It was Thursday morning, a day when there were first-year lectures. The lecture was titled "Concerning Demon Gods." As with lectures for other years, the professor introduced me while having me stand beside him.
Like before, I paid enough attention not to trip while climbing onto the platform, so I was able to stand there comfortably. Though I did have to tighten my belt once in a while.
As I stood there with my head held up, everyone was whispering about me. Rather than looks of surprise, the overwhelming atmosphere was more like "so the rumors were true."
Since I had already made my presence known during the second and third-year lectures, it seemed inevitable that rumors would spread before the next lecture.
I wondered if they had spread to other departments too.
"Today we'll have a simple orientation. If anyone wants to ask our Urr something, you can do so in order."
Just like with the other years, these first-years bombarded me with questions. While seeing a Demon God for the first time was the same for all years, I could understand the first-years' excitement since they encountered this opportunity the moment they entered the Academy.
The barrage of questions continued without any particular standard, ranging from questions about Demon Gods to personal inquiries.
I answered what I could and declined to answer what I couldn't or didn't want to. Before I knew it, it was Karen's turn.
"Supplies?"
Supplies. A word that treated me like an object. It was also a term used to refer to research tools you might find in a laboratory. Karen said that word and looked at me with a subtle expression.
It was because the professor had introduced me as "supplies." There was no mention of borrowing me or anything like that, but it was natural to consider that possibility upon hearing the word "supplies."
Karen's red eyes briefly scanned me before she carefully extended her hand.
"No, I just... wondered if we could hang out together sometime."
"That's fine. Come to think of it..."
I gently took Karen's hand and pulled slightly as if to say "come here." As if on cue, Karen quietly leaned forward. I whispered in her ear.
"I got a phone. We can exchange contact info if you want."
I quickly pulled away, thinking it would look strange if we stayed close for too long.
Karen heard my words and her lips twitched. Then she mouthed to me, "Af-ter-class." I nodded.
After the brief introduction and orientation ended, I finally sighed with relief, thinking I'd been just about everywhere now.
"Wasn't it a bit easier today?"
"I think it's because rumors spread from the second and third years... it was easier. They were more composed..."
I still trembled remembering the barrage of questions from the second and third years. I wrapped my arms around myself, recalling that chaos I never wanted to experience again.
As we walked down the hallway, I heard the sound of someone running up from behind. When I turned around to see what was happening, sure enough, there was Karen returning after the lecture had ended.
Perhaps she thought it would look odd to leave together, so she came out a bit later? Either way, I understood and welcomed her.
"You're here. Hi."
"Oh, yeah. You said you got a new phone..."
"Feel free to talk comfortably. I'd be happy if you became friends with Urr."
Karen caught her breath. The professor smiled and stepped back.
I took out the phone I had carefully kept in my inner pocket. A good phone with a jelly case—a combination that seemed reassuring yet somehow wasn't. I unlocked the screen and showed it to Karen.
"Oh, I memorized the numbers yesterday. If you tell me your number, I'll try to write it down!"
I spoke with a slightly nervous voice. It was simple but somehow confusing—could I really not memorize these ten digits? This doubt squeezed my heart.
Karen looked at me with wide eyes, then chuckled and slowly recited her number.
"...Um, I wrote it all down... is this right?"
To be honest, I wasn't confident. Though it was a completely unfamiliar language, I would still feel terrible if I got it wrong, so my voice became small.
When I handed the phone to Karen, she nodded.
"Yes, it's all correct. Did you study yesterday?"
"Yeah. The professor taught me."
"Well done. Can you write names too?"
I lowered my head. As I quietly looked at the name tag hanging around my neck, Karen seemed to understand my answer and continued.
"Then I'll write my name for you. Wait a moment..."
Karen's fingers moved quickly, tap-tap. Unfamiliar characters, a keyboard layout that matched those characters. Thinking about it, typing like Karen seemed far beyond my current abilities. A distant realm, you might say.
As I stared at her, Karen slightly averted her gaze.
"There, I wrote it."
"...So this is how 'Karen' is written."
I quietly looked at the name Karen had written. I couldn't memorize it immediately, but I felt confident I could quickly learn it by looking at the contacts list.
"I saved it... I'll call you now?"
"Oh, yes!"
