Chapter 85 ~ Kururugi Suzaku
<span style="font-weight:400">It was yet another new day for school.
<span style="font-weight:400">Kallen walked quietly with her hands gracefully ced in front of her and her downturned eyes solemnly looking slightly downwards. She was a picture of the beautiful frailty and gracefulness of a noble flower atop the tall cliff.
<span style="font-weight:400">A few girls passed by her side, and while they were attracted to males, they also couldn’t help but admire how beautiful and graceful she was, even though she was only walking.
<span style="font-weight:400">They nced and stared at the red-haired girl for a moment until she disappeared after turning the corner of the hallway.
<span style="font-weight:400">And as soon as Kallen made sure nobody was around, she let out the biggest yawn of her life.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Dammit… I’m so sleepy…”
<span style="font-weight:400">She wiped the tears off her watery eyes and began cracking her stiff neck.
<span style="font-weight:400">She had spent the entirety ofst night ying with “Excalibur” along with Mordred. And then, she spent hoursying on her bed, thinking about how to execute the moves she did in Excalibur.
<span style="font-weight:400">In the end, she only slept for around three hours before she had to wake up and go to school.
<span style="font-weight:400">In all honesty, she nned on just skipping today’s ss to get a good night’s rest and just use her frail, sickly body as an excuse.
<span style="font-weight:400">But if she skipped now, that’d be one less absent day she could use for when she truly needed to skip school for a mission.
<span style="font-weight:400">So in the end, she forced herself to get out of herfy, high ss bed and go to school.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Well,st night was fun, and I got to learn a lot. So I guess it’s worth it…</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">She truly learned a lot about knightmare maneuvers and even gained some insights into how she could better utilize her sh harkens from Mordred! Rather than simply using it to damage enemy knightmare, she could use it to anchor herself to her enemy and use it as a grappling hook, pulling her towards her enemy at immense speed and quickly shortening the distance between them!
<span style="font-weight:400">Her greatest weakness when using the ssgow was herck of ranged weapons. The only “range weapon” she had was her sh harken, which was still quite limited and had vastly shorter range than, for instance, a Suthend’s assault rifle.
<span style="font-weight:400">With this technique, she could mitigate her weakness greatly and also gave her even greater maneuverability around the battlefield.
<span style="font-weight:400">After gaining such insights from him and spending quite a few hours with Mordred, her initial impression of Mordred hadpletely changed.
<span style="font-weight:400">At first, he seemed very intimidating and imposing, especially when he appeared like that. She also couldn’t see his face nor know his name, making him a true mystery to everyone.
<span style="font-weight:400">But after talking with him and spending some time with him, she realized that he’s actually quite friendly. And judging by his way of speaking and acting, he seemed to be around the same age as her, and she confirmed it after asking.
<span style="font-weight:400">She was very surprised that she was able to get along with him so quickly! In just a few hours, she had already begun considering him as arade and a friend, which she never did towards a total stranger before.
<span style="font-weight:400">And honestly… It felt nice. It’s nice to finally have a friend her age in the ck Knights. Everyone around her was older than her. So she felt… a bit morefortable with Mordred.
<span style="font-weight:400">Just as she was daydreaming aboutst night, she bumped into “something” when she turned the corner.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">She fell back, but just as she was about to fall on her butt, she was caught by a weirdly… familiar touch.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you okay?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Recovering from her shock, Karen slowly opened her eyes. And immediately, her eyes widened in shock once she found out who she bumped into and caught her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-I’m sor- I mean, I-I apologize…! Thank you very much. I-I am fine.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She quickly pushed herself away from him and averted her slightly blushing face away from the new transfer student who had taken the entire academy by a storm with his appearance alone, Alexander Kyrielight.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">D-Dammit! Out of all the people, I just had to bump into him the first thing in the morning!</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Her mind panicked. She was still extremely apprehensive of Alexander. Even though he acted very gentlemanly, kind, and polite… No, precisely because of that, she must be super careful!!! Her experience and all the media she had consumed told her that if a man that handsome acted nicely, then that means he had an ulterior motive for doing it. And that ulterior motive might be to lure in girls he’s interested in into his maw.
