Underneath the Silhouette-Chapter 95: Trix’s Tabloid

The other students in the bustling hallway couldn’t help but stare, their gazes a mix of bewilderment and amusement. Who wouldn’t? Trix, the flamboyant son of a Duke, strolled between Coleen and Eirin, his arms swinging wide, each of their hands clasped firmly in his own. He beamed, a wide, almost manic smile on his face, utterly oblivious to the attention they garnered.

’What kind of situation is this?’ Eirin thought, pressing her fingertips to her temples, a dull ache beginning behind her eyes. The public display alone was mortifying.

"Say, Eirin, can you lend me some money?" Trix’s bright, baby-blue eyes fixed on her, the words tumbling out with casual nonchalance.

Eirin blinked, baffled. The son of a Duke, one of the wealthiest individuals in the entire country, was openly asking for money from a mere student like her, a scholarship recipient with very limited funds. The absurdity was staggering.

"Stop that, Trix," Coleen interjected, a blush rising on her cheeks. She tugged at his arm, sending a playful glare his way. Trix merely chuckled, his grin widening as he also stared at Eirin’s bewildered expression, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "Sorry, Ei, he just likes joking like that." Coleen explained, though her own face still burned.

Trix then shifted his attention fully to Coleen, releasing Eirin’s hand. "When did my baby girl grow up, huh?" He ruffled Coleen’s purple hair tied into pigtails, completely disarraying it. "Your hair’s even longer than the last time I saw you." His words were teasing yet laced with genuine affection, deepening Coleen’s blush.

Eirin watched. Coleen’s face had turned a shade deeper than a ripe tomato, a truly impressive feat. Eirin wondered if this man was truly oblivious to his effect on Coleen, or if he was simply pretending, delighting in her obvious fluster.

"Trix!" Coleen whined, finally managing to pull away, swatting at his hand.

The moment the trio stepped into the bustling classroom, a chorus of high-pitched calls erupted.

"Trixtan!"

"Trix!"

A gaggle of girls immediately flocked around him, like chickens running and chasing their feeder, their eager voices overlapping as they bombarded him with questions and greetings.

Eirin realized, with a faint sigh, that this eccentric young man was clearly another famous figure within the Academy, perhaps even more so than Shade, given his undeniable charisma. She watched the chaotic scene unfold as she and Coleen made their way to their shared desk at the back of the room.

"Was that... all right?" Eirin murmured to Coleen, settling into her seat.

Coleen turned to Eirin, her brows furrowed. "What is?"

Eirin shrugged, a small gesture. "I was under the impression that you were excited to meet him again, but now he’s over there, surrounded by everyone else." Eirin glanced pointedly at Trix, who was already holding court, a natural center of attention.

A hint of something akin to gloom flickered across Coleen’s smile as she glanced in Trix’s direction, her gaze lingering for a moment before she looked back at Eirin. "You read me well now, Ei," she sighed, a small, sad sound. "I mean, I’m used to it. It’s always been like this."

"Anyway," Coleen giggled, pushing aside her momentary sadness, her eyes sparkling with renewed mischief as her gaze fell upon a certain diminutive figure. "That guy looks absolutely hilarious with that appearance." She subtly indicated Shade, who sat directly behind them, a tiny furious bundle of barely contained rage.

Coleen’s laughter, bright and clear, filled their immediate vicinity, much to the intense annoyance of the teenage boy behind her. With a lightning-fast motion, Shade’s small hand shot out and grabbed Coleen’s tied up hair, tugging sharply.

Before Coleen could even yelp in surprise, Link, ever the peacemaker and the fastest among them, immediately reached over and pulled Shade’s hand away. This sudden commotion, a quick flurry of movement and muffled cries instantly captured Trix’s attention. His wide smile grew even wider, and he rushed towards them, eager to join the fray.

"How could you guys leave me alone while you have all the fun?" Trix exclaimed, his voice booming as he stopped in front of Eirin and Coleen’s desk. He clapped Link heartily on the shoulder. "Hey, Link! It’s been so long! Could you lend me some cash?"

Trixtan immediately received a sharp whack on the head from Coleen, who had recovered from Shade’s hair-pulling. "Damn, Coco! I was just joking!" Trix rubbed his head, feigning pain. "You and Cali are really—anyway, I was joking, okay?" The way he laughed after abruptly changing what he was saying, a sudden, self-conscious shift in his tone, made Eirin’s forehead crease slightly. It was a subtle crack in his otherwise seamless façade of carefree charm.

"But wait," Trix continued, his eyes twinkling as he stared directly at Eirin, a new mischievous glint in them. "Why am I hearing that Eirin Luxfield is Shade’s girlfriend? Is it true? How could Shade take away my idol from me?" he teased, his voice still loud enough to carry through the classroom.

