Chapter 36: An Unexpected Invitation

After dinner, as Liya walked along the tree-lined path of the academy, she still found it a bit strange.

“What exactly did Alice mean? Dinner tomorrow?”

Where to eat? Where to go? When to go? The time and place weren’t arranged at all—how was she supposed to show up? Or had Alice left some secret code?

Recalling the famous novels she’d read in her previous life, Liya subconsciously touched her head.

No, that wasn’t it. Alice hadn’t knocked her on the head, and sneaking out for a midnight snack was too dramatic. It couldn’t be what she was thinking… Shaking her head, Liya stopped obsessing.

After all, they were in the same dorm. It wasn’t a big deal. She could just ask when she got back.

Reaching the dorm entrance, she took out the blindfold she always kept close and put it on. Without any pressure, Liya walked into the girls’ dormitory. In truth, even without the blindfold, it wouldn’t have been a problem.

As it turned out, Liya’s guesses were way off. Perhaps because she’d never been in a girls’ dorm in her past life, she unconsciously conflated how girls behaved in the dorm with how guys did. That gave rise to thoughts like, ‘What if a girl comes visiting with her shoulders bare?’—a notion that, looking back, made her want to slap herself.

In short, even in the dorm, the girls remained reserved. There weren’t any ‘fanservice’ scenes. But for various reasons, Liya insisted on wearing the blindfold while moving around the dorm—it also doubled as training.

“Liya!!!!!”

But this time, before Liya could stride confidently through the door, someone rushed over and pulled her into an embrace. That generous bosom made it hard to breathe… Still, Liya didn’t pull away. Like Alice, the owner of that magnificent chest was also her friend in this life.

“Mmph! Cecilia! That’s enough! I can’t breathe!”

Friend or not, I won’t tolerate death by boobs!

“Oh, thank goodness! You look fine… You scared me!”

“Huh? Of course I’m fine. What’s wrong with you?”

“What do you mean? You fought Yagesi, one of the Twelve Knights! Even though you’re also a Twelve Knight, you were specially promoted. What if you couldn’t win? Yagesi is notorious among the ‘Beasts’ for being ferocious… Glad you’re okay!”

“Ah, ah… Wait, Cecilia, how did you know? My fight with Yagesi…”

“How could I not know? The campus weekly’s special edition today has your battle on the front page! Even though it’s black and white, it’s already spectacular! Look!”

Only then did Liya notice that Cecilia seemed to be holding something in her hand. Campus weekly? Forgetting about her training, Liya hurriedly took off her blindfold and looked at the newspaper Cecilia spread out…

The front page, just as Cecilia said, showed the scene of her duel with Yagesi, who had transformed into a giant werewolf… But who took this?

Logically, aside from Teacher Annie and Alice, there shouldn’t have been anyone else… Unless someone else had been spying without her noticing.

At the thought, Liya’s nerves immediately tightened. Cecilia seemed to notice her mood and patted her shoulder.

“Liya, you’ve only just arrived, so you don’t know yet, but the campus weekly is actually run by a student.”

“A student?”

“Mm. The third of the Twelve Knights. They say her perception is incredible—she can watch the entire academy at any time. Maybe she happened to see your fight.”

“Perception ability… Okay, I see.” Liya nodded, temporarily accepting the explanation. But soon she remembered something else.

“Oh, right, Cecilia, do you have time tomorrow?”

“Huh? I’m free. Tomorrow’s the weekend, after all. Why?”

“Alice invited me out to dinner, but I don’t know where… How about you come along? You’re better at this stuff—you know how to enjoy life. Besides training, I’m useless…”

Unlike Liya and Alice, Cecilia seemed to come from a well-off family and had no academic pressure. So her life was more like that of a typical schoolgirl: shopping, eating, and gaming. In that regard, Cecilia had more experience than Liya and Alice combined.

“Ohhh~? Alice and Liya? Just the two of you?”

“Probably just the two? Did Alice invite someone else?”

“Hehe, hard to say. Alice is a serious person—always previewing or reviewing, not someone who knows how to enjoy life, like you. For her to take the initiative to invite you out… There’s definitely something fishy!” Cecilia declared confidently.

“Is it that serious? That exaggerated?” Liya was puzzled. It was just going out—how could it lead to ‘something fishy’?

“Hehe, you’re still young, you wouldn’t know… Hmph, Alice must have a boyfriend! Yes, that’s it! But she’s too shy to go on a date alone, so she specially called you along as backup… That’s got to be it! I’ve seen through it all!”

Cecilia started muttering to herself, strangely excited.

“Hey, Liya, tell me quickly—how did Alice invite you? Hmm… Was her face red? Did she keep pausing? And in the end, she ran away without explaining clearly?”

Liya stared at Cecilia in shock.

“How did you know?!”

“Bingo! Alice definitely has a boyfriend!” Cecilia concluded firmly.

“Great! This is such gossip… No, such thrills… No, such an opportunity to strengthen our friendship—how could I not join? Liya, tell Alice! Tomorrow at ten, at the dorm entrance, be there or be square! It’s settled!”

“…Huh?”

Alice had invited her first, so why was Cecilia setting the time? Liya found the turn of events strange, but she couldn’t keep up with the logic. It made her wonder if she was getting old…

“It’s up to you, Liya! I’m heading back to get ready! Mm!”

Watching Cecilia’s back as she ran off like the wind, her thumb up and beaming, Liya felt bewildered.

“Oh… So now I go find Alice?”

She muttered to herself. It seemed about right. But weirdly, wasn’t she the one being invited? Why was she the one communicating the time and place? Had something gone wrong…?

Well, taking a walk wouldn’t hurt. After today’s fierce battle, a chance to relax and move around was welcome.

Putting her blindfold back on, Liya found Alice’s room from memory and gently knocked.

“Who is it?”

Alice’s voice came from inside, sounding strangely tense.

“It’s me, Liya.”

“Liya?!!! Ah! Oh! Coming! Wait a moment!”

After a full three minutes, Alice opened the door. Somehow, Liya felt that Alice’s outfit… was unexpectedly formal. The student uniform had not a single wrinkle, and her hair seemed neatly combed. Was Alice this formal even in the dorm?

Or had something happened?

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