I’m Not Doing This With A Friend

His pupils shook uncontrollably.

"Since your hands always sweat unlike the other parts of your body. If your hands don't sweat, it would automatically be released elsewhere. Sweat has to come out in some form." ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

Leen smiled mischievously as he saw Kun's puzzled expression.

"You mean it cures hyperhidrosis? And it's like killing two birds with one stone?" ᴷᵘⁿ

"…"

"No, that's ridiculous! How many people were hired just to treat my hyperhidrosis…!"

"So…"

Leen took the potion bottle from Kun's hand and waved it in front of him.

With a familiar witch-like smile.

"You don't need it?" ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

"…"

"It's up to you to believe it or not. Oh, but it's not free." ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

Even though I found a colony of Dao Tranto last time, I didn't want to just give it to someone I didn't get along with.

In the same case, didn't I also ask the potato girl for a meal?

Besides, it wasn't just Dao Tranto that made a treatment for hyperhidrosis. I also put my hard work and effort in it.

Kun pursed his lips, then spoke again as if he had made up his mind.

"…If you really can cure hyperhidrosis with that potion, I will do anything, only to the extent that I can." ᴷᵘⁿ

"What can you give me?" ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

"Do you need money or a title? It will be impossible to get you a high rank title under my authority, but as a baron, I can do it." ᴷᵘⁿ

At the word title, I can't help but frown.

"What are you talking about? Don't undermine my goodwill. Besides, the title you spoke of isn't from our Lagras but of Abascanthus." ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

I made it clear that it wasn't for free to call a good favor, but that didn't mean I really wanted to take part in the treatment.

At least for a few gold coins.

Listening to what he said, I think he must have spent a large amount of money on treatment so far, but compared to that, I thought a few gold coins were nothing.

However, seeing Kun's desperation, the desire to ask for a few gold coins disappeared.

Because I didn't want to take advantage of his desperation and take something in return.

"That's enough, and next time, a meal…" Leen spoke, waving her hand.

I was about to tell him to buy me a meal instead, but when I found Carson with his mouth agape in shock, I quickly changed my words.

"…Can you give me money?" ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

No more pretense, and Kun nodded at once when I asked for money.

"Alright." ᴷᵘⁿ

Glancing at Carson, I saw him sweeping down on his chest.

I didn't know why I was so concerned about each of Carson's reactions.

Handing Kun the medicine bottle again.

"That's all I have right now because I made a small amount of what I'm supposed to use. So come back to me when it runs out. I'll make it in advance." ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

Then Kun made a strange expression. He seemed to be a little worried.

"Leen, do you also have hyperhidrosis?"

"Huh? No." ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

"Then why are you taking a treatment for hyperhidrosis…?"

At Kun's question, my face heated up and turned red in an instant.

Are you calling that a question?

No matter how natural it was to sweat in summer, it's not a story I could confidently tell to someone I wasn't even close to.

Even more so if the area where I use the medicine was a place I don't want to let others know.

I closed my eyes tightly and shouted back.

"Why the hell are you asking such a thing? Are you ignorant or are you trying to pick on me? Get out of my sight right now!" ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

At the sudden cry of mine, Kun panicked and took a step back.

"Sorry, I'm sorry…" ᴷᵘⁿ

Flop-!

Before I could finish speaking, Kun magically disappeared from my sight.

No, I think it was really magic.

Seeing that a faint magic circle remained in the place where Kun was standing not long ago.

It seems that Carson was moved by my cry, and immediately made Kun disappear from my sight, saying, "That's right."

As I was staring at the place where Kun left, I felt a sense of injustice.

But my armpits tend to be dry… Oh, for gold! It's the only anti-perspirant.

Carson approached me all of a sudden, then he called me.

"Leen."

However, the shame and resentment still lingered, and I couldn't even think of answering him and huffled alone.

"Leen…" ᶜᵃᵒⁿ

"…"

"So, when are we going on a date?" ᶜᵃᵒⁿ

"What?" ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

Awakened by surprise, I looked up at Carson, and my body stiffened due to tension.

You didn't take that forehead kiss as a sign of dating yesterday, did you?

Then Carson continued, licking his lips as if he knew what I was thinking.

"Last time, you promised to buy me a meal at a fancy restaurant." ᶜᵃᵒⁿ

Oh, that…

The tension that hardened my body disappeared along with a sigh. I'm glad he didn't make any strange misunderstandings.

"What kind of date is that? We're simply going to eat normally." ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

After going through a big hurdle, I felt that eating with him wasn't a big deal for some reason.

It seems like he skipped the forehead kiss.

…Of course I failed to do something that's impossible to happen.

