HLM 02

Chapter 2

Martin and I decided to meet up after school.

Not only were we in different extracurricular clubs, but it also seemed like Martin actively preferred to avoid the crowded hours.

“It’s so quiet.”

Most of the students had already headed home, leaving the hallways completely empty. I walked down the silent corridor alone.

“…This might be fun.”

A flutter of anticipation tickled my chest. Since transmigrating, it was the first time I actually looked forward to how my day would unfold.

Matching my quickening heartbeat, I hurried my steps until I reached the classroom and pulled open the closed door. Just like earlier today, Martin was sitting at his desk, gazing out the window.

“Martin! I’m here.”

I approached him, waving brightly. He fidgeted, seemingly unsure of what to do, before finally…

“H-hi… Lindsay…”

He offered a timid wave in return. I took the seat beside him and pulled out the math assessment worksheet we had received at the end of class.

“Did you wait long? I came as soon as my club finished, but I still feel like I should have hurried.”

“N-no! I-I haven’t b-been here long either… It’s fine…”

I nodded at his reassurance, grabbed my pen, and declared that we should finish up quickly before dinner.

Scratch, scratch.

The sharp sound of a nib gliding against rough paper tickled my ears. Oh, not from me, of course. It was from Martin.

‘Wow, seriously. I don’t know a single thing.’

Even before I transmigrated, I had completely given up on math. Trying to cram these entirely new concepts into my brain now was just impossible. I idly tapped my pen against the edge of the paper before cautiously shifting my gaze to my partner.

‘Whoa…’

My mouth fell open slightly as I watched the fluid, elegant movements of his hand. They weren’t kidding when they said he was the academy’s top student. He seemed to solve those impossibly difficult problems just by glancing at them, effortlessly jotting down the answers and meticulously writing out neat, precise formulas that matched his personality.

I found myself staring at him in a trance before looking back down at my own entirely blank worksheet.

‘Damn it.’

After a brief internal debate, I decided I had no choice but to ask him for help. I felt terrible interrupting when he was so deeply focused, but what else could I do?

‘We’re partners now… which means we’re responsible for each other.’

So, I chose to be a little shameless. I cleared my throat unnecessarily and carefully called his name.

“Excuse me…”

“……”

Had I spoken too softly? Martin’s eyes were still darting rapidly beneath his shaggy bangs as he worked through an equation. Mustering my courage once more, I called out slightly louder.

“Um, Martin?”

Skrrch.

He definitely heard me that time. Mostly because he startled so badly that his hand slipped, dragging a harsh streak of black ink across the pristine white paper.

“Oh, no… Should I go get you a new sheet?”

“N-no. I-it’s fine. M-more importantly… did you call me, Lindsay? I-I was focusing, so…”

His slow, slightly languid voice sank into my ears.

‘It tickles…’

A strange sensation washed over me, and I pressed my fingers against my earlobes. A sudden heat seemed to bloom across my face. Afraid that a flush was creeping up my cheeks, I hurriedly ducked my head and replied.

“O-oh, no. Actually, I…”

Ridiculously enough, I suddenly felt too embarrassed to admit I didn’t know the answers.

A warm summer evening with the sun slowly setting. Sitting in the very back of an empty classroom with a boy I had only just become friends with today. Staring down at a paper as blank as my own mind.

Why was I suddenly feeling so painfully shy?

Noticing my hesitation, Martin glanced between my worksheet and his own. Then, fiddling with his neatly trimmed thumbnail, he quietly spoke up.

“L-Lindsay. Should I… h-help you? I-if you don’t mind, that is…”

He hastily rattled off excuses, likely worried I would feel humiliated. He assured me I could refuse if I wanted to, but since it was a group project, it would be faster to solve them together. Recognizing his sweet, considerate intentions, I gave a firm nod.

“Okay. Please help me.”

At that, Martin pulled his chair closer to mine. As he moved, a remarkably pleasant scent wafted from the collar of his loose shirt.

