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Chapter – 04
Ignis, who for some reason seemed unusually dejected, slowly approached me.
I had been trying to avoid running into him as much as possible until I could sort out my feelings.
“Um, Renia.”
“Yes, Sir Ignis.”
“Lately… why is it that you don’t—”
“……”
“—train with me anymore, like you used to? May I ask?”
Because if I keep seeing you, it’ll only make it harder to get my feelings under control.
But of course, I couldn’t say that out loud.
As I hesitated, wondering what excuse I should give him, Ignis lowered his head and asked another question in a subdued voice.
“…Is it because I hurt you back then?”
“What?”
I hurriedly shook my head at him, denying his words.
“No, it’s not that at all…”
“……”
“I’m just not very good at theory, so I thought I’d focus on studying for a while.”
“……”
“That’s really all it is. So please don’t worry.”
Ignis stared at me intently, as if trying to judge whether I was telling the truth.
He’s cute.
And the fact that I still find him cute even now—honestly, what’s wrong with me?
Meeting his gaze, I spoke firmly.
“It’s really true.”
“That’s a relief.”
“…Then, would you like to train with me today, since it’s been a while?”
What am I even saying right now?
Spending more time with Ignis isn’t good for me at all.
No, no. This isn’t okay.
Before Ignis could agree, I should take it back and say today won’t work—
Just as I was about to retract my words, Ignis broke into a bright smile.
“Sure, Renia.”
“…Me too.”
I really don’t know what’s wrong with me.
My head was screaming at me to withdraw my offer immediately, but my mouth completely ignored it and moved on its own.
I’ve messed up again today.
Soon after, Ignis and I entered the training grounds and began preparing for our spar.
Having finished my preparations fairly quickly, I absentmindedly watched Ignis as he maintained his sword.
Before long, Ignis finished and approached me.
He lightly tapped my sword with his own and lifted the corner of his lips in a grin.
“Shall we begin?”
“…Yes.”
We both took our stances, facing each other.
After locking eyes and exchanging a silent signal, we launched into our spar.
To be honest, after enrolling in the academy and developing feelings for Ignis, I had wanted to increase the time I spent with him at any cost—so I worked hard to be able to wield a sword.
For someone like me, who had never exercised before, learning swordsmanship was incredibly difficult.
And yet, no matter how hard it was, I never once gave up.
Because the only time Ignis focused solely on me—
“Ignis, you’ve improved a lot since last time.”
“You too, Renia.”
—was during moments like this, when we crossed blades and clear beads of sweat fell to the ground.
I really am hopeless, both then and now.
I forced myself to refocus and quickened my movements.
Ignis looked momentarily surprised by my sudden speed, but soon adjusted to match my pace.
After exchanging blows for quite some time, I finally noticed a tiny opening in his defense.
In that instant, I swung my sword hard toward his.
“I guess I win today.”
I stood there, panting, as Ignis’s sword fell to the ground.
Ignis, breathing heavily as well, looked at me and smiled beautifully.
“Even after all this time, you’re still amazing, Renia.”
At his words, I felt heat rush to my face and lowered my head.
“Next time, I’ll train harder so I can win.”
“……”
“Renia?”
“…Yes. Let’s do it again next time.”
“Yeah. Let’s.”
Worried he might notice how flushed my face was, I loosened my tightly tied hair.
As Ignis tidied up the area and his sword, he asked me—still standing there cooling my face.
“Renia, what are you going to do now?”
“I’ll probably just… stay around.”
“Then want to go out with me?”
“…What?”
I froze in place at his sudden suggestion.
“They said there’s a small festival today.”
“Ah…”
So that’s why the others had asked me to go with them.
“I told them I couldn’t go because I had something to do.”
“……”
“But things wrapped up earlier than I thought, so even after training, I still have time.”
As he spoke, a sudden breeze blew past us, scattering the hair I had just let down.
Ignis gently tucked my hair behind my ear and asked once more.
“Will you go with me?”
“…Yes.”
