“Hmph, Kent. If you don’t have a place to sit, please sit here,” Josette said.
Having grasped the situation, Josette, blushing slightly, sat in her own seat a little further from the desk and patted her lap, inviting him.
“Lucky you, Kent. I’ve always admired that kind of situation,” Bobby said, looking envious. However, Bobby already had Prim as his girlfriend, so Kent couldn’t understand why he was envious.
“Kent, you don’t get it. This is only possible because your girlfriend is in the same class. So what? Should I tell them to go to the first-year classroom and do it?”
prompted by Bobby’s words, Kent imagined going to Caro’s classroom and doing the same thing.
“Kent, please sit on my lap.”
Caro patted her lap and told him to sit. Glancing around, he saw Caro’s classmates looking at him with contempt.
“Impossible,” Kent quickly concluded. At the moment, all eyes in the class were on Patty, and Patty’s seat was in the very front, while Josette’s was in the very back, far apart. Therefore, even if he were sitting on Josette’s lap, he wouldn’t be noticed. In that sense, it was the perfect chance.
“Well then, excuse me for a moment.”
“Kent, on my lap, oh, I’m so touched!”
“Hey, are you ignoring my existence?”
Kent and Josette were being affectionate in front of Bobby. In reality, Kent only sat on Josette’s lap for a brief moment before the homeroom bell rang, but both of them felt a little happier.
“Yes, yes. Homeroom time has started. Kent, don’t just sit on your girlfriend forever, go back to your seat.”
As the bell rang, Teacher Tia entered the classroom. She looked at Kent with a slight frown and called him by name, telling him to return to his seat. At her words, all eyes in the classroom instantly turned to Kent and Josette, causing a commotion.
“Good morning, Kent.”
“Good morning. It was a tough morning, wasn’t it? I have so many things I want to report since I haven’t seen you since then.”
As Kent sat down, Patty, who was in the next seat, spoke to him. It had been since the day they infiltrated the castle that Kent last spoke with her.
“It’s homeroom right now. Keep your voices down.”
Since the teacher’s desk was right in front of Kent and Patty, Teacher Tia, standing at the podium, could hear their conversation perfectly. Perhaps out of consideration for the others, she admonished Kent and Patty in a low voice.
“How was everyone’s winter break? The new semester starts today. Let’s buckle down and do our best. Oh, that’s right. Suddenly, we will be having an academic test right after this. I’m sure you all studied hard during winter break. This test is equivalent to the midterm exam for the third semester, so please do your best not to get a failing grade.”
“Ehhhhh!”
A loud outcry erupted from the entire class at Teacher Tia’s sudden announcement. Similar shouts could be heard from other classrooms.
“I didn’t know… I haven’t studied anything.”
Patty, in the next seat, turned pale. Patty had not been present when Teacher Tia announced that there would be a test at the beginning of the new semester. Moreover, she hadn’t seen Kent and his companions until today, so it seemed this was the first time she had heard about the test.
“Yes, yes. Quiet down. We’ll start during the next period, so everyone get ready.”
With that, Teacher Tia left the classroom. After homeroom ended, the lively atmosphere that preceded it abruptly shifted, and everyone simultaneously began studying for the exam subjects. It was uncertain how much could be crammed into their heads in such a short time, but the quiet break time passed.
“Alright, I’ll start handing them out now. Keep your question papers face down until the signal to begin.”
The bell signaling the start of the test rang, and Teacher Tia entered the classroom with a stack of papers. She began distributing the question papers and answer sheets.
“Everyone has received them. Alright, begin!”
With preparations complete and everyone holding their pens, the surprise test commenced.
“Big brother, how was the morning test?”
“About the same as usual.”
It was lunchtime, and Kent had come to the usual spot behind the school building. Winter had set in, making it harsh to spend time outdoors, but this was where Kent, along with Rachel, Caro, and Josette, felt at ease. For a bit of warmth, they had placed a portable gas stove, but it was still cold outside. Since it was troublesome to prepare everything each time, they had secretly built a small storage shed behind some bushes, where they kept the necessary supplies for lunchtime. After preparing lunch, Rachel asked Kent about the results of the morning test.
