Recalling what happened with the professor, I shuddered. Trying to remember that tingling sensation made me feel strangely uncomfortable, so I quickly shook my head to clear it away.
As I quietly looked at Sera, she rested her chin on her hand and smiled contentedly.
"I like talking about these things with Urr because your reactions are so cute."
"...So the thesis was just a joke?"
"Kind of, don't you think? You're the only Demon God who's friendly with humans, so if I wrote a thesis about it, it would basically become a diary of Urr's sex life."
"Ugh."
Come to think of it, she was right.
If someone asked, "How will you prove this? What's your evidence?" Sera would undoubtedly respond without hesitation, "Well, Urr told me so."
This was supposed to be an Academy graduation thesis, and the professors who would read it would definitely know who I was. I became uncomfortable thinking about potentially catching their attention later.
What if they thought of that thesis whenever they saw me?
I turned pale and grabbed Sera's arm.
"Please, anything but that..."
I was fine being called supplies or whatever. I was satisfied just having the right to move around inside the Academy, whether the professor was there or not. It added something to my otherwise boring daily life.
But writing a thesis about this was a different story. I grimaced at the thought of professors I might encounter somewhere thinking such things about me.
"No, no...! I'm not that kind of person, I swear!"
As I clutched at her while whimpering, Sera raised her voice in surprise and took my hands.
Her startled gaze scanned my face. She gently took my desperately clutching hands and stroked my head with her other hand.
"It's true. I wouldn't sell you out just to graduate. I might seem like a slacker, but I actually study like a top student."
Sera's thumb pointed at herself confidently. My eyes were drawn to her self-assured display.
Just then, Aria entered through the door and let out a mocking laugh.
"All the top students must have frozen to death then."
"Quiet, Miss Fifth-in-the-Department."
"Hey."
Sera pointed her finger at Aria. Hearing herself called fifth in the department, Aria gave Sera a serious look.
Karen, who was following behind, looked Aria up and down in surprise.
"F-fifth place?"
"Oh right, Karen hasn't taken exams yet so you wouldn't know."
"Ahaha... Well, yes. For now, I'm just aiming for grades good enough to get a scholarship. The national scholarship, I mean."
When Aria glanced at Karen, Karen scratched her head embarrassedly and gave a bitter smile. It was impressive how she specifically mentioned the national scholarship, as if worried Karen might misunderstand it was a merit scholarship and feel more embarrassed.
Staring at this, Aria shook her head at Sera.
"I think a top student should also have the attitude of a top student. Sera, you don't."
"Is that so? Hmm~"
Sera narrowed her eyes and shrugged.
Whether she was a top student or not, she seemed not to care from the beginning. She glanced at me, and seeing that my tearful expression had disappeared, she gently touched my cheek.
"By the way, where's the professor?"
"She went out to set up a study group club room for us. She said she'd definitely make time for us on Friday afternoons when we can all meet."
When Aria asked as she sat down, Sera answered fluently on my behalf.
This was good news for students who had been borrowing a corner table in the professor's lab to study. Aria exclaimed "Oh!" in admiration, and Karen's eyes sparkled.
"R-really? Does this mean we'll have our own club room and can recruit people?"
"Well, if it's spacious enough, we could, but I wonder if anyone would join. If they have Fridays completely free, I doubt anyone would come."
Sera scratched her cheek.
"People who want to study will do it on their own anyway. There are already lots of clubs, so would anyone really want to join a study group?"
Aria leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs, slightly extending her arm. Karen, watching this quietly, smiled regretfully.
"Still, it would be nice to have people to study with..."
"Will the study group disappear after a year?"
I let go of Sera and placed both arms on the desk.
All three of them looked at me. I glanced at them and then pointed at Sera and Aria.
"Sera and Aria are third-years, so they won't be able to come next year, right?"
"That's true."
Everyone already knew this, but actively worrying about it was another matter. Aria's gaze, seemingly agreeing with my words, turned toward Karen.
