"Don't cling to me," I whispered to Claire.
We strolled together down the path to the guest parking lot, pretending to be a couple. However, the girl was practically hanging off my arm, barely moving her own legs.
"I didn't get much sleep," the redhead brushed aside my words. "Besides, you're supposed to be my boyfriend today, so quit complaining and just deal with it!" She then added with feigned annoyance, "Can't even carry a girl to the car!"
Honestly, I felt an urge to give this audacious redhead a light slap, but I held back.
"I'm already carrying your stuff," I pointed out. Besides my small backpack, I was also lugging around a rather bulky purse. What she'd packed for just a day, I had no clue.
"That doesn't count!" Claire dismissed. "And why do you have that sour look on your face? You're walking hand in hand with a girl... a pretty girl, I might add! Instead of looking happy, you look like you've swallowed a lemon."
The past two days had been packed with studying, as we endured three practicals, two colloquia, and four theory tests. On top of that, I had a late-night raig training session yesterday.
Today was our much-anticipated day off. But instead of spending it in bed or doing our thing, we were tagging along with Christian to celebrate Mary's birthday, pretending to be a lovestruck couple. On the bright side, a trip out of the city wasn't all bad. There was even a certain appeal to it; for instance, it'd been a while since I last cooked kebabs. The mere thought of sinking my teeth into juicy meat made my mouth water. In my backpack was a bag of personally marinated meat that I planned to grill for dinner. As Christian assured me, the rented venue had a place for cooking on an open fire, complete with everything needed to light and maintain the coals.
"Kebabs..." I murmured aloud, lost in my gastronomic fantasies.
"Have you lost your mind?!" Claire jabbed me in the side. "I'm all dolled up, walking arm in arm with you, and all you can think about is food!"
"Kebabs are tasty," I defended instead of apologizing.
"Nothing compares to eclairs!" The redhead declared decisively.
I was about to enlighten her on what real food was, but we had reached the end of the path, leading us to the university checkpoint. After showing our badges to security, we left the campus and quickly found ourselves in a public parking lot.
"Smile," Claire hissed irritably, clinging even tighter to my arm.
"I am smiling," I responded.
My smile was genuine. Watching the redhead fussing around, trying to enact her idea of a perfect couple, was, to put it mildly, amusing. I wasn't sure what was going on in her head, but her perceptions about relationships were quite peculiar. According to Claire, a guy should feel overjoyed just because she deigned to give him attention. And her chosen must demonstrate this happiness at every opportunity, while she graciously descended from her heavenly pedestal. Then again, she might just be messing with me, irritating me on purpose. Given her personality, that was entirely possible. She couldn't care less about eclairs when she had the chance to taunt someone and have a good laugh.
"And just what kind of brainless idiot are you?" The redhead persisted in her nagging.
"And why am I the idiot now?" I feigned indignation.
"Because!" She stopped and jabbed a finger into my chest. "Who on earth wears a t-shirt with another girl on it to a date?"
"This isn't just 'another girl', it's a character from a popular comic book!" I too can master the art of indignation.
Regardless of how unhappy the redhead was, I had no plans to take off the t-shirt. It had just arrived yesterday, custom printed with the image I'd ordered: the clan princess in the cockpit of a Mad Dog, a heavy-class mech.
"Popular?" Claire smirked. "There's a website, I'll give you the address. Read the forum... the reviews there will bring you back down to earth real quick!"
Our ongoing squabble was interrupted by Christian, who spotted us and began to wave his arms to grab our attention. He was leaning against the driver's door of a dark grey minivan. The license plate suggested a rental. He'd never mentioned having a driver's license, but he was eighteen and based on his stance, it appeared he'd be the one driving. I can't say I was thrilled about the idea of being in a car with a novice driver, but it seemed there wasn't much of a choice. I couldn't drive anyway - Izao was only seventeen and didn't have his license. Any attempt to take the wheel would undoubtedly raise eyebrows.
"What the hell are you two doing?!" Christian lashed out as we approached. "I saw you over there, bickering! We agreed you two would act like a couple!"
"Hello to you too!" Claire cheerily waved back. "Just so you know, real couples argue more than they coo, so we're just being authentic."
"Where's Mary?" Before Christian could argue, I posed my question.
"She forgot something and went back to her room. She'll be here soon," the dark-haired guy explained. "Put your stuff in the trunk and get in the back."
"Let's put our things away," Claire agreed. "But we won't sit down just yet. Let's have a stroll until your darling shows up."
