Cafeteria Chaos and a Prince’s Charm

That first-year student is truly remarkable. From your description, even with the soccer ball acting as a buffer, he should have sustained a significant impact. Yet, he only ended up with a bruise?

Before classes were fully dismissed, Leidi and I left the infirmary early, making our way to the rooftop of the school building to wait for Ruka sister.

After I recounted the recent events, she leaned against the railing, lost in quiet contemplation.

“Perhaps he isn’t human after all…”

It seemed Ruka sister had arrived at a truly astonishing conclusion.

“No way…” I felt a little dazed, yet I couldn’t entirely dismiss Ruka sister’s theory. After all, that guy’s physique was indeed excessively sturdy.

“There are many humans with yokai bloodlines in Japan these days, you know; perhaps he is one of them. I’ll investigate it later. Also, I’m sorry, Xiaobai. My barrier couldn’t detect this kind of situation, and I apologize for not arriving in time.”

“No, no, no, this isn’t your fault at all, Ruka sister.”

If even such unforeseen incidents were to be factored in, I felt it would turn into a situation where Brother Mingdao had conducted a nationwide carpet search before.

“So, Ruka sister, do you think he’s safe for us to be around?” Leidi suddenly interjected.

“If he is indeed human, then he’s certainly no threat. But even if things are as I suspect, it doesn’t seem to be a major issue; most people with yokai bloodlines in Japan are quite law-abiding. And if it came down to a fight, we’d definitely win.” Ruka sister smiled triumphantly, indicating there was nothing to worry about.

“By the way, why didn’t you bring your bento boxes?”

Ruka sister’s words made me freeze for a moment.

The truth was…

“Actually, the guy Xiaobai kicked away is quite handsome, you know. The girls in our class are all very fond of him, and Xiaobai is currently too scared to go back to class,” Leidi explained to Ruka sister, smiling as she did so.

Although Leidi claimed I was overthinking it, I had a distinct feeling that if I went back, I might be torn apart by the enraged girls.

“Eh? That guy is handsome?” Suddenly, I felt Ruka sister’s eyes gleam.

‘I wondered… did that count as a temporary infidelity just now…?’

****

“Hey, look at that! That’s the girl who kicked Prince Aoyama right in the face, apparently sending him to the infirmary!”

I’m truly sorry for sending Prince Aoyama to the infirmary with a single kick… but I absolutely did not kick him in the face!

“She’s just good-looking, but it turns out she’s so wild.”

I’m truly sorry for being so wild…

“Wild? That’s an understatement! I heard she even threw Black Princess during gym class earlier!”

“Aren’t they biological sisters?! Could their relationship be that bad?!”

Wait a minute… isn’t this rumor a bit off? I clearly saved Leidi!

Overwhelmed by fear, Leidi and I ultimately didn’t return to our classroom for our bento boxes after parting ways with Ruka sister. But we couldn’t just starve either, so with heavy hearts, we braced ourselves and headed to the cafeteria for lunch.

As a result, we were pointed at and whispered about by girls on the way, not just once, but repeatedly. Even while queuing for food, we found no peace. The speed at which this news spread was simply astonishing, and the rate at which rumors distorted the truth was equally rapid. It was truly impressive how Leidi managed to endure it all with an utterly indifferent expression.

“Hi~ We meet again.”

Glancing towards the familiar voice in the adjacent line, I saw… sure enough, it was Prince Aoyama, smiling at us with a bandage taped to his face.

And then… sure enough, there was that group of girls from our class again. No, this time, it seemed there was an additional group of girls from Class A.

Stare—

I pretended not to notice…

Stare——

I continued to pretend not to notice…

Stare———

Please stop… I’m practically trembling here…

Stare——————

I suppose I’ll just turn my head away…

Were the girls not even trying to conceal their resentment? Such stares were truly terrifying!

“Leidi Colt, would you mind sitting with us later?” Prince Aoyama asked, smiling as he extended the invitation to Leidi and me.

Leidi offered no reply.

I wanted to retort, ‘Couldn’t you at least read the room?’ Right now, a veritable deluge of gazes was piercing into me!

“Didn’t everyone witness that it was merely an accident? Please, let’s not dwell on it. Resentment hardly serves as elegant foliage to adorn you beautiful flowers.” With a captivating gaze that remained undimmed despite the bandage on his face, Prince Aoyama turned to look at the girls, then shifted his attention to the other girls gossiping around them.

“Yes, Prince Aoyama!” (xN)

“We absolutely won’t do it again!” (xN)

“Ah~ If Prince Aoyama says it’s fine, then it’s fine~” (xN)

“Hiss hiss (sound of drooling)~ Prince Aoyama! Please, you simply must let me sit at the same table as you!” (x1)

The surrounding girls were instantly swayed…

Honestly, their change of heart was faster than turning a page in a book… And that last girl, don’t just wipe your drool; you’re also being targeted by glares, so pay attention…

Good grief… why is this guy so popular with girls?

Never mind…

He did help us, after all; I couldn’t possibly repay his kindness with hostility. I should still thank him.

“Arigato~” I thanked the prince, deliberately affecting a Chinese accent, my expression awkward.

The prince, in turn, gave me a big, sunny smile.

‘Well—I suppose this guy isn’t so bad; I just hope Ruka sister’s prediction doesn’t come true.’

‘Also… it’s really nice to be a popular handsome guy… I’m so jealous…’

Turning back around,

Huh?

Did I do something wrong?!

Leidi, why are you looking at me with such a strange expression!?