The next morning Morgan and I make our way to school, business as usual, but notice there is a surprising lack of Nah meeting us in the front.
"That's odd, Nah usually always shows up when we do," Morgan speaks my mind.
"Do you think maybe she was sore from the meet last night?" I ask.
"It's possible, as cute as it was that swimsuit didn't look the most comfortable," Morgan continues her train of thought from last night.
"M-Morgan, that wasn't exactly what I-," I figure there's no use arguing. "Well I'm going to wait for her, are you going to go meet up with Owain?" I ask.
"Are you sure you don't want me to wait with you sis?" She asks.
"It's okay Morgan, you go on ahead," I say, generally surprised she was so quick to suggest not going to see Owain and waiting with me, I really do have a caring sister.
Once Morgan leaves I take a seat upon the steps of despair and wait. A few minutes go by, and it's at this moment that I begin to really hope that Nah is just late and not absent for the day, I'm not sure I can be by myself this much. I mean I'll still have Morgan for some classes, and I suppose I could see Brady during lunch, but that would also mean speaking with his group as well. Inigo seems like generally a good person, despite how he seems to flirt with every girl in the building, but I don't understand why Severa looks down on me so much, I'm fairly certain I haven't wronged her in any way.
Before I can continue my train of thought, I feel a tap on my shoulder, "Excuse me, Noire?" I turn my head and see none other than Laurent.
"U-Um, hi Laurent, do you need something?" I ask.
"Begrudgingly, have you seen Nah? I was told I needed to question every participant from last night's event, against my better judgment, so I need to get at least some comment from her," He says.
"I'm actually waiting for her to show up now, but with all due respect, I'm not really sure she would be so open to speaking with you."
"Yes I assumed as much. Well despite going against all my morals as a man of integrity, I'm certain I can make up something that's remotely convincing for what Nah might say. I just don't understand it; I have not harmed her in any way have I?" Laurent asks. Why does that sound so familiar?
"I honestly can't think of anything, I've asked that same question, she just really doesn't seem too fond of you," I try to say in the nicest way possible.
"Well certainly she must have some reason; I'm not too high and mighty to ignore my own faults. I'm sure there are more than a few reasons for someone to have a dislike for me, but she insists that am consistently trying to be a creep around her, and that simply is not the case. Plus I'm afraid she's telling people these things, I think you can understand why that may bother me," Laurent makes some good points, and it does still boggle my mind why Nah treats Laurent the way she does.
"I-I'm sorry Laurent, I hadn't realized how badly it was affecting you, I've tried talking to her, but I'll try again when I see her okay."
"You have my thanks Noire, this greatly appreciated. Well I need to go report some fake comment about the meet last night, I'll be seeing you." Laurent says before reentering the school.
As he exits my sight, I notice a small body come up from beside the steps, "Phew, he's gone."
"Nah!? How long have you been there?" I yelp.
"Long enough, jeez he sure talks a lot am I right?" Nah utters rather arrogantly.
"W-Well, if you heard all that, are you going to tell me why you have such a vendetta against him?"
"Noire I've told you once and I'll tell you again, I can just sense these things about him, when you are as adorable as I am you need to be on full alert at all times," Nah gives me the same explanation as before.
"So you're telling me you think he likes you?" I ask.
Nah suddenly grew bright red, "It, it's more complicated than that Noire, look do you really want me to sort things out with him that badly?"
"Y-Yes, I just think you are being too hard on him for no reason," I've never been one to disagree with how Nah deals with things, but all this seemed like a lot of unwarranted hostility.
"Well if you really insist, but I need you there with me."
"Why do I need to be there?
"I'm not going to confront him alone!" I'd say she was over exaggerating the situation, but it is a bit too late for that.
"Alright, Nah, I'll go with you, let's just get too class," I say as the two of us finally make our way into the school.
The day continues on as normal, just like yesterday I hadn't ran into Brady at all, but I know I'll see him tomorrow at the Archery club. Nah claimed she'll finally clear up all this nonsense with Laurent at the end of the day before she needs to go to swim practice. Once Morgan came back Nah ceased discussion about Laurent, however I did notice Nah looking down throughout the day, playing with her fingers like she was nervous or something, this only raised more questions. For as long as I can remember he made her uncomfortable, but she could never give me a good reason for it, despite us telling each other everything. Either way this whole mess will be taken care of today at least.
The end of the day would eventually be upon us, Morgan went off to spend some time with Owain before he needs to go to his club, giving Nah and I just enough time to look for Laurent and for her to get to her practice.
"Well where do you think he would be right now?" I ask.
"He said he's doing stuff for the school paper, we should just look for the room they make it in," Nah suggests as the two of us begin our search.
We make our way to the room that's responsible for producing the school paper, but before we enter we spot Laurent making his way toward us.
"Umm, good afternoon ladies, but I need to get in there," He says.
I glace to Nah, he releases a sigh and finally speaks up, "Alright Laurent, you claim that you have not been ogling over me all this time, is this correct?" Nah gets right to the point.
"Wha-yes! I've been saying this since the beginning!" Laurent exclaims.
"So let's just say that I am mistaken and you have been telling the truth, are you implying that I am not hopelessly adorable?" Nah sure can be arrogant when she wants too.
"What!?" Laurent asks, he and I generally shared the same puzzled expression. "Well, you're quite charming Nah, and I will admit I find you cute, but by no means am I making any misguided advances."
"So I imagine you must hate me now right?" Nah asks in a low tone as I wonder just what exactly she is getting at.
"How the, of course not Nah. Ahem, objectively speaking, I find you to be demonstrably cute, is that what you were waiting for?" Laurent replies.
"And?"
"And what?"
"Laurent, we both know that isn't all you have to say."
"My, you can be so dense." Nah mutters. I was really confused at the conversation that was occurring in front of me.
"I'm not quite sure I follow," Laurent responds.
"Laurent I, it makes me happy hearing you call me cute, and even knowing you saw me at my sporting events, but I can see right through you, and what you're saying is not enough," Nah says, making me even more confused.
"Not, enough?" Laurent asks.
"I suppose my mistreatment of you probably would have forced you to change your mind, but I frankly had no idea how to respond to the whole thing," Nah isn't implying what I think she is, is she?
"Well, I suppose I too was being held back, by my own doubts and insecurities," Are they, confessing to each other?
"Noire?" Nah brings me back into reality as I tried to comprehend what was going on, "I know I asked you to be with me, but I think I need to do the rest on my own," Nah says.
"A-Alright," I say as I head toward the front of the school, leaving those two alone.
I'm a world of confusion at this point; Nah has always made it apparent to me that she is living an anti-Laurent existence, yet if I didn't know any better, it looked as if those two actually were interested in each other, but why would she keep this a secret? I have several questions when I see her tomorrow. I went back to the front of the school and took a seat, waiting for Morgan so we can walk home. This has been a very eventful week for sure, at least tomorrow is Friday, I'll get to have another archery club meeting, and this week will be over.