With that, the redhead girl, after stashing our bags in the car, pulled me towards the fence that marked the beginning of the rocky coastline. Perhaps she simply wanted to enjoy a leisurely walk, or perhaps she wanted to continue our earlier dispute, but Christian disrupted her plans with his question:
"Hey, how did you solve the third additional transformation on yesterday's test?"
"You're really interested in that today?" The redhead seemed surprised.
"Yes," the little crow answered seriously. "My average score has been dropping for the last two weeks. The Count of Runar has already noticed, which he told me directly." He sighed and continued, "And I think I messed up this transformation, which will affect the overall score."
After grilling the guy, Claire and I concluded that he truly made an error.
"You should've been thinking about the test yesterday, not today," the redhead couldn't help but quip. "But yesterday you were preoccupied with today's trip." She pointed skyward. "And today, you're fretting over yesterday's test." She finished up with a heavy sigh, "Where's the logic in that?"
Already worn out by Claire's onslaughts this morning, I made no effort to defend my classmate and even found some pleasure when the redhead shifted her focus towards him. Most likely, her attacks and irritation concealed her anxiety, but that didn't make it any easier for me as Claire was particularly grating today. Although, I couldn't fathom why she would be nervous; however, who can tell what insecurities she might be harboring? The arrival of Mary interrupted my train of thought.
Despite Christian having introduced this girl many days ago, I knew next to nothing about her. Except, of course, for what the dark-haired guy revealed. Unlike Claire, I wasn't nosy enough to pry into my classmates' personal lives.
Today, Mary was dressed as if she were a Brit heading for a picnic. She wore a light, white jacket, beige breeches adorned with blue stripes, a wide belt, woven moccasins, a wide-brimmed hat, and carried a small basket covered with a colorful scarf. She seemed entirely at ease and natural in these clothes. The striped breeches emphasized her slender and long legs. I noticed Claire softly snorting, seemingly a tad envious of Mary's height. Our redhead was almost half a head shorter than Christian's girlfriend, even though the latter was sporting moccasins instead of high heels.
However, as soon as we exchanged greetings, Claire promptly let go of my elbow and zeroed in on Mary, starting to question her about her outfit. Despite knowing the redhead for quite some time now, I was still unable to decipher whether she was putting on a show or was genuinely interested.
Upon getting into the car, as I had feared, it was Christian who took the wheel. He turned to us and, referring to the redhead, proclaimed, "Don't worry, I can drive, and I do it well! Besides, I was into karting from the age of twelve to sixteen and even won several awards."
Not bad, he managed to say what he wanted while also boasting about his achievements. However, his words failed to impress Claire, she simply rolled her eyes and retorted, "Karting? Now I'm even more concerned!"
"Really, don't worry," Mary attempted to pacify everyone. "Chris is a good and cautious driver; I've ridden with him before. Plus, we're not traversing the rocky coastal routes, but heading inland to Bougainville Lake, on well-maintained roads."
This quaint lake, renowned for its crystal-clear waters, was situated about seventy kilometers southeast of the capital. It was no more than an hour's leisurely drive. My presumptions about the journey were proven wrong. Firstly, Christian actually drove quite cautiously and confidently: he didn't weave between lanes but rather, picked one and stuck to it, adhering to the speed limit as per the road signs. Secondly, I didn't need to brace myself for any of Claire's shenanigans. I had anticipated her bombarding Mary with questions about her relationship with Christian, but to my surprise, the redhead was the epitome of politeness and decorum. Whether she had heeded my warnings or was simply showing a side of her we hadn't seen before, I couldn't tell. In addition, Mary proved to be a very clever girl, having prepared several games to keep us entertained during the journey. One of them, a word guessing game, was so captivating that the travel time seemed to whizz by almost unnoticed.
"Aren't we going to Bougainville Lake?" Claire inquired as we veered off the main road onto a country lane, following a signpost.
"Going to the beach and the area around it can get rather expensive," Mary admitted, seeming a little awkward. "It's predominantly occupied by villas belonging to some very influential individuals and upscale private clubs. However, just about ten kilometers from the lake, nestled in a scenic forest, the prices are significantly more affordable! You could rent an entire house for the price of a single room by the lake."
This explanation seemed satisfactory to Claire. And for me, a house in the forest was a more suitable location for baiting Ketsu Sugawara than a posh resort.
