Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 48

To Teacher, From Vanessa 48

Graduation

Vanessa rubbed her tired eyes. She hadn’t gotten a proper night’s sleep in days.

The reason was that the time all Bamberg Academy students had to face was approaching: the graduation exam in their final semester.

They would pour all the knowledge they had learned so far into a single exam.

If they didn’t meet the standards set by the professors on the graduation exam, their graduation would be postponed, and they would have to endure another terrible year.

Even Vanessa, who loved studying, wanted to avoid that. No, she couldn’t make her teacher pay another year’s tuition!

“Damn it…”

Lina, with a pen stuck in her roughly tied-up hair, tilted her head back. Her cheeks, which were always smooth, were now dry.

“Six years’ worth at once? This is… this is something to be arrested for. Torturing… students…”

“That’s right… the desire to sleep is a human need…”

As Vanessa collapsed weakly, Lina suddenly perked up.

“That’s right, that’s right. Human desires, you see…”

Lina began to rattle off the contents of the psychology book she had just reviewed.

Since becoming sixth graders, all the students had developed a condition: the moment they heard a word they knew, they would spew out all the knowledge related to it, all while shaking their legs.

“-Got it?”

“…Yeah.”

Vanessa shook her head, listening to Lina’s rapid-fire words with bloodshot eyes.

It’s incurable. The only cure is graduation.

Vanessa looked at the letters from Honir and Gideon, which she had deliberately placed in the most visible spot on her desk, and lifted her head again. I need to pull myself together.

Vanessa wanted to receive the valedictorian award, given to the top five graduates, for the teacher who had sent her to the academy. It was the only way she could repay her teacher.

However, Gideon’s letter next to it….

Vanessa hadn’t been able to bring herself to touch Gideon’s letter for quite a while.

Afraid of damaging the envelope, because it would be a short letter with nothing much in it, because she felt sorry for him for making a big mistake, because they weren’t in a relationship that required a reply.

There were many excuses, but none of them satisfied her.

‘Don’t you just not want to know what’s inside?’

Lina asked quietly, and Vanessa bit her lip.

‘If it’s something you can’t reply to, it’ll end there. But even if it’s something you can reply to, you won’t reach out.’

‘I….’

‘Vanessa.’

Chebati patted Vanessa’s hand worriedly.

Vanessa couldn’t sleep at all some days, and other days she only slept. She didn’t take care of her meals, so Lina and Chebati had to drag her around.

‘I think it’s time to open it. Should we be here with you?’

‘…No. I’ll open it and be done with it.’

Chebati stopped Lina from opening her mouth. Chebati carefully led Lina out of the door.

Vanessa barely managed to tear off the red wax. It was nothing, she tried to think, but her mouth was parched.

The letters on the pure white paper were perfect, as if they had been printed.

It wasn’t much. He was wondering if she had returned to the academy safely and if she was hurt anywhere. He said to contact him immediately if there were any problems.

There were no problems. So that was the end of it.

Vanessa just sniffled slightly. She neatly folded the letter and put it back in the envelope.

But after that, Gideon sent several more letters, along with the promised lemon meringue tart.

As always, he kindly asked about Vanessa’s well-being, without mentioning anything about himself.

He must think of me as just a fairly close acquaintance. I’m deceiving him.

So Vanessa didn’t reply. She just kept them in a drawer like precious treasures. Sometimes, when she felt too sick, she would take them out and gently stroke the texture of the paper. That was all.

And at some point, Gideon stopped sending letters. Strangely enough, she never ran into him by chance.

She missed the coincidence that had taken him away, and she also thought it was better that way.

The reason this letter, with its own story, came out of the box again was thanks to Lina and Chebati’s very realistic advice.

‘Vanessa, think about it. What’s the reason you absolutely can’t do it right now?’

‘Do you even need to ask?’

Vanessa, who had stayed up for several nights studying for the exam, replied curtly, and Lina nodded seriously.

‘That’s right. Isn’t it because that man is too great?’

‘….’

‘What’s the greatest thing about the academy’s sixth-grade standard right now? What is it!’

Lina, Chebati, and Vanessa were all half-crazy from lack of sleep. Vanessa somehow felt herself becoming more and more persuaded.

‘It’s the highest honors. That’s it.’

Chebati nodded vigorously beside her.

‘Let’s use this to get our act together! You have to graduate at the top of the academy to even catch up to his heels! The starting line is different!’

‘…But I can’t…. What if the paper fades in the sunlight?’

‘Is that important? All that matters to us is the graduation exam! Take it out!’

Vanessa eventually took out Gideon’s letter, which she had even covered with another envelope to keep it from getting dirty, as if possessed.

After that, Honir and Gideon’s letters were always in the same place.

Thanks to that, she was able to concentrate on her studies, and she got used to it, and it got much better that her heart ached just by looking at the word ‘Gideon’.

“I don’t want to…. I don’t want to….”

Lina banged her head on the desk. Well, Vanessa felt similarly.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

To Teacher.

