My High School Nerd Rival - Chapter 7

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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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Episode 7
What is this, exactly?
A strange atmosphere like something out of a novel……? Could Quinton possibly have developed feelings for me?
I knew the thought was self-conscious to a fault. But what other reason would this arrogant man have to close the distance between himself and others?
What do I do? Should I close my eyes?
But before that, won’t my glasses collide with his? Why am I even worried about that right now?
While all manner of thoughts filled Ibi’s mind, he drew closer, erasing the remaining distance.
Ibi found herself clenching her eyes shut without thinking.
Rustle.
What was that sound?
It certainly did not come from Ibi’s lips.
She opened her eyes then, and her vision filled with a variety of colors. Not a metaphorical expression like lovesick people use, but literally.
“…….”
Before Ibi lay a printout she had made.
He had not leaned toward Ibi at all—he was simply picking up the printout that lay carelessly on the bed.
How thoughtful of him! To hold the Precautions for Lights-Out Time right before her eyes like this, specially for her benefit!
“……I know the precautions well enough.”
“Really? I thought you didn’t.”
Ibi felt a surge of emotion for a moment but swallowed her words deliberately. After all, she did owe Cyrus a debt.
“In any case, thank you.”
“That too, I thought you didn’t know.”
He returned to his desk and sat down with that reply, while Ibi answered him with narrowed eyes, muttering.
“I know. I do! I can repay you later.”
“Don’t be troublesome about it.”
“When have I ever been troublesome to you?”
He fell silent. The meaning of that quiet seemed clear enough without needing to hear it spoken aloud: “Right now.”
“You’re truly the worst, you know that?”
At Ibi’s reproach, he lifted the corner of his mouth slightly, rose from his chair, and walked briskly toward the door.
“Then I should keep my distance, shouldn’t I?”
It was a clear dismissal, and Ibi shot to her feet. She then placed the prints she had just been grading on his desk with a sharp thud.
“Right, the worst should keep their distance. I forgot that, didn’t I? Thanks for reminding me.”
“You’re welcome.”
After glaring at him for a moment as he answered flatly, Ibi left Cyrus’s room.
Now that she thought about it, she wasn’t even sorry about the bell incident. After all, it had happened while she was helping enthusiastically with his work.
Besides, he hadn’t even been particularly grateful for her help!
‘I won’t exchange another word with that boy. Not ever again!’
And she felt only a firm resolve to claim first place quickly.
She couldn’t spend her life married to such a despicable person!
On her way back to her room, Ibi ran into Joy, her roommate, in the hallway. She had apparently just returned to the dormitory.
Just how much had she drunk? The smell of alcohol hung heavy on her clothes.
“Joy, listen.”
Ibi approached carefully and spoke to her.
With a smell that strong, she must have had quite a bit, and Ibi wondered if she was all right.
“So now the Class Representative is playing proctor too, making the rounds? Really insufferable, that’s what you are.”
But Joy, after shooting Ibi a glance, passed by her with an elegant stride that showed no wavering at all and entered her room.
* * *
The next day, during a brief break between classes.
Ibi called the person who had rung her in the early morning.
“You’ve decided to drive me out of here, haven’t you?”
And she let loose criticism right away. She didn’t want to, but she couldn’t help it after what had happened yesterday.
-My apologies, Your Highness.
A polite voice came through the receiver.
Ibi lowered the call volume and immediately checked her surroundings. Fortunately, there was no one nearby.
The person on the call was Ibi’s secretary, Owen Graham—his title was secretary, but he was more like a well-meaning, nagging uncle who handled countless matters, with hardly any official duties.
-However, this was one of those matters you instructed me to call about immediately if I learned anything at all, however minor.
At Owen’s response, Ibi was taken aback and adjusted her grip on the phone.
“You found the Nursemaid?”
-No, it’s not that this time either.
“Tell me.”
-There was an anonymous donor to a small Church Foundation, and the physical description matches the Nursemaid in many respects. And more importantly…….
