In the classroom, Aesphyra kept her head down, busily occupied with her own affairs, completely ignoring Winnie standing by the doorway, or rather, simply not caring. As if whatever she was doing held far more importance.
No, perhaps it wasn't that her task was truly so crucial, it was simply that there was no one here worth her deliberate attention.
Winnie froze, every planned scenario, every rehearsed line vanishing in an instant. He had imagined countless possibilities, but never this.
Yet with so many people around, Winnie couldn't afford to stand stiffly blocking the classroom entrance. He reluctantly stepped forward, entering the classroom alongside Shikondell.
For some reason, Winnie braced himself and walked up to the tiered seat, feeling as if every gaze in the room was fixed on him, even though that wasn't the case. At this moment, he was unusually sensitive.
As he passed before Aesphyra, clinging to the last thread of hope and a sense of Luck, the stunning silver-haired girl remained just as she had been, completely indifferent, as if the person walking past her wasn't Winnie at all, but merely an unfamiliar male classmate. She showed no reaction.
Winnie knew full well that the moment he entered the classroom, Aesphyra had noticed him. With her sharp perception, there was no way she could've missed his presence. Now it was even more evident, she had known he was here, yet chose to ignore him completely, offering no response, treating him like a total stranger.
Winnie pressed his lips together. He didn't know what stubborn impulse made him pause slightly longer by Aesphyra' desk before finally walking past.
Aesphyra' cold, distant aura, her expression and attitude, left Winnie utterly unable to utter a single word.
He felt as if a lump of lead was lodged in his throat, heavy and suffocating, a torment he couldn't put into words.
Even if he gathered the courage to explain yesterday's incident, the memory flashed through his mind, being coldly rejected by Mirexia in front of everyone, mocked and made a laughingstock, a mere shadow in the crowd. And yet, that was just a tiny fraction of the experiences he'd endured over the past decade.
He'd gone through far too many similar moments. Human indifference was the flavor he knew best. The more he experienced it, the more he feared it.
He feared that his feelings had always been one-sided, afraid that the fragile warmth he'd finally mustered would shatter instantly upon meeting reality.
That sensation, like an icy blade piercing straight through the heart, freezing to the bone, agonizing beyond words.
The courage he'd gathered was instantly shattered by over ten years of bitter life experiences.
That saying was indeed true: a happy person is healed by their childhood for a lifetime; an unhappy person spends their entire life healing from it.
And so, they missed each other, neither saying a single word.
This had never happened before.
Aesphyra, she who would always tease him, provoke him, mock his behavior for her own amusement whenever she saw him, this was the first time she had completely ignored him, the first time she'd been this cold.
Winnie didn't know what he was feeling right now. All he knew was that after sitting down, he was dazed, unable to focus on anything. When the teacher called on him to answer a question, he stood there blankly, unable to utter a single word.
Fortunately, given his recent academic improvement and decent exam scores, the teacher didn't scold him, simply prompted him to pay attention before letting him sit down.
And Aesphyra, she didn't spare him a single glance the entire time. Not even when he was called upon and failed to answer, she didn't cast him so much as a look, not even her usual teasing expression.
It was as if he simply didn't exist, every past interaction between them was fake, a fleeting dream, something that never truly happened.
Winnie opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing. He simply sat silently at his desk, physically present but mentally absent.
The morning classes ended.
Winnie, in a daze, left the classroom accompanied by Shikondell, and seems still not fully recovered.
“Winnie, are you... really alright?” Shikondell asked with deep concern as they stepped out of the classroom.
“I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me,” Winnie replied after a long silence, shaking his head heavily, though his demeanor offered no convincing proof.
“Really?” Shikondell clasped her hands over her chest, her deer-like eyes brimming with worry. Clearly, she didn't believe him.
She had sensed something was off with Winnie ever since dinner last night, but he seemed unwilling to talk about it, leaving her only to guess.
“Dell, let's head back. Go eat, then rest well, we still have afternoon classes,” Winnie said but his voice strained.
“Winnie, are you hungry? Okay, I understand, but we don't have afternoon classes today, you know?” Shikondell said, puzzled. “Didn't Winnie receive the notice?”
“Notice?” Winnie looked blank. He'd been busy dealing with Miren all yesterday and hadn't noticed any announcements.
“Yes, the notice said today is the Festival of Amoriel, so we have a half-day off,” Shikondell recalled. “Also, the academy is hosting a free cooking class this afternoon, specifically teaching how to make the Festival of Amoriel chocolate. Even those who already know how to make can also attend, the academy provides all materials. Although... it's for girls only.”
Does that mean boys can't participate??
“So, boys really can't join?” Winnie asked, his tone somewhat lifeless.
“Apparently, the cooking instructor is afraid the boys might blow up the kitchen,” Shikondell mused.
“By the way, Winnie, what exactly is the Festival of Amoriel chocolate?” Shikondell asked curiously.
“Well, Dell, you know what the Festival of Amoriel is, right?”
“Mm, Winnie told me before, so I have a rough idea.”
“Right. Giving chocolate is closely tied to the festival's meaning. To put it simply, girls make chocolate by hand and give it to boys they like. It's a token of their feelings. As for what kind of feelings... I don't need to spell that out, do I?” Winnie explained.
“Eh? Ehhh?! So that's how it is?!” Shikondell's beautiful eyes broadened in surprise, another piece of knowledge acquired. “That's why girls have to make chocolate.”
“Exactly. Handmade chocolate carries a completely different meaning from store-bought ones,” Winnie said.
