I was quietly watching TV. While I couldn't read, I could still see and hear, so it was interesting to watch.
The best thing about TV was that it had subtitles. I could roughly figure out what people called things and how to read them, which made learning letters easier.
Simple words like "news" for instance. Since I'd already learned numbers before, I could now read that this was the "9 o'clock news." My reading skills were more like guesswork, but I firmly believed that by the time my guesses turned into certainty, I'd be better than I was yesterday.
Sitting on the sofa, I hummed while waving the remote control. I wasn't planning to change the channel, so I didn't press anything.
The Professor, having finished the housework, dried his hands and stepped into the living room. Curious about what program I was watching, he paused and fixed his gaze on the TV screen.
After a brief silence, the Professor spoke first.
"Urr, do you like the news? Is it because you can learn various things?"
"I just like how they read the text clearly."
"Is that how you knew the word 'festival' before?"
The Professor seemed to recall how I had slowly read a pamphlet a week ago. I don't know how he remembered such a small detail. Perhaps that's what it takes to be a professor.
The Professor plopped down on the sofa next to me. Ignoring him, I swung my legs while watching the news report about spring pollen warnings.
I heard people with pollen allergies have a hard time.
As I watched blankly, the Professor glanced at me. Feeling his gaze, I glanced back, and our eyes met.
"...What is it?"
It was a bit awkward, but since he looked at me first, I asked casually. The Professor lightly touched the hem of my clothes.
"Nothing, just that you're cute."
I wasn't sure if he had something he wanted to say or what it was, but if he was going to brush it off like this, he probably wouldn't answer even if I asked. So I just stayed quiet.
Is it because my clothes are too big? But considering I had a chest when I was bigger, this size seems right.
I slumped my shoulders while watching the news. Today was another day of learning a few more words.
Time passed quite quickly. Perhaps because I went to the Academy on Saturday, the weekend seemed to fly by after just one day of rest.
Today was Monday, the first day back to school. Though I wasn't working, I felt a bit sad leaving behind the comfortable time spent wearing my new clothes.
Still, I didn't think it was bad since there would be nothing boring or dull at the Academy.
Humming, I got dressed. I buttoned up my shirt and skirt and put on my coat. The looseness was something I was used to by now. As I tightened my belt, the Professor also put on his coat.
"Professor, how long will you wear that?"
"...This? Well, I suppose I can't wear it when it gets hot."
The same went for me. I couldn't imagine myself walking around in just a shirt, so I let out an involuntary "hmm." As I looked down at my coat for a while, the Professor asked me instead.
"Why? Have you grown attached to the coat?"
"No, it just feels like something would be missing without it."
I shook my head at the Professor's words. I patted my clothes to straighten them, then stood up abruptly to check if my skirt was hanging properly.
After checking that he had everything, the Professor looked at his bag and gave me a smile.
"Urr, shall we go then?"
"Yes."
Monday was a day with morning lectures. The thought of going to where the second-years were made me feel overwhelmed already. Karen was in the first year, and Sera and Aria were in the third year, but I hadn't really made any friends in the second year yet.
But it would be strange for me to approach someone in the second year just to make friends.
Some might dislike me for being a Demon God, or might want to keep their distance, and if I approached them first, it would be awkward for both the person rejecting me and for me being rejected.
Given the circumstances, I decided it was best to be cautious about making friends.
We headed to the Academy. Students with morning lectures dragged their feet. The Professor arrived earlier than the students, but it was interesting to see that there were still students arriving at that time.
"The air is nice."
The Professor took a breath of the morning air and made that observation. Despite the cool air that felt like it would freeze my insides, it wasn't unpleasant, so I also took a breath.
Taking in the cold air with a deep "haaah," I was greeted by that air that can only be felt around dawn.
"Phew."
"Nice?"
"Yes."
While walking through the Academy grounds, I noticed a vending machine in the corner. As I glanced to see what drinks were inside, the Professor was taking out his wallet beside me.
