The Gacha Addict of the Academy

Helping someone is a noble deed.

Even if my words might hurt someone else, if they help someone in need and they feel grateful, then it’s a significant achievement.

To truly help someone, you sometimes need to be brutally honest.

Yet, in these contradictory moments—when someone thanks me for my help while simultaneously resenting me for my bluntness—they would gossip about how I must be “rotten inside” for speaking harshly. They didn’t hesitate to criticize me.

At first, I resented it. I only wanted to help, but because of a few harsh words, I was hated, resented, and even despised.

Rumors spread, saying, “That pretty girl curses people out,” and soon, the gossip spiraled out of control. It got so bad that I had to transfer schools.

Over time, I got used to being hated. Eventually, I realized the truth: they didn’t hate me because of my words.

It wasn’t the harsh words—it was envy.

They envied my strong, exceptional abilities. They resented me so much that they clung to any excuse to bring me down, and the easiest target was my sharp tongue.

“Are you here again?”

I was leaning on my hand, gazing out the window when someone approached me. Without bothering to turn around, I simply nodded. The person knew my personality well enough not to be surprised.

Apparently, my lack of manners annoyed them, as the nagging began.

“How many times have I told you to look someone in the eye when you’re talking to them?”

“…..”

I stayed silent, half-ignoring them. With a sigh, they seemed to give up on scolding me.

“Not to be rude, but don’t you get bored sitting here all the time? Even if you’re my assistant, wouldn’t it be better to go out and make some friends?”

“I don’t need friends,” I replied flatly.

Honestly, I had volunteered to be an assistant just to avoid staying in class.

With my reserved personality, I didn’t see the point in making friends. It would only be uncomfortable for both sides. Being alone was far easier for me.

“Well, still… You’re at the academy now. Don’t you think you should—”

“You’re lonely. Why not get a boyfriend or something?”

“You little…! Here I am, worrying about you!”

The teacher, who was yelling at me, eventually trailed off, lamenting her own lack of a boyfriend.

It was funny, really. She was attractive, successful, and had no glaring flaws, yet she remained single. Probably because, despite claiming to want a boyfriend, she froze up and couldn’t speak around men.

If she fixed that, men would probably be lining up for her. What a pity.

“Who’s calling me an old lady!?”

“Isn’t it true?”

Teasing her was so entertaining. It was hard to believe the academy was filled with men who couldn’t appreciate a woman like her.

“Oh, by the way, someone new showed up while we weren’t paying attention. Check the bed over there.”

“Someone’s here?”

Bad news.

I usually stayed in the infirmary to avoid talking to other students. How long had it been since classes started, and someone was already here?

Curious, I walked over to check.

“… A kid?”

Well, calling them a kid might be a stretch, but they were small. It wasn’t strange for someone like this to be in the infirmary, but they didn’t seem injured. They were just peacefully asleep on the bed.

They must have been utterly exhausted to fall asleep so soundly. Most people drool in their sleep when they’re that tired.

Still, seeing someone sneak into the infirmary and take a nap without permission was a bit infuriating. Normally, people would ask the nurse before using the bed.

Luckily, the nurse seemed to let it slide this time. Things could have gone worse.

“Sleeping like a baby.”

Then again, this bed was the nurse’s special creation—a fatigue-relief bed. Once you lay down on it, you’d immediately feel drowsy, and after a nap, your fatigue would vanish. I’d tried it myself once, and it worked like magic.

This girl must have collapsed into the bed and fallen asleep instantly.

Looking closer, I noticed the dark circles under her eyes.

“Well… Dark circles don’t suit a girl.”

I placed my hand lightly over her eyes and muttered a small curse. A faint glow appeared, and the dark circles disappeared, her complexion returning to normal. She must have been under a lot of stress—or maybe she just hadn’t been sleeping well.

Either way, she seemed fine now.

“Hey. Wake up.”

Out of curiosity, I tried to wake her.

