Extra 2: Grace 《Middle》

Time passed and then I entered the academy. It was like a dream that I could meet Noah-sama every day, but as I saw the other capture targets other than Noah-sama in school, I was feeling the end of my happy days.

But there were also surprises. Noah-sama’s friend James Garcia, the son of a Marquis, also draws pictures. I didn’t know James since he didn’t appear in the game, but I was very happy to have a drawing friend in this world.

James’s paintings were at a genius level. If it was before I met Noah-sama, then when I would have seen his paintings, I might have despaired from the overwhelming talent and would have stopped painting again. But Noah-sama reminded me that I like drawing. Because there was Noah-sama, there is the me now.

So no matter what my fate is… I’m really glad I met Noah-sama.

I really thought so from the bottom of my heart and so told Noah-sama.

“I’m also glad I met Grace”

Noah-sama said so, and I was about to cry. I thought that I could live with just those words.

And finally, in my second year, the main character of the game, Elena Walker, transferred in. Elena was worthy of being a blonde blue-eyed heroine, captivating many men with her adorable appearance and innocent personality. And… I heard the rumor that Noah-sama seems to be in love with Elena.

I should have expected it… “Noah!”, but seeing Elena who talks so familiarly to Noah feels like my heart is going to tear. I don’t want to see it, I don’t want to break my engagement… thinking that, I started avoiding Noah-sama even when he came to talk to me.

I was jealous of Elena, and I was really about to become a villain, so I stayed away from her. However, Elena seems to say that I’m not fit to be Noah-sama’s fiancee, that she was being harassed by me. I’m very scared if Noah-sama really believed that.　

As expected, it will come down to this… I’m already tired.

Meanwhile, James-sama seemed to care about me, invited me to draw for a change and talked about painting together, and only at that time was I able to forget the painful things.

One day, I realized that I didn’t have the jade paint that I always carrying around like a talisman. It was a very important paint given to me by Noah-sama, and I was always looked at it whenever I’m down… I wonder where I went. I searched desperately and consulted with James-sama, but I still could not find it.

Then, when I was very depressed, Elena spoke to me.

“Grace Roland. I finally saw you upset.”

“Elena… -san. What do you want from me?”

“Hey, don’t you hate me? Noah is obsessed with me, you know?”

If I said that I don’t hate you, that would be a lie. But I managed to pretend to be calm.

“I only wish for Noah-sama’s happiness.”

“What’s with that……… even though you’re just a villainess”

I couldn’t hear what she said at the end, but Elena glared at me tightly.

I wonder what more she doesn’t like about me after already taking Noah-sama away.

“Well, let’s leave it at that. Come to the classroom after school today. I’ll show you some good things.”

Elena said so and went. To be honest, I didn’t want to be involved anymore…

After school, I had no choice but to go to the classroom… then I saw Noah-sama and Elena hugging each other. I could only see Elena’s crying face, but I felt that Elena looked and laughed at me.

When I noticed, I was running away from the spot. When I was running without knowing where I was going, I bumped into someone in the corridor.

“I’m sorry. Oh, Grace! What’s wrong?”

When I raised my face, James-sama looked at me with a worried face. I didn’t even notice it, but I was crying.

“Ja-mes-sama, it’s nothing”

I know he’s worried that I’m crying, but my tears just wouldn’t stop.

“It’s not nothing. Rely on me.”

I cried even more with the kind words James-sama said to me. After that, James-sama took me to the backyard of the school so as not to be seen. There was a flower bed and it was a place where I sometimes sketch.

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to say anything,” James-sama said, and stayed with me until I stopped crying.

“Thank you, James-sama. I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“Don’t worry about it. But, Noah will get angry when he finds out about this.”

Saying that, James-sama laughed like it was a joke…

“That’s not true… Noah-sama likes Elena.”

“What? That thing…”

“It’s true. I saw Noah-sama and Elena hugging each other…”

“… I’m sure it’s just some kind of misunderstanding.”

James-sama comforted me, but the sadness just won’t go away.

“Crying for that… Grace really does like Noah, huh.”

Oh, towards Noah-sama, I…

“… Like, I like…”

I unintentionally let it out. I now can’t say that I just wish for Noah-sama’s happiness. Being deemed as a villainess is fine, I just like Noah-sama.

The next day, Noah-sama passed by me but he didn’t even look at me. Even though I couldn’t help but wish to gaze at those jade-colored eyes.

When class was over, I was called out by Noah-sama.

“Grace, I have something important to say to you.”

It finally came… My eyes met with Noah-sama’s, and I can’t help my heart that beats loudly even at a time like this.

“I understand. I’m sorry I’ve avoided you all this time.”

I strengthened my resolve and nodded.