Fantasy Libary 58

Title: This Feels a Bit Questionable

Dusk had arrived, and the sky was adorned with streaks of twilight. As the hustle and bustle of Asterisk’s streets began to subside, a cool evening breeze swept through the city, dispelling the heat of the day.

“Ark-senpai!”

While walking along the usual path at Seidoukan Academy, Ark suddenly heard a voice that had become increasingly familiar to him over the past few days.

When he turned toward the source of the voice, he saw a petite girl running toward him.

“Kirin?” Ark was surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“I…” Kirin stopped in front of him, tilting her head up to look into his eyes. A hint of shyness was visible in her gaze. “I was waiting for you to come back.”

It was clear that Kirin had figured out Ark’s usual route and had deliberately chosen this spot to wait for him.

“How long have you been waiting?” Ark paused briefly before asking.

“Not… not too long…”

Kirin’s gaze shifted nervously, but the beads of sweat on her forehead betrayed her words.

Ark couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head as he reached out to wipe the sweat from her brow.

“Senpai…”

Kirin blushed as his gentle touch brushed against her skin. The warmth of his hand made her face flush with a shy smile, blending nervousness with happiness.

“You’ve seen the matchups for the official tournament, right?”

Ark asked casually as he continued to wipe her sweat.

“Yes.”

Kirin nodded quickly. One of the reasons she had waited here was to discuss the tournament matchups. Whether that was her main motivation, only she knew.

“Let’s talk about this in my room.” Ark suggested after finishing.

Hearing this, Kirin’s expression turned confused.

“Y-your room?”

Her voice trembled slightly, carrying a mix of nervousness and tension.

Although the two had grown closer recently, Kirin had never been to Ark’s room before.

“What’s wrong? Don’t want to?” Ark teased. “How about we go to your room instead?”

“My room?!” Kirin panicked, shaking her head frantically. “No, no, no! My room is… a mess!”

To say it was a mess was an understatement. Before leaving earlier, she had just taken a shower, and her discarded clothes were still scattered on her bed—along with some personal items.

Remembering this, Kirin’s face turned as red as a tomato. Her nervousness deepened.

“Let’s go to your room!”

Her tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

“Alright.” Ark shrugged, unfazed. “Stay close and don’t wander off.”

Since it was summer vacation, many students had already gone home, leaving the dormitory relatively empty. However, quite a few students were still staying in the dorms, and Ark didn’t want Kirin to accidentally wander into the male dormitory. An incident like that would be embarrassing for her.

Thinking about it, bringing a girl back to his room wasn’t exactly an easy thing to do—especially since Kirin was only thirteen years old.

That realization made Ark feel a little guilty.

“This… might be a bit questionable…”

He glanced at her. Although Kirin looked anxious and restless, there wasn’t a trace of suspicion in her eyes. Her unwavering trust made Ark feel somewhat ashamed.

“Wait, why do I feel guilty?”

Ark snapped out of his thoughts.

“I’m not planning anything inappropriate. What do I have to feel guilty about?”

But then, a thought crossed his mind.

“…Still, she might just go along with it if I tried something…”

Ark’s lips twitched as he glanced at Kirin. The girl, dressed in a light blue dress, looked both nervous and slightly hopeful.

Since it was a holiday, she wasn’t wearing her uniform. Her simple yet elegant dress hugged her waist and flared out just above her knees, making her look fresh and innocent.

Of course, the fitted waistline only accentuated her figure.

Kirin’s sword, Senbazuru, was sheathed in a long case slung over her shoulder like a single-strap bag. Without the sword, she would look like a beautiful young woman with an outstanding figure.

Bringing a girl like that to his room?

Ark couldn’t help but think that his resolve might be tested.

Before long, they arrived at the male dormitory. Kirin followed Ark nervously, her hands gripping the strap of her sword case.

The dormitory was mostly empty, and no one stopped them as Ark led Kirin to his room.

“So, this is your room, Senpai?”

Kirin looked around the spacious suite, her curiosity piqued as she examined her surroundings.

The room was a two-bedroom apartment with a living room and balcony, comparable in size to Claudia’s suite. However, unlike Claudia’s European-style decor with luxurious furniture and thick carpets, Ark’s room was much simpler. The open layout with minimalist furniture gave off a clean and refreshing vibe.

“This is the room the Academy gave me after I became Rank One.” Ark explained. “Since I haven’t been here long and don’t care much about decoration, everything you see is just the standard setup.”

When Ark first arrived at Seidoukan, he shared a double dorm room. After rising to Rank 13, he was given a private room. Then, a month ago, after defeating Kirin and claiming the top spot, the Academy asked if he wanted to move into the Rank One room.

Out of curiosity, Ark agreed.

“What about you? Are you still staying in your old room?”

“Ah, yes.” Kirin nodded. “Since I’m still in my recovery period, I get to keep my previous accommodations.”

Seidoukan’s ranking system was based on exchange. Losing a duel meant losing your rank, along with the associated privileges. To soften the blow, the Academy had implemented a buffer period.

During this time, students who were demoted retained their previous privileges and could freely challenge other students below their former rank in official matches.

Kirin, now in her buffer period, still enjoyed the benefits of her previous status as Rank One, including her luxurious room.

“Invite me over sometime.” Ark joked.

“…Okay.”

Blushing shyly, Kirin replied in a small voice.

“Take a seat.” Ark said, pointing to the sofa. He grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge and handed it to the girl.

Through their recent partnership, Ark had learned that Kirin’s favorite drink was milk.

No wonder her figure was like that.

“So, what do you think about this match?”

Instead of sitting across from her, Ark sat down beside her, steering the conversation back to the tournament.

Holding her milk with both hands, Kirin answered without hesitation.

“We’re really lucky.”

And they were.

“Based on the matchups, we won’t face any serious threats until the semifinals.”

That was Kirin’s assessment.