After another five kilometers, our country road came to a halt at a barrier and a security checkpoint. Though calling it a security post might be a stretch - it was essentially just a small booth with one guard. An advertisement board informed me of the name of the recreational complex we had arrived at, along with the fact that it encompassed a sprawling five hectares, housing a dozen cottages, each promising "peace and privacy."
Mary alighted from the minivan, approached the checkpoint, conversed with the guard, and presented him with some documents. Subsequently, the barrier was lifted, and we continued on our way. Judging by the gravel road and the rather rudimentary security, this place seemed to fall into the lower tier of the mid-price range. After winding our way between the hills, Christian parked the minivan in a small lot in front of a charming country house with a rather lovely carved wooden porch.
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"We're here!" Mary declared, as if it wasn't already obvious to us. She sprang from the car and immediately began stretching her legs.
"I'd say we barely made it," Claire murmured quietly enough for only Christian and me to hear.
"She asked me to drive carefully!" Christian retorted in a similar whisper.
As a true gentleman should, I got out of the car, walked around it, and courteously opened the door for Claire.
"Wow!" the redhead girl exclaimed, standing on her tiptoes and taking a deep breath. "We're less than a hundred kilometers from Wilflaes, yet the air is completely different."
She was spot on: the air did feel lighter and purer here.
"Bougainville Lake sits on a small plateau, four hundred meters above sea level," Christian chimed in, responding like a tour guide.
"What do you see in him?" Claire asked Mary in feigned exasperation, "He's such a bore!"
"That's not true, he's nice!" retorted Christian's girlfriend, "Let's go check out the house and pick our rooms."
The country house didn't resemble a luxurious villa; however, it was neat, tidy, and seemed sturdy despite its not-do-big size. The first floor housed a spacious hall that doubled as a kitchen, a bathroom, and two restrooms. The second floor, accessible via a narrow, steep staircase, contained five compact rooms.
Peering out the window on the second floor, I couldn't spot a single house of similar design in the vicinity, only a dense forest that began just a stone's throw away from our dwelling.
"Their advertising wasn't deceptive about the privacy," Claire observed, almost as if she read my mind. "As for the rest, it's what I expected: a moderately shabby place, just perfect for people like us... students," she added, "I don't know how these two will manage, but you and I are taking separate rooms! I'll claim this one."
"Well, that's a twist... Everything started off so well, and then 'separate rooms' out of the blue," I retorted, feigning disappointment.
"Blame your T-shirt!" she shot back, pointing at my chest and pouting.
"You'd think..." I began, but she cut me off.
"Don't even start! And get out of my room, I need to change clothes!" she ordered, nudging me towards the door.
I tossed my backpack into the corner room and wandered down the hall.
"Let's check out the backyard," Christian suggested before I could properly take in the interior of the house.
A wide glass door at the rear of the house led us to a fairly spacious, covered veranda.
"Not bad!" Christian exclaimed, looking around in slight surprise. "It could fit over ten people here easily. And there's a built-in grill near the pond," he pointed out, as if I might have overlooked it. "The benches here are nice too, very rustic."
The veranda housed two tables, a smaller one that resembled a coffee table, and a larger one that could comfortably seat a dozen people. Along the wall of the house were the rustic benches Christian found appealing, designed like long chests with flat lids and ornate backs. They seemed more decorative than practical, unlike the cozy wicker chairs surrounding the tables. Beyond the veranda lay a small backyard, no larger than two acres; perfect for a game of badminton. The yard ended with a tiny pond, which could be easily leaped over if desired. A dense, wild forest began just beyond it.
After inspecting the grill, I wasn't particularly thrilled, but we didn't have any other options. Still, the kebabs were for the evening.
"Let's get the food bags out of the car," the black-haired guy interrupted my thoughts. "I'm already hungry."
Once we unloaded the car, we hauled all the bags into the kitchen. Something familiar clinked in one of the packages as we carried it. Peering inside, I discovered three bottles: champagne, along with red and white wine. From what I remembered as Izao, all the wine was of excellent quality. It was the same brands that Melanie used to order for her exhibitions sometimes.
"One can't deny your girlfriend has good taste." I remarked, referring to the wine.
"Doubt it?" The guy retorted proudly, clearly implying that since she chose him, her taste is inherently good.
"Calm down..." Claire, who overheard everything, scoffed from the staircase. "Izao was talking about wine."
"As if I didn't understand what Izao meant," the black-haired guy shot back with a mocking grimace.
