"I shouldn't have missed anything..."

I racked my brain, recalling what Teacher Rhein told me yesterday. I just couldn't remember her asking me to buy something—or maybe it was a hint I failed to grasp.

But honestly, even after three years as her student, our relationship was still pretty ordinary. No need for such hints!

Just as I was lost in thought, two familiar figures appeared. Only then did I realize I'd wandered into the teaching building without noticing.

Since I wasn't an official student here, I had no right to attend classes. But that didn't mean I didn't know anyone.

To my left walked Rachel Roge Fenrir, eldest daughter of a prominent Gloria noble family. Despite her status, she never got the treatment a firstborn deserved. She rarely wore expensive noble attire. Her daily spending was minimal—probably less than mine. To me, that seemed utterly unreasonable.

What made her most memorable was her long, jet-black hair. It wasn't straight; it had natural curls that gave her an unconventional beauty.

Rachel rarely combed it, making her look unkempt at first glance. And honestly, that wasn't wrong—she did have a slovenly vibe, plus a bit of a shut-in personality.

Naturally, as a shut-in, she had very few friends. At school, her only known friend was the girl beside her: Julia.

I don't know if it's a cliché, but all Julias seemed to wear red. This Julia was no exception: fiery red hair paired with a red-and-white casual outfit. It gave the impression she might burst into flames any second.

"Senior Rachel! Senior Julia!"

Though I wasn't a student here, they loved being called "senior" by me. As if that title boosted their seniority.

"Good morning, Junior Nosad..." Rachel nodded politely, her voice soft as a mosquito's buzz. Still, it was kind of endearing.

Julia, however, looked impatient. As student council president, she always seemed annoyed seeing me—as if I owed her ten thousand credits.

"What are you doing in the teaching building today? Planning to eavesdrop again?"

"I just wandered in... And it's not eavesdropping! We're all scholars; don't use such harsh words!"

"You, a scholar? That's laughable! Isn't Teacher Rhein performing surgery today? Why are you loitering here?"

"Don't get me started. When I submitted my report, my teacher suddenly asked for something. I can't recall what, so I'm just wandering around, hoping something jogs my memory..."

"You talk so weirdly. But do you really not know what holiday it is today?"

"What holiday? BBQ Day?"

"Why are you always thinking about food? Today's Valentine's Day!"

Julia glanced at Rachel, then inched closer to her. Like she was staking a claim to me.

"Isn't Valentine's Day just BBQ Day?" I muttered under my breath.

"What did you say?" Julia's sharp ears caught it anyway.

"Nothing..." I shook my head. Now I probably knew what to give my teacher.

"But honestly, my relationship with her isn't that close. Why give her a Valentine's gift?"

"Your understanding is so vague! Valentine's Day isn't just for couples. I used to give gifts to my dad—he loved them! It should be 'Give Gifts to the Opposite Sex Day'!"

"If that's the case... what should I give my teacher?"

"Dark chocolate, usually... but it's crazy expensive. Not something a broke guy like you can afford!"

True—cocoa beans were scarce here, making chocolate as pricey as gold. Only nobles like Julia could afford it. Giving chocolate on Valentine's Day felt like a merchant's scheme.

"Can you suggest something practical? If I can't afford it, why mention it?"

"Not at all!"

"Um... please don't fight..." Rachel interjected in her whisper-soft voice.

"Alright, alright. Senior Rachel, what gift should one give on Valentine's Day?"

"For me... um..." She pulled something from her pocket and handed it to me. A necklace made of colorful heart-shaped stones. Rough-looking, but charming for girls.

"Senior Rachel, where can I buy this?"

"No..." She shook her head. "You can't buy it—it's handmade. The stones can be custom-ordered... not too expensive..."

"Then can you tell me where that shop is?"

"I can, but... just take this necklace for now..."

"Huh? Rachel! What do you mean? Don't tell me you have a thing for this guy?" Julia blurted out before I could speak.

"No... not at all!" Rachel blushed crimson. "I just... that shop! Yes—it's only open to nobles! Junior Nosad can't get anything made there... so just give my necklace to Teacher Rhein... anyway, she won't know..."

"Senior Rachel..."

The atmosphere turned awkward. I could sense she definitely didn't have feelings for me—most likely, she had a crush on my teacher!