“Since we have a new Young Lady joining us today, we will briefly review what an Awakener is.”
Even though I was a bit nervous, class was fun. They didn’t give us time to introduce ourselves, but it seemed like everyone already knew who I was.
*I have to do well.*
Because I have to be the class president.
I tried to sit up straight with my short little body. However, it wasn’t easy, as I was sitting on a soft cushion instead of a hard chair.
“Who can explain why Awakeners are important?”
The teacher wore round, monocle-style glasses, and her gray hair was tied back and draped over one shoulder. She had dark circles under her eyes and looked exhausted.
*I want to give her some of Chu’s special carrot soup.*
That always gives you a boost of energy!
Just as I was thinking that, a boy raised his hand high.
*A chubby potato…….*
The boy, who had potato-colored hair and blue eyes, looked toward the teacher triumphantly.
“It’s because they are an important means of attack and defense during territory wars. If there are no Awakeners, we can’t protect the estate!”
“That is correct. To add one more thing, quality is more important than quantity. Not long ago, the estates around Bellarion of the Eclipse formed an alliance and attacked, only to be wiped out entirely. They had seventeen Awakeners in total, but they couldn’t defeat Bellarion’s Awakeners.”
*Whirr.*
A giant map unfolded on the blackboard. Next to it was a drawing of a human figure with shimmering shapes surrounding it.
“The *Bijou* is proof of an Awakener. Those of you here have likely already had your *Bijou* emerge, or at least the spots for them have formed.”
I know what that is. The Carrot Class teacher was surprised when she saw my left shoulder blade. But I had never seen it with my own eyes.
“Territory wars can happen at any time, and your duty is to protect Pashayen. There are many forms of protection. Who can explain that?”
Wait, hold on a second.
Why aren’t they telling us what a *Bijou* is?
Curious, I raised my hand high. The teacher looked at me intently.
“Your name?”
“Chuu.”
“Ah, Young Lady Shu. Please, go ahead.”
I’m Chuu, so why does everyone call me Shu? I didn’t know, but I waddled up from my cushion anyway.
“I have a question.”
“Is it?”
“What is a *Bijou*?”
“Pfft.”
As soon as I asked, laughter burst out from behind me. Then, that potato from earlier started cackling the loudest, mocking me.
“You’re crawling in here without even knowing that?”
There was a friend like that at daycare, too. I was the one who was good at reasoning with those types. So, I put my hands on my waist and said one thing.
“It’s okay not to know. If you don’t know, you’re supposed to teach me.”
“Oh, is that so? You have quite the tongue for a commoner orphan.”
*Tee-hee, hee-hee.*
Along with the potato, a few other kids started laughing. They were all twice my age and much bigger than me. It didn’t scare me, but… it did make me sad.
“As for what a *Bijou* is… please find out by next class.”
“Okay.”
I’ll have to ask Lina. They didn’t teach us that at daycare.
“Anyway, the administrative side of the estate is the role of the Head of House and the Successor. The military side is governed by the Admiral. Then, what is the role of the Attuner?”
I became like a bear who had eaten honey. I didn’t know because I hadn’t learned it.
“You don’t know that either? Then, Young Master Ricardo, you explain.”
The teacher shifted her gaze toward the potato. I sat back down, feeling deflated. I could tell you exactly how many grams of flour and sugar you need for ten chocolate chip cookies! Being looked down on for something I hadn’t been taught felt unfair. My nose felt sore, too.
But I held it in, trying not to cry.
“An Attuner is a religious figure who conveys the words of the Ancestor Whale. During battle, when an Attuner sings the Song of Blessing, the Awakeners can exert greater power, and wounds are healed!”
“Correct. The person with the highest attunement rate with the Ancestor Whale becomes the Attuner. You know it well.”
Upon receiving the praise, the potato named Ricardo glanced at me and smirked. Seeing his triumphant attitude, I… I…….
My heart welled up.
“I won’t let you get away with this.”
I muttered quietly and clenched my fists. It seemed I would have to show him the skills I used to knead dough so firmly.
* * *
During the rest of the class, I learned diligently. I made sure to memorize the things I didn’t quite understand. I hadn’t learned how to write, but I could read, so it wasn’t too difficult to keep up.
“*Sigh*.”
But it’s hard to sit for so long.
I held the chocolate chip cookie I got as a snack in both hands and took a big bite. I was crunching away when a shadow fell over my head. It was the potato and his group.
“Hey, you came with the Admiral earlier, didn’t you?”
*Thump.*
A boy with purple-sweet-potato-colored hair, a friend of the potato, pushed my shoulder. Because of that, the cookie fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.
“…….”
Both of us froze.
“My cookie.”
It was mine. I hadn’t even finished half of it.
But first, I took a deep breath and counted to three. Then, I put my hands on my waist and said clearly.
“Apologize.”
“What?”
“You shouldn’t hit or push your friends. You have to say ‘I’m sorry’ and give them a big hug.”
“What is she saying? Did she go crazy, this commoner?”
The purple sweet potato was actually saying things to me instead! He kept pushing my shoulder, again and again!
*If someone hits you, you bite them back.*
The words the Mister said flashed through my mind.
*I’ll hold it in just one more time. Really, just one more time.*
Because the Carrot Class teacher had said:
*Chuu, when you’re angry, you must count to three, and hold it in. Okay? Promise me you’ll do that.*
This is the second time. And counting to three.
Now there’s only one time left.
Just then, the potato snatched the name tag off my chest. In the blink of an eye, I couldn’t do anything.
“Give it back!”
I can’t. I really can’t let that get taken away.
*It’s something precious.*
For the first time, tears welled up in my eyes. But none of the other kids helped me. They just stood there watching.
*It’s break time, so the teacher isn’t here either.*
What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?
Someone, please help me.
“Hey, they say you’re an Awakener too? You say you have a *Bijou* spot?”
Even in the middle of this, the bad kid who took my name tag kept taunting me meanly. I jumped and hopped to try and get it back, but I was too short to do anything.
“Then try and take it. A little thing like you dares to become a child of Diegon? I don’t acknowledge it. That position is… it’s a position I wanted to be in!”
*Poke, poke.*
Ricardo, who had been poking my chest with his finger, finally shoved me hard. I stumbled backward and landed on my bottom with a thud.
That was when it happened.
“What’s so special about you? Class president? You might think you’re something, but you’re just a commoner. A dirty commoner!”
*Riiiiip—!*
There was an ominous sound, and my name tag tore in half right before my eyes. My self-pride, which I had cherished so dearly—so, so dearly—really, truly cherished!
*I can’t take it anymore.*
*Snap.*
My patience broke. At the same time, my vision turned white.
“What is this?”
“Water droplets?”
“Wait, this power… *Gack!*”
Water droplets bubbled up around my small body. At first, they were just soap-bubble sized, but soon, my pink hair fluttered in the air.
The moment Ricardo, feeling a chilling sensation, stepped back at the sight of my pupils disappearing—
A terrifyingly powerful force exploded.
“Aaah!”
“Sa, save me!”
“I was wrong. I was wrong… *Waaaaah!*”
What is this?
*I have no strength in my whole body.*
I could hear screams from afar. I thought I had been wrong, but I wasn’t quite sure.
The last thing I heard was Mister’s voice.
“It’s alright. Calm down and get some sleep. I will take care of the rest.”
It felt so warm, somehow… I felt that it would truly be okay to just fall asleep like this.
So, I hugged Mister tightly.
“*Hic*, buh… Chu isn’t a, a Class President anymore. *Waaaaahhh!!*”
It was an explosion of sorrow.