Chapter 58: A Private Topic
"Do you have any boys you like?"
Marie Antoinette casually tossed out a topic of private girl talk.
Eikou's heart instantly tightened.
He thought: Are you girls really okay talking about this? Aren't you afraid someone might be eavesdropping nearby?
Eikou was more and more certain that if these girls discovered him, he would die a very miserable death…
From behind the rock came the faint sound of the girls whispering.
"A boy I like…"
Jeanne's stammering voice drifted over.
"Marie-sama, I've never thought about that… Right now we're still students, so we should prioritize our studies first."
"Really now~"
Marie's little devil-like giggle rang out, sounding so cute and melodious.
"It doesn't have to be love, just someone of the opposite sex you pay a little more attention to. School days are a time of youth—once it's gone, it won't come back. It's okay to let your feelings wander a bit once in a while."
"Really…"
Through the hazy steam, Jeanne's fair, delicate face showed a hint of contemplation.
"Alright, if it's just 'someone of the opposite sex I pay a little attention to,' then yes, there is such a person."
She obediently admitted it honestly.
"Oho? What kind of person is he?" Marie immediately pressed.
Even Eikou, hiding behind the rock, couldn't help but perk up his ears.
Since he couldn't escape, he might as well eavesdrop thoroughly.
"How should I put it… the boy I pay a little attention to…"
Jeanne's voice was hesitant and stammering.
Eikou could practically picture the innocent French girl with her face flushed red, fingers entwined, shyly soaking in the hot spring.
"My first impression of him was of a boy who seemed quiet, melancholy, wearing headphones, carrying a school bag, with slightly long hair covering his right eye. Only occasionally, in a fleeting moment, would it show—like a faint ray of light reflecting on water—a gaze clear and cloudless, carrying a gentle and soft strength."
"..."
Eikou thought: With a description this detailed, feelings this clear, Jeanne, you've definitely fallen for him. If it wasn't someone you liked, how could you speak so meticulously?
"Even though I've never directly interacted with him, I was surprised by the difference between his appearance and his true nature. He looks like the moon, quiet, but in reality, he's like the sun, lively and cheerful, always smiling, surrounded by friends, and I often hear his laughter from the next classroom."
The next classroom?
The classes next to France's are either Greece or Britain.
"..."
A sudden bad premonition struck him, and he hurriedly brushed his wet hair away from his eyes.
No, no, no, there's no way it's me. Don't get so full of yourself. I'm not a middle schooler anymore—I won't fall for the old "what if the girl in class likes me" fantasy.
"Jeanne, with the way you're talking, you definitely like him, don't you?"
Marie teased with a laugh, "If it's not liking or admiring, how could you notice so many good points about one person? So who is it? A student from Britain or Greece? Is there really someone like that?"
"Marie-sama, this… please forgive me for keeping it a secret..."
"Embarrassed? Shy now? Or feeling a bit of risk? Don't worry, I won't steal him from you, I'm just curious. I want to know what kind of person could make a model student like Jeanne's heart flutter."
"It's not about his looks! I just think he's very interesting, especially that time I accidentally saw a video of him ghost hunting in a haunted house..."
Great, no need to guess anymore.
Eikou felt utterly speechless, beyond words.
Damn it, Baobhan Sith, you went and shared my most humiliating achievement with the whole world again.
Seriously though, this doesn't make sense at all. Why does everyone know me through that video? And there's clearly nothing "romantic" about it! It was just flat-out embarrassing as hell!
"So it's Mochizuki Eikou from the next class, huh."
Bradamante and Marie said in unison.
Why did you two guess it so fast?! Just how many times has that video been shared? How famous am I now?! Don't tell me I've already become a half-celebrity in Chaldea!
"Since you've figured it out, I can't deny it..." Jeanne gave an awkward smile, "Whether this feeling can be called 'liking' or not, I still need to think about it… but I really would like to meet him once."
Hiding behind the rock, Eikou thought: All I care about is you not meeting me right now. Otherwise, your love story will end before it even begins, and your innocent heart will be shattered into pieces!
Feeling far too embarrassed, Jeanne quickly switched the topic.
"A-a-anyway, a student's duty is to focus on studying, so let's talk about something else!"
She spoke a little hurriedly.
"Have you girls seen my little sister (Jeanne Alter) today? I haven't seen her all day. I'm really worried about her situation. Alter's grades were already on shaky ground—if she skips a few more classes, she might actually get expelled!"
"Can't get in touch with her?" Marie asked.
"I tried to contact her, planned to invite her to the hot spring and have a little chat, but she didn't reply."
Jeanne's voice was full of worry and concern.
That brat probably got dragged into some factory to work and tighten screws, Eikou thought to himself.
Still, these girls sure know how to talk—they've been chatting forever and still don't plan on leaving.
But that's fine. The longer they talk, the less likely they are to wander around, and the less likely he'll get discovered without doing anything.
Whoosh!
Just as he was thinking that, a black shadow suddenly flew in from over the tall wall outside the hot spring.
The black object zipped right over his head, flying straight toward the girls, followed by the sound of water splashing.
"Kyaa!" Jeanne let out a surprised sound. "... What's this?"
It looked like a black plastic bag with something inside.
"It's… a brand-new pair of men's underwear, still in its packaging… Why would something like this come flying in from outside?" Bradamante asked, completely baffled.
"..."
Eikou was sweating like crazy. He already knew what had happened.
Those two Round Table bastards, even after escaping, didn't forget about him and came back to throw underwear in here!
Only… they used too much force, and it flew straight into the women's area!
"What is that…"
Jeanne spoke with clear suspicion,
"Bradamante-san, Marie-sama, since we entered the hot spring, I've felt something was off. It feels like… someone else is here. There's no way something like this would get thrown in for no reason. Should we thoroughly check the hot spring area again?"
Eikou's face immediately turned pale as a sheet.
I'm dead meat!!