<span style="font-weight:400">What’s even more dangerous was that there was nothing she felt… safe around him. There’s nothing about him that raised any rms in her mind… That means, there’s a high possibility that he’s extremely skilled in masking his true intentions, enough that even she felt there’s nothing wrong with him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I see. It’s fine. I’m d. And I apologize as well.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alexander” lowered his head slightly as he apologized. But suddenly, he began staring at her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...W-What’s wrong?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kallen asked with apprehension in her voice.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...You don’t seem well, Miss Stadfeld. Are you truly fine?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-I’m fine! Please don’t worry.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kallen quickly avoided his gaze even more and stepped a few steps backward.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...You seemed to becking sleep. Were you studying untiltest night?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Her body flinched when he noticed herck of sleep. She immediately thought of the time she spent with Mordred in the ck Knights’ headquarters and thought that his question was a way for him to subtly threaten her and insinuate that he knew about her most guarded secret.
<span style="font-weight:400">But just as quickly, she realized how absurd such a notion was and quickly calmed down.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Y-Yes, I was.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I see… Then how about you go rest in the nurse’s office first? I will inform the teacher, so please don’t worry.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He suggested with a charming smile. And although everything he said felt like a trap to her, Kallen felt that it honestly seemed like quite the appealing idea.
<span style="font-weight:400">She really needed some sleep right now, and if he could inform the teacher about her “condition”, she might be given the permit to rest due to her sickness and not be counted as absent.
<span style="font-weight:400">So, even if it felt like a trap, she needed sleep so badly and ended up epting his offer.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then… I’ll take you up on your offer. Thank you very much.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Of course. Would you like me to apany you to the nurse’s office as well? Or perhaps call another girl to apany you instead?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No! I will be fine. Then, please excuse me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright. Take care.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kallen quickly walked away from the dangerous casanova.
<span style="font-weight:400">But after a while, she stopped to look back.
<span style="font-weight:400">Alexander was no longer there. She had no idea why she stopped and looked back. But she did… And her mind suddenly thought back to the time when she looked up towards Mordred the moment he lifted her up in a princess carry.
<span style="font-weight:400">But… for some reason, instead of Mordred’s demon-like mask, she saw Alexander’s handsome, smiling face. And her heart skipped a beat.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Why the hell am I thinking this…”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">She shook her head and let out a sigh. She seemed to be even sleepier than she thought.
<span style="font-weight:400">She quickly made her way to the nurse’s office,id down on one of the beds, and closed her eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">Forget about that Alexander. She had to rest as much as possible so she could challenge herself again tonight.
<span style="font-weight:400">She’ll definitely seed in doing a backflip and also perfect the grappling hook maneuver Mordred showed her.
<span style="font-weight:400">Though… she might need to think of a way to convince Mordred to let her try it with Excalibur again. She needed to get it right first with “Excalibur” since her ssgow’s maneuverability was much more limited inparison.
<span style="font-weight:400">Also, she didn’t want to break her own knightmare when she failed… So she felt morefortable using Excalibur for her practice.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Maybe I should bring him some cake as a bribe…</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">She thought as she quickly fell into thefortable darkness of sleep.
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji sat silently in his ss, casually listening to the lessons about things he had already mastered.
<span style="font-weight:400">After attending several sses in three different worlds, he came to notice several differences between them.
<span style="font-weight:400">One of the most obvious differences would be the lessons they teach in history ss. Given they were different worlds, their history would, of course, be different.
<span style="font-weight:400">The second difference would be the level of difficulty. Tatsuya’s world’s education was by far the most advanced. Ifpared to Yuuji’s original world, then the things he was learning during his time as a first year high school student there would be equivalent to the lessons taught in famous universities of his world. While the lessons taught in Ashford academy would be kind of in the middle. They were more advanced than Yuuji’s school, but they’re still far below the lessons taught to the first year high school students in a far more technologically advanced world.
<span style="font-weight:400">Still, with his elerated learning speed, Yuuji had long since mastered all subjects up to university level lessons, and in some subjects that he had proficiency in, even beyond that.
<span style="font-weight:400">So, he spent his time in ss quite leisurely. But just then, something from the periphery of his eyes caught his attention.
<span style="font-weight:400">He turned to look towards the windows to his side, and his eyes widened in shock.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">What..? Could that be…?!</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">He saw an immensely beautiful girl with leaf-green hair tied into a low twin tail by a white ribbon and dressed in the academy’s uniform. And like a fairy of spring, she was walking around the academy, enjoying the clear blue sky, cool breeze, and rustling leaves of the trees and bushes around her.
