Time passed, and Sunday morning arrived.
Libia Clawit opened her eyes to a refreshing morning free of any muscle soreness, a sensation she hadn't felt in ages.
"Ugh... time to get ready!"
She stretched languidly, savoring the rare clear-headed dawn, then rose to prepare for her training session with Aden.
After a quick wash to shake off the morning fog, she headed to her wardrobe to change.
Just as she opened the door and pulled out her training clothes,
'Wear something casual and comfortable, not your training gear.'
Aden's words flashed through her mind.
"No way... but we're going to train..."
She knew casual clothes would be uncomfortable for training, so she hesitated for a moment.
But it was the one thing he'd emphasized when they'd made plans on Friday.
This training was entirely his preparation.
In the end, she decided to follow his instructions, grabbing some everyday clothes and heading out front of the dormitory.
It was ten minutes before their agreed time.
She usually arrived early for appointments anyway, so she figured she'd wait for Aden there.
But to her surprise, a familiar figure was already standing in front of the dormitory, waving cheerfully as she approached.
"Hey, Libia. You're early—still ten minutes to go."
He said it casually, but he greeted her like he'd expected her to show up ahead of schedule.
"Says the guy who got here even earlier... Anyway, let's hurry to training! I'm in peak condition!"
"Straight to training talk, huh? Classic Libia. Let's go."
He gave her an amused look for jumping right into it and started walking.
'Huh...?'
Something felt off.
She'd assumed they'd head to the training grounds, but his footsteps led in a completely different direction.
"Aden...? Where are you going? The training grounds are this way!"
She called out in confusion, but he continued as if it were the most natural thing.
"We're not going to the academy training grounds, Libia."
....?
If not the academy grounds, then where?
Did he know some secret spot?
"Then where are we going...?"
Her puzzled question earned a rather absurd reply.
"To have fun."
"...Huh? What?"
"We're going out to play right now."
No, it was more than absurd—it was baffling.
She was so flustered she could barely string words together.
"What does that even mean...?"
"Libia."
"Wasn't this supposed to be training?"
The initial shock faded quickly, replaced by a rush of other emotions.
Humiliation at being tricked.
The urgency burning inside her to grow stronger.
Frustration that things weren't going as planned.
The stress of it all boiled over into an uncontrollable surge of rage.
"Why... why?! You said you'd help me train, so what the hell is this?!"
Her roar, laced with fury and resentment, burst out.
She felt eyes on her from around, but once unleashed, the anger wouldn't subside easily.
"Libia."
Aden waited calmly until her outburst ended, then called her name.
She looked up at his steady voice, which seemed to command her emotions.
His gaze met hers—those empty eyes that held nothing.
Yet now, they carried a faint trace of feeling.
Worry. Anxiety. Pity.
As she stared into those eyes brimming with such emotions, her rage slowly ebbed away.
Once her feelings had settled somewhat, he continued.
"What you need right now is rest."
"No... not yet..."
"Libia."
She opened her mouth to argue, but his firm call scattered her words before they could form.
"Just for today. Come play with me."
His tone was resolute yet tender with concern, and she bowed her head.
She couldn't bring herself to refuse.
It was a heartfelt plea.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In the end, she couldn't say no and followed him out of the academy.
Her heart was still uneasy.
Was it okay to slack off like this?
Was it fine to just relax peacefully?
Such worries circled endlessly in her mind.
"Libia, don't worry. Don't stress. Just rest without thinking about anything."
As if reading her thoughts, every time anxiety crept in during their outing, he'd say exactly what she needed to hear.
It was just a few words,
but somehow, his firm, caring tone melted away her unease.
Following Aden out of the academy and spending time with him was more fun than she could've imagined.
"Hey, Libia! Let's try this food!"
Every dish he suggested hit her tastes perfectly.
"That looks fun! Let's do it!"
Every game he proposed was something she'd love.
There was no hesitation in his steps.
He treated her like an old friend he'd known for decades,
leading her without a doubt, as if he already knew exactly what she liked.
Every time she saw him like that, one truth became undeniable.
'He really is a regressor...'
Those words she'd overheard that night were true.
Aden was a regressor who'd looped countless times to avert destruction.
The complete certainty hit her, and the worries she'd pushed down surged back.
Was it okay to steal his time like this?
Was it right to take away the time he needed to prevent doom?
But somehow, he sensed her spiraling anxiety again.
"Libia."
The joyful expression vanished from his face, replaced by that firm, gentle voice calling her name.
"Pfft..."
A hollow laugh escaped as her worries dissolved once more at the sound.
Spotting her relief, Aden flashed a grin and led her onward with renewed cheer.
'Seriously... hide it a little...'
Was he trying to advertise his secret?
It felt like he'd forgotten they'd only known each other for two weeks,
acting as if he knew everything about her.
'What kind of relationship did we even have...?'
She couldn't help but wonder.
What had she and Aden been to each other?
He acted like he knew her inside out.
It couldn't have been something ordinary.
'Friends...? Or maybe more...'
Lovers.
What if she and Aden had been lovers...?
The thought made her cheeks flush naturally.
'No... no, that can't be...'
He seemed to read her emotions so well that it felt plausible,
but she tried to shake it off.
Yet the moment she glanced at his face as he led her, visions of intimate moments flooded back, turning her face even redder.
'Why does he have to be so handsome...!'
Even compared to the academy's famed heartthrobs, he held his own.
Just imagining cozy scenes with him was enough to overwhelm her adolescent heart with embarrassment.
Her tomato-red face burned as she trailed behind him, trying to cool off.
