IBDEML 05

Chapter 05

I stood up and walked a little farther away, sitting half inside a patch of bushes.

The green-haired kid saw me do that and let out a small laugh before quickly lowering his head.

To be honest, I did like children.

But dealing with them felt very difficult.

They seemed fragile, like they might break.

They cried whenever I said something.

And most importantly—

They didn’t like me.

Even though I liked them.

Just then, a bucket of water suddenly poured over my head.

I had been lost in thought, so I didn’t even realize what was happening.

I simply sat there, blinking.

“Pfft! You look like a drowned rat!”

When I looked up at the mocking voice, I saw Klein brushing back his hair with a grin.

Even at such a young age, his looks were already ridiculous.

“Did you do that because you wanted to play with me?”

“What? As if I’d do that!”

“Oh…”

Then there was only one explanation left.

I looked up at him.

“Do you want attention?”

“….”

“Sorry, but if you dislike me that much, wouldn’t it be better if we just ignored each other?”

Klein laughed as if the idea was absurd.

Then he crossed his arms, leaning on one leg, and sneered.

“Are you still sulking because I used you?”

“Yeah.”

As soon as I answered, Klein pointed his finger at me as if he had caught me.

“Hey! Didn’t you say you lost your memory?!”

“For some reason, I clearly remember you framing me as a thief.”

“…S-shut up!”

Maybe he was afraid Medina might hear.

Klein quickly covered my mouth.

Our eyes met up close.

Klein’s face twisted.

“Stop looking at me!”

Kids were really difficult to deal with.

I obediently lowered my gaze.

The hand covering my mouth loosened, and I heard his slightly confused voice.

“W-were you always this obedient?”

“I won’t tell Medina. I don’t plan on staying in Class 1 for long anyway, so we probably won’t see each other again.”

We might meet in the dormitory, but Medina wouldn’t approach me unless I did something first.

“What do you mean you won’t stay in Class 1?”

“I lost my memory, remember? I forgot all the lessons too.”

“Tsk.”

He looked at me with clear disapproval.

“Thinking I won’t see you again makes me feel relieved.”

Yeah, thanks.

“And I don’t know why you’re acting so confident. Sure, I used you—but did you forget how you bullied everyone before?”

I actually didn’t know exactly what Lopez did.

The original story never explained it in detail.

“Be careful. A lot of kids hold grudges against you!”

“Thanks for worrying about me.”

“I’m not worried! I’m mocking you!”

Klein grumbled angrily.

It looked like he had nothing more to say.

So I waved goodbye.

He ignored me and ran toward Medina.

“Medina! I want to play too!”

“You didn’t bully Lopez, right?”

“No! Just like you said, we made up!”

So that’s what you call making up?

It felt like I just got insulted.

Chester’s indifferent gaze briefly landed on me before moving away.

‘He’s calculating.’

‘He’s thinking about when to use me.’

To avoid his gaze, I quietly stood up and headed to the shower room.

I had already played enough outside.

That should be fine.

When Lopez walked toward the shower room completely soaked, the children finally relaxed.

“Doesn’t Lopez feel kind of scary?”

“She was the one who did something wrong, so why is she acting pitiful?”

“Medina keeps worrying about her!”

“I’m fine. She lost her memory, so she must be confused. Let’s not be too harsh on her.”

Medina smiled kindly while calming the children.

But the others still looked displeased.

Everyone already knew Lopez had a harsh personality.

But this time she had crossed the line.

Medina had almost been expelled from the orphanage after being accused of stealing.

To the children here, Medina felt like a kind older sister.

So it was natural they were wary of Lopez.

Especially since Lopez was already known as someone scary and annoying.

“Medina is just too kind.”

Even though he said that, Klein didn’t dislike that kindness.

He had already fallen for it himself.

“What if you get hurt someday?”

“Then Klein can keep protecting me!”

At that answer, Klein couldn’t hide his grin.

“Yeah. I’ll protect you!”

