I Don't Need To Log Out

The students and the players were waiting for the teacher to arrive.

As usual, the group had gathered in the back corner of the large classroom.

Only Arlon seemed mildly bothered by this. Everyone else was engaged in conversation, their discussions ranging from casual to heated.

Zack and Evan, for example, were deep in a very passionate argument with the academy students.

Arlon didn't know what it was about, but judging by the exaggerated gestures and occasional eye-rolls, he was certain it was something childish.

He had no interest in finding out.

Then, movement from the classroom entrance caught their attention.

A cat Beastman girl approached their corner. She came from outside the classroom, meaning she wasn't a third year.

This was nothing new. By now, they were all used to it—random girls coming over, hoping to talk to Arlon.

They never outright asked him out, just struck up conversations that suspiciously resembled interviews.

Questions about his training, his thoughts on magic, what kind of books he liked—things that had nothing to do with flirting, yet somehow, they all ended up leaving disappointed.

Arlon, for his part, didn't see anything unusual about it. He wasn't rude, just naturally reserved. His default demeanor was detached, and those unfamiliar with his personality often mistook it for rejection.

The others, however, had noticed.

Even Zack, despite being the biggest instigator of chaos in their group, had learned to be more considerate around the heartbroken girls who walked away from Arlon with crushed hopes.

That was why, when the cat Beastman girl confidently approached, everyone assumed she was another admirer making an attempt.

Until she walked right past Arlon.

And stopped in front of Pierre.

Silence.

The group collectively turned to watch, every single one of them caught off guard.

Pierre blinked, confused. He wasn't used to people—especially girls—approaching him so directly.

Then, without hesitation, the girl looked him straight in the eyes and asked:

"Mr. Pierre. Do you have a girlfriend?"

The silence stretched.

Pierre, whose brain had quite literally never prepared for this scenario, stared blankly. His mind struggled to process the question, much like a warrior seeing a magic circle appear under their feet and realizing too late that they had no counterplay.

Evan made a choked sound, barely managing to hold back laughter. Zack, on the other hand, had no such restraint. He slammed his hand onto the table, making the classroom flinch.

"Oh no." Zack grinned, looking around. "Oh no! It's happening!"

Pierre swallowed. His mouth opened—then closed—then opened again.

Arlon, ever the observer, sipped his tea that he didn't actually have in silence.

The Beastman girl tilted her head, waiting patiently.

The entire back corner of the room was now laser-focused on Pierre's next words.

This was a moment none of them had ever anticipated.

And poor Pierre had no idea how to handle it.

Lucky for him, someone else did.

"Yes, he has a girlfriend here," Lei said smoothly, draping an arm over Pierre's shoulder.

"Ah, I see. Thank you, then." The cat Beastman girl didn't so much as blink. She simply nodded, turned around, and walked out of the classroom.

Silence lingered for a moment.

Lei let go of Pierre and stretched as if nothing had happened.

Pierre, still in a daze, turned to look at her.

"What?" Lei raised an eyebrow. "You froze, so I helped. Or…" She smirked, but she didn't seem like smiling at all. "Were you planning to accept? Ah, you must like the cat ears"

"No! No, no." Pierre shook his head rapidly. "I just—was surprised, that's all."

"You? Surprised?" Zack snorted. "What's surprising? This was bound to happen eventually. You're basically the second-most famous person in our group now."

Pierre blinked again. "I am?"

"Oh, absolutely," Evan chimed in. "We've already seen girls give up on Arlon before even trying. They're starting to set their sights elsewhere. And who better than his mysterious, imposing, quiet teammate?"

Pierre frowned. "I'm not mysterious."

"You are if you never talk," Zack said with a grin.

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Before Pierre could argue, Arlon—who had been silently watching this unfold—spoke up.

"But why didn't you just answer her yourself? Aren't you two really going out?"

For once, it was Arlon being the thoughtless one.

A dangerous silence followed.

Lei, as if completely unaffected, replied smoothly, "No, we are not."

Only then did Arlon realize his mistake. He turned his face to the front, pretending he hadn't said anything.@@novelbin@@

He shouldn't have said anything regarding others' love life, especially since he didn't know anything about it.

Zack immediately burst into laughter and approached Arlon. "Ohhh, Arlon, buddy, you just took a direct hit!"

"That was brutal," Evan agreed, shaking his head. "He just asked it straight. No hesitation. No filter."

Zack or Evan, for once, weren't the most embarrassed ones at the table.

Arlon ignored them, staring ahead, regretting his words but too prideful to acknowledge it.

Lei, on the other hand, simply smirked and rested her chin on her hand with a bittersweet look on her face.

And thus, Pierre survived his first-ever confession (sort of), Arlon had unknowingly delivered a critical hit, and Zack would probably never let them forget this moment.

But before the conversation could continue, the head teacher, Cika, came flying through the door.

"Everyone, settle down," she announced, gliding toward the center of the podium with practiced ease.

With a flick of her wrist, a table appeared out of nowhere, a plush cushion resting neatly on top of it.

Without hesitation, she lowered herself onto the cushion, sitting comfortably as she waited for the class to quiet down.

She was the professor for this last theory lesson.

The usual back-corner group who had been anything but settled just moments ago finally adjusted themselves into a tidier arrangement.

However, just before they all fully separated, Pierre leaned slightly toward Lei and said, in a low voice, "Let's go to a café today."

Only she heard him.

Lei, not one for unnecessary words, simply gave a small nod before returning to her seat.