If the seniors disappeared and only I remained studying language, the study group couldn't continue. Clearly aware of this fact, Karen narrowed her shoulders and placed her folded hands on her thighs.
Trembling slightly, Karen moistened her dry lips as if troubled.
"Y-yes... I don't have many friends among the first-years... Even though I talk to them sometimes thanks to Urr, it's fundamentally difficult to become close... I guess I'm the type who gets along better with seniors."
Karen scratched her head with a dry laugh.
She seemed disappointed about the study group disappearing, but also at a loss about what to do in this situation she couldn't control.
Seeing Karen's regretful expression, Sera and Aria stared at each other as if exchanging opinions.
Finding the momentary silence uncomfortable, I tapped the desk with my hand. At the dry sound, everyone jumped and focused their attention on me.
"I have a friend!"
"Huh?"
While they were making confused sounds, I pulled out my phone's contact list.
Besides the professor, there were Sera, Aria, Karen, and also Lenya and Iris. Since Lenya was an Institute Student, I thought I could at least invite Iris, so I held out my phone.
"Who do you have?"
"A second-year named Iris..."
I felt confident when I first thought about having a friend, but when I tried to proudly tell everyone, I became embarrassed because I only had one.
And she wasn't even in the same year as Karen—just a friend I met during a class for a different year.
Honestly, if I hadn't followed the professor to attend lectures for different years, I would probably have ended up with just one friend like Karen. My chest, which had almost swelled with pride, shrank back in disappointment.
As I slumped my shoulders and gently held my phone with both hands, Karen clapped.
"Then we could invite that senior's friends too, and somehow maintain the study group..."
"Don't be so anxious. We have plenty of time, and I'm planning to join Professor Yuria's lab."
Seeing Karen trying to plan ahead, Sera made a calming gesture. Karen stared at her.
"Oh, what do you plan to do in the research lab?"
"Well, the professor said I should think about that before coming, but honestly, I want to do so many things. Like Karen, I want to study, and like others, I want to create an Original."
As Sera crossed her legs and pondered seriously, Aria, watching her intently, shook her head.
"She's too greedy."
"People should be greedy. Without desire, you can't achieve anything."
I exclaimed "Oh!" in admiration.
My eyes sparkled, and Karen, noticing this, glanced at me.
"Urr, are you sparkling like that because you want to grow bigger?"
"Ah."
Hit right on target, I froze.
I glanced at Karen, who was chuckling. Aria beside her was also giving me a knowing look.
Feeling self-conscious, I pouted.
"...Maybe."
"Well, don't worry too much. Everyone grows bigger with time anyway."
"That's right."
Sera playfully patted my shoulder. Aria nodded in agreement.
It felt strange being treated like a kid who just wanted to grow up quickly. So I jumped to my feet.
The chair clattered backward, and I stood there clenching my fists and shaking them up and down.
"No! No! I was originally big!"
When I shouted, they all smiled and nodded as if saying, "Sure, sure."
Why did their expressions contradict their words of agreement? I started to dislike them all. As I pouted and huffed, the door suddenly opened.
"...Urr, what's wrong?"
It was the professor's voice.
Startled by the sight of me standing and shouting, the professor rushed in as soon as she opened the door and looked at me. I stood there awkwardly and scanned the others with my eyes.
I pointed at these three, including Sera, who were all smiling kindly, and tattled on them.
"Professor! They don't believe me! I told them I was originally big...!"
"That could be true. Urr will grow quickly."
"Ughhhh..."
The professor just brushed it off.
I couldn't tell if she wanted to hide that I was a special Demon God or if she just wanted to tease me in this moment, so I twitched the corners of my mouth.
"I don't like you either, Professor."
When I turned my head away sharply, the professor immediately ran over and hugged me. Then with tremendous strength, she lifted me up.
"Eek!"
"Why is our Urr acting like this~?"
In front of everyone, the professor lifted me and planted kisses on my cheeks.
Horrified, I struggled to escape from the professor's embrace, but ultimately failed.