The Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy

"Agh..."

I woke up to a gentle warmth against my chest.

The room was quiet, the kind of quiet that only comes in the early morning when the world hasn't fully woken up yet.

My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light seeping through the curtains.

And then, the first thing I saw—

Eleonora.

She was lying next to me, her body still close, her head resting on the same pillow.

But more than that—

She was watching me.

Her soft blue eyes held a warmth that made my chest feel strangely light.

Her lips curled into a small, affectionate smile.

"Morning~" she whispered.

I blinked, still groggy.

"...You're staring."

"Mhm," she hummed, not even trying to deny it.

"I like looking at you."

I let out a slow breath, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

"Creepy."

"Romantic," she corrected, her smile widening.

Before I could say anything else—

She leaned in.

Chu♡!

Her soft lips pressed against my cheek, warm and lingering for just a second longer than necessary.

A light, feathery touch.

Then, she pulled back, her expression playful but still holding that soft warmth.

"Good morning, Aestrea~" she murmured again, her voice a little lower this time.

I stared at her for a moment, my brain catching up to reality.

And for some reason—

I felt my heartbeat quicken.

Did I already start to like her...?

That was fast.

I did have a good impression of her, but it was not at the stage of 'love'.

But now...

Looking at her is making my heartbeat faster.

It's been a long time since I felt this way.

"Haah..."

I let out a small breath.

"...You're acting really affectionate this morning," I muttered, my voice still rough from sleep.

Eleonora giggled, her fingers lightly tracing circles on my chest.

"Mmm~ I just feel like it."

She stretched lazily, her body pressing against mine for a brief second before she settled back down.

"You're comfy."

I blinked, trying to process everything while still half-asleep.

She was so close.

Her soft, violet hair spilled over the pillow, a few strands brushing against my skin. Her blue eyes, bright even in the dim light, watched me with something tender.

"...Are you planning on moving anytime soon?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nope~" she said simply, snuggling closer.

I sighed, but I couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips.

"Fine," I muttered, raising a hand and gently running my fingers through her hair.

She let out a pleased hum, closing her eyes.

"Mmm~ that feels nice…"

For a while, we just stayed like that.

The warmth, the silence, the steady sound of our breathing—it was nice.

Too nice.

I never used to be the type of person to enjoy moments like this. I was always too busy, too focused on surviving, on getting stronger, on what came next.

But now—

"...You're really making me soft," I mumbled.

Eleonora peeked one eye open and smirked.

"Good. You could use a little softening."

I clicked my tongue.

"Tsk."

She giggled again.

Then, without warning, she suddenly rolled on top of me, straddling my waist and pinning me down with her weight.

"—Oi."

She grinned, leaning down until our faces were barely an inch apart.

"What? You don't like it?"

I narrowed my eyes.

"...What are you planning?"

Her lips curled mischievously.

"Oh, nothing~ I just like seeing you flustered."

"I'm not flustered."

"Sure you aren't~" she sang teasingly.

I sighed again, but instead of arguing, I reached up—

And flicked her forehead.

"Ow!" she yelped, pouting as she rubbed the spot I flicked.

"That's what you get for messing with me," I said flatly.

Eleonora huffed.

"Meanie."

I smirked.

"You'll live."

She pouted for a second longer before finally rolling off of me, stretching her arms over her head.

"Mmm~ I guess we should get up now…"

"Yeah," I muttered, finally sitting up as well.

Even though I didn't want to admit it—

That was probably the most peaceful morning I'd had in a long, long time.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

The room was still dim, the only light coming from the gaps in the curtains. Eleonora stretched beside me, letting out a satisfied hum before flopping back down on the bed.

"Ughhh... I don't wanna move..." she mumbled, burying her face in the pillow.

I smirked, standing up.

"Then stay in bed. I'm getting up."

She peeked up at me, her violet hair a mess.

"You're so heartless, leaving a poor woman all alone in bed like this..."

I rolled my eyes but reached down anyway, ruffling her hair.

"You'll survive."

She huffed but didn't swat my hand away. Instead, she closed her eyes again, letting me run my fingers through her soft hair.

"...Keep doing that, and I really won't get up," she muttered.

I smirked.

"Exactly why I'm stopping."

She groaned dramatically as I pulled my hand back, finally pushing herself up into a sitting position.

She stretched her arms again, her nightgown slipping just enough to be dangerous.

I immediately looked away.

"Why so flustered~?" she teased, clearly noticing.

I sighed.

"I'm not flustered. I'm just trying to start my day without getting distracted."

She giggled.

"Too late for that~"

Shaking my head, I made my way toward the bathroom.

"I'm going to brush my teeth."

"Mhm... sure."

As I stepped into the bathroom, I grabbed my toothbrush and started brushing my teeth, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

My hair was a mess, sticking out in all directions from sleep, and my eyes still looked a little tired.

Swish, swish, swish...

The sound of the toothbrush filled the quiet space as I rinsed my mouth.

Just as I finished, I heard footsteps behind me.

I glanced in the mirror—

Eleonora stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame with a lazy smirk.

"...What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She pouted.

"You left me alone in bed~"

I rolled my eyes.

"You were literally too lazy to get up."

She hummed, stepping into the bathroom.

"True, but I changed my mind."

Then, without warning, she reached around me, grabbing her own toothbrush.

