Kouhei's training with Aria had finally wrapped up, leaving him bone-tired. His muscles throbbed from too many sword swings, a dull ache running through his arms and shoulders.
Feels like they're about to fall off, he thought, wincing as he stretched.
Aria's training wasn't brutal. She wasn't a Spartan teacher. But he'd promised himself he'd take it seriously, putting in far more effort than he expected. Now his muscles screamed in protest. But strangely, he liked it. It was proof he was actually working toward something real, pushing himself closer to his goals.
After a quick bath to wash off the day's exhaustion, he headed to his room—only to find someone already inside. The figure was seated on the edge of his bed, appearing to be asleep. White hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her face perfectly. Her long eyelashes, as pale as her hair, rested delicately against her cheeks. She looked peaceful, almost like she belonged in a painting.