<span style="font-weight:400">Just from a nce, he could immediately tell who it was… After all, she was one of the most important characters in Code Geass, second only to Lelouch.
<span style="font-weight:400">But he didn’t expect her to be this… beautiful.
<span style="font-weight:400">Even at this distance, though it matters little with his enhanced vision, the “pizza” girl was much more beautiful in person than she was in the anime.
<span style="font-weight:400">This was the first time he had ever been entranced by beauty since he saw Aika in person for the first time.
<span style="font-weight:400">As if noticing his gaze, the girl slowly looked up and met his eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">Their gazes interlocked for a few moments before she suddenly widened her eyes in shock and immediately ran away, towards the direction of the Student Government’s Clubhouse where Lelouch and her sister, Nunnally, were residing.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Ah…! Well… That’s awkward…</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji didn’t mean to stare on purpose… But he definitely owed her an apology. He also ruined her rare outing, so he might even need to buy her several pans of pizza.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Well… we mighte into contact soon. I’ll apologize then.</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">He didn’t know when they’ll meet. But he expected Lelouch to introduce him, Satoru, and Tatsuya to her before the events with Mao. So perhaps after the operations in Narita.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Just a few days more, huh…?</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">In just a few days, if everything went as nned, then they’d be able to clear several missions from the Group Chat in one fell swoop.
<span style="font-weight:400">Achieve victory in the Battle of Narita. Defeat the Purist Faction in Battle. Andstly, Defeat the Britannian Knightmare, Lancelot and its Pilot, Kururugi Suzaku using the Knightmare Frame from the Multiverse Chat Group.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">If all went ording to Lelouch’s n, the first and second would be easy enough toplete. As for the third…</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji nced back to the seat behind him and saw the honorary Britannian and pilot of the Lancelot, Kururugi Suzaku, sitting there and paying attention to the ss very attentively.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was the first time Yuuji saw him in real life.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">I’ll make sure to defeat him then… Even if I have to use magic.</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji gained confidence in his piloting skills after spendingst night ying around with “Excalibur” with Karen and also teaching her some stuff.
<span style="font-weight:400">Karen was an extremely skilled pilot. This, he was sure of. But, he had also been learning from her while she was ying around with Excalibur and improved tremendously in just a few hours.
<span style="font-weight:400">If Karen now could almost defeat the Lancelot if not for her being caught by an unfortunatendslide during their battle, then he’ll definitely be able to win against it even without the help of his magic.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">And this will also be the first major thing we’ll do that will cause things to deviate from the future I know…</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">He had to admit, being in the dark in such a dangerous world did make him a bit nervous. But, it was all for the better since the future he had seen in the anime was filled with tragedy and sadness. He didn’t want to see such… terrible tragedy ur in front of him in real life.
<span style="font-weight:400">Just as he was thinking about this, he realized Suzaku noticed his gaze and smiled politely at him.
<span style="font-weight:400">So, Yuuji smiled politely in return and nodded slightly at him, surprising the honorary Britannian soldier.
<span style="font-weight:400">He didn’t expect “Alexander” to smile back at him, given his status as an honorary Britannian!
<span style="font-weight:400">Suzaku had to admit, he unconsciously held a prejudiced thought against Alexander.
<span style="font-weight:400">For someone with his appearance, his poprity, his status, and his wealth, Suzaku automatically thought that Alexander would hold him in contempt for being an honorary Britannia, just like the majority of Britannian.
<span style="font-weight:400">But, he smiled. Something he never got from most Britannian he had ever met. There was also no arrogance or condescension in his eyes. And he even nodded at him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Suzaku felt something well up in his heart.
<span style="font-weight:400">Perhaps… he found someone who’d befriend him just like the members of the Student Council!
