By Zephyria 
END
After the first class of the second grade was over, I spent some time exchanging greetings with the kids.
In the process, I learned that a large number of White Class kids had moved up to Red Class in the promotion exam held during this vacation. It seemed that the other kids had been moving forward while I was standing still.
Hearing those stories made me regret not applying for the promotion exam. But anyway, I can take the promotion exam again when the next vacation comes.
The original intention had disappeared, but I was still aiming for Black Class. This was a desire that came purely from the desire to go up as far as I could with my own strength.
‘It’s also too much to think about the immediate future.’
First of all, I wanted to do what I could do now.
As we were talking, I suddenly realized that Herman was nowhere to be seen. I had wanted to meet him ever since I regained my memories. When I asked Tom where Herman had gone, he said that he seemed to be busy handling a request and that he wouldn’t come to school today or would be late.
It was a shame.
But I’ll meet him soon, so there’s no need to be impatient.
I decided to think leisurely, and when the break time came, I called out Zeon, who had been waiting for an answer, separately. Of course, it wasn’t the answer he wanted, but… it wouldn’t be good to make him wait meaninglessly.
“Zeon, follow me for a moment.”
Zeon, who jumped up and followed me, was there. I headed to a quiet garden with him. When there was no one around, Zeon spoke to me first.
“Are you really okay?”
“I’m very okay. As you can see.”
Then I stopped and looked back at him, who was following me. As I let out a chuckle, Zeon, who had been staring at me, also smiled back. He had a somewhat joyful face, so as I was wondering why, Zeon brought up the reason first.
“Master, you’ve become somewhat softer.”
“Really? Do you like this better?”
“I am confident that I will like you no matter what you look like.”
It sounded like he was saying it to make me feel good, but I knew it was sincere.
I quietly smiled at Zeon’s honest and straightforward words, then I composed my expression. The story I was about to tell him wouldn’t be very pleasant.
As if noticing that, Zeon also seemed to be focusing on me.
I slowly faced him and opened my mouth.
“Zeon, the words you told me last time… the words that you liked me, I’m happy about it. But I can’t return a positive to that, I’m sorry. I thought I should tell you this.”
And I told Zeon, at least roughly, about the many things that had happened so far, except for things related to Ardian. I thought it would be easier for him to understand and accept the changes in my mind if I did that.
Zeon listened to my words in silence. After listening to everything, he nodded more calmly than I thought. He didn’t have a disappointed face, and he didn’t seem to be sad.
He only uttered one sentence.
“You’ll still allow me to stay by your side, Monarch, right?”
There was no reason not to accept it gladly.
I smiled and replied.
“Sure. But only as ‘friends,’ not as Monarch and subject.”
“But…”
“Mephisto is dead. I’m Raymond, your classmate, now.”
At my firm tone, Zeon hesitated and then smiled shyly. Then, he asked if he could call me Ray too. It seemed he was secretly envious of how others around me used that affectionate nickname.
Of course, there was no reason to refuse.
I didn’t dislike being called by a friendly and affectionate name either. Moreover, ‘Ray’ wasn’t a special title reserved for anyone in particular, so it didn’t matter.
“Do as you please.”
So, when I gave him permission, Zeon smiled with a delighted expression. He answered my permission with the nickname ‘Ray,’ as if he had wanted to say it at least once.
“Understood, Ray.”
It was so awkward that I burst out laughing without realizing it. And when I thought about what was strange, it seemed the problem was the honorifics. But even if he were to defy me, he had always used formal language, and even now, he didn’t speak informally to those around him, so I couldn’t imagine him using casual speech.
“Just say it once. Like a friend.”
“Umm. Hello… like this?”
“Ahaha.”
“Why are you laughing! You’re teasing me, aren’t you.”
Zeon made a sulky face, so I laughed once more. It seemed difficult to take away the honorifics from Zeon, so I would have to get used to it. It was fine. There was plenty of time left.
‘Time left… about 80 years at most, perhaps.’
After returning from Niflheim with Ardian, we had talked about it. About ending this life together. Because there was no longer any reason to continue living through Soul Transference.
So, this life was the last time I had left.
I didn’t regret it or anything.
Both Ardian and I had already lived through a long time.
“Let’s go in now.”
