I'm amazed the Science Club's teacher advisor let us use the lab room and all these chemicals. Do you actually manage to behave yourself during Science Club, Rook?
He agreed immediately when I said we wanted to compound special effects materials to be used by the Film Club. Though he did require a list of chemicals and formulas we'd be using, a detailed schedule, a fire prevention plan, and so on.
So the advisor does know to be wary of you! I guess you're as freewheeling at your club as you are everywhere else. Anyway, let's get to work. I wouldn't want any of our hard-earned time to be wasted. Where are the components we need? ...Ah, found them. Add a spoonful of colored water, and...
This color isn't what I was imagining. I envisioned something darker—a black that could blend into the dark night. I'll try adjusting the chemical quantities a bit. This time, I'll add more than a spoonful.
Never tell me to compromise on something that will be seen in public. Smoke covers a wide area of the screen. And it spoils the whole scene if the backdrop isn't a fitting color to emphasize the actors' costumes, faces, hair, eyes... You get the idea. That's why it needs fine-tuning. How about if I do THIS? ...Yes, that's a better black. There. The smoke's finished. That should take care of everything we need for the next shoot.
Wha— I— That can't be right. I haven't indulged in anything unhealthy. I have over five million followers on Magicam, and none of them have made any such remarks. And more to the point, I haven't noticed anything different about myself when I look in the mirror.
All right, Roi du Poison. Who do you believe: Me? Or everyone else? As I often remind you, I spend more time looking at you than you do looking at yourself in the mirror. That should be all the evidence you need.
Hm? Oh, hey, Vil. I don't see you around here often. Wreaking havoc in the lab room? Kidding. But seriously, I thought the Pomefiore Dorm had its own basement lab.
Hello, Trey. It does indeed, but today I needed a chemical that the school lab happened to have. We ran out of a component for making smoke, and Rook said the school lab would have a vial of it. Tell me: Does everybody in the Science Club keep such meticulous track of the lab room contents?
Nah. Rook's just extra observant. I only remember the stuff I use for lab experiments. That guy's got an absurdly good memory for the most random things, don't you think?
Say... You and Rook like sweets, right? The thing is, I've got an extra cake I don't know what to do with. I made one too many for Riddle. I'm trying to make sure every piece of it finds a good home.
Mouth-watering, even. I'll have to pass, though. I literally just started a diet. Take my portion and give it to Rook. Force-feed it to him, if you have to.
I sense that there's more to this than you're letting on. I think I get the picture, though. How's this, Vil: If you've got a little extra time, would you care to drop by Heartslabyul? I picked up some really nice herbal tea I'd love to share with you.
The school store. They happened to have some rare stock in—tea leaves from a brand that's been around for a century. You're welcome to take some home, if you like. I've got too much of it, and I wouldn't want it to lose its flavor before I can drink it all.
Oh, nothing major. If anything, his only crime is keeping too close an eye on me. I'll grant that it IS useful to have an outside perspective... But to so blithely remark that I've put on weight? Who DOES that? There's candor, and then there's being gauche. Did he spend so much time in the woods that he forgot the meaning of the word "tact"?
Oof. Yeah, that's a pretty inappropriate thing to say. Rook tends to blurt out everything that crosses his mind, positive OR negative. I'll admit it throws me for a loop at times.
Here's an example: just recently, our club advisor suggested an experiment, and Rook said it would be boring to do as-is. So the club got a much more complicated experiment to do. The freshmen mostly stood around doing nothing, since they couldn't help.
Please, spare me the modesty. You should learn to take a compliment. Those with no appreciation for character would take your modesty at face value. Of course, if that's the image you want to manufacture for yourself, don't let me stop you. You're only shooting yourself in the foot.
That's a little harsh. Then again, you get constant compliments from others in your line of work, so you're probably right. I'll adjust my approach moving forward.
By all means, do. It's a nice way to make the person giving the compliments feel better. Besides, it's less stressful to simply bask in compliments when they're given. You're already busy enough keeping a certain teapot tyrant satisfied.
I KNEW you were acting smug. That's what I get, I suppose. Heh... Fine. I'll have some cake. I'll just lengthen my jog tomorrow morning to make up for it.
Maybe it's not my place to tell a model his business, but... I don't think a single slice of cake would have a noticeable impact on your figure. You're already skinny to start with.
Mmm, this cake is to die for. Have you gotten even better at this, Trey? Let me know if Riddle ever decides to have your head. My dorm would hire you on as our patissier in a heartbeat.
I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't come to that. I'd have to add a whole lot of calorie-counting to my workload if I was baking treats for Pomefiore.
