My High School Nerd Rival - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 15
Even the Principal himself was so startled by Choi’s momentum that he fell momentarily silent.
After a brief pause, Choi added in a quieter voice.
“And we’re no better. We just found the rules annoying, so we started harassing Ibi over her attitude. Everyone in the Third Dormitory—from the class representative down to every last member—are all terrible people.”
“Carter.”
“So it’s not fair to say only one side is guilty. If Ibi Underwood has to leave the school over this, then the worthless Third Dormitory students deserve the same punishment. That’s what’s right! Principal, you didn’t sign that petition, did you? Tell me you didn’t.”
The Principal picked up the petition from his desk and held it up. He had long since advised being cautious about signing such documents, and it seemed he was taking his own advice to heart.
The petition Carter had submitted bore no signature whatsoever.
Taking it from him, Choi tore it to shreds right then and there. Just as she had done with Ibi’s printed materials once before.
“Underwood.”
Only then did Choi turn to look at Ibi. She had risen awkwardly from her seat but couldn’t manage to say a word.
“I’m sorry.”
It struck her as genuinely sincere—a rare sort of honesty.
* * *
Third Dormitory Anonymous Bulletin Board
[URGENT]
Choi apparently withdrew her petition
Posted by: Anonymous | 10:23
I was walking past the Principal’s Office earlier and Choi went in shouting about withdrawing the petition against the class rep.
[Anonymous 1]
Just like that?
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[Anonymous 2]
I saw it too lol she was running around like a maniac
[Anonymous 3]
Why’d she withdraw? Did she make up with Underwood?
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[Anonymous 4]
They’ve seemed fine lately, actually
[Anonymous 5]
Nah no way. Choi was totally trashing Underwood in the Principal’s Office
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[Anonymous 6]
I heard that too. No idea what’s going on
[Anonymous 7]
It’s confirmed. She ripped up the petition [attachment: 180391.jpg]
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[Anonymous 2]
This girl’s always ripping something up
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[Anonymous 4]
Yeah well thank god. It was getting pretty extreme imo
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[Anonymous 3]
Extreme? But the problem was the rep ignoring us in the first place, right?
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[Anonymous 4]
It goes both ways. Honestly it was kind of nice that she didn’t care
[Anonymous 8]
But you gotta admit we all crossed the line this time
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[Anonymous 6]
Yeah especially the stuff we posted here
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[Anonymous 9]
People who should be apologizing never show up??? Where’d they all go???
[Anonymous 6]
But why’d Choi suddenly change her mind?
[Anonymous 2]
Didn’t Quinton say something to her? He was standing outside the Principal’s Office too
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[Anonymous 1]
No way
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[Anonymous 4]
No way
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[Anonymous 3]
No way
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[Anonymous 7]
No way the Quinton Bot doesn’t have interactive functions
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[Anonymous 2]
You just hit the nail on the head lmaooo
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[Original Post]
Suddenly a grand reconciliation lmaooo
* * *
“I don’t understand.”
Thanks to the Principal’s consideration, Ibi had been given time alone with Owen in the Principal’s Office.
Whether it was because Ibi had decided to stay at the school, Owen’s expression had grown rather stiff.
It was even more frightening when someone who was usually warm and gentle toward her became like this. The muscles beneath his tailored suit, which were normally invisible, seemed suddenly visible today.
“Owen, are you angry?”
“Of course not. I’m just worried, that’s all.”
He stepped closer and carefully straightened the collar of her rumpled school uniform.
“It seems Your Highness is rather unskilled at communal living.”
It appeared Choi’s accusation earlier had left quite an impression on him.
“I’m improving.”
“Of course you are, my princess.”
Owen finally managed a smile.
“But remember. You can always come back. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you. You understand?”
It was something Owen had always said from the very beginning when he took responsibility for Ibi.
That he would protect her no matter what.
It always sounded a bit unsettling, as if it presupposed some threat to her—though perhaps it was simply Owen’s naturally anxious temperament.
“Thank you, Owen.”
After finishing their conversation, when Ibi stepped out into the hallway ahead of Owen, she found an unexpected figure waiting there.
