Ronnie and Three Friends

When I returned to the classroom and took my seat, Ronnie was already sitting down and preparing for the next class.

Although I felt bad for Ronnie, I steeled myself and told him what had just been decided.

"Ronnie, I'm really sorry, but..."

"Hm? Why are you being so formal all of a sudden?"

"Actually, we decided that I'd introduce you to Stefan-sama, Martine-sama, and Lucien-sama after school today."

As soon as I said that, Ronnie completely froze in the middle of preparing for the next class.

Um, was he all right? Had I hit him with too much at once?

"Ronnie? Are you okay?"

"Huh? Y-yes, I-I-I'm fine."

He didn't look fine at all. Ronnie placed the paper he had been holding awkwardly with trembling hands on his desk, then turned toward me.

"Um, did I just imagine what I thought I heard?"

"No. It's true."

"It's true...? After school today?"

"Yes."

"You never told me!"

Ronnie said that in a tearful voice and began to panic. What should I do? Had I told him too soon?

No, this wasn't really a matter of whether it was too soon or not.

"Ronnie, they're good people, so you don't need to be that nervous. All you have to do is answer whatever they ask you."

"But they're the Prince, the Princess, and the son of a duke...! There's no way I can't be nervous!"

"Well, all right. You can be nervous, but they won't get angry if you make a mistake or two, so don't worry."

"That's just the same thing phrased differently!"

I really felt bad for Ronnie, but he would just have to make it through this afternoon.

"We'll introduce you to them in the entrance hall after school, so let's hurry and change and head there as soon as fourth period ends."

"Huh? Fourth period is swordsmanship today, right? We're always the last ones into the changing room. Will we be okay!?"

"We'll be fine. We're always the last ones in, but we always come out first, right?"

"That's true, but what if I have trouble changing today of all days...?"

We had become so quick at changing that if someone asked us, "What skill have you honed the most since entering the Royal Academy?" we would answer without hesitation, "Changing clothes quickly."

I thought we'd be fine if we did things as usual, but I had a feeling Ronnie's trembling hands might cause serious trouble...

Perhaps my worried expression got through to him, because Ronnie spoke with a determined look on his face.

"I've decided to skip swordsmanship class."

"What? No, wait! You can't do that."

"But there's no way I can attend class calmly! If I wait in the entrance hall from the time swordsmanship starts, I won't be late, right?"

"That's true, but..."

Making him skip class just so he could meet those three felt far too unfair!

"Ronnie, swordsmanship is a joint class. People will find it strange if you're not there."

"Th-that's true... Then what am I supposed to do!?"

"Ronnie, calm down. You don't need to worry that much. Just do what you always do, and everything will be fine."

"You can say that, but there's no way I can't worry!"

After that, I somehow managed to keep Ronnie calm, and we succeeded in attending swordsmanship class as usual.

Then swordsmanship class ended, and we were waiting for the three of them in the entrance hall. Ronnie had changed and made it there in a matter of seconds, to the point that I wondered what all that earlier worrying had been about.

When Ronnie's nerves went beyond their limit, he became the type to display incredible power instead.

"Leon, do you think they'll be here soon?"

Ronnie asked me in a small voice. He didn't need to whisper, but he had been talking to me quietly for some time now.

"They'll probably be a little while yet."

I had told the three of them to spend about ten minutes in their classroom before coming here. If they could arrive this quickly, there had been no need to make them wait in their classroom.

"I see..."

Ugh, Ronnie's nervousness was spreading to me. I had no reason to be nervous, but somehow I was getting nervous too! I was the one who had told the three of them to come later, but I wished they would hurry up!

After we waited for several minutes in that tense atmosphere, I saw the three of them coming down the stairs.

I felt Ronnie jolt beside me, but he seemed to manage to hold himself back.

"Leon, sorry to keep you waiting."

Stefan spoke on their behalf.

"Not at all. We just arrived as well. Thank you for taking the time to meet us."

"No, it's fine. We were the ones who asked you to come."

After exchanging greetings, I lightly pushed Ronnie's back, which was rigid with tension, making him take one step forward.

"This is my friend, Ronnie."

"So this is the one. I am Stefan Laaslasia. I have wanted to meet you, Leon's friend. I'm sorry to have imposed on you."

"N-no, not at all. I-it's an honor to meet you. My name is Ronnie."

"You don't need to be so nervous. You are Leon's friend, after all, so I would be happy if you became friends with me as well."

Stefan said that and held out his right hand to Ronnie.

Oh, dear. When a commoner is told by royalty that they want to be friends, fear comes before happiness. And shaking hands was a difficult challenge in itself.

But refusing would be far too disrespectful. Hang in there, Ronnie!

As I cheered him on silently, Ronnie extended his hand with stiff, jerky movements, trembling with tension.

"The honor is more than I deserve."

Ronnie did it! His face looked like it had gone pale, but he did it!

There were still two more people, though, so he had to keep going...

"I am Martine Laaslasia. Let's be friends as well! It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I am Lucien Townsend. Since you're one of Leon's friends, I hope we'll get along."