You don’t seem to be replying much these days. Are you very busy? If so, I will continue to tell my story diligently, as always.

This letter will be the last one I write as a student of Bamberg Academy.

Well, you might say you never know, but I’m confident. Please wait just one month for me to take the exam.

Teacher, aren’t you really amazed?

I happened to be hanging laundry in the evening that day, and you happened to be passing by.

I wanted light without knowing anything, and my whimsical magical power granted my wish that day. You noticed that it wasn’t just a light.

How could this be?

If so many coincidences overlap, it’s fate. Isn’t it a little more romantic to think that way? It seems that it was fate that you and I met.

Why is the graduation preparation class suddenly talking about romance? I’m just feeling a little emotional today. I went up to the clock tower for the first time in a long time.

I am now reminiscing while enjoying the soft breeze.

Do you remember? When I first came to the academy, I told you that the scenery from here was so beautiful.

After the third grade, from the fourth to the sixth grade. It’s a familiar landscape, but it always brings new emotions.

I have considered Seogote my spiritual home for quite some time.

The reason I enjoyed visiting the nice villas and meeting amazing wizards that you arranged for me every vacation, and going to my friends’ houses, was because I knew I would be returning to Seogote.

But at this point, with graduation just around the corner, the thought of leaving Bamberg Academy brings a small fear behind the excitement of heading to a new place. I have to leave my spiritual home and settle somewhere else.

But if I have to, I have to. I’ll do it very well.

Teacher, I have a favor to ask. I hope you will grant it if I do well on the graduation exam.

Please don’t take it as rude. But just once, no, just one last time, please grant me one favor.

From Vanessa Rose, who is truly desperate.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Vanessa finished the letter. This will truly be the last letter as a student studying at the academy. When she writes the next letter, Vanessa will be a graduate-to-be.

Vanessa stroked the surface of the slightly worn brick, which had weathered the passage of time.

How many students have sat in the clock tower and looked down at this scenery?

“Vanessa.”

Evan, who had suddenly grown taller recently, suddenly came up the spiral staircase leading to the clock tower. Vanessa neatly folded the letter and put it in the envelope.

“What’s wrong? You hate heights. You fell down the stairs last time!”

Vanessa teased playfully with a laugh. Evan twitched his eyebrows as if embarrassed.

“You know too many of my weaknesses.”

Evan naturally sat down next to Vanessa.

The two looked down at the lake in silence. They would no longer be able to hang out by the lake together. Everyone would split up and walk their own paths.

Evan cleared his throat. He had something to say before they parted.

“Um, I…”

But his voice cracked from nervousness. Evan’s face flushed. But Vanessa just looked at Evan without saying anything.

“Damn it, I’m always like this in front of you. Nothing works out.”

“Don’t worry, we have plenty of time.”

Vanessa’s voice was soft. Eventually, Evan looked at the small graffiti left on the stone wall and confessed his feelings, giving up on everything.

“I know how cowardly it is to say this at a time like this. Everyone needs a place to lean on because it’s a difficult time. But that’s not why I’m saying it. I feel like I really can’t avoid it anymore.”

“…….”

“Vanessa, I like you. I’ve liked you for a really long time.”

As soon as Evan said the words, he covered his flushed face with his hands. He didn’t want to know what Vanessa’s expression would be.

Vanessa chose her words slowly.

“Thank you so much.”

Evan remained silent, still covering his face. Even his ears were now beautifully colored.

“Thank you for liking me. I know it takes a lot of courage to like someone. It must be even harder to acknowledge and say those feelings. So thank you even more.”

“It’s a rejection….”

Evan mumbled. It was a good thing he was covering his face. He felt like tears were welling up in his eyes.

“That’s right. I’m sorry I can’t return them.”

Vanessa barely whispered. Vanessa also felt like she was about to cry.

For a moment, only silence flowed in the space where the two were. Evan lowered his hands that had been covering his face and took a breath.

“I knew it when I said it! I knew I would be rejected. Don’t be sorry. I said it because I thought I would regret it if I didn’t. The exam is coming up soon, and I’m a really bad guy, making you feel uneasy for no reason.”

“No. I’m saying it again, thank you.”

For liking me. As Vanessa gave a faint smile, Evan barely managed to make something similar to a smile.

“I’m going to be a little sad today. Let’s be friends again from tomorrow.”

Evan, who had spoken bravely, jumped up.

“Rest and come down. I have… somewhere to go.”

Vanessa stared at Evan intently. And she reached out her hand without saying anything. Evan took that hand. His hands were sweaty.

Evan, who let go of her hand, ran down the stairs with loud footsteps. So only Vanessa was left in the clock tower.

If Vanessa saw the attitude of loving herself from Lina and the passion and effort for what she liked from Chebati, she saw courage from Evan. The courage to come forward and apologize and the courage to face her own feelings.

However, she couldn’t learn from him, so only Vanessa was left here alone.