With a firm grip on my elbow, Maya pulled me aside, out of sight from others. As I followed her, I silently prayed to every god I knew, but it did little to help me formulate a suitable plan of action. Once we were alone, she halted and let go of my arm, then demanded, "Explain yourself!"

From her words, I gathered that she was as confused as I was about why she'd dragged me away and what she was supposed to say next. Perhaps she was contemplating decapitating me, but had cooled down enough to realize that it wasn't a reasonable response to a mere air kiss. The problem was, I also didn't know what to say. But I had to say something, otherwise the already tense situation would spiral completely out of control.

"Lady Maya..." I began, attempting to buy some time.

"Arggh!" The girl threw up her hands in annoyance. "Drop the formalities! You have my permission to address me without a title!"

That meant I couldn't stall by being excessively formal... I covertly pinched my thigh, hard.

"You're beautiful," I blurted out. I knew I was spouting nonsense, but my mind was a blank, and I had to say something. "And I like you."

Seeing Maya's eyes flash with anger, I immediately took a step back, raising my palms defensively as I hurriedly tried to explain myself.

"I'm not a stalker! I won't... I won't bother or interfere with you in any way." Then I realized that playing defense was a losing strategy. So, adopting a more self-assured demeanor, I continued, "Don't tell me nobody's ever said this to you before?"

"What?!"

"I'm sure plenty of people like you. So why..."

"Stop, stop, stop!" The girl waved her hands in front of me. "Have you completely lost your mind, blowing me a kiss in public?!" She was almost shouting.

"In public?" I asked, making my voice sound hopeful.

"I... I didn't mean that!" Maya nearly howled in response.

"Then what?" I smiled, starting to enjoy the conversation. It was nice to see her flustered, her cheeks flushed with color, her eyes blazing with fire. She was adorable in this state. Damn, I really did like her! I liked her as a girl... I was honest with myself about that, and "Word" didn't correct me.

Taking a deep breath, Maya clenched her fists and then appeared to relax. Her gaze became calmer yet somehow sharper, like a dagger.

"You're not an idiot, are you? Right?" She asked. "Your second place in the tests suggests you're not... And your answers to the Count of Runar's questions seemed reasonable enough."

"Thank you!" Trying to keep a straight face, I gave a bow.

"What... Do... You... Want... From... Me?!"

"Can I choose not to answer?"

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Why?" She didn't understand.

"It scares me... I saw your duel."

"Ah! So you do have a sense of self-preservation!" Maya chuckled, seeming to calm down a bit.

"Yes, ma'am! I mean, I have it - this sense."

"And you won't hassle and chase after me? Serenade me under my window and such..."

"Serenades - definitely not. And I'm not planning on chasing you, that's correct."

"So you blew a kiss just to show off in front of the other students? To demonstrate how cool and courageous you are?"

"No, that's not it." I shook my head in denial, maintaining the chosen line of conduct.

"Then why?"

"Because I genuinely like you."

She didn't strike me; she held back, although, for an instant, it appeared to me that she was about to lash out.

"If... such... occurs... again... I... won't... hold... myself... back..."

"Are you referring to blowing kisses in public?"

"Yes!" She fell for my clever ruse.

"And what about not in public?" Gathering all my courage, I took a barely noticeable step forward.

"Agrh-h-h!!" Maya rolled her eyes, stepping back slightly. "Don't provoke me into violence!"

"Understood." I raised my palms in a reconciliatory gesture. "And I apologize... I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." And since I didn't want to put the girl I'm interested in in an awkward position, I will genuinely try to avoid public displays of affection from now on.

"Oh, wow!" She was genuinely taken aback by my words. "You... You're different. Puzzling. Guys have tried to woo me before. But never like this!!! I can't remember."

"Is that a good or bad thing?" I asked.

"Neither!" She retorted. "You don't stand a chance. You're not my type."

"That hurt."

"But it's the truth! I'm not one of those girls who give false hopes." For some reason, I had no doubt about it. "One question."

"Yes?"

"Whenever I see you, you're always wearing clothes with robots. Why?"

"I like robots too!"

"Too?! If I see you wearing a T-shirt with my print, I'll come to you at night and..."

"At night?"

"Don't infuriate me even more!" She's so angry! A scene worthy of the brush of the greatest painters.

"I'll try."

"So we have an agreement?" She clarified. "And if even a single rumor spreads around the university that there was something between us, I..."

"Will come to me at night!" I nodded.

"Phe..." The girl choked on her words and suddenly burst into laughter. "Well... Ah... Don't make me feel pity for you being so small and frail."

"Pity?"

"I like guys with brains. And no, this is not a glimmer of hope. Just imagine, I'll put on high-heeled shoes, and you'll walk next to me half a head shorter than me... No..." She shook her head. "No way! Can you picture it?"

In reality, she was exaggerating - when she's not wearing heels, I - Izao, am even about a centimeter taller than her.

"So, no chance?"

"Exactly!" Maya interrupted.

"Understood."

"That's good!" Having said this, the girl disappeared. And again, silently. Why is that? This question distracted me from gloomy thoughts on my way back to the university buildings.

"Wow! Just look!" Christian exclaimed, pointing at me with his ice cream. "It's alive!"

"Alive, indeed," Claire agreed, and promptly nudged Christian in the side with her elbow, extending her hand in a demanding manner. "Hand over fifteen francs!"

"You two are placing bets while I'm suffering over there?" I sauntered up to them.

"Are you two a thing now?" Claire suddenly flitted up to me. "Well, that would be... Uru-ru!"

"Look at him!" the dark-haired guy responded. "He got dumped! Totally dumped."

"Is that true?" the pigtailed girl asked, tilting her head.

"It's true."

"She's such a... she made a mistake," she declared.

"A mistake?!" Christian bellowed. "Look at him, then look at her! Clean your glasses!"

"Well, girls don't just like boys for their muscles and striking profile, if they're smart girls, that is," Claire advised him.

"Then, what do they like?" the dark-haired guy asked, momentarily forgetting about his ice cream.

"Brains!" Claire tapped his forehead with her finger.

"Wow!" the guy brightened. "I'm smart!"

"Sure you are!" Claire deflated him. "A guy who scored lower than me on the tests can't be smart!"

"Eh?!" The dark-haired guy recoiled from her as if he'd just been stabbed in the heart with a poisoned dagger. Oddly enough, watching Claire take down Christian brought a smile to my face.