I bounced along with a rhythm in my step, shoulders shimmying and hips swaying.
For some reason, I felt the beat flowing through my body. I might be naturally uncoordinated, making my movements a bit stiff, but who cares? It's not like I'm performing for anyone—I'm just feeling good and want to move.
After finishing my conversation with the others, I found myself humming a tune, wondering what to do next. The Professor noticed my behavior and tilted her head curiously.
"Urr, did something good happen? You're wiggling around like crazy."
My excitement must have been obvious enough for the Professor to notice immediately.
Since there was no reason to keep it secret from her, I nodded my head side to side and told her about our earlier conversation.
I explained about the Study Group's first get-together. With exams finished and the May festival approaching, we had made plans to have some proper fun during that time. After hearing this, the Professor stared at me blankly.
"...So you're planning to party in the club room?"
"Yes. What do you think?"
When I asked her opinion with a slight smirk, the Professor placed her hand on her forehead and sighed.
"That's something only graduating students might get away with. Do you really think drinking alcohol inside the Academy makes sense?"
"..."
I pouted and lowered my head.
Well, she had a point. Thinking about it, even though we called it a club room, it was still just a classroom within the Academy.
Sera or Aria might have gotten away with it. Actually, they wouldn't, but since they were graduating soon, they might not care about the consequences. But that would only cause trouble for Karen.
"...Of course, it's not your fault, Urr. It's not like you suggested it."
"Yeah..."
Seeing me become dejected with my head hanging low, the Professor seemed to feel awkward and cautiously approached me. She carefully embraced me and stroked my head.
"I guess the others decided on that because you don't like going out alone. But drinking inside the Academy could be problematic unless it's during special events like the festival when it's temporarily allowed..."
"It's okay. I understand."
I had no intention of throwing a tantrum and demanding, "Do it, do it!"
It would be nice if we could, but a bit sad if not—that's all. I was just so excited that I'd been dancing around, but now that the Professor had shut it down, I could feel my smile fading.
I lowered my head deeply to suppress my emotions. I buried my face in the Professor's embrace and stayed still. She quietly held me before patting my shoulder.
"...How about inviting them to my place instead? Though my home might be a bit uncomfortable."
"Your home..."
Would students ever have reason to visit a professor's home?
I looked up at the Professor quietly. I tilted my head, thinking the others might feel awkward if I suggested it.
Sera might be okay with it since she planned to attend the Institute and wanted to get along with the Professor, but Aria and Karen, who had just joined as a freshman, might feel uncomfortable.
Of course, it would be better to ask them first, but I was hesitant even about asking.
"Is there anywhere else besides your home?"
When I grabbed the Professor and gently shook her, she furrowed her brow. She closed her eyes as if seriously considering it, but didn't seem to have a clear answer.
"I'm not sure yet. When are you planning to meet?"
"This coming weekend. Today is Tuesday, so... Wednesday, Thursday, Friday? Friday or Saturday?"
I counted on my fingers as I answered, and the Professor nodded while looking at the calendar.
"Can you give me until then to think about it?"
"Oh, okay. I'll tell the others for now."
I casually took out my phone. The Professor smiled as if to say that was fine.
I pulled out a chair and sat down. Leaning my upper body on the desk, I stretched out my arms. The letters I pressed firmly had already expanded to two or three lines.
After typing diligently, I sent the message, and my report appeared in the chat room.
[Me: The Professor says no drinking in the Academy. She asked about her place, but I thought that might be uncomfortable so I asked if there's anywhere else. She said she'll answer before the weekend.]
My simple message was immediately met with a flurry of responses.
[Karen: The Professor's home? That seems a bit... Wouldn't we feel awkward?]
[Sera: If it's at the Professor's place, we'd have to be quiet because we'd be conscious of her, and it feels like we should drink wine instead of soju or beer. Professor Yuria has that elegant vibe.]
Elegant? Wine instead of soju and beer?
