“According to what I’ve heard from some seniors in the fifth and sixth years, Anna Kaplin used to be quite popular in the very beginning.”

On a bench by the roadside, Muen sat quietly at the far end, listening to the information Senior Fanny had gathered for him.

“After all, she’s beautiful and would often help people without asking for anything in return. Back then, there were quite a few people who liked her—many young lords from noble families even pursued her.”

“Then... why does she have such a bad reputation?” Muen asked in puzzlement. “I remember you saying before that the upper years didn’t think too highly of her.”

“Probably... because she rejected all of them.”

Senior Fanny said,

“I’ve never had much contact with Anna Kaplin myself, but from the information I’ve gathered, she’s a very hard-to-read person.”

“I agree with that,” Muen nodded slightly.

“She’s very interested in other people’s romances, often going out of her way to match them up. But when people confess to her, she avoids them like the plague—sometimes even using a strange excuse like ‘I don’t believe in love’ to reject them. Over time, those people felt they’d been toyed with, and started spreading rumors about her—saying she’s beautiful on the outside but as venomous as a snake on the inside, and takes pleasure in playing with others’ feelings.”

“But those are just rumors.”

“Yes, just rumors.”

At this, Senior Fanny suddenly stood up and apologized to Muen.

“I’m very sorry. I repeated some of those rumors about Anna before, just because of a bit of gossip from others. Like you said, unless you’ve seen it with your own eyes, you shouldn’t believe that sort of thing.”

“Don’t worry about it. You didn’t say much back then, and even if you did want to apologize, shouldn’t it be to Senior Anna herself?”

Muen smiled and waved it off.

“That’s true.”

Senior Fanny nodded, then let her gaze sweep over Muen’s face, a trace of suspicion appearing in her eyes.

“Muen...”

“Mm?”

“Why do I feel... like hearing all this has made you very happy?”

“Happy? Mm... maybe a little. Knowing certain important things has made me more determined about what I’m going to do next. What did you think my reaction would be?”

“I thought you’d be angry.”

Senior Fanny blinked.

“I figured you’d rush off and beat up everyone who badmouthed Anna Kaplin.”

“Well, I did think about that at first. But now’s not the time. I have more important things to do.” Muen shook his head indifferently. “They’re just a bunch of losers who probably haven’t even seen her smile. Why would I care about them?”

“As expected of the Academy’s notorious playboy—such composure.”

“Haha, Senior Fanny, please don’t tease me.”

Muen rose from the bench, smiling as he said his goodbyes.

“That’s enough idle talk for now. Thank you for your help, Senior Fanny. If you ever need anything, come find me. I won’t say anything as distant as ‘I’ll pay you back.’”

“All right. See you then.”

“See you.”

...

...

From behind the heavy clouds, a stubborn ray of sunset spilled down, coating the shadowed city in a soft halo, like the blush on a shy girl’s cheek.

“Evening already?”

Following a familiar route, Muen walked forward.

On the wide road, students poured out of class in groups, heading toward the cafeteria and dorms. The noise, full of energy and life, filled every corner of the campus.

Muen, however, moved against the flow, walking toward the school gates.

Along the way, people occasionally gave him curious looks, but perhaps sensing a certain mood about him, no one interrupted his thoughts.

Until—

“Muen... Muen?”

A familiar voice came from behind.

“Shali?”

Muen turned, surprised, to see the girl still wearing those conspicuous oversized black-rimmed glasses, her hair in braided pigtails.

She was struggling to drag an enormous suitcase, looking like she was going on a trip—completely out of place among the students.

“Muen, what are you doing here?”

Shali’s eyes lit up like a startled deer’s. She hurried over and grabbed his hand.

“Did you come to see me off?”

“See you off...”

Muen frowned slightly, glancing at her suitcase.

“Sorry, I’m just out for a walk. But Shali, with luggage that big—where are you going?”

“Oh, ju... just a walk?”

The light in Shali’s eyes dimmed, a visible drop in her mood.

“Right... I haven’t told anyone about this, so how could you know?”

“This?”

“Actually...”

Shali scratched her cheek, lowering her head as she spoke softly.

“I’m dropping out.”

“Dropping out?”

Muen froze for a moment. Casually, he withdrew his hand from hers and let his gaze sweep over her from head to toe.

“At a time like this?”

“Mm. Something happened at home. I have to go back to help my father.”

“That’s... pretty sudden.”

“Life is always unpredictable, isn’t it?”

Her expression was tinged with sadness.

“Have you filed the application with the school?”

“Of course. Otherwise I wouldn’t be leaving through the front gate.”

“I see.”

Muen nodded, then asked seriously,

“They didn’t question you about anything?”

“Eh? How did you know about that?”

Shali let out a small cry of surprise, then pouted unhappily.

“I don’t even know why. I just went to process my withdrawal, and a bunch of scary people started firing questions at me. They even brought out some kind of magic device that’s supposed to detect lies—it scared me half to death.”

As she spoke, Shali patted her chest in lingering fear. Even through the loose uniform, one could faintly see the heaving of a rather... impressive swell.

“And? Did they find out anything?”

“Mm? Muen, you don’t actually think I’d do anything bad, do you?”

“Of course not.”

Muen smiled gently.

“I’m just worried about you, Shali.”

“I see.”

Her cheeks flushed as she twisted slightly. “Of course they didn’t find anything. I’ve never even killed a bug, let alone done something bad!”

“Shali, you’re amazing.”

“Hehe... being praised by you makes me so happy...”

“Well then—”

Muen’s gaze swept over her once more, as if trying to confirm something—or searching for something.

But this plainly dressed, ordinary-looking girl really didn’t seem to have anything unusual about her.

She had nothing in common with the person in his mind—completely unrelated, even at eight degrees of separation.

Still...

“Please give your father my regards. The food last time was really delicious.” After thinking for a moment, Muen decided not to probe any deeper.

“Th... thank you. I’ll tell him.”

“It’s getting late. I won’t keep you. Goodbye, Shali. Get home safe.”

“Mm. Goodbye, Muen.”

After saying goodbye, Shali turned away, dragging her suitcase, but kept glancing back reluctantly.

And then, as if unable to suppress some feeling in her heart, she suddenly turned fully, her eyes locking onto his. Her voice trembled with nervousness.

“Muen... will we see each other again?”

“See each other?”

Muen met the clear, earnest gaze behind those black frames—without a hint of falsehood—and suddenly smiled.

It was a gentle, warm smile.

Like that ray of sunset, just before it disappeared into the cold night.

“Of course. I think we’ll meet again very soon, Shali.”