looked down, a little bashful, and answered softly, "I'm either at the research institute or resting in my dorm."

"So... I don't really know of any places on campus where I could relax."

Ramsay smiled knowingly and offered, "Totsuki has its own complete shopping street. Convenience stores, restaurants, milk tea shops, all of it. Let's go take a walk there."

"And while we're at it, how about we sort out lunch too?"

*

Totsuki Academy was a top-tier boarding school for aristocrats, famed for its culinary arts.

The rules were strict. Without special permission, students weren't allowed to leave the campus gates on weekends. So the school had simply built an all-in-one shopping street inside the grounds, lined with a movie theater, boutiques, chain supermarkets, restaurants of every kind, and more, enough to cover every pastime a student could want.

Leonora came from Danish nobility. Composure and reserve ran in her bones, and in later years she would become a goddess of poise and elegance.

But right now, she was only a girl in her teens. Her temperament was still young, and she carried some of the lively, playful spirit that is rare to see in her.

Ramsay saw through her easily. He knew she usually kept to herself and seldom visited lively places like these. Most likely she only stopped by the convenience store now and then for lab supplies and daily necessities.

"Let's go."

"We'll head to the shopping street. I'll treat you to a drink."

"Really?"

"Thank you so much, Ramsay!"

Brightness rippled across Leonora's dim eyes, a radiant smile breaking through, and her soft silver hair swayed as she lowered her head.

Then she fell naturally into step beside Ramsay, and the two of them strolled side by side toward the shopping street.

*

Before long, the two sat down in a milk tea shop with a fresh, clean decor.

A clerk brought over two freshly made drinks. Leonora carefully lifted her glass in both hands and took a small sip of the sweet milk tea, her eyes curving into gentle crescents.

Then she earnestly thanked Ramsay once more.

"If I hadn't run into you today, I probably still wouldn't know there was such a comfortable place in the academy."

"Oh, right."

"You said in your message that you're taking part in the Sports Festival tomorrow. What kind of event is that? Is it a competition the whole academy holds together?"

Leonora had enrolled well before Ramsay, but after so long spent alone, she knew less about the school's events than Ramsay, who had only just arrived.

Ramsay patiently explained.

"The Sports Festival."

"It's a lot like the all-school sports days at Danish schools!"

"It runs for three to five days, and classes are suspended for the whole school during it. The middle school and high school divisions compete separately, and classes and clubs face off in all kinds of athletic events."