A month feels long, but in reality, it passes in the blink of an eye.
Ruite’s free time—spent entirely on eating, sleeping, and playing throughout the vacation—had finally come to an end.
“Ruite, studying is important, but remember your health comes first. Don’t overdo it.”
“Yes, I will.”
“If it gets too hard or if you feel sick, make sure to contact us, okay?”
Ruite had been standing at the mansion entrance for a full thirty minutes, receiving his parents’ farewells.
A week ago, a letter had arrived from Whitmore Academy.
It stated that the second semester was soon to begin, and students staying off-campus should ensure their return to the dormitories without any scheduling hiccups.
Thus, a day before the end of vacation, Ruite was about to leave the estate to head back to the dorms.
Only after earnestly reassuring the two, who were always worried about their child, was Ruite finally able to step out.
“Young Master, I will escort you to the Academy.”
“Thanks.”
As soon as he boarded the carriage opened by Kio, the wheels rolled vigorously.
While Ruite stared blankly at the passing scenery, he felt a persistent gaze from across him.
Kio was watching him with eyes full of curiosity, as if observing a specimen.
“Kio, why are you looking at me like that?”
“Well, it’s just… something feels a bit different.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you, Young Master.”
Kio began to ponder seriously over what that “something” was.
Then, as if he’d found the answer, he clapped his hands together.
“You’re not complaining!”
“Huh?”
“Last time, when I escorted you after vacation ended, you grumbled so much about having to listen to those dreadful lectures again.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Ruite understand.
Last time, he had been sprawled out in the carriage, pouring out his longing for the vacation that had slipped away.
Since he was heading back in silence this time, it was natural for Kio to find it strange.
“I guess so. This time, the end of vacation doesn’t feel that bad. I wonder why?”
Ruite tossed the question to himself.
Honestly, he only realized he felt that way because Kio had pointed it out.
He had certainly felt regretful last night, but strangely, now that he was actually in the carriage back to the Academy, he felt perfectly fine.
“Maybe you’re looking forward to the new lectures?”
“No, absolutely not. The sky would have to split in two before that happens.”
Enjoying lectures?
That was an impossibility.
When Ruite shook his head firmly, Kio fell back into thought.
“Ah! Then there must be a friend you want to see!”
“That’s also n—”
Ruite stopped mid-sentence.
A friend he wanted to see?
Of course, he liked Magnus, Lona, and Colin, but it wasn’t to the extent that he’d look forward to the end of vacation just to see them.
Yet, the word “no” got stuck in his throat.
“Then it must be Young Master Chester, right?”
“No!”
Ruite practically barked.
Kio, who had mentioned Chester with a somewhat proud expression, flinched and pulled his shoulders back in surprise.
“…Young Master?”
“I… well, it’s just… I’m a third-year now, right? It’s about time I got used to the end of vacations.”
He was surprised at himself for raising his voice. But he was genuinely startled.
When asked if there was a friend he missed, a faint silhouette had formed in his mind.
The figure with jet-black hair and obsidian eyes became crystal clear the moment Kio mentioned the name ‘Chester.’
He couldn’t believe he had naturally thought of Chester.
That’s why he’d been so shocked he shouted without thinking.
After reassuring the restless Kio—who was worried he’d offended his master—the carriage finally arrived at the Academy’s main gate.
“Then, Young Master, good luck this semester!”
“Yeah. Thanks, Kio. Get home safely.”
Ruite stepped through the Academy entrance, leaving Kio’s farewell behind.
Despite not stepping foot here for a month, it didn’t feel awkward at all.
Sure, he’d just blurted out an excuse in the carriage, but he had been attending this place for years.
It would be weirder to find it unfamiliar now.
He saw students here and there on the way to the dorms.
Like Ruite, they were those who had returned a day early.
Just as he entered the dormitory lobby, someone clapped a hand onto Ruite’s shoulder.
Ruite whipped his head around immediately.
“Ruite! Have a good break?”
“…”
The one grinning brightly while gripping his shoulder was Dylan, his precious meal buddy.
“Ruite? Hello? Hey, you’re not sleeping standing up, are you?”
Ruite didn’t react to his friend’s greeting.
Usually, he would have snapped back with, ‘Yeah, long time no see. I did nothing but sleep all break.’
