I Became the Academy's Pink Airhead - Chapter 18

On the way back to school again.

We hitched a ride on a large vehicle of members from <Facilities Engineering Department> going on a business trip to the northeastern district near <Central Prism Academy>. They welcomed us without much comment, as they had already been informed of our ride-sharing by Maya.

Even as I boarded the vehicle, I felt a bit regretful and looked at the main gate of <Mimir Technical High School> one last time.

Even now, amid numerous students walking towards the train station or boarding the vehicles they came in, there were students hugging each other in regret, shouting to meet again and promising reunions.

Looking at them, I was reminded of one face I regrettably couldn’t meet.

Cold silver-white.

But a girl hiding hot ambition in her heart.

‘…In the end, I couldn’t see Hilde’s face at all.’

Although I had thought I would definitely go to meet her someday. On the other hand, I had felt burdened about seeing Hilde’s face, angry at me for winning and running away. It was a subtle feeling of both regret and relief at the same time.

‘…But we will definitely meet.’

When that time comes.

I must definitely apologize to Hilde.

Even if you are destined to become the strongest, and I was destined to become the weakest. If we meet again after finishing all our duties, let’s definitely compete.

‘You’ll probably have become even stronger.’

If we fight again someday, she will definitely beat me.

Because.

I… ‘Clara’ can no longer become stronger.

“…”

Even so.

I will do my best in the match.

As much as the time I won and ran away.

Colliding with her with all my might was my atonement.

But it wasn’t time yet.

“We’re departing now! <Central Prism Academy> everyone! Please board!”

Like that, we sat huddled in the cargo compartment loaded with various materials and tools.

Alvit was sitting right next to me, and marveled at how I had managed to find a vehicle going in the direction of <Central Prism Academy>.

“I was at a loss for how to get back… Thank goodness.”

“Fortunately there were kind people going in this direction―☆”

“I wondered where you went when you suddenly disappeared.”

“I’ve had occasions to come to <Mimir Technical High School> from before☆ I fatefully made acquaintances―☆ How about it? Isn’t it somehow romantic to live helping each other? Yes―☆”

“…I see.”

Somehow Alvit didn’t nitpick at my girls’ talk as usual. She just quietly looked ahead, feeling the wind in the cargo compartment where we were sitting.

Across from the cargo compartment where we were sitting side by side.

There, two female students, one tall and one short, were lying down.

Snore―

Kara was sound asleep, covered with the baggy gray work coat of <Mimir Technical High School>. And Rota was lying down groaning with a frowning expression, seeming to be carsick.

“Ugh…”

The sight of her writhing while twisting her large cat ears was both cute and pitiful. Her orange hair, which she had carefully brushed and braided nicely in the morning, had long since become disheveled.

I chuckled looking at that sight.

‘Is it that beastkin’s sense of balance is especially more sensitive than other students, making their carsickness much worse?’

It was something I didn’t know in the game.

To think the reason <Public Bana Boarding School>, which mainly noble beastkin children attend, is so serious about securing exclusive ether floating train routes was for such a human reason.

“…”

Alvit glanced at her classmates like that, then spoke looking further away:

“I can see the surroundings better than when we came by train. It’s making me realize anew that we’re living in the academy city.”

“Oh my―☆ It’s been a week since you came here, but you still didn’t feel it~? Have you already forgotten the memories of living with the cute senior of <Central Prism Academy>―? How disappointing―☆ Boo boo boo☆”

“So many strange things happened with a strange person, it was hard enough just adapting to that…”

“Ow―?! Did you just call this cute girl ‘strange’―☆”

Poke

Poke

I playfully poked Alvit’s cheeks, but. She was still appreciating the scenery of the academy city with a faint smile.

Like going on a countryside trip, the scenery passing by through the open view of the cargo compartment. The peaceful appearance of the academy city came into view like a landscape painting at a glance.

Blue sky.

Big trees.

White buildings.

As we left the busy <Mimir Technical High School>, the streets definitely became more sparse. That appearance somehow made it feel like going down from the city to one’s hometown.

Alvit suddenly muttered while looking at that scenery:

“…It really was enjoyable.”

“Hm?”

“As you said, senior, the school life I experienced for a week was enjoyable. Meeting new people and new friends was really fun…”

“…”

“…How much more fun will school life together be from now on?”

Alvit met my eyes.

In those two eyes shining with excitement and nervousness, just purely grateful for today and looking forward to tomorrow. They were full of the modest happiness of a girl living in the academy city.

Not saving the world or solving numerous incidents.

Just grateful for an ordinary day and encounters… Such a girl.

Alvit spoke with conviction:

“I’m glad I came to <Central Prism Academy>.”

“…”

“Thank you, senior. For protecting <Central Prism Academy> alone.”

“…”

“Thank you for helping us, for making a place we could go.”

“…”

Hearing those words, I somehow felt shy.

And somewhere in my chest felt cold.

I could only quietly smile and nod.

“…Yes!”