“Then... Winnie, have you received chocolate from other girls?” Shikondell asked cautiously.
“Me?” Winnie pointed at himself, exasperated. “Dell, do I look like someone who's received chocolate from a girl?”
“If I actually got any, I'd already be bragging about it until the whole class knew.”
“So... is Winnie upset and distracted all day because he didn't receive even a single piece of chocolate for the Festival of Amoriel?” Shikondell thought she'd uncovered the reason for Winnie's bad mood, unaware that anyone else would've taken her words as a deliberate stab to the heart.
“Dell, that really hurts, you know??” Winnie couldn't help but protest. “Even if it's true, do you have to say it so bluntly? What if our classmates hear you??”
“But Winnie, it's common knowledge that you didn't receive any chocolate from girls, isn't it?” Shikondell asked, truly confused.
Winnie clutched his chest again, looking wounded, her words felt like she was saying, 'Of course you didn't get any chocolate, it's just an accepted fact. Isn't that how it should be?'
Although Winnie knew Shikondell was just an innocent airhead, this was all unintentional on her part.
"Dell, what are you saying? How could someone as spirited, handsome, and dignified as me fail to receive chocolate from girls?!" Winnie retorted indignantly. “It's not even the end of the day yet, why are you jumping to conclusions? Why the rush?”
“U-uh,” Shikondell shrank back slightly, meekly. “I'm not rushing, Winnie.”
"..." Winnie fell silent.
“What I mean is, Winnie, if you truly care about receiving handmade chocolate, then... I could make one for you,” Shikondell said, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush, like a shy, unripe fruit.
“Dell,” Winnie murmured.
Although Shikondell was truly a girl, her public identity was still that of a boy.
Great. No chocolate from girls, but already getting chocolate from a boy.
“Dell, can you even make chocolate?”
No.
"Then how?"
“I can learn!” Shikondell replied, overjoyed that Winnie was willing to accept her chocolate.
“But Dell, the Amoriel cooking class is for girls only?”
“It's okay, I can buy a book and learn! I'll definitely make it before tonight!” Shikondell declared earnestly.
“Thank you, Dell.” Seeing Shikondell so sincere and determined, Winnie felt deeply moved.
At least, someone was willing to care for him.
His mood lifted slightly.
The two returned to their dorm and ate lunch. Winnie wanted to take a walk to clear his mind and think things over. On the way, he ran into Fred.
"Whoa? Brother Winnie, on a holiday like this, why aren't you resting in the dorm? Where are you off to?" Fred asked. “Wandering around the streets like this, waiting for love?”
"None of your business. What if I am? So what?" Winnie shot Fred a glare.
“In that case, you might as well head back now. You've been walking around forever and still come back empty-handed, not even one chocolate. Looks like you're out of luck,” Fred joked.
“And you? Did you get any?” Winnie raised an eyebrow. “You're also coming back with nothing.”
“I'm not out here collecting chocolate,” Fred grinned.
“Then what are you here for?”
“Hey, Brother Winnie, didn't you know there's a cooking class today teaching how to make Amoriel chocolate?” Fred said.
“Of course I know, but are you a girl? Why would you go?”
Fred just smirked mysteriously. “Ah, forget it. I don't have time to explain to someone as weird as you. You've got a girl chasing after you, our top campus beauty, no less, and yet you're walking around with a gloomy face on a festival day. Why don't you go find that Imperial Princess instead?”
“Tch, mind your own business. I'll do as I please.”
“Brother Winnie, what's with you today? You sound kinda off. Ah, forget it, I don't have time for this. I gotta rush to the Third Lecture Hall,” Fred said, then hurried off.
“Third Lecture Hall?” Winnie frowned.
Was the cooking class being held there?
Well, it didn't matter, it had nothing to do with him anyway.
Yet, despite thinking that, Winnie found himself inexplicably heading toward the Third Lecture Hall.
Just to see the commotion, that's all.
That's what he told himself as he approached. Even from a distance, he could smell the scent of sugar and milk. The classroom hosting the event was obvious, the noise alone gave it away. One after another, the rooms buzzed with activity.
After all, even girls who already know how to make chocolate will come here, tools, stoves, ingredients all provided for free, plus professional guidance. It was clearly the best choice.
Winnie didn't enter through the front door. Instead, he peered through the window. Inside, it was bustling, many girls busily working at small cooking stations, stirring milk and powder, while the cooking instructor moved about, offering guidance.
Hmm, quite lively indeed.
For some reason, as Winnie watched, he found the process strangely fascinating, even though he'd never cared about cooking before.
After watching for a while, Winnie decided to leave. But just as he turned, he caught sight of a familiar silver figure inside.
That was, ?
Winnie froze, staring in disbelief. He hadn't been mistaken.
Among the girls making chocolate, the elegant, silver-haired girl stood out clearly.
Aesphyra, today, had her long hair tied up in a high ponytail with a black ribbon, likely for convenience while cooking. Her movements were smooth and confident, showing no sign of being a beginner.
Aesphyra seemed unable to be bad at anything. Even in culinary skills, she shone brilliantly, or perhaps, for a genius like her, this was simply too trivial to even require effort.
Seeing this, Winnie bit his lip.
She didn't say a word to him in class, and now after school, she came straight here to make chocolate? Without any prior indication?
So... who was she making this Festival of Amoriel chocolate for?
At that thought, a familiar sourness welled up in Winnie's chest.
No need to guess, it must be for some beautiful girl, right?
She's Iron Blooded Lesbian, unless she's chasing after some campus beauty, what else would motivate her?
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