I’m an Ordinary Returning Student at the Academy

[Translator - Angel Dust]

[Proofreader - Prototype]

Side Stories 13

Everyone desires to make their name known in the world.

It's not wrong. It's a future that all rational beings naturally desire.

You know me. You cheer and applaud me.

There's no drug more potent and addictive than this.

Even if you're uncomfortable with the attention, it's hard to refuse praise.

Therefore, those who make a name for themselves often become the center of the world.

And today, Karl realized this fact while reading the newspaper.

[ Recent Trend at the Academy? ]

[ Public Proposals Started at Graduation. Now Public Confessions? ]

[ We Want to Find Love Like Our Seniors! ]

"Pfft!!"

He forcefully spat out his morning coffee onto the newspaper.

Karl blinked several times, wondering if he was seeing things.

* * *

"...Crazy."

Crazy. This is Crazy. Absolutely crazy. What is this? Huh? What the hell is this?!

Public confessions? Are you guys crazy? No, you're doing this because I did a public proposal?

Don't you know what I did before? I thought that was pretty well-known too, wasn't it?

The fact that I publicly confessed to Selena and got rejected?

'The fact that I enlisted because of that is a secret, but everyone knows I got rejected. But why...'

I'm baffled. The fact that public confessions have become a trend is beyond me.

And to top it off, the cause is the public proposal I made at the graduation ceremony.

Suddenly, I feel like I've become the worst public confession villain in the history of the academy.

At this rate, I might go from being the best graduate to the worst graduate.

Public confessions, if you don't know it's coming, are the worst.

If we were already in a semi-public relationship, it might be different. But that's really not the case, juniors!!

"Karl...? Are you already up...?"

I turned my head to see Selena shuffling out of the bedroom.

I ran over and hugged her, gently seating her on a chair.

"Why are you up so early? You could have slept a little longer."

"No... I reached out and you weren't there."

Aha. Am I some kind of love doll? Or a pillow to hug?

Whatever it is, it doesn't matter. I'll be anything if I can be Selena's... my wife's doll.

From tomorrow, I'll try to stay with my new bride a little longer after she wakes up.

“Coffee, or tea. Tea? Wait a minute. I'll bring it to you.”

I quickly prepared a cup of tea and brought it to her, making sure not to wake her up.

She thanked me and was about to take the cup when...

"Ungh."

A moan that clearly indicated she was in pain.

As the culprit, I couldn't help but be startled.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh, yes. I'm fine."

"Sorry. Was I too rough last night?"

"A little? But it was good, so it's okay."

Seeing Selena smile shyly, I suddenly felt a rush of blood.

To my face and... down below... ahem. That's enough.

Last night was quite passionate. It's our honeymoon, after all.

I don't think there's any need to be overly conservative.

As a result, we went at it until dawn and barely slept.

In the meantime, it was surprising that Selena's stamina was much better than I expected.

I thought she would be exhausted and collapse, but she kept up with me quite well.

Thanks to that, we didn't have an unsatisfying night.

"By the way, Karl. What were you looking at earlier?"

"This? The Capital Daily. More specifically, an article about the academy."

"The academy? Why is there suddenly an article about the academy in the Capital Daily?"

Even though I'm not a student anymore, I'm a graduate.

But even so, I just graduated this year, so it still feels like I'm a student.

Selena also said that it still felt like a dream that she had escaped grad school.

It was not at all strange for her to be curious about the news from the academy.

"What is it, what is it? I'm curious. What's the story that made it into the newspaper?"

"Well... um. It might not be that great or good."

Not great or good? But it was in the Capital Daily?

Selena tilted her head, so he decided to hand her the newspaper.

Oh, and he had cleaned up the coffee he spat out. He gave her another copy of the newspaper.

"Let's see. Today's article. About the academy... oh. Oh... eh..."

Selena's expression changed as she read the article.

She blinked, wondering what it meant.

Was this a joke? Was it just a lighthearted article? She wondered.

In the end, she let out a dumbfounded laugh, ‘Ahaha…’

"So, because they were impressed by the proposal Karl made to me, public confessions are now trending among the juniors...?"

"It's a surprising and sad thing, but it's true."

"..."

Selena was silent for a moment, then quietly folded the newspaper and put it down.