“My class was in an uproar. However, I was really helped when Rachel told me. But I feel bad since I’m the only one who knows among my classmates,” Caro said with a complicated expression.
“I merely overheard it by chance; I did nothing improper. Right, Kent?”
“Well, yes. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Josette said this with a confident air. Kent also agreed with Josette’s statement, as he hadn’t done anything improper either, just found out about the surprise test.
“That’s right, Caro. You don’t need to worry so much,” Rachel said, trying to comfort Caro, who looked uneasy. However, from Caro’s expression, she didn’t seem convinced.
“Let’s eat lunch first. We can think about it after we’re done.”
“Understood. Let’s do that.”
When Kent urged them to eat first and think later, Caro decided to stop thinking and comply.
“Still, I wish there was a warm place somewhere indoors. I can endure it because it’s comfortable, but it’s cold!”
“I know what you mean.”
After lunch, Rachel said, shivering. Kent was thinking the same thing and was looking for a good solution.
“Is that so? I’m fine even with just this single stove,” Josette said.
“I agree with Josette, Your Highness,” Caro chimed in.
However, Josette and Caro seemed content even with just one stove.
“Hmm, once you get used to a comfortable life, you can’t go back, can you?”
“Exactly.”
Kent and Rachel, who had suddenly been forced into a less convenient life after living comfortably in their previous world, realized they needed to adapt to this environment.
“Kent, if you’re that cold, I’ll warm you up,” Josette said.
“I’ll help too,” Caro added.
Josette and Caro sat next to Kent, pressing their bodies close to him. He could feel the soft warmth from them, and a sweet, distinct scent of femininity tickled his nose.
“Kent, you’ll be warmer now,” Josette said.
“How is it? Are you not cold anymore?” Caro asked, leaning her face towards Kent invitingly.
“It’s unfair to leave me out. Let me join too. Here goes!”
“Uwah!”
“Kyaaa!”
“R-Rachel, I can’t hold on!”
Rachel, disliking being left out, leaped at Kent. With that momentum, they lost their balance and all fell off the bench, leaving Josette, Caro, and Rachel on top of Kent.
“Oof, heavy,” Kent groaned, with the weight of three people on him.
“Big brother, you shouldn’t say you’re heavy to a girl,” Rachel said.
“That’s right. Kent, I also take care of myself daily, so please don’t say such things. It hurts,” Caro protested.
“…”
Rachel and Caro protested against Kent.
“Alright, alright. Caro, I’ll pull you,” Rachel said.
“Thanks, Rachel,” Caro replied.
Then, Rachel stood up first and pulled Caro up by the hand.
“Heavy, heavy, heavy…”
However, Josette continued to mutter as if reciting a spell and didn’t try to get off Kent.
“Aaaah! I hadn’t really thought about it, but considering how much I’ve been eating, it must have increased a lot. W-What should I do?”
“Um, Josette?”
“Y-Yes? What is it, Kent?”
Josette’s inner turmoil seemed to be spilling out. Kent spoke to the flustered Josette.
“You’re not heavy, Josette. I only said that because there were three of you. If it’s just one, it’s no problem at all. Here, let me give you a piggyback ride.”
“Kya, kya. Kyahaha!”
To prove she wasn’t heavy, Kent lifted Josette, who was on top of him, using his hands and feet in a motion like lifting a small child. Josette laughed as if she had returned to her childhood.
“Cute.”
“You’re wonderful, Josette.”
Rachel and Caro, watching this scene, seemed to be soothed by Josette’s adorable behavior.
“Haa, haa, that was dangerous. I was unexpectedly reminded of when Father used to do that to me when I was little,” said Josette, blushing and looking embarrassed after getting off Kent.
(Duke, he used to do that to young Josette?)
Kent imagined a scene of Josette’s father, the Duke, giving young Josette piggyback rides.
“Well, lunchtime is almost over. Let’s start cleaning up.”
“Yes, let’s.”
“Ah, is it time already?”
“Time flies when you’re having fun.”
As lunchtime drew to a close, Kent and the others began cleaning up to return to their respective classrooms.
