"A-Amazing…" I turned to find Monaka behind me, her mouth agape. "This… did you built this, Leo-kun?"
"Yes," I replied, scratching my head. "It's not even noon yet…" Monaka stammered Monaca's cheeks flushed a rosy red.
"I can't believe you made such a magnificent house! Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! I knew you were incredible!" Her eyes glistened as she clenched her fists in a tiny cheer.
She's so composed around others, but with me, she's a bundle of excitement. "If you like it, I'll build you a house too." Monaka gasped. "Really? You'd do that for me?"
I loaded fresh-cut wood onto the cart and left the forest with Monaka. At Class 1-02's site, a crowd had gathered. Onesco, Monaka's self-proclaimed guardian, stood on a rock, addressing them.
"Everyone wants to build Monaka-sama a home! But as the future High Priestess, she deserves the finest! I'll judge your houses, and the best becomes Monaka-sama's!" She said, addressing the crowd.
"Let's do this!" A student shouted. "My first-class construction skills will win Monaka's heart!" "We won't lose! Our 'Production Team' will build the best house!"
A building contest for Monaka had begun. Monaka, however, only had eyes for me, oblivious to the commotion. I unloaded the lumber and started preparing, ignoring the noise.
Mocking laughter erupted around me. "Look! The trash thinks he can compete in the contest!" "You're alone, idiot! You can't match our team's skills!"
But as I laid the foundation, their jeers fell silent. "No way… that foundation's huge!" "It's practically a two-story mansion already!"
"That's absurd! Even we builders can barely make single-story huts!" "Don't let a jobless nobody build Monaka's house!" "It'll ruin our reputation!" They wailed.
I finished the house while they bickered. Stepping back, I nodded. "Not bad." Appraisal: Resistant to earthquakes, fire, and corrosion. Pleasant scent, promotes relaxation.
I'd used kinohi wood from the forest, perfect for a lady like Monaka. She snuggled close, her eyes sparkling with emotion. "Thank you, Leo-kun, for this beautiful house!"
"I'm so happy to get another gift from you!" She clutched her chest, barely containing her joy. "Oh, your face is dirty, let me clean it."
Monaka pulled a white handkerchief from her uniform pocket. She stretched up, gently wiping my face. "Getting dirty is a carpenter's badge of honor," I teased.
"If you get this close, you'll smell my sweat." I said, trying to scare her away, however, "Fufufu~ I'd love to smell you, Leo!" She buried her face in my dusty shirt, sniffing playfully.
Suddenly, she froze. "I-I'm sorry! That was so rude!" Her ears turned red as she stepped back, flustered. I chuckled, my own cheeks warm from her boldness.
Compared to my house, the others' houses looked like slums. Their shacks seemed ready to collapse at a gust. This is their first time living self-sufficiently… no wonder.
I appraised a nearby shack on the verge of falling. Poorly constructed, collapses under slight load. Foul odor, stressful to live in.They didn't even sort the wood properly, I thought.
The wood was unsuitable, the craftsmanship shoddy. "A small earthquake would wipe these out," I muttered, lightly pushing a wall, as I leaned against it. DONGARA GASHAN! The shack folded like paper.
The impact toppled neighboring houses like dominoes. Soon, the entire slum collapsed, leaving only my house standing. The students fell to their knees, despairing like wildfire victims.
"Aaaaaaah! My house!" "We worked hours on that!" "Uwaaa! Mama!" They sobbed.
Guilt tugged at me; I considered teaching them to build properly. But their complaints erased my desire to help. I remember lines such as "Losing to trash? Impossible!" "If that wasn't Monaka's house, I'd burn it down!"