Karen also took out her phone from her pocket. She immediately answered my call, saved my number, and showed it to me.
"Urr."
"Urr."
A voice calling my name. I echoed my own name. Glancing down at the list, I saw the same characters written there.
I really should learn to write my own name.
It felt like I had a new assignment—simpler than what Academy students dealt with, but essential nonetheless. Still, it wasn't bad. Compared to being confined in the laboratory without learning to write, this was much more enjoyable.
"Well, I should go eat lunch now. I promised to eat with my classmates."
"Really? You made friends quickly. Enjoy your meal."
"Thanks, enjoy your meal too, Urr. Professor, enjoy your meal as well!"
Karen walked away toward where her friends were. The professor watched her go with a pleased expression, as if even that was something good. Noticing my gaze, the professor cleared his throat.
"First-years seem somewhat... unspoiled, I guess. They just look so fresh."
"I think so too..."
Second-years seemed similar, but third-years felt different. And graduate students were worlds apart. I found myself nodding in understanding.
"Anyway, shall we go eat?"
"What would you like to eat?"
"Hmm, let's go out and decide there."
I followed the professor out to get lunch.
After lunch, I felt drowsy. Returning to the laboratory and feeling the spring sunlight, I felt a slight regret. Drowsy, wanting to sleep. It felt like something was missing that I couldn't indulge in these sensations.
If I were a student who had to attend lectures, this body would be much better, but it felt somewhat strange that I had this body despite not needing to attend lectures.
Still, I decided to be satisfied with the fact that I could sleep if I wanted to, and curled up. I pressed my face against the desk, rubbing my cheek against its cold surface. As I stared at the professor while enjoying the cool sensation, the professor chuckled at me. Wondering if my pressed cheek looked strange, I lifted my face.
Knock knock.
Just as I raised my head, I heard someone knocking on the laboratory door. I quickly turned to look at the door, which opened with a creaking sound.
Blue hair and emerald eyes. It was Sera.
"Hello...? I came to borrow Urr..."
"Oh, hi?"
I immediately recognized Sera and greeted her. She shifted her gaze from the professor to me and waved.
"You're here to take Urr?"
"Yes, I thought if she's considered supplies, she could attend lectures with me. I already got permission from the other professor. They said they could trust her under Professor Yuria's guidance..."
"Well, in that case... Urr, listen well and come back."
"Huh?"
Listen well to the third-year lecture and come back? Wait, wasn't I supposed to help with magic formulation?
I suddenly felt like I'd been hit on the back of my head. I tried to recall yesterday's phone conversation.
...I don't think she said there wouldn't be a lecture. Did I just assume I'd have free time?
My mind went blank. As I stood frozen in thought, I furrowed my brow. Sera saw this and gasped.
"Urr frowned...!"
"No, no! I just didn't know I'd be attending lectures together... and I made that face..."
As I slightly turned my head and spoke in a gloomy voice, Sera seemed to recall the skirt incident and patted my back.
"It's okay. There probably won't be many students with overlapping lectures. Each lecture only has about 40 students anyway."
"Really...?"
I hummed and seriously considered it. Since I'd already agreed to go, it was awkward to back out now, but thinking wouldn't solve everything.
"Urr, are you not going?"
"I am going... but, you know, I'm supplies so I don't get grades!"
That was me—someone who could audit classes at the Academy despite not being a student. Someone who could be the 41st person in a class with a capacity of 40, regardless of year. That was me.
As I jumped up and confidently declared this, the professor quietly added from the side:
"I'd like to give Urr an A+."
"Really?"
"Of course, Urr isn't a student who receives grades."
"Oh, really...?"
I found myself getting excited about good grades without even realizing it. It's not like I would advance in life with them anyway. Why was I so eager? It's all because of grade supremacy.
While thinking these silly thoughts that no one would pay attention to, the homonym for "grades" came to mind. Though "grade supremacy" wasn't about that kind of "grade," this thought probably emerged because someone had said unnecessary things to me.
This is all Sera's fault.
I thought this as I glared at Sera. Meanwhile, Sera didn't seem to find my gaze threatening and was gently touching my cheek.
"It's soft."
"Right?"
It was a bit annoying that she was bonding with the professor over this.
"That's me..."