With a jingling sound, coins appeared in the Professor's hand.
"Is there something you'd like to drink?"
That wasn't my intention, but now that he offered, I would gladly drink something, so I looked up. Though I couldn't read what was written, I could tell what the products were just by looking at them.
"...I'll have that one."
I pointed to the orange juice at the top. The Professor looked at the orange juice I pointed to and inserted the coins. The vending machine swallowed the coins with a clinking sound. When he pressed the lit button, the orange juice fell with a thud.
"Wait, don't put your hand in."
As I crouched down to open the compartment to get the can, the Professor stopped me. Just as I looked up at him, another can fell into the open compartment with a loud thud.
I flinched in surprise. Looking closely to see what the sound was, I saw that a can of coffee had been added along with the orange juice.
Of course, the Professor needed something to drink too. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I scratched my head and smiled awkwardly. The Professor then roughly ruffled my hair.
"Aaack."
I let out a small groan as my vision shook. I had nothing to say since I hadn't thought about the Professor and was just trying to get my drink first, so I silently took out the two cans.
When I handed him the coffee, the Professor said, "I'll enjoy it," and took it. Why would he say "I'll enjoy it" when he paid for it? Putting aside this trivial question, I took a sip of the cold orange juice in my hand.
The orange juice in the morning, when the dawn air had not yet faded, was so refreshing it made my body shiver.
After entering the laboratory, the Professor began organizing his lecture materials. Being Monday, he seemed to have a lot to do. Since I couldn't help the busy Professor, I just started studying on my own.
The writing on the can did indeed say "orange juice." It seemed that fruit juices typically had their names written directly on them.
While writing "orange juice," I also learned that this was "orange" and this was "juice." I thought I would definitely be able to order pancakes and juice confidently when I went to a restaurant later.
As I was humming and writing, the Professor approached me.
"Shall we go now?"
"Yeeees."
"Your handwriting is getting prettier."
"I'm practicing hard."
If you're growing, you might feel things getting easier over time, but if you're shrinking, you can only feel things becoming more uncomfortable. I wasn't sure if I was growing again or not, but my suddenly smaller hands were definitely not suitable for writing.
Still, I should be proud of myself for adapting.
"Let's go."
I organized the paper I had been writing on diligently. Then, hugging it to my chest, I headed to the classroom with the Professor.
Second-year lecture on "The Principles of Demon God Birth." Inside, Iris, who had touched my head before, slightly raised her hand in greeting. Realizing that her light blue hair was quite noticeable, I waved my hand slightly.
"Urr just greeted you."
"Hello!"
My greeting was intended for Iris who was sitting at the back, but the students who saw my greeting thought it was for everyone and waved back at me.
I was a bit nervous, but thinking this might be an opportunity, I quickly scanned the room.
As a Demon God, I needed to distinguish between those who were friendly and those who were hostile to have a smooth Academy life going forward.
"Well, I'm going to start the lecture now, so Urr, go sit wherever you want."
"Yes."
I clutched my papers and climbed up the steps. I didn't feel comfortable sitting with groups of friends, so I went to the very top corner where Iris was and took a seat.
"Hello, Iris?"
"You remembered my name."
Iris said that and then tapped the nameplate hanging around her neck. It wasn't an officially made card nameplate, but just a laminated tag made with little money.
Looking at it quietly, I tilted my head.
"Huh, you're wearing a nameplate?"
"Yes. Everyone should be wearing one."
Perhaps overhearing our conversation, a student sitting in the row below turned around.
"I have a name too. Want to see?"
"...Oh, ohh."
I expressed admiration, but I couldn't read the name.
It seemed they were trying to be considerate of me, but suddenly I found myself needing to learn the names of all the students attending this lecture.
"Ah, Iris... Louise... Ra, Rai?"
"Rain."
"Ah! Rain!"
Honestly, there were so many that my head hurt.