It was almost time for class. As I got up first, Zeon also nodded and followed. It was then. Just as we were about to enter the central hall, someone was seen coming out.
I was a little surprised to see that face. It was Cloud.
“Hello.”
It seemed he had come to find me with something to say, so I sent Zeon back first and made arrangements to talk with him. As Zeon disappeared back into the lecture hall, Cloud finally opened his mouth.
“It’s been a while. I heard the story. I was worried when I heard you had suddenly disappeared and then returned… but I’m glad you seem alright. Did you meet your family?”
At that question, I nodded.
The first place I went with Ardian after returning was the Valentasia family. I stayed there for a while and then returned to the dormitory a few days ago when I heard the news that classes would resume.
At my affirmation, Cloud narrowed his eyes and smiled.
And he continued in a subtle tone.
“Where were you and what were you doing when you came back? With Ardian?”
As expected, that was what he was most curious about.
I had anticipated it, so I wasn’t too flustered. Putting on a composed expression, I casually brushed off his suspicion and replied.
“We went on a trip together to share our inner thoughts. Very far away. Then, I was surprised when a war suddenly broke out, but fortunately, we were very far away. We waited there for the situation to improve.”
“How far away did you travel that it didn’t catch my Sense Perception?”
“To the land where the dwarves live.”
“Anyway, you were together. Why did you two go?”
“We started dating, you see.”
I lied without batting an eye. No, there were some facts mixed in, so it wasn’t a complete lie. Cloud must have felt that he couldn’t get anything more out of me, so he closed his mouth. If he tried to dig deeper, the situation would become strange.
In the end, he let out a light sigh.
“Oh. That fox stole a march on me.”
But that wasn’t the answer I had expected. I stared blankly, wondering what he meant by stealing a march, and Cloud playfully raised the corners of his lips and smiled.
“I was going to confess first.”
I felt like I had been hit in the back of the head. For a moment, I didn’t know what to say and just opened and closed my mouth, while Cloud turned around and continued.
“My curiosity is satisfied, so I’ll go back. Ah, you missed this promotion exam, right? Let’s meet at the next promotion exam. Student Raymond should be able to rise to the Black Class easily.”
“…Ah.”
“Then, goodbye.”
Cloud disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared before I could even react. I don’t know if he intended it, but the atmosphere, which had been on the verge of becoming strange due to his prying questions, was muddled.
Was I outmaneuvered?
I let out a small sigh.
Of course, it didn’t seem like he was joking, so his confession bothered me… but since he seemed to be brushing it off lightly, I figured I didn’t have to answer.
I briefly followed the traces of the disappeared Cloud.
Then, before it got too late, I moved my steps to the lecture hall.
☠
That evening, after returning to the dormitory, I sent greetings to my family through the Video Orb. After cutting off contact, I tried to wash up and go to bed early, but something happened that prevented me from doing so.
It was because Ardian returned to the dormitory late at night.
“I thought you said you couldn’t come for a while?”
“I had some time, so I stopped by for a bit. To see you.”
Ardian, smiling beautifully, approached with a happy expression. As he sat down heavily next to me on the bed, his warmth, which tickled my chest, seemed to be transmitted to me. He rested his head on my shoulder and rubbed his forehead against me, acting spoiled.
“Haa. I missed you.”
“We saw each other this morning.”
“I only saw you this morning and then didn’t see you.”
He sure knows how to talk. I chuckled and unconsciously kissed his white, round forehead.
Then, Ardian raised his head and met my eyes. It felt a little dangerous. When I looked into his sparkling eyes, there were times when I wanted to pounce on him like a beast without realizing it.
“Ray, I want to kiss you. Is it okay?”
“…Do as you please.”
“Then, something even more than that?”
And in that conversation, I realized that this guy was the same as me. I felt a sense of stability there. I first kissed the lips of the man who taught me what love was, the man I would cherish for the rest of my life. It was Ardian, who willingly responded to it.
Weight settled on the bed, and warm, melting breaths tangled in the air. It was a love that I was finally facing properly. The most important existence in my long life.
“I love you… Ray.”
So, I returned the same answer to him, who was whispering love.
“Me too.”
Ardian smiled brightly.
I gazed at the most beautiful smile in the world for a long time.