“… Huuut.”
He smiled as if he was satisfied.
“See. You know whose pupil she is, right?”
“…”
“…?”
Despite the middle finger being aimed at the man, strangely, Andal was all happy. Nainiae wondered why Andal was acting this way. She tilted her head to the side and then remembered what had happened last year.
‘You. Starting today, you are my pupil.’
‘Pardon?’
‘Say it after me. Doctor… No. Teacher.’
‘…’
‘Try it. Teacher.’
‘T… Teacher?’
‘Um! Good! I like the sound of that. Hahaha!’
‘Ah, ah haha…’
During last year’s fall… Nainiae was thinking about the time when Andal had accepted her as his pupil. Back then, Andal had raised his middle finger too. He looked happy. Remembering this, Nainiae looked at Riley.
‘By any chance… The teacher is… still thinking that joke is…’
‘This runt…’
Riley, the one with the finger, was not expecting Andal to respond this way. Riley looked dumbfounded.
‘What’s this?’
‘Compliment.’
‘Compliment?’
‘The middle finger means compliment?’
“That’s right. I’m complimenting you for your cool acting in the corridor just now.’
Andal still remembered the practical joke that Riley had tossed at him to make fun of him. Riley asked Nainiae with his gaze.
<You didn’t tell him?>
<That is… Yes. I couldn’t.>
<Why not?>
<I was worried that you two might have a fight if I told him.>
<…>
The two were having a conversation in secret so Andal wouldn’t hear it. Andal was still flexing his shoulders. Nainiae and Riley saw Andal and nodded.
<Hey, just…>
<It would be best to leave him out of it, right?>
<… Of course.>
The mood was more eased now in comparison to earlier. Riley and Nainiae both broke into laughter.
“You will… come back soon, right?”
Was it because of the mood?
Unlike earlier, Nainiae’s voice did not sound as worried as before.
Having heard the question, Riley also responded in a voice that was not as worrisome as earlier.
“That’s right.”