Chapter 78 - School Festival?
"Can I sit next to you?"
The girl that she initially had wanted to avoid at all cost is now right in front of her and asking if she could have permission to sit next to her and Ria. If it's not for the fact that Sheila didn't want her secret to expose, and the girl identity seems special, she would have use intimidation skill to push the girl away. Sheila looked at Ria as the latter also stare back at her; both of them didn't know what they should do. If they reject the offer, it would definitely be spread to the whole school since all the students were currently staring at them.
But it would not be weird if Sheila rejects it since she was known as a stoic and cold person. The problem is, Angelica actually went and asked Ria instead of her. Ria was known to be friendly towards everyone, that's because she had wanted to help Sheila in making a new friend. Ahh, damn it! If only that stalker junior is here and I would have to signal her to reject this girl! Why is she not here when I needed her, yet always right behind me when I don't want to see her at all.
Sheila secretly winks at Ria with the meaning of rejecting the girl from seating with them, but Ria shook her head and smiled instead. Oh no, not this kind smile! Is she perhaps!
"Sure, go ahead."
"Thank you."
Gaaaaah! I knew it! That smile, I have seen it a lot back in the days! Ria always had that smile whenever she wanted to help me in making friends, but who would want to befriend with such a dangerous person! I totally forgot to mention about it to Ria, and now it bites at me.
Sheila begrudgingly continued eating her food quietly while keeping her face stoic, but if one looks closer, they could see her eyebrows twitching. While she was eating, Angelica tried to talk to Ria, and the latter comply.
"What is your name?"
"Hmm? Oh, I'm Cilia. And this girl next to me is Sheila, my best friend."
"I see, I don't need to introduce myself again, am I?"
"Hehe, that would be the case, as we have already heard your name in class, after all."
Angelica nodded her head in response before glancing toward Sheila, who didn't seem to want to talk at all while eating her food. Angelica wants to find out about her too, but it looks like the girl is not keen on chatting, that was also what she heard from the boys before coming here. Ria noticed her staring at Sheila; she smiled before opening her mouth to speak.
"Oh, Sheila is quite shy with a stranger. I hope she didn't offend you?"
"No no, I don't mind. It's partly my fault for intruding you two."
If you know that then, why are you here? Shoo! Go to where you belong! Sheila thought in mind when she heard Angelica's words. She would like the girl to leave if possible, but Ria didn't think so as she continued talking with the red-haired girl.
"You are really from abroad? It's kind of unbelievable since not many people like you go to this kind of school."
"Mhm. I was born in Europe, but due to a certain reason, I was transferred here."
"Heh~ Europe, huh? Sheila! Isn't that where your father went a year ago?"
Sheila grumpily stares at Ria before nodding her head in response while keeping her mouth shut. Ria just gives a wry smile before shaking her head and said.
"What is it like to live there?"
"Hmm. It's quite good, my neighbour is pretty friendly, which I'm thankful for."
"Huh, isn't that the same everywhere?"
Angelica giggled at Ria's words.
"Yes. What i meant is, anywhere is a good place to live, as long as you find a good place to be called home."
Ria nodded her head in response. Although she had wanted to know if there's anything good or bad when living there, this kind of answer is fine too. Some people always complained about how bad it is where they live for various reason, while certain some would say a nice thing such as beautiful scenery/weather, etc. It seemed that Angelica didn't fall into any of the two factions.
"What about you? You're local here, right?"
"Mmm. It's not so bad, but there are still a few things that I don't like, but that's normal isn't?"
"Yes, I also have a few things that I don't like when I'm living in Europe."
Angelica answered with a giggle, and Ria also giggled in response. Looking at the two enjoying each other company as they laughed, Sheila pouted in discontent. Although she didn't want to talk due to the presence of Angelica, that doesn't mean that she likes to get ignored. Her mouth went wide before closing back as she resumes her stoic 'acting'. But it wasn't long before her eyes went wide as she looked at the figure running toward their table.
"Senior! Senior Sheila!"
It was Yuna, the stalker junior. Sheila had thought the latter was eating somewhere with her friends but seeing as she was alone, perhaps she was busy with something before she could come here. Yuna quickly arrives on their table before taking the seat next to Sheila. She put the food tray on the table before looking next to her to talk to her senior. She didn't even notice that there's a new presence sitting in front of her, to Yuna, Sheila is the only one in her sight at the moment.
"How are you today, senior?"
Sheila was thankful for Yuna's presence since she didn't need to stay quiet by herself now that she has someone to talk to.
"I'm good, how about you? You're quite late today, busy with something?"
"Ah, yes! I was helping my friend cleaning the classroom; that's why it took a bit of my time there."
Yuna was quite surprised at her senior suddenly being talkative, she didn't know but was happy that her senior didn't seem cold to her anymore. While the two were talking, Angelica stares at Yuna who suddenly intrude into the table before starting to speak to Sheila like a friend. Her eyes were analysing the girl, and the result showed that she is just a normal student.
"Hey, Yuna~."
"?...Oh, sorry, Senior Cilia! I definitely didn't forget about you!"
"...your long pause already told me everything, Sigh, nevermind. Anyway, this red-haired girl here is Angelica Ernest; she just transferred into our class today."
Ria let out a sigh before introducing Angelica to the oblivious Yuna. Yuna's eyes went wide as she looks at the red-haired girl seat in front of her. She had thought she imagined that someone else was seated with her senior but guess not. She becomes flustered since she had disregarded the senior's presence in front of her, which is quite a rude thing to do. She bows her head repeatedly before opening her mouth and ask for forgiveness; Angelica just smiled before waving her hand, a gesture that she doesn't mind.
"I'm Yuna, nice to meet you, senior!"
"Nice to meet you too, Yuna. Though you can just call me by my name."
"No, I don't think that's okay, Senior!"
"Oh, Yuna, what would your class do for the festival?"
Ria interrupted the conversation before it could go on a loop since she knew that Yuna is quite a stubborn person.
"Festival? Oh! My class are going to do a maid cafe with cosplay, what would your class do, Senior?!"
Sheila frowned when she remembers the time when the homeroom teacher decides to do the voting, and the result was...
"We're going for Horror House, hehe. Your senior here didn't seem to like the choice though."
Ria said before giggling while pointing her finger next to her.
"Oh?! Horror House sounds nice! I'd love to see Senior Sheila as a ghost; i wonder how scary it would be, or would it?"
"Fufufu, I'm sure you'd like it."
***
On the way home...
"Festival, huh?"
"I know you don't like it because of the crowd, but it can't be helped. But don't worry, I'll be with you."
"Mhm, thanks."
While both of them were chatting with each other, Sheila noticed someone following right behind them. She didn't tell Ria since the stalker might hear it and she didn't want any problem from occurring since the latter seems to be only following them with no ill intent. Sheila had gotten used to it because of Yuna, and the girl was busy with festival stuff which was why she isn't the one stalking behind.
Sheila had tried using Presence Detection when Ria was talking and noticed a familiar 'aura' coming from the stalker. If Sheila hadn't use Mana Eyes when she looked at Angelica, she wouldn't know about the identity of the stalker. Yes, The stalker was Angelica, the red-haired girl who Sheila had marked as not a normal person.
"Sheila? Are you listening to me?"
"Huh? Of course! You were saying about wanting to eat Ice cream due to hot weather, right? Let's buy it then."
"...that's not what I said but whatever. Ice cream it is."