Alvit seemed embarrassed for having spoken such emotional words immersed in sentiment. She turned her head forward again and was appreciating the passing scenery of the academy city.

“…”

I finally looked at the three juniors who had all gathered.

Alvit, Rota, and Kara.

The three juniors joined <Central Prism Academy> through stories that had changed to be a little happier than in the game.

“…”

The blue sky where the wind passes through my hair.

The huge tree visible beyond the horizon and the hill gradually getting closer.

On the way back to school.

While knowing that the story had now begun, I somehow felt one anxiety I had held for 2 years disappearing.

* * *

When the sun’s height lowered slightly, and the sky’s color gradually changed to yellow.

We arrived at the hill village where <Central Prism Academy> is located.

“Then we’ll be going now!”

“Yes―☆ Thank you for your hard work☆”

Vroom―

The vehicle that had carried us left with the sound of its engine.

We stood by the road for a while, then gathered our luggage and started climbing the hill road leading up to the shopping district.

“…Phew. Still dizzy…”

“Ooh―!! This is where my new school life will begin―!! Indeed a good place to hold revolutionary intentions!!”

“…Just say it looks poor.”

“Poor?! It looks like a peaceful village where good people live!!”

“…Haah.”

Rota was still holding her disheveled hair and got off staggering. Kara carried Rota’s backpack for her while exclaiming in admiration and Alvit quietly supported Rota while walking forward.

I watched that scene from a little behind with a pleased smile.

‘The Peach Sisters, all gathered now.’

The sight of the three walking bravely towards the gradually setting sun looked as dignified as the protagonists of Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Wanting to see that sight a little longer, I walked slowly.

“Rota, do you still feel like throwing up?”

“Mm… No. I’ll endure… Urp…”

“Hahaha! It is not right to hold back what’s welling up in your chest!!”

“Ugh… My head’s ringing so please shut up…! Urp… Bleurgh…”

“Rota―?!”

“Hahahahaha―!! How gallant indeed!!”

“Kara!! Please be quiet for once!!”

“Alvit you’re noisy too… Urp…!”

“Hahahahaha!!!”

‘It definitely feels good to have all three gathered, it’s somehow bustling.’

The backs of my lovely juniors walking slowly in the warm sunlight.

The view of the hill village where <Central Prism Academy> is located comes into sight.

The scenery of the shopping district was so peaceful it made the events of the past 3 days feel like a dream. The shopping district dwarves who were tending to their shops while gradually preparing to end the day turn to look this way.

“Hm? Clara?”

“Where, where?”

Even though they knew we had gone to another school, those living ordinary daily lives rejoice even at ordinary reunions. Seeing our noisy return, they approached busily moving their short legs.

“Oh! It’s Clara! Alvit too!”

“Welcome back~!! Who’s that tall student next to you?”

“Hahaha! I am a friend of the people! A revolutionary with a red star in my heart! I’ve come to enroll at <Central Prism Academy>! Nice to meet you, dwarf comrades!”

“A bit stran… no, a special young lady has come, haha.”

“Why is Rota hanging her hea… Eek?!”

“S-Someone bring some water!!”

“Don’t… don’t look… Urp―?!”

The dwarves panicking at the sudden happening.

Alvit patting Rota’s back worriedly.

Kara raising both hands and laughing happily at the new encounter.

Seeing that scene, I felt that I had truly come home.

In the distance, Grandpa Hua Tuo from the tailor shop and the polite young man from the bakery also approached waving their aprons.

“Oh, you’re back. The neighborhood was so quiet while you were gone.”

“Welcome back. I just baked some bread to give you all.”

I waved to them who were welcoming our return and said:

“We’re back―☆ Does anyone happen to have motion sickness medicine―☆”

A more bustling scene than ever before.

A sight I hadn’t seen in the days when I fell into <Academy City Yord> alone.

A story from the game that now existed in a faded corner of my memories.

“Here! I have motion sickness medicine here!”

“H-Hey, it’s rude to stare at Miss Rota like that!”

“You men over there! Don’t embarrass the young lady and come here!”

“Hahahaha!! What a truly heartwarming neighborhood!!”

“Kara… I’ll never forgive you…”

“Oh right, Alvit, I heard something collapsing from the school direction a while ago, so I took a peek and the main gate of the auditorium had rotted and collapsed?”

“This damn school… Of course it would…”

I finally felt that the story had begun.

A story I had gradually changed, not the one from the game.

Among numerous thoughts, I had one sentiment.

‘I’m glad I could become stronger myself… and return as Clara.’

Not as [Pink Spiral] that would swallow up all stories, but being able to welcome them as the ordinary senior Clara. And being able to solve things that ordinary senior Clara couldn’t handle, as [Pink Spiral].

An ordinary happiness achieved by the intertwining wishes of a man and a girl.

The day when all the students of <Central Prism Academy> who appeared in the game finally returned to their school.

In this strange and special world, I was grateful for the happiness of a day that had gradually changed, and improved.