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">When lunch came, just as Yuuji was about to quickly escape the ss before he was “captured” by his female ssmates who had been eyeing him like a delicious hunk of meat all this, Suzaku walked up to him and approached him with a polite smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hello, it is nice to meet you. I am Kururugi Suzaku.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji was quite surprised by his sudden introduction. He didn’t expect Suzaku to approach him, especially when he was acting the part of a rich, britannia student.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It is nice to meet you as well Kururugi Suzaku. I am Alexander Kyrielight.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji introduced himself with a smile, shocking Suzaku with his unexpected warm attitude towards his honorary Britannian self.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ve heard a lot about you, Kururugi-san. I’ve heard that you’re actually an active soldier currently fighting in the front lines.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, yes! Yes, I am.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I see. Then, you must have quite the story.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“A-Ahahaha, perhaps. Though, not much were interesting. And the ones that are, are ssified.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, I’d still like to hear them”. The war and the life of a soldier are all but foreign to me. It might as well be a different world. So those you deemed “uninteresting” might be an exciting tale of heroism. How about we share some stories with each other over lunch?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Eh?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Suzaku froze as his eyes widened in shock.
<span style="font-weight:400">He didn’t expect… Alexander Kyrielight, the most popr guy in the entire academy despite him having just transferred in a few days ago, to be this kind and friendly towards him, a former “eleven”.
<span style="font-weight:400">And after the shock, worry began to fill him as he noticed eyes directed towards himself and Alexander.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Of course, I would love to. But would that be fine…?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Suzaku didn’t mean to show his worry for Alexander, who might receive enmity from other students, for being with him. But he unconsciously nced towards his ssmates with concern apparent in his eyes. And Yuuji didn’t miss it.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Of course. I do not like discriminating against others simply because they’re “not of our race”. If they are nice, then I will be happy to befriend them, even if they’re honorary Britannian or an “eleven”. On the contrary, even if they are pure blooded Britannians, I will not concern myself with them if they hold a ck heart in their chest. So please don’t concern yourself over such things, Kururugi-san.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">Suzaku, as well as everyone else in ss, all looked at Alexander in pure surprise and bewilderment.
<span style="font-weight:400">Because of the kindness, politeness, and gentlemanly attitude Alexander had shown, which captured the favor of not only girls but even the instructors and the boys who had came to acknowledge him as a good friend, they’ve expected him to not mistreat or discriminate against the honorary Britannians in the academy, such as Kururgi Suzaku.
<span style="font-weight:400">But, they didn’t expect him to treat the honorary Britannians, and even the “Elevens” so… equally.
<span style="font-weight:400">Due to his appearance, many who had recovered from their shock, quickly chalked it up as Alexander’s magnanimous attitude that epasses even those who were not Britannian by blood. They immediately gave him the benefit of the doubt, a privilege given automatically to the beautiful and handsome.
<span style="font-weight:400">But Kallen was still shocked to her core. The most dangerous yboy casanova she had been trying to avoid… Did he actually believe in what he said? Or was it a ploy he did, knowing she would hear it, so he could make her fall for him?
<span style="font-weight:400">No… he didn’t know that she was half Japanese. So… why did he say that…?
<span style="font-weight:400">As Kallen was still in a state of pure shock, Suzaku snapped out of his daze quickly and let out a bright smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you… It would be an honor to have lunch with you…”
<span style="font-weight:400">All eyes focused on the two as Yuuji stood up and walked together with Suzaku towards the school’s cafeteria.
<span style="font-weight:400">They shared quite the amicable conversation as they made their way, but Yuuji couldn’t help but think back at what he did just now.
<span style="font-weight:400">In hindsight, what he said was extremely controversial, especially in an academy built by and for Britannians. It might’ve gotten him in a bit of trouble if they decided to brand him as eleven sympathizers.
<span style="font-weight:400">But even after he considered it… he still didn’t regret it.
<span style="font-weight:400">After seeing the discrimination Britannian had towards the “Elevens” or Japanese ur in his day to day, he was simply… tired of it. There was no other reason the Britannians did it except to feel more superior to other humans and fuel their own fragile ego.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was an extremely ugly sight…
<span style="font-weight:400">So, at the very least, he wanted to lessen the discrimination towards the Japanese in the academy. And he knew he had the power to at least affect those in the academy.
<span style="font-weight:400">His words had more weight and sway thanks to his poprity and appearance. Even if some would still get out of their way to discriminate against the Japanese and, he hoped, at the very least, fewer people would do such useless things. Even if they were to treat the Japanese like air, it would still be much better than treating them like insects.
<span style="font-weight:400">The two arrived at the cafeteria soon, and as Yuuji already expected, all eyes turned towards them in pure shock.
