"Alright, Hastings, from now on, whenever you're bored, just come down to the cafe and order a drink."
While I was flustered by Mrs. Lewis and Leonard's antics, the first customer walked in.
Ding-
"Welcome!"
We all got up from our seats and greeted the customer at once.
But the students walking into the cafe seemed familiar.
"Ah? It's them."
It was the 2nd-year F class students.
They were the same students who kept their distance from me and wouldn't let me near them.
The students awkwardly sat down at the table. # Nоvеlight # I glanced at Leonard.
He shrugged his shoulders and was busy wiping the dishes, showing no intention of taking orders.
Reluctantly, I approached the table where my classmates were sitting, pulled out a notebook and pen from my apron, and asked, "Would you like to order?"
"Uh..."
The students trailed off, glancing at me. It seemed like they had something to say.
I tilted my head in confusion.
Then, one of the students pulled out a gift box from under the table and placed it in front of me.
What is this?
"Thanks for all the hard work during cricket training."
"Sorry for avoiding you all this time."
"It's a, a gift!"
The students shouted that and quickly stood up from their seats, dashing out of the cafe.
"No, wait...!"
I couldn't get a word out before I was left staring at their backs in bewilderment.
Leonard, who had been watching the situation with a side glance, approached and looked at the gift box.
"I saw them in the village yesterday. They seemed to be picking out a gift, so I guess it’s for you."
"Do you know what the gift is?"
"Open it and see."
I tilted my head, puzzled, and opened the gift box.
Inside the box were name tags. They were made of very fine fabric with names embroidered in golden thread.
[Sorry for everything until now.
2nd-year F class]
Although I had felt a little hurt by my classmates, they had never really tormented or been rude to me, so I hadn't paid much attention to it.
But it seemed my classmates had been feeling quite guilty and had been thinking a lot about me.
"...But why name tags?"
That was the question, as it was an unexpected gift. They weren't even my name tags, but the name tags of the 2nd-year F class students who had given the gift.
"Wow. You got name tags as a gift?"
Having finished cleaning the dishes, Leonard came over with a smile.
"Yeah. But why name tags?"
"Oh. You don’t know? At our school, when you become a ‘real friend,’ you exchange name tags."
I was tidying up the supplies with Leonard while he explained.
"I heard that in the past, people gave away their own name tags, but over time, it changed to symbolize something else. Now, when they exchange name tags, they go down to the village to have them made with high-quality fabric and thread. They choose colors that suit the other person."
The students here seemed to have a bit of romance to them.
"I guess I should go and order my name tag on the way back to the dorm today."
When I responded, Leonard laughed.
"Yeah. If you turn into the second alley after the plaza, you'll find Hans' tailor shop. Go there. They've traditionally made name tags."
I nodded and fiddled with the box that held the name tags.
This is bad. It seems like school life is going to get a lot better.
Monday morning.
Erika, seeing the box of name tags on my desk, raised an eyebrow.
"Melody, where did you get these name tags?"
"Oh, the F class students gave them to me. I thought I should exchange name tags too. I went to Hans' tailor shop yesterday to order mine."
At my answer, Erika was shocked as though she had just heard the worst news.
"I can't believe I forgot! I should've been the first to exchange name tags with you...!"
Erika collapsed onto the sofa and started stomping her feet in frustration.
It was the first time I'd seen her act like this. She must have really been disappointed.
I took out the name tag I had received from Hans' shop and handed it to Erika.
It was my name tag.
"Then I'll give you mine as the first one."
Erika froze in place.
Her eyes widened as she looked at me, and a bright smile spread across her face.
"Really? This is the first time I've exchanged a name tag with a friend!"
She shouted this, but soon seemed embarrassed and covered her mouth with her hand, trying to make a cold expression.
"...Ahem. You should be honored that I’m exchanging name tags with you. I’ll accept it because you asked me like that."
Of course, her lips were twitching, so it was hard to hide her smile.
Once again, Erika doesn't seem to be very honest with her feelings.
"By the way, you were also close with Lady Airose, right? I guess you didn’t exchange name tags with her?"
"I liked Lady Airose, but her father, Count Airose, and my father didn’t get along too well... It was hard to get closer than that."
It seems nobles have complicated relationships. I nodded and placed the name tags for my classmates in my bag.
"So I’m your first real friend then."
When I extended my hand and spoke, Erika nodded and carefully took my hand.
"Yeah. Real friend."
Erika kept repeating that phrase, and for some reason, I also found myself repeating it after her.
Real friend.
It was an awkward but pleasant word.