Chapter 7

“Come on, Rozia. Let’s look at this positively.” Alina handed her an opened bottle of beer. Cradling a pillow and staring blankly into space, Rozia abruptly pulled the blanket over her head and let out a silent scream. She simply couldn’t stand the irritation bubbling up inside her. Her whole body felt itchy and restless, all because of Senior Heyworth’s foul temper.

The moment the exact one-hour mark hit, she had stormed out of the research building and made her way back to the dormitory. Along the path, she had to stop several times to suppress the sudden surges of frustration threatening to boil over. Even so, try as she might to take deep breaths and calm her mind, memories of various moments kept popping up out of nowhere, making the anger rush right back up. She needed some drastic measure. How was she supposed to deal with this stress? It was a bit too late to head into town. Well, maybe drinking, like Alina suggested, would help lift her mood?

She immediately packed two pepperoni pizzas from the cafeteria and barged into Alina’s dorm room. She knew all too well that Alina kept a “secret stash of emergency alcohol” hidden deep inside her closet. Naturally, Alina wildly welcomed her proposal. And thus, an impromptu “Rozia Comfort Party” was born—complete with alcohol and a side of Senior Heyworth ranting.

“I can’t… Even if the incarnation of positivity descended right now, she’d go, ‘Ah, yeah, this is a bit much,’ and just turn right back around…” “What kind of vague expression is that?”

Rozia sat up, took the offered drink, and slid down to sit on the floor. Sitting opposite her, Alina had already popped open her own bottle and was waiting for her. Soon, the two bottles tapped together with a clear, ringing sound that filled the room.

After taking two or three gulps out of sheer spite, her throat burned as if a firecracker had just gone off. She winced and gave a light shiver. Ugh, this is weird. And way too bitter. Compared to Alina, who could easily down half a bottle in one go, she was just a rookie drinker who had only turned of age last month, so it couldn’t be helped.

“Rozia. No matter how rough things get, to protect our mental health, we always need to find the positive aspects and focus on them, you know.” At the very least, aren’t you the person who gets to admire Senior Heyworth’s breathtaking face up close, completely legally? Am I wrong? Alina added with a sly grin.

“Oh, and was it illegal before?” Rozia cast a light glare at her and grumbled softly. Still, she couldn’t argue with it. It was true that he possessed otherworldly good looks. If it weren’t for that nasty personality of his, he’d practically be her ideal type. Rozia smacked her lips. Well, who wouldn’t like a face like that, anyway?

“Speaking of looks, you know I’m taking that basic martial combat liberal arts elective, right?” Alina picked up a fallen piece of pepperoni from her plate and spoke up. Rozia immediately narrowed her eyes, getting ready to tease her. “You’re going to drop that course, aren’t you? Someone as lazy as you taking martial combat?”

“Nope. I’m going to keep taking it. You know why?” Even though there was only the two of them in the room, Alina lowered her voice and whispered. “The teaching assistants from the swordsmanship department have amazing bodies. No joke.” Bursting into laughter at the unexpected reason, Rozia nearly choked. Alina continued regardless of her reaction. “Besides, those guys are super careful with me, like I’m made of fragile glass! Seeing only muscle-bound tanks in their own department, they probably panic handling me, terrified I’ll snap.”

“Being treated like something precious isn’t half bad. It really heals the soul after grinding through assignments.” Alina nodded with a deadpan expression. Somehow, Rozia’s ears perked up. “Really? Should I take that next semester, too?” “No way, you’ll steal my spot. I’m planning to register for it again pretending to retake it. You should just content yourself with Senior Heyworth’s face. Um… maybe try plugging your ears, too.”

Alina scratched her cheek and glanced sideways at her. Knowing even she was talking nonsense, she looked a little sheepish. “Do you really think that would work…?”

With a gloomy expression, Rozia poked at her pizza, barely eating a thing. Just thinking of him made her appetite vanish. How am I supposed to survive until the end of November? I am seriously depressed…

No, wait. She set her plate down and sat up straight. Alina watched her with gleaming, bated breath, looking forward to whatever eccentric resolution she was about to make.

“From now on, I’m going full-out savage. I’ve been keeping my head down just not to rub him the wrong way, but I’m not holding back anymore. I’ve got a temper too, you know!”

A muffled snicker was heard. But Rozia was entirely serious and burning with determination—at least, until she received that message from the senior.