Capítulo 54: I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [54]
When Ayase Ayatsuji awoke and stretched, she realized her new roommate, Okita Souji, was already gone.
Passing by the desk, Ayase noticed a small plate of snacks and a handwritten note beside it. Picking up the note, she read:
Okita-san went out for a morning run. If I'm not back by the time you wake up, the coconut mochi on the table is your breakfast—don't forget to eat!
"Souji…"
Seeing the neat little message, Ayase couldn't help but smile with joy.
The mochi was cool and springy, leaving a light coconut fragrance lingering in her mouth. Ayase found it hard to stop eating.
The chilled treat, as simple as it was, left a warm feeling in Ayase's heart.
She'd likely remember the taste of that coconut mochi for a long time.
While Ayase was enjoying her mochi, Okita Souji was jogging along one of the academy paths.
The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, their pink petals filling the view like an ocean.
A light morning breeze was all it took to spread the cherry blossom fragrance to every corner of the academy.
Okita Souji ran through this beautiful scene, adjusting her stride and breathing rhythm until she noticed two figures up ahead.
On this cherry-blossom-lined path, the two figures in tracksuits stood out vividly. After all, most students at this academy wouldn't understand why someone would get up so early just to go for a run.
Instead of training abilities or combat skills, running would seem like a waste of time and energy to most of them.
But that's why they're limited to a certain level…
As Okita drew closer, she could see the two figures more clearly.
One of them, just as she'd guessed, was Ikki Kurogane.
Only he would stand out as such an "oddity" in this academy.
Today, though, he wasn't alone—he'd been running solo yesterday.
Ikki turned his head as he sensed her presence.
The moment their eyes met, a hint of competition sparked between them.
"Stella-san, forgive me, but I'm going on ahead."
"Huh?"
The red-haired girl barely had time to voice her surprise before Ikki suddenly sped up, sprinting ahead.
"Wait—what? Just—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a pink-haired girl about her age also passed by her, gradually putting distance between them.
"…"
Now alone and feeling distinctly left behind, the red-haired girl's irritation flared up. She shouted, chasing after their retreating figures.
"You better explain yourself, Ikki!"
Ikki Kurogane and Okita Souji's competitive spirit had flared up unexpectedly. Once they'd both run themselves tired and cooled down, they finally realized the error in leaving the red-haired girl behind. Ikki sincerely apologized to her, several times in fact.
In truth, neither Ikki nor Okita really knew why they'd suddenly felt like racing. Looking back, it was clearly impulsive, perhaps because they'd each sensed the other's extraordinary swordsmanship. With no way to spar, they'd both lost control for a moment.
"But still, Okita-san… you're incredible."
Ikki took out a thermos from his bag, containing a sports drink he'd prepared before heading out.
With one hand on his hip and the other holding the thermos, he took a sip to steady his breathing.
"After running this long, you still look better off than I am. I remember your physical ability is B-ranked, right? Same as Stella-san's."
In their race, both of them had refrained from using magic, relying only on their physical stamina.
Since Okita had shown Ikki her stats before, he knew her physical ability was B-ranked. His own, on the other hand, was A-ranked—the only stat he could actually take pride in.
Yet, here he was, slightly out of breath, while Okita's breathing remained steady.
By the way, Stella was in even worse shape than Ikki, which was why they'd stopped when they saw her looking worn out.
Though Stella had been furious about being left behind, she'd also run without magic. Otherwise, with her world-class magic capacity, she wouldn't have broken a sweat and would've easily caught up to them.
Before Okita could respond, Stella looked up with an incredulous expression.
"What? She's B-ranked in physical ability too? I thought she'd be like you, Ikki!"
"Oh, I may not look it, but I'm actually a bit frail," Okita replied modestly, waving her hand. "You haven't seen it, but I used to cough up blood regularly. After a major surgery, it stopped being so frequent."
"Really? You don't seem that way at all," Ikki said, surprised.
Watching Ikki and Okita chat so comfortably, Stella felt like a third wheel.
An inexplicable frustration welled up in her chest, coloring her tone with irritation.
"Who exactly is this girl, Ikki?"
Stella's question reminded Ikki that he hadn't introduced them yet.
"Ah, I'm sorry, Stella-san…"
"Stella."
Ikki hesitated at Stella's intense gaze, before correcting himself. "Right… Stella."
With that settled, he continued, "This is Okita Souji. We just met yesterday. And, Okita-san, this is Stella—my… roommate."
Hearing Ikki call her by her first name while addressing Okita as "Okita-san," Stella felt a small, inexplicable sense of triumph.
Meanwhile, Okita silently observed Stella.
Named Stella, and Ikki's roommate—yep, this must be the heroine.
And true to the "Crimson Princess," she had already shown her attachment in record time, hadn't she?
So… does that mean the protagonist and heroine had already sparred yesterday?
Okita felt a pang of regret.
After all, she was genuinely interested in Ikki's swordsmanship.
But no worries—there would be chances in the future.
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