The Academy's Doomed Side Character-Chapter 224: Confession [3]

"I guess, I owe Cadet Rin Evans my life?"

I tilted my head, a bit unsure. "I don’t know if I’d call it that. I helped. But a savior? Maybe not."

She looked at me a little longer, then chuckled. "Still. Thank you."

The silence that followed was a quiet sort of peace—one born not from comfort, but from shared weight.

The Chairman leaned back in her seat, fingers folded neatly atop the table. Her expression was no longer cracked or grieving. Instead, it settled into something composed—something resolute.

Then soon enough, Chairman said.

"You seems to have lots of useless thought."

I couldn’t help but blink my eyes in surprised.

"Sorry....?"

I wasn’t expecting that right after she said me thanks

Chairman just smiled and continued, "it’s seems knowing the future is not that good."

Ahh....So that’s what she was trying to say.

I gave a small, awkward chuckle and leaned back in my chair, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Yeah... you’re not wrong."

The Chairman tapped her fingers on the table, the slight rhythm strangely soothing.

Her gaze had softened now—not relaxed, but no longer burdened by that same crushing weight. It was the look of someone who had finally accepted the past... and was already calculating the next step forward.

"I don’t envy you, Rin," she said. "Carrying this kind of knowledge... knowing what will happen, or might happen... it’s no blessing. Not for someone your age."

I glanced at her. There was a strange, almost parental concern in her tone, which caught me off guard.

"Maybe not," I admitted. "But if it means keeping everyone safe—even just one person—then I can bear it."

She tilted her head at that, as though weighing my words.

"That kind of resolve..." she murmured. "Just don’t lose yourself in the process."

I nodded quietly.

There was a brief silence before she leaned back in her chair, the wooden legs creaking beneath her like they, too, were exhausted.

"Well then," she said, her tone shifting to something lighter, "how about we both stop brooding and get back to our responsibilities? You still have classes to attend, don’t you?" 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Unfortunately," I muttered under my breath.

She let out a quiet chuckle.

"And Rin?" she added.

I looked up at her, expecting another tease—but her expression was softer now.

"I’ll handle the reward. As for the public announcement, I’m sorry but..."

"I’d prefer you didn’t announce it," I cut in quickly. "And I don’t need any reward, either. Honestly... I already took some of his relics for myself."

"...I see."

Her smile wavered for a second, replaced by something harder to read. A flash of bitterness, maybe? I wasn’t sure if it was directed at me or at the villain we had just taken down.

But it passed.

The conversation had run its course. The report was done, I’d given my warning, and there was nothing else that needed to be said.

I stood up, ready to head out—relieved, really. But as I turned to leave, the Chairman’s voice called out again.

"Cadet Rin Evans."

"Yes?" I stopped mid-step.

"I’ll assume you didn’t ask for help this time because the situation left you no other choice."

"...Yes?" I blinked. "Yes, that’s right."

"Good. Just make sure next time, unless it’s a situation like this, that you do ask for help."

"Of course," I replied, trying to sound natural. "I’m not the kind of person who goes around handling everything solo."

Not anymore, anyway.

I froze for a second as her words caught up to me.

"I don’t believe you," the Chairman said plainly, her gaze never once wavering.

The door was still slightly ajar in my hand, but my fingers slackened.

"...What?"

She didn’t smile, didn’t smirk—there was no teasing in her voice, no hint of playfulness like earlier. Just quiet, certain honesty.

"You said you’re not the type to handle things alone anymore."

She leaned her chin on her hand, fingers tapping lightly against her cheek.

"But I don’t buy that."

I blinked once. Then twice.

I wasn’t sure what to say—because honestly, I didn’t know if she was wrong.

"...Well," I started, my voice coming out slower than usual, "you’re not entirely off the mark."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, not in judgment, but as if inviting me to continue.

I shut the door gently and turned back to her, leaning against it.

"It’s not like I want to deal with things alone. That’s not the goal," I admitted. "It’s just that sometimes... when something bad happens, I’m the one who’s already there. The one who knows. So I act."