As long as they were in the same club anyway, it was impossible to ignore them, and this would be a memory that would fade away as time passed.

It'll fade away, right?

Shaking off my anxiety, I asked Carson briefly.

"Caon. Speaking of which, shall we go eat today?" ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

At the lightly thrown words, Carson's eyes widened.

"Iㅡ I'm not ready yet!" ᶜᵃᵒⁿ

"There's no need to prepare. All you have to do is go with me." ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

When he heard that he only had to go with me, he frowned and wriggled his hand.

"I'm still ready to go on a date with you…" ᶜᵃᵒⁿ

Well, it's not a date.

But even if I corrected his words again, it felt like he would keep insisting that it's a date, so I sighed and gave up persuading.

Instead, I mouthed to emphasize that eating a single meal was nothing special.

"This won't be the last time."

But I shouldn't have put those words in my mouth.

It's because I realized too late when I saw the faint gleam passed by Carson's eyes.

My bloody mouth made a big mistake.

✿

"How about there, Leen?" ᶜᵃᵒⁿ

Leen glanced to where Carson was pointing to.

The place he pointed was the most expensive restaurant in the shopping district around the academy.

‘That's great.'

Carson himself had decided on that place. However, I was thinking about whether the kind Carson would feel burdened.

Seeing the bright expression on Carson's face, Leen readily nodded.

"Okay. Oh, but if you pay for it without me knowing, I won't eat with you again."

Whew…

At Leen's words, Carson trembled. Soon after, he spoke again with an awkward smile.

"… Leen. I suddenly want to go somewhere else."

Leen endured the laughter that was about to burst out. Carson's face clearly showed that he was lying.

Leen knew this would happen.

He wanted to eat in an expensive and good place and tried to pay for it.

‘What should I do with this cute kid…?'

Leen pondered for a moment about how to take Carson to that restaurant.

Then, with a playful expression on her face, she asked.

"Then, where else?

"Huh? Hmm…"

Unsurprisingly, Carson drooled in embarrassment at Leen's question.

If we went to that restaurant, I was afraid that I might not be able to afford it with the money I have. It was my first date, and I didn't want to take him to a poor restaurant.

But it's such a waste to go back like this.

How long has it been since Carson hardened in embarrassment?

His red lips moved as if he had finally found a suitable compromise excuse.

"Why don't we drink something at a cafe? I'm actually full, I ate a lot at lunch." ᶜᵃᵒⁿ

It was such a cute excuse. Leen couldn't stand it and reached out to ruffle Carson's hair.

"Le- Leen?"

As Carson's face began to heat up, Leen stopped and began to tidy his hair again.

"I'm hungry. Then you're not going to eat with me?" ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

"Huh?"

At Leen's words, his eyes widened. Carson didn't even think of that far, he was busy considering various conditions.

While Carson was bewildered, Leen grabbed his wrist and dragged him towards the restaurant.

He stared at her while being led by her hand.

"Leen…"

It was a gloomy voice. In response, Leen smiled as it wasn't a big deal.

"What are you worried about? I'm not as poor as you think." ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

"However…"

"And even if I spend some money this time, it'll be alright because I've decided to get a kickback from Kun. He's a prince of a prestigious Empire." ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

"Ah. If that's the case…"

Only then did Carson slightly relax his wrinkled expression.

It wasn't worth the money, but it wasn't a waste if it was Kun's money.

Eventually, the two, who had a meal at the restaurant that Carson pointed out for the first time, continued to have a rather satisfying meal.

At the end of the meal.

Carson, who became disappointed that his meal with Leen was coming to an end, brought up a number of conversation topics in an attempt to pass the time even a little longer.

"I've been thinking about it for a long time, but I don’t think Leen's very concerned about money.” ᶜᵃᵒⁿ

In fact, he knew the basic information about Leen from Jane.

Whether Leen's parents have died or she is now indebted to her aunt.

It didn't stop there, and he already knew what the reputation of the person known as Leen's aunt was like and which family it was.

However, Carson pretended not to know anything.

He wanted to hear directly from her lips what he already knew.

At Carson's question, Leen immediately swallowed the food she was chewing and said,

"Yes. My aunt is giving me enough allowance. Rather, they gave me too much." ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

"Aunt?" ᶜᵃᵒⁿ

Leen blinked as she tilted her head at Carson's answer.

"Oh, didn't I tell you? My parents passed away early, so now I'm taken care of by my aunt." ᴸᵉᵉⁿ

"Ah…" ᶜᵃᵒⁿ

A tingle spread across Carson's face. His expression seemed mixed with regret.

‘I'm sorry for bringing up that story.' ᶜᵃᵒⁿ