My High School Nerd Rival - Chapter 97

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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 97
That’s strange, isn’t it?
Ivy asked herself.
Hiding on the landing, whispering to someone that she missed them.
“That…!”
Ivy quickly shook her head.
“Oh, it’s a misunderstanding!”
Cyrus tilted his head slightly. It was clear he wanted her to explain.
“Missing someone means, well…”
Naturally, she couldn’t mention that she missed her governess.
But she didn’t want to tell an outright lie either. For some reason, she couldn’t.
“Like… family.”
It wasn’t untrue.
Her governess was like a mother to her. And Owen, the person on the phone, was as good as family to Ivy.
“…Because she’s that kind of person.”
“You seem to have a lot of family-like people.”
A dry reply came back. Now she remembered making a similar excuse before.
“It’s the same person as last time. And there’s really nothing odd about it…”
Her head sank lower. When Cyrus, visible through the window frame, merely stared back without reaction, she felt a sudden anxiety creep in.
‘Why am I even defending myself like this?’
She couldn’t understand her own restlessness.
So what if she missed someone?
Yet she didn’t want to be misunderstood either.
“I owe her a debt from childhood… that’s all it is.”
“…”
“A-anyway, it’s not like that.”
Ivy’s gaze dropped to the laptop she was clutching. Cyrus’s shadow wavered across its smooth surface.
She was staring at it when she lifted her eyes just slightly. The corner of his mouth seemed to be curving upward.
Surprised, she raised her head fully. But in that instant, the smile vanished.
Had she imagined it?
No, that couldn’t be.
Without even blinking, as she watched, his hand began to reach through the window frame toward her.
The hand drew closer and closer. Without thinking, Ivy shut her eyes tight.
“…”
His presence remained close. But no matter how long she waited, she felt nothing touch her.
She opened her eyes slightly. His hand hovered right beside her face.
Nearly touching. Hovering at that threshold but never crossing it.
A breeze swept through, and Ivy’s hair stirred gently, brushing softly against his fingertips.
She couldn’t move.
And then, a moment later.
Cyrus withdrew his hand and gripped the window frame again. His teal eyes lowered.
“…I’m sorry.”
He apologized.
She didn’t know what for. Perhaps he didn’t either.
Ivy looked at his hand on the sill once more, then shook her head.
“It’s time.”
With those words, Cyrus pulled himself away from the window.
The distance between them returned to normal, and sunlight fell across his shoulders.
The shadow left behind seemed somehow darker.
“After the next class. Cafeteria entrance.”
He spoke as if it were already decided, yet he stood still, as if waiting for her answer.
Normally he wouldn’t say something like this. Perhaps he was being considerate because Joy wasn’t around.
Or perhaps… he simply wanted to eat together.
Without settling on either conclusion, Ivy gave a small nod.
That seemed to be enough for Cyrus. He turned and crossed the lawn.
Ivy watched his retreating figure until it completely disappeared.
The wind picked up again, and her hair stirred—just as it had when his hand came close.
She closed her eyes for a moment.
* * *
Lunch with Cyrus was quiet. Perhaps it only felt that way because the surrounding area was loud.
Or perhaps she was too preoccupied, lost in memories of the landing at the Science Building.
Not that she disliked it.
Afterward, Cyrus headed to the Library, and Ivy attended a Class Representative meeting in the First Dormitory.
The Small Conference Room of the First Dormitory.
She took her seat, ignoring Thomas’s piercing stare.
Soon the meeting began.
The teacher distributed materials and spoke.
“First, we’ll address the matter of the broken chemistry lab window.”
Ivy scanned the document.
The conclusion: not sabotage, but natural damage from building deterioration and sharp temperature fluctuations typical of summer.
The glass had already been replaced, and safety inspections on the remaining panes had been completed.
All classrooms in the Science Building would be available for use starting next week.
“Please post this notice prominently on each dormitory’s bulletin board.”
Ivy nodded and collected the notice. Tasks like this were entirely the responsibility of the new Class Representative.
“And next…”
The teacher turned to Thomas. He had apparently requested speaking time beforehand.
“To put it bluntly, the Third Dormitory has become a nuisance to everyone. Especially to the freshmen.”
Another complaint?
Ivy’s head rose, and he pulled out his Mobile Phone as evidence.
Late-night footage of the Swimming Pool.
Music playing. Laughter echoing.
“How is that exclusively a Third Dormitory—”
Ivy was about to object. He was trying to pin responsibility on all of them based on a video where you couldn’t even make out faces.