My hair continued to flutter in the wind, tickling my ear—and at the same time, making my heart flutter.
After agreeing to meet again once we’d changed, Ignis and I went our separate ways.
On my way back to the dormitory, my steps grew faster and faster.
Reaching my empty room more quickly than usual, I hurriedly began getting ready.
“I’m crazy. I’m really crazy. What if he realizes?”
Despite my muttering, my hands moved swiftly as I fixed my appearance.
This was the first time in my life that I was spending time alone with Ignis outside the academy.
No wonder I couldn’t suppress my excitement.
Forcing the corners of my lips back down, I finished getting ready and headed out to meet him.
Perhaps because of my buoyant steps, I arrived at our meeting spot in no time.
And just then, from afar, Ignis—dressed in a robe—called out my name loudly.
“Renia!”
Stay calm. Don’t let him see how excited you are.
I deliberately slowed my pace and walked toward him.
When he saw me approach, Ignis smiled just as brightly as always, then gently took my wrist and led me along.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
As we drew closer to the town where the festival was being held, the number of people steadily increased.
“There are a lot of people, huh?”
“Yeah.”
Ignis looked around with sparkling eyes, clearly fascinated.
I wished I could take in the scenery too—but all I could see was Ignis.
“Shall we check that out?”
“Ah, yes…”
I kept watching Ignis as he looked around like an excited child.
When he suddenly turned his gaze toward me, I quickly looked away.
I didn’t want him to catch me staring at him.
What came into view instead was a stall selling simple accessories.
I deliberately fixed my gaze on a pale green piece.
While pretending to browse, Ignis stepped closer and whispered near my ear.
His breath alone was enough to make my heart race.
“Do you like this?”
“Huh?”
He was pointing at the pale green bracelet—the one I’d been staring at earlier.
Oh. He thought I liked it.
Realizing that, I nodded and answered softly.
“…Yes. It’s very pretty.”
Before I could stop him, Ignis quickly bought the bracelet and gently fastened it around my wrist.
“Ignis!”
“You came all the way out here because of me. It suits you, Renia.”
“……”
“…Thank you.”
Heat rushed to my face, and I realized I could no longer lift my head.
“Um, I’ll just go over there for a moment!”
“Renia?”
“Please wait here!”
Unable to bear it anymore, I decided to get away from Ignis for a bit to cool down.
I hurried into a quiet alley and slowly slid down to the ground.
…This is insane.
I gently traced the bracelet on my wrist with my fingers for a long while.
After some time, once my flushed face had finally calmed, I headed back toward Ignis.
Though my face had cooled, my heart was still fluttering uncontrollably.
And somewhere deep inside, a tiny spark of courage began to bloom—a thought that maybe, just maybe, I could try to change the original story.
But as I walked toward him, my steps gradually slowed.
…Liliana?
Liliana and Ignis were smiling brightly at each other.
They looked as though they were destined to be together from the moment they were born.
No—“well-matched” didn’t even begin to describe it.
The sight of Ignis and Liliana together was so beautiful it felt as if the entire world existed solely for them.
“Oh! Renia!”
Liliana spotted me standing blankly among the crowd and called out my name.
I heard her, but my legs refused to move.
Liliana approached me, still wearing her lovely smile.
“Renia, what are you doing standing here?”
“……”
I felt like I might burst into tears.
So I lowered my head, trying not to show her my face.
From deep within me, ugly, jealous feelings toward Liliana began to crawl out.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Huh?”
“I’m not feeling very well. I think I should head back first.”
“Wait, Renia!”
Unable to overcome the ugliness consuming me, I ran away.
Unrequited love drags a person all the way down to the very bottom.
“Renia, can we talk for a moment?”
“Sorry, Liliana. I’m a bit busy right now…”
“Renia!”
Seeing how I avoided Liliana after that day, those words rang painfully true.
After fleeing to a secluded place to escape her, I leaned against a wall, exhausted.
Liking Ignis—why does that make me act like this…?
