Arya woke the next morning with an aching body and a pounding head. She groaned, stretching like a cat before slowly opening her eyes—only to find Ryu strolling casually into her room, buttoning up his gray uniform jacket with two crisp white stripes down the front. The fabric clung neatly to his broad frame, paired with fitted black trousers and polished boots that clicked softly against the floor.
"Why are you so relaxed?" Ryu said curtly, tugging at his cuffs. "Go wash up. We have school this morning."
Arya blinked at him in disbelief. "Well, good morning to you too. And what's with that tone? Did I… do something wrong?" She arched a brow.
Ryu wasn't listening. His sapphire eyes had caught on something else entirely. His gaze lingered, locked shamelessly on her exposed chest.
"Ryu?" Arya called, puzzled.
She followed the line of his stare—and froze. She was only in her underwear. With a squeak, she yanked the bedsheet over herself, her face blooming crimson.
"H-huh? What happened last night? What did you do?!" she demanded frantically.
Ryu rolled his eyes skyward. "More like what did you do last night? How could you not notice you were eating pineapple-flavored buns? The aroma was strong enough to knock out a dragon."
Arya hiccupped, her cheeks burning hotter. "O-oh no… that's true. I was so absent-minded, I didn't even realize… P-please tell me nothing bad happened."
"I can't exactly say nothing bad happened," Ryu replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Her heart skipped. "W-what do you mean—?"
"You peeled off your clothes," he began smoothly, "and ran half-naked around the palace while the royal guards chased you. Everyone was watching." He paused, savoring her horrified expression before finishing. "You only stopped when you got dizzy. Then I carried you home."
Arya's glassy eyes widened to saucers. "This is baaaaad!" she cried, burying her face in the blanket.
Ryu stifled a laugh, smirking at her gullibility. She had completely forgotten the real events, and he was milking it for all it was worth.
"Come on, go wash up. We'll be late."
"I'm not going to school," she wailed. "This is all your fault too, you know!"
"Mine? How?"
"You left me all alone!"
Ryu's smugness faltered. A pang of guilt gnawed at him. She's right… I should've stayed. He sighed. "Fine. I'll make sure nobody remembers the… incident, okay?"
"How?"
"With my royal power, obviously." He smirked.
Arya narrowed her eyes. "Fine. I'll leave it to you. But don't let royalty get to your head." Clutching the sheet around her, she scurried toward the bath.
By the time she emerged, Ryu had prepared a breakfast feast. Since she practically ate like seven people in one, he'd gone all out. He paused mid-bite when she walked in.
Her sailor-style Skylar uniform fit snugly, the short black skirt flaring just above her knees, paired with tall boots that disguised its daring cut.
"Wow," Ryu said honestly. "You look amazing."
"Are you sure this is the right skirt? It feels so uncomfortable." She tugged at the hem.
"That's what every other girl wears," he replied, hiding a grin.
She joined him at the table, eyes sparkling at the spread of dishes. "I don't think I'll eat much today…" she muttered, though her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl.
After a quick prayer, she snatched a steaming bowl of soup and gulped it down without even blowing. Ryu stared, half amused, half impressed. Most girls around him pretended to eat delicately, trying to impress. Arya didn't bother—she simply devoured food with a smile.
By the time she'd nearly cleared the table, only the small soup bowl in front of him remained.
"I thought you said you wouldn't eat much?" Ryu teased.
Arya lifted her chin with mock pride. "Well, I didn't. If I had, I'd have eaten that too." She dropped a single grape into her empty bowl for emphasis.
Ryu was speechless for a beat, then burst into helpless laughter.
"Too bad," he managed between chuckles. "I thought you'd want these biscuits." He pulled out a strawberry-flavored pack from his pocket.
Her eyes sparkled immediately. "Well, I just regained my appetite. So I'll take them." She stretched out her hand.
"Nope. You'll have to earn it." He winked.
"Tsk." She pouted, which only made him laugh harder.
---
After their hearty breakfast, they headed to Skylar Academy.
The compound buzzed with energy. Students poured in, uniforms crisp, eyes burning with excitement. The towering building bore bold golden letters: Skylar Academy. Inside the massive hall, the headmaster stood at the podium, his presence commanding silence.
"Good morning, students," he greeted warmly. His graying beard framed sharp features, his voice both kind and firm. "Welcome to Skylar Academy—Sky Acad. This is a place for the special. Outside, people may call you freaks, but here… you are tomorrow's future."
"WE ARE TOMORROW'S FUTURE!" the students roared back.
The headmaster smiled and stepped aside for a woman with long bleached hair and glasses. She was impossibly curvy, her youthfulness making half the male freshmen gape.
"All freshers will now be divided into Rank One classes," she said crisply. "Your homeroom teachers will guide you from here."
The crowd dispersed into groups.
"Okay, use this class," Ryu told Arya. "I'm in B too."
"Nice," Arya said—but her feet refused to move.
"Cold feet?" Ryu teased.
"Literally." She pointed down. Her boots were encased in a layer of frost.
Ryu blinked—then burst out laughing. His laughter echoed through the hall, drawing the stares of half the girls, who immediately swooned at the sight of his dazzling smile.
"Stop laughing, you're drawing attention!" Arya hissed, the ice melting away.
"Relax. You'll be fine." He patted her head gently.
Arya sighed, waved at him, and scurried into her classroom.
Still chuckling, Ryu strolled away. His smile drew countless eyes, though he hardly noticed. Spotting Daven and Xavier already surrounded by female freshers, he rolled his eyes.
"You two can never get enough of women, can you?" he said in their private Brog-uage—the secret code of the trio.
"Says the mafia boss of women," Xavier shot back, grinning.
"Sorry to interrupt, ladies," Ryu cut in with an easy wink. "But these lover boys need to get to class. Catch you later."
The girls practically melted as they stepped aside.
"You're such a party pooper," Xavier groaned.
"I know." Ryu smirked, tugging his glove snugly on his left hand before heading toward Class B.
And in that single moment, no one noticed Arya, standing inside her classroom doorway, catching his retreating figure. Her gaze lingered not on his smile this time… but on that gloved hand.
Something about it felt strangely out of place.