"According to what I've heard from senior students in fifth and sixth grade, Anna Kablin was quite popular at the very beginning."

On a bench by the roadside, Moen sat quietly at the edge, listening to the information Senior Fannie had gathered for him.

"She was gorgeous, and she often helped others selflessly. Back then, many people had good feelings toward her. Quite a few noble young men pursued her."

"Then... why does Anna have such a poor reputation?" Moen asked in puzzlement. "I remember you mentioning that the senior students' comment on her aren’t that favorable."

"Perhaps... it's because she turned everyone down."

Senior Fannie replied, "Although I haven’t interacted much with Anna Kablin, based on what I’ve gathered, she seems like a very enigmatic person."

"I’d agree with that," Moen nodded lightly.

"She’s very interested in other people’s relationships. She often goes out of her way to play matchmaker for others. But when it comes to confessions to herself, she avoids them like the plague, even using bizarre reasons like 'not believing in love' as an excuse to refuse them. Over time, those rejected individuals began to feel mocked and insulted. In their anger and frustration, they spread nasty rumors about her, describing her as a woman with a beautiful face but a venomous heart, someone who takes joy in toying with others' feelings."

"But those are just malicious gossip."

"Exactly, just gossip."

At this point, Senior Fannie suddenly stood up and apologized to Moen:

"I'm terribly sorry. Because of other people’s hearsay, I previously said some things against Anna myself. Like you said, such rumors shouldn’t be believed until we’ve seen the truth with our own eyes."

"It’s fine. You didn't say much anyway. Besides, if you’re going to apologize, it should be to Senior Anna right?" Moen smiled and waved it off.

"True."

Senior Fannie nodded briefly but then looked at Moen with a hint of suspicion:

"Moen...?"

"Hm?"

"Why do I get the feeling that you seem rather happy after hearing this information?"

"Happy? Hm... I suppose I am a little. Learning something so important makes me more certain about what I need to do next."

Senior Fannie raised an eyebrow at this and said teasingly:

"I thought you’d be furious."

She blinked and continued, "Like, you’d rush off angrily to teach those who badmouth Anna Kablin a lesson."

"Well... I did think about that at first. But now’s not the right time. I’ve got more important things to handle." Moen shrugged indifferently. "They’re nothing more than a bunch of nobody who probably haven't even seen Senior Anna’s smile. Why should I care about them?"

"As expected of the academy’s well-known charmer. That composure and self-assurance of yours are remarkable."

"Haha, Senior Fannie, please stop teasing me."

Moen stood up from the bench and smiled as he bid her farewell:

"That’ll be enough idle chatter for today. Thank you for all your help, Senior Fannie. If there’s ever anything you need in the future, feel free to come to me. No need for any talk of rewards or payment between us."

"Alright. Goodbye then."

"Goodbye."

...

...

A ray of stubborn sunlight managed to pierce through the dense clouds, casting a soft halo over the shadowed city in the distance—a radiance as delicate as the blush on a shy maiden’s cheeks.

"Is it already evening?"

Moen walked steadily along a familiar path.

On the wide avenues, students who had just finished their classes poured toward the dining hall or their dormitories in lively groups, their youthful exuberance spreading vibrantly throughout the campus.

Yet, Moen walked against the flow of the crowd, heading instead toward the gates of the school.

As he moved along, curious glances occasionally fell his way. However, as though sensing an air of introspection radiating from him, no one disrupted his train of thought.

Until—

"Mo... Moen?"

A familiar voice called softly from behind.

"Sari?"

Moen turned around, startled, and saw the girl—still sporting her conspicuously large black-rimmed glasses and braided pigtails.

She was struggling to drag an oversized suitcase, the sight of which instantly drew attention. Among the youthful students surrounding her, she seemed conspicuously out of place.

"Moen, what are you doing here?"

Sari's eyes sparkled with a childlike delight as she dashed over, grasping Moen's hand eagerly:

"Are you... here to see me off?"

"See you off...?"

Moen frowned slightly and glanced down at Sari's suitcase.

"Sorry, I was just out for a walk. But Sari, where are you headed with such a huge suitcase?"

"Oh... just on a stroll, huh?"

The light in Sari's eyes dimmed visibly, and she seemed deflated.

"I guess... I didn’t tell anyone, so there’s no way you could’ve known."

"Tell me what?"

"Actually..."

Sari scratched her cheek, her head lowered as she murmured:

"I’m leaving school. Dropping out."

"Dropping out?"

Moen was taken aback. He subtly withdrew his hand from Sari’s grasp, his gaze sweeping observantly over her slender figure, as though searching for something unusual.

"So suddenly?"

"There are some problems at home. I need to go back and help my father."

"This is all rather abrupt."

"Well, life is unpredictable, isn’t it?" Sari said wistfully.

"Did you notify the school properly?"

"Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be allowed to leave openly like this."

"I see."

Moen nodded, his tone contemplative as he followed up with another question:

"And they didn’t ask you anything unusual during the process?"

"Eh? How’d you know?" Sari asked, surprised, before pouting indignantly:

"I have no idea why, but when I went to file the paperwork, all of a sudden, a bunch of scary-looking people showed up and started interrogating me. They even brought out something they claimed could detect lies! It was terrifying."

Speaking of this, Sari patted her chest nervously, her face pale from reliving the encounter. Despite the loose uniform she wore, her movements caused the outline of her impressive figure to ripple faintly.

"And? Did they find anything suspicious?"

"Hmm? Moen, do you think I’d actually do something bad?"

"Of course not."

Moen smiled warmly. "I’m only concerned about you."

"Oh, I see."

Sari twirled shyly, blushing. "I didn’t do anything wrong, so naturally, they found nothing. Honestly, I’ve never even killed a bug in my life, let alone done something evil!"

"Sari, that’s very admirable."

"Hehe... hearing your compliment makes me so happy..."

"Well..."

Moen examined Sari again, his sharp eyes scrutinizing her demeanor as though trying to confirm an elusive detail—or discern some hidden truth.

Yet the modestly dressed and seemingly unremarkable girl before him showed no sign of anything out of the ordinary.

She appeared to share no resemblance whatsoever with the person he had in mind.

But still...

"In that case, please pass along my regards to your father. The food last time was really good." After some internal deliberation, Moen decided to set aside his concerns for now.

"Th-thank you. I’ll be sure to let him know."

"The day’s growing late. I won’t keep you any longer. Take care and get home safely, Sari."

"Thank you. Goodbye, Moen."

After saying their farewells, Sari dragged her suitcase away, though she seemed reluctant to part. Just before moving too far, she turned back once more, her gaze locking onto Moen’s. Her eyes held a mix of nervousness and longing as she asked:

"Moen... do you think we’ll meet again?"

"Meet again?"

Moen met her gaze through her thick glasses, a smile suddenly breaking across his face.

That smile was gentle, warm—like the final rays of sunlight fading before the cold, dark night descends.

"Of course. I believe we’ll see each other sooner than you think, Sari."