Maria Campbell started her day the same way she usually did. She psyched herself up for the day, got herself dressed and double checked the duties for the day.

She had some work to do with the student council, but would have enough time to spend with Katarina-sama since she took care of homework and her other responsibilities earlier in the week. She still needed to check for unexpected things coming up, but she was positive she had enough time saved up.

She felt a bit bad since she knew president Sirius would like more of her help, but Maria had made up her mind already. She could work more, or could use the time for herself. And maybe it was the wrong choice, but Maria wanted to spend time with Katarina-sama. And that was what she was doing.

The academy was huge, and Maria had to traverse its corridors with care. Anyone could get a hold of her, and without Katarina-sama around Maria felt more scared. Peasants would throw stones at most, but now she was surrounded by nobles that outranked her in status. Fighting back could potentially be disastrous to her, or even get her mom involved if the aristocratic kids felt petty enough.

She couldn't have that. She could take insults to the face and to the back, but getting the nobility's ire was something else entirely. In a way, it was the fear of the unknown that really got to her. She didn't know what these people that would leave the poor to their own luck do, and she really, really didn't want to know. So what could she do? Only endure and hope her aggressors did not escalate beyond mere words or hits and shoves.

"Campbell."

"...!" Maria almost jumped from the sudden voice bringing her back to reality. She bit her tongue and for a moment the noble that greeted her stopped in his tracks.

Ascart-sama's eyes were as hollow as usual. Staring down at Maria as if taking all of her at once, as if they would suck her whole being up from how deep his eyes looked. So dark they were, Maria couldn't distinguish the iris from the pupils…

And scared her a lot as well.

"Good morning, Ascart-sama." She hastily regained her voice and bowed, staring at the military boots the older Ascart wore.

"Hmmm…" He didn't sound particularly interested in her. But then again, Ascart-sama's only moods were heavy disinterest and boredom, or brutally spiteful. With little in-between that Maria knew of in spite of Katarina-sama's complete belief that the older noble was actually really nice.

But then again, Katarina-sama saw good in everyone around her. Something she said Maria did, but the commoner girl wasn't so sure about. After all, she couldn't come to feel at ease around the elder Ascart.

Maria wouldn't say she saw the good in everyone, but gave them the benefit of doubt instead. But then again, someone who revelled in the suffering of others could never be a good person. Maria was honestly baffled with Katarina-sama's demeanor towards Ascart-sama. But she rationalized there was a reason for this.

She just couldn't see it yet.

"How long are you staying like that?"

Maria stood straight again when the young man spoke. Face lighting up when she realized she had bowed for a bit too long and the noble noticed.

He didn't speak particularly loud, but that was how teasing started.

"I'm sorry." She clasped her hands firmly in front of her to avoid covering her face in shame. She kept looking at the noble's shoes, just in case.

"Is everything going alright?" His question caught her by surprise. They would usually meet like this almost every morning, but Ascart-sama never went out of his way to make small-talk.

"...Yes?" Maria blinked twice, staring up at the noble to see if she could take any hint she was missing. She couldn't. His blank expression was in place of the usual hostile one, and betrayed nothing of his thoughts.

"Okay." He absent-mindedly waved a hand, stepping out of the way and continuing his path like he did before meeting Maria that day.

The girl blinked again. She should have been the one to move aside. Such was the protocol, not the other way around. It wasn't the first time he did it, but Maria had this repeated to her almost every day in these corridors.

She looked back, and the raven haired noble was there. Lazily walking as if nothing had happened, as if everything was perfectly in place. From the back he almost looked peaceful.

That is, until he stopped and peeked at her without turning completely "I… I'll see you around, I guess." Then he looked back to his path and moved more briskly.

What a strange person. She didn't even get to reply, was that his idea of a farewell? There was no one in the academy that could say anything about how half-baked it sounded, so he probably didn't feel the need to use proper etiquette.

Well, Katarina-sama didn't either. But she bridged the gap with her unyielding friendliness. It was difficult disliking her even when she crossed boundaries like they were deserted streets. Perhaps she got through him? If there was anyone capable of such a feat, that was Katarina-sama. And although the young man didn't seem to differentiate Maria from the walls behind her most of the time, the truth was that he never really went out of his way to make her feel uncomfortable.

Still, those eyes haunted her. The way he seemed to drink in people's despair through them… It reminded Maria of the people wanting to see her hurting. It was a heavy feeling, one she couldn't let go no matter how many times Katarina-sama made her feel worth something.

