---
Kai woke up with a woozy, dizzy feeling. The kind that hit you after mana exhaustion and some light electrocution. His eyes struggled to adjust to the golden light spilling into the room.
And then, for the second time that day, he was greeted with a sight that made his brain short-circuit.
The sunset was pouring through the high windows of the infirmary in soft orange and gold—but it wasn't the sky that stunned him.
It was Kathlyn.
She stood at the far end of the room, silhouetted by the light, fists clenched, shoulders squared, her expression unreadable except for a small, almost smug smile tugging at her lips.
The glow of the setting sun hit her just right.
She looked radiant. Like a scene pulled from a dream or the final page of his fan-made manga
Kai audibly gasped.
Kathlyn blinked. "What are you staring at?"
He rolled over and muttered into his pillow, "Don't ask such obvious questions… If someone sees a sight this beautiful, what else can they do?"
And then dramatically, needlessly he began rolling around on the infirmary bed like a lunatic Blankets flailing.
"I've been inspired!" he shouted.
Nurses turned their heads.
He hoisted his fist toward the sky (or ceiling) with renewed vigor.
"This I swear… I will protect this character's future
Kathlyn looked mildly alarmed. "What the hell are you even talking about?"
Kai didn't answer. His resolve had been restored.
---
Two weeks later.
The mornings in the Class A training hall had grown strangely quiet.
No shouting.
No exaggerated declarations of "warrior awakening" from Kai. No dramatic sword dances. No tsundere banter echoing off the walls
It was the last session.
The Combat Scholar stood at the edge of the ring, lifting a barely conscious Kai by the back of his collar like he weighed nothing.
"This is our final training session, friend," the towering instructor said. "Four and a half months until your next official evaluation.
So you can switch class i hope by then I can see you every day
Kai nodded, chest still heaving, sweat pouring off him in waves.
The words hit harder than he expected.
The atmosphere in the hall was somber. Not because the training was over but because something felt missing.
Something important.
Kathlyn.
She hadn't been to training in over a week.
Kai tried not to think about it. He told himself maybe she was resting. Recovering. Maybe she was studying or working on a new spell—
But deep down?
He knew.
She had probably entered the Relic Prisms.
Just like she did in the novel.
Back then, the Relic Prisms were dangerous dungeons disguised as old ruins places that could grant power, knowledge, even legacies from ancient spellcasters and gods. They were unregulated, unsupervised, and strictly off-limits to all but a select few.
And the only way in?
You had to be invited by someone who'd already been inside. Someone trusted. Someone who wouldn't rat you out.
Professor Mallet ran a tight ship when it came Prism expeditions.
He didn't hand out invitations lightly.
And clearly…
Kathlyn hadn't invited him.
She hadn't warned him. She hadn't asked if he wanted to go with her. Not even a note.
Just gone.
Kai sat in the center of the ring, drenched in sweat, muscles burning, staring at the ceiling of the training hall as a deep, slow ache settled in his chest.
"Damn it…"
From her perspective, their relationship probably still felt shallow. Like he was just another peer. Maybe a slightly weird one. A talented underdog she fought beside once. Someone who saved her in the woods… and embarrassed her in public.
He'd pushed too hard too fast.
In his mind, he'd spent years following her story. Supporting her. Rooting for her.
But to her?
He was still just some guy.
Some loud, unpredictable,HANDSOME,occasionally helpful weirdo who offered her half his rewards and declared her beautiful in front of three classes.
No wonder she didn't trust him enough to bring him.
Kai closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Okay," he muttered to himself.
Time to stop acting like a fanboy.
It was time to earn his place at the main character table
Even if it meant chasing her all the way into the Prisms.
Kai wasn't expecting to bump into anyone
He'd left the training hall hours ago, wandered aimlessly through the academy gardens, scaled a small section of the outer wall (which was definitely against the rules), and now stood by the edge of the central courtyard, staring into a koi pond like it held answers.
Spoiler: it didn't.
Just fish.
Orange. Boring. Judgmental fish.
"I get it," he muttered at them. "I'm dumb. You can stop looking at me like that."
"Talking to fish?" came a voice behind him. "Bold strategy."
Kai turned to see June leaning against a nearby pillar, arms crossed, hair perfectly unruffled, as if he hadn't just appeared out of nowhere like a final boss waiting for a cutscene.
