My High School Nerd Rival - Chapter 90

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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 90
Sunday.
The very Sunday that Joy had been counting down to with more anticipation than anyone else had finally arrived.
Starting last night, Joy had painted Ivy’s nails, applied a face mask, and even given her a dubiously advertised facial massage that supposedly made your face smaller.
Moreover, this morning Ivy had woken earlier than usual and spent every last minute deliberating over what to wear.
“This is actually cute.”
With those words, Joy handed her a short Denim Skirt.
It was the exact type of garment the royal family absolutely forbade.
“…I’d rather wear workout clothes than something like that.”
Joy made a face as if to say there was no helping it, and produced a Sky Blue Shirt Dress instead.
“Wait, I have some incredibly cute Socks.”
While she rummaged through the closet, Ivy sighed and changed into the dress.
After that, she put on the sliding-design Socks and a pair of Sneakers.
“All right, one last thing.”
Joy approached with a hairbrush in hand.
Absolutely not!
She’d definitely try to push all her hair back.
Ivy didn’t want Cyrus to see her with her hair swept to the side. He’d seen “Princess Evelyn” most recently, after all.
Even with different makeup, he might recognize her right away.
“I, I think the time’s almost up.”
Ivy checked her watch and hurriedly grabbed her Small Cross Bag.
“I’m heading out.”
“You’ll tell me everything that happens when you get back, right?”
“Oh, nothing’s going to happen.”
But Joy’s expression seemed to say, “I bet it won’t be.”
As Ivy opened the door and stepped out, she restated her objective for the day with absolute clarity.
“This is just Research.”
Joy simply laughed aloud at whatever she found so amusing about that.
10 o’clock, in front of the School Gate.
Checking her watch as she left the Dormitory, it was 9:45. From here to the gate took less than five minutes.
‘Did I come out too early?’
What if it looked like she was too eager?
With that worry in mind, she headed toward the gate. The morning sun was already beating down harshly.
How much hotter would it be by midday?
Still, the sky was an unblemished blue, and the occasional breeze felt refreshing.
There were no signs of other students coming from the Dormitory. They’d probably sleep in and not wake until afternoon.
That fact felt unexpectedly fortunate.
If someone had encountered her, they’d have asked where she was going, and then she wouldn’t have known what to say in response.
‘I can just say I’m doing Research! It’s not weird or anything?’
By the time she was reproaching herself, the gate had come nearly into view.
She could see the back of someone already standing there.
A black shirt, dark-colored slacks.
Even though it wasn’t his school uniform or the hoodie he usually favored, she recognized him instantly.
It was Cyrus.
He was looking down at his Mobile Phone, head bowed.
‘…He was already here.’
Not that it meant anything, but somehow there was a tickle in one corner of her heart.
She hesitated for a moment. What should she say when greeting him? What expression should she wear? Such trivial details nagged at her so much that her pace began to slow.
Perhaps sensing her presence, Cyrus looked up.
For a moment, his gaze lingered on Ivy’s Shirt Dress, then returned to her face.
‘…What?’
Ivy subtly clutched at her skirt hem.
Was something off about it?
No, that couldn’t be. Joy’s taste was always impeccable.
“You’re here.”
He pocketed his smartphone and stepped forward. Just beyond the gate was the Shuttle Bus Stop.
There was nothing but an old roof and a small bench.
But if you waited there, the school shuttle would come regularly and pick up students heading into Town.
“It’s hot. Sit down.”
Cyrus spoke from the shade of the shelter.
“Twelve minutes left.”
He apparently meant there were twelve minutes until the bus arrived.
Ivy sat on one end of the bench. There was space available, but Cyrus remained standing nearby.
Ivy gazed at his back.
The thought struck her that the jet-black hoodie concealed quite a lot—his shoulders, for instance.
What’s wrong with me? Are you some kind of pervert, Ivy? What are you thinking, staring at some guy’s back like that?
Should she ask him to sit down next to her?
Before she could even finish wrestling with that dilemma, the bus arrived. At the same moment, several students shouted from the gate and came running.
Cyrus boarded the bus first, and Ivy took a seat across the aisle from him.
The students who’d rushed aboard panting collapsed into the rear seats, exhausted.
Hiss.
The bus closed its doors and departed for Town.
