When Aiding returned to the teaching building, the bell for the lunch break had already rung long ago, and the corridor was shrouded in silence.
Only a handful of people remained in the classroom; most students had already headed to the cafeteria or found other places to rest.
Yet, Celes still sat quietly at her seat, the book before her left open for a long time without a single page turned.
Her gaze would drift now and then toward the classroom door, her fingertips unconsciously twirling a lock of hair, a faint and barely noticeable worry lingering between her brows.
When Aiding’s figure finally appeared at the doorway, Celes almost instinctively stood up at once, her chair scraping softly against the floor.
She quickly walked up to him, lifting her face, her ice-blue eyes filled with concern.
“Aiding, did something happen? Why were you gone for so long?”
“Ah… It’s nothing serious, just… ran into a bit of trouble and got delayed.”
Faced with Celes’s question, Aiding looked away a little awkwardly, raising a hand to rub the back of his neck, trying to brush it off.
He certainly wouldn’t tell her about that harrowing encounter with Olivia just now.
“Don’t tell me… was it Black God-senpai giving you more work again? If that’s the case, I’ll go and talk to her…”
Celes’s slender eyebrows furrowed just a bit, a trace of tension appearing on her face as she lowered her voice and guessed.
Her tone carried an undeniable firmness, as if the moment Aiding nodded, she’d go argue with that Disciplinary Committee President at once.
“No, no, don’t overthink it. It’s really just… some private matters.”
Aiding hurriedly interrupted Celes, waving his hand, his tone soothing.
Then he did his best to make his expression look more natural.
Celes didn’t ask further, only stared steadily at Aiding with those ice-blue eyes that seemed able to see through a person’s heart, not blinking once.
She always felt he was hiding something from her—a subtle sense of distance separated the two of them.
But since he wasn’t willing to say, she couldn’t force him, yet deep down, a wave of inexplicable disappointment welled up.
What was it that made him unable to tell her?
Aren’t we… aren’t we… companions?
At this moment, Celes was a little lost.
What exactly was her relationship with Aiding now?
But she soon pressed down this small feeling of disappointment.
Celes took a soft breath, her expression growing even more serious and resolute.
“Aiding, if… if you really run into trouble or difficulties, you have to tell me. I… I’ll do my best to help.”
“Mm, I know.”
Seeing the unmistakable sincerity in the girl’s eyes, Aiding felt a gentle warmth in his heart and nodded.
After a pause, he cleverly changed the topic, asking in a relaxed tone, “By the way, have you had lunch yet?”
“Not yet.”
Celes shook her head lightly, her long ice-blue hair swaying with the motion.
Ever since she saw Aiding being called away by Black God Akane, her heart had been in turmoil, constantly worrying about him.
She couldn’t stop imagining that unpredictable senpai giving him some new dangerous mission again—how could she have any appetite for food?
“Then, do you want to go to the cafeteria together? I’m starving right now.”
As soon as Aiding spoke, he patted his empty stomach, his face showing just the right amount of fatigue and hunger.
It wasn’t all an act—after all, that fight with Olivia had taken a lot out of him.
Even though the after-effects of adrenaline could be offset using the Repeated Technique, and his stamina could be replenished with an elemental vial, that hunger arising from the body’s instincts was very much real.
“I’d like to go.”
Celes nodded almost without hesitation.
Now that she’d seen Aiding safe and sound in front of her, and that he really didn’t seem to be in any trouble, the heart she’d been holding up finally relaxed, and her tense shoulders dropped.
The two of them left the classroom side by side, passing through the rather empty corridor and arriving at the bustling Academy Cafeteria.
Since both of them had become quite famous figures at the Academy recently, their appearance instantly drew the attention of many students eating there.
Whispered gossip and curious gazes shot at them from all directions, making Aiding feel a little uneasy.
But Celes still wore that cold and distant expression, as if nothing around her had anything to do with her.
When it came time to get their food, Celes only took a bit of vegetable salad and a slice of bread on her plate—an amount fit for a bird.
