“Hm? Taetel, where are the other two?” Mitsugi asked, combing his hair.

“Raymond said he was going to be busy with community service. Although he didn’t tell me how many hours, it’s obvious it’ll be at least for ten hours,” I said, leaning against a wall.

“What kind of work is done in community service?”

“Well, it depends. Since it’s a punishment from the academy, he’ll probably be forced to clear an area filled with monsters, magical beasts, that kind of stuff,” I explained.

I scratched my arm, evading the areas causing pain. Turns out they didn’t even bother healing me. Not that I was expecting it, but Mitsugi seems all better. As if they healed him. Ah, it’s probably because they left me off the hook twice.

“I hear those jobs pay quite the sum. Sucks doing an extermination for free,” said Mitsugi as he covered his face, cringing.

I shared a similar feeling on the matter. Although the punishment seems light in some people’s eyes, there are clear benefits for the academy.

Extermination jobs are known to pay pretty well depending on what you're exterminating. So to be forced to work for free knowing the pay, I see why most students don’t oppose the disciplinary committee. And those who do, they try their best to not get caught.

“We should get going. Lingering here won’t do us any good,” I said, ready to leave.

Mitsugi nodded yet took his sweet time combing his hair. He was way too invested when he couldn’t even see his own reflection. I guess he has a lot of confidence in his ability to comb his hair.

Meanwhile I was waiting for Mitsugi to finish, a finger tapped my shoulder. The light tap gained my attention as I turned to the direction of the sensation, my right shoulder.

A girl with short, peach hair and pink eyes smiled at me. Strangely she had a lock of hair on top of her head, it sort of looked like an antenna. I gaze at her with a confused stare, indirectly telling her to explain herself.

“Helena Blair, Class 1-D. Nice to meet my savior!!” The girl exclaimed, way too energetic for someone who got beaten up not too long ago.

Ah, so she’s the student who I was supposed to save. I hadn’t paid much attention to her as I was more focused on finding my opponent’s weaknesses.

Her face had no signs of any injuries, clearly implying the disciplinary committee did something about it. The student in front of me being in Class D does explain why she was easily beaten.

Well, more than anything I’m impressed with her energy. I expected her to be low in spirits. Not that it’s a bad thing, quite the opposite in fact.

“You’re exaggerating. After all, I only got myself beaten up. In the end, I couldn’t save you like I wanted,” I sighed, placing my hands on my pockets.

“Don’t say that! It’s the thought that counts!” she said, obviously trying to cheer me up.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“But did you really get beat up?”

“…?”

She suddenly asked a peculiar question. Helena closed the distance between us, she barely avoided invading my personal space. She gazed at me, scrutinized me. Placing a finger on her lips, she tilted her head in confusion.

“To me, you don’t really look injured except for this,” she said, stretching her hand.

As her hand got closer, a warm soft sensation touched my cheek. The peach haired girl held my cheek, rubbing my cheek. She was definitely talking about the scar on my cheek. It wasn’t noticeable in the first place and it wasn’t from this fight. I firmly held her wrist, earning a tiny yelp from her.

“I could say the same for you. I can’t see a single bruise on your face,” I said.

“Uh, that was because I was healed by someone,” she explained awkwardly.

I forgot I still held onto her wrists so released her from my grasp. “Yeah, that’s the same for me. You’re talking about the student accompanying the girl with lime colored eyes, right?”

Raymond had healed me during the middle of the battle. As such my injuries weren’t as bad as one would expect.

“Yes, yes, she’s the one!” she said, pointing at me.

“So here! I want to thank you for helping me!”

Didn’t we already go through this? I failed to do so, but if she is thankful then by all means show gratitude. That sounded wrong…

Helena put her hand in her pocket. She then held her fist out, not showing what was inside her hand. She pretty much wanted me to accept the gesture.

“I can’t accept it,” I said, shaking my hand.

“Come on! I insist!” she spoke, brightly smiling.

She got closer, grabbing my right hand, and put her fist above my open hand. The girl opened her palm, letting the gift fall onto my palm. Helena closed my hand, slightly pushing my fist to my chest.

“I appreciate the gift.”

I mean, who am I to deny free stuff.

Free.

No payment.

Free of charge.

“It’s my pleasure,” she nodded, giving me a thumbs up. “Well then, see you!”

She waved at me, then proceeded to leave the area. I stood in silence as I held the gift. I opened my palm, revealing a beautiful, alluring piece of jewelry.

The silver adorned the jewelry to a whole new extent. The silver necklace emitted a beautiful glow as it made contact with a ray of light. A beautiful sight to behold.

This must cost a lot, the materials are definitely expensive. But it begs the question, why did she give me this?

Does saving her, which is debatable, really warrant this type of gift? While I’m not complaining, I’m far from convinced. I shouldn’t get something like this for doing a half assed job.

“Woah! How did you get your hands on such expensive jewelry?” Mitsugi shouted, eyes wide.

Had he left? I thought he was right next to me. I shook my head, gently putting the jewelry in my pocket.

“Mitsugi, do people tend to give other people jewelry?” I asked, ignoring his first question.

“Uh, I don’t know,” he answered.

Hm, can’t be let down when you didn’t expect something in the first place.