Cyrus Quinton.
‘What’s he doing here?’
Along with that question came a memory of the brief exchange she’d had with Choi inside the Principal’s Office.
<So what exactly is your relationship with Cyrus Quinton?>
<We’re not close enough to use a word like ‘relationship.’ If anything, I’d say we have a terrible dynamic.>
<I don’t think that’s quite it.>
<What are you talking about?>
<He came to our room. And he asked if you were really going to leave school. Like he… didn’t want you to.>
It was thanks to that encounter that Choi had discovered Ibi’s letter and managed to burst into the Principal’s Office in time.
If he hadn’t knocked on the door, Ibi might not have seen that letter until after she’d already chosen to be expelled.
Which meant Cyrus’s actions deserved at least some of the credit for her staying at school.
‘Why would he care whether I stay or leave?’
Owen, for his part, had drawn his own conclusions.
<So the glasses boy does see after all.>
<It’s not like that.>
<It can’t be anything else! Young men that age only have one thing on their minds!>
<That’s narrow-minded!>
<It’s not narrow-minded, it’s objective fact. You absolutely cannot get close to boys. Their dirty hormones are contagious.>
He had then expounded on this dangerous ideology—one that risked making an enemy of half the population—with an additional remark.
<Above all, Your Highness’s beauty must not be taken lightly. Do you understand?>
<Why do you keep flattering me like that? Where exactly is there any beauty in this face?>
It was puzzling why he kept spouting this uncle-like nonsense even though she’d already promised him lifetime employment.
In any case, Ibi refocused on the matter at hand.
Quinton, who had been standing by the window with his arms crossed, immediately stepped forward as Ibi emerged.
As if he’d been waiting for her to come out.
But that couldn’t possibly be the case, so Ibi beat him to it and spoke first.
“The Principal isn’t here.”
He must have been waiting for the Principal. And since Ibi was coming out, he probably meant to ask if the Principal was still inside.
“I know. I saw him leave earlier.”
But his response was different.
And he regarded her face for a moment with curiosity. It was only then that Ibi realized she’d forgotten her disguise glasses.
Ibi hurriedly pulled out her glasses and put them on.
“You’re not going to tell me you waited for me twice in one day, are you?”
“That’s right.”
He spoke in a self-deprecating tone.
“How did I end up waiting for you twice in a single day?”
Wait, he really did wait?
Why? Could he have heard she was staying at school?
“It would’ve been better if I hadn’t waited.”
Quinton’s brow tightened slightly. But even that was brief; his gaze shifted past Ibi’s shoulder.
What was that about?
Ibi turned and found herself looking directly at Cyrus.
Her face immediately went pale.
Owen, who wasn’t supposed to emerge for some time yet, was already stepping out of the Principal’s Office and approaching with casual confidence.
‘Is he insane?’
Ibi asked silently with just the shape of her mouth, and Owen shrugged lightly as if it were no big deal.
“You’re Cyrus Quinton, aren’t you?”
Owen approached with a courteous yet somehow intimidating demeanor and extended his hand to Cyrus.
“Pleased to meet you.”
Though Owen had his bumbling uncle-like side, he was professionally an elite member of the royal entourage. Naturally he knew how to project an intimidating presence.
“…Yes.”
Even before Owen’s intimidating manner, Cyrus’s expression didn’t change much. A light handshake was exchanged between them.
But that light handshake soon began to turn into something strange. Owen was starting to lean his face in closer, his eyes opening wide and fierce as he stared down at Cyrus.
‘What on earth is he doing?!’
Ibi couldn’t stop him, and could only stand there in shock, her lips fluttering uselessly.
Cyrus, meanwhile, gave no particular reaction. He simply stared at Owen’s strange face, wide-eyed and intense, before speaking quietly.
“My hand hurts.”
“You’re telling me this is painful? How pathetic.”
Immediately after letting go, Owen was massaging his own fingers behind his back.
“In any case, don’t get too confident about staying first. Understand?”
…That sounds like something I’ve heard before.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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