She didn't like it. She hated it, in fact. And so, Nicol Ascart remained a dark spot in her day. Close to Katarina-sama for some reason Maria couldn't figure out. And her days were a bit less bright as a result.

At least his academic accomplishments meant she could be with Katarina-sama in the student council without him around.

"Nee-san is going to take care of… Her things. So she won't be coming today." Keith-sama's words had an immediate effect on the room.

They all knew what his words tried to convey: Katarina-sama had gone ahead to work on her 'secret' field for the day, so she would be busy and wouldn't come.

Maria wasn't the only one looking forward to spending time with the lady of the Claes. As only president Sirius and his vice president, who might as well have been an extension of the presider from how in sync they were, were unaffected by the news. Everyone else was invested in Katarina-sama one way or the other, and although the lady was not a part of the student council there was no one that wouldn't gladly let her in if she asked.

Well, that was what Maria got from thinking badly of someone who hadn't done anything to her. It was only natural, and unavoidable. Katarina-sama loved her plants, and would tend to them with almost as much care as she did her friends. If she wanted to have all evening to tend to them, Maria could only feel selfish from thinking she should have come to the student council instead.

It was Mary Hunt-sama's expression which gave Maria the hint that something was not quite alright.

The lady requested the date, and although she worked as usual she seemed to be deep in thought for the longest time.

Did she find something in Keith-sama's words strange? But why would he lie? He looked as disappointed in the lack of Katarina-sama as the rest of them. Or perhaps it was something he didn't know himself?

Working on the field… Working on the field… Working on the field…

Did Hunt-sama know something? Katarina-sama mentioned Hunt-sama was especially gifted for everything related to plants. So it wouldn't be strange if the lady felt left out when Katarina-sama went ahead to take care of her field by herself…

Then again, Katarina-sama did that all the time. Why was today specifically any different? Was something wrong with the plants? And if so, why didn't Katarina-sama request Hunt-sama's help?

Maria wasn't one for rumors and suspicion. But she couldn't help wonder why the easy-going lady was absent like that. And Hunt-sama's expression wasn't helping.

"I have to excuse myself." Hunt-sama finally stood up some time later, her face an expressionless mask as she bowed "I will be back shortly."

"Alright, Mary-sama. Take care." President Sirius didn't ask any questions, and simply showed the lady his usual consideration. He would never ask when it was any of the girls, nor would have say anything when they returned. The boys, on the other hand, were fair game to him. And even would sometimes partake in some light teasing when they took too long to return.

He was a gentleman, alright. His niceness made Maria want to be an exemplary person as well, but this once she would take advantage of his niceness.

"I will accompany you, Hunt-sama." Maria did her best to look casual. Which meant she was trying really hard not to blush then and there.

The lady eyed her for a moment before nodding. The president still said nothing and after confirming Maria was leaving as well he went back to work.

"Did you notice as well?" Hunt-sama whispered after Maria closed the door behind them.

"I noticed something was bothering Hunt-sama." Maria tagged behind while the lady walked, looking around the corridors as if looking for something "And I think it has to do with Katarina-sama."

"Yes." Hunt-sama confirmed "I think someone lied to Keith."

"Eh? Why? Who?" Who would lie to Keith-sama? That boy was as good as… Maria didn't want to compare the noble to a dog. But if someone asked who was a good boy, she would no doubt reply that Keith-sama was the goodest of boys.

He was that nice, yeah.

"I don't know." Hunt-sama exhaled, very much bothered and increasingly frustrated of not finding what she was looking for "But little Sophia-sama had this cheeky smile… I think Katarina-sama is with Nicol-sama."

"Eh?" What?

"Yes." Hunt-sama nodded, walking a bit more briskly while Maria ran for a moment to catch up.

"Why?" Maria remembered what she thought earlier in the day, already feeling a bitter taste coming from her throat.

"I don't want to think about it." The edge in Hunt-sama's voice made Maria's heart race in an instant.

Flashes of the young man's sadistic glower rushed in Maria's mind as she thought of the worst thing that could happen. Maria wasn't one to judge people by their appearance, or how they presented themselves. Especially when they didn't do it to her but…

"Wait, Maria-san!"

