“Huh. So you went out with your older brother yesterday. That’s why the call didn’t connect, huh?”
Kent, after parting ways with Sophie, returned to preparing for the bakery’s opening, and Marie’s Bakery resumed its usual business. As the time to head to school approached, Kent and his companions decided to wrap up their morning work and make their way to the academy. On the way, Rachel was asking Caro why she couldn’t connect with her yesterday.
“I’m sorry, I was out of town.”
“It can’t be helped, you can’t use your phone outside the town.”
The smartphones that Caro and Rachel possess depend on Emily’s ability, which functions as a base station. Therefore, calls are only possible within the town. In their current lifestyle, they rarely leave town unless there’s a very good reason, so this limitation doesn’t normally interfere with daily life. However, when they go out like this, they become unable to communicate and get out of touch. Incidentally, even when away from town, Kent’s device and Emily’s device could communicate with each other because their specifications were different, allowing for mutual calls.
“So, where did you go with your older brother?”
“Um, Mount Berg.”
“Ah, about an hour away by carriage, right? I’ve been there before too.”
“Wow. Rachel, you’ve been there before too?”
Kent hadn’t known about Mount Berg, but Rachel seemed to be familiar with it. Kent chimed into their conversation and asked Rachel.
“People sometimes feel like looking down on others, you know. That place is convenient because you can easily get to the summit.”
“It was certainly easy to go up.”
Kent somehow understood what Rachel was trying to say.
“Kent, did you go to Mount Berg with Caro-san? I wish I had been invited.”
“Josette-sama, I apologize. We decided yesterday on short notice.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. We went to the art museum together the day before, so I’ll let it go at that.”
Josette, who had overheard their conversation, seemed disappointed that she couldn’t join them.
“Come to think of it, Gordon went to the art museum with you guys too, right?”
“Originally, it was to help Sophie find a job. Gordon seemed to feel a responsibility to see it through to the end.”
“That sounds like Gordon.”
Patty seemed to have heard about the museum visit from Gordon. Kent had told her the reason he accompanied them, but she seemed to know that too.
“Well, this is as far as we go. Caro, let’s go.”
“Yes! Well then, Kent-san, Josette-sama, Patty-san, we’ll be going now.”
Upon entering the academy building, they parted ways with the first-year class, and Kent and his companions headed to their own classroom.
“Ah, sorry. I just remembered something I need to do. You guys go ahead.”
“Is that so? If you have something to do, then it can’t be helped.”
“Understood. I’ll go on ahead.”
As Kent ascended the stairs, he suddenly remembered something. After telling Josette and Patty to go on ahead, Kent headed to a certain place.
“I should have gone before leaving the shop.”
The place Kent headed to was the men’s restroom. As it was the beginning of the week, the shop had been busy, and he hadn’t had a moment to go. Remembering this, he suddenly felt the urge to urinate. Kent hurried into the men’s restroom.
*Clatter clatter*
“Hoooh.”
Kent took out his ‘son’ from his pants and began to relieve himself with force into the urinal.
“Good morning, Kent.”
“Good morning, Gordon.”
Just then, someone stood at the adjacent urinal and greeted Kent. He glanced over to see who it was and found it was Gordon.
*Clatter clatter*
“Even princes have to use the toilet, huh?”
“Well, when you’re alive, things come out. Hoo.”
Next to Kent, Gordon was taking out his ‘son’ from his pants. He then gave a little shiver, and began to ‘release’ a little trickle. The sight struck Kent as strange. It was like the common perception that idols don’t use the toilet, but seeing Gordon like this, Kent was reminded that Gordon was indeed human.
“It’s good that Sophie’s job hunting is settled for the time being.”
“Yeah. Thanks for sticking with it until the end, Gordon.”
“In the end, I wasn’t of any use at all.”
While relieving themselves, Kent and Gordon discussed the events of two days prior.
“Well, see you later.”
“Yeah, see you.”
Having finished his business, Kent parted ways with Gordon, whom he had coincidentally met in the restroom, and decided to return to his classroom.
“Kent-san, welcome back. I was worried you wouldn’t make it back before homeroom started.”
“Patty-san, I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“Oh no, I was just worrying on my own, so please don’t mind me.”
As Kent entered the classroom and sat at his desk to prepare, Patty next to him struck up a conversation. For a while after that, Kent continued his preparations while engaging in some light small talk with her.
*Clang clang*
Just then, the bell signaling the start of homeroom rang.
“Alright, everyone. Please take your seats. We’ll begin the morning homeroom. The monitor, please give the command.”
“Attention, ready, bow.”
“Good morning!”
“Seated!”
As the bell rang, their homeroom teacher, Tia, entered the classroom. The monitor gave the command, and the morning homeroom began.
“First, I will announce a partial change to today’s schedule.”
In most cases, homeroom was just a formality and ended quickly. However, this day, there were surprisingly many announcements, and Tia opened the planner she was holding and began to speak in front of everyone.
“Next, there are still students who have not submitted the items due by tomorrow…”
“…and that’s largely it. Oh, one last thing I almost forgot. Patty-san, Josette-san, I apologize in advance, but could you come to the principal’s office during lunch break? The principal wishes to speak with you. It seems the principal has prepared lunch.”
“Understood.”
“I shall be there.”
At the end of homeroom, Patty and Josette were instructed to go to the principal’s office during lunch break.
“Well then, let’s do our best today. Oh, no need for the command; you can start preparing for the next class now.”
Tia said this and left the classroom, ending homeroom.
“Queen, I wonder what she wants?”
“Hmm, I have no idea, even if you ask me.”
Patty asked Kent, but Kent had no clue as to why they were being summoned.
“Kent-san, is everything alright?”
“Huh? It’s unusual for Caro-san to come to this classroom. And Rachel too.”
“Older bro… no, Kent-san, don’t talk about me like I’m just an extra.”
A little while after homeroom ended, Caro and Rachel, which was unusual for this time of day, visited the classroom. Rachel almost called him “older brother” as usual, but corrected herself to use his name due to the presence of their classmates.
“Actually, during lunch break today, we’ve been asked to go to the principal’s office, so we won’t be able to join you for lunch.”
“That’s right. If only you had told us a bit earlier, but it’s too sudden, isn’t it?”
“Caro-san and Rachel-san are also being summoned? Patty-san and Josette-san and us too.”
Caro and Rachel explained that, like Patty and Josette, they had been summoned to the principal’s office during lunch break.
“To be summoned so suddenly, I can’t even imagine what it could be about.”
“Kya!”
“Y-you surprised me.”
Josette had joined the conversation at some point, startling Caro and Rachel.
“I see, so everyone’s being summoned. Well then, I’ll just grab lunch by myself.”
The plan to gather behind the school building during lunch break was canceled for today.