“Hehe.”

Medina laughed shyly.

Both Klein and Chester’s faces turned red.

Klein glared at Chester.

“She wasn’t smiling at you.”

“I know. I just think Medina’s smile is pretty.”

Chester’s direct comment made Medina’s cheeks turn pink.

Seeing that, Klein grabbed Medina’s hand and pulled her away from Chester.

“Hey, you’re the one on snack duty today. Shouldn’t you go?”

Chester frowned when he saw Klein holding Medina’s hand.

Medina sighed quietly and looked at Chester.

“Chester, want to come with us?”

Klein puffed his cheeks in annoyance.

“Medina, are you going to leave me here alone?”

“Let’s all go together. You guys keep playing! We’ll bring snacks!”

Klein shot Chester a triumphant smile.

Later, Medina, Klein, and Chester were walking down the hallway to get snacks.

Then they suddenly heard Lopez’s voice.

“…Die.”

The cold voice made Klein bite his lip.

‘Has she lost it? Who is she threatening now…?’

Lopez spoke again.

“If you keep following me, you’ll die.”

“W-why?”

“Because… I’m a wicked witch.”

Klein and Chester let out a sigh.

“….”

“Aren’t you scared?”

“That’s annoying!”

The blunt reply came from the green-haired boy.

Lopez placed her hand on her chest as if she had been hurt.

“Your blunt way of speaking has wounded me a little. To calm my heart, I should probably be alone—”

“Waaah!”

“—Actually, maybe we should stay together.”

Looking a little absent-minded, Lopez grabbed the green-haired boy Bill and tried to enter the shower room with him.

Klein and Chester immediately blocked the way.

“Hey! What are you doing?!”

Seeing Klein suddenly appear, Lopez quickly stepped back.

The obvious avoidance made Klein’s eyebrows rise sharply.

‘Why are you acting like I’m something dirty?!’

Klein felt irritated.

“I was going to help him wash…”

“Are you crazy?! He’s a boy!”

“We’ll do it. Move.”

Chester pushed Lopez aside and pulled Bill away.

Lopez fell backward and landed on the floor.

“Ah!”

She let out a small scream.

Chester flinched.

He clearly didn’t expect her to fall so easily.

Medina quickly helped Lopez up.

“S-sorry. Chester didn’t mean to push you…”

“Oh… right. I guess it would be strange for me to help him shower. We’re only two years apart.”

“…Huh?”

Lopez muttered that calmly.

Then she walked straight into the girls’ shower room.

Chester stood there blankly, staring at the door.

Normally, Lopez would have yelled angrily.

But this time she stayed quiet.

“Bill, why were you with Lopez instead of playing with us?”

Medina asked gently.

Bill hesitated and fidgeted with his fingers.

“B-because she’s pretty…”

Klein exploded immediately.

“Hey! Are your eyes broken? Anyone can see that Medina is the prettiest!”

“Klein!”

Medina’s face turned bright red as she hit his arm.

“Stop teasing!”

“I’m serious.”

Klein grinned.

Chester nodded beside him in agreement.

Medina sighed helplessly and looked back at Bill.

“But Bill, weren’t you scared of Lopez before?”

“Back then she always looked like this.”

Bill lifted the corners of his eyes sharply to imitate Lopez’s old glare.

Medina barely held back her laughter.

“And now?”

“She seems nice! It’s fun teasing her! Her reactions are cute! She doesn’t bully anyone anymore and stays quiet! After losing her memory, she became super nice! Like a different person!”

Bill smiled brightly and ran into the shower room.

Medina watched him with worry.

“I just hope he doesn’t get hurt…”

Even if Lopez had lost her memory, Medina doubted her personality would change completely.

She was worried Bill might get hurt by Lopez’s sharp words.

While Medina worried, Chester and Klein silently exchanged glances.

Inside the shower room, I looked down at my suddenly aching backside.

“Ow… I got a bruise!”

I poked it a few times.

It hurt more than I expected.