Extra 1: Graduation Day Part 2
Folia: “He still hasn’t come back.”
Razé: “Hmm. I will go look for him. I want to congratulate him personally.”
Razé had been chatting with the members for a while, but Adis still hadn’t return to the classroom. Actually, she wanted to hang out with the members for a bit more but she knew that Carna would want to spend time with Ruben, and Folia would want to go see Lord Moldir.
Razé took out the last bouquet from the paper bag and left the school building. From the window of the corridor, she could see blue flowers spread out through the flower garden in full bloom. Many students were gathered at the garden which was decorated specially for this graduation ceremony.
However, Razé turned and walked towards the hill on the opposite side. As she climbed up, the crowded scenery turned into a wide-open landscape. It was at the edge of the academy ground. Below the cliff, which was a camouflage made by illusion, she saw magnificent view of nature spread out over the horizon.
Right at the edge of the cliff, a young man was gazing at the scenery quietly. In his left hand, a purple tie fluttered in the wind.
Razé: “I know you’d be here.”
His deep sea blue-coloured hair and silver eyes turned around to look at her. It seemed even his blazer had been taken away. Adis stood there in his dress shirt which were missing a few buttons at the top.
“Huh…?” He looked at her with rounded eyes and blinked repeatedly. It was obvious that he didn’t expect her to be there.
It has been a while since Razé last saw him. He looked a bit taller and effortlessly sexy being sloppily dressed. She walked up to him while wondering if he would become a stage actor.
She stopped right in front of him and hold out the bouquet. “Congratulations.”
Adis: “You came…”
Razé: “Yes.”
Adis seemed a bit flustered. Razé was curious because his reaction was different from the other members’. “Here. This is for you.”
“Ah, sor- …Thank you.” Adis took the bouquet from Razé gently.
Razé chuckled at him. “You’re so famous.”
Adis looked at himself and shrugged his shoulders. “I was surprised too. There’s nothing left that I could give so I came here to escape.”
Razé: “It must be hard being so famous.”
Adis: “Look who’s talking.”
Razé shook her head after being stared by Adis. “The attention that I got from others is different from yours.”
Although she had become famous after her identity as Wolf Fang was known to the world during the award ceremony, her popularity was different with Adis’.
The news had reported her past about losing her parents in the war and becoming a successful person after joining the military. It had been interpreted in various ways by people who didn’t know her personally. Her situation was different from Adis’ popularity among the students.
Adis looked at her with a dubious face. “You may be right. But then again, you have many social connections that I don’t know.”
“You have a point. But I have a feeling that you will be more famous than me in the future.” Razé had a limited social connection because she was in the military. If Adis could become this famous in the academy, she felt he had bigger potential once he joined the social circle. “By the way, I haven’t heard from you yet. Are you going to join the Knights? If yes, I’m sure your popularity with the ladies will increase,” Razé looked at him teasingly.
Adis: “No. I’m not going to join the Knights.”
“What?!” She was shocked by the unexpected answer. “Didn’t you always wanted to join the Knights? You even won the tournament and Folia told me in her letters that you’ve received offers from the talent scouts. Why?!”
Perhaps Razé got too carried away, she was asking aggressively with her body leaning towards him so Adis took a step back. He was silent for a while, and then he looked straight into her eyes. “I’ve found what I wanted to do. I’m not going to join the Knights. I’m going to become a civil official.”
Razé knew that Adis had been striving to become a knight since they were 1st Year students. She assumed he had changed his mind for a reason. His eyes and voice were serious.
Razé regained her composure. “I see. I didn’t know. I was caught by surprise… But I think it’s great that you managed to find the things that you wanted to do while studying here.” She felt glad that he was able to make good use of what he had learned at the academy.
She didn’t feel any regret that he wouldn’t join the Knights. She knew that he could play an active part anywhere. “You’re a diligent person. I’m sure your dream will come true. You have my support.”
Unlike Carna and Folia, she felt she wouldn’t have many chances to see him in the future. She wanted to cheer him for his future since they had spent some time together in the academy before.
Adis pursed his lips for a brief moment “… If you say so. I feel like I can do my best,” he said while looking at the bouquet in his hand. “I’m going back to my room to change my clothes first.”
“Yes, you should go change.” She nodded while thinking that he would corrupt public moral if he walked around the campus looking like that. At that moment, she saw the tie in his hand. “You didn’t give away that tie?”
“Huh!” Adis looked anxious.
“Hmm?” Razé was curious why he still had his tie when his shirt’s buttons were almost gone. “Oh. You’re going to give it to someone later? Tie can be used base on one’s mood. I’m sure the junior you gave it to will cherish it.” Razé made a conclusion by herself.
Adis opened and closed his mouth, unable to speak up his mind. He stared at the tie in his left hand and then raised his head as if he had made up his mind.
“It’s for you. You can throw it away if you don’t need it but don’t give it to someone else.” Adis shoved the tie into her hand.
“Huh?” Razé was unable to understand his words.
What’s going on? Razé looked at the tie that he had been using all these years and frowned.
It’s not garbage, why would I throw it away? And what does he mean to not give it to someone else?
His name was embroidered on the back of the tie. It really was his tie. How am I supposed to throw this away?
Razé looked at the tie carefully wondering if it was a special tie but couldn’t find anything other than it was kept in a good condition. She looked back at Adis.
He also seemed to know that Razé was confused, and was looking at her in amusement. “Are you going to stay here?”
Razé: “No.”
Adis: “Then I’ll walk with you down the hill.”
After confirming that Razé had accepted his tie, Adis returned to his usual confident self and seemed to be in a good mood.
“We’ve already graduated, so I can’t call you scholarship student anymore,” Adis said as they walked down the hill.
“It’s like a nickname, so I don’t mind if you continue to call me scholarship student.” She was used to it, so she knew that she would react if someone call the name. “Prince Ruben and Luca-sama still call me Granoli. It’s not a problem as long as I know the person is calling me.”
Adis: “Hmm…”
The two went through the forest while chatting idly.
Adis: “You have anything to do later?”
Razé took out a golden pocket watch and checked the time. “It’s time for me to go home. I’ll go meet Principal Harlens first.” Actually, she wanted to stay longer but it couldn’t be helped.
Adis: “Okay. See you later.”
Razé: “Take care. And please give my regards to your mother.”
Adis: “Okay. You take care too.”
Razé: “Un.”
Razé said goodbye to Adis and was about to walk towards the school building.
Adis: “—Razé”
She froze when she heard her name. It was the first time he had called her by her name. And it was the first time that she heard him calling a girl by their first name. Perhaps because she was not used to it, her heart was beating loudly.
Razé turned and looked at him. Adis didn’t move and just stared at her.
Adis: “Thank you for the flower. I know you too well, this flower must be special. I will treat you next time.”
He held the bouquet in front of his chest and gave a broad smile. Razé felt he looked photogenic and was fascinated.
“See you again,” Adis said before turning towards the dormitory.
Razé felt a little lonely as she wondered whether they would ever meet again. She watched his retreating figure in a daze.
Razé: “See you… again?”
She ignored her rushing heartbeat and convinced herself that it was just her imagination.
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