"…You stalking me now?" Kai asked.
June shrugged. "You're loud. Even your brooding is noisy. I could hear your self-pity echoing across the courtyard."
Kai slumped down onto the bench by the pond. "I wasn't brooding."
"You were absolutely brooding."
"…Okay maybe a little."
There was a pause. Then June sat next to him.
Which was weird.
June didn't sit. June hovered near situations like a storm cloud deciding whether to ruin your day. But right now? He looked oddly… calm.
"You're worried about her," June said.
Kai blinked. "Wait you know?"
June nodded Lionheart's gone. You're sulking. Math's not hard."
Kai groaned. "I'm not sulking."
"You're sulking with flair."
"…Fair."
They sat in silence for a moment.
Then June said, "You like her, don't you?"
Kai's soul attempted to escape his body. "Wha—no I mean, yes but not like
"Relax," June cut him off. "I'm not judging."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "You? The god of combat and harems? Talking romance with me?"
June stared at the pond. "Why do people always assume I'm some sort of hyper promiscuous demon
Kai tilted his head.
"Truth is," June said, voice a little softer, "I just never really found people worth connecting with."
Yeah until the beginning of the Novel then you become a friend magnet Kai thought
He glanced at Kai.
"…Until recently."
Kai blinked.
Then blinked again.
"…Wait. Are you saying you wanna be my friend?"
June looked horrified. "Don't ruin it."
Kai snorted. "Oh my god. You are."
"Shut up."
"Nope. You're stuck with me now."
June groaned and stood up. "This is why I don't talk to people like you
Kai stood too, suddenly smiling. "Broship accepted."
"I didn't offer
"We're brothers now. Ride or die."
"I literally just said
"June," Kai said, gripping his shoulder dramatically. "When I go and fight a dragon or something of that nature I'll find you not because I need you but because we're bros
"You definitely need me."
"because bros stand together."
June looked like he was about to walk away.
Then sighed.
And offered a single, reluctant fist bump.
Kai bumped it.
Explosion sound effect (imaginary, but powerful).
They stared at the pond again.
Kai was still riding the emotional high of that reluctant fist bump. It was the kind of moment you immortalized etched into stone, painted onto walls, maybe reenacted dramatically with lightning effects and swelling music.
"Bros," he whispered under his breath. "Hell yeah."
But as they stood in silence, something shifted.
June… didn't move away.
He didn't walk off with his usual aloof power-stride He just stayed there Quiet Arms crossed. Head slightly tilted toward Kai.
And then, he spoke.
"You know," June said slowly, "you're… different."
Kai blinked. "Different how?"
"You talk too much," June said. "You make dumb decisions. You throw yourself into danger for people you barely know."
"Okay, not loving this 'different' so far
"But," June continued, eyes fixed on the koi pond, "you make people look up when they'd rather stare at the ground. You pull people in, even when they resist. Even me."
What is he talking abo-oh no
Kai's eyes widened a little.
"…June?"
June turned his head, just slightly. "You've made this place less lonely."
There was a long pause.
The author never said the changes were gonna be this dramatic
Kai stared.
June stared.
The koi swam dramatically in the background, like they sensed something big was happening.
"…Oh," Kai said softly. "Oh."
June raised an eyebrow.
Kai looked away quickly, flustered. "I didn't… I mean, I wasn't expecting—uh…"
June's brow furrowed. "Expecting what?"
"I mean, I always thought you were more of a… you know. Cold, arrogant, strong Didn't realize you… felt that way."
"…What way?" June said flatly.
"I mean, it's fine! Really! Love is love and all that, I just I've always been a waifu guy, you know? Traditional. Tsundere enjoyer. Classic build."
June's face darkened. "What are you talking about?"
Kai nervously scratched his cheek. "Like, I'm flattered. Honestly. You're strong. Handsome. Popular. You'd be a catch. For someone."
"I was talking about friendship," June said with deadpan menace.
"…Oh," Kai blinked. "OH."
The koi stopped swimming. Even the wind seemed to pause.
June stared at him.
Kai coughed violently into his elbow.
"I mean, same page Totally. Bros
June turned away. "I regret everything."
Kai grabbed his arm. "No, no—don't take it back. Let's just never speak of this again."
"Agreed."
They stood in silence.
Then Kai muttered, "But like… if we did date, we'd be unstoppable."
June kicked him into the pond.