She closed her eyes and took a sip of tea before opening them again.

"Should we go and stop them?"

"We should."

Are we on the same wavelength now that we're married? Selena and I said almost simultaneously.

"It seems our young juniors have a big misunderstanding."

"I agree. Karl and I had already settled everything. Since our marriage was confirmed, there was no chance of embarrassment or any other problem with a proposal."

"On the other hand, a public confession..."

"I'm sorry to say this, but honestly, if you do it wrong, it can be really damaging."

I apologize, my wife. I'm still reflecting on that part.

It's literally self-destruction to do that in front of everyone just because it feels good for you.

Even if they had feelings for you, they could lose them because of that.

I still wonder what I was thinking when I did that crazy thing.

"But, you know, will it be okay, Selena?"

"Huh? What do you mean all of a sudden?"

What do I mean? It's a very important thing for newlyweds like us.

"We're newlyweds. But you're saying that a few days into our honeymoon, the husband has to leave the house because of the seeds of disaster he sowed?"

"...Oh, um. You're right? So, maybe you could just go for a little while in the afternoon?!"

At my wife's heavenly suggestion, I immediately saluted, ‘Yes, ma'am!’

They say that if a man just listens to his wife, his life will be comfortable.

You don't think so? Just wait until you get married. It can't be a lie.

[TL/N: My single ass ain’t getting married broski!]

[PR/N: 😭😭]

* * *

"Actually, I've liked you for a long time! Will you go out with me?!"

Wow. This is crazy. I'm going crazy. What is this?

Eloise witnessed a confession taking place in the middle of a classroom as she was passing by.

‘Oh my, oh my,’ she muttered, quickly walking past.

But soon, on the benches outside, in the garden...

Everywhere she went, she heard people saying, ‘I like you!’ or ‘Give me a chance to be your lover!’

'What is this?! Karl!!'

Eloise was considered quite progressive among elves.

Her very active pursuit of Karl, her confession of love, and her open expression of longing for love must have been shocking to everyone.

But still. Even if Eloise was that kind of elf, she wouldn't go so far as to say ‘I like you!’ or ‘Go out with me!’ in front of everyone.

Shouldn't feelings of love be expressed in private?

'Is this a circus? Or a play? Why are they confessing their feelings in front of everyone!'

It was such a ridiculous trend. She hadn't seen anything like this since the mint chocolate craze.

But the worst was yet to come.

"No! Why are you guys doing this too?!"

She thought it was only the Imperial students, but now it had spread to the elf exchange students.

They too had started confessing to fellow students they were close to!

"Is there a problem, Senior Eloise?"

"Huh?"

"You were the one who told us to be more interested in Imperial culture and actively assimilate."

"No, that's... I mean, I only meant..."

"Humans are amazing. To be able to express their feelings so openly. It's something we elves can't even imagine. It's something we should learn from!"

No! That's not what I meant at all!

This is bad. At this rate, even the elves will change like this.

"Karl!"

She had just heard that Karl was coming to the academy.

Eloise immediately went out to meet him and soon found him.

"What are you going to do about this! The academy is not the academy anymore!"

"Well, I'll try to resolve it somehow."

"Not 'somehow,' but 'definitely'! There are so many juniors who are heartbroken from being confessed to!"

"You mean heartbroken from being rejected?"

"That's too obvious, so I didn't even mention it!"

Ugh. This is crazy! Karl grabbed his head.

A moment later, with the help of the faculty, he was able to stand in front of the students.

"Everyone. You see, love is... This young love, you see? There's a thrill in keeping it secret and quiet. I'm not saying you should hide it completely, but there's no need to be too obvious. What if, by any chance, you don't end up together? How much would it hurt both of you!"

I hope none of you end up like me, rejected and enlisting as a soldier.

Karl was trying his best to convey this message indirectly, and thankfully, his efforts were effective.

However, a new problem arose.

"Hmm. Then instead of public confessions, let's do public proposals like Senior Karl!"

"Keep dating quiet, but if you're going to get engaged and married, it's okay?"

"That's right! Oh, then I'll propose at graduation too, just like senior!"

The new tradition of the academy was born.

Every graduation day, there would always be a couple proposing and accepting.

It was the beginning of a new history for the academy.

[Translator - Angel Dust]

[Proofreader - Prototype]