At my voice, she began to stir, mumbling something unintelligible in her sleep. Her cheeks looked so soft that, for some reason, I couldn’t resist reaching out to touch them.

… They felt like marshmallows.

“Ugh…”

Did she wake up because of that?

I pulled my hand away from her cheek, which I’d been pinching, and spoke to the bewildered girl.

“You’re awake? If so, write your name in the log and leave.”

“…The school nurse?”

What?

This was the first time someone had mistaken me for the school nurse. The comment made me feel slightly annoyed—it felt like she was implying I looked older than I was. I took care of myself pretty well, thank you very much, but now I felt like I’d been compared unfavorably to the actual nurse standing beside me.

“You think I look that old—ow! Why’d you hit me, you damn nurse?!”

“You brat! Old? I’m still in my vibrant twenties!”

I had only meant to ask if I looked old enough to be mistaken for the school nurse. But, as usual, her sharp intuition picked up on the subtle implication, and she responded by whacking me with something hard. Definitely not appropriate for a teacher.

“All women over twenty are basically aunties!”

“What did you just say?!”

She turned red with anger and started lecturing me. To be honest, it sounded more like she was venting her personal frustrations than actually scolding me.

As the two of us argued, the girl who had been watching quietly stood up and announced she was leaving.

Oh.

I realized she hadn’t written her name in the log yet. As much as I didn’t want to work, I had to at least do my job. Ignoring the nurse’s tirade, I called out to the girl, telling her to write her name before leaving.

The girl muttered something to herself, moved toward the log, and then froze, her expression suddenly surprised.

Ah, that reaction made sense.

Even I, knowing the effects of the bed, was amazed every time I woke up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Honestly, it was so comfortable that anyone who tried it would become addicted.

“How do you feel? Are you better now?”

The nurse, who seemed to have a sixth sense for these things, smiled and asked her. The girl nodded, her eyes sparkling with amazement. Seeing her reaction, the nurse got excited and immediately launched into an explanation—mostly to brag about herself.

While I had to admit the bed was an incredible invention, her self-promotion was a bit over the top and, frankly, annoying.

Unable to resist, I threw in a jab.

“…All of this could’ve been fixed with just one of my heals.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

Healing magic wasn’t exactly common, and I worried someone might recognize me.

Thankfully, it seemed she didn’t know anything about me.

For now, I was relieved.

“Quiet!”

Thwack!

Before I could fully savor the relief, the nurse smacked me again.

“If you ever need anything, feel free to come back. You’re always welcome! Oh, and if you help spread the word about my bed, that would be even better!”

“That second part is her real intention. Don’t trust her. She’s a snake.”

“Do you ever stop talking?”

The bed truly was a remarkable invention. A place to erase fatigue and feel completely at ease—it was honestly impressive that she managed to create something so useful.

It was definitely worth recommending to others, but…

I wasn’t sure this timid-looking girl was capable of promoting it effectively.

As I was mulling over my thoughts, the girl suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Then, she turned to look at me, hesitating as if she wanted to say something. Her stuttering made it clear she was struggling to get the words out.

What could she possibly want to say that was making her this nervous?

“Um… uh…”

“What? Just say it.”

…

…

I waited, but my patience was running thin.

How timid could someone be, struggling this much to speak? Considering how easily she had talked earlier, I was starting to get annoyed.

“Hurry up and spit it out. You’re killing me here.”

“Watch your tone unless you want me to kill you,” the nurse interjected.

“Yes, ma’am…”

Damn it.

Why was I the one getting scolded?

“Uh… what’s your name?”

“…”

What?

Why was she suddenly asking for my name?

I didn’t see any harm in telling her, so I replied, “It’s Flost.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, she bolted out of the room.

…

What the hell was that? Why ask for my name if you’re just going to run off?

If she wanted to know my name, shouldn’t she have introduced herself first?

I stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the door. Beside me, the nurse burst into laughter, finding the whole situation hilarious.

Annoyed by her cackling, I delivered a swift kick to her shin.

Watching her wince in pain was oddly satisfying.