Ivy pretended to look out the window. The school’s landscape slowly receded into the distance.
Did Cyrus feel disappointed that Ivy hadn’t sat right next to him on the bus?
Well, he hadn’t sat next to her at the stop either, so they were even.
Ivy glanced sideways. He seemed unbothered.
As expected.
* * *
Fifteen minutes later.
The shuttle stopped at the entrance to Town. Cyrus got off first and waited by the door for Ivy to disembark.
“This way, right?”
After getting off and standing across from him, Ivy asked about the direction for no particular reason. She certainly knew the way through this small Town.
“Yeah.”
Cyrus answered briefly and started walking. At first Ivy followed half a step behind, but before long they were walking side by side.
High Street on a Sunday morning was quiet.
Store employees just beginning their shifts, people who’d bought bread early and were heading home. Beyond that, there was scarcely anyone.
Ivy drew in a long breath. Her lungs, which had been held tight for so long, seemed to receive a proper lungful of air.
Probably because she’d been holding her breath all week long while at school.
“Ivy.”
But his voice beside her snapped her back to attention immediately.
She mustn’t forget that she had to be even more careful around this person.
“…Why, what?”
The answer came out strangely. It was probably because she was tensing up, afraid of looking like the princess.
“Where do you want to go first?”
“Well…”
She’d been staring vacantly at the street without any real plan. Here she was out on Research, and this was pathetic.
“First a shirt. Your Black Suit is too…”
She was about to say “Your Black Suit looks too formal,” but Ivy quickly closed her mouth.
What was she thinking?
She’d only seen that suit as “Evelyn,” not as “Ivy.”
At the Easter Reception.
“Right, the black one. The one you wore at the entrance ceremony.”
He responded quietly and nodded.
She was safe. He’d worn it to the school entrance ceremony.
In fact, she hadn’t paid attention to Cyrus at the entrance ceremony anyway.
“Yeah, the Black Suit is fine for formal occasions, but it’s a bit heavy for the School Dance Party. It’s better to lighten the tone with a shirt instead.”
“A necktie?”
“It’s semi so it’s fine without one.”
“That’s a relief.”
He sounded relieved.
She’d expected as much. He always wore loose clothes. Even now, he had one shirt button undone.
“Let’s go.”
Ivy pointed to the Men’s Clothing Store across the street, and Cyrus started crossing ahead of her.
The store was cool inside.
Soft classical music played in the background. Since they’d only just opened, they seemed to be the only customers.
“Welcome. Can we help you with anything?”
An employee approached from behind the counter.
“We’re just going to browse, thanks.”
“Feel free to look around.”
The employee returned to the counter.
Cyrus circled the store with his hands in his pockets, looking uncertain about where to begin.
Ivy headed straight for the shirt section. Cyrus followed right behind her.
Shirts of various colors hung like a gradient palette, and Ivy gauged the hues by flipping through the hangers one by one with her fingertips.
“Cyrus, what color do you usually…”
Ivy turned to face him but trailed off.
“Black.”
“Of course.”
He was always dressed in dark tones, after all.
“What about you?”
“Me? I usually go for coral pink or…”
Ivy abruptly closed her mouth.
A mistake.
That was Evelyn’s color, not Ivy’s.
“…Gray.”
“Pink.”
As though he hadn’t heard her say gray, Cyrus slightly furrowed his brow.
He disapproved.
Seeing that reaction made her feel a little mischievous.
“Isn’t your thinking too narrow? A lot of guys wear pink these days.”
Ivy swiftly flipped through the hangers and pulled out a charming Pink Shirt, and Cyrus suddenly took a step back.
“You won’t know until you try. Come on.”
With a laugh in her voice, Ivy grabbed his arm and led him in front of the mirror.
Before the white-lit mirror, she held the shirt up to his shoulder.
Her hand holding the hanger touched below his shoulder. Through the fabric, she felt warmth transmit.
The moment she became aware it was his body heat, her fingertips stiffened slightly.
As if to ignore that unfamiliar warmth, she turned her head.
Toward the mirror, of all places.
And what entered her line of sight was…
Two people.
Standing pressed so close together, just like those tacky couples you’d often see at school.
Only then did she realize.
Right now, they were standing far too close.

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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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