But then.
-Third Dorm girls, scream!!!!!
Someone’s excited voice on the video, followed by an answer that was nearly a shriek.
Ivy’s lips pressed shut, and Thomas wore a self-satisfied smile.
“There’s also a serious problem with waste management. I do hope you’ll teach them the concept of Public Morality.”
She had nothing to say.
Before Joy became Vice-Prefect, the Third Dormitory itself had been a garbage heap.
“Furthermore, we’ve received numerous complaints about noise. Mostly from the First Dormitory. Since the pool is nearby, the nuisance is direct.”
Thomas stared openly at Ivy and asked.
“Do you have anything to say about this?”
“…I apologize.”
Ivy apologized first. Meanwhile, the video Thomas had started kept playing.
-Drink! Drink! Drink!
“If you could turn off the video…”
-Eek, Mia, are you crazy? You actually kissed him!
Ivy’s face turned crimson.
What on earth were they all doing out there?
“I’ll prepare a response plan and report it to you shortly.”
As Ivy hesitated, a senior from Second Year stepped in and wrapped up the discussion. Ivy gave the senior a slight nod of gratitude.
Then the teacher brought up another matter.
More students had been spending time alone with the opposite gender in their rooms, and strict disciplinary measures would be implemented.
Ivy recalled the hair tie she’d seen today in the dormitory and thought the measure was justified.
Rules were important, after all.
“Demerit Points will be issued, and parents of both students will be contacted. Class Representatives, please ensure that all students are fully aware of this notice.”
The teacher’s gaze lingered especially on the Class Representatives from the Third Dormitory.
Ivy dropped her eyes to the notice, unsure why.
The meeting ended.
The teacher and Class Representatives left immediately, but Ivy stayed behind to organize her bag.
She felt completely drained.
* * *
Ivy returned to the Third Dormitory. The moment she entered the common room, she went straight to the bulletin board.
She took out two notices and pinned them up.
The chemistry lab notice on the upper left, the Opposite-Gender Visit Ban notice on the right center.
As she organized the notices, Ivy let out a short sigh.
“Ivy!”
A voice called urgently from behind.
Turning, she saw Mia approaching quickly with three other girls from down the corridor.
“Is that rumor actually true?!”
“What rumor?”
As Ivy asked, the girl thrust her screen right into her face. An Anonymous Message Board was open.
[Starting today, total ban on opposite-gender room visits—for real?]
[Come on, just let people grab something they forgot. Be reasonable.]
[Calling parents? That’s crossing the line.]
The gossip was already spreading.
Instead of answering, Ivy tapped the notice she’d just posted on the cork board.
Mia and her friends shrieked simultaneously when they saw it.
“This is insane!”
Voices of despair.
Mia’s hand hooked through Ivy’s left arm. Then, naturally, she linked arms.
“Ivy. Want to have a moment of solidarity with us?”
“Huh?”
Before Ivy could respond in confusion, another girl grasped her right arm firmly.
“That’s right—all the Third Dormitory girls are one team, aren’t we?”
“Wait, hold on—”
Before Ivy could give a proper answer, the linked arms tightened.
The remaining girl gently pushed Ivy’s back from behind.
They brought her to a quiet spot by the window at the end of the hallway, surrounding her.
From a distance, it would have looked like an intimidation scene.
But the faces of the three students now looking down at her were nothing but earnest.
“Ivy, this is absolutely ridiculous tyranny. Isn’t it?”
Mia gently took Ivy’s hands.
“…What is?”
“That notice! Calling our parents!”
Mia’s expression was very solemn.
Ivy paused before answering.
“But the school considers it a necessary measure.”
“Yeah, discipline is fine. We know it’s a rule violation, and that’s what makes it good.”
“What are you talking about—’good’ because it’s a rule violation?”
“The thrill, obviously.”
“…What?”
“What I mean is, the consequences we have to face are excessive. We’re not twelve.”
Mia swept back her soft brown hair with a long sigh.
“You need to handle this properly. Of course you will, right, Ivy?”
Mia seemed to believe Ivy would naturally nod in agreement.
It’s true that until now, Ivy had made efforts based on student opinion.
Many of those efforts had been accepted, and some rules had been revised.
But this was different.
She had no desire whatsoever to argue against this firm decision.
She was about to say so.
Mia lowered her voice and spoke suggestively.
“Wouldn’t your room be nicer? To do all sorts of things with Cyrus.”

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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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