Evening settled gently over Academy City, the sky fading into a soft gradient of amber and violet. Hovercars glided overhead in smooth, silent lanes, their under-lights painting streaks of blue and white across the streets below. A lively row of shops stretched along the avenue, warm lights spilling from glass windows, vendors calling out about grilled skewers, sugar-glazed pastries, glowing trinkets, and novelty gadgets that humd faintly with mana.
Luis and Alicia walked side by side at an unhurried pace. Ivy was curled comfortably on Alicia’s shoulder, her tail wrapped around her neck like a living scarf, eyes half-lidded and content. Luis stopped at a stall and bought so warm buns dusted with sugar. He handed one to Alicia, another to Ivy, and kept one for himself.
They chatted about small, harmless things: classes, professors’ odd habits, a shop that had quietly changed owners. Or rather, Luis chatted. Alicia responded with short replies, nods, or distracted hums. Her gaze kept drifting, unfocused, as if her thoughts were sowhere else entirely.
Before long, their steps slowed beneath a large, familiar oak tree. Its branches spread wide, leaves whispering in the evening breeze. Ivy jumped off her shoulder and started playing with the grass.
Ever since learning from Lumine that this used to be Maria’s favourite spot. Alicia also cos here often. As if by coming here she could feel her mother’s presence close to her.
Luis noticed Alicia had gone quiet again. She stood there, eyes lifted to the branches, expression distant.
’Is she thinking about Aunt Maria?’ he wondered.
He broke the silence carefully.
"I wonder... if Aunt Maria saw us together, would she be happy?"
Alicia didn’t look away from the tree as she spoke. "Auntie once told it was my mom who wanted our engagent decided before we were even born."
"Really?" Luis blinked, genuinely surprised. He had always assud it was his parents who pushed that idea forward. Given his mom’s eccentric nature, it wouldn’t be surprising.
"I wonder," he added thoughtfully, "if she ever considered what would’ve happened if their future children ended up being the sa gender."
Alicia finally turned her head and imdiately made a face of disgust, as she’d just swallowed sothing rotten. "Just imagining you as a scheming woman gives chills."
Luis felt personally attacked.
"What’s with that scheming part? You should call it clever and resourceful."
Alicia’s lips curved into a sarcastic smile as she didn’t even bother to complain.
Luis looked at her fair face and comnted. "Still, if you were a man, I think you’d give off cold, domineering president vibes."
She rolled her eyes and responded. "I can do that as a woman, too."
"I know that all too well," Luis said, offering his usual faint smile. "After all, my wife is very cool."
Alicia chuckled, clearly used to his antics, and shook her head. Then she turned back to the oak tree. Silence fell between them again, heavier this ti.
Just as Luis was about to start a new topic, Alicia spoke first, her eyes still fixed on the trunk of the tree.
"How long are you planning to hide from , Luis?"
The question landed without warning.
Only then did Luis notice that sothing was off. Her expression was calm and distant, but he sensed resentnt and anger in her words. "What’s wrong, Alicia?" he asked carefully. "Did sothing make you angry? What did I hide?"
She turned and stared at him in silence. After a mont, she sighed, as if finally deciding to let the words out.
"Still hiding," she tried to speak calmly, but her voice trembled as she continued. "About the fact that you were assassinated again!"
Luis felt the pain beneath her composure like a blade pressed against his chest.
"I—" The words stuck. In the end, he could only ask softly, "Who told you?"
He was certain he’d asked Professor Hena to keep the matter quiet.
"This morning," Alicia replied. "When I went to buy groceries, I t Bonnie."
’Well, case solved,’ Luis complained internally. ’Bonnie, you little traitor. As a thank-you, I’ll treat you to the famous booger ice cream.’
"I just didn’t want to make you worry," he said aloud.
Alicia’s turquoise eyes shimred faintly. "You could’ve escaped easily. Why did you take the risk? Was it really necessary to put yourself in danger just to hide your abilities?"
"Alicia..." Guilt weighed heavily on him. "I was confident I could solve that killing formation. If it hadn’t worked, I would’ve escaped. For sure."
She was quiet for a mont, then suddenly asked, "Hey, Luis. The bet counts, right?"
He blinked, confused by the abrupt shift, but still nodded. "Yes. You’ve won. You can ask whatever favour you want."
"Then," she said firmly, "I want you to promise sothing."
