As the academy classes finally started winding down for the day, I realized I needed a moment to clear my head.
There were really only two things bugging me.
First—after Professor Lena told me to "observe" during hand-to-hand combat class—I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Don’t get me wrong. I appreciated the break. God knows I needed it. But the way it happened... the timing, the attention, the quiet little mercy she gave me in front of everyone? Yeah, it felt weird.
Especially because that break? It didn’t last.
The moment I was back on my feet, Lena smiled at me—that smile—and dragged me right back into the fire.
Drill after drill. Correction after correction. Over and over.
She’d smile like she was teaching a beginner class, but it felt more like I was in some sort of martial arts boot camp.
Honestly, that little "observation time" might’ve been the one and only mercy I’d ever get from her.
And I wouldn’t have minded all the hard work. Not really.
If it weren’t for the laughter.
Some of the other students—mostly the ones who thought they were hot stuff—snickered every time I stumbled or looked awkward.
Every time my footwork was off. Every time I raised my hands too slow.
They didn’t even try to hide it.
And yeah, it got under my skin.
I clenched my jaw and tried to tune it out, but I must’ve looked frustrated because Lena glanced at me and said calmly,
"Ignore them. They’ll be the first to choke on their words when they see how strong you become."
Just like that. Simple.
I didn’t even know how to respond.
So I didn’t.
But I wasn’t resentful anymore. Not toward her.
If anything, I was a little grateful.
Now, onto the second—and arguably bigger—problem.
Her.
Buttcheeks.
No, seriously. I refuse to say her real name.
She’s been more annoying than I ever imagined.
It’s not like she confronts me directly. Oh no—she’s sneakier than that. She keeps sending people to bother me.
"Hey, how’s it feel being protected by a girl? You not a man or what?"
"Pathetic bastard. I heard you cried while lifting 25kg in physical training. Just quit the academy already."
Like clockwork.
Every time I step outside, it’s another stupid rumor, another insult, another wannabe tough guy acting like I owe them an explanation.
"Hey, word going around is that you bribed the professors. That’s why you’re getting special treatment, right?"
Really? That’s the best they’ve got?
Apparently, according to my roommate Leona, the rumors were spreading fast.
Thanks to none other than our favorite manipulative rumor mill with cheeks that bounce when she walks.
Her talent was apparently tied to manipulation—instigation, fabrication, you name it.
Great. Just my luck.
Leona tried to cheer me up, though.
"I told them it’s not true. It’s not, right?" Leona asked, walking beside me with a half-worried, half-amused expression.
"Yeah, it’s not," I said, glancing over at her. "I’m not even close enough to my family to ask for lunch money, let alone bribe a professor."
She smirked. "Good. Ryen said the same thing. Said you weren’t the type."
"Tell him thanks for me."
I meant it.
Ryen had always been decent to me—fair, even when it wasn’t convenient. But I didn’t expect Leona to jump in, too.
"I guess... thanks to you too. For sticking up for me."
She blinked, caught off guard by the sudden gratitude.
"Ahem—well, it’s nothing," she muttered, suddenly finding something very interesting about the ground. "I mean, we’re friends, right? Me and Ryen—we’re your friends."
Her words tumbled out like she wasn’t quite sure how to say them.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
It made sense. She’d didn’t really have friends growing up. Too sharp, too guarded, too used to being on her own.
So yeah, this... friendship thing?
It was new territory for her.
And maybe for me too.
"That means a lot," I said simply.
She looked at me for a moment, then gave me the smallest, shyest smile I’d ever seen on her face. It caught me completely off guard.
Huh. Maybe she was weak to compliments.
I mentally jotted that down for future reference.
"...Don’t mention it," she mumbled, quickly glancing away like she was afraid I’d bring it up again.
We walked in silence for a bit after that. But it wasn’t the awkward kind—the kind where you’re scrambling to find something to say. It was quiet, yeah, but it felt... natural. Like we didn’t have to fill every second with words.
Eventually, after a few more steps, Leona slowed to a stop. She turned toward me, brushing her hair behind her ear as she asked, "I’m going back to the room. What about you?"
"I’ve still got a bit of training left," I said casually.
She blinked. "Wait, what? You already did the morning drills—and almost collapsed during the post-lunch ’light workout.’"
"That’s exactly why," I said, trying not to sound too defensive. "I can’t stay a weakling forever."
She stared at me for a second, then let out a soft laugh. "Okay... I’ll admit, you’ve got more willpower than I thought."
Only willpower?
I almost laughed myself.
If I told her the truth—that this body couldn’t even lift a water bottle without trembling when I first got here, and that I’d dragged it, day after day, through soreness and failure to get to this point in just a month—she’d probably think I was insane.
Or worse, admire me for all the wrong reasons.
Better to let her think it’s just willpower.
"Anyway," she said, stretching her arms above her head with a sigh, "make sure you don’t overdo it. Being stubborn won’t help if you injure yourself."
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, waving her off. "I’ll be careful."
She hesitated for a second, then gave me a quick nod before turning to leave.
I was about to head toward the training area again when her voice stopped me.
"Hey," she called out, not even bothering to turn around this time. "About those rumors... I don’t like whoever started them."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I mean, I get that people talk. But some of them are acting like you’re getting special treatment or something." She finally looked over her shoulder, her expression tight. "I saw how hard you worked today. And I know Lena—she wouldn’t waste her time unless she saw potential."
I gave a dry laugh. "What are you gonna do if you find out who started them?"
She didn’t hesitate. "I’d beat them into pulp."
I snorted, caught between a laugh and a sigh. Yeah... I expected that.
"Please don’t. Your reputation would be completely in the mud if you did that."
She turned to face me fully now, blinking once as if the thought had just occurred to her.
"Do you know who it is?"
Of course I knew. It was Buttcheeks. Obviously.
But... I wasn’t going to tell her. Not because I was trying to protect him or anything. This was just one of those things I needed to handle myself.
I looked away, stuffing my hands into my pockets as I started walking toward the gym.
Without turning back, I said quietly, "Who knows? But I’ve got a few guesses."
She didn’t follow. I think she understood.
The walk was quiet for a while. Just me, the sound of my footsteps, and the low hum of something heavy settling in my chest.
That is... until I rounded the corner.
And walked straight into the last person I wanted to see right now.
"Hello."
"Haha... hi."
I forced a smile, awkward and thin.
Standing in front of me with that ever-haughty and arrogant expression was none other than Leo Taylor.
Even his ’hello’ sounded arrogant.
Of course it was.
The universe had a twisted sense of timing.