Chapter 18.2: Liar Part 2

The training ground was silent after Raiden left.

The silver-haired girl stood frozen in place, lost in thought.

The thoughts consuming her were, of course, about the boy who had just been there.

-Gasp... gasp...

His labored breathing.

His black eyes trembling pitifully.

The look of terror on his face.

Margaret couldn't understand any of it.

"Why..."

Nothing had happened.

She had reprimanded and pressured him, but it wasn't that harsh.

He was someone who wouldn't care about her words anyway.

Then,

what was with that behavior just now?

-I apologize for causing a scene.

The way he hastily left, as if he had shown her something unsightly.

He was consumed by fear.

'What was he so afraid of?'

Margaret hated Raiden.

No, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that her hatred for him ran deep.

The emotional chasm between the girl and the boy was that wide.

However,

'...I can't just ignore him when he looks like that.'

That expression was a first.

She had never seen him tremble like that, not even before he changed or during his delinquent days.

Despite her resentment towards the boy, Margaret wasn't cruel enough to ignore someone suffering right before her eyes.

Her concern was, in a way, natural.

"Ha... Well, he'll be fine."

The girl let out a long sigh, clearing her thoughts.

Yes, he was a self-centered person. There was no need to worry about him.

It was laughable that she was even concerned about him in the first place.

Margaret left with a bitter expression.

***

-Click, creeeaaak...

I arrived at the dormitory just before curfew.

As I pulled open the front door,

someone who had been waiting behind it popped out as if on cue.

"Ah, young master! You're back?"

It was Rachel.

Perhaps because she was about to go to bed, she was wearing a light nightgown instead of her maid uniform.

Her trademark pigtails were neatly untied.

She greeted me with a refreshing smile.

"Did you have a good day?"

"...Yeah, I'm back."

I wanted to respond in a brighter tone, but this was the best I could manage.

I trudged towards my room, feeling as heavy as a wet rag.

"Young master...? Are you alright...?"

Rachel asked cautiously, sensing something was off.

I didn't mean to show it,

but poker faces were hard, as always.

"I'm fine."

"But your expression is dark..."

"I'm just a little tired."

I forced a smile, tensing my facial muscles.

I thought I had put on a pretty convincing mask,

but Rachel's eyes only grew darker as she looked at me.

"...The bath is ready. You can go straight to sleep after you wash up."

"Okay."

Thankfully, Rachel didn't ask any further questions.

As expected, she was perceptive.

I closed the door to my room, leaving Rachel behind.

"...I should go to sleep quickly."

It'll be okay.

If I soak myself in hot water, put on some comfy pajamas, and close my eyes in my soft bed,

this heavy gloom will wash away, right?

I mumbled to myself as I stepped into the bathroom.

But, as if to betray my hopes,

-Naru, it's dangerous!

-Screeech, crash!!

-M-Mom...?

That night,

I had the most horrific nightmare I could possibly have.

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