The Academy's Terminally Ill Side Character-Chapter 82: Outcast [5]

The stares were starting to get on my nerves.

As I walked toward the cafeteria for lunch, I could feel eyes on me—constantly.

Whenever I looked back, they’d immediately turn away like they’d been caught doing something wrong.

And then it hit me.

’This must be because of Leo.’

Ever since Leo publicly cut ties with Kiera (Not like he had any ties with her), word had spread like wildfire.

Her dirty laundry was out for everyone to see, and now the others were pretending they hadn’t been part of it.

Pretending they hadn’t laughed along.

Pretending they hadn’t called me names or looked down on me just a few days ago.

Pathetic.

Now that Leo had outcasted her, they were scrambling.

Suddenly, I wasn’t the loser anymore—I was the victim.

They were terrified of being next.

Some avoided me completely, not wanting to be associated with Kiera’s former target.

Others... tried to apologize, thinking it might earn them some brownie points with Leo.

Like that one girl—she hadn’t even directly insulted me, just believed what she’d heard.

Still, she came up with her best guilt-stricken expression and said,

"I’m sorry for believing the rumors."

I could’ve ignored her.

I probably should’ve.

But when I saw the way she looked at me—like I was the one making her feel bad—I sighed and just said, "It’s fine."

Didn’t want to look like the villain now, of all times.

Still, I couldn’t help but think: At least it seemed like I’d avoided the infamous "bullying route." One of those classic transmigrator flags—thankfully dodged.

And just as I was about to sit down and enjoy some peace, a shadow loomed in front of me.

"Hey! Here, eat this."

I looked up.

A massive figure stood before me, holding out a tray.

A boar.

Not the animal kind—though the resemblance was impressive.

This was a new species: a bipedal boar, fluent in human speech.

From a distance, he looked suspiciously similar to the one I’d chased around during that chaotic game of tag a while ago.

But we weren’t close.

We weren’t on lunch-sharing terms.

So I had no idea why he was offering me food like we were old war buddies.

Of course, I didn’t touch the plate of food that he gave me.

"I’m sorry for believing the rumors," he said.

"You’re not such a bad guy, after all."

Ah. That again.

What was this guy trying to do? Was this some kind of PR stunt? Did he think if he was nice to me, the professors would see him as a kind soul?

Or maybe he figured siding with me now would get him in Leo’s good books?

Either way, I stared at him for a beat.

"Hey, don’t look at me like that! Look, I even brought you something!"

The boar — flinched a little under my gaze, then hurriedly fumbled around in his pants pocket.

A second later, he pulled out...A packet of potato chips?

I blinked.

Was this... some kind of offering?

Seriously?

I didn’t even have time to react before he shoved the packet into my hands with a bright, goofy smile.

"Here! Take it! These are my treasures, you know. I’m giving you one of my prized packs, so be grateful, haha!"

He tried to sound like he was joking, but it came off awkward and clumsy.

I stared down at the potato chips, unimpressed, then slowly lifted my gaze to glare at him.

He shrank back slightly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Well, anyway! Bye-bye! See you around!"

And with that, he turned and bolted like a man on a mission.

I sighed, staring at the crumpled bag in my hands.

What the hell just happened?

"Hey, what’s wrong? Did that bastard say something again?"

I turned slightly at the familiar voice.

Leona stood there with her arms crossed, her usual scowl softened with concern.

"No," I replied with a shrug, "he just gave me potato chips and said he was sorry."

Leona scoffed.

"Pathetic. And they call themselves heroes? I told them not to believe every rumor they hear. Now the whole damn academy’s saying the girl who started the bullying was the real villain."

"Don’t buy into those rumors too much either," I said.

"Why not? She tried to frame you. That makes her the bad guy, plain and simple."

I stayed quiet.

Sometimes, Leona surprised me.

She always looked like she didn’t care, like she’d punch a wall before having a real conversation.

But moments like these? Maybe she cared more than she let on.

Still, I wasn’t ready to go throwing my own judgment around just yet.

"You’re gonna have to sit through Ryen’s self-righteous speeches during lunch," I muttered.

"Speak of the devil."

Sure enough, I turned to see Ryen and Nora—the pink-haired yandere—making their way over.

A few short greetings passed, and we got our meals.

Nothing noteworthy. Just background noise: chatter, utensils clinking, the smell of steamed rice and fried meat.

We ate and talked about random academy gossip. Dumb rumors. Who fell asleep in history. That kind of thing.

And yet, the longer lunch went on, the more irritated I felt.

Why wasn’t Ryen bringing up Kiera?

He was supposed to hate bullying.

He was supposed to step in.

Where was that classic "main character righteousness"?

Nora and Leona got up after finishing their meals, saying they had class together.

Leaving just me and Ryen.

Alone.

Perfect.

"Hey, Ryen," I said, cutting into the silence between us.

He blinked and turned to me, like I’d pulled him out of some distant thought.

"Hm? What is it?"

"You really hate bullying, don’t you?"

At that, his expression shifted.

His brows furrowed, like he already knew where this conversation was headed.

He let out a quiet sigh.

"Yeah. I do."

He paused. "And what happened to her... it wasn’t right but in the end it was all her fault and she was facing the result of that."

"But?"

C’mon don’t stop there! You have more to say don’t you?

Just say it.

Then he hesitated, like he was choosing his next words carefully.

"But I wasn’t the one who got hurt this time, Rin. You were."

I frowned, confused.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

Ryen looked at me for a moment before speaking again, this time slower... more sincere.

"If I were the one people were talking about behind my back...If I was the one getting blamed and dragged into a mess I didn’t ask for...Then maybe I’d be the one asking the others to let it go and forgive her."

He gave a small, almost helpless chuckle, scratching the back of his head.

"But that’s not what happened. I wasn’t the one she targeted. You were."

His voice softened.

"So... I think the one who gets to decide what happens next—it’s not me. It’s you, Rin. You’re the one she hurt. You’re the one who deserves to choose whether you forgive her... or not."

I stared at him, stunned.

That wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

He was going off script.

He was supposed to rush in with wide eyes and heroic empathy and say, "We have to forgive her!"

He was supposed to take the moral high ground and make everyone feel bad for not doing the same.

But this?

He was giving me the power.

The choice.

He wasn’t trying to be the hero.

He was just... being honest.

And somehow, that messed me up more than if he’d followed the story.

"...Idiot," I muttered.

But I didn’t really mean it.