TBBS 16

Chapter 16…

It must have been because Liam knew all of that that he still came to me.

After club activities ended, there was a bit of time before rowing practice.

Normally, I would have read a book during this time, but the words just wouldn’t stick in my eyes.

Erik took out his phone and opened a chat window. It was a group chat for the RS (*ROYAL-Sällskapet: Noble Club) members.

“Shall we meet tomorrow evening?”

Replies came immediately.

Carl: Suddenly?
Tomas: I’m free.

Since it was the first week, they used the excuse of checking on the freshmen to see how they were adjusting, and everyone welcomed the idea.

“Then let’s meet, at least those who are free, for a short while.”

Even then, there was still a little time left.

My fingers, wandering aimlessly, inevitably landed on the WG app.

“Hope it’s quiet today…”

Of course, that hope seemed to be only mine—the bulletin board was still full of posts about the transfer student.

The only difference from the previous day was that Gardie’s name had been added.

But why Liam…?

Finding the post that caused it didn’t take long.

WGStudentbostäders
Title: [Hammarskjöld] What’s so charming about him?

Wasn’t G-kun gay…?

Reply
[Siegbahn] LOL maybe you’ve put the gay rumors to rest because of him.
[Tiselius] Honestly, I didn’t think he was bad.
↳ [Siegbahn] +1
↳ [Tiselius] +1
↳ [Lagerlöf] Are you serious?
[Hammarskjöld] No, isn’t G-kun really gay?
[Tiselius] Liam Gardin, if you’re that curious about my orientation, I’ll tell you: I’m not gay. But the transfer student is my precious childhood friend. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk about him carelessly.
↳ [Tiselius] ??? Captain? Is that really the Captain?
↳ [Siegbahn] ??? The Captain can use his fingers for things other than rowing?
↳ [Hammarskjöld] Captain?? If not gay, how about dating me?! Childhood friends are family…!
↳ [Tiselius] You really had to show up yourself lol
↳ [Siegbahn] Is it really the Captain?

Erik couldn’t believe it. He slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again.

Even looking again, Liam Gardin’s name was there.

The changing room was still quiet.

Erik’s voice suddenly broke the silence.

“Was that the best you could do?”

Liam, just sliding his arm into his T-shirt, paused. Soon, his puzzled eyes turned to Erik.

“What?”

“Don’t feed the trolls, you know that, right?”

Erik said this as he opened his locker.

Clank—the metallic sound of the locker door seemed to sharpen the air between them.

As Erik unbuttoned his shirt, Liam tilted his head slightly, a bit crookedly.

“…So you knew? I thought you wouldn’t.”

Erik let out a shallow sigh.

The accusation in Liam’s tone—that he had known and done nothing—was clear.

Had he spoken too harshly?

As he changed into his T-shirt, Liam shrugged as if to say he’d done what he needed to do.

“I’m not saying it’s your fault. You just did me a favor that day… Sorry for dragging you into this.”

Erik continued speaking slowly as he changed clothes.

“Liam, I’m not trying to get an apology from you…”

“Thanks to you, I finally got to deny the gay rumors too. Well, I’m supposed to like girls, right? Feels unfair.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at Liam’s joke.

“Of course, you’re supposed to like girls.”

Having changed into his sportswear first, Liam sat on the bench and stretched out his long legs—a lazy posture that made it seem like nothing in the world was urgent.

That occasional side of Liam—the one Branel would never be able to have—was something he seemed to possess effortlessly.

His low voice continued slowly.

“They said on the bulletin board that childhood friends are family.”

“So?”

Erik, still standing, asked, and their eyes met in the empty space. Liam squinted his eyes into a smile first.

“I’m saying I couldn’t let my family be slandered.”

…Family.

Knowing full well what kind of humiliation he had faced at Gardie, he casually talks about “family.”

Erik couldn’t hide his grimace and shook his head.

“I know your intentions were entirely good. How could they not be?”

But did he really think it was the best way to handle it?

As Erik opened his mouth to ask, the locker room door burst open, and a freshman rushed in.

“Captain, I put on my knee pads—is this the right way?”

“Oh, you’re motivated, huh?”

Liam smiled warmly and tapped the nearby bench.

“Let’s see. Put your foot up.”

Erik had to swallow the unfinished question.

If Liam’s way of speaking was how he protected family, honestly, Erik didn’t fully know how that worked either.

Two days later, the hallway on the way to school was unusually crowded.

Looking closer, kids had gathered around the bulletin board, murmuring among themselves.

“Wow, Erik really did this?”

My steps slowed at the mention of that name.

Naturally, I turned my head to read the notice posted on the bulletin board.

Dormitory Bulletin Board, Is this okay?

Recently, on the WG app’s dormitory bulletin board, some students have been subject to intentional and repeated speculation and criticism.

We ask you: Does your freedom of expression include the right to infringe upon someone else’s life?

In 1907, Marquis Lennart Sigvard Branel founded this school with the motto “Responsibility and Respect.”

What do you understand by responsibility and respect?

Is it hiding behind the mask of anonymity to hurt others?

RS proposes transitioning the dormitory bulletin board to a real-name system.

Discussion of this matter may continue on the bulletin board, but we will not overlook any further verbal abuse.

We hope for the participation of many students.

ROYAL-Sällskapet

“Ah, what’s the fun of a real-name bulletin board?”

“These few idiots really crossed the line this time. Posting photos—can you believe it?”

“Tiselius was even racist.”

“We really need to expose him. What a coward.”

“Right? Crazy to mess with Branel.”

“Could this be because of Liam? Is he in RS too?”

“Liam? I don’t think so. According to my sister, his cousin, Maximilian Gardie, used to be in RS.”

The chatter of the kids buzzed past my ears.

Just as I turned away, another voice poked at my back.

“But the transfer student is impressive. How did he manage to take both Gardie and Branel in at once?”

Olivia, who had appeared, grabbed my wrist absentmindedly.

“Why are you standing there? Come on in.”

“Ah, okay.”

With so many kids talking in the hallway, the classroom felt relatively quiet.

I asked Olivia quietly,

“I’ve always wondered, what’s RS? Student council?”

“Oh, it’s a bit different from the student council…”

Olivia explained quietly in a small voice.

“At Branel, it’s actually more influential than the student council. The student council changes every year, but once you’re in RS, you’re RS even after graduation. Of course, not anyone can join.”

“Who can join?”

“Only the eldest sons who are set to inherit a title. Even at Branel, those kids are rare.”

“Oh…”

Olivia seemed reluctant to speak aloud and wrote it down quietly in her notebook.

“So O and I couldn’t join either. O’s brother was in RS, and I have a younger brother.”

So only the young lords of noble families—basically, another Erik Branel—could join.

Soon, the mentor teacher gathered the kids from the hallway and brought them into the classroom, so our conversation stopped.

Then the teacher’s words, though simple, made me sit up straight.

“Tomorrow is already Parent’s Day. Let’s get through today safely.”

I had completely forgotten about Parent’s Day while worrying about the bulletin board these past few days.

Of course, even if I had thought about it, there wasn’t much I could do.