"Okay," Emilia began, now seating face-to-face with Ace as they try to figure out their living conditions. "Since it looks like we'll be living together for a while, we need some ground rules. Like who gets to shower first, and how we should divide up the chores."
"For the shower, you can go first," calmly exclaimed Ace.
"O-okay then," she replied, surprised by Ace's composure and politeness. "I'll go in first, and when I'm finished, you can follow."
"Anything else you have on your mind?" Emilia asked, still find the atmosphere between them a little awkward even after breaking the ice.
"Anything else, huh?" Ace pondered for a moment. "About the chores, do you mind if I handle the cooking?
"Not at all," replied Emilia who then continued a little bashfully while fiddling with her hair. "After tasting how yummy your food was, I don't think I'll ever be able to forget this experience."
"If you're okay with it, then I won't hold back," said Ace with a calm and aloof expression.
"Mmm," Emilia nodded before making another suggestion. "In that case, I'll help with cleaning the dishes and do grocery shopping."
"For cleaning, laundry and the rest, how about we do it in shifts? One time it's you and another time it's me," added Ace.
Emilia nodded in response. "Sounds good to me. I used to do everything by myself before, so it will definitely help to have more help around," she said, a warm smile playing on her lips as Ace, though for a moment, looked at her suspiciously with a dark and calculative gaze before his expression shifted back to its usual aloofness.
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Within the soft golden glow of the afternoon, after discussing other necessities, Ace and Emilia went out of the dorms to buy some other supplies. They navigated through the academy grounds, also giving Ace the chance to familiarize himself with the area.
After several minutes of walking around the academy grounds, they arrived at a bustling supply store.
"Okay. First things first, we'll need to get any daily necessities we might need in the future. And don't worry, I know the best products around here," she announced confidently, guiding Ace into the store.
The shop clerk welcomed them, guiding them as other students eyed them curiously, especially Ace.
After a series of trials and selections of different products, they managed to purchase everything they needed, and they returned to the dorms laden with bags and boxes of their newfound belongings.
Nightfall brought with it a shared meal and the awkwardness of preparing to go to bed in such close quarters. "You can take the bed above. I prefer the one under," said Emilia.
"Okay," Ace climbed on the bed.
"I'll be turning the lights off," Emilia declared firmly, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness due to the fact of sleeping in the same room with a boy. "Hope tomorrow is a good day."
"Same here. Good night," said Ace as the room fell into darkness.
"Y-yeah. Good night," Emilia said while above her, Ace's breathing grew steady with sleep, making her also shut her eyes.
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The next morning, Ace and Emilia, fully clothed in their uniforms, made their way towards the central building of the academy where lessons were held.
"Feeling nervous?" asked Emilia who walked with Ace, surrounded by the other countless students who were also headed the same way.
"Not really. I am wondering why everyone's got their eyes on me, but that's not enough to make me nervous."
"Well, it's only normal that they would be intrigued by you. You're the rumored Special Admission student that was brought by the Dean himself."
'Aaaah. So that's why. Maybe I should have tried injuring the old man even if I couldn't beat him. No. I'm not sure I could even scratch him. I should try to take advantage of this position. Though I'm pretty sure it will also attract quite the unwanted attention,' thought Ace as he glanced around him, taking into account the eyes on him before his gaze grew sharper and colder. "Both the good and the bad it would seem."
After a while, they arrived at the main building of the academy, a grand structure with towering spires and intricate glass windows, cascading the warm glow of sunlight into the hallways.
As they approached the entrance, Ace took out a small note from his pocket.
'Second year's class 1. I wonder where it is?'
"What's that?" asked Emilia, her voice full of curiosity.
"My assigned class," he replied. "By the way, do you know where the Second year's class 1 is?"
"Huh? Haha…" Emilia, completely surprised, smiled awkwardly. "Talk about coincidence. That happens to also be my class."
Ace was clearly surprised by the news though his face didn't show it albeit his eyes that widened slightly. 'I'm starting to wonder more and more if this whole situation wasn't orchestrated by the old man.'
"Follow me. I'll lead the way," Emilia said, slightly tilting her head with a smile while holding her hands behind her back.
"Aye, aye, ma'am," said Ace, closing his eyes for instant with his head slightly lowered.
"W-WATCH OUT!!!" screamed a voice that came rushing at Ace.
'Hmm?' Ace evaded the crash and then took the origin of the voice by the collar, strangling them a little in the process.
The boy in front of him was a tall teenager with swept-back deep blonde hair and fair skin tone, wearing the same uniform as Ace but without the same white band on his arm.
'Who the heck is this?' Ace questioned as he let go of the collar, making the boy fall on his butt.
With a deep sigh as she held her head with her hand in discontent, Emilia let out her complaints. "Seriously Frank. Did you forget to wake up early again? One of these days you'll really end up hurting someone with your habit of running without looking where you're going."
"Hahaha," Frank laughed embarrassingly. "Sorry Emi. I'll try my best so that it doesn't happen again."
"You always say that, but nothing changes at all."
"Hahaha," awkwardly laughed Frank.
'Seems like an idiot,' Ace looked down on Frank with a deadpan expression.
"Oh!" Frank straightened himself up. "Sorry for that earlier. I'm Frank Wellberg. Nice to meet ya, transfer student!"
He offered a handshake which Ace took without hesitation.
"Ace Blakelord. Nice to meet you too."
"Wow. You're really polite. Since you were a Special Admission student, I really thought you'd be a little snobbish, haha. It's good that you're different from what I expected," said Frank with the kind of trustful smile a social person would have.
'Has this guy never been told he talks too much? Oh well, it might be better to have at least someone I know if I want to adapt to the academy. I'll make sure to put him to good use,' thought Ace, his expression still aloof and stoic.
"I don't think this is the time to get chatty. We need to go if we don't want to be late for our class," Emilia cut in.
"Oh damn! You're right. Hurry! We need get going if we don't want to be late," said Frank, pulling on Ace's wrist as he dragged him along.
"H-hey. Wait up. Stop pulling me," Ace's words fell on deaf ears as Emilia followed after them.
'I've got a feeling that my time at the academy won't be as peaceful as I hoped it would.'