There was a pause.

"I guess I still haven’t figured out how to ask for help when I’ve already convinced myself it’ll be too late."

She nodded. Not slowly, not quickly—just once, a calm gesture of understanding.

"That," she said, "is the exact reason I worry about you."

I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but nothing came out for a second.

Then I asked, "Is it really that bad?"

"Not yet," she replied, "but it will be. Eventually. That’s not a curse or a warning, just reality. You’ve taken on too much weight for one person. Even heroes don’t walk alone."

I swallowed.

Her words weren’t cruel. But they cut deeper because of how gently they were spoken.

"I understand," I said, quieter now. "I’ll try to do better."

That earned me a faint smile.

"I know you will." She stood up then, brushing off her skirt. "You’re a lot of things, Rin Evans, but you’re not incapable."

I straightened and nodded. It felt like the only thing I could do.

Just before she turned to leave, she paused and glanced over her shoulder.

"Oh—and next time you do end up saving someone, maybe consider telling someone before thw whole building exploded."

Let me tell you, that old building did not explode.

I can’t say for the classroom where my epic bettle took in the place.

I blinked. "Was that sarcasm or a serious order?"

"Yes," she answered simply.

And with that, she walked off, heels clicking softly down the hallway.

I stood there for a moment longer, staring after her, then sighed deeply.

"...I really need a nap."

But even as I muttered that to myself, I knew better.

There would be no nap.

Not today.

Probably not tomorrow either.

Still, I pushed away from the door and started walking again.

One step at a time.

One choice at a time.

Because no matter what she said, I wasn’t alone.

Not anymore.

----

I thought everything was finally wrapped up after I reported to the Chairman.

But no.

Of course not.

Apparently, the universe wasn’t done playing with me yet.

I still had one more thing to take care of.

At this rate, I should be preparing for the upcoming exams, not running around dealing with leftover chaos. But if I blew off this meeting, I knew I’d pay for it later—emotionally, mentally... possibly physically.

So I headed to the café we agreed on. It was a place I frequented often, tucked into a quiet corner of the district.

When I pushed the door open, the scent of roasted beans and warm pastries welcomed me.

Then I spotted her.

Nora Hayes.

Sitting in her usual corner seat by the window, idly stirring her drink.

She looked calm.

Dangerously calm.

Too calm.

It sent a chill down my spine.

But before I could walk over, I noticed the two guys approaching her.

One had blond, sun-kissed hair and a cocky grin. The other had squinty eyes and that annoying aura of someone who thinks they’re smooth.

"If you’re alone, wanna hang out with us?" Blondie said, flashing his teeth.

"Want a drink? It’s on us," the squinty-eyed one added.

I froze.

Oh no.

Oh no no no.

Do they not see the red flags? The quiet aura of death? The pink-haired yandere with a black ribbon in her latte?

I glanced nervously at Nora. Her eyes didn’t even shift to them.

She was still smiling faintly.

Then I saw it.

Her hand.

It moved.

Smoothly. Silently.

Towards the fork on her plate.

Her fingers wrapped around it.

Oh, hell.

She’s going to do it.

She’s going to stab them with a goddamn dessert fork in broad daylight.

No, Nora! You’re supposed to do this kind of stuff in the dark! In alleyways! Like a proper yandere!

I rushed over before she could turn this café into a crime scene.

"Hey—sorry I’m late," I said quickly, sliding into the seat across from her like my life depended on it. Which, let’s be honest, it probably did.

Her smile shifted. Genuine fake now. Calm again.

"Oh, you’re here," she said sweetly, setting the fork back down.

The two guys blinked.

"Wait, you’re with him?" Blondie asked.

Nora just tilted her head, still smiling.

They took the hint.

They left.

Fast.

Smart.

Very smart.

I let out a sigh of relief as I slumped into the chair, wiping the cold sweat from my forehead.

This café had great coffee, sure.

But being around Nora?

That was always the real caffeine hit.