After the lecture ended and everyone was busy moving around, the pitiful student who had caught my eye throughout was still looking down at their phone.
They seemed so completely absorbed that I wondered if they were addicted.
The boy with dull silver hair remained alone while everyone else left, staring at his screen before letting out a groan.
I had no ill intentions, just curiosity.
"I think I'll go ask him."
After checking that my name tag was in place, I left Iris who was organizing her things and trotted down. I approached the male student sitting in the middle row and peeked over.
I was curious about the phone screen placed under the desk and tried to sneak a glance, but the student was startled and jerked back.
"W-what?"
"...Oh, hello."
I was just curious to see what coin game he was playing.
Since our eyes met before I could even look, it became too awkward to insist on seeing. I figured I might as well just ask directly, so I greeted him.
I wanted to clear the awkward air, but the uncomfortable atmosphere persisted.
"Um, I was just wondering..."
As I tried to add something with a forced smile, I heard someone clicking their tongue nearby.
There was no way I could have misheard at this point when most people had already packed up and dispersed. Feeling a sudden realization, I looked at the male student's chest with wavering eyes.
Ah, he wasn't wearing a name tag.
Quite a few people had tried to befriend me, so I thought most viewed me with an open mind. Plus, this was a Demon God lecture, so I thought it might be okay.
But I belatedly realized how naive that thinking was.
Because the professor made efforts to ensure I was comfortable. Because good friends played with me and had fun. Had I momentarily forgotten my situation because of that? The realization filled me with dismay.
Not knowing what to do, my lips froze, and my feet hesitantly stepped back.
At the same time, the young man stood up abruptly, looked down at me with cold eyes, then glanced toward where the professor was. Seeing the professor talking with other students, he gave me one final glare.
As if he didn't even want to exchange words with me, he pushed past me and walked away.
Dumbfounded, I stared blankly at his retreating figure.
Well, I suppose. Outside the normal society, I'm just an uncomfortable existence. I reminded myself that students were friendly to me because I was deemed safe within the Academy and followed the professor around as Supplies.
I turned my head. When I looked back at Iris who was watching, she approached me quietly without any reaction.
She gently placed her hand on my fluffy hair and quietly advised me.
"You shouldn't bother people who are doing that kind of thing. They're sensitive."
"...R-really?"
She seemed to think he was sensitive because he was playing with coins.
I had momentarily thought it was hatred toward Demon Gods, but maybe it wasn't. It was a day when I found people hard to understand in many ways.
Time passed, and I sniffled. I couldn't help recalling what happened during the morning lecture.
Come to think of it, whenever people hear information about Demon Gods, they can't help but fear them. It's actually quite strange that there are people who like me.
Is it because they haven't been harmed by Demon Gods?
That seemed to be the case. If someone died because of a Demon God, they might want to hate all Demon Gods as a species, even the peaceful ones.
No matter how many Demon Gods die, lost family members won't return.
I felt I needed to be more careful from now on. Since he wasn't wearing a name tag, he might not even want me to know his name.
It would be fortunate if he was just sensitive from playing coins as Iris said, but I promised myself not to overlook the possibility that it wasn't the case.
"It's good that the afternoon lecture ended early today."
Sera groaned and stretched.
Looking at her blue hair and sparkling emerald eyes, I was reminded of my earlier thoughts about Iris. Reversing colors wouldn't create the same atmosphere or feeling, but still.
Aria was still busy and couldn't come, and Karen couldn't make it because her lecture ran long.
The three of us only had overlapping time on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons. I thought it was interesting how everyone seemed to think alike.
Plus, other people probably tried to arrange their schedules the same way, so it was impressive that they managed to do it.
"Seeeeeera."
I called Sera's name with a drooping voice to match my drooping energy. Sitting next to me, Sera moved closer and gave me a light hug.
Being suddenly embraced was a bit surprising, but I'd gotten used to skinship with the girls lately, so it didn't feel uncomfortable.
Besides, being held like this felt cozy. The warmth and softness of another person wasn't bad at all, and I felt my eyes starting to close.
"What's wrong, our Urr?"