Ronnie somehow managed to finish greeting all three of them. He did great! But he looked completely exhausted, so it would be best to end this quickly.

I was just about to open my mouth when Stefan beat me to it.

"What do you usually do after school, Ronnie? You aren't in the magic item research club, but do you belong to another research club?"

"No, I don't belong to any research club."

"Is that so? Then why don't you join the magic item research club? It's fun, so I recommend it."

Stefan, please stop! Ronnie can't refuse even if he wants to! I'd have to find a way to turn him down for him.

"Stefan-sama, Ronnie works after school instead of joining a research club. He works at my stall."

"Leon's stall...?"

Stefan tilted his head in confusion. Hadn't I told him about the crepe stall?

...Now that I thought about it, I might have only told Lucien.

"Leon, what stall are you talking about?"

I hadn't told Martine either...? Saying it here might cause a huge problem, but I had no choice. Sorry, Ronnie.

"I started a stall selling a food called crepes. Ronnie is the one who works there."

"What are crepes?"

"It's difficult to explain, but they're made with a thin batter prepared from flour and the like, with various fillings tucked inside. The flavor changes depending on the filling. At my stall, we sell pork salad crepes and honey-butter crepes."

As I explained, Martine's eyes began to shine. Oh no...

"I'm very interested in this dish! Is it only available at your stall? If so, I'll go there myself."

"You can't go alone. I'm coming with you."

"Brother, are you interested too? Of course we'll go together."

This conversation was taking a dangerous turn. If two members of the royal family came to that stall, there would be an uproar, and it would be far too much for Ronnie to handle! I had to prevent that somehow.

"Stefan-sama, Martine-sama, please wait. If the two of you go to the stall, it will cause a huge commotion. Wouldn't it be better to have crepes somewhere else? If you don't mind me making them, I'll prepare them for you anytime."

As I said that, I repeatedly signaled with my eyes that the two of them should accept my proposal.

"That's true. If we can eat them somewhere else, there is no need for us to go to the stall."

Thank goodness... I had avoided the worst-case scenario!

"However, I would like Ronnie, rather than Leon, to make them. It is a royal duty to eat what commoners usually eat."

Oh, come on. Why did it turn out that way? I stared suspiciously at Stefan, and he gave me a look like his prank had succeeded.

A royal duty to eat what commoners eat? That was absolutely just a pretext! He probably only wanted to become friends with Ronnie. I understood that having a commoner friend was unusual for him, but he needed to think about Ronnie's mental burden too!

I'm really sorry, Ronnie. We might not be able to refuse this. But even if we can't refuse, it's still better than them coming to the stall. That's what I decided to tell myself.

"...Understood. Then where should I make them? If I could borrow the kitchen in the special dining hall, I could prepare them there."

"That's true. We could do it at school, but we wouldn't be able to take our time... How about having you make them at the ducal residence on the next recovery day? Lucien, what do you think?"

"Yes. That's fine."

Lucien answered immediately!? He didn't even need to check first!?

"Is that all right with you and Ronnie, Leon?"

Even if he asked whether it was all right, Lucien had already said it was, so it must have been fine. Besides, I had no reason to refuse.

"No problem."

"I-I have no problem with it either."

"Then it's settled. I'll let you know the time and other details later."

And so it was decided that we would meet again on the next recovery day, bringing Ronnie's introduction to an end. The three of them were going ahead to the research club classroom, so Ronnie and I were alone in the entrance hall for the moment.

"Ronnie, it looks like you're going to the ducal residence after all. I'm sorry I couldn't stop it."

"No, it couldn't be helped... More importantly, thank you for stopping them from coming to the stall."

"I thought that would be too dangerous."

"I'm grateful even for that."

After we had talked that far, it seemed the tension finally snapped, and Ronnie sank limply to the floor.

"Ronnie!? Are you okay?"

"Yeah... I'm fine. I just went weak for a moment. I'm glad it's over, at least."

"That's true. All that's left is the next recovery day, but everyone at the ducal residence is kind, so don't worry. I'll stay with you as much as I can."

As soon as I said that, Ronnie grabbed my arm tightly.

"Leon, don't forget you said that! You absolutely have to stay with me! If I'm left alone at the ducal residence... it would be too terrifying."

"I understand. I promise."

Ronnie let out a deep sigh, then stood up.

"In any case, I'll do my best on the recovery day. From talking to them today, I could tell they're not bad people."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Well, I'll head home for now."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow. Oh, right. You can take the day off from the stall today."

Ronnie had to be exhausted too, so he should get plenty of rest.

"What? Why?"

"Because you're tired, aren't you?"

"Hmm, my body isn't tired at all, so I can work without a problem. Besides, I probably wouldn't be able to relax if I just sat around, so I think I'd rather work."

"Really? Well, if that's what you want, go ahead."

"Then I'll go do my best at the stall!"

"All right. Take care of things there."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

Ronnie said that and went home. Whew... Maybe I was more tired than he was. Thinking that, I slowly began walking toward the research club classroom.