Emmie looks around, responding to sole stares with glares of her own while my smile widens, before she moves her head close to reply in a lowered voice:
"The idiot who ran his mouth yesterday, he might not come back to school."
While Emmie's weight and her chest press on me, I raise my eyebrows:
"What do you mean?"
Emmie grins.
"Exactly what I said! I heard that he might be dropping out and changing school, so he might never come back here anymore. It is said that after speaking with the principal, his parents were very angry, and they decided to have him continue going to school somewhere else. Of course, only after he has gotten better. He is still at the hospital, and unfortunately, he didn't lose anything permanently."
Emmie loses her excited mood and mutters toward the end. I hold back a laugh and tap her on the arm to have her stop her complaints and hold back her dark thoughts.
"Alright, don't think like that. It is good that we won't have to endure another human being with a base mind and little moral decency. And actually, it is good that the matter can end like this. Having it conclude is already good enough."
Emmie turns thoughtful, then nods.
"You are right, Max."
I smile when I see her accept my words. However, there is nothing I can do about the rumors. Even if I can put a tape on everyone's mouth, there are still their thoughts. I can only find some amusement in a few of them and ignore the rest.
I change the subject to avoid lingering on the matter, and bring up something pertinent given how early the redhead has arrived at school, even earlier than me.
"Have you eaten yet?"
"No. I wanted to come early to see how things are after what happened yesterday. I didn't want you to be taken by surprise by any bad change in the situation."
The headshake drove the movements of the lovely red hair, making it a beautiful trail that seems to reflect Emmie's joy and makes her look cute. I laugh, then turn to our class we are about to reach.
"Wait for me to put down my bag, then we will go find something."
But while I thought she would jump at the opportunity, she shakes her head fiercely.
"Hn–Hn. No need to find something else."
I raise my eyebrows, then follow her gaze to something in the side pocket of my bag. I'm speechless, then I feel a little helpless even as I smile.
"Alright, you will get it. I won't say anything even if you finish it."
"Yeah~"
I shake my head at the victorious exclamation, then take the thermos flask out of the side pocket of my bag after putting it down on my seat. With that, we ignore the gazes we have not paid any attention to and leave the classroom again, me, with a helpless smile, and Emmie, with burning, unconcealed anticipation.
We take another path to leave the school building, and arrive at the lawn. There is a not-so-big one beside the sports field, and we sit on a bench there. I give the flask to Emmie, but I'm surprised when she takes out a packet of cookies from her pocket, and I suddenly feel targeted.
She laughs at my betrayed and speechless expression. I take a breath, and she laughs harder, before she explains while tearing the packet open.
"Don't blame me! Your milk has no sugar but it is delicious. I have been drinking it with you for a while, and it doesn't upset my stomach nor does it make me feel drowsy from eating something with too much energy content. I can't not have designs on it."
I glare at her, then look away, not wanting to bother with her anymore.
Emmie grins, something I can feel with my mind without even looking at her. Fortunately, she is considerate enough to change the subject after getting what she is after.
"How is your leg? Will it be good to join a club after you have found the one you like?"
I turn away from the sports field to glance at Emmie, then I look down at my leg. I move it casually, then nod.
"It is good enough, but I will wait for next month to join any club and participate in an activity."
"Hm, that's good."
"But I will be returning to the mall sooner."
Emmie pauses her movement, and her eyes brighten as she lowers her hands holding a cookie and the milk.
"That is fantastic, Max! But before returning to selling to others, we should do some shopping first. We must buy you your first earrings beforehand! I will help you with your choice. You will be very beautiful, you will see. We will find a few for everyday uses, and some for formal occasions or outings. Hehehe– Hurgh!"
It is my turn to laugh, seeing Emmie's surprise after I stuffed her mouth with a cookie to get her to calm down. She glares at me with grievances in her dark red eyes, making me laugh harder, but while pushing the milk to her mouth, to let her melt the grievances with sweetness.
Without letting her glare diminish, Emmie angrily chews the content of her mouth.
'Humph! I'm thinking about you but you are only finding me noisy. I won't care about you anymore! Humph!'
My smile widens at the inadvertent thought I easily catch.
We spend the time before the start of classes enjoying the wind while holding back the desire to laugh on one side, and pouting on the other. By the time there remains only ten minutes before the start of classes, Emmie angrily empties my flask while looking at me, and stands up with another snort, an audible one this time.
I shake my head with an exhale, but don't stand up. Though Emmie's long face is entertaining, she seems to be challenging me to break it, so I surprise her by catching her by the waist to pull her back onto the bench.
"Hah!"
Her cry of surprise attracts the attention of the others outside like us. Before she can recover, I move my hands up and start tickling her soft sides with a wide smile, because I have accepted her challenge.
"Hahahahaha…"