"Understand, you say?" The redhead rolled her eyes. "I'd sooner expect the seas to turn to sky!"
"They always communicate like this," I whispered to the approaching Mary. "Just ignore their bickering."
"Alright." The girl nodded. "I'll try."
Upon noticing Mary, Christian showed his fist to the redhead behind his back and started unpacking the grocery bags onto the kitchen table.
"Is anyone hungry?" Mary asked. "I can whip up a vegetable salad and sandwiches quickly."
"I wouldn't mind." I agreed, trying to deflect attention from the classmates' squabble.
"I'll help you cut the vegetables!" Christian chimed in immediately, eager to be near his girlfriend.
"Claire, let's go to the yard. I'll show you the pond." Grabbing the redhead by the elbow, I guided her out onto the veranda, whispering in her ear, "You shouldn't have teased Chris so hard in front of his girlfriend."
"Yeah, I get it," she dismissed. "I just thought Mary was in her room and didn't see her approach. I enjoy teasing our little crow, but I really don't want to hurt him."
"If you can't resist teasing someone today, you can tease me."
"With you, it's not as fun," Claire squatted by the pond. "You're usually too calm, unlike Chris, who gets riled up by the slightest joke and often speaks without thinking. But, I got your point, and I'll be a good girl today." She then added, "Well, at least until the evening."
"Until the evening?" I was alarmed by this amendment from the redhead.
"And in the evening, there'll be wine," she spread her hands as if that explained everything.
I understood her implication and didn't press for details. Instead, I steered the conversation towards how Claire felt about the country house and her room. I had expected her to be dissatisfied, but to my surprise, the redhead was quite pleased. She had anticipated something much worse.
"Also, I appreciate the privacy here," she concluded. "Other cottages are situated behind the hill and screened by a bona fide forest." She scrutinized the dense foliage. "Not a manicured, artificial park, but a real forest."
"I thought you weren't a big fan of nature."
"Well, I'm certainly a city girl!" Claire laughed. "But sometimes, it's nice to escape to the wilderness like this."
"I agree. It's quite pleasant here."
"It's peaceful, and the air is fresh," agreed the redhead.
We continued our casual conversation for another five minutes when Mary emerged on the veranda with a salad and invited us to eat. She seemed to have a natural knack for cooking as she had managed to make a simple vegetable salad incredibly tasty. Nonetheless, it could've been the fresh air enhancing the flavor of the food.
Claire, seemingly adjusting to the role of my girlfriend, sat next to me, occasionally offering me food and allowing me to pamper her. Conversely, Christian was fluttering around Mary, to the point of being slightly annoying. I decided to advise him later to give his girlfriend some personal space. I anticipated Claire to start cracking her usual jokes, but she remained surprisingly composed, easily keeping up with the small talk.
After a light lunch, Mary suggested that we play badminton, as the cottage was well-equipped for it, according to the booklet. Claire enthusiastically supported this idea. Once we had cleared the dishes, the girls went to change, and Christian and I set up the net for the game in the clearing in front of the veranda.
The last time I held a badminton racket was probably when I was twelve, but it seemed that the others were around my level of skill - or lack thereof. This resulted in a nearly balanced and surprisingly enjoyable game. I never thought that lobbing a shuttlecock over a net could be so entertaining. The only thing that slightly irked me was Claire's overly competitive nature - she absolutely despised losing. It was due to the redhead's fervor to win that we played for almost two hours, with short tea breaks, until the score was tied. Even then, I had a suspicion that Christian and Mary intentionally lost the last two rounds to us to finally take a break.
Following our game, we opted for an hour's rest. The exertion had left us sweaty and in need of fresh clothes. Once everyone had retreated to their individual rooms, I made my way back to the patio, where I feigned interest in the brazier. In reality, my mind was mulling over whether Ketsu had swallowed my bait regarding this trip. Could he be observing me from the concealment of the forest? I even fancied that I could feel an unseen gaze on me, though that was likely just my nerves playing tricks.
Nevertheless, even if I'm correct and Sugawara is nearby, the shapeshifter wouldn't dare to reveal himself in front of everyone. Late in the evening, after everyone has retired, I would need to find an excuse to remain alone on the veranda, perhaps under the pretense of stargazing. If Ketsu failed to make an appearance by then, it would mean I had miscalculated. Although, I wouldn't be overly disturbed by such a mistake. If Sugawara had simply decided to flee the country, it would mean one less problem for me. That said, I would still need to address this issue at some point and it would be preferable to resolve it today when I am prepared for it.
