Victor was standing next to Anastasia's desk drinking coffee.
Anastasia was cleaning up the coffee grounds and arranging a book titled “If This Looks Like a President, Then I Have No President.”
The coffee looked hot, which meant he had almost just arrived.
“It's been a long time, Namiya.”
He smiled gently and quickly extended his hand.
“Yes.
It's been a long time indeed.”
I held his hand and said:
“I expected you to come tomorrow at the earliest.”
“Yes, but I rushed to see you.”
Victor raised his eyebrows playfully and replied:
“Ah, of course I won’t start work today, I just came to greet you.”
“It's not your first day of work and you came here specifically?
Did you… fall ill?”
"Namiya Wazira?
I had to see this for myself.
If this is a disease, then I'm seriously ill."
He took my hand, shook it, and laughed merrily.
“No, who would have expected that a storm would rage in the high places in my absence?
You suffered a lot, didn’t you?
Ah, but...”
Victor continued talking happily, then suddenly stopped and looked behind me.
Kibun was staring at our shaking hands.
Victor released my hand awkwardly and asked:
"...Who is this young man?
Namiye, are the ministers now bringing knights to protect them?
Should I be ordered to cut off my hand because I touched you?"
“It's true that his look looks like he's going to cut off your hand, Senpai, but no, it's not like that.”
I turned to Kibun slightly and said:
“Trainee, but now he is my secretary.”
“Intern?
We have an intern in our department too?”
Victor looked at Kibun in astonishment, then smiled:
“Take good care of her, apprentice.
Since the junior minister chose you as secretary, you are younger than Namiya, right?
I will speak easily.
It is more convenient for you as well, right?”
“Not comfortable.”
The air suddenly froze.
I poked Kibon's side and said:
“Kibun, everyone in the department talks to you informally, so why are you doing this?”
“I didn't say it was forbidden.”
I sighed and looked at Victor to explain:
“I'm sorry, Senpai.
Kibune is a foreigner, his imperial language is weak.
He doesn't understand situations well and the culture is different...”
"Oh, really?
So he's a friend who needs a lot of attention.
And I'm good at taking care of those."
“But he's not lacking... he does everything I ask, um, like that.”
Victor nodded slowly, rolling his eyes.
“Understood.
Even if it's strange, it's useful.”
I was afraid that Kibon would respond, so I quickly silenced him.
Silence at least prevents problems.
In the Empress's room, he escaped by remaining silent.
He was just looking at me calmly...
'Honestly, what trainee looks at his boss like that?'
I sighed internally and thought.
I was busy with work so I didn't notice, but after visiting a new place together it became clear.
Was the Empress right when she said, “This boy is hiding something”?
Is it emotion?
Her intuition is not simple.
I suddenly imagined:
"Wake up, Kibon.
You're a trainee and I'm a minister."
“Is there a law that prevents a trainee from liking a female minister?”
“Of course not.
Who makes a law on feelings?”
In my imagination, Kibun remained expressionless but was just looking at me.
As he has always done since we met.
While I was imagining:
"Anyway, Namiah."
Victor winked and smiled sweetly:
“From tomorrow I will start working and officially call you Minister, but today we will remain as friends, Senpai and Kohai.
I want to hear your stories.”
(Kohai: It is a nickname for younger people, unlike Senpai)
His blue eyes bent cheerfully.
Unlike the sharp Kibune, his friendly appearance didn't seem harmless.
“I didn't ask Anastasia because I wanted to hear it directly from you.
I just waited for you.”
“Ah… well, it started like this.”
When I slowly opened my mouth, the outside of the Manuscript Department office suddenly became noisy.
"Hey, Victor!
You're back from abroad?"
“Victor!
Oh, you should have told us!”
“Aren't you coming to greet your big brother?
Huh?”
A group of employees rushed inside.
They immediately surrounded Victor.
“Hey, don’t make a fuss.
I came secretly.
I wanted to make an impression on the minister.”
Victor laughed softly and waved his hand.
But the employees his age didn't care:
“This boy changed?
After his travel, he forgot his friends.”
“Shouldn't you have called us first?
I'm upset!”
حرّكتُ عينيّ وأغلقتُ فمي.
correct.
This attitude...I have been accustomed to it since my academy days.
* * *
Victor was loved by everyone.
His grades are excellent, he is an accomplished athlete, his personality is fun, and his appearance is attractive.
He became president of the Student Council with an unprecedented majority, and this is normal.
“Um, Namiya Rawabi?”
Among the many students, he noticed me - the youngest of four years - for a formal reason.
“Your parents never came for counseling once.
Is there a problem?”
As council president, he had a list of students who were having problems.
I was summoned to the Speaker's room because my parents never showed up.
“Juan Rawabi used to come every year...
Can the school help you?”
Victor asked with eyes full of kindness.
I shook my head:
“No way.”
“Hmm.”
Victor frowned seriously:
“That's right.
If I were suddenly summoned and asked about personal matters, I wouldn't want to talk either, would I?”
"Yes."
“I knew you would say that.”
He smiled and said:
“I saw that you excelled in the entrance exam?”
"Yes."
“Hmm.
There seems to be a problem, for sure.”
Victor smiled gently.
I narrowly avoided his light blue eyes.
"It can't be like this.
Nami, let's be friends."
"Yes."
“…Don’t you ask why?”
“Because we wouldn't get close anyway.”
“Haha… What a fun friend, little one?”
Victor laughed out loud.
Then he looked at me and smiled:
“I have decided now.”
"Yes."
“I will be close to you so that you can tell me your problem yourself.”
"Yes."
"And if I can solve it, I will.
I'm the student council president responsible for everyone's well-being."
Not waiting for my response, Victor got up.
He put on his jacket and said:
“Let's go to lunch.”
"Yes?"
"Let's eat together.
We should get closer, right?"
“Um…”
"I may not be able to solve your problem.
But...
I can listen, right?
Maybe it will help you out."
“…”
“Let's be friends until then.
So today we'll go to the restaurant together.
And next time too.”
I got up embarrassed.
I can't refuse Senpai's invitation to eat.
I looked at his back and thought:
‘Ah, this person is… kind-hearted.’
As we walked down the corridor, everyone who passed us - without exaggeration - greeted Victor:
"Hey Victor!
Basketball game later?"
“Senpai Victor?
Look at this when you have time.”
“Isn't that Victor?
You've been neglecting us lately?”
Victor responded to everyone kindly and cheerfully as he walked.
I looked at him and thought again:
‘Ah, this person… is good to everyone.’