"...You could've waited until I was done," I muttered.

She grinned.

"Where's the fun in that?"

I sighed, but I moved aside a little as she started brushing her teeth next to me.

For a moment, we just stood there, side by side, brushing our teeth in silence.

It was strangely... nice.

Something about this felt peaceful—normal.

Like waking up next to someone and going about your morning together was something I was supposed to do.

Something I'd never had before.

Eleonora caught my gaze in the mirror and raised an eyebrow.

"What?" she asked, her words muffled by the toothbrush in her mouth.

"...Nothing," I muttered, looking away.

She smirked but didn't push it.

After we finished, I grabbed a towel and wiped my face.

Eleonora stretched, letting out a soft yawn.

"So... what shall we do today?" she asked, leaning against the sink.

I thought for a moment.

"Wait... we?" I raised an eyebrow, a slow smirk forming on my lips.

She blinked.

"Huh?"

I chuckled lightly.

"The twenty-four hours are already over."

Her expression froze.

"HUHHH?!"

With a snap of her fingers, a sleek black phone materialized in her hand.

She glanced at the screen, and—

"It's already 12 o'clock?!" she nearly shrieked.

I couldn't help but laugh at her reaction.

"Did we really sleep for fourteen hours?!" she cried, her blue eyes wide with disbelief.

Yeah… we definitely slept a lot.

Probably exhaustion from all that training.

She turned to me, her gaze suddenly filled with something else—something playful yet frustrated.

"...I didn't even get the chance to eat you!" she whined dramatically.

"Haghh!"

I choked on my own saliva, coughing as her words fully registered.

Eleonora just grinned at me, amused.

I sighed, shaking my head, before flashing her a lazy smile.

"I guess that means we'll have to do that another time."

Then, I turned and walked out of the bathroom, stretching my arms.

Now that I thought about it… today was Saturday.

No classes.

Might as well enjoy the rest of the day.

Fwoop!

…Wait.

Why couldn't I feel the floor?

I looked down.

I was floating.

"...Eleonora?" I asked, my voice flat.

I turned my head and found her standing there, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. Her index finger was slightly raised, a faint glow of magic swirling around it.

"Why are you making me float?"

Her smile deepened.

"Like I said…" She took a slow step forward. "I didn't get the chance to eat you."

"...Huh?"

Before I could process her words—

Plop!

I was thrown onto the bed.

Before I could even think about getting up—

Eleonora was already on top of me.

She straddled my waist effortlessly, her hands grabbing my wrists and pinning them above my head.

Her smirk widened.

"Now…" She leaned down, her soft hair brushing against my skin.

"I'm doing it."

Eleonora's smirk deepened as she leaned in closer, her face just inches from mine.

Her violet hair tickled my skin as it fell over my shoulders, framing us in a curtain of soft strands.

Her light blue eyes glowed with playful mischief, but there was something else there, too—something warm, teasing, and just a little dangerous.

I swallowed.

"...You're really going for it, huh?" I muttered.

"Mhm~" She hummed, her voice sweet yet smug.

"You always slip away before I can have my fun, Aestrea. But not this time~"

I sighed, my wrists still pinned above my head.

"You do realize this is unfair, right?"

She tilted her head, pretending to think about it.

"Hmm~ Nope. I call it strategy."

I narrowed my eyes.

"That's just a fancy way of saying 'cheating.'"

She giggled.

"Maybe~ But who cares?"

Before I could respond, she suddenly shifted, pressing herself a little closer, her body warm against mine.

My heartbeat skipped—just for a second.

"...You really don't hold back, do you?" I muttered, trying to keep my expression neutral.

Eleonora smirked.

"Why should I?"

I sighed again.

"You're too much sometimes."

"And yet…" she purred, her lips barely an inch from my ear.

"Now, you never push me away."

I had no argument for that.

After all, I had indeed accepted her.

Instead of answering, I exhaled slowly.

"...Are you done messing with me?" I finally asked.

She pouted.

"You make it sound like I'm being annoying."

"That's because you are annoying."

She gasped dramatically.

"Rude!"

I smirked.

"The truth hurts, doesn't it?"

She huffed.

"Fine, fine. I'll let you go."

Then, she released my wrists and sat up, still straddling me.

"Finally," I muttered, sitting up as well—

Or at least, I tried to.

Because the second I moved, she pushed me right back down.

"—Oi."

Eleonora grinned, placing both hands on my chest, holding me there.

"What? I changed my mind~" she said, her tone light and teasing.

I groaned.

"You're impossible."

She chuckled.

"And yet, here you are, stuck with me~"

I shook my head, finally giving in.

At this point, fighting back was pointless.

Besides, it's not like I wouldn't like what she was going to do.

Rustle...

However, as soon as she moved her hands, I saw my chance.

With a little shift, I twisted my body, slipping out from under her.

"A-ah!"

Before Eleonora could react, I quickly shifted positions, pushing her back just enough to roll on top of her.

Now, I was the one straddling her, my hands on either side of her head as I looked down at her.

She blinked up at me in surprise, her lips parting slightly, probably not expecting me to turn the tables so quickly.

A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth.

"Got you," I whispered softly, leaning down just a bit, our faces inches apart.

Eleonora's eyes widened for a second, and then that mischievous glint sparked back in them. However, before she could speak—

"Mhm!"

I kissed her lips.