33 - Can I Cry Now?
Episode 33
Finally, the Academy for the Gifted's classes began.
Although it was temporary, if no changes were requested, the classes would continue as is, making it effectively the start of the semester.
Ibi checked the class schedule she had received.
If a class was too popular, she might be assigned to a professor other than the one she wanted.
'Thankfully, no classes have been changed.'
Ibi confirmed that the class list was exactly as she had applied.
'People usually become friends while taking the same classes.'
From listening to other students in the cafeteria, she learned that many were already friends before entering the Academy for the Gifted, or became friends while sharing a room.
'But in the end, they said that many become friends while taking the same classes.'
Ibi knew that her image among the students wasn't good.
It would have been better if Limora had apologized and admitted her mistakes in front of the other students, but she simply quit, making it difficult to clear up the misunderstanding.
'Still, if I take classes and talk with them, maybe I'll make at least one friend...'
With hopeful anticipation, Ibi headed to her first class, mathematics.
On the way, she saw Irene in the distance, still surrounded by students, heading somewhere.
'It would be nice if I could take the same class as Irene.'
Contrary to her worries, Irene didn't particularly avoid Ibi.
But Ibi couldn't bring herself to ask her what classes she was taking.
'What if I'm bothering her?'
It was enough that she didn't shun her like the other students. If she asked out of the blue, wanting to get close, and Irene found her annoying, it would be too sad.
So, Ibi couldn't ask Irene what classes she was taking.
If it was that difficult with Irene, it was even more impossible to ask Arcel and Ruska.
'Though we parted ways before I could even ask.'
She had spent two days in a daze amidst Ruska's chatter, but on the third day, they had to part ways again, leaving her alone without a proper goodbye.
'But those two were just with me because they were worried about me, like Irene.'
Hoping to take classes together was probably just her greed.
As evidence, Arcel and Ruska hadn't shown their faces since then.
She knew that she should be grateful that the three of them had been together for a few days, but she still felt empty now that they were gone.
With slumped shoulders, Ibi checked the location of her first class.
"The first class today is mathematics, Professor Maless... East Wing Building 23?"
Ibi's eyes widened at the location written down.
Most of the Academy for the Gifted's classes took place in buildings near the main building.
In the past, all the buildings were full, but this year, they hadn't accepted as many students as before, so they were only using buildings as close to the main building as possible.
But East Wing Building 23?
Ibi, who had memorized the names and locations of all the buildings in the Academy for the Gifted, knew that it was located at the very end of the Academy for the Gifted.
'I don't have time!'
There were only 10 minutes left until the start of class.
Other students were leisurely heading to nearby buildings, but Ibi couldn't afford to do that.
"Ugh!"
Clutching her messenger bag, Ibi ran madly toward the building.
She ran along the increasingly deserted path, and as she entered the building, she heard the distant sound of a bell.
It was time for class to start.
"Huff, huff..."
Ibi climbed the stairs, gasping for breath.
She had run so frantically that her mouth tasted sweet.
And just before the bell stopped ringing, she managed to reach the classroom that was written down.
Ibi opened the door and greeted,
"Hello! I'm sorry I'm late... Huh?"
Ibi's eyes widened as she raised her head.
The classroom was empty.
'Did I come to the wrong place?'
But the paper in her hand clearly stated that this was the right place.
'Why aren't there any professors or students?'
Ibi's face turned pale. Had she come to the wrong place due to some error?
Otherwise, how could there be no other students, let alone the professor?
'What should I do? Should I go back to the administration office and ask about the classroom again?'
As Ibi panicked and was about to turn around, she noticed something written on the blackboard.
[Mathematics - Professor Maless
For the first class, take the textbook provided and solve the marked problems by the next class.]
After reading the writing on the blackboard, Ibi approached the desk.
There was a thick book on the desk.
"Advanced Mathematics Volume 1."
It was a book she had seen before. When she was taking classes at the advanced school, the teacher had brought it once to show them.
During breaks, the students flocked to the teacher's desk, flipping through the book and saying it was really difficult, and that they couldn't solve a single problem.
Ibi wanted to join them and take a look, but she couldn't.
Otherwise, the bullying would only increase.
So, when she found the Advanced Mathematics Textbook left on the teacher's desk after school while cleaning, she was really happy.
She even washed her hands thoroughly and carefully turned the cover.
As the students had said, it was full of difficult explanations and problems from the beginning. Still, she enjoyed seeing new knowledge and was looking at it for a long time when the teacher came in and shouted.
"What are you doing! Why are you touching that!"
He strode over and snatched the book away as if he were catching it, then dusted off the part that Ibi had touched as if it had something dirty on it.
Then, he glared at Ibi and left with the book.
After that, she never saw the book in the classroom again. Instead, she only saw the teacher calling a student with the same grades as Ibi to the faculty office and explaining something.
That was the book...
"I can take this?"
Ibi checked the writing again and hugged the book.
'I'm so happy!'
It was a shame that she couldn't meet him, but there must be some reason for it.
'To think that he would lend such an expensive book to a student.'
She used to get scolded just for touching it, but now she could touch it as much as she wanted.
"Hehe..."
Ibi smiled and stroked the book in her arms. Then, she thought of something strange.
"But why aren't the other students here?"
Mathematics was a required subject for all students. But even though the classroom was correct, why couldn't she see any other students besides herself?
Since there was time until the next class, Ibi sat down at the desk and opened the book.
She saw problems marked with circles in various places.
The next class was in just two days.
It seemed difficult to solve all of them by then. Still...
'Let's work hard.'
Ibi clenched her small fist and her eyes sparkled.
Two days later, Professor Maless was heading to his classroom.
Tall and burly, with snow-white hair, his sharp, gleaming eyes had an intimidating presence that made people instinctively lower their heads.
Passing through the children who couldn't even look at him properly, he headed to his classroom with a light step.
Once professors at the Academy for the Gifted were assigned a classroom, they had to use the same classroom for the entire semester.
So, professors tried to get classrooms that were larger, cleaner, and located in the central building.
But Maless was not like that. He requested a quiet classroom in the farthest corner, one that was not well-maintained due to the lack of people.
"Are you really going to use this as your classroom? There are many other good places, why insist on the oldest building..."
"Just give it to me. And the fewer people around, the quieter and better it is. Noise is a hindrance to research."
"But you have to think about the students too. It might be a bit difficult for younger students to travel back and forth to this place."
"It's only about 10 minutes more walking! Back in my day...!"
"Here are the keys to the classroom and the professor's office next door. If you think cleaning is necessary, please tell the staff in charge. Then, I'll be on my way!"
As Maless's words seemed to be getting longer, the Academy for the Gifted's staff member smiled, quickly handed over the keys, and even bowed politely, wishing him well.
Maless entered the classroom and was satisfied with its shabby appearance.
"This must be the oldest classroom in the Academy for the Gifted."
