Preparation

Chapter Twenty-One: Moonlit Bonds and New Invitations

As night fell and the day’s classes ended, Tianqi Academy came alive with activity. Its vast campus, a city within a city, offered facilities rivaling those of any metropolis. Students could pursue nearly any interest—within the bounds of academy rules, of course.

Under a star-strewn sky, a full moon hung high, casting a romantic glow. The academy’s streets, parks, and coffee shops brimmed with couples and close friends. Tianqi’s open culture granted students significant freedom.

On the bustling streets, Ylenia, dressed in her academy uniform, clung tightly to her senior’s arm, her delicate face radiating playful charm. “Litiya, let’s go out next weekend!” Her starry eyes sparkled with hope.

“No way. This semester’s intra-academy competition is coming up. I need to prepare. Next weekend, I’ll be training,” Litiya replied firmly. Her athletic build, honed by years of training, was accentuated by the uniform—slender yet strong, with flawless skin and not an ounce of excess on her long, powerful legs. Her brown hair was tied in a high ponytail, her face bare of makeup, and her sky-blue eyes clear and bright.

Despite Ylenia’s incessant nuzzling, Litiya brushed off her friend’s plea. “Training requires consistency. Slacking off even for a day or two sets you back. This competition is important to me—every practice counts.”

Her calm demeanor faltered briefly, a flicker of silence passing over her. Ylenia, sensing the shift, didn’t press further. Instead, she leaned gently against Litiya’s shoulder, savoring the faint, elegant fragrance that always calmed her. Memories of the day surfaced, and suddenly, Ylenia’s purple eyes lit up. She grabbed Litiya’s arm, shaking it excitedly.

“Litiya, guess what? I met the cutest junior today!” Her voice bubbled with joy, like a child sharing a seashell found on the shore.

“I’m listening,” Litiya said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her gentle smile softening as it always did with her friend.

“She’s so pretty—probably the best-looking girl in this year’s batch. But that’s not even the best part. She reminds me of you—not in looks, but in vibe. She’s got this clear sense of purpose, cool and composed on the surface but sharp and perceptive underneath.”

Ylenia recounted her encounter with Selina in vivid detail, spinning it like a story. Litiya listened quietly, nodding thoughtfully. “You were wrong to change her exam choice, even with good intentions,” she said earnestly.

“Ugh, Litiya, you’re so strict!” Ylenia laughed awkwardly, scratching her head and nodding to acknowledge her mistake.

“But you did well to come clean afterward. Honesty is the foundation of sincerity, especially with someone who knows themselves so clearly,” Litiya continued, her tone softening. Then, her blue eyes glinted with mischief. “But why does your story sound so familiar? Making a mistake, apologizing, confessing—it’s like our first meeting, isn’t it, my dear friend?”

Caught off guard, Ylenia’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “W-what? It’s just a coincidence! Our first meeting was a misunderstanding, nothing more!” Her purple eyes darted nervously, like a child caught misbehaving.

“Oh, really?” Litiya’s teasing voice drifted closer, her warm breath brushing Ylenia’s sensitive ear.

“N-no, I swear! It was a misunderstanding, Litiya. My feelings for you are genuine, no pretense!” Ylenia stammered, her racing heart sending heat through her veins, making her feel flustered.

Litiya’s serious, almost ascetic demeanor was manageable, but when she turned on her charm, it was overwhelming. Ylenia could barely resist her friend’s playful allure.

“Alright, I’m done teasing. I know it was a misunderstanding, and you handled it well afterward,” Litiya said, gently tapping Ylenia’s forehead, her voice full of care. “But while honesty clears misunderstandings, some can’t be undone so easily. So, try not to act foolishly—think before you do.”

“Got it, got it! I knew you’d believe me. You’re the best, Litiya!” Ylenia seized the moment to hug her friend’s soft frame, indulging in her usual clinginess.

“So, since we’re so close, how about we check out the freshman exam tomorrow?” Ylenia asked, her real agenda surfacing. She knew a diligent Litiya would reject a weekend outing, so this was her true pitch. “Think of it as a reward for your hard training. Plus, watching the matches isn’t a total waste—real combat can spark new ideas.”

Afraid of rejection, Ylenia added, “Come on, it’ll be fun!”

Litiya paused, then smiled. “Alright, you’ve invited me so many times, it’d be rude to keep saying no. And after hearing so much about this Selina, I’m curious. She’ll likely be in tomorrow’s final exam match. I’d like to see this girl who’s so like me in person.”

Perhaps it was exhaustion from training, a desire to please her friend, or simple curiosity about the freshmen, but the training-obsessed Litiya finally agreed. What adventures awaited at this event remained to be seen.