They wandered and played for what felt like hours.
"Hey, Aden... it's getting pretty late. Maybe we should head back?"
Honestly, the day with him had been pure joy.
Eating her favorite foods, playing her favorite games, visiting her favorite spots—all with him.
Who wouldn't love it?
But all good things must end.
The sun was dipping low, mercilessly signaling the close.
So she suggested they return.
"Wait... there's one last place I want to take you."
Aden responded by leading her onward once more.
They walked for a while longer,
until dusk truly fell and darkness crept in.
They were far from the academy now—it was definitely time to go back.
She was about to suggest it again when—
"Here it is!"
Aden exclaimed with treasure-hunter glee and dashed toward somewhere.
"W-Wait, Aden!"
She hurried after him.
"Whoa..."
The sight before her was breathtaking.
A vast meadow stretched out, flanked by a nearby hill and distant mountains. The setting sun painted everything in vibrant crimson hues, bathing the scene in ethereal beauty.
It might seem ordinary at first glance,
but it felt indescribably stunning.
"Libia."
As she took it in, he spoke from beside her.
"You asked me to help with your training."
That's right.
That's why they'd met today—to get his help with her training.
"Here."
With that, he handed her a sword.
A standard training sword, like those at the academy grounds.
"Eek...? What's this? Where'd you get it?"
"Borrowed it from Professor Elina with permission."
He shrugged and pulled another from thin air.
Spatial magic??
That wasn't a spell anyone could cast casually.
Spatial magic demanded immense skill and mana control—even Isabel couldn't manage it yet.
Oh, right... he's a regressor.
A flicker of shock and doubt, but she accepted it.
He was a regressor.
One who'd looped endlessly—it made sense.
"Get into stance."
His firm voice snapped her back.
"H-Here?"
"Yeah, here. Spar with me."
He said it nonchalantly, gripping his sword and assuming a stance like he meant it.
"This is so sudden..."
It caught her off guard, but his earnest eyes left no choice.
She took her stance too.
"Begin."
With that, he lunged.
Clang!
She blocked his swift strike, the clash of metal ringing out.
She countered, swinging at him.
'Huh...?'
Clang!
The same metallic echo.
But that wasn't what startled her.
My sword path... it's stabilized...?
Her swings, which had been wobbly and unstable no matter how hard she tried, now flowed steadily.
No—they were even more refined.
Why...?
She couldn't comprehend it.
She hadn't swung a sword since Friday's class.
Yet her form was sharper, not sloppier.
"I told you rest was what you needed."
His casual remark jolted her mind awake.
"Why'd you suddenly push yourself so hard anyway? That's not like you."
He asked with genuine curiosity.
The reason for her overtraining...?
Well...
"Because I overheard."
"What?"
"That talk between you and Professor Elina in front of the dorm."
Of course. She'd learned Aden was a regressor.
Learned that destruction was coming.
"Huh...?"
"You're a regressor, right, Aden? You've looped how many times to stop the end?"
A brief silence as he looked stunned.
"Ah... that time. I see."
He muttered softly, nodding to himself in realization.
Then he swept a hand over his face with a serious expression, sighed faintly in resignation, and spoke.
"Haa... fine. So because I'm a regressor, you pushed yourself?"
Confirmation straight from him.
She'd been sure, but hearing it made it real.
"Yeah... I want to help stop the destruction of our world."
His response was a baffled look.
"Seriously? You wrecked yourself over that?"
His dismissive tone sparked irritation mid-reply—
"Over that? Do you know how much I—!"
Smack!
A light sting on her forehead cut her off, followed by the sound.
"You're still the same, huh."
Stunned by the sudden flick, she glared at him once she realized.
"That hurt! Why'd you do that?!"
"It was ridiculous."
"What was?!"
He met her irritated outburst with serious eyes.
"Libia Clawit, you don't need to push that hard. You've always gotten stronger and helped me before."
Those empty eyes seemed filled with regret and lingering memories of the past.
"No need to overdo it. And that brute-force method? Dumb."
"B-Brute-force?!"
"Training without rest is just brute force. Rest is as crucial as training."
With that, his serious face softened into a playful grin.
"And play with me sometimes. I get bored."
"Pfft."
Laughter slipped out despite herself.
His teasing words eased her heart,
and the clear affection in them stirred something new from deep within.
Thump.
Thump.
Her heart raced faster than ever.
'What's this feeling...?'
As the unfamiliar yet welcome emotion bloomed,
"Oh! And take this."
"Huh...?"
Aden pulled something from thin air like he'd just remembered.
"What's this...?"
A sword in a worn scabbard.
"A gift for you, Libia."
She drew it, and an extraordinary aura emanated—a masterwork blade.
Any swordsman would covet it.
"I can't accept something like this..."
She tried handing it back with her refusal.
As a swordswoman, she desperately wanted it.
But such a treasure was beyond her.
"You can."
Aden contradicted her.
"No one else could take this sword but you."
He offered it again.
"Let me ask properly, Libia Clawit."
He gazed at her earnestly.
"Help me stop the end—with this sword."
His smile lit up those otherwise empty eyes, his white hair swaying in harmony with his stunning features, making him even more captivating.
Thump.
Ah.
She dimly grasped the identity of the ticklish feeling plaguing her.
No matter what world he'd looped through,
she surely would've fallen for him every time.
"Gladly!"
She took the sword and replied.
A joyful smile spread across his face.
The first bright grin on his usually hollow expression was...
Beautiful!
Like a starry night sky.
Utterly beautiful.
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