Pfft, I couldn't help but laugh. The corners of my mouth turned upward.
Our Professor just opens a beer can at home with a "pssh" sound, but people tend to overestimate the parts of her they don't see.
Though I suppose the Professor does give that impression.
I was someone who knew a side of the Professor that the others didn't. While there was no reason to feel superior about it, I chuckled as I held my phone.
[Me: The Professor likes beer.]
[Sera: Oh, really?]
[Karen: Wine seems too expensive. Even beer is a bit much.]
[Aria: I thought fruit wine might suit the Professor's taste, so I brought a picture.]
[Aria:
A photo popped up with a tick sound.
It looked like a liquor bottle made of porcelain. It appeared so luxurious that I couldn't even guess its price.
Since I didn't know alcohol prices, it was hard to say how much it cost, but it certainly looked expensive.
[Sera: Toto, how much is that? Are we even allowed to drink that?]
Maybe because she came from the Garden, Aria often had these unusual things. But using something without knowing its value seemed like something to be avoided, so I found myself nodding in agreement.
Karen, perhaps afraid of the unknown price, didn't type anything.
After a moment of silence in the chat room, Aria attached another photo.
Comparing it to the size of Aria's hand, I could see the contrast with the previous photo. Earlier, without anything for scale, it had seemed like a simple liquor bottle, but now compared to Aria's hand, I realized it wasn't an ordinary size.
It's about the size of my head...?
I was so shocked that I couldn't even type, just opening and closing my mouth. With Karen and me frozen and unable to respond, Sera continued with an incredulous tone.
[Sera: We're just having a Study Group get-together, why bring something like that? Next time will you bring something gold-plated?]
[Aria: If you think Urr's stomach would be gold-plated, I might consider it.]
[Sera: Now I'm curious about that.]
I'm not curious at all!
[Me: *&~]!)#@^]
I randomly mashed the keyboard to break the mood.
[Aria: Anyway, this is worth what you pay for it. The fermentation is already complete, and the advantage of this large container is that you can take as much as you want...]
[Sera: You're giving us each a sip?]
[Aria: I thought we should bring something if we go to the Professor's home.]
[Sera: Let me try some too.]
[Aria: I'll bring it when we all go on a trip together.]
[Sera: What about this Study Group? Karen, what do you think?]
[Karen: I'm fine! Something too expensive would be a waste to drink...]
Even through the screen, I could imagine Karen's nervous expression. She seemed to have the same middle-class sensibility as me, which made me feel connected to her.
Sera seemed to have normal financial sense but appeared wealthy, while Aria just seemed rich with a dull sense of money—like someone born with a silver spoon.
[Me: I just want something simple.]
[Karen: Does Urr like convenience store stuff?]
[Me: Yeah, I have 50 Rill so I'll buy something from the convenience store. Let's eat something delicious together.]
Despite being a group chat, the conversation had split into factions.
It couldn't be helped. Though Sera teased Aria, they were both wealthy people, and Aria gave off the impression that she might slap someone with a wad of cash.
Karen and I, not being extremely wealthy, could only have our own conversation about affordable options.
When you don't have money, you can't go cutting steaks. So we had to talk about convenience stores among ourselves.
Aria, seemingly wanting to join in, added her comment.
[Aria: Junior, tell me if there's anything you want too. I've always wanted to try everything from here to there at a convenience store.]
[Sera: ???]
I couldn't understand what she meant. As I tilted my head in confusion, Aria immediately shot back at Sera.
[Aria: Are you cursing in front of Urr? You're hopeless.]
That was a curse? No wonder it was hard to read.
Having learned to read through normal books and observing my surroundings, I found it difficult to understand such slang.
If the others started using trendy abbreviated speech, I was confident I wouldn't understand half—no, any of it.
Sweating nervously, I tapped my fingers on the keyboard.
[Me: Everyone, shh. We still haven't decided where to go.]
Having calmed the heating atmosphere, I felt proud, as if I'd accomplished something important today.