Suddenly Hunt-sama was moving fast enough, and Maria's eyes darted from corridor to corridor looking for her wonderfully naive lady. She felt cold in the heart but hot in the face, which would be followed by her eyes watering in most cases, but now her mind raced to discard attires and hairstyles as she ran past nobles going about their day.

She recognized Ascart-sama first. There was no way of missing someone with features as his.

Black hair, black eyes. Long hair for a man, and an aura that repelled people as naturally as he disapproved of everyone around him.

He looked like a noble, but did not present himself like one. The only higher class piece he wore being a dark vest with small chains poking out of its pockets. His hair looked like he gave up combing halfway through, and his shirt had neither a tie nor a bowtie.

Essentially, he looked like an unnaturally beautiful commoner with a tailored vest.

But that's besides the point. Maria didn't recognize him because of his appearance, nor because he got his hair up in a small man-ponytail for once. But because he was gliding in the air in one of the yards.

Maria released a sigh, glad the man was nowhere near Katarina-sama like she feared. Without considering the implications of the noble using his magic like that in the open.

The next instant, Maria's beloved carefree lady smacked on her flying fellow and landed on his stomach while his magic dispersed everywhere. Scattering dirt and grass like a whirlwind.

"Victory!" Katarina-sama made a peace sign high in the air, while still sitting on the noble's fallen form. It was so much like Katarina-sama that Maria couldn't help chuckle at her antics until the scene made the blonde snap out of her daydreaming.

"Katarina-sama?"

"Maria-chan?!" The lady bounced off the fallen Ascart and threw her blade away "This is not what it looks like!"

"Ugh…" The male slowly went back to his feet. Using his magic to dust himself while disregarding the mess his attire had become. At least he took off the vest "What the hell, woman. Were you trying to kill me?"

Maria opened her mouth. Katarina-sama beat her to it.

"No?! Why would I? Please Nicol-sama don't think I have a grudge with you or anything!"

"Yes, yes. I know." He rolled his eyes and took a lungful of breath.

"Ummm…" Without her complaint, Maria really didn't have anything to say. So she moved on from their bickering and onto what really bothered her "Katarina-sama, what were you doing here?"

"Eh?" The lady froze on the spot "This is… Y'know! That! Right, Nicol-sama?"

"Yes. I challenged her for everything she owns." Ascart-sama nodded sagely, crossing his arms as if he was thinking really hard about something "Unfortunately she won, so I'm not helping myself to Claes' stuff."

"Heh, heh, heh… I've practiced my blade to perfection! That way, if someone tried to kill me I could defend myself!"

Who would want to kill her, though? Maria really didn't understand when the lady talked about her future.

"Who is going to come after you? Master Yip Man? Give me a break." The noble scoffed, stretching his arms while at it.

"Hmmm?" Katarina-sama turned to look at him weirdly. Maria felt a bit out of place there.

Her eyes crossed the older Ascart's, and there was someone staring across the darkness of his eyes this time around.

This was the first time Maria felt like she got a glimpse of him.

"Anyways. I'm going now." He had looked so full of life before, yet he so easily reverted to his slow, unassuming demeanor "I'll give you two some privacy."

"Thanks!" Katarina-sama accepted his words immediately, making the male nod in return. Maria looked at him go, from the same direction she had come. Maybe he would bump into Hunt-sama there.

Maria turned back to Katarina-sama, and the lady was bumping her fist for some reason.

"I've improved a lot!"

"Hmmm? Yes?" Maria didn't really get it. But the lady looked cheerful, so whatever they were fighting for must have been harmless. Right?

"Yes! I can defeat even Master Yip Man!"

Come to think of it…

"Katarina-sama. Who is Yip Man?" The two nobles seemed to create their own world when they were together. Maria had seen it several times already, but sometimes there were moments she was really lost about what was going on in their bickering.

"Hmmm?" Katarina-sama blinked at Maria and looked up. Deep in thoughts "I don't know!"

...Yeah, Maria figured as much.

"Then, shall we head to the student council?"

"Sure! Just... " Katarina-sama took Maria's hands on her own, making the blonde's heartbeat accelerate again "Let's not talk about what you saw, okay?"

And it slowed down to a snail's pace again in an instant.

"...Okay." If that was what Katarina-sama wanted…

Why did it feel so bitter, though?

Since this is a writing exercise, who do you think should go next as the POV other than Katarina? I mainly work with Hachiman's POV, but maybe there are POVs that could work for some chapters.