**Chapter 2: Love Bootcamp**
First off in the morning, Haruta was jolted awake by a loud, blaring horn—a far cry from his usual alarm. He squinted through the haze of sleep, and as his eyes adjusted, he noticed the lack of sunlight filtering through his window. Blinking, he checked the time on his wristwatch, only to gasp as he realized it was a whole two hours earlier than usual. Just as he was piecing together his confusion, his room filled with a glowing, pink light.
"Good morning, Haruta! Sorry for the rude wake-up call, but I figured you'd complain if I told you about this yesterday," chirped Livia. She stood by his bedside, beaming, her face bright and cheerful despite his groggy, sleep-deprived state.
Haruta groaned, burying his face in his pillow. "No wonder I didn't see you all day yesterday… What's the big idea? It's four in the morning!"
"Exactly! The perfect time to get a head start," Livia replied, practically vibrating with excitement. She snapped her fingers, and his tracksuit appeared, folded neatly at the edge of his bed. "Here! I even brought your workout clothes. Now, up and at 'em!"
When he made no move to get up, she whipped out a megaphone from thin air and aimed it at his ear.
"RISE AND SHINE, TRAINEE!"
The blaring noise shot through his head, fully waking him up whether he liked it or not. Begrudgingly, he rolled out of bed, grumbling as he slipped on his tracksuit.
---
**Five Minutes Later**
Haruta trudged behind Livia, struggling to keep up with her brisk pace. Each step felt heavier than the last, and his breaths were coming in quick, labored gasps as they made their way down a winding path through the park.
"Huff… huff… I'm… dying… Can we… take a break?" he gasped, stumbling forward and doubling over, sweat streaming down his face.
Livia glanced back at him with a raised brow, amused. "Fine, five minutes. But I have to say, I'm shocked you're already this winded. We've only been going for ten minutes."
The moment she allowed him to rest, Haruta dropped to the ground like a rock. "What do you… mean?" he panted, looking up at her. "I'm… in tip-top shape!" To emphasize, he unzipped his tracksuit top, revealing a surprisingly toned chest underneath. But the strange heaviness lingered, making even breathing feel like a chore.
"This feels… off. Did you secretly slip weights into my suit or something?"
Livia smirked. "Sharp guess. Think of it as an upgrade! You're going to need a little extra endurance if you're serious about becoming a matchmaker. You see, we Cupids have a few advantages that you, as a human, lack—like invisibility, accuracy, divine protection… You'll need to compensate for those."
Haruta shot her a skeptical look, his brow furrowing. "Why does this feel more like spy training than matchmaking? Shouldn't I be studying psychology or something?"
"Psychology is important, sure," she admitted, "but there's more to matchmaking than just talking. Sometimes, it means getting close to your targets, remaining unseen, and intervening quickly. It's not all clipboard duty."
Haruta's mind reeled, and he groaned, flopping back onto the ground. "Why did I ever shake your hand?"
Livia chuckled. "Oh, you're not getting out of this now. That handshake sealed the deal. You're in, whether you like it or not."
The reality settled over him like a weight, making the training suit feel even heavier. He could hardly believe he'd agreed to this, yet here he was, getting trained like he was part of some love operative force. Still, he had to admit, a part of him felt a strange, stubborn satisfaction.
Finally, he pushed himself back up, took a deep breath, and started jogging again. "Fine, fine… but I hope there's breakfast at the end of this torture."
"We'll see," Livia teased, smirking as she kept pace beside him.
They jogged in silence for a while, her soft smile somehow motivating him to keep going, even with the added weight pressing down on him. After a while, she spoke up, her tone shifting into something more instructive. "Since you're warmed up now, let's go over a few things. That handshake we shared yesterday? It activated something called your 'limiter.' It's a safeguard built into every living being to keep them from surpassing their own limits."
"Like One Spell Mage?" he asked, huffing.
She nodded. "Close enough. Under my guidance, I'll slowly adjust your limiter to give you more stamina and strength. Right now, I'm aiming to bring you to the physical level of one of those spies you watch in action movies. You'll need it."
He switched from jogging to a steady squat, grumbling as he adjusted his posture. "What does being a super-spy have to do with matchmaking, anyway? Aren't I more like a consultant or something?"
"Matchmaking isn't that simple," she replied, laughing. "There will be moments when you'll need to observe targets up close, blend in, or follow without them noticing. You might even need to… 'intervene' on occasion. Being stealthy is important."
A cold chill ran down his spine, making him shiver despite the sweat. "So… I'm basically becoming a Cupid-slash-spy?"
She shrugged, smiling impishly. "You're a human. We have to work with what you've got. Plus I can't hand out my divine power so casually,"
He held her gaze, processing the information as he adjusted his breathing to match his slow, steady rhythm. But there was something unsettling in the back of his mind as he pieced everything together.
"Livia?"
"Hmm?"
He hesitated before asking, "No offense, but… the more you talk about this Cupid gig, the more it sounds like I'm being trained as a… contracted Killer."
She laughed at that, shaking her head. "I get it. But trust me, Haruta, this is all about spreading love. It's just… not as simple as it sounds."
He sighed, adjusting to the weight with each step. "This is going to be a long apprenticeship, isn't it?"
"You have no idea," she said, her expression softening with a mix of sympathy and mischief.
---
By the time the sun rose, they finally paused again. His muscles ached, and he was nearly gasping for breath, but a strange pride settled within him as he stretched his arms to let the first rays of sunlight warm his skin.
"So… is their breakfast, or was that a lie too?" he asked, casting Livia a hopeful glance.
She chuckled, snapping her fingers to summon a small table laden with fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, toast, and a glass of orange juice. His stomach growled as he took in the sight of the meal.
"Consider it a reward for surviving your first day of training," she said, her tone gentle.
"Thank you," he said gratefully, not wasting a moment before digging in.
"You earned it," she said, leaning back against a tree with a satisfied smile. "But don't forget, this is only the start. You've got a long way to go if you're serious about joining C.U.P.I.D."
He looked up at her between bites, a newfound determination in his eyes. "Bring it on. If I can handle over a hundred rejections, I can handle this."
Her eyes sparkled with approval. "Now that's the spirit! Welcome to the world of cupids, Haruta Hanami."
As Haruta continued his jog, still struggling to keep his balance, he finally noticed someone familiar up ahead. His breath caught in his throat.
"Ayame…" he whispered, his pace faltering for a moment.
Livia noticed his gaze lingering on the girl in the distance and let out a chuckle. "Oh, so she's the reason for all those confessions, huh?"
He turned, cheeks reddening. "What are you—?"
Livia held up a hand, her expression playful yet serious. "No need to get flustered. It just so happens Ayame's been assigned as your first practice target. Your task? Help her fulfill her love. Think of it as your initial Cupid assignment."
Haruta blinked, stunned. "You're serious? I'm… supposed to help her fall in love?"
Livia's grin widened. "That's the idea. You want to master matchmaking, don't you? Start here."
His gaze shifted back to Ayame, the weight of the task settling over him. Despite everything, despite over a hundred rejections, his heart still raced at the thought of being close to her.
With a shaky breath, he nodded. "Alright. Let's do this."