“H-here, Lindsay… I-I’ll show you how to do the f-first problem…”

After that, I just listened to his voice in a daze. His low, soothing tone, combined with the subtle fragrance that drifted over every time he shifted his weight, kept pulling my focus away.

‘Crazy, I’m going crazy…!’

Get it together! You’re supposed to be studying!

‘If I want to survive in this harsh world, I need to keep my wits about me!’

Beneath the desk, my palms were already growing damp with sweat.

“…S-so, you a-apply the same c-concept to problems o-one through seven l-like this. W-was my explanation… t-too hard to follow?”

Ah.

It happened in that exact moment. As Martin tilted his head, his shaggy bangs parted. And my gaze was instantly stolen by the jewel-like green eyes hidden beneath.

“Uh, well… the thing is…”

“I-it can be d-difficult. I-I struggled at first t-too, so I c-couldn’t do it very well.”

The moment he shyly turned his head away, those brilliant eyes vanished from sight. I was just biting my lip, a wave of disappointment washing over me, when—

Grumble.

A bizarre, rumbling noise echoed through the heavy silence.

“Uh, well… I mean… Martin, you see…”

I felt tears prickling the corners of my eyes. Martin was desperately trying to pretend he hadn’t heard anything, but I had definitely seen it. I saw his shoulders flinch.

Casting a cautious glance my way, Martin quietly spoke up.

“I-I think I kept you h-here too late… I-I’m sorry. L-let’s go.”

With that, he hurriedly began packing up his stationery and papers.

If possible, I wanted to bite my tongue and pass out on the spot.

Walking slowly across the campus grounds, we spotted the carriages sent by our respective families and turned to face each other.

“Martin, you worked hard today. Honestly, it’s a bit embarrassing to admit… but I’m really bad at studying. Still, I’m going to use this opportunity to try my best! I can’t let a chance to work with the academy’s top student slip by!” I told him with a bright, exaggerated smile.

He probably didn’t know. He had no idea I was wildly overcompensating to cover up the immense humiliation from earlier.

At my words, a beautiful curve formed on Martin’s rosy lips.

“I-I was actually b-bad at studying t-too. Y-you can’t be g-good right from the start. I-I’ll do my absolute b-best to help you!”

“Thanks, Martin. Let’s go now. We’ll miss dinner at this rate.”

I was just about to turn toward my waiting carriage when—

“U-um… Lindsay.”

“Yeah?”

Martin’s sudden call stopped me in my tracks, and I spun around. Wondering if something was wrong or if he had forgotten to say something, my eyes fell onto a small box in his hands.

“T-thank you… for being m-my partner. T-this is my s-snack. I-it’s nothing weird! O-our family’s chef is j-just really good at making desserts… I-I thought you could eat it if you got h-hungry while studying…”

Martin rambled on, stumbling over his words as his ears turned red.

I stared blankly at his hands and the neatly wrapped white box.

“Martin.”

“H-huh? D-did I offend you? I-I’m s-sorry…”

I caught his hand just as he was about to shove the box back into his bag. Looking straight into his eyes, which were barely visible through his messy hair, I spoke.

“I’m not offended at all. Thank you, Martin. Thank you so much. Really… I’ll enjoy it.”

At my earnest reply, a radiant smile bloomed across Martin’s face.

Promising to see each other tomorrow, we finally turned away. Perhaps feeling a lingering sense of reluctance, both of us glanced back several times as we walked to our respective carriages. It only ended when I finally climbed into mine.

“Hehe.”

A giddy laugh slipped from my lips. Originally, I had planned to open it when I got home, but I wasn’t exactly a patient person. I carefully untied the packaging around the box.

“Whoa…!”

Seeing the contents inside, I couldn’t hold back a gasp of admiration. Nestled neatly within was a single slice of chocolate tart, radiating an irresistibly sweet aroma.