Before Owen could finish, Ibi spoke first.
“It was a donation for the education of children in the village, wasn’t it?”
-Yes, Your Highness.
“Then it must be the Nursemaid again this time.”
Ibi stated it with confidence. The kind Nursemaid had always been sincere about helping children, especially about the need to provide them with education.
“Listen, Owen.”
Just as Ibi was about to speak, Owen spoke first this time.
-I made a donation because I expected you would say so.
Every time Ibi discovered a donation presumed to be from the Nursemaid, she had always followed up with a donation of her own.
And always in the name of “Your Highness.”
That way, the media would write about it, and perhaps the Nursemaid might see the article too.
“The Nursemaid still doesn’t know I’m looking for her, does she?”
It had already been five years since Ibi began following her donations.
Of course, it was only once or twice a year.
“Or perhaps…….”
The Nursemaid might not want to meet Ibi. After all, she had lost the glorious position of “Royal Nursemaid” because of Ibi.
So perhaps she didn’t just dislike meeting her—she might actually hate her.
That would explain why she had disappeared so completely.
“Regardless, thank you, Owen. Call me again if you learn anything else later.”
-Of course. And Your Highness.
“Yes?”
-If school life ever becomes unbearable, please call me anytime. I’ll have a helicopter standing by immediately.
Ibi laughed lightly at what seemed like a amusing joke.
But he turned serious.
-I’m not joking. I’m speaking in earnest. Sometimes forcing yourself to endure isn’t the right thing to do.
“I understand your concern, but school life isn’t unbearable for me.”
Academically, I’d even say it’s quite enjoyable.
“The interpersonal relationships are a bit difficult, but I think that’s unavoidable since I have things I need to hide.”
Ibi spoke honestly. Her lack of interest in others was ultimately because she hoped they would not take interest in her.
It felt like cowardly deception to grow close to someone and build a friendship under a false identity.
And when everything was revealed, she had no confidence to face everyone’s anger.
-I see, Your Highness.
Owen hesitated for a moment before continuing.
-There is no one who doesn’t hide something. Everyone deliberates about how much to reveal and what to conceal before showing themselves to others.
And he added,
-Having something to hide does not mean you cannot become a genuine person.
* * *
Ibi had no time to think deeply about Owen’s advice before heading straight to the Experimental Practice classroom.
Since she arrived almost at the same time as Professor Chen, Ibi took a seat in the back of the classroom.
Logan, who occupied a blind spot, turned to look at Ibi and mouthed “What’s this?” without making a sound. It seemed odd to him that she, who always stuck to a front seat, was sitting elsewhere.
Suddenly Cyrus Quinton, seated in a corner of the classroom, caught her eye—he was already absorbed in listening to the instructor.
I won’t lose.
Ibi opened her eyes wide.
“Since we’ve covered theory and precautions thoroughly this semester, next semester will focus primarily on Experimental Practice.”
Finally, practicum work!
Ibi’s heart felt like it might burst out of her chest with excitement.
“However, the experiments will be conducted in pairs. Once partners are assigned, they cannot be changed for the entire semester.”
Never mind. Experimental Chemistry truly is the worst subject.
As she thought this and furrowed her brow, her eyes met the professor’s.
“Is there a problem?”
Yes, plenty, Ibi wanted to answer.
Group assignments were the height of inefficiency, a system fundamentally incompatible with the human species—you could learn that from studying basic history alone. Yet she couldn’t understand why professors kept clinging to such formats.
Ibi quickly shook her head and buried her face in her notebook.
“Then please form pairs freely before the vacation and submit them to my bulletin board.”
It was truly irresponsible. A partner’s competence was a crucial factor that determined grades for an entire semester.
What was someone without a single friend supposed to do?
Ibi found this kind of situation genuinely inconvenient.
Ever since basketball class, when she couldn’t find a partner and had practiced passes alone by bouncing a ball off a wall, it had been even worse.

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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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