Meanwhile, Aiding showed no hesitation in piling his plate high with meat, pasta, and potatoes, feeling a desperate need to replenish the energy he’d spent in that earlier fight.
They found a relatively quiet corner to sit.
“Celes, do you usually… eat just this much?”
Aiding looked at the nearly negligible portion in front of Celes, then compared it to his own mountain of food, unable to help asking.
Celes nodded slightly, idly poking at a lettuce leaf with her fork.
“No wonder you’re so thin. Now’s the time for you to grow—eating more is better for your body.”
While cutting into his steak, Aiding spoke in a naturally friendly tone.
Then, without thinking much, he used a clean fork to place a perfectly cooked piece of steak and a few sausages onto Celes’s plate.
“Aiding… do you think I’m too skinny?”
Celes looked up, a barely noticeable hint of curiosity flickering in her ice-blue eyes.
“Yeah, I feel like you’re a little too thin.”
Aiding nodded matter-of-factly, swallowing a mouthful of food.
His thoughts were simple—he really did think Celes was too slender.
Although, he had to admit, she had nice curves where she ought to, but overall she looked so delicate, as if a strong wind could blow her away.
However, Celes completely misunderstood this concern that came purely from a friend’s perspective.
She instinctively interpreted it as Aiding liking girls who were a bit fuller, and that her being so thin probably wouldn’t feel comfortable to hold.
In that instant, a faint blush crept up to the tips of her ears.
She didn’t say anything more, just bowed her head, murmuring a barely audible thank you.
In the past, because of some unpleasant childhood experiences, Celes had gotten used to eating very little, and always felt that being this slim was fine.
But now, after meeting Aiding, she started caring a lot about his opinion of her—even if it was just an offhand comment.
So this is… Female Beautifies Herself for Her Admirer?
The thought drifted quietly through Celes’s mind.
With that in mind, she didn’t hesitate anymore.
She picked up her knife and fork, and began to carefully eat the food Aiding had given her.
As long as Aiding liked it, she was willing to try anything, even if it meant changing a habit she’d had for years.
As for the rather oblivious Aiding, he had no idea that his casual remark could mean so much to the girl beside him.
After they finished lunch, the afternoon was reserved for practical combat training.
The two of them walked side by side along the Academy path to the training grounds.
“Aiding, would you like… me to give you some special training?”
Celes seemed to hesitate, then turned her head slightly, quietly making her suggestion.
“Right now?”
Aiding was a bit surprised, looking at her.
He remembered Celes had mentioned before that, as thanks, she wanted to give him some one-on-one training when she had time.
Celes nodded, her long ice-blue hair gently swaying with the motion.
“Since I became a member of ‘Stellar’, the Academy’s given me a lot of resources, including a private training room. There… no one will disturb us.”
Her voice was calm as usual, but there was a hint of anticipation in it.
Celes genuinely wanted to help Aiding improve his skills.
In her eyes, his combat reflexes and swordsmanship were actually pretty good—surprisingly so—but when it came to Traditional Magic, he was almost completely blank.
As someone who’d received systematic magical education, Celes believed that mastering magic was an essential part.
She sincerely hoped Aiding could learn to use mana and become even stronger.
“Sure.”
Aiding thought about it for a moment, then agreed readily.
He really didn’t like being watched by so many classmates during training, especially since he had a few things he couldn’t show others.
But if he was with Celes alone, maybe he could let loose a bit more.
“Let’s go, then.”
When Celes heard Aiding’s crisp reply, a trace of undisguisable joy flashed through her eyes, and the corners of her lips curved into a shallow but genuine smile.
Almost unconsciously, she very naturally reached out her fair and slender hand to Aiding.
The girl’s palm faced upward, her fingertips trembling slightly with nervousness, as she quietly waited for his response.
“Mm.”
Aiding glanced at Celes’s outstretched hand, paused for just a moment, then nodded with a calm expression and reached out to gently take her waiting hand in his.
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