Instead, he stood there blankly, like a man turned to stone.
Dylan went as far as waving an open palm in front of Ruite’s face.
“Dy… Dylan.”
“Oh, he speaks.”
Ruite spoke in a low, sagging voice, grabbing Dylan by both shoulders.
“W-what? What’s wrong with you?”
Dylan was flustered.
Ruite’s complexion looked terrible, as if he’d seen a ghost.
“I think… something’s wrong with my head.”
“What?”
Ruite muttered softly, as if possessed.
Unless something was wrong with his brain, there was no reason he should have naturally assumed the person grabbing his shoulder was Chester.
“You’re acting really weird. Is the shock of vacation ending that big?”
“I think I’m weird too…”
Why did he instinctively think Dylan was Chester? That made no sense.
“But hey friend, this too shall pass… eh? Ruite!”
Dylan, who had no way of knowing Ruite’s inner thoughts, began to offer comfort, but Ruite had already turned around and was walking toward the stairs.
His trudging figure looked almost pitiful.
Ruite went straight to his room and collapsed onto the bed.
Ever since the carriage ride, he felt like a stranger to himself.
The ceiling he stared at was dark since the lights weren’t on.
He gazed into that empty darkness for several minutes.
“Right.”
Ruite suddenly clapped his hands and sat bolt upright.
“Complicated thoughts are best solved by sleeping.”
Muttering to himself, he immediately began preparing for bed.
When thoughts are racing, escaping into sleep is the best remedy.
Perhaps the reason he was having such ridiculous thoughts was simply because his mind was exhausted.
Ruite pulled the blanket up to his neck and closed his eyes.
However, he didn’t realize that plan would have side effects.
When he opened his eyes the next morning, he instinctively knew: the time he was supposed to wake up had long since passed.
With superhuman effort, he finished preparing in five minutes and bolted out of the dorm.
Despite lying down with such conviction last night, he’d struggled to fall asleep.
He’d tossed and turned, waking up repeatedly, until he finally fell into a deep sleep in the early hours of the morning.
And that’s how this mess happened.
If Dylan had thought it strange that Ruite didn’t show up at the dining hall and came to wake him, this wouldn’t have happened—but Dylan likely remembered Ruite’s odd state from yesterday and assumed he just wanted to skip breakfast.
Ruite reflexively tried to enter the main building but swerved at the last second, running toward the Great Hall.
He had almost forgotten that on the first day of a new semester, everyone gathered there to listen to the Principal’s tedious lecture about doing our best.
“Huff…! Haa…”
Arriving in front of the Great Hall, Ruite panted heavily.
Managing to steady his breath just enough, he pushed open the massive doors and crept inside.
“Ruite.”
“…”
He hadn’t expected to go unnoticed, but he’d held a tiny sliver of hope.
He didn’t expect to be caught immediately by Harold, who was standing near the entrance.
“Pr-Professor.”
Harold’s face, usually wearing a smile, was stern.
Ruite gave an awkward smile, doing his best to look as apologetic as possible.
Whether it was the scratching of his head or his nervous eyes, it seemed to work, as Harold let out a small sigh and said, “We’ll talk later. Go stand over there.”
The Principal was currently in the middle of a heated speech about Whitmore’s reputation.
Ruite headed toward the empty spot Harold had pointed out.
As he cut through the rows of students standing at regular intervals, curious glances followed him from all directions.
He felt like a jagged stone sticking out of a neatly paved road.
Only after finally reaching his spot could he breathe a sigh of relief.
He’d never been late once in his entire time at the Academy, yet he’d managed to do it on the first day of the second semester.
Though summer was fading, the sprint here had left him perspiring.
As he wiped his forehead with his sleeve, he locked eyes with the student standing right next to him.
“Latecomer.”
Chester whispered softly after checking to see if the monitoring professors were looking.
“It’s not like I wanted to be late.”
“Then why were you?”
“…I overslept.”
It felt strange to answer that directly to the person who was part of the reason why he’d overslept.
Ruite answered without even looking at Chester.
He wanted to keep his eyes fixed on the Principal’s face, which seemed especially passionate today.
Until the speech ended, Ruite kept his eyes forward—and Chester couldn’t take his eyes off Ruite.