Coleen’s brow shot up in indignation. "Huh? Who said that? Shad and my Ei aren’t dating! They’re not even friends!" Her voice rose in pitch, defending Eirin fiercely.

Trix’s boisterous laughter filled the room, an almost theatrical sound, causing everyone to look in their direction. The gossips he had heard as soon as he got back from his mission, whispers floating through the Academy halls, finally made perfect sense to him now.

"That’s right. That can’t be, right? Eirin Luxfield’s already dating someone, after all." Trix winked.

Everyone in the classroom no longer even tried to hide their attention of their curious gazes. They all looked directly at Eirin, their heads turned, eyes wide, after hearing Trix’s loud, revealing words. Eirin, intrigued despite her growing embarrassment, raised a brow, a silent question forming in her mind. Who was he talking about?

"Wasn’t it that guy who keeps following you around? The one with the big smile?" Trix said, tapping a finger to his chin, as if trying to remember. "I remember asking Eirin for an autograph once, and that guy was so protective, I thought he was going to punch me."

Coleen’s forehead creased. "Why were you asking for an autograph while being on a mission, Trix? That’s highly unprofessional!" She looked at Trix with disbelief as the young man, unperturbed, launched into an explanation.

"It wasn’t for me, Coco! It was for someone important I met through the mission, and they happened to be a huge fan of Eirin’s ballet career. They practically demanded an autograph if I wanted their cooperation. Anyway, what was his name again? Light? Dwight—ah! Bright! Bright Goodwin!" Trix snapped his fingers, the name finally clicking into place. frёeωebɳovel.com

Eirin’s entire body stiffened in surprise upon hearing that name, a sudden, jarring memory piercing through the fog of her recent mission. ’Shoot! I haven’t sent a message to Bright in ages!’ she thought, her eyes widening in genuine alarm.

Miss Welkins, her usually diligent contact, hadn’t informed her about any updates or messages about the deliveryman either. The realization hit her with the force of a physical blow.

"Ei? What’s wrong?" Coleen asking, noticing Eirin’s sudden change in demeanor, her hand reaching out.

Trix chuckled, his eyes dancing with mischief, clearly misinterpreting Eirin’s shock. "I knew it! He’s your boyfriend, isn’t he?" Hearing those words, spoken so openly in front of everyone, made Eirin’s face heat up, a furious blush spreading across her cheeks. Her reaction was undeniable, visible to everyone in the room.

"What? Is what this guy talking about true? You really have a lover, Ei?" Coleen couldn’t hide her curiosity, her voice a rapid-fire whisper.

"Wha— you’re quite mean to me now, aren’t you, Coco?" Trix said, but he was ignored.

And everyone in the classroom, their ears perked, couldn’t hide their curiosity either. Their classmates bombarded Eirin with questions, a racket of whispers and eager inquiries. Even those who didn’t usually talk to Eirin were now leaning in, openly listening to the juicy gossip.

"You guys won’t believe how protective that guy was. It’s so obvious how smitten he was by Eirin Luxfield," Trix added, fueling the excitement of their classmates, sending a ripple of delighted murmurs through the room. But Eirin couldn’t care less about the gossip or the attention.

Instead, a wave of guilt washed over her, and Eirin began asking Coleen, in a low voice, about the deliveryman. Even though it was late, almost certainly too late, she still wanted to fulfill her promise, a small anchor in the recent storm of events.

"The deliveryman already went, the week before you went with Shade on that mission," Coleen answered, her voice soft. She kept looking at her friend with those curious, wide doe eyes of hers, still wanting to ask about Bright Goodwin.

However, Coleen couldn’t bring herself to ask anything further, seeing the devastated, self-reproaching look on Eirin’s face. The light had gone out of her eyes.

"If you want, I could give it to him," Trix offered, his smile surprisingly gentle for a moment, sensing Eirin’s distress. "I meant your letter. Want me to give it to your boyfriend?" The last two words were spoken with a teasing lilt, but the initial offer had been sincere.

The way the young man spoke, as if he knew Bright, as if he could simply deliver a letter to him, caused a turmoil inside Eirin. A strange mix of hope and renewed despair swirled within her. But she couldn’t ask further due to everyone’s attention, their curious gazes still fixed on her, and how they continued to tease Eirin relentlessly about her "boyfriend."

The classroom’s enjoyment of Eirin’s predicament abruptly stopped. Shade, having reached his breaking point, slammed both his small hands on the desk in front of him with a surprisingly loud thwack, causing everyone to jump and look at him.