'Ah... so that's what it is. After rejecting him, she must be hurting a lot too,' thought Charlotte, her heart aching with empathy and confusion. She had never been in this situation before, and the weight of her decision seemed to press heavily on her chest.Usually reserved and quiet, Katia broke the silence with an unusually lengthy and considerate statement. Her voice was calm but carried an undertone of sincerity that was hard to miss. "I think he confessed just to get it off his chest rather than because he truly has deep feelings for you. So... don't be too sad about it. We have to focus on our tasks soon."Katia's uncharacteristic display of concern took Charlotte aback. It was rare for Katia to speak so openly, and Charlotte felt a warmth from her friend's words that she hadn't expected. She could see the effort Katia put into comforting her, which touched her deeply. "Thank you, Katia," she responded, her voice soft yet filled with gratitude. She gave Katia a small, ap
"B-but never mind. Did you take a shower? Oh, and I-I was curious about where Esther ended up. We waited for you downstairs for so long but didn't see you. Then suddenly, there was this big flash of light, and we all woke up right away," Charlotte stammered, trying to sound casual but failing miserably. She fidgeted nervously, attempting to steer the conversation elsewhere, which resulted in a somewhat comical effect."Oh..." Esther's voice trailed off as her mind wandered back to that peculiar moment. The memory of the eccentric man who had come to her rescue and forged a mysterious pact with her was still vivid. She could almost see his enigmatic smile and hear his cryptic words."Huh... Esther, are you feeling sick?" one of her friends inquired, concern evident in her voice."N-no, I'm fine," Esther replied hastily, trying to sound convincing, though she knew her flushed cheeks were betraying her true feelings."But your face is red... I think you should head to bed early and get
"I hate that name!!!" she exclaimed with frustration, her voice echoing through the quiet room."Still, you must admit he's quite talented..." she continued, her tone softening. "It's such a shame he doesn't possess Mana, but his abilities are powerful. It seems he underwent a significant transformation after being rejected, right?" She pondered this, her mind replaying the events that had profoundly changed him.Love, however, is a powerful and respectable motivator. Esther couldn't help but admire him a bit more for that. Despite the pain he had endured, he had found a way to turn his suffering into strength."But... just thinking about Haruki's rejection... ugh... it already breaks my heart," she murmured, clutching her chest as if to hold back the physical pain she felt for him. "How did he get through that and emerge as a completely different person?" Her voice trailed off as she became lost in thought.She moved towards the window, which was slightly ajar. The night had settle
As he lay there, Ryoshu thought about the significance of the time. It was supposed to be the key to unlocking a new level of magical proficiency, yet here he was, unable to make any progress.The frustration of repeated failure gnawed at him, but he knew he couldn't give up. The path to mastery was never easy, and every setback was a step toward eventual success.Fumiya, sensing Ryoshu's gloom, fluttered over and perched on his chest, looking at him with eyes full of mischief and encouragement. Ryoshu chuckled softly, gently stroking the little creature's head. "Thanks, Fumiya," he murmured. "I guess I just need to keep trying." Ryoshu sat up and picked up the Lightning Magic Tome once more. The Trial of Courage had taught him the value of perseverance, and he wasn't about to let a few failures stop him now.Unfortunately, even with the tome's guidance, Ryoshu still couldn't grasp the fundamental principles of Lightning Magic. The intricate diagrams and complex explanations seemed
Ryoshu stepped into the elevator, the cold metallic walls reflecting the faint fluorescent lighting overhead. With a habitual motion, he adjusted his collar once more, feeling the stiff fabric between his fingers. He could not resist taking a moment to scrutinize his reflection in the polished metal, examining every detail of his rather plain and unremarkable school uniform. The dark blazer, white shirt, and neatly tied tie all seemed alien yet familiar."Not too bad, huh?" he murmured, his voice barely a whisper in the confined space. "Fumiya has a knack for this stuff. Moreover, a 0.3 boost to my charm stat is making a difference, too. You can notice the improvement when you look closely… I am excited to see how dashing I will look when I hit 40 points!"He turned slightly, inspecting his appearance from different angles, the elevator's mirrored walls providing multiple perspectives. Though slightly disheveled from his earlier adjustments, his clothes looked significantly better.
"Ryoshu, right?" Haruki's voice was smooth, with a hint of authority. "We need to talk."Ryoshu nodded, still trying to wrap his mind around the situation. He could feel other students' eyes on them, whispers starting to circulate. However, at that moment, none of that mattered.What mattered was the blue-haired boy who seemed to have stepped out of his favorite game and into his real life."The price certainly was not cheap at all," Ryoshu thought, recalling his overheard conversation about the cost of Haruki's custom-made uniform.However, the truth is that the uniform suits the protagonist perfectly. The dark blazer, impeccably tailored to Haruki's frame, and the crisp, white shirt beneath it made him look the part of the main character. Even someone with Ryoshu's critical eye for aesthetics could not deny that. The uniform highlighted Haruki's muscular build and gave him an air of authority and elegance that was hard to ignore."Ah! Amemura!" Haruki's voice broke through Ryoshu's
"Don't tell me... they haven't met each other yet. This is unbelievable." Haruki's face remained frozen in surprise as he processed Ryoshu's remark. His eyes widened, and his brows furrowed in confusion, reflecting his genuine curiosity. "You mean the guy next door? How did you find out? I only met him yesterday," Haruki responded, his voice tinged with intrigue and bewilderment.Ryoshu felt an immense wave of relief, like a heavy weight lifted from his chest. He released a deep sigh, his shoulders relaxing slightly. Inwardly, however, he was chastising himself for his careless slip-up. "Damn, I shouldn't have let that slip. But thankfully, it didn't throw everything off track as I feared," he thought, feeling a mix of regret and relief.Realizing he needed to cover his mistake quickly, Ryoshu hurriedly explained. "Oh, it's because you were talking quite loudly yesterday so that I couldn't help but overhear," he said, trying to sound casual and convincing. His mind raced, scramblin
Thinking is doing. He responded in a cold, detached tone that lacked any warmth or emotion. "Really? I think it's taking a bit long."They stood together silently for an eternity, each immersed in their thoughts. The silence between them was thick, almost palpable as if it held all the unspoken words and emotions that neither was willing to express. The air around them was tense, filled with the weight of their unvoiced thoughts and conflicting emotions.Two individuals from entirely different worlds—one from a life of privilege and responsibility, the other from a background of struggle and survival. Their upbringings, experiences, and beliefs were vastly different, shaping their perspectives and motivations in unique ways.The first person, who had grown up in an environment where a strong sense of duty guided every action, viewed the task ahead as a noble obligation. From a young age, they were taught the importance of responsibility and the need to protect those who could not def