He straightened. Waited for her to speak.
"That you will never put yourself in danger again. You’ll care about your own safety first. Then think about everything else."
"Yes," he answered imdiately.
"Even if it’s ," she added, her voice sharpening, "you’ll only save after your own safety is assured."
"Alicia—"
"Just promise !" Her stern look showed no room for rebuttal.
Luis took a deep breath. In the blind spot of her vision, he crossed his fingers. "I promise."
Only then did the tension finally leave her shoulders. "Very well," she said. "I’m satisfied with your response. For which I’m going to reward you."
"What reward?" Luis asked, trying to sound interested, though the guilt lingering in his chest made it difficult to do so.
Instead of answering, Alicia stepped closer. He thought she ant to whisper sothing in his ear.
Then her lips touched his. [Pic here:]
Soft. Brief. Yet warm.
Her face filled his vision, her faint scent flooded his senses, her breathing echoed in his ears, and the gentle pressure of her lips silenced every thought. For a heartbeat, the world seed to vanish; no city lights, no hovering cars, no rustling leaves.
There was only Alicia. His fiancée, his future wife, the only girl ever who stole his heart, and now his first kiss.
Touch, sight, sll, sound. All four of his senses were tainted with her colour. Only one sense remained.
Just as he leaned in, ready to stretch his tongue, parting their lips, wanting that last sense to be stolen by her too, Alicia pulled back.
The beautiful sensation disappeared, leaving behind a quiet, aching reluctance in his chest.
He wanted to be shaless and experience that feeling again. But Alicia, with her face coated in a crimson hue, ran away.
Little Ivy was confused as she chased after her. Only Luis was left standing there, beneath the oak tree, heart racing, knowing one thing with absolute clarity:
That reward... had been unfairly effective.
Soon, he snapped out of the reverie.
"No wait! How dare she sneak up on ! I won’t forgive her... unless we do that again!" He chased after her, his heart filled with imnse righteous indignation. "Just you wait, Miss Alicia Raven—no! Mrs Alicia Suarez! I will bring you to justice!"
---
Night, 10 P.M.
Luis was lying on his bed listlessly, constantly sighing. Evil prevailed over justice. He, the embodint of justice, couldn’t even get close to the perpetrator. When he tried to break into her room using Spatial Jump, what greeted him wasn’t her sweet love, but a dozen sharp ice blades pointed at his neck.
’Is there any justice in this world?’
Just when he was imrsed in his thoughts, contemplating life. He received a call.
{Master, Dad is calling!}
"Receive it." He said, as he sat up, crossing his legs.
As soon as the call was connected. The hologram of Ronald’s face appeared in front of him.
"Hi, Dad. When did you get back from the expedition?"
[Just yesterday.] Ronald answered, then a strange look appeared on his face. [Didn’t Alicia tell you?]
"She knows?" Luis tilted his head in confusion. ’Alicia knows, but I don’t?’ Do these parents still consider him their son? Or, is all love and care only for their daughter-in-law?
Ronald was oblivious to Luis’ inner complaints. Seeing that he looked confused, he kindly explained. [Alicia and your mom were on call for hours last night. I don’t know what they were talking about, though.]
Upon hearing this, Luis’s eyes squinted. His instinct was telling him that his mom was the mastermind behind Alicia’s changes today.
[Anyway, you two should find ti to co back to Tryston City soon. Your cousin will co to live with us in a few days. It’s a good chance to get together. Alicia could also get acquainted with her.]
Only then did Luis recall this conversation, which had taken place around the ti he transmigrated to this world, though their focus at that ti was shifted to his assassination.
"We will have a week-long vacation from tomorrow. So, we already had that in plan."
[That’s perfect!] Ronald was overjoyed upon hearing this news.
"Well, Dad, now can you tell what happened in that dungeon? What did Uncle David discover that made him need to seek help from you and Mom?"
[...It’s a new species of monster.] Ronald answered after a mont of thought.
"...How strong was that monster that needed three S-Ranks to solve?" Luis’ curiosity was piqued.
[It’s not about strength, Son, but strangeness.] Ronald said in a grim tone. [That monster is sothing that shouldn’t exist in this world.]
***
(End of Volu 3: Classes Begins!)
A.N: To those who want to complain about the kissing scene. Please refrain from excessive abuse of this poor Author. After all, the Author-san is still single.
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