"Please, can you lend me that book you're reading? Just for a day, no, three days! Please!"
Edward's diligent voice echoed across the classroom, causing all eyes to fall on both of us. I was certain it wasn't his intention to draw attention to us, but his loud and serious tone made that inevitable.
Now everyone awaited my verdict. It would be nice of me to accept his request, but that wasn't the public opinion. Everyone in the class, with the exception of a few who couldn't be bothered, shot Edward somewhat disgusted glances.
Why?
After challenging me and losing, he dared to approach me for a favor. That was the height of shamelessness, was it not? I was certain Edward knew the implications of his actions, but his firm face showed no signs of backing down. For his dear friend, he could suffer any form of persecution... so long as he got what he wanted.
"Hmm... why do you want the book? You don't strike me as someone who would like something like this?"
My question, while being the natural thing to ask, stuck Edward like a lightning bolt.
His resolved expression loosened, and a form of confusion permeated his face, breaking the serious look he once had. From the way his body fidgeted nervously, I could only deduce one thing.
'THIS GUY... DON'T TELL ME HE DIDN'T THINK OF A RESPONSE TO THAT?!'
How dense could one be?
I knew Edward didn't want to drag Anabelle into this, so he tried to appear as the one who was interested in the book. It was a noble idea and all, but the young boy couldn't escape certain things.
He was in the Martial Arts department!
His focus was on getting stronger in body and mind, and subjects such as the history of magic and its evolution were of no concern to him, at least not to the point of asking someone who vanquished you not so long ago.
Hadn't he thought of an excuse to make before coming to me? The way things were going, it would only look bad for him if he couldn't profer a correct answer.
"E-erm, well... I-I..."
Should I not have asked that question? No, it was the natural thing to do. Edward was the one who was just plain stupid.
"I see..."
I had no choice but to shift this in my favor, to speed things up a little.
"... Is it perhaps for your friend over there?" My eyes went in Anabelle's direction, and my head followed.
Everyone turned to the young girl as well, looking with curiosity. No doubt, they all wanted to see how this would end.
Edward immediately got flustered the moment I mentioned the possibility of Ana being the one who was interested in the book.
"N-no! Why would you say that? She has nothing to do with this!"
He made another mistake on his part. I merely asked a question, and it was a calm and harmless one.
If he had responded in a collected manner, nothing would have seemed out of the ordinary. However, his response now only warranted more suspicion.
Before Edward made more of a mess, I had to rescue him from his foolishness.
My eyes pierced Anabelle, who watched the entire thing play out with a powerless expression on her face.
She looked like she wanted to help her dear friend. However, doing so would only ruin the lies that Edward had told me. But, with the way things were going, her intervention was necessary.
Conflicted with two choices, Anabelle had to choose between keeping silent and speaking. With everyone's eyes on me, and the pressure building up on Edward, the obvious choice would be—
"Yes, you're right. I was the one who wanted to read the book. Edward realized that and went to ask you."
Her confession caused the class to let out little 'oohs' and 'ahhs'.
Edward turned his head and looked in Anabelle's direction, apparently trying to protest her decision, but she shook her head. It was time to come clean.
"Forgive Edward's impudence, asking you for the impossible and all, let's just forget this matter." Despite her looks, she made a most mature statement.
Anabelle still had the burning desire to get her hands on the book in my possession, I was certain of it. However, she forfeited it in order to protect her friend from any further disgrace.
Plus, she probably thought I wouldn't give Edward or her no matter how much they begged, anyway.
"..."
My face finally broke into a smile as I looked at her. Lifting my hands from the book on my desk, I covered it and held it up. Anabelle's eyes widened as I did all this, and I could sense the whole class holding their breaths.
"All you had to do was ask..."
My tone was meek and kind, my eyes reflected these virtues as well. Standing from my seat, I thrust my hand which held the book forward, pointing it in Anabelle's direction.
"... Three days, right? You can have it for that long."
A hint of suspicion remained on the young girl's face, but I could already feel her animosity toward me melt away. A mere act of kindness such as this was enough to make even her cold gaze soften.
She moved from her seat.
Hesitation was written all over her, wondering if I was actually being genuine, still... she moved.
Her desire for the book was far more than the possibility of rejection. Plus, Edward had gone so far as to ask for it from me. He was currently smiling at her proudly, happy that she was finally being offered what she so desired.
In a short moment, she stood right in front of my outstretched arm.
"A-are you sure about this?" Her voice broke into a myriad of anticipation and uncertainty.
"Sure... I need to digest what I've read so far, plus... 'Application is far more profitable than blind study', don't you think?"
Anabelle's eyes bulged the moment I said this.
"That is... from Lewis Griffith's 5th Treatise on Magic Construction!" The young girl's eyes sparkled in both surprise and admiration.
I could see that she was already seeing me in a new light.
My smile broadened and I was certain my plan had worked. With this final word binding the two of us, Anabelle reached out her hand and took the book
