"This week, we'll be studying the emotional connection between two mages!"
The old professor's voice echoed through the room, dragging a wave of groans from exhausted students slumped over their desks.
But his next sentence made the whole class jolt upright.
> "And for practice—we'll need… pairs!"
Gael and Lyre turned to look at each other, eyes deadpan.
Lyre whispered, "No… don't tell me…"
"That's right," the professor smiled. "Gael and Lyre, you're up first!"
---
"To test your emotional resonance, the two of you will… hold hands."
Lyre froze.
Gael: "I object. I'm allergic to feelings."
Professor: "Didn't ask."
In front of the entire class, Lyre held out her hand, face stiff.
Gael hesitated, then gently touched hers.
A soft glow appeared. Their hearts thudded loudly.
In an instant, every emotion in their heads spilled over to the other.
> Lyre heard:
"Her hand's softer than I thought… damn it, don't blush!"
> Gael heard:
"Stop! Stop thinking weird stuff! Why is this… so warm…"
They instantly let go.
"NO WAY!" they both shouted.
The class went silent for three seconds… then burst into laughter.
> "What a hilarious pair!"
"Oh my gosh, they're so cute~"
"Lyre, confess already!"
"Gael's blushing, haha!"
Lyre gritted her teeth. Gael covered his face with one hand, trying to hide his burning cheeks.
---
That evening, Lyre dragged herself into the girls' bath area, exhausted from a full day of teasing.
But for some inexplicable reason, Gael stepped out of the neighboring steam room—soaked, wearing only a towel.
Their eyes locked.
> "...What the hell are you doing here?!"
"I thought this was the guys' bath! My locator spell glitched!"
"GET OUT!"
"I'm leaving, I'm leaving!"
As Gael fled like a hunted animal, Lyre's flying slipper hit him square in the head.
That night, a new rumor started spreading…
> "Did they… bathe together?!"
---
After a "disastrous" day, Gael slipped up to the academy rooftop, knowing Lyre often came to stargaze there.
> "Hey."
"You've got some nerve showing your face here." – Lyre shot him a look, but her voice wasn't truly angry.
"I brought chamomile tea…" – Gael held out a cup.
"…Thanks."
A moment passed in silence. They sat, backs to the wall, the night breeze brushing through their hair.
> "Hey, Lyre…"
"Hm?"
"If… one day I said I didn't actually hate you… what would you do?"
Lyre glanced at him, cheeks as red as the sunset.
> "I'd say… 'you've got a fever, go to bed.'"
"I think I do have a fever now."
"...Idiot."
---
Dormitory, 11 p.m. The air in the room was taut as a bowstring between two introverts.
Gael (facing the wall, holding a book but stuck on the same page):
("This kind of quiet isn't so bad…")
[Knock knock knock!] — The pounding on the door was unusually loud.
Gael:
"…What now?"
Lyre: (got up first, didn't bother asking Gael, opened the door slowly with zero warmth)
"…?"
In front of them stood two very enthusiastic pairs — a pastel-pajama couple, and two boys in matching academy hoodies.
Girl 1:
"Heyyy! You guys are still up, right? We're playing Truth or Dare in the lounge downstairs! Dorm 103 couple can't miss it!"
Boy 1:
"Yeah, we've got four already—just need you two to make it a full group!"
Boy 2:
"Hey, I heard you two passed the academy's entry test that's like three times harder than usual. Don't tell me you're scared of a game?"
All four chuckled, eyes darting between Lyre and Gael like they were inspecting some rare, "special" couple.
Lyre stared for exactly three seconds…
Lyre:
"Not interested."
SLAM! – The dorm door shut like she'd just chopped off a boring conversation.
Inside.
Gael:
"Nice one."
Lyre:
"They said 'couple' three times in ten seconds. And they were too loud."
Gael: (glancing at the door, sighing, turning back to bed):
"Didn't think I'd ever be relieved someone else refused something for me."
Lyre: (climbing into bed, pulling blanket over her head):
"Consider it payback. You didn't wash the communal cup after breakfast."
Gael:
"…Huh?! You spying on me?!"
Lyre: (eyes closed):
"No need. My cup was missing. One dirty cup left on the shelf. Obvious."
Gael:
"Oh for the love of—"
[Silence. But outside the door, the group wasn't done yet.]
[Knock knock!] — This time more urgent, more aggressive.
Lyre:
"…Now what?"
She opened the door again, eyes flashing with warning.
But this time it was the blonde girl from earlier, and she was smirking.
Blonde girl (whispering):
"If you don't join us, I'm afraid the story of 'two new students sharing Bath #3 at 5 a.m. yesterday' might… accidentally slip to the teachers."
Gael: (shoots up from bed):
"Wait! That was because we didn't know the schedule! And besides—"
Girl (grinning):
"Oh~ I'm not lying, am I? You two were in there. No one else. If I add a little 'romantic twist' when telling it… wouldn't that be fun?"
Lyre (flat tone):
"…Blackmail."
Girl:
"It's just a game! No need to be so tense. A few questions, a few dares… better than being known as the sneaky couple, right?"
She winked, then turned and walked off.
As the two reluctantly followed the group down to the lounge, they passed someone in all-black robes.
Gael:
"…I think I've seen that guy before."
---
Four of them sat in a circle. Gael and Lyre stuck to the edge like they were ready to leave at any moment.
In the center, a slowly spinning crystal orb — a magical tool used to "select" and "judge" participants.
Boy 1:
"Simple rules! The orb picks someone, and they choose: Truth or Dare. Don't answer or don't do it… and you face a penalty."
Blonde girl (eyeing Lyre):
"Or… you spill a real juicy secret."
Lyre:
"…I'm seriously considering burning this orb."
Gael:
"Do it. I'll guard the door."
The orb began to spin… glowing faintly.
A red beam landed—right on Gael.
Boy 2:
"Oooh~ New guy. Truth or Dare?"
Gael (glaring at them all, sighing):
"…Truth."
Blonde girl:
"Have you ever thought Lyre was pretty?"
The room fell still.
Lyre slightly turned her head.
Gael blinked. A faint blush crept up.
Gael:
"…That's… ask a different question."
Girl (laughing loudly):
"Avoiding it means yes!"
Lyre:
"Avoidance is the response of someone with no logical counter. Therefore, yes."
Gael:
"That's a fallacy! And besides… who wouldn't notice she's objectively attractive, but—"
[He cut himself off, smacking his forehead.]
Boy 1:
"Ooooh~ he admitted it!"
Lyre turned her head away. Her ears tinged a soft red.
But her voice stayed as cold as ever.