Chapter 320
Extroverts who see the world through an agape lens might think differently, but people naturally categorize others when interacting with them.
Family, friends, people who aren’t quite friends but close enough, acquaintances, coworkers whose names you barely remember—dividing people into these categories isn’t coldhearted. It’s just common sense for functioning in society. If someone claims otherwise, they probably haven’t had much real-world experience.
This kind of classification is necessary to maintain comfortable relationships. Rather than instantly treating someone like a close friend, it’s better to assess the person from a distance and approach them gradually. That way, future awkwardness can be avoided.
Besides, having clear categories makes it easier to know who to contact when you need help—or when you want to offer help.
Of course, school was a bit different. The only time students had to assess benefits and losses was in academics, and even then, grades were personal achievements that couldn’t be negotiated.
Other than that, there was no need for calculations. You could get along with almost anyone you met. Schools naturally gathered students from the same district, meaning there wasn’t extreme economic disparity within the same ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) academic year. Since everyone was around the same age, they could easily interact.
The problem was that this world’s academy didn’t work like that.
"Alright, you and I have always spoken formally to each other, and I don’t feel any sense of distance because of it. We both say whatever we want to each other anyway."
Charlotte dropped the hand she had been holding to her forehead and placed it on her hip.
"But not everyone is like us, right? If a princess suddenly starts speaking casually to some people while keeping formal speech with others, it feels like she’s deliberately building walls between them."
If it were about my friends, then yes, I was building walls. I had done so even when I spoke formally to everyone.
"...Basically, people are afraid of you. If you’re going to build walls, at least don’t make them too high."