She reveals something.

“I think it’s admirable that you still try to get along with everyone, despite what your parents say.”

“But I have to push people away at some point. They always try to invite me to hang out after school, but I have to turn them down. It’s why I haven’t joined any clubs, either.”

As she told him that, Leonardo realized something. If her parents didn’t want her associating with people from this school, then…

He sighed heavily, swallowing his frustration and preventing it from showing. “Then… I suppose that means me as well?”

Maeda-san flinched, and she turned her back to him. She started shifting uncomfortably, and that only made him more nervous.

“Actually… no,” she said.

“Ah?”

He heard her swallow. “Like you can imagine, my parents are hardcore traditionalists. I did tell them that a foreign student got assigned to my class and… they told me they knew who you were.”

“…I’m sorry, what?” he asked, blinking.

“I told you,” she said, turning to face him again. “They’re hardcore traditionalists. They know Wisler-san and deeply respect her since she’s a descendant from the founding members of this town.”

“Oh.”

“She told them you had moved into town, I told them you were in my class…” she gave Leonardo a shy smile. “So… Since they know you’re also one of the descendants of the founding clan… I kind of have permission to be friends with you.”

Then that was why she’d been friendlier with him than the other students. Things started to make more sense. Didn’t make them any less stupid, though.

“Is… is that okay with you?” Maeda-san asked, trying to look into his eyes but being too embarrassed to do so. “C-Can… Can we be friends?”

He chuckled softly to alleviate some of her nervousness. “I thought we already were.”

Her eyes lit up, and she smiled from ear to ear. She started blushing, but she didn’t care.

“Sorry,” she laughed heartily. “That was a really childish question, wasn’t it?”

“Better than the two of us wondering what’s going on,” he laughed with her. And doing so made him realize something. He laughed a lot more when he was with Maeda-san for some reason. It felt good.

Though the label of ‘friends’ did sting a bit, he knew he couldn’t rush things, much as he wanted to. It wasn’t like the book gave him magic powers to bend people to his will. At most, women would find him slightly more attractive or charming. It hurt a bit to think that may be the reason Angela and Maeda-san seemed to like him, but there was nothing he could do now.

“Wait,” he said. “So… you know about the Tensai Clan?”

“Ah! Well, kind of,” Maeda-san nodded. “Only the things my parents have said and the rumors around the island.”

“Would you mind telling me?” he asked, leaning back against the fence. “The thing is, Mrs. Wisler appeared before me one day and told me I was part of some Japanese clan when both my parents were Chilean.” He chuckled. “I don’t know much about it.”

“I know Wisler-san is the only remaining member of the clan in the island, and that everyone else left. My parents said it was surprising the clan even survived more than one generation, but I don’t know why.”

He smiled wryly.

“Also…” she coughed to clear her throat and looked at Leonardo with shy, careful eyes. “This is just a rumor, but… They say members of the clan are blessed with great talents and powers. Is… that true?”

Not knowing if that was something that should be kept a secret, Leonardo decided to be vague enough so as not to lie, but also don’t spill the whole truth, either.

“Can’t quite say,” he shrugged. “I don’t think I’m particularly talented in anything. I don’t sleep much and have good stamina, but that might be because I’ve been working physically tough jobs since I was a kid.”

“Really? What kinds of jobs?” she asked, curious.

“Worked with my dad at a market back in my home country,” he told her. “Had to help lift boxes full of apples, sacks of potatoes, watermelons and the like. When I got older I helped around construction sites. Again, just carrying stuff. Things anyone could do.”

“You’re a hard worker,” she giggled.

“Am I?”

“I’ve never had a part-time job, so I think it’s amazing,” she admitted.

“You’re pretty smart,” he told her. “You’re good in all subjects. I don’t think you can do that by being lazy.”

“I guess,” she giggled again, and seeing that made Leonardo smile. She looked in a particularly good mood.

The bell rang, and that cut their conversation short. They were both visibly disappointed. They started making their way back to the classroom, and while they were walking down the stairs, Maeda-san asked, “By the way, what are you going to do about the history assignment?”

“Oh. Right.” Leonardo groaned.

“The teacher said you could write it in hiragana for now, but will you be okay?”

“I hope so.”

“Would you… like me to help you?” she offered shyly.

“That’d be a life saver,” he told her with a relieved smile. “The assignment is due for the end of the week, so… would you be comfortable going to my house?”

He watched her eyes widen, and immediately felt like he was rushing things. But just as she looked like she was about to answer, Leonardo’s eyes meet Angela’s at the bottom of the stairs. She seemed to be on her away back to her classroom, but stopped when she spotted him.

He managed to catch her eyes glancing to Maeda-san for a moment before she turned back to him. “Leo,” she called, waving casually. “Thanks for lunch today. Let’s walk home together after school, okay?” After saying that, she kept walking towards her classroom.

“W-who is she?” Maeda-san suddenly asked. Her voice was quiet and uncertain, timid.

Leonardo had to suppress his desire to curse. Why did Angela have to say those exact words? Maeda-san’s eyes kept following Angela until she disappeared behind a corner. He decided that lying would be worse, and told her the truth.

“She’s another member of the clan that Mrs. Wisler brought to the island. We live together.” It felt like a mistake to admit it, but he knew that hiding the fact would be even worse.

“Y-You… live together… with her?” With an astonished face, she pointed a finger to the corner where Angela had disappeared.

“Y-Yeah,” he sighed.

“Is she y-your… g-girlfriend?”

“N-No,” he answered a little too quickly for his own taste, shaking his head.

“I see…”

The two reached the bottom of the stairs and stood there for a couple of silent seconds that felt way too long to Leonardo. Then, Maeda-san turned to him with such a resolute expression that made him back away a step.

“About what you said before,” she said, maybe a little louder than she intended. “I can go to your house tomorrow if you’d like!”

Ah? Seriously?

“T-That’d be great…!” he answered, not really understanding what had just happened.

Leonardo followed Maeda-san a couple of steps behind her as she walked back to their classroom with firm steps and a straight back.