novelraw Chapter 304
Chapter 304
In the case of Will Rileis"Will-kun, thank you for always helping me study."
"Thanks to you, I got a good score on the test. This is a thank-you gift."
"This one's from a girl in the class next door. She was grateful too."
"Thank you very much. I'll enjoy it when I get home."
Royal Academy. In a first-year classroom.
Many female students gathered around Will Rileis, the intellectual, glasses-wearing handsome guy who was one of the main characters, each handing him wrapped presents one after another.
Will accepted them with a gentle smile and expressed his thanks.
"Rileis-kun, you've become easier to talk to than before."
"Yeah, totally. You were kind of hard to approach right after enrollment."
"The other day, he helped me carry some materials. He's really kind, after all."
The female classmates chatted among themselves.
A pile of presents sat atop Will's desk.
All of them were gifts for the Valentinus Festival. Sweets given by girls.
However, most of those gifts were inexpensive items sold in stores. Clearly obligatory.
(Well, I don't mind at all. It's not like I was expecting anything.)
In fact... compared to the past, it's a world of difference.
In the past, Will had isolated himself, looking down on others due to his inflated ego.
Though he had tried to deceive himself with the label of "a genius who walks alone," looking back, it was he himself who had shut everyone out.
(These obligatory gifts are proof that I've made many friends. If anything, I should be proud of them.)
"Yo, Will. You got a ton of stuff, huh?"
"You're so popular. Give me one."
It wasn't just female students gathering around. Male students also came over to his desk, teasing him playfully.
"No way. I received these, after all."
"Tch... stingy."
"Maybe I should join the Student Council too? I could get this many bribes then."
"Don't say such nonsense. Calling them bribes is rude to everyone."
"Yeah, like you could even get into the Student Council. You'd have to raise your grades by fifty ranks!"
"No doubt about it. Hahahahahaha!"
The male students cracked jokes and laughed loudly.
What a brainless scene... In the past, Will had looked down on people who laughed like this.
(But... it's surprisingly not so bad. Goofing around with friends like this.)
As he chatted with his friends, Will's chest felt mysteriously warm.
Why had he looked down on others in the past? He now realized how foolish he had been.
The old Will had lived like someone watching sunlight from the shadows.
Now, he understood how lonely and cold that choice had been.
(The one who taught me that was Lady Laurel. It's all thanks to you.)
Will turned his gaze to Reina's desk, which was a bit farther away.
Its owner wasn't there now. Judging by the situation... she had probably gone to give the present she had spent days preparing.
(You're the one who changed my life. I feel a little... no, a lot, incredibly lonely, but I hope your feelings reach him.)
"U-Um... R-Rileis-kun..."
"Yes?"
While he was lost in thought, someone spoke to him.
When he turned around, he saw a female classmate standing there shyly, fidgeting.
Her face was as red as a ripe apple.
"Do you need something?"
"Um... uh..."
"Will-kun, this girl wants you to come behind the school building. Sorry, but could you go with her?"
Over the red-faced girl's shoulder, her friend called out to him.
(Another obligatory sweet? Honestly, she could've just given it to me here...)
Why go out of their way to the back of the school building?
Could it be that she didn't want to give him sweets, but had some other secret to share?
"Sure, let's go."
"Y-Yesh... th-thank yuh..."
With the stammering girl, Will headed to the back of the school building.
Watching the two of them walk away, a male classmate whistled and teased them.