<span style="font-weight:400">No one expected to see the number one most popr guy in the academy to be with the honorary britannian soldier who was used of being Prince Clovis’s murderer.
<span style="font-weight:400">There was such a stark contrast between the two amongst the student poption that seeing them together brought more shock than they ever expected.
<span style="font-weight:400">And the moment they thought of it as a coincidence, both of them bought their lunch, sat on the same table, and began conversing with each other as they ate.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was a sight they never thought they’d see…
<span style="font-weight:400">Meanwhile, ignoring the gasps of shock and disbelieved whispers, Yuuji continued listening to Suzaku’s stories about his life in the military.
<span style="font-weight:400">Though, as he expected, Suzaku excluded any mention of him being the pilot of Lancelot.
<span style="font-weight:400">But then, all sorts of conversation about the military ended, and he began talking about his life in the academy.
<span style="font-weight:400">Although he clearly had less to talk about since he rarely came to ss due to his military duties, it was apparent to anyone who much more lively he seemed when talking about it.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Although there are some who… looks down on me as an honorary Britannian, there are also those who consider me a friend.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Suzaku had a very gentle smile on his face as he spoke fondly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The student council… They’re all such kind and generous people. Even to this day, I can’t even describe how lucky I am to be able to be a part of such a weing group of amazing people, even as an honorary member.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Wow… I’m d to hear it. But the student council huh…? I believe Miss Stadfeld is also a part of it?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, yes she is. I’m surprised you knew.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“When I transferred in, she was the one who guided me as well as Silver to our ss. She seemed like a… woman of few words, but I guess it is simply because we were strangers back then.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ahahaha… She is quite the quiet one. I’m not very close to her, but from the time I’ve spent with her, I believe she’s also a very kind person. And speaking of quiet, Lelouch is also a member of the student council as well.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Lelouch…? Lelouch Lamperouge? Really?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Suzaku giggled in amusement at Yuuji’s perfectly executed fake “surprise”.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes. He’s actually the vice president of the student council.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That is… I’m quite surprised. I found that he’s rarely awake during ss. And while he does excel in his academics, I… really can’t imagine him to be in a position with such responsibility.”
<span style="font-weight:400">And now, Suzaku couldn’t hold it in anymore andughs out loud at “Alexander’s” assessment towards his childhood friend.
<span style="font-weight:400">“He has always been that kind of person. In truth, I was quite surprised when I heard of it as well.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji smiled as Suzaku showed a nostalgic expression. But he didn’tment on it as well as how he had slipped up greatly when he said things that made him seem like he had a long past rtionship with Lelouch.
<span style="font-weight:400">“By the way, what club are you in, Kyrielight-san?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, Alexander or Alex is fine.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji waved his hand dismissively, finding it morefortable for Suzaku to address him more casually.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I understand. Then, please call me Suzaku as well.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright, Suzaku. As for clubs, I’m not in any yet. I’m still wondering what kind of club I should join.”
<span style="font-weight:400">There’s truly a lot of clubs in Ashford academy, even though the number was apparently already half of what it was in the past. And to others, it’d seem like Yuuji was having a hard time picking.
<span style="font-weight:400">But he knew which club he wanted to join from the start…
<span style="font-weight:400">“Really? I would’ve thought you’re in one of the sports clubs.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ahahaha, I might be able to do well there, but I’m not that interested in sports.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Suzaku looked at him in surprise.
<span style="font-weight:400">With such a physique, which he rarely saw amongst the Britannian soldiers, he could easily excel in any sports. Even bing the ace of a sports club wouldn''t be difficult for him. But it seemed like he didn’t have any interest in any sports, so it couldn''t be helped.
<span style="font-weight:400">Suzaku thought for a moment before an idea popped into his head.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm… How about the student council?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Eh?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji widened his eyes in surprise.
<span style="font-weight:400">He.. didn’t expect the chance toe so soon.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I can not guarantee that you’ll be able to join, but the student council is a very weing and kind ce. It’s a very fun ce, if you don’t mind some of the shenanigans they pull every now and then, especially the president. How about it? Are you interested?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Will that be okay?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m sure it will be. Well, how about youe and see first before deciding?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Very well. Thank you, Suzaku.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Of course!”<span style="font-weight:400">