By the evening, I found myself grateful for our getaway. The pretend double date turned out to be far more enjoyable than I had initially anticipated. Mary proved to be a delightful conversationalist, capable of diffusing the most tense situations and steering them towards a harmonious resolution, somewhat counterbalancing Claire's fiery temperament. Credit where credit is due, the redhead made a genuine effort to comport herself like a normal girl rather than a thorn in the side.
A simple trip out of the city, complete with fresh air, pleasant company, delectable food, and easy games - it's remarkable how little is needed to truly relax. If it weren't for my anticipation of Sugawara's appearance, everything would be perfect.
As evening fell, Mary excused herself to the kitchen, declining Claire's offer of assistance, and the three of us set about lighting the grill. We engaged in idle chatter while waiting for the coals to heat, after which Claire requested I teach her how to grill kebabs. In my opinion, grilling kebabs is an art that cannot be fully learned: you either have the knack for it or you don't. At best, training can prevent you from ruining the meat, but that's about it.
Mary's timing was impeccable. We had just taken our seats at the table when, upon her instruction, Christian uncorked a bottle of champagne exactly as the sun's lower edge kissed the horizon.
"Happy birthday!" we shouted in unison, our champagne flutes clinking together.
The champagne, unfortunately, left much to be desired. It was overly tart, with an odd undercurrent of sweetness that I found off-putting. Despite hailing from the Champagne region according to the label, it wasn't to my liking. After a single glass, I left it untouched. Judging from Claire's expression, she didn't care for it either and after a few sips, she pushed her glass aside. However, the red wine served with the kebabs was a much better pairing.
Following dinner, which was accompanied by light chit-chat about the university, Mary proposed we play a board game. She had an array of games prepared, and after a little debate, we chose one that somewhat resembled the Monopoly I was familiar with. The game board depicted a bustling market street, filled with shops of varying sizes. The goal was to buy up as many shops as possible to establish monopolies on different goods. It was a rather intriguing and thrilling game, but it had one downside. Fifteen minutes into our first round, we were all nearly at each other's throats.
This game revolved around fierce competition among players. It was impossible to win by being passive and avoiding conflict. Not only did you have to buy the stores you wanted, but it was also crucial to prevent others from monopolizing the trade by purchasing the shops they were eyeing. This resulted in some rather heated debates around the table. At one point, Christian got so engrossed in the game that he thwarted his girlfriend's purchases a couple of times, causing her to blush with anger.
I found the game quite entertaining, particularly when I managed to outbid Claire. Witnessing her fiery temper flare over such a trivial matter was truly priceless. Her beauty seemed to intensify when she was angry. If it weren't for Maya, I might have fallen for Claire, given how direct and open she was, like a live wire exposed.
Despite the game's ability to stir up raw emotions, Christian and Claire behaved somewhat unusually, maintaining their composure. This was surprising considering their naturally emotional dispositions. The Heir's brother hadn't chosen them without reason. They had the ability to rein in their emotions when necessary, an essential quality for future curators.
To my surprise, I won the first game. I hadn't aimed for victory, but it happened organically, given that the others were more focused on sabotaging each other rather than building their monopolies. However, as soon as that round ended, Claire and Christian swiftly gathered the tokens and reset the board for a new game.
After the initial round, I had a rough idea of the strategies that led to victory. The rules weren't particularly complex, but a significant part of success hinged on luck. Would you roll the right number on the dice or not? If luck wasn't on your side, no amount of strategic planning would secure a win. Nevertheless, the game made it quite easy to ruin things for others, which undoubtedly contributed to its emotional intensity. At times, it felt as though sparks would fly across the table after each move, though of course, that was merely an illusion.
"I'm buying a vegetable stall!" Christian blurted out as soon as his chip landed on the field.
In my opinion, he was making a mistake. After all, Mary was cornering the vegetable trade. And if he had plans on getting cozy with her later that night, blocking her game strategy wasn't the best move.
"Are you sure?" Mary asked, her voice sly.
"Yes!" Oblivious to the veiled threat in her tone, the dark-haired young man confirmed.
In response, Mary stood up from her chair, a smile playing on her lips that sent a chill down my spine. She then casually reached for a fork at the corner of the table and, as if it were the most natural thing to do, impaled Christian's palm to the tabletop with it!
Stunned, I froze on the spot. When I tried to lean forward to help my friend a second later, I found myself unable to move.