Chapter 59: Is Irene angry? (2)
Although the two met by "chance," Ihan was not the type of person who would fail to consider the feelings of a woman approaching him, even if it required some courage on her part.
"Well then, since we met by chance, let's walk together, Chick Number 2." "Can't you just call me by my name?" "...What was your name again?" "?!" "Kidding, Cadet Irene." "Sir, I really thought you had forgotten for real, so it didn’t sound like a joke." "I'm not that much of a scumbag." "Hehe, I was just joking too." "Touché."
Although awkward at first, the conversation between the knight and the young woman flowed continuously. After all, they were next-door neighbors. Given how often they saw each other, it would have been strange if they still felt unfamiliar with one another.
However, if there was any lingering awkwardness between them, it was likely because:
"It feels a little strange to have a conversation like this at the academy." "Even if we’re neighbors outside, here we're an instructor and a cadet." "Yeah, definitely."
The tension came from their roles as instructor and cadet.
Irene Wendler nodded in agreement with Ihan's words but felt that today, at least, she didn't need to worry about the teacher-student relationship. After all, it was exam season, and all the academic faculties had halted their classes. Even instructors, lecturers, and professors were taking a step back from interacting with cadets.
This gave Irene the courage to approach him first today.
'Hmm, but still... I hope this doesn’t look like something romantic, right?'
As someone inexperienced in romance, she was particularly concerned about how others might perceive them. She worried that they might look like a budding couple.
And if that were the case...
'That would be... a little embarrassing.'