Chapter 45: Intercepted Again (Patreon)

"How fascinating! The whole academy is brimming with vibrant, youthful energy."

"Ramsay, do you have any other events after this? I'd like to stay down here in the stands and cheer you on."

Ramsay shook his head lightly. "I only signed up for the tug-of-war, and only as a ringer. If you'd like to see more of the grounds, want me to walk around with you?"

"Really? You can?"

Leonora was overjoyed. But she quickly grew hesitant and asked carefully, "But won't that get in the way of your plans? Wouldn't it be inconvenient for you?"

"Not at all. I've got nothing else planned, so I have plenty of time."

Ramsay hadn't even finished speaking when a clear, pleasant female voice rang out beside them.

"Ramsay, who's this pretty girl? Aren't you going to introduce us?"

Kazuko had slipped up next to Ramsay without anyone noticing. She tilted her head, studied Leonora curiously, then turned back to Ramsay and teased, "Don't tell me she's your girlfriend?"

"Hmm. You've barely been enrolled any time at all, and Ramsay's already taken."

Kazuko spoke entirely in Japanese. Leonora's Japanese wasn't fluent yet, so she missed the teasing and could only look back and forth between the two of them, puzzled.

Seeing this, Ramsay had no choice but to explain.

"Kazuko, this is my friend Leonora. She's from Denmark. She studies at Totsuki, but her status is a bit special. Actually, I should have mentioned her to you before the tug-of-war started."

"You introduced her to me?"

Kazuko thought it over for a moment before remembering that Ramsay really had mentioned her. Then she asked, "So she's... not very good at Japanese?"

"Right, her Japanese is limited. We mostly talk in English."

With that answer, Kazuko immediately held out a hand to Leonora and spoke in smooth, standard English. "Hello, Leonora! I'm Kazuko Minami, a second-year in the High School Division. I'm Ramsay's senior."

Hearing such fluent, natural English, Leonora was both startled and delighted, and she quickly shook her hand.

"Hello! I'm Leonora, from Denmark. I'm a first-year in the High School Division."

Ramsay felt a flicker of surprise at Kazuko's fluent, polished English.

Kazuko caught his startled look right away and laughed. "Don't underestimate me. I'm a top student through and through, so speaking English is nothing special."

"When I have some free time, I'm planning to start learning Chinese, too. Chatting with you will feel even friendlier then. Though along the way, I'll be bothering you for plenty of pointers."

"No problem. If you want to learn Chinese, come find me anytime."

Ramsay smiled faintly.

"I really didn't expect this! Ramsay has only just enrolled at Totsuki, and he's already adapted to the academy's pace."

At the voice, Ramsay spun around and froze for a moment.

Mana Nakiri was standing quietly behind him, her eyes half-smiling as she watched everyone.

"Mana! What are you doing here?"

"I grew up at Totsuki," Mana answered calmly. "This academy is my home. Isn't it only natural for me to be at home?"

Beside them, Leonora glanced around and spotted Senzaemon Nakiri behind Mana. She greeted him politely. "Hello, Director Nakiri!"

"Good morning, Leonora." Senzaemon nodded. "Have you been settling in well here lately?"

"I love Totsuki's environment. Thank you for asking, Director."

Before she could finish, a nervous, stammering voice cut in. "L-Leonora, h-hello! I-I'm Soe Nakiri."

Looking at the flustered Soe in front of her, Leonora wondered privately.

He kept stopping and starting as he spoke. Could the Director's son have some kind of trouble with his vocal cords?

Soe never imagined that, in the heart of the girl he adored, he'd nearly been taken for someone with a medical condition. His heart pounded like a drum, his eyes were locked on Leonora, and he was so nervous he didn't know what to do with his hands.

Faced with that tripping, stumbling introduction, Leonora kept her graceful composure and answered politely.

Then the Director spoke again.

"Leonora, what brings you to the Sports Festival today? Curiosity, or were you drawn in by the commotion?"

At this, Leonora instinctively glanced at Ramsay beside her. A faint blush rose on her cheeks, and her voice came out soft and slight. "Director, I... I came to cheer for Ramsay."

The Director gave Ramsay a long look, then smiled calmly. "So you've made a new friend. That's a good thing."

"Touring the campus with a friend in your spare time is the best way to experience the atmosphere at Totsuki. I used to worry you'd have trouble adjusting, but it seems I worried for nothing."

"Well, that will do for now. I won't intrude on you young people while you gather and explore. If you run into any difficulty at Totsuki, you can come to me anytime. I have official business to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

"Yes! Goodbye, Director."

The Director gave Soe's shoulder a light pat. "Time for us to go."

"Father! We're going back right now?"

Soe looked longingly at Leonora, his eyes full of reluctance.

The Director's expression stayed calm. "The young people have their own plans, and it isn't proper for you to tag along. I have a task for you to handle. Take care of the real business first."

Soe grumbled inwardly that he was young too.

But under his father's steady, unyielding gaze, every word went back down his throat. Miserable, he could only look back with every other step as he trailed reluctantly after the Director.

Watching his dazed, absent-minded state, Mana found herself both exasperated and amused. She'd never imagined that the usually composed Soe could be so lovestruck.

At last, once they had gone far enough away, the slightly stiff atmosphere on the grounds slowly eased.