Whether it was my drooping voice or my expression that revealed my emotions, Sera smiled as if telling me to open up to her.
"...Well, earlier."
I quietly shared what happened during the second-year lecture with the red-trimmed uniform.
It might have sounded half like grumbling, half like whining, but right now I just wanted to confide in someone and be comforted.
Had I, as "me," lived by killing people? If so, there must be people somewhere who hate me. That fear was the cause.
Although it wasn't something I had done, I was afraid because I didn't have the confidence to face the arrows of anger that had nowhere else to go but me.
"It's okay, it's okay. Just stay with people who don't dislike Urr. There are plenty of people like that besides Urr anyway."
Sera patted my back as she told me this.
It was something difficult to say to the professor, but having friends to confide in elsewhere felt a bit comforting.
"Okay."
After nodding, I leaned against Sera and completely relaxed.
With my eyes closed, I felt the gentle breeze.
So this is what March spring weather feels like after the cold has passed. Warm, soft, and somehow fluffy air seemed to wrap around my body. I thought it would be nice to hang out with friends somewhere other than the Academy later.
After all, when the professor is with my friends, they inevitably become conscious of him, so I wanted to avoid such situations when hanging out.
Could such a wish come true?
It was a small hope, but since I didn't know if it could be realized, I buried it as a distant dream.
"I want to sleep. Right?"
"I... can sleep next to Sera if Sera sleeps."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Sera chuckled at my response.
"Still, it would be fun if Urr slept next to me. Oh, should we get matching pajamas?"
"Huh?"
Sera voiced some wishful thinking, then her eyes sparkled as if she'd had a good idea.
At the sudden suggestion, I just blinked. After a moment of silence, Sera grabbed my shoulders and created a little distance between us.
My body felt empty without something to lean on. Sera looked me up and down from head to toe. Her gaze, which had been looking at me with interest, soon changed with her proposal.
"I think a cat would suit Urr."
I tilted my head. I wondered if it was because of what Aria had said before, so I furrowed my brow.
But wasn't that a dog, not a cat? Unless she meant a cute and friendly cat.
While I was thinking "hmm," Sera immediately started tapping on her phone. I could only watch her quickly moving hands, wondering what she was doing.
In less than a minute, Sera smiled and gave a thumbs up.
"Done."
"What...?"
Not knowing what had been "done," I looked at Sera with a confused expression. Only then did she show me her screen to explain what she'd done.
It wasn't a matter of reading text or not. I could clearly tell it was a purchase completion screen from some shopping mall.
I fixed my gaze on it. Seeing my expression, Sera added an explanation.
"Urr is a cat, I'm a mouse."
"...Huh?"
"It's perfect, right?"
Sera waved the screen gently.
Before I could ask what that meant, Aria quietly approached us from the side.
"Hello!"
"Oh, you're here now."
When Sera and I greeted Aria, she let out a deep sigh.
"Sigh, even if you went ahead, you should have waited for me."
"How could I when Urr said she wanted to see me?"
I wondered if it was the kind of lecture where they let you leave early after completing something.
As Sera shrugged her shoulders, I waved my hand.
"Oh, I wanted to see Aria too! But Sera came first..."
"I know that, but hmm, I heard you bought animal pajamas."
Aria brushed past the topic with an "that's not the point" attitude.
She did arrive right when we were talking about animal pajamas, but I was surprised she had heard. I wondered if Aria had good hearing.
"That's right, Urr and I are a set."
"I want one too."
"Aria should wear that sexy lingerie instead."
"...Get me a set too. I want to be a mouse too."
Despite Sera's playful voice, Aria stated her request without any change in expression or voice.
"I'll pay you."
"Oh, I should pay too..."
At Aria's words, I also realized and started rummaging through my pocket.
Sera shook her head with a bitter smile.
"No, no, no, I bought it on my own. If you pay, it's almost like forced selling...!"
I had just taken out some crumpled money, but when Sera refused, my hand with nowhere to go just stayed fixed on my chest.
After staring blankly at the money, I put it back while checking the reactions of the two.
They both looked at me and chuckled.
"...Is this really okay?"
"Of course it is!"
"It's fine to completely drain Sera's money."