While I was chatting enthusiastically with the others, the professor still hadn't arrived despite how long we'd been waiting. I tilted my head wondering when he might come, but for now, I continued giggling with the friends gathered in front of me.
"I think Urr doesn't understand the concept of money. We should teach her what she can buy with this amount."
As Sera, Aria, and Karen huddled together continuing their serious discussion, I just pressed my lips together and rolled my eyes.
I had no concept of such simple money matters because the professor took care of everything—I never dreamed it would affect me like this.
Hmm, I thought seriously, trying to work out the calculations when my chest suddenly vibrated.
Startled, I flinched. Looking down with wide eyes, I felt the vibration coming from the inside pocket of my jacket.
Taking out my phone, I saw it was the professor. As I held the vibrating phone and looked up, the three girls turned their attention toward me.
"Is that the professor calling? You should answer it."
"Oh, right."
I nodded at Sera's gesture.
Perhaps because it was a call from the professor, everyone quieted down and started watching me. Thanks to that, I could talk in a peaceful space.
"Professor?"
[Mmm, Urr, what are you doing right now?]
"I'm at the rest area near the Library chatting with friends. Are you at your laboratory?"
[No, I was just about to head back and wondered where you were, so I called.]
I glanced around briefly. Since the distance from the Library to the laboratory wasn't that far, I took note of the direction I needed to go.
When he said he had something to do before, he still came back early, but this time he must have had more work since he was late. Thinking he might be tired, I felt a little worried.
After hesitating, I took a breath and spoke.
"Should I come back now? You're going to eat, right?"
[Yes. Is there anything you want to eat?]
"Today let's eat what you want!"
As I raised my voice slightly while holding the phone, I felt the three girls' gazes intensify. Feeling like I might freeze if I kept looking at them, I averted my eyes.
[Shall we? Then I'll see you at the laboratory.]
"Yes, I'll be right there."
As I ended the call with those final words, Sera was the first to let out an exclamation.
"Oh... Urr, you usually have a cute voice, but you use that kind of voice with the professor?"
"Didn't you say she cried 'bwaaang' when he saw her panties before?"
"Wh-why are you bringing that up...?!"
Sera was one thing, but Aria seemed to have heard my story from Sera and was now spreading it here.
I tried frantically to change the subject, but I couldn't block this topic with my own strength. It was beyond me.
Karen pursed her lips in surprise and remained silent. Her gaze, which had been directed at Sera and Aria, soon turned toward me.
"Ugh, no. That was... just an accident."
I waved my arms at Karen who was staring at me. She nodded silently.
Since it was clear they would keep teasing me about strange topics, I decided to slip away.
"I, I need to go eat with the professor now. Everyone enjoy your meal, okay?"
"Okay, enjoy your meal too, Urr."
As I clutched my phone and backed away, Karen waved her hand with a chuckle.
Sera also smiled and waved cheerfully, while Aria waved her hand lightly in the air, seeming slightly disappointed.
I waved my arm vigorously at them once before turning toward the laboratory where the professor would be.
"Professor!"
I entered the Research Building and the professor's laboratory. I burst through the door, but no one was there. Thinking he might still be on his way back, I looked around the empty laboratory.
"Urr, you're here?"
"Eek!?"
I was so startled that my body jolted. If I were a frog, I probably would have jumped.
I had thought the professor wasn't here, but I never expected him to suddenly appear behind me. My startled heart began to race.
I stroked my pounding chest. Taking a deep breath as I turned to face the professor, he gave me a wry smile.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's not that... I was just really off guard..."
I chuckled and scratched my head.
"Your friends tied your hair for you?"
"I find it bothersome, but they seem to enjoy fixing my hair. Isn't that strange?"
"Maybe it's because Urr's hair is so fluffy."
As I approached the professor slightly, he gently patted my head. My hair tied in twin tails gave a strong impression of being neat.
Above all, the most important thing was the even weight distribution on both sides. It felt good when I tilted my head and felt the slight shift.
With my eyes closed, I felt the professor's touch, and when his hand moved away, I tilted my head slightly to feel that sensation again.
The professor smiled at the sight of my swaying hair.
"It does seem like you have fewer flyaways than before."
"Really? Hehe."
I grinned and touched my hair. Since my hair was long, I could hold each of the twin tails in one hand.
I understood why people said it felt good to touch my hair. I hadn't noticed when it wasn't maintained, but now that it was brushed and the flyaways were tamed, it felt somehow cozy.
Additionally, because it was tied with hair ties, it somehow felt less like I was touching my own hair. Was this the sensation of feeling that it wasn't directly connected to my nerves?
While I was repeatedly fiddling with my hair using both hands, the professor spoke to me.
"I'm glad you're having fun. I was worried you might be bored."
"I'm fine because you gave me this too."
I puffed out my chest to show off the ID card hanging around my neck. As I thrust it forward slightly, the ID card dangling near my solar plexus became visible.
Phew, as I returned to my original posture, the professor chuckled.
"Yes, that's good."
The ID card allowed me to move around most places in the Academy. It served as identification and also as a membership card that allowed me to borrow books.
"By the way, what's that?"
"Oh, this is a picture book about spellcraft that Aria picked out for me. I borrowed it to study."
As I proudly presented it to the professor, he accepted it with a wry smile.
He flipped through the thick coated pages inside the hard cover. I expected to see explanations about the meanings of circles and triangles, just like I had first learned.
I waited for the professor's evaluation with sparkling eyes. After flipping through a few pages, he nodded.
"It's a decent book. Honestly, there are no bad books among those that convey information."
"Really?"
"Of course, assuming you read a variety of books."
The professor handed the book back to me.
"You shouldn't focus solely on one author's ideas. Before you know it, you might find yourself following along without questioning."
"...Does this apply to this too?"
"Sometimes? Shapes are abstract to begin with, so interpretations vary. Plus, they can be used with hidden meanings, and there might be incorrect interpretations, so let's be careful about what we learn."
I nodded at his advice, which sounded like a warning. I made a mental note to remember it.
"Professor, aren't you hungry?"
The book discussion could wait. I couldn't ask the busy professor to read it for me, and our precious time was quickly passing as we chatted.
I wasn't sure what we would do in the afternoon, but I wanted to make sure the professor had time to eat, so I changed the subject.
The professor blinked and then let out a small groan.
"Right, what should we eat with our Urr?"
The professor smiled with his eyes. He pulled out a chair for me to sit, then sat down beside me.
As I sat down, the height difference between us definitely seemed reduced. Sitting height doesn't differ as extremely, so that was natural.
As I stared at the professor's blue eyes, he smiled brightly.
"Can I hug you?"
"I don't mind."
"Mmm, Urr."
The professor hugged me and twisted his body slightly twice.
I felt as if my space was filled with the professor. Perhaps "filled with the professor" was the right expression. The sensation lingering in my body was enough that I wouldn't need another hug from the professor for a while.
"What should we eat?"
"Let's have pasta today."
The professor mentioned his favorite menu item. After thinking briefly about what they sold there, I nodded.
"I'll order the mild flavor this time."
"Really? Maybe I'll try the spicy one this time."
Arrabbiata. I wanted a rematch, but my tongue wasn't trained enough yet, so I decided to postpone it.
"Professor, eat something mild too... Let's share."
As I shook my head, the professor nodded.
"Alright, alright. Cream pasta and tomato pasta should do, right?"
"Yes!"
"And what else might be good to eat. Let's head out first."
The professor put on his coat and gently took my hand. I held the professor's hand tightly as we headed to the restaurant outside.