Chapter 5: Disciplinary Committee(1)

“With so many people, we’ll investigate later.”

A crowd of students had already gathered due to the earlier commotion. The girl with light purple hair tied up neatly like a soldier scanned the group with cold eyes.

That icy glare alone seemed to intimidate the students, who quietly parted to make way.

“Let’s go.”

Like the sea splitting, she strode confidently through the path the crowd formed.

In the elevator going down, she turned to us and explained in a low, steady voice.

“The disciplinary committee will convene after the leadership team gathers evidence and witness statements. It’ll likely happen within three days, so be prepared.”
“Got it.”

The term “disciplinary committee” made me tense, but Lager scratched the back of his head and answered casually in my place.

Hearing this, the leadership girl narrowed her eyes, shooting me a glance as if displeased.

“Then, we’ll see you if we need your cooperation.”

With that, she turned and stepped out of the elevator as soon as the doors opened.

I stared at her retreating figure until Lager sighed heavily and pointed toward the dorm entrance.

“Let’s go eat. I’m starving.”

The dining hall was past the boys’ dorm, which stood next to the girls’ dorm, along a path by a lake and a well-landscaped park.

Between the boys’ dorm and the dining hall was another building that looked like a gymnasium. In academy stories, such gyms are often used for combat contests. Maybe an event like that was coming.

Lost in random thoughts while taking in the surroundings, we reached the dining hall. I tagged my student ID at the scanner and grabbed a tray.

Lunch was a homemade burger set. Fresh veggies, tomato, cheese, and a hefty beef patty stacked between buns, secured with a skewer to keep it from toppling—it looked mouthwatering.

Sides included fries, mushroom soup, and cola, with the option to swap cola for an Americano, even iced, which I appreciated.

The tray had a hole for securing the cup, preventing spills if you bumped into someone.

As we found a seat, Lager noticed me with an iced coffee and asked.

“You’re drinking coffee?”
“My head hurts if I don’t.”
“I know, but even here?”
“Dunno. Don’t wanna test it. Headaches suck, so I’ll stick to my routine.”

I usually drink over three cups of coffee a day, and skipping it past noon gives me headaches. I was already past noon due to everything, so I was relieved the dining hall had coffee.

I took a sip.

“Gah?!”

It was insanely bitter. Why so bitter? It looked like maybe two espresso shots at most.

Lager stared at me, clicking his tongue in pity.

“Guess this body doesn’t handle coffee well.”
“…No way.”

The thought of losing that head-clearing feeling made my hands tremble.

Seeing my shock, Lager snatched my coffee, placed it in front of himself, and slid his cola to me.

“Here. I haven’t touched it.”
“Hey, give it back!”
“You’re choking on one sip. How’re you gonna drink it?”
“Can you drink it?”
“Yeah. I wrote a scene where the protagonist drinks coffee.”

True to his word, Lager took a sip, nodded with a hum, and looked satisfied.

It’s my coffee. I can’t live without it…

I couldn’t even drink it, but somehow it felt like it was stolen, and I pouted.

Lager, oblivious, grabbed his burger and dug in eagerly.

I lifted my burger with both hands to take a bite, but…

“Ow, ugh…”

It’s too big. Or rather.

My mouth’s too small.

“What’re you doing?”
“It’s… too big for my mouth…”

Lager, watching me turn my head to find the right angle, sighed deeply, got up, and brought back a fork and knife.

“Cut it, idiot.”
“Who cuts a burger?”
“Lots of people do. How long are you gonna tilt your head at something that won’t fit?”

Following his glance, I noticed many cadets casually cutting their burgers as they ate.

Guess my assumption that burgers must be eaten whole was a bias.

I nodded, pinned the burger with the fork, sliced it with the knife, and took a bite. The juicy patty and fresh veggies blended perfectly, earning an “Mmm!” of delight.

“Such a kid.”

Lager, watching me finally enjoy a proper meal, frowned—maybe from the bitter coffee or something else—and nibbled on his fries.

“The disciplinary committee’s not a big deal. Don’t stress.”
“You set that up too?”
“Of course.”

Why’s that a given? He should’ve spent that time reading a writing guide.

I thought it pathetic but kept it to myself. His setting obsession would probably come in handy.

“The committee itself can be handled if you talk well. The problem’s that girl from earlier.”
“The one with the light purple bun?”

Lager nodded, took a big bite of his burger, chewed, and glanced around before lowering his voice.

“Dakota Kail. Same age as us, twenty, head of the leadership team.”
“We’re twenty?”
“Well, in this world.”
“Oh…”

I wasn’t thrilled about being a girl, but being four years younger wasn’t bad.

As the conversation veered off, Lager coughed to refocus.

“Anyway, the situation makes it seem like I should take the blame, but dragging you in suggests my settings are in play.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well…”

Lager hesitated, glancing around again, then spoke haltingly.

“It’s just… a setting, but…”
“What, dude? Spit it out.”

“Dakota’s actually the main heroine of this story.”
“…Huh?”

I let out a stunned sound. So that means…

“She’s jealous of me being with you, so she dragged me in too?”

Pointing at myself with my thumb while staring at Lager, he averted his eyes, lips drooping, and nodded.

“Ha, unbelievable.”

I let out a hollow laugh. Lager, blushing uncharacteristically, waved his hands.

“Hey! It’s just the setting! What can I do if I’m the protagonist?”
“Oh, how nice for you. Not only a guy but building a harem too.”
“I’m not planning that!”
“Dude, imagining it is kinda hot. ‘Oh no, the strict leadership head submits to the delinquent protagonist!’ That kinda plot?”
“Ugh, gross.”

His contemptuous look made me feel a bit wronged.

“You can’t say that. When I got pricked by this tail, it told me about this character’s ultimate goal. Isn’t that your setting?”
“What’d it say?”
“Female corruption. How’s that a character’s goal? You set that up, didn’t you, you perv?”

This time, I shot him a contemptuous glare. Lager, predictably, protested desperately.

“I swear on everything, I never created a character with a tail like yours. Where the hell did you come from?”
“You’re asking me that?”
“I’m saying I didn’t make a tail-wielding, self-pleasuring character like you!”
“I didn’t pleasure myself with the tail!!”

I slammed the table and stood, shouting. Both of us, exasperated for our own reasons, exchanged dumbfounded looks.

Suddenly, my tail twitched, stretched out, and—

Slap.

It smacked Lager’s cheek.

“What the hell was that?”

Lager, slapped out of nowhere, demanded an explanation.

“Don’t know. Believe it or not, this thing doesn’t listen to me.”

I could only shrug. I had no other answer.

After eating, Lager dumped his barely-touched coffee into the trash.

“Hey, if you’re not drinking it, give it to me! Why waste it!”
“You can’t even drink it.”
“I could sip it slowly or dilute it! You don’t know the value of coffee!”

As someone who drank over a liter of coffee daily, this was unforgivable.

But my smaller frame meant I had to look up to scold him, which only made me angrier.

Lager stared at me and—

“Can’t sleep.”

He blurted it out, placed a hand on my head, and playfully ruffled my hair.

I swung to swat his hand away, but he’d already pulled back and walked ahead.

“…What’s his deal? Does he want his junk kicked?”

This treatment pissed me off.

As I glared at him, grumbling—

“Miss Chloe.”

A polite but low voice called my unfamiliar surname. I hadn’t turned yet, but I already knew who it was.

Wearing a neat pants uniform, her slender, toned figure made her curves stand out despite the formal attire. The light purple-haired girl with an updo, looking more daring than a typical leadership head.

“Let’s have a quick talk later.”

The main heroine of this world.

Dakota Kail.